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August 2018
THE SEARCHFORANEWNORMAL MOMETRIX AND MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY RESEARCH
Muscular dystrophy is a condition that changes your perspective on “normal.” You watch your child run around, jump, and play, and then slowly that goes away. They no longer run and jump, and they begin to struggle to even walk. You get to that new normal. You grieve the loss of what once was, and as parents, you accept the situation and help your child be the best they can be. Then, as more time passes, you watch as your child loses his ability to walk. One day, he can only crawl. You grieve and then you accept. There’s always a new normal — but at the same time, there’s always a grieving process. The two seem to go hand-in-hand. Since August 2011, Mometrix Test Preparation has had something of a tradition. A portion of our sales — specifically those that come through my sales division — go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association and help fund further research into muscular dystrophy. Since we began, we’ve raised about $65,000. This is a cause that’s very close to my heart. My son, Benjamin, lives with muscular dystrophy. Since he was diagnosed, my wife and I have been on that journey to the new normal. But thanks to research into the condition, the exact circumstances of that new normal are rapidly changing for the better. I began working with Mometrix in 2009. In my early days with Mometrix, my son, who was a toddler at the time and had yet to be diagnosed with MD, was starting to show signs that something wasn’t quite right. His development was changing. Until that point, Benjamin had been growing up like any other kid. Benjamin’s changing development was noticed by pediatric nurses, who shared their concern with my wife. We took him to a neurologist, and after testing, we learned why Benjamin’s development had changed: He had spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), one of the many forms of MD. Benjamin’s brain had developed normally, as had his muscles. It was the connection between the two — the ability to communicate — that was deteriorating. He was changing from a healthy baby boy to a boy whose future was uncertain. At 2 1/2, Benjamin could walk and move around like any other child his age. By 8, his life had completely changed. He could no longer walk. His mobility had become limited.
In 2011, Mometrix came to me with a sponsorship opportunity. This eventually became our yearly tradition of giving back to the MDA. This was also when Jerry Lewis was still doing his MDA Labor Day Telethon, one of the biggest national events for MDA. As it happened, 2011 was Jerry Lewis’ last year of involvement before the event was reorganized. It was only a few years later, in 2015, that the telethon (which had become the “Show of Strength”) was canceled.
Jay and his son Benjamin
With the MDA fundraising landscape changing, 2011 was the perfect year to begin this program. I wanted to do something, and Mometrix provided a new platform to make a difference and help people just like my son. As I immersed myself in the world of MD research, I eventually learned of a drug that was undergoing clinical trials. I followed the development of this drug through FDA approval and public availability. When it did become available, I wanted it for my son, but we had to fight for it. It took months of communication with the hospital and the insurance company to get approval, but we were successful. On April 25, 2017, Benjamin received his first spinal injection. As of June 21, 2018, he’s had a total of seven injections and the results have spoken for themselves. During the clinical trials, it became clear that younger children responded better to this new treatment. Because Benjamin was 10 when he began the treatment, it hasn’t brought back much in the way of movement. What it did do, however, was stop the progress of the condition. This new drug changed things for our family. We found our new normal. There is no longer this constant grieving process as Benjamin’s life changes. The new normal has become just “normal.” We can tuck Benjamin in at night and go to bed knowing he isn’t going to get worse. That’s remarkable, and for that, I am thankful.
–Ja y Willi s
For more information about our August MDA campaign, please visit Mometrix.com/mda
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FINDING INDEPENDENCE THE IMPORTANCE OF MDA SUMMER CAMP
Asking for help is a simple request. Most people do it every day, whether they’re getting a second opinion on a paint color or asking a stranger to hold the elevator. Asking for help is important; the ability to work as a team is one of mankind’s greatest strengths. But if the act of asking for help is so essential in our lives, why do entrepreneurs have such a hard time with it? This struggle often comes from pride, the idea that if you admit you can’t do it all, then you can’t do anything. But this mindset often leads to ruin. In a survey by 99 Design, most entrepreneurs claimed the worst mistake they ever made wasn’t a poor financial decision or bad planning — it was simply not asking for help early in their careers. Having to ask for help isn’t a sign that you’re unable to achieve what you set out to do. In fact, when you ask for help in business, you may find you’re able to achieve more. This is because asking for help is a form of networking. You’re actively reaching out to experts, learning how other people solve problems, and broadening the awareness of your name and brand at the same time. If you struggle to ask others for help when you need it, start by changing your mindset. You don’t have to do it all; you’re just one person, and sometimes one person needs to delegate tasks to others to get more done. Asking for help is also easier when you know what you want to ask for. If you are overwhelmed by a big project, take a moment to write down The Muscular Dystrophy Association Summer Camp is a place for kids to experience independence and feel like a kid again. It’s an important institution not only in my son’s life, but in the lives of children all across the country. I’ll admit that when I first learned about the MDA Summer Camp, I didn’t see its true value. My focus was on the research side of things. Through Mometrix, my mind was on raising money for MDA to help fund research into the condition. I attended a SMA conference and sat in on a panel featuring a diverse and successful group of adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). These were folks who had forged professional careers, traveled the world, and said they would never let SMA slow them down. I wanted to know how they accomplished this. How do you live life with the mindset that nothing can get in your way? How do you gain this kind of independence? The panel had an answer: MDA Summer Camp. They explained that the camp and volunteers taught them they could live full, independent lives. At the camp, they saw what it was like to not have their parents or someone
nearby who could be there to help them. They learned what was possible and how free they could be, despite their situation.
This was a real eye-opener for me. I saw what was possible. At age 8, my son Benjamin went to his first MDA Summer Camp. To call it life-changing would be an understatement. Benjamin got to experience zip-lining, a massive cable swing, and so much more. It was nonstop fun and a chance to just be a kid. For him, it’s better than Disney World! Contributing to the MDA is about more than just research. It’s also about helping kids rediscover themselves and learn how to become independent in the face of a monumental challenge. Whether it’s research, camp, or raising awareness, it all requires funding, which is why we established the Mometrix MDA Fundraising Campaign. It’s a small way for all of us to give back to a great cause. To learn more the MDA Summer Camp, visit MDA.org/summer-camp , and to learn more about the Mometrix MDA Fundraising Campaign, see Mometrix.com/mda.
AHELPINGHAND WHY BUSINESS LEADERS NEED TO ASK FOR HELP
your goals for that project, along with a list of action steps and resources needed to get there. Then think about who you can reach out to in order to tackle these steps. If you’re still uncomfortable with asking for help, make a point of helping others when you can. Being helpful changes the way you perceive receiving help and builds a positive reputation with others. When you are viewed as being helpful, other people want to help you in return. Asking for help means admitting you can’t do it all alone. But why should you have to? Doing it all alone can be pretty lonely, and asking for help means you have a team to support you wherever you go.
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STUDYINGMADE EASY HELPING STUDENTS ACHIEVE MORE
Life can be stressful. For students, when an exam or test looms on the horizon, their stress levels can shoot through the roof. It can be overwhelming and have an impact on their test results. This is one of the many reasons we developed such a large selection of study guides covering a wide number of subjects. Why be stressed when you can find the information you need in one organized and convenient location? For students and test-takers of all backgrounds, a study guide can make a world of difference.
Each category is home to dozens of study guides for specific exams, tests, and certifications. Each study guide brings together the knowledge of that subject and test into one accessible package. It’s all there to help students and test-takers eliminate one of their biggest sources of stress. You can learn more about our line of study guides at Mometrix.com/ products.htm . There you can explore all of our products and find exactly what you need for yourself, your students, or anyone with a big test coming up soon.
We offer study guides for the following categories:
• Business • Career • College Admissions and Placement • Construction and Industry • Counseling and Social Work • English Language • Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate • Graduate and Professional School
• K-12 • Medical Professional • Medical Technology
• Nursing • Nutrition • Personal Fitness • Public Service and Legal • Teaching
SUMMERGRILLED HALIBUT
SUDOKU
If you’re tired of grilling hamburgers at this point in the summer, try using your grill for something a little different. This easy halibut recipe is a great change of pace.
INGREDIENTS
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4 boneless, skinless halibut fillets, about 5 ounces each 1/4 cup olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
• • • • •
2 pounds mixed tomatoes, sliced
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1/2 cup hearts of palm, drained
Basil leaves, for garnish
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1 lemon
Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. Lightly oil grill grates and heat grill to medium. 2. Grate 1 teaspoon lemon zest onto halibut fillets. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. 3. Grill halibut, turning just once, for about 5 minutes on each side. 4. In a mixing bowl, combine tomatoes, hearts of palm, juice from lemon, and oil. Season with salt and pepper. 5. Garnish salad with basil. Spoon salad over grilled halibut. Serve.
Inspired by Bon Appetit magazine.
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INSIDE 1
The Search for a New Normal
What I Learned About MDA Summer Camp Why Is It Hard to Ask for Help? Helping Students Achieve More Summer Grilled Halibut
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The Worst Poet Ever Known
INCELEBRATIONOF BADPOETRYDAY WILLIAM TOPAZ MCGONAGALL
Although it is not as well-known as the major holidays throughout the year, on August 18, Bad Poetry Day catches the attention of literature enthusiasts throughout the nation. There have been multitudes of great poets throughout history who have gained admiration for their work. However, for every great poet, there many more poor poets. William Topaz McGonagall happens to be one of the latter and is considered to be the worst in history. McGonagall was born in Edinburgh and began writing poetry in 1877 after a voice told him to “Write! Write!” The first poem he wrote was in regard to a Reverend George Gilfillan, which he sent to the weekly news to publish with only his initials. The editor did in fact publish the poem, though with an added note, which McGonagall quotes in his autobiography — “W. McG., Dundee, has sent us a poem in praise of the Rev. George Gilfillan, and he sung his praises truly and well, but he modestly seeks to hide his light under a bushel.” The comment was meant to have a humorous tone, but McGonagall was not a man of humor and took it very seriously. It solidified his need to write poetry for the next 25 years. His most known poem is called “The Tay Bridge Disaster.” Some lines include vivid imagery such as, “and the rain came pouring down / and the dark clouds seem to frown / and the Demon of the air seem’d to say — / ‘I’ll blow down the Bridge of Tay.’” McGonagall published over 200 poems
in his life, each written with the same simple rhyme scheme, disregard for meter, and rudimentary diction.
McGonagall strived for fame as a poet, but what he received in response to his poems was mockery. His complete works along with his autobiography continue to sell today. Though he is known as the worst poet in history, people continue to enjoy his verse, one way or another.
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