Health
How to cope when holidays bring up grief, family tension, and pressure
By David Chen
Your Spine's Second Chance: Why Recovery Doesn't Have to Mean Surgery
Tom Patel
Tom Patel
Reporter · Bloomington, IL
With a background in educational policy and a degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Tom has spent the last 6 years covering the Bloomington school district for various outlets. He is passionate about education and has won awards for his investigative pieces on local school funding and reforms.
More from Tom →Reporter · Friday, November 13, 2026 at 7:20 PM · 1 min read
When Sarah's doctor mentioned surgery for her herniated disc, she felt her world shift. The 42-year-old teacher had been managing back pain for months, but the thought of going under the knife — with all its risks and lengthy recovery…
Up nextHow to cope when holidays bring up grief, family tension, and pressureHealth · 1 min read
