Free Republic

John Sweeney, a prominent British investigative journalist who has long covered Russian President Vladimir Putin, wrote in his new book that he feels the leader looks "seriously ill" with puffy cheeks that make him resemble a hamster. In his forthcoming book (out July 21), Killer in the Kremlin, Sweeney described changes he has noticed in Putin's demeanor and physical appearance that he said scare him. He theorized the use of steroids for Putin's changes, noting the president could have started taking the medication years ago to treat a back injury sustained after falling off a horse. According to Sweeney, this...

My brother has just been diagnosed with ALS(Lou Gherig's disease). I would like to request Prayers for him.

Irving boy, 15, dies after illness Sister, 13, succumbed to same unexplained ailment 10 days ago 08/29/2002 By LEE POWELL / The Dallas Morning News IRVING - A 15-year-old Irving boy has died, 10 days after his younger sister succumbed to a still-unexplained illness. Matthew Johnson died Wednesday at Children's Medical Center, according to the Dallas County medical examiner's office, two weeks after he slipped into a coma. Hospital officials have declined to release information about the children, citing their parents' wishes. An autopsy was performed on Rachel Johnson, the boy's sister, but its findings have yet to be...