When the Discovery of Insulin Changed Lives
In a Toronto hospital ward in 1922, a group of children lays comatose and nearing the end of their lives from diabetic ketoacidosis. With their families already believing them terminal, in walked a group of scientists – including the famous duo of Banting and Best, who just that past summer had been working on an insulin extract. They began to inject the children, and as they moved from bed to bed, each child gradually emerged from their coma!
The scientists had spent the summer working on extracting insulin from pig and cow pancreas for the treatment of diabetes. Just try and imagine the parents’ reactions in that hospital room.
Mom and Son Celebrate Pride in 1985
Back in 1985, the mom in this photo had nothing but unconditional love – and some excellent homemade T-shirts – for her son on their way to an LGBTQ+ Pride walk. Pride parades and walks began small with community support in 1970, a response to the Stonewall incident of 1969, when police raided a gay bar on Christopher Street, NYC. Fast forward to the Pride parade of 2016 in New York City, which saw 2.5 million attendees!
This awesome mom and son duo with a sense of humor turn history on its head – not all parents in the 80’s rejected their LGBTQ+ – and beautifully articulates what unconditional love and support look like.
A Peek Into the Past of the World’s Oldest Living Person
Kane Tanaka turned 119 in January 2022, making her the world’s oldest living person, according to the Guinness Book of World Records! Kane was born in Japan, where she lives today. She was married at 19, had five children, and worked in her family’s noodle shop until age 103. She was due to take part in the Olympic torch relay of 2021 but was worried about spreading Covid-19 to the other residents in her nursing home.
Kane, who has lived through two World Wars, enjoys solving arithmetic problems and playing Othello. To mark her birthday, the Coca-Cola company made Kane a personalized bottle with her name and age on it – apparently, she is still drinking it at age 119.
One of the “Harlem Hellfighters” Cuddles a Dog
Have you ever heard of the Harlem Hellfighters? This may only have been a nickname, referring to the 369th Infantry Regiment who fought in both world wars. Many African-Americans were keen to fight in WWI but were turned away by the US military. In 1917, all decorated soldiers were called up to fight, and the 369th was formed – made up mostly of African-Americans but also men from Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the West Indies.
During WWI, the ‘Harlem Hellfighters’ fought in US uniforms but on French soil. There, they experienced less racial hatred. The 369th is recorded as the unit that served the longest in the frontline trenches and also experienced the greatest number of casualties during WW1.