This is the story of Joseph, a 28-year-old man who's made a very difficult choice. On December 2024, Joseph Awuah-Darko shared the difficult decision of choosing euthanasia on Instagram. He's not physically sick, but he's been battling a severe mental illness called bipolar disorder for many years. He's tried many treatments, but nothing has helped him feel better. He feels like the pain of his illness is too much to bear. He's shared his story publicly to help people understand what he's going through and to show how serious mental illness can be. Joseph shared a post that explained why he is making this decision, in the caption of the post he shared, “I am not saying that life (as a phenomenon) isn’t worth living. It ABSOLUTELY is. What I am saying is that the mental weight of MINE has become entirely unbearable.”

Joseph has bipolar disorder, which means his moods swing very high and very low. He's had this illness for a long time, and it makes his life very difficult. On his Instagram, he has shared his journey with bipolar, he explained that he tried many different medicines and therapies, but they haven't worked. He feels constant pain and suffering because of his illness. He's reached a point where he feels like he can't go on anymore. He's been open about his struggles on social media, hoping to raise awareness about mental health. He wants people to understand how much he suffers and why he's made this decision.

Euthanasia in the Netherlands

Government of the Netherlands explain that in the Netherlands, it's legal for a doctor to help someone end their life if they meet certain conditions. This is called euthanasia. Joseph has applied for this because he feels his mental illness is causing him unbearable suffering. There are rules and procedures that doctors must follow. They have to make sure the person understands their decision and that there are no other options. The process can take a long time, sometimes years. Joseph believes that having the option of a peaceful and dignified death is important. He wants to have control over how his life ends.

The Last Supper Project

When Joseph shared his decision, people had many different reactions. Some people understood and supported him. Others were sad and hoped he would change his mind. He even received some negative comments. But he also received many kind messages, including invitations to have dinner. This inspired him to start "The Last Supper Project," where he travels and shares meals with strangers. In the caption he explained, “‘The Last Supper Project’ is based on the Harvard Study of Adult Development which speaks to the importance of quality relationships and community as the greatest predictor for happiness. And I feel connecting this way around food as a great unifying vessel could be beautiful.”

The Last Supper Project is one of the longest studies, lasting for more than 80 years, done on adult development. In an Author Speaks edition of McKinsey & Company, the study’s director Robert Waldinger explained the study wanted to know what helps people have happy and healthy lives, even if they had problems when they were young. Most studies only looked at what goes wrong, but this one wanted to know what goes right. The study emphasizes that it is never too late for positive changes. People often believe they are too old or incapable of forming good relationships. They may think happiness is out of reach. However, the study has observed individuals who found happiness unexpectedly.

Joseph wants to connect with people and enjoy these moments while he waits for his euthanasia request to be approved. He sees these dinners as a way to find joy and connection in his final chapter. He still has bad days, but he finds comfort in these shared experiences.

While a weakened immune system and fear of complications once denied people with HIV access to organ transplants, doctors at a Delhi hospital have now challenged the idea with a successful kidney transplant surgery on a 43-year-old HIV-positive patient from Ethiopia.

According to the team of doctors from the Max Super Speciality Hospital, Patparganj, who successfully performed the complex living donor kidney transplant, advancements in antiretroviral therapy and transplant protocols have made such procedures increasingly safe in carefully selected cases.

“HIV is no longer a barrier to organ transplantation when managed appropriately,” said Dr. Ravi Kumar Singh, Senior Consultant, Nephrology and Transplant Physician at Max Hospital, Patparganj.

“With strict selection criteria and coordinated multidisciplinary care, patients with well-controlled HIV can achieve outcomes comparable to the general transplant population.”

Also read: India Identifies 219 Districts As Priority For Intensified HIV/AIDS Interventions

Kidney Transplant In HIV Positive Patient

The patient, who had been living with HIV for 10 years, developed end-stage renal disease 3 years ago and has been dependent on regular dialysis since then.

Before the surgery, the patient underwent extensive evaluation to ensure optimal control of HIV, including a stable immune profile and undetectable viral load.

The patient’s 33-year-old wife donated one of her kidneys. Compatibility testing confirmed matching blood groups and a negative cross-match, enabling the team to proceed with the transplant.

“Kidney transplantation in patients with HIV requires a highly meticulous and coordinated approach, given the complexities of balancing immunosuppression with ongoing antiretroviral therapy,” said Dr. Paresh Jain, Senior Director, Urology, Robotic Surgery & Renal Transplant.

“In this case, careful pre-transplant evaluation, precise surgical execution, and close post-operative monitoring were critical to ensuring a successful outcome. This procedure reflects how advances in transplant science and surgical expertise are enabling us to safely expand access to life-saving transplants for patients who were once considered high-risk,” he added.

Following the transplant, the patient has shown encouraging recovery, has been taken off dialysis, and is gradually returning to normal daily activities, the doctors said. The patient also continues on a carefully monitored regimen of immunosuppressive and antiretroviral therapy, they added.

Also read: India's Silent Crisis: Why We Must Embrace Deceased Donor Organ Transplantation

Can People With HIV Get A Transplant?

With advancements in antiretroviral therapy (ART), enabling people to live longer, HIV has now become a chronic, manageable condition. However, the HIV positive patients are now more likely to die from end-stage organ disease than from AIDS-related infections.

As per the US National Institutes of Health, people with HIV can successfully donate or receive transplanted organs with reasonable success rates.

However, health care providers must consider and monitor potential drug interactions, kidney and liver function, and HIV viral suppression in people with HIV receiving a transplant.

Further, the NIH advised HIV positive patients to continue taking all prescribed HIV medicines before and after transplant.

“Smoking is injurious to health.” We see this warning in theatres and on billboards, but for many, it’s become background noise. We tend to think of smoking as a “future threat”, a cough, some breathlessness, or perhaps a scary diagnosis years down the line.

But did you know that the cigarette in your hand is also quietly sabotaging something far more immediate: your hormonal health.

The Gender Gap In The Smoke

While smoking is often viewed through a male lens, the reality is shifting. In fact, approximately, women comprise about 20% of the more than 1 billion smokers globally, and the biological toll they pay is unique.

Usually the impact of smoking is focused more on the lungs and the heart. But one of the most overlooked victims of tobacco is the endocrine system, especially in women.

A Direct Hit To Your Menstrual Cycle

Cigarette smoke is a cocktail of thousands of toxic chemicals, including tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide, and poisonous metals. These don't just stay in the lungs; they hijack the hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian (HPO) axis, which is the delicate "command center" that regulates your period.

Nicotine triggers a surge in stress hormones like cortisol and catecholamines. When these are chronically elevated, they disrupt the steady, rhythmic release of hormones that tell your body when to ovulate. The result?

• Irregular or Shorter Cycles: Your body’s natural rhythm is thrown off-beat.
• Painful Periods (Dysmenorrhea): Nicotine narrows your blood vessels (vasoconstriction), reducing blood flow to the uterus and making cramps significantly more intense.

The Effect of Smoking On Estrogen

Estrogen is the powerhouse hormone responsible for regulating the menstrual cycle, maintaining bone density, protecting heart health, and much more.

Smoking acts as an "anti-estrogen." By draining your estrogen, smoking can trigger early menopause, often by one to two years, and increase your long-term risk of osteoporosis.

For those trying to conceive, the toxins reduce your "ovarian reserve" by 20% (your egg count), making the journey to motherhood much harder.

The Road To Recovery: Recalibrating Your System

But the good news? Our bodies are remarkably resilient. Within weeks of quitting, your circulation improves, stress hormones stabilize, and your endocrine system begins to regain its equilibrium.

Many patients report more predictable cycles and less painful periods after quitting smoking.

Don't Rely On Willpower Alone

Quitting is a medical challenge, not just a test of character. If you’re overwhelmed, connect with your doctor on using the many tools available that can help you in quitting, such as:

• Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT): Gums, patches, and lozenges provide controlled nicotine without the toxic smoke. Unlike smoking, which delivers nicotine in rapid spikes along with thousands of harmful substances, NRT helps reduce cravings and supports quitting with far less harm.

• Prescription Support: Medications reduce the "reward" your brain gets from nicotine.

• Behavioral Support: Counselling significantly increases your chances of staying smoke-free for good.

Your hormones work tirelessly every single month to keep your body in harmony. Every cigarette disrupts that dance; every "no" helps restore it.

Your body’s natural rhythm is worth protecting. Perhaps today is the day you finally return the favor.

Dhurandhar 2 actor Mustafa Ahmed, who played Rizwan in the film, opened up about growing up with dyslexia. He shared that he struggled with reading and writing, but sports and dancing came naturally to him.

"I was not a bright kid. I was dyslexic and came from an Afghan background. But I was always physical, I was good at sports, and I picked up dancing naturally. Anything that involved using my body, I was good at it,” said Mustafa, who trained has Hrithik Roshan, in the Alpha Coach podcast.

What Is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that affects reading, writing, and spelling. However, it has nothing to do with intelligence.

Common signs of dyslexia include:

• Difficulty reading or recognizing words
• Trouble with spelling and writing
• Confusing similar-looking letters (like b/d or p/q)
• Slow reading speed and poor comprehension
• Difficulty following written instructions

This means that children with dyslexia are simply wired differently and may need to focus on other learning areas.

How Did Mustafa Overcome Dyslexia?

Mustafa did exactly that. He focused on training hard and eventually worked with big stars like Hrithik Roshan. That’s when he caught the attention of Aditya Dhar, the maker of Dhurandhar. Aditya saw potential in him and encouraged him to pursue acting, helping launch his journey in the industry.

Growing up, Mustafa, who revealed in an interview, faced challenges in school due to his learning difficulties. Tasks like reading scripts or memorizing lines may not have come easily at first. However, with determination, support, and self-belief, he was able to overcome these barriers.

However, today as a rising star, his story is a reminder that with the right support, early diagnosis, and self-belief, children with dyslexia can truly thrive.

Signs and symptoms of dyslexia

Doctors say signs of dyslexia can look different at each age. It happens because your brain grows and learns in new ways as you get older. You may notice your child has:

• Has difficulty learning or recognizing letters
• Has trouble rhyming words
• Mixes up words that sound similar
• Find it difficult to read simple words after learning letter sounds
• Have trouble remembering letters, even after lots of practice
• Avoiding tasks that have to do with reading
• Feeling sick or anxious before school or homework time
• Struggling in school

Can You Treat Dyslexia?

Doctors say even though dyslexia is a lifelong condition, it can be effectively managed with the help of interventions like:

• Phonics-based reading programs
• One-on-one tutoring
• Speech and language therapy
• Use of assistive technology like audiobooks and text-to-speech tools

With these strategies, individuals with dyslexia can improve their reading skills and excel in their chosen fields.