Health
Nebraska baby born with cataracts has 3 eye surgeries to save her sight: ‘I just kept praying’
Madison Artale’s world was darkening before it even began. Diagnosed with congenital cataracts at less than two months old, the baby — born in Bellevue, Nebraska, on Oct. 1 — was in danger of losing her sight forever.
Her parents, who were stationed at Offutt Air Force Base, turned to Children’s Nebraska for help.
To save the child’s sight, Dr. Paul Rychwalski, medical director of ophthalmology at the hospital, embarked on a mission with his team.
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Brandee Artale first noticed the baby’s cataracts while she was breastfeeding her, she told Fox News Digital during an on-camera interview. (See the video at the top of this article.)
“I looked down, and I was like, there’s something weird in her eyes,” she said.
Madison Artale, pictured here in both images, was diagnosed with congenital cataracts at just 1.5 months old. (Andrew and Brandee Artale)
At first, the parents thought it was just an odd reflection of light, but their primary doctor confirmed they should see an eye doctor.
From there, they were referred to Children’s Nebraska.
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Congenital cataracts are quite rare in babies, according to Rychwalski.
“We think of cataracts as older adults having them — you know, Grandpa needs cataract surgery,” he told Fox News Digital. “But it does happen in children.”
Madison Artale, pictured here, was in danger of losing her sight forever if she didn’t get immediate surgery. (Andrew and Brandee Artale)
About a third of cases are inherited, and another third stem from other medical or genetic problems, the doctor said.
The final third come from unknown causes, which was the case for Madison Arta
In eyes with cataracts, the lens that sits directly behind the pupil is cloudy. Some cases are more severe than others, Rychwalski said.
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“In Madison’s case, it was a dense, white, cloudy opacity right in the center of the visual axis,” he said.
“So there was no way to get through that to stimulate the retina and bring sight to her brain. She was at risk of permanent vision loss if we didn’t clear this visual access in a timely fashion.”
It was important to remove the cloudy lens as soon as possible so the brain could immediately have a focused image, Rychwalski said.
“I just kept praying everything would be OK, and that she would make it through.”
Brandee Artale described the prospect of surgery for her new baby as “terrifying.”
“I kept thinking, my daughter’s only 2-1/2 months old and she’s going under anesthesia … Is this safe for her?” she told Fox News Digital.
“I just kept praying everything would be OK, and that she would make it through.”
Seeing his daughter get wheeled into surgery “tugged at my heartstrings,” said dad Andrew Artale, pictured with little Madison Artale. (Andrew and Brandee Artale)
Over the next few months, the team performed three delicate surgeries using the NGENUITY 3D Visualization System.
“All of the ocular structures are very, very small,” Rychwalski said. “And so we’ve used some new technology in magnification and surgical displays.”
He went on, “Instead of staring down through a microscope, I’m actually sitting straight up with 3D glasses, looking at a very large screen. And while I’m operating, everyone in the room has the exact same view as I do. There’s a reverence for what we’re doing for Madison. The teamwork in the operating room in this fragile surgery is … something pretty astounding.”
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Madison Artale had the cataracts removed from both eyes at different times, her father told Fox News Digital.
“And then she had pressure issues in her left eye that required her to go into a third surgery,” he said.
Today, at 7 months old, Madison Artale (pictured with mom Brandee Artale) is doing well and seeing great with the help of her special prescription glasses. (Andrew and Brandee Artale)
Seeing his daughter get wheeled into surgery “tugged at my heartstrings,” said Andrew Artale.
“But she [handled] the surgeries amazingly. I couldn’t have asked for her to handle it as well as she did.”
“You need to be able to express your emotions and fears.”
At 7 months old, Madison Artale now sees clearly. She is captivated by the world around her, according to her parents.
To correct her vision, she wears special prescription eyeglasses.
“They’re like second nature to her now,” her father said. “We don’t have to fight to try to put the glasses on. And she’s looking around at everything just as she would normally. So we’re very happy with the results.”
Sometime in the future, Madison Artale will need another surgery to implant a replacement lens, her doctor said. (Andrew and Brandee Artale)
Sometime in the future, Madison Artale will need another surgery to implant a replacement lens, the doctor said.
Throughout the entire process, trust in Dr. Rychwalski and the entire care team at Children’s Nebraska has been paramount, said Brandee Artale.
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“I think that’s probably the most important thing for any parent … is having a relationship with your doctor. You need to be able to express your emotions and fears.”
She added, “Having that relationship … has made this whole journey so much easier on all of us.”
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Collagen supplements have exploded in popularity, touted as everything from an anti-aging miracle to a muscle recovery booster.
But a sweeping new review conducted by U.K. researchers suggests that while collagen may help improve skin elasticity and ease arthritis pain, it does little for athletic performance or wrinkle reduction.
Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University analyzed 16 systematic reviews and 113 randomized controlled trials involving nearly 8,000 participants worldwide, which they say is the most extensive evaluation of collagen’s health effects to date.
The review found consistent evidence that collagen supplementation improves skin elasticity and hydration over time and provides significant relief from osteoarthritis-related joint pain and stiffness, according to findings published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum.
A large U.K. review found that collagen supplements may improve skin elasticity and hydration over time. (iStock)
The researchers, however, did not find meaningful improvements in post-exercise muscle recovery, soreness or tendon mechanical properties (strength, springiness and stretch resistance).
“Collagen is not a cure-all, but it does have credible benefits when used consistently over time, particularly for skin and osteoarthritis,” co-author Lee Smith, professor of public health at Anglia Ruskin University, said in a statement.
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“Our findings show clear benefits in key areas of healthy aging, while also dispelling some of the myths surrounding its use,” Smith added.
Collagen, the most abundant protein in the body, supports skin, bones, tendons, cartilage and connective tissue, according to experts. Natural collagen production begins to drop in early adulthood and declines more sharply with age.
The study found that collagen supplements may help reduce joint pain and stiffness in people with osteoarthritis. (iStock)
The review found that long-term collagen supplementation was linked to improved skin firmness and hydration, but did not help skin roughness — a proxy for visible wrinkles.
Benefits appear to accumulate gradually, suggesting that collagen should not be viewed as an “anti-wrinkle ‘quick fix,’ but as a foundational dermal support for individuals seeking holistic skin maintenance,” the researchers said.
“If we define anti-aging as a product or technique designed to prevent the appearance of getting older, then I believe our findings do support this claim for some parameters,” Smith told the BBC. “For example, an improvement in skin tone and moisture is associated with a more youthful-looking appearance.”
Collagen supplementation was linked to reduced pain and stiffness in people with osteoarthritis, with stronger benefits seen over longer periods of use, and showed modest improvements in muscle mass and tendon structure that may support healthy aging.
Collagen did not significantly improve skin roughness, a marker of visible wrinkles. (iStock)
However, it did not show meaningful results when used as a fast-acting sports performance supplement, and evidence for benefits related to cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and oral health was mixed or inconclusive.
Dr. Daniel Ghiyam, a California-based physician and longevity specialist, said the findings align with what he sees in clinical practice.
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“Collagen is a targeted support tool, not a foundation of health or performance,” Ghiyam, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “When marketed that way, it makes sense. When marketed as a cure-all, it doesn’t hold up to the data.”
The authors noted that while many previous collagen studies have received financial support from the supplement industry, the current review did not receive industry funding.
Experts say collagen supplements may offer modest benefits for skin hydration and joint comfort, but they are not a cure-all. (iStock)
The team called for more high-quality clinical trials examining long-term outcomes, optimal dosages and differences between collagen sources, such as marine, bovine and plant-based alternatives.
Among its limitations, the review could not determine whether certain forms of collagen work better than others or what the optimal regimen should be.
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While the review included randomized controlled trials, the quality of the studies varied, with newer research generally showing stronger results.
Experts say more data and studies are needed to build on the findings. They also noted that diet plays a crucial role in skin health.
Collagen supplements, often sold as powders or pills, may improve skin elasticity and ease joint pain, experts say. (iStock)
Dr. Erum Ilyas, a Pennsylvania-based dermatologist and chair of dermatology at Drexel University College of Medicine, noted that the review analyzed previously published meta-analyses rather than generating new primary data.
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“At this time, I have not seen sufficiently strong independent evidence to routinely recommend collagen supplements to my patients,” Ilyas, who was not involved in the review, told Fox News Digital.
“Although some studies show modest improvements in markers such as hydration and elasticity, there remains limited independent, biopsy-confirmed evidence demonstrating sustained increases in dermal collagen content,” she added.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the researchers for comment.
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As colorectal cancer (CRC) is now the leading cause of cancer death in adults under 50, a new report reveals some surprising shifts in the incidence of the disease.
Although rates of CRC have been declining among seniors, those 65 and under are facing a rise in diagnoses, according to a report titled Colorectal Cancer Statistics, 2026, from the American Cancer Society.
Adults 65 and younger comprise nearly half (45%) of all new colorectal cancer cases — a significant increase from 27% in 1995, states the report, which was published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
The disease is rising fastest among adults 20 to 49 years old, at a rate of 3% per year.
Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in adults under 50. (iStock)
Among adults 50 and under, 75% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Half of the diagnoses in that age range are made between the ages of 45 and 49. Although that age group is eligible to receive routine screenings, just 37% do so.
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The report also revealed that rectal cancer is on the rise, now accounting for about one-third (32%) of all CRC cases — an increase from 27% in the mid-2000s.
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“After decades of progress, the risk of dying from colorectal cancer is climbing in younger generations of men and women, confirming a real uptick in disease because of something we’re doing or some other exposure,” said Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director, surveillance research at the American Cancer Society and lead author of the report, in a press release.
Among adults 50 and under, 75% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Half of the diagnoses in that age range are made between the ages of 45 and 49. (iStock)
“We need to redouble research efforts to understand the cause, but also circumvent deaths through earlier detection by educating clinicians and the general public about symptoms and increasing screening in people 45-54 years.”
It is projected that 158,850 new cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed this year, and that the disease will cause 55,230 deaths, per the report.
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More than half of CRC cases can be linked to high-risk behaviors, the researchers said. Those include lack of nutrition, high alcohol consumption, smoking, lack of exercise and obesity.
“These findings further underscore that colorectal cancer is worsening among younger generations and highlight the immediate need for eligible adults to begin screening at the recommended age of 45,” said Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer at the American Cancer Society.
When the disease is caught at a local (early) stage, the five-year survival rate is 95%. (iStock)
“The report also shines a light on the crucial importance of continued funding for research to help discover new therapies to treat the disease and advance patient care.”
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When the disease is caught at a local (early) stage, the five-year survival rate is 95%, the report stated.
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A new study suggests that middle-aged men may be more vulnerable to faster biological aging, potentially linked to exposure to “forever chemicals.”
The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Aging, examined how perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, more commonly known as PFAS, could impact aging at the cellular level.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals commonly used in nonstick cookware, food packaging, water-resistant fabrics and other consumer products, the study noted.
Their chemical structure makes them highly resistant to breaking down, allowing them to accumulate in water, soil and the human body.
Chinese researchers analyzed blood samples from 326 adults enrolled in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2000.
A new study suggests that middle-aged men could face accelerated biological aging at the cellular level due to exposure to PFAS. (iStock)
The researchers measured levels of 11 PFAS compounds in participants’ blood and used DNA-based “epigenetic clocks” — tools that analyze chemical changes to DNA to estimate biological age — to determine how quickly their bodies were aging at the cellular level, the study stated.
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Two compounds, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA), were detected in 95% of participants.
Higher concentrations of those chemicals were associated with faster biological aging in men of certain age groups, but not in women.
“People should not panic.”
The compounds most strongly linked to accelerated aging were not the PFAS chemicals that typically receive the most public attention, the researchers noted.
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“The associations were strongest in adults aged 50 to 64, particularly in men,” Dr. Xiangwei Li, professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and the study’s corresponding author, told Fox News Digital.
“While this does not establish that PFAS cause aging, it suggests that these widely present ‘forever chemicals’ may be linked to molecular changes related to long-term health and aging.”
The study found that two of the compounds were detected in 95% of participants, and higher levels were linked to faster biological aging in men ages 50–64. (iStock)
Midlife may represent a more sensitive biological period, when the body becomes more vulnerable to age-related stressors, according to the researchers.
Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, may influence biological aging markers, potentially increasing vulnerability to environmental pollutants.
While Li said “people should not panic,” she does recommend looking for reasonable ways to reduce exposure.
That might mean checking local drinking water reports, using certified water filters designed to reduce PFAS, and limiting the use of stain- or grease-resistant products when alternatives are available.
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Meaningful reductions in PFAS exposure will likely depend on broader regulatory action and environmental cleanup efforts, Li added.
The researchers noted that midlife could be a particularly sensitive stage, when the body is more susceptible to stressors associated with aging. (iStock)
Study limitations
The researchers outlined several important limitations of the research, including that the findings show an association, but do not prove that PFAS directly causes accelerated aging.
“The study is cross-sectional, meaning exposure and aging markers were measured at the same time, so we cannot determine causality,” Li told Fox News Digital.
The study was also relatively small, limited to 326 adults age 50 or older, which means the findings may not apply to younger people or broader populations.
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Researchers measured PFAS levels using data collected between 1999 and 2000, and today’s exposure patterns may differ.
Li added that while PFAS is known to persist in the environment and the body, these results should be validated through larger, more recent studies that follow participants over time.
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