Unheard Voices of Boulder, Colorado: Amplifying Stories of Unhoused Individuals in our Community

In Boulder, Colorado, a stark contrast exists just beneath its picturesque surface. &ldquo;They want rid of me&hellip; But I don't have any money, so I'm not leaving,&rdquo; shares Phil, a Boulder resident facing homelessness, shedding light on the complex struggle of those living on the margins in this seemingly inclusive Community. &nbsp; This thesis undertakes a profound journey into the heart of Boulder, a city celebrated for its progressive spirit, to uncover a reality often overlooked. Beyond the picturesque lies a silent struggle faced by the city's unhoused population, whose stories of resilience and hardship are rarely acknowledged. This thesis not only explores the historical and contemporary landscape of homelessness in America, with a focus on Boulder, but also critically examines the local policies and community efforts aimed at addressing this issue. Through a compelling narrative and a creative project that brings to life the personal stories of individuals, the project challenges the viewer to see beyond the surface. This work serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of empathy, inclusion, and action in building a community that truly cares for all its members.</p

Anorectal motility in patients with achalasia of the esophagus: recognition of an esophago-rectal syndrome

BACKGROUND: During my study of constipation, I encountered patients who had achalasia of the esophagus (AE) as well. The possibility of an existing relationship between the 2 conditions was studied. METHOD: Investigations to study the anorectal motility in 9 AE patients included: the intestinal transit time, anorectal manometry, rectoanal inhibitory reflex, defecography and electromyography (EMG) of external anal sphincter and levator ani muscle. Anorectal biopsy was done. The study comprised 8 healthy volunteers as controls. RESULTS: 6/9 AE patients had constipation presenting as strainodynia (excessive prolonged straining at stool). Rectocele was present in 4 of them. The 6 constipated patients showed significantly high rectal neck pressure (p < 0.05), absent rectoanal inhibitory reflex and aganglionosis in the anorectal biopsy. The EMG revealed diminished activity in 4 of the 6 constipated patients. The remaining 3 patients with AE had normal anorectal function. Heller's myotomy with Nissen's fundoplication improved the dysphagia, but not the constipation which was, however, relieved after performance of anorectal myectomy. CONCLUSION: The high incidence of constipation with AE postulates a relationship between the 2 conditions. Both have the same pathologic lesion which is aganglionosis. This study is preliminary and requires further studies on a larger number of patients