Soto Law Group - May 2021

Soto Law Group - May 2021

Soto’s Chronicles

May 2021

DeDe Soto

Protecting your most valuable asset — your family

FROM THE DESK OF

DeDe Soto

Welcome May!

April showers bring May flowers … but I don’t think we had too many showers.

2 Heartwarming Stories About Nurses More Than a Year Into COVID-19, These Heroes Still Deserve a Shoutout

Rawsi Williams — a nurse, lawyer, and U.S. military veteran — once said this about nursing: “To do what nobody else will do, in a way that nobody else can do, despite all that we go through, that is to be a nurse.” I think that at this time last year, every single person in the country would have agreed with Williams. We would have shouted it from the rooftops! In May 2020, we were just starting to adjust to the “new normal” of the COVID-19 pandemic, and part of that was coming to terms with how amazing our health care workers are. Back then, the whole world celebrated nurses and doctors with drive-by parades, food donations, and daily applause. It was fanfare central. But now, even though nurses are still on the front lines delivering vaccines, I don’t see many people commending their efforts.

As things start to change, and open up. What is your decision to get vaccinated? Have you had one or both shots? We are still seeing clients via Zoom, some meetings are starting to be in person. What are your thoughts on in-person meetings? Are you ready for them or would you prefer to continue meeting via Zoom? All of our court hearings have been via Zoom, and I have to say I have really enjoyed the time that is saved not driving to and from. It will be interesting to see what goes back to the old way and what will remain our pandemic way to communicate and conduct our business. Either way, just let us know and I am sure we can accommodate your new or old way of getting your estate planning documents taken care of and protecting your family for generations to come.

Stay healthy and safe. Until next time,

I think that’s a shame. Our nurses are still heroes, and they deserve recognition, especially on National Nurses Day, which is on May 12!

Many Blessings,

In honor of their special day, I went on a hunt for stories about nurses who have saved the day or just been plain awesome in 2021. One of my favorites was published by 9 News in Colorado.

Continued on Page 2 ...

949-945-0059 • 1

... continued from Cover

Similarly, in California, nursing students stepped into their miracle-worker shoes early to help distribute the COVID-19 vaccines this January. According to the Los Angeles Times, a team of students from Cal State Long Beach volunteered their time to give shots, despite the crushing nursing school workload. When the call for volunteers went out, it was under the banner “HealthCare Heroes Needed” and the students came through immediately. “It wasn’t even a question of do I want to,” student nurse Naomi Muñiz told the Times. “If they need help and I can help, I’m going to go in.” Nurses like Amy and Naomi are still fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s not all high-fives and student solidarity out there. Many nurses are struggling with burnout because of the long hours and high pressure of treating patients while trying to protect themselves. Hopefully, this pandemic will end soon, but until it does, try to show some love to the nurses in our community. If you get a vaccine this month, thank the person who gives it to you! You can also make a donation or drop off a care package on the stoop of a health care worker you know. Even an encouraging text message on May 12 could make a world of difference.

Nurse Amy Dempsey and her husband, Whitney, both work at the Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge. Amy delivers babies, and Whitney provides hospice care. On their 26th wedding anniversary this January, each was scheduled to get their second shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, but there was a twist! Amy was volunteering to administer shots at the hospital. Serendipitously, her husband was her first patient! He joked that getting poked was a great anniversary gift. 9 News captured the moment on film, and it warmed my heart to see the couple high- five afterward. What a sweet moment between heroes!

Happy National Nurses Day!

Could Vaccine Passports Open Doors for Travel?

CONCERNS ABOUT VACCINATION VERIFICATION

Another concern is a vaccine passport’s potential to create classes of “haves” and “have nots” among travelers. Many developing countries won’t receive the vaccine for another few years. Should they be barred from returning to normal? Similarly, could the vaccine passport be abused domestically, enabling private businesses to bar customers from their spaces without proof of vaccination? Finally, what form would these passports take if they were to exist? Would they be on a smartphone app? A laminated card? A verified doctor’s note? So, while the prospect of traveling far and wide this summer after getting vaccinated is exciting, it might be better to temper your expectations for now and hope for clearer guidelines in the near future.

Are you hoping to travel this summer? Not like how you “traveled” from your bedroom to your living room couch all this past year, but really travel — get out and see the world beyond your hometown. With the COVID-19 vaccines finally available, millions of people are becoming immune to the virus that has ravaged the global economy, especially in the areas of tourism and hospitality. Industry leaders in these sectors are understandably eager for the vaccine to bring back tourism. Some are hoping vaccine passports will play a part in jump-starting tourism around the world. Vaccine passports are a means by which someone can prove they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and are, therefore, free to travel internationally. Some countries are eager for the sort of verification these passports could bring, should they exist. The Seychelles, Cyprus, Romania, and other countries have all said they would welcome tourists who could prove they were vaccinated. Now, you might be sitting on the same couch you’ve sat on for the past year, thinking, “Well, I would like to travel internationally after I get vaccinated!” However, this proposal is not without concerns. Firstly, health care officials still don’t know if vaccinated people can transmit the virus. So, even if they’re vaccinated, they could still spread it to unvaccinated people around the world.

2 • www.TheSotoLawGroup.com

AND PHYSICAL THERAPY — NOT SURGERY — HELPED! JFK Had Back Pain

Born into American royalty, former president John F. Kennedy would go on to preside over historic changes, including NASA’s growth and the emergence of the Peace Corps. Sadly, Kennedy’s tragic and controversial death often overshadows his work — meaning very few people may know just how impressive it is that Kennedy was able to do all that he did with debilitating back pain. Kennedy was plagued by ailments in childhood. This included bouts with whooping cough, measles, and scarlet fever. He was also diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, but his severe back pain would be his Achilles’ heel. Historians believe he had osteoporosis — the degeneration of the bone — in his lower back. Kennedy underwent spinal surgery multiple times, but the procedures reportedly did nothing to help. To combat this, Kennedy then tried various medications, including codeine, which is an opioid, and methadone, which is similar to morphine. Experts believe Kennedy could have been on as many as 12 medications at one time, many of which cause extreme mood swings during times when the nation’s leader needed to be the most lucid man in the room. (The Bay of Pigs Take a Break!

Invasion in 1961 and the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, for example, happened when he was on these medications.) Other doctors on Kennedy’s treatment team prescribed what was then called “exercise.” This form of physical therapy appears to be the only treatment that

worked for Kennedy! (It’s also believed that he underwent massage therapy, had heat therapy, and began swimming to treat his back pain, and all of these treatments helped in combination.) Soon, Kennedy’s doctors began to believe that treating him with intense medications was not ethical. His doctors weaned him off the drugs and only prescribed “exercise” routines. Furthermore, it’s been speculated that Kennedy’s leadership abilities were far better when he wasn’t on the medication, making it all the more imperative that he opted for physical therapy. It’s been more than 60 years since Kennedy found relief for debilitating back pain through physical therapy, but the studies being done on his life, legacy, and the pain he suffered continue to astound historians and offer a glimpse into treatments for those in leadership. As many have found, it was physical therapy that not only helped Kennedy but also protected our nation.

Easy & Healthy Green Rice

Inspired by 101Cookbooks.com

Directions 1. In a blender, purée spinach and kale with vegetable stock, coconut milk, and salt. Set aside. 2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, sauté onions and peppers in olive oil until soft. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Ingredients • 1 cup tightly packed spinach leaves • 1 cup tightly packed kale leaves, stems removed • 1 1/2 cups vegetable stock • 2 tbsp full-fat coconut milk • 1 tsp kosher salt

• 1/2 cup yellow onions, finely diced

• 1/2 cup green peppers, diced • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced • 1 cup long-grain white rice

3. Stir in rice and cook and toast for 1–2 minutes before adding the blended mixture. Increase heat to bring to a boil. 4. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until liquid has evaporated, 15–20 minutes. 5. Remove from heat and let sit for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.

949-945-0059 • 3

The Soto Law Group 1101 Dove Street Suite 200 Newport Beach, CA 92660

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

949-945-0059 TheSotoLawGroup.com

INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of DeDe PAGE 1 2 Heartwarming Stories About Nurses PAGE 1 Could Vaccine Passports Open Doors for Travel? PAGE 2 How Physical Therapy Helped JFK Be a Better Leader PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Green Rice Recipe PAGE 3 5 Best Recipe Apps for a Healthier Mind and Body PAGE 4

5 Best Recipe Apps for a Healthier Mind and Body

BBC Good Food With over 10,000 recipes accessible from BBC’s cooking history, this app brings together both user-submitted recipes and tested recipes from the BBC Good Food team and celebrity chefs — for free. Create an account and save all your favorites! Paprika You might already have your favorite go-to recipe blogs and websites, such as BudgetBytes and Bon Appetit. How do you manage your cluttered bookmark folders of recipes? Easy! Get a recipe manager app like Paprika! It’s only $5, and you can input all your recipe URLs and easily organize your favorite recipes from the internet. BigOven Only have a few ingredients but need to cook a meal? Just type in three ingredients, and BigOven will search its 350,000-recipe bank to find the perfect options for free. BigOven also makes it easy to follow your favorite food bloggers while staying on top of your food supply!

If you're always in a rush, it's quite possible that food delivery apps have been your best friend during the pandemic. But they may also make it difficult to stay healthy! Save yourself both time and money by replacing your food delivery apps with these top- rated healthy recipe and recipe management apps, instead. Tasty You’ve likely seen a Tasty food recipe video on Facebook or social media somewhere. Their beautifully simplistic editing style makes it easy to understand and follow recipes, and you can access their whole library for free with their app! It even includes a grocery list function when you want to take on multiple recipes. Forks Over Knives In recent years, nutritionists and doctors alike have started recommending a plant-based diet for its health benefits. Whether you’re a vegetarian, vegan, or a plant-based omnivore, you’ll love Forks Over Knives’ creative and simple dishes that blend perfectly with your needs. For only $5, you can easily find something to suit your tastes and health needs in the over 400 high-quality recipes from 50 celebrated chefs. You may even stave off heart disease and Type 2 diabetes while you’re at it.

We hope these apps will help you cook and eat simpler, healthier, and faster than ever!

4 • www.TheSotoLawGroup.com

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com