12tips & news A S ON’S GIFT OF LIFE BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO One son returned the gift of life to his mother. Anthony Brown, recently named one of The Queens Courier’s Rising Stars, donated his kidney was diagnosed with kidney disease a year before. “It was so emotional because she didn’t know she had it,” he said. “It’s a progressive disease. She gets to the hospital for one thing and finds out she has another. They gave her six to seven months to live.” Brown convinced his mother to let him donate his kidney after telling her that his life would not be complete without her by his side. Zita, originally from Laurelton, is now healthy and living in Florida. “I said, ‘Mom, I need you in my life, I can’t imagine having my first kid or wedding without you there,’” he said. “There are life moments that I need her there for. She then buckled down, crying, and said yes.” The now 25-year-old Long Island City resident then felt he had a moral obligation to be the “voice for a population of people who don’t have a voice.” Brown, an associate and banker with J.P. Morgan’s Long Island Private Bank, became a volunteer advocate with the American Kidney Fund and now travels around the country speaking least consider it.” He also took part in Kidney Action Day, hosted by the American Kidney Fund in Washington D.C., in which advocates come together and meet with local congressmembers to discuss It is March, in like a lion and hopefully out like a lamb! Well, we can only hope so. Spring is right at our fingertips. Maxime is buzzing around patiently awaiting his preview of the new park in Long Island City. In fact, he is so ready to zip around on some grass we bought him a pad that looks like grass so he can embrace it before he sets his eyes on it this year. Honestly, my husband and me are ready for the smell of dew, and even some allergies that come with spring are welcomed. I had a pedicure and was so delighted to put a pretty pink that made me dream of Easter eggs. When I was finished walking home in my flip flops IN THE SNOW looking at my pink toes, it dawned on me how desperate I have been for color. Grey skies, winter snow, cold days and nights! Well, I said to myself, the good news is that spring is right around the corner. So, I have been digging out my spring gear and I am so ready to wear it. In fact, I am even ready to change my skin care regime which I do every season...just like my clothes! This time of year is all about renewal, so as usual I always preach how important exfoliation for our skin is, and I will say it again, EXFOLAITE. Let the dryness go and get ready for healthy glowing skin – all over our bodies. This is the time that getting a facial is essential. All the dryness that has accumulated over the past winter needs to shed to get that glowing healthy skin. Believe me, it is there. So many spas offer spring specials for getting that dewy look that has been hibernating during the winter months. Look for treatments that offer enzyme or fruity acid peelings. When I do my ritual for spring it is mild but effective for my skin care goals. Like many people, I do not have downtime for allowing a strong peeling that will shed all my skin, so I go step by step in a series. Little by little my skin gets back its springtime glow. After you decide on your spring skincare rituals think color! If you never wear makeup, add nice mascara and a pretty lip gloss. That is all you really need when you achieve that dewy skin look. Pinks are hot this year. Try a little color to pop your lips, I can tell you from my experience it has made me feel so good after such a long winter. Remember, these are small treasures in life that are so special. My dresser is filled with little treasures like lip glosses and eye shadows, and every time I see them it makes me smile. So buy a nice pink lip gloss, get a facial and buy that Dior mascara that will give you eyelashes to envy. But most importantly, have fun doing all of it. Avoir and happy springtime! The Cosmetical Junkie and her Voice of Reason: Angelena and Benjamin Lucheux, owners of Tailormade for You Institute for Face and Body in 2013 to his mother Zita Brown after she about kidney disease, encouraging ways to get more money for research. “The decision to donate is something you have to make on your own,” he said. “But what I do is talk about my situation. Part of my mission is to make sure that people have a chance to at the cosmetical junkie the issues surrounding kidney diseases. Said Brown, “I feel blessed that I can live for something bigger than myself.” For more info on the American Kidney Fund visit www.kidneyfund.org. Springtime
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