Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
Doctors have issued a warning on a popular surgery after a police officer has died by suicide following complications.
A Pennsylvania police officer has died by suicide after suffering from side effects caused by a popular elective eye surgery, his family confirmed.
Now, surviving patients and medics are warning about the procedure for it’s alleged life-changing risks.
The cop died by suicide (YouTube/WTAE-TV Pittsburgh)
Who was Ryan Kingerski?
Ryan Kingerski worked at the Penn Hills Police Department and took time off in August last year to undergo LASIK.
However, just five months later in January, he tragically took his own life.
The 26-year-old reportedly suffered debilitating side effects after the surgery, such as headaches and double vision.
He saw dark spots and ‘floaters,’ tiny spots that look like streaks or unusual shapes in his vision, reports New York Post.
His grief-stricken parents, Tim and Stefanie Kingerski, told CBS News how their ‘witty’ and ‘charming’ son became ‘full of regret’ from the surgery, and left behind a suicide note that revealed he couldn’t take the pain anymore.
Tim said: “He left us a note that said, ‘I can’t take this anymore. LASIK took everything from me.’ That’s the note that we got left.”
His grief-stricken parents are speaking out about it (YouTube/WTAE-TV Pittsburgh)
“It just … it ruined his life. Ruined it. Completely ruined his life in 12 seconds,” Tim said to WTAE News.
“His exact quote was ‘I’m paralyzed without being paralyzed,’ is what he would say.”
What is LASIK surgery?
LASIK is a type of laser vision correction, which stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, which involves the reshaping of the cornea.
It is pitched as an alternative to glasses or contact lenses, according to the Mayo Clinic, by changing the dome-shaped clear tissue at the front of the eye.
It claims the procedure is 95 to 99 percent safe, with the rate of serious complications coming in at less than one percent, the American Refractive Surgery Council claims.
The Mayo Clinic further adds that while side effects of LASIK eye surgery ‘are common,’ complications that pose a loss of vision ‘are very rare’.
However, symptoms can include dry eyes, glare, halos and double vision, ‘overcorrections’, where too much tissue removed, astigmatism, ‘flap problems’, corneal ectasia, regression, and/or visions loss.
It involves surgery on the eye (Getty Images)
LASIK was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1999 for correction of refractive errors, such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism.
Since then, it has seen more than 10 million people across the US opt for the surgery.
According to the medical journal Clinical Ophthalmology, between 700,000 to 800,000 people sign up for it every year.
What have other patients said about LASIK?
Dozens of patients and survivors have come out to claim the surgery can pose some serious complications, as per a LASIK Complications Support Group on Facebook documents.
Ryan’s death also comes as a meteorologist from Detroit TV, Jessica Starr, reportedly came after she took her own life in 2018.
The 35-year-old mom died just two months after LASIK, leaving behind a 30-page suicide note with videos that indicated the surgery was to blame.
Her widower, Dan Rose, said she was ‘completely normal’ and ‘very healthy’ prior to the procedure, with no signs of depression or other underlying issues, reports WJBK.
Another LASIK patient told the Post how she suffered suicidal ideations for two years after her ‘disastrous’ procedure in 2000, saying she similarly suffers from ‘floaters, severe dry eyes, induced astigmatism and severe night vision problems.’
Dozens of patients have said it caused them problems (Getty Images)
Paula Cofer, from Tampa, Florida, also claims to have known of at least 40 people to have taken this own lives after suffering with pain and vision issues.
She said: “I really didn’t want to stick around at times, but I decided I would to get the word out about how dangerous this surgery can be.”
The 66-year-old added: “The LASIK lobby and the surgeons will tell you only one percent of patients have issues afterward. That’s not true. There are multiple studies that indicate otherwise.
“The percentage of those with poor outcomes are in the double digits, not one percent. And they know it.”
“If you understand Lasik and what it does to the eyes and cornea, you realize you can’t do it on a healthy eye and not expect complications,” Cofer claimed.
Abraham Rutner, an electrician from Brooklyn, slammed LASIK as ‘the biggest scam ever put on the American public’ after his surgery went wrong.
“It’s like you have a layer of oil on top of your eye — it was so hazy and terrible,” the 43-year-old told The Post. “I couldn’t work. I couldn’t drive. I felt like I was still a young man and I lost my life.”
Fortunately, both Rutner and Cofer managed to get another surgery to correct the LASIK issues, which involves a scleral lens that sits over the top of damaged corneas.
Morris Waxler is warning against the procedure (YouTube/WTAE-TV Pittsburgh)
What have experts said about LASIK?
Morris Waxler was an FDA advisor who worked in the branch that approved LASIK in its early days.
The 89-year-old told the news outlet that he regrets the move and has been publicly speaking out against its apparent dangers for the past 15 years.
“People come in with healthy eyes and all they need is eyeglasses. But when surgeons cut the cornea they are removing nerves and leaving the corneas with odd shapes and some patients will have intractable pain,” he explained.
Waxler says he has petitioned the FDA to remove its approval of LASIK to no avail.
“They cut nerves, then, in addition, they take out a divot, which removes all the support structure or muscle out of the support section and all of it,” he said about the surgery.
“Sometimes it grows back, sometimes it doesn’t grow back, sometimes it grows back poorly. For some people, it’s a bigger problem than others.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
Featured Image Credit: Family Handout
Topics: Health, Mental Health, Pennsylvania , US News
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Two university students found dead in dorm room in suspected murder-suicide as authorities release details
An investigation has been launched into the two students’ deaths
Warning: This article contains discussion of depression and suicide which some readers may find distressing.
Local authorities have concluded that an incident that saw two students shot was likely a murder-suicide at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
A spokesperson for the university confirmed to the media that two students were discovered with gunshot wounds at the student residency Wilgus Hall.
They were identified as Hallie Helms and Kelsie Martin, both aged 22.
Authorities are still trying to work out the timeline of events, but they have stated they believe it occurred on Monday, May 19 at approximately 4 p.m. local time.
Helms was an elementary education major and was pronounced dead at the scene while Martin, a psychology major and assistant resident director, was transported to Southwest Health and then flown to UW hospital, where she later died.
Students were kept out of the Wilgus Hall building after the bodies were discovered (News 3 Now)
Preliminary autopsy found that Martin died from a gunshot wound, whereas Helms died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The university added: “All indications at this time from the preliminary autopsy suggest a murder-suicide.”
They also noted that no other individuals are currently believed to have been involved in the incident.
Helms graduated with a degree in elementary education, and Martin graduated with a degree in psychology on Saturday, May 17, according to the university’s graduation program.
Following the incident, the University posted to its Facebook page saying: “Thank you to all who have reached out to us through messages and offered to support in so many meaningful ways. We are overwhelmed by your kindness. We are a close community, and this outpouring of care is a powerful reminder of who we are. We do not take it for granted. #PioneerStrong.”
Dr Tammy K EveTovich spoke to the media about the taking care of the wellbeing of the students following the incident (Now 3 Now)
They university has also canceled final exams for the rest of the week, and have emphasized that counselling is available to the campus community.
The Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers also took to social media to make it clear he had been made aware of the situation.
In his own Facebook post, he wrote: “I’ve been briefed on the situation at UW-Platteville, and we will continue to remain in close contact with university officials. As we await more information, please keep UW-Platteville students, faculty, staff, and the greater Platteville community in your thoughts.”
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123
Featured Image Credit: University of Wisconsin-Platteville/Facebook/Hallie Helms/Facebook
Topics: News, US News, Mental Health
Gerrard Kaonga
Woman diagnosed with rare cancer after doctors discovered tumor by accident during pregnancy
Doctors initially told her they weren’t concerned
One woman who was confident she didn’t have cancer, and was reassured by doctors ahead of her diagnosis that it wasn’t anything too concerning, had a pretty devastating surprise during her pregnancy.
Pregnancy can put a strain on anyone at the best of times, and most are just happy and hoping to deliver a healthy bouncing baby.
There likely isn’t much more frightening than to learn that while pregnant, you have a life-threatening illness as well.
Well, 39-year-old Michelle Kaba from New Jersey had to deal with this reality, but the difference is doctors insisted that there wasn’t anything she should be concerned about.
Speaking about her cancer diagnosis in a candid report for the Stupid Cancer organization, she said: “When I was pregnant, I was diagnosed with pancreatitis. I went through 4 different hospital stays in the span of 5.5 months and was placed on a strict, low-fat diet.
Kaba was initially told that the growth could be removed after she had been given birth but complications prevented this (Stupid Cancer)
“After the birth, the pancreatitis was going to be gone for good and life would go back to ‘normal’.
“They said the growth they found while I was 20 weeks pregnant was benign, and it just needed to be removed after our baby was born. The doctors weren’t concerned, so neither was I.”
However, it soon turned out that the growth was no longer benign; in fact, it had even grown larger. Another biopsy was taken, and it was eventually revealed that Kaba had ampullary cancer.
After multiple tests and second opinions, Kaba and her family got some good news: the cancer hadn’t spread, it was still in stage one, and could be removed via surgery after some chemotherapy.
Speaking about her difficult road to recovery, she added: “My Whipple Procedure was successful.
“With part of my pancreas and small intestine removed along with my whole gallbladder, the tumor was gone and the pathology reports confirmed there was no longer cancer in my body.
“In a 3-week period, I was diagnosed and freed from cancer, all while becoming a new mom. It was a complete whirlwind that I still haven’t fully processed.”
What are the symptoms of ampullary cancer?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, ampullary cancer is a rare and aggressive type of carcinoma that forms in an area of your body called the ampulla of Vater.
This area is a small opening where your bile duct and pancreatic duct join.
Kaba received good news that her cancer was in Stage 1 and could eventually be removed (Stupid Cancer)
Due to its location in the body, there are often fears that the cancer can spread to the liver, pancreas and other digestive system organs.
Regarding symptoms, people with this type of cancer can experience jaundice – yellowing of the skin and eyes.
Other ampullary cancer symptoms include:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Back pain
- Itchy skin
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Anemia
- Pancreatitis
- Rectal bleeding
- Fatty poops (may be greasy and clay-colored)
If you begin to experience these symptoms, it is advised you speak to your healthcare professional and get tested.
Featured Image Credit: Handout/Stupidcancer.org
Gerrard Kaonga
Experts issue urgent warning against popular new tanning ‘drug’ that could cause brain swelling and cancer
The viral trend promises to give users a natural glowing tan
Experts are issuing a dire warning about a possible ‘toxic’ tanning drug as it could cause some serious health complications.
Melanotan II, nicknamed the ‘Barbie drug‘, has grown in popularity on social media and by beauty gurus as the nasal spray vows to give users a perfect, natural tan.
Fans of the pink-packaged spray claim a dose, taken in a spray up the nose, gives them a bronze glow from the inside out.
However, medical experts are warning there is little natural about the untested synthetic drug, which is a version of the peptide α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, reports the New York Post.
As the hormone is responsible for melanin production, the drug has also been linked to a list of some worrying side effects, from nausea and brain swelling to cancer.
It can also alter the size and pigmentation of moles, spark new moles and cause facial flushing, as well as abdominal cramps, vomiting and chest pain.
The spray could be dangerous (Getty Images)
Melanotan II has also been linked to rhabdomyolysis, more commonly referred to as ‘rhabdo,’ where muscle tissue breaks down and releases a toxin into the bloodstream which can provoke kidney failure.
When taken by men, they risk priapism, a prolongued and painful erection of their penis that is not caused by sexual activity which, if left untreated, can cause permanent damage.
Dr Jennifer Levine, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, told the news outlet: “People always want to be tan, especially during the summer.”
“The Barbie movie has also added to the ‘beach’ trend.”
Yet Melanotan II has not been approved by the FDA, prompting concerns that it falls below regulatory standards.
There could be a variability in its dosages, as well as unidentified or undeclared ingredients, plus possible microbial contamination.
Unaware of its apparent dangers, Eidth Eagle told the BBC she had purchased and used nasal tanners before jetting off on a trip to the Canary Islands.
Yet on her second day of vacation, she was raced to hospital with an allergic reaction.
Skin cancer kills thousands of Americans every year (Getty Images)
Eagle said she felt like she was ‘suffocating inside’ and ‘drowning’ in her own body and is now urging others and governments around the world to adopt a ‘zero tolerance approach’.
If that’s not enough to put you off, consider that the UK, Australia and the US among several other countries have issued warnings to users.
TikTok even took a stand, banning hashtags that refer to it such as #tanningnasalspray, #melanotan and #melanotan2.
Yet such warnings have clearly fallen on deaf ears, as black market supplies continue to distribute the drug in various forms, from injectables to tablets, cream and the nose spray.
The fresh warning comes after a study published last year found social media has been the driving force behind unlicensed sales of the drug, and despite some platforms banning it, fans have been getting around it by posting it under different names or hashtags.
The American Cancer Society further warns 8,000 people in the US die of melanoma every year – so people should be aware of the risks before they hit the beach.
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Image
Topics: Social Media, US News, Health, Cancer
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Boxer Georgia O’Connor dies aged 25 after claiming doctors ‘dismissed’ cancer symptoms for four months
Georgia O’Connor revealed she was diagnosed with terminal cancer just months ago, claiming ‘no one’ took her seriously
A professional boxer has died at just 25 after claiming doctors ‘dismissed’ her cancer symptoms for months.
Georgia O’Connor from Durham, UK, was a decorated Team GB amateur boxer at junior level, going on to win gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2017.
The rising star revealed just in January this year that she had been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer that was tragically terminal.
Revealing her diagnosis on Instagram, she wrote at the time: “There’s really no easy way to say this, but I have cancer.
The young woman has died (Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)
“Now that’s out the way, it’s time to expose the absolute incompetent RATS that have allowed this to happen.”
O’Connor stated she was in ‘constant pain’ for 17 weeks and made several trips to hospital and doctor’s appointments.
She said she knew ‘something was seriously wrong’ and that she was already considered a cancer-risk due to her colitis and PSC (primary sclerosing cholangitis).
“But not one doctor f***ing listened to me,” she continued. “Not one doctor took me seriously. Not one doctor did the scans or blood tests I begged for whilst crying on the floor in agony.”
O’Connor revealed in January she had been diagnosed with cancer (Instagram/georgiaoconnor_1)
“Instead, they dismissed me. They gaslit me, told me it was nothing, made me feel like I was overreacting. They refused to scan me. They refused to investigate. They REFUSED to listen. One even told me that it’s “all in my head.'”
The youngster made the heartbreaking admission that not only had her cancer spread but doctors found potentially fatal blood clots in her lungs.
She continued to rant about the shortcomings of the NHS, adding: “They could have done something before it got to this stage.”
“They can say it’s terminal all they want. They can tell me I’m going to die. But after taking 17, SEVENTEEN weeks to even figure out what was wrong with me, why the f*** should I believe them?”
The boxing star in March this year (Jordan Peck/Getty Images)
Celebrating her 25th birthday a month later, O’Connor revealed in a space of a few months she had suffered a miscarriage and was diagnosed with incurable cancer.
“I have what people consider the worst disease known to man, but I’m still able to smile, laugh and be myself,” she penned.
O’Connor then tied the knot with her partner, Adriano, just two weeks ago, writing in her final post on Instagram: “09.05.2025. The day I married the love of my life.”
Tributes have since been flooding in for the star, including from her former promoter, Ben Shalom’s Boxxer, who wrote: “We are heartbroken by the passing of Georgia O’Connor. A true warrior inside and outside the ring, the boxing community has lost a talented, courageous and determined young woman far too soon,” reports BBC.
“Georgia was loved, respected and admired by her friends here at Boxxer. Our thoughts are with her loved ones at this difficult time.”
Tributes have been flooding in (Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)
World champion Ellie Scotney, who was a buddy of O’Connor for a decade, described her as the ‘most beautiful human.’
“I was so blessed with not just a friend for 10 years, but a sister for life,” Scotney said.
“Even when life was on a timer, you never let anything dim that light of yours. A smile that never ever fades, and a heart that will forever live on in so many ways.
“There was nothing you couldn’t do, the world at your very feet no matter what room you entered.”
England Boxing also said O’Connor was a ‘gifted boxed’ and ‘beloved member of the amateur boxing community.’
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the American Cancer Society on 1-800-227-2345 or via their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.
