Another story: Preventing birth defects

About 400,000 babies are born in Texas each year, and at least 14,000 will have one or more major birth defects. This January, for Birth Defects Prevention Month, a story I wrote helped raise awareness.

The 25th Anniversary of the Texas Birth Defects Registry: Looking Back at the Beginning of Data Gathering to Prevent Birth Defects

(Also published in the Texas Birth Defects Monitor.)

While I was working on this story, I interviewed a courageous woman and mother. Anne Andis had a beautiful baby girl born with a tragic birth defect. Anne worked to make sure her baby girl's life made a difference. Her story is linked in the article above, or you can jump directly to Making Birth Defects Count, a Mother's Story.

Job wanted

In search of a job where I can use my love of words to serve others. If you know of a job opening in the Austin, Texas area (or telecommute), please send me a link.

For more detail on my skills and experience: linkedin.com/in/jimiripleyblack


Each job is a learning experience. Sometimes those experiences take you in unexpected directions. This time, I learned that I want to do something else. I'm open to possibilities. 

I could:

• Continue communications work in a different context. 
• Learn new skills to change career direction.
• Expand on my experience as a web author and administrator.
• Build on my writing and editing experience.
• Explore my recently discovered love of teaching.
• Use my soft skills to fulfill a need.
• Broaden my love of learning and research.
• Work with one of my previous teams in a new capacity.
• Contribute my skills to the work of a new team.
• Do something else I can't even imagine right now.

I will step through the door that opens. Growth comes from challenging myself to step out of my comfort zone. I am ready.

Still writing

I'm back and I'm still writing – for work anyway. It's time to get back to personal writing. I'll start with blogging.

Meanwhile, here's something from work. I wrote a story on Saving Texas Babies. DSHS social media featured the story for Newborn Screening Awareness Month.

Saving Texas Babies