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Olympian Shawn Johnson opens up about miscarriage in raw and powerful video
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Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson and her husband, former NFL long snapper Andrew East, recently opened up about the couples struggle with miscarriage in an emotional video. - photo by Herb Scribner
Retired Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson and her husband, former NFL long snapper Andrew East, recently opened up about the couples struggle with a miscarriage in an emotional video that gained popularity over the weekend.

Johnson posted the video called pregnancy + heartbreak on her YouTube channel this Saturday. The video shows Johnson and Easts initial joy over finding out theyre expecting a baby to the sadness they felt when they learned Johnson suffered a miscarriage.

The video has been viewed 1.6 million times on YouTube.

You can watch the entire video which ESPN described as raw and incredibly powerful here.

The 20-minute video, which was featured on Good Morning America, starts with Johnson discovering her pregnancy, followed by her reaction to the news.

My instant reaction was to start bawling out of sheer terror, she said. Im gonna be a mom. I have a human growing inside of me. What?!

The video shows Easts jubilant reaction to the pregnancy announcement, too, as he opens a package of his favorite shoes (Converse), but for babies, according to The Huffington Post.

But Johnsons story takes a turn for the worse as she reveals she suffered really bad stomach pains and a lot of bleeding the day after she announced her pregnancy.

Its been an emotional roller coaster, she said. You go from shock to holy crap to I cant do this to lets do this. And now its like pray to God I can do this.

She and East attended a doctors appointment for blood work and an ultrasound. That's where they learned that Johnson had experienced a miscarriage.

About 10 to 20 percent of pregnancies end in a miscarriage, according to the Mayo Clinic.

But the clinic said the actual number is likely higher than that since many miscarriages occur so early in pregnancy that a woman doesn't realize she's pregnant.

Johnson, who has often shared uplifting messages about her Christian faith, did offer an inspiring note at the end of the video for herself and anyone experiencing the same emotions.

The past 48 hours have been some of the happiest, scariest, and saddest times of my life, she wrote. My husband Andrew and I found out that we were unexpectedly pregnant, only to find out hours later some tragic news. I have been crying more than I ever have, but am still optimistic for what is next.
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New Medicare cards are in the mail and scammers are on the prowl
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun mailing new Medicare Health Insurance ID cards. The program no longer uses Social Security numbers to identify people. - photo by Lois M Collins
The federal government is beginning to send out new ID cards to the 58 million Americans who benefit from Medicare. But since many of the people who will receive them don't know they're coming or why, scammers are already gearing up to take advantage.

An AARP survey shows as many as three-fourths of Americans 65 and older have no idea the cards are coming, so some individuals may be duped with claims that they're supposed to pay a fee or provide personal information that will be used, instead, to defraud them.

The new cards are the first reissue in years, and the most striking part of the redesign is that the cards no longer carry the beneficiary's Social Security number. Congress mandated the removal of that number as an identifier for Medicare beneficiaries by next April. Instead, the card has a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier number, an 11-digit combination of numbers and letters.

The new Medicare cards are now being mailed out in batches, starting with the Eastern seaboard and moving west. Most Medicare beneficiaries will receive their cards over the next six months, as long as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has their correct mailing address. Once the cards are in hand, people can share the new identification number with their health care providers. During a transition period, either card is valid.

The old cards, which used Social Security numbers as the personal identification number, should be destroyed.

AARP recently launched an education campaign to warn consumers about scams related to the new Medicare cards.

The membership organization's "Fraud Watch" consultant, Frank Abagnale reformed con man, scammer and the subject of the movie and book "Catch Me If You Can" tells senior citizens the only time they need to carry the actual Medicare card is to health care appointments. Otherwise, it should be left in a safe place. If they want to carry one in their wallet or purse, he says, make a copy and black out the first seven numbers.

Since the cards were announced, scammers have already:

  • Called seniors and asked for their bank account information so that money on their old card could be returned. There is no money on the old card and CMS never asks for personal information over the phone.
  • Offered to send the new card after Medicare beneficiaries pay a $25 fee to cover expenses related to the card. The card is free.
  • Said the card will be mailed out as soon as the older person verifies his or her Social Security number, mailing address and other personal information. CMS already knows the beneficiary's Social Security number and it's no longer being used in conjunction with health care.
AARP and the Federal Trade Commission will hold a free online seminar about the cards and the fraud attempts they have spawned on Thursday, April 19, at 7 p.m. EDT. Register at: www.aarp.org/FraudWebinar. CMS also offers a "frequently asked questions" guide to the new cards.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network says consumers can sign up for its Watchdog Alert emails that deliver breaking scam information, or call a free helpline at 877-908-3360 to speak with volunteers trained in fraud counseling. Abagnale also hosts a weekly podcast for AARP, called The Perfect Scam.
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