Alice is 70 years old, and is the younger sister of Jaime. She is retired and owns a house where she likes to have the family over for the holidays. Alice has Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), a disease in which the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to adequately regulate the levels of sugar circulating in the blood (glycemia). As a result of this disease, Alice has to take insulin shots and needs to be very careful with her diet and lifestyle. Over the years, she has learned what food products make the glycemia go dangerously high and that exercise makes her feel better because it helps lower the stubbornly high glycemia. As an expert on keeping this balance, Alice is now full of wisdom, tips and tricks that can support other characters on their journey to change the lifestyle. |
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Jaime is 75 years old and is George’s father. Jaime was diagnosed with Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (AFLD) many years ago when the doctor saw signs of liver injury in his blood test results. He was shocked to be called an alcoholic for drinking more than 2 standard drinks per day and met the doctor’s recommendation of ceasing alcohol consumption with skepticism. He also disregarded clinical advice on improving his diet and exercise habits. Bound to his routine, over time, his liver started to scar and now Jaime has a form of liver disease called cirrhosis. This time, the seriousness of the doctor reminded him of some old friends that had died from cirrhosis, but what really scared him was finding himself unable to cut down on his drinking. Embarrassed of his failures, Jaime put up a front of indifference, for others and especially himself, renouncing to change and unintentionally becoming a barrier for others’ change. |
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George is 40 years old and is Jaime’s son and Vic’s father. George was recently diagnosed with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). He knew that he had started to gain weight a few years back but had never crossed his mind the fact that his diet and exercise habits would have an effect on his liver. After the doctor explained the risks associated with having a fatty liver, he attempted to lose some weight to prevent the development of cirrhosis, T2DM and cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks. The real reckoning came after Vic’s overweight diagnosis, when he realized the kinds of environment and the behavior he was providing and modeling for his daughter. Motivated to overcome the dissuasive effect of previous failed attempts, George has now decided to learn how to balance his diet and physical activity habits to defat his liver and regain a healthy lifestyle for his family. He hopes his aunt Alice will help him on this journey. |
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Vic is 6 years old and is George’s daughter. For Vic everything is new. She is still discovering what she likes and doesn’t like, what eventually will become her lifestyle habits. She adores her parents and her grandfather Jaime and everything she does with them. Her mom makes her eat vegetables and go to swimming lessons, but when her dad is in charge they order fast food and play videogames. On her last visit to the pediatrician, the doctor said that she is a bit on the heavy side and this caused a big quarrel between her parents. Over the summer, Vic will learn about the importance of a healthy diet and an active lifestyle for maintaining a normal weight, but also for the wellbeing of the liver, the pancreas and the heart. Soon, without realizing it, what once seemed like unappealing meals and activities will become enjoyable experiences that will carve healthy lifestyle habits for life. |
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