hand777 casino

hand777 casino By Kemberley Washington, CPA, Bankrate.com (TNS) As the end of the year approaches, now’s the time to start preparing for filing your 2024 tax return in 2025. When it comes to tax strategies, generally Dec. 31 is the deadline to make changes that might lower your tax bill. One major exception is the deadline for contributing to a Roth or traditional IRA : You have until April 15, 2025, to make a contribution to a Roth or traditional IRA for tax year 2024. If you qualify for deductible IRA contributions , then a contribution to your traditional IRA can reduce your taxable income for 2024. Here are tips and strategies to prepare now for the 2025 tax-filing deadline. If you had significant changes in your life in 2024 — maybe you got married or divorced, started your own business, or had to claim unemployment benefits — your taxes may be more complicated. As a result, you might need to hire a certified public accountant (CPA), enrolled agent (EA) or other tax professional to prepare and file your taxes. If you decide to hire someone, it’s best to start planning for that sooner rather than later. Waiting until the calendar flips to April could cost you. The average fee for a professional to prepare and file a simple Form 1040 tax return, with no itemized deductions, is about $220, according to a survey by the National Society of Accountants in 2020-2021, the most recent data available. But that amount rises quickly for more complex returns, and varies depending on where you live. For example, a Form 1040 with itemized deductions costs an average of $432 in states on the Pacific Coast, compared with $285 in New England. No matter where you live, prices usually rise as the tax deadline approaches, so it’s smart to start searching for a tax pro soon. If you’re uncomfortable doing your taxes on your own and can’t afford a CPA, enrolled agent or other tax pro, or to pay for tax software , there are free options to consider. The IRS currently offers three ways to prepare your taxes for free: •With the IRS Free File program, the IRS partners with for-profit tax-software companies that offer free tax-prep software to eligible taxpayers so they can file their federal tax returns for free. Some taxpayers may also qualify for a free state tax filing, depending on the software provider. In January, the IRS will announce the income limit to qualify for the program for the 2025 tax season (for filing 2024 tax returns). For the 2024 tax season (2023 tax returns), taxpayers’ adjusted gross income (AGI) couldn’t exceed $79,000. •The IRS also offers its Direct File program, a free tool that allows you to file your federal income tax return directly with the IRS at no cost. The program supports simple tax returns and is available only in certain states. Check to see if you qualify here. •Another free-filing option is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. IRS-certified volunteers offer free basic tax preparation in person to people who earn less than $67,000 a year, are disabled or whose English is limited. The IRS has an online location tool for hundreds of free tax preparation sites in the U.S. (the locator tool is updated from February through April). Some VITA sites also offer online tax-prep assistance. Now is a good time to create an IRS online account. If you want to see your Form 1040 from last year, or you’re missing a prior year Form W-2 or mortgage interest statement, you can find your documents using this free tax tool. Another benefit of creating an IRS online account is that it allows you to quickly obtain your prior year’s tax information without sitting on the phone for hours with an IRS representative, says Carl Johnson, a certified public accountant in New Orleans. An IRS online account also lets you view your account balance and payment history for each year. You can also create a payment plan to settle your federal income tax debt within minutes. If you’re 73 years old and have enjoyed watching your 401(k) or IRA grow tax-free without touching it, remember that the IRS is going to want its share each year. That means you’ll have to make withdrawals — and pay income tax. If you turned 73 in 2024, plan to take your required minimum distribution (RMD) at the latest by April 1, 2025. Read this IRS bulletin for more information. The amount of your RMDs is based on your age and the year-end values of your retirement accounts. A Roth IRA has two big tax advantages over a traditional IRA : Qualified withdrawals are not considered income for federal (and usually state) tax purposes, and you don’t have to take distributions from a Roth every year once you reach age 73. Converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA may save you money in the long run. Just know that when you convert an IRA to a Roth, it’s considered taxable income, which will raise your tax bill for that year. Generally, it’s best to convert to a Roth IRA when you’re in a low-income year. As tax season approaches, many people start receiving phone calls, emails and texts from entities claiming to be the IRS. Be wary, and understand that these are scams. Typically, the IRS will mail you a notice before using any other method of communication to notify you concerning issues with your tax return. The IRS won’t reach out via social media or text messaging. Relatedly, the IRS warns taxpayers to be careful when choosing a tax preparer. Taking time to vet your tax preparer is crucial to protect yourself from tax scams and fraud. Before hiring a tax professional, search that person’s name in the IRS database of federal tax return preparers to avoid dishonest “professionals.” “Taxpayers should check the tax professional’s credentials,” Johnson says. Tax pros without credentials “may take questionable positions without any degree of scrutiny or fear of losing their access to the profession,” Johnson says. Taxpayers who don’t file a tax return and owe a tax bill, or who file but don’t pay their tax bill on time, risk severe penalties. The IRS can even seize assets if necessary. Respond quickly if the IRS has been sending you letters because it found an error on your return or claims you owe back taxes. Typically, the IRS will send you a notice if you have a balance due, changes were made to your tax return, or the agency needs additional information. “If you ignore a collection letter from the IRS, you may face wage garnishments, liens, bank levies, and other adverse action. And in some cases, the amount due may increase for failure to respond,” Johnson says. Keep in mind the IRS does offer installment plans and other payment plans. Make copies of your correspondence and use only the U.S. Postal Service, the postmark from which is your proof of timeliness when responding. But whatever you do, don’t ignore the IRS because this may cause more issues in the future. ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.A look at Jimmy Carter's Grammy Awards

In a surprising turn of events, the Premier League's reigning Golden Boot winner has expressed his desire to join the ranks of FC Barcelona. The forward, known for his blistering pace and clinical finishing, has caught the eye of Barcelona's new head coach, Xavi Hernandez, who has wasted no time in pursuing the talented winger.

Udupi: NCC Karnataka and Goa Directorate , in collaboration with MAHE, NCC Exchange Participants Association of India (EXPA), and Manipal Skill Development Centre (MSDC), organised a programme for selected NCC cadets to enhance their entrepreneurship acumen and startup skills. A 10-day camp by 21 Karnataka Battalion NCC at Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), Manipal, started on December 21, and will continue until December 30. Training on entrepreneurship and skill development will be provided to 80 NCC cadets, selected from the 441 camp participants, for three days until Dec 29. Brigadier Surjit Singh Pabla, chairman of MSDC, addressed the NCC cadets on the first day of the three-day entrepreneurship and skill development programme on Thursday. He said that NCC offers good learning opportunities at a very early age, and the NCC cadets should make use of it. He called upon the cadets to hone their skills during their camps and training programmes, as the industry-academia gap is a challenge in the present-day world. Further, Army veteran Brigadier Pabla, who participated in the Indo-Pak war in 1970 as a young lieutenant, said that discipline and moral courage are the two gifts that NCC offers to those who join it. Learning entrepreneurship skills will give another dimension to the career path, he said. Further guiding the NCC cadets, he told them to get the NCC ‘C' Certificate so that they can directly go for the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview. "Today universities are five to 10 years behind what industrialists are expecting, so bridging the gap between academia and industry is the need of the hour," he stressed. The cadets selected for this training programme will be exposed to startup incubators and innovation labs to focus on solving largescale problems through the intervention of technology and entrepreneural zeal. The module of this training programme includes a series of lectures, demonstrations, visits, and talks by experts in various fields with diverse experience in skill development and entrepreneurship. Colonel Rahul Chauhan, commanding officer, Karnataka Battalion NCC Udupi was present. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword .

Musk wants to slash US government spending by a third, and Ramaswamy wants to cut 75% of the federal workforce. Can they? For months, Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, has been pushing for a department to slash United States government spending. On November 12, President-elect Donald Trump made his wish come true and announced that Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur and failed Republican presidential candidate, would lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). DOGE appears to be an outside advisory department that will work in conjunction with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), a White House office in charge of helping the sitting president craft budget proposals to bring to Congress. Musk gave the department official government credentials on X, the social media platform he owns. “From everything we’ve heard now, what Elon and Vivek are proposing to do would be something similar to what the Office of Management and Budget and GAO [Government Accountability Office] does. OMB serves the president specifically to help manage federal agencies across the executive branch. Anything that goes to the president has to go through OMB first. Anything that comes from the president to other agencies has to go through OMB first,” a former senior Trump administration official who declined to be named told Al Jazeera. Regardless, it would not be an official cabinet position, which would require the formation of a new government agency, which would require congressional approval. The most recent agency to be created was the Department of Homeland Security, which opened its doors in 2003 in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks. What is DOGE planning to do? Musk has promised to cut $2 trillion, or more than a third, of the US government’s annual budget. He said he wants to cut the number of agencies from 428 to 99 . Last week, he shared on X an old interview with Milton Friedman in which the economist lists the government departments that should be scrapped – agriculture, education, commerce – adding, “Milton Friedman was the best,” a post that is being read as things Musk would like to do. Ramaswamy, who will co-lead the office, said he wants to cut 75 percent of the federal government workforce. The federal government employs roughly 2 million civilians. A 75 percent reduction would mean that 1.5 million people would be out of a job, which, experts said, will strip down a range of services from food stamps to defence spending. To boost the effort, Trump ally and Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has been picked to lead a DOGE subcommittee in the House of Representatives, in which she is to outline plans to fire government employees. The subcommittee has yet to be created. Musk has acknowledged that the move would create temporary hardships but said it is for long-term prosperity. “There are a lot of questions that are brought up by his stated goal of streamlining the government and by some of the metrics that he’s put out. [And that’s] before he’s done any of his initial analysis,” Ann Skeet, senior director of leadership ethics at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University in California, told Al Jazeera. This week, Musk singled out specific government employees, questioning their jobs to his 205 million followers on X, The Wall Street Journal reported, many of whom then followed up with tweets targeting those people. Musk has oversimplified government programmes to make them sound ridiculous and worthy of cuts but has ignored why these programmes exist. He slammed , for instance, research in which the US government spent $4.5m to spray alcoholic rats with bobcat urine. However, this is part of a bigger research study into the relationship between alcoholism and post-traumatic stress disorder, a common issue among military veterans and one the research is trying to find treatment for. Musk’s willingness to make cuts “just speaks to an arrogance that because you’ve been successful in one domain, that doesn’t mean he can be successful in another domain”, Skeet said. Musk and Ramaswamy argued that Trump will be able to cut government jobs unilaterally under a policy called Schedule F, an executive order that Trump signed during his first term and never went into effect. It would have reclassified civilian civil servants as at will employees who serve at the pleasure of the president, similar to a political appointment like a cabinet secretary. It would strip job protections from these employees. Musk has a long record of firing people who are necessary to key functions of his companies, including during his takeover of Twitter when he laid off half its employees, a move that led to systemic failures across the company. As a result of his decisions, the company is now valued at 80 percent less than when he took it over. Musk has tweeted that DOGE is looking to hire people with high IQs who are willing to work 80 hours a week for no money and will need to buy a subscription to X to apply. Skeet warned that a skeleton staff manning the federal government “will impact how consumers will interact with the government – whether or not airplanes will be safe to fly and cars will be regulated in the correct way and sort of just will people get their tax returns on time”. Musk’s appointment is until July 4, 2026, in conjunction with the country’s 250th birthday, according to a Trump team press release. That is also only a few months before midterm elections. Conflicts of interest Musk’s appointment comes with significant conflicts of interest. He has claimed on X that his businesses were “smothered by bureaucracy” and DOGE would address that. Musk’s businesses have billions of dollars in government contracts. SpaceX alone received $3.8bn in government contracts in the 2024 fiscal year, most of which was work for NASA and the Department of Defense, according to government data. Those contracts include building the propulsion systems NASA uses while another contract is to use Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service provider, to first responders during weather events like the floods in North Carolina. While SpaceX has the lion’s share of government contracts among Musk’s companies, some of his other firms also earn money from the US government, including Tesla. In the 2024 fiscal year, Tesla had $6m of government contracts. NASA and the Department of Commerce are the largest awarding agencies for the electric vehicle giant. “Having somebody who is a beneficiary of government decision-making, you know, in a role to decide which parts of government to streamline, is somebody who is fundamentally conflicted,” Skeet said. Musk’s conflicts of interest do not just stem from federal contracts but also agencies either investigating or sanctioning him and his businesses. As the co-head of this new agency, he would be in charge of coming up with financial policy decisions that could impact their future funding. One agency where Musk faces fines and investigations is the National Labor Relations Board, which investigates allegations of union busting and workforce harm. Musk faced complaints for his actions in the overhaul of Twitter, including lawsuits from employees he fired. Musk also faces a complaint lodged by the United Auto Workers union after his interview with then-candidate Trump in which the two joked about firing striking workers. That case is still open. The National Transportation Safety Board has pending investigations against Tesla on its self-driving cars, which have been involved in crashes, including one that killed a pedestrian in Arizona in 2023. Musk also has conflicts with the Department of Justice (DOJ), which has been trying to access all data and records pertaining to Trump’s X account as recently as last month as it investigates Trump’s role in the January 6, 2021, assault on the US Capitol by his supporters. Before the November elections, Musk was also accused of breaking federal election laws by the DOJ for a $1m daily giveaway conducted by his political action committee. In recent days, Senate Democrats have raised concerns about Musk’s calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin as early as 2022 and his sustained connections with high-level Russian officials, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. They have asked the DOJ to determine if Musk should be barred from future involvement in space contracts. There are other areas of potential conflicts. During President Joe Biden’s administration, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) awarded Starlink an $885m contract to provide access to rural America, but it was later revoked because the FCC didn’t think Starlink could provide the service. Musk slammed the decision as politically biased. Now Trump has picked Musk ally Brenden Carr to lead the commission. Carr is the top Republican on the FCC, who disagreed with the decision to deny Starlink the contract. He also wrote the chapter on the FCC in the conservative policy playbook for a second Trump term, Project 2025. The Securities and Exchange Commission is also a thorn in Musk’s side. As recently as September, the agency planned to sanction him for not showing up to testify for a second time over his acquisition of Twitter and rejected his proposal to pay a $2,923 fine for missing the deposition. But arguably, Musk’s conflicts of interest are neither unique to him nor are they new to Washington. Last year, an investigative report from the outlet Insider found that 78 members of Congress had not properly disclosed personal financial trades, which is required by law. The law is meant to combat issues like insider trading. Musk did not say whether he would divest before joining the government or serve as an outside adviser. He also did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for clarification. At the same time, some of Trump’s policies might also negatively impact Musk. “From everything that President Trump has said, it sounds like he will be very tough on China, which will then serve Elon Musk poorly. He gets a lot of his materials that he needs for his different companies from China,” the former senior Trump administration official who spoke to Al Jazeera said. Tesla, for example, reportedly gets roughly 40 percent of its materials from China. Trump’s proposed tariffs on the country could be as high as 60 percent. In case the tariffs do kick in, “I don’t think it’s all necessarily going to be good for Elon as an adviser,” the official added. Can Musk actually serve? Given all of these factors, can Musk actually serve as head of DOGE under his current arrangements with Tesla, X and SpaceX? Ethics experts suggested they should be disqualifying. “What’s happening here is problematic. Elon Musk has built-in obvious conflicts of interest because the companies that he is associated with have relationships with the very government that he is now going to come in and try to make more efficient,” Skeet said. Legal experts, however, said it’s a bit more of an open question. Advisory committees whether for a federal agency or the president fall under a specific law that requires they make public their actions and meetings so the public can participate, explained Kedric Payne, vice president, general counsel and senior director of ethics at the Campaign Legal Center. But “it’s not clear that [DOGE] will fall under those transparency requirements of the law that applies to most advisory committees,” he said. That law is called the Federal Advisory Committee Act and requires that nongovernmental experts who provide federal agencies with advice publicly disclose their recommendations. Musk said on X he would do that. “In most situations where an official has a conflict of interest, there is a rule that can be enforced to stop that conflict of interest. In this situation, it is not clear yet whether or not there are any rules that could prohibit these conflicts,” Payne said. But with few specifics on how DOGE will be set up, there’s not a lot that can be said about the legal options, Payne pointed out. The Trump transition team, which did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment, has publicly said it is compliant with all laws.

Messi: "You've already won a World Cup, Kylian. This time, let me win."What lies ahead for media and entertainment industry in 2025

The highly anticipated DLC for the sci-fi horror game "Atomic Heart" is finally on the horizon, with the announcement of the upcoming release of "Deep Sea Enchantment." Gamers around the world have been eagerly waiting to delve deeper into the dark and mysterious world of "Atomic Heart," and this new expansion promises to deliver a thrilling and immersive experience like never before.Significant milestones in life and career of Jimmy CarterIn the end, Romelu's performance against Liverpool will be remembered as a turning point in his career. It will be the moment when he announced himself to the world, when he showed that he is not just a player, but a force of nature, a champion in the making. And as the sun sets on the stadium, casting long shadows across the pitch, Romelu knows that this is just the beginning of a journey that will take him to the very top.

Atalanta: Muriel believes that Atalanta can win the Serie A title- Years of experience have helped Atalanta players adapt to pressureAre you tired of your Wi-Fi dropping out just when you need it most? Frustrated that your signal barely reaches the other end of the house, leaving you stranded in a digital dead zone? We understand your pain and there’s a solution that can transform your internet experience. For Black Friday, Amazon is slashing prices on the Google Nest Wifi which is a powerful mesh Wi-Fi system (discontinued by Google and replaced by a more expensive one) designed to eliminate those pesky connectivity issues once and for all. Currently priced at just $34, this represents an incredible 80% discount from its original list price of $169 . This price is an all-time low, even lower than on Prime Day. See at Amazon 2,200 Square Feet Covered The Google Nest Wifi is designed to cover up to 2,200 square feet so that you can enjoy seamless internet connectivity throughout your home. This dual-band router operates on the 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) standard and supports maximum data rates of up to 2,200 Mbps . It features a quad-core processor running at 1.4 GHz, along with 1GB of RAM and 4GB of flash memory so that it can handle multiple devices simultaneously without sacrificing performance. The system can connect with up to 100 devices at once . The Nest Wifi is able to eliminate Wi-Fi dead zones : By using mesh technology, it creates a self-healing network that automatically selects the best channel for your devices based on current traffic and signal strength. This means you can move freely around your home—whether you’re on a video call or streaming your favorite shows—without worrying about interruptions or buffering. In addition to its impressive technical specifications, the Google Nest Wifi also integrates seamlessly with the Google Home app. This allows you to manage your network settings easily, monitor device connections and even set parental controls to restrict access to certain content or schedule internet availability for specific devices. While the Google Nest Wifi is being phased out in favor of newer models like the Nest Wifi Pro—priced significantly higher at over $150—the value offered by this router remains unmatched in terms of quality and price. The Nest Wifi has been a trusted product for years and continues to receive positive reviews for its performance and reliability. You should definitely buy it before it runs out of stock. See at AmazonIn conclusion, the earthquake that struck Nevada with a magnitude of 5.7 and a depth of 10 kilometers serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance, preparedness, and unity in the face of natural disasters. By working together and taking proactive steps to build resilience, we can overcome challenges and emerge stronger as a community and as a nation.

eLong Power Holding Limited Completes Business Combination with TMT Acquisition Corp

The game started off at a high intensity, with both Shanxi and Beijing demonstrating their offensive firepower early on. The first quarter saw a back-and-forth exchange of buckets, with neither team willing to give an inch. Beijing's star-studded lineup, led by their dynamic point guard and sharpshooters, attempted to create separation, but Shanxi's tenacious defense and efficient scoring kept them within striking distance.MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Cam Ward keeps rewriting the Miami record book. Ward, a Heisman Trophy contender who already holds the Hurricanes' single-season record for touchdown passes and is on pace to break the school marks for completion percentage, set two more school records on Saturday — both at Bernie Kosar's expense. Ward now has 3,774 yards on 268 completions this season. Kosar threw for 3,642 yards on 262 completions in 1984, and for the next 40 years nobody matched those numbers — until now. “Congrats #CamWard,” Kosar posted on social media. “U R Awesome.” Everyone seems to think so — except Ward, that is. He has made clear all season that personal accomplishments and stats are of little, if any, importance to him. “It really doesn't mean anything ... The receiving group that I have, the O-line that I have, any quarterback in this position could set records," Ward said. Ward's 13-yard completion to Damien Martinez with 1:27 left in the second quarter gave him 3,643 yards for the season and broke that record. And in the third quarter, Ward threw a 15-yard pass to Xavier Restrepo for his 263rd completion of the year — topping another of Kosar's marks. Ward is up to 34 touchdown passes this season; the previous Miami record was 29 by Steve Walsh in 1988. And with a completion rate of 67.2%, Ward is on pace to break Miami's single-season completion percentage mark of 65.8% set last year by Tyler Van Dyke as well as the Miami career mark of 64.3% set by D'Eriq King in 2020 and 2021. “He only cares about winning,” wide receiver Jacolby George said. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballIn conclusion, while the absence of major combat in Damascus is a positive step towards peace, the city's residents continue to face the daily threat of small-scale violence and unrest. The road to lasting stability and security in the city will be long and arduous, but with perseverance and determination, Damascus can overcome its challenges and emerge stronger than ever before.

Cam Ward breaks Bernie Kosar's single-season Miami passing yards and completions recordsA mum whose son was born premature has opened up about the support from the “incredible” staff in the neonatal unit — and her advice for parents going through a similar experience. Róisín Doherty, whose five-year-old son, Brodie, was born at 32 weeks and five days, was speaking following World Prematurity Day, which took place on Sunday, November 17. She told Chic, “What I would say is that it’s a journey; it’s definitely a journey. Read more: Three food changes that can quickly lower high cholesterol before drugs needed Read more: 'Cheap' supplement could help boost brain function and slash Alzheimer's risk, experts say "Whenever you’re definitely not aware of what you’re about to face, it’s very daunting. “I was taken in at 27 weeks to have Brodie. Whenever I went in, I was gowned up — I was in my gown to go into surgery. The surgery was called off literally seconds before I went in to have him. “Everything changed — and that’s how quickly things can change when you’re pregnant. All parents know this, but things can change drastically.” Róisín recalled how when she was pregnant with Brodie, it had been a “very up and down” experience. She said, “I was supposed to have him at 27 weeks, because I was being monitored from very early on; if I’m right in saying, it was about three months into my pregnancy. “We were monitored throughout, we had scans, checkups, whatever it might've been.” Around 4,500 babies — or 1 in 16 — are born prematurely in Ireland every year. The mum shared her advice for parents in a similar situation, encouraging them to listen to their gut instincts. She said, “The best advice I could give any parent, any mother or father, out there is a gut instinct — we always hear, ‘a mother’s gut instinct, you should listen to it’. And it’s so true. “The day that I went in at 27 weeks to have Brodie, I felt like something was — I felt like we shouldn’t being doing this right now, if that makes sense. "As I was going in for surgery, for the c-section, to have him, I said to my doctor, ‘can we check again to see if everything is good, if we actually need to have it then’. At 27 weeks, it’s very, very dangerous.” Róisín told how her doctor scanned her again and everything was called off as “all my observations and his observations at the time” were healthy. She said, “She scanned me and was like, ‘look, I’m happy to call everything off because everything is really healthy’ — his heart rate, my heart rate and all my observations and his observations at the time, it was all healthy. “They kept me in and monitored me every hour. I was in until I was 32 weeks plus five days, and that was the moment where it was like, ‘OK, right, we need to get this baby out now for safety reasons’. “We held on and we held on. When we came out, yes he was sick and he had to go to neonatal. “But he thrived in neonatal — he was like a baby that you’d think he was full term. It was like a baby who needed to come out. “A baby will determine — their observations, whenever they’re reading their heart, and all of their observations — they’ll tell you, they basically tell you through the screen, ‘I need to get out of here’.” Brodie was in the Neonatal Unit for two weeks, and Róisín told how he “thrived the whole time he was there, apart from one day where he had a blip”. She continued, “Whenever a blip happens, it’s extremely dangerous when you’re in neonatal. “But they say that the closer you move to the door, the closer you’re moving to you getting home. “Any movement that you have in neonatal closer to the door, you know it’s good; you know it’s time to go home or you’re getting closer to that stage. “We were in there for two weeks. He was in for 14 days and I was in for 13 days. “The day before he’d actually got home, I got home. Me and my husband, we left the hospital that evening, and I can’t even explain the trauma that both of us felt because we were driving home without or baby. “I’ll never forget the drive home. I was crying. It was a very, very surreal moment. “A mummy is supposed to leave hospital with their baby — and at that stage, I didn’t know how long Brodie was going to be in for. When you’re in neonatal, you don’t have a set day of, ‘OK, tomorrow you’re going to get home’. “They can’t do that. You’re critical and don’t know whether tomorrow, you’re going to have a really good day or not. “They can never determine actually when a baby is going to get home until that day, basically. “That day when we went home, it was a horrible, horrible feeling knowing that your baby is not with you. "We went back the next day, early early, and we found out he was able to come home that day. There wasn’t another night that we weren’t able to spend with him.” Roisin partnered with Pampers to raise awareness around World Prematurity Day. Pampers are hoping to help empower parents to feel confident caring for their premature baby through essential moments like touch and bonding. The company have three sizes of nappies for premature babies: P1, P2 and P3. The Pampers Preemie Protection Nappy was developed with neonatal nurses and parents, and is designed to fit around medical lines and leads — as well as make nappy changing easier for parents and nurses, as well as protecting baby’s delicate skin. Since 2017, they have donated almost one million of the Preemie Protection Nappy to premature babies in Irish hospitals around the country. Róisín opened up about the “incredible” people who work in the Neonatal Unit, and how they “turn out to be like family”. She said, “They’re like the second mummy. Whenever I had Brodie, I was basically fighting for my own life. “People don’t understand how sick mummies get after surgery and c-sections. It’s kind of like, ‘ah, mummies are made for this!’ But actually, the fact is that it’s a really, really serious surgery that a woman is having. “When I had Brodie, the only contact I had with him was he was taken out of my belly, and then he was brought to my face to give a kiss and to meet each other. He was taken away straight away, straight to neonatal. “My husband left with him and went over to neonatal. “It’s a really strange feeling, because you’re being cared for while your child is being cared for by these — all I can say is that they’re angels. What they do to to give your child that motherly love they need, and the affection. “The first few days, Brodie had to be given donor’s milk, it’s called. It’s other mothers’ milk that they donate to the neonatal unit, that they don’t use. “You can either opt for it or not opt for it. I opted for it because I’m a breastfeeding mum, I’ve always breastfed. “You get donor milk, and that’s from others mothers that have no need for it. “They provide all that via a tube, and care for your child when you’re not actually fit to. "Whenever I was in hospital, and when I was in there in the Neonatal Unit which was very rare, they were the ones that were caring for Brodie. “I can’t even explain what these women — they turn out to be like family. “Any other parent of a premature baby will understand what I mean by that. They get you, they understand if you’re not feeling it. “They’re incredible human beings and I feel like they don’t get enough credit on this earth for what they do for these little babies that can’t defend themselves.” Róisín told how Brodie has some problems with his ears, nose and throat — but is overall doing “really well”. The influencer also shared her favourite part of the parenthood experience so far has been “watching their personalities grow”. She said, “They all have different personalities — you hear people saying, ‘no one is ever the same’. It’s so true, especially as a parent. "You’re watching children grow — whether it’s one kid or two or three — children are so different. “They’re so clever and intelligent. They actually reach us a thing or two about life and about humanity.” Róisín told how 2024 has been a “really, really testing year” for the family — and opened up about her decision to document her journey following her diagnosis with skin cancer. The beauty expert told how at the beginning after her diagnosis, she was “keeping it very private” and “didn’t come out until months later, about what was actually going on.” She said, “I was really nervous because whenever you’re in the public eye, or you’re online and sharing your life, you’re opening yourself up to a lot of criticism. “And whenever you’re in a stage of your life where there’s so much uncertainty, and you don’t actually know what path your own life’s going down — it’s really hard to share in a way where you’re feeling positive about it. “But whenever I actually shared it, I was ready. I understand the power of social media — and the way that I wanted to portray it online was that it’s going to help lives, and save lives. That’s exactly what it’s done.” Róisín told how she has gotten “hundreds, maybe thousands” of people getting in touch to share their own stories, after they got something checked after seeing her posts. She said, “Me going through this — and I say it all the time, that if I experience something in life, I feel like its for a reason. I “know this might sound so, so silly but I feel like I’m going through this experience with my skin cancer diagnosis to help other people, you know? “I was given this route in my life and don’t get me wrong, it has been extremely difficult. “My mental health deteriorated because I didn’t understand the severity of it, or if I was going to die with it, or anything.” Róisín added that there isn’t “a lot of education out there” regarding skin cancer, and that it’s “very hidden and closed”. She continued, “At that time when I was diagnosed, the first thought was, ‘am I going to be here next year? Am I going to see my children grow?’ All these emotions go through your head and your body. “You think to yourself, especially being online, ‘do I actually want to share this? Am I being overdramatic?’ It’s a really hard situation to be in, because no matter what you do, when you’re online and open, people say, ‘you share your life; you should be open to this criticism’. “But in actual fact, we shouldn’t make it our normal kind of behaviour, that people attack us.” Róisín added that overall, she’s glad to have shared her story with her social media followers. She said, “I know it saves lives, and it’s continuing to do so, the more I chat about it and the more I share about it.” The mum told how she’s “doing really well” at the moment. She said, “Life’s good — I’ve my family and my health. What more could we ask for as human beings? “You know what, prior to my diagnosis, I didn’t understand how important it was to enjoy the moment. “Before, I was enjoying the future — I was thinking, ‘what’s next, what’s next, what’s next’. “Now, I’m like, ‘let’s live in the moment, let’s be together and enjoy each other’s company’.