Hostages freed by Hamas describe life in captivity.

A woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 25 shares her symptoms. November 28, 2023 | [VIEW IN BROWSER](   THIS IS TODAY November 7, 2023 [VIEW IN BROWSER]( THIS IS TODAY Hostages who were returned to their families in Israel after being held by Hamas describe what life was like in captivity. Plus, a woman recalls how her ovarian cancer symptoms were initially dismissed by doctors, and parents weigh in on whether Elf on the Shelf is a beloved tradition — or a holiday nuisance.   The Latest   Newly freed hostages described what life was like while being held by Hamas.]( With Hamas releasing more than 50 hostages over the past three days, families are [sharing details of what life was like in captivity](. One 12-year-old girl told her uncle they they had toilets but not much food, while a mother who was taken with her child described being given bread and rice and sleeping in a "suffocating" room on plastic chairs for 50 days. The nephew of a 72-year-old woman who was taken said she had to "adjust to the sunlight" because she spent so many days in darkness. [Read more.]( [Suspect in Vermont shooting of 3 students of Palestinian descent told ATF agents: 'I've been waiting for you.']( When ATF agents knocked on the apartment door of the [suspect accused of shooting three Palestinian college students]( — two of them U.S. citizens — in Burlington, Vermont, he held out his empty palms at his waist and responded, ["I've been waiting for you,"]( authorities said. However, when they asked him why, Jason James Eaton, 48, said that he wanted a lawyer and that he had a gun in the apartment, the Burlington police chief said. "There was shakiness and a sense of concern, but also something of a lack of affect," the police chief told reporters yesterday. The three were walking to the home of relatives of one of the men for a holiday meal when they were attacked, police said. [Continue reading](. [🩺 Woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 25 recalls her symptoms after doctors dismissed her concerns.]( [When Emma Schlamm was 25](, she experienced an unusual pain in her left side. A scan revealed a mass, which was later removed along with her ovary, and her doctors told her not to worry. A year later, a routine scan found a tumor, and she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. “Cancer was just not on my radar enough, and had it been, I think I would have pushed more,” she says. “There is no screening tool for ovarian cancer, but there are some things that could have helped my case.” Read more about [Schlamm's cancer journey, and the symptoms that led to her diagnosis](. 🎄 I refuse to get an Elf on the Shelf.]([Are my kids missing out?]( Does refusing to buy an [Elf on the Shelf make you a bad parent](? We explored the pros and cons of the beloved (by some, anyway) elf, who visits your home from the North Pole to keep watch on your little ones from a new spot every day. Some parents, like TODAY writer Rosi Colosi, think it's just another thing to add to the never-ending to-do list around the holidays, while others value it as a favorite tradition. [See where parents we spoke to stand on the]( elf trend, and [let us know what you think]( in the comments on Facebook.       Start TODAY   Achieve your life and health goals with easy tips. Hamstrings are essential for almost all of our daily movements, and many of us forget to stretch and strengthen them until it's too late. [Hamstring muscles play an important role]( in standing, walking, bending the knees and squatting down, and tight hamstrings can lead to pain and injury in the knee, hip and lower back. [We have 14 of the best hamstring exercises]( to improve your overall fitness and mobility — but be sure to start slow and warm up properly to avoid injury.   What's for dinner?   Allow us to do the meal-planning for you Get back in the healthy eating groove after the week of holiday indulgence with this protein-packed [kale, bacon and white bean soup](. Hearty enough for a dinner, this dish from recipe developer Debbie Koenig includes whole grains and plenty of veggies. Quick-cooking the farro adds a chewy, nutty element to the soup, and you can leave out the bacon to make it vegetarian. [Get the recipe](.   Daily Delight   A little pick-me-up before you go. Being wrong never felt so right for Illinois man Michael Sopejstal, who usually buys 10 or 20 Lucky for Life lottery tickets when he comes to Michigan every few weeks to eat at his favorite restaurant. When he bought a ticket at the GoLo gas station in New Buffalo, [the clerk accidentally printed a ticket]( with 10 lines for one draw, instead of 10 different draws. But Sopejstal, 60, took it anyway. The ticket turned out to be the perfect mistake because Sopejstal [won $25,000 a year for the rest of his life](, which he took in the lump-sum payment of $390,000. “I immediately started thinking about all the things I could do with the money and whether I wanted to take the lump sum or annuity option," he told Michigan Lottery officials. "It was an amazing feeling!"   Thanks for letting us in your inbox! See you tomorrow. Written by Anna Kaplan and Scott Stump Enjoying This is TODAY? Invite a friend to[subscribe here.]( Send us Feedback Follow us on Facebook More TODAY Newsletters 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 [Manage Subscriptions]( | [Unsubscribe](listvar=sub_today) | [Privacy]( | [Contact]( [MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE](listvar=sub_today) | [PRIVACY]( | [CONTACT](