A tiny kidney stone leads to a life-changing ordeal.

Products to help with thinning hair. Plus, pickle juice for a sore throat? January 17, 2024 | [VIEW IN BROWSER](   THIS IS TODAY January 17, 2024 [VIEW IN BROWSER]( THIS IS TODAY Congress announces a rare bipartisan deal that could provide enhanced child tax credits and tax breaks for businesses. Plus, a mom's story of incredible perseverance after having her limbs amputated due to a kidney stone infection, and whether pickle juice works as a home remedy for a sore throat in the midst of cold season.   The Latest   [💰 Congress announced a major deal to expand the child tax credit and revive breaks for businesses.]( Senior lawmakers in Congress announced a bipartisan deal yesterday to [expand the child tax credit and provide tax breaks for businesses](. Democratic lawmakers pushed for provisions that would enhance refundable child tax credits to provide relief to families struggling financially, while Republicans spearheaded a provision for increasing tax cuts for businesses. The writers of the bill aim to get it passed by the House and Senate before people pay their taxes this year. If it passes, it would be a rare success story from a divided Congress that has so far been historically unproductive. [Here's the latest](. [A mom had her legs amputated after a kidney stone nearly turned deadly: 'Life over limb']( A [kidney stone the size of a grain of sand]( led to a life-changing ordeal for Kentucky nurse and mom Lucinda Mullins. She [had to have her legs amputated]( and will need to get her arms amputated due to infection and sepsis caused by the kidney stone, yet she has shown incredible perseverance through it all. "I’ve never been so happy to be alive," she told TODAY.com. "If this is a sacrifice that I had to make to be alive, to see my family, to see my friends, to see my kids grow up, I’m at peace and I’m OK with it.” [Read about her journey here](. [🥒 Does pickle juice work as a quick treatment for a sore throat? Doctors explain.]( It's that time of year, when seemingly everyone is coming down with something — which can make people willing to try any remedy to stave off being sick. On social media lately, some folks swear [drinking pickle juice can help soothe a sore throat](. But does it actually work? There's no real research on whether it provides relief, but experts say the salt and vinegar in pickle brine can help reduce inflammation and fight bacteria. The key is gargling it instead of drinking it, doctors say. [Learn more here](. [👱‍♀️ You can achieve hair growth at home — a dermatologist shows how.]( If you've looked down in the shower and seen one too many strands in the drain recently, there are some over-the-counter solutions that can help with hair loss. Dermatologist Dr. Michelle Henry stopped by TODAY to share [11 recommended products to help with thinning hair](. From topical treatments to serums, scalp care and red light therapy, these products are easy to use and can help ease any stress over thinning hair. [Shop them all here](.       Start TODAY   Achieve your life and health goals with easy tips. Winning a trip to Maui last year was a good news-bad news scenario for Ashley Evans and Brendan Roche. The Houston couple landed a dream vacation but said they dreaded being in swimsuits because they were both overweight. "We went from being excited to being embarrassed,” Roche told us. The impending trip motivated the pair to make changes that resulted in them [losing a combined 80 pounds](. It started with small diet tweaks, like choosing fruits and veggies over chips and cookies and swapping white potatoes for sweet potatoes. They shared [4 weight-loss tips](, like avoiding certain sections of the grocery store entirely and having someone to celebrate your goals with. [See all their advice here](.   What's for dessert?   Allow us to do the meal-planning for you Jamie Lee Curtis stopped by the TODAY kitchen to share a beloved family recipe that's perfect for your next gathering. Her sister's [lemon cake]( is moist with just the right balance of sweetness and tartness. The recipe, which is originally from baker Anne Byrn's 1999 cookbook "The Cake Mix Doctor," is topped with a powdered sugar lemon glaze that will have you licking the spoon. [Get the recipe](.   Daily Delight   A little pick-me-up before you go. What says true love more than [creating a Chipotle station for your significant other](? Tia Hooks shared a video on TikTok of her husband, Braxton, serving up a tray of freshly grilled chicken and asking whether she wanted it in a wrap or a bowl. The charge for the meal was "10 kisses." The couple has been married for two years and say they try to keep thing spontaneous when spending time together. "On a day to day, nothing is the same,” Tia told TODAY.com. “So that’s how we continue to have that spark in our relationship.” [See the sweet moment here](.   Thanks for letting us in your inbox! See you tomorrow. Written by Scott Stump | Edited by Philip Caulfield 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](