Deborah Gordon finds success in Healthy Me! Program

Healthy Me! Program participant, Deborah Gordon, has made the program her “job” this year. 

As a way to encourage the community to become healthier, The Medical Foundation spearheaded the Healthy Me! Program with the help of partners from Family Medicine of South Bend, P.C., Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Memorial Health and Lifestyle Center and Dr. Jeffrey Mader’s Office.

Six participants were chosen from the community and three men and three women agreed to have their weight published in the newspaper while they received quarterly lab work and met regularly with a dietitian, a physician, a fitness specialist. 

“I wanted to find a way to give these participants the tools they needed to become healthier individuals. I also hoped that through the process, they would inspire people to become healthier at home,” said Healthy Me! Coordinator Colleen Hahn.

On April 1^st when the program started, Deborah began her journey weighing 244 pounds.  She was eager to begin sessions with the dietitian, Erin, and immediately began working out.

“I work out every day, Monday through Friday, and sometimes I will pick up a Saturday or Sunday at Memorial Health and Lifestyle Center.  Prior to starting with the Healthy Me! Program, I was totally sedentary, so I took it easy at first with my workouts, but I wasn’t so out of shape that I was unable to perform any activities,” said Deborah.

Now, she is seeing a noticeable difference in her clothes and her muscle tone. She begins her 90 minute workout with rowing, then moves to the elliptical and treadmill, followed up with another rowing session.  She’s even started spin classes twice a week.

Her persistence in the gym, along with watching her intake of food has proven successful so far, marking the scale at 196 for her November weigh in. She’s lost a total of 48 pounds since the beginning of the program. More importantly, her laboratory test results have improved tremendously and during her November labs, Deborah had lab work that was completely within the reference ranges.

In April, Deborah’s triglycerides were 162, approximately 12 points above the highest recommended reference range. In July, they were as high as 203.  Last week, her triglycerides were at 72, completely in the middle of the recommended reference range.  She also was able to elevate her HDL cholesterol, which is typically referred to as the “good” cholesterol from 38 to 45.  These successes have led to her overall cholesterol numbers to fall within the recommended reference ranges.

“It’s exciting to know that doing a course correction in my daily food intake and exercising could change those numbers in my lipid panel, which will have lasting effects on my health. It was all well worth it,” said Deborah.

Early in the program, Deborah’s lab work reflected a sluggish thyroid and her Healthy Me! Program physician, Dr. Scheel, recommended medication for her. Since then, her thyroid has been performing at an optimal rate, allowing her to have energy to exercise.

The program has not only led to a change in the way Deborah feels about herself, but it has also changed the way her family approaches their health.

“My husband and I waited to have children and I am considered a ‘non-traditional’ mom.  I felt that it was vitally important that my children see the importance of a healthy lifestyle, because I would not want them to encounter poor eating habits from me.  Now my children are much more conscientious with regard to reading nutritional labels and looking for goods that are better for them to eat,” she said.

As Deborah reflects on her new “job,” it’s clear that she has put in the work necessary to be successful in the program and she’s using the tools that have been provided to her. 

“The Healthy Me! Program is appropriately named, because I am living a healthier life.  I’m excited that I’ve kept at it and have amazed myself with regards to how far I have come in my weight loss journey,” said Deborah.

Holiday Meals: From Bland to Grand

Shared meals and elaborate feasts often become the main focus for holiday celebrations.  The traditional holiday meal with cheese and crackers, turkey and stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie contains more than 75% of your daily calories, nearly twice the amount of fat and contains all of the sodium you should consume in one day…and all of this if you eat recommended serving sizes without having seconds.
Fortunately your holiday celebrations do not have to derail your health goals or leave you feeling tired and bloated.  Follow a few of these helpful hints to take your holiday meal from bland to grand.
• Add color to your plate.  Traditional holiday meals come in varying shades of brown and beige, which are typically the colors of added fat and starchy foods.  Fruits and vegetables add a variety of colors and flavors to any dish.  The more colorful your plate the more fruits and vegetables you consume, which means you get more fiber, fewer calories and less added sugar and fat

• Use smaller plates for your entrees.  Smaller plates hold less food and prevent you from dipping a supersized portion

• Make bite-sized desserts such as crust-less pumpkin pie in muffin tins, chocolate mousse made in ice cube trays or bite-sized cookies cut from holiday-shaped cutters

• Put down your eating utensil between each bite.  Focus on eating slowly and actually tasting each morsel of food you chew.  This will lead to better digestion with less gas and bloating, while also giving your body time to signal when you actually become full.  People who eat slower tend to eat less, even if they take longer at the table

• Follow the "one and done" rule.  Take a single serving of each item, then clear your plate and leave the table.  Take a 15-minute break before considering second helpings

Local medical partnerships make targeted therapies a reality for local cancer patients

With an unprecedented level of community involvement, The Medical Foundation, Harper Cancer Research Institute (HCRI), Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center and Beacon Health Systems are collaborating to bring personalized medicine using the Sequenom MassARRAY technology to the Michiana area.

Through grants and allocation of funds from each facility, The Medical Foundation will be able to provide mutational profiling for new cases of certain cancers in the area. Approximately 650 patients who present at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka and Plymouth, and Beacon Health Systems including Memorial Hospital and Elkhart General Hospital, with new cases of metastatic melanoma, lung cancer or colon cancer over the next two years will take advantage of the latest technology available.

The MassArray analyzer is able to examine the DNA in a tumor by looking for 105 mutations in one reading. The 105 mutations have been identified by researchers who have examined whether certain drug treatments benefit various patients with these specific actionable mutations. This testing allows pathologists and oncologists to spare patients the extreme toxicity associated with treatment that may never kill their particular tumor.

“This hits the whole idea of patient centered care from many different ways and it’s my hope that this will truly help patients who need this data to get optimum care for their tumors,” said Medical Director of Molecular Pathology at The Medical Foundation, Bobbie Sutton, M.D.  “That’s the bottom line here, I’m hoping that this will help change people’s lives for the better and help them fight their disease,” she said.

For Medical Oncologist Dr. Robin Zon, the information provided by the MassARRAY analyzer allows her to use targeted therapies for patients. Before the arrival of the Sequenom MassArray instrument, patients were mostly treated with a standard drug therapy that may or may not attack the cancerous mutations in the patient. Having tests performed to pinpoint the mutations was very expensive and hard to obtain locally with some tests costing patients several thousands of dollars.

“From a patient perspective, what this means is that if we can discover that a particular patient’s cancer has the right signature to be treated for a particularly targeted therapy, as opposed to chemotherapy, where you don’t know if it is going to work or not, with targeted therapy there is an increased, but not 100% guarantee that the therapy we are offering based on this information is going to be useful,” said Zon.

Zon encourages patients who are eligible for this type of testing and other clinical trials to become involved if possible because these types of trials are often instrumental in helping with further research endeavors.

“It’s all very much a learning curve so I think we’ve made advances for some actionable targets for lung, melanoma and colon, which is why those are the three that are being targeted with this new technology,” said Zon.

Dr. Sutton and Dr. Robert Tomec, President of The Medical Foundation, in accordance with recommendations from The College of American Pathologists (CAP) determined that concentrating on actionable mutations in metastatic melanoma, adenocarcinoma of the lung and colon cancer would be most beneficial to the community.

According to Dr. M. Sharon Stack, who applied for the Walther Cancer Foundation Grant on behalf of the Harper Cancer Research Institute and The Medical Foundation, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Indiana claiming over 4,000 lives annually.  She also noted that colon cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer in the state.  Additionally, in a study released in 2012, cancer rates in Northern Indiana, particularly in St. Joseph County, were significantly higher than the state average. These are just a few of the reasons her staff would like to begin researching these three types of cancers in patients at our local hospitals.

The Medical Foundation has agreed to provide testing during this pilot program at cost and Beacon Health Systems and Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center have each contributed funds to offset costs so patients can receive this state-of-the-art technology free of charge. Currently, many insurance companies don’t reimburse charges for certain types of molecular testing.

“We agreed to participate in the personalized testing fund for patients who have that need because it fits in the mission of Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center.  Part of what is embedded in St. Joe’s legacy and who we are in the community is to care for the poor and the underserved and there’s a lot of changes in the healthcare system, many for the good, but at the same time, it’s very challenging when you’re uninsured or underinsured or there’s testing that’s available for patients who just don’t have the wherewithal to have the testing,” said Christopher Karam, Chief Operating Officer at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.

Greg Losasso, President of Elkhart General Hospital which is a part of Beacon Health Systems, agrees with Karam that both organizations have support and care of their patients as their number one priority when venturing into this partnership with HCRI and The Medical Foundation.

“We’ve always been committed to doing research and partnering with The Medical Foundation and Notre Dame, it gives us the breadth within the community to do things locally and really try and bring our care to a higher level.  That’s part of our ongoing commitment and that’s why it was so easy for us to get involved in this project,” said Losasso.  “Through research we make improvements not just in our local communities, but around the country and the world,” he said.

As for the future of this type of testing or use of the Sequenom MassARRAY analyzer following the two year grant, the possibilities are endless according to Tomec, Sutton and Andy Bullock, Ph.D., M.B.A, Associate Director at the Harper Cancer Research Institute.

For the team at HCRI, each patient who benefits from the mutational profiling will have a personal profile built which researchers will then analyze to see if certain geographical, lifestyle or other correlations can be drawn between patients.

Also, The Medical Foundation will work closely with HCRI to analyze DNA from paraffin blocks that have been stored at the Foundation for several decades.  The paraffin blocks contain small cancerous tumors which may contain several samples from certain patients over time.  When the DNA is run on the analyzer, researchers will be able to examine mutation profile changes over time. Researchers are hoping to learn more about how treatment may have affected the mutations over time.

As for Sutton, she believes work may continue with tumors, but there is also the possibility of creating better testing for hemoglobin electrophoresis among other DNA based projects.

“I anticipate going forward, that this analyzer will still be the workhorse churning out data on a regular basis. Maybe not on tumors, but there are other options, other topics that I want to aim at just because I think it’s good medicine,” said Sutton.

Tomec believes there are numerous possibilities, as well.  “As technology changes I think there will still be a role for this MassARRAY technology not only in solid tumor testing but in other areas such as pharmacogenetics and tissue identification, so the value of the technology will be ongoing,” he said.

The collaboration and partnerships with the hospitals, HCRI and The Medical Foundation continues to grow because, “we can all unite by putting the community and our patients first, because we all have that as a priority, which is a great example of why we should be participating and working together,” said Karam.  “We all have that common goal, to take care of the people in the Michiana community,” he said. 

Healthy Me! Makeovers bring great reactions!

In my words…
(This blog was written by Colleen Hahn, Public Relations for The Medical Foundation and Coordinator of the Healthy Me! Program)

I’m not sure why Reactions Hair Studio chose that particular name, and I didn’t ask the owner, Chris, when I was there today. But I have a feeling it has something to do with the way people feel when the styling is done.

Owner Chris, JJ, Lori and Kimmie volunteered to give up part of their day off Monday to help Healthy Me! Program participants feel a bit more confident about themselves.

Several months ago, Lori and Chris contacted me, offering to provide makeovers for the participants in the program. I figured that about half way through the program, they might need a little motivation and this just might be the thing. I was excited to be able to offer this to our participants.

I wasn’t sure how the men in the program would feel, but Bob and Bret decided they would participate.

“Although this is not really my gig, I am letting my short hair grow out to be medium length hair to let them do their thing.  Can they make me look like Brad Pitt or Pierce Brosnan?” Bob joked.

JJ worked his magic and had Bret and Bob looking dapper before the end of the afternoon.

Deborah and Joni were next in line for their new looks. Deborah, fond of her long locks, opted for some highlights but kept the length about the same.  Kimmie put some finishing touches on Deborah’s make-up and Chris cut and styled her hair to frame her face. It was an amazing touch for Deborah, as she has worked extremely hard in the program, shedding nearly 40 pounds since the beginning of April.

As Joni walked into the studio, I could easily tell that her weekend of work at Nedderman’s mobile unit at the Niles Apples Fest had taken its toll on her and she might rather opt for a few hours on the couch. But it wasn’t long before Lori worked her magic, picking out swatches of color and highlights and giving Joni and I a small vision of what she could see as the end product.

Before long, Lori was putting the finishing touches on Joni’s hair, making sure each piece was in the right spot, spraying endless amounts of hairspray to keep it perfect until she was able to show her six daughters and her husband. I think it was worth the wait, as she was grinning from ear to ear as the staff and I quickly labeled her as, “sassy.”

As the coordinator of the Healthy Me! Program, it has been a very interesting five months with the participants. It seems as though they are reaching so many milestones, each important such as achieving better lab results from the first baseline tests that were offered. I’ve felt their sadness or their success in the moments when they weigh in. They’ve become more accustomed to working out on a regular basis and are making healthier decisions.

Each participant has experienced struggles and each has experienced successes throughout this project. Deborah, Bob, Bret and Joni opted in for the makeovers and I think each of them left a little more confident than when they walked through the door. Thank you Reactions (JJ, Kimmie, Lori and Chris) for opening your studio to our Healthy Me! Participants and for producing great reactions! 

For more pictures of the Healthy Me! Makeovers visit our facebook page here. 

Read Healthy Me! Program participant Bob Vale's reflections on the program and The Logan's Run

The following is a journal entry written by Healthy Me! Program participant, Bob Vale.

Never Give Up!    8-4-2014

            Over the course of the past year, I have been doing my best to get healthy, exercise more, make healthy food choices when eating and hopefully lose weight in the process.  Fortunately the hard work and discipline in these key areas has been paying off and I have lost some weight.     Part of my overall goal to lose enough weight, is to enjoy jogging more, which was a part of my life in my younger years.  However, my knees are not what they used to be, I still carry too much weight, and I am much slower than when I was younger, so it is a bit of a challenge at 52.

            Therefore as I have lost some weight, I have been able to enjoy a bit of jogging at a very slow pace.  At the beginning of the summer I was able to slowly jog the Sunburst 5K and greatly enjoyed the event.   Following that race, I decided to jog during the summer and slowly increase my distance.   My goal was to run the 10K at the Logan run on Notre Dame Campus at the beginning of August.    I began to prepare myself for that longer race by increasing my jogging distances during the summer.      

            This past Saturday I felt I was ready and showed up at the Logan run event early to pick up my shirt, race number and information bag.    My race number was only # 6, which was very low, considering there were probably close to a thousand participants.  I thought there is no way I was going come into 6^th place, but perhaps that is how fast / slow I would run.   (6 MPH)  The 10K runners all gathered around the large balloon archway, which was the beginning of the race waiting for the begin running call.  The 10K runners took off and I was about in the middle of the pack of probably 200 runners.    I had only three goals for the race that day.  First to complete the full 10k’s.  Secondly, not to walk and always jog and thirdly to do my best to stay under an average of 12 minute miles in my slow jogging pace.   (Fortunately, I was able to accomplish all three of my goals, but it was no easy task!!!)

            After about one mile into the race, my right ham string began to feel pain and cramp up.  This has never happened to me and I thought to myself, I want to definitely finish this race, so I will slow down a bit and see if it goes away. Stopping was not an option considering how much I wanted to finish this race. Fortunately, after about another quarter mile the pain went away and I kept on jogging.   Although I thought I was doing pretty well, I was quickly put in my place as person after person began to pass by me early in the race. First it was the ten year old little boy who seemed to sprint by me.  Then a very young girl also passed by.   Then a gentlemen about 20 years older than my 52 year old body slowly but surely passed by.   I tried to pick up the pace, but reminded myself to just stick to my comfortable pace and finish the long race.

            I stayed positive and just kept my three goals in mind.  Finish, don’t stop and stay under 12 minute miles.   At the first water station I was handed a cup full of gator aid.  I have never drank that during a race, but I did my best to choke down a couple of gulps while I was running and continue down the path.     About half way through the race the runner traffic had thinned out, yet a father pushing a child in a running cart whizzed by me and a couple of ladies did so as well.   I continued to stress to myself, don’t worry who is passing you, just meet your three goals and Never Give UP!!!

            Next came the second watering area.  As I jogged by the table and multiple holding out cups for me to grab, I was handed another glass of gator aid and slowed down enough to try to drink the full glass if possible.  I felt as much as I was sweating, I needed the replenishing qualities of the gator aid in my body.    I think I need to practice jogging and drinking at the same time, because the two don’t occur naturally.  I think I choked & spit up more gator aid than I swallowed.  Now I was on the back stretch of the run with only two miles left.  (Yeah God!!!)   I could tell my pace was slowing down and I was laboring in my breathing and wheezing.  By this time the sun was up and it was getting hotter with high humidity for the day.  The beauty of jogging around the two lakes was very nice.  Not that I was feeling bad enough, about a mile left in the race, a first aid lady rode up to me on her bike and asked me if I was going to be alright because I looked rather peeked.  Which was a kind and polite way of saying, “I think you’re going to drop dead at any moment, can I help you.”  I thanked her and said, “I am fine, I just look ugly and painful when I run.”  (Which I do.)  

            I continued to slowly jog and kept my thumbs up, thanking the many volunteers who cheered me on as I meandered through the course.    Finally I could see the finish line with the welcoming archway of pretty balloons in the distance.  I picked up my pace a bit to finish strong over the finish line.   About fifty yards from the finish line there were some good friends and my wife cheering me on while ringing a cowbell.   I crossed the finish and met all three goals.  I finished, I never stopped jogging, and I was actually under an 11 minute mile average.    Wow, that’s pretty cool, I actually did it.

            I was so very tired and my legs were shaking when I crossed the finish line.  However, when I began to walk a few steps past the finish line, I could tell my stomach was saying to get rid of all that gator aid that I drank at the last two stops. Things were physically in motion and there was no stopping what was going to happen next!   (Where were the first aid folks now?)  Without hesitation, I walked over to the tall weeds on the side of the road and quickly got rid of all that gator aid. I’m sure I was a site for sore eyes.  I felt a bit better, but was still very much drained.   A cold water & banana later helped me to feel better.

This 10k race was by far the most difficult run I have ever undertaken, yet I would do it again in a heartbeat.  I met a goals, which was difficult, but very fulfilling.  I trained for nearly two months getting ready to meet that goal.   As I crossed the finish line, I was handed a small medal with a colorful ribbon, which will go on my desk with pride.  A small reminder of hard work and determination.

            Through it all, I have quickly determined that the shorter 5k run is my race rather than the 10k run at this point in my life.   I look forward to my next 5K run, hopefully soon as I continue to train, eat healthy and lose more weight.   Many thanks to the Healthy Me folks for their continued encouragement and guidance through this process to become a healthier me.   I would also like thank Colleen Hahn, the encouraging and hard-working program coordinator, Jonell, my determined physical trainer, Dr. Troyer, who gives me medical guidance and Erin, the dietitian, who teaches me about making healthy food choices.

Take the Test; Take Control

Did you know that Friday, June 27^th is National HIV testing day?

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is urging people to “Take the Test; Take Control.” According to the CDC, black women, more than any other women in the United States are getting HIV. Of all the women in the United States, 66% are African American and 87% of these women got HIV from unprotected sex with a man. 

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) occurs when the body is unable to clear the virus as it does with common flu viruses.  Once you get HIV, you have it for life, because it attacks your CD4 cells or T-cells.  These cells are responsible for helping the body fight against disease and infection. Once HIV weakens and destroys your cells, it weakens the immune system. 

Without treatment, a person with HIV can develop Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).  AIDS is the final stage of HIV. 

How do you get HIV?

Having unprotected sex is the number one way that women get HIV.  The truth about unprotected sex is that if you have had unprotected sex (anal, vaginal or oral) you may be at risk for HIV. 

You can also acquire HIV by sharing needles, syringes, or other injection equipment with someone who is HIV positive. 

HIV can also be spread through pregnancy from the mother to the baby during birth or through breastfeeding. 

Why is it important to be tested for HIV?

Finding out that you are HIV positive can help you live longer if it is caught early.  Remember, you can screen positive for HIV and feel perfectly healthy.  Treatments are available if the HIV is detected early and can help you live a longer, healthier life.

If you know that you are HIV positive, you will be able to look out for yourself and those you love.

Finally, it’s fast, easy and confidential!

What does the HIV test screen?

The test measures the antibodies, special proteins in the body.  Most people will show affected antibodies in 2-8 weeks after exposure, but for some it takes longer.  The CDC recommends that if you lead a lifestyle that may put you at risk, that you get tested every three months.

If you would like to be tested, The Medical Foundation offers HIV testing at all of our locations.  To view a list of our hours and locations click here.  An appointment is not necessary. Take the Test; Take Control.

Fallen Officer Blood Drive is Thursday in Mishawaka

Over thirty-five strangers saved the life of RayWolfenbarger on a cold December night back in 2001.  It’s a day his wife, and mother of daughter Bailee, will probably never forget.

Wolfenbarger, a South Bend Police Officer, was shot three times while making a routine traffic stop. He was wearing a bullet proof vest; however, he lost over 35 units of blood during surgery and needed several more in the days that followed. 

Today, some may notice his limp or that he walks with a cane, but it rarely slows him down and hasn’t stopped him from cheering loudly at his daughter’s sporting events.  Every milestone is a precious one and time with family isn’t taken for granted.

Ray’s well aware of the importance of blood donations and that if it weren’t for those 35+ people who walked through the door at The Medical Foundation to donate, he wouldn’t be here today.  And it’s that reason that he donates his time and helps plan the Fallen Officer Blood Drive each year at the South Bend and Mishawaka Police Departments.

Last week, the South Bend Police Department hosted their blood drive and 73 people, officers and civilians, gave of their time and a unit of blood to show their support for the families of those who have lost loved ones to violence.

On Thursday, June 26^th, Gary Roberts, will spend time thanking blood donors who show up at the Mishawaka Police Department for their gift of blood. Gary’s brother, Corporal Tom Roberts, and fellow officer, Bryan Verkler were both shot and killed while responding to a dispute in Mishawaka in December of 2003. 

Since his brother’s death, Gary has been active in Project Blue Light, a nationwide recognition of those Police Officers who have died in the line of duty.  He’s also been active in the Mishawaka Police Department Blood Drive honoring fallen officers.

This year, Gary will donate his 24^th unit in memory of his brother.

Fallen Officer Blood Drives are held in all 92 Indiana counties and was started by Janice Starnes, whose husband, Daniel, died in the line of duty in 2001.  During the Medical Foundation Fallen Officer Blood Drives we remember the families of officers who died in the line of duty including the families of Thomas DeRue, Sr., Paul Deguch, Scott Severns, Nick Polizzotto, Tom Roberts, Bryan Verkler, Jim Szuba and his K9 Ricky.

If you would like to donate blood, visit the MishawakaPolice Station located at 200 North Church Street in Mishawaka on Thursday, June 26^th from 10am until 4pm. To make an appointment, visit www.GiveBloodNow.com.  If you cannot donate during those times, visit The Medical Foundation locations on Lafayette Boulevard in South Bend, Edison and Main in Mishawaka or at the Elkhart General Hospital. 

Foundation Employee Katie Williams Represents Indiana at Special Olympics

 

Katie Williams has been an employee of The MedicalFoundation for almost a year now, helping blood donors in the post donation room with juice and refreshments. She outgoing, she’s helpful and she’s a gold medal winner.

Katie participates in the Special Olympics and earned gold in swimming in the Special Olympics during the World Games in Greece.  This week, she will be representing Indiana at the Special Olympics in Princeton, New Jersey when she swims in the Freestyle and Backstroke events.

“My goal is to come back with a medal.  If I come back with a gold it will definitely change my life,” said Katie.

She talked about her coach, Nathan Piwowar, who has helped her excel and his guidance has meant the world to her.  He’s stood by her and encouraged her to do her best, which is exactly what she’ll do when she hits the water this week.

Katie, 35, has spent this year balancing practices with her work at the Foundation.  She wants to do it all!  She practices at Knollwood Country Club or the University of Notre Dame for about an hour, five nights a week. Tuesday and Thursdays she spends about five hours during the day helping blood donors. 

“Katie’s so eager to learn new things.  She likes to stay busy and likes the interaction with our donors,” said Laura Broadstreet, Manager of Blood Donor Services at The Medical Foundation.

If you’ve ever seen her perform her job at the Foundation, you know she’s happy to be there.

“I love the people.  The staff gives me a great opportunity and I love being around professional people.  I call it my happy place,” said Katie.

And this week, her co-workers are being her, rooting for Katie to achieve another gold medal. But even if she doesn’t, Katie is, “excited to see my old friends from Greece and I’ll be representing the State of Indiana on a very high note.  It’s like living the dream,” she said.

If you would like to tune in to watch the Special Olympics, Fox Sports Network is the sponsor and will be conducting interviews and showing various competitions on their station throughout the week.

"Safe Blood for Saving Mothers" is theme for World Blood Donor Day

Is blood something we take for granted? It flows through our body without any thought, and most of the time when we fall and get hurt we don’t worry about needing blood to replenish our system.  If something tragic happens and blood is needed, it seems as though there is an endless source available at any local hospital.

But is it?

In the United States only volunteers are able to donate blood products for those in need of transfusions. The Federal DrugAdministration (FDA) prohibits blood banks who transfuse blood into patients from rewarding donors will anything of monetary value or anything that is considered hard to get such as concert tickets to a sold out venue.  They’ve deemed these rewards as being too high in value which may cause donors to lie about their eligibility as a donor. Therefore, blood donor centers must rely on the generosity of volunteers and often we try and show our appreciation with drawings or gift cards.

While there are some volunteers, these statistics may alarm you.  Approximately 38% of the population is eligible donate blood.  Yet of that 38% percent only 5% will actually donate blood. So it’s not an endless resource, it is one that blood banks struggle year round to collect from the general population.

On Friday, June 14^th, the World HealthOrganization (WHO) will Celebrate World Blood Donor Day.  This year’s theme is “Safe Blood for Saving Mothers.”  The organization’s goal is to bring awareness around the world that everyday about 800 women die from childbirth or pregnancy related complications.  Timely access to safe blood is very important.  Luckily, in the United States, there is a better handle on having safe blood readily available than in other parts of the world. 

Samantha Robbins, a South Bend resident, knows all too well the importance of having safe blood on hand during unexpected times of need. On October 26, 2011, she gave birth at Saint Joseph Regional Hospital to her son, Ashton.  Several years prior, she had another little boy, Austin, without any problems.  As a young, 22-year-old mother, she was healthy, in good shape and anxiously awaiting meeting her second son. 

But this wasn’t any ordinary delivery.  Samantha, now a CNA at Saint Joseph RegionalMedical Center, began losing blood quickly while delivering Ashton.  She was transfused with six lifesaving units of blood.  Her mother, Cristie Carter, recalled that while being in the delivery room she wasn’t sure about the status of her daughter. Her color had turned a bluish-gray and while everyone was worrying about the stress the delivery was having on the baby, Cristie was worried about her daughter.

It was that day that Cristie realized how important blood donations were to others. She’s made an effort to donate blood since then so that others have the available units they need to survive.

Today, Samantha has fully recovered and Ashton is a thriving two-year-old.  There’s no doubt that when Austin gets a little older, he’ll be thankful for the six people who walked into The Medical Foundation to donate blood so that he and his brother could be raised by their mother.

While days like World Blood Donor Day are important to celebrate, it’s important to remember to donate blood all year long.  Blood donors are eligible to donate a unit of blood every 56 days and blood products such as platelets every two weeks.

Visit www.GiveBloodNow.com to learn more about the blood donation process, our hours and locations or to make an appointment.

Visit The Medical Foundation at this week's IRHA Conference

Several members of The Medical Foundation team are packing up and heading south for a few days and we hope you will stop at our booth during the Indiana Rural Health Association’s 17^th Annual Rural Health Conference. 

“All Aboard for Rural Health” is held on June 10^th and 11^th at the Crowne Plaza Union Station in Indianapolis.

Stop at The Medical Foundation’s booth (#40) to see Carrie Robinson, Director of Regional Marketing, and Mary Swift, Manager of Regional Marketing.  If you have any questions about our laboratory operations or would like information about what The Medical Foundation has to offer, Carrie and Mary will be able to help! Christina Tembo, Manager of Blood Donor Recruitment, will also be on hand to answer any questions you may have about blood products.

Tom Liddell, The Foundation’s Vice President of Information Systems is also gearing up for the Indiana Rural Health Association’s conference because he will taking center stage and speaking to conference attendees about Meaningful Use as he and Tim Roberts give the presentation, “Making Stage 2 Meaningful Use Really Meaningful: A Closer Look at PHRs and Transitions of Care.”

You can hear Tom and Tim present their presentation on June 10^th from 1:30pm until 2:15pm in the New York Central room at the Crowne Plaza Union Station.

IRHA’s annual conference brings together physicians, nurses, pharmacists, public health professionals and other rural health practitioners and advocates with residents of rural communities. It is an opportunity for those in the healthcare field to share experiences with each other and to learn more from national experts who will be discussing various topics.  For more information on the conference visit http://www.indianaruralhealth.org/main/annual-conference/

Healthy Me! paricipant Bob Vale tackles his Type 2 Diabetes

When I called Bob Vale to explain that he had been chosen for the Healthy Me! Program and I explained that in order for him to receive the tools to become healthier, he would have to agree to having his story told online and in the newspaper with information on his weight and his health, his comment was, “that’s fine, I’m a pastor and I’m pretty much in a fishbowl.”

As I get to know Bob a little better each time we meet, I seem to always recall that statement. He seems to run into people wherever he goes, but I guess that comes with leading a congregation. Little did I know when he was chosen, that he had the ability to reach so many people and tell his story about his battle with Diabetes and his continued commitment to learn about his disease and to conquer it. He hadn’t mentioned he was a pastor in his essay for Healthy Me! only that he was a Desert Storm veteran.

About two years ago, he was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and he began learning how to control his diet and to exercise more. He lost an initial 30 pounds but has somewhat plateaued since then.  At the one month point of the Healthy Me! Program, he had lost an additional 10 pounds. 

More importantly, he is learning more about proper nutrition during his meetings with Erin Hurst, Registered Dietitian at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center.  She is teaching him about portion control, meal planning and eliminating large amounts of Diet Coke from his diet.

Time of meals is also something being addressed by Erin.  Before he started the program, Bob would typically work out in the morning and not eat until lunch time, followed by a snack or two in the afternoon and a large meal around 8 or 9pm.  By saving calories for later in the evening, he was only fueling his body for sleep.  Yet, in the morning after he worked out, he wasn’t replenishing any calories in his body or fueling himself for the rest of the day. 

About 3-4 mornings each week Bob meets some friends to play racquetball at the YMCA and after they play they enjoy spending some time at McDonalds. Erin encouraged him to order an oatmeal and to drink water instead of 2-3 large Diet Cokes. He also supplements his breakfast with two hard boiled eggs to add a little protein to his meal.

She also encouraged him to plan his plate during meals and fill half the plate with non-starchy vegetables.  Learning portion sizes has been an awakening moment for Bob, as he learned that a portion of meat is the size of his wife’s palm, not his or bigger! I have to say, it did make me laugh when his comeback was, “I should have married a wife with bigger hands!”

Bob has continued to work out with Jonell at Memorial Health & Lifestyle Center and while he is quite a contender on the racquetball court and in the swimming pool, he has found his challenges with planks and squats. 

It’s an on-going learning process, and Bob is taking advantage of all that The Medical Foundation and its partners are offering through the Healthy Me! Program.

To learn more about Deborah Gordon’s experiences during the last month, check back for a blog about here next week.

Medical Foundation Director speaks in Spain regarding new Beckman Coulter instrument

Dr. Qing Li, Director of New Test and Technology Development at The Medical Foundation, just returned from a trip to Barcelona, Spain where she presented a poster for the clinical study, “Multi-Center Clinical Performance Evaluation of an Integrated Nucleic Acid Real Time Polymerase ChainReaction (PCR) System for Quantitative Detection of Human Cytomegalovirus(CMV). 

And while that may seem a little complicated, don’t stop reading just yet.  There are several companies worldwide who create and implement various instruments for laboratory testing.  The company, Beckman Coulter, is one of those.  Recently, Beckman Coulter developed a new instrument which tests for CMV, which is a large DNA virus that is a member of the herpes virus family.  CMV is widely dispersed throughout the population and can cause latent infections. 

When Beckman Coulter created the VERIS Cytomegalovirus Assay which is used on the VERIS MDx System, they needed a few laboratories to participate in a clinical trial to be sure the instrument performed as they expected. Along with the Indiana School of Medicine, The Medical Foundation was also asked to participate in the clinical trial which took place from September 2013 until December of the same year.

Dr. Li presented the findings of the study to those at Beckman Coulter and they were pleased with the findings.  As the user of many molecular products from various companies, Dr. Li was able to provide feedback regarding the Beckman Coulter product.  This is Beckman Coulter’s first Molecular product for the CMV detection by Real Time PCR.

Following the success of the clinical trial, representatives from Beckman Coulter invited Dr. Li to present a poster at the 24th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) conference on May 12^th in Barcelona.  The poster was available all day for conference attendees to examine and copies were available for them to peruse at a later time.  Dr. Li was on hand in the afternoon to answer any questions about the clinical trial and the pros and cons of using such an instrument.

Looking at its analytical performance, the Beckman Coulter product ranked with the others as far as being impressive, but there were additional benefits to the product, as well.  Dr. Li pointed out that unlike other analyzers, today in microbiology it is hard to find skilled technologists and this instrument does not require a skilled technologist with specialized training. 

The Medical Foundation has been instrumental in other clinical trials and is looking forward to participating in more to come.

In the picture above: Dr. Li is joined by her study group, from left to right, Steve Kye from Beckman Coulter, Medical Foundation technologist Jennifer Strefling, Dr. Qing Li, Foundation technologist Andrea Lehr, Kevin Maggert, Manager of Molecular Pathology and Flow Cytometry and Beckman Coulter’s Dennis Broyles.

In My Words... (Part 2 of 6)

Yesterday, I began a blog about the progress The Medical Foundation's six Healthy Me! Program participants have made. The blog, In My Words, has personal opinions written by me: Colleen Hahn, the Manager of Public Relations at The Medical Foundation. Yesterday, I posted the first one with a little background information and my reflections on Shaun Riffle's first month in the program.

Today, you'll learn about Erika Jackson, 33, South Bend, Indiana.

Since the program started, Erika has been motivated to succeed and she has. Sitting with her at Dr. Brian Jacobs office, I could see the determination as she stepped on the scale and the nurse read her weight as 227 pounds. She had lost 7 pounds in one month. 

She had a good month, but it didn’t come without sacrifices! Erika told me that one night she really wanted a Pepsi, but she knows that water is a better choice. She walked down to the vending machine and the Pepsi was completely out, her only choice was water.

Easter Sunday her family ate at Ponderosa. If you have ever tried to watch what you are eating, you have probably found that buffets make it hard to choose wisely.  Yes, there are salads and fruits, but there are also lots of fried foods and many desserts! She managed to stick to a bit of fish and a salad and maybe one dessert. It was a success, considering her choices changed from the last time she ate at a buffet. Again, small changes over time make a big difference!

She’s also been working out under the direction of Memorial Health & Lifestyle Center’s Fitness Specialist, Jonell Witkowski twice a month. Jonell has her doing some strength training and some cardio workouts such as rowing, cycling, planks, modified push-ups on the railing, squats and other exercises. There’s not a moment of down time when you are training with Jonell!

Other successes this month for Erika have been that she stopped smoking cigarettes and she lowered her blood pressure from 126/82 to 110/70.  She is currently taking medication to lower

Her original goal when she met with Dr. Jacobs on April 3^rd was to lose 10 pounds by her birthday, which is June 2^nd. I have no doubt that Erika will conquer that goal and hopeful add a few additional pounds lost to that number.

Erika is walking with The Medical Foundation in South Bend’s West Side Memorial Day Parade and she’s also planning on walking in the 5k Sunburst.  She’s taking strides to conquer her battle with weight, as well as her high blood pressure.

Follow The Medical Foundation on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SBMFLAB and this blog for stories about Erika and the rest of the Healthy Me! Participants. Check back Monday for Bob’s progress.

In My Words...

In My Words... is written by Colleen Hahn, Public Relations at The Medical Foundation. I am the coordinator of the Healthy Me! Program and occasionally write first hand about what I have seen in the program. If you would like to share your story about becoming healthier, please submit it to info@sbmf.org.  Stories about our other Healthy Me! Program participants will be shared in the coming weeks on this blog...In My Words!

 

If it was easy to lose weight or to be skinny, the whole world would be.  There wouldn’t be a supersized hamburger meal or potato chips with precisely the right flavor and crunch factor.  But that just isn’t the case. There are sugary beverages and unhealthy meals at almost every social event and on nearly every corner.

The choices we make determine how healthy we are or are not and those choices compounded over time often lead to extra pounds.  Those extra pounds often lead to high cholesterol, high blood pressure and many other health challenges.  Then, when we’ve finally had enough and want to do something to change our habits, we often feel as though it’s too hard to exercise because of the extra weight. But don’t worry, if I just described you, you aren’t destined to be fat, there’s hope! And if you don’t believe me, read on and learn about the stories of six individuals who are changing their lives and becoming healthier.

It’s been a month since our Healthy Me! Program participants began the process of meeting monthly with a physician from Family Medicine ofSouth Bend, P.C. and Erin Hurst, a Registered Dietician from Saint JosephRegional Medical Center.  They’ve also been working with Jonell Witkowski and Dave Woods twice a month at MemorialHealth & Lifestyle Center and they’ve each completed a round of lab tests at The Medical Foundation.  In addition, several of them have had a consultation and x-rays completed with Dr. JeffreyMader, a dentist in South Bend. As you can see, they’ve been busy!

And in between all of these appointments, they’ve made a commitment to themselves and to the program to do their best to become healthier, which means eating healthier and working out on a regular basis.

Shaun Riffle, 24-years-old, Mishawaka, Indiana
Shaun Riffle just celebrated his 24^th birthday and less than a week later, he learned that he had dropped 18 pounds during his first month in the program and now weighs 456 pounds. This isn’t his first attempt at fighting the battle of weight loss, he’s been trying since he was labeled as obese when he was about 7-years-old. Following his high school football days and graduation, Shaun signed up for Weight Watchers and lost 85 pounds.  But after awhile, he stopped going to meetings and reverted to his old eating habits and gained back his 85 pounds plus many more.

Just as the Healthy Me! Program began, Shaun was working with his physician to begin using a CPAP machine to help with his sleep apnea.  Not only does he have the challenge of getting good sleep, but quantity of sleep is also a challenge because he starts his day at 3:30am to work at Martin’s SuperMarkets. 

Since meeting with Erin Hurst, the Registered Dietitian at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, he has tried to plan ahead and have something ready for breakfast each morning, because he was going to work without eating and then waiting too long until break to eat. Providing proper nutrition for his body is important and something he is still trying to do before he goes to work. One of Shaun’s biggest successes during his first month was that he hasn’t really eaten potato chips! What used to be second hand nature, digging into a bag of chips out of boredom, has now become non-existent.

Shaun’s girlfriend noticed that he also eats a lot less when they sit down to a dinner at the table rather than eating in front of the television. Small changes in habits over time, make a huge difference!

In early April, Shaun went to The Medical Foundation to have some lab work completed.  While meeting with Dr. John Jacobs from Family Medicine of South Bend, P.C. they reviewed the results of the lab work and found that Shaun is very Vitamin D deficient.  Normal reference ranges for Vitamin D are between 30 and 80 ng/mL; however, Shaun only registered with a reference range of 10 ng/mL.  Currently, Dr. Jacobs encouraged him to take approximately 800 mg of Vitamin D supplements daily to bring his Vitamin D levels to an acceptable range.

If losing weight was easy, the whole world would be skinny. We all know that losing weight, whether it is five pounds for some and two hundred pounds for others, isn’t easy.  Shaun is making a number of small changes in his life and is off to a great start to becoming healthier.

I’ll highlight the other five Healthy Me! Program participants in the days to come. Please visit our blog tomorrow for an update on Erika Jackson.

Meet Healthy Me! Program Participant, Joni Nedderman

“This is a gift I’ve been given,” said Joni Nedderman, one of the 2014 Healthy Me! Program participants. 

And it’s a gift she intends to see through to the end, which is slated for April 2015.

The 54-year-old proud grandmother and mother of six daughters has been tending to her family for many years and is finally taking some time to focus on herself.

When the program began, Joni weighed 224 pounds.  Standing about 5’7” she is able to hide the weight rather well, but is looking forward to smaller sizes and better health.

The program started in early April which meant that during part of the first and second weeks of the program, she and her family were on vacation for spring break. While Joni tried to stay focused on exercising more and enjoyed bike rides near the beach and eating healthier options such as seafood, it’s still hard to get started on a lifestyle change while on vacation!  The last few weeks she has stayed focused and was rewarded with a two pound loss at her May appointment with Dr. Brian Jacobs, Family Medicine of South Bend, P.C.

Joni has been working out every other day at Memorial Health & Lifestyle Center in South Bend and has been working with Jonell Witkowski, a Fitness Specialist twice a month.  Her workout has included several minutes of rowing to increase her heart rate and several strength training exercises targeting specific muscles. After kettlebell squats with a 10 lb. weight, she exclaimed, “Oh merciful heavens,” but was able to continue with her workout despite the burn in her thighs!

It’s clear that Joni is determined. With sweat streaming down her temples, and the tightness in her arms from doing 57 modified push-ups against the railing, she needed a quick break. But rather than let the last three go undone, she took a deep breath and finished out the final three. She’s come a long way from sitting on the couch just two months ago wishing she was stronger, wishing she was thinner. Instead, she’s moving, eating right and well on her way to becoming a healthier individual.

Joni had several routine lab tests done early in April.  Joni’s lab work came back completely within the reference ranges in all areas which included a lipid panel which checked for high cholesterol, a Metabolic Panel and a CBC.  She was also tested for diabetes and her thyroid is functioning properly, as well.  High on her priority list remains losing weight and lowering her blood pressure and she has a great start.

Continue reading about Joni Nedderman in our updates on Facebook, Twitter, our website and blog. Updates on all of our participants will be posted throughout the next year.

Meet Pastor Bob Vale, Healthy Me! Participant

Healthy Me! Participant Bob Vale spends most of his time caring for others. As the Pastor of Osceola United Methodist Church, he’s called upon at all times of the day by his congregation.  When he isn’t helping them, he’s busy on the racquetball court, or the father of three adult children is at home with his wife.

Roughly two years ago, he got a bit of a wake-up call when he was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.   This type of diabetes is the most common form, affecting 90-95% of the 26 million American with diabetes. People who suffer with Type 2 Diabetes are able to make insulin for their bodies, but they either don’t make enough or the body is unable to use the insulin properly. This causes the body’s cells to be deprived of glucose, which means the cells aren’t able to function properly. 

Over time, this can cause damage to nerves and small blood vessels of the eyes, kidneys and heart. It can also increase urination and cause dehydration.

After learning about his diagnosis, Bob worked very hard to lose about 30 pounds and plays racquetball with friends 4-5 days a week. And while this, along with some medication, has helped him, Bob hopes that the Healthy Me! Program will help him achieve his long term goals.

In his essay to become a participant in the program, Bob wrote, “I would like to be accepted as one of the six participants of the Healthy Me! Program to one day experience the reality and celebration of grandchildren, a fifty year marriage, retirement and to live beyond the devastating effects of diabetes.”

He has taken steps to beginning that process. Recently, Bob met with Dr. Donald Troyer, Family Medicine of South Bend, P.C., to talk about ways he can help improve his medical status.  Standing a little over 6’2”, Bob weighs 239 pounds. 

Bob met with Erin Hurst, a registered dietitian at SaintJoseph Regional Medical Center, to discuss his eating habits and ways he can improve what and how much he eats. Based on his height, weight and body mass index, Erin suggested an 1800-2000 calorie diet with about 90-108 grams of protein each day.

She also recommends that he eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day with a goal of three meals and two snacks.  According to her, a good rule of thumb is to strive for meals that are about 500 calories with about 25 grams of protein and snacks that are about 200 calories with about 8 grams of protein.

Erin suggested that all the participants use My Fitness Pal to track their daily calories.   The computer application offers participants a way to track their food intake by providing nutritional information for common foods. By tracking food for at least 30 days, participants will understand their eating habits better and can make more informed choices.

Bob is also working with Jonell Witkowski twice a month at Memorial Health & Lifestyle Center to plan workout regimens that will help him lose weight. A military veteran from Desert Storm, Bob isn’t afraid of discipline or hard work!

To follow Bob’s progress through the Healthy Me! Program check back on our website and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.