Healthy Living, October 2023

Asad Qamar, MD, FACC

Aalok Patel, MD, FACC

Claudio Manubens, MD, FACC

Aon Mohib, MD, FACC

Oji Joseph, MD, FACC

Sualeh Ashraf, MD, FACC

Usman Siddiqui, MD, FACC

Mary Lane, ARNP

Jeveria Ali, DNP, ARNP

Dr. Garcia is a board certified cardiologist and internist to our practice. Serving Leesburg and The Villages.

Village Heart & Vein is excited to welcome, Joel R. Garcia, MS, MD, FACC, FCCP.

Not Just Lumps:

“I found a lump in my breast.” We hear this line most often concerning breast cancer detection, but breast cancer can exhibit other signs, too. Some may be due to benign causes, but see your doctor if these signs persist or worsen:

1. A thickening inside your breast or in your breast skin.

2. A dimple or indentation in your breast.

3. A crust on your nipple.

4. Redness, swelling, or heat in your breast that doesn’t go away with antibiotics.

5. Nipple discharge not associated with developing breasts, infection, cysts, pregnancy, or breastfeeding.

6. Skin sores developing on your breast, usually associated with a hard lump.

7. A bump on the breast. (These can also be benign lumps or cysts.)

8. A nipple that flattens or turns inward.

9. Newly appearing blood vessels or veins on the breast or near the collarbone (if not connected to weight gain, breastfeeding, or Mondor’s disease).

10. Changes in breast size, flattening, swelling, or drooping, not due to breastfeeding or menstruation.

11. Your breast looks like the dimpled skin of an orange and might change color. This is a sign of inflammatory breast cancer.

12. A hard, immovable lump deep in your breast is the most common breast cancer symptom, though it may also be a cyst.

Eight Ways to Lower Your Risk

RBOI radiation oncologist

Dr. C. Joseph Bennett recommends the following to lower your breast cancer risk:

1. Avoid being overweight. Try to maintain a body-mass index under 25.

2. Eat a healthy diet, including vegetables, fruit, lean protein, whole grains, and vegetable oils. Try to avoid sugared drinks, refined carbohydrates, fatty foods (including animal fats), and red meat.

3. Keep physically active. A 30-minute walk, five days a week, can reduce your risk.

4. Avoid alcohol: no more than one drink per day.

5. Don’t smoke. RBOI tobacco cessation specialist Wendy Hall, LCSW, can help you quit. Call her at 352-527-0106.

6. Avoid hormone replacement therapy if possible.

7. If you give birth, breast-feed your babies for as long as possible.

8. If you are at high breast cancer risk, consider taking an estrogen-blocking drug. Talk to your doctor if you have a family history of breast cancer or are over age 60.

by the numbers

297,790

Estimated new cases of U.S. women’s breast cancer in 2023.

13%

Women expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point during their lifetime, based on 2017-2019 data.

Supporting Each Other

RBOI’s support groups are available at no charge during and after treatment. Our Breast Cancer Educational Group meets in Lecanto. Our Women’s Cancer Support Group meets online via Zoom.

RBOI’s resource rooms in Lecanto and Ocala offer wigs, hats, and blankets free to any Citrus County resident undergoing cancer treatment, regardless of where they receive care. Residents can also obtain financial assistance from the Citrus Aid Cancer Foundation. Marion County residents can use RBOI’s resource room in Ocala and receive financial assistance from the RBOI-sponsored H.U.G.S. charities.

RBOI sponsors Michelle-O-Gram, which provides access to mammograms, breast ultrasounds and MRIs, BRCA gene testing and counseling, breast biopsies, and referrals for procedures and other treatments.

1 in 100

Breast cancers diagnosed in the U.S. in men.

1.3%

Annual drop in the death rate for women with breast cancer, from 2011 to 2020.

Call us for more information about these and other resources helping our community.

Patient-centered radiation oncology close to home

The Villages 352.259.2200

Ocala 352.732.0277

Timber Ridge 352.861.2400

Inverness 352.726.3400

Lecanto 352.527.0106

RBOI.com

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There’s

Writers: Roxanne Brown, James Combs, Cynthia McFarland, Cindy Peterson

finance spirit mind body

Recipe: Louis Santiago

Want to keep those legs toned? Candy Davidson, a personal trainer, demonstrates three leg exercises.

Story: Roxanne Brown

We’re back!

Turning a new (old) page with Healthy Living Magazine.

The year was 2008. In some ways, it feels like yesterday. A tiny team of four— me, Tim McRae, James Combs, and Chris Nichols—launched a publication called Healthy Living Magazine. At the time, it was the only magazine in Central Florida exclusively dedicated to health.

To say the magazine had a big impact over the next 12 years would be an understatement. Many celebrities and athletes graced our cover. Among them were former Florida Gators quarterback Danny Wuer el, Emmy Award-winning television personality Guy Fieri, American Olympian Tyson Gay, and celebrity doctor Drew Pinsky.

The publication was also recognized by industry peers. The Florida Magazine Association awarded Healthy Living with the Charlie Award (first place) in the category of “Best Overall Magazine” in 2010, 2013, and 2015.

Unfortunately, we were forced put the magazine on pause in 2020 when the coronavirus reared its ugly head.

The good news is that we’re relaunching Healthy Living as a quarterly publication and promise it will be bigger and better than ever!

Previously, the magazine focused solely on Lake County. Now, we will cover Lake, Sumter,

and Marion counties and expand our distribution into those areas.

Our goal is to cover important health-related topics and feature dynamic people in the health and wellness industries.

You might need to break out the Kleenex as you’re reading this month’s issue. Our feature, “Recovery Stories,” shares the heartwarming tales of people who found the strength to recover from seemingly insurmountable hardships. You’ll read about a brain injury survivor, a man who overcame drug addiction, a human tra cking survivor, a young police o cer who fought his way back to the force after horrific, life-threatening burns, and a young woman who lost her baby to premature birth, among other inspirational stories.

I know that you, our readers, probably have some great story ideas. Please share them with us. And please don’t hesitate to contact us and let us know what kind of content you’d like to see in the magazine. After all, this is your publication.

Thanks so much. I’ll see you again in January.

Kendra Akers OWNER/PUBLISHER kendra@akersmediagroup.com

Doug Akers PRESIDENT doug@akersmediagroup.com

DESIGN | PHOTOGRAPHY | EDITORIAL

Michael Gaulin CREATIVE DIRECTOR michael@akersmediagroup.com

Shawnee Coppola DESIGNER shawnee@akersmediagroup.com

Alejandra D’Jermanos DESIGNER alejandra@akersmediagroup.com

James Combs STAFF WRITER james@akersmediagroup.com

Roxanne Brown STAFF WRITER roxanne@akersmediagroup.com

Nicole Hamel STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER nicole@akersmediagroup.com

Brittany Fogt DESIGNER brittany@akersmediagroup.com

DIGITAL MEDIA

Kyle Coppola DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST & SPORTS WRITER kyle@akersmediagroup.com

Cindy Peterson DIGITAL MEDIA EDITOR & PHOTOGRAPHER cindy@akersmediagroup.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Cynthia McFarland Richard T. Bosshardt, MD

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Gary Corsair

SALES / MARKETING

Tim McRae VICE PRESIDENT, SALES tim@akersmediagroup.com

Melanie Melvin ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE melanie@akersmediagroup.com

Shaena Long ADVERTISING COORDINATOR shaena@akersmediagroup.com

ADMINISTRATION

Emily Gaulin OFFICE MANAGER emily@akersmediagroup.com

Aubrey Akers Simmons ACCOUNT & CLIENT SERVICES aubrey@akersmediagroup.com

DISTRIBUTION

Frank Suarez DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

AKERS MEDIA IS A PROUD MEMBER OF

Winner of 200+ Awards for Excellence

Healthy Living. Published quarterly by Akers Media, 108 South Fifth Street, Leesburg, FL 34748. All editorial contents copyright 2023 by Akers Media. All rights reserved. Healthy Living is a registered trademark of Akers Media. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. For back issues or billing information, call 352.787.4112. Return postage must accompany all unsolicited manuscripts and artwork if they are to be returned. Manuscripts are welcomed, but no responsibility can be assumed for unsolicited materials. “Paid Promotional Feature” denotes a paid advertising feature. Publisher is not responsible for claims or contents of advertisements. The ideas and opinions contained in this publication do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of Akers Media.

Dr. Gary

A NEW

CHAPTER Oh, baby!

Richard Bosshardt, a Tavares plastic surgeon and contributing writer for Healthy Living Magazine, has authored his first book, “The Making of a Plastic Surgeon: Two Years in the Crucible Learning the Art and Science.” The book can be purchased on Amazon.

In Marion County, eight children under 15 died in drowning accidents between 2019 and 2021 according to the Florida Department of Health. Several Marion County venues o er swimming lessons, which can greatly reduce the odds of childhood drowning.

1) Aquatic Center of Ocala | 352.245.0162

2) Ocala Swim Academy | 352.207.0933

3) Perry’s Swim School | 352.732.5540

4) Frank Deluca YMCA | 352.368.9622

5) Central Florida Swim America | 352.804.5438

A bundle of joy comes with a bundle of responsibilities. Thankfully, UF Health Leesburg Hospital is o ering a three-part class on all stages of childbirth. Expectant parents can gain confidence going into parenthood while enjoying light refreshments and interacting with the hospital team. Class dates are Oct. 10, Oct. 17, and Oct. 24.

“This has been a labor of love and a passion to present to the world a truly honest, entertaining, and informative exposé on my specialty—plastic surgery.”

—RICHARD BOSSHARDT, MD, FACS

How healthy are we?

The annual County Health Rankings, published by the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, were released in April 2023. Between Lake, Sumter, and Marion counties, Lake scored the highest in the overall health category, finishing 22nd among Florida’s 67 counties.

BREAST CANCER STATISTICS

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, please consider these important numbers.

3.8 Million

Breast cancer survivors in the U.S.

63

The average age of white women at diagnosis.

297,790 New cases of invasive breast cancer expected in 2023.

43,700

Women will not win their battle against breast cancer in 2023.

13 Percent 60

The average age of black women at diagnosis.

Number of women that will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.

cognitive benefits. The equine-therapy programs listed below in Lake, Marion, and Sumter counties allow individuals to learn to groom and tack up horses, ride to the utmost of their ability, and care for the horses afterward.

Marion: Marion Therapeutic Riding Association provides healing horseback riding and equine-assisted learning activities for children and adults living with physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges in our community. Visit mtraocala.org

Sumter: At Honey’s Mini Therapy Adventures, people with physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral disabilities find unconditional love, strength, and acceptance by working with miniature horses. Visit minitherapy.org

Lake: Horses With A Mission gives people with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities a chance to bond and experience the therapeutic benefit of majestic horses. Visit hwamfl.org

SOURCE: AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

Fresh fruits and vegetables contain phytonutrients that are beneficial in preventing certain types of cancer, decrease cholesterol levels, and strengthen collagen proteins. Where better to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables than a farmer’s market, which undoubtedly benefits the community and helps local farmers?

One option is the Sumter County Farmers Market, which is held 8am to 3pm. In addition to produce, shoppers can purchase plants, flowers, seafood, jellies and jams, honey, organic products and much more.

Snack on this

Our snack choices can help or hinder weight loss and wellness efforts, so consider these healthy snacks:

QUICKTIP

Choose baked chips over traditional!

Low-fat yogurt provides the body with protein, calcium, vitamins, and minerals.

Granola bars that are low in fat and sugar provide energy, protein, and fiber.

Lycopene also helps prevent:

• Plaque build-up, which narrows and hardens arteries

• Diabetes

• Age-related macular degeneration and cataracts

• Aging of skin

Fresh fruit is low in calories and fat and provides vitamins and antioxidants

Low-fat smoothies are a great source of protein and provide minerals and antioxidants.

• Osteoporosis

SOURCE: WEBMD

The skinny on exercises

How many calories can you burn through exercise? Depends on what you do. Here’s what a 200-pound person will burn in one hour doing various exercises.

SOURCE: MAYO CLINIC

A bicyclist can burn 400-700 calories per hour, depending on speed and terrain. With that said, consider participating in the Mount Dora Bicycle Festival, which o ers varying rides through Lake County’s countryside. The event debuted 47 years ago, which makes it Florida’s for more information.

Making the Gr‘A’de

HCA Florida Ocala Hospital

THOSE POUNDS historical hike A

The Yearling Trail in the Ocala National Forest (o SR 19 in Marion County) is every bit as educational as it is scenic. Deep into the woods, hikers come across a small cemetery that contains the family of Reuben Long, a Confederate soldier who built a homestead in the forest in 1876. Years later, author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings visited the homestead, which inspired her to write the famous novel “The Yearling.” Today, hikers leave coins and flowers on the tombstones.

Marion Hospital received an “A” Hospital Safety rating from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit dedicated to upholding the standard of patient safety in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. This national distinction celebrates the achievements of HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital in prioritizing patient safety by protecting patients from preventable harm and errors. The new grades reflect performance primarily during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

Three Chiropractic Myths: Fact Checked & Busted

As with many holistic health solutions, the value of chiropractic care has been clouded by misconceptions. Unfortunately, this prevents many people from getting the care they need to thrive. Here, we debunk some of the most common myths and highlight the true value chiropractic care can make in how your body moves, feels, and functions.

Chiropractors just treat pain

FACT: While chiropractic care is known for helping patients relieve pain and get back to activities they love, that isn’t the only benefit. AlignLife Chiropractic & Natural Health Centers can also help you manage a wide range of health conditions.

The reason for this? The nerves controlling your body’s systems are all connected to your spine! When there is a subluxation or interruption in the nerve's signal, that’s when symptoms show up. By relieving the pressure and guiding the body back into alignment, chiropractic care can help you overcome common health issues like headaches, digestive upset, and more.

Chiropractic is only for adults

FACT: Chiropractic care benefits all ages because it focuses on relieving pain, improving mobility, and improving overall health!

AlignLife chiropractors are trained to care for all ages, and some even hold specialties for infant, pediatric, or pregnancy care. For babies, chiropractic can help them thrive post-birth by aligning misplaced vertebrae, easing colic, and enhancing development. For children, chiropractic can relieve headaches, improve posture imbalances, and improve focus. Athletic kids and teens also love chiropractic as it helps them stay on top of their game and injury-free. For adults, routine care can help you stay healthy, reach health goals, and save thousands in healthcare costs down the road.

Chiropractic adjustments hurt

FACT: Getting an adjustment may be uncomfortable at times, but never painful. In fact, many equate it to the same satisfying sensation as popping their knuckles!

Chiropractic adjustments involve stretching, manipulating, and massaging sore muscles and joints. But that popping noise you hear isn’t actually bone cracking. It’s caused by gases moving through the fluid in your joints. So, while you may experience some momentary discomfort after an adjustment (think after-workout soreness), it fades quickly and leaves you feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and energized.

DR. GARY BRODEUR (L) & DR. RENNY EDELSON (R) ALIGNLIFE.COM

Since 1999, it’s been our mission to help every man, woman and child to live a life of health and vitality. Our focus on health and wellness is not solely to make you healthy, but our driving passion is to use health as a vehicle for individuals to experience greatness in life.

STORY: DR. RENNY EDELSON

Hooked

on fish

A

fi n-tastic recipe to end the week.

Whether for Lent, or other religious reasons to remove meat from your diet, or if you simply have the taste for it, Friday means ending the week by sitting down to enjoy a crispy piece (or two, or three) of delicious fried fish … unless you have health restrictions or concerns deeming fried foods unhealthy.

If that is the case, you can set those concerns aside with the recipes below. They will not only cut calories and fat, but are easy to prepare, as well.

5

3 4

1 2

1 // SEASONING

2 Tbsp.

1 tsp.

1⁄8 tsp.

1 tsp.

1 Tbsp.

1 tsp.

1⁄2 tsp.

2 tsp.

FISH ‘N’ CHIPS

Preparation

Peel outer skin of one large lemon and let air dry for two to three days. Put into a spice grinder and grind till medium coarse texture. Add all the other ingredients and store in a cool dry place in a sealed container. Can also use on other fish, chicken, poultry, and vegetable dishes.

smoked paprika (15 grams)

cracked black pepper (3 grams)

cayenne pepper (1 gram)

parsley (1.5 grams)

granulated onion (7 grams)

granulated garlic (3.5 grams)

dehydrated lemon zest (3 grams). Substitute lemon pepper. pink sea salt (21 grams)

2 // TARTAR SAUCE yield 4 1⁄2 tablespoons (2 servings )

¼ cup

¼ tsp.

½ tsp.

1⁄8 tsp.

¼ tsp.

½ tsp.

¼ tsp.

1 Tbsp.

greek yogurt (54 grams)

chopped drained and rinsed capers (3 grams)

minced green onion (3 grams)

fresh red chile (2.0 grams). Optional.

minced lemon zest (1 gram)

finely chopped fresh parsley (3 grams)

seasoning blend (1 gram)

finely chopped pickle, or pick relish (4 grams)

Chop up capers, leaving some texture for the finished product. Add minced green onions, minced lemon zest, chopped parsley, and chopped pickles with seasoning blend and the rest of the ingredients until uniform.

RECIPE: LOUIS SANTIAGO

PHOTOS: NICOLE HAMEL

BLEND

3 // HEALTHY SLAW (yield 2 servings)

2 cups ½ cup ¾ cup

finely julienned cabbage (120 grams) grated carrots. Use big eye on box grater julienned red bell peppers (45 grams)

Slaw dressing

1 Tbsp.

1 Tbsp.

½ tsp.

1⁄8 tsp.

¼ tsp.

1/8 tsp.

1 Tbsp.

extra virgin olive oil (11 grams)

agave (10 grams)

lemon juice (3 grams)

finely grated ginger (2.5 grams)

chopped cilantro (1.2 grams)

seasoning blend (1.5 grams)

greek yogurt (15 grams)

Julienne cabbage and red bell pepper after removing the rib from the pepper. Peel a medium carrot and grate on the big eye of the box grater. Mix all the ingredients for the dressing and toss with the vegetables. sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.

4 // SWEET POTATO FRIES (yield 2 approximate ½ cup servings or 4 oz. each)

Peel one large, sweet potato and then cut into 1 ½” by ¼” sticks. Add to a 32 oz. mason jar, cover with warm water and add salt. Seal and shake to dissolve salt. Leave in brine for 30 minutes to up to 24 hours maximum. Remove and rinse. Lay on a rack and let air dry before lightly spraying with extra virgin olive oil. Bake in a preheated convection oven 425 F. for 25 minutes. Remove and toss with minced garlic and chopped parsley while hot.

Brine 5% salt solution

ORIGINAL RECIPE:

6 OZ. COD FRIED AND BATTERED 240 calories

17.3 grams total fat

5 OZ. CHIPS (FRIES) FRIED 295 calories

11.9 grams fat

1/2 CUP COLESLAW

145 calories

10 grams fat

2 TBSP. TARTAR SAUCE

140 calories

15 grams total fat

820 total calories

54.2 grams total fat

HEALTHY VERSION:

6 OZ. COD (THREE 1.5 OZ. FILETS BREADED IN CORNMEAL BREADING)

266 total calories

2 grams total fat

2 Tbsp. warm water (560 grams) pink sea salt (30 grams) olive oil spray (2.0 grams)

1 ¼ cup

½ tsp.

Finish sweet potatoes minced garlic minced parsley for garnish

You can use a standard household 16 oz. liquid spray bottle or the one I use which can be found on Amazon.

5 // BREADING

1 cup 2 tsp. 3 tsp.

Binder

1 2 tsp.

2 grams

6 pcs.

fine corn meal (70 grams) corn starch (7.4 grams) seasoning blend (10 grams)

egg white warm water

olive oil spritz cod

Cut fresh cod into 1 ½” wide to 3-4” long pieces. Weight should be 1 ½ oz. per filet. If using frozen cod, press out excessive water. Lightly season the filets with seasoning blend. Dip in the egg white mixture and shake o excess. Add to dry breading and press into the fish on both sides. Lay fish on a rack positioned over a baking sheet. Repeat for all 6 filets. Spray tops of filets with extra virgin olive oil. Pre heat oven to 375 F. and put in oven positioned in a rack ¾ high in the oven. Bake 18-20 minutes and check internal temperature till it reaches 165 F.

LOUIS

SANTIAGO

EDITORIAL@AKERSMEDIAGROUP.COM

SWEET FRIES (ONE 4 OZ. SERVING FINISHED IN MINCED GARLIC AND CHOPPED PARSLEY)

190 calories

Total fat 2.3 grams

COLESLAW (¾ CUP PER SERVING)

41 calories

Less than 1 gram total fat

TARTAR SAUCE (SERVING SIZE 2 1/4 TABLESPOONS )

22 calories

Less than 1 gram total fat

519 calories

6.3 grams total fat

TOTAL SAVINGS

301 calories

47.9 grams total fat

Louis Santiago is the chef and owner of Chef’s Concept Kitchen, located at Ageless Beauty Med Spa in Leesburg. He has been in the culinary field since 1997 and in the community since 2000. He worked for the Morse family of The Villages®, opening numerous country clubs for them, most notably Cane Garden Country Club, where he was chef for more than 14 years.

For this issue of Healthy Living, Candy Davidson, an experienced personal trainer and certified nutritionist, demonstrates three leg exercises on equipment at The Iron Village Gym in Oxford, where she teaches and trains.

Candy Davidson says that leg workouts and exercises that build strength, mobility, and stability are crucial aspects of a balanced fitness routine.

Beginners should start out by training the legs once a week, making sure to target all parts of the leg, which includes quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, hips, and glutes.

“Leg exercises help tone and sculpt legs, they reduce joint pain and inflammation, boost cognitive function, strengthen bones, and improve overall fitness,” Candy says. “You will burn more calories, be less susceptible to injuries, gain more strength, reduce lower back pain, increase core strength, and get better overall results.”

She cautions those su ering from lower body injuries to cautiously approach leg exercises, adding, “If you are pushing through pain, or have to alter your form to protect an injured spot, you’re putting yourself at risk. You should consult your doctor before continuing.

Only you know what you are feeling.”

To begin with, Candy features the leg curl for hamstrings, leg extension for quadriceps, and leg press for everything from the waist down. The machines should be done in that order as a three-set circuit and 10-15 reps per exercise.

She says that rotating exercises ensures that

each part of the legs are trained evenly, and in the safest manner possible. Also, while exercising, you want your pulse to stay between 120 and 140 bpm, because that’s the burn zone for body fat.

“When doing your hamstrings, your quadriceps are resting. When doing your quadriceps, your hamstrings are resting. But when doing your

“I have 15 years of experience as a personal trainer with success placing clients in figure/bodybuilding shows, and 12 years of experience as a group trainer. “

leg presses, everything is being used, so it’s ‘rest, activate, rest, activate everything. Rest, activate, rest, activate everything’” Candy says. “Also, when doing a circuit, you don’t have to rest, your heartbeat doesn’t go down, and you’re keeping things moving at all times. You burn twice the number of calories doing it that way.”

— CANDY DAVIDSON, OXFORD AHA 215415713939

STORY: ROXANNE BROWN

PHOTOS: NICOLE HAMEL

CERTIFIED NUTRITIONIST | ISSA PERSONAL TRAINING CERTIFIED | STRENGTH/CONDITIONING  ISSA NUTRITION CERTIFIED | SILVER SNEAKERS CERTIFIED | CPR/AED/FIRST AID

ROXANNE BROWN ROXANNE@AKERSMEDIAGROUP.COM

Special Note: This exercise primarily targets the hamstrings, a group of muscles in the back, or your thigh between the hip and knee.

Get into the seat and scoot back. Put your legs on top of the padded bar, lower and lock the thigh support bar down, and set your weights. Hold on to the handles, then push down with the back of your legs as you squeeze your hamstrings, exhale, and come all the way back to your thighs. Extend back out, and inhale. Repeat 10-15 times per set.

Special Note: This exercise primarily targets the quadricep, a group of muscles on top of your legs, extending down to the side of your thigh.

Get into the seat and scoot back. Lift the padded bar, slide your legs and feet underneath so it rests about halfway down below your knee, then adjust your weights. Hold on to the bars, then pull your legs up without locking them, squeeze your quadriceps and exhale. Once back to the starting position inhale deeply and repeat 10-15 times per set.

Special Note: This exercise works everything from the waist down.

Adjust the seat as close as you can to the plate without causing any problems getting in and out of the machine. Sit and scoot back, then set your weights accordingly. Bring your feet up to the plate, knees in chest, grab the handles and take a deep breath. Push the weights with your legs while exhaling. Inhale deeply on the way back, then push and exhale again. Repeat 10-15 times per set.

Roxanne Brown is an award-winning journalist with 20 years of experience in the industry. She joined Akers Media as a Sta Writer and Copy Editor in July 2020 after 16 years as a local newspaper reporter. Roxanne lives in Clermont with her family, and outside of work, enjoys reading, sunsets, music, history, and Zumba.

Understanding Blood Sugar and Its Relationship to Disease

Let’s start with a few basic

What you consume in the form of food and beverages has an impact on your blood sugar (glucose), which is what your body uses for energy. Simply put, glucose enters the bloodstream when you eat carbohydrates, while the pancreas produces a hormone called insulin to keep your blood glucose at optimal levels.

When you eat or drink things like sugar, alcohol, or a diet high in excess carbohydrates (the standard American diet S.A.D.) in relationship to protein, fat, fiber, and other macronutrients, your blood elevates glucose and causes a boomerang e ect, later making your blood sugar drop. This drop

understandings: What is blood sugar?

STORY: LORI ESAREY

triggers the body to produce excess adrenaline, along with a host of other reactions that aren’t usually welcome.

A body that goes on a roller coaster ride like this can feel the e ects all day, not to mention blood sugar that’s frequently too high can lead to insulin resistance, obesity, kidney and heart disease. That’s why keeping your blood sugar on an even keel is imperative, and it can be as simple as making some changes to the food you eat. Eating real, whole foods, a diet that consists of quality protein, healthy fats, fi ber and is moderate in carbohydrates can set your body up for good health.

Simply put: if you don’t control your blood sugar, you’re not going to control or reach optimal health. It is known that 90 percent of all disease states are caused by inflammation. A lack of blood sugar control is a primary driver of inflammation. Therefore, learning to control your blood sugar is essential to reduce the risk of disease. If you don’t control your blood sugar, you will not control disease risk. And if you don’t control your blood sugar, your blood sugar will control you.

LORI ESAREY MS, APRN-C, FAARFM, ABAAHP TNT4ME.COM

SCAN THE QR CODE IF YOU’D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL.

Lori Esarey, a certified family nurse practitioner since 1995, founded Total Nutrition and Therapuetics in 2006, backed by her strong belief that disease could be managed with proper nutrition. Today, Lori is charged with helping patients pinpoint and reverse unhealthy lifestyle habits to live well.

Finance

A Brave New World

. in Just Three Years

Healthy Living Magazine was last published in January 2020. The Covid tsunami hit one month later. My o ce was essentially closed for six weeks. Three years later, the world as we knew it was gone. In its place was a dystopic reality in which science, reason, and enlightened values were not just ignored; they were disavowed.

Covid continues to dominate the daily news cycle. The US, with an estimated one million dead, has the highest death rate of any nation. That is, if you believe the numbers. On a per capita basis, the US is 18th in death, behind all developed nations(1). The economic and human costs of the lockdowns, mandates, closed schools, and shuttered businesses are still being calculated. We will never know the number of deaths of despair from drugs, alcohol, and suicide, or from missed screenings for cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses.

And Covid is still with us.

New Covid variants are less susceptible to vaccines and less lethal, yet we still have public health bureaucrats insisting that children and young adults receive vaccines that do not prevent transmission and have unknown long-term risks. Pfizer reported income of over $100 billion in 2022 from sale of vaccines and Paxlovid(2), but the necessary studies of safety and e cacy of the current vaccines against the current variants remain undone. Regulatory agencies that are supposed to protect us have been derelict. The data supporting the recommendation for endless boosters comes from a single study of antibody response in eight mice!

(3)Paxlovid is pushed on everyone with Covid but has only shown e cacy in persons over 60 who are unvaccinated and never had Covid. Today, such an individual is a rare bird indeed.

The 2020 George Floyd killing caused a reactionary rush to

declare our country, its police, and its institutions systemically racist. Churches were shuttered for the pandemic, but unmasked protests and riots were allowed. The country could not jump on the racism bandwagon fast enough. Every university, professional organization, and large business now has a cadre of diversity, equity, and inclusion o cers ferreting out racism. My own American College of Surgeons (ACS), founded in 1913 and the largest and oldest organization representing surgeons, declared itself to be structurally racist(4). Some in the ACS leadership actually advanced the astounding claim that black patients do worse under the care of white doctors without providing any peer-reviewed evidence to support that claim. And any public disagreement was met with cancellation and silencing, sometimes permanently.

Obamacare was supposed to solve the problem of the

STORY: RICHARD T. BOSSHARDT, MD, FACS

uninsured. Most of the uninsured were shifted over to expanded Medicaid programs. The question is, if you cannot find a doctor who takes Medicaid patients, or you have to wait months to see the physician, or drive for hours, do you really have insurance? At the other end of the spectrum, are you really insured if you have private insurance with a $9,000 deductible per family member before insurance kicks in?

I realize that the cost of medical care has skyrocketed. My practice is paying more than ever for drugs and supplies. When we can get them. Shortages are now routine of basic things like antibiotics, local anesthetics, and even simple sterile saline solution. Reasons

given are inflation, lack of workers in the service sector, lack of incentive from manufacturers to produce items that produce low net profits. Yet, quality has gone down. My current surgical gloves are awful. They are too thick, my size for over 40 years too tight, they are so sti , and they rip easily. And I don’t think scalpels are as sharp as they once were.

More and more patients simply cannot get in to see their primary physician. When they see someone, it is usually a mid-level nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant. Good luck getting an appointment in less than a month. Urgent care centers practice medicine according to algorithms. If you have cold symptoms, you get

an antibiotic. One patient I know with a simple finger cut saw two nurse practitioners before being sent to the emergency room where the physician glued down the skin. The bill? $1,200.

I have always tried to practice according to the oath I took as a medical student. Most doctors do. As I approach the end of my career, I look back on a medical system I no longer recognize and worry about the care I will get when I need it. It breaks my heart.

This was my cri de coeur for the past three years.

I promise to be more upbeat in future issues. If you have a medical question, please send it to me at rtbosshardt@aol.com.

“There is nothing permanent except change.”

—HERACLITUS

Dr. Bosshardt received his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Miami, Magna Cum Laude, then attended the Leonard Miller School of Medicine of the University of Miami, graduating in 1978. He completed a general surgery residency at the United States Naval Hospital in Oakland, California.

Providing a strong nursing education

When we think of professions that are often described as selfless, nursing tends to always be at the top of the list. Nurses are the trusted professionals we turn to when we’re sick and hurting.

An education in nursing enables one to work in a variety of settings, have opportunities to get to know their patients, and work as part of a dedicated team.

If you’re considering education in healthcare, then look no further than Abundant Life Nursing School, located in the scenic and historic town of Mount Dora. Patricia Allen, a nurse since 2008, opened the nursing school in 2017. Her school prepares nurses with real-world experience to take on crucial responsibilities, critical decisionmaking, and leadership positions.

Abundant Life Nursing School’s o ers several programs, including Practical Nursing, Patient Care Technician, and Home Health Aide. In addition, the school o ers continuing education classes such as AHCA Medication Assistant, APD

Basic Medication Administration, and CPR/First Aide.

“Students will find several advantages in enrolling in our school, including smaller class sizes, a ordable payment plans, and schedules to accommodate working people.”

The school can achieve this through its highly educated sta and faculty. Patricia earned an associate of science in nursing (ASN) degree from Lake-Sumter State College and bachelor of science in nursing at the University of Phoenix. She is currently working on her master’s degree in nursing from South University.

Ena-Lorraine Ebanks, the school’s director of education instructor, earned a master’s degree in nursing from Chamberlin College of Nursing in St. Louis. She served as supervisor of nursing at Johns Hopkins University. Deborah Stevenson, an instructor at the school, earned a master’s degree in nursing from Clarkson College. She formerly taught at ECPI University in Orlando.

“I’m very proud to have a sta and faculty of caring, devoted, and innovative people who are highly respected in the field of nursing,” Patricia says.

Patricia spent most of her childhood in Mount Dora. A 2004 graduate of Alee Academy, she attended Lake-Sumter State College and currently owns a home health agency that serves Lake County.

For her, it’s a point of pride to produce nursing students who seek employment locally.

“Our goal is to create a higher quality of nurses who will raise the standard of care in our community,” Patricia says.

Abundant Life Nursing School properly prepares students to enter healthcare.

PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

and Sculpt Your Ideal Body THE POUNDS Freeze Away

If you can squeeze it, we can freeze it…that’s our newest motto here at Renew Day Spa.

It’s hard to believe October is here or that Christmas is just around the corner!

You’ve worked hard all year to fulfill your New Year’s resolutions and are crushing those goals.

But are you tired of battling stubborn fat that just won't leave you alone, no matter how hard you workout or diet? We feel your pain; you feel disheartened and stuck. We've been there too.

To get over the hump, you might

option for getting the look you want and back into those jeans you love. Oh yeah, and there’s no downtime! We are excited to introduce you to CryoLean360™.

Imagine having the confidence to slip into your favorite clothes without worrying about mu n tops or love handles. Think about the newfound freedom you'll experience when you have the body you’ve been working so hard for.

Since opening in 2017, Renew Day Spa has worked to provide treatments that result in transformations and results for

CryoLean360™. . . what is it?

CryoLean 360™ is, a non-invasive cryo fat reduction treatment that induces lipolysis (the breaking

fat without damaging tissue.

If you are within 20-30 pounds of your target weight, with a few stubborn inches hanging around, CryoLean360™ is the perfect solution. Say goodbye to those stubborn areas once and for all.

You are at a crossroads and are trying to get over that last hump. Through a targeted number of sessions that last just 35 minutes, you can be on your way to freezing the fat away.

Almost anyone can receive treatments, even if a client is obese. The key is that an obese client needs realistic expectations and understands that they will have to likely diet and exercise in conjunction with treatments.

The body parts that can be targeted with the Cryo-Lean 360™ fat reduction procedure include: stomach, love handles, under

KIM PLANK, JAIMIE DAUGHTRY, KRISTEN BOWERSOX, ALEXANDRIA KANE, MANDY RIDDLE

arms, hips, buttocks, back, chest, pectorals, and thighs.

How does it work?

The treatment utilizes two di erent modalities at the same time to target fat cells using cold therapy and pulse shockwave therapy simultaneously. Treatments take roughly 35 minutes and are performed by one of our trained specialists.

Fat cells are more vulnerable to the e ects of a cold therapy and shockwave therapy combination, which causes fat cell apoptosis, a natural controlled cell death.

Picture, looking in the mirror and seeing a slimmer, more sculpted version of yourself staring right back at you. Imagine the compliments you'll receive from friends and family as they notice the positive changes.

Will I lose weight with CryoLean 360™?

During your treatments, you are losing fat, not losing weight. When weight is gained, fat cells get bigger.

Losing or gaining weight generally does not increase or decrease the number of fat cells. Instead, it changes the size of fat cells. After dieting and weight loss, fat cells get smaller, but the number of fat cells stays the same.

“The ability to provide a very targeted service with one device, will provide our clients endless possibilities,” note Renew Day Spa Owners Tim and Dina Simpson.

The number of treatments required for noticeable results will depend on each client’s condition. Your specialist will work on a plan based on your

How often do I come in, when can I expect to see results, and how long do the results last?

Treatments are performed once every 14-21 days.

When apoptosis occurs and fat cells die, waste is formed in their place. Your body then eliminates the waste through natural routes (blood, lymphatic system, and urine), so as to not overload the system.

It is important not to overload the body’s pathways so your body can dispose of fat. The destruction of fat cells causes cell waste. This waste is passed naturally by the body, first through the blood, then the lymphatic system, sweat and urine. This process takes no less than 14 days.

Busy men & women can experience stress as a result of not

taking time for themselves. Renew Day Spa o ers a carefully crafted menu of spa treatments designed to help reduce stress, ensuring you have peace of mind and the healthy lifestyle YOU deserve.

Are you ready to embrace a new you, free from the frustration of stubborn fat? It's time to regain your confidence and step into a brighter, more vibrant future.

How to identify Geographic Atrophy

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in people over the age of 60. Some patients with advanced AMD will develop geographic atrophy, which involves permanent damage and loss of tissue in the center of the retina, known as the macula.

“If you think of the retina as the film of the camera, this is in the center of that film,” says Matthew Cunningham, MD, FASRS, a vitreoretinal specialist and Clinical Trial Director with Florida Retina Institute.

“Geographic atrophy is serious because of its progressive nature and its location in the macula. It’s basically missing tissue of the retinal pigment epithelial layer,” explains Dr. Cunningham. “This causes di culty reading, driving, and takes a toll on the overall visual acuity in our patients with this condition.”

SYMPTOMS OF GEOGRAPHIC ATROPHY MAY INCLUDE:

• Loss of vision or blurry spots in the central field of vision

• Di culty reading in low light

• Colors appear faded

• Trouble seeing fine details

Contributing factors include family history, smoking, extensive sun exposure, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

“The problem with geographic atrophy is that it spreads. The patient’s vision will progressively worsen

as it involves the center of the macula, known as the fovea,” says Dr. Cunningham.

The condition can be diagnosed with a dilated eye exam, which is recommended annually for patients over the age of 65. If you have been diagnosed with AMD, you may need a dilated eye exam every six months depending on the severity.

“We now have two medications that give retina specialists treatment options for patients with the devastating condition known as geographic atrophy,” notes Dr. Cunningham. “This is exciting because for so many years, we told patients we have nothing to o er. At least now we have something that can slow this process.”

Syfovre® has been available for about six months. Izervay™ recently received FDA approval and became available in September.

“These are intravitreal injections that are done every four to eight weeks. While they are not curative, the goal of treatment is to slow down the rate of geographic atrophy spread,” says Dr. Cunningham. “It does not reverse damage already done, but the fact that we can potentially slow down the process is exciting for retina specialists around the world.”

Up to 20 percent of patients with AMD will develop geographic atrophy. These new therapies can hopefully maintain their vision longer. More clinical trials are underway and retina specialists are optimistic about additional treatment options in the future.

MATTHEW CUNNINGHAM, MD, FASRS FLORIDARETINAINSTITUTE.COM

Doctor Cunningham holds a Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Florida and earned his medical degree, Cum Laude with Honors in Research, from the University of Florida College of Medicine. Doctor Cunningham joined Florida Retina Institute in 2013.

Vision loss can sneak up you. Some vision changes are normal as we age but can be signs of a more serious condition.

PRIVATE DUTY CARE OFFERS PEACE OF MIND AND ASSISTANCE

WHEN AND WHERE IT’S NEEDED MOST

READ MORE INSIDE!

SOONER OR LATER WE ALL NEED A HELPING HAND

This may come when you’re discharged after surgery or an illness that requires hospitalization. It can also happen simply as ageing makes it more challenging to do some of the tasks we always took for granted—with both personal care and around the home.

Where do you turn when you need that extra help?

Some of us have family members living close by who are able to help. But for many people, this isn’t a realistic option. They may not have family, or if they do, they’re out of state.

This reality is front of mind for the women at the

LAKE COUNTY CONNECTIONS

The women of Lake Centre Home Care have a passion for helping our older population. These Florida natives have called this area home for a lifetime and are dedicated members of our community.

Shayna Grunewald’s leadership as CEO of Lake Centre Home Care since 2017 has guided the agency

than 200 patients every month. A third-generation Floridian, Shayna is a Lake County native.

Lori Davis spent 28 years in the financial services industry, which fully prepared her to take on the role of COO of Lake Centre Home Care. A Lake County native, Lori is a second-generation Floridian

helm of locally owned and -operated Lake Centre Home Care in Leesburg. Shayna Grunewald, Lori Davis, and Andrea Smart have made it their mission to maintain a patient-centered approach while delivering the highest standards of care.

Andrea Smart brought 21 years of experience in home health and private duty care when she joined Lake Centre Home Care in March 2022 to help open the Private Duty division. A Florida native, Andrea grew up in Sumter County.

Lake Centre Home Care offers a full range of

“WE SAW A VOID THAT NEEDED TO BE FILLED, AND IT JUST MADE SENSE FOR US TO TAKE THIS STEP AND OPEN THE PRIVATE DUTY ASPECT.”

SHAYNA GRUNEWALD

ANDREA SMART

LORI DAVIS

Lake Centre Home Care’s licensed health professionals include registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and physical, occupational, & speech therapists.

SKILLED SERVICES INCLUDE:

• Home health aides

• Skilled nursing

• Physical therapy

• Occupational therapy

• Speech therapy

There are times when skilled nursing care is essential, even when the client is not in a health care facility.

Lake Centre Home Care’s staff are fully equipped to provide these services in the client’s own home, including post-surgical management, wound care, cardiac care, intravenous therapy, and much more, including managing disease and medication.

When additional personal care is needed in conjunction with skilled nursing, a home health aide (HHA) provides this help.

Sometimes a client needs a combination of both skilled and private duty services for a period of time.

As often happens, it was a cascade of issues that led Joni W. and her siblings to contact Lake Centre Home Care.

“Our parents are 84. They had started to fall a lot and there was a time they both had problems at the same time,” says Joni. “Dad has dementia, and our mother had a stroke and cracked a vertebra when she fell, so she needed physical therapy.”

Even though two of Joni’s siblings reside in Florida, they are still working and don't live nearby. This makes it impossible to be at their parents’ home to help with their

daily care on a regular basis. Nor could they get there quickly in an emergency.

In May 2023, the family realized outside care was a necessity.

“Lake Centre Home Care came through for us in a crunch after both my parents ended up in the hospital at the same time. We needed full care after they got out of the hospital,” says Joni.

While they had used a private nurse in the past and really liked the individual, there was no one to replace her if she had a family crisis or got sick.

Choosing Lake Centre Home Care relieved Joni of any worry about caregivers not being available whenever they are needed.

Right after their release from the hospital, her parents needed skilled care.

“Now we’re down to just private duty care every day for five hours,” says Joni.

Although she knows more care may become necessary in the future, at this point private duty care is perfect.

“It’s a big relief for us and has taken a lot of stress and anxiety off our plate because I’m out of state and both my sisters still work,” says Joni. “It’s very comforting knowing someone is there making sure our parents are eating right, taking their meds, and are supervised with bathing.”

Joni and her siblings opted for Lake Centre Home Care because of reliability and how the business is set up. Joni emphasized that it was very important to have complete trust in the quality of caregivers.

“It’s been a godsend,” she says. “We’ve worried and worried about this for a while. Our parents want to be together and refuse to go to assisted living. Now that they’ve gotten used to people coming, they are very happy. They’re in their home and still feel like they have freedom.”

“LAKE CENTRE HOME CARE CAME THROUGH FOR US IN A CRUNCH AFTER BOTH MY PARENTS ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL AT THE SAME TIME. WE NEEDED FULL CARE AFTER THEY GOT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL.”

As Joni and her siblings discovered, using one agency to fill both the skilled nursing and private duty care needs of their parents was the ideal solution.

Many times, a client doesn’t need skilled nursing services permanently, but still requires assistance with everyday activities. That’s when private duty care comes into play.

Lake Centre Home Care expanded their services to offer private duty non-skilled care early in 2022. The need was strong, and they were compelled to fill it.

“We found every time we had a patient seeing one of our nurses or therapists, they were asking about additional care after recovery if they still needed some level of care,” says Lori. “We saw a void that needed to be filled, and it just made sense for us to take this step and open the private duty aspect.”

Unlike skilled nursing care, private duty non-skilled services do not require a physician’s referral.

PRIVATE DUTY SERVICES INCLUDE:

• Personal care

• Transportation

• Homemaking

• Companionship

Private Duty Home Care includes a variety of non-skilled services provided to you or a loved one in the comfort of your/their own home by a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Home Health Aide (HHA) or Companion with the oversight of a Registered Nurse.

You may be wondering if you or a loved one could benefit from private duty home care but aren’t sure just what is covered.

A wide range of services are provided. Some of these services include assistance with bathing, dressing, toileting or brief changes, transfers, and ambulation. Services also include light housekeeping, taking out the trash, meal preparation (includes assisting with feeding, if necessary), and medication reminders.

Private duty is especially helpful for those who aren’t driving themselves and need transportation. The caregiver can drive you to medical appointments, as well as to other

locations, such as the barber shop or the beauty shop to get your hair or nails done, and also to church services.

If you need assistance with grocery shopping and picking up prescriptions, consider it done.

Maybe it’s gotten harder for you to make the bed, change linens or keep up with laundry. Your home health aide can take care of this, in addition to helping with pet care, tidying up the home and getting meals ready.

Sometimes we just need companionship and private duty addresses this beautifully. Going for walks or reading together, assisting with hobbies, playing cards, board games or working puzzles can all be part of the schedule.

As Lori points out, it can be extremely reassuring to the son or daughter who lives out of state or several hours away to know that their loved one here is being checked in on and helped with their everyday needs.

For private duty care, there is a minimum of four hours a day, up to 24 hours.

But what if you don’t need that much assistance?

Private Duty is not covered by most insurances; however, some Long-Term Care insurances have policies that cover a percentage of the costs. For those without Long-Term Care policies, it is an out-ofpocket private pay expense.

The good news is that private duty care is more affordable than people think.

“We do work with patients who have long-term care policies that cover this sort of care who need help submitting their claims. This way they don’t have to worry about the paperwork,” notes Lori.

“We offer a ‘bath program’ for a flat fee for people who don’t need four hours of private duty care. This is when we send an aide or CNA who helps them get out of bed, bathed, dressed, have breakfast, and get ready for the day,” says Andrea.

When caregivers are in your home, or your loved one’s home on a regular basis, it’s crucial that you can rely on the agency you’re using to send trustworthy, capable individuals.

Clients give Lake Centre Home Care high scores in this

Unlike some agencies that use contract help, all the nurses, caregivers, and aides at Lake Centre Home Care are employees. The agency hires the very best individuals to meet their clients’ needs.

“Confidence in our staff's ability to care for our clients is one of our top priorities,” says Andrea.

“All of our employes are CNAs or HHAs and are employed by Lake Centre Home Care, which is a drug-free workplace.

There are no contracted staff,” she explains.

All employees are required to pass a

Level 2 FBI fingerprint background check, have a valid driver's license, know CPR, pass a National Sex Offender search, and pass at least two reference checks. A Florida Board of Nursing license verification is required for CNAs and a 75-hour HHA certification is required for all HHAs, as is annual training.

These stringent requirements ensure that every Lake Centre Home Care employee is qualified to fulfill their duties. It also means they have clean driving records, which is reassuring when clients rely on them for transportation to medical appointments and running errands.

“Our staff are well trained and qualified to do hands-on care for every patient, no matter what kind of needs they have. They’re compassionate, caring and dedicated,” says Andrea.

“People who do this work have a calling to do it. It takes a special

GETTING STARTED

If you feel that you or a loved one need extra care, call today to learn how Lake Centre Home Care can provide the services you require—whatever that may be.

Many questions can be answered over the phone during that first call. You can also arrange for Lake Centre Home Care to send someone to your home to bring information and discuss their services in person.

Once you’ve decided what services you want, there is no delay.

“If you know you’re ready to go ahead and set up services, we set a date for the RN to go out and do the start-of-care paperwork,” says Andrea.

For this initial visit, the agency sends an RN to your home to do an assessment and create a care plan. There’s no charge for this courtesy visit. People often have an idea of what is needed, but at the nurse’s visit, this can be clarified exactly to determine what is needed and a scheduled is then created.

“We don’t do any contracts like some

person to be a caregiver. Not everybody can do this, and we know that,” says Lori. “When we hire staff, we identify the people who are gifted for this. You can tell who is called to do this.”

Lake Centre Home Care is accredited, licensed, and bonded. The agency is also accredited through ACHC (Accreditation Commission for Health Care) which is a national commission. ACHC has become synonymous with value, integrity, and the industry’s best customer service.

To achieve this accreditation, the agency is held to a higher standard than that required by the state. It reflects dedication and commitment to meeting standards that demonstrate a higher level of performance and patient care.

For clients, this provides assurance and peace of mind, in addition to top quality care.

other agencies, so when you need us, we’re there,” says Andrea. “It can be one day a week, once a month, or seven days a week. It’s totally up to the patients’ needs.

How soon can you expect to set up a care schedule?

“We usually just need 24 hours’ notice to start services,” notes Andrea.

“You can get in touch with someone 24/7. Your call doesn’t go to an answering service. You will actually reach a person from our agency,” assures Andrea. “We always have someone on call for both skilled and private duty care.”

“OUR STAFF ARE WELL TRAINED AND QUALIFIED TO DO HANDS-ON CARE FOR EVERY PATIENT, NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF NEEDS THEY HAVE. THEY’RE COMPASSIONATE, CARING AND DEDICATED.”

Our unique healthcare model will fit your active lifestyle by providing personalized care, world class care centers, same day and after-hours appointments, telehealth, and much more. Your primary care physician is your personal doctor who will lead a team of medical professionals and ensure you get the right care, in the right place, at the right time. They will coordinate your care with our in-house specialists when you need them and work tirelessly to keep you out of the hospital and urgent care facilities so you can live out your dreams!

Stories of N

Adversity fuels the human spirit.

ever give up, no matter what life throws at you. That’s what the people you’re about to read about would tell you. They know because they’ve endured extraordinarily challenging times in their lives. A mother whose newborn baby died in her arms. A man who su ered a crippling drug addiction. A teenager who became a victim of human tra cking. A woman who endured a traumatic brain injury. A police o cer whose body was severely burned. A man with heart disease who was told he

had 60 days to live. An alcoholic veteran with anger issues.

Despite hardships, they each displayed the resiliency of the human spirit. Their individual stories are inspiring tales of courage and fortitude.

They’ve endured unimaginable things, but still are the epitome of an anonymous quote that reads: “Pain changes your life forever, but so does healing from it.”

Stories compiled by: Healthy Living Sta Photos: Nicole Hamel, Cindy Peterson

BLESSINGS

After

Looking at Clermont Police Dept. Patrol Sgt. Kris Kruse, you’d never know that seven years ago he was lying in a hospital fighting for his life after being badly burned in an oduty bonfire accident.

Kris, then a 21-yearold rookie o cer with the department, was covered in burning gasoline and engulfed in flames when a gas can he attempted to move away from the heat exploded in his hands.

After being airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC), no one was sure he’d make it through the night.

“My understanding is that the doctors

basically said it was up to my body what happens and that it was a flip of a coin whether I was going to survive,” Kris says. “It ended up I had 70 percent burns over my body, most of which required skin grafting.”

Doctors considered using fish, cadaver, pig, or donor skin, to help heal his wounds, but decided against it.

“None of those options would work, so they ended up cutting skin o less a ected parts of me, which in turn made recovery interesting,” Kris says. “Ultimately, my entire body was a ected in some way, shape or form.”

After eight days at ORMC, Kris was transferred to the ICU at Shand’s Burn Clinic in Gainesville, his home for the next three months. There, he underwent many painful procedures, including escharotomies, incisions to relieve swelling/pressure, multiple skin grafts, and debridement (surgical removal of foreign matter and dead tissue from a wound), and scraping of burned skin to remove scabs.

overcoming severe burns to his body, Clermont PD’s Kris Kruse lives each day with gratitude.

Story: Roxanne Brown

“Surgeries were done under anesthesia, but the debridement was done while I was awake in a room called ‘The Tank,’” Kris says, explaining that the room was outfitted with a steel surgical table and hoses hanging from the ceiling used to spray patients o . “I have a pretty hateful relationship with the tank, but it was a necessity.”

Through the ordeal, he was never alone.

“There was seldom a time I didn’t have someone in the hospital room with me. Even if I wasn’t up to talking, there was a huge comfort in rolling over, opening my eyes, and seeing a familiar face,” Kris recalls.

The community also rallied around him. A Go Fund Me account was established to help with medical bills, and people wore “KrisStrong” and “PrayForKris,” shirts in his honor.

Additionally, people from all over the world prayed for Kris’ recovery following a Facebook post his dad and fellow o cer Jack Kruse made on behalf of Kris’ mom Jill and their whole family that went viral.

Jack’s post, shared the day after the accident, read, “Please pray for my son, Kris Kruse, the best child any parent could hope for. He needs to fi ght for his life in the short term and, if God willing, he comes through, he has a very, very long road to recovery ahead. He is currently stable, but incubated with a breathing tube and cannot have visitors ... There is nothing more di cult for a parent than to see their child su ering.”

After that, Jack posted daily updates throughout Kris’ recovery for the hundreds of thousands of people following his story. Today, Kris says people he’s never met still reach out on Facebook to ask how he is doing. Locals often come up to say ‘hi’ and tell him they prayed for him.

Kris says he credits those prayers, plus unwavering support and love from hospital sta , fellow o cers, friends, family, and his girlfriend Liz (now his wife), for his release from the hospital just three-and-a-half months later.

“I don’t think I’d be where I’m at today without that. It was crucial,” Kris says, adding that keeping a positive attitude and focusing on his end goal of returning to work— his dream job since childhood— gave him the physical and mental strength to endure nearly a year of grueling occupational and physical therapy.

He accepts his ‘new normal,’ but

Kris says there are limitations and occasional challenges that serve as reminders of the Superbowl Sunday that shifted the trajectory of his life.

Kris says he lost dexterity and strength in his right hand, so he trained to shoot and grip things with his left. The burns also killed most of Kris’ sweat glands, making it di cult for him to withstand hot temperatures, so he’s remained on the overnight shift since returning to work.

Nicknames like “Krispy” and other terms of endearment bestowed by friends and fellow o cers make Kris laugh, and he makes it a habit not to dwell on the ‘whys’ surrounding his accident. He’s just happy to be alive and believes all he’s gone through has made him a more empathetic o cer.

“There are many times I’ve been able to use my story as kind of an inspiration, or to encourage someone to fight the fight, even if their injuries or troubles are not related to burns,” Kris says. “I just try to remind them to have hope and not give up, emotionally, medically, and every other way, through everything, no matter what.”

Kris says that type of encouragement goes both ways too, telling how a man he knows only from Facebook, reaches out every Feb. 7; the date of the “burniversary” they share.

“You can’t help but think about it as the day your life changed forever, but I made it through, so when he says “Happy Burniversary,” it makes me look back at where I came from and appreciate how far I’ve come, that’s for sure.”

“You can’t help but think about it as the day your life changed forever, but I made it through, so when he says “Happy Burniversary,” it makes me look back at where I came from and appreciate how far I’ve come, that’s for sure.”

MESSAGE IN THE MESS

his first book, “Crossing Paths, Finding Hope,” which begins with his personal journey.

What Richard didn’t realize is that he would soon need hope once again.

In February, Richard was faced with yet another terminal diagnosis. On Valentine's Day, doctors confirmed he had pancreatic cancer and gave him six months to live.

“My kidneys were shutting down, I had pericarditis around my heart, and my intestines weren’t working,” Richard says. “That’s when they told me I had cancer. Initially, they pretty much said ‘Best of luck to you.’ Happy Valentine’s Day to me.”

The bad news came while Richard was working on his second book, “Crossing Paths, Hope Comes Alive.”

“‘God’s got this’ is all I could say to myself,” Richard states. “He got me through a hopeless situation before and He can do it again if He desires. There’s still a message in this mess.”

Richard began treatment right away but was told there was a slim chance it would help. However, in his last scan, the cancer was decreasing in size.

Richard’s ongoing battle isn't just about restoring his health. It's about igniting a movement of hope, ensuring that every individual, even in their darkest hours, recognizes that hope can guide us.

Richard “Doc” Greer finds hope amid a terminal diagnosis . . . twice.

“I was not ready to be told that day that there was nothing they could do.”

Story: Cindy Peterson

CHAINS

Tra cked at age 11, Savannah Parvu now fights for justice.

Growing up in the Orlando area, Savannah Parvu navigated a merciless world overshadowed by her mother's crippling drug addiction.

Savannah’s innocence was stolen at the tender age of 11 when she followed her mother to a drug purchase where mom bartered her own daughter for a fix.

“I was traded for a $10 piece of crack,” Savannah says. “A man took me and sold me to other people, and it became a routine where he would pick me up, take me to hotels, and either drop me off back home or I’d walk.”

This cycle continued for two years.

“I was told not to talk about what went on at home,” Savannah says. “I didn’t know anything else, so I never talked about it. I just knew I’d do anything to make my mom want me.”

At 13, Savannah witnessed both her parents attempt suicide, and her mom screaming that she never loved her and didn’t want her. That devastating moment sent Savannah into foster care.

The move was supposed to represent safety and a new beginning, but tragically, Savannah’s exploitation continued. She soon realized that her captors had connections everywhere, even within the foster care system.

“It was actually there that I realized that this wasn’t normal,” Savannah says. “It was happening to other girls in foster care too, and they didn’t know what was going on. It felt normal for me, which told me this wasn’t okay.”

But no one wanted to deal with the troubled teen from a bad home. Most believed she was just looking for attention.

When Savannah was 15, she went to live with her older brother. Moving to Umatilla gave her the fresh start she needed. She was able to finish high school, a first in her family.

“I wish I could say it was over, but every time my mom resurfaced, I’d end up back where I came from,” Savannah says. “I was so desperate to have her in my life.”

Savannah decided she needed counseling. During those sessions, she opened up for the first time about everything that had happened. And the healing began.

The realization that she was a survivor of human tra cking led her to go public to expose the industry. Speaking openly about her experiences, she educates communities, law enforcement, and policymakers on the stark realities of tra cking.

Savannah has been instrumental in the development of new anti-tra cking laws and was appointed by Attorney General Ashley Moody to the board of directors for Florida Alliance to End Human Tra cking. In doing so, she's not only healing, but also paving the way for countless others to find their way out of the shadows.

Story: Cindy Peterson

THROUGH

THE VALLEY

Overcoming a severe brain injury.

Inever saw it coming.

The kick in the head that turned my life into “before” and “after” took me completely by surprise.

I remember leading my horse up for evening feeding. The next thing I recall was lying in the dirt about 30 feet from the gate. I didn’t know how long I’d been unconscious.

The hand I put up to the right side of my head was covered with sand and blood.

I was feeling no pain and didn’t grasp how seriously I was injured.

I pulled out my phone to call a neighbor for help, but the touchscreen wouldn’t work because it was covered with blood.

I couldn’t walk but managed to crawl out of the field and onto my porch. Eventually, I crawled inside and laid on the couch.

I kept trying to call for help.

About 11pm, I got a call through. My neighbor walked over, took one look at me, and called 9-1-1. By the time the ambulance arrived, I could no longer see because my brain was swelling.

I underwent life-saving emergency surgery in the early morning hours.

The neurosurgeon later told me the damage was so severe that he picked pieces of my skull out of my brain.

Somehow, I had been kicked in the head and the right side of my skull caved in from the impact. The o cial diagnosis: penetrating depressed skull fracture and subdural hematoma (brain bleed).

Hospital records described me as "incapacitated." I had no control of my bodily functions, my speech was slurred, I couldn't walk,

and my left side was partially paralyzed. My left arm was strapped into a brace to keep my hand from curling up.

My two brothers flew in from out of state. At that point, my family and friends didn’t know if I would live.

Neither did I.

"I'm going to be okay, aren't I?” I asked my neurosurgeon during his morning visit.

"We don't know," Dr. Roper said.

I thought, “Wow, he really needs to come up with a better answer.”

The truth is he really didn't know.

Months later at a follow-up visit, he explained that the type of injury I’d sustained is rarely seen outside a combat zone.

And he admitted that my recovery was a miracle. He told me bluntly, “Most people don't survive what happened to you.”

Story: Cynthia McFarland

RECOVERY JOURNEY

After 10 days, I was transferred to a rehab hospital. Recovery became my full-time job.

I’ll never forget the first time I walked 30 steps. I lurched along, supported by therapists in front and back, clutching a railing with my right hand. It wasn't pretty, but I was walking.

It’s not uncommon for neurosurgeons to piece broken skulls back together, but mine was too shattered. After my first surgery, there was nothing but a layer of scalp covering my brain in that area. I had to wear a protective helmet any time I wasn’t in bed or a wheelchair.

Miraculously, after just over three weeks in the rehab hospital, I was released to

return home. One of my physical therapists said I’d re-learned what it takes a toddler two to three years to learn.

Two months later I was back in the hospital for a cranioplasty to fill in the big hole caused by the hoof impact.

This second brain surgery wasn’t as extensive, but it was not an easy recovery and more painful than anticipated. At least I was done with the helmet! Thankfully, I had lots of support. And I needed all the help I could get.

Being self-employed, I had no income since I couldn’t work. The kindness and generosity of many people made it possible to pay my bills until I returned to writing full time in early 2020.

I've had horses in my life for nearly 50 years and that particular horse for 16 years. I’d never thought of him as dangerous even though his personality changed, and he became overly reactive due to medications used to treat a serious respiratory condition.

Although my veterinarian and close friends supported my di cult decision to have him put down, this was heartbreaking to deal with as I was recovering.

“Have you asked God why He let this happen?” a friend wondered.

I have a simple answer: we live in a broken world. But if we belong to Jesus, nothing comes into our lives without passing through the hands of our Father. I don’t have to “understand” to trust Him.

When I was in ICU, the neurosurgeon told one of my visitors, “Someone way bigger than me is working on her behalf.”

He still is.

I realize that God's earthly plans for me were not complete as of April 15, 2019. Every day, I thank Him for healing my brain and that I’m still here. He literally walked me though the valley of the shadow of death and out the other side.

When I was in ICU, the neurosurgeon told one of my visitors, “Someone way bigger than me is working on her behalf.”

ASKING WHY

A LIGHT MOURNING

Story: James Combs

says Kelli, a 2009 graduate of South Lake High School.

In October 2020—the oneyear anniversary of Graham’s death—Kelli launched a nonprofit organization funded solely through private donations called “Finding Fireflies: Gifts From Graham.”

“I named it that because I wanted to send light during a dark time,” she says.

Kelli lovingly puts together care boxes for parents who have lost an infant due to miscarriage, still birth, or premature birth. Items in her care packages include angel ornaments, an angel ring necklace, a mug, tea, lotion, and bath bombs. She also includes support books for moms, dads, and siblings.

To date, she has created and sent 400 care boxes to 32 states.

For Kelli, the care boxes are a constant reminder that Graham’s short life made a long-lasting impact.

“This has been really healing for me and gives Graham a purpose,” she says. “People still talk about him, and that makes me feel like he is still part of the family.”

Kelli Stewart lives for inspiring others touched by unimaginable grief she knows all too well.

SOBER

CONFESSIONS

It wasn’t enough to get a buzz. When Jimmy Strasser drank, he drank until he passed out. His first blackout was at 16.

“Beer, liquor, it didn’t matter,” he recalls. “I was addicted to the feeling of the party and having a great time.”

During his first month in college, 19-year-old Jimmy received two

underage drinking charges . . . and a disorderly conduct citation for fighting. He lost his license for 15 months and did community service.

Jimmy tried to get his life back on track by joining a Pennsylvania Army National Guard infantry unit in 2003.

He did so with unresolved issues.

Jimmy spent 2008 in Afghanistan. That was a tough year. His unit had several casualties and multiple severe injuries.

Drinking became a way to escape horrors of war.

“Obviously, rage comes with this. You want to even the score and get revenge,” he says.

Focused on his mission, he never drank while deployed, but Jimmy’s anger was seething.

“Even before Afghanistan I was a kid who hated to lose. My parents divorced when I was young. I knew I had anger issues, but never took the time to look into where they came from. I

Finding freedom from potent combination of alcohol and anger.

Story: Cynthia McFarland

used alcohol to suppress those feelings,” he admits.

Jimmy remained in the National Guard for a little more than 10 years. In 2014, he began working in the federal prison system in New York. He and his wife Samantha moved to Florida in 2016.

His drinking was under control. At least, he thought it was.

Everything started to change after his best friend died in a motorcycle accident in the spring of 2018.

“It was a blessing and a curse because I quit drinking, but I lost him,” says Jimmy.

That same year, Jimmy drank at a cousin’s wedding. Afterwards, his wife photographed him passed out in the yard while playing with their two daughters.

“When Samantha showed me that picture, it broke me mentally and emotionally. I quit drinking (again) from then,” he says.

Now a father of three, Jimmy, 37, has been sober for five years.

Currently a lieutenant at FCC Coleman, Jimmy works the active gang yard.

“My wife was going to church regularly at The Father’s House in Leesburg. Eventually, it started resonating with me; walls started breaking down. I committed my life to Jesus Christ in 2019. Ever since I submitted to Him, life has been a lot better. I took the ‘scenic route’ before I figured out that I couldn’t make it on my own.

“People who see me now don’t realize how far gone I was spiritually and emotionally,” says Jimmy, who regularly shares his story in hopes of helping others.

Looking into his eyes, you’d never know how far Isaac Deas fell. A dynamic public speaker, licensed mental health therapist since 2000, and a drug counselor and Hospice chaplain for 19 years, Dr. Deas is senior pastor at New Bethel Community Church in Summerfield.

The game changer was the chapter that came before.

Story: Cynthia McFarland

From living on the street to living for the Lord, Isaac Deas’ restoration from ashes is nothing but miraculous.

Raised in a supportive, churchgoing family in West Haven, Connecticut, Isaac was a success by any measure.

He earned multiple degrees— including three masters—and was working on his doctorate in education from Columbia University. He had a respected job in the juvenile justice system making $100K a year and was living in a beautiful new home with his wife and family.

“I was the first African American supervisor of corrections in the State of Connecticut,” says Isaac, whose probation o ce was top in the state in terms of production.

Isaac had everything a 33-yearold man could ask for, but he never bargained on where curiosity could lead.

“I wanted to try crack just to see what it was like. It started o as

OPENING THE DOOR CRASH AND BURN

Over a two-year span, Isaac was in rehab three times and jail once.

“I did what addicts do–lie, cheat, steal. I lost my wife, job, house, everything,” says Isaac, who shamefully admitted to his daughter that he’d sold her bike, camera, and television to buy drugs.

“I’m an educated man, but the drugs superseded that. I got high with doctors, police o cers, judges–not just people on the street. I saw women give their children to the crack guy,” admits Isaac.

From 1986 to 1988, he lived on the streets, using and selling drugs.

“People who haven’t been in this lifestyle don’t understand, but drugs can talk to you just like a person,” he says. “When you surround yourself with people who are doing what you’re doing, you can validate what you’re doing.”

experimental,” says Isaac, who was working as a probation supervisor at the time.

His once-a-week “experiment” turned into twice a week, then daily.

When he started showing up late to work, he certainly couldn’t admit his drug use, so he said he had an alcohol problem.

“They sent me to a 30-day rehab program,” says Isaac, who was back on drugs within two weeks of completing that program.

The following year, he finally told his family about his addiction. They attempted a crisis intervention,

which ended with him in a holding cell at the police department.

“They said if I didn’t agree to go to this second drug treatment program, I’d go to jail,” says Isaac, who’d been fired from his job by that point.

His parents paid for the program, but Issac’s smooth talking got him sprung.

“All drug people are con men. By the time I got done talking to the counselor, he said I didn’t have a problem and I went back home,” says Isaac.

He had yet to hit rock bottom.

In November of 1988, he finally called his mother from a phone booth and said he wanted to come home.

“My mom said she’d been waiting for my call,” remembers Isaac, who agreed to enter a Christian drug treatment program in Wildwood, Florida. (Then known as Youth Challenge, it’s House of Hope today.)

He was 36, homeless, and weighed only 85 pounds. He’d o cially hit rock bottom.

“This is when I got clean for good,” says Isaac, who stayed in the program for 22 months.

“We had to pray in the chapel for an hour every morning,” he recalls. “It was an overcast day about to rain and I was in the corner praying. I could hear God saying, ‘Think of all the people you’ve hurt.’ I thought of my mom. A ray of sun came in the window, and I felt

the sun on me, but I felt the Son touch me.”

At breakfast that day, he opened a letter his mother had sent three days earlier. In it she shared a dream that described exactly what had just happened to Isaac.

“God showed my mother what He was going to do. The miracle was that God took away my craving for drugs,” he marvels.

Isaac, now 71, credits his complete recovery to “a forgiving God and a praying mother.”

There’s no question his life is a story of redemption.

“The God I serve has the ability to turn lemons into lemonade,” says Isaac, who regularly shares this truth with clients he counsels. “God didn’t set out to have me do drugs. We have freewill and I chose to do it. He took my atrocities and turned them into something positive for His glory, not mine.”

“I DID WHAT ADDICTS DO–LIE, CHEAT, STEAL. I LOST MY WIFE, JOB, HOUSE, EVERYTHING.”

Lake Centre Home Care (LCHC) is a skilled home health care agency that also o ers private duty services. “As the skilled patients of LCHC continued to recover and came to the end of their skilled services, they often needed private duty services,” said Lori Davis, COO of Lake Center Home Care. “We saw a need for private duty services and decided to fill that need instead of referring clients to another company,” said Lori. In 2022, the private duty divisions was created when LCHC hired Andrea Smart as the Director of Private Duty.

Private Duty can include a multitude of services. Bathing, showering, assistance with dressing, laundry, meal preparation, grocery shopping, light housekeeping, medication reminders, appointment transportation and more. “Our Certified Nursing Assistants, Home Health Aids and Companions are a great resource for our private duty clients. They provide services beyond what the skilled sta can

do,” said Andrea. “Private duty takes our services a step further and o ers another layer of to what we can do for our clients,” Andrea said. Private duty is a private pay service and is sometimes covered by a long term care policy.

Skilled home health care is a Medicare benefi t that can send a team of professionals into a patients home to prevent a stay in a facility. The team may include a registered nurse, physical therapist, speech therapist, occupational therapist, aide or other clinician. It is individualized care designed to meet specifi c needs. LCHC will work with the physician to deliver a personal plan of care that meets the needs of a patient and to help the patient stay in their home. “Skilled home health care gives our clinicians the opportunity to provide one on one patient care without the distractions of a facility. Our clinicians enjoy making a di erence in their own neighborhoods and communities,” said

Shayna Grunewald, CEO of Lake Centre Home Care.

Home health care services can help patients recover after a hospitalization or surgery or help control the symptoms of a chronic illness such as diabetes, COPD or heart failure. Home health care is usually less expensive than a stay in a facility and is more convenient for the patient. LCHC can work directly with the physician to ensure patients are following the plan of care prescribed to help achieve health care goals. LCHC’s goal is to promote a healthy, healing environment for the patient as well as the caregivers. Skilled home health care is an important benefit that helps a patient live their life to the fullest with care that’s delivered in their own home.

Lori Davis, COO; Andrea Smart, Director of Private Duty;

L-R:

We thrive on building a healthy community for all individuals.

Danielle Santiago

Nurse & Owner Louis Santiago Executive Chef

Tamara Weeks

Nailcare Specialist

Risi Williams

Licensed Esthetician Crystal Drayton Permanent Makeup & Lash Artist

Mind

The dad and daughter

SOCIAL MEDIA AND MENTAL HEALTH

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the main event. In one corner, wearing white shirt and confident smile, is the challenger, Marc RobertzSchwartz, a dad who wants to knock out social media, a foe he says is self-centered, ridiculous, and uninteresting that can be a detriment to mental health.

In the other corner, wearing the black shirt and a look of determination, is his daughter, Cadi Schwartz, who plans to work in social media and religiously uses social media to have fun, share and learn interests, and develop friendships.

Are you, the judges, ready to decide if social media is a force for good or a plague that adversely

a ects our mental well-being? Get your scorecards ready for the ultimate Dad-Daughter debate! They are ready to ruuuuuummmmmbbbbllllle!

Marc: If you search for “Impact of social media on mental health,” on the web, there have been about a zillion medical, professional, and academic research studies on the topic. My perspective carries none of the weight of those studies, but rather is based on three fronts; personal, parental, and professional (my company manages several client accounts). While the majority of my personal use is limited to Facebook, it has been a blessing and a curse on all mental and emotional fronts.

Cadi: When I grow up, I want to work in social media. As a public relations major, it is my dream to work in social media for a professional sports team. Me and social media are a package deal nowadays and I love it.

Marc: On the positive side, it has helped me reconnect with some special friends of my past, rekindling both in-person and virtual relationships that had otherwise been lost. I celebrate their successes, share their losses, chuckle at the antics of both their kids and pets, and marvel at those who never seem to age. Unfortunately, I would say that represents about 40% of the joy and energizing emotions I feel when I’m scrolling.

STORY: MARC ROBERTZ-SCHWARTZ AND CADI SCHWARTZ PHOTO OF MARC & CADI: NICOLE HAMEL

Cadi: For me, social media represents my past, present and future. It allows me to learn and explore. I use social media to find new recipes, to laugh, to get my news, and to keep up with the latest trends. I use social media to keep up with organizations that I hope to work for someday. This hasn’t always been the case though. For years, there seemed to be this unspoken rule that social media was only used for showing only the good things. It was hard to see the people who seem to have the “perfect” life when things aren’t going right in yours. It’s easy to say they don’t deserve it or it’s not all real. In some cases, yeah, that’s true. But now, some people on social media work hard for what they have and don’t “create” fake lives, but use social media to “create” the lives they always imagined.

Marc: More often than not, I find political discourse, upsetting news stories (many of which I will take the time to source before reacting, engaging or reposting), baseless conjecture, or overall meanness and general stupidity to dominate my feed and elicit a visceral emotional response of energysucking anger – sometimes verbal, sometimes silent, both of which usually include the same words. I’ll be honest, I’ve blocked people, ignored invitations to connect or stopped following people who might otherwise rob me of some valuable balance.

Cadi: Now, I see social media from the professional side as well as from the personal side. I think it’s important to make this distinction to help maintain my mental health. Some overlaps are okay. For example, I am a sports fan and I want to work in sports. But being able to focus on one side while turning o the other has helped my mental health immensely.

Marc: Even as an adult, I will on occasion, indulge myself in about 14 seconds of disappointment when I see Facebook photos of a gathering of people I feel are friends but who did not extend an invitation. Such disappointment fades quickly, with the tools of maturity and context that may be lacking in the younger generation. And that’s where the parental perspective kicks in.

Cadi: On the personal side, I use social media to get my news, stay up to date on the latest trends and keep in touch with friends who I haven’t seen in a while. I also use it as an escape. I use it as inspiration for where my next trip is going to be, for laughing at memes and yes, watching “get ready with me” videos. On the professional side, I use social media as something to look forward to. Something to motivate me. Something to inspire me.

Marc: As the father of this column’s counterpart, I am hyper aware of how much time she spends on multiple social media platforms. My wife and I held social media at bay for our daughter until she was 13 (hey, it was Facebook’s rule, not ours). But now she’s 22, a senior in college, and our influence is fading with the hopes that we have led by example and instilled some valuable tools to help her cope with whatever emotions she

may feel while giving her scrolling thumb a solid workout.

Cadi: I choose to see the good in social media. The part where it brings us all together. The part where it provides jobs for millions of people around the world, including me one day. Just like anything else in life, social media is all about perspective.

Marc: Like anything, I think social media is about moderation and a conscious, deliberate e ort to not let it overcome your well-being. Maybe easier said than done. “Like” if you agree.

Wow, what a slugfest! As the combatants return to their corners, it’s time for our judges to mark their scorecards and declare a winner. Judges, have you reached a decision?

The Dad and Daughter Debate

October ushers in more than just autumnal hues for current Medicare beneficiaries; it heralds the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), a pivotal time from October 15 to December 7. During this annual window, individuals have the chance to initiate Medicare enrollment or modify their existing coverage. This crucial juncture empowers them to scrutinize their present benefits and anticipate evolving health care needs for the forthcoming year.

Opting for the right health insurance plan demands mindful consideration to match benefits to individual needs. However, the deluge of data and coverage intricacies often leave many bewildered, leading to suboptimal choices and insu cient coverage.

In a bid to ease these challenges, The Villages Health has crafted tools that distill the intricacies of these significant decisions into more manageable choices. The Villages Health o ers access to clinicians, their care teams, and resources that promote well-being and vibrant living in a “one-stop shop” environment.

Adjacent to each of its seven primary care centers is a Health Insurance Resource Center (HIRC). Manned by friendly,

knowledgeable licensed insurance agents, these centers o er invaluable in-person guidance at every crossroad of the insurance decision-making journey. The agents help demystify Medicare and Medicare Advantage options that are accepted by The Villages Health, assess individual health care needs, and o er an array of plan alternatives designed to meet your unique needs.

The Villages Health accepts several Medicare Advantage plans for primary care services as well as additional plans for specialty care services. The licensed agents go above and beyond to match patients with plans tailored to their precise timing and coverage needs. This bears immense significance as an apt plan not only addresses medical needs but serves as a barrier against potentially high medical expenses and saves patients the trouble of navigating the often-challenging world of health insurance. In turn, this may help alleviate the stresses many face as they turn 65.

Residents residing in specific zip codes across Sumter, Lake, and Marion counties can find acceptance of United Healthcare Medicare Advantage, Florida Blue Medicare Advantage, and

The Villages Health makes choosing worry-free health care easy.

Now is the time to make an important choice when it comes to Medicare

Humana Medicare Advantage plans within The Villages Health.

Opting for a plan that is part of The Villages Health's network, guarantees sustained access to qualified doctors and their care teams, cutting-edge medical technology, and compassionate care—building upon the trusted health care The Villages Health is known for. This access also provides a comprehensive array of health care services, facilitated by an institution steadfast in nurturing enduring patient relationships, enhancing overall experiences, and holistically addressing multifaceted health care needs.

From primary care physicians to specialists, educational classes to telehealth consultations, same-day appointments to a Saturday EZCare clinic, The Villages Health’s comprehensive services reflect a commitment to innovation. From the moment you step into one of the care centers, you will encounter an ambiance that shatters the conventional confines of a waiting room.

In fact, The Villages Health calls its waiting rooms “living rooms.” This is due to the aesthetically pleasing design of the space. These spaces are adorned with

chandeliers, inviting couches, and television sets. And, contrary to customary expectations, wait times are refreshingly brief, reflecting The Villages Health's dedication to punctuality service.

Beneath this aesthetic veneer lies a commitment to more profound care. Patients spend substantial time with their physicians and care team members, sharing medical histories and collaborating on personalized paths to health and wellness. This dedication finds its embodiment in The Villages Health's motto: "Keeping You Healthy and Healing You Quickly." Throughout their journey, patients encounter a devoted team of receptionists, nurses, clinicians that lend a sense of value to individual concerns.

In addition to the seven primary care centers, The Villages Health has two locations for their specialty care services – both within a short drive from each of their primary centers. Care coordination is a cornerstone of The Villages Health's patient-centric model, ensuring seamless information exchange between primary and specialty care. This approach optimizes convenience while minimizing costs, confusion, and unnecessary care.

Specialty care services range from audiology to urology and 11 others in between. Local collaboration is also in place for dermatology, orthopedics, and general surgery.

Embarking on a tour of The Villages Health's care centers opens a door to an environment transcending conventional clinical confines. Thoughtful design elements foster trust and comfort among patients, ensuring they feel welcomed and valued. Additionally, an array of amenities is available under one umbrella, including x-rays, lab work, audiology services, procedure rooms, and behavioral health support.

The success of The Villages Health is underlined by its remarkable Net Promoter Score (NPS) consistently in the high 90s, coupled with a 98% patient satisfaction rating. Recognized as "world-class," The Villages Health embodies the philosophy of meeting individual needs through exemplary care and unwavering compassion.

Consider becoming a patient of The Villages Health today, where a patient’s individual needs are met with the highest quality of care and a friendly smile.

Cardiac Care

Connection. Interaction. Support.

We prioritize those qualities in our personal relationships, but it can be challenging to find them in health care. This can be both frustrating and concerning, especially when dealing with cardiac issues.

When Dr. Georg Couturier founded Village Heart and Vein in 2011, his mission was to recruit a team of doctors, who are not only highly skilled in their areas of cardiac expertise but are also approachable and compassionate doctors who put their patients first.

As the full-service cardiology team at Village Heart and Vein has expanded to meet the community’s needs, the most recent addition is Joel R. Garcia, MS, MD, FACC, FCCP, a board certified cardiologist and internist.

An expert in most cardiac imaging modalities, Dr. Garcia focuses on general and invasive (non-interventional) cardiology and advanced heart failure.

Having completed his fellowship

in cardiology from the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Dr. Garcia has held academic appointments as an assistant professor of medicine at Florida State University College of Medicine and University of Central Florida College of Medicine, where he received the Educator of the Year award. He is a past president of the American Heart Association in Orlando.

PRIORITIZING PATIENTS

At Village Heart and Vein, patients benefit from the warm personal setting, as compared with a large hospital system. The practice’s patient-driven approach is right in line with Dr. Garcia’s own philosophy of quality, a ordable, evidencebased care.

“In private practice, care can be more intimate,” he notes. “The doctors can be closer to their patients and practice medicine on a smaller scale, which establishes long-term continuity of care.”

PROACTIVE MEASURES

Medicine is often reactive, instead of proactive, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Instead of waiting until a cardiac event has happened, the team at Village Heart and Vein seeks to identify and address issues before they become a crisis.

“I’m a big believer in prevention in terms of seeing patients routinely and screening appropriately,” says Dr. Garcia. “With the imaging we have available now, we can diagnose and treat patients much earlier than we could historically. We can get a patient treated before a disease burden or cardiac event happens at 2am.”

He explains that the practice uses specific tests and programs to identify problems—even when a patient is asymptomatic--so they can be treated proactively.

“We can change the impact on patients because of the imaging and diagnostic modalities we have,” he notes.

As some patients have discovered the hard way, insurance restrictions

PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

can be a roadblock.

“We work with patients to fine tune their overall cardiac risk and find screening tests that are a ordable, cost e ective and wouldn’t be limited by insurance restrictions,” says Dr. Garcia.

physician who knows you and can find the right prescription of care for you,” notes Dr. Garcia. “This can extend patient longevity and also reduce health care costs.”

INDIVIDUALIZED CARE

Dr. Garcia views every patient as a VIP and treats them as if they were family members. This attentive individualized care means patients never feel “like a number.”

He urges patients to do their homework when choosing a doctor.

“I feel strongly that patients should research their doctors. The internet makes this possible. Look up their reviews and see what people say about them,” he advises. “We do this when buying products, so do the research and read the reviews when finding a doctor.”

to his high school sweetheart, Beth, for 24 years. The couple has three sons--two in college and one in high school.

Living on a lake means boating and plenty of water activities. That makes for a great time with the family, which is Dr. Garcia’s main focus when he’s not working.

Village Heart and Vein is a trusted resource for both prevention and treatment. Services include all areas of cardiology, electrophysiology and

Being proactive can also change the financial picture. Dr. Garcia points out that one reason health care expenses are so high is because many patients aren’t treated until after they’ve had a heart attack or other cardiac event.

“This is why it’s so important to have that relationship with a

Dr. Garcia began seeing patients at Village Heart and Vein on September 7, 2023. He will practice primarily at the Leesburg location but will also see patients at the UF Health Leesburg Hospital.

A native of Pennsylvania, Dr. Garcia moved to central Florida in 2006 and his family loves the lifestyle here. He has been married

“FOR EXAMPLE, IN OUR PRACTICE, WE’VE MADE IT VERY AFFORDABLE TO CATCH PLAQUE BURDEN WITH CALCIUM SCORE SCREENINGS. THEN WE CAN TREAT IT BEFORE THE PATIENT HAS A CARDIAC EVENT.”

Non-invasive spinal pain reliever and range of motion restorer

Reduces pressure and stress on the spine

Promotes healing by reducing pressure on nerves

The load

STORY: SABRINA CICERI

Your mother always kept a schedule. She was dressed (perfectly) by the time you got up, and she had breakfast made. In fact, as a kid, your alarm clock was the sound of pots and pans and the smell of bacon and eggs. She had your lunch made as you went out the door and handed it to you with a smile. When you came home from school it was to a

refuge — a pristine house, a fresh baked snack, and a warm and welcoming woman who clearly missed you all day as she solved every problem, checked o every list, and kept the world spinning for God. The rest of the night was help with homework, delicious dinner, play with dad, fun bath time, bedtime stories, prayers to the Lord for your “soul to keep,”

Forget about being June Cleaver, just be the best mom you can be.

FIND

BALANCE IN THE MIDST OF CHAOS

kisses goodnight, nightlights, teddy bears, and sweet dreams. All that, as that woman backed out of the room sweetly and went o to solve who knows what other problems.

Was this your reality? Probably not, but that’s how you remember it (or was that “Father Knows Best” or some other TV show?) Since this is your ideal picture of motherhood, as an adult you walk around in constant shame with feelings of failure, and fantasies of “getting away from it all!” Maybe the only place you are that kind of mom is on Instagram and Facebook, and even your image in those profiles stares back at you accusingly, reminding you that you are nothing like your mom.

Many of us constantly make mental comparisons of “ideal” mothers in our quest to be Supermom. Whether it’s your mother, those TV moms, or even that amazing superhero — the Proverbs 31 woman — we often feel we are falling short of our own expectations for ourselves and ideals about what a mother is supposed to be.

Most people who know me think of me as a “get ‘er done” type of gal. But let me describe a reallife situation that I wish I could say only happened once.

SABRINA CICERI

I believe in getting out of bed when the alarm goes o – the first time. It makes everything so much easier the rest of the day. That little bit of discipline sets the tone. But one day, I got up late. By the time I got moving, a million things were happening at once, and while I managed to get the kids ready for school, I had to drive them in my pajamas (we won’t talk about hair and makeup).

After dropping them o at school, 20 miles from where we live out in the country, I remembered I needed milk because I was determined to make a recipe that had to be in the oven by the time I went to pick them up. Looking at my clothes, I picked Walmart. I figured of all places; I wouldn’t be too conspicuous in my PJs. Thankfully, I only saw one woman I know, and we were both in our cars. I got the milk and got out of there in a hurry. I had a Zoom call scheduled that I barely made it home for, and I had to quickly put on a scrub (I own a health and wellness business) and sit down to hide my PJ bottoms from my client.

By midday I was frazzled. I had messed up the whole morning just because I turned o the alarm clock and slept one hour longer than usual. Thankfully, everything

EDITORIAL@AKERSMEDIAGROUP.COM

got done, but it was a while before I let that happen again!

The fact is, even on days when we don’t sleep in, you and I will never have enough hours in the day to do what we think we ought to do in this precious role of motherhood.

All we can do is our best. I don’t know how you deal with that, but I do my best to prioritize. If laundry doesn’t get done (although I love doing laundry, so it usually gets done), but I have hugged my children and told them I love them, I have been a good mom. If dinner is leftovers, but we enjoyed a meaningful conversation, I have been a good mom. If I let them have a little too much screen time, but at some point, we got to cuddle while I prayed for them, their lives are better for it… and I’ve been a good mom.

I still say turn o your alarm clock when it first goes o and get out of bed while you can be alone in the quiet house before anyone else gets up. Get ahead of your day and show it who the “mom boss” is. The whole rest of the day goes better. But on days when it doesn’t happen, give yourself a break, hug your family, and be thankful for what you’ve done that day… and that you have many days to try again.

Sabrina is a self-confessed go-getter, and Owner/ Founder of ‘Immunity Health,’ an evolutionary wellness center in West Palm Beach. As published Author of “If Its Not One Thing It’s a Mother”, and having lovingly fostered and adopted many children over the years, it’s no surprise Sabrina and husband, Joe were named the 2014 Foster Parents of the Year by Kids Central Inc.

The fact is, even on days when we don’t sleep in, you and I will never have enough hours in the day to do what we think we ought to do in this precious role of motherhood.

—SABRINA CICERI

Labor of Love

Operation Shoebox salutes deployed troops by sending them thoughtful care packages.

It was 2003. Five of Ronald and Mary Harper’s 10 kids and their two sons-in-law were all deployed to Iraq at the same time.

To say Mary was overcome with emotion was an understatement.

“My son who flies in the Blackhawk said, ‘You need to stop crying. We’re going to go do our job and come home,’” recalls Mary of those tense days. “I moved from being overwhelmed to thinking, ‘What can I do?’”

Sending care packages to her crew seemed like a logical step.

“It started out trying to help our kids and their units. But very quickly we realized our kids weren’t the only ones over there and they all needed help,” said Mary, who was working full-time as a nurse when she launched Operation Shoebox.

Over the last two decades, Mary’s idea has grown into a

501(c) (3) organization that ships 800-1,000 care packages weekly and tons of supplies annually to U.S. military members stationed around the world.

The first care packages were shipped in shoeboxes, hence the organization’s name.

“When the military started letting us ship bigger boxes, we switched over to cloth bags, which are more cost e ective because we can put 10 care packages in a box,” says Mary.

“We started going to local businesses to ask people to donate and would pack the boxes in my living room. Then we moved to storing supplies in units at Century Storage,” says Mary. “Joanna Fox was a volunteer from The Villages® who found us by word of mouth. She started helping and got a volunteer group started at Pimlico Recreation Center in The Villages®.”

Enough volunteers joined that they outgrew that location and moved to Lake Miona Recreation Center. Today, care packagers work in two locations—The Villages® and Belleview, where the Harpers have lived since 1995.

In addition to Villagers, volunteers from outside the community have stepped up to help, including supporters from On Top of the World, Del Webb, Stone Creek, and local area churches.

STORY: CYNTHIA MCFARLAND

Mary Harper

Snacks and more

Simple things make a big di erence when you’re far from home. That’s the mindset behind Operation Shoebox.

Every care package includes personal care and hygiene items like baby wipes, individually wrapped treats such as crackers, cookies, granola bars, peanuts, and beef jerky. There’s also a stationery package. Any space between items is filled by decks of playing cards, socks, knit caps or little wooden cars and trucks made in The Villages® woodworking shop.

Perhaps most important, every package includes a handwritten thank you card.

“There’s a lot of support for veterans, but our troops who are deployed still need us. When they’re over there, they’re homesick for the U.S. When they get a letter in the bag telling them someone is thinking of them, it means a lot,” says Mary. “The snacks are great, but I hear all the time that the letters are the best things in the bags.”

The Harpers still have two sons and one son-in-law serving in the Army and National Guard, as well as a grandson in the Marine Corps.

Packaged with care

Proceeds from Operation Shoebox’s thrift/furniture store in Belleview are used to purchase care package contents and pay for shipping, but those funds are a drop in the bucket. The organization relies heavily on contributions, donations, and fundraisers.

“The biggest expense is postage, but no one has come up with a solution to ship it less expensively,” says Mary, noting that postage runs between $10,000 and $12,000 per month.

“I’ve been doing this since 2007. It’s a very gratifying feeling to know you’re doing something that makes someone else happy,” says Camille Gieck, who serves as director of operations at The Villages® location of Operation Shoebox.

Having had three sons in the military herself, Camille fully values the passion behind Operation Shoebox.

“We get letters from people thanking us. We know what we’re doing is appreciated,” says Camille. “It’s sad to say,

but I don’t think there will come a day when we don’t need to do this.”

About 250 to 300 volunteers show up every Monday at the Lake Miona location to pack goodie bags and boxes.

“They box and seal everything up and then it comes back to Belleview for shipping,” says Mary. “The Villagers have been amazing. They’re like a well-oiled machine down there!”

Camille has been a fundraising dynamo for the organization. She runs the bingo games at Lake Miona held the first Monday of every month.

“It’s always a sellout,” smiles Camille. “People love bingo. We’re allowed 262 people in that room, and I sell that many tickets every month.”

Additional fundraisers include the always popular Chinese Auction, scheduled for October 16 at Lake Miona. Every dime from fundraisers and donations is used to purchase supplies and ship care packages.

“I

CYNTHIA MCFARLAND EDITORIAL@AKERSMEDIAGROUP.COM

fell in love with words early on and knew from fourth grade that I wanted to be a writer,” says Cynthia McFarland. A full-time freelancer since 1993 and the author of nine non-fiction books, her writing has earned regional and national awards. Cynthia lives on a small farm north of Ocala; her kids have fur and four legs.

Operation Shoebox Volunteers

PHOTO OF VOLUNTEERS BY: NICOLE HAMEL

Dispelling Hospice Care Myths: Part I

STORY: HOSPICE OF MARION COUNTY

Unfortunately, there are misguided notions about what hospice care is. Here we seek to help you better understand hospice care and dispel some of the common myths so that you and your loved ones can make better informed decisions about end-oflife care.

WHAT IS HOSPICE CARE?

Hospice care is a philosophy of comprehensive compassionate care for those in the final stages of life. It includes an integrated team of physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, social workers, grief care, and spiritual care professionals, along with volunteers helping to support patients and their families. Once a person is admitted onto hospice care, the focus will be on comfort, dignity, and emotional support, treating the family as the

unit of care. Quality of life for the patient is the highest priority. No one walks this journey alone. Grief care is there for the patient and family before, during, and after the loss of a loved one, providing grief counseling to children, teens, and adults, to individuals and groups.

COMMON MYTHS ABOUT HOSPICE

Myth: Hospice is for people who only have a few days left to live.

Fact: Hospice care is available with a diagnosis of six months or less. All Medicare recipients are entitled to 180 days of hospice care, which is 100% covered. Most families wished their loved one had received hospice care much earlier in their illness giving patients time with family, friends, pets and support from the hospice interdisciplinary team.

Myth: Hospice care isn’t the same level of care as the hospital.

Fact: Hospice of Marion County provides the same quality care as the patient would get in a hospital, sometimes better due to understanding the special needs of hospice patients. A comprehensive hospice model, Hospice of Marion County has earned Deemed Status accreditation from the Joint Commission, the national gold standard for quality healthcare, the same governing body that gives accreditation to hospitals.

Myth: Hospice is only for the elderly.

Fact: Hospice care is available to anyone who meets the eligibility requirements. Hospice care is for children, teens, and adults with any terminal illness.

Although end-of-life care may be di cult to discuss, it is best for family members to share their wishes long before it becomes a crisis. This can greatly reduce the patient’s and the family’s stress when the time for hospice care is needed.

HOSPICE OF MARION COUNTY HOSPICEOFMARION.COM | 352.873.7415

At Hospice of Marion County, our mission is to provide exceptional support for patients and their families in the comfort of their own homes—86% of our patients are able to spend their last days in the place they call home. Our goal is to provide this professional service of pain relief and symptom management to as many people as possible.

The Investment that none of the gurus are talking about…

Most Long-term care insurance policyholders purchased their policy more than 10, 15, or 20 years ago. They’ve dutifully paid their premiums throughout the years, but they don’t exactly know when and how to utilize their policy. The vast majority of policies go unused because policyholders simply wait too long to fi le their claim, or get fed up with the follow through needed to navigate the claims process.

DON’T FALL VICTIM TO THESE COMMON POLICYHOLDER PITFALLS!

Compromising your policy benefits in exchange for a more affordable premium without a policy review from an independent advocate. An advocate will help you put these potential compromises into perspective and in some cases help you avoid the premium increase completely.

Assuming your financial advisor, health insurance specialist, health care practitioner, or neighbors can give you informed

advice regarding your policy. Unless they’ve read the policy, understand your full medical & financial situation, and have experience with activating policies, they aren’t equipped to advise you.

Waiting for a health emergency before filing a claim with your Long-Term Care Insurance Company. Beginning to activate your policy at the onset of balance, bladder, and memory challenges so that you have established caregivers who you trust is the best plan.

Calling your company before speaking with an Advocate. Customer service agents can provide inaccurate information. An advocate will know what questions to ask and what policy verbiage to reference regarding your benefits.

Providing your insurance company with contact information for ALL of your health care providers. The most common delay in the claim approval process is that your insurance company is still waiting on requested information from one

of your providers, and often that information can be irrelevant to the claim.

Not utilizing activation strategies that lessen your financial burden. Understanding the nuances of the elimination period, paired with creative scheduling solutions can benefit the policyholder’s pocket.

Choosing providers suggested by your long-term care insurance company. Budget care is unreliable, unexperienced, and places the burden of managing and training the caregivers on the client.

Providing Education and Advocacy for Long Term Care Insurance Policyholders requires vast experience in both healthcare and policy activation. At the TriCounty Caregiver Resource Center, we specialize in policyholder

New Look, Same Great Care

Hospice of Marion County is now an affiliate member of Empath Health. This affiliation makes us part of a nonprofit, integrated network of care from Ocala to Naples serving nearly 20,000 individuals in hospice care, home health, elder care and more.

We remain committed to serving our community with the same expert, compassionate care since 1983.

UNDERSTANDING

Sudden Cardiac Arrest

October welcomes cooler days, football games, and all things pumpkin but did you also know that it is Sudden Cardiac Arrest month? Lorven Heart and Vascular is encouraging its community to become more familiar with its symptoms, risk factors, and response to save lives.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is a critical medical emergency that occurs when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating or develops a dangerous rhythmia. It can happen to anyone without warning, regardless of age or health status, and it often leads to death if not treated promptly.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest is often compared to a heart attack, but to the contrary, both are very di erent. A heart attack is caused by a blockage in the blood vessels that supply the heart muscle, while SCA is when the heart is impaired and stops beating unexpectedly. In other words, a heart attack is caused by a “circulation” issue while cardiac arrest is an “electrical” problem with the heart. About 80% of cases are due to a preexisting condition related to heart disease. It is important to know that SCA can happen to anyone without any heart issues or disease.

Symptoms of Sudden Cardiac Arrest are drastic and immediate. If someone you are with or around you who is fi ne one second then collapses, becomes unresponsive, loses their pulse,

Sudden Cardiac Arrest by the Numbers

Source: Cardiosmart.org

SCA claims one life every 90 seconds

More than 420,000 Americans su er from sudden cardiac arrest annually

Over 10,000 SCA events a ect healthy children and young athletes

More than 50% of victims do not have someone nearby to assist in revival

Survival rate is less than 10%

and is not breathing, they are likely experiencing SCA. Someone who su ers from SCA has a very

slim chance of survival without quick action to revive the heart. Delivering an electric shock from an automated external defi brillator (AED) and giving CPR can greatly increase the chances of survival. Today, many public places have AED’s available such as shopping centers, schools, sports venues, community centers, professional o ces, airports, and government o ces. Start a conversation about your heart health between you and the cardiologists at Lorven Heart and Vascular to know if you are at risk and to take steps to lower your chances of SCA:

Sudden Cardiac Risk Factors

1. Family History of coronary artery disease

2. Smoking

3. High blood pressure and high cholesterol

4. Obesity

5. Diabetes

6. A sedentary lifestyle and minimal physical activity

7. Drinking more than 2 alcoholic drinks a day

8. Use of illegal drugs such as cocaine or amphetamines

LORVEN HEART & VASCULAR OCALA & VILLAGES 352.401.9888 | WILLISTON 352.619.2550

Lorven Heart and Vascular o ers comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic cardiovascular services for our patients. Our board-certified cardiologists have extensive subspecialty training and experience, o ering state-of-the-art technologies allowing for a more personalized, ongoing evaluation and management of their cardiovascular care and needs. Most importantly, our team believes in personalized, caring and compassionate medicine.

In a younger face, we typically see the heart-shape or V-shape look of youth. With age, gravity, and loss of skin elasticity, we can observe the stigmata of old age: nasolabial and marionette lines, jowl formation, and a turkey gobbler neck.

We can reestablish that heart-shaped look of youth with Face and Neck Lift with Smartlipo. This procedure combines a face and neck lift with laser liposuction along the jawline and neck using Smartlipo technology.

In a younger face, we typically see the heart-shape or V-shape look of youth. With age, gravity, and loss of skin elasticity, we can observe the stigmata of old age: nasolabial and marionette lines, jowl formation, and a turkey gobbler neck.

With today’s modern technology, you can truly look on the outside the way you feel on the inside. Call for your free consultation with Dr. Serra to find out if Face and Neck Lift with Smartlipo is right for A New You!

We can reestablish that heart-shaped look of youth with Face and Neck Lift with Smartlipo. This procedure combines a face and neck lift with laser liposuction along the jawline and neck using Smartlipo technology. With today’s modern technology, you can truly look on the outside the way you feel on the inside. Call for your free consultation with Dr. Serra to find out if Face and Neck Lift with Smartlipo is right for A New You!

Prevention Tips for Healthy Eyes

As we age, our eyes go through changes that can a ect our vision and overall eye health. However, there are preventive measures we can take to maintain healthy eyes.

LIFESTYLE TIPS TO DELAY CATARACTS:

Cataracts are a common age-related vision problem characterized by clouding of the eye’s natural lens. While cataracts can occur naturally with age, there are lifestyle choices that can help prevent or delay their development.

1) Quit Smoking: Smoking has been linked to an increased risk of cataracts and other eye diseases. By quitting smoking, you not only improve your overall health but also reduce the chances of developing cataracts.

2) Protect Your Eyes from UV Rays: Prolonged exposure to sunlight and harmful UV rays can contribute to the development of cataracts. Wearing sunglasses with UV protection and wide-brimmed

hats can shield your eyes from harmful rays.

3) Manage Chronic Conditions: Conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure can increase the risk of developing cataracts. By managing these conditions through a healthy lifestyle and regular medical care, you can reduce the impact on your eye health.

NUTRITION FOR EYE HEALTH:

A well-balanced diet rich in certain nutrients can promote eye health and help reduce the risk of age-related eye problems.

1) Antioxidant-Rich Fruits and Vegetables: Consuming fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants, such as leafy greens (spinach, kale), carrots, berries, and citrus fruits, can provide essential vitamins and minerals for maintaining healthy eyes.

2) Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Foods like salmon, tuna, walnuts, and flaxseeds contain omega-3

fatty acids, which can help prevent dry eyes and reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

3) Vitamin C and E: Citrus fruits, kiwi, bell peppers, almonds, and sunflower seeds are excellent sources of vitamins C and E, which act as antioxidants and can help protect the eyes from damage caused by free radicals.

REGULAR EYE EXAMS:

Regular eye exams are essential for maintaining healthy eyes, especially as you age. Eye exams can detect early signs of eye diseases, such as glaucoma, cataracts, and AMD, which may not show noticeable symptoms in their early stages. By detecting these conditions early, you can seek appropriate treatment and prevent further vision loss or complications.

As you age, taking proactive steps to maintain healthy eyes becomes increasingly important. By following these prevention tips you can promote your eye health and preserve clear vision.

STORY: OCALA EYE

Ocala Eye is the largest, most experienced eye care practice in North Central Florida. Since Ocala Eye was founded in 1971, more people from The Villages, Marion and surrounding counties trust their eyes to our ophthalmologists than any other eye care group.We are a patient-centered practice, with all of the decisions made based on the patient’s benefit and well-being.

My time is your time

From the moment patients step foot in Dr. Mayra Munoz’ o ce, they are her top priority.

“I love what I do. I love my patients and I like devoting time to them,” Dr. Munoz says. “They need to be listened to. They need me to have the time to explain things, to go over their medical conditions, and sometimes, they may have questions, related, or multiple concerns to bring to my attention during their visit.”

“My goal is giving each patient the time they deserve so that when they leave, they leave feeling like they were taken care of and that all their needs were addressed.”

With that said, Dr. Munoz’ decision to come on board with Aegis Medical Group was because it operates with the same philosophy.

“That’s one of the things I like about this company. They want us to devote time that is needed for each visit,” she adds.

Dr. Munoz is a family medicine specialist and has 27 years of experience in the medical field. She graduated from the University of Puerto Rico, and since then, has worked in a variety of clinical settings, including hospitals, outpatient facilities, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. In Puerto Rico, she even did home visits when needed.

She joined Aegis Medical Group in July 2023 and today, is based in Leesburg, where she focuses mainly on geriatric patients and preventive medicine.

“In primary care, preventive medicine is very important. I like to make sure patients are keeping up with things like their prescriptions and medication, the labs, the colonoscopies, the mammograms, eye exams, vaccinations,”

Dr. Munoz adds, explaining that it’s good to stay on top of your health because early detection can improve chances for successful treatment.

Additionally, Dr. Munoz says it’s crucial that if patients with acute conditions notice additional symptoms or any new issues, they contact their doctor immediately, so as to remain as healthy as possible and prevent hospitalization.

To make that easier, Aegis ensures that doctors, sta , and patient managers are on call 24/7.

“Aegis is a very solid company that caters to the well-being of the community and I’m happy to have joined Aegis and feel proud to be part of that,” she continues.

Outside of work, Dr. Munoz enjoys spending time with her husband, their son and daughter, her mother, and her mother-inlaw, both of whom share a home with them in Leesburg.

Dr. Munoz, a recent addition to Aegis Medical, takes pride in treating patients with expertise, care, and no rush.

Jeremiah 30:17

"I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the lord."

Tuesday

NOVEMBER 14TH

3pm - 7pm

Colony Cottage Recreation Center

510 Colony Blvd. | The Villages

Physical Activity for Healthy Aging

Social Engagement for Mental Wellness

Proper Nutrition for Healthy Life

Sponsorships Available! Contact Peter Russell 603-344-6913 pmrhop@gmail.com

Brought to you by The Villages Homeowners Advocates

Who We Are

e VHA Inc is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to assisting our residents and promoting the rewards of living in e Villages community. We focus on Philanthropy, Communications, Education, Volunteering, and Social Opportunities.

What We Do

We will use the net proceeds of the Health and Wellness Expo to bene t those organizations which address needs in the areas of nutrition, physical and mental health, US veterans and armed forces, housing, and youth.