Health II 2014

Southbay health TWENTY-FOURTEEN

A HEALTH CARE RESOURCE GUIDE FOR WHERE WE LIVE P. 60

OURSOUTHBAY.COM

Volume 5

DISPLAY UNTIL MARCH 2015

Suffering from chronic knee pain?

Experience relief with Advanced Robotics Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance is the only South Bay hospital to offer the revolutionary MAKOplasty® partial knee resurfacing technology. It’s a minimally invasive procedure that offers a: • Faster recovery time • Shorter hospital stay • More natural feeling knee Experience Providence Orthopedic Care.

Get a free physician referral: 1-888-HEALING (432-5464).

UPCOMING KNEE PAIN LECTURES Topics will include: • surgical and nonsurgical options for dealing with pain • the revolutionary MAKOplasty® partial knee resurfacing technology Learn more. Call 1-888-HEALING (432-5464) or visit providenceclasses.org.

Find and follow us:

Discover a Land

not far away There is a land where people come to escape.

A land with its own culture and way of life.

And endless room to roam.

We invite you to experience Terranea Resort.

100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275 310.265.2800 | www.Terranea.com

Wake up Rested

CAN ASSIST WITH THE DIAGNOSING AND DENTAL TREATMENT OF SLEEP DISORDERED BREATHING FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME. The ARES is a low-cost, patient-friendly wireless device that is worn during sleep in your own bed. Sleep data is recorded by the device, and the data is uploaded and sent to a certified sleep technologist and then interpreted by a physician, who recommends the appropriate therapy.

For more information on the ARES wireless device and sleep apnea treatments, please call or request an appointment online.

Sleep Apnea

Symptoms

Waking with headaches Waking with a choking sensation Daytime fatigue Poor memory and concentration Nocturnal teeth grinding and clenching Waking with dry mouth Restless sleep, tossing and turning Frequent trips to the bathroom at night Rapid weight gain Affects sleep quality of bed partner

Associated Medical Conditions Cardiovascular disorders Depression and personality changes Diabetes

Michelle Okamoto, DDS

Steven K. Okamoto, DDS

22330 Hawthorne Boulevard, Suite E Torrance, CA 90505 Phone: 310-373-1120 Fax: 310-383-1113

www.okamotodds.com

New offices in Palos Verdes and Torrance Making your health a priority is now easier than ever. With primary and specialty care locations throughout the South Bay, UCLA doctors are where you need us, when you need us. Because when it comes to your health, we go out of our way to make sure you never have to.

1-800-UCLA-MD1 (1-800-825-2631) Make an appointment: uclahealth.org/southbay

Discover the fountain of

Manhattan Beach

Palos Verdes

Redondo Beach

Torrance

• Family Medicine

• Family Medicine

• Family Medicine

• Family Medicine

• Internal Medicine

• Internal Medicine

• Internal Medicine

• Internal Medicine

• Pediatrics

• Cardiology

• Endocrinology

• Radiology

• Dermatology

• Hematology/Oncology

• Digestive Diseases

• Nephrology

• Nephrology

• Obstetrics/Gynecology

• Rheumatology

• Pulmonary Medicine • Sleep Medicine

uclahealth.org/getsocial

WE’RE GROWING

A HEALTHIER

SOUTH BAY NEW NORTH HOSPITAL OPENING FEBRUARY 2015 Your health is our priority. That’s why we’re building a new, four-story, 280,000-square-foot hospital at our South Bay Medical Center — to bring you the best in care and convenience. The new North Hospital will include 140 private hospital rooms, 39 emergency treatment areas, and a modern diagnostic imaging suite with advanced technology.

A HEALING AND COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT

ELECTRONIC RECORDS CONNECT YOUR HEALTH CARE TEAM

Patients in the North Hospital will enjoy private rooms, on-demand meal service, and Wi-Fi access. With outdoor landscaping, green construction, and a healing garden/meditation area, the North Hospital has been designed to create a healing environment for our patients.

Our North Hospital will feature our advanced electronic health record system, which connects your high-quality health care team to coordinate your care during your hospital stay and inform your personal physician about your progress and follow-up care.

kp.org/choosebetter kp.org/southbay kp.org/thrive 60280713

DIVORCE

ISN’ T EASY...

let us help.

Divorce | Mediation | Collaborative Divorce

310-540-2515 | www.CalDisso.com 3828 Carson St. Suite 100, Torrance, CA 90503

____EDITOR’S LETTER

PUBLISHER

Jared Sayers, 310-502-8262 jared@moontidemedia.com EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Darren Elms ART DIRECTOR Angela Akers

PASS IT ON Welcome to our newest edition of Southbay HEALTH, a lifestyle publication celebrating the best in Beach Cities wellness and fitness. The second issue of the year always debuts around the New Year … auspicious timing, as many of us are looking at resolutions for 2015.

Chances are at least one of your big promises revolves around better overall health in the year to come. Maybe you plan to go to the gym one extra day a week or eat better foods and cut back on sweets. Or maybe you’re just signing up for the gym for the first time. No matter the resolution or the time of year, there’s always a reason to live a happier, healthier life.

Many of the local people we feature live up to that philosophy and share the incredible ways they stay in shape, eat nutritiously and lead balanced, active lives. Perhaps the most well-known of the bunch is Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings. When she’s not training or staying in amazing shape on and off the volleyball court, she’s juggling a busy home life and raising three awesome kids with her husband.

How does she do it all? Check out her feature story for all those amazing tips.

We also profile a number of health and medical professionals, from orthopedic therapists to cosmetic surgeons to eye specialists, to name a few. Find out what they prescribe for their patients and how they keep fit out of the office.

And if you think there’s an age you should start to slow down, think again! Check out former Olympic rower and medalist John Nunn of Palos Verdes. At 72, not only is he still manning the oars, he encouraged his son, Jack, to take up the sport. Now Jack has become a formidable, competitive athlete himself. Way to pass it on.

Wishing you all an inspiring 2015.

– Darren Elms, Editor

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GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Elena Lacey Michelle Villas COPY EDITOR Laura Watts CONTRIBUTORS Zoe Alexander, Diane Barber, Suzanna Cullen Hamilton, Kelly Dawson, Michele Garber, Amber Klinck, Stefan Slater, Cindy Whitehead PHOTOGRAPHERS Jeff Berting, Siri Berting, Paul Joyner, Kat Monk, Nicole Leone, Lauren Pressey

TODD KLAWIN

Managing Partner

ADVERTISING HEALTH ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Derek Poole, 310-266-3846 derek@moontidemedia.com Erika Carrion, 310-897-2424 erika@moontidemedia.com

MARKETING & OPERATIONS VICE PRESIDENT, BRANDED MEDIA Emily Stewart Baker DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Cherice Tatum MARKETING MANAGER Kaleena Cano OPERATIONS MANAGER Allison Jeackjuntra BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL CONSULTANT Karina Aguiar

CHARLES C. KOONES Managing Partner

No part of this periodical may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written consent from Moon Tide Media, LLC. Any and all submissions to this or any Moon Tide Media, LLC publication become the property of Moon Tide Media, LLC and may be used in any media. We reserve the right to edit.

TO OUR READERS Southbay Health magazine welcomes your feedback and reaction to our magazine and stories. Please send your letters to: Reader Response Department, SB Health Magazine, PO Box 3760, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. Please include your name and address and email address in case we need to contact you. Letters may be published. We reserve the right to edit.

58 11th Street Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 Tel 310-376-7800 • Fax 310-376-0200 MoonTideMedia.com OurSouthbay.com

Experience life Ken Brown, 55 | heart surgery patient South Bay resident Get Ken’s full story at california.providence.org/kenstory

Experience Providence Heart Care “I love living here in the South Bay – and thanks to Providence, I’m living a great life.”

The Cardiovascular Center of Excellence at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance offers some of the most advanced heart and vascular treatments available. Our board-certified cardiologists and surgeons provide the best possible care by getting to know you and what makes your heart unique. It’s because of a simple screening that Ken continues to do the things he loves. Ken’s care is just one of the reasons why we’ve been ranked as one of the country’s 100 Top Hospitals three years in a row, and why we’re ranked among the 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals in the U.S.* Don’t miss a beat. Experience Life. Experience Providence Heart Care.

For more information about our healthy heart screenings or a free physician referral call 1-888-HEALING (432-5464) or visit providence.org/torrance. *Ranked by Truven Health Analytics; top 50 designation is for 2015. The 100 Top Hospitals® program is a registered trademark of Truven Health Analytics.™ Find and follow us:

50

Jack Nunn (left) and John Nunn (right) flex their muscles on the water.

INSIDE 14

10 Tips for Expecting Moms

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JEFF BERTING

30 Q&A with Dr. David Wallis

16 Working Out with Baby

32 Media: Alternative Wellness

17

34 TEAM PLAYERS Family Health with the Hatches

Managing Gluten Allergies

18 So You Want to Be a Lifeguard?

20 Signs of Teen Addiction 22 THE SAND STORM

Catching up with Kerri Walsh Jennings

38 Regenerative Tissue 40 FASHION

Fit Club 46 Ready for Laser Eye Surgery 48 The Handsome Heart

12 Southbay Health 2014 | oursouthbay.com

50 LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

John Nunn and Jack Nunn 54 Golden Opportunities 56 TRAVEL

Cal-A-Vie Health Spa 108 BOOK IT: Your Active Calendar HEALTH CARE RESOURCE GUIDE 60 Meet the South Bay’s Wellness Leaders

BEGINS 1/1/15

(310) 643-6878 SpectrumClubs.com/SouthBay

(310) 541-2582 SpectrumClubs.com/RollingHills

(310) 376-9443 SpectrumClubs.com/RedondoBeach

2250 Park Place El Segundo, CA 90245

51 Peninsula Center Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274

819 N Harbor Drive Redondo Beach, CA 90277  13

oursouthbay.com | 2014 Southbay Health

Healthy mama HELPFUL TIPS FOR EXPECTING MOMS EDITED BY ZOE ALEXANDER

Whether you are pregnant or trying to conceive, maintaining good health is vital for a smooth pregnancy. Two South Bay physicians—Jennifer McNulty, MD, an OB/GYN at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach, and Michael L. Friedman, MD, FACOG, with Obstetrics and Gynecology at UCLA Health System in Torrance—share their top recommendations for expecting mothers.

RECOMMENDED READING WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING

BY HEIDI MURKHOFF AND SHARON MAZEL This is a comprehensive guide to your pregnancy with a month-to-month overview. An online newsletter is also available.

THE HAPPIEST BABY ON THE BLOCK

BY HARVEY KARP, MD Many swear by Dr. Karp’s book, calling him the Baby Whisperer. His methods for dealing with crying and colic provide new parents with valuable techniques and insights into the initial developmental stages of newborns.

BRINGING UP BÉBÉ

BY PAMELA DRUCKERMAN Druckerman recounts her experiences as an American mother living in France.

The book provides a thought-provoking cultural comparison of American parenting (and why it is in crisis) versus the parenting style of the French.

14 Southbay Health 2014 | oursouthbay.com

MATERNITY

1

LOOK AHEAD

Dr. McNulty emphasizes that a healthy pregnancy begins before conception. She recommends seeing your OB/GYN right away “to discuss any health conditions that should be well controlled before conception and ways to reduce the possibility of a birth defect occurring.”

2

BE ACTIVE

Exercise can reduce symptoms and prevent unnecessary weight gain. Walking and yoga are beneficial, and you may continue with more intense activities with your doctor’s approval.

Dr. Friedman cautions: “Don’t overdo it. Listen to your body. If you’re tired, stop and rest.

Drink more water, at least a minimum of two liters per day.”

3

DON’T EAT FOR TWO

Contrary to the old adage, pregnant women only require an extra 300 calories a day. Dr. McNulty advises, “Women who are overweight or obese are at increased risk for gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, preterm birth and cesarean section. Discuss with your health care provider what your weight gain for the entire pregnancy should be.”

4

5

BANISH BUGS

Not only do pregnant women need to get necessary vaccinations, all household members and caregivers need to get vaccinated before handling babies (for influenza and whooping cough).

Encourage family members to practice good hygiene such as frequent hand-washing.

6

STAY GROUNDED

Any activity that poses a risk of falling is considered unsafe. Dr. Friedman says, “Air travel should stop at 28 to 30 weeks. High-speed driving, bicycle riding in bike lanes or off-road, or any motorcycle riding should be limited.”

Retire those Jimmy Choos for postpartum wear; high heels can increase back pain, varicose veins and swelling.

7

GET HELP FOR PROBLEMATIC SYMPTOMS

Your grandmother may have been confined to bed with morning sickness, but today most severe symptoms can be treated. Dr. Friedman says, “The best treatment for morning sickness is frequent, small amounts of any liquid, one or two ounces at a time. Saltine crackers really work, and Zofran is the best (prescription) medication and is not dangerous to the baby.”

8

BE PREPARED

Pregnancy presents a good excuse to implement (or update) an emergency plan. Stock extra medications, prenatal vitamins, food and water in your home and vehicles. Have a bag packed for the hospital three weeks prior to your due date that includes a contact list, warm clothes, pillows and comfortable shoes in case of evacuation.

9

GET YOUR ZZZS

A lack of sleep may be inevitable, but Dr. Freidman says it can lead to problems such as “headaches, car accidents, preeclampsia, bad moods and marital problems. Daily and weekly routines need to be suspended for a healthy and safe pregnancy and delivery.” Warm baths, meditation and certain over-the-counter medications can help.

10

STAY INFORMED

Staying informed will ease concerns and limit complications. Be aware of certain foods and hygienic products to avoid. It may be tempting to rely on the web, but always consult your doctor, as the internet is often misleading and incorrect.

MANAGE YOUR MOODS

Got hormones? Pregnancy can make any woman weepy and hostile. Dr. McNulty advises, “Postpartum blues are extremely common in the first one to two weeks after giving birth and resolve without any specific treatment. If you find yourself experiencing intense feelings of anxiety, despair or sadness, let your health care provider know as soon as possible.”

oursouthbay.com | 2014 Southbay Health

15

FIT FAMILY

Don’t Sweat It, Baby Working Out With Newborn WRITTEN BY AMBER KLINCK

I

t’s not uncommon to see expectant mothers breaking a sweat while striding along The Strand or working out next to you at your local fitness studio. But with the new responsibilities of being a mom come the challenges of finding the time to exercise. Your new bundle of joy doubles as an adorable little time thief, making impromptu classes and routine gym sessions virtually impossible.

The good news is, as SoCal residents, we live in a region that celebrates healthy living with a number of resources available to new moms— not to mention a climate that complements outdoor activities all year long. Here are just a few of the ways you can get moving with baby-in-tow.

For starters, get acquainted with your stroller; it’s your new best friend. Especially during those first few months when baby’s mobility is limited, popping outside for a walk is great for

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both you and your little one. If you’re looking to integrate more toning exercises and a social element into your walk, consider Stroller Strides. With several meeting locations across the South Bay, Stroller Strides offers a complete fitness program incorporating strength training and power walking. (meetup.com/ Stroller-Strides-of-South-Bay-Beach-Cities) Once your physician has given you the green light to begin a more rigorous workout, think about investing in a jogging stroller. Not only can you easily pop out for a run with your little one, you can participate in 5K trainings with other moms through programs like Baby Boot Camp. With yoga, strength training and cardio-inspired stroller fitness classes, Baby Boot Camp caters to a variety of athletic abilities with workouts that evolve with the fitness levels of new moms. (babybootcamp.com) If you thrive in a class environment and

love getting your Namaste on, YogaWorks in El Segundo has a Baby-and-Me yoga class on Mondays and Wednesdays. Moms and their prewalkers can enjoy their time on the mat together, meditate and even dance with other babies and moms.(yogaworks.com) Every Thursday at 11 a.m., Bluewater Pilates Studio in Manhattan Beach offers Mommy & Me Pilates classes. Your precious babes are with you throughout the entire class and even aid in your strength training—making the most of the multitasking skills you’ll require as a mom. (bluewaterpilates.com) Of course there will always be times when even squeezing in a shower will seem like a miracle. On those days, take comfort in the amount of cardio you’ll soon be chalking up once your little one learns to walk. w

NUTRITION

SNACK

M

ATTACK

illions of Americans are affected by food-related autoimmune disorders. From life-threatening food allergies to the deeply painful celiac disease, both children and adults are challenged with serious food issues.

Food allergies affect more than 15 million people in this country, and that translates into roughly two children per classroom suffering from this potentially deadly medical condition. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that food allergies rose more than 50% between 1997 and 2011, and more than 200,000 cases are seen each year in emergency rooms.

Food allergies are an autoimmune response to a specific food that can be fatal with immediate death by anaphylactic shock. It’s imperative to understand that even trace amounts of contaminants or any cross-contamination among cooking utensils can cause a reaction.

There are eight primary foods that trigger the most severe allergic reactions: peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, fish, milk, wheat and soy—with the two most common being peanuts and shellfish.

Given that more than 50% of food allergy deaths occur when eating outside the home, it’s critical that everyone from consumers to restaurant employees understand the highly sensitive and potentially fatal nature of this medical condition. There is no cure for food allergies, and the nut, shellfish and fish allergies are lifelong.

Navigating food allergies and celiac disease WRITTEN BY SUZANNA CULLEN HAMILTON

When eating out, dealing with food allergies is the responsibility of everyone from the consumer to the restaurant management.

Many restaurants do not have the capacity to separately prepare and cook potentially lethal food items, so it’s imperative for the consumer to communicate with the restaurant management and wait staff.

A cooking spoon that’s not properly cleaned, or cooking in the same oil, or using the same prep surfaces as an allergen can harbor enough trace amounts to trigger an allergic reaction.

Additionally, hidden ingredients such as anchovies in Worcestershire sauce can be lethal to a diner with fish allergies.

Typically fine restaurants with larger kitchens or small restaurants that specialize in one type of food are better prepared to accommodate people with allergies. The best advice is to do your own due diligence.

Call ahead to find out if a restaurant can accommodate someone with food allergies.

Make sure the management knows that there is a diner with food allergies. And communicate with the wait staff to ensure they understand.

Many restaurants in the South Bay have small kitchens and specialize in seafood or use peanut oil. However, some South Bay restaurants have responded to people with autoimmune disorders, including the Terranea restaurants, Petros, Stacked, Misto Caffe and Kincaid’s.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune sensitivity

to gluten. This disease affects approximately 2 million Americans who suffer when the small intestine interferes with the absorption of food, causing deeply painful responses.

While the effects can be very uncomfortable, celiac disease does not cause immediate death.

It can be greatly accommodated by substituting acceptable ingredients in cooking for those that more commonly trigger this painful condition.

While having celiac disease makes dining out more complicated, restaurants are responding to the needs of people with this disorder by creating menus that offer gluten-free options.

Many websites and cookbooks are available with recipes for delicious, healthy, gluten-free food.

There are many autoimmune diseases, and most have food sensitivities as a byproduct.

However, by understanding the nature of these disorders and knowing how to accommodate them and what to do in an emergency, knowledge becomes power. By creating recipes and dining options for people with autoimmune food disorders, we make the world a safer and more comfortable place for all. w Want a recipe for delicious gluten-free Lemony Strawberry Muffins? Get it online at oursouthbay.com/ health.

oursouthbay.com | 2014 Southbay Health

17

TRAINING

So You Want to Become a Lifeguard?

An instructor from the training academy tells what it’s going to take.

WRITTEN BY STEFAN SLATER | PHOTOGRAPHED BY KAT MONK

F

rom hardcore surfers to casual beach-goers, Los Angeles County lifeguards are responsible for ensuring the safety of all those who enjoy the local sand and surf. Faced with the daunting task of patrolling our county’s 72 miles of coastline, these intrepid men and women handle a wide range of medical, social and oceanic challenges on a daily basis.

Their job isn’t easy, which explains why the training to become a lifeguard is so very demanding. But let’s say you’re up for the challenge—you truly want to stand up on that tower and keep our county’s beaches safe.

What do you do to become an LA County lifeguard?

We talked with Matt Rhodes, an ocean lifeguard specialist. He works as a paramedic and as the paramedic training coordinator for the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Ocean Lifeguard Division. He also serves as an instructor at the county’s Lifeguard Training Academy. Here’s a short “crash-course.”

The Process: There are a number of requirements that must be met before applying—and all are listed online.

You must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED certificate and a valid California driver’s license. Before participating in the official swim exam, a potential candidate must have a swim certificate signed by an aquatic professional that notes that you can swim 1,000 meters continuously.

Toward the end of the summer, the county hosts a swim exam for potential candidates. Rhodes notes that they’ll have 200 to 300 candidates who apply to participate in the ocean swim; this year only 65 of the roughly 200 participants advanced to the next hiring stage.

The swim candidates have to swim 1,000 meters, and the top finishers move on to the interview process. If that is successful, candidates then have to pass a background check and a physical exam. If you pass all stages, you may be invited to attend the academy.

The Training Academy is a minimum 100-hour course that’s taught on consecutive weekends, 10 to 12 hours a day. Potential candidates will learn basic first aid, CPR, how to respond to medical and trauma emergencies, basic ocean knowledge, effecting rescues, negotiating different marine

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environments like piers and jetties, and so on.

Successful Candidates: Rhodes notes that most successful candidates have a swimming background. “You’ll hear a common quote: ‘We train swimmers or water polo players or surfers to be good lifeguards.’ It would be difficult to train someone who doesn’t have some background in the ocean or at least aquatic sports.”

Training Academy: “It’s very demanding,” says Rhodes, so be prepared to learn a great deal of information in a short time frame. He adds that repetition is absolutely critical when it comes to being properly prepared for a career as a lifeguard. “The way we train people is by doing it over and over and over again. It gets so redundant that when they face something [real] for the first time, it’s muscle memory.”

Mentality: “You need someone who is okay with an emergency setting,” says Rhodes. “A lot of people aren’t.”

He also notes that confidence, especially concerning one’s training and overall abilities, is important.

“We have a lot of 18- to 19-year-old kids who might struggle with confidence and asserting themselves. We tell them to walk with a purpose, stand tall and have a commanding presence, dictate a scene.

This is your office, your work place—be an expert.”

The Public: Aside from ensuring the safety of all those on the beach, a lifeguard is also constantly interacting with the public in a positive fashion.

Yes, actual rescuing is one form of positive interaction, but oftentimes being a lifeguard can be rather tedious.

There will be slow days when the beaches aren’t crowded, and it’s up to a lifeguard to “get out of the tower, talk to the public, stay alert and stay active.” Discipline, respect and an innate desire to help and educate others about the ocean are often just as important as being able to swim quickly during heavy swells.

Final Tip: Rhodes notes that if you want to become a lifeguard, it’s important to stay in shape, spend time in the ocean and strengthen your medical skills (EMT classes aren’t a bad idea). “Keep yourself in tip-top shape, strengthen your medical skills and gain any ocean knowledge you can—all of it helps.” w

Does your money need a professional trainer?

The right coach can help an athlete reach his or her goals. The same can be said of your finances. With guidance from a Financial Advisor, you can follow a path of fiscal responsibility and create a strategy that can help maximize the potential of your investments.

As a Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor, I can work with you to develop a financial strategy, and adjust it to help you manage your investments and assets now and through Lisa Garey Portfolio Manager Senior Vice President Financial Advisor

the years to come. Call me to arrange a meeting, and let’s work toward a stronger future.

609 Deep Valley Drive, Suite 400 Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 (310) 544-3606 lisa.garey@morganstanley.com morganstanleyfa.com/lisa.garey

© 2013 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.

CRC588474 (12/12) CS 7338795 FAS009 03/13

KIDS HEALTH

Teens & Addiction How to spot the warning signs and when to seek professional treatment.

WRITTEN BY STEFAN SLATER

A

dolescence can be a trying time.

Those transitional years between childhood and adulthood are fraught with men- tal, emotional and social changes, and the entire process can be challenging for the average teenager. Add other factors such as peer pressure, stress related to an emphasis on school performance and the natural adolescent inclination to try new things, and a teenager may feel the need to experiment with drugs and alcohol.

“Adults have a tendency to rationalize [drug and alcohol] use among teenagers and believe that experimentation is normal and part of growing up,” says Dr. Morris Gelbart, executive director of the Thelma McMillen Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment, a not-for-profit, hospital-based treatment center that offers outpatient programs for teens and adults dealing with substance abuse challenges.

“New advances in science allow us to understand the developing brain and understand the path of addiction better,” says Dr. Gelbart, adding that the adolescent brain is extremely delicate. He points out that it typically takes the brain 25 years to fully mature, and adding drugs and alcohol into the mix may result in negative consequences.

Jennifer Wildenberg-Woodie, a guidance counselor with Mira Costa High, notes that the average teenager may turn to drugs and alcohol for a number of reasons, ranging from peer pressure to familial issues and experimentation. “You might have community and parental pressure, or you might be self-medicating to relieve stress, or you might be struggling with the wrong crowd—there are so many different factors.”

“Teenagers with lack of confidence and poor

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self-esteem often are drawn to each other and gather a sense of identity through drugs and alcohol,” says Dr. Gelbart, adding that 40% of high school students have used marijuana by the time they’re in 12th grade. And 75% have also used alcohol by the time they’re seniors. Other substances such as hallucinogens, opiates and prescription pills are also encountered, albeit at smaller percentages.

However, Dr. Gelbart notes that most adolescents who experiment will not be addicted— most will turn out fine. “But as they go through that [bout of experimentation], they run the risk of many bad things happening to them: doing poorly in school, maybe getting arrested or ticketed, maybe getting into some sort of legal problem, maybe getting injured or hurting someone else.”

At the Thelma McMillen Center, Dr. Gelbart and his medical team work hard to educate teenagers and their families about the potential pitfalls of casual experimentation. Furthermore, if there’s a history of alcoholism or drug addiction in a teenager’s family, that individual may process those substances differently, thus making it important to have an educated outlook regarding experimentation.

Wildenberg-Woodie notes that parents who are concerned about their children potentially using drugs and alcohol should keep an eye out for red flags—odd behavior or issues at school or with friends. But the most important thing is to keep an open line of communication.

“If you’ve got a child who tells you they experimented and they tell you they had a bad experience, then they’ve communicated with you and you have a great relationship—keep those lines of communication open,” she says. Dr. Gel-

bart notes that parents and teenagers may feel guilt or confusion when it comes to substance abuse, which is why communication—especially with medical professionals—is absolutely vital.

Wildenberg-Woodie notes that if a parent or teenager has any concerns about substance experimentation or abuse, the Thelma McMillen Center is an excellent resource for consultation, advice or substance abuse treatment.

Located within a 10,000-square-foot facility that’s adjacent to Torrance Memorial Medical Center, the alcohol and drug center offers early prevention services and education regarding substance abuse, as well as a dedicated outpatient substance treatment program for teenagers ages 13 to 18.

The center’s outpatient program is designed to allow teenagers to stay in school while working on remaining sober. The six-month, four-day-aweek program features three distinct phases.

The first involves education regarding relapse triggers and the 12-step philosophy, as well as communication regarding family, school or individual barriers. The second focuses on peer support and relapse prevention. And the final phase focuses on support groups and constructive social activities. Patients are encouraged to work with the center for another six months for continued care.

Teresa Lang, intake specialist for the center, stresses communication—she notes that letting any concerns go about substance abuse is not advised. “As soon as [parents] suspect, it’s important to take action. Don’t hesitate and confront the issue.”

Lang encourages locals to reach out. “Don’t hesitate: jump on a call. We’re happy to talk to parents.” w

“Thelma was the difference for me between going to college, and going nowhere."

“I called Thelma when a few drinks a week turned into a few drinks every night”

"My pill abuse diminished the pain, but then it began to diminish me. I made it back because of Thelma."

-Chris, age 18

-Lee, age 42

-Linda, age 56

We are the South Bay’s leading outpatient treatment program for alcohol and drug use.

Improve your life, or your teen’s, without interrupting it.

ADULT Program: 310-784-4879

TEEN Program: 310-257-5760

thelmamcmillencenter.com Our experts provide a confidential consultation at no charge.

Please take the first step in the right direction.

22  Southbay Health 2014 | oursouthbay.com

The Sand Storm Chances are you’ve heard of Kerri Walsh Jennings. After three incredible Olympic gold medals in beach volleyball, she’s both household name and hometown hero. But did you know her destiny was not always written in sand?

We catch up with the equally amazing athlete and mom as she trains for Rio 2016.

WRITTEN BY AMBER KLINCK PHOTOGRAPHED BY KAT MONK

oursouthbay.com | 2014 Southbay Health

23

itting outside enjoying a much-needed cappuccino, mother of three and Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings politely excuses herself, leans over to the man sitting at a nearby table and compliments his sneakers. They have a brief but friendly conversation—Kerri mentions that her husband, professional beach volleyball player Casey Jennings, wears the same brand and the two compare notes on the best places to shop for the shoes.

Afterwards Kerri sits back in her chair and returns the conversation to Rio and the upcoming 2016 Summer Olympics. Perhaps it’s little moments like this, showcasing the down-to-earth, approachable nature Kerri possesses, that have contributed to the Olympian’s nickname “Six Feet of Sunshine.” Maybe it’s that Kerri greets the people she meets with a hug rather than a handshake, or the abundance of optimism she exudes.

Whatever the reason, there’s no doubt the nickname was intended to describe Kerri’s off-court persona.

Because once Kerri steps onto the sand, she becomes a force of nature less synonymous with sunshine.

Over the course of her career as a professional beach volleyball player, Kerri has taken the sport to new heights, with a level of success many suggest will never be replicated. Kerri and her 11-year partner, Misty MayTreanor, have been described as the greatest women’s beach volleyball team ever, winning a record-breaking 112 back-to-back matches and 19 consecutive tournaments. But for Kerri, a career on the sand wasn’t always in the cards.

“Initially I avoided beach volleyball. I was all limbs; I’d trip over nothing. I was more comfortable indoors,” she explains.

To say she was “more comfortable indoors” is an understatement. At Stanford, Kerri was a four-time First-Team All-American for women’s indoor volleyball and is now an inductee in the Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame. After college, Kerri would have her first Olympic experience competing on the Women’s Indoor National Team during the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

Kerri was more than willing to step outside her comfort zone and onto the sand, however, when the opportunity to partner with Misty May-Treanor presented itself. “It was a moment of reckoning. For a chance to play with Misty, I was willing to let go of all my inhibitions. But I was as green as you could get.”

After years of success playing indoors, Kerri’s initial experience on the sand was humbling. “I felt like Bambi,” she explains.

“The athletic ability and required skill sets are

the same; it’s the nuances that make beach volleyball so different. With indoor, the environment is very controlled. On the beach, I had to get used to the sun, the sand and the wind.”

But Kerri wasn’t about to give up. During her final year at Stanford, she commuted back and forth from Northern California to Huntington Beach where she lived with Misty. Together the team worked tirelessly to perfect the ebb-and-flow of their new partnership.

“There was chemistry right away,” Kerri explains, “We had an organic rhythm.”

Still, while Kerri was working on familiarizing herself with the nuances of beach volleyball, the team’s performance suffered—and Kerri was frustrated. “Patience doesn’t run in my family,” she explains. “I was terrible to start, but Misty saw something in me. Right away we began competing against the best, and every time we lost it was because of me.”

Nevertheless, Misty stuck by Kerri, and it’s a good thing she did. Together Kerri and Misty would change the sport forever through an extraordinary series of victories that included winning the 2005, 2007 and 2009 FIVB World Championships and taking home the gold in the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

Amazingly enough, while Kerri was making history as a professional volleyball player, she was also deeply invested in another role. At the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, Kerri and Casey were expecting, and in May of 2009, they welcomed their first son, Joseph Michael.

Eleven months later, the family of three became a family of four with the birth of Sundance Thomas. Next came a baby girl, Scout Margery, born in 2013. Kerri was in the early stages of her pregnancy with Scout during the 2012 Olympics in London. “I’ve been blessed with the timing of my pregnancies,” she says.

True to her character, Kerri approached motherhood with exuberance and positivity, a state of mind that originated from witnessing her own mother’s experience.

“I would look at her. She was beaming; she made it look so beautiful,” Kerri explains.

Throughout her own pregnancies, Kerri stayed strong and incredibly fit. “I was born to be a mom,” she says. “I never felt more empowered than when I was pregnant. I was utilizing my body as woman, not an athlete.”

During a shoot for ESPN’s 2013 body issue, Kerri’s

Patience doesn’t run in my family. I was terrible to start, but Misty saw something in me. Right away we began competing against the best.” physique was celebrated as both an athlete and a mother. At nine months pregnant, Kerri was photographed for the feature—only to pose again for the same issue a mere nine weeks after giving birth, showcasing a truly inspirational transformation. “I appreciate my body, as much as I complain about it,” she says.

Like many women balancing career and family, Kerri’s days start early and are filled with preparing meals, running the kids around and work commitments. Albeit Kerri’s profession requires a few out-of-the-norm obligations, like 7:30 a.m. drug tests, for example. (Random testing is required of all the Olympic athletes prior to Rio’s 2016 games.)

Kerri, however, maintains an awe-inspiring combination of focus and lightheartedness. She appears driven but not consumed, relaying a calm assurance that she can do it all.

Kerri will be the first to acknowledge the immense amount of support she receives from family, friends and world-class trainers. “A lot of people have helped me to get to where I am,” she explains. “It takes time to find your team; I have my village.”

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A typical day for Kerri, off the court, includes conditioning at a Pilates studio and spending quality time with her husband, Casey, and three awesome kids.

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A lot of people have helped me to get to where I am. It takes time to find your team; I have my village.”

Included in that village are Kerri’s coaches, Marcio Sicoli and Jon Daze. To stay strong, Kerri works with Contrologie Pilates instructor Kerry Wachtfogel in Manhattan Beach, trainer and performance chiropractic specialist Tommy Knox at the OC FastTwitch Training Center and Frank Amato, Kerri’s DC and physical therapist. Keeping her head in the game is sports psychologist Mike Gervais.

At the center of it all, Kerri’s greatest source of support has been Casey. The two met while playing against each other during Kerri’s early stages of training with Misty. Their first conversation was brief, Kerri notes, “but it all clicked.”

After dating for 3½ weeks, the 20-somethings moved in together in what Kerri describes as “the tiniest little place on Rosecrans.” These early years in the South Bay were Kerri’s first years on her own, but she was happy. “The sense of community here made me feel comfortable, Misty made me feel comfortable, and I was in love,” she explains.

After dating for 4½ years, Kerri and Casey married in December 2005, though the couple faced their share of obstacles. “Casey and I had a rough spot,” Kerri explains. “We faced a lot of challenges. People weren’t always supportive of our relationship.”

Working hard individually, Kerri and Casey began to live separate lives. “It was the hardest time of my life,” Kerri notes, “but it forced us to deal with our issues. We found we still wanted the same things, which brought us closer to ourselves and closer to each other. Going through our rough patch saved our marriage.”

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He’s my favorite player. He elevates everyone to play better, Our goal is for us both to win gold.”

It’s hard not to be inspired when Kerri talks about the hurdles she’s overcome, both personally and professionally. There’s an undeniable sincerity in her voice as she talks about the things she’s passionate about: her children, her husband, her sport. Beneath the athletic powerhouse, beneath the Olympian that dominates the beach, there’s a refreshing honesty—an unmistakable realness that makes you want to root for her.

Today Kerri, along with her new partner, April Ross, have set their sights on a new goal: winning gold at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. “We are very excited,” says Kerri, “We have all the tools to win.”

With training beginning in January and com-

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petitions ending in October, this will be the first full year the two have played together. Of course Kerri isn’t the only Jennings on a quest for gold.

Casey is chasing his own dreams.

“He’s my favorite player. He elevates everyone to play better,” Kerri says. “Our goal is for us both to win gold.”

When asked how Kerri envisions her life after competing professionally, she smiles and says, “I see the light at the end of the tunnel, but right now I’m really enjoying the tunnel. I wouldn’t play if my heart wasn’t in it, but it is.”

For now, the focus is Rio and the possibility of a fourth gold medal. And who knows, maybe a fourth child. After all, Kerri says, “Summer is the time for making babies.” w

Living by

Example

Advice from the best ... secrets to health and happiness from Hermosa’s Dr. David Wallis WRITTEN BY STEFAN SLATER PHOTOGRAPHED BY JEFF BERTING

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Q & A

D

r. David Wallis fully understands the importance of living a healthy and active lifestyle. The 41-year-old Hermosa Beach resident specializes in family practice and sports medicine, and he also serves as a team physician for a number of professional sports teams, including the Los Angeles Galaxy and the U.S. National Soccer Team.

When he isn’t helping professional athletes recover from their injuries, he’s usually doing what he can to stay in shape (triathlons are a favorite) while also making time to spend with his family. Dr. Wallis shared his thoughts with us about the complexities of sports medicine, why it’s important to stay active and how the South Bay is a truly one-of-a-kind community.

THANKS FOR TAKING TIME IN YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE TO TALK TO US. SHARE WITH OUR READERS HOW YOU GOT INTO SPORTS MEDICINE. Dr. David Wallis: I went to UCSD for medical school. I planned on going into orthopedic surgery—I’d always loved working with my hands.

I was a wood shop and auto shop TA [teaching assistant] in high school, and I helped my dad with construction when I was growing up.

I was planning to become a surgeon, but towards the end of school I realized that I really enjoyed getting to know the people I was working with in the clinic (rather than in the operating room). I receive more of an emotional paycheck in getting to know people and helping them with whatever ails them, so I changed my focus to primary care and sports medicine.

Probably a third of my practice has to do with musculoskeletal injuries, and the rest focuses on managing issues like diabetes, blood pressure and the like. I do a lot of physicals and preventive visits as well, usually seeing 20 to 30 patients a day.

HOW MANY INDIVIDUAL SPORTS TEAMS DO YOU WORK WITH? DW: Currently, it’s primarily soccer and baseball. I started working with the U.S. national soccer team as they were preparing for the 2004 Olympics, and it’s been a privilege to work with them ever since.

Since then I’ve also been fortunate to work with the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA of Major League Soccer and have joined the medical staff working with the LA Dodgers. I also have been fortunate enough to work with individual professionals from almost every other sport, such as surfing, tennis, boxing and cycling.

WHAT SORTS OF PHYSICAL CHALLENGES DO YOUR ATHLETES SEEM TO DEAL WITH THE MOST? DW: Obviously each sport has its own particular injury pattern—and yet there are many medical issues that cross over to almost every other sport, such as medication management, work and life balance, performance psychology and even the pressure of being a celebrity. From mangled toenails to concussions, there’s very little that doesn’t come into play with sports medicine, which is one of the reasons I’m thankful to have such broad training. I don’t consider myself a

“I RECEIVE MORE OF AN EMOTIONAL PAYCHECK IN GETTING TO KNOW PEOPLE AND HELPING THEM WITH WHATEVER AILS THEM.” CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH A TYPICAL WORKDAY? DW: Most days I try to get up and work out in the morning. Then I get ready for work and have a little quiet time praying and reading with my wife before I go to work or meetings, usually starting by 7 a.m. I usually roll from about 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. without much of a break, and then I try to connect with my family for a couple hours before I have to log back on and finish my labs in the evening. Depending on the season, I may also have a game to cover at one of the stadiums after work or on the weekends.

My patients are a mix of everyone from age 10 to 100, and most are actually non-athletes.

world authority on anything, but I love working with a good team—a physician is only as good as his medical team.

YOU HAVE A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH TORRANCE MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER? DW: We are really fortunate to have such a great medical community in the South Bay. The medical team at Torrance Memorial Medical Center allows us to take great care of our patients with confidence here in our own area. From the great cardiovascular institute to the local physicians, we’ve got resources here in the South Bay that most community hospitals couldn’t dream of.

HOW DO YOU AND YOUR WIFE LIKE RAISING A FAMILY IN THE SOUTH BAY? DW: We love it. Just last year my wife opened her own firm doing family law mediation right on Pier Avenue in Hermosa. This year, I was able to relocate my practice with Torrance Memorial on the same street.

We can now walk to each other’s offices for lunch, have a cocktail watching the sunset for happy hour on date night and even walk the kids to school in the morning. Who gets to do that in LA these days? It’s an amazing privilege to be able to both live and work here.

I KNOW YOU SPEND MUCH OF YOUR TIME KEEPING OTHERS IN SHAPE, BUT HOW DO YOU STAY FIT? DW: My favorite sport is long-distance triathlons. I admit I’m not a very good patient though.

I sometimes don’t listen to my own advice, and I try to ramp up too hard or too fast. Not surprisingly, I end up doing something to hurt myself.

It’s hard to try to cram a lot of training in a busy schedule and not compromise family time substantially. But I don’t consider my struggles unique; we all wrestle with the same constraints of not enough time.

WHAT SORT OF ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OUR READERS REGARDING STAYING IN SHAPE? DW: I like to remind my patients that our bodies were designed to survive as hunter-gatherers for millions of years. If you didn’t exercise, then you didn’t eat. Period. We’ve turned that around nowadays, thinking, “I’ve gotta eat, of course, and then if I have time, maybe I’ll do a little exercise.”

It’s totally backwards. With jobs where most of us drive to work and then sit on our butts all day, and conveniences where you can have meals delivered right to your front door, it’s no wonder we have the epidemics of so many diseases in our society.

I encourage people to live like they were made to—eating mostly natural foods and getting a lot of exercise. Fortunately, the South Bay is a great place to do that—we have a lot of healthconscious food options out here, and we have weather, parks, gyms and the beach that make it easier to optimize the little time we can carve out for effective workouts as well.

Best of all, it pays off. Studies consistently show that people who work out regularly and stay healthy have more energy, better moods and better qualities of life all around. It’s breaking the inertia and reforming good habits that are usually the hardest part! w

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MEDIA

Mind + Body In our eternal quest to live healthier and happier lives, these books offer an alternative and fresh perspective on ways to seek wellness.

EDITED BY MICHELE GARBER

OIL PULLING THERAPY:

DETOXIFYING AND HEALING THE BODY THROUGH ORAL CLEANSING

BY DR. BRUCE FIFE

THE SUPPLEMENT BLUE MIND: THE SURPRISING SCIENCE HANDBOOK: THAT SHOWS HOW BEING A TRUSTED EXPERT’S GUIDE TO WHAT WORKS & WHAT’S WORTHLESS FOR MORE THAN 100 CONDITIONS

BY MARK MOYAD, MD, MPH, WITH JANET LEE

The practice of oil pulling seems to have appeared out of nowhere and quickly become the latest trend among the wellness crowd. This newly popularized yet ancient therapy is being hailed for its ability to instantly improve overall mouth health— from whitening teeth and eliminating bad breath to preventing gum disease. But it is the potential effect that oil pulling may have on total body health that is creating the greatest buzz. Dr. Bruce Fife presents the basic steps to practicing this simple, ancient healing method while outlining the countless benefits 15 minutes of swishing oil will have on one’s complete well-being.

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Dietary supplements are a multi-billiondollar global industry, and according to the CDC, half of all Americans use them. Yet many of these promising effects remain unproven. Dr. Mark Moyad, who holds an endowed position at the University of Michigan to study vitamin, mineral and herb supplements, has spent the past 25 years researching their efficacy. In this straightforward and comprehensive, evidence-based book, he guides readers through treatment options for more than 100 common conditions and deciphers which supplements do and don’t work and which are overhyped, worthless or even potentially harmful.

NEAR, IN, ON, OR UNDER WATER CAN MAKE YOU HAPPIER, HEALTHIER, MORE CONNECTED, AND BETTER AT WHAT YOU DO

BY WALLACE J. NICHOLS, FORWARD BY CELINE COUSTEAU

Southbay readers intuitively know the myriad benefits of being near water, but now we have scientific proof. In his new best seller, Wallace J. Nichols, a marine biologist, combines neuro-science and compelling personal stories of athletes, artists, veterans and scientists to demonstrate how being near water can promote tranquility, alleviate stress, and make us happier and more productive. He lays out a “blueprint” for how to create a better life on this “blue marble” we call home.

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Team Players The family that plays together stays healthy together. Meet the Hatches ... two doctors, two kids and an active recipe for fit and vibrant South Bay living.

WRITTEN BY DIANE E. BARBER | PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAUREN PRESSEY

wenty years ago, far from their hometowns of Billings, Montana, and Palos Verdes Estates, George “Rick” Hatch and Laura (Wertheimer) Hatch met at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. Their mutual affinity for fitness and nutrition led to their introduction.

“We were introduced to one another in 1994 a pizza lunch social on the first day. A fellow medical student noticed that there were two health nuts on opposite sides of the atrium removing all of the cheese and sauce from their pizzas to avoid fat, which was before the low-carb diet craze. He introduced us, and we had a lot of things in common in addition to fitness and dietary habits. Four years later we were married,” recalls Rick with a smile.

Like both of their fathers, Laura and Rick had their sights set on a medical profession. Laura knew as a sophomore in high school that she wanted to be a doctor. After graduating from medical school and spending five additional years at Emory (a four-year residency and one year as a staff member in the orthopaedic department), Laura returned to California and joined her father’s Long Beach practice in 2003.

“My father is an orthopaedist who specializes in medical legal practice, and I do medical legal evaluations for people who have been injured on the job. The evaluation system was different in Georgia where I trained, so I had to learn a new system here. Then when California legislature later changed to adopt the same system that I had already learned at Emory, I was one of the very few who was able to adapt to it with ease—and my practice took off.”

Rick’s travels during his high school and college years accompanying his father on medical missions in underserved countries was his inspiration. “I realized how incredible and life-changing the profession can be for both the patients and the physicians,” he says.

Fellowships at Harvard Medical School and Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic followed his residency at Emory. He is now in private practice, the director of USC’s Orthopaedic Surgery Sports Medicine Fellowship and an assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery. He is also one of the team physicians responsible for the medical care of the football team, basketball team and other athletics.

FITNESS & NUTRITION … A FAMILY AFFAIR Fitness is at the core of the Hatch family’s life. “I call my fitness regime

my ‘keystone habit.’ It keeps my mind fresh, and I feel more cognitively sharp after working out. It helps me be more efficient too. I work out in our home gym at 5:45 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Tuesday is a crazy day. I run in the morning, work out with my trainer, Bob Ratliff, and do a spin class at Equinox at night. Fridays I run in the morning and then lift with Bob. Saturday and Sundays are variable, depending on the kids sporting events. I try to run one day and spin the other,” says Laura.

Rick’s fitness routine is as rigorous as Laura’s. “I work out typically five or more days a week, usually starting at 4:30 a.m. during weekdays and midmorning on weekends. My training consists of standard free-weight training, CrossFit exercises, heavy boxing bag and cardio training. I enjoy mixed martial arts training the most, but it gets harder and harder to bounce back as I get older. I finally had to accept I am not in my 20s and 30s anymore, which means I need to still train very hard, but I also need to train smarter.”

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, as the saying goes. The Hatches’ young sons, Gavin and Bryce, are also into sports and outdoor activities.

“We wanted to expose them to a wide range of sports,” Rick says.

“Gavin’s main sport is tennis. He also enjoys surfing, wakeboarding, jiujitsu and snowboarding. Bryce is an all-sports fanatic. He enjoys club soccer, flag football, tennis, baseball, skiing, jiu-jitsu, surfing and wakeboarding. I am not so concerned about what specific sports they choose but rather that they find something that they really enjoy and are passionate about. Optimally Laura and I would like them to be involved in both a team and an individual sport as each has its unique benefits and drawbacks.”

Given their parenting responsibilities coupled with their demanding careers, one might expect the “I am too busy to work out” mantra to arise, as it does for many people juggling careers and family. Quite the contrary.

“Laura and I firmly believe that a person can always find time for things that are very important to them. Fitness is an integral and necessary part of our lives, and I personally do not feel good during the day if I have not worked out in the morning. The time of day may not be ideal and you may be really tired, but there is always time.”

Rick notes that you don’t always need a formal gym for a good workout.

In fact, there are plenty of body weight exercises that will make you sweat and get your heart rate up. He says the best advice he has ever heard about training when you don’t want to is: “Show up no matter what. If you are not in the mood, here is what you do. First: Walk to your car and drive to the gym. Second: Figure out the rest later.”

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“GREAT WEATHER, GREAT VIEWS, GREAT TRAILS AND ACTIVE FRIENDS MAKE PALOS VERDES VERY CONDUCIVE TO A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE.”

As for their diets, Rick and Laura both believe that nutrition is as equally important as physically working out. They say alteration in diet has a larger and faster effect on general health than changing up your exercise program.

“I don’t believe you can have one without the other and be healthy,” says Rick. “Laura is a vegetarian. I occasionally eat red meat but otherwise just turkey, chicken, fish and a lot of vegetables. Our sons eat basically the same as me. But they are kids, so they also eat more kid foods—such as PBJs, hamburgers, quesadillas and pizza. We try to limit the sweets and fried foods but don’t outlaw foods. We just moderate the intake.”

LIVING THE LIFESTYLE When the couple decided to leave Atlanta and move to Los Angeles in 2003, Laura did not want to live anywhere except the South Bay and had her heart set on Palos Verdes where she grew up. “After living here for 11 years now, I completely get it. Now that we have a family, Palos Verdes is also my #1 choice in the South Bay,” says Rick.

Rick and Laura both agree that Palos Verdes and a healthy lifestyle go hand-in-hand. “Great weather, great views, great trails and active friends make Palos Verdes very conducive to a healthy lifestyle and great quality of life. I love that you can be right outside of Los Angeles and still have so many beautiful, isolated horse trails to run on. The hills are challenging, but when I am running uphill I tell myself to just do it because I can, and it will keep me healthy longer,” says Laura.

According to Rick, Palos Verdes is one big playground for kids and adults. “The immediate access to the ocean, the trails, the hills and the parks makes it a destination for other people around the Los Angeles area—and we live here! When you spend a long time in Palos Verdes and the South

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Bay in general, you tend to take it for granted. But whenever I return from a trip, I am quickly reminded of what a special place it is.”

HEART OF SUCCESS After four years at medical school together and 16 years of marriage, balancing family, careers and a healthy lifestyle is key to the Hatches’ admirably successful life together. At the beginning of their relationship, medical careers and a commitment to fitness and health defined them. But when Gavin was born 11 years ago (11½, if you ask Gavin), balancing personal life and work became their top priority.

“We could no longer just make the phone call to say we loved each other and that we looked forward to our mutual days off. We actually had to be physically present for a little man who had no idea or care about our careers and needed at least one of us at home,” shares Rick. “As with everything, you make adjustments, and if it is important you make time.

Four years after we had Gavin, Bryce was born, and it just got busier. But again we adjusted.”

Beyond medical careers, the Hatches also carry on in their parents’ footsteps on a much more personal and deeper level. They take pride in striving to be great role models for their boys, instilling the same family closeness and work ethics in them that they were raised with.

“Our marriage is a true partnership. Laura and I have careers that we love and have worked very hard for, but more importantly we have kids that we love more than anything on earth. We need to be fully and completely involved in their lives. Therefore we have to coordinate as a team in order to fulfill all of the important commitments in our life.” w

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SCIENCE

Injury Innovation Redondo-based HRT works with local physicians to treat athletes and other active patients through tissue regeneration.

WRITTEN BY DARREN ELMS

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A

scientific breakthrough now offers physicians a new way to treat a wide range of complications, from a baseball pitcher’s throwing arm to a football running back’s Achilles tendon tear mid-season, a lacrosse player’s torn hamstring or a Las Vegas show dancer’s repetitive-motion knee injuries.

The fix? Regeneration through amniotic tissue. And the source of that tissue? A harvested placenta. It might seem straight out of Total Recall, but one of the leading developers of this innovative tissue biologic solution is located right here in the South Bay. Human Regenerative Technologies, LLC, or HRT, ambitiously harnesses this regenerative power of placental tissue to help treat common ailments, including osteoarthritis of the knees and hands, rheumatoid arthritis, tennis elbow, shoulder and knee tears and inflammation, cartilage defects, hips, carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis and diabetic wounds. According to HRT’s CEO, Chris Sharp, their in-office product PX50 allows patients to receive treatment for various injuries and potentially avoid the need for surgery.

“Our understanding of these beneficial components of placental tissues, as well as our in-depth understanding of physician requirements in treating a range of conditions, has allowed us to perfect not only the various product forms that we provide but also to improve the delivery methods and techniques for physicians,” he says.

Manhattan and Torrance-based Beach Cities Orthopedics was one of the first to locally offer this innovative regenerative biologic solution for active individuals. Sharp believes HRT’s corporate culture fits well with the Southern California values and lifestyle anchored here the South Bay area.

“The South Bay provides ideal access for HRT’s shipping and logistics needs and close proximity to LAX, one of the nation’s leading airports,” he says. “The South Bay also allows staff members to enjoy the slower-paced, family-oriented lifestyle versus many other major centers.” Sharp himself moved here with his wife in 2005 from Toronto and enjoys raising his three children in Manhattan Beach.

So far, local patients report success after trying the treatment. Kimmy Kelca of Hermosa Beach experienced severe pain due to degenerated cartilage and excessive fluid in her knee.

After having fluid removed from the knee, PX50 was injected directly into the joint. While she says the injection site was sore for about a day, by day five the pain in her knee was gone and she has increased mobility.

Jeff Belandi, an avid surfer and former volleyball player also from Hermosa, suffered from a cartilage defect in the knee. Although he had surgery to remove the cartilage, he still endured some knee pain. After tissue regeneration therapy, he says the pain went from a 5 to a 0.

So the million-dollar question: Why the placenta? According to the HRT website, this unique organ plays a key role in the development and protection of the fetal tissues during pregnancy.

“The amniotic membranes act as a protective covering and barrier during the development of the fetal tissues. These tissues and fluids contain the extracellular matrix, a dynamic, viable protein system that includes fibrous collagens for a physical scaffold, as well as growth factors, fibronectin, laminin, hyaluronic acid, and other proteins, cytokines and peptides.

Amniotic tissues are shown to provide many beneficial properties in a broad range of clinical applications, as a wound covering or tissue matrix for wounds, defects and voids. They modulate correct tissue repair versus scar tissue formation, control inflammation, reduce patient pain and provide anti-microbial properties.”

HRT products can be administered both surgically and non-surgically. The company must work with various hospitals and physicians to collect placentas from women who volunteer to donate after their successful C-section delivery. Women may sign up with their physicians or contact HRT’s tissue donation division.

Sharp says the donation process simply includes a medical history questionnaire that the physician fills out with the donor, and then an additional blood sample is drawn during the routine admission process at the hospital.

For more information on HRT and tissue regeneration, visit humantissue.com.

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Fit Club

We asked some of the South Bay’s best trainers to get sweaty in this season’s hottest activewear.

TOMMY AMENZONE, MANHATTAN BEACH amenzone.com Nike Dri-FIT grey shorts | $62 New Balance 880 shoes | $115 Both at iRunMB, in Manhattan Beach irunmb.com

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY JEFF BERTING | STYLED BY CINDY WHITEHEAD oursouthbay.com | 2014 Southbay Health 

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KEVIN AMENZONE, MANHATTAN BEACH amenzone.com New Balance “Impact 5” shirt | $39 Track short | $39 Both at iRunMB, in Manhattan Beach irunmb.com

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JASMINE THE FORMULA LIFE, MANHATTAN BEACH theformulalife.com Onzie multi capri | $53 Beyond Yoga lattice bra | $68 Both at Shore Fit in Manhattan Beach shorefitmb.com

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MERRITT BEACH CITIES TRAINING, REDONDO BEACH beachcitiestraining.com Blue Life Fitness black lasercut sports bra | $100 Elisabetta Rogiani sport band gather ¾ tight | $91 Both at Shore Fit in Manhattan Beach shorefitmb.com

44 Southbay Health 2014 | oursouthbay.com

TOMMY AMENZONE, MANHATTAN BEACH amenzone.com Nike Dri-FIT short sleeve blue shirt | $70 Grey shorts | $62 New Balance 880 shoes | $115 All at iRunMB in Manhattan Beach irunmb.com

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VISION

Laser Tag

Southbay HEALTH’s editor goes under the laser for eye correction surgery … and lives to tell!

WRITTEN BY DARREN ELMS

O

kay, it really wasn’t all that dramatic. In fact, the whole process was far easier than I could have even imagined. But let’s be honest: Having a laser open a flap on both your eyes is not like getting a cavity filled at the dentist. There’s risk, there’s cost and there’s that image of a laser opening a flap on both your eyes.

Perhaps that’s why I held off on laser eye surgery for so long. When friends who had the procedure asked if I would consider it myself, I’d quickly reply how attached I was to my glasses and wouldn’t want to lose that style option.

Reality: I hardly ever wear my glasses. After being emotionally scarred with “cop” glasses my dad picked out for me in the ‘80s, I’ve pretty much been a daily contact wearer ever since. And there’s the rub, literally and figuratively.

Contacts just aren’t that comfortable. For an allergy sufferer like me, they get dry, they burn, they itch— and almost always when I’m driving and can’t do a thing about it. The idea of waking up and not having to mess with questionably bacteria-ridden contact cases, expensive cleaning fluid and slippery lenses that never fail to fall in the sink at least once a week sounded terribly tempting.

Perhaps all I had to fear was fear itself. And that damn laser.

I manned up and made an appointment at NVISION in Torrance. In the lobby, I saw a signed picture of Sean Hayes from Will & Grace. Hell, if Jack can do this, so could I, right?

After a series of short and not very invasive tests, the nice technician informed this nearsighted patient that I was the perfect candidate for the surgery. Yay!

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Wait … this is actually happening. Let me sleep on it.

I did. For a few days. I looked at the costs. Not as bad as I thought. I did the math on contacts and eye doctor visits for the next five years, and it all really did match up pretty closely.

I consulted my husband, a proud forever glasses wearer, and he supported the surgery (though I think he really just wants to inherit my obsolete glasses). All signs were pointing to surgery. I opened my email and scheduled an appointment for late August.

The prep, a couple weeks before the surgery, wasn’t at all stressful or annoying. A few antibiotic drops here, a few lubricating drops there, a handful of fish oil pills. No biggie.

I was surprisingly calm when my mom drove me to the appointment (yes, my mom, ‘cause she’s really good at the nurturing thing). She waited in the lobby while I did some final checks with the technician, took a Xanax (yay!) and waited for my turn.

I was in the operating chair less than 10 minutes. It was over. I could see, though a bit hazy, and no pain at all. I even took a picture with Dr. Lusby.

Eyes shielded with plastic, my mom drove me home to rest. After popping a few sleeping aids, I slept for five hours and let my eyes heal. They burned a little when I woke up, but nothing crazy.

The next day I was in my regular eye doctor’s office getting the shields removed and my eyes checked. I could see perfectly. “You’re good to go,” he said, patting me on the back. “That’s it?” I replied.

Yes, that’s really it. Merry Christmas, husband. Please give my old Tom Fords a good home.

For more on NVISION in Torrance, visit nvisioncenters.com.

It’s in the DNA My advisers at NVISION suggested a genetic test before my operation, alerting my doctor of potential mutations that could cause an excess of wound-healing proteins.

Patients who test positive for this mutation could be considered undesirable candidates for the LASIK or PRK procedures.

Avellino Lab has tested more than 454,000 LASIK candidates and found approximately 420 positive for the GCD mutations. Therefore it currently appears that the mutations exist in about 1 of every 1,080 LASIK candidates. That’s good news for the majority of us, but better to be safe than sorry. To learn more on this quick, affordable and non-invasive DNA test, visit avellinolab.com.

Home Sweet Home

Finding your dream home is one of the most important investments you’ll likely experience in your lifetime. It can also be one of the most daunting.

We’re here to help. In the next issue of Southbay you’ll meet the pros who know the local marketplace better than any of us … we call them the South Bay’s leading real estate and mortgage professionals.

REAL ESTATE & MORTGAGE

310.376.7800 | oursouthbay@moontidemedia.com | oursouthbay.com

PRO TIPS

A Handsome HEART

Dr. Rishi Kaushal knows what it takes to have a healthy heart. It may be a challenge, even for him, but everyone has to start somewhere.

WRITTEN BY KELLY DAWSON | PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAUREN PRESSEY

D

r. Rishi Kaushal is in the midst of a busy day, but he doesn’t show strain. There are a handful of patients in the waiting room a few steps from the handsome doctor’s office. He moves with calm efficiency and takes a seat in front of an array of framed accomplishments, behind a desk where the red shade of a heart graph matches the same shade on a soda can.

“I always drink water, I never drink soda—but today I decided to have a Coke,” he says, laughing.

Cardiology is Dr. Kaushal’s main specialty at Providence Medical Institute in Torrance, and yet he knows that healthy living isn’t always easy. He mentions how the convenience of processed foods can lure those with busy schedules, and how longtime smokers tell him that it may be too late to quit.

Nevertheless, Dr. Kaushal is confident that a healthier life is never out of reach–even one that includes the occasional sugar indulgence. As he works with the owners of hearts who are as young as 18 and as old as 100, he has a guideline for his advice: Education is key.

“You can have moments when you splurge a little bit. I think small changes are easier to make into habits,” the doctor says. “So rather than reinventing the wheel and deciding to go on a crazy diet and exercise plan tomorrow, start implementing small changes.”

Education, as with any doctor, has been an integral part of Dr. Kaushal’s career. He describes himself as being fascinated with the heart and technological advancements while studying at UCLA, and he is now board-certified in three disciplines. But when his parents became sick and he began accompanying them to doctors’ visits, he gained a better understanding of what it feels like to be an unlearned patient.

“In medical school and training, you spend so long essentially learning the language of medicine, and you become accustomed to speaking that language,” he says. “So you really have to take a step back sometimes and speak plainly. That’s what I try to do. I draw pictures … whatever it takes.”

He tells all of his patients that it’s never too late to prevent health issues, and it’s never too early to identify potential risks. He reminds them of the importance of a balanced diet and frequent exercise, such as eating fish a few times a week and getting at least 30 minutes of exercise per day, five days per week. He warns against foods that are high in sodium, trans fat and saturated fat, and he recommends smaller portions.

“I try to practice what I preach. I’ve slipped a couple of times,” he says. “I try to go to the gym three to four times a week.”

When his exercise routine begins to feel like a chore, Dr. Kaushal may play guard in a basketball game. When he eats out, he aims for options like sushi at Yanagi Bistro. And when he eats in, he cooks with olive oil. As difficult as it can be, you need to protect your heart, he says.

“It can be very easy to get overwhelmed by information, especially when it comes to your heart. But you have to take things in small strides and be persistent.” w

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Yoga Loft &

Pancha offer you a Holiday Healing Package!

(Giftcards available)

5 Yoga classes and a 1 hour massage

$110 1112 Ocean Dr. Manhattan Beach / 310.372.7334 / YogaLoftmb.com / StarrDill.com

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Just Ask Karen As a Certified Geriatric Care Manager and Founder of HomeLife Partners, Karen and her staff’s years of experience have helped families understand their choices when dementia, illness, or accidents occur. HomeLife Partners provides in-home assistance from a few hours a week for driving errands, cooking meals, light housework to 24/7 complex care as well as medical advocacy and household management. Call today for a free consultation.

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Like Father,Like Son A former Olympic medalist and coach inspires his only son to pick up the oar and continue a fitness tradition.

WRITTEN BY STEFAN SLATER PHOTOGRAPHED BY JEFF BERTING

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ack Nunn’s life revolves around fitness. The 35-year-old Manhattan Beach resident owns Roworx in Long Beach, a unique fitness facility that specializes in teaching indoor rowing classes. “We teach the importance of rowing and how it’s low-impact,” Jack says. “It’s something that almost anyone can do.”

Aside from his rowing business, Jack also is extremely active within competitive rowing circuits— in the past he rowed with the Long Beach Juniors as well as the U.S. Under 23 National Team. Recently he competed in the 50th anniversary of the Head of the Charles Regatta rowing event in Boston (he describes it as the Super Bowl of rowing here in the U.S.), and he was also invited to row in the Harvard alumni boat. Since he rowed competitively at Cal Berkley, this was quite an honor for the diehard rower.

And when he isn’t rowing, Jack competes in Iron Man events.

So far he’s completed four full Iron Man competitions and one half Iron Man, with his fasted full Iron Man time standing at 11 hours, 6 minutes. “My motto is to fight to the finish and do the best you can,” says Jack about his mental state during competition.

When it comes to fitness and competition, Jack is deeply influenced by his father, John Nunn. The 72-year-old won an Olympic bronze medal for the double sculls rowing event at the 1968 Olympics, and Jack still often comes to his father for advice on competitive rowing.

“He would never add on the pressure,” says Jack. “He’s one of the humblest guys you’ll ever meet—he wouldn’t tell you he’s an Olympian unless you asked.”

The two Nunns have even competed together, winning the father-and-son double sculls event at the USRowing Masters National Championships a number of times. “In any sport there aren’t too many fathers and sons who’ve done that,” says John, who enjoys coaching rowing just as much as doing it.

“It’s brought us together,” says Jack. The two men share a close bond over rowing, as the sport has formed a vital part of both of their athletic careers and views on personal fitness— and it all goes back to the year that John Nunn became an Olympian.

John, who was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, mentions that his rowing career truly began when he attended Cornell University. “It was kind of a fluke,” says the Rolling Hills resident. “My dad played football at Cornell, and I had every intention of playing football.”

However when John tried to sign up for the foot-

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“IT’S BROUGHT US TOGETHER.”

ball team, the coach said the team was already all picked, adding rather snidely that the team “hadn’t had much luck with Canadians.” (John’s father managed the Canadian operations of an American company, and John had spent some time living near Toronto, Canada.)

At 6’6” and 197 pounds, John was the perfect height and build for the rowing team. He mentioned that during freshman registration, members of the rowing team were looking for “big kids who didn’t look like they knew where they were going.”

He was told to talk to the rowing coach, and John fell in love with the sport quickly.

“It sort of immediately clicked; it was a sport that I was naturally adapted to,” says John, noting that their team did well, and they won national championships and had hopes of competing in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. But John’s coach decided they weren’t good enough.

John continued to row while pursuing an MBA at the University of Michigan, and he eventually came to California for work in 1966.

“This is better than the other frozen tundra places I’ve been,” he says.

With a single shell rowing boat on the top of his car, John drove from Michigan to Southern California. He was immediately attracted to the Long Beach Rowing Association’s Marine Stadium, which was built for the 1932 Olympics.

“I was always training on my own,” says John.

He didn’t try for the 1966 Olympic team, but he trained for most of 1967 and even competed in that year’s Pan American Games. But by the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, John was ready.

He remembers that the rowing events were extremely challenging, due to Mexico City’s high elevation (7,000+ feet) and relatively thinner air as compared to Long Beach.

“At that altitude, there was 30% less oxygen.

The distance events really suffered. There were about 30 guys who passed out, and they had medical boats pulling guys out of the water,” says John.

He and his rowing partner, Bill Maher, were able to overcome the environmental challenges, and they won the bronze for the double sculls event. “We didn’t really know what the hell to do,” says John after they finished, noting that his partner, who was suffering from bronchitis, passed out cold on the deck after the race.

Following the ’68 Olympics, John took time off to focus on work and family. By the time the ‘70s rolled along, work and familial responsibilities made training a bit more challenging. But John transitioned into coaching, and he traveled to the 1976 Olympic games at Montreal as a rowing coach.

John also did some coaching closer to home.

Since he has five children, he was often involved in their athletic programs—one year he coached three teams at once. “Whatever they were in, I coached,” says John. “Basically the model we used [with our children] was, ‘What are you doing this fall?’”

John pushed his children to stay active, and his son, Jack, was no exception. He played on a variety of sports teams, but after trying his hand at soccer and baseball during high school, he

decided that the more traditional sports weren’t for him. He wanted to try his hand at rowing.

“It was one of the most exciting moments for my dad,” says Jack, who started with the Long Beach Junior Crew at 16. The younger Nunn distinctly remembers that once he picked up rowing, both he and his father became even closer.

“He’s an Olympic coach,” says Jack. “It was awkward and funny when he came to practices, because my coach would often ask him to tell us advice.” Being that he’s still actively competitive, Jack still turns to advice from his father, and both he and many other members of the Long Beach Rowing Association look up to the Olympian for his accomplishments.

That need for competition—coupled with a drive to remain fit and succeed as an athlete— was passed down from father to son, and Jack often thinks of his father’s past successes and words of advice when he’s competing in rowing events or Iron Man competitions. For instance, Jack notes that since his father would often train and row alone, the elder Nunn would imagine that he was racing against his top competition.

“He’d be training on his own, and he would imagine that the Germans or the Russians were ahead of him. He’d race against ghosts,” says Jack. The South Bay resident often visualizes imaginary foes when he’s competing, and he also thinks of his father’s personal motto whenever his triathlons or rowing events become too taxing.

“His motto,” says Jack, “is what’s possible is what you think is possible.” w

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SENIOR CARE

Golden Opportunities

When older adults reach a point when they can no longer look out for themselves alone, life can get complicated. But Adia’s mission attempts to make it the beginning of beautiful friendships.

WRITTEN BY KELLY DAWSON | PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAUREN PRESSEY

In a grey house on the edge of a cul-de-sac, Paul Rude sits in his living room surrounded by the memories he’s collected over more than a halfcentury. There are faded figurines on a corner bookcase and pictures of smiling loved ones on the coffee table nearest his wife, who is napping on the couch. He’s trying to remember the name of the Los Angeles beach where he met her, all those years ago.

“It was a blind date,” he says, turning toward the couch. “What’s that beach down here?”

“Cabrillo Beach,” says Julia Tylock, and Paul confirms, smiling. Julia was not there when Rude met his wife, Dyane, nor was she present when they were married in 1951 or when they had their six kids, who are all boys. Julia is an employee of Adia, a care service for older adults based in Torrance, and she has been Dyane’s caretaker for almost three years.

Adia’s caretakers assist clients with daily necessities, but they are also asked to be something more: a companion. Generation gaps and work titles aside, the friendships that can form are a testament to the sweet unpredictability of life—even as clients reach its later stages. “[Dyane] had always been the only woman in the house. And that always bothered me,” Paul says. “Julia’s ears are going to burn now, but she’s almost adopted Julia as her daughter.”

Founded in 2006, Adia works with Southern California residents who seek 24-hour live-in or live-out help. The backgrounds of Adia’s trained employees are as varied. For instance, an Adia caretaker can be a medical assistant who tends to a client in a hospital room or a registered nurse who supports a client in her home.

But the versatility of Adia’s workforce is intentional. There are about 100 clients per month, and that number shifts with life cycles and needs, says Adia’s owner Pamela Penson. “The only constant in the caregiver business is change,” she explains.

Pamela, who has an MBA and a PhD in neuroeconomics, created the company to give equal weight to seniors’ physical and emotional health.

Pamela says it’s easy to cook for seniors or help them run errands. She wanted Adia to have employees who would make their daily lives more enjoyable. “Adia strives to bring light to each encounter with older adults and ensure that the older adult feels that their life matters,” she says.

About four years ago, Paul took his wife to a doctor when he noticed that she was making unusual statements. He thought it may be her hearing, but the doctor said her hearing was fine. Once it was determined that she has dementia, he tried to tend to her needs on his own.

Paul thought about moving her into a nursing home, but he didn’t want to live in their house without her. He called Adia when he opened the phonebook and looked under “A.” Three caregivers came and went before he and Dyane were introduced to Julia, who works during the week. Julia has become a part of the family, he says.

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Their daughter, Cindi, also feels calm when she sees the relationship between her father, Paul, and his caretaker, Ashley. Cindi was worried that her father would be assigned to a caregiver he didn’t like. He was resistant at first, but he had to follow his doctor’s orders. When he met Ashley three months ago, they hit it off, Cindi says. “Pamela has said that it doesn’t always happen that way. We’re really very fortunate that it did,” she says.

Although Ashley and Julia work with clients who have varying degrees of autonomy—Ashley works with Paul six hours per day and Julia works with Dyane 12 hours per day—they share a knack for creating flexible daily schedules that address their musts and wants. Both clients must eat three meals, and they both want to watch classic movies. They have to be reminded to take medicine, and they want to take walks outside.

“I’ve been living alone for so many years,” Paul says. “When [Ashley] comes, it’s a pleasure to have someone to talk with, tell jokes with.”

Paul and Ashley alternate between his wisecracks and her laughs in a home he’s owned since the 1950s. She enjoys her time with Paul so much that she usually comes to work early, and they play cards and listen to jazz.

“I don’t have a grandfather, and I look to him as that figure,” she says.

“ADIA STRIVES TO BRING LIGHT TO EACH ENCOUNTER WITH OLDER ADULTS AND ENSURE THAT THE OLDER ADULT FEELS THAT THEIR LIFE MATTERS.” While Cindi and Paul are happy with their decision to employ an Adia caregiver, the solution didn’t come easily. Paul’s family assisted him at first, but they had to get off work. Cindi opened a separate account for caretaker payments so she didn’t have to remind her dad to pay the bill.

Pamela agrees that life gets complicated when parents get older, but caretaking can be a way to restore order. “Assuming that you can trust and afford caregiving for mom or dad, then your job is to be the son or daughter. All the other aspects of care can be provided by other people, but no one can replace a son or daughter.”

As messy as life can be, Paul says that he tries to have a positive attitude.

“I’m not perfect, and nobody is, but I still enjoy life. I look for beauty, and I’m having a good time.” w

ADIA’S JULIA TYLOCK WITH DYANE AND PAUL RUDE

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Unexpected

Oasis Seeking wellness and reprieve at Cal-a-Vie Health Spa WRITTEN BY DARREN ELMS

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TRAVEL

H

aving grown up in California, it’s difficult for me to uncover a new location that truly transports me to another part of the world. Our state is magnificent without comparison … beautiful, breathtaking and varied. So naturally it was with great surprise and pleasure that I drove a mere two hours south and suddenly found myself in the South of France. Did I take a wrong turn at Escondido? Nope.

This is Cal-a-Vie—a 200-acre spa haven tucked away in the hills of northern San Diego County. To say Cal-a-Vie resembles a French village is no coincidence. It was all part of the plan.

The grounds are dotted with natural and manmade treasures, from vineyards and a lavender grove to a windmill and vintage chapel, transported from France and reconstructed brick-bybrick. If you went to bed and dreamed you woke up in Provençe, that’s the idea.

The destination is the vision of Terri and John Havens, who first visited the spa back in 1998 and invested into its current glory. Beyond enjoying a relaxing and tranquil setting, the Havens encourage guests to seek a healthy mind, body and soul during their visit.

A regular stay at Cal-a-Vie includes nutritional, gourmet meals; daily fitness programs; health education; and plenty of spa treatments. From an early-morning hike to a nourishing yet delicious after-dinner dessert, a day at “The Havens” feels both productive and satisfying.

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Vintage French charms sprinkle the property, including an orangeie, chapel and windmill (pictured below), all taken apart in Europe and reconstructed brick-by-brick at The Havens.

After arrival, you’ll be escorted to one of 32 Mediterranean-style villas or suites, each lovingly appointed with fine Frette linens and handcrafted antique furnishings. Enjoy a relaxing nap on your sundeck or balcony, or indulge in a wonderful shower or soak. Just leave your Netflix at home. There are no televisions in the rooms at Cal-a-Vie. Guests may book packages for three, four or seven nights, with arrivals and departures scheduled for Wednesdays and Sundays. You choose how long you’d like to enjoy the programs and facilities, each offered daily with variation.

A typical daily itinerary would include breakfast, followed by a few hours of fitness training in the Pavilion. After lunch, a series of spa treatments awaits, followed by relaxation time and dinner.

Then, unless there’s a special talk or entertainment

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planned, it’s lights-out for most of the guests.

Under the guidance of an executive chef, the menu at Cal-a-Vie is not only totally healthy but incredibly delicious. Using locally-sourced ingredients, many found right on the property, the daily dishes feed the senses and prepare your body for the workouts and cleansing ahead. The chef will often host a cooking demonstration so you can take some of his expertise home with you, and a registered dietician is also on hand for consultation and information of food-sensitivity testing.

Down at the Pavilion fitness center, expert trainers await your arrival for a few hours of serious sweat. Even if you’re not a gym bunny, there are plenty of classes and programs on the daily schedule. Options include cycling, Pilates, core focus, stretching, weight lifting, TRX, dance and much more.

We highly suggest heading to the chapel for some gentle yoga first thing in the morning.

The gorgeous setting and easy movements help get your day off to a great start.

You dined, you sweated and now you indulge.

Welcome to the spa, your reward for all that hard work in the morning. Facials, scrubs, massage, hydrotherapy, wraps … you name it, they do it.

There’s also a salon on-site for hair care, waxing and all those beauty extras.

Private, beautiful, all-inclusive and boasting a 5-to-1 staff-to-guest ratio, Cal-a-Vie delivers on all fronts. Whether you’re looking to shed a few pounds or just need to get away from it all, I highly suggest getting away to the South of France … I mean Southern California … for a few days. You will not be disappointed. w

TRAVEL

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___

CALENDAR

BOOK IT January/February

31 & 1

REDONDO BEACH SUPER BOWL 10K + HEALTH & FITNESS EXPO Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, 6 to 11 a.m.

200 Portofino Way in Redondo Beach There may not be a better way to kick off Super Bowl Sunday than by running around the streets of Redondo in your favorite NFL jersey followed by complimentary frosty beverages in the post-race beer garden. redondo10k.com/expo

March

14

CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY MARATHON Race times vary

Two Harbors on Catalina Island What better reason to cross the pond to Catalina than to explore its beauty by foot?

Choose from the 5K, 10K, marathon or kids run for a memorable weekend adventure. runcatalina.com

Get out, get active and start 2015 on the right foot.

16

25

21ST ANNUAL ST. PATRICK’S DAY GOLF TOURNAMENT Registration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by tournament and banquet dinner

RELAY FOR LIFE 9 a.m.

Los Verdes Country Club in Rancho Palos Verdes In support of the South Bay Police and Fire Memorial Foundation, this fundraising event promises plenty of drives, putts and assistance to South Bay families in need. sbpoliceandfire.com

21

EL SEGUNDO RUN FOR EDUCATION 8 a.m.

Supporting a healthy heart and a great cause is a win-win situation. Your 5K/10K efforts through the neighborly streets of downtown El Segundo will benefit the K-12 public school system and be followed by a Health & Fitness Expo spotlighting local and national companies. esrun4education.com

April

9

REC VACATION DAYS: KICKBALLMARINE AVENUE PARK, MANHATTAN BEACH 2:15 to 6 p.m.

Open to children ages 5½ to 12, this after-school event gives kids access to the serenity and inspiration of nature and outdoor space to play and exercise. The program provides self-directed and organized recreation activities that are designed to positively impact the lives of the children. ci.manhattan-beach.ca.us

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South High School, Torrance Join this community fundraising walk that continues to acknowledge and inspire those who have been affected by cancer as well as pay remembrance to lives that have been lost. relayforlife.org

May

17

TOUR DE PIER 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Manhattan Beach Pier Up to 400 stationary bikes and several of the best instructors guide riders of all levels through one or more 50-minute sessions to raise money for cancer and children’s charities. tourdepier.com

June

14

REDONDO BEACH TRI 7:30 a.m.

Redondo Beach Pier/Veteran’s Park in Redondo Beach Whether you choose to participate in the sprint (½-mile swim, 6-mile bike, 2-mile run) or mini-sprint (¼-mile swim, 3-mile bike, 1-mile run) division, your endurance on land and in the water will be tested to the fullest. rbtriathlon.com

This is the kind of all-time high we really like to see.

Whether you want to grow your money, make the right moves in times of business or personal transition, or ensure you’ve provided for the future of those close to you, turn to an advisor who never forgets why you invest in the first place.

NEW MANHATTAN BEACH OFFICE: Jim Schlager, MS, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, Partner

1334 Parkview Avenue, Suite 330 | Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

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South Bay’s Newest Medical Center Now Open

• 256 Private Rooms* • Patient rooms 30% larger • Equipped with accommodations for a loved one to stay overnight

Ranked Among the Top Hospitals in California 3330 Lomita Boulevard, Torrance, CA 310-325-9110 www.TorranceMemorial.org

*The Lundquist Tower contains all private rooms. The Transitional Care Unit and Pediatrics will remain semi-private.