Within the pages of Thrive: A Woman’s Wellness Guide, you’ll discover more than just stories. You’ll discover opportunities to connect with our esteemed partners.Their narratives explain the inspiration behind their brands, the challenges that have shaped their paths and values they hold close.
These partners are not just names; they are individuals and businesses who share our dedication to celebrating diversity, authenticity and empowerment.
So, as you navigate through the pages of Thrive: A Woman’s Wellness Guide, take the opportunity to engage with our partners, absorb their insights and find parallels with your own experiences. Together, let’s honor wellness, health, empowerment and connection that define the essence of Austin Woman.
Editorial: Maggie Landwermeyer, M.D.; Andrea Ramsay; Liz Wendler
Art: Romina Olson
MELINDA GARVEY Co-owner/Co-founder
LANA MACRUM Co-owner
LYNELLE MCKAY Co-owner
TERRY MITCHELL Co-owner
GRETEL PERERA Co-owner
SHURONDA ROBINSON Co-owner
ANA RUELAS Co-owner
NEHA SAMPAT Co-owner
SAMANTHA STEVENS Co-owner
KIP GARVEY Co-owner
Amy Sweet, PA-C, Halcyon CEO, Owner & Austin Woman’s Way Health & Wellness Award Winner of 2019.
Fertility Preservation in the Face of a Cancer Diagnosis
BY DR. ANGELA KELLEY, REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGIST & INFERTILITY SPECIALIST AT ASPIRE FERTILITY AUSTIN
Cancer diagnosis in women under 50 are on the rise, and this includes a large subset of women who are still in their reproductive years.
For those who haven’t started or yet finished building their families, a cancer diagnosis may also raise concerns about the future of their fertility health. Luckily, advances in reproductive medicine are providing women with viable options to preserve their fertility so they can safeguard it and focus on beating cancer.
Egg Freezing – A Viable Option to Preserve Your Fertility
Also known as human oocyte cryopreservation, egg freezing is a procedure that preserves a woman's eggs so that she may use them in the future. It allows women to postpone pregnancy to a time that makes the most sense for them or must be delayed, such as a cancer diagnosis. Egg freezing also increases the chances of a healthy pregnancy for women who may decide to—or need to—delay childbirth because the eggs will keep their youth once frozen. For example, a woman who freezes her eggs at age 33 and uses them at age 40 will likely have the same chances of a healthy pregnancy that she would have had at 33 years of age.
The other good news? Egg freezing has been found to be a highly successful form of fertility preservation. My colleagues at NYU Langone Fertility Center published a first-of-its-kind, 15-year longitudinal study showing that egg freezing is a viable option for anyone looking to preserve their fertility. Data from that study found over 74% of eggs survived the freezing process, and nearly 70% of those surviving eggs were successfully
fertilized. For cancer patients or those at high risk, especially adolescents and young adults, news of their fertility preservation options can be comforting and give them hope to have a baby after cancer.
How Egg Freezing Works
The egg freezing process is generally simple and takes about two weeks from the start of treatment to retrieval.
In a standard monthly cycle, a woman will generally ovulate one egg. In egg freezing, a patient is given medications to stimulate the ovaries in order to mature multiple eggs at once.
Throughout the stimulation phase, patients are closely monitored through ultrasounds and blood work.
Once the eggs are ready to be retrieved, or harvested, a fertility specialist will remove the eggs while the patient is under mild sedation. It’s a fairly quick procedure, and patients usually experience very mild discomfort for a day or two following.
After the eggs are retrieved, they are transferred to the embryology laboratory, where they are evaluated and determined to be mature enough to be frozen for later use through cryopreservation technology.
Where to Begin
Talk to your oncologist right away about your cancer treatment plan. With that information, your fertility specialist can build an action plan on when you should undergo egg freezing. Once your cancer treatments are completed and you're ready to start your family, it's important to discuss with your oncologist and fertility specialist to ensure that it is safe to begin fertility care. Once given the green light, your fertility specialist will discuss the next step in the process, which other aspects of your reproductive health will determine.
I also recommend that you connect with a licensed mental health expert who can help you emotionally navigate fertility preservation while preparing for your cancer treatments.
To learn more about egg freezing or to schedule a patient consultation, please visit aspirefertility.com/austin-texas or call us at 512-479-7979.
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Your family never has to leave Austin for care, no matter how complex your child’s needs. We offer the most pediatric specialties and the most comprehensive care for children in Central Texas — all from doctors who live here, work here, and take time to get to know your family. Start a conversation today. Find the doctor who’s right for your child at ascension.org/DellChildrens
Only in Austin. Only at Dell Children’s.
Personalized care for women in one place
Getting the comprehensive care you need will soon be easier. The women’s tower at Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin, set to open in late 2025, will offer advanced women’s health services to serve you at every stage of your life. All the gynecologic care you need, from well-woman exams and diagnostics to maternity care and menopause, will be in one location.
Advanced care for expectant mothers
As an expectant mother, there is a lot on your to-do list. You’ll have peace of mind knowing your doctors and care team are all in one location, making it easier for real-time collaborative diagnosis and treatment for you and your baby. And, there’s no more driving all over town for maternity appointments and labs.
The women’s tower will feature state-of-the-art technology, more appointment availability and multidisciplinary care teams ready to treat some of the most complex and rare diagnoses. “Neonatology, maternal-fetal medicine, OB-GYNs and other specialists will be all in one location to serve you,” said Wesley Tidwell, president of Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin.
When completed, the women’s tower will allow for 8,500 deliveries and be double the size of the NICU to treat the tiniest patients. And Dell Children’s Medical Center is close by, making it faster and easier to provide the best care for moms, children and their families.
Emergency care when you and your family need it
The women’s tower at Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin will also have a dedicated OB entrance for quicker treatment of pregnancy-related emergencies.
To learn more about comprehensive women’s health services at Ascension Seton, visit ascension.org/SetonWomens.
Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin 1201 W. 38th St. Austin, TX 78705
512.324.1000 ascension.org/SetonWomens
Ascension Seton is building the future of women’s health care, right here in Austin.
“As our community grows, as your family grows, Ascension Seton is also growing to better care for you and your family at every stage of life.”
The Importance of Maternal Health in the NICU
Nonprofit, Hand to Hold, offers support to the parents who are often forgotten.
BY ANDREA RAMSAY
PHOTOS BY ROMINA OLSON
In the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), all eyes are on the baby in need – as they should be. Precious life is at stake. But behind every life being cared for in the NICU is another life, just as precious but often forgotten: the mother. Mothers of babies who spend time in the NICU have a
20-30% higher prevalence of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), according to the Journal of Perinatology. One in seven babies born in Austin will spend time in the NICU. Despite this prevalence and the growing awareness around maternal mental health, the mental health needs of a NICU mom are often misunderstood and underestimated. Help can be difficult to find and afford. Austin-based nonprofit Hand to Hold is working to fill this gap by providing free mental health and peer support services for NICU families.
Founder and CEO Kelli Kelley started Hand to Hold in 2010 after two NICU experiences with her children and a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder. Her first baby, a boy born at 24 weeks, spent four months in the St. David’s Medical Center NICU, and her second, a girl born at 34 weeks, had a short term NICU stay.
“They had the most amazing medical care,” Kelley says. “But I fell through the cracks.”
Megan Bliss, LCSW and counseling program manager at Hand to Hold, explains the cocktail of events and emotions that contribute to mood disorders for NICU moms.
“High-stress events related to complicated pregnancies, preterm and/or emergency deliveries, low birth weight, and serious health conditions…in conjunction with the normal hormones, stressors and emotions of being postpartum make this population particularly vulnerable,” Bliss says.
For some NICU parents, while they are eventually sent home, their child never is, forcing them to face a grief only known by bereaved parents.
In 2007, Lana Macrum, Austin Woman co-owner and emeritus board member of Hand to Hold, lost her daughter, Allie, who had a rare genetic disease, after 18 days in the NICU.
“I didn’t know anyone who had been through what I’d been through,” says Macrum.
Macrum eventually found help through counseling but acknowledges this was help she had to seek out on her own. One of the most crucial missions of Hand to Hold is to find families before families have to find them.
With staff in every major NICU in Austin as well as Texas
Kelli Kelley and Lana Macrum discussing Hand to Hold.
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Even if you have the best set of physicians around you, you need something more than that. You need somebody that’s been through it.
—Lana Macrum
Kelli Kelley and Lana Macrum going through Hand to Hold’s The Essential NICU Parent Guide
Children’s Hospital in Houston and partnerships with more than 100 hospitals across the country, Hand to Hold excels at early intervention, connecting with families in their most vulnerable moments to ensure they’re aware of the free resources available through the organization. These resources include counseling by licensed professionals, support groups and, what is considered the heart and soul of the organization, peer-to-peer mentoring.
With more than 300 trained volunteer peer mentors who have personal NICU experiences, Hand to Hold can match parents with a mentor who’s been through what they’ve been through, whether it’s a short term NICU stay, long term or the loss of a child.
“Even if you have the best set of physicians around you, you need something more than that,” says Marcum. “You need somebody that’s been through it.”
As a managing director at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Macrum is often the first call for a fellow employee experiencing loss after pregnancy.
“It’s a sorority or fraternity that you don’t want to be part of,” Macrum says, “but you’re part of it, so why don’t you find your sister or your brother to be there with you?”
Hand to Hold is intentional about how they form their support and communities. Women of color are much more likely to have a NICU experience, Kelley says. “Making sure
our staff reflects the families we serve is really important.”
Hand to Hold hosts Black parent support groups and has recently been focusing on making its services bilingual, serving the large Spanish-speaking population in Austin hospitals.
Breaking down barriers is key for Hand to Hold. In addition to mental health services, the organization also produces a regular podcast – one of the first podcasts solely focused on the NICU experience –s and has an app where users can access Hand to Hold services and connect with other NICU parents.
“While it’s headquartered in Austin, Hand to Hold can meet you where you are,” Macrum says.
Kelley points out that as the population of Austin grows, almost every NICU in Austin is expanding. In 2023, Dell Children’s and St. David’s Medical Center expanded their NICUs, and Ascension Seton broke ground on a new women’s health tower that will improve and expand their current NICU space.
But in Austin, it’s not just the size or amenities of the NICUs that are changing. Mothers in the NICU no longer have to feel alone or invisible.
“The biggest change in 20 years in the neonatal space in Austin, is that now Hand to Hold is there,” says Kelley.
Left to right, Lana Macrum and Kelli Kelley
“Pain is not the enemy, it’s the guide.”
What is your favorite thing about The Continuum Method?
Our innovative, effective and life-changing approach to pain, sports injuries, and longevity. As neuromuscular specialists we use precise muscle testing to address the root cause of pain rather than traditional techniques that often mask symptoms temporarily. My wife, Deanna and I are givers - we love serving our Austin community.
What does wellness mean to you?
An individualized ever-changing continuum. Too often we label external things as “healthy” or “unhealthy”. A type of exercise, food, therapy, medication introduced to our bodies can create a positive or negative change depending on the application, dosage and timing. Once the right “formula” is found personally, we trend toward true wellness.
What are you most proud of in your business?
The positive impact to our wide range of clientele. From menopausal women in pain, teenagers with scoliosis or injured professional athletes (like NBA player P.J. Washington, NY Yankee Mark Texeria, Pisa Italy Soccer Team, Golfer Tom Kite, Lance Armstong and more), we love to see them leave with a smile.
The Continuum Method
3921 Steck Ave. Suite A103 Austin, TX 78759
512.995.9911
admin@TheContinuumMethod.com
Eric Ferguson, Owner and NMS evaluating NBA player Abdel Nader post arthroscopic knee surgery.
Jean Gabbay, NMS testing client’s hip for neuromuscular inhibition related to her foot pain.
Austin native and Owners Eric and Deanna Ferguson celebrating TCM’s 5 year anniversary
with with TAKE OFF TAKE OFF
“Self-care is not selfish. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” — Eleanor Brownn”
What is your favorite thing about your business?
One of the most enriching aspects of my business is building a vibrant community of women dedicated to self-care. Equally rewarding is the positive impact we have on our clients’ well-being, witnessing their growth and transformation.
What is the best piece of advice you have been given that has benefited your wellbeing?
One of the most enriching aspects of my business is building a vibrant community of women dedicated to self-care. Equally rewarding is the positive impact we have on our clients’ well-being, witnessing their growth and transformation.
Why is it important to support women-owned businesses?
By supporting women-owned businesses, we play a crucial role in fostering a more equitable, innovative, and thriving economy. Investing in women empowers them, highlighting the diverse perspectives that are essential to our collective success. Additionally, engaging with a community of women creates an ideal environment for finding role models and inspiration, encouraging us all to reach our fullest potential..
The Tox
360 Nueces St. Suite 50 Austin, TX 78701 512.468.8411 austin@thetoxtechnique.com
The Tox is a body contouring technique that works directly with your lymphatic and digestive system with our manual technique to give you a long lasting, full body sculpting detox.
Wearable Wellness Tech
The top four must-have wellness wear you need.
BY LIZ WENDLER STYLING
Wellness has never been more chic, and these cutting-edge gadgets are leading the way. From tracking your health to enhancing your daily life, wearable wellness tech is all about making you feel as good as you look. Let’s dive into the top four wearable wellness trends that are turning heads and transforming lives:
1. Oura Ring: The Stylish Sleep and Health Tracker
The Oura Ring is more than just a piece of jewelry – it’s a health revolution on your finger. Here’s why it’s a must-have:
• Effortless Style: With its sleek, minimalist design, the Oura Ring looks stunning on any finger. It’s the perfect blend of form and function, making it a favorite among fashion-forward wellness enthusiasts.
• Advanced Sleep Tracking: This ring doesn’t just count steps – it monitors your sleep patterns, giving you detailed insights into your rest and recovery.
• Holistic Health Monitoring: Beyond sleep, the Oura Ring tracks heart rate, body temperature and activity levels; providing a comprehensive view of overall health. It’s wellness wrapped around your finger.
• How to Style it: Stack another ring behind the Oura ring or add another ring on the same hand to accessorize your hand.
2. Embr Wave: The Wearable Personal Thermostat
The Embr Wave is the wristband that lets you control your comfort zone. Here’s why it’s heating up (and cooling down) the wellness world:
• Temperature Control On-Demand: Whether overheating in a crowded room or freezing at your desk, a simple press on the Embr Wave gives you a soothing burst of warmth or a cooling chill. It’s comfort at your fingertips.
• Stress Relief and Focus: The Embr Wave helps reduce stress and improve focus by managing your body temperature. It’s like having a personal spa session wherever you go.
• Sleek Design: The Embr Wave’s modern, minimalist look seamlessly complements any outfit. It’s an accessory that’s as chic as it is functional.
• How to Style it: Stack additional bracelets around the Embr Wave to create a visually aesthetic style for your wrist.
3. HigherDose Red Light Hat: Transforming Hair Health On-The-Go
Turning a “bad hair day” into a great hair day just got easier with the HigherDose Red Light Hat. This game-changer is all about promoting hair growth and scalp revitalization. Here’s why it’s the next best wearable tech:
• Boosts Hair Growth: The HigherDose Red Light Hat utilizes 650nm red light to increase blood circulation to the scalp, promoting healthier hair follicles and potentially reducing hair loss.
• Scalp Revitalization: A healthy scalp is the foundation of beautiful hair. This hat rejuvenates the scalp, optimizing hair follicle function and creating the perfect environment for robust and sexy hair to thrive.
• Convenience Meets Wellness: With a daily 10-minutes, you can harness the incredible benefits of red light therapy. Whether you’re on a busy schedule or just relaxing at home, the innovative design of the Red Light Hat makes it easy to prioritize your hair health. Simply put it on and get your hair growing!
• How to Style it: When you are on the go, wear fun hoops or studs with your hair pulled back in a ponytail.
4. Apple Watch: The Classic Wearable Tech for Wellness Warriors
The Apple Watch is the ultimate blend of tech and style and is still at the top of the wellness game. Here’s why it’s a perennial favorite:
• Comprehensive Health Tracking: From heart rate monitoring to ECG capabilities, the Apple Watch closely monitors your health. It’s like having a mini-doctor on your wrist.
• Fitness Motivation: With its activity rings, workout tracking and personalized fitness goals the Apple Watch is your trainer; cheering you on to hit those milestones.
• Seamless Connectivity: Stay connected with calls, texts and notifications; all while managing your health. The all-in-one gadget keeps you on top of your life – and your wellness.
• Fashion-forward: The wristband is interchangeable with simple silicon styles for your workout or elevated gold link styles from Hermès. Stack bracelets around the watch to add dimension and style!
These wearable wellness trends are more than sleek tech gadgets – they’re a lifestyle. They’re about embracing a new way of living where health, style and technology come together perfectly. Ready to elevate your wellness game? These are the must-haves to make it happen.
Liz Wendler is an Austin-based Personal Style Coach, who helps women achieve their next-level style through clarity, confidence and wardrobe capsules. Book a complimentary style with Liz at LizWendlerStyling.com
Owner and Medical Doctor of Rejuvinate, Jessica Wright.
Photos courtesy of Paige Casey
What is your go to for self-care?
Exercise and meditation. The reason I like these two is because they quiet my mind. I meditate several times a week. I exercise 5 times per week. Try to not overthink exercise. You don’t have to kill yourself or do anything complicated to get results and have a health benefit. For meditation, I like the Calm app on my phone.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone that is newly on their wellness journey?
Take small steps at a time. Pick something you can do today and change it. Don’t focus on the huge list of things you need to change because you will get overwhelmed. Make one change today and then stick to it for a few weeks. Then incorporate another one. I always recommend starting with exercise if the person is not already doing it. It gives them a boost in their mood and is a great start to a wellness journey.
“You can’t pour from an empty cup.”
What is your favorite thing about Rejuvenate Austin?
My business constantly evolves and is based around transformations, so it is never dull or boring. I love helping patients address their pain points. That is true self investment.
What’s a current wellness trend that you would recommend?
I am loving the regenerative approach to beauty and wellness. Peptide therapy is literally slowing aging and helping people be more healthy. We are doing more and more peptide therapy in conjunction with beauty treatments. Everyone wants to feel and look better. For me, this is the ultimate self love!
Rejuvenate Austin
1301 West 5th St. #100 Austin, TX 78703 512.923.1071 rejuvenateaustin.com
Women have a 1 in 8 risk of developing breast cancer in their lifetime. Due to improved breast cancer screening and early detection of small breast cancers, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer in the US is over 90%. This is a great improvement from 50-years-ago when the five-year breast cancer survival rate was 75%. And it’s still important to explore the different available screening modalities for breast cancer in the United States.
Risk Assessment
All women should have a risk assessment done by age 25 to determine the best individual path of breast cancer screening. This can be accomplished by assessing the patient’s family history of different types of cancer. If the family history is not known, genetic testing for currently known cancer genes may be considered. This testing has recently become more affordable and can be very helpful with individualizing a screening or treatment plan.
Mammogram
A 3D mammogram is the gold standard for breast cancer screening. A technician compresses breast tissue between two flat plates and the breast issue is imaged. The amount of radiation that the patient is exposed to is very small – about the equivalent of the exposure you receive flying from New York to Los Angeles.
The American College of OB/Gyn and the American College of Radiology both recommend starting annual mammograms (MMG) at age 40 for average risk women. The U.S. Preventative Health Task Force only recommends receiving an MMG every other year, but most providers agree that yearly is a better schedule for early detection. Plus, most insurance companies cover MMGs yearly.
Women who have a higher risk of developing breast cancer, usually due to genetic predisposition, may need to start annual mammograms at a younger age; possibly as young as age 25. When reading an MMG, the radiologist will comment on the breast composition. If a patient has dense breast tissue, a supplemental form of breast cancer screening should be considered. In Texas, Henda’s Law requires the radiology group to notify patients who have dense breast tissue so that they can discuss supplemental screening with their provider. Dense breast tissue on an MMG can give a false negative reading – in other words, it’s easier for an early cancer to be missed.
Women with dense breast tissue tend to be younger and have a lower body mass index, but it is a radiographic finding so anyone can have dense breasts.
Breast Ultrasound
Ultrasound is the most common supplemental screening modality in the case of dense breast tissue. A wand is passed over the breast in an organized fashion to image the underlying breast
tissue. This modality is helpful in cases of dense breast tissue, but breast ultrasound is not a comprehensive enough study to replace yearly mammograms. It should only be used as an adjunct to an MMG.
Breast MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging of the breast can be a helpful screening tool for high-risk women. This requires the patient to lay very still in an MRI tunnel for some time while the machine images the breast. The good news about an MRI is that it sees everything in the breast, so it is unlikely to miss an early cancer. The bad news about an MRI is that it sees everything in the breast which can lead to unnecessary breast biopsies and worry.
Contrast Enhanced Mammography
This is a new breast imaging modality that may help in early diagnosis of breast cancers in a select population. It is similar to a regular mammogram except that the intravenous contrast is used to assist with visualization of the breast tissue. This procedure carries added risk of increased radiation exposure and the risk of a reaction to the contrast dye. Therefore it is reserved for selected patients where other imaging may not be as accurate in early detection.
Thermogram
The FDA does not recommend thermograms in place of MMGs for breast cancer screening. Many patients ask about this modality in lieu of an MMG, so it should be discussed with your healthcare provider in order to be complete. This is a modality that can detect changes in the breast tissue temperature to detect breast cancer. Many patients opt for this method for breast cancer screening because they find mammograms uncomfortable or they wish to avoid radiation. Unfortunately, thermography doesn’t do a great job of early detection to be recommended as a beneficial screening method. By the time the cancer is large enough to change the temperature of the breast tissue, it has already advanced past the goal of early detection. If a thermogram is abnormal, the next step is an MMGfor evaluation. Most offices that provide hormone replacement therapy will not accept thermography for breast cancer screening and require yearly MMGs. This list can be used as a tool to start a conversation with your healthcare provider about your personal path for breast cancer screening. And, if in doubt about the way you currently screen for breast cancer, please contact your healthcare provider.
Maggie Landwermeyer is an OB/GYN at Hill Country OB/GYN. Hill Country OB/ GYN has recently added a screening MMG machine at their location on Brodie Lane. For more information or to make an appointment, please call (512) 462-1936.
“Self-care is giving the world the best of you, not what’s left of you.”
Why should women care about their wellness?
Focusing on wellness helps women thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally. It helps prevent disease, reduce stress, boost confidence, balance roles, positively influence their families, and break stereotypes, building a stronger, healthier community all around.
What is your favorite thing about Swift Fit Events?
My favorite aspect of Swift Fit Events is making health and wellness accessible and convenient for everyone. It’s truly rewarding to see individuals try something they never thought they would and discover a new self-care routine they love. Providing others with a moment of peace, wellness, and self-care is incredibly fulfilling.
What’s a current wellness trend that you would recommend?
I highly recommend a digital detox, especially given how engrossed we’ve become in our devices—laptops, tablets, phones, and streaming platforms. Step outside, immerse yourself in nature, and enjoy the fresh air. Embrace the silence and take this opportunity to disconnect from technology and reconnect with both nature and yourself.
Swift Fit Events
918 Congress Ave. Suite 100 Austin, TX 78701 512.660.7746 swiftfitevents.com
Swift Fit Events specialize in corporate and community events that emphasize health, wellness, and connection. Whether you’re looking to boost employee morale, foster team connections, or showcase your brand within your local community, we’ve got you covered.
Texas Roadhouse employees enjoy a morning run on the Hike and Bike trail, great for building team morale led and organized by Swift Fit Events.
Candace Kief, Head of Sponsorships, Swift Fit Events, at the 2nd Annual Battle of the Gyms held at Republic Square Park in downtown Austin.
A large crowd enjoys a meditative and restorative yoga class led by Liz Davis at the 2nd Annual Singles Yoga event by Swift Fit Events, April 2024.
