Syracuse Woman Magazine - October 2022

october

GUEST COMMENTARY

Tracey Burkey

Pay it forward

SPECIAL FEATURE

Helping break the glass ceiling in healthcare 10

OUT & ABOUT

Coming soon: Authentic BBQ at Angry Smokehouse 14

WBOC LEADING LADY Adrienne Peltz

ON THE COVER

Amber Howland Smith Amber vs. Cancer 23

WOMEN'S HEALTH

Q&A: The personal meaning of health and nourishment 28

Healthy Eating: Chef Eric Rose - Pumpkin spice and everything nice 35

IN MEMORIAM

Boom Babies founder, Lorraine Koury

UPCOMING

INSPIRE

Nicole Canavan

Kardos

Thune

Pay it forward

Tracey Burkey

Life was good! My husband and I married in August 2014. My youngest son was a sophomore in high school and all our adult kids were healthy and thriving. We were also proud grandparents to a beautiful granddaughter. I had a job that I loved. I had the best family and friends anyone could wish for. I was on top of the

On March 24, 2015, my life as I knew it changed forever. After a routine mammogram I was told I had breast cancer. At 51 years old my life would change forever. My treatment began with 16 grueling rounds of chemotherapy. This was followed by a double mastectomy and then reconstructive surgery.

Fast forward to January 2016. Treatment and five surgeries were behind me. My hair was starting to grow back. I began my 10 years of Tamoxifen treatment. I could endure unpleasant and painful side effects if the cancer was gone! I could be ‘back to normal.’ At least that’s what well-meaning people would say.

Most cancer patients are so focused on treatment and beating cancer. What came next blindsided me. What do I do now? How should I feel? When the phone rings I expect the worst. When I experience a little ache or pain, I panic. I was raw inside and the thought of facing any unwelcome news was more than I could handle. Many survivors have a form of PTSD after treatment and don’t realize it.

I had many angels along my journey. The kindness of a friend helped me to face my fear of chemo. When I asked how I could ever repay her she said, “Pay it forward.”

Throughout my journey I have seen many friends diagnosed with cancer. It makes me sad and angry! I had to do something small to make a difference.

My friend’s words stayed with me. One of the main things I did was to start volunteering with the American Cancer Society (ACS). This enabled me to connect with so many others who have been impacted by this disease – whether as patients, survivors, thrivers, or caregivers. I also learned more about how the programs that ACS supports make a difference to those battling the disease and their families. For example, Road to Recovery provides free rides to those who otherwise couldn’t get to treatment. Hope Lodge provides free lodging for those who need to travel far for further testing or treatment. And the support line is available 24/7 at 1.800.227.2345 for those who need someone to talk to anytime or to get non-biased cancer information to make an important decision about their cancer journey.

I have experienced how important it is, not only to raise awareness and funds for research, but also to support the programs and services the ACS provides.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is taking place on Oct. 16 in Clinton Square in downtown Syracuse. I invite you, your family, friends, and co-workers to join me in walking the 2.0-mile course to raise much needed funds for research, education, advocacy, and patient service programs. The dollars we raise offer hope to so many and the event provides all of us – breast cancer survivors and thrivers, patients, caregivers, and families - a chance to be seen and heard!

This October, commit yourself to making a difference. Schedule your mammogram (if you are of screening age) or encourage those you love to get screened and sign up today at www.MakingStridesWalk.org/Syracuse. Let’s pay it forward - togetherthis October. SWM

SyracuseWomanMag.com contact@ syracusewomanmag.com

PUBLISHER

David Tyler dtyler@eaglenewsonline.com

DESIGN

Andrea Reeves

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Alice G. Patterson Chef Eric Rose

David Tyler

CONTRIBUTORS

Tracey Burkey

Alyssa Dearborn

Kate Hanzalik

Jason Klaiber

Amisha Kohli Norah Machia Lorna Oppedisano Chef Eric Rose

Cover photo by Alice G. Patterson

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Rocking teal at the Fair

Hope for Heather helped visitors to the New York State Fair learn about ovari an cancer at their booth in the Science and Technology Building. Sept. 2 was National Wear Teal Day at the fair and fairgoers and volunteers were asked to wear their teal gear to help spread awareness of the disease. Throughout the 13-day fair, volunteers passed out ribbons and symptom cards to anyone who stopped by the booth. Proceeds from Hope for Heather’s activities ben efit ovarian cancer research, awareness and local support.

Helping break the glass ceiling in healthcare

Lorna Oppedisano

Within the professional world, many women are faced with the challenges of working in a male-dominated field. Groups and individuals are taking steps to facilitate balance and equity, along with the open communication needed to turn those goals into realities.

Dr. Kristen Pfau of Fennell Street FamilyCare has recently joined one of those groups, the Agilon Health Women’s Physician Leadership Council, “an organization of women who are ‘breaking the glass ceiling’ for female physicians nationwide,” according to a press release from earlier this year.

In both her childhood and professional life in the field of family medicine, Dr. Pfau has been fortunate enough to not have faced as many hurdles simply because she is a woman as some other female medical professionals.

Thinking back to when she was a child, she credits her father as never limiting her and her sisters based on gender.

“There was never this weird gendering, this ‘don’t you do that, you’re a girl,’” she said.

As she grew up, Dr. Pfau knew she wanted to follow in the footsteps of some other family members, including her mother, who is a nurse, and grandfather, who was a physician.

She attended Penn State for undergrad and Albany Med for medical school. Dr. Pfau remarked she didn’t feel limited by her gender at either institution. She added there was a great deal of diversity at Albany Med.

“We had people with second careers. We had moms who were coming back to medical school. So, it was a very diverse group. I don’t think I felt like there were more men there,” she said. “But I think maybe that’s unique to my experience.”

While there were other specialties, such as cardiology, that tend to be more male-dominated, her field of family medicine tended to attract more women, she said. Even the office Dr. Pfau works at now is very female-dominated, with only one male colleague among them.

When the president of her medical group nominated her to be a member of the Women’s Physician Leadership Council, she was honored to be a part of the group.

The council was created by Agilon Health, “a company that empowers physicians to transform community health, created the council to celebrate and honor women doctors across the U.S. -- while raising awareness about the specific challenges they face in the healthcare system,” according to the press release.

The group first met in May in Texas, as part of a larger Agilon Health retreat.

“What I found interesting when we met for the women’s leadership council was the differences just in the practices themselves,” Dr. Pfau said. “There were some women in the group and some women who were integral in starting the council who came from much more male-dominated practices.”

She remarked that it was compelling to speak with women whose daily office environments were so different from hers. Many of the women whose immediate colleagues were mostly men shared that they tended to feel they needed to be more vocal and put a foot forward in a way their male counterparts didn’t find necessary to move toward leadership.

In terms of her own takeaway for herself and her colleagues locally, Dr. Pfau stressed the importance of networking.

Kristen Pfau, M.D.

“I don’t think I have some magical something to bring to the group, but I think each of our voices — bringing those experiences together to share information that helps us all grow — can help you take something away from someone else that’s helpful,” she said. “It was more just being able to meet some more people, get some more viewpoints and learn how we can grow ourselves here in the practice.”

Specifically, Dr. Pfau hopes to facilitate more opportunity for women within the FamilyCare Medical Group to meet at somewhat regular intervals to socialize and share office ideas.

Since its inaugural meeting in May, the Women’s Physician Leadership Council has met every other month virtually with a focus on leadership.

“The biggest thing that I’ve seen that has been discussed tangibly is focusing on leadership growth. If we don’t start there, then just saying ‘Go do this’ isn’t very helpful,” Dr. Pfau said, adding that women within the council have had opportunities to attend leadership skills trainings.

She shared that many women in the health care field face burnout at a higher rate than their male counterparts. To avoid that, she stressed the importance of asking for and accepting help.

“It’s those little things you can take off of your plate because what you’re doing all day long takes a lot of focus and energy,” she said. “It’s very hard to figure out that balance. I have not figured it out but it’s a constant work in progress.”

Dr. Pfau also touched on the importance of ensuring male and female colleagues make a conscious effort to view each other as equals and help each other. As opposed to falling back on habits of asking men to complete tasks, have female counterparts contribute equally, she said.

She added that it comes down to how they can help each other, regardless of gender.

“How can we help each other to take better care of our patients by learning from each other more collaboratively?” Dr. Pfau said. SWM

BY THE NUMBERS

A new report published in Health Affairs finds that there’s a 25% lifetime pay gap between male and female physicians in the U.S. For a female physician, that adds up to a difference of slightly more than $2 million over a 40-year practice. Females also represent only three percent of healthcare CMOs, six percent of department chairs and nine percent of division chiefs according to the American Medical Association.

Data courtesy Stanford Communications press release, “Syracuse’s Kristen Pfau, M.D., Appointed to National Physician Council Addressing Challenges for Women in Healthcare”

COMING SOON: Authentic BBQ at Angry Smokehouse

Get ready for some ungrill-ievable food — Jeff Rogers is bringing the flavors of Southern barbecue to the village of Baldwinsville, only a block away from his successful restaurant Angry Garlic.

After several months of construction, Angry Smokehouse is nearly ready to open, replacing the former Lock 24 restaurant on Water Street. Rogers said in early September that the opening is only weeks away.

In June, Rogers went on a barbecue road trip, touring restaurants across Texas, Missouri, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina. Rogers set out to learn more about barbecue, learning traditional techniques from pitmasters and immersing himself in all things barbecue for several weeks. From dawn to dusk, Rogers spent time with 11 different pitmasters, soaking in their knowledge to bring real Southern barbecue to New York.

“I didn't go to a lot of sit-down restaurants. Most places I went to were trailers with a gigantic smoke pit behind them,” Rogers said. “That's where I wanted to go. That's who I wanted to work with… The fifth-generation owners that have these trailers that have been on a plot of land literally for a hundred years. That's where I wanted to learn. So that's where I went.”

Rogers biggest takeaway from his travels is that for 30 years, he has been barbecuing wrong.

“The first thing I did when I got home was rip up the menu that I wrote. I literally tore it up. I was like, ‘nope, changing the whole menu,’” Rogers said. “It's not gonna be a huge menu, but it's gonna be real authentic Midwest and Southern barbecue.”

With the success of Angry Garlic, Rogers admitted he is nervous about the bar that is set for the smokehouse. Like any other new venture, Rogers knows there will be several hiccups, as there were when he opened Angry Garlic three years ago. Nonetheless, he is hopeful that the community will be as embracing and forgiving as it was then. Community members are already enthusiastic about the restaurant’s opening, flooding the restaurant’s Facebook with hundreds of comments of support, excitement well wishes.

“I'm just thankful that everyone's been so kind, it's what I instill in my staff. We literally live by the words humble and kind. That's how we've talked to each other and that's how we talk to our guests, and the community has been so kind. It's amazing. Really is.” Rogers said the restaurant is back on course after dealing with several supply chain challenges that delayed the reconstruction of the facility,

Amisha Kohli

which was formerly Lock 24 on Water Street in Baldwinsville. With the interior now nearly finished and custom-built smokers installed, Rogers can see the finish line ahead.

Salt City Millworks built the tables, and the light fixtures over the bar are made from repurposed bourbon bottles. Rogers is building additional décor elements out of staves — the aged slats of oak used to make bourbon barrels.

“If you go up close to it, you can still smell the charring,” he said.

According to Rogers, the inside of the restaurant will have a heavy blues and Southern rock theme to it.

Rogers said he has about 200 posters to hang on the walls, wanting guests to be able to see unique and historical images of different musicians, smokehouses and smokers everywhere they look.

Outside, the deck will be able to seat 90 people, and Rogers purchased a nearby grassy area to install fire pit seating as well.

“I love the opportunity to employ more people. With this place, especially with the outside seating, we'll probably employ 45 people or so. That's exciting to me, to be able to say that we take care of 45 people and make sure that financially and with their jobs, they're happy and they're secure, you know?”

Keep an eye on the Angry Smokehouse facebook page for updates on the grand opening. SWM

OUT AND ROCK

2022 Syracuse Go Red for Women Luncheon Thursday, October 13, 2022 | 10:00a.m. 1:30p.m. The Oncenter SyracuseGoRed heart org JOIN US AND GO RED FOR WOMEN

ADRIENNE PELTZ Forging a unique path

Alyssa Dearborn

When Adrienne Peltz’s husband, Aric, wanted to propose to her, he wanted to give her a special ring. The special ring he had in mind had to be handcrafted by a local jeweler since he did not know how to forge custom jewelry yet. After Aric learned how to forge and design custom jewelry, the couple turned their love story into a business. Today, the couple operates Forge Gone Conclusions to create special fine jewelry from ethically sourced materials ranging from gemstones and sterling silver to porcupine quills.

“It’s a husband-wife team.” Peltz said, “He does the design and manufacturing of the jewelry and I do everything else. So I do the operations management, marketing, legal and finance. And we have a YouTube channel, so I do all the recordings and make all the videos. And I do a lot of customer contact.”

Her previous career in project management prepared her for all of the roles that she would take on while running Forge Gone Conclusions.

“I was a project manager for 12 years and it was that experience that helped me start a business and also be able to manage it on a daily basis.” she said when asked about her role at her company. “So, I use a lot of the skills that I learned – workflows, just general management skills – and I apply it to the business. It’s more of the operations management of the business. Whether it’s reaching out to customers before or after we make the piece, or it’s building and crafting a website, or making posts out to social media, or doing the bookkeeping, that’s pretty much a lot of the things I do.”

All of the organizational and managerial work is essential to bringing custom products to customers. With great managerial skills, she’s able to help enhance the personal experience of her clients by getting to know the customer and even providing custom video footage of the forging process. Seeing those customers happy with a unique product is, according to Peltz, one of the most rewarding parts of what she does. “I think it’s the happiness that we deliver to our customers,” she explained. “It’s really rewarding to take their dreams and bring them to life. Because maybe they had a concept that they had in mind and they really wanted to make it, but they just didn’t know how to. So, coming to us, we’re able to make that a reality.”

“And then there’s the opposite. We do work with people who have existing jewelry and we transform it into something different. So maybe it’s a pair of earrings or a necklace that their grandmother had but they would never wear because of the style. We will take it and transform it into something they would wear. Just the feeling and expression on their faces when it’s done and how happy they are to receive it, I think that’s very rewarding.”

Although every piece created by Forge Gone Conclusions is unique and memorable in its own way, Peltz recalls a special piece that allowed her and Aric to be a part of a couple’s special moment.

“I think the most memorable to me was an engagement ring,” she recalled when asked about the company’s most interesting piece, “And I think it was cool because of a couple of things. It really reflected the personality of the person who’s going to get it. She has a May birthday and she likes the color green. We put emeralds onto her

engagement ring so that it kind of reflects the birthday and her favorite color. But the cooler part to this is that they did the proposal at the Mets game in Syracuse. So, to be able to go to the game and watch the proposal with one of our rings was really exciting.”

As a member of the WBOC, Peltz has been able to connect with other women in business and gain resources to help her business succeed.

“It’s been phenomenal.” Peltz said about being a WBOC member, “I’ve met a lot of other women in the community that I never would have met otherwise. I kind of wished that I had met the group or

found out about the group earlier in my career because I would have definitely joined it.”

“I like the resources in terms of the collective wisdom of the group. It’s also cool supporting other women. It’s like, this is a collection of women that you might want to turn to first and say, ‘hey, could you help me?’ or ‘could I use some of your services?’ or ‘could we trade or something?’ Because it’s a nice group of just women supporting each other.”

SWM

If you are interested in custom jewelry from Forge Gone Conclusions, visit Adrienne and Aric’s website at https://fgconclusions.com/.

Jussara Potter Photography

a

with

AMBER HOWLAND SMITH Amber vs. Cancer

Norah Machia

As a young breast cancer survivor, Amber M. Howland is hoping that by sharing her story, it will help save the lives of other women.

“You can take a terrible situation and just stay at home,” said the Syracuse resident. “But nobody would benefit from me keeping quiet. If one woman hears my story and decides to get a mammogram, then I’ve done my job.”

Continued on page 20

Cancer from

Amber was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 37 and suddenly found herself having to make an overwhelming number of critical decisions about her future. “I have learned so much through my journey that I want to share with other young women,” such as breast cancer treatment and prevention options, genetic testing and egg preservation, she said.

At the same time, Amber has also become an advocate for raising awareness about rarer forms of cancer because “they don’t get a lot of attention,” she said. In May, she participated in the “Cycle for Survival” event in New York City, raising more than $11,000 for the rare cancer research studies being conducted at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

She will be launching her second fund-raising campaign for the organization this fall to participate in the 2023 event. Amber cycled on an indoor bike for four hours during this year’s gathering with hundreds of other cyclists.

The center is researching new treatment options for several types of rare cancers, including sarcomas, which develop in the bones and soft tissues, including the fat, muscles, nerves and blood vessels.

While undergoing her own radiation treatment, she started the “Amber vs. Cancer” initiative, after realizing she could use the large amount of attention given to fund-raising for breast cancer research to put the spotlight on other lesser-known forms of cancer. Amber is working to support new and better treatment options for these patients, who are often young children.

Although breast cancer is primarily found in older women, nearly 10 percent of all new cases in the United States are diagnosed in women younger than 45 years of age, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These cancers are likely to be hereditary, more aggressive and discovered at a later stage, making them more difficult to treat.

Amber didn’t plan on getting screened for breast cancer until she hit her 40s. But the unexpected loss of her mother in February of 2021 changed her mind.

“My mother died of cancer,” said Amber. “She had been misdiagnosed, and it was found throughout her body. We’re not sure where it started.”

She decided to ask her doctor about ordering a mammogram. At the time, the doctor didn’t think she was at risk because of her younger age, but ordered the screening test at Amber’s request. “I actually put it off for a few months because there didn’t seem to be a sense of urgency and I was still grieving the loss of my mother,” she said.

Amber went for her mammogram in November of 2021. She was told an ultrasound would also be needed because of her dense breast tissue, a common issue with younger women. “The tech-nician started chatting with me, and then she got really quiet,” said Amber.

“I knew something was wrong and I became emotional. She told me to just breathe.”

A physician came into the room and told Amber they needed to perform a biopsy and send it for testing. “He said they found something on the ultrasound, and they weren’t sure what it was, but it most likely not cancer,” she said.

“But something in my gut told me it was.” When the results came back, her worst fear was confirmed.

Amber was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer. Her life was suddenly on a fast track for survival.

There were treatment options to discuss and other critical decisions that needed to be made. Amber chose to have lumpectomy surgery, followed by radiation treatments.

The next decision she had to make caught her off guard. Amber was told the radiation treatments could potentially affect her fertility, making it difficult, if not impossible, to become pregnant in the future. She was given the option of collecting her eggs through in vitro fertilization (IVF) and creating fertilized embryos for frozen storage.

“I was in the hospital room the night before Thanksgiving,” said Amber. “I was told that if I wanted to have children, I would need to start IVF the following week.”

For Amber, it was a clear choice. “I had always wanted to be a mother,” she said. “I told my husband, Mark, who was my boyfriend at the time and was in the room with me, that we needed to make some embryos.” Amber was feeling fortunate because her breast cancer was caught in the early stages, and her surgery and radiation treatments were successful. Her comprehensive health insurance plan through her job covered most of her diagnostic and treatment costs, along with the IVF therapy, so she did not face a financial crisis because of her cancer diagnosis. “I know for some women, that is not always the case,” she said.

She has a strong support system with her husband, Mark Smith, whom she married this past June. “I knew I could handle breast cancer, but I also needed a partner to help me handle it,” she said. “Mark is the best.”

Amber has been supported by her younger sister, Lindsey, who also lives in Syracuse. “But I learned quickly that when you are declared cancer free, that is just the starting line,” she said.

After her treatment, Amber was tested for the gene mutations that put women at higher risk for breast cancer, and was found to have one (a mutation in the lesserknown ATM gene). It meant there was up to a 60 percent risk that her cancer would return over her lifetime.

Amber has made the difficult decision to have a double mastectomy (surgery to remove both breasts) in the future as part of her cancer prevention plan.

For now, Amber is being monitored and checked every six months with alternating mammograms and MRI testing.

She plans to wait on having a mastectomy until after she becomes a mother.

Amber and her husband recently met with a cancer fertility specialist at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. She was advised to remain on her medication to suppress her estrogen levels until next June, and then she will be able to be off the medication for a year.

Continued on page 26

Amber is hoping to spread awareness about breast cancer and to raise funds for the next “Cycle for Survival” through her website, www.amberhowland.com, along with her social media accounts: @ambervscancer on Instagram, and Amber Smith on Facebook.

“I was given hope after that meeting,” Amber said. “I was given a choice about my future.” If a pregnancy does not work out, the couple will consider adoption.

Amber is urging young women to understand their breast cancer risk and be proactive about their health. Treatment works best if cancer is detected in the early stage.

“I’m fortunate because I have options,” she said. “A lot of people don’t find out until it’s too late.” She is hoping to spread awareness about breast cancer and to raise funds for the next “Cycle for Survival” through her website, www.amberhowland.com, along with her social media accounts: @ambervscancer on Instagram, and Amber Smith on Facebook.

“I want to continue getting my message across about the need to support funding for rare forms of cancer,” while also urging young women to find out their risks for breast cancer, she said.

Amber is no stranger to fund-raising. Before her cancer diagnosis, she was already helping others.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Amber raised $12,854 for the Food Bank of Central New York, along with supporting more than 100 struggling businesses (primarily restaurants) by promoting their updated hours and curbside pickup options on her social media sites.

A longtime runner, Amber raised the funds by completing 620 miles in 108 days (an average of roughly six miles a day) as part of a 1,000K virtual challenge run started during the pandemic by the One NY organization.

She decided to sign up for the virtual run just a few weeks after the pandemic hit, in May 2020, to help deal with the stress of being homebound, and to continue being active.

“I also decided that I wanted it to be bigger than me just running,” she said. “I had dinner with my sister one night, and I came up with the idea of having a charity aspect to my run.”

She arranged with the Food Bank of Central New York to have a link from her website directly to their landing page where people could donate.

“At that time, I wanted the money to stay in the community where people could immediately see the results,” Amber said. “I was able to take my anxiety and fear about COVID-19 and turn it into something positive.”

Her “Amber vs. Cancer” initiative is now taking her fund-raising efforts nationwide, to help those battling rare forms of cancer receive the attention they deserve, she said.

“Anyone can do this type of fund-raising,” Amber said. “I really believe that people want to help others, but they may not know how. If you give them the chance, people will come forward and help.” SWM

Friday,

Greater Manlius Chamber Party for the Pantry

Nourish our Community

Featuring

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The personal meaning of health and nourishment

INTERVIEW BY LORNA OPPEDISANO

We sat down with local author Kate Mahoney and nutritionist Emily Tills to get a preview of their upcoming event, “Healing from the Inside Out,” during which they will interview each other about what nourishment can look like, how health helped shape their purposes, inform their business practices and cultivate community.

Join them for an intimate discussion at Epicuse on Thursday, October 20, as they discuss what helped them heal into today.

Kate: My personal journey of illness and recovery took me away from screens, stages and scripts for a while, yet parlays those very same layers of context and nuance into my work as a patient and caregiver advocate. Being human is a full-time gig.

Emily: After battling an eating disorder in high school and seeing how much food plays a role in our everyday lives and how we treat ourselves, I found my passion for nutrition. Nutrition shouldn't be a 30-day challenge or a one-and-done thing; proper nutrition and healthy habits is a lifestyle you can do forever.

How did you meet?

Kate: In the early days of the pandemic, we connected again when my mom signed on with her for nutrition coaching. I realized we had a lot of overlapping interests, similar high school experiences, an awareness of trauma and a shared desire to support people in phases of healing.

Emily: Kate and I met in 2014, leading up to my high school graduation from Bishop Ludden. She came into religion class to introduce herself, get to know our class and also have us get to know her. Although we didn't have much 1:1 time or talked, her story stayed with me throughout the years.

How/when did you realize there might be space for collaboration?

Kate: I emailed Emily something to the effect of, “You’re good at what you do. Wanna do something together? I’m not sure what?” And she replied with what I now know to be her baseline motivation, positive energy and enthusiasm. We wouldn’t be here without her “Yes.”

Emily: We were able to reconnect last year and caught up on things happening in our own lives and more into our own background. We realized we both have stories of healing and different modalities that affected us. We realized we could bring unique perspectives on different areas of healing to a wide range of problems and areas.

What does healing mean to you?

Kate: The pandemic provided me the opportunity to seize silence, learn from others, trust myself, participate in my own quantum healing and figure out how to create a plan of action that enabled me to support and validate others without re-traumatizing myself.

Talk a little about your individual backgrounds and journeys that brought you here.

Emily: Healing means rebuilding — to not get rid of a problem, but to learn how to use the trauma or problem as a way of finding strength in areas of discomfort and growing from it. The pandemic has only encouraged us to take a look at ourselves, audit how we are feeling and where we are to bring us to a better place mentally, physically and emotionally. I started working with a therapist during the pandemic, which has helped reshape my mental headspace and awareness.

What can people expect from this event?

Kate: Emily and I have written up questions and will interview one another. We’ll take questions to foster dialog and connections in the group. We’ll also send participants home with gift bags containing self-care treats and resources from the community. We’ll each be available to sign new clients or suggest outreach that may be the best fit for the moment.

Talk about the venue location for this event and its importance.

Emily: I have hosted a client event at Epicuse before. The staff is very nice and accommodating, the space is large and I really like that they feature local products and support other small businesses. Epicuse and Sky Armory are also women-owned businesses, which is important as well.

Do you anticipate this being a series?

Kate: We hope so! I place a high value on inclusivity and welcome. Ultimately, I think we both hope to keep conversations intimate, showcase venues and practitioners and make all that available to audiences. There is intersectionality in healing; our voices won’t always be the ones people need. To go back to the arts: just like book, painting or song, we are drawn in by something that entertains, educates and helps us escape or become empowered. The right collaborations provide all of that.

What do you hope people might take away from this event?

Kate: I hope people leave feeling nourished.

Emily: They learn there are people and services that are there to help them in any capacity they need. We want people to know your story is your own and your healing may look different but asking for help and building a team is important.

Join Kate and Emily for more conversation at their Healing from the Inside Out event. Get your tickets at https://bit.ly/3DpMwrx. SWM

LORRAINE KOURY

Syracuse fashion icon

Lorraine Koury, owner of the iconic shop Boom Babies on Westcott Street, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 15 following a short illness. She was surrounded by family and loved ones.

Koury established Boom Babies in 1986 and over the years the store became a staple in the Syracuse fashion scene, offering both vintage and new apparel and catering to generations of young people as they sought that perfect look for prom night.

Koury was a wellknown and respected businesswoman, much loved by her employees and a multitude of dear friends. She was oneof-a-kind: a brilliant light in the world, full of life, love, artistic flair and generosity.

As news of Koury’s passing spread, the Boom Babies Facebook page began to fill up with posts from customers, friends and co-workers expressing their love and respect for her.

“She was a fashion mentor who taught me so much about retail and running a store, knowledge that I use every day while running my own business,” wrote one commenter. “Working alongside her at Boom Babies brought me lifelong friendships within a sisterhood of smart, creative and caring women and men.”

A memorial to Koury was placed in the showroom window of the store, facing the eclectic Westcott Street neighborhood in which Boom Babies had established itself as a cornerstone for three decades.

She is survived by sisters, Donna (Syracuse, NY) and Annette (Sunrise, Florida), and brother, Joe (Washington, DC) and Fred (Minneapolis, MN), as well as several nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband, Peter Gifford, parents, Mitchell and Rosanna, and sister, Michele.

Donations can be directed to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation or the American Cancer Society (cancer.org). Leave condolences at mathewsonforani.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Friday, Oct. 7

Cookies Untapped

What: Thin Mints, Samoas & Stouts - Oh My! The first-ever cookie and beer-tasting fundraiser hosted by Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways in partnership with iHeartMedia. Sample all 10 Girl Scout cookie varieties including our newest: Raspberry Rally, even before you can order them this January!

When: 5:30 to 9 p.m.

Where: Collegian Hotel Main Ballroom, 1060 E. Genesee St., Syracuse, NY 13210

Info: $65 per person. Learn more and reserve your spot at gsnpenn.org/cookiesuntapped

Wednesday, Oct. 12

There’s No Place Like Home

What: Francis House’s largest annual fundraiser moves to the Exposition Center at the Fairgrounds this year. The event features food and beverages, a silent auction and the chance to purchase keys to unlock “house doors” and win wonderful prizes. Major Sponsors are Drs. Michael and Colleen O’Leary and Lynda and Joe Convertino.

When: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Where: Expo Center at the NYS Fairgrounds, 581 State Fair Blvd, Syracuse, NY 13209

Info: Francishouseny.org or 315.475.5422

Thursday, Oct. 13 to Sunday, Oct. 23

Parade of Homes

What: Parade will showcase seven luxury homes in Old Town Estates in the Town of Onondaga. Get ideas for your home and see the handiwork of local craftspeople, landscapers and decorators at these fully decorated and landscaped new homes.

When: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Info: www.hbrcny.com, Preorder ticket for $12 at www.hbrcny.com. Tickets $15 at the gate. Food trucks will be on site.

Thursday, Oct. 13

Go Red for Women Luncheon

What: Step out and Rock your Red at the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women annual luncheon. The Go Red for Women experience continues to be the cornerstone of the Go Red for Women movement in local communities. This empowering gathering focuses on preventing heart disease and stroke, sharing stories of people impacted by cardiovascular disease and raises critically needed funds to save more lives.

When: 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Where: The OnCenter, 800 S State St, Syracuse, NY 13202

Info: syracusegored.heart.org

Saturday, Oct. 15 and Sunday, Oct. 16

Oktoberfest and Great NYS Marathon

What: The German American Society of CNY has partnered with The Great New York State Marathon to host a weekend full of road races and German cultural celebration! Features traditional German food and music, including imported German beer as well as domestic favorites. Local wine selection. Vendors including German apparel and decor.Raffles, Stein hoist contest, the Bier Puppets, traditional Oktoberfest music and dancers are provided by Syracuse Oktoberfest Band.

When: Participants and guests can arrive at 10 a.m. daily. Doors open to the public at 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday.

Where: NYS Fairgrounds, 581 State Fair Blvd, Syracuse, NY 13209

Info: https://allevents.in/syracuse/central-new-york-oktoberfest-2022

Sunday, Oct. 16

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

What: Join forces with the American Cancer Society to help save lives and fund the future of breast cancer research at this fun, family walk. Presented by the Upstate Cancer Center. The event will take place rain or shine.

When: 10 a.m.

Where: Clinton Square, Syracuse, NY

Info: makingstrideswalk.org/syracuse

Tuesday, Oct. 18

Hoops for Hope

What: The Boys & Girls Clubs of Syracuse annual Hoops for Hope dinner features Jim Boeheim, his staff, and the 2022-23 Syracuse University men’s basketball team. It is one of BGCS’s largest fundraisers of the year. The event also includes dinner, a silent and live auction, as well as autograph alley, with autographed posters of this year’s team.

When: 5:30 p.m.

Where: Drumlins Country Club, 800 Nottingham Rd, Syracuse, NY 13224

Info: For information and tickets: akelley@bgcsyracuse.org or 315-579-8111

Friday, Oct. 28

Party for the Pantry:

What: The Greater Manlius Chamber of Commerce and Friendly Honda of Fayetteville will host the Party for the Pantry, featuring The Horn Dogs, one of Central New York’s most popular party bands. Come at 5 p.m. for happy hour and dinner, or skip the dinner and come for the dancing and the charity. Proceeds benefit the chamber, the F-M Food Pantry and Heaven’s Food Pantry in Minoa.

When: 5 p.m. for happy hour and dinner, 7 p.m. for band and auction

Where: Traditions at the Links at Erie Village, 5900 N Burdick St, East Syracuse, NY 13057

Info: 315-637-4760

Tuesday, Nov. 1

Music Matters

What: The Syracuse Sounds of Music Association will host its signature fundraising event, Music Matters. Mr. Lou Lemos will be honored with the annual Ovation Award for his ongoing support of the Central New York music community.

Where: Traditions at the Links at Erie Village, 5900 N Burdick St, East Syracuse, NY 13057

Info: syracusesoundsofmusic.org

Friday, Nov. 4

SPS Open House

What: Syracuse Plastic Surgery will host an open house including live demonstrations, light refreshments and a discount of $500 off any surgery booked during the event. All attendees will receive swag bags.

When: 3 to 6:30 p.m.

Where: 3107 East Genesee St. Syracuse NY

Info: Call 315-299-5313 or visit syracuseplasticsurgery.com.

Friday, Nov. 4

Q Center ribbon cutting

What: ACR Health will have a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Q Center, including light refreshment, tours and entertainment. The Q Center is a safe space for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth, their families and allies, to gather, share, and receive support. Q Center programming promotes equality, celebrates diversity and provides resources to cultivate pride and leadership skills, to create a safe and inclusive community for all.

When: 3 to 5 p.m.

Where: 617 Genesee St., Syracuse, NY

Info: mbanderson@acrhealth.org

Pumpkin spice and everything nice

Chef Eric Rose

At this time of year, we have a wide range of treats featuring pumpkin spice but that’s not the only fall favorite. Here in Central New York we are blessed with amazing fruits and vegetables like apples and squashes of all types. Everywhere you look you are bound to see a wide range of treats featuring pumpkin spice. It seems to overshadow most of the other season flavors these days. Everywhere you look you will find new products with this fall favorite. Everything from cereals, muffins, coffees, Chobani’s new yogurt and even animal treats. The world has seemed to have gone PUMKIN CRAZY?

Pumpkin spice and everything nice from page 35

As an acclaimed health coach and chef, I get asked all the time about different squashes and how to best use them. Below are a few of the questions that seem to continuously be asked:

What is your favorite squash?

This is a toss-up between Delicata and Butternut squash. Butternut squash is quite a bit more versatile; it sautés quickly and is especially delicious when roasted. Best of all, it mashes and purees smoothly, with no thick strands or fibrous bits, making it perfect to turn into a luscious soup. What nutrients are in pumpkin and most winter squashes?

Pumpkins and winter squashes are packed with nutrients, especially beta-carotene and fiber. Our bodies use beta carotene to produce vitamin A. In fact, a half cup of pumpkin provides 200 percent of the current recommendation for vitamin A, along with lutein and zeaxanthin, which are pigments that promote eye health. They are rich in potassium, which helps our muscles contract and nerves fire. Pumpkin and winter squashes are low in calories.

What are some good ways to prepare or eat?

They can be used in a wide variety of creative ways beyond the typical pumpkin pie and roasted squash. Try pumpkin soup or pumpkin hummus. Add some pumpkin puree to pasta sauce or chili. Sweeten pumpkin with some honey and create a pumpkin parfait by layering yogurt with honey-sweetened pumpkin. You also can use pumpkin to substitute for part of the fat in baked goods such as brownies.

Does it make a difference if you start fresh and cook the pumpkin yourself or use canned or processed pumpkin?

Both canned and fresh pumpkin are very nutritious. Canned pumpkin offers one-step convenience; simply open the can and use. “Sugar pumpkins” are smaller, rounder pumpkins that can be used for cooking purposes, and they differ in their texture from the pumpkins used to make jack-o’-lanterns.

Fresh pumpkin can be baked/cooked and used in the same way you would use canned pumpkin. Freshly cooked pumpkin often will have a lighter color and a texture more like sweet potatoes.

Canned pumpkin usually has a stronger pumpkin flavor and results in a pie with a firmer, smoother texture. Pumpkin is pulverized before commercial canning to give it a uniformly smooth texture; however, we do not have an approved (safe) method for canning mashed pumpkin at home.

Pumpkin spice is a popular (and delicious) fall flavor. What spices are usually in it?

Pumpkin spice is a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ground ginger, ground allspice and cloves. You can make your own blend at home or purchase ready-to-use pumpkin pie spice. Many recipes to make your own pumpkin spice blend are available online.

Sausage and Delicata Squash Galett

by Eric Rose

Serves 6-8

Ingredients

18 oz Delicata squash

2 cups of mild, cooked sausage

2 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided

2 Tbsp maple syrup, divided

¼ tsp cinnamon

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400˚F.

2 sheets of ready-made shortcrust pastry

¼ cup blueberries

4 oz honey goat cheese crumble Arugula for garnish

2. Cut the squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds and pulp. Cut each half into relatively thin half-circles.

3. Melt 1 Tbsp of the butter and mix with 1 Tbsp of the maple syrup and cinnamon. Lay the squash slices out in a single layer on a baking sheet. Drizzle over the butter-maple mixture, toss gently then roast for approx. 20 minutes until the squash is tender but not quite browning. You can do this ahead of time if desired.

4. Cook and drain sausage crumble.

5. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface into a circle. Lay the squash slices on the pastry, leaving a rim around the edge to fold in slightly but only slightly cover on top. Sprinkle over the sausage crumble and blueberries. Melt the rest of the butter, mix with the remaining 1 Tbsp maple syrup and drizzle over the filling.

6. Fold in the sides of the pastry, making slight folds as you go, then bake for approx. 20 min until gently browned.

7. Garnish with goat cheese and Arugula.

Rose Health Chicken Mulligatawny Soup

by Eric Rose

Serves 8

Ingredients

1 Tbsp olive oil

4 Tbsp butter

1 onion, chopped

1 inch piece of ginger root, minced

1 celery stalk, chopped

1 small carrot, diced

2 cup Butternut squash 3/4"

2 small Gala apples, diced

2 tsp curry powder

½ tsp turmeric

Instructions

Salt and pepper to taste

⅛ tsp ground nutmeg

6 skinless chicken thighs or breasts, diced

3 cups chicken broth

2 cups raw cauliflower rice

2 cups coconut milk

¼ bunch cilantro or parsley, chopped for garnish

1. Melt butter in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onions, ginger, celery, carrots and butternut squash. Sauté until the onions are translucent and the other vegetables are tender.

2. Add herbs and spices, stirring 30 seconds to release their fragrance.

3. Add the chicken and broth to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and simmer 1 hour or until the chicken is cooked through.

4. Add the diced apple and cauliflower rice to the pot. Cover and simmer an additional 20 minutes.

5. Stir in coconut milk and cilantro. Simmer until heated through.

Pumpkin cheesecake

by Jessica Tumino

Ingredients (Crust)

1½ cups almond flour

5 Tbsp butter

1 Tbsp sugar substitute (swerve)

½ cup crushed fine walnut

1 Tbsp pumpkin spice

Instructions

Bake at 325˚F for 10 mins

Ingredients (Filling)

3 pkg. (8oz) cream cheese

1½ cup of sugar substitute (swerve)

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 can (15oz) organic pure pumpkin

1 Tbsp pumpkin spice

Instructions

Mix cream cheese and sugar until blended well, add 1 egg at a time, add vanilla and pure pumpkin and spice until combined. Pour over crust and bake at 325˚ F for 55 mins or until center is set. Loosen cake from sides before cooling. Refrigerate 4 hours before serving. SWM

Chef Eric G. Rose is the owner/president of Rose Health and Prospect Partners of CNY.

NICOLE CANAVAN

A story of self discovery

Kate Hanzalik

Nicole Canavan grieved the loss of herself for the past thirty years. An athletic person – a goalie who had a history of getting kicked in the head, a self-described “tom boy” who often got injured – became what she calls “The Monster,” an evil creature filled with rage and superhuman strength that gave her the power to destroy anything she saw.

The Monster was brought on by Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a condition that causes degenerative changes of the brain from repeated head injuries. In one study, 99 percent of National Football League players autopsied were diagnosed with CTE. There is no known cure. Her condition is complicated by EhlersDanlos Syndrome, meaning that her connective tissue is particularly fragile. A graduate of Daemon University and former physical therapist at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Nicole understood her condition, in theory, but her life didn’t make sense. Memory loss, trouble recalling the right words, disorientation – these were the small stumbling blocks.

At work, she passed out in front of patients. She had to leave the job she felt destined for. “I thought it was taking away my purpose, and that took away my hope,” she said. At home, she couldn’t cook, or sleep. She was impatient, paranoid, and everyone was a threat. “I was going berserk, and not even knowing why. I was watching myself as I was destroying things in my home, screaming and yelling, out of control.” And no matter where she was or what she was doing, her hands tremored, and she contemplated suicide. At the behest of police officers last year, she went to a psychiatric ward, which is when her mother, Bonnie D'Agostino, stepped in.

“Mom is so awesome,” said Nicole. “She has always been there for me and my brother. She said, come live with me.”

Bonnie was worried though. “She has the sweetest, most positive personality, but it was lost, she was gone. She came out of the psychiatric ward, and I was afraid of her. But I was it [for her support system].”

They lived together and Bonnie got Nicole on a routine that ensured her basic needs were met. She was grateful for Bonnie and started to feel better. Nicole’s efforts towards physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language pathology, and psychotherapy were put to good use as well. But her regrets felt like a weight hooked to her ankle that was pulling her down. The 48-year-old also wished she could live on her own, but with dementia she knew it wasn’t an option. As it turns out, fate had other plans.

Bonnie saw an ad on TV for Red Mill Manor, a senior living center on the waterfront in Baldwinsville. Was it the right fit for Nicole? They both wanted to know, so Bonnie gave Red Mill a call. They thought Nicole was exceptional–she was someone who needed the kind of support her mother gave her, and she was also someone who had much to offer the residents.

Perspective

It’s easy to mistake Red Mill for a lodge, but for Nicole, it’s been a place of healing. The rustic interior is surrounded by nature; the dining room offers fresh food served daily. And windows. There are so many windows that keep the dark out and Nicole’s mood light, she said.

In her apartment, the blinds are open and the walls are covered with pages of the book she’s co-writing with her friend Jack. Every day, she writes, plans, drafts, revises. She draws stick figures, characters

like Coley who encounter challenges and must make smart decisions about what to do. The next day, she can’t remember what she worked on, so she starts over. And every day, she recites the promises she’s made to herself.

“I had to come up with something to fight the urge to commit suicide. I thought about who and what I love. I love my children and my family more than I can hate this disease. I promised never to do that to them, never to do that to me. I [made a promise card], signed it. I read it to myself in the mirror so I could look at myself. That had a huge impact.”

She made new friends quickly at Red Mill, including Ann, who, Nicole said, “really helped me to up my prayer game.” Along with Nicole’s practices with epigenetics and the power of positive thinking, she and Ann pray together daily and attend church. Nicole attended a special service with her new friend at St. Mary’s Church, which made a difference too. “[Nicole] began to have a miracle of healing. You could see it, the whole persona of the girl [changed],” said Ann.

Months later, Bonnie said, “I have my daughter back.”

“Now I understand,” Nicole explained recently. “I’ve gone through the hard stuff. I’ve figured out how to soothe the savage beast. It’s not a monster anymore; it’s a happy, powerful thing for good.”

She still struggles with memory issues, but she also leads health classes at Red Mill and feels much better. “I hope people can face their darkness without so much fear, and I hope they can face this monster, to shine the light on it, and to give it what it needs–love and support.”

As for CTE, Nicole recommends parents be vigilant. Like thousands of others who likely have CTE, Nicole, through the Concussion Legacy Foundation, has pledged to donate her brain to research on concussion and CTE with hopes that in the future there will be a cure for the affliction. For information about the condition and the brain donation pledge, visit the foundation at https://concussionfoundation.org/. You can find Nicole on Facebook at Nicole Canahan PT. SWM

CAROLYN KARDOS

A constant advocate

Alyssa Dearborn

If you ever meet Carolyn Kardos, you will immediately notice her teal hair. You also might be able to spot her matching teal Jeep. For Kardos and many other ovarian cancer survivors, teal is more than just a color: it’s a symbol of strength and survival.

“I have teal hair, and I drive a teal Jeep, and I always wear teal. When I’m out and about, many times women will stop me and tell me how much they like my hair, it’s so pretty. And that is my opening,” she said.

Kardos uses the color teal as a way to raise awareness for the disease. “I will explain to them I have teal hair because I’m an ovarian cancer survivor…I’ll usually be in the middle of Target or T.J. Maxx or a restaurant and we’ll stand there and talk for 15 or 20 minutes,” she said.In preparation for these conversations, she is always stocked with business cards that she created to further educate the people she encounters.

“It’s got my name, phone number, and email address. And on the back are the symptoms of ovarian cancer and some tips on what to do and myths that people think.”

“I’m not a doctor,” she added, “And always when I’m talking to people let them know that. I only know my experience with ovarian cancer. And so I make sure they know my word is not gospel, but this is what happened to me. What happened to me is what I’m an expert on.”

Kardos was diagnosed with stage 3c ovarian cancer in 2013 while receiving an operation to remove what was first identified as a benign mass. Before the mass was discovered, she was even misdiagnosed with a urinary tract infection.

“I was having pain in my groin area. I had just started taking a spin class so I thought I pulled a muscle or something. It went on for a couple months and it didn’t go away,” she said when asked about her diagnosis. “I went to see [my primary care doctor] and she said I had a UTI, which is strange because I was 60 and I had never ever had a UTI before.”

“I went and got a CT scan done and she calls me the next day and said they found a mass. So then I made an appointment with gynecologic oncologist in Syracuse…and she told me that it was benign and that it was not cancer, but that she would take it out because it was causing me pain.”

What was then supposed to be a half hour surgery turned into Kardo’s cancer diagnosis.

“She came out five and a half hours later and told [my son and husband] that I had stage 3c ovarian cancer and they would be lucky if I was still around in two months.”

Only 2 percent of all women diagnosed with ovarian cancer have the same type that Kardos had. Being a rare form of cancer, Kardos made the choice to receive treatment at a hospital with a research facility in Texas.

“It’s been nine years and I’m still here. So going to Texas was the right thing, because if I stayed in New York, I for sure wouldn’t be around.” she said.

While she was recovering in Texas, her work friends in Central New York wanted to support her on her recovery journey.

“Right at that time, the Hope for Heather 5k was happening,” Kardos said when asked about how she got involved with the organization. “So a bunch of them signed up and went to the 5k and my friend Rina talked to to Frieda, the head of Hope for Heather, and they sent me a basket of goodies… When I came home and started to recover, I went back to work and the next year, I went to the run with my friends. So I met Frieda and pretty much from that moment on, they were my purpose. Especially now that, three years ago, my husband passed away suddenly. I think that if I didn’t have Hope for Heather to fall back on and have a purpose, I would’ve been a real mess.”

Now as a survivor of ovarian cancer, she has become an advocate for other survivors and for those currently facing ovarian cancer. She talks to women’s groups with Frieda and Hope for Heather, meets with representatives in Washington D.C. to try and secure funding, and, of course, works every year at Hope for Heather’s booth at the New York State Fair. Her yearly presence at the fair gives her more opportunities to meet and encourage more women.

“Last year when I was at the fair, I met this woman and her son,” Kardos recalled one of her most memorable encounters, “and they came to the booth. They told me that she had, while she was at the fairgrounds, got a call saying that she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. And they were just scared. So I talked to them for quite a while and I told them my story, kind of reassured them, and that kind of stuff.”

“Well this year,” she continued, “the first day of the fair, her son comes in to see if I was there. And I said, ‘How’s your mom doing?’ which, inside, I was taking a deep breath saying, ‘please, please, please.’ And he said ‘She’s doing great. She’s clear of the cancer and everything.’ So she came to the fair twice more and she just looked healthy and happy. And that’s what you do this for, is to help these people get through this…That’s the kind of thing that makes my heart feel good.”

SWM

KELLY THUNE

Brain injury survivor presses on with sisu

After feeling deprived of purpose and guilt-ridden that she wasn’t providing enough for her daughters in the wake of a pair of brain injuries, Kelly Thune decided to lift herself up and devote her life to the concept of sisu.

Jason Klaiber

With a significant concussion from a backyard mishap and another traumatic brain injury from a workplace incident in her rearview, Kelly Thune manages to forge ahead by sticking to the most positive mindset she can muster.

After the first concussion in 2015, the Fayetteville resident saw her condition improve with anti-seizure medication and half a year of vision therapy, but the second one in 2017 brought with it a compounding, longer-lasting effect.

In addition to the fatigue and concentration troubles that kept her from reading for a prolonged period of time or going on lengthy walks, Thune also experienced “moments of black” while driving and changes to her usually even-keeled personality.

In grappling with the loss in stamina that left her feeling, as she put it, like an undercharged cell phone, Thune has tried to remain cognizant of her symptoms on the way to reaching a health baseline.

If a certain activity exacerbates her headache, she’ll ease up on her exertion; if she has an especially busy day ahead, she’ll sort out when she can rejuvenate with a nap.

But the physical impact of her malady wasn’t the only obstacle to face.

Having been accustomed to the company of students and colleagues as a distinguished school district administrator and teacher of more than 20 years, Thune began to encounter isolation and a perceived loss of purpose upon realizing she could not feasibly return to work during her road to recovery.

“To have that sense of loss was just devastating,” she said. “I had the choice to either fall down or lift myself back up.”

Instead of allowing that feeling of brokenness to get the best of her, Thune decided to consciously break free of negativity and focus only on her circle of control.

The real difference maker, however, came when she reconnected by chance with a word she first encountered as a 16-year-old exchange student heading abroad to Finland.

Back in 1986, as one of two high schoolers from her district chosen for the program, she was required to write an essay spotlighting one topic from a list of presented options.

At a glance, she was particularly intrigued by “sisu,” a Finnish noun associated with the tenacity and strength that the European country’s people are said to be born with.

Through conversations with folks overseas, Thune learned that the word ties back to the far-north challenges of having cold, dark winters

and a midnight sun in the summer, not to mention Finland’s history of warring with the much larger Soviet Union in 1939.

“The Finnish people have this fortitude that when things are very, very difficult, they can have perseverance,” Thune said.

In the wake of her brain injuries, Thune just happened to unearth that contest-winning essay about sisu along with several more of her writings on the concept she hadn’t even recalled putting to paper.

Seeing that the word subliminally stuck with her over the decades, Thune had what she referred to as her “aha moment.” She knew right then that she had to adjust her outlook, get back on track and accept what is and what was, all while approaching what life has in store little by little.

In that way, sisu became the guiding light amidst her newfound objective to take steady action and build integrity after hitting her lowest point. From there, Thune went on to develop and implement a dayto-day itinerary.

Setting the tone for each week, she creates an outline for her short-term goals on Monday before using Tuesday to detail the joys that arise from hard work. On Wednesday, she reviews the balance training routine and separate exercise regimens that await her the following week.

Thursdays are reserved for the act of reflecting on accomplishments, while Fridays are spent thinking about newly learned takeaways.

Over the weekend, Thune focuses on making social connections when she can with not only friends and relatives but also strangers. She also carves out a minute or two to consider general goals for the days ahead.

Following a suggestion from her doctor, Thune further switched things up by practicing yoga for the first time, soon finding out that it was what she needed to slow down her nervous system and de-stress.

Adding to her long-held qualifications in fitness instruction, she eventually became certified in yoga training and specifically the LoveYourBrain approach tailored to people with concussions.

Thune even started her own yoga business known as the Sisu Sweat Society, a private group centered around the task of thoughtfully overcoming difficulties.

The business offers one-on-one online classes that span seven weeks, with each customized session zeroing in on a single day of the week.

Other specialty classes have involved Zoom hangouts grounded in Nordic and Scandinavian culture like the Hygge Happy Hour, Thune’s invitation to pour a drink of choice, light a candle and wear the comfiest clothing in one’s closet while chatting about a range of interests and doing a bit of relaxing yoga.

Thune runs her own yoga business called the Sisu Sweat Society. Free Tuesday classes are offered to those who join the “Sisu To A New You” Facebook page.

Thune was the honored survivor at Rochester’s March On for Brain Injury Walk held in September.

Inspire Kelly Thune from page 43

She said those gatherings extended a hand at the height of the COVID pandemic for those who were feeling isolated, much like how she felt earlier on in her recovery.

Beyond that, Thune spent two years writing “Sisu To A New You,” a book about her journey that was published in 2020.

She said the chapter-to-chapter plunge into the details of her concussions and her transformation by way of sisu and yoga is in itself a curriculum related to positive psychology and the growth mindset.

Penned with assistive dictation technology, the book was temporarily held back by Thune out of a reluctance to disclose her vulnerable story. She later committed to circulating “Sisu To A New You” after being encouraged by an interaction with two former students of hers, and within about a month she was hearing about its part in warding off readers’ suicide plans.

“All the struggle I went through—all the tears and feelings of loss and guilt and hardship—was immediately dismissed because you can’t substitute someone’s life for that,” Thune said.

Year to year, Thune’s own condition has been helped by her restored purpose as well as routine care from the Upstate Concussion Center, but 10-plus hours of the stress, noise and bright fluorescent lighting inside the average school building would still be pushing it, she says.

In January, she discovered a more doable, flexible career: a role as a leadership coaching consultant for FranklinCovey. For that traveling, often-remote job, she makes shorter guest visits to schools all over the

country to talk about neural plasticity and brain injuries while relaying habits for maximizing professional effectiveness and maintaining self-worth.

A mother of two, Thune is also determined to inform people of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into summoning proper energy after a brain injury.

“We have a paradigm where if you look good, you feel good, and that’s not the case with concussions, brain injuries and a lot of other mental health cases,” she said. “You can’t see a broken brain like you can see a broken leg.”

Thune additionally volunteers on the advisory boards for the Fayetteville YMCA and the Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS). By enabling her to teach at their conferences, host workshops and meet with legislators in Albany, BIANYS has provided Thune with yet another opening to return to her passion for educating, only in a different, less traditional setting than before.

On Sept. 10, Thune was the honoree at this year’s March On for Brain Injury Walk in Rochester’s Seneca Park. The annual fun walk brings together brain injury survivors and others to raise awareness and funds.

Viewing the recognition as “humbling,” she stopped by to share her story and a message of inspiration with the day’s walkers. The event also happened to fall on her birthday, just a few hours before she saw one of her favorite recording artists, Elton John, live in concert right here in Syracuse. SWM

For more about Kelly Thune, her yoga classes and her reliance on SISU, visit sisutoanewyou.com.

Two to be honored by OCC

Hassina Adams and Dr. Danielle R. Berry are among five Onondaga Community College graduates who will be recognized as distinguished Alumni Faces honorees for their professional achievements and contributions to the college and the community. Their accomplishments will be highlighted during an induction ceremony on Oct. 6 at 5:30 at the Frederick Marvin and Ernst Schuh Recital Hall on OCC’s West Seneca Turnpike campus. Their likenesses and inspirational success stories will be added to the Alumni Faces display on campus.

Adams, class of 2017, immigrated to the United States from South Africa. Her degree at OCC was in humanities and social sciences and she is an aspiring immigration attorney. Adams plans to become an immigration attorney who advocates for refugees and underrepresented people. She currently works as a paralegal in the city of Syracuse’s Law Department. While attending OCC, she was her younger siblings’ legal guardian and taught middle school-aged girls at the North Side Learning Center.

Berry, class of 2013, received her OCC degree in mathematics and science. She is now a chemist and senior research specialist at Dow. Berry enrolled at OCC at age 16 where the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program introduced her to laboratory research opportunities. She earned her bachelor’s degree at SUNY-ESF and her Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Texas at Dallas.

“We’re so proud of this class of Alumni Faces honorees. They came here from a variety of backgrounds with the common goal of bettering their lives through higher education,” said OCC President Dr. Warren Hilton. “Their success stories and accomplishments are an inspiration to our entire campus community. We look forward to welcoming them home and celebrating their achievements.”

Nurse practitioner returns to Oswego Health

Oswego Health has announced the return of Certified Nurse Practitioner Samantha Goutermout to the healthcare system as a new provider at Fulton PrimeCare.

Goutermout earned her master’s in nursing science, FNP, in 2022 from Upstate Medical University and her bachelor of science in 2019 from Roberts Wesleyan College where she graduated summa cum laude.

Goutermout previously worked for Oswego Hospital from 2012-2015 as a certified nursing assistant before taking a position at Upstate Medical University as a specialty certified pediatric registered nurse where she specialized in pediatric trauma, pediatric intensive care and surgery.

Goutermout joins Fulton PrimeCare at 522 South Fourth St, Fulton, and will work alongside Joselito Ouano, MD, Meaghan Primm, MD, Andrew Rogall, MD, and Heather Daniels, FNP-C, to offer primary care including health promotion, disease prevention, health maintenance, counseling, patient education, and diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses.