Pooler Magazine January/February 2014

Ro b He Ne er alt ve t G ha rG o Ja nu n ive rd ar d y/ W s U on Fe br ell ua ne p : ry s 20 s I 14 ssu e

NEW LOCATION Accepting Consultations For: • Urinary incontinence • Pelvic organ prolapse • Contraception • Heavy bleeding • Fibroids • Ovarian cyst • Pelvic pain Dr. Toni Sylvester is a board-certified gynecologist and a fellowship trained urogynecologist. She cares for women at all stages of maturity, from early adolescence to well after menopause.

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02 January/Feburary 2014 | Pooler Magazine

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CONTRIBUTORS SUBSCRIBE

Barbara Russell is a freelance writer and photographer, and in the past she was a high school English teacher and a flight attendant. Always an avid horse person and riding instructor, she enjoys writing for equine publications and she is writing a young adult novel about horses. For several years she wrote feature stories and a history column for Effingham CloseUp, and she has been published in a variety of magazines. Currently she enjoys writing for Independence Day Publishing.

Barbara Russell

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Sherry Cook is a Tennessee native who has traveled the world thanks to her husband’s military career. Germany, South Korea, Texas, Kentucky, and Alabama are just a few of the places they have called home over the past 25 years. Sherry and her husband now reside in Rincon, along with two of their three children. She is currently focusing on completing the requirements for her BA in History with the University of Maryland.

Sherry Cook

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Katie is a freelance writer and Effingham County native who enjoys meeting new and interesting people. She earned her English degree at Georgia Southern University, and caught the travel bug while studying abroad in Costa Rica, where she received a minor in Spanish. After college, she worked briefly in Yellowstone National Park, where she enjoyed hiking and photographing the scenery and the wildlife.

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Pooler Magazine welcomes all letters to the publisher. Please send all letters via email to Julie Hales at julie@idpmagazines.com, or mail letters to P.O. Box 1742, Rincon, GA 31326. Letters to the publisher must have a phone number and name of contact. Phone numbers will not be published.

Kathryn Vandenhouten

ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS

Gloria Sheppard has been a resident of Effingham County for over 40 years. She is the mother of two children, Mitch and Michelle. Jackson, her only grandson is the light of her life. Gloria is creative, and especially loves building things. She loves taking pictures and being able to see the final image of something she feels is unique and beautiful.

Gloria Sheppard

Pooler Magazine welcomes story ideas from our readers. If you have a story idea, or photo essay you would like to share, please submit ideas and material by emailing Julie Hales at julie@ idpmagazines.com Stories or ideas for stories must be submitted by email. Only feature stories and photo essays about people, places or things in Pooler.

STAFF

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Lea Allen

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Candice Shaufelberger

06 January/Feburary 2014 | Pooler Magazine

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Pooler Magazine | November/December 2013 07

CONTENTS January/February 2014

features

10 Robert Gordon

Never Gives Up 16 Pooler Health Fair 2014 22 Vincent Hannon

Hard Work Pays Off 28 Buddy Gross

Overcoming the big “C” again 38 Sonia Saylor

Still Seeing With Her Heart

departments

09 44

Publisher’s Page Pooler Recreation Spotlight Coach Jonathan Phillips

10 Get Healthy In 2014 Pooler Magazine Health Fair

Saturday, January 18 • 11AM-3PM • West Chatham YMCA Brought to you by Pooler Magazine and West Chatham YMCA

08 January/Feburary 2014 | Pooler Magazine

PUBLISHER’S Thoughts

Change Is A Good Thing Julie Hales owner/publisher julie@idpmagazines.com Lane Gallegos graphic design lane@idpmagazines.com Lea Allen administrative assistant/circulation lea@idpmagazines.com Candice Shaufelberger administrative / graphic assistant candice@idpmagazines.com DiAnna Jenkins account executive dianna@idpmagazines.com Barbara Anderson account executive barbara@idpmagazines.com

Pooler Magazine is proudly produced by:

The new year has started with a bang. I cannot believe we are already into 2014. This year will surely show some changes in Pooler Magazine.

And, what time is there like the present to start doing things a little differently. Our first edition of 2014 will mark one of these significant changes.

With this issue, our Annual Health and Wellness issue, you will see for the first time ever that our entire magazine has been dedicated to Health and Wellness.

We have some great stories about some local people dealing with devastating health issues and how they have overcome them. You will also see stories where people took their wellness into their own hands and totally transformed their lives.

Also, we are hosting a Health Fair this year.

Julie Hales, PUBLISHER This Fair will give the citizens of Pooler and surrounding areas an opportunity to come and see first-hand about some of the wonderful health services they have surrounding them… right here at home in Pooler.

We have a little something for everyone. Surprises for the kids….blood pressure checks…mini massages…exercise demonstrations…..karate demonstrations for kids….. self-defense….glaucoma checks….diabetes checks….child safety classes…..and much more. If is sure to be a fun day for the whole family. Read more about this on page 16 and 17.

We are also excited about our new website that will be launched in the next several weeks. This website is going to be a plus to all of Pooler. Be on the lookout for it…..it will have lots of information about Pooler and its happenings.

We have some add-ons for some upcoming issues in the coming months. Sometimes change is a good thing. And, in this case, our advertisers and our readers will be benefiting from the changes we are making.

So, as we go through the year, you will see some new and exciting things in Pooler Magazine. We have some wonderful issues planned.

Pooler Magazine will be your community connection in 2014.

108 International Drive P.O. Box 1742 Rincon, GA 3126 (912) 826-2760

Circulation: Pooler Magazine is publlished bi-monthly (six issues a year), printing 10 ,000 copies and distributed to over 180 locations.

Reproduction in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.

ABOUT THE COVER

Read this compelling story about this courageous man.

Robert Gordon, a hard working family man, tells us about his battle with cancer and his fight to survive. The love of his wife and kids and his zest for life inspires this man to climb every mountain.

Pooler Magazine | January/Feburary 2014 09

Robert Gordon

Never Gives Up • Story by JULIE HALES Photos by CANDICE SHAUFELBERGER •

10 January/Feburary 2014 | Pooler Magazine

Photo by Gloria Sheppard

Publisher’s Note: You will recognize this young man from our last issue. He was chosen by the Pooler Recreation Department to be the Spotlight in our November/December issue. After meeting Robert Gordon in person, I knew this man had a much bigger story to tell. Knowing our annual Health and Wellness issue was approaching, I spoke with Robert about being featured again, but this time telling the story of his fight for life. Robert agreed to share his experiences with Pooler Magazine. Please read his compelling story.

R

obert Gordon spent his youngest years in Miami, Florida. When he was 13 years old, his father experienced some health problems and decided to cash in from his current job and move to Murphy, NC where his family lived.

From Miami to Murphy was a big shock for a 13 year old. The hustle and bustle of Miami was quickly replaced with a small town with only two traffic lights.

Robert adapted well and soon started high school. He had always been an athletic kid so he tried out for, and made, both the high school baseball and football teams. He went on to be a star pitcher in baseball and had many college scouts looking at him.

But, Robert didn’t seem interested. He says, “Sports just didn’t seem right for me at the time. I wanted to do something special.

I wanted out of the small town. I knew I needed to get a good job with benefits. So, I joined the army right out of high school.”

“I always wanted to be an Army Ranger…..that’s what the ‘something special’ was for me. I chose the army but decided the best and the highest was for me. So, I signed up for a Ranger contract. The recruiters laughed at me, but I wasn’t not going to make it, “he adds.

Robert had learned the importance of staying physically fit.

He learned this from his father’s illnesses. His Dad had a stoke at the age of 38 and passed away at the age of 51. He decided at that time that taking care of his body and his health was going to be a

12 January/Feburary 2014 | Pooler Magazine

top priority. And, this commitment proved to be the extra edge he needed to become a Ranger.

Ranger school was no easy task for Robert, nor any other recruit. The dropout rate is high. The intense training, lack of sleep and lack of food make it harder and harder to finish. He states, “When I began ranger school, I was in great shape. I weighed 192 pounds. When I graduated, I was down to 135.”

Being a ranger is tough, but Gordon loved it for five years. One day, he had a very close call with death and was faced with having to make an important decision.

“I had a very close call where I almost lost my life. I had a two year old daughter at the time. I quickly remembered what it was like to lose my father and I decided to change careers. I knew I wanted my little girl to grow up with me as her father. I chose to be the father I needed to be,” states Robert.

Can you imagine this Army Ranger having to choose another career. What would an ex-army ranger want to do. Of course, this man already knew what his first choice was. He wanted to be a firefighter. Already stationed at Hunter, he went into the fire house and ‘bugged’ the chief every day. He says, “I wanted to do something that was honorable and something that would still be making a difference. So, I made it happen. I bugged the chief every single day until he told me to put a uniform on.”

Robert Gordon has spent the last 10 years of his life as a civilian firefighter for Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia, a

job he loves as much today as the day he started.

The years have been good to Robert. He and his wife Leah, who works for Godley Station Dental, moved to Pooler last year. The have three children. The oldest is Jazmine at 11 years old, then son Xavier who is 7 and 20 month old McKennah.

Seeing Robert with his family is like a breath of fresh air. It is evident from the first moment that this family is certainly built on love.

The family quickly settled into Pooler. The kids adapted well to their new schools and Leah is closer to her job now. Robert, as expected, joined a gym in Pooler and still works out at least 5 days a week. The “physical fit” promise he made to himself is still an important part of his day.

Last year, Robert started feeling a little weird.

He was still very active but became unable to gain weight, experienced fatigue and developed headaches. He says, “I just felt ‘off.’ I wasn’t 100%. I had climbe over that 30 year mark, so I just shrugged it off as getting older.”

Then one day this past September, Robert was shaving. He noticed a lump right above his Adam’s Apple. He went to the doctor and it was definitely a nodule.

He immediately started undergoing tests. In October, Robert was diagnosed with Medullary Thyroid Cancer. This is a rare cancer that only attacks abut 1700 people a year. There is no treatment for this type of cancer. He was only given 5-6 years to live.

Wow! This kind of news is not what anyone expects to hear. But Robert Gordon knew he would do whatever he could. He would not give up. He did extensive research on his cancer.

He went to Emory to a thyroid specialist and Photo by found out he could have a surgery to remove Gloria Sheppard the tumor. This doctor had only performed this type of surgery twice and Robert had decisions to make.

During more research, he found a support group for MTC on Face Book. He asked questions to other people who had this rare cancer. It was here that he found out about the leading surgeon for this procedure, Dr. Clayman at the MD Anderson Cancer Clinic in Houston, Texas.

Robert and his wife made the trip in November for him to have this surgery. The tumor was removed along with 50 lymph nodes.

If the cancer is contained to the thyroid, there s a possible 100% recovery. Eleven of the 50 lymph nodes tested positive for cancer.

He says, “They caught the cancer relatively early. It was in stage 2. Having this surgery has increased my life expectancy to 15 to 20 years....that’s much better than 5 or 6. I take thyroid medication daily now. Other than that, I am medicine free.”

“When I was diagnosed with cancer, I wasn’t afraid of dying. I was worried about the things I would miss out on. I thought about my daughter’s graduation and walking her down the aisle in her wedding. I thought about my son’s high school football games and his first prom. These are just some of the reasons I stay in shape.

I want to experience everything I can,” he adds.

Robert lost about 25 pounds after his diagnosis. He has been able to regain about 12 of that since his surgery. “I feel so much

better now. I am not tired anymore and the headaches are gone,” he says.

My family’s support has meant so much to me. My wife has been so positive. She just said, ‘Hey, we will beat this.’ She knew I would not give up.”

“Christmas night, the kids were all playing upstairs with their new Christmas treasures. My little one had gotten one of those play kitchens and the older ones had gotten X-Boxes. My wife looked at me and said, ‘Why don’t you take a little time for yourself and go to the gym?’ As I pulled out of the driveway, it hit me that this may only be one of ten chances I ever get to do this again. I pulled the car back in the drive and ran upstairs to play kitchen with my baby,” states Robert.

Robert hopes to be able to use his experiences to help other people. His advice to anyone is, “Start getting in shape. Even if you don’t have a medical issue, start now. Eat right. Start walking. Start small if you have to....just take an extra 10 steps each day. Don’t wait for something bad to happen to you. Change now, not just your health, change every day life. You can change your on fate.”

Pooler Magazine | January/Feburary 2014 13

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COMPLETE FLOORING DEPARTMENT 14 January/Feburary 2014 | Pooler Magazine

PEARLE VISION CENTER OF POOLER For more than 50 years, Pearle Vision has been a household name, synonymous with caring for you and your eyes. Your eye health and wellness is their primary focus.

Dr. John Janvier, OD,FAAO is the owner and principal Optometrist at Pooler’s Pearle Vision Center. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, and has many years of experience in clinical practice. Dr. Janvier also received special training in the management of LASIK refractive surgery and is a consultant to several large ophthalmic companies. He is Board Certified and licensed in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Pearle Vision Center’s services range from comprehensive eye care to fitting you with prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses and contact lenses that meet your individual needs. They offer the latest styles in designer brands such as Ray-Ban, Vogue, and Coach, along with a wide variety of contact lens brands including Acuvue and Air Optix.

They are not just your eye care expert, they are your neighbor. They go above and beyond to show how much they care: from educating you about your eyes and advanced care options to helping you find the perfect frames.

So you can always count on clear answers and personal attention.

At Pearle Vision Center of Pooler, they are always looking for ways to help you care for your eyes. They will adjust, repair, exchange or replace your eye wear. They offer state-of-theart technology wrapped in a level of personal attention that is second-to-none.

They know you depend on your eye care professional to provide you with the very best in eye health services like comprehensive eye exams, vision correction and diagnosis of related systemic conditions. That is why Dr. Janvier, makes it a priority to ensure his patients with an easy, straightforward and satisfactory experience. He puts your eyes first.

Getting the right prescription for your eyeglasses or contact lenses is an important part of good eye care. But seeing clearly is just one part of your overall eye health. It’s important to have regular eye exams with an optometrist whether or not you wear eyeglasses or contacts, and even if your vision is sharp. You should never be kept in the dark about the health of your eyes and your vision The doctors at Pearle believe in looking at the big picture when it comes to your eye health, so they take the time to get to know you, your eye care history and your vision needs. They know that getting the right prescription involves balancing sev-

eral factors, including clear eyesight, visual efficiency and your ability to process visual information seamlessly. Whether you need a routine eye examination, an eyeglasses fitting or treatment for eye disease (such as glaucoma or macular degeneration) or eye surgery (such as LASIK or cataract surgery), their optometrists will provide you with the best care, advice, options and follow up.

Pearle Vision Center of Pooler 105 Grand Central Blvd., Pooler • (912) 450-9200 Pooler Magazine | January/Feburary 2014 15

16 January/Feburary 2014 | Pooler Magazine

Pooler Magazine | January/Feburary 2014 17

86 Cooper’s Lane

Open floor plan with a large fenced back yard for family fun, Granite kitchen counter tops, with smooth ceilings and 42” cabinets , Separate Dining and a separate Breakfast area flow into the Great room with a fireplace, Sit out in your Screen porch and enjoy the morning or afternoon.

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3 bedroom w/bonus room. Open floor plan, hardwood floors, large lot. Has Bloomingdale mailing address but is in Effingham County school district. All brick home granite counter tops. Must see this one.

5 Jumper Lane

Stunning South Bridge Home located on a Child safe cul-de-sac, with a private back yard, Open floor plan has split bedrooms. The bonus room is large enough to have bedroom furniture and a couch , comes with built-in book cases and has its own full bath.

41 Telford Street

Located on a Child safe culdesac road, This 4 bedroom has the master on the main floor. The open plan has a superior family room that allows views from the kitchen, the dining room is separate. Upstairs a large landing leads to 3 oversized bedrooms where space is needed,The homesite is semi private.

126 Jamestown Drive

Family community is where this 4 bedroom Brick home is located, Huge Private Fenced Backyard, Open Floor plan, Wood Floors, Beautiful Kitchen, Foyer is open to Family room, Large laundry room.

9 Paddington Circle

Waterfront Lifestyle living in This Prestigious Gated Community.Turners Cove Is The Premiere Waterfront Community With Cobblestone streets .This 4 Bedroom 3.5 Bath Town home reflects the Finest of living with 10 ft Cielings,Solid wood doors, Extended patio only one of its kind, 3/4” Wood Floors.

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18 January/Feburary 2014 | Pooler Magazine

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POOLER IMAGING CENTER “Our patients get one on one attention from the moment they enter the office until the moment they leave.” Pooler Imaging Center proudly stands behind this statement and works hard to make sure they provide their patients with quality, affordable healthcare in a comfortable and pleasant environment. The physicians at Pooler Imaging Center have built their practice on the belief that each patient deserves specialized attention.

The physicians at Pooler Imaging Center are board certified by the American Board of Radiology and trained in multiple sub-specialties including neuroradiology, body imaging, pediatric radiology, and musculoskeletal radiology. The highly qualified staff and trained physicians strive for an early diagnosis of disease, when it is the most treatable, and utilize advanced medical equipment for effective disease diagnosis.

Providing optimal care for their patients and making their experience as comfortable and pleasant as possible is important to the caring technologists and administrative staff at Pooler Imaging Center. They are able to accomplish this with prompt scheduling, same-day appointments, walk-in appointments for x-rays, and an on-site board certified radiologist at all times. Same day exam results and images are also available for physicians. The staff is always available to answer questions concerning imaging procedures and exams.

Ultrasounds, x-rays, MRIs, and CTs are the procedures that are routinely performed at Pooler Imaging Center.

What sets them apart from similar businesses in their field is the fact that they offer certain exams and procedures that are not yet performed in the area. The MRI Neuroquant is one of these procedures, and it is used by physicians to diagnose and monitor Alzheimer’s disease as well as dementia. The CT Enterography, a diagnostic procedure that uses CT imagery to stage Crohn’s disease, is another unique exam that is performed at this center.

Pooler Imaging Center is privately owned and operated, and this enables them to keep the customer’s costs significantly lower by passing on their own savings to their patients. They

accept all major insurance plans and will work closely with selfpay and uninsured patients to establish a payment plan. Worker’s compensation and personal injury cases can also be handled by the staff at Pooler Imaging Center.

Give the staff of Pooler Imaging Center a call if you are in need of any the services they have available at their clinic. They would be very pleased to answer any question you have or to set up an appointment with one of their trained and certified technologists.

Pooler Imaging Center 136 Traders Way, Pooler, GA 31322 • (912)330-5170 • www.poolerimaging.com Pooler Magazine | January/Feburary 2014 21

22 November/December 2013 | Pooler Magazine

Vincent Hannon:

Hard Work Pays Off Story by SHERRY COOK Photos by CANDICE SHAUFELBERGER

V

incent Hannon is proof that hard work and willpower can change your life. This strapping, fit young man has lost 130 pounds without the use of weight-loss surgery, diet pills or crazy weight loss tricks. He accomplished this amazing feat on his own and has been able to keep the weight off with cardiovascular exercise, weight training, portion control, and the support of family and friends.

Vincent’s family moved from Beaufort, South Carolina to Pooler when he was twelve years old. His father works at Gulfstream and his mother is a stay-at-home mom who homeschools her children. Vincent’s family is quite large; he has eight brothers and sisters. As a young boy, he attended private school until he was in the sixth grade, and then he was homeschooled the remainder of his school years.

Since he was thirteen years old, Vincent has been heavy and struggling with his weight. This shy and modest young man says he never played any organized sports when he was younger or excelled in any type of athletics.

It wasn’t until he was older that he realized the benefits of being active and physically fit.

When he was seventeen years old, Vincent weighed 335 pounds. He says he had tried several different diet plans and had lost and gained the same twenty or so pounds again and again. At the time he was employed at McDonalds and one of his co-workers decided to stop drinking soda. The co-worker experienced a significant weight loss just by doing this one thing, so Vincent decided to try it and he lost forty pounds. He decided to add walking to his daily routine and he continued to lose weight.

Vincent eventually took a job at Gulfstream as a structural mechanic. Employees of Gulfstream have the benefit of a discounted YMCA membership, so he decided to take advantage of this and join the organization. He has now been a member for six years and credits this as a huge assistance in his weight loss journey.

The West Chatham YMCA in Pooler is where Vincent can be found at least four days a week, and according to

Pooler Magazine | January/Feburary 2014 23

his girlfriend, Rachel Waite, some weeks it may be as many as seven days. He spends 2.5 to 3 hours at the gym running on the treadmill, working out with free weights or participating in cardio classes. He has learned that he needs plenty of cardio exercise in order to keep the weight off, and Vincent loves the spin and cardio sculpt classes offered at the YMCA. Mary, Colin, Dawn, and Lisa are a few of the instructors at the gym that he says have been an inspiration to him and have kept him encouraged to continue with the classes.

Long distance running is something Vincent has discovered since he has lost weight. He runs on the treadmill when he is at the gym, but he really enjoys training for and participating in some of the local organized runs and marathons. This fit young man is extremely proud that he can now run 5k’s, 10k’s, mud runs, and even half marathons with ease. He ran the Savannah Bridge Run and the ½ Rock and Roll Marathon this year. Eventually he is planning on running a full marathon, and an even bigger dream of his is to compete in a triathlon.

Vincent doesn’t follow any specific diet plan or count his daily calorie intake. Portion control is how Vincent describes his diet. He says, “I stay away from sugar and white bread, and I limit myself to dessert two times a week.” He also says he has a weakness for ice cream and cookies, and he tries his hardest to avoid these two items. He does reward himself with one cheat day a week. “I try not to eat too much and I make sure to exercise a lot,” he humbly says, and that has been the key to his remarkable success.

Family members and friends have been a great support system for Vincent, and he has been an inspiration to them as well. His older brother, Benjamin, showed him a basic weight training routine and this is how he got started lifting weights. Diane Allman, his older sister, joined Vincent at the gym and began working out with her sibling. He encouraged her and she has now undergone a dramatic change herself. She has lost a total of one hundred pounds!

Chappy, also known as Angel Chaparro, is Vincent’s partner at the gym that keeps him driven if he is feeling sluggish and having a hard time staying focused, and Vincent does the same thing for him. He says Chappy has lost around thirty pounds himself. It sounds like Vincent has plenty of people to cheer him on and keep him motivated.

Vincent’s weight loss left him with excess skin that needed to be removed surgically. He says the doctors that performed the surgery removed around twenty pounds of skin from his abdomen.

His body has been through a dramatic transformation, and his clothing sizes have drastically reduced.

The size 50 jeans have been replaced by 33, and his t-shirts are now size M/L instead of 5X. Shopping at the big and tall stores is no longer necessary and

24 January/Feburary 2014 | PoolerMagazine

Vincent loves that. His girlfriend says he also “loves to show the muscles” now!

His fellow employees at Gulfstream have witnessed the changes Vincent has gone through, but he says the people he worked with at McDonalds no longer recognize him when they see him. He has a photo he keeps of himself when he was at his highest weight as a reminder of how far he has come. He is not planning on losing any more weight; maintaining his current weight and staying physically fit and healthy is his long term goal.

Vincent’s advice for those struggling with weight problems is there is no magic pill. You have to start small with diet and exercise, stick with it, change your routine occasionally, and only weigh yourself every two weeks or so. This is great advice from an inspiring, young man who has not only lost weight but gained a healthier life.

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Pooler Magazine | January/Feburary 2014 27

Overcoming the big “C” Again!

B

• Story by JULIE HALES Photos by CANDICE SHAUFELBERGER •

ack in January of 2012, we brought you the inspirational story of Buddy Gross. Gross was 75 years old at the time and a two time cancer survivor. He was also an avid member of the West Chatham YMCA, working out five days a week.

Gross had been working out since he was 13 years old. It had become a daily routine. This courageous man was not going to let anything like cancer keep him down.

Pooler Magazine recently caught up with Gross. He told us how great he was doing….but, that he had suffered a third bout with cancer, and once again, overcome it.

Last June, Buddy Gross had his precautionary pet scan done.

It showed no cancer. But, in July, he started seeing problems again, blood in the urine. He went back to see the same physician that had taken care of him with his previous bladder cancer, Dr. Buffy Boyd.

Dr. Boyd did the necessary tests and unfortunately found cancer again. The cancer this time was found in the right kidney.

Surgery was scheduled right away to remove the cancer once again.

28 January/Feburary 2014 | Pooler Magazine

The surgery was successful, and Gross returned to his workout routine a week after leaving the hospital.

Soon after his return, he came home from the YMCA feeling bad. He sat down, took his prosthesis off and started feeling worse. His wife, who was usually working, happened to be home that day. She put him in the car and took him to the emergency room. By the time they arrived at the hospital, he was incoherent. They began checking his vitals and his blood pressure had bottomed out. They began fluids and tests. A bacterial infection had built up where they removed the drainage tube from surgery and he had become septic. He was in the hospital for over a week receiving antibiotics to cure the infection.

Gross tells that story knowing that he had a close call with death form the infection. He says, “My wife and I still can’t remember why she was home with me that day. I think God had a hand in her being there.”

He had another pet scan done in December. He is still cancer free.

Buddy Gross, at 77 years old, is still working out five days a week and working with his race pigeons.

PREVIOUS STORY ABOUT BUDDY GROSS AS SEEN IN: Story by CLARK BYRON Photos by TODD WOOD

H

is remarkable story is an inspiration to all who love to stay active, especially if one has had cancer. Gross just made it through his second bout with cancer.

This time, it claimed part of his right leg. But that hasn’t stopped him. With a custom fitted prosthesis, Gross is back in the gym.

Gross was a paper machine operator at Union Camp in Savannah for 40 years. He retired in 1998. In 2001, Gross was working out at the gym when, during a trip to the restroom, he noticed something that was clearly cause for concern. It turned out to be cancer of the bladder. “I was surprised,” said Gross. “I was a big, strong guy. I weighed 175 even at 62 years old.”

He saw an oncologist, Dr. Judy, who was able to use a modern, noninvasive technique to go into the bladder and cauterize the tumors. Then, in 2005, an intense ache in his lower back that turned out to be a tumor in the canal that connects the right kidney to the bladder – a secondary result of the bladder cancer.

The obstruction prevented urine from making it to the kidney from the bladder, resulting in the death of the kidney. It had to be surgically removed. This time the surgeon was Dr. Buffy Boyd, a friend of the family. “She turned out to be an excellent surgeon,” said Gross. Eventually, Boyd would also remove Gross’ prostate and lower lymph nodes.

It didn’t stop there. The cancer metastasized to the bone in his right leg about four inches above the ankle. Multiple radiation treatments eventually killed the cancer but the treatment had also split the bone with virtually no medical hope of mending it. Gross went to Dr. Mary O’Conner at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.

O’Conner said she could graft in a piece of cadaver bone. If that didn’t take, she’d have to do another.

“I asked the doctor what she would do if it were her leg,” said Gross. “She said that once we make sure the cancer is all gone, I would amputate that part of the leg.” And so, on January 18, 2011, a portion of Gross’ right leg was removed, about eight inches below the knee. Another three rounds of chemotherapy followed, to kill any cancerous cells that might be lingering.

Gross returned home. He was not used to being confined by immobility and wasn’t about to get that way now. He grabbed his crutches and began walking up and down his driveway. “I did it for about a week,” he said. “It’s not that I’m a tough old man, I just have a good God.” He took his crutches to the YMCA and began to work out on the machines again. “I’d do what I could do,” he said. Soon, he received his prosthesis and after a two-week adjustment period, Gross was back in the saddle again.

“Working out has been a part of my life since the end of grammar school,” he said. “I was a rollie pollie kid and some boys gave be a hard time about it.” The young Gross accepted the invitation of some friends to come and work out with the weights one boy had in his garage. “It gave me the mindset to start eating right,” he said. “I lost all that weight that summer and when I went back to school, nobody recognized me.” From that point on, Gross made diet and exercise an important part of his life.

Gross also has a unique and interesting hobby – one that has

also been with him since youth. He races pigeons. The sport of pigeon racing originated in Belgium, according to Gross. He tells the story of how pigeon racing is rapidly growing in popularity worldwide; particularly in China. “The Chinese came into the game a few years back,” he said. “Now, over 300,000 people are into pigeon racing in that country.”

This fact led up to a story about a recent offer of a wealthy Chinese man who offered to pay the owner of a champion bird $340,000. The Belgian owner declined, saying he wouldn’t take a million dollars for it.

The sport is rapidly drawing the interest of Americans as well.

There is even a pigeon supply store here in Savannah, Global Pigeon Supply, which has sister store in Holland.

Last year, on May 7, an event called The Big Pigeon Race, presented by an organization of the same name, saw clubs from 13 states enroll in the prestigious competition. The race includes events for older birds flying long distances. This particular kind of pigeon distance racing has been waning in popularity of late. The Big Pigeon Race is seeking to reverse that trend. More than 500 birds were entered into the competition.

When we say long distances, it’s no exaggeration. Gross entered several of his birds. “My eight-year-old bird won the 600-700 mile section,” he said. “[The bird] flew 634 miles through one day.

He flew the whole day and made it home early the next morning.”

Gross said it was the hardest event to win. The older bird classification actually accepts birds of any age, but 2-3 year-olds are considered the ideal age to compete in these grueling contests.

Racing season for the older birds is in the spring.

Gross explained that over the past 40 years, as pigeons have been bred for racing, the average flight speeds (without a headwind) have increased from 35 to 45 miles per hour. The birds race nonstop, except for a single stop for water. Gross’ team presently boasts 28 pigeons representing several varieties and varying ages.

This number does not include the 12 in his collection that are there simply to breed and raise young pigeons for racing.

For years, scientists have tried to understand how these birds, and their forbearers, homing pigeons, are able to know direction and destination. “Some scientists say the birds have some kind of built in radar and the home loft sends out some sort of signal and they hone in on that,” Gross said with a tinge of uncertainty in his voice.” This theory is yet to receive broad scientific acceptance.

As for his multiple battles with cancer, Gross reports being cancer free for nearly a year. Another PET scan is scheduled for late January. Understandably, many people diagnosed with cancer have trouble staying engaged in life. Gross stresses the importance of being active. “I think it’s terrible if a person just sits down,” he said. “It’s like the TV ad that says a body in motion tends to stay in motion.” Gross says he’s on a strict microbiotic diet in conjunction with his exercise regimen. He credits this lifestyle with his being able to discontinue cholesterol, blood pressure and allergy medicines under his doctor’s supervision.

In the United States, it is reported that anywhere from 20 to 90 percent of cancers go into remission, depending on the type and extent. Great strides have been made in saving the lives of cancer patients. All cancer is serious, but many need not be fatal. Oncologists agree that a proper diet and good physical conditioning can make a positive difference in a patient’s survival rate.

Pooler Magazine | January/Feburary 2014 29

“Working out has been a part of my life since the end of grammar school,” he said. “I was a rollie pollie kid and some boys gave be a hard time about it.” The young Gross accepted the invitation of some friends to come and work out with the weights one boy had in his garage. “It gave me the mindset to start eating right,” he said. “I lost all that weight that summer and when I went back to school, nobody recognized me.”

From that point on, Gross made diet and exercise an important part of his life. photo by Todd Wood

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POOLER KARATE AND KRAV MAGA Carson Fortner’s Pooler Karate, open since 2010, provides instruction for students of all ages in the martial arts.

Students of Martial Arts have many reasons for their interest..

Some are drawn to the fitness of training. Some are interested in the discipline and self-control.

Some are concerned about safety and self-defense. Whatever your interest in Martial Arts, Pooler Karate offers programs that will fit your needs. They offer instruction for both kids and adults and their programs focus on both the mental and physical aspects.

Carson Fortner is a family man and knows the value of leadership and respect. He instills those values on a daily basis with all of his students.

He was born and raised here in Georgia. He earned his BS in Natural and Cultural resource management at Georgia Southern University with a minor in Finance.

He began his training in martial arts at the age of six. His dream was to have a karate school.

Through God’s direction and perseverance, Carson now operates one of largest schools in the Pooler area and presently has over 200 students.

His success has been achieved because he believed in himself.

Now, his school impacts the community in a very positive way.

Pooler Karate specializes in all around real self-defense. They have classes in Lil Ninjas, ages 2-5 years old, junior and adult karate.

They also have adult classes in Krav Maga, the Israeli Martial Arts.

Sheriff’s officer Todd Mashburn, a 17 year law enforcement veteran, is the head Krav Maga Instructor at Pooler Karate. He has been training in the highly aggressive and effective Israeli Martial Art for 10 years and has been teaching Martial Arts for nearly the same amount of time.

Pooler Karate will be opening at their new location in at the new shopping center next to SK8 and Fames-n-Games on Pooler

Parkway in mid-January. The new location will boast over 2000 square feet of mat space.

They offer 10% discounts to all Military, Law Enforcement, and Gulf Stream employees.

They are currently accepting new students. For more information, please call (912)536-4415.

Pooler Karate and Krav Maga (912) 536-4415 Pooler Magazine | January/Feburary 2014 33

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ADVANCED CHIROPRACTIC center Dr. Preston Peacock and his team at Advanced Chiropractic Center in Pooler are dedicated to helping their patients accomplish their wellness objectives by combining skill and expertise which spans the entire chiropractic wellness spectrum. They are committed to providing their patients a better way of life, as well as better health, by teaching and practicing the true principles of chiropractic wellness care.

Advanced Chiropractic Center takes great pride in providing the finest chiropractic wellness care to their patients. They offer chiropractic care, corrective exercises, lifestyle advice, nutritional counseling, massage therapy, and spinal and postural screenings to their patients.

Dr. Peacock works at treating chiropractic problems before they happen, and focuses on maintaining the health of his patient’s spine.

He says, “Most people lose 30 to 40 percent of the mobility of their spine by the age of 50,” which he says can lead to problems in other areas such as the knees and shoulders.

Advanced spinal correction utilizing “state of the art” chiropractic techniques is available to Dr. Peacock’s patients.

These newer correction methods are even safer, more comfortable and more effective than ever before. Dr. Peacock has years of training and experience in spinal adjustment.

Massage therapy offers a natural conservative treatment approach that relieves musculoskeletal pain for many patients, and this type of therapy is also provided at Advanced Chiropractic Center. Each patient’s therapy is tailored to meet their specific condition and injury. The benefits of massage therapy include increased blood circulation, reduced swelling, relaxed muscles, less frequent muscle pain and spasms, and support in recovery and range of motion.

Dr. Preston Peacock is a Board certified licensed Chiropractor serving the Pooler area and surrounding communities. Awarded with a diploma in Chiropractic Orthopedics from the American Board of Chiropractic Orthopedists, Dr. Peacock received his

Doctor of Chiropractic from the National College of Chiropractic. He is certified as a Chiropractic Sports Physician and holds a degree in Nutrition. He has over 20 years of experience in his field, is committed to promoting optimal health and well-being for all of his patients, and is passionate about freeing people from pain at his clinic.

Patients seeking treatment at Advanced Chiropractic Center with Dr. Preston Peacock are assured of receiving only the finest quality care through the use of modern chiropractic equipment and technology. Dr. Preston Peacock and his entire staff have a genuine concern for your well-being!

Feel free to give the staff at Advanced Chiropractic Center in Pooler a call if you have any questions about their services or if you would like to make an appointment for an initial consultation.

Advanced Chiropractic Center 408 SW US Hwy 80, Pooler, GA 31322 • (912) 748-0350 Pooler Magazine | January/Feburary 2014 37

S O N IA S AY LOR: Story by JULIE HALES Photos by MITCH ALLMAN

I

n our last year’s Health and Wellness issue, our cover story was about a remarkable lady, Sonia Saylor.

Sonia, the mother of two boys, found out she was carrying a gene that would eventually make both of her young sons go blind.

Not only did that happen, the gene also made Sonia blind.

We talked with Sonia the week after Christmas to get an update on her life since her story first appeared in Pooler Magazine.

Sonia was so excited to speak with us. She said, “Christmas was a wonderful experience. Both of my boys came home for the holiday. They brought a friend with them from school who was totally blind. It was just a great time.”

She is full of pride when she speaks of her two boys. “My oldest son is almost through with his undergraduate degree. The youngest is starting his first semester in college. Both boys are die hard Georgia Bulldog fans. They would both rather be attending the University of Georgia, but I know Florida is the best place for them to be,” she says.

It only takes about two seconds into our conversation to realize that Sonia is just as energetic and full of life as she was before. She has certainly not let her blindness become a handicap to her.

Since her last story, Sonia is still finding ways to serve her community and educate people in and around Pooler of the importance of having your eyes checked. She is currently serving as the President of the Lions Club of Pooler and is the first blind president in the entire District.

Sonia speaks of this with great

38 November/December 2013 | Pooler Magazine

Still seeing with her heart! enthusiasm. She says, “I have a great team around me. We are concentrating on building our membership and doing the things in our community needed to help. We recently had a car show where we raised $12,000. Part of the money was donated to a Guide Dog Program and the remainder was given to a camp for the blind.”

“We are currently working with the new high school, Hamstead High, where we will be doing a vision screening on all juniors at the school. This will take place on January 25th,” she added.

In her quest to educate people in the importance of eye exams, Sonia says, “It is so important for people to get check-ups.

Especially with the connection of your

eyesight to diabetes and other diseases, it is just a must.”

To help Sonia spread the word, come by and visit at one of the meetings for the Lions Club of Pooler. They meet on the first and/or third Tuesday of each month at noon at the Western Sizzlin in Pooler.

Or, you can email them at lionsclub2@ gmail.com.

PREVIOUS STORY ABOUT SONIA SAYLOR AS SEEN IN: Story by PAIGE PEEBLES-MCDUFFIE Photos by MITCH ALLMAN

A

ttend any local Lions Club event or Health Fair and you will more than likely run into Sonia Saylor, the vivacious mother of two with the sparkling blue eyes and a ready smile. She usually draws a crowd when she starts to explain what it’s like to be blind, and why it’s so important to pay attention to your eye health.

You see, both of Sonia’s sons went blind as children from a gene they inherited from her. Ryan and Kyle Showalter have what is called “LHON” or Leber’s Hereditary Optical Neuropathy.

Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy is often referred to by its initials; “L-H-O-N”. It is also referred to simply as “Leber’s,” (pronounced LAY-bers), after Theodore Leber, the German doctor who first described the disorder.

According to www.lhon.org, “LHON is a genetic disorder that can cause the optic nerve to Attenatrophy but does not always do so. It is the most common mitochondrial disease which means it is passed down through the mother’s genes to her children. A woman carrying a LHON mutation will pass it to all of her children; men with the LHON gene never pass it to their children.”

“About 100 people in the United States lose central vision due to LHON each year, joining the 4,000 or so Americans who are already vision impaired due to LHON. Thousands more carry a LHON genetic mutation, and they could suddenly lose their vision at any time. It’s estimated that about 35,000 people worldwide have LHON vision. The most common situation is for LHON vision to affect young men, but it also affects men and women of all ages.”

Ryan is the youngest of Sonia’s sons and was the first to be affected by the gene. When Ryan was just a toddler, he’d had a fairly common procedure performed on his eyes to unclog tear ducts. Now at age four, he was heading back to the Georgia Eye Institute for an annual post-operative follow-up. Sonia said “he’d had so many tests and things run already, I wasn’t really alarmed

when his doctor requested an MRI”. The doctor came back with the news that his optic nerve was swollen. The up-side was that there didn’t seem to be any involvement in the brain.

Stunned and shaken, Sonia called her mother to tell her the news, and before long Mrs. Willa Hernandez called her back with a reminder from Grandmother, “don’t forget we have this thing in our family called Lebers.” Incredulously, Sonia began to question her mother and grandmother and put her natural tenacity and organizational skills to work to create a medical family tree and ultimately unearthed nine case of blindness in males in the five living generations of her family. Her next step was to research the internet for anything she could learn about LHON. After conferring with doctors and showing them what she had learned, she and her son went to Emory for DNA testing to find out which one of the forty five different mutations she carried and passed to her sons.

Once a diagnosis of LHON is made, most people affected will go blind over a two-year period. Sonia wasted no time and swung into mom mode. She had two years to cram memories into Ryan’s head to remember later when his sight was gone. Singlemindedly approaching the task of creating memories, she was inspired to take him to Disney for a little touch of Magic as only the Magic Kingdom can deliver. She pulled a few strings from her days as a Disney youth summer employee and arranged for a very special meeting with Belle from Beauty and the Beast. He would never forget those special moments.

Two years later, just when it seemed the world was settling down and adjusting to the new routines for this young family, 12year-old older brother Kyle announced to his mom that perhaps he needed to see the eye doctor, his vision was getting blurry. She hurried him to the Georgia Eye Institute and before long received the same news. Kyle also had LHON and would lose his sight over the next two years.

Sonia and her family swung right back into memory-making mode, this time creative memories for Kyle to hold on to when his vision would fail him completely and he would need to redefine

Pooler Magazine | January/Feburary 2014 39

the boundaries of the world as he remembered it. He was a devout Braves and Falcons fan. Her brother had a contact there and she’d gone to school with Jessie Tuggle and was able to work a little more magic and get some pre-game introductions to the players.

For the next decade or so, Sonia would be her sons’ eyes, commentating on the world and describing the actions and scenes going on around them. She would fill their ears with details of color and movement and who was standing where, and what they were wearing, giving “sight” the best way she knew how.

Eventually both sons attended Florida School for the Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine Florida to learn mobility skills and everyday life skills in addition to traditional academics. Now a senior at FSDB, 17-year old Ryan has 20/400 vision and he can see extremely well for someone with LHON. He can distinguish shapes and light; he just can’t drive a car. “Everyone is always saying ‘Ryan, we need your eyes.” He jokes, “it really gets old being around a bunch of blind people.”

Kyle is now 23 and will graduate soon from The University of North Florida with a Bachelors in Psychology. His 20/800 vision hasn’t kept him from pursuing the dream of healing people emotionally - a dream that he has held since he was 12 years old. He’s able to take many of his classes online, helping him to move at his own pace and he makes use of various assistive devices that he can take into class.

He plans to continue his education and earn a Ph.D. in Psychology.

In 2010, it seemed that life was settling down and returning to normal for Sonia. She’d weathered the storm of both sons losing their sight and had helped them learn to function in a seeing world. Earlier, she had earned her degree from Valdosta State University in Public Relations and Organizational Communication and a minor in Speech Communication. She was wellestablished in her professional life and could write her own ticket anywhere she wanted to go. She was healthy, she had annual exams and saw her eye doctor every year as scheduled.

2010 was no different. Towards the end of the summer that year, she went in for her annual eye exam and got a new pair of glasses. A few weeks later, she returned to the eye doctor, frustrated with her new glasses. Things just didn’t look right; her vision wasn’t clear and there was obviously a mistake made when they made her glasses.

Only there was no mistake with her new glasses.

A visit to her old friends at Georgia Eye Institute rocked her world.

Sonia Saylor was not just a carrier of LHON. She was one of the rare females affected by it.

Sonia wouldn’t become visually impaired by LHON like her sons. She would become completely blind.

Sonia wouldn’t have two years to go blind. She would have six weeks. “..The eyes are blind. One must look with the heart. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince Two years later, Sonia is continuing to adapt to a world without sight. She’s had to learn the same mobility and independence skills that she taught her sons and work with some of the same blind resources she searched out years earlier to assist her boys.

She is grateful for the offers of assistance from the ladies in her

40 January/Feburary 2014 | Pooler Magazine

Small Group at Savannah Christian Church - everyone pitches in to see that she makes it to the grocery store, the post office, the hair salon or wherever she needs to go. Her Small Group provides her with spiritual and emotional support as well.

She wields her “blind cane” deftly and gracefully navigates over open ground, up and down staircases and around the obstacles of everyday living, and through it all she never seems to stop smiling. A quick tour of her house shows the little ways she’s adapted, from carefully placed living room furniture to tactile guides on the microwave to assist her with heating her food. “Fortunately, my husband has always been the cook, so no big changes there” she chuckles.

Sonia reflects, “one of the biggest changes for me was the way I began to “see” people. No longer do I have visual cues to go by when assessing a person. I’ve learned to see the world through my heart and that has made all the difference”.

The one thing she misses most for herself is driving, and the independence it gave her. She’s so appreciative to her Small Group, members of the Lions Club, and her friends and family for driving her places, but she really misses the freedom to do these things on her own.

Never one to sit on her hands with nothing to do for long, Sonia has immersed herself in several local organizations that serve the blind community. She puts her organizational and communication skills to good use during membership drives, health fairs and other events.

She has been a member of the Lions Club of Pooler since 2011, and serves as the first Vice President of the newly formed Blind Lions of Georgia. Secretary/Treasurer of the Lions Club of Pooler, Rosemary Cutuli says, “Sonia is so energetic and enthusiastic, one of our most active and loyal Lions.

She is always willing to do whatever she can to help with projects. She works very diligently to recruit members and sponsors, sell raffle tickets, attend our vision screenings and promote the Pooler Lions Club”. Rosemary adds, “her dynamic personality, and great sense of humor make her a valuable member with good ideas. She is on our Board of Directors and is so well spoken and very persuasive that she can sweet talk anyone into anything!”

She’s also a Member of the Georgia Council of the Blind. The Council works towards improving education and rehabilitation and broadening vocational opportunities for the visually impaired. The Georgia Council for the blind also assists the blind in developing their abilities and potential to become independent and responsible citizens in their communities. To find out how you can help, visit http://www.georgiacounciloftheblind.org/.

Sonia stresses, “it is so important to have regular exams.

You’ve got to get kids eyes screened.” The Lions Club offers free screenings, and if follow up care is required, the Lions Club can assist with providing that as well to low-income or needy families.

Free eye-exams will be offered by The Lions Club in April at the upcoming health fair. Contact your local chapter for more information.

Sonia also encourages eyeglass wearers to drop their discarded eye-wear into the collection sites that are located everywhere. The frames are re-used in the United States for people who need assistance with eye-wear, while per FDA regulations, the lenses are used overseas in third-world countries to help the visually impaired and blind.

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New Alternatives to CPAP Masks Are Changing Lives We all want to belong to groups. But for one in 15, that group is a condition called Sleep Apnea. Apnea is a Greek word meaning “want of breath” and its symptoms include snoring, sleeplessness, fatigue, and lack of concentration. Untreated, it can increase the risk of stroke by four times and the likelihood of heart disease by 300%.

For years, the only alternative to snoring, restless nights, and constant jabs from your spouse was a CPAP mask. The good news was that CPAP’s could enhance the air flow and help patients regain a night’s sleep. For many, it remains the best treatment and sleep aid for sleep apnea.

The bad news was that it could be uncomfortable, difficult for travel and had its own noise. For a few, it even added as sense of claustrophobia. A CPAP mask is only good if it’s used. But what is the alternative for those who find the treatment as disruptive as the cure?

The FDA has recently approved a mouth appliance called the SomnoDent® oral

appliance for sleep apnea treatment. This is a custom-made night-time appliance that keeps the air passage open for better air flow without the need for a CPAP mask. It works on the principle of moving the lower jaw forward. This tightens the soft tissue and muscles of the upper airway, preventing obstruction while sleeping. It prevents the tissues of the upper airway from vibrating while inhaling which is the major cause of snoring.

appliance, including Dr. Christy Harpring and Dr. Lindsay Sammons of Howard Family Dental in Savannah. “So many people suffer needlessly with snoring, restless nights and fatigue,” said Dr. Harpring, “when a quick test can determine if a simple appliance can make such a difference in their lives. Once a medical physician specializing in sleep medicine determines that an appliance is suitable, we can custom-make an appliance for use within three weeks.”

The SomnoDent appliance is easy to use, as it simply fits over your teeth. It is adjustable, allowing it to be modified to each person’s situation and sleep needs.

It is easy to use, travels well, is free of all attachments, is silent, allows speaking and drinking and also prevents grinding or clinching. It replaces the need for electricity, cumbersome head gear, distilled water or the need to disconnect/ reconnect should you get up during the night.

In many cases, the appliance is covered by health insurance.

A few local dentists have become certified to fit and monitor the SomnoDent oral

If you’re concerned about sleep apnea, would like to see if you are a candidate for SomnoDent or have other questions, many dentists, including Drs. Harpring and Sammons, provide free consultations.

“A small step can save a number of problems later,” said Dr. Sammons. “And for many patients, and their spouses, there is nothing better than a good night’s sleep!”

If you suffer from Sleep Apnea, we can help you rest easy.

Beyond snoring, fatigue and restless nights, sleep apnea can lead to serious health issues. And, for many sufferers, an uncomfortable CPAP mask may seem like the only solution. Fortunately, Dr. Harpring and Dr. Sammons offer the latest sleep apnea treatment options that can provide total relief without keeping you up at night.

Tired of your CPAP mask?

Call today to schedule your Free consultation!

Dr. Christy Harpring Wilmington Island Office 206 Johnny Mercer Blvd.

(912) 897-9000 Dr. Lindsay Sammons Pooler Office 91 Brighton Woods Rd. (912) 748-4858

42 January/Feburary 2014 | Pooler Magazine

Free

Sleep Apnea consultation *Bring this coupon to Howard Family Dental to redeem. No cash value.

Cannot be combined with other offers.

Only valid at Pooler & Wilmington Island locations. Expires April 30, 2014.

SOUTHEASTERN ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY associates Southeastern Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates is the largest group practice of its kind in our area. Their professionals have been serving South East Georgia for over 30 years and take pride in providing excellent care.

Dr. John Wiebe, Dr.Alfred E Pesto, Jr., and, Dr. Matthew Barefoot are partners in the practice. Dr. Justin Damron is an Associate and Dr. Bill Massey is the TMJ Specialist. These doctors and their staff wish to make your experience in their office as pleasant and comfortable as possible.

Dr. Barefoot states, “Our practice is very customer service friendly. We strive to make your experience as positive as possible, from the doctors to each staff member. You can come here and be treated like family.”

As oral and maxillofacial specialists, Southeastern Oral & Maxillofacial treats diseases, deformities and injuries to the mouth, face and jaws. They are trained and licensed to safely administer a variety of anesthetics for your comfort including general anesthesia. They specialize in the removal of teeth, especially wisdom teeth, dental implant surgery, and treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems.

Through modern anesthesia techniques you can be comfortably asleep in the office for surgery and return home shortly afterward. “Our staff is trained for IV sedation. Our patients go to sleep. When they awake, the procedure is complete and they have no memory of it. This makes our patients less anxious about their procedure and it is much more comfortable for them,” states Dr. Barefoot.

Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt within the mouth.

When they align properly and gum tissue is healthy, wisdom teeth do not have to be removed. Unfortunately, this does not

Savannah Office 4815 Paulsen St., Savannah ,GA 34105 (912) 352-2324

generally happen. These teeth can cause damage, infections, crowding and cysts. The result: swelling, stiffness, pain and illness. Removal of the offending tooth or teeth usually resolves these problems.

With an oral examination and x-rays of the mouth, the doctors at Southeastern Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates P.C. can evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth and predict if there may be present or future problems. They now have 3-D scanners which allow a much better picture of what is going on with the patient.

A commonly asked question of the practice is, “If I have a tooth extracted, should I have it replaced? And, if so, how long can I wait.”

Dr. Barefoot answers this, “When a tooth is extracted, several things can happen, like shifting, bone loss, aesthetic changes and function loss. Try to replace these teeth within 6 months. Implants have been around for over 30 years. We can recreate what you have lost by putting a post in that serves as the root, then put a crown on over the tooth. Some are single phase surgeries and some may require 2 or multi stage surgeries. We can replace one tooth or all.”

Dental implants are changing the way people live. They are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth which look, feel and function like natural teeth. The person who has lost teeth regains the ability to eat virtually anything, knowing that teeth appear natural and that facial contours will be preserved they can smile with confidence.

For a consultation or appointment, call one of their offices at 352-2324 or 330-8801. They accept most insurances and have supplemental payment plans.

Pooler Office 143 Canal St., Suite 300, Pooler, GA 31322 (912) 330-8801 Pooler Magazine | January/Feburary 2014 43

P o o l e r R e c r e a t i o n S p o t l igh t

Coach Jonathan Phillips:

Investing in the Community • Story by SHERRY COOK

J

Photos by CANDICE SHAUFELBERGER •

onathan Phillips is an extremely busy man these days, but he absolutely loves it. Not only is he a loving husband, a devoted father of four, a Baptist pastor to a congregation of 200, but he also volunteers as a coach at the Pooler Recreation Center.

Phillips grew up in Fort Mill, South Carolina, where he participated in sports throughout his childhood. Baseball was, and still is, his favorite sport. He even went on to play on his college baseball team for four years at North Greenville University. His father, John Phillips, was his biggest influence when he was growing up, and he says his father was a legend in coaching in Fort Mill, South Carolina. He says his

dad calls him after every game he coaches, and this obviously means the world to him.

Jonathan has been married to his wife, Lori, for fifteen years. They have four wonderful children; Jackson 11, Brooks 7, Ella Kate 4, and Ryder John 2. They moved to our area six years ago when he was called to minister at Silk Hope Baptist Church. The family had previously been living in New Orleans.

Jonathan, Lori, and the two oldest children were living in New Orleans, where he was attending seminary school, when Hurricane Katrina hit. He says that they lost all their physical possessions, even their car, in the devastating storm. Their

2nd floor apartment was flooded and black mold destroyed everything they owned, except for a few photographs.

The seminary student sent his wife and children back to South Carolina to be with family, and he stayed behind for a week or so to help with the rescue efforts in the city. He and his family returned to New Orleans six months later and remained there for another year. Phillips is very encouraged by the progress being made there and says that there has been somewhat of a revival in the city, and he feels blessed he was able to witness some of that.

Jonathan Phillips is very passionate about his work with the Pooler Recreation Department and especially the kids he comes in contact with during the year. He realizes how important sports can be to a child and the lessons they can learn by being part of a team. His two oldest boys, Jackson and Brooks, participate in the outstanding athletic programs available at the rec center.

“I believe in having fun, but I also love to win,” says Jonathan.

“Teaching a child to lose properly is a necessity,” he adds. He realizes that kids also love to win, but they also need to learn that in sports, just as in life, it is okay to experience failure. This enthusiastic volunteer teaches kids to keep going and never give up, as well as not to be ashamed or embarrassed if they lose.

Phillips coaches baseball, football and basketball at the rec center. He has been coaching youth baseball for two years, and this past year was his first season to coach youth football. At the moment, he is extremely excited to be coaching the eight and under basketball team, because his son, Brooks, is on that team.

Assistant coaching is the role he took on when he first began volunteering, but over time he has been required to step into the head coach role. Phillips says he has been surrounded with people he trusts and that has enabled him to be a better coach.

Mark Trammell and Chris Owens are a couple of the amazing volunteers he has had the opportunity to work with throughout

P

the year at Pooler Recreation.

Jonathan was a youth pastor when he first entered the ministry field, and working with kids is something he has always found himself doing and loving. He says teaching the kids on each team to respect their parents is an important part of his coaching agenda. He realizes that many of the kids on the team may come from a single parent household and may need an extra dose of parental guidance. Phillips says he expects the kids to use their manners and keep their grades up in school. Sports should be a fun activity for these kids, but he feels it should also be used as a tool to teach them discipline, great character skills, and how to finish what they started.

This active volunteer stays busy at least four nights a week with church activities and coaching responsibilities. He says the Pooler Recreation Department understands that he has church responsibilities on Wednesday nights, and they make sure he doesn’t have games or practice on those days. Phillip’s church is a wonderful congregation he says, and they realize that his volunteer activities are a part of his ministry as well. “I am here to invest in my community,” says Phillips and hopes to be doing it for a long time.

When asked what his favorite part of coaching is, Jonathan replies, “When you see the kids get it for the first time.” He says he loves when they make their first pass, or hit the baseball for the first time, or even snag their first ground ball. He also recalls one of his favorite moments in youth football this past season. His team was losing by two touchdowns and they came back and won the game. He said the excitement and pride the kids experienced at that moment was priceless, and there is no doubt that this coach was just as excited.

pooler park

P R E L OO

900 south • rogers street • Administrative Office • Gymnasium • 5 Ball Diamonds • Batting Cages • Playgrounds • Outside Basketball Court

s

rvice e S e r u eis

nt & L ERS STREET e m t r a Th ROG on Dep

i Recreat

00 SOU 9 K R A P • Baseball 5-14 POOLER

• Softball 7-12 POOLER RECREATION COMPLEX • T-Ball (Girls 4-6, Boys 4) 200 PRESTON STOKES DRIVE 5 BASEBALL FIELDS • Spring Soccer 4-12 2 SOCCER/FOOTBALL FIELDS • Fall Soccer 4-12 BATTING CAGES AND PLAYGROUND • Youth Basketball 5-13 • Summer Basketball 9-13 • Adult Sports www.PoolerRec.com • Tumbling 3+ $45 Join Us On Facebook poolerrecreation@pooler-ga.gov • Dance 3+ $50/$60

748-5776

seeking sponsorships For our Youth teams seeking Volunteers For Coaching

Community Center 1400 square foot dining area, kitchen with complete stoves, ample room for outdoor activities, $100 per day rental.

senior Citizens Center (sangrena Woods) Daily activities • Quilting • Billiards Room • Line Dancing • Jewelry Classes • Crafts • Day Trips • Meals • Exercise • Games Transportation Provided If Necessary

Pooler Magazine | January/Feburary 2014 45

Michael Zoller, MD, FACS William Moretz, III, MD

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46 January/Feburary 2014 | Pooler Magazine

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Pooler Magazine | November/December 2013 47

Ask Ab Loy Our N out al e Prog ty Rew w Gre ram ards at S For avin gs!

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other LocAtIonS:

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