46 minute read
Love and Marriage (They Go Together)
part of parents. Another study by Kokkinos and Voulgaridou (2017) found that permissiveness in parenting styles contributes to the development of aggressive behaviors.
Growth toward a sense of control, independence and kindness
I believe babies and small children are active by nature. They are exploring all the time when they are not sleeping and eating. They are touching, tasting, pulling, opening and taking the blocks out of the box, and (sometimes) putting them back. I think to the extent that we can, we should be noticing, rejoicing and praising these multitudinous actions. (In the meantime, we need to restrain ourselves from interfering with actions that are not complete, quick or perfect as we ourselves would do them.) I know this isn't easy. We are busy, and it's often easier to do it ourselves when the two-year-old says: “Me do it.” I know a very active, curious 15-month old. She loves every new “thing.” It might be a toy, or just something she hasn’t seen before. It will be scrutinized from every angle, and any feature that moves will be explored. Her inquisitiveness is a lesson for how adults can sometimes enjoy life when we are not overstressed. Recently, I visited with her and her mom. We spent an hour in a downstairs playroom. I am using a cane to walk. When it was time to go, her concerned mother asked me if I could stand up and if I had my cane. This small child took my hand to help lead me out of the room. She had to stop when we got to the stairs; she is strictly forbidden to go near them herself. I went up the stairs first. The child was in her mother’s arms
behind me. She pushed me a little to help me get up. This made an adorable five-second video on Facebook. However, what was equally important was her mother’s comment: “Love her compassionate, helpful and caring spirit already.” The question for all of us (and this is relevant) is knowThe question for all of us (and this is relevant) is knowing what really matters to us. ing what really matters to We want our children to be us. We want our children to smart, popular and wellbe smart, popular and well- dressed. Is that it?
dressed. Is that it?
If so, we may be setting them up to look for happiness only in accomplishments, popularity and the latest styles: a recipe for bullying and being targeted for bullying. So being active and coming to know I can do all sorts of things (getting the containers out of Mommy’s kitchen drawer, and making Daddy laugh) can also be paired with being helpful.
Adults teach by where they put their time and emphasis, what they reward with smiles and laughter, and the behavior they model.
Independence and autonomy need to be learned gradually, beginning with small decisions. My personal
opinion is that the choice of preschool is Mommy and Daddy’s; the choice of dessert in a restaurant (two or three choices, if you’re age 3) is the child’s. Gradually, the choices should get bigger, all the way to adulthood.
Friendship choices are real and they come early. I think it’s good for children to have opportunities to play with many children during their early childhood years. They will be naturally attracted to some more than others. It doesn’t matter that you’d like your son to become friends with your best friend’s son. That may happen; it may not. Ordinarily, in relationships, people prefer those who are similar to them. This is true in friendships and in romantic relationships. However, similarities in children's friendships may be based on factors that are invisible to adults. Social class and economic standing may be important to the parents of a 5-year-old, but not to the children. In general, children will choose, no matter what we do.
Types and levels of activity play a part. Children are looking for what is enjoyable. They are not looking for diversity itself. Then we come to the early dissensions. Will they share? Will they quarrel and fight? Yes, they will. If two young children of roughly equal ability and age get in an argument over what to play, let them. The upshot may be “I won’t play with her if she doesn’t …” So the playing ends for a little while. Small children will soon realize it is more fun to play with another and will find that they can compromise. They are learning the trade-offs in relationships. Not every disagreement or fight is bullying. If two children are generally equal in strength and ability and are equally upset and involved in the dispute, this is a fight, not bullying. However, if there’s a power differential, and if one is upset and the other is not (“I don’t know why she’s making such a big thing about this.”), we now have a situation of bullying. When one is emotionally upset and the other is dismissive, or snide about the situation, this is bullying of some kind. Boys are more likely to be physically aggressive throughout childhood. Girls are more likely to show relational aggression. The amount of aggression is relatively equal between the sexes. Relational aggression
can involve damaging another’s self-esteem or peer relationships. This may be by ostracism, gossip or ‘facial expressions of disdain’ (Boyd and Bee. 2021, p. 214.)
The hurt from relational understand the pain of Group formation and the aggression, however, can be others. As I’ve implied, we need for relationships: very real and very deep. There have the ability to build our Humans are social beings by may be a short period when own capacities and self- nature. Even a baby or a very children do not quite realize understanding. small child find people are that relational aggres- interesting. Friendship sion hurts, but my guess There may be a short period when choices, beginning in early is that girls soon know that hurt is the effect. They may gloss over children do not quite realize that relational aggression hurts, childhood, are influenced by similarity and personali ty. However, humans have that knowledge, or but my guess is that girls soon lots of different kinds of evade its reality in their know that hurt is the effect. relationships. Friendships own minds. By late provide many different grade school and early high school — the worst times, I think, for relational aggression — protestations of “I only said...” and “She just took it the wrong way” are Helpful characteristics of parents: • Honesty and self-knowledge both about themselves and their children. advantages: shared activity, a sense of belonging and being accepted by the other, a sense of being admired, a sense of safety and care. probably faux. Also false are the attempts to blame the victim or target: “she is just too sensitive.” or “she needs to • Support of the child’s endeavors to develop themselves. In my research on changes in children’s expectations of friendships, the youngest wanted to play: “A friend is a learn to stand up for herself.” • Realistic understanding of person who plays with you.” human limitations (their own By early grade school, there is So where does bullying and their children’s), yet also more selection: “A friend is a come from? Human beings, able to project an aspira- person who likes to play what our children included, are tional self. (I have ideals that I you like to play,” and a best naturally egocentric. However, keep in mind, even though I friend is one you like playing we also have the capacity to don’t always match them.) with more than others.
(For young ones, “you’re my Does this sound more combest friend because I said you plicated than the United are”.) The mutuality needed Nations and NATO? Actually, it for friendship grows in the may be! Friendship has gone school years. Now, I can’t from shared activities to intimake you my best friend, or a macy — to sharing who I am friend at all. You also have to and accepting who the other choose me. Herein lies the is. Sounds pretty adult-like. tremendous capacity for the However, at the same time, beginning of relational there are other factors that aggression. Girls, especially, are being explored — in parhave the ability to measure ticular, social groups. and analyze the set of relationships in which one finds oneself. As children reach middle school and early high school, the complexities of relationships multiply. (I like several friends; one is We want people to support someone I can visit or bring who we are and who we are home, and we can enjoy each becoming. We also want peoother. Another is one I share ple to admire us and accept an activity with but we are us when with others (social together with several others, connections are for that). and we (my friend and I) have However, young adolescents varying relationships with are in situations where, in varying other members.) the same context and at the
same time, they are searching for closeness, searching for status and searching for their identities. Think about it. You don’t need your work colleagues to love you like your spouse, or your spouse to give you a rating of your competence. The search for status and popularity is not the same as the need for friendship, but they are often confused. Popularity is colloquially known as having a lot of friends. In my opinion, that is incorrect. Popularity is having people who, when asked in a research study, say they would like to do things with you or be your friend. I remember a popular 8thgrade boy in a research study who was admired and popular as I have just described. He did not have good friends, nor did he have a good understanding
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of friendship. He thought everyone was his friend because he knew them all. What did that mean? That he knew their names!
The propensity for bullying:
Bullying in the form of relational aggression comes about because of the struggle for social status within the group. In my opinion, it's most likely to occur when: • The bully has underlying needs for self-acceptance that are not being met, and/or • When the young teenager is on the periphery of an admired social group. You can have popular children partaking in bullying, but that is not likely when they are secure in the group. My own research found that the most popular clique (consisting of about three similar and mutually chosen friends) was surrounded by six or seven others who said they were part of the clique and were eager to be accepted by that small circle. They were eager to stand out in order to get their attention. One way to get attention is to denigrate others in the group. Another skill being learned is
the use of humor. This results in teasing that can be cruel.
What can parents do?
• Work to develop empathy and compassion from the time children are young. • Pay attention and listen when your child indicates that there are cruel comments, or when he or she first makes disparaging remarks. • Do not play a blame game, but do act. Bullying behavior can be the unspoken reality; the elephant in the room. However, focusing on a single bully ignores the fact that this is actually a group phenomenon. Bullying does not happen without an audience, either an in-person, or an online one. • Discuss the role of the person who is neither the bully nor the target. To stand around
or to laugh is to participate; the role of the bystander is a big issue in its own right, (perhaps one deserving of
another article). One act of friendship, not necessarily in the context of bullying, can be life-saving for the target. • Support your child. In their book, 12 Strategies
That Will End Female
Bullying, Drs. Sheryl Dellasega and Charisse Nixon suggest that parents “cool down” and resolve their own relational aggression issues, and act like coaches rather than overly protective parents. They suggest active listening in order to get the whole story, validation and support of the child’s feelings, and assistance with developing responses. I heard a psychologist once explain that having some kind of response was better than none. When teased, it's better to come back with something as simple as “It takes one to know one” than not to respond at all. While this will sound silly to all the parties involved, it signals that the target can and will be assertive. H
–Interview by Christine Fanning
Sr. Gail Cabral I.H.M. earned a Ph.D. from Catholic University of America in 1978. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Marywood in 1963. She has taught courses on the psychology of friendship, human development and developmental psychology, among other subjects. Her research interests include the Myers Briggs Personality Type Indicator, gender differences, social-cognitive development in friendships and the relationship between psychology and religion.
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Penn State Health
At the Heart of Good Health
Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute operates on the cuttingedge of cardiology while also championing the basics of heart-healthy behavior.
The heart is a complex organ, yet caring for it can be quite simple, according to two cardiologists at Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute in Hershey, Pennsylvania. “Diet and exercise,” says Dr. Shelley Hankins, a board-certified cardiologist at the institute. “You don’t think of this stuff when you’re in your 30s and 40s, but it’ll catch up with you.” Her colleague, Dr. Joy Cotton, a board-certified cardiologist, agrees. “Diet and exercise can make a dramatic difference, more than some of the medications we prescribe,” she says. Behavioral changes alone, however, might not remedy advanced cardiovascular diseases. That’s why patients turn to the Heart and Vascular Institute, where experienced specialists like Drs. Hankins and Cotton employ advanced technology and treatments to address a range of cardiovascular diseases and conditions.
In addition to serving as the region’s only heart transplant center, the institute offers first-rate preventative primary care as well as opportunities to participate in clinical trials.
“When it comes to treating people with heart problems, we have all of the resources right in the community’s backyard,” says Dr. Hankins.
Explore, Care, Heal
Patients of Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute may notice a few things. The place is abuzz with medical staff, including faculty from Penn State College of Medicine and the medical residents they’re training. Patients are the true beneficiaries of this academic environment. “Our residents might pick up something someone else didn’t see,” says Dr. Cotton. “Also, they don’t work in isolation; they’re supported by layers of expertise.” When it come to innovation and research, the institute leads the field, a plus for those with complicated pathologies. “If you
have a condition where you’re not getting better, it helps to come to a place that offers
clinical trials,” says Dr. Hankins. To protect its patient population from COVID-19, which can cause myocarditis, or inflammation of
Dr. Joy Cotton
the heart muscle, the Heart and Vascular Institute was quick to establish rigorous screening and separate facilities for COVID-19 patients. It’s both crucial and safe for patients to go to the doctor for heart-related problems, says Dr. Hankins.
“If you’re experiencing shortness of breath, get it checked out. Don’t hesitate to get the cardiac care you need out of the fear of getting COVID.”
Central to the institute’s mission is keeping patients healthy and away from the operating table. This means educating patients about the telltale signs of a heart attack (suffocating chest pain for men, more subtle symptoms for women) and the importance of “knowing your numbers” for total cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index. Highrisk patients should stop smoking immediately and address diabetes, if they have it. Last but certainly not least, a healthy diet and at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise three to five times a week are essential. “I try to empower my patients,” says Dr. Cotton. “This is within your control. Take hold of it, and you will feel so much better.” H
What to consider before making the decision to start, or stop, taking baby aspirin as a heartattack preventative
Heart disease is the
leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Taking daily low-dose, or baby aspirin, is a known heart attack preventative, but it can also increase the risk of bleeding.
The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recently released new preliminary guidance for using aspirin as a heart attack preventative for people without preexisting cardiovascular disease, such as a prior heart attack, stroke, stent replacement, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) or peripheral artery disease.
Cardiologist Andrew
Sumner, MD, with Lehigh
Valley Heart and Vascular In-
stitute, explains the recommendations and why the decision whether to take aspirin to prevent a heart attack should balance potential benefits with potential risks.
Why is guidance changing?
The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force reclassified some of its recommendations on taking low-dose aspirin as a heart attack preventative for people in certain age groups without known cardiovascular disease based on new research and analysis that weighed risks and benefits. While taking daily low-dose aspirin can reduce the risk of a heart attack, it can also increase the risk of bleeding.
What recommendations are being made?
The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force analysis found that for people age 60 and above, without preexisting cardiovascular disease, the increased risk of bleeding from taking aspirin may outweigh the potential benefit of reducing the risk of a heart attack. For people age 40-59, with an increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years, the benefit of
taking aspirin may outweigh the risk for bleeding. However, individual circumstances may also influence whether someone should consider taking aspirin as a heart attack preventative.
If I have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease should I take low-dose aspirin to prevent a future occurrence?
For individuals who have preexisting cardiovascular disease, being on aspirin has a clear benefit and should be continued.
I do not have preexisting heart disease. Should I take low-dose aspirin as a heartattack preventative?
These recommendations highlight what we have known for many years, which is you need to use the right drug, for the right person, at the right time. For individuals who do not have a history of cardiovascular disease, the benefit of taking aspirin to reduce a heart attack needs to be balanced with the increased risk of bleeding. Many factors, such as age and cholesterol levels, can influence an individual’s own potential risk-benefit of taking low-dose aspirin. Individual care needs to be individualized to the needs of the patient. Decisions to start or stop taking medicine should be made in consultation with your physician.
“You need to use the right drug, for the right person, at the right time.” If I do not have diagnosed heart disease and have been taking low-dose aspirin as a heart attack preventative, should I stop?
I would recommend having a conversation with your physician to make sure you are both comfortable with the risk-benefit of taking, or not taking, a baby aspirin. Wondering if baby aspirin is right for you? Talk with your primary care provider or cardiologist first. Make an appointment. https://www.lvhn.org/ doctors/andrew-sumner H
Personal Care at Wesley Village Personal Care at Wesley Village
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Dr. Katrina Maurer • Fortis Institute/ Scranton From ER Nurse to Nurse Educator F
rom an early age, Katrina Maurer knew she wanted
to be a nurse.
After completing a nursing program after high school, she began her career during a nursing shortage, similar to the shortage today. The context surrounding the beginning of her career allowed her to gain experience quickly. She found herself in the role of charge nurse, managing a team in a hospital unit. She learned the importance of teamwork and building relationships with physicians, physical therapists, other nurses and healthcare professionals. Katrina says, “This interdisciplinary approach is what we are looking at now. We know that a strong team approach is critical to treating patients during COVID-19.” While working as an emergency room nurse, Katrina had the opportunity to oversee student nurses during their clinical experience. While that was only a shortterm experience, she loved it and realized how much she enjoyed the mentoring process. Becoming a nurse practitioner had always been a long-term goal, so
she went back to school while continuing work as a clinician. She also turned her career path toward academia and pursued her doctoral degree in nursing practice (DNP). After earning her DNP, she joined Fortis Institute in Scranton as the Director of Nursing. Katrina reflects on the changes in nursing education since she began training several decades ago. “Today’s nursing students are so fortunate to have access to the software platforms and the learning supports, many of which did not exist when I was a student. Our students really have so many resources that I could not have dreamed of when I was a student. When I was in school, I carried around tons of books. Now the content is digital and interactive.” Fortis Institute in Scranton takes advantage of technological advances in their nursing curriculum. Katrina says, “The virtual labs (VSims) that we have here at Fortis are incredible. Students can learn and practice in an extremely realistic way. They have an opportunity to make mistakes and learn from them. The more opportunities we can give students to practice their skills, the more prepared they will be to meet challenges they will face working with real patients.” A realistic mannequin combined with sophisticated software allows for students to not only practice procedures, but to interact
with the ‘patient.’ Katrina explains, “The nursing instructor controls the software, and we can change ‘patient’ vital signs, and even have the ‘patient’ speak back to the students. All of this is recorded and the students review their own actions, critique themselves and their peers regarding aspects of the simulations including technique, protocols and communication. This critical reflection often ends up being the most valuable part of the learning experience.” Nursing students are taught to think on their feet because, as Katrina explains, “Things do not always go according to plan. Patients do not always respond as we expect them to. Nurses need to be prepared to react quickly to a patient’s change in condition and developing critical thinking skills are crucial to nursing education.”
For Dr. Maurer, the education side of the nursing profession is extremely rewarding. “Watching the Fortis students go from point A to point B is so exciting. Graduates of the "Nurses need to be prepared to Practical Nursing proreact quickly to a patient's change gram at Fortis in condition and developing Institute are prepared to work in doctors’ critical thinking skills are crucial offices, long term care to nursing education." facilities and hospitals.” Interested in training to pursue a career in nursing? Make this year your best year. Contact Fortis Institute at (570) 558-1818 or visit Fortis.edu. H
Is Clickbait Tearing America Apart? (How to Help Stop the Cycle)
Elaine Parke examines what drives the never-ending parade of provocative, clickable headlines—and provides suggestions for removing yourself from the negative news cycle.
before we can swap clickbait for quality information, we need to understand why the negative culture cycle keeps churning. “Content creators are desperate for attention in a crowded market,” says Parke, author of The
Habits of Unity: 12 Months to a Stronger America…one citizen
at a time. “To get more views, they distort information and focus on what’s most shocking, often with little regard to whether their story is exaggerated, true or fair—or to what its impact on society might be.” Consuming so much negative content makes us feel anxious, suspicious and frightened. That’s when we’re susceptible to falling down an internet rabbit hole rife with exaggeration and untruths. (Consider all the political and vaccine misinformation swirling around.)
“The real kicker is, many algorithms promote stories that are triggering and divisive, which means more people read them and create them,” says Parke. “It’s a truly vicious cycle.” We need to take responsibility for the content we consume—but that’s easier said than done. Many people are literally trying to break an addiction to clickbait, says Parke. Her book, The Habits of Unity, was written to help people take charge of what she calls their “mental nutrition.” Much in the same way that we (hopefully) approach the food we eat, we need to develop the discipline to
Clickbait has taken over the news.
We’re bombarded with sensational, shocking and scandalous stories, often at the expense of accuracy and fairness. (Even celebrities who are used to being scrutinized have recently called out the media from their lives and books.)
This unrelenting cycle of dramatic news is upsetting and divisive, says Elaine Parke— and it’s time we changed the dynamic. But
make more nutritious mental choices every day. Her book’s 365 one-“magic”minute-a-day uplifting and enjoyable motivationals make it easy to hardwire these choices into habits. Parke hopes to get everyone focused on the same branded behavior each month:
January: Help Others February: You Count March: Resolve Conflicts April: Take Care of Our Environment May: Be Grateful June: Reach Higher July: Become Involved August: Know Who You Are September: Do Your Best October: Be Patient and Listen November: Show a Positive Attitude December: Celebrate Community, Family, and Friends
The Habits of Unity have been statistically proven to make community-wide behaviors more uplifting and unified—and given time, Parke believes those benefits can extend to our online lives, too.
A few tips:
• Focus on uplifting your own life with the 12-month unity system. Spend a few minutes in the morning reading the “magic minute” for that day, and look for ways to apply it to your life. • Take a break from divisive social and mass media topics for a few days. Find some nourishing mental peace and quiet in nature or with friends and family. For some people, that might mean consuming only content that will be nourishing, encouraging and educational. Others might need to completely unplug for a few days. • On multi-opinioned, potentially divisive topics, make it a personal rule to always research the topic from at least three different types of sources and perspectives before settling on your truth or perspective. Even then, always be open to new information that might change what you think. • Accept the fact that 99 percent of the divisive beliefs out there are not first-hand truths or certainties that are worth arguing with friends and loved ones over.
Finally, Parke reminds us not to allow controversial news to seep too heavily into our personal lives. We are in charge of our own thoughts and our own attitudes.
“When we all hold ourselves accountable for the quality of our mental nutrition, our thoughts and behaviors will change for the better,” she says. “Eventually, social and mass media will get the message that we want to like and share a new, more positive brand of messaging that’s about kindness instead of clickbait.”
For 30 years, Elaine Parke, under the umbrella of the non-profit All of Us, Inc., her scalable and evidence-driven 12 habits of social unity model has transformed several million community citizens and youth across the USA’s Midwest and in Rwanda, helping them feel more caring and connected to one another. In 1993, her monthly branded and colorful habit-forming model was deemed a “Social Invention” by the London Institute for Social Inventions.
Parke spent 25 years finetuning her mass-market media skills in corporate America. Then, in 1987, she redirected her focus to helping people get along better. Parke is certified in public speaking, violence prevention, conflict management and mediation, as well as meditation, and has been a popular speaker in her field of driving health and positive social and civic engagement with managed media strategies. She has been an occasional guest marketing lecturer at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and Carnegie Mellon University. Visit www.12habits4allofus.org. H
Protect Your Heart in Winter
St. Luke’s Cardiologist Offers Advice
says Dr. Vidya Ponnathpur, a cardiologist with St. Luke’s Cardiology Associates.
day spending. Emotional stress can also take a toll on their heart. Because it’s cold and gets dark early and people are busy with the holidays, even those who regularly exercise tend to take a break in the winter months.
Experts are not sure why
this is so, but there are a number of possible explanations.
One is the cold. “In the Northeast, there is cold weather, and exposure to cold causes your blood vessels to constrict. Constriction of blood vessels makes your body release hormones that are not good for the heart. They can increase your blood pressure and heart rate and can precipitate abnormal rhythms,” Dr. Ponnathpur says. Another likely reason for the increase in heart attacks during winter is people who are out of shape or who have existing heart conditions exert themselves shoveling snow. Every year, more than 100 people in the U.S. die while shoveling, statistics show. Some people also suffer from seasonal depression and depression that can cause heart issues. People also can be under stress from holiFinally, he says, people can overindulge over the holidays in foods as well as alcohol that are not good for their heart and they can have trouble getting back on their heart-healthy diets in January. Dr. Ponnathpur’s advice for winter heart protection:
Let someone else do the shoveling if you are out of shape or have a heart condition! If you do shovel, please remember these tips: • Take frequent breaks so that you do not overstress your heart. • Don’t eat a heavy meal before or soon after shoveling as eating a large meal puts extra stress on your heart. • Dress in warm layers. Air gets trapped between the layers of warm clothing and acts as protective insulation. This advice applies to anyone who goes out in the cold in winter whether it’s to shovel snow or any other activity. Find ways to get moving. Your heart is a muscle and it needs work to stay healthy. You might want to move your exercise indoors.
It is also important that you recognize the signs of a heart attack and seek treatment. “Some people may attribute their chest pain to indigestion, especially if they’ve overeaten,” says Dr. Ponnathpur. “If it doesn’t get better quickly or if your symptoms are out of the ordinary for you, don’t wait to seek treatment. If you’re having significant symptoms, don’t postpone seeking attention for any reason. If you’re having a heart attack, the quicker you get attention, the better. Fast action can save lives,” he says
Signs of a heart attack include:
• Tightness or pain in the chest, neck, back or arms
• Fatigue • Lightheadedness • Abnormal heartbeat
• Anxiety • Shortness of breath
• Nausea, vomiting
visit sluhn.org/heart-and-vascular. Beth W. Orenstein contributed to this article. H
An International Awareness Day
World Cancer Day, held on February 4, is the global unit ing initiative led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). The goal of this day is to raise worldwide awareness, improve education and spark personal, collective and government action together to reimagine a world where millions of preventable cancer deaths are saved and access to life-saving cancer treatment and care is equitable for all—no matter who you are or where you live. This year's World Cancer Day's theme, “Close the Care Gap”, is all about raising awareness of this equity gap that affects almost everyone, in high as well as low and middle-income countries, and is costing lives.
Pediatric Cancer Foundation of Lehigh Valley
The Pediatric
Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley (PCFLV) is a local non-profit providing free programs and services to local pediatric cancer patients and their families from diagnosis, into treatment and survivorship, and, in the event of a child’s passing, throughout bereavement.
In 2021, in the Lehigh Valley area, there were 25 children diagnosed with cancer, seven children relapsed, and two children passed away. PCFLV provides programs such as support groups, college/trade school scholarships, a Birthday Club, and Camp Smile (a week-long summer day camp). The Foundation also distributes thousands of dollars each year in gas/grocery/hospital cafeteria and EZPass gift cards, has a Family Assistance Fund to pay for major bills, and offers an end-of-life stipend to bereaved families. For more information on all of PCFLV’s programs and services, visit pcflv.org. PCFLV accepts donations throughout the year, and donations can also be made in memory of or in honor of a loved one. In addition, there are several volunteer opportunities currently available through PCFLV. Visit info@pcflv.org or call 484-221-9294. H
Helping local kids with cancer for over 18 years!
Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley pcflv.org
Safe, Specialized Breast Cancer Treatment at NROC
reast cancer is the
Bmost common type
of cancer in American women other than skin can-
cer. This year, 281,550 women will learn they have breast cancer. Another 49,290 women will learn they have noninvasive (also called DCIS, Ductal carcinoma in situ) breast cancer. (Data supplied by the American Society of Clinical Oncology.) The good news, however is that breast cancer can often be cured, and our treatments continue to improve. Such is the case at Northeast Radiation Oncology Centers, where the most clinically appropriate and technically competent radiation therapy is administered to breast cancer patients, including heart blocking (cardiac protection), prone position (lying on stomach), partial breast irradiation, and hypo fractionation (fewer treatments). In addition to this technological precision, NROC’s staff, including an oncology-certified nutritionist, helps patients and families adjust to what can be a new and overwhelming routine. This is accomplished with ongoing communication and integrative oncology: bringing together medical disciplines and support services so the patient receives the proper care they need and deserve.
NROC remains the only practice of its kind in Northeastern Pennsylvania with APEx® accreditation, and the first to offer many advanced services by a highly knowledgeable team. Readers of The Scranton TimesTribune voted NROC Best Cancer Center for ten years in a row and Best Patient Care for the third time. Visit nrocdoctors.com or call 570-504-7200. H
Who is the cutest of them all?
Sully
A fun-loving and energetic dog who loves to be by his family’s side, Sully enjoys Rail Riders games on Waggin’ Wednesday and other NEPA dog-friendly spots. He lives with his two cat siblings, Nugget and Gracie, along with the Spaid family.
Ruby Do
Ruby Do lived a wonderful 25 years with the Elliott family, who would like to honor her memory.
Ollie
Ollie loves cheese, playing frisbee, playing with his friends and belly rubs. He is very friendly and always brings over toys to play tug of war, says the Johns family.
Nico
Nico feels that it’s his duty to scare away anyone who passes by with his ferocious poodle bark. The Delfino family says he waits by his daddy’s feet, hoping that he drops some of his pizza for him to taste.
Luna
The Fahnestock family says that Luna would play fetch 24/7 if she was given the chance. When someone new comes to the house, she will bring them a ball and beg to play!
Lucy
Lucy is a little dog with a big attitude who loves to bark at invisible monsters, says the Kobilinski family.
Vote for your favorite February pet at
www.HappeningsMagazinePA.com! The winner receives a Happenings bandana!
The votes are in... January’s Pet of the Month is Oliver Congratulations!
Kali
Kali is a gentle giant who’s a tad bit lazy, says the Willis family. She is a protective dog who loves playing catch (briefly), belly rubs and going for walks.
The newest edition to the Tunney family, Charlie loves cuddles and smothering people in kisses. He loves to play and is currently learning a bunch of commands.
Fred
Fred loves chasing birds and chipmunks, the Cristelli family says. He also enjoys playing games and cuddling with his family.
Chloe
Donna and Shawn Casey say 15 year old Chloe is a sweet girl! Loved by all who know her. Enjoys car rides!
Charlie Bella
Bella is a sweet, wonderful companion who enjoys playing with her toys and watching television with the Cordier family. Being 13 doesn’t slow her down one bit!
Toby
The Evans family says Toby is loving, protective and wants to be around his people!
PA Cyber Delivers STEM Learning to Students
About 11,000 students are currently
enrolled at PA Cyber choosing a unique and comprehensive online education. PA Cyber students learn when, how and where they choose. The school engages students in grades K-12 with a diverse curriculum and plenty of extracurricular activities. Girls in Science
High school science teacher Erin Butler has been teaching chemistry and physics for the last 19 years, 16 of which she has spent with PA Cyber as an online educator. “Our inspiration and path in life comes from our experiences,” she says. “That is why it is so important to give all students access to experiences in all fields. I know that the opportunities I had as a girl in math and science shaped who I am today as a science teacher. I love sharing these experiences with my students and cannot wait to see where the polytechnic learning takes them.” In her time with PA Cyber, Butler has been instrumental in STEM-related extracurriculars. Today she leads a Make It Academy workshop called Project High Altitude in which participants release high-altitude weather balloons into the sky that then transmit radio readings back via a microprocessor. Students learn python coding and circuitry so they can collect data and run experiments. She is passionate about adapting science lab experiences to the virtual classroom.
PA Cyber Polytechnic
PA Cyber Polytechnic is one of the online school’s many unique educational offerings, providing students with STEM enrichment opportunities. Students can learn to solve everyday problems through the lens of an engineer. They have opportunities for hands-on and project-based learning where participating students can create, collaborate and be community oriented. The school partners with organizations, such as Protohaven Makerspace and The STEAM Studio, to provide students with in-person and virtual workshops. Some of the projects that students have created include catapults, spin art machines, bike racks and mini food pantries. Many student-built projects are donated to support local Pennsylvania communities. "PA Cyber Polytechnic has offered my sons opportunities to meet students from across the state, develop real-world skills and create something unique,” says Jenn Binus, a PA Cyber parent. “These programs promote caring about the community, which is critical."
STEM Lab on Wheels
Though PA Cyber Polytechnic is not new, it just keeps getting better. With the start of the 2021–2022 school year, PA Cyber introduced its Polytechnic Mobile Lab, bringing hands-on STEM experiences to more students statewide. The fullsized van comes equipped with 3D printers, laser and vinyl cutters, a ShopBot, laptops and more tools for students to take their ideas from conception to fabrication. A trained instructor unloads the lab’s equipment and quickly sets it up where it’s needed—at a classroom, gymnasium, cafeteria or even outside. Students will be able to create simple items as well as design and manufacture complex components of larger engineering projects. Programming is tailored to all age groups, ranging from elementary through high school. A second mobile lab will hit the streets in 2022. “The PA Cyber Polytechnic Mobile Lab is an incredible resource that enables equitable access to STEM learning experiences,” says Eric Woelfel, PA Cyber’s Deputy Chief Operations Officer. “Students now have a digital fabrication laboratory to play, create, learn and invent! The mobile lab gives students in all grade levels the opportunity to experience the STEM movement.”
Comprehensive STEM Opportunities
Another keystone of PA Cyber Polytechnic is an eight-day virtual summer camp for high school students at which experts from more than a dozen universities and colleges explain the multitude of engineering career paths. The school partners with colleges and universities such as Carnegie Mellon University and Pennsylvania State University. PA Cyber’s Family Link program and Regional Offices host many polytechnic-themed enrichment activities for students and their families, both in person and virtually. Some examples include The NASA Moon and Mars Program, Physics Fun with Rockets, Tech Girlz Python Programming and STEAM Day at St. Francis University, plus many others. PA Cyber CEO Brian Hayden says, “At the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, maker thinking is in part a core aspect of the curriculum. The school aims to inspire future engineers, scientists and technologists.” Students at PA Cyber may enjoy flexible schedules, enabling them to cultivate skills beyond the constraints of a traditional school day. They can work, train or volunteer during the day, giving them an edge in future academic and professional opportunities. As a public school, PA Cyber does not charge families for tuition. Every student receives a laptop, printer and all the necessary textbooks and support materials to enrich the educational process. Visit www.pacyber.org/polytechnic. H
Celebrate Women and Girls in Science and Medicine
February 3 is National Women Physician’s Day and February 11 is International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Read on to get inspired!
Over the past few decades, the global community has made a lot of effort to inspire and engage women and girls in science. Too often women and girls were excluded from participating fully in science. In order to achieve full and equal access to and participation in science to further achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, the United Nations General Assembly declared February 11 as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Accomplished Professor Encourages and Equips Female Students to Pursue their Dreams in Science
An associate pro-
fessor of science and mathematics at Clarks Summit University (CSU), Margaret (Peggy) Wright is a shining example for young women hoping to break their way into the
science field. Wright has a B.S. in Biology from SUNY Potsdam and an M.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Scranton. Her professional associations include PA Science Teachers Association, National Science Teachers Association, and many students can attest to her expertise in scientific studies. Wright was born in Pennsylvania but grew up in Martinique in the French West Indies. She then spent her married life in Pennsylvania with her husband, Wayne. This is Wright’s 26th year teaching at Clarks Summit University, where she helps shape the next generation of women in science.
Wright teaches many young women and notes that mentoring teacher’s assistants and students is one of the favorite parts of her job. Wright has mentored many students, including Andrea Sanchez, Hannah Cushman and Mikayla Kupe, young women who have shown great interest in pursuing careers in the sciences. “Mentoring students is not just academic. It’s planning for the future; it’s lifelong. I still have students I mentor from 10 to 15 years ago,” Wright says. These young women aspire to make a difference with their education in various ways and have benefitted from Wright’s teaching. Andrea Sanchez, a junior in the biology program at CSU and hopeful future pediatrician, speaks highly of her professor. “She has influenced
me to really push for what I want,”Sanchez says. “I appreciate how she challenges us in our classes so that we can truly learn and understand the material.”
Mikayla Kupé, a senior in the biology program at CSU and aspiring science professor, admires Wright’s efforts in science as a woman. “I look up to her as a woman in science because she is confident in herself and her abilities,” Kupé says. “Although things have gotten easier for women in science in recent years, that was not the case when she started her science career.”
Hannah Cushman, a senior in the biology program at CSU, appreciates Wright’s teaching style. “CSU’s biology program is intense. Every day in classes, we are met with a vocabulary or diagram quiz, which requires countless hours of studying and preparation. While the program is difficult, it is so rewarding,” Cushman says. “She is an intense professor. She expects and demands the very best from her students, which ultimately holds us as students up to a higher standard.”
Wright believes these handson experiences are beneficial for her students. She has taken her students on multiple trips to places such as Belize, where they would snorkel for six hours a day to focus on interaction of species within the environment, observing behavior and ecological challenges. In a similar trip to South Africa, students studied a different ecosystem of flora and fauna, both marine and land.
In addition to traveling, Wright takes advantage of unique local opportunities to expose her students to concepts, such as the Electric City Aquarium and MTF Biologics, a musculoskeletal transplant facility in Jessup that is one of only two of its kind in the nation. “Personally, I'm a visual learner, and I find it brings the textbooks alive,” she says. “Anyone can teach a textbook. Anyone, with help, could understand a textbook. But it becomes real when you have something tangible you can utilize to understand a concept.” To give them preparation for graduate school, she created a teacher’s assistant program for undergraduate students. CSU’s biology program is unique because it offers undergraduate biology majors the chance to gain experience as teacher’s
assistants. These TAs are able to run labs and work with students, giving them unique experience in their undergrad training that most other schools don't offer until the master's degree level. “This separates them from everyone else who graduates with a biology degree. It gives them an edge,” Wright points out. Cushman, who is a TA in the biology program, enjoys what they get to participate in as Wright’s students. “As a TA, I get to learn about so many different aspects of the lab that as a student, I do not get to experience,” she says. “Leadership is stressed, honesty is valued, diligence is applauded, and
excitement is contagious.” Teaching at a Christian university comes with its own unique challenges and triumphs when it comes to the sciences. Some have argued that science and the belief in God contradict one another. However, Wright would disagree. She says, “At CSU, we are looking through a Christian worldview, but that does not stop us from looking at other theories. I teach evolutionary theory as a theory that's taught and believed and understood in the scientific community. I want students to have the same background. I don’t
see a contradiction between science and the Bible. I see the Bible only supporting the science. Science is not negating the Bible at all.” Andres Sanchez notes that Wright has not compromised her faith in her pursuit of a sciencebased career path. “She has told us stories about how she has defended her faith in the science community. And I look up to her for that; she is rooted in her faith. ” Wright is a role model for her students and mentors, taking the challenges of teaching biblically in stride. Regardless of the setbacks many women face in their careers, especially in scientific fields, Wright offers encouragement to the women pursuing their passions: “You still have to prove yourself in general with any kind of career that we historically think of as being male dominated. Women have always had a role in science. Some of the most important discoveries were made by women. Marie Curie filed her discoveries under her husband’s name. We don’t have to do that anymore. The competition is not necessarily male versus female, but whether or not you know the material and can present the material. I’d tell young women: you have to have enough confidence in yourself and your knowledge and be able to stand up in a predominantly male profession and present confidently.” Wright continues: “I can say women are driven. Women are excited by the fact they actually have the opportunities that in prior generations weren't there. There are not as many obstacles as there used to be. We still have to compete for graduate positions and jobs, but it stands more on capabilities rather than gen-
der.” H –Caitlin Kenny, Clarks Summit University Student
