Health Quarterly January 2025
A Special Supplement to the
SIU Medicine helps infertile couple on path to parenthood:
a story of patience and perseverance
ARTICLE BY: REBECCA BUDDE, SIU MEDICINE
Annie Klemm bounces as she runs to the slide at Sherman Village Park. Annie’s mother, Denise, follows with Baby Lucas on her hip. To nearby observers, Denise Klemm’s interactions with her two young children make motherhood seems so natural and easy. But eight years ago, having a family was anything but easy for Denise and her husband, Kevin, as they tried to get pregnant for more than three years.
The Springfield couple’s path to parenthood set
them on a journey they never anticipated, but one they felt passionately they had to complete. Filled with challenges and emotions, the journey tested their resilience, but also deepened their bond and strengthened their resolve for a happy ending.
“We had no idea if either of us had any fertility issues,” Denise said. “I was frustrated, especially after the ninth month of trying on our own. Every time my period came, I would just cry.” In 2017, after a year of trying to conceive without success, Kevin and Denise sought help from SIU Medicine’s Fertility and IVF Center.
THE FERTILITY JOURNEY
With no significant symptoms or underlying health issues, the Klemms began their fertility journey under the guidance of SIU Medicine fertility specialist Dr. J. Ricardo Loret de Mola and a dedicated team at SIU Medicine. “I met Denise and Kevin in the office for the first time and they really wanted to be parents badly. They were willing to do whatever it took to have children,” Dr. Loret de Mola said.
“Dr. Loret de Mola was a huge impact on us,” Denise said. We also had a very close relationship with our embryologist, Jim Kontio. The entire team—Nathan,
Laura, Jenn, Mayjan, Ally, and Holly—became a part of our journey,” Denise shared.
The couple underwent an exhaustive process, starting with one round of timed intercourse and seven intrauterine inseminations (IUIs). With no success, they moved on to in vitro fertilization (IVF). Denise recalls the commitment and details involved both at home and in the clinic. “It was a lot—a lot of medications, procedures and emotions. It got rough for a long time. Emotionally, I was a wreck. My personal and professional lives began to suffer. Every time I would see a pregnancy
announcement, I would just start sobbing. I was so miserable.” Denise said. “But I was determined to become a mother.”
One of the biggest challenges came when tests determined their fertility issue was due to male factor infertility. According to the National Institutes of Health, infertility issues are attributed to men in one-third of couples, women in another third, and either both partners or unidentified causes in the remaining cases.*“It was something he couldn’t control, but it was hard to process,” Denise said.
Despite the emotional toll, the Klemms persevered, enduring three egg retrievals, five embryo transfers and countless blood draws. But the journey was not without heartbreak. Their first round of IVF failed. A subsequent partial molar pregnancy ended in miscarriage, and the couple had to wait another 6 months before attempting another IVF cycle. Emotions were raw and heightened. “That was probably the angriest I was throughout the whole journey. I had my hopes up, and then it was just a huge stab in the heart,” she recalled.
The dream for anyone pursuing fertility
How to tell if it’s a cold, the flu, COVID-19 or RSV
There’s much to look forward to at the start of winter. The holiday season starts winter off with a bang, while outdoor enthusiasts know their chances to hit the slopes and ski and snowboard are just beginning. Sports fans know January marks the return of the National Football League playoffs, while travelers who need a little winter warmth often designate February as a month to soak up some sun in a faraway locale. With so much to do each winter, it’s especially problematic when you come down with a cold. However, winter tends to be cold and flu season in many areas, as viruses tend to spread more easily when people spend more time indoors. This winter, people may wonder if their sniffles indicate they have a cold, the flu or a sign of something
more serious, such as COVID-19 or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Anyone unsure of what’s behind a cold-like illness is urged to speak with their physician. In addition, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases notes that the common cold, the flu, COVID-19, and RSV present some similar symptoms, but also some unique ones. Though each illness is complex, the frequency with which some symptoms present may indicate which issue a person is dealing with. Knowledge of those symptoms and their frequency can help people determine if the culprit behind their winter illness is a cold, the flu, COVID-19, or RSV.
COLD
• Aches: Sometimes
• Difficulty breathing: Rarely
• Fatigue: Sometimes
• Fever: Rarely
• Loss of taste or smell: Rarely
• Sore throat: Often
• Wheezing: Rarely
FLU
• Aches: Often
• Difficulty breathing: Rarely
• Fatigue: Often
• Fever: Often
• Loss of taste or smell: Rarely
• Sore throat: Sometimes
• Wheezing: Rarely
COVID-19
• Aches: Sometimes
• Difficulty breathing: Often
• Fatigue: Often
• Fever: Sometimes
• Loss of taste or smell: Sometimes
• Sore throat: Often
• Wheezing: Rarely
RSV
• Aches: Rarely
• Difficulty breathing: Sometimes
• Fatigue: Rarely
• Fever: Sometimes
• Loss of taste or smell: Rarely
• Sore throat: Rarely
• Wheezing: Often
Individuals who are concerned by the presence of cold- or flu-like symptoms are urged to speak with their physicians. Though many instances of cold, flu, COVID-19, and RSV will go away without medical intervention, each condition can pose a significant health risk in certain situations.
Tips to kick the common cold
The common cold is appropriately named. According to the American Lung Association, adults get an average of two to four colds per year while children typically get between six and eight colds annually. Colds indeed seem an inevitable part of life, and that may be even more so during winter.
Though colds can strike at any time, Johns Hopkins
Medicine notes that the increased incidence rates of colds during cold seasons like fall and winter may be attributable to the increased amount of time people spend indoors. Extra time indoors means individuals spend more time in tight quarters with other people, which is notable because colds are highly contagious. There might not be a way to avoid colds this winter,
but Johns Hopkins notes there are some strategies that can help treat a cold and potentially lessen its severity.
• Hydrate. A concerted effort to stay hydrated can help your body fight the cold and potentially make you feel better by easing congestion. When
The Healthy Hearing Partnership
ARTICLE SUBMITTED BY:
In my practice I often feel like I wear two hats, one of being a hearing healthcare provider and the second as a marriage counsellor. Good hearing is a partnership between you and us. It’s also a partnership between your family, friends and co-workers. But the most important partner is you. You have probably taken the most important steps already. You recognized you have a hearing loss and have taken steps to make sure you’re hearing as well as possible. You sought professional care. What else can you do to make sure you are hearing as well as possible?
EDUCATE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
Communication is a two-way street. There is a transmitter (speaker) and a receiver (listener). When a person gets hearing aids
for the first time, family and friends feel like the hearing problems have all disappeared. The reality is that hearing aids can improve communication ability by an average of 75%, they can never restore hearing completely because of the permanent damage in the hearing sense organ plus the speaker can place unnecessary burdens on the listener by trying to converse from another room, not speaking clearly or softly or not getting the listeners attention before speaking. Spouses routinely complain that the other isn’t hearing me. Listening is hard and even harder when you have a hearing loss which requires a lot of mental effort and concentration. Here are some tips for family and friends.
1. Before starting a conversation get their attention. A hearing aid user may be watching a TV show intensely and using a
lot of mental effort to hear the dialogue and someone starts speaking out the blue, their focus needs to be shifted from the TV to the speaker. Calling their name helps to divert their attention.
2. Speak to the person. Walls are very good sound barriers and prevent poor conversation from taking place. They may hear you but can’t understand what is being said. Also, people become very good lip readers when they begin to lose their hearing and need to take advantage of any cue available.
3. Speak Clearly. Some people get frustrated when they can’t hear certain people and complain their hearing aid is not working. The bottom line is hearing aids can’t help you hear the person that mumbles or speaks in a very soft voice.
TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR HEARING AIDS. Sometimes it is not always transmitter but the actual receiver, the hearing aid. Hearing aids are sophisticated electronic devices. They require routine care and cleaning. Preventative hearing aid care and maintenance on
hearing aids can be done in a matter of minutes in the office.
OTHER SOURCES OF HELP.
Telephone amplifiers, alerting devices and wireless systems for television can provide additional help for
What to know about seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
There’s much to look forward to when winter begins. Outdoor enthusiasts may relish a return to the slopes to ski or snowboard each winter, while others praise the crisp fresh air and lack of insects as more conducive to activities like hiking.
Winter indeed has plenty to offer, but some people find that less daylight has an adverse effect on their mood. The National
Institutes of Mental Health notes that shifts in mood and behavior that align with changes in the seasons could be indicative of seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD.
WHAT IS SAD?
Johns Hopkins Medicine characterizes SAD as a form of depression in which individuals’ mood and behavior changes when the seasons change. The NIMH
notes SAD is sometimes referred to as the “winter blues.”
IS SAD EXCLUSIVE TO WINTER?
Though SAD can affect people at any time of year, the NIMH reports that most cases of SAD start to affect people in late fall or early winter before symptoms begin to subside during the spring and summer.
Johns Hopkins Medicine
notes researchers believe the shorter days and thus fewer hours of daylight that occur each winter set off a chemical change in the brain that leads to a person experiencing symptoms of depression.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SAD?
The NIMH points out that, since SAD is a type of depression, symptoms of the condition include those
associated with depression. Such symptoms include:
• A persistent sad, anxious or “empty” mood most of the day. This occurs every day for at least two weeks.
• Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
• Feelings of irritability, frustration or restlessness
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness or helplessness
• Loss of interest or
situations that are especially difficult. Smart phones are also feature rich and can help in specific situations.
As an active partner in your hearing healthcare. You have the satisfaction of knowing that you are doing everything possible to hear as well as possible.
pleasure in hobbies and activities
• Loss of energy or feelings of fatigue. Some also feel as if they have slowed down.
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions
• Changes in sleep or appetite or unplanned weight changes
Why handwashing is so important and effective
Winter is historically marked by an increase in people getting sick. That’s because certain conditions common to winter can make it easier for infectious agents to spread. Handwashing becomes even more essential as winter rears its chilly head.
Northwestern Medicine says the body is not as effective at fighting a virus when cold air enters the nose and upper airways. That means the flu, common cold and even COVID-19 can spread more easily in the winter. Also, people tend to huddle indoors where it is warm when the mercury outside drops. That puts people in closer contact with others who may be harboring these viruses or other infectious diseases in their bodies. Individuals often get less exposure to sunlight during the winter, which can adversely affect their natural production of vitamin D. Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to a weakened immune system, which can make fighting illnesses more difficult.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says handwashing is an important step in staying healthy all year long, and especially during the winter when conditions are ripe for the spread of disease. Many
diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean running water. The CDC says that, in addition to the viruses mentioned above, people can become ill from exposure to even small amounts of feces from people or animals, which can contain Salmonella, E. coli and norovirus. It also may spread some respiratory infections like adenovirus and hand-foot-mouth disease. These germs can get onto hands after people use the toilet or change a diaper, but also after handling raw meats that have minute amounts of animal feces on them.
The Cleveland Clinic advises that a person can prevent one in three illnesses that cause diarrhea and one in five respiratory infections simply by keeping hands clean. Germs from
unwashed hands can be transferred to objects like tabletops, door handles and even foods and beverages, which underscores the significance of handwashing.
The best way to wash hands involves some easy steps.
1. You should wash your hands frequently, and especially after using the toilet; changing diapers; before, during and after preparing food; before eating; before touching your nose, eyes or mouth (including handling dentures or orthodontic aligners); after sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose; and when you arrive home from shopping or being in high-traffic public areas.
2. Wet your hands with clean, running water and use soap if it is available. Any soap will do. Antibacterial products are not essential.
3. Lather up for about 20 seconds, says Nemours KidsHealth, and make sure to get in between fingers, on the back of hands and under the nails where germs like to linger. Don’t forget to also wash the wrists.
4. If possible, remove rings and watches before washing hands, or try to at least move the rings to wash under them.
5. Rinse hands well under running water to remove all traces of soap.
6. Dry hands using a clean towel or air dry them. It is best to use paper towels or a single-use cloth towel.
7. Use a clean paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the door in public restrooms. People at home should routinely wipe down faucets and handles with cleansing products to remove germs from these hightouch points. Frequent laundering of towels also can be effective.
Chronic kidney disease causes more deaths each year than breast cancer or prostate cancer, says the National Kidney Foundation®. In fact, the organization characterizes CKD as an under-recognized
public health crisis. The American Kidney Fund® advises that an estimated 35.5 million Americans have kidney disease, and about 606,000 are living with kidney failure. Nine out of 10
people with kidney disease are unaware that they have it. The Kidney Foundation of Canada indicates four million people, or 10 percent of the population, had kidney disease as of 2022. More than 52,000
Canadians were being treated for kidney failure that year. There is no cure for end-stage kidney disease, so individuals must protect their kidney health to avoid irreversible damage.
Did you know?
Concussions
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center estimates that as many as three million sportsand recreation-related concussions happen each year. Young athletes and their parents must be especially mindful of concussions, as the UPMC notes that two in 10 high school athletes who play contact sports will get a concussion this year.
Football might be the
sport most think of when pondering the link between sports and concussions, and the UPMC notes that football accounts for roughly 300,000 concussions each year. However, contact sports such as soccer and lacrosse also put athletes at risk for concussion. In fact, the UPMC notes that girls’ soccer sees the second most concussions of all high school sports.
PARENTHOOD
treatments is a healthy baby, but success can look different for every journey. Outcomes depend on factors like age, the cause of infertility, treatment options and a host of other variables. “SIU’s Fertility and IVF Center’s IVF success rates are 63% for patients under the age of 35, wich is significantly higher than the national average of 40%,” Dr. Loret de Mola shared.
In March 2020, just as the world was grappling with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Klemms faced another failed transfer. But hope arrived that summer, when their fourth transfer succeeded. “I was still incredibly anxious, but everything was perfect,” Denise said. Their daughter, Annie, was born safely, though not
without a final scare— her umbilical cord had a
true knot, a potentially dangerous condition that was fortunately caught just in time.
The Klemm’s journey didn’t end there. In July 2023, they transferred their last embryo. Denise recalls the fear of failure setting in again as it had a few years ago. Her anxiety heightened when she started cramping and bleeding. “This time, I was 100% convinced I was miscarrying again, but thankfully, everything turned out fine,” Denise shared. The last embryo successfully implanted, and the Klemms brought Lucas home to meet Annie in March 2024.
DREAMS ACHIEVED
As Denise and Kevin watch Annie play at the park, they know SIU Medicine was exactly the
COLD
a cold strikes, make sure you drink plenty of the right fluids, which include water, decaffeinated tea with lemon, and broth. Caffeine can cause dehydration, so avoid coffee and caffeinated teas and sodas. Throatsoothing warm liquids like tea and broth can serve dual functions for those whose colds include a sore or dry throat.
• Gargle with salt water. Though it may seem like an old wives’ tale, gargling with salt water can effectively alleviate the pain and swelling of a sore throat. Johns Hopkins recommends a saltwater gargle with about one teaspoon of salt per cup of warm water.
right place with the best possible people to care for her and her family.
“They literally changed our lives for the better,” Denise says. “There was me before going through everything, and then there was me once I became a mother. I am not the same person at all. I am so grateful to Dr. Loret de Mola and the entire team for never giving up on us.”
A particularly memorable moment came after Annie’s birth, when the Klemms ran into their embryologist, Jim Kontio, at the local farmer’s market. “I was holding Annie, and when Jim saw her, he had the biggest smile on his face. It was such a special moment—it felt like everything had come full circle,” Denise recalled with emotion.
For others facing similar
challenges, Denise offers this advice: “Be open and honest. Reach out for support. It’s okay to be happy and sad at the same time. And most importantly, give yourself grace.”
Kevin and Denise’s story is a testament to the power of hope, the strength of perseverance, and the unwavering support of a compassionate medical team. “There is no way to thank them enough,” Denise says. “’Thank you’ just doesn’t seem strong enough when you get what you’ve always dreamt of having.”
To learn more about SIU Medicine’s Fertility and IVF Center, visit siumed. org/fertility-and-ivf-center or call 217.545.8000 to set up an appointment.
• Utilize a humidifier. Johns Hopkins notes that cold hair holds less moisture than dry air. Dry air can worsen symptoms associated with sore throat, so a humidifier can be used to make indoor air more moist and therefore more sooting to a sore throat. Johns Hopkins also reports that dry nostrils are more vulnerable to viruses, so employing a humidifier in winter may help your body more effectively fend off cold viruses.
• Get plenty of rest. Sleep helps to strengthen the body’s immune system, making it more effective at fighting off and overcoming the cold virus. Johns Hopkins recommends adults get between eight and 10 hours of sleep when they come down with a cold.
• Avoid unproven “treatments”. Some cold treatment techniques are ineffective at combatting cold viruses. Johns Hopkins notes that antibiotics are designed to treat bacterial infections, not viruses. In addition, there is little evidence suggesting zinc and vitamin C have any impact on cold viruses.
Colds may be inevitable, but knowing what to do when a cold strikes may help reduce the severity and length of the common cold.
• Physical aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that have no explanation and do not subside even after treatment
• Suicidal thoughts or attempts or thoughts about death
It’s important to note that the above are symptoms of depression that people with SAD may experience. Additional symptoms of winter-pattern SAD include:
• Hypersomnia, or oversleeping
• Overeating that leads to weight gain. The NIMH notes people with SAD may have a particular craving for carbohydrates.
• Social withdrawal
HOW IS SAD TREATED?
People who suspect they have SAD are urged to speak with their physicians. Various treatments, including light therapy, psychotherapy or antidepressant medications, can help to treat SAD. Individuals may also be prescribed vitamin D supplements.
CAN I PREVENT SAD?
The NIMH notes that since SAD is tied to seasonal changes, people can take steps in an effort to prevent it. Starting treatments prior to a change in seasons may help.
Many people experience difficulty when fall transitions to winter, and such troubles may be attributable to SAD. More information about SAD is available at www.nimh.nih. gov.
Fresh air pays dividends, even when it’s cold
The great outdoors beckons millions of people each spring, summer and fall, but far fewer individuals spend as much time outside in winter. However, spending time outdoors can help to improve mood just as much when the mercury drops as it can when temperatures are warm.
The United Kingdom-based Mental Health Foundation reports that nature helps to generate positive emotions such as calmness, joy and creativity. The MHF also notes that connectedness with nature has been linked to lower levels of poor mental health, particularly depression and anxiety.
