In Good Health

in good Apple of my eye Story on Page 16

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Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

September 2012 • Issue 79

Safe haven for refugees

Mohawk Valley opens arms to those in need

Story on Page 5

Child sex abuse

Meet Dr. James Wallace

IGH series continues Story on Page 6

‘The Hammer’ an inspiration Story on Page 17

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Special Back to School Edition September 2012 •

Hay Fever Season Story on Page 14

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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CALENDAR of

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HEALTH EVENTS

Got a health-related activity or event that you would like publicized? Call Lou Sorendo at 315-749-7070 or email lou@cnymail.com.

Hospice & Palliative Care offers bereavement support • Spousal loss grief group—For anyone who has experienced the death of a spouse or partner.

The program starts Sept. 11 and meets from 2-3:30 p.m. for six Tuesdays in a row at Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc., 4277 Middle Settlement Road, New Hartford. Preregistration is required by contacting Janet Benjamin at Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc., 7356487 ext. 271.

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• Adult parental loss—For any adult who has experienced the death of a parent.

The program starts Sept. 11 and meets from 6:30-8 p.m. for four Tuesdays in a row at Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc., New Hartford, p.m. Preregistration is required by calling Linda Clark at 735-6487 ext. 261.

• Pet loss grief support (adults only)—This special bereavement workshop is for adults who are grieving the loss of a pet.

The group will meet from 6:30-8 p.m. Sept. 13 at Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc., New Hartford. Preregistration is required by calling Lisa B. Wolfe at 735-6487 ext. 214.

There is no charge for bereavement groups or workshops. Donations are always appreciated.

Tuesdays

Support group for those in mourning GriefShare meets from 6-7:30 p.m.

Tuesdays at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica.

GriefShare is a faith-based support group.

For more information, contact Andrea, program coordinator, at 735-6210, andrea@thegoodnewscenter.org or visit www.thegoodnewscenter.org.

September

MVPN focuses on health insurance needs The Mohawk Valley Perinatal Network, Inc., 1000 Cornelia Street, Utica, is available to help area residents with their health insurance needs.

Staff can assist in finding affordable health insurance, health care and medications. They can also help con-

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2012

sumers deal with unpaid medical bills.

The Mohawk Valley Perinatal Network can also help individuals apply and recertify for Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus and Medicaid.

The Mohawk Valley Perinatal Network features the following locations: • Mohawk Valley Perinatal Network, Utica, every week day, Tuesday evenings • Addictions Crisis Center, Utica, every Monday afternoon • Utica Community Health Center as requested • Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency offices in Rome, Ilion and Herkimer as requested • Trenton Town Hall, Barneveld, Sept. 4 and Sept. 18 • Herkimer WIC, Sept. 7, 14, 21 • Oneida Northside Medical Building, every Tuesday • Mary Rose Center, Oneida, every Wednesday evening • Waterville Town Hall, every Monday • Community Action Partnership of Madison County, Morrisville, every Monday • Community Action Partnership of Madison County, Canastota, every Thursday Call 315-732-4657 or toll free 1-877267-6193 for an appointment.

Upcoming events The Mohawk Valley Perinatal Network, Inc. will be featuring several events in September that offer education and information to families and health and human service providers.

• The Mohawk Valley Perinatal Network Consortium will present “Delaying Pregnancy: Implications for Fertility and Birth Outcomes” at the Mohawk Valley Perinatal Network office at 1 p.m. Sept. 13.

• North Star Orchards health event, North Star Orchards, Route 233, Westmoreland, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept.

22 Call 315-732-4657 or toll free 1877-267-6193 to find out how you can participate in these events.

Sept. 6

Lymphedema therapy focus of lecture Lymphedema is often a complication of breast cancer as well as diabetes, venous insufficiency, and other diseases or injury.

People suffering from the swelling caused by lymphedema can find relief with a comprehensive lymphedema therapy program.

Rome Memorial Hospital’s certified lymphedema therapist, Megan Jock, will discuss lymphedeJock ma therapy at 7 p.m.

Sept. 6 in the hospital’s classroom.

“During the lecture, I will define the symptoms of lymphedema, its cause, and what to expect from lymphedema therapy,” said Jock.

A Boonville native, Jock earned her doctorate in physical therapy from Utica College in 2009. She earned her lymphedema certification through the Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy.

Health Night is a monthly lecture

Continued on Page 10

Kidney crusaders

H E A LT H F O O D S

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Annual walk raises awareness, funds

By Barbara Pierce

T

he fifth annual Utica Kidney Walk at the Masonic Care Community was everything it was billed to be: a fun, inspiring celebration of life and community fundraiser.

“Kidney disease has become so common and is so serious. The walk is to bring awareness of the disease to the community,” explained Anne Ziemann, media chairperson for the event who resides in Ilion.

Each year, the number of walkers grows.

“We want people to know that kidney disease is on the rise and to be aware of the serious harm it causes people and their families,” said Ziemann.

Once kidneys fail, patients must be on dialysis or have a kidney transplant.

Early detection is important, both to treat the disease and to slow its progression. “The disease is more preventable now, and we want people to know how to prevent it,” Ziemann added.

“We need to take better care of ourselves to avoid it. We need to be screened for the disease if we are at risk,” she emphasized.

“Kidney disease in New York state has increased by 116 percent in the last decade,” said Laura Squadrito, director of programs, National Kidney Foundation of Central New York.

Prevention is the key, Squadrito emphasized. Kidney disease is a silent killer, often not detected until it is too late. Simple tests can detect it. Once kidney function is lost, it is not possible to regain it.

Millions of persons are at risk for kidney disease. High blood pressure and diabetes increase the risk, and are responsible for two thirds of the cases.

In the Mohawk Valley, one in 10 adults is diagnosed with diabetes, the leading cause of kidney disease. One in four is diagnosed with high blood pressure, the second-leading cause.

Those with a family history are at higher risk for developing the disease, as are the elderly, African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans. Giacomo “Jack” Tinelli, a Utica native who lived in New Hartford for many years, struggled with kidney dis-

‘They aren’t alone’

ONEIDA, HERKIMER, MADISON AND OTSEGO COUNTIES in good A monthly newspaper published by

Health MV’s Healthcare Newspaper

Local News, Inc. Distribution: 20,000 copies. To request home delivery ($15 per year), call 315-749-7070.

In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2012 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved. Mailing Address: 4 Riverside Drive, Suite 251, Utica, NY 13502 • Phone: 315-749-7070 Email: lou@cnymail.com Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo Contributing Writers: Patricia Malin, Barbara Pierce, Kristen Raab, Malissa Allen Advertising: Jennifer Wise Layout & Design: Chris Crocker Office Manager: Laura Beckwith

No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement—not to take the place of—the recommendations of your health provider.

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ease for more than half his life. He died in June at age 82.

“The walk is to help families, to let them know they aren’t alone,” Ziemann said. Her family was impacted when her father began dialysis. Tinelli, a Utica native, had struggled half his life with kidney disease, losing a kidney when he was in his 30s because of kidney stones. “He managed to avoid dialysis for a long time, until he was 79,” Ziemann added.

With her dad in his wheelchair, Ziemann walked in the first kidney walk in Utica, in 2008. Her dad was so touched by all the support and caring he received from the community.

Though she has since lost him, she continues to be an enthusiastic volunteer promoter of the kidney walk.

“Everyone in the walk has a story,” she said. There are the joyful parents, carrying their young child who has received a transplant. Children suffer from both inherited and acquired kidney disorders that cause them to need to a kidney to survive.

Walking with the recipients are the organ donors, the incredibly generous persons who have donated one of their kidneys to save the life of another; victims of kidney disease, with their families and friends; and persons of all ages joining together in this important cause. Many teens walk in memory of a loved one.

Also, those who care for the patients walk in support.

This year, Ziemann is especially excited to have seen team member Jean Maneen walking in memory of her husband Tony Maneen. Tony, a cousin of Ziemann, was on dialysis waiting for a kidney transplant when he died. Jean contributes much to the success of the team.

“When you come out and see the people that are affected by the disease, and you hear their stories, you just want to help every single one of them,” said an unidentified participant in a past walk.

Nearly 80 cents of every $1 raised goes to support the programs of the National Kidney Foundation of Central New York, Ziemann explained. Last year, the walk raised $33,000.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 3

Relay for Life

Meet

Your Doctor

Mohawk Valley stages major fundraisers

By Lou Sorendo

Dr. James V. Wallace

By Patricia J. Malin

T

he American Cancer Society’s annual Relay For Life is about remembering friends and family members who have been lost to the disease.

It is just as much about supporting individuals who are still battling cancer and recognizing survivors who believe that the disease will one day be conquered.

That’s why during the memorial ceremony at the Relay for Life in Utica, held recently at Mohawk Valley Community College, organizers asked the crowd to honor Gordy Klatt.

He was the founder of Relay For Life. One night in May 1985, he spent a grueling 24 hours circling the track at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash., for more than 83 miles.

Throughout the night, nearly 300 friends, family members and patients paid $25 to run or walk with him.

Together, they raised $27,000 to fight cancer.

Klatt was recently diagnosed with stomach cancer. He still managed to attend this year’s events in Tacoma and asked participants for their continued support. Thanks in part to the funds directed toward research, almost 12 million cancer survivors are alive, according to the Relay For Life website.

The Utica chapter raised $135,000 this year. Overall, residents of the Mohawk Valley in Oneida, Madison and Herkimer counties raised a total of $815,000.

It’s “an astonishing” amount, according to relay coordinator Robert Elinskas of the American Cancer Society’s Utica office.

The Rome relay topped the list of area fundraisers with $144,000.

Team Liam was the highest fundraiser among teams in Utica with $22,530, the only team to reach the sapphire level. Faxton-St. Luke’s volunteers set up three tents at MVCC during the Relay for Life weekend and raised a combined $11,792.97.

Every participating group set up a tent on campus and signed up volunteers who divided their time between manning the booth and walking the course. Each team was required to have someone walking for 24 hours, from noon Saturday to noon Sunday, including overnight.

As night falls on Saturday, the memorial ceremony begins. Small white luminaria bags are set up around the perimeter of each campsite and illuminated with a small candle. Each one is personalized with the name, photo, message or drawing by a Relay For Life participant or supporter in memory or honor of a friend or loved one who has been affected by cancer.

All the participants then gather around the stage. Prayers are offered for the deceased. A cancer survivor speaks to the crowd and lights one large candle, whose flame is then shared with the team captains. The captains return to their teams and light each volunteer’s candle. The entire crowd then walks one lap in silence around the darkened campus.

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Dr. James Wallace joined Sitrin Medical Rehabilitation Center in New Hartford as director of physical therapy in May of 2009.

Recently, Mohawk Valley In Good Health Associate Editor Lou Sorendo interviewed Wallace regarding his career and outlook on his profession.

Q.: What do you specialize in?

Can you give us a brief outline of what your primary duties consist of?

A.: I specialize in vestibular rehabilitation and implement a concussion management program. Other duties include overseeing inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient and wellness center staff and programming. I also coach an adaptive Nordic ski and biathlon program as part of Sitrin’s STARS (Success Through Adaptive Recreation and Sports) paralympic program. I am also a United States paralympic national Nordic skiing classifier working toward becoming an international classifier.

Q.: Why did you choose this particular specialty? What were some of the motivating factors that led you in this direction?

A.: I suffered through a bout of vestibular neuronitis that went undiagnosed for quite some time, secondary to what I feel was a lack in symptom recognition involving many different health care providers. Since then I have strived to help those who may be in a similar situation and take great care to listen to my patients’ symptoms in order to effectively treat and manage their symptomology.

Q.: What influenced you to explore the world of medicine as a career? Do you see it as a calling?

A.: Physical therapy was a natural choice for me to pursue following my undergraduate education in Colorado. I wanted a profession that I knew I could truly make a difference and I believe in accountability in each individual’s decision making when it comes to health and wellness. I felt and still believe physical therapy is a profession that best meets these needs.

Q.: What do you find most gratifying about your profession?

A.: I love problem solving and every patient interaction engages that aspect. It is a very gratifying experience when I can help people achieve their goals

Q.: How about the most challenging?

A.: Honestly, challenges are only opportunities to make situations better.

Q.: What are some of the more common health issues you encounter with your patients? What are some of

the more common treatment options?

A.: Obesity is by far the #1 co-existing problem that I see. Education and accountability are key. At this point, insurance companies do not reimburse for prevention concerning this

Continued on Page 8

Lifelines

Birth date: Sept. 7, 1976 Birthplace: Kingston, Ontario, Canada Current residence: Westmoreland Education: Doctorate, physical therapy, SUNY Upstate Medical University; bachelor’s degree, exercise science/health promotion n the August edition of Mohawk Valley In Good Health, there were and wellness, Western State University of Colorado two errors that appeared on Page 13.

Affiliations: American Physical Therapy Association Florence Hagan went to Faxton Personal: Married with three children St. Luke’s Healthcare, and has been a Hobbies: Spending quality time with family, Nordic skiing, readmember of the St. Elizabeth Medical ing clinical literature, and staying healthy Center Guild for 50 years.

Corrections

I

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2012

Seeking refuge Mohawk Valley opens arms to refugees from all points of the world

By Patricia J. Malin

F

or 15 years when he lived in Egypt, Abdelshakour “Shakour” Khamis was too busy making a living and trying to avoid forced deportation to be concerned about his health.

Fortunately, his health was not as worrisome as the constant wear and tear on his mental health amid concerns about his safety and living conditions as a refugee. When the United Nations finally granted him refugee status in 2002, he passed the mandatory medical tests before he left Egypt and was able to obtain asylum in the United States.

Eventually, he found his way to the Mohawk Valley Center for Refugees on Genesee Street in downtown Utica.

He was screened again for any medical problems at the Oneida County Health Department within days of his arrival here. Today, he remains Khamis healthy and gets routine care.

He is now employed in the information technology department at the center and has benefits, including health insurance. During World Refugee Day, which was observed with activities in Utica from June 16-23, Khamis and officials from the center spoke about the plight of immigrants, how they are brought to this country, and how their lives have improved thanks to services provided by The Mohawk Valley Center for Refugees and a combination of county, state and federal agencies.

Observed worldwide, World Refugee Day raises awareness of the plight of refugees. MVCR seeks to honor the courage, strength and determination of women, men and children who are forced to flee their homeland under threat of persecution, conflict and violence.

Flight to freedom

Khamis, 39, is a native of Darfur, western Sudan, the largest country in Africa. It is one of the most violent and impoverished places in the world thanks to two decades of civil war.

Forty percent of the country lives below the poverty level.

In 1987, when he was 12, he left his family and his homeland to get away from the crisis and walked for several days to get to nearby Egypt, on the northern border of Sudan. He spent most of his teen years in a refugee camp.

“I saw the problems of our country, and still after 20 years, it’s not over,” he said.

While Khamis wouldn’t trade in his secure life in Utica, he does miss his family, including his 80-year-old mother. Contrary to the limited perception of Westerners, people in Darfur and Sudan used to have a good standard of living before the war, though very different from what we expect in

the U.S. Most people lived on family farms and raised their own animals and crops for food, he explained. He was asked if he received any medical attention while he was growing up. “No,” he replied, “not like the Western system.

We used herbs to treat most types of illness.

“If it was a stomach ache, we would use a bitter seed called boro alba. For headaches, we had a remedy called azuma. We tied a string around our head after dipping it in herbs. If we had something serious, then we had to travel to a clinic, but they were limited.

We didn’t have any in the villages.

They are in the cities very far away.

Then we would have to be transported to a hospital. I was never sick. I was always very healthy. But I think people are very healthy in my country. Some of them live to be 100,” he said.

While living in Cairo, Egypt, though, he said he did go to the hospital for treatment of severe headaches.

He also put himself through school and took an interest in computer science.

He studied English at home, but began taking more English lessons while in Egypt. He speaks five languages now, including French, Arabic and his native tongue known as Fur. He noted that many Africans learn other languages at an early age because they travel to and are exposed to people from neighboring countries, including Egypt, Chad, Libya and Ethiopia.

He earned two college degrees and taught English in an Egyptian school.

“Now I’d like to a get another degree (from a U.S. college) and maybe get my master’s,” he said.

Khamis was not necessarily unhappy during his early years in Egypt.

Conditions for some refugees then changed suddenly in 1995. “There was an assassination attempt on the Egyptian president (Hosni Mubarak), and the government blamed Sudanese immigrants,” he said. “I was still a student. I had already applied for asylum, but my case was still waiting. All of us Sudanese had problems. We had to convince the UN that individuals were being targeted.”

It took almost a decade before Khamis was able to emigrate and the waiting was obviously tortuous.

“It took seven years for (the UN) to reconsider,” he said. “I was working with many different (refugee) organizations, but we had no control over the process. We had no rights and many people were deported.”

Many nations take in refugees and Khamis said he had no choice. However, in Cairo he had been working in computer technology for a company with ties to Michigan. The former executive director of The Mohawk Valley Center for Refugees, Peter Vogelaar, was also associated with the firm and came to know Khamis. Incidentally, Vogelaar recently stepped down from his position in Utica to take a job in Cairo.

manager at MVCR. “Most of them had no access or limited access to healthcare. All refugees are screened, almost always within seven days of arrival, and sometimes their appointment is set up even before they’ve left home,” Skahan said.

Immigrants with chronic illnesses will have difficulty entering another country, but it’s not totally prohibitive.

Until recently, the refugees who arrived in Utica were almost immediately sent to the Oneida County Health Department to have their health condition re-evaluated. Now they are referred to a private company called IMA (Industrial Medical Association), which is located at 430 Court St. There are nearly 400 resettlement communities in the U.S. Refugees are usually sent to a community at random or occasionally assigned to a specific city, and families get to stay together.

On a mission

The Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees’ stated mission is “to promote the well-being of culturally diverse individuals and families within the region by welcoming new neighbors, refugees and immigrants, and by providing individual and communitycentered activities designed to create opportunity and facilitate understanding.”

In addition to referring newcomers

to local doctors and healthcare agencies, MVCR spends one year teaching them basic health education. “We teach them what a doctor does and what a prescription is,” said Skahan.

“We help them with medical forms and give them referrals to pharmacies.

We tell them what happens when they go to the emergency room or urgent care center and what happens when they dial 911. We help them with their compliance with prescriptions, for example, taking medicine four times a day and all about antibiotics. We also teach prenatal care, and they learn about the flu, diabetes, smoking cessation, nutrition and diet. Most of them have been chronically malnourished their entire lives,” Skahan said.

MVCR enrolls refugees immediately in English language classes and helps them adjust to American culture in other ways, Skahan added. “The new arrivals will be coming to the refugee center every day for English classes for months, and this is the first place they come to if they have any kind of problem,” she said.

Skahan coordinates the traffic safety program, for example, with aid from the Utica Police Department.

“We teach about 1,000 people a year, and we’ve distributed 1,000 child safety seats over the last three years,” she said.

Whole new frontier

Before he got clearance to leave Egypt, Khamis, like all refugees, received a thorough medical screening.

“After spending many years in refugee camps, they need basic care and screening,” said Jean Skahan, the training September 2012 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 5

The Ragin’ Cajun

By Malissa Allen

Child sexual abuse Writer tells her story of how she was violated sexually as a child Editor’s note: This is the first segment in a three-part series addressing the issue of child sexual abuse.

H

ot summer days, swimming in the same ponds we fished in, riding with my grandpa on his great big tractor, thinking he was the coolest “cowboy” ever.

Meals such as purple hull peas, corn bread, fried chicken and fried okra, made to perfection every time. When I think of my childhood, I like to think of things just like this. But, it doesn’t take long for the dark memories to overshadow what happy ones I did have.

The sounds, the smells, the guilt, the pain; things a small Allen child has no business knowing. I think back and wish I would have fought back, defended myself, or had the self-esteem to not want the attention, even if it was destructive attention. To have not known what sex was at 4 years old. I am embarrassed just saying that. Can you imagine a lifetime of these feelings?

I wonder what my life would have turned out like had I not been subjected to sexual behaviors with grown men and older boys. Not strangers, family members. People I had to see all the time. I felt their evil stares everywhere.

Would I trust men? Would I be happily married? Would I not cringe over a simple hug thinking it feels just a little too tight? When the memories come crashing through, so does the instant feelings of shame.

Shame, that I “let” that stuff happen to me. I have spent my entire life hiding a dark secret. It’s a secret that destroyed the little girl in me and turned my young, innocent mind into an adult without the ability to attach myself to anyone long enough to make any relationship work.

Except the life I have with my children. I was 4 years old when it first started. Jump forward now, to today. I still feel shame, disgust, betrayal, low self-worth and battle depression daily.

When I first told you that I was going to do a series on women that had been through what I had survived, I was really not prepared for the response I would receive when this series became public. The women who have written in to say “thank you”, or “I am not alone” have been amazing. I also discovered that there are friends of mine that have been down the same road I have with sadly, many of the same traits.

Stories of broken homes, odd behavior and attention seeking. Some spoke of suicide attempts, and miscarriages of the abuser’s unborn children.

Different circumstances, yet the same outcome.

Page 6

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Therapy, loneliness, guilt, shame, troubled relationships, and feeling like life was robbed from them. These women are heroes. They are warriors surviving the worst of wars, the enemy being their own family.

My first warrior I have known my entire life. I refuse to shine the light on these ladies by revealing who they are; they have been through enough shame.

I will let her tell her own story, speak her own truth, face her own demons, even if on paper. If you suspect a child is suffering at the hands of an abuser, please if you do nothing else, rescue that child. Their innocence is worth every struggle an adult will face. If you know a child that has suffered from abuse, love them; they will need it all through life.

The neighbor

Being born the middle child, I have experienced most of the middle-child syndromes. I found myself always needing more attention than I got, always wanting to do something yet being told I was too young, being told to leave my older siblings alone, being told I am older and should give my younger siblings what I was playing with.

Always wanting, needing and never receiving is what led me into the situation that I found myself as a child.

I don’t remember the exact age it all started but I remember so well how it started.

A much older male relative who lived down the street asked me to go with him to take care of some things behind his house. I found this so exciting that he had wanted me to go with him.

Wow. Instead of my usual “no you can’t do that” I had someone who wanted to spend time with me, wanted to talk to me and wanted to do things with me. After getting me alone and talking softly and sweetly to me and making me feel so good about myself, he asked me to do some things that I didn’t understand.

As a child I was told to always obey adults and I was afraid that I

Take action In Herkimer and Oneida counties, the YWCA Mohawk Valley provides 24-hour crisis services for child and adult victims and survivors, including a confidential hotline, advocacy and accompaniment throughout police, hospital, and legal procedures, counseling, support group, information, and referrals to other services.

It doesn’t matter when the abuse or assault occurred. Services are provided regardless and are free and confidential.

The YWCA’s hotline numbers are: 866-0748 in Herkimer County and 797-7740 in Oneida County.

Additionally, Oneida County operates a child advocacy center that works with child victims of sexual abuse and/or severe physical abuse in this county.

To get help, people can call 732-3990. would get into trouble if I didn’t obey this man because, after all, he had just told me not to tell anyone or both of us would get into trouble. So what was I to do?

I was always getting into trouble with my mother because I didn’t do what I was told without asking questions. I never thought of myself as a rebellious child, just curious. I just liked to understand things that were going on so I would ask a lot of questions and wait for the answers and understand before I did things. That was not the way my mother wanted things done. I wish I had asked more questions to this adult male.

I did ask one but was told to just try it and see what would happen.

When I didn’t follow his instructions, he didn’t respond in the usual aggravated way my mother had always responded to me. Of course I was curious like any other child would be and he made it sound like it would be so much fun and so exciting. So when I refused to touch my relative in places I didn’t want to touch, he took my hand and forced me to touch him.

And as time went on, I was forced to do more.

That was the beginning of many

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2012

years of abuse from him. I loved playing with the kids next door but would always be aware of the time of day when this man came home from work.

I wouldn’t be anywhere around so he could trap me into being alone with him. That put a lot of stress on me.

I would be playing and having such a good time with the neighbor kids and then I would see his car coming down the road and would stop playing and run to my house. The other kids didn’t understand what was going on so they didn’t know why I would just stop playing and leave. I wasn’t about to explain my actions because I was warned that bad things would happen if I told anyone our secrets. I did get brave one time and asked one of the girls if he kissed them like he tried to do with me, and was told that he was just very loving and affectionate. After that answer I never asked anyone else.

I knew what he was doing to me was wrong but some how I just couldn’t figure a way out of it. My running away caused my friends to get upset with me, therefore causing problems between me and other kids. So I got to the point where I just wanted to play alone in order to have some control over the situation. That was the beginning of my control issues.

This was also the beginning of years of stress in my life and I had no idea how to deal with it. The amount of stress I experienced was unbelievable but no one seemed to notice—or if they did they didn’t ask any questions.

I guess my parents got so caught up in everyday living and working that they didn’t see all the little changes that were happening to me when the abuse started. For a time my neighbor would leave me alone and that would cause me to feel a little relaxed but then he would start it again.

Later I found out that when he wasn’t bothering me, he was trying the same things with other girls.

Having already dealt with one dirty old man, there came another one trying to do the very same things to

Continued on Page 13

Kids’ Health Screening children for high cholesterol Controversy arises in pediatric world concerning early testing do make a difference. For example, he saw an 11-year-old boy with a cholesterol level of 280. After 14 months of treatment, the boy is now down to 140.

“If he hadn’t been identified, he would have a massive heart attack at age 26, like his father,” he said.

By Barbara Pierce

M

ost parents don’t think about what cholesterol means for our kids.

As adults, we check our own levels, but it’s an adult thing, right? We don’t need to be concerned about our kids.

Or do we?

Lately there is controversy within the pediatric profession about this since a panel of experts recommended that all children be screened for high cholesterol, screened between the ages of 9-11, and again between 17-21.

All children should have a lipid profile to measure total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.

HDL, or “good cholesterol,” carries cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it’s processed and sent out of the body, and might even help remove cholesterol from existing plaques. High levels of HDL can protect the circulatory system, whereas high levels of LDL increase the risk for heart disease and stroke.

Too much LDL, or “bad cholesterol,” in the bloodstream can build up on the walls of the arteries that lead to the heart and the brain. This buildup forms plaque—a thick, hard substance that can cause blood vessels to become stiffer, narrower, or blocked.

Atherosclerosis is the name for hardening of the arteries. If a blood clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, the result can be a heart attack or stroke.

Atherosclerosis can also diminish blood flow to other vital organs, including the intestines or kidneys.

Danger ahead

High levels of cholesterol are a major factor contributing to heart disease and stroke. Three major factors contribute to high cholesterol levels: a diet high in fats, especially saturated and trans fats; heredity, and obesity that is related to both diet and lack of exercise.

And, with the dramatic increase in childhood obesity, more and more kids are at risk.

Until now, only children consid-

Ask your doc

ered at high risk for cholesterol problems were routinely screened, those with a known family history of high cholesterol or premature coronary artery disease. One in 500 children has an inherited disorder that causes high levels of LDL cholesterol that may require statin medication to control.

However, since the problem doesn’t create observable symptoms, as many as half of these children don’t know they have the condition. The recommended screening would identify kids at risk.

Reactions to the recommendation have been mixed.

“The issue is not whether it should be done, but what do you do with the results?” said Douglas W. Teske, director of preventive cardiology for Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. “Parents don’t want their children on medication at that young age. They would rather give it a good try with eating right, weight loss, and exercise.”

And no one knows the effect of statin medication on a fetus. So potential pregnancy is an issue for a female, he added. It’s not unusual to see girls 16 or younger giving birth. When a

doctor prescribes a statin, the girl must be on birth control.

Testing can save lives

The testing is positive, as it will identify a child with an abnormal profile at a young age, said Teske. Statins

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Other clinicians express concern that screening may do more harm than good. To identify the relatively small number of kids who really need medical treatment, doctors cast a wide and expensive net that identifies many children as at risk who will never develop premature cardiovascular disease, says Matthew Gillman, director of the obesity prevention program at Harvard Medical School.

Some of those children will probably be needlessly put on cholesterollowering medications, he says.

Teske recommends all children have their cholesterol levels checked between the ages of 9-11, as high cholesterol levels will damage the child’s blood vessels.

“Ask your pediatrician for it, just for your peace of mind,” he added.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 7

Back to School Helping your kids make friends Don’t let your child be lost in isolation

By Barbara Pierce

T

he kids are heading back to school, to a new teacher and new classmates. While some thrive on making new friends and learning new things, for others it’s difficult.

It’s heartbreaking for a parent when your child comes home and says he doesn’t have any friends and nobody likes him. You’ve been there; you know how cruel kids can be. You want to wrap him up and protect him.

You want to ensure that he has plenty of friends, that he feels liked.

Children who struggle with making friends often struggle with anxiety and depression. They are more likely to get into trouble and drop out of school.

One of the most important things a child learns during childhood is how to make friends, said Greg Kovacs, executive director, Samaritan Counseling Center of the Mohawk Valley.

“What happens in peer relationships affects family, school, and community dynamics in powerful ways. It affects emotional and behavioral adjustment and academic success,” he said.

Learning to build friendships is one of the most important ways that children develop into well-rounded, emotionally healthy human beings.

Through friends, a child develops empathy, leadership, self-confidence, and a sense of humor. It helps a child learn to regulate his emotions, and to see and value other perspectives, added Kovacs.

Finding one’s identity

Most importantly, he added, friendships form the bedrock upon which the conception of “who am I?” really sits. It shapes his sense of self.

To a child, having even just one good friend can make a huge difference. As much as you would like to step in, you can’t. You can help your

child become better at making and keeping friends by teaching them three skills: • How to break the ice with kids they haven’t met before • How to act positively with others • How to manage conflict constructively First, you need to figure out what your child is doing right and what he needs to learn to do better. Objectively observe him, and compare his interactions to those of other children.

For example, does he interrupt others, act aggressively, or pout when things don’t go his way? Or, is he shy and quiet, afraid to try new activities, or reluctant to join a group? Identify the skills that your child needs.

Then, explain to him the steps of the skill he needs to learn. For example, “You told me you’d like to be friends with Joey. To be friends, the first thing

Meet

Your Doctor

By Lou Sorendo

Doctor shares perspective on state of healthcare Continued from Page 4 disease. So treatment options from my standpoint for this disease are unfortunately indirectly addressed through exercise and education.

Q.: Do you see more medical students choosing your specialty? Why or Page 8

•

why not?

A.: I think there continues to be a small amount of clinicians who choose to pursue vestibular rehabilitation, most likely because of awareness. A good concussion management program incorporates vestibular rehabilitation as the literature points to the fact that

you need to do is to go up to him, and say something like ‘Hi, my name is Casey. Want to play with me during recess?’”

Help him practice the skill. “Pretend I’m Joey and introduce yourself to me. What would you say?”

Give him constructive feedback.

Always start by praising what he did right. Find some thing, even a very little thing, to praise. Then help him understand what he needs to improve on.

Teach, don’t criticize.

Provide support to your child.

Listen to what she says happened between her and a friend. Then help her learn better ways to handle a similar situation in the future.

Do as I do

One of the most important ways that parents can teach their children

up to 80 percent of individuals reporting physical symptoms benefit from it. This probably will drive more physical therapists to specialize in neurology and vestibular rehabilitation.

Q.: What do you see as some of the more prevalent health threats facing Americans today?

A.: Obesity is definitely prevalent. I think access and affordability are even greater threats to society. Prevention will therefore be even more important.

I don’t think people realize how important regular health screenings are. What I love to see begin to happen is having insurance companies cover physical health screens performed by physical therapists. We have a plethora of tools that are standardized assessments that can identify physical health risks and therefore provide intervention and education to maximize health and wellness.

In the long run, this could save insurance companies and more impor-

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2012

social skills is to model them, said Kovacs. Make small talk with the bank teller and store clerk, or smile and say hello as you pass by others. Don’t gossip or make negative comments about people.

Help your child develop empathy by pointing things out to him, like: “That clerk we just talked to looks really sad doesn’t she?”

Set up opportunities for your child to socialize with others. Invite possible friends over for play dates. Sign him up for group activities such as art, music, or martial arts. Give him lots of unstructured time to play with others.

When things are hard for your child, don’t panic. Go ahead and empathize with your child’s pain, but keep it in perspective. Making friends is a lifelong process and will have its ups and downs. Listen to him and acknowledge his feelings.

Don’t panic on her behalf, or she will think there is truly a cause for concern. If you’re calm, she will see that there’s no reason for alarm. From this, she will learn to calm herself in future scary situations.

And, because you can’t supervise the social interactions of your middle school child, it becomes so important for parents, not only to know who their child’s friends are but to really get to know them, said Kovacs. This is a challenge in this age of text messaging, Facebook, and other social media.

Keep tabs on your child’s friendships by volunteering to drive friends to sporting events or to the mall, or invite them over for overnights or for dinner.

Volunteer in your child’s activities.

And, yes, parents should not allow unsupervised access to cell phones, text messaging, Facebook, or other social media—parents have a right and responsibility to access the content of these interactions.

tantly society a lot of monetary resources and more importantly improve an individual’s quality of life.

Q.: As far as the U.S. healthcare system is involved, what improvements would you like to see that will improve access to quality healthcare?

A.: Devise a way to truly give people choice and limit unnecessary spending. Encourage individual accountability to stay healthy and reward that with economic incentives.

Q.: What do you see as the strengths of “Obamacare?” How about its weaknesses?

A.: Strength: The focus on prevention is wonderful! Weakness: lack of unified support and lack of a clear defined solution in the plan to improve our current situation. At least it has forced a discussion to happen in America because in order to remain a global influence, we need to be both healthy and educated.

Back to School Sports and the fairer sex Girls benefit from competition in sporting arena

By Amylynn Pastorella

W

ith the school year in full swing, many things are on the minds of students.

While many students are gearing up for academics, there are many girls who also have interest in other school activities such as sports.

Many female students are interested in staying active with a sport during the school year. There are many experiences girls take with them by playing sports other than fitness.

Rachael Piper, 17, of Sauquoit, has been playing sports since she was 5 years old. She says that sports are a good source of exercise but, for her, it gives her a chance to do something daring as well.

Piper’s main focus is playing field hockey, but has played basketball and ran track.

“I like to play school sports because I am not a big people-person.

I am really shy, so just working with kids I go to school with is good for me.

Sports have not only helped me stay in physical shape, but serve as a challenge,” said Piper.

“Sports have also helped me have a more competitive thought such as going for the roles in school plays, having the best GPA, even in filling out college applications,” she says.

According to Piper, playing sports is a way to dispel the myth that girls need to be “prim and proper.”

Time to let loose

Having sports allows girls to have a feeling of freedom and to let loose, which everyone needs now and then,

she noted.

Learning about Title IX during a history lesson on the feminist movement, Piper appreciates the opportunity girls have to become aspiring athletes and play sports.

“Most girls out there do not realize that Title IX is where we get our freedom to play high school and college sports,” said Piper.

Similarly, Michael Plonisch, basketball coach for Notre Dame in Utica, sees sports as an outlet for girls to develop leadership skills, a strong work ethic, a competitive attitude, experience team building and work together.

Sports offer the opportunity for girls to learn how to work for what they want not on the playing field and inside the classroom, but in life.

Having been a coach for 10 years, Plonisch is going on his fourth year as the head coach of the Notre Dame girls’ varsity basketball program. With a mix of experience and playing sports himself, Plonisch teaches his players how to win off the basketball court.

“Girls who play sports tend to do better in school. They stay active and I feel that helps them stay focused, which translates to better performance in the classroom. Sports help build character and also help girls deal with common pressures, he added.

“It gives them the opportunity to handle situations that can be related to real life,” said Plonisch.

Confidence booster

Sports also boost self-confidence.

Girls who play sports feel better about themselves. Why? It builds confidence when you

KIDS Corner Tobacco use remains high

T

obacco use among American middle school and high school students showed a slow decline from 2000 to 2011, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But when compared with other long-term studies, such as the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the steep rate of decline from 1997 to 2003 has slowed noticeably. The report published in August shows that in 2011 nearly 30 percent of high school

males and 18 percent of high school females used some form of tobacco. More than 8 percent of middle school males and nearly 6 percent of middle school females used some form of tobacco in 2011.

The report indicates that though tobacco use continued an 11-year downward trend, tobacco use remains high among high school students.

For example, among black high school students, cigar use increased

know you can practice, improve, and achieve your goals. Sports are also a feel-good activity because they help girls get in shape, maintain a healthy weight, and make new friends.

Another benefit is that exercise in sports cut the pressure. Playing sports can lessen stress and help girls feel a little happier. How? The brain chemicals released during exercise improve a person’s mood. Friends are another moodlifter. And being on a team creates

tight bonds between friends. It’s good to know teammates will support each other both on and off the field.

Whether it be one or more sports, girls who play sports take many life lessons with them. Plonisch advises girls that if the interest to play sports is there, go for it.

“Everyone should have an opportunity [to play sports] and if the student is hard working, there will always be a place for them in that program,” said Plonisch.

significantly from 7.1 percent in 2009 to 11.7 percent in 2011. In 2011, cigar use among high school males (15.7 percent) was comparable to cigarette use (17.7 percent). Cigar use includes the use of cigarette-like cigars that can be packaged and smoked like typical cigarettes, but are taxed at a lower rate, making them more appealing and accessible to youth. While they contain the same toxic chemicals as cigarettes, no cigars are subject to restrictions on flavorings and misleading descriptors such as “light” or “low tar,” according to the report.

Nearly 25 percent of high school males and more than 17 percent of high school females used some form of smoked tobacco product in 2011, while smokeless tobacco use among high school males (12.9 percent) was 8 times higher than among high school females (1.6 percent).

“An overall decline in tobacco use is good news, but although four out of five teens don’t smoke, far too many kids start to smoke every day,” said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden. “Most tobacco use begins and becomes established during

adolescence. This report is further evidence that we need to do more to prevent our nation’s youth from establishing a deadly addiction to tobacco.”

The study, “Current Tobacco Use Among Middle and High School Students—United States, 2011,” published in August in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report reported no significant declines in the use of any tobacco product among middle school students from 2009 to 2011. However, cigarette use declined from 19.2 percent in 2009 to 15.8 percent among Hispanic high school students.

The report reaffirms the need to return youth tobacco use trends to the more rapid rate of decline seen from the late 1990s through 2003. To further reduce tobacco use among young people, the 2012 Surgeon General’s Report recommends making tobacco products less affordable, running hard-hitting mass media campaigns, and evidence-based tobacco control and prevention programs that work in conjunction with new restrictions on the sale, distribution, and marketing of cigarettes and other tobacco products to youth.

September 2012 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 9

CALENDAR of

HEALTH EVENTS

Continued from Page 2 series, sponsored by Rome Memorial Hospital. Advance registration is not required. Refreshments will be served.

Rome Memorial Hospital’s classroom is located on the second floor of the hospital. Participants are asked to enter the North James Street entrance of the hospital.

Sept. 7

CNY Diabetes Education Program to hold clinic Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare’s Central New York Diabetes Education Program will hold a free “Knock Your Socks Off!” podiatry clinic for people with diabetes on Sept. 7.

The event will take place at noon at the CNY Diabetes Education Program office located on the fourth floor of the Faxton Campus of FSLH, 1676 Sunset Ave., Utica.

An area podiatrist will conduct a brief educational seminar followed by a personal foot exam. For more information or to register, call CNY Diabetes at 315-624-5620.

The Central New York Diabetes Education Program is a cooperative ef-

fort of FSLH and St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica.

Sept. 11

Oneida County supporting food drive for vets Oneida County government will be supporting a regional service project aimed at helping needy veterans and their families, according to Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. “Oneida County will join the Mohawk Valley Regional Volunteer Center, other government and community partners from across the region and across the nation, in the Sept. 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance,” Picente said.

“We are collecting non-perishable food items to be donated to local organizations that serve the needs of our veterans. I believe this is a very worthwhile and important community service project,” he added.

A drop-off box for non-perishable food items will be located at the Oneida County Public Market at Union Station, which is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

Sept. 12

Good News Center features Upstate Cerebral Palsy schedules family expo luncheon series The Good News luncheon series will feature Father Peter Murray from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 12 at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica.

Murray’s presentation will focus on the life of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, who will be canonized a saint in October.

For details and registration, call The Good News Center at 315-735-6210 or visit www.thegoodnewscenter.org.

Sept. 12

YMCA Corporate Cup Challenge on tap The YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley will host the silver anniversary of the YMCA Corporate Cup Challenge on Sept. 12 at Kanon Valley Country Club, Oneida.

The tournament is a fundraiser to provide support for youth and family programs. Proceeds from the event fund scholarships for youth and families who need assistance to attend programs.

For more information or to register on line, visit www.ymcatrivalley.org and click on special events and then Heroes Golf Tournament.

You may also pick up a registration form at the Oneida Family Y, 701 Seneca St., Oneida, (363-7788) or the Rome Family Y, 301 W. Bloomfield St., Rome (336-3500).

HELP REDUCE ER CROWDING. FOR COLD AND FLU SYMPTOMS, SEE YOUR DOCTOR. A recent study found that each year there are hundreds of thousands of emergency room visits in upstate New York that could be avoided. Minor conditions like cold and flu symptoms, congestion, back pain, earaches and sports injuries are best treated by your doctor. If your doctor isn’t available, consider visiting an urgent care facility. And do your part to relieve ER crowding.

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Page 10

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Sept. 15

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2012

Upstate Cerebral Palsy will present its family expo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sept. 15 at the Armory Drive Campus, 1601 Armory Drive, Utica.

The expo is a free event that brings families together to have fun and learn about the many opportunities available at the agency and within the community for products, programs and services.

Vendors who wish to participate or families who would like additional information can contact Bill Mullin at 315-798-4006 ext. 400 or william. mullin@upstatecp.org.

Sept. 18

Prenatal fitness and education classes set The Oneida Family Y recently announced a new partnership with the Doulas of Central New York that provides a prenatal fitness and education class experience that nurtures mind, body and spirit.

Through this partnership, any expecting family is able to participate in a wide variety of classes that appeal to their needs and wants as an expecting parent.

Registration is open at the Oneida Family Y. Classes will be held on Tuesday nights beginning Sept. 25. Register

by Sept. 18 to hold a space for the class.

For more information, visit the Oneida Family Y website at www. ymcatrivalley.org or contact Stephanie Manion, program director, at 363-7788 ext. 232 or smanion@ymcatrivalley.org.

Sept. 28-29

Mastering the art of marriage The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica, will feature a marriage enrichment program Sept.

28-29.

Committed dating couples, engaged couples and married couples of all ages are invited to attend.

Register online at www.thegoodnewscenter.org or call Tanya at 7356210.

Sept. 29

SEMC Foundation to present dinner dance The St. Elizabeth Medical Center Foundation will hold its annual dinner dance during a vibrant evening with the theme “Hot Caribbean Night.”

The 34th annual dinner dance will be held on Sept. 29 at the Yahnundasis Golf Club in New Hartford. Proceeds from the event will benefit the purchase of Neurostar angiography equipment for the medical center’s peripheral vascular program.

For more information, call 315-7344287 or visit www.stemc.org/foundation.

Sts. Cosmas and Damian Feast a Utica treasure Event one of biggest in Northeast

By Steve Cimino

A

century ago, a group of young Italians gathered in a months-old parish at Buffalo and Bleecker streets in Utica to plan an observance that through the years has blossomed into a living devotedness.

What soon flourished in the developing St. Anthony of Padua parish was a tribute to Sts. Cosmas and Damian.

Today it has grown into one of the largest international religious celebrations in the Northeast.

In those early years, churchgoers carried pictures of the Twin Doctors as they processed around the streets of Utica’s Italian Colony. By 1927, Buffalo Street had been renamed St. Anthony Street, statues had replaced pictures of these religious icons and the Sts. Cosmas and Damian parish society was incorporated.

A tridium honoring the saints is scheduled for Sept. 26-28. By the week-

end, church officials expect more than 15,000 to participate in religious events.

Ten masses take place on Sept. 29-30.

Six masses are said in English and four in Italian. At 7 p.m. Sept 29, priests will con-celebrate a mass in the church while a mass in Italian takes place at the outdoor shrine.

A number of masses are said in tents that measure the size of the church parking lot. Congeniality and spirituality have been the hallmarks of the celebration as newcomers from St. Agnes parish witnessed in their merger with St. Anthony’s in 2009.

Deacon William Dischiavo, church historian at St. Anthony’s and a festival driving force, estimates that more than 5,000 pilgrims are expected from Canada alone. Dischavio has been involved in more than 50 of these festivals. He says that the largest gatherings took place during the World War II years (1942-1945) when crowds were reported at about 30,000.

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September 2012 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 11

The Social Ask Security Office Column provided by the local Social Security Office

Defense and offense matter in football, and in preventing improper payments

By Jim Miller

Health insurance options for pre-Medicare spouses Dear Savvy Senior, My wife, who’s 60, is on my health insurance plan through my employer. When I retire in a few months at 65, and go on Medicare, what happens to her?

Do we have to purchase private insurance, or is there some kind of Medicare coverage for dependent spouses?

Nearly Retired Dear Nearly, Unfortunately for you and millions of other couples in your position, Medicare does not provide family coverage to younger spouses or dependent children when you qualify for Medicare. Nobody can obtain Medicare benefits before age 65, unless eligible at a younger age because of disability. With that said, here are some options for your wife depending on your situation.

Work longer

If possible, you should consider working past age 65 so your wife can continue coverage under your employer health insurance until she becomes eligible for Medicare, or, if that’s too long, at least for a few more years.

Check employer options

If your employer provides retiree health benefits, check with the benefits administrator to find out if they offer any options that would allow your wife to continue coverage under their plan. Or, if your wife works, see if she can she switch to health insurance provided by her own employer.

Use COBRA

If you work for a company that has 20 or more employees, once you make the switch to Medicare, your wife could stay with your company insurance plan for at least 18 months (but could last up to 36 months) under a federal law called COBRA. You’ll need to sign her up within 60 days after her last day of coverage. You also need to know that COBRA is not cheap. You’ll pay the full monthly premium yourself, plus a 2 percent administrative fee.

The other benefit of using COBRA is that once it expires, your wife will then become eligible for HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), which gives her right to buy an individual health insurance policy from a private insurer that can’t exclude or limit coverage Page 12

•

for pre-existing medical conditions.

To learn more about COBRA, visit askebsa.dol.gov or call 866-444-3272.

If, however, the company you worked for had fewer than 20 employees, you may still be able to get continued coverage through your company if your state has “MiniCOBRA” (39 states offer it). Contact your state insurance department (see naic.org) to see if this is available where you live.

Buy an individual policy

This is health insurance you buy on your own, but it too can be expensive depending on your wife’s health history. Any pre-existing condition such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, etc., can drastically increase her premiums or can nix her chances of being accepted at all. To search for policy options and costs go to healthcare.gov. If you need help, contact a licensed independent insurance agent. See www.nahu.org/ consumer/findagent.cfm to locate one near you.

Or, if you only need health coverage for a short period of time – less than 12 months – a short-term policy is another lower-cost option to consider. You can get quotes and coverage details at ehealthinsurance. com.

Get high-risk coverage

If you can’t purchase an individual health policy for your wife because of a pre-existing medical condition, you can still get coverage through a state or federal high-risk pool.

State pools, which are offered in 35 states (see naschip.org), provide health insurance to any resident who is uninsurable because of health problems. While costs vary by state, premiums run about 150 percent of what an individual policy costs.

Or, consider the federal PreExisting Conditions Insurance Plan (see pcip.gov) which is available nationwide. Created in 2010 under the health care reform law, this program is intended to bridge the gap until better options become available in 2014 when the main provisions of the law go into effect. To qualify, your wife must be uninsured for six months before applying.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www.savvysenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

M

aking proper Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments is no game. But improving our accuracy has some similarities to a good football strategy. You’ve got to be strong on both defense and offense.

Social Security is committed to reducing improper payments. Our goal has always been to pay the right person the right amount at the right time. And we’re highly successful at doing that.

In paying retirement, survivors and disability benefits to more than 55 million people each month, our accuracy rate is over 99 percent. When it comes to Supplemental Security Income — the means-tested program for elderly, disabled and blind people who have limited income and resources — our payment accuracy is about 91 percent.

As with a good game of football, we need a game plan to improve

Q&A Q: What can I do to protect myself against identity theft?

A: First, don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet. Keep it at home with your other important papers. Second, avoid giving out your Social Security number. While many banks, schools, doctors, landlords, and others will request your number, it is your decision whether to provide it. Ask if there is some other way to identify you in their records.

To report identity theft, fraud or misuse of your Social Security number, the Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, recommends you: 1– Place a fraud alert on your credit file by contacting one of the following companies (the company you contact is required to contact the other two, which will then place alerts on your reports): • Equifax, 1-800-525-6285; • Trans Union, 1-800-680-7289; or • Experian, 1-888-397-3742.

2– Review your credit report for inquiries from companies you have not contacted, accounts you did not open, and debts on your accounts you cannot explain; 3–Close any accounts you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently; 4– File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place; and 5– File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877438-4338 (TTY 1-866-653-4261).

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2012

payment accuracy. Here is ours.

On offense, we check and recheck our benefit computations and recipient information. That’s done at kickoff, before we ever make a payment.

On defense, we have game plans, or strategies, to collect funds back from the person we improperly paid, especially if the error was the result of a beneficiary failing or incorrectly reporting an event that affects his or her payment amount. When an individual commits fraud in order to receive payments not due, we prosecute him or her to the fullest extent of the law.

We will continue to work on offense and defense in our efforts to perfect our game plan and to make each and every payment a touchdown.

Learn more about what Social Security is doing to prevent improper payments by visiting our website on the subject at www.socialsecurity.gov/ improperpayments.

Q: I’m retired and the only income I have is from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Are my IRA withdrawals considered “earnings”?

Could they reduce my monthly Social Security benefits?

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However, your benefit may be affected by a government pension from work on which you did not pay Social Security tax. For more information, visit our website at www.socialsecurity. gov or call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

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Read these and other publications online at www.socialsecurity.gov/ pubs.

Driving while drowsy Take precautions to avoid falling asleep at the wheel

By Mary Stevenson

“

I opened my eyes and I realized I was in the air. There was nothing I could do so I closed my eyes until it was over.”

That was all he could do until the car came to rest after hitting a tree over 10 feet from the ground, wrapped around a giant oak tree in someone’s front yard. Aaron Prichard, then 18, of Vernon Center, walked away with only four staples in his head from that accident. But he gained a lifetime of knowledge of the dangers of falling asleep while driving.

Pritchard is a recent graduate of Vernon-Verona-Sherill High School.

In such a busy society, people have a tendency to overdo. There are jobs to go to, children’s activities, family obligations, hobbies and sports—people are on the go more than they ever were.

It leaves little time for sleep, which is the most important thing one can do for their body. Donald Greenblatt, director of the Strong Sleep Disorders Center in Rochester, said the major cause of daytime sleepiness is insufficient quantity of sleep or sleep deprivation. “We’ve become a 24-hour society and too many people are burning the candle at both ends,” Greenblatt said.

“You often hear people ‘brag’ about what little sleep they need and how many hours they continue to work.”

Rumble strips helpful

Greenblatt served on the state’s task force in 1994 on the impact of fatigue on driving. In the early 90’s, rumble strips were introduced at points

where there were high instances of drift-off-road crashes to help prevent such accidents. Later in 1994, the Shoulder Treatment for Accident Reduction program (STAR) had reduced drift-off-road crashes by 72 percent, according to Greenblatt, leading to the installation of rumble strips along the entire Thruway system. “If you’ve ever drifted a little while driving, you know how hitting the rumble strips quickly brings you to attention,” he said.

Rumble strips certainly would have helped in his accident, Prichard said. “If there were strips before I hit the ditch, I believe that would have jolted me awake and at least have not been as horrible an accident as it was.”

Fall-asleep crashes, the task force determined, were more likely to occur on highways, less likely on municipal streets. Most involved a single vehicle collision with a fixed object and occurred more likely on a Saturday or Sunday between 1-7 a.m. Weather and road conditions did not seem to make a difference in these types of crashes.

Prichard had gotten out of work at 4 a.m. and driven his mother to work at 6 and was headed to pick up his father at 8. “I thought I could do it; I’d just sleep in the parking lot and wait for him to get out of work,” he said. “I didn’t even make it to the lot.”

Same impairments as DWI

Surveys have repeatedly shown that more than half of American drivers have driven when drowsy and 20-30 percent admit having fallen asleep at the wheel, Greenblatt said. Most people know how dangerous drinking and

This is the end result of Aaron Prichard’s accident caused by falling asleep at the wheel.

He was lucky enough to walk away from this with minor injuries. driving can be. DWD is not that different from DWI—drowsiness causes impairment similar to that seen under the influence of alcohol: slower reaction time, impaired judgment/vision, decreased attention to road changes and actions of other vehicles, more moodiness and aggressive behavior.

Those particularly at risk are shift workers, commercial drivers, young adults (16-29), those with untreated sleep disorders, and those who work more than 60 hours per week, he added.

In terms of drowsiness when driving, it is recommended that if you start getting drowsy or nod off or hit the rumble strips when driving, the old standards do not work. Chewing gum, opening the window, or turning on the radio to stay awake don’t really work, Greenblatt said. Instead, stop driving, pull over into a safe, well-lit area and

take a short, 20-minute-or-less nap.

Caffeine (coffee, power drinks) can be used for temporary help, remembering that it can take up to 30 minutes for caffeine to take effect. If your eyes go out of focus, your head feels heavy, you keep yawning, you don’t remember the last few miles, you miss a turn/exit, or you drift between lanes—it’s time to pull over. Before even getting behind the wheel, make sure that you’re well rested. If possible, he added, avoid driving during your body’s “down time” (for day-shift workers, usually mid-afternoon and between 2-6 a.m.).

Schedule breaks every two hours or every 100 miles or sooner if you show signs of sleepiness. If daytime sleepiness is frequent, and you think you’re getting enough sleep, you might have a sleep disorder and should talk with your healthcare provider, he added.

Woman opens up and tells all regarding abuse Continued from Page 6 me. “Not again,” I thought the first time it happened. Thankfully I was aware of how these inappropriate actions started and was able to avoid this man. He was the grandfather of a friend. I loved playing at their house but was forced to stop visiting there to avoid this man. It made me wonder what in the world I was doing that was causing all this to happen to me. There were no answers for me at that time.

Some of our family lived out of town and would stop by to see us.

They were huggers and when they would come to visit us they always wanted hugs. But after my experiences, I tried to avoid any contact with them, especially the men. I was unable to receive and enjoy much-needed hugs, affection and attention from other family members because of the sexual abuse.

I spent years in torture not knowing or understanding why this was happening. It caused me great stress

and years of rebellion trying to find some way to get those feelings to stop, go away and leave me alone. The abuse also led to depression—depression that has continued to this day. No one knows or understands unless one has walked the same road. Even then, each person’s experience is different from another’s because, sexual abuse affects each person in different ways.

No two situations are alike and no two people react the same way when being sexually abused. After years of sexual abuse, years of being so scared of what was happening to me, years of being too scared to tell, my abuser tried his same tactics on another girl.

She was the brave one. Her exposure of his abuse gave me the courage to speak up. For some reason no one seemed to believe me—at least that is the way I felt. No one asked me what had happened. No one asked me to share my story. I felt alone, unloved, and abandoned by my family. I did

find out later that my parents confronted the man in the presence of his wife.

But no one talked to me and asked me how I felt and if I was OK. Thankfully the abuse did stop after that. I never had to deal with the abuse from that dirty old man again. However, I did have to see him from time to time and I certainly didn’t know how to deal with that. I was scared to death each time that I was around him and that caused me to experience more stress.

I am thankful that the abuse I experienced was not to the extent that some other victims have had to endure. However, any abuse is too much and has a huge impact on the rest of the lives of the victims. I am so thankful to God for leading me to a great Christian counselor who has helped me to see and understand a lot of what has happened to me.

The guilt I felt, the shame I felt, and what happened to me was not my fault. The abuser saw an innocent child who was very trusting, shy, and in

September 2012 •

need of attention and took advantage of me.

These are the characteristics that an abuser seeks in a victim. While growing older, I changed from that quiet, shy little girl into a loud, competitive, stubborn, controlling person who liked to argue with everyone and make sure everyone knew my point of view whether they wanted to hear it or not.

The things that happen in one’s life— whether good or bad—have such an impact on who that person is and who they become. While being a people pleaser and trying to make everyone happy and giving others what they wanted, I was in need of so much.

However, I was unable and unwilling to open up and tell anyone what I needed and what my inner feelings were. Too scared to tell—how ironic—too scared to tell someone who could give me the things for which I was yearning and too scared to expose someone who was sexually abusing me.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 13

Pet Health The Balanced Body

By Deb Dittner

Pet projects Furry family members and natural health care

D

ogs, cats, bunnies, chickens or goats.

You name it. Once any of these become part of the family, they are always part of the family.

So we need to keep them healthy and active so they can stay with us as long as possible.

Personally, I have had a number of dogs and cats. Each one of them was special in his or her own way. Most lived to a ripe old age of 17 to 19 human years which is quite old in dog/cat years.

So what do we need to do to make sure that our “furry” friends stay healthy and happy?

• Maintaining a healthy weight. As in today’s society where obesity is at epidemic proportions, obesity in animals is also on the rise.

Specific breeds of dogs in particular (Labrador, Dittner German shepherd and other large dogs) can have joint/hip issues, causing pain and inflammation. Be aware of over-feeding for the specific size and breed of dog.

Kibble ingredients should be looked at carefully just like you would read the label on any item that you would buy for your family.

Kibble should have no fillers, high fructose corn syrup, GMO corn/soy or an extended list of ingredients. Some even prefer to make their own meal for their pets consisting of brown rice, veggies and grass-fed meat. An evening

snack could be a dog cracker with a dollop of plain yogurt (a good probiotic aiding in intestinal health).

My dogs love going out to the garden this time of year as tomatoes and cucumbers are growing over the fence, making for a very nice snack. My chocolate Lab also knew when I would get celery out of the fridge as he would be right beside me in no time at all.

So how does celery sound coming out of the fridge?

Hmmm.

• Pure, clean filtered water. Whether indoor or outdoor, your “furry” friend needs plenty of this in order to stay hydrated and to flush his or her system (just like us). If you have an outdoor animal, a special heater may be needed to keep the water from freezing in winter.

In summer, water has a tendency to evaporate, so refilling the bowl frequently is a must. Don’t forget to wash out the bowl as bugs sometimes like to take a dip also.

• Preventing fleas and ticks. With Lyme disease being quite prevalent, you want to make sure to check your “furry” friend daily for ticks and fleas.

Some years seem to be worse than others but still this poses a threat to the pet’s overall health.

For a number of years now, I have been using a homemade spray of purification oil (from Young Living Essential Oils) and distilled water.

My dogs get brushed daily fol-

lowed by a “spraying” of this mixture.

It smells wonderful and totally does the job.

Cats generally don’t like a spray of anything so put a few drops of the oil in your hands, rub them together and then rub over the fur. If a tick is found, a drop of purification oil on the tick causes it to back out and die.

This spray mixture also can be used for humans too if going into the woods for a hike or walk.

• Movement. Just like we need to move every day, so do our “furry” friends. Keeping them active will help to keep their heart strong and maintain a good body weight.

Some dogs can be obsessed with ball or Frisbee catching, so we need to know when enough is enough. If over-

done, injury can occur (especially as they age) and they can’t tell us what or where it hurts. For my dogs in the past, I have used acupuncture specifically for hip/joint inflammation. Reiki is also a welcome therapy.

Another treatment is making a blend of essential oils from the raindrop technique (for more information go to www.youngliving.com). Combine the oils in a small glass bottle with a roller top and apply to the affected area.

• TLC (tender loving care). Have you hugged your pet today?

The following are reference books that I recommend for continued pet health care.

“The Encyclopedia for Natural Pet Care,” by C.J. Puotinen “Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats,”

by Dr. Richard H. Pitcairn and Susan Hubble Pitcairn “The Animal Desk Reference Essential Oils for Animals,” by Melissa Shelton “Essential Oils for Natural Pet Care,” by Melissa Shelton • Deb Dittner is a family nurse practitioner, Reiki master teacher and a holistic health counselor.

Myths, truths about hay fever season

H

ay fever season is about to be in full bloom. Ragweed pollens began surfacing in mid-August, causing some of the 40 million Americans with allergies to suffer.

Twenty-five million adults and children across the country were diagnosed with rhinitis, or hay fever, within the last 12 months alone, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). Symptoms often mirror those of a cold, including a runny nose, sneezing and nasal congestion.

“Many people mistake their seasonal symptoms for a cold instead of rhinitis due to several allergy myths,” said allergist Stanley Fineman, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

“Knowing the truth about allergies and how to prevent flare-ups can mean having a comfortable, symptom-free Page 14

•

hay fever season.”

The allergists at ACAAI have compiled the following myths and facts about hay fever season to help those with allergies feel great, be active all day and sleep well at night.

• Myth: I’m miserable all hay fever season, but there’s nothing I can do except suffer through it.

• Truth: There are many treatments available to ease your symptoms, including over-thecounter and prescription nasal sprays, medications and allergy shots, also called immunotherapy. There are also new treatments on the horizon, including one for asthma triggered by ragweed allergies, so stay tuned. In the meantime, track your allergy symptoms with MyNasalAllergyJournal.org and visit with your allergist to find relief.

• Myth: I’ve never had a problem with hay fever, so I must be sneezy and stuffy because of a cold.

• Truth: Anyone can develop an allergy — including ragweed — later in life. Scientists think it may be you’ve always had the allergy, but it might have taken exposure to another allergen to trigger your symptoms. If symptoms are persistent, lasting more than two weeks, you probably have allergies. Colds evolve, usually starting with a stuffy nose, throat irritation and low grade fever. Common allergy symptoms include itchy eyes and nose, as well as sneezing, but the mucus is typically clear.

• Myth: I should start taking my hay fever medication at the first sneeze and stop at the first frost.

• Truth: Ragweed usually blooms around mid-August (a little later in the south), but it’s best to stay ahead of

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2012

the itching, sneezing, drippy nose and wheezing and begin taking medication before symptoms start. The misery can linger until the end of the season, so wait until a few weeks after the first frost to stop taking medication.

• Myth: My hay fever and pet allergies have nothing to do with each other.

• Truth: If you are allergic to ragweed and your dog or cat, you may be even more miserable during hay fever season. People with ragweed allergies who are also allergic to cats or dogs develop symptoms faster and more severely, according to a study published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Best bet?

Treat pet allergies year-round to help make hay fever more manageable. Your allergist might prescribe allergy shots.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 15

Between You and Me

By Barbara Pierce

Nice guys don’t have to finish last Going for that girl? Get a little wild!

A

re you a guy who’s heard: “You’re a really nice guy, but I only like you as a friend,” from a woman for whom you would do anything (or, in fact, may have already done). Then you have to turn around and watch her chase a guy who treats her like dirt?

And you’re stumped, wondering why she would date a guy who treats her like scum when she could have you. You would treat her like a princess and give her everything she wants.

And, you’ve heard that another girl you used to date said about you: “He’s such a good guy—so nice and so thoughtful—but there’s no chemistry. He just doesn’t turn me on.”

Do you wonder why the cocky guy—the loud Pierce mouth, arrogant, conceited one who barely appears interested in the girl—is usually the one who gets the girl?

Well, Mr. Nice Guy, relationship advice expert April Masini says she would like to tell you a couple of secrets. Brace yourself, she recommends. “‘Nice equates with boring and predictable,” she says on Yahoo! Personals.

‘Nice’ means pleasant, agreeable, satisfactory. In other words, average—not exceptional, not exciting, and definitely not sexy.

I bet you’ve never heard a woman say she didn’t want to date a guy because he was too confident, too passionate, or too exciting. But, I bet you have heard women say things like, “He’s such a nice guy. He’s so sweet and he’s always there for me, but I only like him as a friend.”

“The fact is, Mr. Nice Guy, you cannot bore a woman into feeling attracted to you or into wanting to date you. And as obvious as that sounds, if you are one of those guys I described that is exactly what you are trying to do,” she says.

It won’t work.

Increasing one’s value

Value and respect yourself more, she suggests. For example, the answer to the question of why the guy who treats her like dirt gets the girl is simple: The nice guy cares too much, too soon. He’s made the woman too important and too valuable. It shows in everything he says and does.

He’s too available, too eager to please, too accommodating. He gives too much, all without getting anything in return. By doing so, he has made himself appear desperate, insecure, and needy of this woman’s attention, affecPage 16

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tion and approval.

He has stripped himself of any value in her eyes. After all, if he’s already doing and giving everything, without her doing or giving anything, why would she value him? She won’t.

She’s not going to value him any more than he values himself.

What she’s going to do is look for someone else, someone who she perceives as being more worthy, more confident, and more valuable.

It works like this: Once you need something, or you want it too badly, you forfeit your strength and lose all power of negotiation.

Don’t show weakness

You are in a position of weakness and you are perceived as weak.

Someone (or something) else is in control of you, the situation, and its outcome. Men in this situation appear to be anything but confident, strong, and exciting. More, they are perceived as being unworthy and as lacking value.

Translation: Things that are easily acquired, obtained, or maintained, without any effort or sacrifice, lack value. It’s human nature.

The secret to why the cocky guy wins with women over the nice guy is that he never invests everything—his entire being, ego, and self-worth—in what one woman’s response or reaction is to him. He doesn’t gush with compliments; he isn’t always available; he doesn’t give too much; and he knows he isn’t going to die if a woman says “no” to him. More, his attitude is, “Yeah, I’d like to go out with you, but I’m a busy guy, with exciting things going on, and lots of other options.”

It’s like what the character Dex said in the movie “The Tao” of Steve: “We pursue that which retreats from us. Tell a woman she can’t join your club and she’ll do anything to get in.

Chicks are like hunters—they want to bag something hard to catch.”

So, get a life, get lots of options, don’t be needy. It’s hard, but you’ve got to hold back. Value yourself more.

SmartBites

By Anne Palumbo

The skinny on healthy eating

Boost your health, lose weight with apples

By Anne Palumbo

O

f all the foods to be plunked into that famous adage, “An ‘X’ a day keeps the doctor away,” I’m not surprised an apple won the coveted spot. Armed with a bushel of health benefits, apples, in fact, make keep more than doctors at bay. Let’s take a look.

Cardiovascular disease: New research shows that eating an apple or two a day may significantly cut your risk of heart disease. Experts attribute this cardiovascular benefit to the apple’s high concentrations of pectin (a soluble fiber that lowers bad cholesterol) and of polyphenols (antioxidants that may thwart inflammation and also prevent the development of atherosclerosis).

Lung health: Apples benefit lungs in several ways. One, they’re one of the few fruits that may reduce lung cancer risk. A Finnish study of nearly 10,000 men and women showed that those with the highest consumption of apples were less than half as likely to develop lung cancer as those who ate few or no apples. Two, multiple studies have shown apple intake to be associated with decreased risk of asthma. And three, researchers in the Netherlands have shown that eating apples reduces the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in smokers.

Cancer: Cornell University researchers have identified several compounds in apples (especially the peel) that not only fight cancer cells in the laboratory, but also reduce the number and size of mammary tumors in rats.

Brain power: According to researchers from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, nutrients in apples and apple juice may improve memory and learning. UML Professor Thomas Shea relates these benefits to its powerhouse antioxidant properties and its potential role in boosting levels of an essential brain neurotransmitter.

Weight control: Low in calories (80 per medium apple) but relatively high in slow-digesting fiber, apples leave you feeling fuller longer. What’s more, research has demonstrated that when healthy adults consumed one medium apple about 15 minutes before a meal, their caloric intake at that meal

• Barbara Pierce is a retired licensed clinical social worker with many years’ experience helping people. If you have a concern or question that you would like addressed, send your concerns to her at BarbaraPierce06@yahool.com.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2012

decreased by an average of 15 percent.

Not bad!

Helpful tips Since apples top the “dirty dozen” list — a list of the most pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables on the market — buy organic whenever possible. If not possible, be sure to wash and rinse the apples thoroughly, using soapy water if you detect wax. To get the most nutrition and fiber from your apples, eat the skin.

Walnut Chicken Salad with Diced Apple Serves 4 2 cups cooked skinless chicken breast, cubed 1 celery rib, sliced 1 medium unpeeled apple, diced ½ cup chopped walnuts, toasted 1 tablespoon lemon juice ¼ cup low fat yogurt ¼ cup light mayonnaise 1 teaspoon curry powder 1 garlic clove, minced 1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot (optional) salt and pepper, to taste Place chicken cubes in a medium bowl along with sliced celery, diced apple and walnuts. In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, yogurt, mayonnaise, curry powder, garlic and shallot. Pour over chicken and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper.

Serve atop a bed of lettuce or stuffed into a pita pocket.

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Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle columnist, food guru, and seasoned cook, who has perfected the art of preparing nutritious, calorie-conscious dishes.

She is hungry for your questions and comments about SmartBites, so be in touch with Anne at avpalumbo@aol.com.

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REACH DOCTORS, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, CONSUMERS Email inquiries to “editor@MVhealthnews.com”

Matt ‘The Hammer’ Hamill Mohawk Valley’s own superhero inspires others to overcome disabilities

By Patricia J. Malin

W

hen Matt Hamill was growing up in Ohio in the 1980s, it was acceptable for handicapped children to be singled out and placed in special education classes.

Hamill, who was born deaf, recalled, “I was with people in wheelchairs, kids who were (disabled). I would see a lot of people make fun of them, so I stood up for them, and I got in a lot of fights. My mom was trying to get a better program for me. She didn’t know what to do with me, and she didn’t want to put me in a deaf school.

She was trying to find someone who was comfortable (with me) and could communicate with deaf people.”

Hamill’s parents were ahead of their times by insisting that he be treated like non-handicapped students and get a conventional education, which is referred to as mainstreaming. This is now the norm, educating handicapped and non-handicapped students sideby-side. His grandfather, too, encouraged Hamill to learn sign language and how to read lips so he could “fit in” with other students and hopefully earn a living in the world at large.

Almost as if he stepped out of the pages of a comic book, Hamill grew up big and strong and turned to athletics.

His stepfather, who was a wrestling coach at Loveland High School in Ohio, introduced him to the mat when Matt was just 6 years old. He won three national titles in Division III wrestling at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

He went to earn three gold medals and a silver medal against some of the best wrestlers in the world at two Deaflympics in 1997 and 2001.

“My grandfather wanted me to go mainstream, to hang out with hearing people,” Hamill said in a previously published interview. “That was the tough part. I didn’t have an interpreter.

After class, I’d have to get notes (from

classmates).

It was tough.

I didn’t learn signing until I was in high school. But I’m a fast learner.”

Becomes a Utican

After moving to the Utica area in 2003, he began to develop a Hamill loyal following among children and young adults. To this day, he participates in events that benefit nonprofit organizations, such as Sitrin Rehabilitation’s celebrity wheelchair basketball tournament, and is a sought-after inspirational speaker at schools around the country.

Matt “The Hammer” Hamill turned pro in 2006 and had a successful career in the Ultimate Fighting Championship league and in mixed martial arts. He announced his retirement in 2011 and opened a restaurant and sports bar in Utica. Now 35 years old, the 6-foot-1, 206-pounder is making a wrestling comeback. He is scheduled to fight a UFC newcomer, Roger Hollett, in Toronto on Sept. 22.

Recently, he was the guest speaker at The Arc, Oneida-Lewis Chapter’s sixth annual CollegeWorks graduation ceremony at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica.

As the young graduates swarmed around Hamill after the ceremony, it was easy to see how they identify with him. In their eyes, he is a real-life superhero, a cape-less crusader and inspiration for others with impairments, or actually anyone trying to overcome any obstacles in their life.

“You know where I’m coming from,” he told the appreciative crowd.

“I am happy with who I am. Being born deaf, (I) think I might have a good gift. Maybe I’d rather not hear,” Hamill said.

He spoke about the importance of education, while congratulating the students for their own accomplishments. “I didn’t know Arc and the college had this program that helps students to be successful,” he said. “No one should give up on their dreams.”

In an interview following the ceremony and with the help of an MVCC staffer to text the questions and show them on an iPod, he added, “This was an honor.

I used to go (to Arc) when I was a boy.”

He said he wanted to convey to the students that being deaf did not prevent him from reaching a high level of accomplishment. “I run a sports bar (The Cage) in Bagg’s Square and I own a gym. I have a real job,” he said.

Hamill fought in the UFC for six years and amassed a career record of 9-4. He won 11 of 14 matches overall in MMA. In 2010, his life was portrayed in a movie called “Hamill.” At first, there was controversy over the casting of a non-deaf actor to play Hamill, although he was also an amateur wrestler. Later, a deaf actor was recruited for the part.

After losing two brutal UFC matches early in 2011, a banged-up Hamill announced that injuries and fatigue were forcing him to retire, though now he said he didn’t feel he was quite ready to hang up his gloves. Even though he still can’t hear the crowd that cheers for him, he is confident that pro wrestling holds the key to following his own dreams.

“I know the Utica community and people in Ohio want me back (in the ring),” he said.

Students gain vocational training

Thanks to a partnership with Mohawk Valley Community College, The

Arc Oneida-Lewis Chapter offers an opportunity for young people with developmental disabilities to attend college for two years and get a vocational education. CollegeWorks is a non-degree, non-credit program located on MVCC’s Utica and Rome campuses.

With two years of practical education and internships at local businesses under their belts, Arc students will be able to obtain jobs in retail, hospitality (restaurants, hotels, hospitals or health care), maintenance and child care, explained Joanne Donaruma, director of employment services at The Arc. Fifteen students graduated from CollegeWorks with two-year certificates from MVCC. Another 11 students completed their freshman year in the program and will move up to the final year.

Anne Colgan, who works at Arc, volunteered to provide sign language interpretation at the Arc ceremony.

Midway through the program, she had the honor of announcing that her husband, Vince, was receiving a special recognition award. He received a standing ovation that equaled the reception given to Hamill.

Vince Colgan, vice president of administration, worked 26 years at the local Arc office. In April 2011, he suffered a stroke that partially affected his speech and mobility. However, he only missed six months of work. Last February, he received an award from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office. A New York state proclamation was presented to Colgan in recognition of his dedication, community spirit and volunteerism on behalf of individuals with developmental disabilities.

He will be retiring from The Arc in September, but he hasn’t given up his hobby as the premier Irish balladeer in the Mohawk Valley. True to form, he was the final performer of the three-day Great American Irish Festival at the Herkimer County Fairgrounds recently.

Sitrin event to support military rehab program

By Patricia J. Malin

T

he two cornerstones of the Sitrin Health Care Center in New Hartford—its well-known rehabilitation services and its adaptive sports program—will be highlighted when Sitrin presents its inaugural Stars & Stripes Run/Walk Sept. 29 at the SUNYIT campus in Marcy.

Sponsored by Adirondack Bank, the event features a 5-kilometer run, 5K wheelchair race and two-mile walk. All proceeds will support Sitrin’s military rehabilitation program.

Sitrin staff and representatives from SUNYIT, sponsors and local political leaders gathered at the Sitrin Community Center recently to announce details of the Stars & Stripes Run/Walk.

Athletes with disabilities and military veterans will be welcomed to participate in this event. Sitrin CEO Richard Wilson came up with the concept for the run/walk.

Retired sergeant Diane Cromp of Sauquoit, who served in the U.S.

Marines stateside from 1975-79, gave a testimonial on behalf of the event.

“My mother picked up a brochure, and now I’m swirling in it,” she said.

Cromp will lead a team and is getting contributions from her civilian and military families, plus her co-workers at the Department of Social Services in Wampsville.

Luke Slatton wore a blue T-shirt from Sitrin, where he is employed, but he better represents the veterans.

He served seven years of active duty with the infantry in Alaska and is now a captain in the Army Reserves. Two years ago, he became Sitrin’s military liaison and is coordinating Sitrin’s military rehabilitation services.

“Civilians don’t understand that the military is a separate culture,” he commented. “We have our own jargon, our language, ethos and emotional bonding. It can be very intimidating for civilians.”

Slatton said he hopes the run/walk will bring able-bodied and disabled athletes closer together. The 5K wheelchair racers have the honor of kicking

off the Stars & Stripes, followed by the 5K run and the two-mile walk.

“This event will help in three ways,” Slatton said. “First, it will raise awareness of the needs of our returning veterans. Second, we want more veterans to get involved in adaptive sports.

Third, it’s a fundraiser for the costs of therapy not covered by insurance.”

The day’s activities also include an adaptive sports symposium for wounded warriors in the SUNYIT Campus Center. Instruction will be offered in wheelchair basketball, wheelchair road racing, wheelchair curling, adaptive target shooting and biathlon.

A selection of adaptive equipment will be provided for participants with varying levels of abilities. The symposium was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee.

“We have funds available, not to exceed $8,000, to help defray travel costs to wounded warriors who wish to participate in the adaptive sports symposium,” said Rosemary Bonacci, vice-president of development and

September 2012 •

communications at Sitrin. “We have contacted many military installations, military organizations (such as the Wounded Warrior Project), to spread the word about this opportunity.”

Sitrin has long been the home of an adaptive sports program (STARS) that provides regional, national and international competition for wheelchair athletes in basketball, road racing and curling.

Another interested party at the press conference was Rich Synek, founder and executive director of the Feed Our Vets food pantry in downtown Utica. The pantry provides food to some 300 to 500 veterans a week, he said, or approximately 800 individuals counting the veterans’ spouses and children.

Registration will take place at the SUNYIT Campus Center from 8-9 a.m. on Sept. 29. Participants can register in advance and setup their own fundraising pages online by going to www. sitrinstarsandstripes.com or call 315737-2245.

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H ealth News St. E’s opens new laboratory sites St. Elizabeth Medical Center has announced the opening of two new laboratory sites to serve the residents of Utica and Rome.

The new laboratory draw sites are located at Upstate Cerebral Palsy, 1427 Genesee St., Utica and Ridge Mills Medical Center at 7901 Ridge Mills Road, Rome. The Utica site is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and the Rome site is open from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Individuals do not need to be patients of St. Elizabeth Medical Center or the specific site. All that is needed is a physician’s prescription.

Other St. Elizabeth Medical Center laboratory draw sites are located at: Other St. Elizabeth Medical Center laboratory draw sites are located at: • St. Elizabeth Medical Arts, 4401 Middle Settlement Road, New Hartford • Marian Medical Professional Building, 2211 Genesee St., Utica • The Sister Rose Vincent Family Medicine Center, 120 Hobart St., Utica • St. Elizabeth Medical Group, Little Falls office, 500 E. Main St., Little Falls • St. Elizabeth Medical Group, Clinton office, 101 College St., Clinton • St. Elizabeth Medical Group, north Utica office, 417 Trenton Road, Utica • St. Elizabeth Medical Group, Mohawk office, 5 Ann Street, Mohawk • St. Elizabeth Medical Group, south Utica office, 6 Hampden Place, Utica • St. Elizabeth Medical Group, east Utica office, 1256 Culver Ave., Utica Coming soon: • Town of Webb Health Center, 114 S. Shore Road, Old Forge

FSLH makes staff announcements Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica recently made the following staff announcements: • Debra Walz has been named a nurse practitioner with the Regional Cancer Center of Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare.

Walz is responsible for promoting continuity of care for patients in the breast cancer Walz program. She is part of a multidisciplinary breast cancer team that provides advanced nursing care to meet the specialized needs of cancer patients.

Prior to joining FSLH, Walz was a women’s health/oncology nurse practitioner at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown.

• Suzanne Burns recently became a certified breast patient navigator through the completion of the National Page 18

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Consortium of Breast Center’s breast patient navigator certification program.

This certification program validates Burns’ knowledge and skills in navigating a patient through their breast care/ cancer continuum of care.

“A nurse navigator serves as a connection, an advocate Burns and a voice for the patient,” Burns said. “Patients diagnosed with breast disease and their family members will have questions and concerns.

There will be tests results to understand, treatment options to consider, the need to address barriers to care and emotional support needed for the road ahead. Our arms wrap around the ‘whole’ patient. It makes this job incredibly rewarding.”

For more information about the breast nurse navigator program at The Regional Cancer Center, call 315-6245764.

In this role, Wilkie identifies and assists with the needs of patients being discharged from the hospital setting to home. This assistance includes medical, social, emotional and financial concerns.

She provides information and guidance to the patient and family while interfacing with the patient’s proWilkie vider to enhance and improve communications.

Wilkie’s previous position with FSLH was as a staff nurse in the critical care unit. Prior to joining the hospital, Wilkie was a trauma/ENT/telemetry med-surgical staff nurse for SUNY Upstate Medical University Hospital in Syracuse.

Wilkie received her Associate of Applied Science in nursing from Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica and a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Keuka College in Penn Yan.

FSLH makes medical staff announcement

New main entrance at St. Luke’s Home

Waleed Albert has been named medical director for quality and utilization at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica.

In this role, Albert serves as a physician adviser to the medical staff, case management staff and the utilization and review committee, for which he Albert is chairman. He works closely with attending physicians to ensure their patients are given accurate bed assignments and that their medical and surgical conditions are managed efficiently.

Albert earned his Doctor of Medicine from the Faculty of Medicine of Damascus University in Damascus, Syria. He completed a residency in internal medicine at Trenton Affiliated Hospitals in Trenton, N.J., and a fellowship in infectious diseases at Albany Medical College and the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center, both in Albany.

Albert most recently held the position of chief medical officer at Rome Memorial Hospital in Rome.

St. Luke’s Home, 1650 Champlin Ave., New Hartford, is now featuring a new main entrance.

St. Luke’s Home is a 202-bed nursing home located on the St. Luke’s Campus of Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare. Visitors to St. Luke’s Home may use parking lot Q located in the front of the building and enter through the newly renovated main entrance. The temporary entrance located at the side of the building has closed permanently.

The new entrance is part of an expansion project at St. Luke’s Home.

The new complex will house acute inpatient rehabilitation services for the system, as well as home care services (Visiting Nurse Association, Senior Network Health, Mohawk Valley Home Care), and a new eight-station outpatient dialysis unit.

The expansion and relocation of services is made possible by $31.3 million grant from New York state. The construction project is expected to be complete in early 2013.

New transitional care coordinator at FSLH Gabrielle Wilkie has been named transitional care coordinator for Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica.

Preswick Glen features new executive director Margaret “Meg” Cardamone is the new executive director at Preswick Glen in New Hartford.

Cardamone comes to Preswick Glen from The Villas of Brookdale Senior Living in Clinton, where she was responsible for increasing occupancy from 48 percent to 100 percent, thus winning national honors for outstanding sales.

In addition, Cardamone led Brookdale to receive an award for #1 rating in both customer and associate satisfaction as well as receiving an award in gold dining services.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2012

Prior to working at The Villas, Cardamone was corporate manager of operations for Time Warner Cable in Denver, Colo.

Cardamone graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s of science degree in business administration from the Whittemore School Cardamone of Business, University of New Hampshire.

Cardamone will be responsible for the daily managerial operations of Preswick Glen.

Presbyterian Home has new building services director Dan Harter is the new building services director at Presbyterian Homes in New Hartford.

Harter brings with him over 25 years of experience in the facility operations management department.

He was last employed at the Syracuse Community Health Center, where he Harter served as the project director/director of facilities.

Prior to that, he served as director of facilities for Bassett Healthcare as well as director of operations for Erie Educational Services.

Harter holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from SUNY IT and is affiliated with OSHA hazardous waste operations/decontamination and emergency response, as well as quality assurance training.

VHS CEO/administrator receives award Lisa Betrus, CEO-administrator of Valley Health Services in Herkimer was awarded the Thomas Clark Memorial Award from LeadingAge of New York (formerly NYAHSA) at a recognition luncheon held in Saratoga recently.

She is responsible Betrus for the day-today operation of VHS and accountable

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H ealth News degree from SUNY Buffalo and worked previously in Washington, D.C. as a legal editor for the United States Supreme Court.

For more information the MVRCR, contact Kevin Marken at

Continued from Page 18 for strategic and long-range planning of the 160-bed, long-term care/rehabilitation facility.

Betrus has been interested in the long-term care field since she was a 14year-old volunteer at a nursing home.

She began her professional career as administrator of VHS when she was 24 years old.

In her years at VHS, she has expanded the PT department, initiated a Palliative Care Center, recognized the need for adult day health care in the valley and has since opened two programs in Herkimer and Little Falls.

“Betrus’ list of volunteerism on various local and area nonprofit boards is extraordinary. Her approachable management style allows her employees to feel comfortable in her presence that is conspicuous anywhere and everywhere in the building because Lisa’s highest priority has been, and always will be, her residents. She makes a point of visiting them one-on-one and addressing various resident groups on a regular basis,” a spokesperson said.

VHS welcomes new director of rehab Deanna Pelan recently assumed the position of director of rehabilitation at Valley Health Services in Herkimer.

Pelan earned her associate’s degree in occupational therapy from Herkimer County Community College and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in health and human studies and her master’s in occupational Pelan therapy from Utica College.

Lisa Betrus, CEO/administrator of VHS, said, “Deanna is an ideal candidate for this senior leadership position.

In the short time she has been here, she has more than demonstrated her competence, dependability and communication skills.”

Pelan resides in Dolgeville with her husband, Frank, and their four children.

Refugee center names new executive director Shelly Callahan is the new executive director of The Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees, according to board president Robert W. Dicks, Jr. Callahan has been with MVRCR for over six years and has served as employment manager, multi-cultural services director, and senior director of programs and services prior to her appointment as interim executive director last April, when previous executive director Peter Vogelaar accepted a position in Turkey.

Callahan has a Bachelor’s of Arts

Callahan

kevinm@mvrcr. org or 315-738-1083 ext. 127 or Callahan at 315-738-1083 ext. 112.

For over 200 years, Utica, a city of 60,000, has attracted immigrants and refugees. The immigrants include Italian, Irish, German, Polish, and Arab populations. In the past 30 years, Utica has been host to more than 14,000 refugees. This phenomenon has been the subject of numerous national and international news articles, and has provided Oneida County with one of the highest concentrations of refugees in the United States and the city of Utica with a refugee population of nearly 15 percent.

Since the center was established in 1979, it has resettled refugees from more than 31 countries including Afghanistan, Bosnia, Burma, Cambodia, Iran, Iraq, Hungary, Laos, Poland, the former Soviet Union and Vietnam.

The center is a nationally recognized authority on refugees and one of the largest affiliates of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.

The Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees is located at 309 Genesee St., Utica. (See related story, this edition).

Foundation names 2012 ‘Smart Woman’ Sally Hinman of Rome Strip Steel was recently named the “2012 Smart Woman” by the Rome Hospital Foundation.

The award was presented at the annual Pink Partini Fashion Show held recently at The Beeches.

The Smart Woman award celebrates women of acHinman complishment in the greater Rome area. The honoree is selected from a pool of candidates nominated by members of the community.

Hinman was selected because of her outstanding community service. She has served on numerous boards throughout the area, including the Rome Memorial Hospital board, the chamber of commerce, and The United Way and is an active member of the Lilac Twig and the First Presbyterian Church.

St. Johnsville welcomes new nursing director Valicity Spaulding is the new director of nursing services St. Johnsville Rehab and Nursing Center.

Spaulding has many years of experience in the long-term care arena and has been with St. Johnsville Rehab and Nursing Center since 2004, starting as an LPN. Spaulding became an RN in May and will be attending the director of nursing program.

“Beyond Spaulding’s clinical skills, sound judgment and quality managerial skills, she is a kind, compassionate nurse whose dedication to her profession is evident in all she does,” said Lisa Volk, administrator.

St. Joseph Nursing Home introduces new COTA Thelma Richards of Lafayette has recently joined the RehabCare staff at St. Joseph Nursing Home in Utica as the certified occupational therapy assistant, according to administrator Fred Deck.

Previously employed at Iroquois Nursing Home in Jamesville, Richards graduated from Herkimer County Community College with an AAS degree in occupational therapy.

It is Thelma’s desire to “make a difference in the lives of the residents by bringing greater freedom and raising them to their full potential,” she said.

Abraham House announces talent show winners Abraham House in Utica recently announced the winners of its “Singing Sensations” talent show that took place at the Mohawk Valley Community College Theater recently.

There were 14 singers between the ages of 11-18 who competed for the

Letter

to the Editor

Lack of childcare facilities causes alarm Dear editor: After reading the announcement of the Folts Homes Child Care Center closing in The Herkimer Telegram, I would like to remind the community about the need for more structured childcare facilities in Herkimer County.

In 2009, Herkimer County developed a risk assessment profile that addressed the need for additional childcare. For every childcare slot available for children from the age of infancy through 5 years old, there are two children in need of care. For each slot for children between the ages of 6-13, there

September 2012 •

public’s vote for favorite singer.

In the 11-to-14 age category, the first-place winner was Kayla McGallian, 13, from Rome and the secondplace winner was Alyssa Clayton, 13, from Utica.

In the 15-18 age category, the firstplace winner was Mary Dziekowicz, 18, from Utica and the second-place winner was Jerrell Howard, 17, from Ilion.

Fundraisers such as these help ensure Abraham House’s mission of providing a secure and loving home without charge to the terminally ill.

For further information, call Abraham House at 733-8210 or visit its website at www.theabrahamhouse.org.

The Arc welcomes new data systems analyst Danielle Smith has joined The Arc, Oneida-Lewis in the compliance office as a data systems analyst.

Her responsibilities will include management of The Arc information into the OPWDD IRMA statewide database and the developSmith ment of trend reports and measurements necessary for Council on Quality and Leadership accreditation, including but not limited to measures of safety, happiness, and quality of life for the people The Arc serves.

Smith is a graduate of Colgate University where she earned her Bachelors of Arts degree. She was most recently working for the office of admission at Colgate University.

She lives in Utica with her 4-yearold daughter, Katie. are seven children in need of care.

It is crucial for the health and well being of a community to have well-organized childcare centers. Because recent reports indicate that more than 26 percent of children between the ages of 2-5 are classified as either overweight or at risk for overweight, it’s important to start nutrition and physical activity programs at this early age.

For the past seven years, Herkimer County HealthNet has provided childcare facilities in Herkimer County with a program called nutrition and physical activity self-assessment program for childcare.

NAPSACC is geared to prevent the problem of being overweight in young children. Since eating and physical activity behaviors and patterns are established early in childhood and tend to track into adulthood, early intervention is imperative.

Sincerely, Adam H. Hutchinson Executive director Herkimer County HealthNet Herkimer

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“Vitamin D and Breast Cancer Biomarkers” A Research Study- Sponsored by The National Cancer Institute

▲ Are you premenopausal (and age 55 or younger)? ▲ Do you get regular mammograms? ▲ Are you willing to be assigned to take a Vitamin D supplement or a placebo pill daily for 1 year? ▲ Have you been informed that you have dense/fibrous breasts?

You may be eligible for a research study comparing the effects of Vitamin D supplementation on breast density and blood biomarkers, to explore prevention of breast cancer.

For more information, please call: Hematology Oncology Associates of Central New York Research Department 315-472-7504 ext.7-1350

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2012