I
vol. 6 ISS. 2
TIPS FOR DAILY HAPPINESS AMBER TAYLOR REAL HERO HONORING ROSIES OF THE WORLD
A MOTHER’S FIGHT TO SAVE HER SON’S MENTAL HEALTH
s s e r t S ement g a n a M
MINDSET AND COMMUNITY WITH CHRIS SWANSON
CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK
Celebrates 30 YEARS AT HURLEY
H E A LT H C A R E I S
S A F E AT WE’RE READY WHEN YOU’RE READY With new safety measures and the same compassionate care we’re known for, you can feel confident that you and your loved ones are safe and protected in our care. •
SCREENING EVERYONE WHO ENTERS OUR FACILITIES
•
SEPARATING PATIENTS WITH SYMPTOMS
•
TESTING PATIENTS BEFORE SURGERY
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SUPPORTING SOCIAL DISTANCING
•
MASKS PROVIDED AT ENTRANCES
•
ADDITIONAL SANITIZATION
Don’t postpone your care. Call your doctor. Get appointments for chronic conditions back on the calendar and reschedule postponed surgeries. You can still count on safe care from Hurley Medical Center, because HURLEY CARES.
#HURLEYCARES
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hurleymc.com
HURLEY
s t n e t Con TABLE OF
6 Rosie the Riveter- 16 A Mother’s Fight -Real-Life Hero to Save Her Son’s Amber Taylor Mental Health 8 Tips for Daily Happiness
10 Stress Management-Mindset and Community with Chris Swanson 12 Quaran-Teen Perspective from a Teen
18 Happiness-There’s An App for That
34 Time To Try New Things - Healthy, 20 CRIM 2020 Virtual Fun Foods 22 Children’s 36 When All Is Miracle Network Dark Look For Celebrates The Light 30 Years at Hurley
14 A Hurley Therapist on Collective Crisis
e n i z a g a m s o d u k # 4
30 The Miracle Behind Hurley’s Miracle Kids-Linda TracyStephens
INSIGHTFUL, MOTIVATIONAL & INSPIRATIONAL
Letter from the Publisher
M
... is a platform for good news, bringing people together, and strengthening our community.
PUBLISHER/ EDITOR IN CHIEF Elizabeth Marasco EDITOR Jennifer Kreft GRAPHIC DESIGN Nancy Kurnik WRITERS Tami Benedict Jennifer Boice Hope Crenshaw Monica Facchinello Diana Fletcher Daryn Green Emily Gideon Mary Hawkins PHOTOGRAPHER Doug Pike Rynelle Walker CONTACT INFORMATION Brady Events and Marketing (810) 953-4000 Studio
oving into a season need/desire for uplifting content. of change has been a We were fortunate to connect with theme for everyone Hurley dietitians, mental health across the world. therapists, and other medical When we printed our last issue of professionals to capture zoom Kudos magazine, we launched at interviews providing wisdom on Hurley Ball, an evening focused on adjustments we are all making. You raising money for the community. will see links to those interviews Everyone danced their heart out; throughout the magazine; I the room overflowed with laughter, encourage you to watch the people hugging, shaking hands, interviews in your free time; they high fiving, (social distancing was contain practical advice for you and not a thing.) We didn’t realize in your family. one week; this mysterious virus I know we are all living in would impact everyone worldwide, extraordinary times; uncertainty including all of us celebrating that is around each corner. However, evening. with the right tools, insight, and Collectively, we all experienced perspective, the journey can be a a crisis, from families facing little more comfortable. Now is an mental health concerns, students, excellent time to be proactive in parents, seniors in nursing homes, cleaning out your social media news and teachers overwhelmed with feed. Make sure the content you transitions, to organizations like are consuming online is providing the Crim and Hurley restructuring a helpful tone to your life. Get operations due to COVID19. reacquainted with the idea of turning Theses changes even impacted Kudos magazine, as for now, we will off the news. As we move through this next season, it is essential to be only be publishing Kudos digitally. informed, and equally important, In this issue of Kudos, we share to make sure you are taking care of stories of triumph, inspiration, your overall mental, physical, and and hope resulting from spiritual well being. this crisis. Our goal is to Remember, you are not alone; as continue to share insight to help along your journey a community, we will bounce back with resilience and experience to healthy, happy living, healing. For now, take it one day at especially during a time, and lean into faith over fear. these extraordinary I wish you goodness in each day. times. We noticed engagement on Smiles and Peace, Kudos’ Facebook page skyrocketed during the lockdown, showing us the Elizabeth Brady-Marasco community’s Kudos Publisher and Editor in Chief
P OPSOI STPIOTVSIEVI TEVI IVVBEIEBVEI B E P OPSOI STPIOTVSIEVI TEMI VIMNEIDNMDI N D P OPSOI STPIOTVSIEVI TELIIVLFEIEF LEI F E
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KUDOSFLINT.COM • VOLUME 6 ISSUE 2
5
ROSIE the RIVETER REAL-LIFE HERO AND
AMBER BY TAMI BENEDICT
FLINT WOMEN’S FORUM PAYS IT FORWARD WITH STATUE HONORING ROSIES OF THE PAST Occasionally you have a chance to meet hometown heroes who go above and beyond serving their community. Often these individuals realize the small things matter as much as the bigger things. Over the years, Amber Taylor has demonstrated levels of commitment to her career, family, and community, all with a focus on serving others. Her dedication and commitment cannot go unnoticed. Amber Taylor knew she always wanted to give back to her community, whether it was picking up trash, volunteering, or donating to a local food bank. Helping others is in her nature. But deeper down, there was another ambition; Amber wanted to be a CEO or Director of a nonprofit to use her energy to help others in her community. Amber’s dream came full circle a year ago when she was named President of the Flint Women’s Forum. The forum was established in 1981 to help women network and bring them together. Besides networking, the forum’s goal is to motivate and inspire women in their professional and personal lives. Currently, over 50 members gather monthly, usually with a special speaker who has overcome various obstacles and can offer sound advice to the businesswomen in Genesee County. This forum is also where professional women are empowered to ask questions and get positive and helpful responses. “With the Flint Women’s Forum, you get a circle of influencers in your life,” said Amber. Their current goal includes getting a statue of Rosie the Riveter displayed at Flint Bishop International Airport. To make this happen, Amber partnered with Back to the Bricks and is coming tantalizingly close to reaching that goal.
Before COVID-19 hit, the Rosie statue project was fully funded, until her donor had to pull out due to the virus. With the project in limbo and fundraising almost impossible during a worldwide pandemic, Amber decided to take a moment for herself and go for a run while attempting to process everything. During that run, Amber felt inspired to hold a Rosie the Riveter Virtual 5k to raise funds to commemorate this iconic symbol of a woman’s unique work ethic.
“I used COVID to get people outside and enjoy nature. I thought it was the perfect opportunity since people were probably getting stir crazy inside their houses,” said Amber. “I called a few businesses about the donation, and I ended up getting 18 businesses to sponsor us. This was all in a pandemic.”
The Flint’s Women Forum was 100% behind the virtual 5k idea and let Amber roll with it. The event took place in late June and was a hit with the community. With the help of donations, Amber is almost to her goal for the Rosie the Riveter statue, which she feels is an essential addition to Genesee County. “There are statues of men everywhere around us, but no women. Women worked in this county, and they worked in the plants. During WWII, they were building tanks,” she said. “2,500 local women started a movement by working. This wasn’t something they were known for; they were known for being barefoot in the kitchen.”
women today and helped set the bar we now see.
Besides running a successful women’s forum, Amber also is the Executive Director of Back to the Bricks, currently in its 16th year of classic car shows that inject over $50 million into the local community. Although we are amid a pandemic, Amber won’t stop the history of Back to the Bricks. “We are having 500 cars do a visual scavenger hunt,” said Amber. “Participants will be able to go on a path and see some amazing and historical sites around the area. All the proceeds will go to the Whaley Children’s Center.”
If you are looking to get involved in the community, Amber advises checking in with the Chamber of Commerce. “They help connect people,” she said, adding, “When we all do our little part, we can make our community better.” For more information on inspiring role models, you can read up on classics like Rosie the Riveter, or seek out real-life heroes living in Michigan, like Amber Taylor.
Information
Amber is passionate to show the community how much the Rosies of the past paved the way for women’s futures. She is proud of the women who created opportunities for other
KUDOSFLINT.COM
You can learn more about Rosie the Riveter or donate to the statue at its GoFundMe page. flintwomensforum. org/rosie/?fbclid=IwAR1nxc_krjw8NwMObgKFiIBSVwGID98sO89AFXOBEnVZevspiZ_PprzNabY
www.gofundme.com/f/rosiestatue
• VOLUME 6 ISSUE 2
7
FIVE tips T
FOR FINDING DAILY HAPPINESS
1.
BY DARYN GREEN
he world is a scary place right now—with everything going on, stress is at an all-time high, and it can be difficult to find happiness. Thankfully, you can do a few things to help facilitate daily happiness and improve your overall mood.
START THE MORNING WITH REFLECTION Doing a meditation exercise first thing in the morning sets up your day for success. It has been proven, meditation creates endorphins in the brain, which help stimulate the part of the brain that controls happiness. The best time of day for meditation is in the morning, before all the day’s stress can impact the mind. Meditation exercises don’t have to be a long practice— simply taking ten minutes in the morning to clear your mind can set you up for a calm, focused, happier day. Individuals who meditate daily report feeling more at ease with everyday life, leading them to a happier, healthier lifestyle.
2.
SET YOUR INTENTION Give yourself a goal for the day and focus your energy on completing it. Setting an intention in the morning helps you create a roadmap to navigating the day. It enables you to recognize what’s important and manifest success in your life. Humans feel more positive when they achieve their goals, so setting a small daily intention is a great way to generate a positive mood.
3.
WATCH A FUNNY VIDEO Laughter is the best medicine for increasing happiness, which is why watching a funny video online can help bust the blues. Funny videos get you laughing, which relaxes the body and triggers endorphins to help make you feel happier. Click on a cat video or watch a hilarious SNL skit—Youtube has a bunch of different videos fit for anyone’s preferences.
4.
MAKE TIME FOR YOU For many people, stress is debilitating—which is why it’s essential to take time for self-care. Self-care includes taking care of your emotional, physical, and psychological health. It doesn’t have to be fancy, expensive, or take a long time—the little things can make a big difference in your mood. You can practice self-care by making time every day to do something that you enjoy doing. That could be taking a bubble bath, watching an episode of your favorite tv show, or cooking a nice meal—whatever makes you feel good will improve your mental health.
5.
PRACTICE GRATEFULNESS When stressed, it’s easy to forget what should leave your heart bubbling with gratitude. Remind yourself of the good in your life by taking a couple of moments to think about what you are grateful for each day. Remember what good things you have to help motivate you and keep you moving forward—fresh air, good health, family, friends, the birds outside. Sometimes, if we pause for a moment, the little things we overlook can fill our hearts with gratitude.
KUDOSFLINT.COM • VOLUME 6 ISSUE 2
9
STRESS MANAGEMENT S
Mindset and Community BY DARYN GREEN
tress is clocking in at record-breaking levels these days, thanks to the history-making times we are living. In an interview with Chris Swanson, he identified having an athletic mindset as a helpful tool when facing a stressful state of the world. “You need an athletic mindset now more than ever to combat stress,” Swanson says. To embrace this mindset is a way of thinking where you look at everything as a competition. According to Swanson, this means you don’t go into anything unless you envision it as a personal challenge that you want to win. He assures that it is never too late to adopt this mindset. He discovered this strategy as an adult, already established in his career, and going about life with no real complaints, until one day he had an awakening. He realized he needed a change. From this experience, he learned that it’s never too late to start over. Swanson emphasizes it’s important to “take care of the machine that will take care of you… It’s not about vanity, not about ego, it’s about the machine you have and taking care of that machine.” In terms of stress management, Swanson finds that staying in tune with a positive mindset is vital. He explained, there are two different types of stress: “bad” stress and “good” stress. Bad stress increases
10
the cortisol in the body, which causes anxiety and can ultimately lead to a shorter lifespan. The good stress is called eustress, created by the hypothalamus. It’s the stress your body produces when good things happen like laughing, going to dinner with a group of friends, or hugging a loved one. Swanson advises working intentionally to transition negative stress by replacing it immediately with something you can do to make you happy. In this uncertain time, Swanson suggests coming together as a community to ensure that the stress we experience is mainly the positive type that prompts the kind of productive actions
INSIGHTFUL, MOTIVATIONAL & INSPIRATIONAL
that can get you through tough situations. Swanson lives what he preaches. He has a long track record of bringing people together to support their community for the better. One example is his involvement with Voices for Children, a nonprofit that provides forensic interviews for sexually abused children. Swanson explained how each of us could make a difference in our community by engaging in a cause we’re passionate about and attending fundraisers or volunteering. Swanson believes that even the smallest life choices—from mindset to positive community support—can add up. Seeing the bigger picture while being an active part of a community can result in stress relief with a bonus of helping others. Swanson is well aware of how one action can create a positive ripple effect for the community. Each year Chris volunteers as the Emcee for Hurley Medical Center’s annual Pink Night Palooza. This dynamic fundraiser focuses on supporting local women battling breast cancer. The event not only gives breast cancer
"
survivors and current warriors a fun night out, it later provides resources for those families to continue on their battle. Swanson shared how being involved with these activities has allowed him to witness the goodness in life in unexpected ways. Chris believes we can all make our personal lives, work environment, and community stronger by doing our part. When we make an effort and shift our mindset and energy into something positive, we can do amazing things for ourselves and others. Chris lives life on giving to others, listening, and doing his part. He explained it does not have to be complicated to do your part. Parting words of wisdom from Swanson are: “To be first, you must be last and serve unto all.” He recommends individuals use their circles of influence to
Chris believes we can all make our personal lives, work environment, and community stronger by doing our part. make an impact and bring about the changes most important to them. When we do our part in our corner of the world, the world is better, and often we feel better— transitioning personal stress while turning our minds and actions to help others in need.
KUDOSFLINT.COM
• VOLUME 6 ISSUE 2
" 11
kudos VIDEO HIGHLIGHT
WITH
CHRIS
SWANSON
Jericho Ty tells his story as he explores the French's best kept secret, p. 12
kudos VIDEO HIGHLIGHT
s s e r St Man
t n e m age
FOR MORE INSPIRING CONTENT VISIT US AT WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/KUDOSMAGAZINE Jericho Ty tells his story as he explores the French's best kept secret, p. 12
QUARA PERSPECTIVES FROM A TEEN IN QUARANTINE
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It was easy to spiral out of control and fall into unhealthy habits during the lockdown.
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12
INSIGHTFUL, MOTIVATIONAL & INSPIRATIONAL
n e e AN-t
BY MONICA FACCHINELLO
W
hen the quarantine first began, I treated it like a Christmas vacation. I began staying up all night, letting my room spiral into a mess, eating sweets whenever I wanted, and pushing schoolwork off to the side, telling myself “I’ll do it tomorrow.” After weeks of this behavior, I started to notice it was taking a huge toll on my mental and physical health. Sleeping through half the day and staying up all night made me feel constantly offschedule and tired. Not eating enough healthy food made me feel sick and sluggish. I started to become overwhelmed by schoolwork piling up. Within a short amount of time I realized it was imperative that I make some changes. The first change I made was adjusting my sleep schedule. In the beginning, it was difficult to fall asleep since I was so used to staying up on social media or texting my friends, but by putting on soft music and turning the notifications off on my phone, I was finally able to go to sleep at a reasonable hour. Of course, this also made waking up in the morning much easier. Each morning I felt energized and refreshed, like
I was able to tackle anything. By fixing my sleep schedule, I was also able to resolve my problem with procrastinating on my schoolwork. Some weeks I had even managed to get all my work done within the first three days. In time, I started to set new goals for myself. I began doing some workouts that I’d seen on Instagram and YouTube and trying new recipes for healthy foods. I felt like a completely different person. While I had fixed two of the major problems developed during the quarantine, I knew there were still more improvements to make. My next project was to clean my room. At first, I was intimidated to say the least, but within just a few hours it looked like it was out of a magazine. By simply cleaning my room, I felt much more put-together and calm. It was relaxing to wake up and go to sleep in an organized room, and it brought me comfort to see it looking so nice. Although I had finally addressed all my problems and gotten myself together, I still missed everyday interactions with people. Because I was unable to hang out with friends, I spent more
time focusing on my family; eating dinner together each night, watching movies with them, and calling my relatives. I felt more connected to my family and we were able to better support each other through the lockdown. It was easy to spiral out of control and fall into unhealthy habits during the lockdown. The most important thing I had to remember was that I was accountable for what I spent my time doing. I had to ask myself, in looking back on my time during quarantine would I approve of the way I spent it? By surrounding myself with healthy habits and supportive people, I was able to make a drastic change in my lifestyle. Now I’m confident that I’ll be able to look back when this is all over and be proud of how I spent my quarantine.
About The Author
Monica is a 15-year-old and a cheerleader at my high school. Outside of school she loves to write, and spend time with friends and family.
KUDOSFLINT.COM
• VOLUME 6 ISSUE 2
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FINDING YOUR WAY BACK
A HURLEY THERAPIST’S TAKE ON COPING WITH
COLLECTIVE
CRISIS HOPE CRENSHAW
s we go through this COVID pandemic together, most people are experiencing a collective traumatic experience, according to Recco Richardson, PhD, Clinical Therapist from Hurley Mental Health Associates. Kudos Magazine sat down with Dr. Richardson to discuss the effects of the stress caused by staying home for long stretches of time during the COVID crisis. He said that, contrary to popular belief, stress isn’t always a bad thing.
changes that can precede problems, sometimes even before you, yourself, recognize the symptoms.
“Some levels of stress are necessary for us to do the things we need to do, then there is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). People who have GAD will find themselves overwhelmed. They exhibit shortness of breath and extra levels of fatigue, as well as a general feeling that they’ve run out of time,” Dr. Richardson said, adding that there are some things to be concerned about, considering what’s going on in our communities. He said it is best to try and keep things going as regularly as possible, emphasizing the benefits of staying active.
Because these problems can snowball rather quickly, Dr. Richardson recommends not waiting too long to seek professional help. You can wake up one morning in a full-blown depressive streak, and it is always better to be proactive regarding your mental health, as you can sometimes ward off these more serious issues.
He also advises staying grounded by enjoying as many familiar activities as possible. “Consistency is key,” he stated, explaining that if you find these things don’t help, look at your diet and increase exercise to combat the physical changes that diminished mental health can have on the body. Be mindful of what is going on around you, use your support system, and don’t isolate yourself, as is often the tendency when going through a difficult time. There is no need to go through these things alone, Dr. Richardson assures us. Try to connect and talk to friends and family members instead. He says we need people around that know us, know our schedule, as they often notice the mental and physical
According to Dr. Richardson, “The changes might start with not having the energy to do things, feeling out of sorts and just not clicking on all cylinders. These are signs that depression is high. Knowing these signs will let you know you need help from a licensed therapist who will collaborate with other mental health professionals to help you find your way back to being centered.”
During COVID, more and more people are reaching out to get the help they need to address the common problems that occur during a collective trauma, such as strained relationships. You may need another helpline; need a way back to doing things you love. It is an act of bravery to seek help from a professional therapist when self-care and your support system aren’t enough. “Hurley Mental Health Associates in Flint are having in-office appointments now but are also offering some telehealth appointments. More people are keeping their appointments because of the flexibility of video therapy.”
to take a day off work, there are still ways to protect their mental health. Try to be as centered as possible, stay well-rested, listen to music, and talk to friends. Reflect on why you do the job--not just what helps you fill those hours during the day—and think about giving back to those in need. Whatever allows you to find a place of calmness. Dr. Richardson points out that COVID has also been affecting kids. Staying home might have been fun at first, but being cooped up in the house without seeing their friends begins to take its toll. While Dr. Richardson acknowledges that teenagers have had a harder time with not being able to see their friends, he says that the pandemic has been affecting kids as young as five years old.
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A
Recco Richardson, PhD, Clinical Therapist from Hurley Mental Health Associates
It is an act of bravery to seek help from a professional.
A suggestion for parents is to make family time count. Do the things that have fallen to the wayside due to parents’ former, more hectic schedules and kids being in school. Family is so important to children right now and connecting more with the special people in their lives is a good way to keep children from being overwhelmed.
Information
Dr. Richardson also offers words of wisdom for essential workers. Since their work can be overwhelming, normal stress levels can lead to acute stress, which has the potential to turn into traumatic stress. Encourage everyone to take care of himself or herself. While they might not be able
KUDOSFLINT.COM
To get in touch with Dr. Richardson or another therapist, call 810-262-2100. There are over 30 licensed therapists and medical personnel, including psychiatrists, physician assistants, and other support staff. Their office is at Hurley Mental Health Associates 1085 South Linden Road, Ste 150 Flint, MI 48532
• VOLUME 6 ISSUE 2
15
A MOTHER’S
FIGHT
t oSAVE
16
INSIGHTFUL, MOTIVATIONAL & INSPIRATIONAL
BY MARY HAWKINS
HER SON’S
MENTAL HEALTH
DURING COVID
T
he rapid spread of COVID took many of us by surprise. Even now, we still have to wear masks in public, and COVID is still around, five months after it hit us hard in Michigan. What is not so surprising is the tremendous uptick in people seeking mental health services. Many people live on the edge of being mentally healthy, but COVID has been a trigger for many people. From finding themselves laid off and wondering how to pay the bills to needing to isolate themselves for so long, COVID even hit people hard emotionally speaking.
Whether COVID prompted my son to spiral into crisis or not, I can’t say, but one day he told his father and me that he was suicidal and hurting himself. You can’t imagine what it is like to hear your child tell you they are suicidal. For weeks, I made him sleep on a mattress on the floor in the same room with me. Thankfully he had been seeing a therapist before COVID. It was during a session with his therapist via telehealth when it came out that he had suffered a trauma as a fifth-grader. This revelation triggered something inside of him. He was suffering so much; he told us he needed to go inpatient to get help. Since I had experienced a mental health crisis previously, I knew what he needed to do. Or at least I was familiar with some of the steps and resources. Thank God I did, most people would not have known and that’s why it is so important to know where to get help if and when it’s needed. Because my son’s dad lives in Oakland County, I knew Common Ground could evaluate my son. This organization finds inpatient help and non-urgent assistance for situations like my family was facing. In an immediate emergency, such as hurting yourself badly or being interrupted in a suicide attempt, you would go directly to the Emergency Room. Since this was not an immediate emergency, and because of the COVID pandemic, we hoped to bypass the ER. The therapist at
Common Ground was so helpful; upon seeing that my son was not aggressive, she set out to look for a bed for my son at a mental health hospital. While we waited for a bed, they sent us to the ER just to be on the safe side while working on finding a place for him. We ended up spending the night. While I was apprehensive about going because of possible exposure to COVID, they had the COVID patients on another floor, and there were very few patients in the ER. In the morning, the mental health hospital called us and said they had a bed, so we immediately drove there.
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He spent two weeks in the hospital, but I knew he would ultimately need more help than his former schedule of receiving therapy once a week. We found a partial day hospital where he could go during the day, and we could pick him up in the afternoon. He loved it because it was mostly group therapy all day with kids his age. In some ways, I feel being around kids his age helped.
You can’t imagine what it is like to hear your child tell you they are suicidal.
sooner you realize your mental wellbeing is in jeopardy, the better. There is no reason to suffer in silence, reach out to a trusted friend or an adult, or call one of the many helplines for these types of situations. There are people on the other end of that phone call waiting to help you. They are passionate about what they do and trained to save your life in a crisis if you let them. Once again, it was a lucky thing (ironically) that I knew what to do as a result of my own prior mental health crisis. I am sharing my family’s story in hopes of increasing awareness and helping someone down the line. Every county and most hospitals have mental health offices. Some organizations even have crisis intervention resources where you can receive support via text or video conference calls. Remember, you are not alone and do not have to feel ashamed.
Information
After being in the program for two weeks, he came home, enrolled in group therapy, in addition to one-on-one therapy. He is doing better, can even see his friends again, but we know there is much work ahead.
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COVID has affected kids as well as adults, triggering similar mental issues. All of a sudden, they are not allowed to see their friends, go to school, or even play with the neighbor kids.
When it comes to mental health crises, it is essential to remember that there is no shame in getting help. The
KUDOSFLINT.COM
Here are helpful resources if you ever find yourself or someone you love in crisis.
Hurley Medical CenterBehavioral Medicine 1085 South Linden Road, Suite 150, Flint www.hurleymc.com/services/ behavioral-medicine/ 1-810-262-2100 Genesee Health SystemAccess Department 24 Hour Crisis Hotline open 7 days/week 1-810-257-3740 www.genhs.org Crisis Texting Line Text «Flint» to 741741
• VOLUME 6 ISSUE 2
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kudos VIDEO HIGHLIGHT
MENTAL PERSONAL,
HEALTH
FAMILY,
COMMUNITY
AND
kudos VIDEO HIGHLIGHT
Col
is s i r C e v i lect
WITH RECCO RICHARDS PHD CLINICAL THERAPIST, HURLEY MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATES
s s e n i p p a HTHERE’S APP AN
FOR THAT!
T
BY DARYN GREEN
he world of social media right now is full of uncertainty, worry, and grief. The stress of the world can be felt in every post, link, and like on the internet and can be overwhelming to those consuming this media. Thankfully, social media isn’t all stress and fear—there are some parts of the internet that dedicate themselves to pure happiness.
BLOGS
1000 AWESOME THINGS
APPS
HAPPIFY
This app operates for free with more advanced options available if you choose to get an $11.99/month upgrade. It is science-based and uses evidence-backed techniques to help you gain control over your stresses, feelings, and emotions. Experts in the field created this app’s online games and writing activities to help increase overall happiness of the user.
TEN PERCENT HAPPIER
Ten Percent Happier is a mindful meditation app designed to help users decrease stress and anxiety and increase happiness. The free version of this app includes stats and performance tracking as well as daily mindfulness reminders. The paid version of this app comes with hundreds of meditation recordings, personal coaching, and practical teachings to implement into daily life.
1000 Awesome Things is a blog dedicated to 1,000 things that make living life awesome. Each post features a simple part of life that universally feels great. Whether it be having a staring contest with a baby, creating an inside joke with a friend, or the good kind of stomach butterflies, 1000 Awesome Things talks about it and why it makes life so great. It’s an awesome blog to read when you want to appreciate the little things in life.
ACTION FOR HAPPINESS
Based off of 10 keys for happier living, Action for Happiness is dedicated to helping people create a happier, more balanced society. Through a variety of action steps, it teaches people how to become happier, live better lives, and practice kindness wherever they go. Action for happiness is more than just a blog, it is a community of likeminded individuals who want to create a joyful, compassionate society. This site features blog posts, facts, daily quotes, and instructions on how to live life to the fullest and practice happiness anywhere you go.
ONLINE THERAPY
P OPSOI STPIOTVSIEVI TEVI IVVBEIEBVEI B E P OPSOI STPIOTVSIEVI TEMI VIMNEIDNMDI N D P OPSOI STPIOTVSIEVI TELIIVLFEIEF LEI F E FUN SITES TED TALKS
TED is a nonprofit dedicated to spreading a wide array of information and ideas in the form of short “talks” meant to educate listeners in an engaging way. Listeners can filter the content on the websites by any keyword and they are not lacking in TED talks about happiness. Two particularly powerful TED talks are linked here and here.
ZOOBORNS
While not a form of social media, online therapy has gained popularity due to social distancing and other COVID safety measures. The world is a stressful place right now and it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to online therapy. These resources make it a little bit easier. The first is Betterhelp, which connects users to licensed therapists and provides individuals with web-based therapy appointments. No need to go to any office. Users can get the benefits of therapy right from their home. The next resource is TalkSpace. Similar to better help, it connects individuals with online therapy in the form of messaging therapy. Users can send their therapist a message whenever they feel like it, from whatever device they want.
Information
When the world gets A JOURNEY A JOURNEY TO HEALTHY, TO HEALTHY, HAPPY HAPPY A JOURNEY TO HEALTHY, HAPPY LIVINGLIVING tough, sometimes you just need to see some @CupOfKudos @CupOfK @CupOfKudos baby animals to make /KudosMagazine /CupOfKudos you feel better. ZooBorns Kudos Magazine offers features pictures and daily inspiration for videos of newborn healthy, happy living. zoo animals, as well as information about the Be sure to like our animals, parents, and Facebook page for a zoo. From aardvarks to dose of motivation, zebras, ZooBorns has a insight, and inspiration. plethora of baby animals www.facebook.com/ when you need some kudosmagazine cuteness to distract you from the stressful world www.instagram.com/ around you. kudosmagazine
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• VOLUME 6 ISSUE 2
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CRIM l a u t r Vi ADAPTING TO CONTINUE COMMUNITY WELLNESS CRIM 2020 LOOKED DIFFERENT THIS YEAR. BUT THAT DIDN’T STOP PARTICIPANTS AND PERHAPS EVEN SOME FIRST-TIMERS FROM COMPETING IN ONE OF THE WORLD’S TOP 10 ROAD RACES.
For the last 44 years, the HAP Crim Festival of Races has taken place in downtown Flint as an iconic celebration of fitness and wellness for all ages. Unfortunately, due to Michigan’s COVID-19 gathering guidelines, changes to the race were necessary. With some innovative adjustments, however, Crim officials ensured they could still host the popular wellness festival by developing a Virtual Crim Race for
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INSIGHTFUL, MOTIVATIONAL & INSPIRATIONAL
individuals to complete and feel the spirit of the Crim. According to Hurley Medical Center’s Service Line Administrator John Stewart, “The Crim is more than a race. The Crim is a festival of races that supports participants at all levels and gives those interested in running an opportunity to run.” While there couldn’t be an in-person race this year, instead, the Crim went virtual, giving runners a 10-day window to complete their registered mileage, submit their time to the Crim, and receive a race bib and hoodie to commemorate their achievement. In past years, Crim participants received a t-shirt. This year, however, race organizers wanted to change it up and provide runners with a long-sleeved hoodie “to signify the uniqueness of this year in comparison to all of the other years,” Stewart said.
M2020 ‘‘
“Everything we do is geared toward helping people be healthier and have a better quality of life,“ Andy said. “And we do that through health and wellness.“ Even with the race going virtual, organizers provided several preparatory resources to help runners train for the 10-mile race. These resources included information from professional trainers regarding things like
‘‘
Andy Younger, the Race Director of the Crim Fitness Foundation, explained the community’s need for the race, saying “[The Crim] has become an event that inspires people, tens of thousands of people, to get out and be active all year long, all summer long.” According to Andy, the board debated whether they should even have any type of event this year, but one look at their mission prompted them to adapt tradition to meet the needs of the community.
Everything we do is geared toward helping people be healthier and have a better quality of life.
stretching and avoiding common dangers of running, such as dehydration and heat exhaustion. Sharing information to keep the community healthy has always been a focus at the Crim. The Crim Fitness Foundation partners with The Flint Community Education Initiative to help families and students cultivate vibrant communities through nutrition programs at schools, sports programs for children, and even a series of mindfulness videos, often youth-led, on their website. Andy shared, “This thing that started as a race has grown and blossomed over the years... it’s an opportunity to inspire people to be active and healthy... it’s also an opportunity to support all those things we do throughout the community to keep people happy, healthy, and vibrant all year long.”
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• VOLUME 6 ISSUE 2
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kudos VIDEO HIGHLIGHT
Hurley and Crim A dap ti n g
HURLEY MEDICAL CENTER JOHN STEWART RN, BSN, MSA SERVICE LINE ADMINISTRATOR
kudos VIDEO HIGHLIGHT
CRIM FOUNDATION ANDY YOUNGER RACE DIRECTOR
s e t a r b e l e C CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK
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I
-YEAR PARTNERSHIP BY JENNIFER BOICE
WITH HURLEY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL t’s hard to miss the 850-gallon aquarium, complete with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals balloons and the iconic Flint arches, as you walk into the Hurley Children’s Hospital lobby. Gifted to the hospital in 2016 by Animal Planet’s TV show Tanked and Teen Ambassador for CMN Hospitals Alli Simpson, the aquarium is a prime example of how far-reaching Hurley Children’s Hospital’s reputation has become. Hurley was chosen out of 170 CMN hospitals across the U.S. and Canada to receive the gift, an amazing honor and point of pride for the hospital.
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HOW CAN
This year marks not only a reason for pride, but for celebration, as Hurley commemorates 30 years as a CMN Hospital. This relationship has helped thousands of children from 15 counties across mid-Michigan receive life-saving care, regardless of their ability to pay. For almost half of those years, Linda Tracy-Stephens has served as the CMN Hospitals Director, through the Hurley Foundation. I reached out to Linda to hear more about these two great organizations. “The mission of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals program is ‘We save children’s lives and we give families hope,’” she says. “We do that by raising money for Hurley Children’s Hospital.”
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it’s all about the kids. While the ultimate goal is to raise funds for patient care, the most touching part is meeting the children and their families and seeing what a difference the organization makes. I can hear the joy in Linda’s voice as she talks about the “miracle kids” and how heartwarming it is to reconnect with them to celebrate birthdays, first day of kindergarten, high school graduation, and even weddings.
I GIVE?
Children’s Miracle Netw ork Hospitals rely on donations and co mmunity support. If you would lik e to donate, visit hurleyfoundation. org and click on the Donate Now butto n. One of the unique aspe cts of CMN Hospitals donations is th at all the funds stay local. Any mon ey donated in the areas Hurley serv es will fund Hurley Children’s Hospita l.
These milestones might not be possible without the help of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. With many children entering the hospital with life-threatening
The mission of the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals program is We save children's lives and we give families hope. Pediatric care can be expensive, especially if the patient is fighting a chronic or life-threatening condition. Hurley’s affiliation with CMN Hospitals helps with the cost of medical care, funding programs and services that make the patient experience more comfortable for not only the child, but the family as well. When asked if her job is fulfilling, Linda surprised me with her answer, saying she never looked at it like a job. “A ‘job’ is something you work at. There is a starting and ending time,” she clarifies. “Life in the CMN Hospitals world is not like that. This is more of a ‘passion’. I love it!” So, what is life like in the CMN Hospitals world? According to Linda,
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conditions or illnesses requiring extensive treatments, special services funded by CMN Hospitals, like the Child Life program, have a direct impact on the young patients’ experiences. Through donations, national partners, and community support, these Child Life specialists are able to make the child’s medical experience as positive as possible. But 2020 has not been without its surprises. Linda explains that their major fundraisers, such as their Bowlathon, Townsquare Media’s “Let’s Make Miracles” Radiothon, and the DQ Miracle Picnic, have been postponed due to COVID-19, to be rescheduled when it is safe to gather. National partners such as Speedway,
INSIGHTFUL, MOTIVATIONAL & INSPIRATIONAL
Walmart, Sam’s Club, RE/MAX, Panda Express, Dairy Queen, Rite Aid, ACE Hardware, and many others have joined in to help raise money, often selling the yellow paper balloons sometimes seen plastered to the windows and walls of businesses with names proudly written in marker. ACE has a “round up” program where customers can round up purchases to the nearest dollar, donating the change to CMN Hospitals. RE/MAX has an honor card program allowing agents to donate to CMN Hospitals on behalf of their buyers and sellers. These partners, as Tracy-Stephens says, “are committed to helping our kids, one dollar at a time.”
Families
MIRACLES, FAITHand GOOD VIBES
C
hambria Mack was due to have her daughter in December, but sometimes the world works a little differently, and Chambria gave birth to her daughter Miracle 19 weeks early. When born, Miracle weighed only 14 ounces, and the doctors and staff at Hurley Medical Center had to prepare Chambria for the hard journey ahead.
“My experience with Hurley was excellent,” said Chambria. “They took care of me immediately and got me to the back right away. I felt urgent and important.” Miracle stayed in the NICU for four months and left to go home on December 6, just a few days shy of her due date. During the time Chambria and her family spent in the NICU, she developed a relationship with her nurses.
“My NICU nurses were the best and made me feel like Miracle was loved,” Chambria said. “I felt like Miracle was in good hands even when I left.” While at Hurley Medical Center, Chambria felt surrounded by everything she needed and felt like the staff eventually became family. At times difficult information was shared with the family that was hard to process, but they understood these were statistics and information the doctors at Hurley needed to tell her.
“They’re giving you statistics, but you can be the deal-breaker,” Chambria said. “They have to tell you, but it doesn’t have to be it.” Miracle was given only a two percent chance of survival. Even facing seemingly hopeless odds, Chambria never lost her fighting spirit. When asked what she was going to do, Chambria adamantly stated,”We’re going for it!” Chambria says you need to give your baby something to fight for when they’re in the NICU. “Even when Miracle was in the incubator, I would open it up and talk or sing to her,” said Chambria. “I wanted her to hear my voice. I wanted her to fight to know where that voice was coming from.”
the ride you’re on, though, because many of your baby’s first moments will be in the NICU. “Always ask questions and make sure you understand what they’re saying,” Chambria said. “When you do that, your doctors can connect with you.”
Today Miracle is a happy and healthy 7-year-old. She is in second grade and enjoying the days with her younger sister, Brielle.
She explained how it is vital to keep your mind positive. “When your baby If you’re in a similar situation like is in the NICU, it is a mental battle.” Chambria and Miracle, remember to To give herself a fighting chance, stay positive, surround yourself with Chambria limited negative people positive people, and never be afraid from coming around her or Miracle, to ask questions. instead surrounding both of them with people sharing positive Currently, Miracle wants to vibes or walking in faith. be a doctor when she grows up, but she is toy ing with being “I reached out on social media a Rockstar. “When Miracle is ready to do to ask people to pray for something, she just rolls wit h it,” said Chambria. Miracle, for positive vibes,” said Miracle loves to read and is currently reading Chambria. higher than her age level. He r favorite book Chambria added that the is anything to do with My Litt le Pony, and her experience is a roller coaster, favorite color is blue. The mo st important and there will be many ups and question, though, was what her favorite animal downs. She said to remember was. “Unicorn!” said Miracle. KUDOSFLINT.COM
• VOLUME 6 ISSUE 2
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Families
MORE THAN MIRACLES , n of Family
n Extensio AALICIA LEONARD-LEWIS, TERRY LEWIS, AND KAIDYN LEWIS
A
BY TAMI BENEDICT
licia Leonard-Lewis and her husband, Terry, dreamed of having a child. After the heartbreak of five miscarriages, Alicia finally became pregnant. She prayed that everything would be fine. But it wasn’t. As Alicia prepared for a family vacation to Tennessee, her pregnancy took a turn for the worse. On August 7, 2010, at six months pregnant, Alicia felt her water break; she immediately went to Hurley Medical Center, where doctors decided to perform an emergency C-Section on August 10. Kaidyn Terrell Lewis was born three months early, was admitted to the NICU, and placed on a ventilator for 12 hours. Weighing a mere 1 lb, 5 oz., Alicia’s baby boy stayed in the NICU for 66 days before being released. During a time of fear and uncertainty, there was a relief knowing the
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INSIGHTFUL, MOTIVA
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Sometimes it takes someone who has already been there to help get you through the difficult times.
hospital was equipped with the knowledgeable staff, support, and resources to help her son battle for his life. Alicia explained how Hurley’s staff became an extension of her family, providing support and helpful information that kept her spirits up during a difficult time. “The care was exceptional and beyond belief,” said Alicia. “They were sweet and protective. They were Kaidyn’s surrogate parents when we weren’t around.” For Alicia and Terry, they were at the best hospital for
the situation they lived through. “We have great relationships with the nurses and doctors today and still talk to some of them,“ Alicia said. “Every year for Kaidyn’s birthday, we go back to the NICU and deliver cupcakes to show them how much we appreciate them
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and how grateful we are.“ Today, Kaidyn is your typical 10-yearold who loves playing video games, going outside, and shooting some hoops. This fifth-grader also has big dreams. After being introduced to the world of Orthopedics, Kaidyn wants to become an orthopedic surgeon when he grows up. “He is always on the honor roll,” Alicia said. “His teacher took him to one of her orthopedic appointments after breaking her ankle, and the doctor showed him bones and everything. He loved it.” As Kaidyn starts to focus on future dreams and goals, he continually gives back to his community. He’s been the “face” of contests and campaigns for Hurley and the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. For Alicia and Terry, it is great for others to see Kaidyn’s story of hope, coming into this world as a preemie, who is now a thriving, healthy, vibrant child with big dreams. For others going through something similar, Alicia’s advice is to trust the doctors and nurses surrounding you. It’s not a job, but their passion. She adds, “Trust the process and keep the faith in any way possible.” For Alicia and Terry, not only were friends and family around, but their church supported them in countless ways, helping keep their spirits high when emotions and tensions peaked. “Support is going to be your biggest factor,” Alicia said, emphasizing, “Sometimes it takes someone who has already been there to help get you through the difficult times.” You also might need to surround yourself with people who will give you unflinching love and remind you, your child is in the best hands.
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Families
DAILY BREADs'
k c a s s a S e h T
RECIPE OF LOVE, FAMILY & GRATITUDE
For Scott Sassack, the owner of Great Harvest Bread Co. in Grand Blanc, excellent customer service and giving to others is ingrained in him. Eighteen years ago, he went into business with his father, bought Great Harvest Bread Co., and hasn’t looked back since. Tanya Sassack, Scott’s wife, and their twin daughters, Rebekah and Gabby, are familiar faces at the family-run bakery. The entire Sassack family can share stories of long hours tempered by the enjoyment they find in operating their business and giving back to the community. Scott says. “Our mission statement is ‘Give generosity to others.’” One way Great Harvest gives back is through “Baker For a Day”. For almost 17 years, Scott has opened his shop on Sunday to bake exclusively for an organization or person who needs help. That entire day 100% of the proceeds go to the organizations or
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individuals. “I love doing it, and I know my business better than anybody,” Scott says. “I’ll never stop doing it. Helping others out is in people’s DNA. You’re a part of a community, and you need to step in.” When you meet Scott and his family, the authentic kindness and generosity you experience are as comforting as the smell of freshbaked bread. They are a family grateful for their blessings. When crisis hit the Sassack family, they had to shift from continually giving and sharing to relying on
INSIGHTFUL, MOTIVATIONAL & INSPIRATIONAL
support from others. It happened almost overnight. Rebekah woke one day with pain in her ribs and pressure on her chest. Initially, doctors believed she was fighting pneumonia, but the treatment wasn’t working. Her white blood cell count was skyrocketing, and the doctors had no choice but to transfer her to Hurley Children’s Hospital. Rushed by ambulance to the Level II Pediatric trauma center, Rebekah was met at the entrance by a medical team ready to spring into action. The team included a trauma surgeon, an intensivist (a board-certified physician who
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I'll never stop doing it. Help ing others out is in people's DNA .
attends to critically ill patients), an infectious disease specialist, and a nurse the family said would soon become “their rock.” They discovered Rebekah was suffering from a bacterial infection. Her lung was 45% collapsed, and she couldn’t get any air through it. Her body was in a potentially fatal state of sepsis. Rebekah needed surgery immediately—two life-saving surgeries, to be exact. After seven days in the hospital, Rebekah was released from the hospital in time for Thanksgiving with her family. She faced a long road ahead. It took a full six months for her lungs to heal, but
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today she has made a full recovery and is even participating in longdistance running. Since that time at Hurley, the entire Sassack family has been proactive in supporting Hurley Children’s Hospital, designated as a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. They see the medical team that, through God’s grace, saved Rebekah’s life as an extension of their family. So inspired were they by the support they received at Hurley, the Sassacks have recently announced they are dedicated to raise as much as they can over the year.
Their devotion to Hurley extends beyond monetary donations. The twins, Gabby and Rebekah, are grateful to be healthy, hanging out together, and cheering on other kids in the hospital. Shortly after Rebekah’s illness, the twins’ middle school raised almost $3,000 for Hurley. Last Christmas, they participated in “Glow for Miracles,” an event where members of the community gather outside the hospital on a designated night in December to wave glow sticks up to the pediatric patients, wishing them goodnight. The twins were spotted outside with their mom, waving and smiling ear to ear, as the children in the hospital waved back with glow sticks of their own. The family attended Hurley’s Benefit Ball as Miracle Family ambassadors in 2017. Scott and Tanya’s dedication to serving their community while teaching their children the value of helping others along their journeys is genuinely inspiring. The entire family radiates joy in life that they share with others all year long, so it’s no wonder they’re serving up the most wholesome sustenance to the community. If you’re in the neighborhood, you can stop by Great Harvest Bread Co. in Grand Blanc and say, “Hi.” Scott recommends the Sonoma, toasted, with peanut butter.
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e l c a r i MBEHIND THE
HURLEY’S MIRACLE KIDS
I
BY JENNIFER BOICE
n 2016, new college grad Brooklyn Sondgeroth had dreams of a career in the broadcasting industry when she volunteered for an earlymorning shift at the ABC12 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Telethon. Paired up to shadow Linda TracyStephens, Brooklyn didn’t know what to expect, but was filled with excitement at the chance to be in the news station and experience the action firsthand. She was surprised as she watched kids run past the big-name news anchors to present Linda with bouquets of flowers as she casually chatted with the crowd. After spending 12 hours with Linda, Brooklyn’s whole perspective changed. She realized she wanted to be in a role like Linda’s, where she could change lives, and that became her career goal.
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So, who is Linda Tracy-Stephens? Since 2006, Linda has been the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Director for the Hurley Foundation. While this role focuses on raising funds for Hurley Children’s Hospital, Linda does so much more than that, and Brooklyn was immediately impressed with her work ethic, gentle demeanor, and empathetic nature. Those in the community knew and respected her, and if she met a stranger, they weren’t a stranger for long. Fast-forward to 2020, and Brooklyn is once again working side-by-side with Linda, only this time it’s more of a partnership. Brooklyn explains that Linda doesn’t like the words “boss” or “mentor” and, while Brooklyn’s title is Assistant Director for
INSIGHTFUL, MOTIVATIONAL & INSPIRATIONAL
CMN Hospitals Programs at the Hurley Foundation, Linda never talks down to her and always treats her like an equal. “She prefers ‘colleague’,” says Brooklyn, “which is hilarious. Here she is, she’s been in this job way longer than me, has so many more connections, and she wants to be on my same level. There’s no way!” Humble, to say the least. When asked about Linda’s best qualities, Brooklyn notes her sensitivity and empathy. “She is successful because of how she makes everyone around her feel. I don’t think a day goes by that I don’t learn something new, or feel my life has been enhanced in some way by working with her.” The same can be said about the thousands of children who have been lucky enough to know Linda. Linda remains in contact with the families
way possible; her kindness shines through in everything she does. She cares deeply about the community she serves and is sensitive to each and every aspect of living and working within it. In addition to her work with CMN Hospitals, Linda is also involved with several community groups and is an active member of her church.
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Her commitment to the children is evident in everything she does.
that choose to do so, stating, “We pick up where we left off. It doesn’t have to be an all-the-time thing for us to stay close.” Her commitment to the children is evident in everything she does. Even in our telephone interview, her passion for helping children was obvious. Her voice filled with joy when she described the 850-gallon aquarium that was donated to the hospital by the TV show TANKED. She couldn’t hide her excitement when she shared the bowling achievements of one of her ‘miracle kids’. She listened intently as I explained the struggles my young son faces, then responded with empathy, compassion, and kindness. Despite Linda’s dislike of the word, Brooklyn does view Linda as a mentor, explaining that she has so much to learn from her. She says when working
with Linda, anything is possible. Brooklyn tells the story of the marketing department’s hopes to use Josh Groban’s popular song “You Raise Me Up” for a NICU holiday video, despite feeling it was unlikely they could get copyright permission. Linda didn’t hesitate, she simply suggested they start making phone calls right away. Within 24 hours, they had permission to use the song. “She just says ‘yes,’ she just says ‘go,’” explains Brooklyn. It’s this kind of attitude that makes Linda not only successful, but loved and respected. She says working for CMN Hospitals feels like less of a “job” and more of a “passion,” and it shows. Always the first to think outside the box and put herself in another person’s shoes to make sure she is serving the patients and their families in the best
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With 2020 testing the entire nation, we all need someone like Linda by our side – someone who exhibits the perfect combination of leadership, positivity, and humility. Brooklyn sums it up perfectly when she states, “I’d follow her into battle any day.”
About The Author
KUDOSFLINT.COM
Jennifer is a writer and editor whose passions include loving and laughing as much as possible, finding the bright side, and helping others. She lives with her husband, four children, pets, and foster pets, and runs Boice Creative Services, where she can turn your experiences into stories. Connect with her at jen@boicecreative.com.
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kudos VIDEO HIGHLIGHT
Miracle Celebrations
kudos VIDEO HIGHLIGHT
SIGN UP FOR KUDOS FOR FREE WWW.KUDOSFLINT.COM
Sweet as aPeach Make this refreshing salad your go-to! This is great as a side, or add a protein (such as chicken or tofu) to upgrade it to a meal. PEACHES ARE AWESOME BECAUSE THEY ARE… • A good source of Vitamin A & Vitamin C • A good source of fiber •DELICIOUS
SPINACH IS AWESOME BECAUSE IT’S… • An excellent source of Vitamin A, Vitamin K • A good source of Vitamin C, folate, and manganese •DELICIOUS
The recipe below is versatile, and can be changed up to suit your taste, or what’s on sale and available to you in the grocery store. The almonds can be switched out for pecans, walnuts or pistachios. The peaches (as awesome as they are) can be replaced by strawberries or blueberries. Bleu cheese or feta can be used instead of goat cheese.
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Peach & Spinach Salad Salad Ingredients: 4-6 cups sp
inach 2 large peaches, sliced 1 avocado, diced ½ small red onio n, thinly sliced ½ cup goat chee se crumbles ½ cup sliced toas ted almonds
Dressing Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons ba lsamic vinegar 3 Tablespoons ex tra virgin olive oil 1 garlic clove ½ teaspoon Dijo n mustard
Directions
In a medium bow l, whisk together the balsa mic vinaigrette. In a large bowl, ad d the spinach. Drizzle with desir ed amount of balsamic vinaigre tte and toss together to combi NUTRITION INFO ne. Top salad with peach slices, SERVING SIZE: ¼ OF TOTAL RECIPE diced avocado, Calories…………………287 Total Sugars.................. 14 g red onion, goat ch Total Carbohydrate...... 20 g Cholesterol................26 mg eese crumbles and toasted almon Total Fat......................... 22 g Protein............................. 6 g ds. Toss again. Dietary Fiber................... 5 g Sodium.....................260 mg
INSIGHTFUL, MOTIVATIONAL & INSPIRATIONAL
Saturated Fat.................. 6 g
Salsa t n i M h c a Pe Ingredients Serves 4 d ch, choppe 1 Fresh Pea opped h c , n Onion e re G p u c ½ hopped 1 Tomato, c ) Mint, sh (or dried re F sp tb ½ 1 chopped ili Powder ½ tbsp. Ch
Directionoswl, combine all In a small b . . Refrigerate ingredients N INFORMATIO NUTRITION : ½ CUP SERVING SIZE ............90 ... ... ... ... ... s.. Calorie .................. 5g Carbohydrate ........... 4g ...... Sugars.............. ........... 0g ...... ... ... ... ... ... ... t.. Fa
Berry Smoothie Ingredients
Serves 2 1 cup Blueberries (fresh or frozen) 1 cup Spinach 1 cup Almond Milk (or milk) 1 cup Plain Greek Yogurt Ice if your fruit is not frozen
Directions
Arrange ingredients in a blender, wet ingredients first. Blend well. NUTRITION INFORMATION
SERVING SIZE: 1 CUP (8OZ) Calories.......................... 169 Carbohydrate.................. 8g Sugars............................. 35g Fat..................................... 5g
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kudos VIDEO HIGHLIGHT
kudos VIDEO HIGHLIGHT
Avoid Late Night Munchies
HURLEY MEDICAL CENTER EMILY GIDEON NUTRITION SPECIALIST
IT IS A GREAT TIME TO
tryNEW THINGS! EMILY GIDEON,
REGISTERED DIETITIAN HURLEY WELLNESS SERVICES
E
ating healthy during the summer is easy because there are a lot of healthy foods that are in season. You can use scrumptious tomato slices, for example, with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, mozzarella, and fresh basil and whip up a delicious and healthy appetizer. Scoop a dollop of whipped cream on some fresh berries and you have an amazing dessert that literally takes five seconds to make. Toss some fresh ears of corn on the grill and you have an easy, healthy side - just be careful about the amount of butter on top! We all have our familiar favorites (watermelon is mine) but this summer, I challenge you to try something new! Variety is not only the spice of life, it is key for a balanced diet.
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INSIGHTFUL, MOTIVATIONAL & INSPIRATIONAL
2]
3]
1] When we eat a wide variety of foods we are getting a variety of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients – nutrients that are found in the pigments of produce and fight chronic disease such as cancer and heart disease. Try something new and unusual this season. You never know – you may just find a new favorite! Below are some less common fruits that you may have seen at the grocery store. How many have you had?
1 ] DURIAN
Durian, native to Southeast Asia, is a fruit that does not want to be eaten! This large, watermelonsized fruit has a prickly, tough outer shell and an infamous odor that some like but others…don’t. But, for those that are able to get past all that, there is a fleshy inside that has a taste described as custard-like.
2 ] DRAGON FRUIT
Arguably the prettiest fruit on this list, the dragon fruit is native to the area where South and North Americas meet. The white flesh inside has a mild flavor that is similar to kiwi.
3 ] KIWANO
(AKA HORNED MELON)
Pronounced kee-WAH-no, this subSaharan African fruit is almost as fun to play with as it is to eat! The bright green, jelly-like flesh inside tastes similar to cucumber with a little extra sweetness.
4]
4 ] PAPAYA
Native to Mexico and northern South America, papaya has a mild but sweet flavor and a buttery texture.
5 ] PASSION FRUIT
Passion fruit grows on a vine and is about the same size as a lime. Native to South America, this fruit has a similar texture to pomegranate and packs a flavor punch! It has a fresh taste that is sweet and tart.
6 ] STAR FRUIT
Star fruit is so named because of the resemblance when it’s cut crosswise! Similar to a green grape, the star fruit has a juicy but firm flesh and a sweet and sour taste. It is native to Southeast Asia.
5] 6]
7 ] RAMBUTAN
Pronounced ram-BOO-tn, this Southeast Asia-native is the “hairy” fruit you may have seen at grocery stores. The outside peel is not eaten, but the fruit is sliced open and the white flesh inside is eaten. It has a taste similar to a grape – both sweet and sour (although more mild than a sour grape, in my opinion).
7]
8 ] JACKFRUIT
This fruit is similar in appearance to Durian, though not as spiky! It is native to southern India and Malaysia, and can be used as a meat replacement for vegans or vegetarians! It has a consistency similar to chicken or pork, and a neutral taste. KUDOSFLINT.COM
8]
• VOLUME 6 ISSUE 2
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WHEN
DA
ALL IS FOR THE
LOOK LIG T
BY DIANA FLETCHER
HE UNIMAGINABLE HAPPENED AND THE WORLD SHUT DOWN. AS WE TRIED TO TAKE IT ALL IN, SCRAMBLED TO FEED OUR FAMILIES AND HOMESCHOOL OUR CHILDREN, THE NEWS KEPT COMING AT US. HOW DO WE COPE? WHAT DO WE SAY TO OUR FRIENDS AS THEY GRIEVE? HOW DO WE COPE WITH OUR OWN FEAR AND CONFUSION? WHAT DO WE TELL OUR CHILDREN? WE TELL THEM THAT THERE IS ALWAYS A LIGHT; THERE IS ALWAYS GOOD IF WE LOOK FOR IT. THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE.
When we take action, when we decide to move forward with our lives, no matter the circumstances, we are lighting that little flame of hope within us and that is EVERYTHING. There is hope when we reach
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out to help a neighbor or listen to someone’s problems. When a tremendous number of people take to the streets in a united way to say no more, that is hope. When we laugh with our friends and everything seems normal for a few minutes, that is hope. When we reach out to help each other, that is hope. There is always, always hope and there are always, always choices.
INSIGHTFUL, MOTIVATIONAL & INSPIRATIONAL
The time has come for you to choose how you will move forward. What actions will YOU take to survive, and live in this continuously changing atmosphere? How will you find the light of hope within you? What do you do with the fear, pain, anxiety, loss, depression and anxiety? What do we do with our anger? How do we live each day with so much uncertainty? Here are some solid ideas for you going forward
FIRST, TAKE CARE OF YOU AND YOUR STRESS. STOP AND BREATHE Any time you feel anxiety or stress, stop and breathe. You can practice this right now. Put one hand on your stomach, right below your rib cage. You
ARK,
GHT
Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. ~ Desmond Tutu
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• VOLUME 6 ISSUE 2
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want your stomach to rise when you breathe deeply; your hand will help you determine if it is. Now, breathe in through your nose and you want to see your hand rise. If your chest rises, you aren’t getting the breath in deeply enough. Then let the air out through your mouth. Empty the air out completely and your hand should go down. Do this three times. This is an extremely powerful technique. You will be sending oxygen to every cell in your body, including your brain. Don’t underestimate this simple strategy. Make it a habit and watch how well it works. Practice this with your children and teach your friends. It is very important right now that you take care of yourself.
ACCEPT ALL OF YOUR FEELINGS AS VALID
Read that again. Accept all of your feelings as valid. Anything you are feeling is normal under these conditions. Sadness, grief, frustration, anger, despair, anxiety, depression, fatigue: these are all normal feelings. Do not judge yourself, do not berate yourself, do not call yourself names. If the feelings get to be too much, reach out for support. We need each other right now. If you don’t have a person to talk to, write it all down. Get it out of your head.
For the world is in a bad state, but everything will become still worse unless each of us does his best. ~ Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
38
TAKE SOME TIME FOR CALM AND QUIET.
Create some time for peace. You can get up in the morning before anyone else and connect with your spirit and the love within you. Pray, meditate, or just sit still and enjoy the quiet. Even people who are alone right now still need to take time for contemplation and thought.
CONNECT WITH YOUR COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER
Even when we can’t see each other in person, we have many ways to reach out to others. We need other people to share our grief, anger, loneliness, worry. We need each other to share good news with when we hear it. We need to laugh together.
CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL
There are more opportunities to do this than you may think. You don’t have to read or listen to news about COVID-19, every minute of every day. Most of the news is guesswork anyway. As states begin to reopen, you need to know what is going on in your area. Anything else, at this point, is a waste of energy. It is meant to scare us and keep us coming back for more fear. Haven’t you had enough? Think about your actions and how you are choosing to react. You can be scared, and still be kind. You can recognize your anxiety and still react with healthy actions for yourself. You can feel angry or mean and choose to breathe deeply before you express your thoughts. You can speak up, reach out and help others. You can choose to look for the light and the hope.
INSIGHTFUL, MOTIVATIONAL & INSPIRATIONAL
Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. ~ Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
Right now is all we have. This minute, this second, you are creating your life story. Your reactions are the most important parts of your story. Choosing our reactions, choosing reactions that feed our spirits with hope, love and joy are reactions of strength and power. You, right now, are reading these words and it is your present. This is NOW. Feel the power of making choices that will benefit you in your future. When we can’t change a situation, we always have the power to change ourselves. Never, ever give up hope.
About The Author Diana Fletcher is a writer, life coach and activist living in Pennsylvania. She is the best-selling author of Happy on Purpose Daily Messages of Empowerment and Joy for Women revised and expanded edition. Diana can be reached through her website at www.dianafletcher.com
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