VOL 9, NO 5
COMPLIMENTARY
CELEBRATING, MOTIVATING, AND EDUCATING WOMEN
Real
TM
Kelly Jeffcoat
and
Sandra Dodd
MEET
of Lexington Medical Center
Sandy Webb Cayce, Chapin, Lexington, Irmo, Lake Murray, West Columbia, & White Knoll
In this Issue TM
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22
www.lexingtonwomanonline.com
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Lori Samples Duncan loriduncan86@gmail.com
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES Cathy Williams cw@woman2woman.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jenny Lawton Wood Lori Samples Duncan Carol Ryall Holly Homer Patti McGrath Ann Whitten Hima Dalal
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Lisa Ashworth woman2womanlisa@gmail.com
PHOTOGRAPHY
Clark Berry Photography Tanya Waller Photography Cheyenne Smiley
INFORMATION
info@lexingtonwomanonline.com
From the Editor 2
Fall is Here!
Events 3
What’s Happening?
Local Athletics
Professional
16 Meet Chris Petty of Budget Blinds 18 Meet Sandy Webb
Celebrating the Survivor in You!
22 Laurin E. Long “I Refuse to Sink!”
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Local Football Schedule
6
Lexington High School: Damone Leaphart
Health & Wellness
7
White Knoll High School: Sheila Gordon
28 Women of Lexington Medical: Kelly Jeffcoat
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River Bluff High School: Scott Ganucheau and Stacey Baynham
29 Women of Lexington Medical: Sandra Dodd
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Gilbert High School: Byron Millwood
30 When Cancer Interrupts
8
Pelion High School: Dr. George Wham
Let’s Talk!
12 The Ashby Chronicle: Borrow My Sister
25 The Mystery of Dyslexia
34 Give Backache a Break
Personal Note
35 Fall, Family, and Staying Hopeful
Business & Web Directory 36 Contact our Advertisers
14 Homework Help Tips for Parents Find us on facebook!
Woman 2 Woman Media, LLC (803) 785-4475 104 Pine Tree Drive Lexington, SC 29073
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication. However, the publisher cannot assume responsibility for errors or omissions. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. © 2014
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From The Editor
Fall is finally here! Along with the change of season comes a whole new set of amazing people to learn about in Lexington Woman Magazine. Our featured Survivor story this issue is about a very strong young woman, Laurin E. Long . While battling breast cancer, she has remained strong and shares her positive message with everyone! One of the best things about fall is all the football! This issue features a Local Athletics section that showcases the athletic trainers from Lexington High School, Pelion High School, White Knoll High School, Gilbert High School, and River Bluff High School. Meeting and talking with this wonderful group of men and women was truly inspiring. Read about how they keep students happy and healthy in the school athletics. Another feature is about one of our community’s most successful women - Sandy Webb, the owner of nine of our local McDonald’s. Her business success is only surpassed by the commitment that she has to our community. Another inspiring story comes from Lexington Medical Center - the absolute best hospital in town. Read not only about two of their fantastic staff members, Kelly Jeffcoat and Sandra Dodd, but also the hopeful story of cancer patient Kori Viehweg. As always, I want to remind our readers that the businesses within Lexington Woman Magazine have made a commitment to always offer quality products and services to the people of this community. Make sure to visit them online or in their store and let them know where you heard about them. It is through their support that LWM is able to bring you the stories of real Lexington Women in every single issue. I hope you enjoy this issue as much as I have. If you would like to send us a story or suggest someone that you think should be featured in Lexington Woman Magazine, please feel free to email me personally at loriduncan86@gmail.com. God Bless and See you next time! Your friend,
Lori Samples Duncan
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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating
Real Women
Events Events
WHAT’S
Happening IN LEXINGTON?
Congaree Bluegrass Festival
Kids Corn Maze
Christmas Arts & Crafts Show
Still in its infancy in its third year, the Congaree Bluegrass Festival nevertheless has drawn hundreds of music fans to Cayce’s Granby Gardens Park. Scheduled for the first Saturday in October, the Congaree Bluegrass Festival is named for the river so important in Cayce’s development. Food vendors are on the premises; alcohol isn’t allowed. www.cityofcayce-sc.gov/festivals.asp
Bring the little ones for our amazing corn maze, just the right size for younger kids. Make it a new tradition and capture those memories! Pay $2 for each child to explore the maze and get a prize at the end. The Kid’s Corn Maze is open Monday - Saturday. Purchase tickets in our Fresh Produce Market, tickets cannot be purchased online. NEW THIS YEAR! Bring the little ones for our amazing corn maze, just the right size for younger kids. www.wingard’snursery.com
Come join us in the 6th Annual Christmas Craft Show and Holiday Bazaar with Silent Auction to benefit Harvest Hope Food Bank in the Lexington Middle School cafeteria. There will be over 40 different crafters and vendors to include: handmade jewelry, children’s clothing and accessories, pottery, artwork, photography, woodworking, handbags, christmas crafts, ornaments, wreaths and everthing else you need to begin your Christmas shopping! http://midlandcrafters.wix.com/christmascraft-show
October 3, 2015 11:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Granby Gardens Park
SC State Fair
October 14 - 25, 2015 11:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Fair Grounds
The Palmetto State’s largest event, located in the capital city of Columbia, is one of the best values in family-oriented entertainment. Enjoy mouth-watering food, thrilling rides and exciting entertainment. A twelve-day annual event showcasing the mechanical and educational aspects of South Carolina along with presenting a fun, wholesome and entertaining carnival atmosphere where families can come together for tremendous fun...come find your “happy” at the South Carolina State Fair! www.scstatefair.org
Boo at the Zoo
October 16 - 30, 2015 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Riverbanks Zoo
Hey, kids! Put on your cutest costume and head over to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden for the annual Halloween spook-tacular, Boo at the Zoo. The family-friendly Halloween event runs from 6 to 9pm each evening. Children 12 and under are invited to wear costumes for a spook-fest complete with Frankenstein’s Foam Zone, an eeky freaky DJ dance party and a trick-or-treat trail with candy and more! Tickets go on sale on September 1. All tickets must be purchased in advance –tickets will not be sold the nights of the event. Tickets are $7 for Riverbanks members and $9 for the general public. www.riverbanks.org
October 1 - 31, 2015 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. Wingard’s Market
November 7, 2015 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Lexington Middle School
Gilbert House of Terror
Holiday Lights on the River
Traditional outdoor haunt provides a fun and thrilling 13 terror filled scenes during our nine nights of fright. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit The First Calvary Food Pantry of Gilbert, Gilbert’s Boy Scout Troop 60, Lex Co Juvenile Arbitration Program, and the Palmetto Equestrian Riding Program. Bring your family and friends out for a fun time. Sure to provide memories of laughter and screams to help our community www.gilberthouseofterror.com
Saluda Shoals Park will come alive in a blaze of more than a million sparkling lights. Holiday Lights on the River features over 400 themed, animated light displays on a two-mile loop of the Park! Enjoy the Dazzling Dancing Forest with its dancing, lighted trees synchronized to classical and whimsical holiday music. See the three dimensional Victorian Village, Old Man Winter, the holiday classic Twelve Days of Christmas and so much more, all in sparkling lights. Take a stroll along the boardwalk through the Wetland Wonderland Walking Trail and watch nature come to life in sparkling lights. Take a hayride to the boardwalk for $1 per person or walk along the new trail to the Wetland and enjoy a laser light show and the Deck the Doors Holiday door display along the way. www.cityofcayce-sc.gov/festivals.asp
October 9 - 31, 2015 7:30 p.m. 739 Harley Taylor Rd, Gilbert
Lights Before Christmas
November 20 - December 30, 2015 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Riverbanks Zoo
Experience Columbia’s longest running holiday tradition at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. Explore the Zoo illuminated by nearly one million twinkling lights and more than 350 handcrafted images. Take your photo with Santa, roast marshmallows at the Jingle Bell Bonfire and be sure to wear your hat – it snows nightly at Riverbanks during the Lights Before Christmas. Admission is free for Riverbanks members and general admission is $6 for children ages 3 – 12 and $8 for adults. Avoid long holiday lines and purchase your tickets in advance. www.riverbanks.org
November 26 - December 31, 2015 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Saluda Shoals Park
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H @SCStateFair
Real Women
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L O C A L AT H L E T I C S LOCAL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE River Bluff High School Sat. Aug. 22 Varsity vs. Westwood Fri. Aug. 28 Varsity vs. Gilbert Fri. Sep. 4 Varsity vs. Columbia Fri. Sep. 11 Varsity vs. Fort Mill Fri. Sep. 18 Varsity vs. Crescent Mon. Sep. 28 Varsity @ Cheraw Fri. Oct. 9 Varsity vs. South Aiken Fri. Oct. 16 Varsity @ Lexington Fri. Oct. 23 Varsity @ North Augusta Fri. Oct. 30 Varsity vs. White Knoll Fri. Nov 6 Varsity vs. Irmo Pelion High School Sat. Aug. 22 Varsity vs. Cardinal Fri. Sep. 4 Varsity vs. Gilbert Fri. Sep. 11 Varsity vs. Johnson Fri. Sep. 18 Varsity @ Mid-Carolina Fri. Sep. 25 Varsity @ North Fri. Oct. 2 Varsity @ Eau Claire Fri. Oct. 9 Varsity vs. Columbia Fri. Oct. 16 Varsity @ Fairfield Central Fri. Oct. 23 Varsity @ Newberry Fri. Oct. 30 Varsity vs. Keenan White Knoll High School Thu. Aug. 20 Varsity vs. Fort Mill Fri. Aug. 28 Varsity vs. Wando Fri. Sep. 11 Varsity vs. Clover Fri. Sep. 18 Varsity @ Swansea Fri. Sep. 25 Varsity @ Lugoff-Elgin Thu. Oct. 1 Varsity @ Spring Valley Fri. Oct. 9 Varsity vs. Irmo Fri. Oct. 16 Varsity vs. North Augusta Fri. Oct. 23 Varsity @ South Aiken
Fri. Oct. 30 Varsity @ River Bluff Fri. Nov. 6 Varsity vs. Lexington Lexington High School Fri. Aug. 28 Varsity vs. Westside Fri. Sep. 4 Varsity @ Blythewood Fri. Sep. 11 Varsity @ Wando Fri. Sep. 18 Varsity @ Westwood Fri. Sep. 25 Varsity vs. Carolina Forest Thu. Oct. 1 Varsity vs. Lugoff-Elgin Fri. Oct. 9 Varsity @ North Augusta Fri. Oct. 16 Varsity vs. River Bluff Fri. Oct. 23 Varsity vs. Irmo Fri. Oct. 30 Varsity @ South Aiken Fri. Nov. 6 Varsity @ White Knoll Gilbert High School Fri. Aug. 21 Varsity @ Gray Collegiate Fri. Aug. 28 Varsity vs. River Bluff Fri. Sep. 4 Varsity @ Pelion Fri. Sep. 11 Varsity @ Saluda Fri. Sep. 25 Varsity vs. Batesburg-Leesville Thu. Oct. 1 Varsity vs. Midland Valley Fri. Oct. 9 Varsity @ Brookland-Cayce Fri. Oct. 16 Varsity vs. Airport Fri. Oct. 23 Varsity vs. Aiken Fri. Oct. 30 Varsity vs. Swansea
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L O C A L AT H L E T I C S
Damone Leaphart Lexington One’s “Dean of Athletic Trainers”
By Carol Ryall Damone Leaphart’s family has lived in Lexington since before the Revolutionary War. As he put it, “I am indigenous to this area!” This is a man to whom History and Tradition are important concepts. Coach Leaphart was the very first, and for several years, the only Athletic Trainer in Lexington District One. He attended Lexington High School and was an All-Conference and All-State football player under Coach Otis Rawl and Coach Ellis Dantzler. After graduation he attended Newberry College and was an NAIA All-American and All-South Conference football player, as well as ranking as All-Lutheran in Academics. Following graduation he attended MUSC in Charleston, earning a degree in Physical Therapy in 1982. At that time Sports Medicine was a new idea which resonated with him. Coach Leaphart’s Mother ran into Paul Rawl, the Lexington One Superintendent, in the Post Office. He asked what Damone was doing. When she replied “He is studying Physical Therapy at MUSC,” Rawl asked her to have Damone come by his office when he was in town. Schools had recently been required to offer Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy to any students who might need it. His visit with Superintendent Rawl resulted in his being hired to provide the necessary therapy to students throughout District One, as well as serving as the Athletic Trainer at Lexington High School. He spent the mornings at different schools doing therapy, and the afternoons at the High School doing athletics. If an athlete from another high school was injured, they were frequently sent to Coach Leaphart for treatment as well. He has been the Athletic Trainer at Lexington High School for thirty-three years and is fondly referred to as the “Dean of Athletic Trainers” by his colleagues. “I’ve been in the business a long time and I never dread coming to work. Lexington High School has had a rich tradition of outstanding athletics and scholastics for over 100 years. That tradition is a great motivating factor for our athletes,” observed Coach Leaphart. “I enjoy working with the kids (Wildcats). You never know what is going to walk through the door. It’s challenging to analyze what the problem is and decide what treatment is needed. You have to use your brain and be able to make decisions. When we have an athlete who has been hurt, or had surgery, and we are able to help them recover and get back to playing what they love, that is a fabulous feeling.” You could hear the pride in his voice as he talked about the Student Athletic Trainer Aides who have assisted him through the years. “It takes time to build a good program. Ours is a competitive, selective process. I have high expectations of them and am demanding at times, but the Aides and Athletic Managers are close to my heart. I love watching them grow into successful adults. About half of them start as Aides because they want to go into a Medical field.” Twenty-seven of his Aides have been selected for numerous Bowls and all-Star games.
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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating
Real Women
Over sixty-three former Aides have received scholarships to go on into the next level of their training, including one NFL Trainer, one NBA Manager, and one who is the second in charge of Clemson Athletics. He stated, “Clemson refers to our program as their “Farm Team” for Athletic Trainers.” Obviously being one of Damone Leaphart’s Student Athletic Trainer Aides is a tremendous opportunity for these students. That’s a tradition he takes great pride in. The only downside he mentioned to his job is the long hours it requires; sixty to eighty hours is normal. He said, “I was here with everybody else’s children and my wife had to take up the slack with our own.” His wife, his high school sweetheart Janis Kruger, went to USC for both undergraduate and Master’s degrees and works at USC in the Political Science Department as a Student Advisor. They have two children. Their son, Felder, has followed in his father’s footsteps at Newberry College and MUSC where he just graduated with a Master’s Degree in Health Administration. Their daughter, Jennifer, is a second year law student at Tulane University. In his little spare time, his hobby is history. His particular interest is in the John Wilkes Booth/ Lincoln murder conspiracy. Vacations with their family have usually been trips to battlefields such as Gettysburg, to Washington, DC and other historic sites. Those pre-Revolutionary ancestors would certainly be proud of what Coach Leaphart, his family and his accomplishments. Lexington High has been very fortunate to have him all these years.
L O C A L AT H L E T I C S
Sheila Gordon White Knoll High School Head Athletic Trainer By Carol Ryall Photo By Clark Berry
Sheila Gordon, Head Athletic Trainer at White Knoll High School and Assistant Athletic Director as well as assistant athletic trainers, Scott Thomas and Robbie Ingle can be found on campus, night or day, weekends and holidays depending on whether or not there are athletes there. “We are very fortunate to have three certified athletic trainers at White Knoll. Having three athletic trainers allow us to increase the standard of care given to our athletes including medical coverage of events, emergency care, evaluation, treatments and rehabilitation of athletic injuries.” “We are at all the football games,” Coach Gordon stated. “Football is such a high collision sport; the incidence of catastrophic injury are so much more frequent than in any other sport, we are required to be there. If any sports are competing, we will be on campus. If multiple sports are competing on the same night then multiple athletic trainers will also be on campus. We also work with our middle schools, covering events on our campus, evaluating injuries and performing their rehabilitation as well.” “Unlike the spectators and players, our eyes are not always on the ball. These kids are bigger, faster, and stronger than they have ever been. We are checking knees and ankles on the line as well, “ she described. “If we see someone running or landing awkwardly, or if someone just took a big hit, we watch them fall and moving on the field. If someone goes down, we can prepare mentally as we make our way to the injured athlete. We’re trained to know how to deal with all types of emergency situations. Depending on the injury we may call EMS, splint an extremity, call the doctor or send them to an orthopedic doctor the
next day. We always have a physician and EMS on hand for our Friday night home games and only a phone call away for all other games.” I asked, “What is the protocol when someone has had a concussion?” Coach Gordon explained, “First we attempt to get a baseline before they are injured, so we know what is normal.Then once they’ve sustained a concussion, assuming they’re conscious we do something called SCAT 3, checking symptomology, memory, orientation, balance and concentration. If it warrants an Emergency Room visit, we’ll send them or go with them. Once athletes sustains a concussion, our state law requires a doctor evaluation, then the athletes will report to the athletic training room daily to complete a symptomology log. Once a physician clears them, we can begin a “return to play” process. This process requires five days of progressing exercises without the return of any symptoms before they can go back to practice. “Our goal is to get them back to play as quickly but as safely as possible. We try to keep them as conditioned as possible while they are recuperating from injury. Research shows that early motion decreases time out of sport in most instances. If their ankle is hurt, we can begin rehab, and they can continue doing upper body exercises . If athletes are recuperating for an extended period and try to return to play unconditioned, they are at risk for another injury due to fatigue. My job is to get them better and in condition to play again.” Coach Gordon offered this advice to all parents, “Regardless of who your kids play for, make
sure they have an athletic trainer. Every sports arena needs to have access to an Athletic Trainer. Coaches need to be certified in CPR and First Aid and each venue that your child is participating should have an AED. Regardless of the league, Pop Warner, Little League, Church League, wherever they participate, advocate for your child to have an athletic trainer present.” I asked, “Is there something more we can do as parents, to help our kids stay safe and healthy?” Sheila offered this suggestion, “Parents need to educate themselves about possible signs and symptoms of injury. There is information on our website regarding concussions, hydration, nutrition, and other topics. Know what is going on and be aware of any unusual behaviors that should cause concern. If you see anything unusual regarding your child, call the athletic trainer at your school. Encourage your children to play multiple sports. We see more overuse injuries now than ever because athletes are playing the same sport year round and putting continuous stresses on the same body parts. Playing another sport allows certain areas of your body to recover therefore decreasing the chances on overuse injuries.” “Another important aspect is to let your youngster know how serious concussions can be. Make sure your athlete understands that they are the only ones who know what is going on inside their head. They must tell us the truth. They often think they are invincible.They often do not want to report their symptoms due to removal from activity. Concussions can be very serious and should be treated seriously.” www.lexingtonwomanonline.com
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Health & Wellness
L O C A L AT H L E T I C S
Scott Ganucheau and
Stacey Baynham
River Bluff’s Co-Head Athletic Trainers By Carol Ryall Photo By Clark Berry
Scott Ganucheau and Stacey Baynham work together as the Co-Head Athletic Trainers at River Bluff High School. Stacey related, “I grew up in North Augusta, SC. As a high school student, I always wanted to either teach Physical Education or become a Physical Therapist. At USC, pursuing Physical Education, I had a lot of classes with the Athletic Training students and talked to them about “what they did”. I had no idea what an Athletic Trainer was. Once I started in the program, it seemed like a perfect fit, Sports and Medicine. After USC, I went to the University of Kentucky for graduate school where I worked as an Athletic Trainer while pursuing a Master’s in Sports Management. “ Scott told a very similar story, “I was born and raised in the suburbs of New Orleans. I was majoring in Physical Therapy at LSU (Louisiana State University) but stumbled upon the Athletic Training program at the end of my first year of college. When I learned I could get involved with sports medicine, get educated in Athletic Training and work with the sports teams at LSU, I said, “Where do I sign up?” The next year I applied and, after a year of volunteering, I was accepted into the program. After graduation, I passed my national certification exam and moved to South Carolina to pursue my Master’s degree. I accepted a Graduate Assistant position here in Columbia at USC. I worked with the Gamecock football team during my first year. The second year, I was placed at Columbia High School as the sole Athletic Trainer. It was interesting since I had only experienced Athletic Training at the Division 1 Collegiate level. It opened my eyes to a different setting, and I enjoyed the atmosphere. “ Scott had planned to return to New Orleans and pursue a career at the NCAA D1 Collegiate level, but Hurricane Katrina and his future wife, Lindsey, changed his plans. “At the time, there was so much destruction in Louisiana, the job market there wasn’t very good. Lindsey and I had started dating,” he explained. “I was pretty sure she was the one for me, and I wanted to give that relationship time to grow, so staying here seemed the way to go. A friend told me there was an opening for an Assistant Athletic Trainer at White Knoll High School where his wife was an assistant principal. The next day they asked for my resume, I interviewed a few days later, and they offered me the job later that same day! I was there for seven years and didn’t intend to leave anytime soon. The opportunity to move up to Head Athletic Trainer and build the new program at River Bluff was just too good to pass up.”
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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating
Real Women
After graduation, Stacey worked for sixteen years at Conway High School as Head Athletic Trainer. “I came to Lexington from Conway, SC for several reasons. The strongest attraction was helping to open a brand new High School’s program. Being closer to my family in North Augusta was also a significant advantage. I’ve been able to rekindle old friendships, and create new ones here in Lexington. I enjoy being in an active, supportive and friendly community.” When asked about their experiences at River Bluff, Scott replied, “We are the new kid on the block, so we had to build everything from the ground up. It was exciting but also daunting. Year one was a challenge. There was so much that had to be developed and put in place. Year two we tweaked things and were able to get ‘in the groove.’ This year we are starting to put more polish on everything and get it the way we envisioned. Stacey and I, along with our 3rd AT, Andi Burtt (Assistant AT from Palmetto Orthopedics) each have different backgrounds and different strengths and weaknesses, so we complement each other well. We help each other when it comes to the total healthcare of our athletes, but also we learn a lot from each other. “ They both, like every other Athletic Trainer, said the long hours and little time for a personal life were the biggest drawbacks of their jobs, even though they found teaching and assisting their athletes to heal properly and get back to their sport tremendously rewarding. Lexington is particularly fortunate to have these two as residents. We had trouble catching up with them because both of them were out volunteering. They were out helping victims of the flooding, instead of enjoying some rare time off while the schools were closed.
L O C A L AT H L E T I C S
Bryon Millwood Keeping Our Kids Healthy and Safe By Carol Ryall Photo By Clark Berry
Almost every mother of a boy sort of shudders when the subject of football comes up. Not because they don’t like the game or disapprove of the sport. It’s because one thing most mothers do is relate everything personally to their child. Mention football and it’s their son they picture, out on the field getting tackled, maybe getting hurt. I truly think it’s a genetic reaction – something in that “Mother Bear protectiveness” which seems to click on about 2 minutes after birth and never seems to leave, no matter how old the kids get! Of course, football is far from the only sport our youngsters can get hurt playing – it just seems to be the one mothers fear most. Byron Millwood, Emilly Whittington, and TJ Marsh, are the Athletic Trainers at Gilbert High School. It is their job to minimize what those mothers worry about and keep all of the athletes (not just the football players) at Gilbert High School and Middle School, healthy and whole. They work under the direction of the physicians at Palmetto Health Orthopedics. As Head Athletic Trainer, not only is Mr. Millwood responsible for coordinating sports medicine services for GHS athletes, he also teaches sports medicine classes. It makes for a busy schedule and a long day. “I typically get to school around 7:30 to 8:00,” he explained. “The first block I will be working with injured students who may need some early morning rehab or evalution of injuries, or doing paperwork and administrative work such as filling out injury notes or communticating with doctors about treatment plans for our athletes. ” He continued, “I teach a sports medicine class at 9:40-11:05, then have lunch and CREW class during third block. We start up with the athletes again in fourth block, evaluating, treating, or rehabilitating our athletes’ injuries. At 3:25 we may have twenty to thirty kids in the athletic training room, getting taped, doing rehabilitation exercises, stretching, and getting ready for practice. “During the Fall, we’ll be out on the football field at 4:00 and stay until 6:00-6:30 - whenever practice is over and we’re through treating anyone who may have been injured during practice - and that’s a short day. Other days during the week we may have a home game and be here until 9:00 or 9:30. On Friday, if we have a game it may be 11 or 12 o’clock or later before I get home.”
Byron Millwood got both his Undergaduate and Masters’ degrees at the University of South Carolina. He was a staff Athletic Trainer at Hammond School in Columbia before coming to Gilbert. In 2013, he was selected to be the Athletic Trainer for the South team during the North/South football game. He and his wife, Erica, live in Lexington County and have a son, Sawyer, and daughter, Sadie. With the hours her husband is working, she must be a very patient lady! “By far, the most common injury we see is a sprained ankle,” Mr Millwood commented. “Any serious muscular/skeletal injury needing a physician’s care can be referred to Palmetto Health Orthopedics for further evaluation and treatment. Of course the injuries that are most worrisome are any head injuries or heart conditions. We try to screen our students before they are allowed to play, to identify heart conditions, etc. However, the information we are working with comes from the utilization of preparticipation physicals and health forms that parents fill out. We hope parents take preparticipation health forms seriously, realizing what the consequences could be if a condition is overlooked. We just ask the parents to really spend some time and fill out as much detail as they can on those forms. It helps us be better able to care for their kids.” When asked about the greatest satisfaction his job offers, Byron Millwood replied, “Seeing the happiness and excitement when we have rehabilitated an athlete and they are able to return to play the game they love. That’s a great feeling!”
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L O C A L AT H L E T I C S Talking With
Dr. George Wham By Carol Ryall Photo By Clark Berry
Athletic trainers are the healthcare professionals who prevent, evaluate, treat, and rehabilitate athletic injuries. You probably best know them as the guys/gals who run onto the field to provide care when a player is injured during a ball game.
Dr. George Wham, Head Athletic Trainer at Pelion High and Middle Schools, reports that Lexington 1 is one of the leaders in SC when it comes to providing Athletic Trainers in the schools. “The athletic training programs in the Lexington 1 schools are on the cutting edge of providing medical care to school athletes. Every Lexington 1 high school has a Head Athletic Trainer and two Assistant Athletic Trainers. We are blessed to work with leadership that provides the support and resources that allow the AT’s to do our jobs effectively,” he explained. “Because of that support, all of the AT’s in the district have been at their schools for a long time and have been able to build strong programs. “Every Lexington 1 High School also offers a Sports Medicine Student Aide program that provides students an opportunity to explore a career in healthcare. It’s very fulfilling to see students we’ve mentored go on to a successful career and know that we had a guiding hand. “We cover games and practices for the entire athletics programs in addition to providing training room hours for injury evaluation, treatment, and rehab. On game days, we’re there to treat injuries as soon as they happen, determine whether or not a student will be
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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating
allowed to return to play in that game, and provide initial or emergency care. While most injuries we see can be treated conservatively, in any given school year, we anticipate 8 to 10 injuries that require surgery. In addition to the sprains, strains, bumps, and bruises, we’ll see ACL tears, torn cartilage, joint dislocations and broken bones come through our doors. These injuries can take several days to several months of rehabilitation to restore the student back to full health and functionality,” he noted. “Each of the last several years we’ve identified twenty to thirty concussions and not just in football. The protocol for appropriate treatment of concussions has dramatically changed as we have learned more about the potential consequences of these injuries. In addition to an initial exam, we use a battery of tests to monitor the athlete’s recovery over several days or weeks. Once asymptomatic we require a gradual return to play over several days while we evaluate the student’s progress to determine when they might be able to return to their sport. All of this information has to be documented carefully, and our team physician must give final clearance,” Dr. Wham continued. Reading through Dr. Wham’s accomplishments,
Real Women
you realize that this articulate gentleman is extremely well-qualified. His doctorate is in Health Education Administration with a specialty in Sports Medicine/Athletic Training and he works under the direction of the physicians at Palmetto Health Orthopaedics. He earned his undergraduate degree from Presbyterian College, and his masters and doctorate from the University of South Carolina. He’s served on the athletic training staffs at PC, Clemson, and USC and is a faculty member in Carolina’s athletic training education program. Dr. Wham has been honored as the Shrine Bowl athletic trainer (2013), SC Athletic Trainer of the Year (2014), USC Athletic Training Alumni of the Year (2014), North-South All-Star Football athletic trainer (2000), and with a NATA Athletic Training Service Award (2013) and an NATA Safe Sports School Award (2014.) He’s served as a sports medicine consultant for the SC Department of Education, the SC High School League, and the Brain Injury Association of SC. George Wham explained that his occupation is not a job, but a calling. He cites Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work for it with all your heart, as if working for the Lord, not for men” as his inspiration for his professional and personal life.
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T H E A S H B Y C H RO N I C L E S
Borrow My Big Sister
By Ginny Lawton Wood, sister of Ashby Lawton Jones
walked into the lunch room freshman year at the beginning of second semester to find an unwelcome surprise; someone was sitting at my usual seat. I was derailed. Everyone knew implicitly that your social rank determined your seat at lunch. The most popular kids were closer to the center seats; the less popular kids were flanking the ends; the outcasts were literally outcast, outside on the sidewalk. Clearly, someone failed to tell the preppy kid in my seat that just because his schedule changed didn’t mean he could take my seat. So, I told him. I was apparently wrong, apparently outranked. My own friends quickly turned against me in favor of his puppy-dog eyes and gleaming white teeth. I stood there with them looking up at me, waiting for me to walk away. I was alone, rejected, and humiliated. Then, the impossible happened. My sister, one of the seniors in the inner table of a long line of senior tables, spotted me from across the cafeteria. Quickly surmising my distress, she rose and began trekking over to me and my peers. She didn’t have to ask; she could see what had occurred. With a few terse statements, a frighteningly intimidating glare, and an impenetrable confidence, my sister berated the entire table for rejecting
was not allowed to go in her room because I would disturb her studying. If Ashby Jones is confident when she walks into a courtroom, she should be. She is prepared. Ashby’s reputation as a fighter stems from her desire to protect her clients’ interests and to maintain a level of dignity throughout any case.The guard-dog reaction I benefited from in the cafeteria years ago has been replayed in countless situations for me and for many others since. Ashby’s fighting spirit is a comfort to her clients during confrontations, allowing them to trust that their lawyer will protect them from outside threats. Ginny (left) with her sister Ashby (right) me. Then, she invited me to her table, the table of senior nobility across the room. I sat with her for an unprecedented week and never had trouble maintaining my place again. My sister is Ashby Jones, and though she has come a long way since high school, her protective instincts, quick responses, intuition, and compassion are still her hallmark traits. These traits have made her a successful wife, mother, and lawyer.
Her compassion makes her a great lawyer because she always shows up, prepared and unfaltering in her loyalty.
photo by Clark Berry
Ashby Jones, Kinard & Jones, LLC
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Ashby now practices law in Lexington, focusing primarily on family law but also on Plaintiff ’s litigation. Ashby’s confidence in the legal field comes from careful preparation for each case. She prioritizes the clients’ needs daily, working by the motto, “Just work the cases.” She has always been a worker. For several years in my childhood, I
Real Women
...though she has come a long way since high school, her protective instincts, quick responses, intuition, and compassion are still her hallmark traits. As a child I called Ashby, “second mommy.” She was the boss of me. She taught me to bunny-hop, to do a toe-touch, to put on make-up, and to study for the SAT. She also taught me to be compassionate. She taught me that when someone is sick, I should, “Make something with cream of mushroom soup in it.” She taught me how to write a sincere thank-you note. She taught me that “showing up” is most important. Her compassion makes her a great lawyer because she always shows up, prepared and unfaltering in her loyalty. Sometimes we all need a big sister to help us fight our battles and to help us find a seat at the table. I’m happy to share mine.
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Homework Help Tips for Parents
From The Sylvan Source, the official blog of Sylvan Learning. We offer timely and practical education advice for parents. By Holly Homer With school in session, I have more time. That trip to the gym is easier to squeeze in around my work schedule. The days are less stressful…and then the kids come home and that means I’m on homework help duty. *insert ominous music here* The house that was quiet, the laundry that was folded, the email that was half answered are all now a memory because there are things that have to be done … homework! To be quite honest, I was not always a big fan of homework. I saw it as busy work the kids were required to complete at the expense of play. I have changed my mind a bit and so has my approach to getting the work done. Homework is the time that I can see how my child is learning. Sitting down and working through a few problems with him shows me what he has grasped and what he hasn’t grasped. That is where my approach to homework help has changed. I have taken control over the areas that are still a struggle. At first, I was worried I wouldn’t teach it right or confuse the issue, but jumping in and doing it has made me realize that my kids need my help, even if it isn’t exactly how the teacher would do it. We spend the majority of our time on the struggle areas. When it comes to homework help, I tend to have them skip the stuff they
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seem to have mastered. When this happens, I will often just send a note to the teacher explaining why some things were left blank. In years of writing these notes, I have never had a teacher write back saying that it isn’t OK or penalize my child with a lower homework score for empty answer spaces. On most days, homework help really looks like my checking in for a moment on a particularly challenging subject. Once in a while, it looks like a mini class on the kitchen table. By checking in, I have also been able to determine when to bring in reinforcements. I have to admit, providing my kids with homework help isn’t always easy for me. On two occasions, the teaching was beyond what I had the skill or energy to do, so the kids went to tutoring to fill in the gap. The downside of this approach is that it takes time on my part. It isn’t always the easiest thing to fit into the family schedule! The other issue that I have had was that my children aren’t always thrilled to have mom’s intervention. Whining about extra work and arguing that they already “know how to do it” has been a regular part of my experience. Homework is work. There really is no easy way around that, but at least I know that it is all part of the big picture of filling their brains with knowledge. What does homework time look like at your house, and how do you get through it?
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Personal Homework Help When Your Child Needs It No matter how much you want to help your child with algebra or literature, sometimes you can’t do it all. (Nor should you feel you have to!) Let our expert tutors give you a hand. Sylvan offers just-as-needed “homework help” services to guide your child through tough homework assignments. Homework help is ideal for kids who need personal tutoring on specific homework assignments, but not necessarily all the time. How to schedule homework help With our flexible scheduling options, your child can get help with homework at convenient times — including evenings and weekends. To schedule a homework help session, please contact Sylvan of the Midlands at 803-7817323 for Irmo/Lexington, and 803-741-0999 for N.E. Columbia. Homework time can become a lot less stressful ... and a lot more fun.
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M E E T C H RI S PE TT Y of Budget Blinds
By Patti McGrath Photo by Tanya Waller
Wouldn’t it be nice to pick out blinds for your home at your home? It’s a great way to get exactly the right color, size, and style you want. Then, to make things perfect, the blinds would be professionally installed. Sounds too good to be true? Well, it’s all real and waiting for you with Budget Blinds of Lexington. udget Blinds is a franchise with a little more than 1,000 franchisees nationwide,” says Chris Petty, owner of Budget Blinds of Lexington. “Doing business in Lexington is great because this town seems to suppor t the growth of small businesses.” Chris has called Lexington home for the past four years but grew up in the Nor theast side of town in Wildewood. He was a high school senior on September 11, 2001 and decided he wanted to serve his country. “After graduating from The Citadel in Charleston, SC, I took my commission in the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant as an ar tillery officer. Through career progression, I ultimately became a Battalion Fire Suppor t Officer for a 650-man infantry battalion with the primary job of coordinating close-air suppor t, indirect
fires, and fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft,” he states. He decided to move back to South Carolina to marry his high school sweethear t after his deployment to Afghanistan, and has loved being in Lexington ever since. “My wife and I used Budget Blinds in our home when we moved to Lexington in 2011,” he recalls. It was then he decided to find out more about owning a franchise. He was drawn to how much the company suppor ted veter-
ans with programs for their franchise owners and by suppor ting the charity Home for our Troops. “When I was trying to decide what I would do next with my life, knowing that such a great company does so many great things for our veterans, I felt I’d be remiss if I didn’t become par t of that organization.” “The beauty of Budget Blinds is that my showroom is in my van. As a result, I’m able to keep my costs lower be-
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Selected Signature Series® Window Treatments* Visit us online at www.budgetblinds.com/Lexington *Offer not valid with any other offers. Offer good at time of initial estimate only. Offer good at participating franchises only. Each franchise independently owned and operated. Budget Blinds is a registered trademark of Budget Blinds, Inc. and a Home Franchise Concepts brand. Budget Blinds of Lexington, SC is Veteran Owned.
Franchise Opportunities Available. Call 1-800-420-5374 or visit www.budget-blinds-franchise.com. ©2013 Budget Blinds, Inc. All rights reserved. Participating franchises only. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. Budget Blinds is a registered trademark of Budget Blinds, Inc. and a Home Franchise Concepts brand.
Standing the Test of Time
cause I don’t have the added overhead of an expensive retail space or showroom. With my free, in-home consultations, I bring the showroom to the business or residence of my potential customers. During the consultations, I bring working hang-samples as well as the sample books, so the customer can see exactly what will hang in their windows,” Chris explains. Budget Blinds carries a wide array of products including wood and faux wood blinds, ver tical blinds, woven wooden shades, roller and solar shades, cellular/honeycomb shades, custom draperies, frosted and tinted window film, and the ever-popular plantation shutters. “Most all of our products can be motorized which comes in handy for hard to reach windows that require a ladder to adjust them,” he adds. “The best par t about all of this is Budget Blinds is the only company in the industry that offers our Five-Year No Questions Asked Warranty. This means if a product becomes defective or damaged, I will replace that product one time during that five year window, no questions asked.” “All of our products are custom made and custom ordered. This means they aren’t the cut-down product that you’d receive from the big box stores. Each
window is professionally measured,” he continues. “Then the product is professionally installed and the functionality is explained to the customer so they are comfor table with their new window treatments before I leave their home.” “I want my customers to know they can trust me and the company I represent. Reputation is everything, and I want folks to always be able to trust me. At the end of the day, I want to leave a customer’s home having fixed their problems and the customer knowing they picked the best company in the custom window treatment industry,” Chris says with a smile.
For more information visit www.budgetblinds.com/ lexington. To schedule a free in-home consultation, call Chris at (803) 832-2321 or email him at cpetty@ budgetblinds.com.
With compassion and a dedication to enriching the quality of life for seniors, The Columbia Presbyterian Community has reliably served the Midlands area since 1986. Longevity, innovation, accountability … those are the marks of a trusted retirement lifestyle that will stand the test of time. Come discover an active, maintenancefree lifestyle in a community where residents enjoy: ✤ Spacious and well-planned patio homes and apartments ✤ Affordable entrance and monthly service fees ✤ Life enrichment opportunities for travel, new friends, social and cultural events, and volunteering ✤ Security for today … peace of mind for tomorrow
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MEET
Sandy Webb By Lori Duncan Photos By Cheyenne Smiley
“I believe success is when you can reach out to the community and help. If there is one kid out there that you can move in the right direction, that is a success,” says McDonald’s franchise-owner Sandra Webb. If you know Ms. Webb then you know she lives by those words. Making a scholarship available every year to assist a deserving Lexington student attend college is just one of the many ways she helps. By her own definition, one can easily say Sandra Webb is successful.
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Coming from a very close-knit community probably shaped Sandy Webb into the civic-minded person she is. She understands first-hand how one person going out of their way for you can make a big difference in an individual’s life. Anytime I hear her name there is always something positive surrounding it. In addition to those annual scholarships, she has given countless people their first job. She has helped organize fundraisers for local children with cancer, is always willing to help out by contributing coupons to a local charity or feeding the b-team football team. Ms. Webb does all she can to suppor t local charities, athletes, academics, and businesses. She is
You can do anything you set your mind to. You have to set yourself a goal to accomplish. a proud suppor ter of the Ronald McDonald House Charities, but doesn’t stop there with her community suppor t. She appreciates all the suppor t the community shows her and McDonald’s and she plans to continue to suppor t
our community as well. When I first met her, I was in awe of this petite lady who has amassed nine McDonald’s in the last twenty plus years. Soft-spoken and quick to smile, Ms. Webb quickly became an inspiration to me. She told me how she had star ted working par t-time at McDonald’s as a young woman while she was also working at the local mine as a bookkeeper. She saw the writing on the wall when the mine was closing. She realized there were limited oppor tunities available in her community, in par ticular for a woman who did not have a college education. When I asked her what a critical par t of her success was she replied , “I think my ability to not worry about the things I have no control of has helped a lot.” She surrounds herself with wellqualified people and she isn’t afraid to get right back into a drive-thru window and take orders along with the members of her growing staff. They all know her by name. She says, “I want my employees to know they can come to me.” Her message to both her young and more seasoned employees is the same, “You can do anything you set your mind to. You have to set yourself a goal to accomplish. You may need help, but there are scholarships available to you, through McDonald’s and locally, as well. “If you want a career at McDonald’s you can have that, or if you wish to move to a corporate job, you can have that too. Don’t worry about what the future holds. Work hard and the rest will take care of itself!” and just as Ms. Webb knows first hand, “Don’t give
up! You have to persevere, but there is help available to you.” She is all about growing her employees, allowing them to have bigger opportunities within the company or giving a reference for that person who has moved away or gone away to college. There was a time when Sandra Webb was the only female operator in the Co-op program of which she was a par t. Now she attends conferences with many female owners in the McDonald’s family. Fast forward 26 years and she has just finished building her ninth Midlands McDonald’s. She loves the building process and says, “It’s almost like building a home. You want everything to be just right. You know a lot of people are going to come through those doors, giving us the oppor tunity to welcome them and serve them well.” Sandy continued, “Even in the world of McDonald’s, things are always changing. We are always trying to find new ways to be more customer-service oriented. We’re now making calories available on our drive-thru menus, so our patrons know what options they have for healthier choices. We also have developed user-friendly mobile apps .” I meant for this ar ticle to celebrate the accomplishments of Sandra Webb, the owner of nine of our local McDonald’s. However after looking back at it, I realize that she wanted it to celebrate you, our readers. Her commitment to our community is inspiring. If you see her working on the floor at Hwy 6 or in the drive-thru in downtown Lexington, say “Hey!” and tell her you read about her in Lexington Woman Magazine.
www.lexingtonwomanonline.com
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Celebrating the Survivor in You!
Laurin E. Long
“I Refuse to Sink!” By Carol Ryall
Lexin gton Woma n c e l e b r a te s th e s u r v i vo r i n yo u Have you ever noticed that it is often the people who have had the hardest times who do the least amount of complaining? Laurin E. Long, a most positive and upbeat individual, is a case in point. his twenty-six year old native of Chapin, SC has already had to battle breast cancer, after having watched both of her parents pass away due to cancer. She lost her Mother to pancreatic cancer in January of 2006. Laurin was a Junior in High School at the time. A little over five years later, March 2011, her Father passed away from colon cancer. She was then a Senior at USC Upstate majoring in History. September 11, 2014, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. When asked how her family history affected her feelings at the
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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating
time of her own diagnosis , her answer was, “To be honest, I thought of it as, “What do I need to do, to make sure that I have a future?” Losing my parents to the disease that I now have to battle actually gave me motivation to fight that much harder. I felt extremely lucky that I was only Stage 2 and I had a chance to kick cancer in the butt! My parents didn’t get that chance. “My family has a long history of breast cancer on my mother’s side, “ she continued. “I have great aunts and cousins, as well as my grandmother, all of whom also had
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breast cancer. The week I was diagnosed, I went to visit my grandmother and my great aunt. Both of them had fought and won their battle with breast cancer. They both told me I was going to be just fine. Those words have been incredibly comfor ting on the most difficult days!” “It was cer tainly frightening and exceedingly difficult for all of these life events to happen within eight years. The best par t of this experience is the friendships I’ve made with some of the most strong, beautiful and inspiring women who I met along this
journey. There are also so many wonderful people who have helped me get through this experience.
The best part of this experience is the friendships I’ve made with some of the most strong, beautiful and inspiring women who I met along this journey.
‘I had only been employed at Devro, Inc. eight months when I was diagnosed, and they have been so good to me! ! They have given me the flexibility I needed so I am able to get the best medical care. My supervisors have been so encouraging and suppor tive for me to keep growing as an employee. They haven’t put me on hold because of my illness. I will be forever grateful to my Devro Family, and my other friends and family for helping me through such a rough patch in my life!!” she exclaimed. “I am dating my Mr. Wonderful, Michael Bank, who I met right before my double mastectomy. On top of that I was bald, so to those women who think you can’t date while going through cancer treatment, I say, ’ You definitely can! It just takes a very good and patient man! ‘ “I got my dog Smiley while I was going through chemotherapy. He was wonderful company and helped keep me active during treatment. He would stay right by my side when I was feeling my worst. He has definitely been my Sunshine on my sad days.” I asked Laurin what advice she would give to other cancer patients. “Some of the things that helped me going through all the different stages were to stay positive and to stay grateful,” she replied. “When I was first diagnosed another breast cancer survivor told me to make rules, give people boundaries. My first rule was, if you were negative I wouldn’t talk to you! Another thing was to have countdowns and celebrate! I would
always make sure I had something else to look forward to. Whenever I would finish a surgery or a treatment I would celebrate with a fancy dinner or a race! I was determined to enjoy life and keep my life as normal as possible. “My motto when going through treatment was “I refuse to sink” and I loved anchors! Anchors are a symbol of hope and strength and that’s exactly what you need when going through the difficult days!” Her advice to friends of cancer patients was, “Do the small things; they make a huge difference. My whole day would get better whenever I would get a message
from someone that said they were thinking of me or praying for me! So many people would send me pictures of anchors and that always made my day better! I loved getting mail from people! The letters and cards people have sent me are something I treasure! The people that would just do things without me having to ask were the best! Just knowing people cared and were thinking about me made a world of difference! “The last thing I want to mention is that having your health is a huge blessing and it should not be taken for granted!” Those are words of wisdom for a very strong, optimistic young woman.
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THE MYSTERY OF DYSLEXIA By Ann Whitten, M.Ed., Aiken Learning Lab
S
ara was a happy, imaginative preschooler who loved people, drawing, riding horses, and listening to stories. In kindergarten and first grade, she was talented in math but could not remember letter names and sounds, sight words, or how to spell her last name. By the end of first grade, Sara was crying about homework, struggling with reading, and no longer wanted to go to school.
Because it is a language-based difficulty, students often have related problems with acquiring vocabulary, comprehension skills, and in writing. One in every 5 people, or 20% of the population, is believed to have dyslexia.
Matthew sailed through his early years of school. He spent hours building imaginative creations with Legos and was an exceptional soccer and baseball player. Reading wasn’t easy, but he memorized many common words and used pictures to help guess others. When reading a passage that he had not heard before and that did not have pictures to illustrate the text, he guessed words based on the first letters and confused similar looking words (what and want, expect and expert). In the upper elementary grades, Matthew was a slow and choppy reader who overlooked punctuation and did not phrase text well. He was unable to break a long word into recognizable chunks. Reading was exhausting and avoided whenever possible. Matthew felt embarrassed, struggled with his work, and had behavior problems at school.
• Learning to speak and pronouncing words clearly. • Learning the alphabet, numbers, and days of the week. • Distinguishing similar-sounding words. Rhyming words.
Sara and Matthew are typical of children who are identified as having dyslexia. Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological-- meaning that the reading, spelling, and language difficulties typical of dyslexia originate in the structure of the brain. These difficulties are not due to laziness or motivation. A person with dyslexia has difficulty recognizing words quickly and accurately and has poor spelling and decoding skills. Decoding means using phonics and syllable patterns to help read unknown words. People with dyslexia have difficulty recognizing individual speech sounds within words, and learning that sounds can be blended together for reading and pulled apart for spelling.
Signs of dyslexia in preschoolers may include difficulties in these areas:
In the early school years, parents and teachers may observe difficulty: Naming letters, learning letter sounds and blending sounds into words. Recognizing and remembering sight words, vocabulary, or spelling words Using phonics to help with decoding unknown words, (just guessing words). Reading orally with good accuracy from age-appropriate books. Showing confidence and interest in reading. Learning to copy, spell, and write sentences. From upper elementary through high school, students may demonstrate earlier weaknesses and also struggle with: • Understanding humor, puns and idioms. • Reading aloud (slow or inaccurate) or silently with good understanding. • Feeling confident and interested in reading. May “hate” to read. • Remembering sight words and new vocabulary words. • Accurately analyzing unfamiliar words (tending to guess using the context). • Reading words and letters in correct order, reversing or skipping over them.
• Understanding word problems in math. • Breaking multisyllabic words into smaller “chunks” or syllables for reading. • Misreading or omitting little words, adding words into the text. • Mastering spelling rules and spelling words consistently and correctly. • Understanding complex text. • Generating ideas, organizing writing, taking notes, and proofreading. • Learning a foreign language. Failing to learn to read defeats dreams and closes doors to opportunities that an otherwise talented student might pursue. Students with dyslexia have minds that process information differently and in unique ways. Researchers are studying the extraordinary strengths that exist in this type of brain structure. People with dyslexia are found in many creative professions and have the potential to be future entrepreneurs, scientists, artists, actors, musicians, engineers, physicians, and writers. We cannot afford to waste their talents. It is critical for students with dyslexia to receive intervention early in their school experiences. Researchers have consistently demonstrated that most struggling readers can be brought up to grade level in basic reading skills if appropriate teaching is provided early, with sufficient intensity, and for a long enough time.
For more information on dyslexia, learning disabilities, and effective remediation see: SC Branch of the International Dyslexia Association, www.scbida.org and Learning Disabilities Association of SC, www.ldasc.org.
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Amy DoBranski • Nutrition Coach • 803-649-5546
Want to lose www.SmartPlanForHealthyLiving.com weight and feel better without dieting, portion control, counting calories or food points? Without skipping dessert? Smart Plan™ delivers an enjoyable eating plan for weight loss and a renewed sense of well being. No willpower needed! Smart Plan™ takes a whole foods approach to your relationship with food and your health by changing your lifestyle. You will never have eaten so well and youʼll have fun, too!
Upcoming Smart Chats Sunday, January 17 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday, February 6 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Smart Chats are scheduled for groups of 5-10 people in your area. Invite four of your friends and attend for free! Spouses and children over the age of 16 are half price. Lunch is provided so you can sample the delicious foods on the Smart Plan™ Eating plan.
Amy DoBranski • Nutrition Coach • 803-649-5546
www.SmartPlanForHealthyLiving.com
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Real Women
Serving Lexington, SC orthodontist jim whitehead offers braces, invisalign, invisalign teen for children, teens and adults.
JAMES D. WHITEHEAD, D.M.D, M.S.
2 LOCATIONS IN LEXINGTON 203 MALLARD LAKES DRIVE AND 1781A SOUTH LAKE DRIVE
996.5100 | www.WHITEHEADORTHO.com |
伀倀䔀一䤀一䜀 䤀一 匀䔀倀吀䔀䴀䈀䔀刀 䐀攀猀椀最渀 匀攀爀瘀椀挀攀猀 昦 䰀椀最栀琀椀渀最 昦 䴀椀爀爀漀爀猀 䌀甀猀琀漀洀 圀椀渀搀漀眀 吀爀攀愀琀洀攀渀琀猀 䌀甀猀琀漀洀 䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀 䰀椀渀攀猀 䰀漀挀愀氀氀礀 䴀愀搀攀 倀爀漀搀甀挀琀猀 唀渀椀焀甀攀 䠀漀洀攀 䄀挀挀攀猀猀漀爀椀攀猀 䜀椀昀琀眀愀爀攀 昦 倀漀琀琀攀爀礀 昦 䄀爀琀眀漀爀欀 㔀 㜀㘀 匀甀渀猀攀琀 䈀氀瘀搀Ⰰ 唀渀椀琀 䈀Ⰰ 䰀攀砀椀渀最琀漀渀Ⰰ 匀䌀 ㈀㤀 㜀㈀
䠀漀洀攀 䐀攀挀漀爀⼀䐀攀猀椀最渀 匀琀甀搀椀漀 㠀 ㌀⸀㌀㔀⸀㜀㠀㌀
氀最椀猀猀攀渀搀愀渀渀攀爀䀀猀挀⸀爀爀⸀挀漀洀
“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.” – Stanley Horowitz
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L A D I E S O F L E X I N G TO N M E D I C A L
Professional Around the Town
Kelly Jeffcoat
Right Where God Wants Her!
By Carol A. Ryall Photo by Tanya Waller
“Honestly, I don’t know why I picked nursing,” LMC Nurse Navigator Kelly Jeffcoat related. “I hated all the sciences when I was in school! But, God blessed me with a heart for mercy and encouragement, so nursing just felt right, and it has proven to be my passion. I’ve been a Registered Nurse since March 1993 and have spent 20 of those years at Lexington Medical Center. “My entire nursing career has been devoted to oncology, and that’s where my heart is. I worked on the oncology unit at LMC as Staff Nurse and Care Manager. It seemed a natural progression to move into the Navigator position,” Kelly continued. “I started this job in October 2001 and six weeks later on December 5th, I was diagnosed with breast cancer myself at the age of 37. God used me then in a profound way as I went through treatments side by side with my patients, and He continues to use me today as a 14-year survivor. “As the Breast Cancer Nurse Navigator, one of my responsibilities is to call women with their biopsy results. Almost daily I am telling a woman that she has breast cancer,” Kelly explained. “That is something that I DO NOT take lightly! I pray for every woman before I make that phone call because I know that with those two words their life will never be the same. “However,” she continued, “with that one call I’m also able to let them know that we are going to have a plan! I feel very blessed to work with the doctors involved in the Cancer Program at LMC. I rank them with the best of the best! Whether it’s a surgeon, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, I think they are the BEST! I absolutely mean that! “My biggest reward is seeing that patient do
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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating
well! Another reward is the friendships that have developed. I’ve had the privilege of getting to know some incredible ladies who, without that breast cancer diagnosis, our paths probably never would have crossed.” A native of Columbia, Kelly moved to Cayce when she was twelve. She attended Brookland-Cayce High School and graduated from Midlands Tech in 1992 with her Associate’s Degree in Nursing and then again in 2009 from Lander University with her BSN. She and her husband, Robby, will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary in December. Kelly praised Robby, saying, “I have to give huge kudos to my husband. He knows how much I love what I do and how important my patients are to me. He’s very understanding when I work late for support groups or other programs. He’s also very patient when I’m on the phone with patients after I get home in the evening. “ The Jeffcoats have two children. Their son, Daniel, and his wife, Kim, have two daughters, Ella, who is five, and Lucy, who is three. Daughter, Reagan, is married to Dustin Fowler.
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Reagan and Dustin live in Aiken, have a threeyear-old daughter, Everleigh, and are expecting a second daughter in January. Working at Lexington Medical Center is a family affair for Kelly Jeffcoat. Her daughter, Reagan, is a Monitor Tech at LMC and her daughter-in-law, Kim, is an RN on the Mother/ Baby Unit. Kelly commented, “What makes me love working at LMC is the family atmosphere. I know the team I work with every day are here because they genuinely care and love what they do.” I asked her about her hobbies and how she keeps balance in her life with such a stressful and intense occupation. “My hobbies include reading and spending time at the beach,” she replied. “I’ve just recently been trying to run, but I’m not sure that’s a hobby. It seems to feel a whole lot like punishment! But it feels terrific when it’s over, and gives me an immense sense of accomplishment, not to mention stress relief. I try always to start my day with some quiet time, get plenty of rest and exercise daily. “
L A D I E S O F L E X I N G T O N M E D I Professional CAL
Sandra Dodd
Professional Volunteer By Carol A. Ryall Photo By Lisa Ashworth
Sandra Dodd is a Volunteer in the Surgical Wing of Lexington Medical Center. Volunteers in this area serve in a critical capacity, greeting and assisting patients and their families to navigate the unfamiliar halls and systems of the hospital from admission, through pre-op and on to the Recovery area. They are also there with a friendly smile and an encouraging word for individuals who may be nervous or concerned about upcoming procedures. After talking with Sandra, I can see how reassuring and comforting she could be at such a time.
Sandra’s life has contained an impressive range of activities, both paid and volunteer. She grew up in the Olympia Community, which she referred to as “A close-knit community that thought it was a family!” After graduating from Olympia High School and then USC, she taught biology and physical science at Airport High School. She then went back to USC for a Master’s in Counseling. Returning to Airport High School, she served as Counselor and then as Director of Counseling. She met her husband, Bill, at church. They have three daughters and sons-in-law and four grandchildren. In November, they will celebrate their 58th wedding anniversary. As if being a wife, mother, teacher and counselor wasn’t enough to keep anybody busy, in the midst of all this she has found time for a variety of volunteer activities. She and Bill attend Trinity Baptist Church, where they both sing in the Worship Choir. In November, she will start working once again with the Families Helping Families program, as she has for over twenty
years. Some of her other fascinating volunteer activities include teaching Vacation Bible School in Kenai, Alaska. She has also been to China three times to teach English as a spoken language. Her students were Chinese citizens who taught English, and she laughingly said, “I like to think that in some parts of China, children are being taught to speak English with a Southern accent!” She serves on the Board of the Airport High School Educational Foundation, which raises funds to support the school. They give scholarships, teacher grants, tuition assistance for Airport students enrolled in college classes through Midlands Technical College, and special projects. In addition, she sells tickets for the Airport High School football games. She also serves as a longterm substitute Counselor in different schools around the area, as needed. About twenty years ago, a friend of her Mother’s, Naomi Hutchinson, who was a volunteer at Lexington Medical Center, encouraged her to come volunteer as well. She has been there ever since. I asked if she had been there the
longest of the volunteers, and she replied, “Oh, no. There are several who have been there longer than me. In fact, there is still one of the original volunteers, who started helping out before the hospital opened!” When asked what she enjoyed most about volunteering at LMC, Sandra’s response was, “Almost everything! They treat their volunteers very well. You get to see a lot of different people. I frequently see former students as they or their family members come in for surgery. At the end of the day, it feels good to know that you’ve been able to help someone who was stressed or upset about being in the hospital.“ In addition to volunteering on the floor, she also serves as a member of the Lexington Medical Center Ethics Committee. She was introduced to a group once, as a Professional Volunteer and said she quite liked that title. If anyone is qualified to be called a Professional Volunteer, it would certainly be this warm, personable lady. www.lexingtonwomanonline.com
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Health & Wellness Kori Viehweg and her daughter Rileigh in their neighborhood in Lexington.
When Cancer Interrupts Life was picture-perfect for Korinne “Kori” Viehweg. At 24, she had her dream job, working as a nurse on Lexington Medical Center’s stroke unit. And Viehweg was expecting her first child.
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But something wasn’t right. It was a tough pregnancy, with nausea all day, fatigue and rashes. And then the baby came--a beautiful girl named Rileigh. A month later, Viehweg was still experiencing vomiting and abdominal pain. During one harsh episode, her mother insisted they go to the doctor.
practice.
“They ran tests and my white blood cell count was almost twice what it should have been.” The young mother was referred to Lexington Oncology, a Lexington Medical Center physician
Her oncologist didn’t jump to a cancer diagnosis. Instead, she star ted Viehweg on a strong antibiotic. But another blood test showed her condition was worse, despite the antibiotics. On
Celebrating, Motivating and Educating
“Cancer was in the back of my mind, but I wanted it to be the last possible thing in the world they would say,” Viehweg said. Her grandmother died more than a decade ago from a fast moving form of myeloid leukemia.
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August 19, 2014, Viehweg’s bir thday, the oncologist called her to say she believed Viehweg had chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a cancer that star ts in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow. She researched her disease and was encouraged. New drugs were successful in keeping the leukemia in check. “They had really good results. Most people are in remission with chemotherapy.”
The oncologist prescribed therapy that challenged the young mother’s stamina. Her doctors checked her blood every week to watch the cancer cell count diminish. Still working as a nurse, Viehweg was up for the challenge, and after three months of therapy, it seemed to be working. The joint pain, thinning hair and nausea were wor th it to beat leukemia. But a bad test result at six months changed everything. Her treatment team increased the medication, and Viehweg reacted violently. A new chemotherapy drug she took twice a day brought more problems and severe dietary restrictions. “You have to plan your whole life just to take medication. As a nurse, that was hard,” she said. By May 5 of this year, Viehweg’s hair was gone, and the nausea was nearly unbearable. Viehweg put her job on hold. A new blood test came back with a high white blood cell count. “The doctor called and told me it looked like my cancer had accelerated. She told us she was sending me for a bone marrow transplant.”
Cancer was in the back of my mind, but I wanted it to be the last possible thing in the world they would say. Viehweg tried to make life normal with her infant daughter, but in her weakened state, she fell while lifting Rileigh from her crib. “Leukemia puts a hold on everything. You give up your job, your daily life, your friends. It’s almost like the outside world can keep going, but you can’t. “I had a pity par ty and said, ‘A 25 year old shouldn’t have to be sitting in a chemo chair. At 25, I should be enjoying my life, advancing in my career, going back to school for a master’s degree.’ All that was put on hold.” She paused, and then smiled. “We’re hoping 26 will be much better.”
Lexington Medical Cancer Center is the cancer care leader in the region, combining state-of-theart technology with unparalleled compassion, medical staff and services. Lexington Medical Cancer Center uses a multidisciplinary approach between medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and surgeons with support from radiologists, pathologists and other health professionals in the hospital’s network of care. Lexington Medical Center, accredited with commendation by the American College of Surgeons, supports research and clinical trials that contribute to treatments and solutions in cancer care. The hospital is affiliated with the Duke Cancer Institute, which provides patients with access to Duke’s excellence in cancer care, clinical research and education.
Viehweg is currently undergoing the bone marrow transplant. She won’t return to work for at least a year because her immune system will take time to recover. “Right now I’m thinking, let’s get through the next three months. When I have a good day and can get on the floor to play with Rileigh, or when I can walk around the store with my mother—it’s the little things you learn to appreciate.” www.lexingtonwomanonline.com
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More Detail With 3-D Detection.
218 Old Chapin Road Lexington, SC 29072 (803) 957 - 3600 Assisted Living • Respite Care and Short Term Stays
Cozy and comfortable, warm and welcoming, Morningside of Lexington is a senior living community offering spacious assisted living apartments, as well as respite/short stays. Elegant furnishings, beautifully landscaped grounds, and a friendly and compassionate 24-hour staff make Morningside a great place to live.
Visit us online at MorningsideOfLexington.com to learn more and schedule a tour.
Early detection is the best defense against breast cancer. For women with dense breast tissue or those at high risk of developing breast cancer, 3-D mammograms can provide a clearer, more detailed view of breast tissue, and can lead to easier and earlier breast cancer detection. As the first in the Midlands to offer this state-of-the-art technology, Lexington Medical Center is fighting breast cancer one millimeter at a time.
CALL TODAY and SCHEDULE YOUR YEARLY EYE EXAM 803.996.2020 Like Us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/envisionfamilyeyecare
Call (803) 791-2486 to schedule an appointment or visit LexMed.com to learn more. 32
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803.996.2020 • 5166 Sunset Boulevard, Suite J, Lexington www.EnvisionFamilyEyeCare.com
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Health & Wellness
Physical and occupational therapy does wonders for back pain at Vital Energy
GIVE BACKACHE A BREAK By Hima Dalal, Occupational Therapist, Energy Medicine Practitioner, and Reiki Grand Master
The spine is an engineering marvel, a complex mesh of muscles, bones, and nerves. However, since the existence of man, the spine has always been one of the most vulnerable areas of the body prone to injury. From the athlete to the dentist to the stay-at-home mom, back pain does not discriminate and affects as many as 80% of the population at some time during our lives. According to the American Chiropractic Association, 31 million Americans experience low-back pain at any given time and Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on back pain. According to the 2010 Global Burden of Disease, low back pain is the single leading cause of disability worldwide. The key to avoiding back pain altogether is prevention. To stay alive and healthy, your back needs to move every day. The right kinds of motion nourish your back and help keep it flexible and free of pain. Moving too little or improperly can lead to many back problems – problems that often begin in your discs, which are the shock absorbers of your spine. Fortunately, almost everyone with back problems can correct these issues with an exercise regime and healthy lifestyle. Another way to
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prevent back pain is to learn and practice good body mechanics and maintain proper posture. However, if back pain persists, then there are many different ways to treat and manage the pain. At Vital Energy Wellness and Rehab Center, we take a multi-disciplinary approach that is both comprehensive and focused. With a combination of either some or all of the following techniques, we are able to successfully treat back pain and muscle spasms.
Occupational Therapy & Physical Therapy
Traditional occupational and physical therapy have long been an effective way to treat back pain, whether it be low back pain or cervicalgia, in the upper back and neck. Manual therapeutic treatment along with customized exercises and different therapy modalities can strengthen and stretch back muscles to eliminate pain. These therapy modalities, or techniques, can range from cryo-therapy and electrical stimulation (e-stim) to cold laser and heat packs.
Aquatic Therapy
At Vital Energy, our specialized and heated
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Hydroworx pool, complete with underwater treadmill and massage hose, utilizes the principle of buoyancy to support the weight of the patient and provide a means of low-impact exercise. This therapeutic method of exercise allows patients to strengthen and stretch the back muscles in a way that is not possible on land. Movement in the water helps to increase activity tolerance, decrease tissue adhesions, and alleviates pain.
Dry Needling
Dry needling is a new and highly effective way to treat trigger points, especially those in the back, with minimal pain or discomfort. The major difference is that acupuncture utilizes energy and needles are placed superficially. With dry needling, needles are placed into trigger points of muscles. Dry needling is not injection of any medicine, it is only the placement of the needle. Some patients have full resolution after only one treatment. Some patients will require multiple treatments due to the size of the area involved and response to the first treatment. Drastic results are typically seen immediately
Health & Wellness post treatment. A “miracle” occurs every day in clinics that dry needle. Although most patients feel pain relief with one treatment, patients may still require weeks of physical or occupational therapy to strengthen or stabilize the structures involved and eliminate any sources of the dysfunction.
Holistic Methods
At Vital Energy Wellness and Rehab Center, we combine many traditional and non-traditional techniques in order to heal the whole body, not just one body part. We are unique in the fact that we offer occupational and physical therapy in one location while also offering complementary, or alternative, therapy as well. One method of complementary therapy that is highly effective in treating back pain is Crystal Myofascial Release or C-MFR. This technique was pioneered by Mrs. Hima Dalal and is a manual therapy using a crystal rock to knead and manipulate the fascia. With this method, patients will have decreased pain, decreased myofascial restriction, and increased range of motion. This method also creates minimal rebounding in the muscle which occurs with other traditional OT/PT modalities. Additionally, the Vital Energy method often incorporates alternative methods such as yoga, acupressure points, relaxation, and meditation with traditional therapy to eliminate back pain and spasms quicker and more effectively. Other complementary techniques include Reiki, energy healing, and craniosacral therapy.
Types and Causes of Back Pain: Acute Back Pain •Mechanical problems (i.e. disk breakdown, spasms, tense muscles, ruptured disks •Injury (i.e. from sports injuries or everyday sprains, fractures, accidents, and falls) Chronic Back Pain •As a Symptom of Disease (such as scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, arthritis, spinal stenosis, infections, fibromyalgia) •Neuropathic Pain – typically caused by injury to sensory or motor nerves in the peripheral nervous system Source: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, 2015
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A Personal Note
B
y the time some of you read this, it will be my favorite season. Those old dog days of summer will have passed and we will hopefully be enjoying some good mild South Carolina weather. Football is going on everywhere. All our local teams and our national favorites will be in full swing, hunters will be hunting, the State Fair will come to the Midlands and leave again. There will be bon fires, barbecues, roasted marshmallows, and this fall there will be wins and loses. There will be successes and failures and through it all we will show up at community events and support one another. We will talk “trash” on Facebook between the Garnet and Orange but we will sit together with our neutral colors on come Sunday morning and laugh and joke about Saturday’s games at Sunday afternoon dinner. We will do all this because people who love each other can disagree and still be friends. We may not even like each other very much at times but we still love each other. In the past year I have been both ashamed and very proud of our State. We have watched as senseless acts of violence around the country have divided us, grieved us, opened old wounds and made us angry. We have also watched a community in Charleston take hate and return love. We saw the faces of beautiful people in various stages of life cut down and then saw the compassionate faces of love and forgiveness address the state, local and national media. Charleston.. oh Charleston. In life there are things that happen that are beyond our control, both good and bad things. While we can’t control those things, we can control the way we respond to them. If we chose positive or negative it is still our choice and our consequences. I have taught my children this principal since they were very small. Yes, I celebrate every success they have, big or small. I post pictures of the least of their accomplishments. They are not perfect children. They are simply loved, cherished, and appreciated children. However, each of them know they are personally responsible for their actions. In our home we have a rule. No playing the blame game. If your socks are on the floor. They are your socks. You pick them up. Even if your brother or sister knocked them off the sofa or out of a basket, they are your socks, you pick them up. What if we all accepted responsibility for our own actions? What if we all worked hard for everything we accomplished and wanted and checked our sense of entitlement before we left our homes? What if we all got up each morning with a sense of determination to make today better than yesterday, not just for ourselves but for everyone in our circle of influence? What if we all took a little time to understand what someone else might be struggling with? What if we all used words of compassion and not hate? What if we all tried to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes before we spoke ill of them or wrote them off? Would there be less murders? Would there be less crime in general? These are just my personal thoughts. Pondering’s of a woman who has recently witnessed some of the best of humanity in action and some of the worst. I love Lexington . I have since I moved here. People have been inordinately kind to me. I am often shocked to find out something that has happened so close because I simply can’t believe that happens where we live. So people would say I am naive. If so, I wear that title with honor. I never want to look at the late night news and become numb to what I see. I would just ask that you join me in praying for our community, our schools, our teachers, our administrators, and our local politicians for wisdom and discernment. I wish each of you reading this happiness and health for years to come. Your friend,
Let love be without hypocrisy Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; Romans 12:9-10
Business & Web Directory Art and Entertainment SC State Fair.............................................4 scstatefair.org Colonial Cup..........................................15 carolina-cup.org Attorney Kinard & Jones.......................................13 kinardandjones.com Construction Lakeside Construction..........................20 lakesidecola.com Dental Services Whitehead Orthodontics.....................27 whiteheadortho.com Eye Care Envision Family Eye Care.....................32 envisionfamilyeyecare.com Fitness Bee Healthy............................................20 beehealthyclinics.com Health Services Lexington Medical Center....Back Cover lexmed.com Carolina Behavior and Beyond............23 carolinabehaviorandbeyond.com
Smart Plan..............................................26 smartplanforhealthyliving.com
Tanya Waller Photography....................21 tanyawaller.com
Lexington Medical Cancer Services....32 lexmed.com
Real Estate
Vital Energy Rehab Center...................35 vitalenergytherapy.com Hotels Comfort Suites.......................................24 comfortsuiteslexington.com Wingate by Wyndham...................26, 33 wingatehotels.com Insurance State Farm...............................................20 markrouse.org Monuments Memorial Design...................................24 memorialdesign.com
Earth Available Realty, Inc...................20 earthavailable.com Restaurants McDonalds...............................................4 mcdonalds.com Retirement Communities Columbia Presbyterian Community‌..17 preshomesc.org Morningside of Lexington......................32 morningsideoflexington.com Shopping Edible Arrangements..............................4 edible.com
Pets
Sew Suite Studio.....................................15 sewsuitestudio.com
Millcreek Animal Hospital...................26 millcreekanimalhospital.com
Budget Blinds of Lexington..................16 budgetblinds.com/lexington
Grace Pets Animal Hospital.................33 gracepets.com
Todd and Moore....................................24 toddandmoore.com
Photography
Inspire Interiors.....................................27
Clark Berry Photography.................... IFC clarkberry.com
Tutoring Sylvan Learning Center........................15 sylvan.irmo@glc-sylvan.com
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Health & Wellness
New Hope
When Open Heart Surgery Isn’t An Option
For people with severe aortic stenosis, like Martha Gregg of Sumter, open heart surgery isn’t an option. But the avid bowler and grandmother of 17 got new hope with transcatheter aortic valve (TAVR) replacement at Lexington Medical Heart Center. Our experienced cardiovascular team has performed more TAVR procedures than any other hospital in the Midlands, working together to provide this less invasive treatment option. It’s another way we’re providing new hope for the patients we serve.
Martha Gregg Sumter, SC 38
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