Lexington Woman Volume 10 Issue 4

VOL 10, NO 4

COMPLIMENTARY

CELEBRATING, MOTIVATING, AND EDUCATING WOMEN

Real

TM

Wild Horses:

Robyn and Reagan Leitner Lexington Medical Center:

“Find Your Center”

Cayce, Chapin, Lexington, Irmo, Lake Murray, West Columbia, & White Knoll

in this issue...

TM

www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Lori Samples Duncan loriduncan86@gmail.com

MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES

Cathy Williams John Welsh info@lexingtonwomanonline.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lori Samples Duncan Carol Ryall Tracey Lease

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Future’s Graphics, LLC Reid Price price.reid@gmail.com

From the Editor 2

Our Commitment to You

Events 3

Health & Wellness 18 Quality Care with a Personal Touch 20 Integrative Therapy

What’s Happening in Lexington?

Fashion 6 Reduce Reuse Recycle

Pet Health 10 Pet Health in the Summertime

24 Dr. Carol French

26 Find Your Center

Business & Web Directory 29 Contact our Advertisers

Feature Article 14 Wild Horses:

Robyn & Reagan Leitner

PHOTOGRAPHY

Clark Berry Photography Kim Blackwell Photography JMB Photography

INFORMATION

14

info@lexingtonwomanonline.com

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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 publishercannotassumeresponsibilityforerrors 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

It is hard to believe this school year will once again bring so many changes for us personally.

I am a mother of four , two of whom are now officially college students. I had to read that sentence twice after I typed it. It just seems like yesterday that Trey was a toddler. I learned I was pregnant with his little sister Abby when he was just seventeen months old, and I was sick pretty much from the word go til I was six months pregnant with her. Trey was such a good boy. He went to bed at 8pm and I just simply laid him down and he would play til he fell asleep. We had bought our first home then in Georgia, and my husband worked long days for Southeastern Freight lines. So the continual sickness made our routine change. I began to rock Trey to sleep at night, from sheer exhaustion and it was a sweet treasured time. I had always sung to him from the moment he was born. I believe in the delivery room there is an archaic VHS Tape with me singing “Jesus loves me” to my new son.

Then our song became a gospel song that I changed the words to. I had learned it when I was seventeen in youth choir. “I love you.” It became Trey’s song. I sang it to him almost daily. Just as Abby’s song was “You are so beautiful to me, “ Colton’s song was “You are my sunshine.” Ryan’s song was again, “I love you” , because he didn’t like “You are my sunshine”. it made him sad, he said to think of someone taking him away from me. (He was three when he told me this.)

On this one night that I have in mind, I sat rocking Trey. I was too exhausted to sing. My tummy hurt as little Miss Abby was already making her presence in our lives known. As I rocked and just held him close, gently patting his little back the sweet sound filled our space. The song I had sung to him, over and over, as he ate, as he fell asleep, when he was tearful or afraid, tired or hungry, to soothe him, calm him, just let him know his mother was there, he now lay with his little head on my shoulder, singing it back to me.

Trey Duncan 6 weeks old

“I love you. I love you. From the bottom of my heart, to the depths of my soul. I love you. I really do. I love you.” Trey sang those words in his little hoarse whisper. The song of love from a mother to her child was now the song of love from a child to his mother. I cried.Y’all know I am a crier. I was a young mother only about 23 when he sang me this song. I can still remember the little white luvs diaper, the “Alabama” T-shirt he was wearing to sleep in as I rocked and listened to him sing to me.

It’s hard to believe that little boy is twenty years old. That he is a junior in college and majoring in music and physics. It is hard to believe he is getting close to the age I was, when I held him in my arms and listened to him sing a love song to me. He is a grown man.

I watched the Jungle Book this weekend with Ryan and Colton. Mowgli had decided to leave the family of wolves who had raised him to keep them safe and the mother wolf said to him, “Never forget you are mine, mine to me. No matter where you go or who you will be, you will always be my son.” I cried.

Because it made me think of all three of my boys. It also made me think of my mama and her sons and all of you who are the mother of boys.

Life brings change but one thing that never changes is how much we love our children: how much we continue to be proud and yes, how much we worry.

For those young mothers, cherish the moments, write them down. Share those moments with your sons.

For those of us who are in transitioning stages , let’s try to remember those moments. I hope to make many more of these moments.

Ryan and Colton are still making those moments with us. Abby is forging her own path and learning how to be her own woman as well.

Trey Duncan High School Senior year

I pray for each of you and your children that the 2016-2017 school year will be one of blessings and great accomplishments for all of us.

To a mother, a son is never a fully grown man; and a son is never a fully grown man until he understands and accepts this about his mother. -Unknown

Your friend, Lori Samples-Duncan

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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

Real Women

Events Events

Happening

WHAT’S IN LEXINGTON?

Walk For Life + Famously Hot Pink Half Marathon, 10K, 5K Oct 22, 2016

OCTOBER

Participants can take a 3.1-mile walk through historic Columbia, or they can run in the Famously Hot Pink Half Marathon, 10K, or 5K - benefits the Palmetto Health Breast Center.

“Museum of Oz” Oct 1- Nov 4, 2016 SC State Museum Ultimate Challenge Mud Run Night Ops Oct 15, 2016

6.2 mile course with 36 obstacles, 2 and 4 person teams, Devil Pup Challenge for children, after party - benefits veteran and military organizations

5K run/walk on USATF certified course, Kids fun run - benefits the YMCA

E VENTS

Lights Before Christmas Nov 19 - 23, 2016 Dec 1 - 30, 2016

Riverbanks Zoo - visit with Santa, warm up by the Jingle Bell Bonfire, see nearly one million twinkling lights!

Holiday Market Nov 30, 2016

Shopping event at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds - Junior League event to raise funds for local projects.

NOVEMBER

Ray Tanner Home Run Oct 15, 2016

12K, 5K, and kids’ fun run plus post race party - benefits the Ray Tanner Foundation.

South Carolina State Fair Oct 12- Oct 23, 2016

Pumpkin Run Oct 29, 2016

UPCOMING

Midway rides and games, exhibits, live entertainment, food, livestock, exhibits.

Bark to the Park Nov 10, 2016

Bark to the Park is a fundraising event where all proceeds go to Pawmetto Lifeline to directly benefit homeless pets in the Midlands.

Registration includes a t-shirt and entry to the after-party, and pet activities following the walk. Registration runs 9-10 a.m.; 1.5-mile walk starts at 10:30 a.m.

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COMPLETE, COMPASSIONATE CARE From Your Other Family Doctor 803.808.PETS (7387) www.gracepets.com

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RE

DUCE USE CYCLE

by Tracey Lease

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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

Real Women

Photograph by Clark Berry Photography

R

educe, Reuse, Recycle. Many of us have grown up with this mantra. I remember the day our little town in New Jersey decided to make recycling mandatory – you could be fined if you threw your cans or bottles in the trash. What a huge upheaval for such a small town!

Now 30-some years later, recycling is, to many, a way of life. We don’t think about it much anymore. So, when someone says that they have a new way to recycle or re-purpose items, and – even better – make money at it? We tend to sit up and take notice.

This is just what Marie Generoso is doing for the lovely ladies of the Columbia area! Wink Consignment Sales is an upscale consignment sales event for women of all ages and sizes. For women? Yes! Most women, especially moms, have heard of consignment sales for children and kids. But Marie has re-imagined the way women with a budget should shop. Awesome!

Marie and her husband, Ron, used to operate three retail shops.

Unfortunately, their businesses closed when the economy went sour. They had a dilemma; what to do with the inventory they were not able to sell. “When we had Aaron, I was able to consign his clothes to a few local kid’s consignment sales. I had the opportunity to make money and recycle his clothes. So why not my clothes that have been sitting in my closet not being used and why not a Women’s consignment sale? I researched it and found none in the area so last year is when I started getting serious with the concept. I enjoy the retail aspect of the business and at the same time, I would be able to help moms and women make money, recycle, and save.”

Marie, Ron, and their 4-year old son, Aaron, live in Northeast Columbia. Marie works full-time as a Clinical Applications Analyst and is a Registered Nurse. She came to South Carolina from the Philippines when she was a teenager and received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of South Carolina. When not working, Marie loves to draw, read, and play with Aaron. As he grows, Marie has lots of advice that she will give him, but one of her favorites is “Find your passion and give your best always in everything that you do.”

tag and price their items and attach it to the clothing. The only thing left is to drop them off at the sale location and then relax.

Of course, there are those ladies that would like to make just a few more dollars on their items. Instead of not selling something because it is priced too high, Marie suggests to “price your items well and discount it for the last day of the sale. Shoppers tend to come in on Discount Day.” So, how can they make a few extra dollars? Consignors can volunteer for the many opportunities offered before and during the days of the sale. The more 3 hour shifts you volunteer to work, the more commission you have the opportunity to make – up to 75% of your sold items!

On the flip side, some consignors don’t have time to tag and enter their items. Wink Consignment can handle that, too, for a fee, and those consignors receive a 50% commission. Of course, you don’t want those unsold items to go back in your closet, right? Wink has the solution for that, too; you can donate them after the sale – no need to drag them home!

So, what about those women who like to shop? Women can shop deals early on Ladies’ Night for a fee. According to Marie, “You will find great deals on clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry and accessories up to 90% off retail…We inspect these items to be up to our strict standards.” Please visit Wink Consignment’s website for all the details.

Do you own or manage a business that could benefit from advertising at this event? Again, visit the website for more information!

When Marie began this journey, I wonder if she thought – really thought – about the mantra: Reduce (the size of your closet), Reuse (don’t buy it new, buy it new-ish!), Recycle (donate the unsold items). I can’t wait to go shopping! www.winkconsign.com on Facebook: winkconsign winkconsign@gmail.com 803.466.7836

For three days, twice a year, Marie is the driving force behind Wink Consignment Sales. “We do all the advertising, set up the location, set up fixtures and equipment, sell and clean up. The consignors will make a percentage of their sold items.” How does it work? I needed some advice. Marie told me a consignor (seller) will take their time going through their items – both clothing and accessories. They will be sure that they are current, quality brand-name items that are clean, fresh-smelling and free of stains. They will register through the website at www.winkconsign.com to create an online account,

Photograph by Cynthia Pace Photography

Shannon plays for guests at the bar after www.lexingtonwomanonline.com a Sunday tasting

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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

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Pet Health in the

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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

Real Women

Summertime

Pet Health

Jennifer W Potts, DVM

water hose at the ready to cool them off if they start to seem tired. Remember: if you’re trying to cool a pet off, never pour rubbing alcohol and water on them – when the two mix, they actually result in a hyperthermic reaction and become hot!

We’re past halfway through Summer already, but in Lexington that doesn’t mean that the temperature is going to cool down anytime soon! There are still a few months of hot weather and outdoor activities to enjoy, and many of us include our pets in these activities. While some dogs have more fur than others, they are all susceptible to sunburn, heat stress, and stings and bites. Here are some tips to help keep your pets healthy and comfortable this Summer.

While most dogs are well-covered in fur, their skin is still susceptible to sunburn just like ours. You can pick up a non-toxic children’s sunscreen and rub it gently on the top of their nose and other areas where there is little hair. This can include places where they have scars, as well as on their bellies.

While playing outside, there are bound to be stings and bites.

These could be as benign as mosquito bites or as serious as snake bites. If you have the time, treat your yard for insects the day before you plan to be outdoors all day to help prevent the ant and mosquito bites. You can also use natural insect repellants such as citronella oil in very sparing amounts. If you are using a concentrated essential oil, be sure to dilute it in vegetable oil before applying it sparingly, and don’t use it at all on cats. Some animals are more sensitive than others to the stings, and could even have an allergic reaction to a mosquito or a flea bite. You’ll know it when they start scratching and focusing on one area of their body obsessively. Even cats who have access to the outdoors can have mosquito bite hypersensitivity, which often shows itself as dermatitis on their faces. If you notice your animal scratching themselves a lot, it is safe to give a dose of Benadryl® (or diphenhydramine) at a milligram (mg) per pound of body weight. However, if you find your pet has been bitten by a snake, or if their lips swell, please take them directly to a veterinarian for emergency care.

Summer is a great time to spend quality time with our pets and make lasting memories. A bit of prevention can go a long way to make sure everyone stays safe and healthy!

When taking long car rides with your dogs and cats, make sure to keep your rest stops brief so that they don’t spend time in the hot car without air conditioning. It’s a good idea to offer water to them at rest stops. This may seem like a no-brainer for dogs; but it’s even more probable that a cat traveling in a carrier could become dehydrated.

The heat outside is also serious. When celebrating at outdoor events, scope out shady areas early on to place dog water bowls so that both the water and your pooch stay cool. Dogs can suffer heat exhaustion even on 80 degree days. Monitor their activity to ensure they get break times, and keep a www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

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Experience the many pleasures of the Comfort Suites Lexington, South Carolina. Our superbly appointed suites offer rare comfort and a luxurious ambience beyond compare in Lexington, SC. From our superb location, take an historic tour, visit the University of South Carolina campus or savor gourmet dining. It’s all waiting for you here in South Carolina, and we’ll make sure your day is started off right. Enjoy free hot Savory Starts Breakfast each morning you stay with us.

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Feature

Wild Horses

by Lori Samples-Duncan

I

am of the personal belief that children can do anything that they work hard enough for and are passionate and committed to doing. However, even I was blown away when I sat down with twins Reagan and Robyn Leitner.

At six years old the girls started riding horses and thus began a great love affair for the Leitner girls with their animals. After an injury the girls started watching YouTube videos of “Fun Horse Shows” and it was something they became interested in and wanted to do. At one of the first shows they won 1st and 2nd place. When this happened, their Mom thought, “Wow! They can do this!” So she reached out to a her aunt who was a great Trial horsewoman and thus began a bond between the girls and their great aunt and uncle.

After a weekend trip with their aunt and uncle, they visited Gainesville Georgia and actually attended the Extreme Mustang Makeover. From that moment both girls were convinced they could do this, and began to ask their mom and dad to allow them to apply to meet that challenge. At first Mom was hesitant, and thought this might not be such a good idea. After she prayed about it she agreed to let the girls apply. Mom and Dad knew that if was meant to be God would open the door.

When the email came that they could participate both girls were truly excited about the opportunity to train a horse together. However when they arrived in Jacksonville at the equestrian center to pick up their horse something unexpected happened.

Instead of Reagan and Robyn training one horse together they each got a horse! Mom and Dad were just as surprised as the girls but decided to give it a go.

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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

Real Women

Robyn and Reagan have big plans for the future but both include animals.

Robyn and Reagan Leitner

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Feature Now the Extreme Mustang Challenge is where Wild horses are rescued. They are then assigned to these individuals participating in the challenge for one hundred days. In that one hundred days you have to be able to train them to pick up their feet, brush them all away the around, load them in a trailer and catch them in an arena. So the idea is to demonstrate a bond between the horse and the individual. Their Great Uncle was convinced that at eleven years old these girls could rise to the challenge.

So began their journey. January 22, 2016 the girls went to pick up their horses. They technically adopt the horse for one year, then it becomes their horse. During that year long adoption process the Bureau of Land Management can make home visits to be sure the horse is being cared for properly.

This journey was not without it’s challenges but at the end of the day both girls were able to bring home their

horses. They walked away with 1st and 2nd place in the trail ride and 1st and 4th place in freestyle.

Horses are only a part of the family at the Lienter home. They have many other animals on the family farm. Their dad owns his own business and mom has home schooled all the children. I was so impressed with these ladies. Can you imagine, training wild mustangs at the age of eleven? Is there anything these two can’t accomplish if they put their minds to it? I think not.

Robyn and Reagan have big plans for the future but both include animals. Their immediate goal is to convince mom and dad to allow them to participate in another EXTREME MUSTANG CHALLENGE! I can’t wait to see where the future takes them. Congratulations ladies, we look forward to hearing all about the next event you compete in.

At one of the first shows they won 1st and 2nd place.

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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

Real Women

At six years old the girls started riding horses and thus began a great love affair for the Leitner girls with their animals.

www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

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Health & Wellness

18

Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

Real Women

Quality Care With A Personal Touch G

etting to know Robert Shoun, DMD, has been a pleasure.

He is down to earth, genuine, and just your regular good guy next door. As the owner of Midlands Pediatric Dentistry on Cedarcrest Drive in Lexington, Dr. Shoun is the new kid on the block. His office opened a few months ago in February of 2016, but he has been a Pediatric Dentist in Lexington since 2008. “While certainly not the only practice doing so, I feel we provide excellent continuity of care. I am the only doctor at the practice, and we try to cater to all of our patient's individual needs. We realize that, with Pediatric Dentistry, a ‘one size fits all’ approach is certainly not the best approach to providing excellent care.”

That is definitely a true statement! Each of my four children is different – so why would their approach to something new be the same?

Dr. Shoun agrees, saying, “Don't set unrealistic expectations as to how your child will or should react to their dental visit. As a pediatric dental office, we know that every child is unique and is different from day to day with how they may react to new situations. Understand that we treat children of all ages, all with unique needs, and are happy to accommodate you and your child in whatever manner you may need.” According to their website, midlandspediatricdentristry.com , “Midlands Pediatric Dentistry is constantly committed to providing excellent dental care for your child. As a pediatric dental specialty office, we are devoted to the optimal health and care of infants, children, adolescents and special needs patients.”

by Tracey Lease

time to do all that? “While owning any business can be a 24/7 task, being able to run the day to day functions and scheduling of the practice can allow for scheduling family time as well.”

And speaking of scheduling, I asked Dr. Shoun about appointments. He said, “Presently, we are able to accommodate new patient appointments very quickly, within a few days. We also make every effort to get any "emergency" patient seen and taken care of the day of need.” He recommends younger patients to be seen early in the morning while they are “fresh” and more likely to be cooperative. Dr. Shoun also said that they like to take their time with their patients, and that is another blessing of working for yourself. He credits his staff as being one of his greatest assets. “From the front desk to the clinical staff, I am blessed to work with an amazing group of people, all of whom have the best interests of both the practice and our patients at heart at all times and I feel this shows to our patients and their parents.”

Dr. Shoun feels that the best way to “give back” to your community is by supporting local charities and locally owned businesses. Talk to him yourself and find out how down-to-earth and genuine he is. And, show him your pearly whites!

In fact, Dr. Shoun has had specialty training; some of his education focused on dental growth and development, caring for the anxious child, as well as caring for patients with special health care needs – often in the hospital setting. He also had the privilege of treating children at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as part of this specialty training.

Dr. Shoun has been in the area for his whole life; he grew up in Columbia, moved to Lexington in 1985 and graduated from LHS in 1991. He later went on to The College of Charleston for his BS in Biology, then to MUSC for dental school. He served residencies at Palmetto Health Richland and also at University of TN in Memphis. He met his wife, April, through her sister, and now they – with their two young children, Forrest and Laurel – live in West Columbia. He enjoys reading, yoga, and spending time with his family – including playing with his children. Does he have

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Health & Wellness

Integrative Therapy in Return to Sport at Vital Energy Wellness and Rehab Center Along with integrative therapy, Scott Wilbert, PT, uses traditional physical therapy methods to strengthen muscles and decrease recovery time in athletes.

It’s hard not to panic following an athletic injury. What kind of therapy do I need?

Where should I go? What’s the difference between regular physical therapy and a return to sport program? Regardless of whether you’re a high school athlete or enjoy playing club sports on the weekend at a recreational center, the physical therapy team at Vital Energy makes getting back to your fullest athletic potential simple with a personalized return-to-sport program.

By Hima N. Dalal, OTR & Scott Wilbert, DPT, Sports Rehab Therapists “Our return-to-sport program is a personalized program created for every individual athlete based on their specific sport and injury status, ” explains Scott Wilbert, lead physical therapist at Vital Energy Wellness & Rehab Center. The program begins with a full evaluation on Day One, along with initial in-clinic treatment.

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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

Next, a plan is created by the physical therapy team that includes in-clinic sessions and an at-home program that integrates functional performance goals with the athlete’s personal goals for a more personalized regimen. Throughout the return-to-sport program, the athlete will simulate their sport in-clinic to achieve the highest level of functional performance.

Real Women

For example, dancers will practice leaps and turns while baseball players will perfect catching & throws.

Most people think that the term “athlete” solely describes a high school or professional athlete that plays on an official team. However, this is not the case. “An athlete can be someone who plays football at the high school level, softball at a

Health & Wellness recreational center, or even someone who plays for their church basketball team.” says Wilbert. “Anyone who plays some sort of organized sport at any age, is an athlete.”

As a complement to this PT-based return-to-sport program, occupational therapist Hima Dalal uses alternative therapy methods to enhance the athlete’s training and progress. Aquatic therapy is especially helpful in a return-to-sport program because the warm water allows the athlete to increase their range of motion while decreasing pain & swelling.

The underwater treadmill also provides low impact exercise, increasing strength and activity tolerance.

Crystal Myofascial Release (CMFR) is also another alternative therapy service that aids in athlete recovery. Created by Hima Dalal, the owner and lead OT at Vital Energy, CMFR is a safe & effective handson technique that uses crystals to apply sustained pressure into the myofascial connective tissue to eliminate pain & restore motion. CMFR expedites injury healing time and eliminates rebounding, meaning the muscles do not return to their initial compressed state thus accelerating progress towards recovery. Additionally, CMFR decreases pain and increases muscle strength and endurance.

Whether you are a high school athlete or a recreational player, the return-to-sport program at Vital Energy can help you return to your highest level of function with a highly-individualized plan and an entire team of professionals committed to getting you better faster.

For more information about our complementary therapy service or return-to-sport program, please call 803-359-1551 or visit our website at www.vitalenergytherapy.com.

Hima Dalal uses aquatic therapy for college football athlete to increase range of motion and provide low impact exercise.

Occupational Therapist Hima Dalal uses the Crystal Myofascial Release Technique to strengthen shoulder following cheerleading injury.

803.359.1551 www.vitalenergytherapy.com Fibromyalgia/Chronic Pain Support Group Meets Monthly Our Services Include:

Occupational Therapy • Physical Therapy • Sports Physical Therapy • Reiki Therapy/Meditation Pediatric Therapy • Aqua Therapy • Myofascial Release Treatment and Craniosacral Therapy Work Injuries • TMJ Therapy • Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome • Chronic/Acute Pain Migraine Headache Treatment • Yoga/Personal Fitness • Neuro/Ortho Injury Rehab • Scoliosis Rehab Rheumatoid/Osteoarthritis Therapy • Hand Therapy • Cancer Rehab Hima N. Dalal

Occupational Therapist • Reiki and Myofascial Release Consultant • Fibromyalgia Consultant Sports Injury Consultant

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We use SC Certified grapes, fruits and vegetables to produce Wine, Saba, Vinegar, Balsamic, Oil, Flour and Jellies. Mercer House can assure you the very best quality products free of any chemicals and preservatives.

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23

Let’s Talk

by ClarkMotivating Berry Photography Celebrating, and Educating Real Women 24 Photograph

“I always loved working with children and found that I had a gift for being able to communicate with them. ”

Health & Wellness

Dr. Carol French Children Put a Smile on Her Face and Vice Versa! By Carol A. Ryall

D

r. Carol French, a local pediatric dentist, was an elementary school teacher in Charleston for several years prior to attending dental school. While a teacher, she noticed the large number of children lacking in good oral health. “Dental decay is preventable and a child with good oral hygiene and healthy habits could avoid many lost school hours,” explained Dr. French.

“I always loved working with children and found that I had a gift for being able to communicate with them. Combining my desire to have a positive impact on children; and, my interest in dental health made the decision to enter the field of pediatric dentistry a natural fit,” she stated.

When I asked, what’s the most rewarding part of being a pediatric dentist, Dr. French quickly answered, “One of the most rewarding aspects of working with children is caring for the child who comes to us with a history of a previous poor experience in the dental or medical setting; and, being able with time to help rebuild their acceptance and trust level for the dental environment. Of course, our main goal with every child is to provide a dental home where children’s dental experiences are positive from day one. As a fellow dentist friend likes to remind folks, “A rotten tooth is a rotten reason for a child’s first visit to the dentist!”

Dr. French went on to say, “If I could do just one thing for the children of SC, I would introduce them to a safe oral health home where they could experience the care, comfort, positive experiences, and relaxed atmosphere that we strive for so they could attain and maintain a cavity-free state. I would also wish for the parents to understand the importance of their roles in raising a cavity-free child. It can be done and it starts with proactive parents in alliance with their local pediatric dentist.”

Dr. French concluded our discussion by emphasizing the importance of teaching children and their parents to be cavity-free.

We can truly be the slogan, South Carolina “Smiling Faces, Beautiful Places”.

“One way that we are able to help provide positive experiences for children, is through the use of conscious sedation. When a young, fearful, or special patient with emotional, physical, or mental limitations requires treatment, sedation is often the key which allows us to provide quality care for that child.”

Dr. French pointed out that she believes that the children she has met through the course of her practice have each in their own special ways, blessed the lives of her staff and herself far more that any impact they could ever have had on the children. “The children have opened our hearts to their truths, sense of purpose, imaginations, and love. We have truly been given a gift to share a part of their lives and watch them as they grow into healthy young adults.”

For a lifetime of healthy smiles, Dr. French reminds parents that children are born cavity free. Since parents are with the child every day and the dentist only twice a year, parents ARE their child’s primary dental health care provider! Dental decay is an infectious process. It is paramount that parents avoid transmission of cavity-forming bacteria by being cavity-free themselves. In a family we all share the same drink or food or even blow on the child’s food to cool it. Parents should not merely supervise but actually brush and floss for the child until they are adolescents. Children should be off the nighttime bottle between 10 to 12 months.

And the child’s first dental visit should be no later than their first birthday. www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

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Health & Wellness

Centering class members talk about childbirth.

Find Your “Center”

New Program for Expectant Families at Lexington Medical Center Inside a cheerful room at Lexington Women’s Care, a Lexington Medical Center physician practice, an excited group of new moms and dads looks forward to bright futures.

On their laps are their newborn babies, all born within a few weeks of each other. They’re introducing their bundles of joy to each other at the last class of an innovative program offered at the physician practice called Centering®.

Centering offers prenatal care in a group setting. By participating in Centering sessions, patients benefit from more time with health care providers, information on prenatal and postpartum care, and support from other mothers.

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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

“Centering empowers women to take care of themselves and learn about their pregnancy while receiving the support of practitioners and other women they get to know,” said Valerie A. Skinner, MD, FACOG, an OB/GYN at Lexington Women’s Care, who is leading the Centering class.

At the beginning of pregnancy, a mother-to-be will have an individual prenatal visit and physical exam.

If she chooses to “center” her pregnancy, she’ll join a group of other

Real Women

expectant mothers with similar due dates for monthly Centering sessions instead of traditional office visits. Dads-to-be are welcome, too.

Upon arrival at Lexington Women’s Care, class members go directly to the Centering session where they’re greeted by staff and enjoy refreshments. There’s no waiting in the lobby for the doctor. Each Centering session lasts about two hours and offers women a supportive environment

to share physical, emotional and medical pregnancy experiences.

The same physician or midwife serves as the group facilitator at each session. He or she privately performs regular health assessments such as blood pressure, weight, belly checks and heart tones at the beginning of each session. After the assessment, the facilitator leads a group discussion on topics related to pregnancy and parenting, including the physical changes women experience during pregnancy, preparing for labor and delivery, nutrition, family planning, safety, conflict resolution, parenting and newborn care.

At the last class for this group, there’s a celebration for the new babies, including Brittany and David Hardy’s six-week-old son, Boston Luke. The Hardy family loved what they learned during pregnancy in the Centering class.

“Knowing what to expect made everything less overwhelming at delivery,” said Brittany.

They also liked the tips the class received on taking care of a newborn baby at home.

“I’m big on asking everyone questions and getting their insight,” said David. “We wish that we could continue now into parenting.”

Brittany and David Hardy with their son, Boston Luke

Importantly, Centering has been shown to decrease rates of preterm delivery and offer other advantages, too.

“We know that moms who take part in Centering have higher rates of breastfeeding and lower rates of postpartum depression,” Dr. Skinner said.

The term “Centering” comes from the idea that the program offers obstetric care in a group setting that places responsibility on the mom, realizing that she’s the center of her and her baby’s well-being.

Lexington Women’s Care began the Centering class in 2015 after Dr. Skinner received a grant. Currently, there are more than seven Centering classes underway.

Visit LexingtonWomensCare.com

Dr. Valerie Skinner checks an expectant mother’s belly at a Centering class visit. www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

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From bathing to backgammon, this is home care.

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Schedule a complimentary consultation today.

803-356-0916 Columbia.FirstLightHomeCare.com 28

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Business & Web Directory Art and Entertainment

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Making Room for Tomorrow

When a community grows, its hospital should too.

And that’s just what we’re doing.

In May, Lexington Medical Center launched the largest hospital expansion project in South Carolina history. Our new 10-story patient tower will allow us to take better care of patients, including the tiniest infants who need special attention. The addition will also help us make room for the growing number of patients who need surgery and intensive care.

At Lexington Medical Center, our mission to serve our community never waivers. We’re here when you need us today. And we’ll be there when you need us tomorrow.

Building a healthier hospital—community—you.

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