Cryo Body Perfections - MD Monthly

contents Jul y 2018 Production Media Digital Source Chief Executive Officer Eliot Garza Co-Publisher Jessie Moore Project Manager Alejandra Bermea Account Executive Rebekah Washington Digital Marketing Coordinator Jaime Gage Creative Services | Graphic Designers Aurora Balderas Vanessa Bolanos Editor Jody Marmel Writers Rudy Arispe Jody Marmel Kiko Martinez Cover Feature

Breathing New Life Pediatric Pulmonologists Find Practice Rewarding at Driscoll Children’s Hospital in South Texas Cover Feature

Jimi Ellis

Says Texas Legislative Funding Cuts Negatively Affect Children with Developmental Disabilities 6

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Contributors Dr. Marianne Pinkston Eric Kala CPWA®, CIMA®, CFP®, AEP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CRPS®, Avid Wealth Management Corpus Christi Rehabilitation Hospital Kennedy Dental Post Acute Medical Photographers Trinity Greer Russel Williams Saulo Rodriguez FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL 210.373.2599 OR EMAIL HELLO@MDMONTHLY.COM FOR EDITORIAL COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS, EMAIL EDITOR@MDMONTHLY.COM

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contents 40 | Style & Substance Blanca Abbud

52 | Informed Patient How to Identify a Stroke

by Post Acute Medical

54 | Informed Patient

Blood Pressure.

Understanding the numbers

by CCRH

Cover Feature

Cryo Body Perfections

An Oasis of Treatments, Support and Compassion

56 | Social

4th Annual White Party at Corpus Christi

10 | Childrens Health

Do Healthy Teeth Really Need Dairy?

by Kennedy Dental Care

14 | Business

Disability Income Insurance that Gives Physicians and Dentists Control

by Eric Kala

20 | Health & Wellness

Botox Injections for Migraines: How Effective Are They?

by Dr. Pinkston 8

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CHILDRENS HEALTH | CORPUS CHRISTI

DO HEALTHY TEETH

REALLY NEED DAIRY? Provided by Kennedy Dental Care

T

he old adage is that “milk and dairy are necessary for strong teeth and bones.” While that is true, milk and dairy both greatly help strengthen teeth and bones – the whole truth isn’t so simple.

everyday, and it doesn’t have to come from a dairy product.

Calcium can be found in salmon, broccoli, dark leafy greens, sesame seeds, almonds, oranges, and calciumfortified cereal.

It’s All About What’s On The Inside Milk and dairy products are incredibly rich in calcium, magnesium and vitamin D. These are the essential building blocks needed to promote strong teeth and bones. But, milk and dairy products aren’t the only sources of those mouthhealthy vitamins and minerals.

Magnesium Magnesium helps the body absorb calcium, which is critical to building strong teeth and tooth enamel. In fact, magnesium converts vitamin D into its active form so that calcium can be absorbed into the body.

You can find magnesium in nuts, whole grains, beans, seeds and dark leafy vegetables.

Calcium Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body, and plays a critical role in muscle building, improving blood vessel health, and nourishing the nervous system. Calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth, and 99% of your body’s calcium is actually stored in your bones and teeth! Needless to say, it’s vital that you get enough calcium

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Vitamin D Vitamin D is often overlooked, but it plays a huge role in promoting tooth and bone health. Vitamin D acts as a communicator, and signals the intestines to absorb calcium into the bloodstream. Without adequate vitamin D, the healthy power of calcium is

severely diminished. Adequate vitamin D, in addition to calcium, make bones and teeth denser and far stronger, which helps prevent fractures and cracks.

Mouth Healthy Foods Are Everywhere!

A rich, nutritional diet is critical to a healthy mouth and body, but finding nutritious foods can be difficult on your own! Talk to us about mouth healthy dietary options for your family. We will help you identify foods that taste good, and improve your oral health.

We love serving families, and helping guide them to oral health success and we’d be happy to see you! Call our office to schedule a stress-free first visit, and give your child a leg-up on their oral health today.

To learn more visit online www.paulkennedydds.com

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INFORMED PATIENT | CORPUS CHRISTI

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BUSINESS | REGIONAL

Disability Income Insurance that Gives Physicians and Dentists Control Provided by Eric Kala CFP®, CIMA®, AEP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CRPS®

F

or physicians and dentists, having disability income insurance (DI) is a no-brainer. For busy medical professionals, the amount paid in premiums is worth knowing that if they were to become injured or ill – their income, family and career would be protected.

Whether they’re completing school, residency or establishing a successful practice, life is especially busy for those in the medical field. Because of that, it can be difficult to find the time to review intricate DI policies with varying stipulations in policy contracts. Even if a physician or dentist owns a DI policy, do they have confidence that they’re really covered? Not all disability income insurance policies are created equal.

Here are a few points to consider: When to Consider Protection Doctors and dentists should consider disability income insurance sooner rather than later, even while still in school or residency because: • In residency, dentists and physicians have many income-generating years ahead of them

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• If you select a policy early in your career, it instills confidence knowing you’re protected • Disability income insurance tends to be more affordable when you’re younger Thankfully, as physicians and dentists advance in their careers, they can then adjust their levels of coverage to reflect their higher income levels.

How DI Works for Physicians and Dentists Many physicians and dentists assume that if they’re unable to perform their principal duty, they would be totally disabled and receive full benefits.

Unfortunately, that’s not usually the case with “own occupation” coverage – the kind of coverage that’s traditionally been recommended for medical and dental professionals. Fortunately, there’s a solution.

Based on input from physicians and dentists, in 2009 Northwestern Mutual developed the first ever disability insurance specifically for medical professionals. Since then, more physicians and dentists have

chosen Northwestern Mutual’s longterm disability income insurance than any other1. From 2009 to today, Northwestern Mutual has continued the conversation with dental and medical professionals.

Physicians and dentists have stated that if they were no longer able to perform their current duties, they’d want disability income insurance that would give them the control and flexibility to generate income and meet their financial obligations if they were to start a new career. In 2016, Northwestern Mutual introduced “Medical Own Occupation Definition,” which does just that. If a medical or dental professional were diagnosed with an illness or injury, leaving them partially disabled and forcing them to give up the duties they care most about and that generate most of their revenue, they could choose to: stop working and receive full disability benefits, keep performing other medical duties or begin a new occupation and receive a partial benefit.

On the other hand, in the event that

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a physician or dentist were to become totally disabled and couldn’t perform any of the duties in their current occupation, they also have options. They could take their full disability or could decide to change occupations and receive all or some of their benefit. Northwestern Mutual’s Medical Own Occupation disability definition gives physicians, dentists and podiatrists more choices and more control than ever.

Make Sure You’re Covered Between patient consultations, exams and even surgery, on any given day, doctors and dentists have many duties to perform. Being a financial professional is not one of them.

Work with a Northwestern Mutual financial professional to ensure you’re protected by a company that insures more physicians and dentists than anyone else in the industry2. In addition, Northwestern Mutual has been consistently awarded the highest

financial strength ratings3 of any insurer, so you know that protection will be there when it’s needed most.

Of course, no one likes thinking about what would happen in the event of a life-changing accident, injury or illness, but making these decisions now will help ensure you’re positioned for a lifetime of financial security. Northwestern Mutual’s Medical Own Occupation Definition of disability allows you to live the next chapter of life on your own terms.

Article prepared by Northwestern Mutual with the cooperation of Eric Kala. Eric Kala is a Wealth Management Advisor with Northwestern Mutual the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM),

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and its subsidiaries. Eric Kala is an agent of NM based in San Antonio, TX. To contact Eric Kala, please call (210) 446-5755, e-mail at eric.kala@nm.com or visit avidwealthpartners.com. This information is not intended as legal or tax advice.

GenRe US Individual Disability Market Survey, 2015 GenRe US Individual Disability Market Survey, 2015 3 Ratings are for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company, as of the most recent review and report by each rating agency.

Northwestern Mutual’s ratings: A.M. Best Company A++ (highest), 5/2016; Fitch Ratings AAA (highest), 5/2016; Moody’s Investors Service Aaa (highest), 7/2016; Standard & Poor’s AA+ (second highest), 6/2016. Ratings are subject to change.

1 2

Disability insurance policies have exclusions, limitations, reduction of benefits, terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued. Eligibility for disability insurance, additional policy benefits and qualification for benefits is determined on a base by case basis. State variations may also apply. For costs and complete details of coverage, contact a Northwestern Mutual Financial Representative.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS | SAN ANTONIO

Botox Injections for Migraines: HOW EFFECTIVE ARE THEY?

By Dr. Pinkston of Wellness 4 Life

C

hronic migraine headaches are no fun. Sadly, some people get little relief from their pounding head discomfort even when they take medication. Now, there's another option -- Botox injections for chronic headache pain. The FDA has endorsed Botox injections for treating migraine headaches that don't respond to other treatments. How effective are Botox injections for migraine headaches?

Botox for Migraines Not every migraine sufferer is a candidate for Botox injections for migraine treatment. This treatment is usually reserved for migraine patients who deal with migraine headaches on an almost daily basis or at least fourteen days out of the month. It's not an appropriate option for the person who has infrequent migraine headaches.

What is It Like to Get Botox Injections for Migraines?

Needless to say, Botox injections aren't the best treatment option for people who fear needles. It takes an average of thirty Botox injections into various parts

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of the head and neck to get the full benefits of Botox. As you can imagine, the injections aren't inexpensive. You have to hope your insurance company picks up the tab! Otherwise, the cost can be substantial.

site. This migration can theoretically lead to problems swallowing or breathing, although there are no reports of this in the literature. It's a relatively safe, although slightly uncomfortable procedure.

Is It Worth It? Here's the bad news about Botox for migraines. After enduring thirty needlesticks to the head and neck, Botox is unlikely to leave a migraine sufferer headache free. It only reduces the number of total headaches monthly by an average of two or three. Of course that's two or three extra days each month that someone suffering from migraines can enjoy a pain-free day, so it may be worth it.

The Bottom Line?

Botox injections for migraines have the potential to modestly decrease the number of days a person experiences migraine headaches. On the other hand, it's only approved for migraine sufferers who have very frequent migraine headaches. It's also important to get the injections performed by an experienced doctor to lower the risk of unwanted side effects.

Are There Side Effects?

Serious side effects from Botox injections for migraines are rare. The most common complaint is headache and mild neck pain.

Neck pain affects about 9% of people who get Botox injections for migraines.

Muscle weakness is a less common side effect. The Botox toxin can potentially migrate into tissues around the injection

Botox has no benefit for treating other types of headache pain. The best plan is to try other migraine headache treatments first, and if they don't work, keep a headache diary to see how frequently migraines are occurring. If they're occurring more than fourteen times a month, talk to your doctor about the possibility of using Botox. It's not just for wrinkles anymore.

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D

r. Santiago Encalada always knew he wanted to work with children diagnosed with asthma. He finds joy in speaking to his young patients and their families, not only as a doctor, but as someone who understands what it has been like living with the respiratory condition himself since he was a child.

“If I can have a normal life with asthma, then I want the same thing for my patients,” Dr. Encalada said.

Dr. Encalada is one of three pediatric pulmonologists currently practicing at Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas. Pulmonology is the branch of medicine concerning the lungs and respiratory system. Along with asthma, other conditions pediatric pulmonologists treat include congenital lung anomalies, airway and lung infections, cystic fibrosis, and children with tracheostomies dependent on mechanical ventilation.

Founded in 1953, Driscoll was, and still is, “the only freestanding children’s hospital in South Texas.”

In 2017, the hospital saw more than 180,000 children from across the state.

Along with pulmonary medicine, Driscoll specializes in a host of medical fields, including cardiology, neurology, urology, genetics, cancer and blood disorders, nephrology and more.

It is in the field of pulmonology, however, where Dr. Encalada and fellow Driscoll physicians, Dr. Paul Nolan and Dr. Jon Roberts, have dedicated their lives.

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Jon Roberts, MD

Driscoll is a special place for Dr. Encalada. He completed his pediatric residency there from 2010 to 2013, so when a position opened earlier this year, he jumped at the opportunity to return to South Texas.

“The first time I came to Driscoll, it felt like I had found a hidden gem,” Dr. Encalada said. “Everyone was really friendly. It felt more like family than a job. I think that’s a good thing.”

Although he is the newest pulmonologist at the hospital, Dr. Encalada quickly realized that treating a child also meant embracing the entire family – from parents to siblings to grandparents. It’s part of the job that Dr. Encalada finds the most rewarding – to give everyone hope.

“It’s all about providing support to the families and kids,” he said.

“Caregivers come in with lots of

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Paul Nolan, MD

“If I can have a normal life with asthma, then I want the same thing for my patients.”

Dr. Encalada

questions, so I want to be able to answer as many of them as possible.

Forming those partnerships with the family is very important to me.”

Taking Pride Dr. Jon Roberts has been with Driscoll for seven years. He completed his general pediatrics residency at Winthrop University Hospital in New York.

Roberts said that of the children each pulmonologist sees per day, most of their patients suffer from asthma. What he is most proud of, however, is the work he and his colleagues have been

Santiago Encalada, MD

able to do with patients diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is a chronic, genetic disease that causes the body to make thick mucus that can clog the lungs and lead to severe infections.

It may also block the pancreas and keep natural enzymes from helping the body digest and absorb food. The disease currently has no cure, shortens the lifespan, and poorly affects quality of life. In 2015, Driscoll was approved for accreditation by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as a nationally recognized affiliate cystic fibrosis center.

“Before that, the closest place for a child to get treatment was San Antonio,” Dr. Roberts said. “It was a great team effort to come together and show everyone that we had what it took to be an accredited center. We’re up to 50 patients now. It’s a source of pride for us.”

During his career, Dr. Roberts said

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that big breakthroughs are coming for cystic fibrosis patients, which include new medications (the latest is called Symdeko) that are treating the genetic cause of the disease. In the past, treatment has only focused on dealing with the effects of the disease, like pneumonia and poor digestion.

“With these new medicines, we’re saying, ‘Maybe we can go to the source and prevent the effects of CF before they happen,’ ” Dr. Roberts said. “The medicines aren’t quite there yet, but the newer ones have been coming out like crazy. This is exciting for us because it gives us the opportunity to offer medicines that we weren’t able to

before. We’re still learning about them, but it’s a new wave of discovery.”

Dr. Roberts said the most fulfilling part of his job is working with kids.

With kids, you can “let loose” a bit more and have fun.

“At the same time, you’re helping them or curing them or making them feel better,” Dr. Roberts said. “These are relationships we’re going to have for potentially 18 to 20 years. We really get to know these kids. Children are fragile, but they’re not as fragile as you think.”

Pillars of Support After eight years at Driscoll, Dr. Paul

“It was a great team effort to come together and show everyone that we had what it took to be an accredited center. We’re up to 50 patients now. It’s a source of pride for us.”

Dr. Roberts

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“Driscoll knows how important it is to support the community. They know that physicians are needed in the community and they provide that support.

It’s outstanding.”

Dr. Nolan

Nolan can sum up why his time at the hospital has been a positive experience in one word: support.

“Driscoll knows how important it is to support the community,” Dr. Nolan said. “They know that physicians are needed in the community and they provide that support. It’s outstanding.”

Driscoll doesn’t limit its patients to just Corpus Christi or South Texas. Dr. Nolan said he sees patients as far north as La Grange and as far south as the Mexican border. One young woman who has cystic fibrosis came to Driscoll, all the way from Mexico, because she wasn’t getting the care she needed in her home country.

“This girl was literally dying when she came to see us four years ago,” Dr. Nolan said. “We got her on the therapies and medications she needed, and her lung function started improving. It’s very reassuring to see kids like her thrive. It’s what I love to do – help children who can’t breathe – breathe.”

For Dr. Nolan, who finished his residency at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and the University of Michigan’s Mott Children’s Hospital, support also comes in the form of his colleagues, Dr.

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Roberts and Dr. Encalada, the latter of whom Dr. Nolan helped mentor when he was a resident and encouraged him to go into pulmonary medicine.

“We all get along great and have great confidence in each other,” Dr. Nolan said. “We’re a very cohesive group.”

That reliability within the team is essential, Dr. Nolan said, since the physicians at Driscoll always try to stay

in the forefront with what he refers to as “evidence-based medicine.”

It’s an approach to medicine that Dr. Nolan teaches his residents, the next generation of pediatricians (and potentially pediatric pulmonologists) who come through the doors at Driscoll.

“What I’m doing now is not what I was doing 32 years ago,” Dr. Nolan said. “It’s so important that we always stay on top of what might be coming down the pike.”

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The Journey

M

argret De Bruyn has the type of personality that embraces you with compassion, love, and trust from the moment you meet her. Whether you are a client, friend, team member or fellow entrepreneur, Margret believes that giving back to others is one of the most important aspects of living life to its fullest. She certainly knows first-hand about how precious life is in every sense of the word.

When she was in her twenties, Margret was diagnosed with uterine cancer. After undergoing surgery, she became a cancer survivor and moved forward with her life and her goals.

De Bruyn went to Trinity for her undergraduate degree. From there, she went on to attend Columbia University and obtained her Masters Degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology.

She pursued a career with Merrill Lynch and enjoyed a successful profession in the financial services arena for over fifteen years. Margret refers to this as her “first half of her life.”

Since that time, Margret has dealt with a bi-lateral mastectomy and multiple breast reconstruction surgeries to avoid breast cancer. Three weeks after her third breast reconstruction, Margret was struck by a semi-truck while stopped at a red light. The accident caused a combination of over ten bulging and herniated discs.

Due to her allergy to pain medication, she endured a great deal of pain.

A combination of her age and her compromised torso structure including the loss of her pectoral major muscles was more than enough and Margret chose to avoid back surgery. Margret explained, “I lived a life of going from the bed to the couch and that is not easy for someone that is as active

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Jody Joseph Marmel

as I was. I worked out every day. I taught and did Pilates daily, did cardio three days a week and weight trained three days a week. I missed out on so much during those months. I missed work, trips with family, and two of my friend’s weddings. I started to become depressed. Then one day day, a friend came by and insisted that I try cryotherapy and she took me to my first treatment in San Antonio.”

After seven long months of living with chronic pain, Margret was willing to try anything naturopathic for her pain.

“After my first treatment, I was asked how I felt. My response was that I felt the same. They told me to be patient and that it could take a few times before I felt any results. When I woke up the next morning, it took me thirty minutes to get ready instead of an hour. That was a telling sign I was on the right track.”

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“Our mission is that we want to help you live the one life you have the best way you can.”

After Margret’s second treatment, she went home and fell asleep. In the morning, she got up and went to the restroom. As she was washing her hands, she realized that she was doing her morning routine like she used to do prior to the accident without delay or hesitation. “I literally got my life back.

Within one month, I was back in the gym. Whenever I travel, I always make sure that I know where cryotherapy is

offered because I have to use it to live my life without pain.”

As Margret was going through her personal journey, she realized that she was not the only one living with chronic pain. She wanted to help other people that were living with pain. From cancer patients to sports injury patients, Margret wanted to follow her passion. A few months after she tried cryotherapy,

Margret started formulating a business plan. Eight months after the accident, she signed a lease and Cryo Body Perfections opened in December of 2016.

“Our mission is that we want to help you live the one life you have the best way you can,” explains Margret. She elaborates on the Cryo Body Perfections team. “We really try to create a positive 2018 - JULY

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energy here. We give a lot of support and we are judgement free. Believe it or not, we also give a lot of hugs here.”

In the CoolSculpting room, there is a box of tissues for a reason. Patients have a lot of emotions when dealing with unwanted fat. Everyone deserves to have a judgement free place to share their pent-up feelings. The Cryo Body Perfections’ team is right there to help the patients with a supportive environment. “The world can be a hard place. I want each client to feel that this is an oasis, and we are all here to support them through their journey.”

The Services Offered at Cryo Body Perfections Cryo Body Perfections was created to help others find natural methods to rehabilitate after an accident, speed sports workout and injury, ease living with a chronic illness, speed surgery recovery, and minimize swelling and lymph system complications. The emphasis is on quality of life-improving the quality of life for cancer patients and survivors and individuals with chronic pain from illnesses such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, migraines, and other illnesses. As the business started taking off and helping patients, other services were introduced as the demand from clients was growing. The following is a list of services that are currently being offered.

• Whole Body Cryotherapy Cryotherapy was originally developed in Japan in the late 1970s for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, and it is now utilized in the United States with excellent results. During Whole Body Cryotherapy, the body is exposed to ultra-low temperatures, triggering a systemic anti-inflammatory and endorphin response. Clients spend three minutes exposed to a therapeutic range of -90 degrees Celsius to -120 degrees Celsius. “Though the skin surface temperature will cool, the patient’s internal core temperature will

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“Cryo Body Perfections was created from my crazy life.”

to the body sculpting work De Bruyn and her team of specialists do with CoolSculpting. remain the same. Studies conducted in Europe over the last two decades have established Whole Body Cryotherapy as a powerful treatment for inflammatory disorders and treatments.” Whole Body Cryotherapy is very effective for athletic recovery and muscle repair, reduction of chronic pain, inflammation and an overall enhancement of health and wellness.

• Local Cryotherapy for Pain Management • CryoFacial • Cellulite Reduction Cryo Body Perfections uses the most advanced and effective technology available to reduce the appearance of cellulite and fluid retention. The treatments are non-invasive and painless. They are a great complement

• CoolSculpting CoolSculpting is the world’s number one non-invasive fat reduction treatment. It eliminates fat safely and effectively. It is the only non-invasive FDA cleared fat reduction procedure.

The process works by using cold to kill fat cells safely. The results are long lasting, and there are no pain killers, no needles, no anesthesia and no downtime. “CoolSculpting results are proven, noticeable, and lasting. You will look and feel great from every angle.”

• IV Nutrient Therapy As part of the anti-aging, recovery and cancer platforms, IV and injection vitamin therapy is used to help clients recover from heat; fight the flu and other illnesses; slow the aging process; aid Parkinson’s patients and provide naturopathic cancer IVs.

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From cancer patients to sports injury patients, Margret wanted to follow her passion. and interviewing Margret De Bruyn, I was thinking how and when I can make the time to travel to McAllen.

Each service that they offer seems like a little bit of heaven to me and to their ever-growing client base. Cryo Body Perfections has something for everyone and the overall results are health, wellness and feeling good about yourself.

• Lymphatic Drainage • Normatec Compression Massage • Pilates • Cancer Exercise Therapy Margret De Bruyn is a PMA Certified Pilates Teacher and she is a Certified Cancer Exercise Specialist, Breast Cancer Exercise Specialist and Certified Pink Ribbon Breast Program Cancer Exercise Specialist. Her areas of specialty include• Cancer Exercise and Rehabilitation • Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Program • Older Adult Strength and Flexibility • Parkinson’s Disease • Sports Performance • Sports Injury Rehabilitation In July, Cryo Body Perfections began offering two new services for Vaginal Rejuvenation and Erectile Dysfunction.

These methods are non-invasive and improve the quality of life for both women and men.

Votiva is a four to eight minute procedure for women. It effectively and painlessly helps with vaginal dryness, laxity, incontinence as well as makes things look pretty. It is a great option for cancer patients, and for those women

that are going through menopause and post-menopause who are not doing hormone replacement therapy.

For erectile dysfunction, Cryo Body Perfections is one of a select group of providers in Texas to offer the D Wave.

It is painless, drugfree, and effective.

The technique uses sound waves to break up plaque in the vascular system and stimulate new cell growth. This same process has been used in Europe for over 10 years and is their first line of defense for erectile dysfunction.

The Cryo Body Perfections team wants to help all their clients and by doing so, they have a loyal following of both women and men. The reviews are excellent and in fact, while researching

Looking Ahead at Cryo Body Perfections Margret and her team emphasize that the goal of the business is “not about us; it’s about you.” Cryo Body Perfections keeps adding treatment options to meet the needs of their clients. An example of this is Botox injections and fillers. Several clients prefer this method so that they can have the youthful appearance that they lost due to aging. Many of the patients that use Cool Body Sculpting opt for Botox; it is about looking good and feeling good from their head to their toes. And it works quickly with no down time and the results are remarkable.

When Margret opened the doors to Cryo Body Perfections in McAllen, Texas, she details that this was the beginning of her second phase of life. “I am living my passion now and the work that I do is rewarding every single day.”

It is obvious that her passion translates into positive energy for the team and the patients that walk through the doors every day.

“Cryo Body Perfections was created from my crazy life,” Margret says. “I just wanted to help people with pain.

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then. We ran off like gang busters and we are truly making a positive impact on the community.”

In December of 2018, Cryo Body Perfections will be celebrating their two year anniversary. Margret and her team are hoping that at this point in time, they will be opening their second location in Pharr, Texas which is south of McAllen. She is excited about new plans for a Men’s Anti-Aging and Wellness Spa she plans to roll out in multiple locations across the RGV in the next 12 months. In 2019, Margret is formulating plans and looking towards Laredo for another possible Cryo Body Perfections location.

Paying it forward to other women entrepreneurs in the Valley is extremely important to Margret. “I celebrate, and welcome others and I certainly celebrate and support the amazing

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women entrepreneurs here. They have been so supportive of my business and in turn, we support them.”

Margret De Bruyn has certainly made her mark in the Rio Grande Valley and this is just the beginning of a growing business model in the Lone Star State. With all that Margret does in her daily life, she somehow still had the time to write a book. Her work of fiction

sounds amazing and is in the editing process. “I just sat down one day and started writing and my characters began to lead me to tell a story. I am looking forward to releasing the book this fall.”

De Bruyn feels like her life has been an amazing journey that has led her to a really good place. Her journey has brought positivity and compassion to the RGV. Margret is in her “second half” of her life and has just begun to spread her wings. The Cryo Body Perfection team and their clients are reaping the benefits and there is still so much more to come.

For More Information-visit www.cryobp.com/ Facebook: cryobp 5103 North 10th Street McAllen, TX. 78504 #956-627-1231 Instagram: cryobp

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Jimi Ellis

CEO orfic Says Texas Legislative Funding Pediaatpy Cuts Negatively Affect Children Ther any with Developmental Disabilities Comp

by Rudy Arispe

C

hildren who require therapy services for treatment of life altering, medically diagnosed disabilities are being negatively impacted by state funding cuts.

Jimi Ellis, the CEO of San Antonio based Circle of Care Pediatric Therapy, elaborates on his views.

“In the last year and a half, the current state administration has reduced rates and has caused extensive delays in the processing of paperwork and authorizations for children covered by Medicaid. They have increased barriers both economic and regulatory, making therapy for children who need it much more difficult.”

The CEO added that “the state has found a way to cut back on treatment to kids and has started the slow death of this industry dedicated to children.”

Defunding, he said, has forced many pediatric therapy companies to close.

“A lot of firms similar to ours have gone out of business because they weren’t large enough or staffed appropriately enough to deliver services. They weren’t able to survive this climate of reduced rates and increased processing costs.”

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Ellis believes that therapists are also being negatively impacted. “It’s taking highly skilled labor – physical, speech and occupational therapists – who have a master’s degree or a PhD and forcing them into other industries because available salaries are nominal in comparison,” he said. “Someone with this type of education and prior commitment to school can make more money in any number of fields other than their chosen profession, which is treatment of children.”

Raising awareness about the impact to children because of legislative funding cuts is one solution to the problem, Ellis explained. “Medicaid is unaware of how they are being represented by the MCOs (insurance agencies). The state doesn’t have the wherewithal or experience to understand what is happening with these go-between agencies.”

Another solution that Ellis believes can work is for the state to conduct a study to quantify the needs and the

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“It would open people’s eyes to the total number of children in need and bring greater awareness to their medical issues, which, in many cases, includes autism.”

benefits of therapy for Texas children.

“It would open people’s eyes to the total number of children in need and bring greater awareness to their medical issues, which, in many cases, includes autism,” Ellis said. “Autism is diagnosed 10 to 15 times more than it was in the early ‘90s. It’s not

because we have ten to fifteen times more instances of autism; it’s because many more parents and pediatricians are aware of autism. They want and need to treat it early to achieve the best possible outcome for their children.”

Ellis added that “our current governor and lieutenant governor need

to show the public they have sympathy for children who need services by making it easier to get the services they desperately need.”

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"Our current governor and lieutenant governor need to show the public they have sympathy for children who need services by making it easier to get the services they desperately need.”

are covered through private insurance.

Circle of Care provides physical, speech and occupational therapy to infants and adults, 21 and younger, who may have various medical diagnoses leading to cognitive, motor and physical disabilities, including autism; as well as subsets, such as swallowing and feeding disorders.

“We provide all levels of service, so pediatricians can feel confident when they refer us or authorize us for treatment,” Ellis said. “A child can be seen here for any number of reasons and not have to go anywhere else. Most treatments they may require can be provided here.”

Circle of Care gets most of its patients through pediatrician referral.

Ellis stresses that “no patient can be seen without pediatrician authorization.

A patient just can’t simply walk in,

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pediatrician. “I also like the therapists on staff. They do really well with him and are able to calm him down when he’s agitated.”

regardless of their method of payment.”

Julianne Montes’s 5-year-old son, Pablo, has been a patient of Circle of Care since 2015 and has received speech, occupational and physical therapy after he was diagnosed with autism.

“One of the things I like is that they come to my home to provide services,” Montes said, adding that Pablo was referred to Circle of Care by his

Ellis feels strongly that the home environment is, in most cases, far more conducive for successful treatment.

Circle of Care has long had a philosophy of giving back to the community, especially children related charities. The company supports Teed Off at Cancer, Heart Gift, Respite Care and Morgan’s Wonderland.

Although it’s headquartered in San Antonio, Circle of Care has offices in several major cities including Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Corpus Christi, the Rio Grande Valley and El Paso.

For more information, visit circlecare4kids.com or call (877) 434-4317.

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Style & Substance

PHOTOGRAPHY: TRINITY GREER ASSISTED BY ZACH CAVENDAR MAKEUP BY: FAWN BEVINEAU WARDROBE: BEVELLO

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INFORMED PATIENT | REGIONAL

For Sale 16 CARRIAGE HILLS | $1,495,000 4 BED, 4 FULL & 1 HALF BATHS

NAME: Blanca Rosa Abbud.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry, University of El Paso, 2006; MBA concentration in healthcare, Texas A&M, 2016. “Since a very young age I was always a gifted student. I graduated high school at the age of 16 as valedictorian and at 17 I went on to purse a degree at the University of Texas at El Paso. I had a full academic scholarship, so my undergraduate degree was completely paid for. I am very thankful for that.”

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HOMETOWN: El Paso. “For the first five years of my life, I lived in Juarez, Mexico, one of the poorest and most dangerous cities in Chihuahua, Mexico.

My parents emigrated from Mexico to El Paso where I started school. I still remember being that little Mexican girl in the class that did not speak English.

I didn’t learn English until I was 7 years old.”

PERSONAL: Daughter, Yamil, 13, and son, Ethan Nova, 1 FAVORITE COLOR: Blue

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HOBBIES: Working out, being outdoors, visiting state parks, traveling, and volunteering.

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FAVORITE FOOD: Anything spicy and healthy. I mostly eat home cooked meals and rarely go out to eat.

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CAREER: I have a total of 18 years of sales experience. After Enterprise Rent-A-Car, I began my career as a personal and business banker where I sold financial products. I did that for five years. I also worked in medical sales for one year prior to my career now in PEO sales. Currently, I am a senior consultant at TriNet. CIVIC INVOLVEMENT: Business Professionals of San Antonio, board member and business development chair; Catholic Charities, Advisory Board for the Guadalupe home; UTEP Alumni Association, SA chapter, board member and alumni; former Founder and board member of Tobin Center Young Professionals Group.

AWARDS: I most recently won Presidents Circle, which is the second highest level of sales achievement in my company. I just returned from my award trip to Rome. I was recognized as top revenue producer in Texas for 2017. I have been recognized as Presidents Club winner four years in a row. I was also recognized at my annual sales conference last year for having the best speech on a senior rep panel which was marked as the highlight of the conference.�

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FAVORITE QUOTE: This is a hard question because I have so many fav quotes. My #1 fav quote is one by the famous Italian Sculptor and artist Michelangelo. “If people knew how hard I had to work to gain my mastery, it would not seem so wonderful at all.”

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INFORMED PATIENT | CORPUS CHRISTI

HOW TO IDENTIFY A

STROKE Provided by Post Acute Medical

A

s the third leading cause of death in the United States, strokes are a grave risk for many, and awareness is incredibly important to not only educate and inform the public about preventative measures but also to help teach about their warning signs. A stroke is the result of lack of blood flow to the brain, and because symptoms appear quickly, spotting the signs is a timesensitive matter; getting help as soon as possible is critical and can be the difference between life and death.

For the uninitiated, there are several crucial warning signs to look for to identify a stroke. The acronym F.A.S.T. is one of the most helpful ways to learn and remember them.

as only one side of the face will be drooping. If their smile is uneven, it's then time to check for other signs to confirm.

Face When a person is suffering from a stroke, one of the most immediate signs is weakness or numbness on one side of the body. As a result, typically only one side of the face is also affected. If you suspect someone is having a stroke, ask them to smile.

Having them attempt to smile is one of the best ways to identify a stroke

Speech One of the clearest signs of a stroke is slurred speech. If the person you suspect of having a stroke is unable to communicate properly and their speech becomes unintelligible or hard to understand, ask them to repeat a simple phrase back to you. If they cannot adequately or correctly repeat it, this is a sure sign of a stroke and action must

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Arms Much like the inability to display a full, even smile, a person suffering a stroke will also exhibit muscle weakness throughout the same side of the body that the smile drops. Ask them to raise both their arms up while you compare the two sides. If one side is weak or they cannot feel their arm, they will not be able to lift it, and it will slowly begin to drop under its weight. This telltale sign of a stroke is enough to conclude that you should call for help immediately.

be taken quickly to get them the help they need.

Time For many people, even the slightest sign of a stroke in a loved one can be a good enough reason to call for help. But in case it wasn't obvious before, if a person is exhibiting any or all of the warning signs mentioned, it's imperative that you call for help immediately, even if the symptoms have seemingly disappeared.

Call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital to be assessed by a doctor, as they will be familiar with stroke and best able to accurately diagnose and provide aid.

Remembering this simple acronym will prove to be incredibly beneficial should you find yourself in this scary situation. Teach F.A.S.T. to your friends and family so they, too, know which warning signs to identify if they suspect a family member, loved one or even a stranger is having a stroke--it could save someone's life.

For More Information: www.postacutemedical.com

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SOCIAL | CORPUS CHRISTI

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EVENTS | CORPUS CHRISTI

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LOSE WEIGHT, NOT HOPE.

Nilesh A. Patel, MD, FACS

Subhash Reddy, MD

Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery •

WLS may improve obesity related health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and obstructive sleep apnea, among others.

• Diabetes cured in 80% of patients and resolved or improved in 90% of patients.

•

Hypertension is cured in 62% of patients and resolved or improved in 78.5%

• Obstructive sleep apnea is cured in 86% of patients • Risk of death is decreased by 89% • Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) can enhance fertility and lead to successful full term pregnancies.

• Average weight loss is 50-70% of excess body weight • Improvement in arthritis with reduction in pain and increased mobility.

• WLS is covered by 80% of insurances •

Texas Bariatric Specialists accepts most major insurances including Medicare.

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