All About Women September-October 2021

According to the CDC (August 6), the best way to reduce the chances of severe illness, hospitalization, or death from COVID-19, including the Delta variant, is to be vaccinated. Unvaccinated people are at greater risk of catching and spreading COVID-19, and they pose a risk to children under 12 who cannot be vaccinated and those who are immunocompromised.

Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available through Appalachian Regional Healthcare System for adults age 18 and older.

If you are interested in receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, please call AppFamily Medicine in Boone at 828-386-2222 or Baker Center for Primary Care in Linville at 828-737-7711. You may also be able to walk in at the times listed on our website. Scan the QR code to see those days and times. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a COVID vaccine 3rd dose to provide additional protection for certain immunocompromised individuals.

apprhs.org/vaccine Sources: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/information/individuals-families-and-communities/face-coverings-and-masks https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html

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What is part of your morning routine that you can’t live without to start your day off right?

“My day starts with about 30 minutes of solitary exercise — as in, by myself. This gives me time to organize my day, do some prayerful meditation and ponder life without any interruptions.”

- Barbara Holdcroft “Listening to music while I am getting ready.

Singing or dancing along to my favorite songs (old and new) as I prepare to start my day always puts me in a great mood!”

- Bailey Little “Starting my day off right includes 10-20 minutes of gentle yoga so my brain and body enter the next part of the day more ready.”

- Mary McKinney “I couldn’t live without a cup of coffee — if I could own stock in Espresso News, I would.”

- Sophia Lyons

“My morning routine generally includes giving my kitties their special treats and having my one cup of coffee. While I went years not drinking coffee, I definitely enjoy it now!”

- Heather Jordan “Each morning before work, I listen to a few podcasts while I’m getting ready. I start with a news podcast to keep myself informed and then I usually listen to a fun podcast about sports or pop culture.”

- Sarah Rodriguez “Coffee! Wait, a shower! No, coffee!

Or is it a shower? Final answer = coffee!”

- Heather Brandon

“Having some kind of mindful moment helps me start my days calm and present, whether that is with meditation, movement or just mindfully drinking my coffee.”

- Sophie Rudisill “Every morning, I listen to ‘Up First’ by NPR while I stretch. It helps put me in the right mindset so I can get my day started right.”

- Ansley Puckett 4 | September-October 2021

PUBLISHER Gene Fowler

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Tom Mayer

EDITOR Kayla Lasure editor@aawmag.com 828.278.3619

CONTRIBUTORS Ansley Puckett Bailey Little Bonnie Church Catherine Perry Heather Brandon Heather Jordan Marion Edwards Mary McKinney Sarah Rodriguez Sophia Lyons Sophie Rudisill Sue Spirit

PRODUCTION & DESIGN Meleah Bryan

ADVERTISING 828.264.6397

COVER PHOTO

by Dawn O’Neal-Shumate

Any reproduction of news articles, photographs or advertising artwork is strictly prohibited without permission from management. © 2021 Mountain Times Publications aawmag.com

CONTENTS

features 16 Women Supporting Women 18 High Country Breast Cancer Foundation 20 Revolution Boone 23 Crossfit Postal 26 Fleetwood Family Medicine 28 School Nurses

relationships 12 Mom’s World:

Women’s Health & COVID-19 14 Marriage & Family Corner:

Taking Care of Others Often Seen

as Barrier to Self-Care

health 30 Living Well: HIIT the Trails 32 Beauty: Fall Beauty Trends

style & leisure

20 16

36 Travel: Most Joyful Days

in every issue 06 Editor’s Note 07 Women in the News 08 Children’s Council:

Postpartum Distress 34 Young at Heart: ‘Failurerific’

23

September-October 2021 | 5

editor’s At this stage in my life as a person in her mid-20s, my greatest lesson of patience was after a surgery repairing the ACL in my knee two years ago.

A tumble down a ski slope obliterated a ligament in my knee, and thus started a physical therapy journey for rehabilitation.

With a month between the injury and surgery, my leg quickly forgot how to function as it had the first 20-plus years of its life. My quad muscles wouldn’t operate as they should, and I became so frustrated that I would will them to flex or react, and they just wouldn’t. It was also an extremely humbling experience as I had to come to grips with asking for and accepting help — not an easy task for me. I needed people to carry things for me and help me with other tasks I normally could do alone.

A few weeks after surgery, I entered physical therapy. I remember looking at my physical therapist like she had lost her mind when she took my crutches and instructed me to walk from one side of the room to the other. I was scared, and promptly told her I couldn’t do what she had asked. She assisted me as I put one foot in front of the other; I successfully — but not beautifully — hobbled to the other side of the room. During my eight months in physical therapy she pushed me, hard, and for that I’m grateful.

note

I enjoyed the rest of my ski trip from inside after injuring myself.

I learned that my body isn’t as indestructible as I once thought it was, it’s OK to ask for help and to be patient with my own body as it heals. All of this was thanks to the doctors, nurses and physical therapists in Boone who helped me along the way.

In this edition of All About Women, we get to know various local women who have a hand in the health and wellness of those in the High Country.

This includes nurses, fitness trainers, midwives and a doctor. Our columnists also delve into topics such as mental health, COVID-19 and physical wellbeing.

In various ways, women in the High Country are playing major roles in caring for the health of our communities.

I hope you, the reader, are doing the best you can to take care of yourself — mind, body and spirit!

Ski patrol personnel brought me down the ski slope after I tore my ACL during a fall.

6 | September-October 2021

aawmag.com

Women in the News Ashe County Arts Council Announces new executive director Joni Ray

W

EST JEFFERSON — The Ashe regarding her current position at Florence County Arts Council announced Thomas Art School. “Also, I got to work that High Country native Joni Ray will be hands on with a lot of our board members taking on the role of executive director for and volunteers and that’s really made a the organization. Ray, lasting impression on me.” who will be coming from Wesley Barker, president of the Arts Council’s the neighboring Florence Board of Directors said, Thomas Art School, was “We are excited to have slated to assume her new Joni Ray join us as our position starting in late next executive director.

September.

Joni brings a wealth Having served as the of knowledge in arts Gallery Director at Florence Thomas Art School programming across for seven years, Ray will many mediums, possesses technology skills bring a wealth of experience and knowledge across many platforms of both of the arts and and is an artist in her own working with the public right. Joni will bring a Ashe County native Joni Ray was selected to her new position at the as the new executive director of the Ashe fresh perspective to our arts council. organization appealing County Arts Council. Photo submitted “I was fortunate to to many demographics, have that job because we have at least 30 while still holding onto the values that to 40 artists on consignment there. So, I made the Ashe County Arts Council the was able to meet all kinds or artists in that solid, respected organization it is today. It’s position and about half of them were local, being recognized across the state as one of so I’ll carry that into my new job,” Ray said the premier arts organizations.”

Ray attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, the Universidad Pablo de Olavide in Seville, Spain, and Appalachian State University, where she graduated Suma Cum Laude.

“Serving the community through the arts is my personal calling and it’s going to be a great honor for me to do so at the Ashe County Arts Council,” Ray said.

Pointing out the many established programs that the arts council has provided over the years, Ray hopes to expand upon the organization’s successes and reach out to other communities within Ashe County.

“As an Ashe County native, I benefited from the programming offered by the Arts Council while growing up. It’s my goal to continue all the cultural opportunities provided to the county by the Arts Council and I hope to broaden our reach over the next coming years,” Ray said. “Though I’m a visual artist, I have a deep love and appreciation for live music and theater. I can’t wait to dive into all areas of arts programming for Ashe County.”

- Andrew Cole

Shanahan opens second location of South Carolina-based bakery in Boone

B

OONE — Boone just got a little sweeter with the opening of Cupcrazed Cakery, a bakery specializing in cupcakes.

As the business is operating out of the bottom floor of The Standard apartment complex, Cupcrazed Cakery opened on Saturday, Aug. 14 — the same day the apartment complex welcomed Appalachian State University students for the new school year.

Owner Wendy Shanahan said that “we have a crazy love of baking, everything we do is over the top.” Beyond cupcakes, Shanahan said that the bakery offers cookies, cakes, donuts, breakfast pastries and coffee with plans to expand to include frappes, different energy drinks and beer and wine.

Cupcrazed will also make custom orders, “anything from a first birthday smash cake to a wedding cake,” Shanahan said.

The fun won’t only be for people, though. Shanahan said that she is planning on beginning a “Pupcrazed” line of doggie goods so that her business can serve the people and four-legged friends of Boone.

The original Cupcrazed store is in Fort

introducing breakfast pastries and coffee, Mill, S.C., where Shanahan has operated it Shanahan said she is aiming for Cupcrazed for three years. She said that she and her to have a welcoming, “hangout” space apfamily have had a cabin in Roan Mountain pealing for locals to spend time and enjoy for many years and have fallen in love the shop, whether it be doing homework or with the High Country. She added that she meeting with friends. hopes to engage the wide demographics of “I wouldn’t students, residents have been able and visitors who to do this without love to live in the our employees,” High Country Shanahan said, through her store. noting the staff The bakery of locals and stufeatures a large dents she has who sitting area and an are excited to see adjoining room for how the business events. Shanahan grows. said that Cupcrazed will use Cupcrazed this event space to is located at 776 host cookie, cake Cupcrazed has a wide variety of cupcakes, including a section Blowing Rock and cupcake dec- devoted to cream cheese frosting. Photo by Marisa Mecke Road and open orating classes, from 10 a.m. to 6 birthday parties, girls’ nights out and more. p.m. on weekdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

“We want to find ways to make people happy while taking care and continuing to - Marisa Mecke engage the community,” Shanahan said. By September-October 2021 | 7

Watauga Children’s Council Assists Parents in Addressing

Postpartum Distress It is 11 a.m. on a Wednesday morning and the members of the

Circle of Parents: Postpartum Distress Support group start to arrive in the virtual space that the group has grown accustomed to since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

They greet each other, holding coffee mugs and sleepy-eyed babies. The topics of discussion, as always, center on whatever these mothers are needing and wanting that day. We celebrate the mother whose baby has finally slept six hours,

8 | September-October 2021

allowing her to feel more human today; we share frustration at the grandparent who made unsolicited and unwanted remarks about one mother’s postpartum body; we collectively grieve the loss of expectations and of identities. We find meaning in the new season in which we find ourselves. These mothers don’t come to group to get advice and find answers to magically make the challenges of new parenthood disappear; they come to group to be heard, to hear themselves in others and to know they are not alone. At

11 a.m. on a Wednesday, these mothers are doing one of the bravest things a new parent can do: talk about how they actually feel.

Parenthood is marked by both immense joys and immense challenges.

Similar to other periods of life transition, the perinatal period — the time spanning from pregnancy through the postpartum period — is often a time of significant changes in social and emotional development. While a lot of attention is paid Continued on page 10 aawmag.com

September-October 2021 | 9

to the development of the infant and child during this time, we often overlook the development of the parent, which includes shifts in roles, responsibilities and identity. This transition can impact parents’ mental health, affecting both the individual and their relationships with spouses, their own parents and families, work and friends. And this dynamic can work both ways. A lack of support in these relationships can also affect a person’s emotional well-being as they work to meet the demands of parenthood.

The spectrum of mental health concerns that affect a person during pregnancy and the postpartum period, referred to as Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs), can be wide and varied. A new parent experiencing any form of perinatal mental health concerns may feel anxiety, irritability and anger, sadness, feelings of guilt, helplessness, a lack of interest in activities, disturbances in sleep and/or appetite and sometimes thoughts of suicide. PMADs are the most common complication after childbirth, affecting approximately 21 percent of new mothers and 10 percent of fathers and partners. Rates are even higher in certain populations, including 38 percent of mothers of color and up to 50 percent of teen mothers.

There is no single factor that contributes to the development of PMADs. Instead, a constellation of biological, personal and environmental factors collectively influence a new parent’s mental health. Biological factors, such as neurological changes in the brain that occur during pregnancy and the postpartum period, as well as a personal and/or family history of mental health concerns, can make a person more susceptible to PMADs. Personal and environmental factors, such as a parent’s experience during childbirth, challenges with breastfeeding, the presence or absence of spousal and familial support, can also greatly impact one’s mental health during this period in their development.

The current pandemic has created some immense challenges for parents who have been expecting, birthing, adopting and raising babies during the past year and a half. With many families facing financial hardship, social isolation and limited access to valuable community resources, the risk for PMADs has 10 | September-October 2021

increased for many new parents. Many parents have had to forgo familial and peer support soon after the birth of a baby as a precaution to protect the health of their family. Many mothers faced a difficult transition out of maternity leave as they balanced working from home with having their children at home as well.

A study out of Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that in a sample of postpartum mothers rates of PMADs during the pandemic increased to 36 percent.

The village that new parents need with the arrival of a baby has been largely absent and continues to be limited for many.

While there is a lengthy list of biological, personal and environmental factors that may contribute to the development of perinatal mental health concerns, there is a common underlying emotional factor that often perpetuates the distress and keeps a person from reaching out for the help they need: shame.

In a recent discussion in the Circle of Parents: Postpartum Distress Support group, group members identified that shame was often a response to the unrealistic cultural expectations of motherhood that they held for themselves and/or were placed on them by others. While June Cleaver may be a relic of the past, her ghost still haunts motherhood, littering it with expectations of perfection that are neither realistic nor appropriate for the modern world that mothers and parents occupy today.

Nods of agreement met one mother’s recollection of her early postpartum experience: “I’m not where I am supposed to be and I don’t feel how I am supposed to feel.” For many, comparisons with other parents who seem to “have it all together,” promote feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy. Expectations about one’s ability to effortlessly balance learning the new tasks of parenthood with other life responsibilities also adds weight to the shame under which many new parents stay hidden. Instead of reaching out for help, many parents attempt to push ahead, which often leaves them feeling more stuck. However, just as we cannot make our children master walking before they are developmentally ready, we cannot force our way through our own development and the mental health challenges we may face along the way.

We know that PMADs are treatable and that the sooner a person is able to get the support that they need and deserve, the sooner they are able to feel better. In our community, there is a growing effort to meet the needs of new parents. Family Connects, a home visiting program for parents of newborns up to 12 weeks old residing in Watauga, Avery and Ashe counties, provides support and referrals to the resources families need in the postpartum period. At the Children’s Council there are a number of parent support programs for expectant and new parents, including Circle of Parents: Postpartum Distress Support, which provides a safe, nonjudgmental space for biological and adoptive mothers and trans and gender non-conforming birth parents to share their experiences and receive support from others going through similar challenges.

The first step of getting support is recognizing that help is needed. As one mother in group put it: “It gets easier faster when you are honest with yourself.” Recovery from PMADs also starts with honest conversations between new parents and their partners, family, friends and medical providers. Parents are more willing to push back against shame and be vulnerable and truthful about their experience when speaking to those who are willing to listen and validate their struggles. Just as children need care and support to thrive in their development, parents do too.

If you or someone you know is experiencing any kind of perinatal distress, such as postpartum depression or anxiety, please reach out. In addition to the resources in our community, Postpartum Support International offers more information about PMADs and resources for mothers, new parents and their support systems.

For more information on Postpartum Support International, visit www.postpartum.net or call the Support Helpline at (800) 944-4773.

Sophie Rudisill, LCSW, PMH-C Sophie facilitates the Circle of Parents: Postpartum Distress Support group through the Children’s Council of Watauga County.

She also has a private practice in Boone that specializes in perinatal mental health.

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Relationships

MOM’S WORLD

Women’s Health and COVID-19 While I recognize the controversy surrounding the COVID-19

pandemic and vaccination and truly struggled with leaping into this article with said topics as a focus, I feel it is my obligation to the health status of our community to speak out.

First and foremost, my words are not intended to be political, incendiary, or offensive. I’m not proposing that people’s rights be taken away or that everybody needs to “drink the Kool-Aid”. Rather, it is my intent to share some personal observations from my experiences talking with my patients, friends and families during the course of the pandemic. I also wish to communicate known information from reputable sources from scientists and medical professionals who have reviewed what is evidence-based so that people, in particular women, can make good decisions about their health care.

Of course, you can open your Facebook feed, tune into your preferred news organization, talk to your friends or go with your gut about this pandemic, but I’m asking you to look beyond your usual.

Perspective is gained when information is reviewed from outside of yourself, looked at critically, with a nod to having a healthy level of distrust of swallowing all that is presented to you hook, line and

12 | September-October 2021

sinker. If you only talk to those people who agree with you, you won’t ever gain a well-rounded or well-informed perspective, because it takes stepping outside of your comfort zone to fully understand a situation. In addition, if those people that have spent a good portion of their lifetime studying viruses and infectious disease are giving advice, I do believe that deserves some credit and taking notice.

So what do we know about COVID-19? We know it is a deadly coronavirus with 40,516,940 confirmed cases and 659,316 deaths in the United States and 1,239,293 confirmed cases and 14,726 deaths in North Carolina to date at the time of this writing (according to data from WHO and CDC on Sept. 6, 2021).

With these numbers, I think it is easy to depersonalize the impact of this pandemic. After all, if you haven’t personally lost someone to COVID-19, the running numbers may seem just like the droning of someone reading financials on Wall Street or counting blades of grass. But there are many people who have lost someone dear to them to this coronavirus and many people who had severe illness with residual effects from it.

During the past year and a half, I’ve seen a lot of these people. They are not

faceless or nameless. My husband’s close childhood friend lost both of his parents last summer. I’ve had patients who lost their husbands and grandparents, patients who were hospitalized, patients who had daily headaches, malaise and fatigue for months following infection with COVID-19, and patients who couldn’t figure out what to eat in their first trimester because virtually everything they tried to eat “tasted like rotten meat.”

I have a patient who lost her sister to suicide after struggling with being a COVID-19 long-hauler. I’ve had a nurse-practitioner student who worked in the ICU that I was precepting coming back from working all weekend to tell me how physically and emotionally exhausted she was after having five of her patients die.

So you might ask me — well, have you had a patient actually die from COVID-19? My honest answer is no. Not yet. But I feel the writing is on the wall.

With the new Delta variant being more contagious and data pointing to more severe illness, hospitals are quickly becoming overwhelmed, staff are getting burned out and resources are being stretched. As of early September, Appalachian Regional Healthcare System reported that 17 out of 18 hospitalized patients were unvacaawmag.com

cinated and five out of five patients on ventilators were unvaccinated.

In my practice, many women have been vaccinated but still quite a few have been reluctant. There is a lot of information out there to be sure, and it is hard to know what to believe. Most people who know me know that I tend to prefer the natural approach to health care in general, but I stand behind this vaccination as our best chance at saving lives and getting COVID-19 under control.

In our office, we are in full support of following what the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), and the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine (SMFM) among several other national health care provider organizations recommend: that all pregnant women get vaccinated due to increased risk of severe illness, preterm delivery, hospitalization, need for a ventilator and even death. All of these professional organizations have reviewed the scientific data which have shown excellent safety profiles for the vaccine.

The Pfizer vaccine has full Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and the other vaccines are expected to follow. This approval means it is not just approved on an emergency basis. It is approved, period. It is approved in the way Tylenol is approved and every other medication for which you can get a prescription in this country.

With regard to pre-pregnancy use of the vaccine, there is no data that shows impact on fertility for men or women planning pregnancy. Recommendation is also for vaccination of breastfeeding women. If you are interested in reading more, go to www.acog.org/covid-19.

Outside of the childbearing years, I encourage all persons 12 years of age and older to be vaccinated. Just because some people have mild illness, does not mean that you will. Children and teens are making up an increased number of hospitalized patients nation-wide. Shortterm vaccine side effects are certainly better than long-term COVID-19 side effects or death.

In addition, by qualifying folks getting vaccinated that helps protect those who are unable to become vaccinated, including newborns, children and individuals

with certain health conditions. If you have a health condition that may impact your response to vaccination, talk to your health care provider. If you choose not to be vaccinated, which is absolutely your choice, then please respect the fact that your choice may impact others around you and wear a mask and social distance.

Lastly, if you have questions about the vaccine, how to get it, what to expect or other concerns, please reach out to me, your primary care provider or someone

else with medical knowledge so we can help. From the bottom of my heart and from all the knowledge in my head, I truly believe that we are all in this together and will get through it together.

heather jordan, CNM, MSN Comments or questions?

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Relationships

MARRIAGE & FAMILY CORNER

Taking Care of Others Often Seen as Barrier To Self-Care

In nearly 30 years of work in the mental health field, the most pervasive and destructive common barrier I have observed to the mental health and overall health of women is the idea that women’s needs simply do not matter — at least not as much as the needs of others, such as family, friends and community.

During these years, some of the overt messages given to girls and women in our society and in the families I treat have improved regarding the worth and choices for women. Yet, the struggle to understand and embrace the goodness of taking care of oneself and caring for other people without sacrificing one’s own well-being remains a daily conversation with my clients. The anecdotal evidence of my clinical practice certainly includes men who also wrestle with an idea that it is wrong to take good care of oneself and right to exclusively care for others. For example, some men have been taught to measure their worth solely by rigid evaluations of their role as a “provider.” For these men, there are surely similar and 14 | September-October 2021

quite dissimilar issues involved so I will leave that consideration for another time.

Interestingly, I have noticed two versions of this barrier to self-care for women. Predictably, the first version is an adherence to the lingering message that goodness for a woman is measured by her self-sacrifice. She has internalized this “rule” and usually feels guilty if she considers breaking it. Conversations with women who agree will often include worries about being what is often deemed as “selfish” for taking time for basic needs, such as sufficient sleep, exercise, nutrition, relaxation, fun or self-fulfillment.

When asked about the women in their family, these kind, tired and worried women often speak lovingly about mothers and grandmothers who sacrificed their own health and happiness for their family.

They strive to live up to those examples, or they speak with resentment or hurt about those who neglected the health and wellness of their family and they strive to avoid those mistakes. These conversations are punctuated often with firm

pronouncements of the impossibility for self-care or the rejection that she would ever be so “selfish” to take time for herself instead of to care for others, which results in an increasingly unmanageable work and stress load.

The second version of the barrier to self-care for some women is defiance or a rejection of any sort of “rule” about taking care of others or oneself.

As is common with either/or beliefs, defiance often comes first when the belief is rejected and the person experiences a lag of time between that rejection and adjustment to a meaningful and sustainable alternative. During the adjustment period, the defiance against the “rule” to care of others and sacrifice self often leads to a sort of pendulum swing reaction of defiance against caring for other people. This can lead to an internal backlash against caring for oneself, sometimes leading to isolation or impulsivity.

Women who struggle with this idea that they should not take care of themselves often focus on resentment toward aawmag.com

The most pervasive and destructive common barrier I have observed to the mental health and overall health of women is the idea that women’s needs simply do not matter — at least not as much as the needs of others, such as for family, friends and community. people and systems that block her well-being, alternating with an intense focus on self-improvement at a pace that is unsustainable. This sort of pendulum swing is punctuated with assertions that no other options exist and is accompanied by a fatigue that also becomes increasingly unmanageable.

Destructive patterns of dismissing the importance of good self-care can be enduring and layered with both what is healthy and what drains health. It is important to be patient and to seek and accept support to identify and make these changes. Exploring the fundamental idea

of self-care and relational care and the complementary connection of the two is critical to change this barrier to health.

When it is confusing, it is often helpful to ask what you would advise your daughter or best friend to do for herself. That question usually cuts through negative beliefs about oneself and clarifies what is much healthier.

The journey of embracing the right and the responsibility of taking care of oneself — and of recognizing that happens in the context of healthy boundaries in relationships — can be grueling. This journey is one that is best made across a

lifespan and is best done with love and acceptance for yourself and from others.

Know that love — love of self and love of another — during a lifelong journey must include the practical kind that feeds nutritious food, sets and maintains good boundaries, respects dignity and remembers each person’s inherent worth.

MARY MCKINNEY, MA, LMFT McKinney Marriage and Family Therapy Call and texts: 828.263.4113 mmftinboone@gmail.com mckinneymft.com

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Feature

Women Supporting Women Local Gynecologist, Midwives Share Dedication For Women’s Health

United by their passion to serve women of all ages, April

Greene, Nancy Griffith and Dr. Courtney Damian provide compassionate medical care to the women of the High Country.

April Greene, DNP, CNM, knew from a young age that she wanted to be a midwife and an advocate for women, but after struggling with infertility for a few years herself, she felt midwifery was her life’s calling.

“I kept getting reassurance and reconfirmation that this was where I needed to be because the journey it took my husband and I to become pregnant and have a baby and a family, when that was ultimately my goal in life,” April said.

“I wanted to be able to help other families with that and be a part of that because it was so meaningful and such a huge part of our life.”

April grew up in Boone and attended Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk where she received her undergraduate degree in nursing science. She also has a Master’s Degree from Frontier Nursing University and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.

Early in April’s career she had the privilege to travel to Bristol, England, to work with an internationally-known doctor.

16 | September-October 2021

“I kept getting all these wonderful, beautiful experiences and things in my life that I knew I had to continue and help women with the same things that I had been through,” April said.

April knew she always wanted to come back to her hometown to practice medicine. She now serves women at Harmony Center for Women after working for more than a decade at Watauga Medical Center in Boone.

April said it has been such a joyous experience to serve women of all ages at different stages of their lives.

“I have loved every second of it, whether it’s a happy, beautiful moment or a sad, difficult moment,” April said. “I’m always honored to be a part of the lives of the women I serve. I think it’s a huge honor to be in those intimate moments — the difficult ones, the happy ones, the scary ones, and I certainly see women of all ages and certainly well beyond childbearing ages.”

In her free time, April enjoys spending time out on the water with her family and teaching students at both Lees-McRae College and Appalachian State University.

Nancy Griffith, FNP, CNM, is also a certified nurse midwife in the High Country

April Greene serves as a midwife at Harmony Center for Women. Photo submitted

aawmag.com

When not serving as a midwife at Harmony Center for Women, Nancy Griffith spends time with her husband, Reo. Photo submitted

who enjoys sharing in the excitement with families as new life enters the world.

“I feel like there is a lot of joy and blessing in birth,” Nancy said. “It just is really a rewarding opportunity to be with families as they’re embracing and welcoming a new person into their future.”

Nancy began her medical career in Avery County and provided care to women in the area until she transitioned to working in Watauga County at Harmony Center for Women.

She said she strives to meet women where they’re at while fulfilling their medical needs with kindness and encouragement.

“Birth can be really healing for a lot of women in different respects,” Nancy said. “Some women don’t think about it in that way and that’s completely great, but for women who need some support

“I wanted to use my passion for science in that way, we want to let midwifery, and and medicine to empower women to take of course, our physicians that work with charge of their health, especially their us to really help women let their birth sexual and reproductive health.” experience be healing and rewarding in Outside of being a physician, Courtthat way.” ney enjoys outdoor adventure activities When not caring for women’s health like hiking or kayaking with her husband, at Harmony Center for Women, Nancy Tommy. can be found quilting for fun or with her Recent COVID-19 surges have affecthusband, Reo, on their mountain cattle ed all aspects of the medical field and farm. obstetrics and gynecology is no different.

Alongside both Nancy and April, Dr. All three women expressed sadness at Courtney Damian, MD, provides high seeing their community hurting during quality gynecological care to women at this pandemic and the burden it has put Harmony Center for Women. on the health care system as a whole.

“Although I’m still a relative newYet, April, Nancy, Courtney and countcomer, I am committed to building my less other women remain committed life and raising my family in the High to providing personal, Country,” Courtney said. excellent care even in “Nothing makes me the midst of a pandemhappier than seeing my ic. From obstetrician friends and neighbors gynecologists to certified healthy and thriving. nurse midwives, these There are so many women are ensuring the issues I deal with in my women of all ages in practice — puberty and the High Country have menopause, periods, optimal care right in their pain, sexual issues, being community. pregnant, not being “I just felt very led pregnant, and on and on. very early on that I These are the issues that was supposed to serve make up the backdrop of women,” April said. “I’m a woman’s physical life, a huge patient advocate. and being able to underI certainly believe in stand and navigate these giving women all the issues can allow women knowledge that I can so to live their lives to the Dr. Courtney Damian provides gynethat they can make their fullest.” cological care at Harmony Center for own decisions for their Like April, Courtney Women. Photo submitted own bodies. That’s what knew from an early age I wanted for my own self and that’s what that women’s health interested her. While I’ve always wanted for other women that I in medical school, she learned how much serve here.” she loved all of the different aspects of obstetrics and gynecology.

“As I became an adult myself, I Sarah Rodriguez learned what a difference it could make By day, Sarah works in social media to have good information and loving marketing. But after hours, she enjoys hiking, finding the best tacos, and support when facing sensitive issues or watching football. difficult health choices,” Courtney said.

From obstetrician gynecologists to certified nurse midwives, these women are ensuring the women of all ages in the High Country have optimal care right in their community.

September-October 2021 | 17

Clockwise from top left: Irene Sawyer sports a pink tutu for the High Country Breast Cancer Foundation. Photo by Tom Brown; Joanie Venza showcases the Paxman Scalp Cooling System. Photo by Tom Brown; Joanie Venza, Irene Sawyer, Terri Brown and Jason Sirmon wear pink for the High Country Breast Cancer Foundation. Photo by Tom Brown; Racers take off during the High Country Breast Cancer Foundation 5K Walk/Run. Photo by Jann Smiley Todd

The High Country Breast Cancer Foundation Celebrates

Five Years of Local Support SUBMITTED BY THE HIGH COUNTRY BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION

18 | September-October 2021

aawmag.com

The High Country Breast Cancer Foundation (HCBCF) is celebrating its

fifth anniversary by publicly thanking the many generous and caring people in the High Country who support its cause.

The 5K Walk/Run continues to be the foundation’s biggest annual event, generating donations through race registration and sponsorship. Race participation has grown dramatically since the first event in October 2017. The 2019 race had over 600 entrants.

Irene Sawyer, HCBCF founder and president, is a 10-year breast cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with the very aggressive triple-negative form of the disease in December 2010. She began the road to recovery after multiple surgeries and 18 months of chemotherapy. One of the things that helped her during her journey was the support she received from her community. When Irene moved to the High Country, she noticed many businesses and members of the public were eager to show their support during October — Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Her dream was to bring together all who felt a calling to support breast cancer awareness under one umbrella as a united front for the community.

Irene’s dream came true in 2017 when she started HCBCF as a local nonprofit with an all volunteer board dedicated to helping breast cancer patients, survivors and their families exclusively in the North Carolina High Country. The foundation is the link between those who can give and those who need that gift. Irene pays all of the foundation’s expenses with the earnings from her personal real estate business. This means every

penny of every dollar donated goes to work for local breast cancer patients and their families. The foundation has paid patients’ rent, contributed to college funds, automobile expenses, food trains and other costs. The foundation now covers the cost of a remarkable new treatment that prevents hair loss due to chemotherapy.

Losing one’s hair as a result of chemotherapy is one of the harshest events in a patient’s recovery. The Paxman Scalp Cooling System is globally recognized as the leading product for hair-loss prevention during chemotherapy treatment. The Paxman treatment is effective because cooling protects hair follicles by preventing chemotherapy drugs from penetrating them. Because of generous donations, HCBCF pays for 100 percent of Paxman Cold Cap treatment for all local breast cancer patients in the seven-county NC High Country area.

The HCBCF volunteers are easy to recognize, wearing their iconic pink tutus in parades and fundraising events. Members of the foundation show up for the community and their patients with a kind heart and the energy it takes to make a difference.

The Foundation continues to grow and expand its outreach through all seven counties it covers. Anyone living in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties are eligible. New fundraising avenues are continuously being pursued while its traditional 5K Walk/Run is virtual for 2021 due to COVID-19 safety protocols.

To donate, request assistance, register for events or volunteer, visit hcbcf.org.

The highlighted counties are served by the High Country Breast Cancer Foundation. Graphic by Tom Brown

September-October 2021 | 19

Feature

Photos by Dawn O’Neal- Shumate

Greyson Summey opened Revolution Boone – located at 376 Watauga Village Drive, Suite 6 – in 2019.

Revolution Boone

Spin Studio Owner Fosters Sense of Service, Community The cycling studio’s music was loud. The lights were down, and

colors of red, blue and pink switched on and off to the beat of songs playing over the speakers. Participants’ legs burned as they pedaled back and forth on their bikes and pushed themselves to finish the ride.

In front, Greyson Summey shouted encouraging words from atop her bike,

20 | September-October 2021

which was stationed on the platform she built herself. Behind the riders on the wall were large backward white letters, that when they looked in the mirror while riding, it spelled “Pedal with Purpose.”

She painted those too.

Greyson’s labors of love surrounded the cyclers as they finished their ride.

Every detail, from the type of bike to the signs on the wall to the lights in the room,

was handpicked by Greyson.

As the owner of Revolution Boone, a cycling studio in Boone’s Watauga Village, Greyson uses her studio to uplift and encourage those who ride there.

“I’ve always been just kind of that cheerleader in the background. That’s kind of been my thing,” Greyson says.

However, Greyson’s journey with fitness began way before she opened aawmag.com

Revolution Boone in 2019. First, Greyson was a teacher.

Born and raised in North Carolina, Greyson earned her teaching degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and afterward, she taught in Morganton, NC, and even out of state in Tennessee and Philadelphia.

While teaching, Greyson maintained her love of group fitness and working out, teaching fitness classes like spin and sculpt.

“Fitness was always kind of my side hustle,” Greyson says. “I was so poor, to get free gym membership, I would teach classes.”

After her time in Philadelphia, Greyson and her husband moved to Boone to be closer to their family in North Carolina. Back in her home state, she decided not to take a teaching job but rather took on to what she considers her “one full-time job,” which was being a mom.

With two kids, Greyson decided to become a stay-at-home mom. However, Greyson felt she wasn’t done with working and felt that she was called to serve again.

“Service has always been a passion of mine, so in all aspects of my life, always service,” Greyson says.

While on her personal bike at home one day, Greyson decided she wanted to share spin with others and open a spin studio, but similar to the feeling she got while teaching, she wanted her next venture to fill her with purpose.

“I wanted whatever I did next to have purpose, and I wanted to have intention doing it,” Greyson says.

She then embarked on a journey to build her business, visiting other studios to find out what she wanted to incorporate in her own studio. While exploring her options, one word kept nagging her over and over again — the word purpose.

She wanted to gauge how she could give back through her spin classes and how she could serve others. That’s when it came to her.

“And I was like, ‘That’s what we’re gonna do. We’re gonna pedal for ourselves, and then we’re going to pedal for others,’ and then pedal with purpose kind of became the thing,” Greyson says.

Every month the studio chooses a local nonprofit to donate a portion of the

gym’s profits to. Greyson picks a “purpose of the month” through suggestions that cyclers can add to a large white jar on the front desk. Past recipients include the Hospitality House, the Hunger and Health Coalition, OASIS, Western Youth Network and F.A.R.M. Cafe, with each donation celebrated with a photo on the gym’s wall.

For Greyson, pedaling with purpose meant giving back through her studio to charitable organizations and those who need it. That’s where she said the birth of Revolution Boone came from, her desire to share fitness, purpose and service with others.

From there, she says there was no turning back. With no other studio in Boone dedicated to cycling, Revolution Boone was the first of its kind away from the group fitness classes offered by Appalachian State University or local gyms.

With no business experience, Greyson went into building the studio from the ground up, figuring out what she wanted it to look like and what she wanted it to stand for. After finding a retail space that Continued on next page

Revolution Boone regularly picks local organizations to donate to in an effort to pedal with purpose.

September-October 2021 | 21

Greyson Summey wants to foster a sense of community at Revolution Boone.

would function well for everyone with accommodations for parking and space for her bikes, Greyson began the remodeling, which included contracting the whole thing by herself.

“It is the scariest and most vulnerable thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Greyson says. “Putting yourself out there, and then you have to see if people are going to show up. I mean, that was so scary.”

After signing the lease for the building in May, Revolution Boone officially opened Sept. 23, 2019, after weeks of nervous sleepless nights for Greyson.

However, it was only open for five months before the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to close.

“That was just devastating,” Greyson says.

Although crushed by the sudden closure of her new business, Greyson stayed hopeful after the successful five months the business had. In those months, Revolution Boone was able to give $10,000 back to the community.

After a six-month closure, Revolution Boone reopened in August 2020 with safety precautions and the hope that the business could stay open. Greyson also hopes Revolution Boone can return to giving back after she had to pause donations due to the financial strain of the pandemic closure.

Now back open, cyclists filter in and out of the studio, stopping to chat, taking pictures after their completed workout 22 | September-October 2021

and celebrating their accomplishments with Greyson. Oftentimes, celebrations occur after rides when Greyson and the studio celebrated the 100th, 250th and the 300th ride of those at the studio.

“You’re never going to come here and not smile and not feel welcome, and that was my number one thing about opening this business,” Greyson says.

Not only did she want people to get a good workout at the gym, but she also wanted the gym to feel inclusive and welcoming to everyone.

Sherry Nikbakht, a senior lecturer at Appalachian State, joined Revolution Boone last fall, looking for a place to exercise and focus on her mental and physical health after the North Carolina governor

allowed gyms to reopen.

“I’d never done spin before in my life, and the very first class was kind of hard,” Sherry says. “But then I fell in love with Revolution Boone, not just because of the physical aspect of it but also because I feel like I found a community.”

Sherry says Revolution Boone gave her a safe place to be herself and somewhere she could feel comfortable. As the university returned to in-person classes in early September, Sherry also says the studio has helped her work out her anxieties around returning to class amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

While she says she has her own insecurities, Sherry adds that she enjoys the sense of belonging to a community at Revolution Boone.

“I think (it’s) because everything (Greyson) does comes from a place of love. She’s so inclusive,” Sherry says.

Though nervous at first to open something so new to Boone, Greyson said the community at the studio is so important to her, and she hopes to continue Revolution Boone’s service while fostering that community she loves so much at the studio.

“I kind of don’t know what I’m doing. I just do what feels right,” Greyson says. “I want my kids to see me doing something that’s making an impact. I think that’s very important.”

Ansley Puckett Ansley is a junior journalism major at Appalachian State University from Columbia, South Carolina. When she’s not writing, you can find her with her nose in a book.

Staff at Revolution Boone strive to motivate and uplift clients. aawmag.com

Feature

Coach Janine Harris poses with her two daughters at CrossFit Postal. Photo by Sophia Lyons

CrossFit Coaches Ensure

Exercise Is For Everyone Tucked next to Publix and behind the post office on Blowing Rock Road in Boone, CrossFit Postal is a gym with pull-up bars and racks lining the walls, black mats covering the wide-open floor space and athletes joking with each other as they arrive for their workout. Air and light enter the building through the

two large open garage doors.

On their way out the door, a few athletes ask coach Beth Sibley about some post-workout drinks in the gym’s fridge, and they stop to talk for a few minutes.

She has been coaching CrossFit since 2014 after CrossFit Postal’s owner encouraged her to give leading a try.

“People accomplish stuff in CrossFit that they never thought they would,” Beth says. “Like a pull up, or just being able to squat a heavy-for-them weight. And so, being a part of that is really exciting and really rewarding.”

Continued on next page September-October 2021 | 23

Coach Beth Sibley demonstrates part of a movement, stretching her arm upward, while class members watch. Photos by Sophia Lyons

Founded in 2000, CrossFit is an exercise class for people of all fitness levels that includes similar movements from everyday life, according to its website. Its workouts are constantly varied, prescribing a different workout of the day that CrossFit athletes refer to as the WOD — pronounced “wad.” CrossFit Postal offers four classes: CrossFit fundamentals, CrossFit, aerobic capacity and CrossFit for kids. They also have an open gym every weekday and a community workout on Sunday afternoons.

Beth’s husband originally started participating in CrossFit in 2010 and wanted her to accompany him, but she held off because she didn’t want to work out in front of other people. He stuck with CrossFit and continued encouraging her to try it.

24 | September-October 2021

People accomplish stuff in CrossFit that they never thought they would.

- Coach Beth Sibley “Now I don’t want to work out by myself,” Beth says. “I think the community and the relationships that you build with the other members is what’s really what I really like about CrossFit. It makes it different than most other fitness programs.”

For many people, one of CrossFit’s

draws is that it advertises itself as “being for everyone.” Its moves are designed to be adaptable based on the athlete’s fitness level and physical ability. Before the pandemic, CrossFit Postal would teach an additional class for people with disabilities, and CrossFit’s annual competition CrossFit Games specifically includes the “adaptive” category.

Coach Janine Harris agrees with Beth about the appeal of the community that CrossFit has around it, and coaching allows her to help others “understand, know, love and believe” as well. Janine had grown up active, playing basketball and adding running to her regimen in college. Her husband suggested participating in CrossFit based on trying it in the past, and she agreed.

“I didn’t really know what it was, but aawmag.com

New athletes and experienced CrossFit athletes alike can partake in the same classes because they’re all scaled to the individual’s needs. dumbbell snatches; Janine enjoys power cleans, double unders and especially wall balls, which she says “do a lot of work in one movement,” including arms, legs and cardio. However, CrossFit newcomers shouldn’t be intimidated by the workouts, Janine and Beth were both quick to emphasize.

“You don’t have to get in shape to do CrossFit,” Beth said. “That’s the point. ” Before a class begins, coaches design the warm-up, which includes a general warm-up to raise the heart rate and move the body through its range of motion followed by a more specific warm-up for the class movement. Most warm-ups are outside if possible due to COVID-19. All classes do the workout of the day, and a warm-up may consist of breaking down the workout of the day’s main movement, Beth said.

Doing the movement slowly to warm up allows the coach to watch the class, ensure everyone is moving correctly and safely, and offer feedback.

Additionally, it also allows athletes to practice the movement before “three, two, one, go.” The coach may ask other coaches how athletes have done that day, as Janine does, and adjust as they see fit. She also praised the warm-ups that fellow coach Ben Sibley writes.

“Everyone is sufficiently warm when it’s time for the workout. And I think that that’s something that’s really special about Postal,” Janine said. “It’s really important, but I think a lot of people, a lot While class participants finish up some jumping jacks, Coach Beth of athletes, I get the feeling Sibley times them with her watch.

I was down for it,” Janine said. “Once I started there was no going back. I fell in love with it.”

She’d considered coaching before becoming pregnant with her first child, but initially was unsure. However, after beginning coaching in 2019, she’d even bring her baby while she’d lead class.

Janine said baby seats, strollers, playpens and the like aren’t uncommon at CrossFit Postal — part of the community aspect of CrossFit involves looking out for the children, too.

“Even during my pregnancy, seeing how even more how in CrossFit, everything can be modified, anyone can do it at any stage of their life, really pushed me over the edge to encourage others to do whatever they can to come in,” Janine said. “And I want my girls to do the same thing and to see, to be here, to watch me do CrossFit.” Some of Beth’s favorite exercises include front squats, rope climbs and

they’re like ‘ugh.’ Sometimes it feels like a mini workout before, but it’s good! Your body is ready to do it.”

After warming up, intensity builds “like doing a mini version of the workout of the day,” Beth said. Finally, everyone begins the workout at the same time.

Athletes might end together, such as with a timed workout repeating a motion, or they may end separately based on their own timing, such as with a workout with a prescribed number of repetitions or instructions to complete “as fast as possible.”

Janine and Beth also both suggested keeping active the day after a hard workout as well. Active recovery, keeping muscles warm and moving at a low intensity — such as stretching — can help, as well as being sure to eat and drink water after a workout. Protein shakes and bars are OK if having a meal isn’t feasible.

But, the takeaway is that CrossFit is designed for newcomers to be able to adapt the workouts to their fitness level so they don’t overexert themselves. New athletes and experienced CrossFit athletes alike can partake in the same classes because they’re all scaled to the individual’s needs; anyone is encouraged to give CrossFit a shot.

“We were all new,” Beth said. “We’ve all been nervous, we’re all still here and you’re likely not the only new person — people are always trying it.”

Sophia Lyons Sophia Lyons holds a bachelor of science in journalism from Appalachian State University. She freelance copy edits and writes at sophiamlyons.com.

September-October 2021 | 25

Feature

Fleetwood Family Medicine celebrated a ribbon cutting for the new clinic in May 2021. Photos submitted

Ashe County Native Instrumental in Opening of

Fleetwood Family Medicine One of the greatest successes of a new clinic — located on U.S.

221 in Ashe County — is its efforts to remove previous barriers that limited rural residents’ access to health care.

Affiliated with Ashe Memorial Hospital, Fleetwood Family Medicine began taking patients in May 2021 and offers accessible, high-quality care for all ages. Fleetwood Family Medicine provider Kathleen “Katie” Miller, FNP-C, described the impact that this clinic has had on the community as being “far beyond my wildest dreams.”

“I have had patients come to me 26 | September-October 2021

saying this is the first time they have been seen by a provider in over 30 years just because of the limited access to care, whether it be due to transportation issues, financial constraints, etc,” Katie says. “I have been able to diagnose some pretty significant medical problems that could have been detrimental had they continued to not seek health care.”

Katie graduated from Ashe County High School in 2007 and pursued higher education at Western Carolina University later that fall. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in May 2011.

After obtaining her undergraduate

degree, she began working at Ashe Memorial Hospital as a Med-Surg nurse that same month. She spent about a year on the Med-Surg unit before starting a job as a labor and delivery nurse. She continued in that unit until she finished with her Masters of Science in Nursing from East Tennessee State University in August 2015.

She has been married to her high school sweetheart Josh for nine and a half years. Together they have 8-monthold twin sons, Brooks and Oliver, and a chocolate lab named Charlee May. Her family nurse practitioner (FNP) aawmag.com

career began at Mountain Family Care Center in Jefferson, where she worked in primary and urgent care until July 2018.

She then moved to Mount Jefferson Family Medicine, where she provided primary care to all ages.

Katie worked at MJFM until her big move to Fleetwood Family Medicine in May. The clinic and its team, which currently consists of Katie and her medical assistant Beverly Barker, has seen a steady flow of patients for labs and checkups since opening.

Services and treatment include complete physical exams, chronic condition management, ear infections, cold and flu (strep throat), flu and COVID-19 testing, gastrointestinal problems, genitourinary conditions, gynecology, falls and injuries, family medicine, immunizations, minor burns and lacerations, minor eye injuries, Medicare annual well visits, pediatrics, pre-employment physical exams, pregnancy confirmation, primary care, rashes, respiratory infections, sports physicals, STD testing, urinary tract infections and walk-in appointments.

“Patients have been very pleased and so appreciative of us being here,” Katie says. “They continually say how happy they are to have access to health care for the first time in a long time. It has been

Katie Miller (FNP-C) is happy to provide primary care for all ages in the High Country.

somewhat challenging at times but oh so rewarding as well. It always feels so amazing when I can help impact a patient positively, especially when it comes to their health.”

The driving factor in her decision to pursue a career in medicine was the positive impact of nurses who took care of her family members.

“Growing up in my teenage years, I had to deal with quite a bit of sickness in my family,” Katie says. “I was in and out of hospitals a lot and something that I will always remember were the nurses that took care of my family during their most vulnerable times. It was from that point that I knew I always wanted to be a nurse and help others during their times of need.”

She describes herself as a “stickler” for recommending preventative health screenings for women. Scheduling appointments with a physician for routine tests such as mammograms and pap smears can help prevent or drastically reduce some of the negative outcomes of the most common health issues females face. These common health issues include breast cancer, cervical cancer and heart disease.

Katie Miller and husband Chris are parents to their twin boys, Katie is also a huge advoBrooks and Oliver.

cate for mental health and says that often she finds that people have preconceived misconceptions about mental illness. She feels that as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of mental health is even more crucial.

“I always tell my patients, it is always OK to not be OK but I want them to always know and feel comfortable to ask for help if they need it,” Katie says. “I think a lot of people have misconceptions about mental health because they think of it just as depression and/or anxiety but it can be so much more than that. There are also misconceptions that the only thing that can help with mental health is medication.”

To combat any mental health problems that her patients may experience, she strives to encourage all of them to stay active and live a healthy lifestyle.

Through leading a healthier lifestyle and making better dietary choices, symptoms of altered mental health can improve.

Fleetwood Family Medicine is located at 3300-13290 U.S. 221 S. in Fleetwood, NC. The clinic’s hours of operation are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call the office at (336) 877-9090.

Bailey Little Bailey currently works for Ashe County Schools and freelances in her spare time. She enjoys drinking coffee, listening to music and traveling.

September-October 2021 | 27

Feature

Keeping Students Healthy Spotlighting High Country School Nurses

Ashe County school nurses assist Photographed are: Libby Matheson, Robin Goss, Regan Perry and Laura Branch.

Not pictured: Stephanie Eggers. Photo submitted

The only predictable aspect

about a day in the life of a school nurse is the unpredictability. Plans for health screenings are scheduled, vision checks are arranged by grade level and then an acute situation arises that takes precedence, and everything is on hold for a while.

This is the everyday life of school nurses in Ashe, Avery and Watauga county schools according to lead nurses Regan Perry (Ashe), Dawn Hicks (Avery) and Shelly Klutz (Watauga). Although 28 | September-October 2021

their days are planned, some days the office of a school nurse becomes “a minor urgent care center,” according to Dawn.

The nurse becomes a mini-doctor, acting as dermatologist, orthopedist, EMT and various other medical roles.

All three of the lead nurses have followed similar educational paths: RN, BSN, NCSN (National Certification for School Nurses). Although the colleges involved were all different, the final certification must be acquired within three years of a BSN degree, and this certification must

be renewed every five years.

In addition to their own school-related duties, each of the lead nurses acts as the head of a team in each of the school systems. Shelly leads a team of 10 nurses in Watauga County Schools, while Regan in Ashe County oversees a staff of five. In Avery County Schools, Dawn has two additional nurses to split the duties among the elementary schools, the middle school and the high school.

But the health of the student population is not their only responsibility; these nurses must care for and train other faculty and staff within each of their school buildings. Some of this training occurs at regularly scheduled staff meetings or during faculty-staff in-service days.

Typical medical care that has become part of the routine for school nurses is handling medicine and treatments for students with diabetes, ADHD and asthma. Medications are dispensed with the parents’ permission, and then kept in a secure location within the school.

A more routine day — especially at the beginning of a school year — inaawmag.com

classrooms at all grade levels have reThe impact of the COVID-19 quired seating charts for students. “We’re pandemic has certainly been felt even trying to keep social groups togethby all the school nurses, delaying er,” she says — such as in the cafeteria some of the more routine screen— in order to quickly determine contact ings. Although schools battled information. scheduling issues last year due to Last year Watauga County Schools the pandemic, which interfered conducted about 800 COVID-19 tests, somewhat, regular vision and and detected at least 40 positive cases. hearing tests are scheduled for Shelly commented that most of the cases students in Pre-K, kindergarten, originated in the home, which then creatfirst, third, fifth and ninth grade. ed quarantine problems within the family Dawn says that dental health has cluster. But once the vaccine became become less school oriented in available, “cases decreased dramatically,” Avery County and that referrals Shelly says. are made to the High Country Watauga County Schools nurses folDental Health Clinic in Newland. low the motto of, “Healthy children learn But Shelly at Watauga Schools better, school nurses make it happen.” has the ability to schedule dental This certainly applies to the nurses in all clinics every six months through three school systems.

AppHealthCare. The results of all Regan said the job of a school nurse is testing are shared with parents to a lot “more than just ice packs and (banassist with follow-up recommendages).” That might be about the only dations.

Dawn Hicks sees as the Lead Nurse at Avery County Schools predictable part of the job of a school They were also able to test alongside school nurses Lisa Hass and Megan King (not pictured). nurse on a daily basis. for and detect COVID-19 cases Photo by Barbara Holdcroft this past year. Nurses in Watauga County Schools have been able to use volves checks on students’ immunization rapid testing and get results within 15 records. There is a strong focus on Pre-K, Barbara Holdcroft, Ph.D. minutes. All nurses then assisted with kindergarten and then Grades 7 and 12, Barb has lived with her husband Kirk and daughter Katie in Linville since 2012. tracing to assess the risk to others. and nurses must document that certain She is the Special Olympics Coordinator In Avery Schools, Regan said that in vaccinations have been received. If a for Avery County and does adjunct teaching at local colleges. order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, student has not been properly vaccinated, they have three days to comply, or they must stay home. This is enforced for the safety of all students and staff.

While the school nurses said they don’t have a certain uniform they wear, they do opt to wear their scrubs on certain days. Especially at the beginning of the school year, it’s important for them to be identifiable to younger and newer students. Many times attire that qualifies as business casual is more common.

In Watauga Schools, another aspect of the nurses position is to train all fourthgrade students in the use of the Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrust) and all eighth-graders in CPR. Shelly says it is a big part of her job to teach the students to be independent care takers of their health. She adds that she’s “thankful for being part of seeing them thrive.”

Sometimes in the administration or regular duties, a more serious illness is Nurses for Watauga County Schools gather in front of Watauga High School. Left to right: Ashley Greene (Parkway detected. Regan in Ashe County recalls a School), Brooke Kidwell (Blowing Rock School), Kate Houck (Mabel School), Amanda Combs (Cove Creek School), time when a simple screening identified Hannah Stuart (Valle Crucis School), Kristen Davis (Green Valley), Susan Milhaupt (Hardin Park School), Shannon Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Successful treatClark (Watauga High School), Deborah Dubrule (Bethel School), Shelly Klutz (Watauga High School, Lead School ment was obtained.

Nurse). Photo submitted September-October 2021 | 29

Health

30 | September-October 2021

aawmag.com

LIVING WELL

HIIT the Trails Autumn is the perfect time to take a walk in the High Country.

The air cools. The trees fill with color. The sunrise and sunsets are especially lovely.

There is a pattern of walking that will not only calm your soul and elevate your mood; it can also stoke your fat-burning fires, build your immunity, sharpen your mind and strengthen your bones. It’s called High Intensity Interval Training [HIIT]. When applied to walking it includes interspersing a moderate walking pace with short bursts of fast walking.

Each interval is timed so you can catch your breath and recover.

You don’t need much to get started.

A good pair of walking shoes and a stopwatch will do. If you prefer high tech, you can download a HIIT fitness timer app to your phone.

For a 20 minute HIIT session: Start with a 5-minute warm up.

Start at an easy pace and gradually work up to a moderate pace (with 100 steps per minute). At a moderate pace, you should be breathing deeply but comfortably.

Move immediately into a two-part interval.

• 30-second burst: Take short, quick steps. Bend your arms and pump them forward and back. Your breathing rate will increase and deepen.

• 2.5-minute recovery: Go back to your moderate walking pace. Breathing deeply, but comfortably.

Repeat this interval 4 times.

End with a 3-minute cool down.

Decelerate to a slow and easy pace.

Slow your breathing. Calm your mind.

Too easy? Increase the challenge in any of the following ways: • Lengthen the burst to 40-60 seconds • Shorten the recovery to 1.5 - 2 minutes • Add hills • Add speed • Increase the number of intervals Be sure to alternate your HIIT walks with steady-paced walking during the week. This will give your body time to recover, avoiding injury or burn out.

You’ll find that your interval walking flies by quickly. Counting each burst and recovery helps take your mind off the effort of your workout. To make it even more fun, invite a friend to join you.

Be sure to check with your doctor to make sure that you are healthy enough for a vigorous workout.

bonnie church Certified Life and Wellness Coach Author/columnist, motivational speaker Certified Trainer for TLS Weight Loss Solution

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Health

BEAUTY

Fall Beauty Trends I was optimistically looking forward to a pre-pandemic fall. After

having my face sequestered for more than a year I was excited to return to full makeup mode, albeit ever so fleeting.

I was especially excited to wear my much missed lipstick. I’m the woman who once she applies her bold red lipstick and slips on her high heels, can rule the world! OK, the heels had to go but I can still rule quite regally in flats.

So now we’re on a rewind, back to masking because of the Delta variant surge. However, let’s not diminish our intentions to enjoy all that the 2021 fall glam fashion forecast has to offer. One thing I have learned during this pandemic is that we are resilient, adaptable and very creative. We have done things we thought we could never do — our own hair, our nails, learned new technology, we have taught our kids, been with family 32 | September-October 2021

members 24/7 (oh boy) and managed other impossible feats.

With all that said, what is the realistic outlook for beauty in the 2021 fall season?

Well, since we’re back in our masks again we can look to continue a honed down beauty regimen.

Continue to focus on good skin care habits and remember to wear sunscreen daily if you go outside. Those determined UV rays are streaming to you all year round. I suggest a tinted moisturizer or BB cream instead of all over foundation.

That will allow you to have an even canvas without wreaking havoc on your covered up skin.

Eyes Your eyes are said to be the windows of the soul and they are the only expression seen while you are mask-querading.

Frankly, drab eyes are not a good look.

Everyone of us can do something to bring brightness, life and sparkle to those windows.

This fall’s color forecast can do just that. Consider palettes of golds, browns, earthy fall tones, smoky blues, navy, neutrals, smoldering shades of burnt orange and rust, brooding shades of burgundy and berry. Everyone can wear color on their eyes, whether intense or just a subtle hint.

Eyeliners also enhance the eyes and bring joy to the face; and they too come in a rainbow of awesome colors. So you’re not sure because you’ve never adorn your eyes — remember this is the era of learning and doing new things you’ve never done before. I wish I could hold a small class and teach you how to play up those peepers.

For you ladies who already have the aawmag.com

glam vibe, play with different eye looks, experiment, have fun because the eye is the limit. My story is I have become an avid cat eye woman. As a makeup artist, I had done winged eyes and cat eyes on everybody but myself. Tried it while sequestered and voila! It’s now my signature look.

Do I need to mention brows? If you’re not framing those eyes with defined brows you’re going look unfinished and kind of weird. Mascara is a given too and for some additional fun, try false lashes — you’ll like it.

Lips Needless to say your lips are so to speak sealed with a mask and lipstick does not fare well with a barrier. Not to fear, there are wonderful lip stains and tints available that will not transfer.

Instead of the tried and true color you always go for, pick a shade you’ve been hesitant to experiment with.

After all, it’s only makeup and it all washes off easy enough. Break the shackles of “same old same old,” indulge

yourself, get in front of the mirror and create your fall look — enjoy.

Color yourself beautiful!

Marion Edwards Marion Edwards is a Licensed Esthetician, Professional Makeup Artist and Certified Trainer for Motives Cosmetics. She can be contacted at 828.773.1500.

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Tell us about High Country women and trends and issues we should feature.

Tell us how we’re doing.

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September-October 2021 | 33

YOUNG AT HEART

‘Failurerific’ Tips For When Life Gets Overwhelming

fail·ure·rif·ic /'fālyər'rifik/ adjective 1. lack of success of great size, amount, or intensity "Her failurerific day was remembered for years to come.”

Have you ever had a job interview where you were asked to describe a time you failed? While I understand that employers are trying to gauge your resilience — your ability to adapt, change course, and learn from failure — I wonder: is it healthy to focus on failure?

An article titled “Women and Stress” published online in the Cleveland Clinic’s health library notes: “Men and women share many of the same sources of stress, such as money 34 | September-October 2021

matters, job security, health and relationship issues. Perhaps a little more unique to women are the many roles they take on. In today’s society, women’s roles often include family obligations, caregiving for children and/or an elderly parent (statistically more likely to be a woman) and work responsibilities as well as other roles. As demands increase to fulfill these roles, women can feel overwhelmed with time pressures and unmet obligations. They may feel a sense of failure in not being able to meet expectations for themselves and others.”

On the other hand, recent articles in Elle (elle.com) and U.S. News & World Re-

port (usnews.com) both report that while women tend to be affected by failure to a greater degree than men, failure is an important and necessary step in building resilience and leadership skills.

So, failure is bad and good?

When asked the above interview question, I’ve tried to spin my answer to focus on what I learned from the failure and/or what I changed as a result. However, it’s sometimes hard to find the good if the sense of failure feels supersized aka failurerific!

I made up the word failurerific, but the feeling is real! For me, life can feel failurerific for many reasons, including work craziness, guilt over not making enough time for my husband, Roger, aawmag.com

or my friends, dissatisfaction about my weight or face when I look in the mirror, or the relentless weeds in the flower beds that mock me, etc.

To mute failurerific feelings, I have three strategies: 1. Choose happy 2. Fake it ‘til you make it 3. Keep breathing

Choose Happy I once heard a motivational speaker discuss how we choose — whether consciously or unconsciously — how we react to situations, especially stressful situations, and that these choices can affect our moods and sense of self-worth.

Simply, we could choose happy.

This may be easier said than done; however, I was struck by the idea that I have the power to change my mood. I regularly return to this concept when I’m feeling out of sorts, and I pause and ask, “What’s causing me to feel ‘not’ happy?”

This moment of acknowledgement and self-reflection helps me switch off my despondency and choose happy. An added benefit: identifying the root of the problem forces me consider what I can do about said pesky root. This girl loves a plan!

Fake It ‘Til You Make It They — the mysterious they — say to dress for the job you want. The same concept applies to self-confidence. I keep expecting friends and colleagues to notice that I am a hot mess, but somehow I keep fooling them by pretending that I have myself together.

It’s rather like having a super-heroine alter ego that I put on to convince myself and others — but mainly myself — that I’m a strong, confident, successful woman.

Also, the more I pretend, the more I believe it myself. The other day, my step-mother described me as “invincible.”

I was pleased to hear that my disguise is working.

Keep Breathing One of my favorite bands, Garbage, said in the song of the same name, “the

trick is to keep breathing.” This means several things to me: • Exercise, especially yoga; • Therapeutic walks or other activities with my girlfriends; and, • Learning to prioritize myself.

I’d been doing weekly yoga for a few years, but I developed a daily yoga habit as a coping mechanism after my breast cancer diagnosis and while working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

I’m no longer working from home, but I made a point to reorganize my office so that I had room to roll out my mat. Most days, I make time for yoga during my lunch break and even 15 minutes does wonders for my emotional and physical health.

I’m also fortunate to have amazing girlfriends, and these ladies are a very important part of my support system. Not to dismiss my male friends or Roger, but the relationships I have with my girls are special and essential. There’s a shared experience that makes it easier to vent and/ or laugh as the situation demands.

Of the three strategies, I struggle the most with prioritizing myself. I tend to prioritize everything else first — work, housework, cooking, Roger, work — but I’m trying to get better. Having breast cancer has made me consider what I’ll regret not doing if my cancer comes back.

So, I’ve started to find ways to relax, like facials and a monthly massage. I bought tickets to a concert in New York with two of my favorite bands, New Order and Pet Shop Boys, neither of which I have seen.

I got my nose pierced because I wanted to. I’ve said “no” or at least “not today” at work.

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Turning Failurerific Into Terrific If you’ve had a failurerific day, know that we’ve all been there. Embrace it, learn from it, turn it from failurerific to terrific!

Let’s try together — I’ll go first!

heather brandon Considers life to be one big anthropological field experience. She observes and reports. She enjoys travel, food and wine and adventures with her husband, Roger.

September-October 2021 | 35

Style & Leisure

TRAVEL

Shabbat Shalom, Mishi Mokwa and Gitche Gumee:

Most Joyful Days On a recent weekend writing retreat my writing mentor Kat-

erina proposed an enticing assignment: write about the most joyful day of your life. And no weddings allowed. Not the happiest day, but the most joyful.

Immediately, in succession, three days flashed before my eyes, zigzagging explosions of joy that resembled quiet fireworks.

On the first day, in the early 1990s, darkness was falling as I drove down a long, sandy lane lined with tall red pines.

Suddenly “Ode to Joy” from Beethoven’s

36 | September-October 2021

Ninth soared from my radio. I drove up to my home for three days, a tiny cabin called Shabbat Shalom at MorningStar Adventures retreat center. The cabin had a huge picture window, bed, broom, tiny wood stove, stack of wood, rocker and hot plate. Each day I watched the sun rise, crawl across the horizon and set, as poems, prayers and tiny essays poured through me onto paper, astounding me.

I had no idea where they had come from, but they were magical.

On an October day in 1996 I found myself on the deck of the Mishi Mokwa, a small pleasure boat on its way to South Manitou Island in Lake Michigan. I parked my backpack and sat drinking a hot chocolate in the midst of a college hiking class and a contingent going to explore a shipwreck.

When we arrived at the tiny, remote island, the ship’s ranger announced that we

would be issued backcountry permits.

Backcountry permits? We would be permitted to go on our own to the backcountry of our lives, carrying only the barest essentials on our backs, pitch a tent, build a fire and be.

“Gitche Gumee” would have to be the name for my third joyful adventure, which took place in September 1997.

Gitche Gumee, the shining big sea water of Longfellow renown. I was awarded a week-long writing residency at Norcroft, a writing retreat for women, on the isolated north shore of Lake Superior. I had a cozy sleeping room in the “big house,” but best of all, my very own writing shed in the woods, named for writer Zora Neale Hurston. I spread out my writing project on the world’s longest desk and began to think profound thoughts. Upon returning home I, of course, had to have my own little writing shed, which I bought from a nice Amish man. Bliss!

Memories I will have forever. And who knows? What will my next most joyful day be?

sue spirit Writes poetry and essays about nature, spirituality, writing and travel. She has a little cabin in the mountains. degreesoffreedom@frontier.com

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aawmag.com

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