Magazine
July 2014
Cleared toPLAY
HELPING HIGH SCHOOL ATHLE AND PROFESSIO
D. Dean Dominy, III, MD Orthopedic Surgery Hand & Upper Extremity
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Kenneth M. Renney, MD Sports Medicine
Jeffrey B. Wood, MD Orthopedic Spine Surgery
Eddie T. Matsu, MD Orthopedic Surgery Joint Replacement Surgery
Mark W. Maffet, MD Knee & Shoulder Surgery Sports Medicine
Timothy C. Sitter, MD Knee & Shoulder Surgery Sports Medicine
he physicians and staff at Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine physicians work hand-in-hand with specially trained Sports Medicine are the best teammates an athlete can have. radiologists to properly identify sports injuries and determine the proper From professionals to college players, high school athletes to course of treatment. Then, if necessary, comprehensive physical, occupational and aquatic weekend enthusiasts – everyone can benefit from the experienced, skilled specialists at Houston Methodist Orthopedics & therapy is available on site, provided by fellowship trained therapists who are board certified specialists in sports, orthopedics and hand therapy to Sports Medicine. In fact, Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine is one help athletes recover from injury or surgery. “We can help athletes get back in the game quickly because we have of the largest groups of board-certified and fellowship-trained orthoan integrated approach to treatment and rehabilipedic surgeons in the area, with unique, handson expertise in the diagnosis and treatment Make an Appointment Online tation,” says Dr. Mark Maffet, orthopedic sports medicine specialist. “Our physicians and therapists of sports-related injuries. Houston Methodist To schedule an appointment with a work together to develop individualized plans for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine combines outstanding physicians and staff with the latest and Houston Methodist Orthopedics & our patients that are designed to repair the injury and strengthen the athlete for a return to action most advanced techniques and technology, all Sports Medicine physician, go to – whether that is playing in a professional soccer available in a convenient, close-to-home location. Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports houstonmethodist.org/orthopedics match, a high school football game or a weekend round of tennis.” Medicine provides complete orthopedic care or call 281-690-4678. Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports – including arthroscopic surgery, total joint Medicine physicians have a long history of serving replacements, cartilage transplants, minimally invasive spine surgery, and corrective surgeries for the upper and as team physicians for high schools in Fort Bend ISD, Alief ISD, Stafford MSD, St. Agnes High School and nearby rural school districts. lower extremities. In fact, Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital recently expanded Backed by the most powerful MRI technology on the market today – a wide-bore, 3 Tesla machine, Houston Methodist Orthopedics & its partnership with Fort Bend ISD and will now staff assistant athletic trainers at all 11 district high schools. “We truly enjoy working with the schools in Fort Bend County and Alief areas,” says Dr. Vincent Phan, orthopedic surgeon and team physician. “I grew up here and went to Elkins High School, so it’s an honor to support the players at these schools that I know so well. We look forward to continuing to support local school districts, as we have for the last 15 years.”
ETES, WEEKEND WARRIORS, ONAL ATHLETES
Vincent C. Phan, MD Orthopedic Surgery Hand & Upper Extremity
Carl A. Hicks, MD Joint Replacement Surgery
Plan Your Student’s
Sports
Physical Saturday, August 9 9 a.m. - Noon Ages 12-18 Wheeler Field House/ Mercer Stadium 16403 Lexington Blvd., Sugar Land, TX 77479 Free t-shirt to every student who receives a physical. For more information, call 281-340-6420 or email athletictrainer@houstonmethodist.org. Cost: $20 (cash only accepted)
Proceeds are donated back to the school’s athletic program.
Ray R. Valdez, MD Orthopedic Surgery Foot & Ankle
David A. Braunreiter, MD Sports Medicine Concussion Management
The physicians at Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine donate their time and expertise, and the practice even donates money to local schools for rehabilitation and protective equipment, braces, splints and crutches for athletes. Over the past five years, Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine physicians have donated more than $250,000 to local high schools. “Partnering with Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine has allowed me to obtain better rehab equipment for students who get hurt on the field,” says June Tomlin, head trainer at Elkins High School. Randy Cunningham, head football coach at Travis High School, says the Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine physicians give his coaching staff a sense of confidence. “We know that our athletes are in good hands and are receiving the care they need and deserve,” he says. The practice’s physicians also go the extra mile for local athletes, staffing a Saturday morning sports medicine clinic at 1201 Brooks Street in Sugar Land during the busy fall season. The clinic, which is open from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. from Aug. 23 through Nov. 15, enables athletes to see a sports medicine or orthopedic physician for diagnosis – not a nurse or athletic trainer – before the weekend ends.
Anthony J. Muffoletto, MD Orthopedic Spine Surgery
Jeffrey A. Kozak, DO Sports Medicine Concussion Management
“When I was a college athlete,” says Dr. Timothy Sitter, orthopedic sports medicine specialist, “I really appreciated the doctors and trainers who supported me. Now, as a doctor of sports medicine myself, I have a special understanding of the needs of athletes. Our goal at Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine is always to return athletes of any age to an active life as quickly—and safely—as possible.” From the field to the track to the court to the pool…it’s the most complete orthopedic care available – from neck to toe! Immediate appointments are available by calling 281-690-4678. You may schedule your appointment online at houstonmethodist.org/orthopedics.
Sugar Land Locations: 1201 Brooks Street Sugar Land, TX 77478 1327 Lake Pointe Pkwy, Ste. 425 Sugar Land, TX 77478
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Soon to be moving into a new state-of-the-art facility on the Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital campus on the corner of Highway 59 and Sweetwater Blvd in the summer of 2015.
281-690-4678 houstonmethodist.org/orthopedics
Do You Share This With Your Spouse?
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wenty-five percent of men suffer from varicose veins. Irving Reval and his wife Donna have been married fifty-four years, and they stick together through thick and thin. One night, as Irving was pulling up the bedsheets, he says “I felt something go wrong. I’ve had varicose veins in my right leg with several big bumps, protuberances above and beside my knee. When I put the light on, one of those bumps had gone red on top. ‘That’s it,’ I told my wife, ‘I’m calling Dr. Baltazar.’” “I’d seen him in UpClose Magazine, and my family physician recommended him, too. During my appointment, I asked Dr. Baltazar if he’d ever seen anything worse than my leg...and he said just a couple of times. In addition to the stuff above and around my knee, things were bad in my calf and my foot had gone absolutely black. Things were complicated enough that he broke it into two. The first treatment he did was from the groin to the knee with a laser. He made it very easy and put me at ease. The morning after the laser treatment I checked into Methodist Hospital and he did a three hour surgery on the lower half of my leg. When it was all over he came out and told my wife, Donna, ‘Rocky’s doing fine.’ She asked him, ‘Rocky?’ He’d found calcified blood clots all through that leg like he’d never seen before. He told Donna I was lucky and strong to have all this work done.
She calls Dr. Baltazar an angel!” “Not every doctor is a vascular surgeon with the skill to handle complicated cases...and a great personality too. Dr. Baltazar is one-of-a-kind! While he was doing the laser, we talked about our families. His oldest daughter’s going to be a senior in high school and he’s taking time off to drive her around and look at colleges. Our neighbor used to work at the hospital and she praised Dr. Baltazar up and down. During one visit, Dr. Baltazar was unwrapping my leg when he looked up at Donna and said, ‘You have the prettiest blue eyes.’ He really connects with his patients and their families.” “Sonia and Kelsey in his office are both wonderful. Any problems you have, they have answers. Once it took Donna and I over an hour to get my compression stocking on, but they told us about a silicone gel that makes it a snap. I still get teased about my ‘pretty stockings’ by the guys at the donut shop, but it’s great to be out golfing and walking Eldridge Park again.” “When I saw Dr. Baltazar at my last appointment, I asked him for “before and after” pictures. Not only did he give me those, he included one of the veins he removed... and joked that we should make it our next Christmas card. Thank goodness I got treatment. Seeing the pictures of the work he did just drives it home...the man’s a miracle worker!”
Ulises Baltazar MD, RVT, FACS now affiliated with the renowned Methodist Cardiovascular Surgery Associates 281-240-8400 16605 Southwest Freeway Ste 505 (in the Methodist Professional Building 3)
Body News
The Best Body of My Life
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fter Janice Davis lost weight and went from 220 lbs to 160 lbs, she wanted to get a firmer, flatter stomach. She says, “I had a tummy tuck, but I wasn’t happy with it. The doctor removed skin, but my shape was really boxy and there were stitches all around my belly button so it looked like a ball. My hips were still big, so I felt like dresses caught there, even though my stomach was flat. Two or three years later, I saw Dr. Ahmadi’s sign and decided to do some research. I found a video of him talking about his procedure, the Lipotuck™ . Everything he said seemed like the answer I needed.” “Unlike other places, Dr. Ahmadi doesn’t make you have the tummy tuck first and then the liposuction. He’s combined them in the Lipotuck™ so you get the curvy look you really want. I was scared, but he
Before
After
gave me such confidence that I told him, ‘I’ll put my life in your hands.’ From the first minute I met him I loved and trusted him. I literally just showed him what had
little worried about a pain in my breast, so I called the number he gave me. He answered the phone himself...that was one of my favorite things about him!” “My daughters took great care of me... and now they’re a little jealous of my curvy figure! My husband and I have been married for thirty-four years. He supported me in this decision, but he’s always loved me no matter what. Now I catch him just staring at me...he’s so happy. My son was a little embarrassed by the whole thing, but he said, ‘Man, mom, you look good!’ “Now I have a true hourglass figure and a belly button that looks better than the one I was born with! I wish I’d known about him earlier...because he would have been my first choice then as he will always be now! I was skinny as a teenager, but I never had a figure like this. Today I’m fifty-two years old...with the body of a thirty-year-old.” Are you ready to see the possibilities? Dr. Ahmadi of Avante Plastic Surgery is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties to provide all aspects of cosmetic surgery. His Lipotuck™ delivers a curvy, feminine look you’ll love!
“Today I’m fifty-two years old...with the body of a thirty-year-old.” been done to me and asked him what he could do with it. He flat out listens to you and before he leaves he asks, ‘Are you sure I answered all your questions? You can call me anytime.’ He wants to make sure you’re one hundred percent happy. I was so happy with him that I had him do my breasts, too.” “Everyone in his office is so friendly and helpful...they’re really nice people. And even though he’s such a skilled and talented doctor, he’s also really caring and takes his time with you. One night after my procedure I was a
Avante Plastic Surgery ~ 281-265-2639 (BODY) 1112 Soldiers Field Dr., Sugar Land, TX 77479
www.LIPOTUCK.com
UpClose Magazine Reminds you to Get Involved Support the American Cancer Society www.cancer.org 2014 Couture for the Cause Twitter: @couture14cause Instagram: @coutureforthecause Facebook.com/coutureforthecause On The Cover Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Publisher Gina Pizzini Editor Gina Pizzini Business Editor Sarah Warburton
Support Local Business & Community Organizations 5th Annual Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee
Layout and Design Night Sky Creative
Support Local Schools www.fortbendisdnews.com
www.ftbendliteracy.org/spelling-bee.htm
Javert demands you Support Local Performing Arts www.staffordcentre.com
Account Executives Sara Adams Lisa Carothers Kelly Ditta Melissa and James Ives Eric Purtee Writers Steven Devadanam Joelie Key-Tissot Stacey Keith Amy Sharp Sarah Warburton Photography Lisa Carothers J. Thomas “Jay� Ford Eric Purtee UpClose Magazine is published monthly and direct mailed to 150,000 homes. For information on having your business featured in UpClose, call Gina Pizzini at 281.235.0600.
A portion of the editorial content contained in this publication is controlled and contracted by the advertisers contained herein and is part of their advertisement. UpClose Magazine is not responsible for content of these editorials or advertisements. No portion of this magazine
Support the Fort Bend Optimist Club Optimist-Bringing out the BEST in KIDS Now taking New Membership Applications fboptimist.org
6 ~ UPCLOSE ~ July 2014
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may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher.
To read an issue online:
www.UpCloseMagazine.com
Ride Into
Summer It’s
by Amy Sharp
summer and it’s time to ride! Bikes, boats, Harleys, tubes...everyone loves to ride to stay cool during these hot months. But you shouldn’t ride the waves inside your house... water belongs in your pipes, not on your floor or pooling in your yard! Luckily, you can ride into summer with confidence thanks to Alan’s Plumbing. Master plumber, Alan Burkhalter and his crew have been offering quality plumbing service to the families of Fort Bend for over fifteen years. They’ve built a reputation on excellent workmanship, punctuality, and reasonable rates. Of course, a great reputation isn’t built overnight...it’s based on a history of doing things right. Alan’s Plumbing is a family business where great worth ethics and values are the way of life. Along with with Alan’s brother Chris, his sons Beau, Luke and Jake have followed in Dad’s footsteps. All three of Alan’s boys have been riding the truck along with their dad since they were eight or nine years old. Today, Beau and Luke have a journeyman’s license and work for their father full time running their own truck. Jake earned his apprentice plumber’s license early on and is helping the family business out again this summer while he’s on break from Texas State University. When you call in, Alan’s wife and the boys’ mom, Jennifer answers the phone. And with the recent addition
of skilled plumber Kyle, this is a crew that’s always friendly, polite, and gets it done right. Everyone wants a carefree summer, so if there’s water where there is not supposed to be––like a running toilet, a leaky tap, a dripping faucet, or a damaged pipe––don’t wait to call Alan’s Plumbing. Taking care of a little problem keeps it from becoming a big one, saving you money and trouble down the line...and giving you more time and money to enjoy your ride of choice this summer! Going on a road trip? Before you leave town, set your water heater on “vacation mode” to conserve energy...but don’t turn off the water to your house. If you do that you could get junk in your pipes and have to call Alan’s team to unclog your ballcock and flapper. Remember to give your neighbor your spare key...and the number for Alan’s Plumbing at 281-261-1064. The family at Alan’s Plumbing wishes your family a safe and happy 4th of July. Enjoy! Alan’s Plumbing
281-261-1064 License M-18995
ALANS-PLUMBING.COM UPCLOSE ~ July 2014 ~ 7
F CUS THERE’S A BETTER
SOLUTION
The Thrill of Victory, without the Agony
Amy Sharp
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he thrill of victory...and the agony of defeat.” From the four-year-old soccer player to the student athlete to the pro, most everyone has felt the emotions associated with the human drama of athletic competition. While defeat can certainly be miserable, sometimes the real agony is in the toll sports take on your body. Local pharmacist Dr. Lance Campbell, Pharm.D, R.Ph, owner of Campbell’s Compounding Pharmacy in Sugar Land says, “I have an active family. My kids are involved in soccer, I regularly practice Jiu Jitsu, and after a college career at UNC, my wife Rakel was a pro soccer player in Iceland and Philadelphia and also played for the Iceland National Team. We understand that when you’re actively involved in sports, injuries happen.” Once you’ve chosen your favorite sport, you have choices for how to treat an injury. According to Texas State law, you have the right to get your medication from any pharmacy you choose….and no pharmacy delivers more options than Campbell’s. Dr. Campbell says, “Working with your primary care doctor, orthopedist, or other specialist, we’ll tailor your medicine to your specific pain...whether it’s nerve pain, inflammation, throbbing, or chronic pain. We’ll compound your medication with muscle relaxants, pain relief, or anti-inflam-
8 ~ UPCLOSE ~ July 2014
matories in the perfect combination. These pain-relief creams are almost one hundred percent covered by insurance.”
“Here in Fort Bend County we spend a lot of time in the car,” Dr. Campbell says. “Driving carpool to a tournament can be dangerous if you’re on pain medications. We can compound creams to treat your pain. Compounding a cream for your pain means we can deliver relief to the specific area where you need it most...without nausea, mental impairment, or social stigma. “Here in Fort Bend County we spend a lot of time in the car,” Dr. Campbell says. “Driving carpool to a tournament can be dangerous if you’re on pain medications. We can compound creams to treat your pain. Compounding a cream for your pain means we can deliver relief to the specific area where you need it most...without nausea, mental impairment, or social stigma. If you have a child going off to school or summer camp, this pain relieving cream doesn’t have to be dispensed by the nurse or kept in the infirmary...and you don’t have to worry that it will end up anywhere
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except on your child’s sore muscle.” Of course, muscle injuries and pain aren’t the only agonizing problems brought on by sports. Are you avoiding flip-flops this summer? Dr. Campbell says, “Foot and toenail fungus problems are almost expected when you spend a lot of time in sweaty socks or even a pool! But the treatments have come a long way. We have compounded treatments for athletes foot. And ladies, you no longer need to avoid nail polish (and sandals!) while the toe nails clear up...we offer nail polish with the fungus treatment compounded right in the polish. Great looking toes while you treat (and hide!) the problem!” “I’ve always encouraged both my patients and my family to stay active,” says Dr. Campbell. “Our family loves Jiu Jitsu and soccer...we have friends that love running or spinning or swimming. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as you enjoy it! And when those agonizing things like injuries or fungus happen...we are here to help with new and improved options!” Campbell’s Compounding Pharmacy 281-980-2555 “If our staff can’t make it… then you probably don’t need it!” 4760 Sweetwater Blvd. Suite 103 www.campbellscompounding.com
Next Stop...St. Michael’s!
Safety Checklist for the Parent
As a parent, you play an important role in the safety of your youth athlete. These tips will helpful as you strive for an injury-free season. • Be proactive about safety issues; learn about the risks posed by the sport your child plays. • Always have an accessible, working phone at practice and at games to ensure that emergency personnel can be contacted quickly in case of an emergency. • Insist that coaches receive training in first-aid and injury prevention and bring a properly stocked first-aid kit to all games and practices. • Guard against overuse injuries; don’t let your child play the same sport year-round. • Demand safe fields and equipment, such as anchored goals and emergency telephones. • Ask about the weather policy of your child’s league or club; if it doesn’t have one, adopt your own. • Protect your child from dangerous coaches. Ask your club to run background checks on coaches. • Get your child’s league or club to set up a risk management committee.
Inspiration, Dedication & playing it SAFE by Sarah Warburton tudent athletes inspire us all as school starts.” Savannah adds, “Staying in to come together and enjoy a shape all year round is so important...but be healthy, active life,” says Dr. careful in the heat. Listen to your body, stretch Shannon Orsak of St. Michael’s Emergency properly, stay hydrated, and rest (and ice) if you Rooms.“We’re always honored to help have a nagging pain that isn’t an emergency. injured student athletes and to offer our You really shouldn’t overwork yourself outside support to community sports...and I’ve been this time of year!” especially blessed by two particular student Savannah and Sierra have been careful, athletes who brighten my life every day.” skilled, and fortunate...neither of them has Savannah and Sierra Orsak, the fourteen- needed a trip to the ER. When we asked, they year-old twin daughters of Dr. Shannon and each knew plenty of instances where a fellow Sara Orsak, know about the challenges and athlete could suffer a sports-related injury. A rewards of being student athletes. Savannah broken foot at a basketball game, a twisted says, “We started out in basketball, then we ankle on a run, a slip and fall at the pool…accistarted running to stay conditioned in the off dents can happen anytime. When you see St. season. Now we both run cross country, and Michael’s name on the list of supporters for the are on the track team...and we love it!” Sierra local baseball or swim or soccer team, rememsays, “Running isn’t just a workout for your ber St. Michael’s is more than a name, it’s the legs...it requires core strength, arms, endur- place you can bring your injured athletes for ance, a positive attitude...and mental discipline. unparalleled emergency care...without a wait! Competing in cross country, track, and playing basketball for Fort Bend Christian Academy keeps us at the top of our game...so we can St. Michael’s Emergency Room is not an keep striving for more!” urgent care center...it’s a 10,000 square foot Whether it’s summer or just the off-season full-fledged, free-standing Emergency Room for your regular sport, it’s important to stay in with physicians trained in emergency medishape! Sierra says, “If you push too hard after cine, X-ray, Ultrasound and CT, an on-site taking a lot of time off, you can pull a muscle diagnostic lab, nine exam rooms (including or turn your ankle. Make time for your sport pediatric themed rooms and a Harleyover the summer! Not only will you learn new Davidson room!), a treatment suite for skills and grow as an athlete, you’ll also stay observation, and a comfortable waiting conditioned...so you’ll be less likely to injure room...with a limited wait time! Why settle yourself when you get back into the game for a standard ER when you could enjoy
“S
concierge service at St. Michael for the same ER price...or most of the time even LESS! St. Michael’s ER is in-network with AETNA and also accepts more than 200 insurance plans, including Cigna, Blue Cross, United, and Humana. At this time, Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare do not participate with free-standing ER’s. St. Michael’s is one of the only fully-accredited ER facilities with JCAHO, ACR, and CLIA certifications.
St. Michael’s Emergency Rooms 16062 SW Freeway (at Hwy 6) Sugar Land, TX 77479 281-980-HELP
9000 Westheimer Houston, TX 77063 713-343-0911
26226 I 45 N. Spring, TX 77386 281-419-2911
www.StMichaelsER.com UPCLOSE ~ July 2014 ~ 9
A New Look Paul and Jonee Barnett
E R O F BE
R E T F A
for Your Your New Home by Sarah Warburton
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f you’ve designed your home from the ground up, every room expresses your taste and personality….but most “new to you” homes have kitchens and bathrooms with counters and colors schemes chosen by the builder or the previous owners. Husband and wife team, Paul and Jonee Barnett of Miracle Method Surface Refinishing say, “We’ll transform your kitchen or bathroom in just a few days…so you can enjoy the home of your dreams.” Ever walk into a home, look at the color of a kitchen, and wonder, “Why?” “If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the years,” says Jonee, “it’s that no two families have the exact same taste. When you move into a new home, updating a big surface like a countertop makes a big impact. Miracle Method transforms tile, cultured marble, Corian®, Formica®, Wilsonart® and other laminate countertops.…without ripping them out!” Is your kitchen stuck in the 80’s or does your bathroom look like a time capsule...to a time we’d rather forget? Miracle Method can update your tub, your countertops, and your tile in a snap. Paul says, “Ceramic tile in a shower, around a bathtub, on a bathroom floor, tubs, and bathroom vanities are all excellent candidates for a Miracle makeover. Our Natural 10 ~ UPCLOSE ~ July 2014
Accents™ finish offers a multi-color stone look that’s seamless, non-porous, heat resistant and scratch resistant and easily repaired. Best of all...it’ll look totally new!” A little thing like color scheme shouldn’t hold you back from buying an otherwise perfect home. Miracle Method can work its magic before you’re even unpacked. No one has to live with a kitchen or bathroom that time forgot. Update your counters with Miracle Method and you could enjoy a minimalist look in white ‘marble’ or grey ‘granite’ or warm and inviting countertops with toffee or apricot tones. You could be enjoying a new look in less than a week! Jonee says, “Even a big job with a couple of bathrooms and a kitchen takes less than a week. Call us for your free estimate, give us just a few days and we’ll give you a stylish kitchen or bathroom you’ll love!” Miracle Method Surface Refinishing 281-240-2284 603 Murphy Road (by appointment only) Stafford, TX www.miraclemethod.com/houstonsw
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The
Dentist Who
Saved Our Robin and Nikki’s story
W
hen Robin Mercado moved here from Colorado, she knew she’d need an exceptional dentist for her fourteen-year-old daughter Nikki. Robin says, “Nikki is a special-needs kid with high anxiety. Her teacher recommended her own dentist, Dr. Zahra Cook for Nikki. Up front, Dr. Cook made sure to find out about Nikki so that she could make her visit a positive experience. Dr. Cook and her entire staff really took their time to make Nikki comfortable.” “We started with a cleaning, and that went so well that we had a tooth filled. Then we were ready to try something more. Nikki’s got very elfin features and a small mouth, so all four of her wisdom teeth had to come out before she had braces...and she had no pain at all! Every single time we’ve come, Dr. Cook has personally called us in the evening to follow-up. Although Dr. Cook offers sedation dentistry, Nikki has only needed that for major work...not for cleanings or
braces tune-ups. She’s twenty-years old now with a beautiful smile...and still loves coming to see Dr. Cook!” “Nikki had such a good experience that I decided it was my turn. Dr. Cook took care of my dental infections and gave me a complete Hollywood Smile Makeover...and I love my smile! I feel healthier, have so much more energy, and have even lost weight. She explained everything she recommended, gave me choices, and we did the work in stages so it was never overwhelming.” Dr. Cook says, “So many parents put their children first and put their own health on the back burner. Knowing that Robin trusted me and was willing to put her smile in my hands is such a compliment.” Robin says, “Even if you love your dentist, you should get to know Dr. Cook. She’s got so many certifications and can do work from fillings to implants and restorations to braces and orthodontics to TMJ
treatment. I’ve heard that fifty percent of her patients come out of network just to see her...and she even has patients from out-of-state!” Dr. Cook is a Fellow of the International Congress of Implantologists (FICOI), a Fellow of the Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies (LVIF), and a recipient of the elite Master of the Academy of General Dentistry (MAGD) award, earned by less than two percent of all general dentists...and the level of her personal attention to patients is unparalleled. She says, “Every morning my staff and I have a “team huddle” so we can review our upcoming patients and prepare for their individual needs. Engineers may want to know every step of the process, while other patients like Robin prefer not to see needles or hear too many details...they’re just looking forward to the final results. We love catering to our patients and seeing them flash their beautiful smiles!” Zahra Cook, DMD Advanced Cosmetic Dentist 281-342-8481 1536 FM 359 Rd Richmond, TX 77406 www.cookdental.com
UPCLOSE ~ July 2014
KATIE HARRISON MICHAEL MOSES DREW SLATTON KATLIN KENNEDY TAELON STONECIPHER
F I G H T. D R E A M . H O P E . L O V E .
Révolution,Right Now!
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By Steven Devadanam
hen Frenchman Victor Hugo penned Les Misérables, refuses her manager’s advances. Feeling responsible for her fate, his epic novel based on the oppressed poor of the Valjean promises the dying Fantine that he’ll take care of her young 1832 Paris Revolution, he probably wasn’t thinking daughter Cosette. Later, an accident forces Valjean to admit his of the Lone Star State. But to a Texan, some ele- criminal past and real identity; he’s now on the run, trying to protect young Cosette in the process. They move ments of this saga are to Paris, and meet a cast of young revostrikingly familiar. A steely-eyed lawman Les Misérables lutionaries who’re ready to die for their who just won’t give up the hunt: sounds opens Friday August 1, and runs through Sunday, August 3, at the Stafford Centre cause against a brutal French government. like a Western, yes? A brutal government (10505 Cash Rd, Stafford, If that weren’t enough, the fanatical Javert army, marching on young freedom fighters TX 77477; 281-208-6900). has now made hunting Valjean a fulltime who’ve holed themselves up in a heroic last Tickets start at $20 job. Valjean is torn between turning himstand: a little like the story of our sacred Call 281-208-3333 self in, protecting Cosette, and standing shrine in San Antonio, maybe? or www.fortbendtheatre.com up to the French army at a very Alamo-like “You’re right, that’s the Alamo moment! barricade set up by the French freedom There are absolutely Texas themes in this show,” says Drew Slatton, who’ll play lead character Jean Valjean in Fort fighters. It’s all set up for explosive climaxes and soaring, heartBend Theatre’s summer musical Les Misérables. The story is now com- wrenching – and even naughty – musical numbers, which Slatton monly known as a multiple-Tony-award-winning Broadway musical and thinks adds to the storytelling. “Scientifically, we react to music Hollywood smash hit, and so to pull off the heavy-duty vocal duties, Fort more deeply than anything else,” he says. “So you touch people on a deeper level than just the spoken form alone.” Bend Theatre enlisted Houston opera tenor and actor Fort Bend Theatre, which celebrates its 25th season Slatton, who has performed to national and international this year, is hoping to touch people by educating them audiences. Slatton sees plenty of Texan and American in on a devastating local phenomenon. “Our research the Frenchman he’s portraying. “He’s a character who shows that Houston has the greatest occurrence of really can speak to anybody,” says Slatton, “whether human trafficking in the country,” says Executive you’re living in a shack in the middle of Nowhere, Texas, Artistic Director Tarra McCain, “and we want to make or in a penthouse in Central Park in New York City. He’s a difference.” McCain has invited several non-profit downtrodden, he’s an everyman, and even though he’s groups who aid women in human trafficking, including French, he really appeals to the American dream.” Free the Captives, Redeemed Ministries and Freedom Maybe that’s because Valjean is one of literature’s Place, to be in attendance, and a portion of ticket sales original rag-to-riches stories. Dirt poor, he steals a will go to their causes. loaf of bread to save his sister’s children from dying “There’s a real challenge in this show for the audiof starvation—and gets a 19-year jail sentence by an obsessive cop named Javert. A gentle priest’s mercy Executive Artistic Director ence,” adds Slatton. “How do you react when you see Tarra McCain injustice? Do you pick up a gun and declare war, like the changes Valjean’s life after he’s freed. He changes his revolutionaries? Do you leave it and say, ‘Well, wrong is name, eventually becomes the richest man in a small French town, and becomes its mayor, though always guilt-ridden and wrong,’ like Javert? Or do you find a way to help – no matter what – like Valjean? What do you do?” looking over his shoulder. With Les Misérables and its good cause, the easiest way to fight Another chance at Valjean’s redemption comes in the form of Fantine, a young worker fired from Valjean’s factory when she injustice might be simply buying a theater ticket.
START YOUR STAYCATION
Skip the plane tickets! It’s summer...aka vacation time! Let your cares melt away. A massage can help you get into relaxation mode. Step out of the ordinary and try a treatment that’s new to you, like a trip to Therapeutic Thai Massage.
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ith rising gas prices and pricey airfare you don’t have to renew your passport or pack your bags to experience the healing magic of Thai Massage. Leave your shoes by the door, inhale the scent of jasmine and lemongrass, listen to the soothing fountain, slip into a pair of slippers, and let all your stress go...right here in Fort Bend. At Therapeutic Thai Massage Theo and Mona have created a personal oasis that improves your health and rejuvenates your spirit. Whether you visit the Katy location, Briar Forest or the Sugar Land location, the Thai Combo is the perfect introduction to the healing magic of Thai massage. In a single session you’ll enjoy Swedish Massage, Hot Stone Massage, and Thai Massage. Formally trained in both Thailand and Texas, licensed massage therapist Mona says, “Thai Massage is also known as ‘Thai Yoga Massage,’ because it gives many of the benefits of yoga like balance and improved circulation. The two key components are stretching and acupressure. All of our therapists understand body mechanics, so they can press just the right spots to improve circulation. We have clients who are doctors and chiropractors who come and bring their families...and every Sunday Theo and I pay for his parents to have a massage, too!”
Entering a Therapeutic Thai Massage is like entering a professional spa with all the warmth and personal touches of a private home. On the doors of each massage room, little shutters like traditional Thai picture frames can be opened to reveal a panel telling you a massage is in session. Theo says, “The custom-made front door separating our waiting room from our massage area in both locations has special meaning. When Mona and I were on our honeymoon in Thailand we stayed at an incredible resort, Rabbit Resort in Pattaya, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Rabbit. We had a Fort Bend artist created our door and distress it to look exactly like the traditional doors at the Rabbit Resort. Every day it reminds us of our love for each other and for the traditions of Thailand.” Don’t we all need a little extra relaxation in our life? Theo says “So many of our clientele liked the aromatherapy herbal compress balls we use in our Herbal Ball Massage and the special tea we import from Thailand that we offer them for sale. We’re so grateful for the warm welcome we’ve received from the community!”
thaimassagehouston.com Open Daily 10am - 10pm • Walk-ins & Appointments • Gift Certificates Available KATY 1548A S Mason Rd Katy, TX 77450 (281) 395-5652 License # ME2393
SUGAR LAND 4787 Sweetwater Blvd Sugar Land, TX 77479 (281) 310-1787 License # ME2308
BRIAR FOREST 13346 Briar Forest Dr. #150 Houston, TX 77077 (281) 752-9256 License # ME2712
health101
Sun, Sea &
Taking Summer Back
A
aahhhh, summer. Swimsuits and sunscreen. Your favorite season is here and you’ve never been more ready. Right? Or are you one of the myriad people for whom summer is a time of mood swings and muscle soreness...and sleepless, sweaty nights and anxious days? Boardcertified Obstetrician and Gynecologist Dr. Chary Tamirisa M.D aka “Dr. T” of the family owned and operated Sugar Land Medical and Aesthetics wants you to know that summer can be a happy season again, thanks to a treatment the size of a grain of rice called BioTE Medical Hormone Pellet Therapy. Derived naturally from plants, BioTE contains the hormones you need—estrogen and testosterone—to restore and balance not just your mood and mental acuity, but also your bone density and lean muscle mass, your libido and sexual performance. Gone is the roller coaster of energy and focus you may have experienced with a pill or cream. BioTE pellets release a steady supply of hormones into your bloodstream. The positive effects are not just a summer fling with optimal health as studies show BioTE lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, breast or prostate cancer, osteoporosis and more. Maybe your hormones are balanced, but you don’t feel like your body is ready for swimsuit season. The Sugar Land
Medical & Aesthetics family of physicians––Dr. T, his wife of thirty-eight years, board-certified Internist Dr. Tamirisa Renu, M.D., their daughter Dr. Aparna Tamirisa, M.D. boardcertified Internist, Dr. T’s brother Dr. Ravi V. Tamerisa, M.D. board-certified Anesthesiologist––and their supportive team have the knowledge, expertise and compassion you need to get your body and mind back into summer. You’ll enjoy expert medical health as well as weight loss support services and treatments for your specific condition and health requirements. Get an added glow with cosmetic services including aesthetician Mary Jane Wimberly’s rejuvenating photofacials, microderm abrasion, hair removal, acne treatments, and permanent makeup by Debbie Akres. Ready to look and feel your best this summer? With the team at Sugar Land Medical & Aesthetics waiting to help you, there’s no reason summer can’t be your favorite time of year!
People Deserve to Have a Healthier, Happier Life! Sugar Land Medical & Aesthetics ~ 281-277-3300 3519 Town Center Blvd, Suite B, Sugar Land, TX 77479 www.sugarlandmedicalandaestheticspa.com
Age Healthier, Live Happier!
14 ~ UPCLOSE ~ July 2014
www.upclosemagazine.com
$1 PIZZA
Get a medium one topping pizza for $1, with purchase of any large at regular price Offer Valid for Dine In, Carry Out or Delivery. One coupon per person. Offer not good with any other special offers. Expires 07-31-2014
Order online, call in, or drop by one of our local stores at your convenience. We are always glad to hear from you at Pepperoni’s. First Colony (281) 265-5555 Sienna (281) 778-7888
Greatwood (281) 545-3333 Pecan Grove (281) 239-6565
Fulshear (281) 533-0000 Riverstone (281) 261-6665
Katy (281) 394-5565 Rosenberg (832) 595-0550
60% OFF IN JULY SCITON PHOTOFACIAL + MICRODERMABRASION Reveal your youthful glow and save with this amazing July offer. Book your appointment for a photofacial then a follow up visit for your microdermabrasion to get the most out these rejuvenating treatments.
SCITON PHOTOFACIAL (FACE) WITH STAND ALONE MICRODERM ABRASION
’S Simpson Tree Service Proudly Serving Fort Bend and the Greater Houston Area for 19 Years! • Tree Trimming • Tree Removal • Senior Citizen Discount! • Free Estimates! • Insured for your Protection
WWW.URBANRETREAT.COM SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY! CALL 713.523.2300 Available for purchase through July 31st. Offer must be redeemed by November 30th.
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When Quality Counts ~ 281.980.0095 www.SimpsonsTreeService.com
To advertise, 281-235-0600 UPCLOSE ~ July 2014 ~ 15
BUY LOCAL
Why Supporting a Local Business Makes by Sarah Warburton
S
Classic Good Sense
peaking practically, when you choose a local business, you don’t have to travel as far to make your purchase and when you need service or warranty work done, you’ve got that hometown relationship already in place. But there are even bigger reasons to buy local. When you buy local, you make our neighborhoods, schools, and city stronger. Don Kerstetter of Classic Chevrolet says, “We’ve also been an active supporter of local charities from elementary and high schools to sports teams to food banks. The great relationship we’ve built with this community and our friendly, dependable service make us a Classic!” Several studies have shown that every dollar you spend at a locally-owned business returns five times that amount to our community. Your support helps create jobs and your tax dollars go right back into our roads, schools, and parks. Why would you want those dollars to go to some other state or some other far-off country? Don says, “At Classic Chevrolet we went from zero employees in January of 2009 to more than two hundred today and most
live and do their shopping right here in Fort Bend. We are your friends and your neighbors...and we’ll treat you right!” Because the folks at Classic Chevy are part of our community, they do their part to make our city a better place. Don says, “Many of us are parents, so we actively support local schools and sports teams. Several studies have shown that every dollar you spend at a locallyowned business returns five times that amount to our community. Your support helps create jobs and your tax dollars go right back into our roads, schools, and parks. Being a good neighbor means reaching out a helping hand whenever we can...to support causes including literacy, food banks, our local law enforcement, shelters, and other organizations that make our world a better place.” The 2014 Classic Chevy Chili Challenge raised $20,000 for the Sugar Land Police Officer’s Association...$7,000 more than last year! This year alone, Classic has supported the Arc of Fort Bend, the Sugar Land
Police Officer’s Association, the Fort Bend Literacy Council, the Fort Bend Woman’s Shelter, the Fort Bend Hispanic Heritage Forum, the Sugar Land Rotary and the Exchange Club of Sugar Land...and more. “We use the word ‘community’ a lot,” says Don. “It means more than your address or your location on Google maps. Here in Fort Bend we share the kind of local community that means fellowship and working together towards common goals. All of us at Classic Chevy feel engaged and connected to all of you…. that’s why we’re so involved in getting out into the community and giving back. If you drop by our showroom or service center, I think you’ll see how much we care. We love cars...but our first priority is always the people who drive them!”
281-491-9000 www.classicchevysugarland.com SHOP FORT BEND
13115 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, TX 77478
EvEry athlEtE dEsErvEs a world-class sports mEdicinE tEam. At Houston Methodist, we know how much a sports injury can affect your life. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or an elite athlete, our orthopedic and sports medicine specialists will provide expert care and leading-edge treatments to get you back in action. It’s the same level of care we provide Houston’s professional sports teams and performing artists. Make an appointment with one of our orthopedic specialists by scheduling online at houstonmethodist.org/orthopedics or calling 281.690.4678. OFFICIAL HEALTH CARE PROVI DER
We Specialize in Children ...because kidz are people too
Their Smile Says It All! • Specialist in dentistry for infants, children and adolescents • Now offering Braces and Orthodontic services • Offering Oral and I.V. Sedation • Se Hablo Espanol • Most major insurance accepted • Ask About NO INTEREST PAYMENT PLANS 4706 Riverstone Blvd., Suite 200, Missouri City, TX 77459 Located behind Kohl’s in the Offices at Riverstone
www.littlepeoplesdentistry.com
281.261.0020
Refreshing the
Breath of
Life
Evaluation and treatment for different lung diseases Pre-operative evaluation • Sleep Evaluation Disability evaluation • Occupational health evaluation • Minimally Invasive Procedures • In-house Labs • Bronchial Thermoplasty
J. Georges Youssef, M.D. Call 713-781-4600 for an Appointment
most insurance accepted Same day appointments are available. Two locations to serve you! Main Location: 1429 Hwy. 6 South Sugar Land, Texas 77478
Second Location: 2450 Fondren Houston, Texas 77063
To advertise, 281-235-0600 UPCLOSE ~ July 2014 ~ 17
Celebrating a History of
Excellence
It’s Hard To Stop A Trane
F Amy Sharp
or over 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has helped people make smarter decisions, instilling consumer confidence and advancing a trustworthy marketplace for all. This May, Fort Bend County’s own Jackson Air and Heat has been awarded the 2014 BBB Award of Excellence Distinction award...for the fourth time in a row! Brian Jackson says, “Being recognized by the BBB really drives home that customer satisfaction is our top priority! As we celebrate the birth of our country, we recommit ourselves to delivering the excellent service you and your family deserve!” Back in 1982, Brian’s dad, Johnny Jackson, saw the need for an honest A/C company. He built his business on a philosophy of quality and reliability. Today, his son Brian continues the family business tradition. Not every A/C company appears on the BBB award list... and not every A/C company offers the same quality service. Brian says, “Whoever put in your current A/C––the builder or the previous owner or a home warranty company––probably wasn’t thinking about your family’s long-term comfort...
or about saving you any money. With our summers, we run the air A LOT, and having the best saves you in the long run. We give honest, no pressure advice about the best A/C for your home. And once you have a reliable, energy-efficient A/C, you will start getting the best performance and the best value. The end result is not just constant home comfort...it’s also lower electric bills!” Wondering what’s new since your A/C was put in? Brian says, “We’re getting great response from Trane’s high efficiency, variable speed XV20i air conditioner with TruComfort ™ Technology. TruComfort ™ Technology gives you the exact amount of air conditioning you need...whenever you need it. Gone is the cycle of coming on full blast, then shutting off, the coming on full blast again…. and again and again. You’ll save energy as if you were putting your home comfort on cruise control!. And you can control it from your smart phone or computer!” Jackson Air is endorsed by SugarLandNetwork.com and are recipients of the Angie’s List “Super Service” award. They are EPA and NATE certified. More than eighty percent of their new customers are referrals from friends and family
of existing customers. Jackson Air never uses subcontractors, and they keep their crews current. Brian says, “We’re proud to be the oldest Trane Comfort Specialists in Sugar Land. This industry is always changing, but with training and education...we’ll be enjoying the fireworks right here where we’ve always been. Happy Fourth of July from all of us at Jackson Air and Heat!” Save money and stay cool with 0% financing or up to $2000 off on qualifying systems and FREE Sugar Land Skeeters baseball tickets with every system purchased! (while supplies last). Jackson Air and Heat, Inc. Sugar Land’s Oldest Independent Trane Dealer License #TACLB29585 281-240-1037
Fresh as a Summer’s Day
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and deserve. Our maids ow that the kids are home for the sumreceive the highest training and only use topmer, is your house suffering? As they run in and quality products. They’ll show up in professional out to the pool, the park, uniforms, in a company the ballfield, they’re trackThey say ing in dirt, mud, grass... car, and with smiles that housework never show they love what they and more! Rainy days aren’t killed anyone any better, since that just do!” but why take means all those good times, Don’t sweat the chances?! housecleaning or let toys, and snacks are being enjoyed on your rugs. Max your house get down and dirty this summer. McCammond, founder and Call Professional Maid owners of Professional Maid Service says, “Encourage Service for the personal, friendly service you’d your kids to keep up with have from a single the chores...and call on our housekeeper...with the professional maids to pick efficiency of a team of maids and the peace up the slack and give you a house that’s as of mind that comes from using a company fresh as a summer day!” that truly stands behind its work. Max says, Let’s face it, the kids aren’t the only “We also offer convenient key drop-off... ones tracking in the dirt. Summer’s a great time for gardening, fishing, working on the so whether you come back from vacation or a neighborhood barbeque, you’ll find a car, cleaning the BBQ, swimming laps, or sparkling clean house!” sweating on the sports field. Enjoy your fun in the summertime and leave the cleanProfessional Maid Service ing to the professionals. Max says, “All 281-342-6500 of our maids are bonded and insured to www.professionalmaidservice.com guarantee the comfort level people require
Cleaning to the
“Max” Max’s Cleaning Tip:
“Your windows and the glass panels on your doors are like the eyes of your home,” says Max. “In summer, they accumulate more pollen and debris (like lovebugs, grass trimmings, and mosquitoes) than in other times of the year... and these will be the first things your houseguests see. Clean them often. One easy trick is to use old newspaper to dry the glass. It will keep the glass streak free…and it’s good for the environment, too!”
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From US-59 in Sugar Land, take Hwy 6 south 3 miles . 281.499.8700
8
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Williams Trace
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Ashton Woods . Christopher Sims . Coventry . Darling Fedrick, Harris . Newmark . Partners in Building . Perry Peterson . Sitterle . Sterling Classic . Taylor Morrison Toll Brothers . Trendmaker . Westin . Westport
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Luxurious Waterside Living in Fort Bend
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To advertise, 281-235-0600 UPCLOSE ~ July 2014 ~ 19
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DELIVERING THAT
MOMENT by Katie Rice
A
t Grand Windows and Interiors, Candelario “Cande” Lopez, his wife, designer Caron, and design consultant Joni Britton work “magic.” When Dr. Johns was moving Millennium Women’s Healthcare to the Memorial Hermann Office Building on the Katy Freeway, he and his wife needed the office furniture reupholstered. Mrs. Johns says, “I contacted the company we used previously, but they told me that it wasn’t possible to do the work in only ten days. I looked into renting furniture, but could not find anything comfortable or safe enough for our patients. We have high quality pieces like wingback chairs and sofas, not standardissue waiting room furniture. I’d already found Grand Windows through an ad in a local magazine and Caron was doing work for me in my house. I told her about our dilemma and she did some quick calculations in her head. She said, “We’ll be cutting it close, but I really think we can do it.”
20 ~ UPCLOSE ~ July 2014
Not only that, but the invoice was actually lower than the one we’d received from the other company!” “As an OB/Gyn office, we can’t shut our doors or have our patients sit on folding chairs, so we planned to use our own dining room chairs while the work was being done. Caron generously offered to have the Grand Windows truck pick up the chairs at our house, unload them at the office, and then remove the pieces to be reupholstered.” “About two days before the furniture came back I started to worry that the wrong fabric would end up on the wrong pieces because the work was being done so quickly. There was no need to worry... Caron’s a miracle-worker! We had different vignettes and areas, so there were five different fabrics that we’d chosen...and every single piece was done perfectly!” “If you had seen the waiting room at 7am Thursday morning, you would not have thought it was possible to be ready to open by 8am. I still don’t know how Caron managed everything...she’s amazing! Due to construction we lost A/C and power for a bit, but Caron never lost
www.upclosemagazine.com
focus. My husband in his hospital scrubs and Caron’s husband Cande hung the pictures, Caron and I arranged the furniture, and when the first patient arrived, the man from the cleaning company was still running a vacuum. Only a few small pieces arrived the next day, and none of our patients even noticed they were missing. Our waiting room is gorgeous!” “Many of our patients have been coming here for years, so they’ve seen our furniture with new upholstery before... but this time we’ve had so many compliments. In fact, the very first patient who arrived opened the door, looked around, and said, “It’s magical!” We wanted to “Wow” our patients...and thanks to Grand Windows, we did!” For more information on Millennium Women’s Healthcare, visit www.drjbramjohns.com
Grand Windows & Interiors
281-342-9160 1405 Avenue I Rosenberg, TX 77471 grandwindows101@yahoo.com www.GrandWindows.com
Speaking About Speech
by Joelie Key-Tissot
C
ommunication is about more than pronouncing words correctly...it’s also about coming up with the right words in the right order in the first place. You probably expect a speech therapist to handle speech disorders like a stutter or a lisp, but skilled speech therapists also treat language disorders like forgetting how words or sentences are formed, what they mean or how to use language appropriately. Dana and Jason Johnson, speech therapists and husband-wife founders of Speech Therapy Unlimited say, “Our speech therapists can help you overcome speech disorders...and language disorders too!” Language disorders can affect people at any age. Jason says, “A child who ‘sounds’ fine but has the vocabulary and comprehension of a much younger child needs speech therapy to bridge the gap and communicate with others.” Dana says, “Stroke can cause aphasia, a language disorder that results from damage to portions of the brain that are responsible for language. Often, a person can still think, but can’t find or assemble the right words to communicate. Speech therapy can help you express yourself and have others understand you, especially when intensive therapy begins soon after the stroke.” Luckily, no treatment needs to be a bitter pill! Dana and Jason with their team of Licensed Therapists make therapy
FUN! Jason says, “I might be talking Texans football with a senior or Pokemon with a 4th grader, but we are secretly working on recall, articulation, sequencing or even specific sounds. iPads, Kindle Fires, and Smart Phones are all platforms for great speech therapy exercises. One of the best things about these tools is that whether my patient is six years old or eighty-six, it’s age-appropriate. Kids think technology is cool and adults don’t feel like it’s a childish way to build their skills.” Dana and Jason agree, “Speech therapy isn’t something we ‘do’ to people. They do the work, while we guide them and cheer them on. Whether your child says ‘wabbit’ instead of ‘rabbit’ or your parent struggles to locate the right words or to understand what you’re saying...we’re here to empower all our patients to communicate with confidence.” Speech Therapy Unlimited, PLLC most major insurance accepted No Headaches, No Unreasonable Terms, Just Great Speech Therapists! 281-746-3053 12808 West Airport Blvd. Ste 332 Sugar Land, TX 77498 www.speechtherapyunlimited.com
www.upclosemagazine.com UPCLOSE ~ July 2014 ~ 21
Dedicated to
“Bringing Out the Best in Kids” O ptimist International is a national organization committed to bringing out the best in kids, by providing hope and positive vision. Dr. Thomas Lomonte, D.D.S. of Stafford is proud to be an original charter member of our local Fort Bend Optimist Club. Dr. Lomonte says, “Since 1983, we have been reaching out to young people in our community, helping them shape their future.” Members of the club conduct positive service projects to provide a helping hand to local youth. With an upbeat attitude and a helping hand, they empower young people to be the very best they can be. At this year’s Youth Appreciation and Scholarship Banquet, the Fort Bend Optimist Club honored 20 students and awarded 11 scholarships to local area high school students. Dr. Lomonte says, “Education is at the core of what the Optimist Club is all about. At this year’s banquet, we honored High School Seniors who
Come in as a patient and leave as a friend!
22 ~ UPCLOSE ~ July 2014
are dedicated to helping others, in an effort to make themselves better people and to make the world a better place. And I really believe that. The kids I met at the banquet really give me confidence in today’s youth. I know they will make a difference...and I’m so proud of them. Congratulations and best wishes to each of them as they move forward with the next chapter in their life!” Dr. Lomonte’s lifelong commitment to community and the Optimist Club is paralleled by his commitment to his patients. Since 1982 Dr. Lomonte has been giving Fort Bend families great smiles at his original location on Murphy Road. He and his staff take pride in greeting you as a patient...and waving goodbye to you as a friend. He has been in practice long enough that he now sees second and third generation patients. But there is always room for new patients and friends-to-be too! Dr. Lomonte says, “I love being a part of this community! Stop by anytime, we’re always happy to hear from you and see your beautiful smiles!”
Thomas M. Lomonte, D.D.S.
“Come in as a patient, leave as a friend.” 12122 Murphy Rd., Stafford, TX 77477 (281) 530-1440 www.drthomaslomonte.com
www.upclosemagazine.com
KEEPING YOU
Local Business Delivers Exceptional Service Sarah Warburton
“A
few years ago,” says Fort Bend resident Allan Meyer, “I read an article in UpClose Magazine about All Out A/C and Heating. It impressed me so much I tore it out and kept it in my desk. When my wife Sharon and I decided to replace both of our nineteen-year-old A/C systems, we got bids from several companies...and All Out A/C was our first choice. I like to use a local company and I confirmed they have a good reputation online and through the BBB. Throughout our experience with them, every single one of their guys answered our questions honestly and without any pressure, really listened to us and made sure they understood us completely, and did their work promptly.” “Our two A/C units had been installed by the builder of our home. One of them in the attic had a “compact install,” which isn’t wrong or unsafe, but isn’t the best choice either. Our guy from All Out A/C told us, ‘If it were my house, I would change this when the new system is installed.’ We took his advice, and they didn’t charge us any extra to do it! The install crew even vacuumed the carpet when they were done and made sure they left the space cleaner than they found it.” “They handled the online warranty registration for us and got all the documentation we needed for our taxes. We got two high efficiency complete systems to help lower our electric bills...and they also qualified for some tax credits.” “A great benefit to choosing a local company is knowing they’ll stand behind their work if something goes wrong. One of the parts on our new system was defective (from the manufacturer) and All Out A/C was Johnny-onthe-spot when they found out about it. They sent someone out the night we called to get it up and running again. Every
single person told us exactly what was going on, not just what they thought we wanted to hear. A week or two after they installed the new part, they installed two carbon monoxide detectors...and they didn’t collect a nickel more than they had told us on the initial quote.” “When you’re choosing an air conditioner, you’re paying for the equipment...but you’re also choosing a business to support. I know firsthand that All Out A/C stands behind their work and if there is a problem they’ll make it right. Before leaving our house, they always walked us around and asked if everything was acceptable. I’ve never met the owners, Bryan Bellamy or Chance Kamp, in person...but every single member of the All Out A/C team understands and delivers an exceptional level of customer service. I highly recommend them!” Don’t wait to get comfortable! All Out A/C offers affordable monthly payments to get you started with a high-efficiency A/C today!
281-238-9292 License #TACLB8446E
www.alloutacandheating.com
UPCLOSE ~ July 2014 ~ 23
how can we help? Appointments & Online Scheduling Houston Methodist Sugar Land Doctors Send an E-greeting Visit the Web Nursery Maps & Directions News & Events