VOL 35 NO 13 | MARCH 26 – APRIL 1, 2016

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VOL 35 NO 13 ww

MARCH 26 – APRIL 1, 2016

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The health profile of

THE HEALTH ISSUE

34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans (APAs) are a diverse group made up of many ethnicities.

Asian Pacific Americans

Individuals suffer health issues that are unique to each subgroup, which cannot be overlooked because these issues often translate as health disparities when compared to the larger population of non-Hispanic whites.

Egg

In most parts of Asia (China, Korea, and some Southeast Asian countries), egg allergies are more common than cow's milk allergies in children below the age of 5. This prevalence ranged from 3 to 4% in a Chinese food study.

Cow milk

After egg allergy, cow milk allergies is the second most common food allergy in young Asian children. In three large Chinese urban cities (Chongqing, Zhuhai, and Hangzhou) this allergy ranged from 0.83–3.5% in children 2 and under.

Shellfish

Crustaceans and molluscs allergies in Asia are the most common food allergies in older children and adults. These allergies are the leading causes of food-induced anaphylaxis in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Surveys show prevalence rates in teenagers in Philippines and Singapore of around 5%. In contrast, a similar survey from the U.S. showed a prevalence of shellfish allergy of 0.7% in teens.

Notably ...

Peanut and tree nut allergies are LESS common

There are almost no cases in children in China and Thailand, and the allergy rates in Asia are generally half that of the United Kingdom and the United States.

THE PREVALENCE OF TYPE 2 DIABETES

(Percentage of population that has a BMI of 30 kg/m2)

51%

48%

46%

COOK ISLANDS

Similar proportions of Asian and non-Hispanic white Americans report having diabetes, but after accounting for the lower BMI of Asians, the adjusted prevalence of diabetes is 60% higher in Asian Americans.

PALAU

Even though Asian adults tend to weigh less than white and Black adults, they often have a higher percentage of fat surrounding their abdominal organs. This visceral fat is particularly linked to the risk of type 2 diabetes.

NAURU

ASIAN AMERICAN HEALTH DISPARITIES 43%

SAMOA, TONGA, NIUE, MARSHALL ISLANDS

Pacific Islander Americans have a high rate of obesity, and Native Hawaiians and Samoans are among the most obese people in the world.

Dietary and lifestyle changes, as well as a likely genetic predisposition to store fat, are possible causes for this high rate. Lifestyles have changed from an active farming- and fishing-based subsistence economy to a more sedentary lifestyle. Starchy foods area also the foundation of the traditional diet. *2014 WHO data

2.4% for men, 14.3% women Asian Americans had the highest annual percentage icrease of HIV/ AIDS of all ethnic groups in the U.S. between 2001 and 2004.

HO

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OH

O O

HO OH

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SUGAR HIGH Publisher Ng shares how she raised her kids on thousands of pounds of sugar. Would she change a thing? » see 10

POST-BABY FAT? Or a life-threatening hernia?

The local doctor performing a life-changing procedure for postpartum moms. » see 7

LEARNING ON AN EMPTY STOMACH WA lawmakers argue the merits of two nutrition bills, HB 1295 and HB 2964. » see 3

connecting families of color How Families of Color Seattle came to be, through the eyes of its founder and executive director. » see 8

Lung cancer rates are 18% higher among Southeast Asian men than among whites. Lung cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among Asian American men and third among Asian American women.

10% of Asian Americans are infected with chronic hepatitis B

names in the news » 2

compared with 0.1% of white Americans. One in seven Vietnamese is a chronic carrier of hepatitis B.

Calendar » 6

Almost 50% of Filipino Americans are overweight or obese.

10% of Japanese and Vietnamese Americans are underweight.

Sudoku » 6

50% of Asian Americans who have lived in the U.S. for less

Astrology » 13

than 15 years are less likely than the general popupation to undergo colon cancer screening.

Research by Emiri Aoki/NWAW

A harmless activity or more dangerous than cigarette smoking?

Why it’s so popular among youths. » see 4 HO

THE MOST COMMON FOOD ALLERGIES

Global top 10 Obese Countries and Territories*

HOOKAH HEALTH RISKS

THE MERITS AND WEAKNESSES OF TRADITIONAL ASIAN DIETS

INFORMATION FROM: goldsea.com/Text/index.php?id=1596 encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3436200213.html faqs.org/nutrition/Ar-Bu/Asian-Americans-Diets-of.html ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3563019/

Image by Stacy Nguyen/NWAW

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22456067/

• Low in fat • Low in sugar • Reduces risk for heart disease and certain cancers

■

Common ailments

• Iodine deficiency • Iron deficiency

• Calcium deficiency

• Protein deficiency

• Vitamin A deficiency

• • • •

Tuberculosis Polio Anemia Respiratory infections

ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/2015/05/15/dangerous-bitescultural-implications-of-food-allergies/ cnn.com/2015/05/01/health/pacific-islands-obesity/ ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1810896/ aancart.org/cancer-research/publications/asian-americancancer-health-disparities aadi.joslin.org/diabetes-in-asian-americans asiandiabetesprevention.org/what-is-diabetes/why-are-asianshigher-risk foxnews.com/health/2011/01/14/asian-americans-higherdiabetes-rates.html huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/23/asian-american-diabetesrisk_n_6368714.html

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asianweekly northwest

■ names in the news Photo by Eric Agar/Daily Bruin

AAPI community loses a legend

Professor Don T. Nakanishi, a pioneer in the field of Asian American Studies, died on March 21.

He was 66.

Nakanishi was the Director Emeritus of the UCLA Asian American Studies Center, the largest and most renowned research and teaching institute in Asian American Professor Don T. Nakanishi Studies in the nation.

Born in East Los Angeles to former incarcerees of Japanese American concentration camps, Nakanishi earned undergraduate and doctorate degrees in political science from Yale and Harvard, respectively.

He is recognized for developing the fields of Asian American political and educational research. Nakanishi was the first to demonstrate that Asian Americans, despite their high group levels of education and income that are usually associated with active political participation, had very low levels of voter registration and voting.

A prolific writer and highly influential teacher, Nakanishi wrote over 100 books, articles, and reports on the political participation of Asian Pacific Americans and other ethnic and racial groups in American politics.

With his passing, Nakanishi leaves behind his wife, Dr. Marsha Hirano-Nakanishi, and son, Thomas. 

Seattle Central welcomes Yoshiko Harden Seattle Central College has named Yoshiko Harden as its new Vice President of Student Services.

Harden begins her new position on March 28 and describes it as “coming home.” She graduated from Garfield High School, one of Seattle Central’s feeder schools. She grew up in the

Yoshiko Harden

nearby Central District and later lived in Capitol Hill. She also interned in the advising office at Seattle Central while earning her master’s degree.

Harden will oversee a system that supports the learning and success of the college’s diverse student population.

She brings 14 years of experience as a practitioner and educator. 

King County’s Auditor, Seattle City Treasurer, Seattle Port Commissioner, and King County Assessor. He also founded the Seattle International District Rotary Club and is a past president of the Japanese American Citizens League, Seattle Chapter. 

Asian-owned business wins award

NAAAP cleans up Jackson and King St. in ID

Frank and Penny Fukui

Congratulations to Frank and Penny Fukui, honored with the Supplier of the Year Award at the 2016 Northwest Mountain MSDC Annual Awards Dinner on March 11.

The Fukuis own Woodburn Company of Everett, which specializes in office imaging equipment, managed print services, document management systems

and, IT services.

The company won similar awards in 2005 and 2006, and in 2011.  Volunteers pick up trash in International District

On March 20, members of the National Association for Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) spent approximately two hours picking up litter along King St. and Jackson St., between 5th Ave. and 12th Ave. This is part of the City of Seattle’s Adopt-a-Street program. There has been more trash under the I-5 overpass due to the homeless living in the area. 

MeeKong Bar celebrates grand opening

Photo by George Liu/NWAW

2

MARCH 26 – APRIL 1, 2016

Lloyd Hara honored

Joan Yoshitomi and Lloyd Hara

Lloyd Hara was honored on Feb. 29 for his public service career spanning 50 years.

The event, at the Nagomi Tea House, was hosted by Gary Locke and Washington State representative Bob Hasegawa.

Hara has served as

From left: Ellen Ta, Luc Ta, Raymond Ta, Anh Chuc, and Di Chuc

MeeKong Bar on 4th Ave. is now open daily for business.

The restaurant celebrated its grand opening on March 14 with much fanfare, including a Chinese lion dance. Guests and dignitaries who attended included Alex Welles, representing King County council member Jeanne Kohl-Welles, and Toshiko Grace Hasegawa, representing Sen. Bob Hasegawa. 

34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ community NEWS

MARCH 26 – APRIL 1, 2016

3

Lawmakers grapple with nutrition bills as WA gets unappetizing report card

“Washington is quickly in a race to the bottom when it comes to ensuring our lowincome students have the food they need to start the school day fueled and ready to learn,” said Carrie Glover, senior policy manager at Within Reach. Glover was one of several advocates supporting HB 1295, the “Breakfast After the Bell” bill.

Washington ranks 45th in the nation for serving breakfast to students eligible for free and reduced-price meals.

Despite a potential loss of $25 million in federal subsidies, according to the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), and numerous studies showing that children who participate in school breakfast programs have better diets, reduced food insecurity, better test performance, and fewer distractions — lawmakers have failed to pass a bill providing hungry K–12 kids with breakfast after the bell, since 2013.

HB 1295, sponsored by Rep. Zack Hudgins (D–Tukwila), would require all high-needs K–12 schools to offer breakfast after the start of the school day beginning in 2017. High-needs schools means any public school with 70 percent of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

“We have massive poverty in South King County,” said Rep. Mia Gregerson, (D-SeaTac) in a recent interview. She sponsored a different school meal bill, HB 2964, which would end reduced-price lunch co-pays for pre-kindergarten and K–12 students.

“It’s pretty clear that communities of color in general have a higher need,” said Gregerson. “Everyone recognizes there’s a need. There’s hyper-focus on K–3, but that’s not our mandate. Our mandate is to serve all of our children.”

Gregerson told a Senate committee, “When I eat breakfast in the morning and I look out the window and I see families living in their cars, that’s a real story.”

More than 90 percent of students in Gregerson’s district rely on free and reduced-price lunches.

“Kids are short 25 cents for their meals daily. What we fight every day inside this Olympia bubble is whether or not that’s the role of government — versus teachers or churches.”

Students in Gregerson’s district, which includes the Highline School District, comprise of Somali, Black, Asian Pacific Islander, and Southeast Asian children and their families.

EDUCATORS GO THE EXTRA MILE

Susan Enfield, superintendent of the Highline School District, was on hand to serve lunch during a recent visit to Southern Heights Elementary School. The school does not have a “Breakfast After the Bell” program, although a few other schools in the district are giving it a try. Enfield said she does everything in her power to keep schools open during snow days because she worries the children won’t get a meal, especially during multiple closures. She wants the Asian Pacific Islander community to know she recognizes the importance of good nutrition for students, and she encourages parents to contact the principals of their children’s schools with questions on getting help with meal programs, whether it’s breakfast or lunch.

Alyssa Dahl, a second and third grade

Photo by Arlene Dennistoun/NWAW

By Arlene Kiyomi Dennistoun Northwest Asian Weekly

Highline Schools Superintendent, Susan Enfield, dishing out lunch to students at Southern Heights Elementary School.

teacher at Southern Heights Elementary, is in her ninth year of teaching. She said 98 percent of her students are students of color. She gets to know her students within two weeks and has two or three kids a week displaying behavior issues she recognizes as not normal. When that happens, she takes them aside and gives them a graham cracker and some juice she keeps on hand (her own resources); the kids always calm down and get on with their school day.

BATTLE ON CAPITOL HILL

State Superintendent Randy Dorn of the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has taken no position on HB 2964. OSPI spokesman Nathan Olson said the superintendent is absolutely supportive of policies that ensure adequate and healthy food for students. Children will benefit from any reduction of barriers in this regard, and HB 2964 is a local school district matter.

It’s uncertain whether HB 2964 will pass this year. Most lawmakers opposed to HB 2964 argue that meals are not the state’s first priority, and that two dollars a week is reasonable to pay no matter how poor and it’s rare that parents do not have 40 cents to pay for lunch. If parents aren’t paying because they’re unemployed, then the legislature needs to address that issue.

Similar arguments were made during House floor discussions on HB 1295.

“This bill (“Breakfast After the Bell”) is a simple bill in many ways. It’s about feeding hungry kids. It’s not about some of the philosophical discussions we’ve (the legislature) had,” said Rep. Hudgins.

“Hungry kids can’t learn. Hungry kids are disruptive. Hungry kids end up in the nurse’s office with grumbling stomachs.”

If HB 1295 fails again, he’ll continue to work on the issue because “it’s the right thing to do,” said Rep. Hudgins in a recent interview. Funding education at the level demanded by the court’s 2012 McCleary decision is not an issue, he added. Billions of dollars are being spent on buildings and

teachers’ salaries. “But if kids are hungry – I hate to say this, but it’s penny wise, pound foolish” not to spend a one-time startup

cost of about $2.6 million. Because school see SCHOOL MEALS on 15

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MARCH 26 – APRIL 1, 2016

■ health

It might smell like strawberry, but it’s still tobacco Can hookah be healthy?

By Peggy Chapman Northwest Asian Weekly

Photo by Stacy Nguyen/NWAW

When you walk through the touristy Pike-Pine corridor in downtown Seattle, it’s hard to miss the smoke shops that pervade the area. On the ground level window display of Smoke Plus, on the busy intersection of Pike and First Ave., there are boxes of cigars, glass pipes of various colors and sizes, and a lineup of grandiose hookah pipes with long coils shoved against each other. A sweet scent permeates the shop’s perimeter that leads down to the basement.

The unique smell comes from a flavor added to the tobacco made for smoking hookah, which has become popular recently in Seattle due to smoking bans.

Hookah is essentially tobacco, but with added flavor. It comes in a variety of flavors—chocolate, mint, caramel, pretty much any flavor you can think of. Hookah is different than traditional tobacco in that it is smoked out of a water pipe and it is often shared and smoked in a social setting. Smoking hookah is a centuries-old practice and most likely began in Persia, India, or the Middle East. There are perceptions of hookah being safer than traditional tobacco because it is smoked through a water pipe, therefore leading to a supposedly better filtration process and a “cleaner” smoking session.

“A lot of our customers believe that there are fewer chemicals…so there is less sensitivity,” said Sameer Iqbal who mans the shop. He explained that the bubbles the water pipe produces during inhalation Hookah pipe

makes the smoke easier on the throat than the typical cigarette.

So while it may be less irritating to the throat, is it actually less harmful? Does it actually filter the harmful chemicals?

According to the Mayo Clinic, “The tobacco is no less toxic in a hookah pipe than in a cigarette, and the water in the hookah does not filter out the toxic ingredients in tobacco smoke. Hookah smokers may actually inhale more tobacco smoke than cigarette smokers because of the large volume of smoke they inhale in one smoking session, which can last as long as 60 minutes.”

Iqbal, who moved from New Delhi to Seattle, believes the rise in hookah popularity is because it is fashionable and trendy among the youth. He feels there is a new appreciation for sharing “shisha,” another term for hookah. He said there is also an appreciation for the flavors versus the “buzz.” (The most popular flavor in his shop is Mint. Double Apple is No. 2.)

He said sharing shisha has always been a part of Middle Eastern social ritual and custom—for example it is common to share shisha at weddings.

Iqbal feels it has become popular recently among youth because it is an easy way to socialize. He said hookah is most popular in the University District, due to the college students (in downtown, regular tobacco and e-cigarettes are the best sellers).

After the smoking ban in Seattle took effect, hookah see HOOKAH on 12

34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ community NEWS

MARCH 26 – APRIL 1, 2016

5

“Top Chef” winner accused of assaulting girlfriend

Photo by Austin Police Dept.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – The 2012 winner of the Bravo TV show, “Top Chef,” has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend in Texas.

Austin police say Paul Qui was arrested the morning of March 19 on misdemeanor charges of unlawful restraint and of assault causing injuryfamily violence.

According to an arrest affidavit, Qui’s girlfriend says he prevented her from leaving an apartment with her child by pushing her and throwing her

against walls, doors and furniture. Qui told police he “only was grabbing and holding her.”

The affidavit says the apartment was in disarray with broken furniture and glass.

Qui posted bond and was released later on March 19.

Qui, the first Filipino American to win the “Top Chef” reality cooking competition, said in a statement that he would be seeking treatment for his problems.

‘‘I asked my friend to call the police to aid in an argument with my girlfriend that had escalated beyond my control. I was arrested and charged with two misdemeanors. I am innocent of the charge of assault,’’ Qui wrote. ‘‘This situation made me realize that I need to take more time for my health and myself. I will be checking myself into a treatment facility in the coming days.”  Ruth Bayang contributed to this report.

Paul Qui

VP Fred Hutch visit Photo by Robert Hood/ Fred Hutch News Service

By MANUEL VALDES Associated Press

Biden watches a video of tumor-melting T cells with Fred Hutch’s Dr. Joshua Veatch.

■ national news

Son of Taiwanese immigrants poised to enter 2018 California governor’s race

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — The presidential contest is dominating national headlines, but the toughest campaign in California might be two years away.

The race to replace Gov. Jerry Brown in 2018 is emerging as a potentially historic competition that could bring the state its first Asian governor.

State Treasurer John Chiang has quietly let it be known he’s “interested” in the race.

The son of immigrants from Taiwan, Chiang spent eight years as state controller and defied an order from then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to cut the pay of more than 200,000 state workers.

Another time, he suspended state legislators’ salaries because they missed a deadline for passing a budget.

Chiang is just the fifth Asian American elected to statewide office in California.  Ruth Bayang contributed to the report.

SEATTLE — Vice President Joe Biden met with researchers at Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center during his visit to Seattle on March 21. The center describes the vice president’s visit as part of a listening tour to promote cancer research.

Cancer is the leading cause of death among Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, even though overall cancer incidence and death rates in these groups are lower than among white Americans, a new American Cancer Society study finds.

There will be about 57,740 new cancer cases and nearly 17,000 cancer deaths among Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in 2016.

President Barack Obama has proposed spending $1 billion for a new initiative to cure cancer. Since the president’s announcement during his State of the Union address in January, Biden has been visiting cancer researchers and advocates.

The vice president’s son, Beau, died of brain cancer last year at the age of 46.

Biden says his work fighting cancer will include clearing bureaucratic hurdles.  Ruth Bayang contributed to this report.

■ world NEWS

China punishes ’Ip Man 3’ distributor for box office fraud

By LOUISE WATT Associated Press

BEIJING (AP) – China’s film authorities have suspended the license of a distributor that inflated box office figures for Hong Kong martial arts movie “Ip Man 3,” according to state media.

The third installment of the franchise starring Donnie Yen opened in mainland China on March 4 and soon attracted allegations of fraud after it reportedly earned more than 500 million yuan ($77 million) in

just four days.

The movie’s distributor, Dayinmu, which is also known as Beijing Max Screen, admitted to having bought 56 million yuan’s ($9 million) worth of tickets, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

“The conspirators fabricated more than 7,600 screenings of the film that they claimed generated 32 million yuan ($5 million) in ticket sales,” Xinhua added. It cited China’s film bureau under the broadcasting regulator. see IP MAN on 12

A smoke-free message, at theaters in Pierce County

Taxi protest causes traffic chaos in Indonesian capital

TACOMA, Wash. – A smoke-free housing PSA is now running in Pierce County movie theaters. It’s an effort to end tobacco use and educate about the dangers of residential smoking.

“The state fire marshal reports smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths in Washington,” said George Hermosillo, smoke-free housing coordinator. “We want people living in apartments and condos and property owners in Pierce County to know just how powerful a change going smoke-free can be,” Hermosillo said.

Asian Pacific Islanders make up 8.1% of

By NINIEK KARMINI Associated Press

the population in Pierce County, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The 30-second PSA is running at AMC, Cinemark, and Regal movie theaters throughout Pierce County. It highlights the benefits of smoking-free housing for property owners and residents.

The National Center for Healthy Housing reports property owners can see a two-toseven times reduction in cleanup costs for smoke-free units. In Washington, about 75% of residents say they want to live in a smokefree environment, according to the State Department of Health. 

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) – Thousands of taxi drivers caused traffic chaos in the Indonesian capital March 22 in a rowdy protest against what they say is unfair competition from ride-hailing apps such as Uber.

TV footage showed long lines of taxis and three-wheel minicabs blocking a central expressway, men setting tires alight and jumping on vehicles that refused to join in the protest. An Associated Press

reporter witnessed drivers surrounding one taxi, forcing its terrified female passenger on to the road with her luggage.

It is the second major protest by taxi drivers in Jakarta this month. They say competition from ride-hailing apps, which don’t face the same costs and rules as regular taxis, has severely reduced their income. Many come to Jakarta from other parts of Indonesia and support their families as taxi drivers.

Driver Jeffrey Sumampouw said his see UBER on 11

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MARCH 26 – APRIL 1, 2016

■ COMMUNITY calendar MARCH 24

25

8th Annual Tomodachi Luncheon Fundraising Event Seattle University, Campion Ballroom 12–1:30 p.m. $150/person, $300/couple 206-568-7114, jcccw.org/ tomodachi-luncheon-2016, tomodachirsvp@jcccw.org

$15/adults, $10/students & seniors 206-441-9729, jazzalley. com

29

(LAST DAY)

“Imprint: Identity Through Art” exhibition The Wing Luke Museum, Seattle wingluke.org

30

(THROUGH 3/27)

Sakura-con Washington State Convention Center info@sakuracon.org

26

“Identity Through Art,” the Wing’s 2016 dinner and auction The Westin Seattle 5 p.m. $200 206-623-5124, ext. 106, wingluke.org/2016auction

31

1

Author Bharti Kirchner discusses “Goddess of Fire” Central Library, Level 1, Microsoft Auditorium, Seattle 7–8:30 p.m.

206-386-4636 (Her)story: Conversations with Entrepreneurial AAPI Women with Maureen Francisco, Susie Lee, Mina Yoo, and Lorraine Yu Hing Hay Coworks 6:30–8:30 p.m. capeproject.org

Webinar: Develop your English for a career in government 12–1 p.m. ehlsprogram.org Seattle Chinese Chamber’s Business After Hours Shanghai Shanghai, 989 112th Ave. N.E. Ste. 205, Bellevue 6-9 p.m. $15-$20 seattlechinesechamber.org

Navruz 2016: Central Asian Spring Festival North Seattle College 4:45–8 p.m. $25/adult, $15/student, $5/5+ years, free/kids under 5 seattle-tashkent.org

28

APRIL

12th Annual Seattle– Kobe Female Jazz Vocalist, live auditions Jazz Alley, Seattle 6:30–9:30 p.m.

2

2016 Dorist Duke Theatre, Honolulu Museum of Art $8–$10 honolulumuseum.org

(THROUGH 4/3)

Japanese literature public reading, “People Sitting in Darkness” University of Washington, Penthouse Theatre, Seattle Fri–Sat, 7:30 p.m., Sun, 2 p.m. $8–$10 206-543-4880, drama. uw.edu/performances Japanese American Citizens League holds 94th Annual Banquet SODO Park 5:30 p.m. jaclseattle.org Grand opening of the longest floating bridge in the world SR 520 Bridge 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

520golong.com Asia Pacific Cultural Center Presents Tea Experience: Hawaii Asia Pacific Cultural Center, Tacoma 10 a.m. $10 asiapacificculturalcenter. org/teaexperience Asia Pacific Cultural Center Presents Taste of Asia, cooking lesson: Hawaii Asia Pacific Cultural Center, Tacoma 12 p.m. $25 asiapacificculturalcenter. org/tasteofasia (through 4/16)

Filipino Film Festival

5

(through 4/30)

7

2016 Legislative Session Report Back Asian Counseling and Referral Service 5:30-7:30 p.m.

RSVP by March 30, MonicaN@acrs.org, Brianne.

Ramos@capaa.wa.gov capaa.wa.gov

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Jewish Refugees in Shanghai (1933-1941) Hillel at the University of Washington, Second Floor 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Free confucius.washington.edu/ shanghai-jewish-refugeesexhibit-1933-1941

Samuel E. Kelly Distinguished Faculty Lecture’s Hidden Bias in Health Care: A Reflection on 10 Years of Health Care Disparities Research University of Washington, Intellectual House 6 p.m. engage.washington.edu/site/ Calendar/1764254689 English Luncheon with David Mao: An update on doing business in China China Harbor Restaurant 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. $15-$25 seattlechinesechamber.org

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34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ HEALTH

MARCH 26 – APRIL 1, 2016

7

Overlake Hospital surgeon offers complex hernia procedure for postpartum moms

She had her baby five months ago. But a medical condition that can be life-altering makes Jennifer* appear as if she is still six months pregnant. Now, a new procedure is giving new hope to Jennifer and others like her.

In surgery, Dr. Helen Kim can see, with the naked eye, that the fascia — a band or sheet of connective tissue underneath the skin akin to the tough silver skin that encapsulates beef or pork — over her patient’s abdominal region was nothing but a barely there white film, damaged and torn.

Normal, healthy fascia, which sits both above and below the abdominal muscles, is usually three-eighths of an inch thick, sometimes more.

In the patients that Kim has operated on in recent years, she has seen such barely there films of weakened fascia lead to hernias and diastasis recti, injuries prevalent in both men and women. This is more common in postpartum women who have had large babies or many children.

Kim hopes to reach a target audience of petite women, including Asians and Asian Americans who are particularly affected by large weight gain during pregnancies. While many women can have children and recover fully, others, especially those with petite frames, may be at risk for developing tension in their abdominal wall that does not repair itself after childbirth.

JENNIFER’S PAIN

Jennifer, a young Indian mother and one of Kim’s patients, was once a skinny 5-foot-5. After giving birth to a daughter and son, both born around eight to 10 pounds, she went to her gynecologist with a painful umbilical disfigurement that limited her activity, one that was growing more painful each day.

“I was having difficulties lifting the baby. I also worked

Photo provided by Dr. Helen Kim

By Tiffany Ran Northwest Asian Weekly

Dr. Helen Kim

full time and was coming and going from work. I’m the kind of person who has a high tolerance for pain, so even if I had to lift my baby, I would just lift her with the pain.

It was becoming more and more severe. It was affecting my lifestyle and at the end of the day, I just couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t move,” said Jennifer.

She experienced pain and sensitivity in her stomach

with certain movements, and the pain also spread from her back to her legs. Though a hernia was not visible through ultrasound, her gynecologist found that she suffered from diastasis recti and may likely have a hernia as a result of childbirth. see KIM on 16

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MARCH 26 – APRIL 1, 2016

■ health Helping families navigate through race, identity, culture, and ethnicity Inspired by her mother’s passion for international travel and global citizenship, Amy Pak started Families of Color Seattle (FOCS), an organization dedicated to building a strong community by supporting families of color through parenting programs, resource sharing, and fostering meaningful connections.

Pak grew up in a homogenous community, and was adopted by white American parents at age 6. She has an older non-biological brother from South Korea, also adopted.

“We were raised in a standard, middle-class Midwest WASP-y town in Minnesota,” Pak said.

Her father, an artist, and mother, an international educator, always hosted international students in their home.

“We always had a really nice value system around arts and creativity, and respective traditions. Our parents tried their best to reinforce global culture, values, and understanding around the contributions of international people and cultures,” she explained.

After she entered college, Pak realized how curious she was about the world and the concept of diversity.

“That’s where my race consciousness began,” she said of her experience at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma.

“My own personal journey of community organizing and collective consciousness around advocacy around the API (Asian Pacific Islander) community has been a beautiful experience,” she said.

Pak’s first job out of college was teaching English in South Korea.

“It helped me reclaim what being a Korean American was about, having my feet in both worlds, and not feeling like I was in either. I was really starting to understand my racial identity, and found a passion for youth programs and youth leadership,” she said.

FOCS is a grassroots and mostly volunteer-run organization. According to its website, FOCS helps parents and children build a strong sense of community, advocacy, and pride. It counters prevailing biases through a race and social justice lens, and by providing a counter-narrative through parenting classes and social media.

The organization has grown a lot in the past year. In addition to the Cornerstone Café, which is a multicultural gathering space for families and the south Seattle community, FOCS holds workshops on parenting skills, infant massage, natural bath remedies, and yoga, to name

Photos by Bo Kim

By Nina Huang Northwest Asian Weekly

Amy Pak

FOCS African Dance with Afua and Boka Kouyate of Guinea

a few.

Additionally, authors of color are featured in discussions called RICE (Race, Identity, Culture, and Ethnicity). All this dialogue is open to the public. FOCS has also begun workshops for preschools, which include topics such as talking about racism with your children.

The organization continues to expand its reach to different areas in Seattle, fulfilling its tagline, “connecting parents to build a loving community of families of color.”

Pak aims to encourage more conversations about racism and colorism, and what the nonprofit and community can do to keep families of color in Seattle, especially with the rising costs.

“How do we keep women of color in the workforce, while balancing really hard double jeopardy?”

With the upcoming election, Pak said FOCS has been approached to back certain issues related to paid family leave, education, and immigration.

“Our greatest purpose is to inform our parents and help them make the best choices. This is a place where folks can bring awareness, so they can be informed and educated responsible voters. Also as a collective, it’ll be interesting to see where we move,” she said.

During this exciting time for the organization, Pak credits a lot of her accomplishments to her mentors in the API community.

“I grew along with them, became a community activist, and learned to find my voice. I really have so much gratitude for a lot of my elders,” she explained.

Within the community, Pak also found love. Her husband, Daniel, is from Hawaii, and even though they come from different backgrounds, their love and ability to identify with the community around social justice made them a great match.

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34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

MARCH 26 – APRIL 1, 2016

9

asianweekly northwest

10

MARCH 26 – APRIL 1, 2016

OPINION

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG Raising kids with sugar a problem?

Not really.

A few years ago, I attended the birthday party of twins. The adults watched the 2-yearold boys celebrate their birthday by experiencing their first-ever taste of chocolate.

“That’s smart that they’re only now getting introduced to sugar,” I thought to myself, as I witnessed the floodgates for sugar consumption being opened for the boys, who hadn’t been allowed sweets prior to this day. Why didn’t I think of that when I was a young mother decades ago? I honestly had no clue about the harmful effects of excessive sugar.

In fact, sweets were an irresistible attraction in my household. I was guilty of feeding my kids tons of preservatives and saturated fats with canned food and takeout meals because I didn’t have time to cook.

I admit that I fed my kids thousands of pounds of sugar by the time they were teenagers. I gave them candy before they turned a year old. I spoiled them rotten, not only with cookies, cakes, pastries, and mini butter croissants, but also with reward trips to ice cream shops whenever they behaved.

I cooked just about everything you could imagine that parents nowadays would think twice about serving their kids.

Photo by Stacy Nguyen/NWAW

By Assunta Ng Northwest Asian Weekly

A sweet treat

Why cookies?

I loved to bake chocolate chip cookies for my sons every week. As soon as I took the cookies out of the oven, the aroma would draw them into the kitchen from all corners of the house.

“Cookies, cookies,” cried my son, while grabbing a couple for himself.

His younger brother would not be far behind, fearing that his older brother would consume them all.

I would also make a couple of jumbo cookies for good measure and I joined my boys in devouring one. Nothing made me happier than seeing my kids enjoy my baking. When the cookie jar was empty, I baked again. Baking became a therapeutic ritual for this working mom.

Ready-made cookie dough was cheap and always available at grocery stores. Convenience sometimes equals survival for us working moms. Processed foods were the least of my concerns, as long as I put food on the table. It’s not that I deliberately sacrificed health for convenience.

Mothers didn’t think in those terms in my days. I didn’t want my kids to be hungry. I didn’t think I had any choice.

Fats but no sodas

None of our family members were over-

weight, so I never worried about our dinner having too much fat or sugar. Butter was what we ate every day with our toast. (I hate the taste of margarine.)

I never objected to their sugary choice of cereal for breakfast.

No matter how strict parents are, they need to make their kids feel like they have some control in their lives. It is important that parents give kids some autonomy.

In my days as a young mother, nobody ever questioned my ability to do a good job taking care of my family and balancing my demanding career.

The sin I didn’t commit was we never stocked up on sodas, because I dislike sodas.

Today, parents who have so much more free information about health and what’s good for kids would be alarmed by what I did. Would I do it differently if I had a second chance?

Absolutely not! We cannot change the past.

How did my kids turn out?

I stopped baking cookies when my kids went to college. My family had outgrown the tradition. Actually, we don’t eat cookies anymore because the store-bought kind don’t see BLOG on 16

34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

MARCH 26 – APRIL 1, 2016

11

OPINION

■ editorial

In with the old

CHILD’S PLAY

It’s time to bring in the old because having fun never goes out of style. Get outside and

play! Prioritize daily unplugged playtime, especially for the very young.

Unstructured play with other kids teaches your kid how to interact with others, solve problems, and work things out. Independent play allows them to tap into their imaginations and creativity, and figure out what they enjoy. Not to mention the benefits of physical activity in light of our nation’s expanding waistline.

Spring is here and the weather is getting warmer. Turn away from the glow of your screens and opt for the warm glow of the sun.

ROLE MODEL

A friend recounted a story to me of being in a car with his 8-year-old son, and his son asked, “Dad, why don’t you love me?” My friend, caught off-guard by that question, looked at his son and said, “What do you mean? I love you with all my heart.” The son said, “You love your phone more than me.

You are always on your phone and you never look at me or talk to me.” Ouch.

Children don’t just want your physical presence. They want YOU. Real face time trumps FaceTime on your screens. Set the example by limiting your own media use.

There was a time when society functioned just fine without all of these modern devices.

Going “old school” in this case seems like a fine idea. 

UBER from 5 earnings have slumped more than 60 percent since Uber and other apps starting getting popular in Jakarta about a year ago.

“The government must defend us from illegal drivers who have stolen our income,” he said. “We almost cry every day because it’s difficult to get passengers.”

Smartphone-based apps such as Uber have turned the public transport industry on its head worldwide. In the U.S. and Europe, the apps have been acclaimed by urban customers tired of struggling to find cabs, while taxi companies accuse the mavericks of running unlicensed services.

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It’s a common sight when you’re enjoying a meal at a restaurant or at a family gathering; parents and children sitting at a table, mom or dad, or both, are engrossed with their smartphone or tablet, rather than each other, and so are the children. They are physically together, but not present or in the moment with each other.

Call it a first world, 21st century problem.

Gone are the days of just a TV set in each room. Now we have laptops, tablets, phones – multiple screens and streaming options at our fingertips. And it’s not uncommon that our devices, namely smartphones, are on our person every minute of the day.

It’s plain to see that our society, especially our children, is plugged in and missing out on the real world action around them. And it starts early. The harried single parent might use a screen as a stand-in for a babysitter.

According to a Kaiser Family Foundation study, the average 8- to 10-year-old spends nearly eight hours a day with a variety of screens, and older children and teenagers spend more than 11 hours per day.

The Seattle Children’s Research Institute found that heavy use of electronic media can have significant effects on a child’s behavior and health, and how well they do in school.

Board games are a great way to fully engage with your children.

Uber has been making a big push into Asia, intensifying competition in a region where there already was a slew of ride-hailing apps such as Malaysia-based Grab, which operates in several Southeast Asian countries including Indonesia. An Indonesian startup Go-Jek, which hails motorcycle taxis, has also exploded in popularity in the past year.

The demonstrations elicited little if any sympathy from commuters in a city that already suffers massive congestion.

“This protest is so terrible. They really are rude and overbearing. I was very hurt,” said Dewi Gayatri, who missed her flight for a business trip to Makassar in eastern Indonesia.

“I still like Uber, and hope the government protects

Uber, because it’s so easy to order and cheaper,” she said.

Officials have given mixed signals recently about how ride apps would be regulated. Indonesia’s president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has previously defended the Go-Jek app in particular as making life easier for Jakarta residents and refused calls to ban it.

Haryono, a driver for the Blue Bird taxi company who goes by one name, said he wanted to keep on working but couldn’t avoid the protest.

“I was forced to stop and join with them,” he said. “I cannot do anything because they look angry. It would be dangerous for me, my passenger and my vehicle if I denied their request.” 

asianweekly northwest

12

MARCH 26 – APRIL 1, 2016

lounge openings escalated. In fall of 2015, there were approximately 11 hookah lounges in the greater Seattle area.

Hookah bars offer customers the product at their table. Hookah bars/lounges/cafes are popular due to the socializing aspect of sharing the hookah. Some lounges offer food, music, and dancing, and many of the lounges are open after 2 a.m., after traditional bars close.

Mo Kairbash, a 28-year-old software engineer from Iran, feels the real benefit to smoking hookah is because it relieves stress and provides an opportunity to regroup with friends.

When Kairbash visits a hookah lounge, it is usually after work, typically with at least two other friends (the rule of thumb is one pipe is shared among three friends, he explained—if there is more than three, order another pipe to avoid interruption). “We pass the pipe around and it automatically turns into conversation mode,” he said. “We talk, have drinks, there’s baklava (traditional dessert with pistachio and honey).” He said he couldn’t imagine smoking hookah alone. For approximately $25 an hour, he and his friends enjoy sharing shisha, food, drinks, and conversation.

Kairbash feels his experience with sharing hookah is unrelated to cigarette tobacco smoking. He feels it is less addictive and much more focused on stress relief, discipline, and social interaction. To Kairbash, it seems unfathomable to smoke alone.

Photo by Emiri Aoki/NWAW

HOOKAH from 4

Loading dock of Kings Hookah Lounge

So are there risks? What about those iconic images in popular culture of the solitary figure smoking a personal hookah—think Jabba the Hut from Star Wars or the caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland?

According to Columbia University’s health resource “Go Ask Alice!”: “Compared to cigarettes, hookah smoke has similar health risks, as well as some unique considerations.

Research comparing the two found that hookah smoke contains the same cancer-causing agents found in cigarettes. Hookah smoke, like cigarettes, produces carbon monoxide (a

IP MAN from 5

FOCS from 8

“These kinds of issues could be considered inevitable in a young industry, but box office fraud has become so serious that it is already harming Chinese cinema,” Zhang Hongsen, head of the film bureau, was quoted as saying.

The bureau ordered the company to suspend distribution for a month while it “rectifies all malpractices” and gave formal warnings to three electronic ticket-selling groups involved in the fraud, as well as 73 cinemas, Xinhua said.

Chinese cinemas and distributors have been accused of faking ticket sales in the past, for example by buying up tickets or counting some of the earnings of one film as those of another.

While a distributor will have to fork out money to buy thousands of cinema tickets, the bulk-buying may boost the movie’s profile enough to become a talking-point and attract a bigger audience.

China’s film market has grown fast in recent years to become the world’s second largest, after the United States. 

He has his own nonprofit called Totem Star, which helps youth learn how to write music and perform as a way to keep them in the recording studios and off the streets.

“We’re wealthy in the community, we know what we stand for, and we build community

contributor to heart disease), and smoking hookah is similarly addictive.” Go Ask Alice also states that there are “communicable diseases spread through saliva and the sharing of the hookah’s pipe, such as hepatitis, meningitis, and tuberculosis.”

And then along with the rise in hookah lounges, there is the controversy that was attached this past fall.

The hookah lounges became a concern after Donnie Chin, a prominent community leader, figurehead, and first-responder in Seattle’s Asian American community, was shot

every day,” Pak said. “We’re both addressing issues of racial justice, anti-racism, equity and access to resources, and the pursuit of happiness for children and family.

It’s been a great experience, the work definitely called us.” 

last summer in the vicinity of King’s Lounge, a popular hookah bar located in the International District.

Chin’s death was not the only concerning incident. During the past two years, there have been two homicides and multiple reports of disturbances and fights around hookah bars.

According to the City of Seattle, there have been an excess of 100 incidents reported.

Mayor Ed Murray acknowledged this controversy, initiated a ban on the lounges, and then retracted the ban within a month. Pete Holmes, Seattle City Attorney, filed a gross misdemeanor charge against King’s Lounge for failure to pay business taxes, but the issue was resolved.

The Seattle police blotter has not reported any recent major incidents around King’s or other hookah lounges in the International District, although there have been calls about noise disturbances, theft, and assault, in the area, but none directly associated with the lounges.

Dr. Laura Blinkhorn, a general practitioner for the Seattle Downtown Public Health Center, said she has not personally encountered any incidents regarding hookah and general health.

When asked about his observations and concerns about hookah and those he sells it to, Iqbal responded that he does not smoke.

“It is not healthy,” he remarked. “But once you are an adult, you are allowed to decide.” 

Solution

Nina Huang can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ astrology

MARCH 26 – APRIL 1, 2016

13

Predictions and advice for the week of March 26-April 1

By Sun Lee Chang Rat — Do you tend to be overprotective of those you care about? Sometimes you just have to trust that they can take care of themselves.

Dragon — Sometimes you just have to ask the question to get the answer you need. Making assumptions in place of that is not a good alternative.

Monkey — Instead of fearing a new challenge that is before you, view it as an opportunity to grow and improve yourself.

Ox — Something that seemed so daunting when you were looking at it from another angle now looks much less intimidating.

Snake — A winning idea doesn’t need to be a complicated one. In fact, the simplest solutions are often the best and easiest to implement.

Rooster — Do you dream of making it to the top? The way to get and stay there is by working through the ranks and learning as you go.

Tiger — If you are willing to give a little from your normally firm stance, then you may receive a bit more cooperation from your peers.

Horse — While your newest venture is well on its way to becoming a success, it is still prudent to have a backup plan just in case.

Dog — There is no better time than the present to begin devoting some time to those areas of interest that really speak to you.

Rabbit — Don’t wait until the last minute to let your companions know of major plan changes. The sooner you notify them, the better the end result.

Goat — You have been dropping hints to your partner, but you are not sure the message is getting through.

Subtlety is not working, so it’s time to be more direct.

Pig — The stage has been set for a fine performance.

Remember that this is the moment for you to step out and shine.

What’s your animal sign?

Rat 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 Ox 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 Tiger 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Rabbit 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 Dragon 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 Snake 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 Horse 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 Goat 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 Monkey 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 Rooster 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005 Dog 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 Pig 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

*The year ends on the first new moon of the following year. For those born in January and February, please take care when determining your sign.

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34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

SCHOOL MEALS from 3 meal programs are based on poverty levels, “we should level the playing field.”

Rep. Hudgins wants the Asian Pacific Islander community to know that the first step is giving access to food. The second step is to provide culturally diverse food.

He went to school in Hawaii, where rice was the norm. “Two scoops rice,” he said, adding, “It feels really good saying that.”

Rep. Mark Hargrove (R-Covington) says spending $2.6 million on “Breakfast After the Bill” legislation is not the wisest use of money, although he agrees it’s difficult for kids to learn when they’re hungry. “We hear rhetoric that hungry kids can’t learn, but I’ve seen with my own eyes that it can get done, and if this is really a priority, we can find a way without this bill,” he said in a recent interview. Rep. Hargrove has voted against the bill every time.

During House floor discussions about HB 1295, Rep. Hargrove said he heard kids don’t get breakfast in the school cafeterias before the start of the school day because often, they don’t arrive in time. “It seems there’s a lack of willingness to look at other alternatives, like adjusting the bus schedule by five minutes.” Rep. Hargrove also pointed out problems with childhood obesity. “I know this bill is to address hungry children, but this is something we need to be concerned about, that we put food constantly in front of kids that don’t need it.”

Rep. Jesse Young (R-Gig Harbor) also voted against HB 1295 in 2014, 2015, and 2016. He said during House floor discussions that the bill would take money away from poor students. Rep. Young did not respond to a request for an interview.

HB 1295, if funded this year, would require the following: • “Breakfast After the Bell” meal alternatives to traditional breakfasts served

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in cafeterias before the start of the school day. Alternatives include grab-and-go, easy to eat foods that can be brought into the classroom, breakfast served in the classroom, or second chance breakfast meals that can be eaten during recess or breaks.

• All high-needs schools must offer breakfast after the start of the school day beginning in 2017.

• Startup grants of $6,000 must be given to each school to help with implementation, equipment, staff, etc.

• Schools must give preference to foods that are healthy, fresh, and Washington-grown.

• Each food item must contain less than 25 percent by weight of added sugar (stricter than federal nutrition standards for school breakfasts).

• The OSPI must help schools implement “Breakfast After the Bell” programs, but it is not a state obligation for basic education.

Superintendent Dorn opposes HB 1295.

He is concerned about the requirement that each food item have less than 25 percent added sugar. Such a requirement is difficult to enforce, said an OSPI spokesman. A supporter of the two school meal bills, Claire Lane, director for Anti Hunger and Nutrition Coalition, said, “All the evidence shows school breakfast makes a difference in school absenteeism, visits to the nurse’s office, suspensions, and even reading scores.”

“School breakfast is not a magic bullet for education, added Lane, “but unequivocally, it makes a notable difference. And it does this largely with federal funds.” Every school meal served gets a reimbursement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the highest reimbursement rate is for the lowest income students. “Serving more breakfasts will help the bottom line for schools and not be a cost to the state, after the initial startup grants,” said Lane.

Lauren McGowan, director of Family Stability for United Way of King County,

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testified in support of HB 1295. She said four out of five teachers have said their students come to school hungry. Barriers include transportation and stigma. Research has shown Washington has dropped from 39th to 45th after other states adopted “Breakfast After the Bell” programs.

Christina Wong, public policy manager of Northwest Harvest, also supports HB 1295, stating breakfast in particular is proven to combat absenteeism and obesity.

The Washington Department of Health did not take a position on the bill, but shared its impact review, which found strong or very strong evidence that HB 1295 has the potential to increase breakfast participation, particularly among lowincome students and students of color. This may improve education outcomes, narrow

educational opportunity gaps and income gaps, improve health, and decrease health disparities.

The FRAC, School Breakfast Scorecard 2014-2015 School Year, ranks states based on free and reduced-price school breakfast participation. The report is available online at: http://frac.org/pdf/School_ Breakfast_Scorecard_SY_2014_2015.pdf.

The FRAC Scorecard reports, “States not maximizing school breakfast participation not only miss out on the student academic and health benefits associated with the program, but also on significant potential economic activity that comes with millions of dollars’ worth of additional federal resources coming into the state and local communities.” 

asianweekly northwest

In every initial appointment, Kim explains the difference between the two conditions through a series of drawings. She draws a series of lines to detail the layers of our abdomen, including the skin to subcutaneous fat to the anterior and posterior fascia that enrobes a layer of abdominal muscle sitting on the peritoneum that rests above the abdominal cavity and organs.

Kim describes the fascia as the scaffolding that holds the muscles midline and in place, the structure behind what fitness gurus call “the core” of our bodies.

When that scaffolding is weakened or damaged, the floppy muscle, and often the organs behind it, protrudes forward creating a visible lump or mass that juts out of the stomach (a hernia).

Or, when the fascia between the two vertical abdominal muscles is nothing but a mere film, the two muscles separate from one another creating a gap that cannot be healed naturally or through exercise (diastasis recti). Often times, the women who come to Kim suffer from both.

A CHALLENGE

Kim recalled one of her most challenging patients, a petite woman whose hernia was so prominent that she was able to see intestinal movement from the taut outer skin of the patient’s stomach.

A patient she saw recently came to her with a six- by 10-centimeter bulge that can be pushed inward, but would naturally flop out if it’s let go. Many women with these problems resort to wearing a belt to keep their muscles and organs from spilling forward. With damaged fascia, there is a lack of tension to withstand the pressure and weight of the abdominal wall, which can lead to worsening spine curvature, back pain, or bowel displacement.

“The other thing I’m told, often tearfully, is that many people ask if [these patients] are pregnant or not. The patient I saw yesterday was saying, ‘It’s like having nothing in your abdomen, so when I pick something up, there’s no strength there.’ She can’t pick it up without [the hernia] pushing out, so she has to hold it in. It’s a challenging circumstance for anyone to live that way,” said Kim. “My own mother, now that I think back on it, she had six children, and I always noticed that her arms and legs weren’t really heavy, but she had this big round abdomen for as long as I’ve known her,” she recalled.

Even five months postpartum, Jennifer’s disfigurement made her appear like she was still six months pregnant.

GAME-CHANGING PROCEDURE

Unlike many basic hernia repairs across the country, Kim is among the few practicing a component separation surgery, coupled with an abdominoplasty (“tummy tuck”) for those with excess skin. The procedure tackles both the functional and aesthetic challenges of the condition. In the past, a patient would have to go under the knife under two different doctors for both procedures. Now, both can be done in one go, under one anesthesia.

“A general surgeon does hernia surgery, but we’re saying, let’s do it in an aesthetic way. Let’s do it in a way that’s lasting using materials that are biologic and giving you a lifetime repair. Really, it’s a true abdominal wall reconstruction, that’s the best way to describe it,” said Kim. Traditional hernia repairs were focused on suturing or closing the gap, which often failed to reinforce tension in the abdominal structure.

These surgeries evolved and incorporated synthetic mesh, which had their own limitations. The mesh often shift or shrink.

However, the development of a porcine mesh, a natural mesh biologically derived from pig skin, has helped to revolutionize the procedure.

Kim’s procedure reconstructs the abdominal section layer by layer: closing the peritoneum to contain the bowel, closing the anterior fascia,

Normal

Abnormal

hernia

muscle

taste as fresh as the ones I made.

I will never forget my sons’ smiling faces and eyes lighting up when they saw cookies on the kitchen counter. I loved to spoil my kids. Food connects people. Food is bonding and love. I would never trade those good old days. So the issue is, did my kids turn out to be sugar-addicted and obese? Have they adopted any unhealthy habits because of the way I raised them?

intestine abdominal membrane

“

Photo by Stacy Nguyen/NWAW

THE CORE OF THE PROBLEM

BLOG from 10

I don’t tell them what and what not to eat now that they are adults. They have become more health-conscious than I am.

The only credit I claim is that my kids have loved vegetables since they were little. They grew up with veggies. And they don’t smoke. In our household, smoking was not allowed.

Most general surgeons take out the bad organs or fix the problem, but rarely get to see the difference. But when you can see that you’re aesthetically and functionally repairing the abdominal wall, it feels really good.”

— Dr. Kim

and carefully sizing and placing the porcine mesh, which she fastens in a retro rectus position with anchoring sutures. The mesh will integrate fully with the body (the pig cells dissolve within months) and act as a regrown fascia that corsets the abdominal muscles into its original place.

“Most general surgeons take out the bad organs or fix the problem, but rarely get to see the difference.

But when you can see that you’re aesthetically and functionally repairing the abdominal wall, it feels really good,” said Kim. Though the cosmetic aspect was less of a concern for Jennifer, she reports that the entire procedure, including the abdominoplasty, has helped her feel like her old self again.

“Aside from the cosmetic

aspect, I can now exercise with no restrictions. For me, the most important aspect is that I can be active with my family and my kids,” said Jennifer.

So used to such restrictions, Jennifer asked Kim what other concerns she should have now that she’s done the surgery.

“You’re all set,” Jennifer recalls Kim saying to her, “Go live your life.” 

Photo by Han Bui/NWAW

KIM from 7

Graphic by Stacy Nguyen/NWAW

16

MARCH 26 – APRIL 1, 2016

*Name assigned to ensure anonymity at the patient’s request.

For more information about Dr. Helen Kim or to schedule an appointment, visit overlakehospital. com.

My sons have taught me more about the health benefits of foods than I could have ever imagined. The future will always work out. Why sweat the past? 

Tiffany Ran can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

Assunta Ng can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly. com.