OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
SCHOOLS/ SPORTS
You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile Mountain Brook Teen Creates Buttons for O’Neal Cancer Center Staff
Thursday, January 28, 2021 • 21
Rehab Reality... by Judy Butler
By Emily Williams-Robertshaw
Addiction is a Family Affair
Photo courtesy
A seemingly simple gesture can have a big impact, especially during a pandemic. It’s something 16-year-old Emily Straughn accomplished during the fall as she created buttons for staff members at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB. Straughn, a Mountain Brook High School student, is the daughter of UAB Medicine gynecologic oncologist Dr. Michael Straughn. The daughter of a physician working on the frontline of the pandemic, she heard stories of her father’s workday and the impact certain health and safety measures have had on his relationships with his patients. “Emily is the type person who is listening when she appears to be engaged in her homework, phone or TV,” Dr. Straughn said. “I think she heard of all the COVID-related health care issues for months and wanted to provide a solution to the problem.” She was inspired to start the “Under My Mask Is My Smile” campaign so doctors such as her father, his fellow medical professionals and his patients could continue to see smiling faces while adhering to mask requirements. “I was very proud of Emily when she started developing this project,” he added. Through the project, Straughn has created personalized buttons for a number of hospital workers. Buttons also feature a mask-free, smiling photo. The project has a level of simplicity, yet the impact is great, according to Dr. Straughn. “As an oncologist, it is so important to provide hope to your patients,” he said, “hope they will feel better, get better and accomplish their goals.” Some of the ways he connects with his patients and helps provide them some hope is through simple human connection. It’s as simple as a smile. “Difficult conversations are usually made better
Emily Straughn has created personalized buttons for a number of hospital workers.
by human interaction, including touch and a smile,” he said. “Hand shakes, hugs, even facial expressions are limited by the pandemic.” According to Dr. Straughn, the buttons have been quite popular among the staff. When staff members don their buttons, it is a way to remind their patients that they care. “It is great to see the staff wear their buttons every day,” Dr. Straughn said. “It becomes part of their daily routine. Patients have given us lots of positive feedback. Makes me proud to be part of a simple gesture.”
Straughn was inspired to start the “Under My Mask Is My Smile” campaign so doctors such as her father, his fellow medical professionals and his patients could continue to see smiling faces while adhering to mask requirements.
CLASSIC TRACK High school track and field teams from the Over the Mountain area and throughout the state competed in the MLK Indoor Track Classic, held on Monday, Jan. 18 at the Birmingham Crossplex. Highlights from the competition included Crawford Hope of Homewood High School claiming first place in the boys 3200. In addition, Hoover High School girls won the 4x200, Kayla Jemison of Hoover won the girls triple jump, Briarwood’s Ansley Murphy finished first in girls pole vault and Homewood’s Reid Catherine Bunn won girls high jump.
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
Hoover’s Jay Avery.
Crawford Hope of Homewood High School took first place in the boys 3200.
All too often it’s the family that has the problem more so that the addict. The addict may be in lala land while the drugs and/or alcohol is in control for his or her emotions and thoughts. Meanwhile it’s the family that is suffering. Often a family member calls because he or she is exhausted from dealing with the financial woes or the fear that the last drink or drug will literally be the last one. Interestingly, after years of being manipulated by this addictive behavior the family still doesn’t understand that this behavior can’t be fixed in a week or two or even four. Sometimes parents and others expect a “quick fix”… it doesn’t happen. The addiction didn’t happen overnight and neither will the solution. When clients come to Bayshore Retreat they can begin to see how the world is different and can be different for them without drugs or alcohol controlling their every thought. There’s great food, a beautiful home, access to a phone (either their cell or the house phone) and life is good. That’s a life we want them to desire going forward. Next comes the hard work to get there by identifying the toxic personalities in his or her life and helping them see the truth. Reality checks such as relationships, irrational thinking, money management, anger, and a list of life challenges follow this with coaches and counselors to guide them through what we call Life Skills. Someone told me that they couldn’t see how 12-step meetings could help. I don’t see it as a rehab program, but I do see the benefit afterward as a possible support group.
