Hospice Is Hope 25 The Healthy Geezer

Hospice Is Hope New Song Center heals hearts

BY LIN SUE COONEY

Director of Community Engagement, Hospice of the Valley

When a child dies, parents struggle with profound grief. New Song Center for Grieving Children helps families pick up the pieces and move toward healing.

Katherine McKitrick knows that journey. She lost two babies shortly after birth — a year apart. New Song counselors and volunteers supported the Buckeye family during that di cult time and through the birth of a healthy child, who is now a preschooler.

“They were so compassionate and helped us process our feelings,” she says.

Zach Schulz of Scottsdale was just 4 when he lost his dad. He never expected to lose his brother, too. But it happened when he was a freshman in high school. New Song’s grief support groups helped him overcome his fears, cope with pain and nd hope again. Wanting to give back, he became a volunteer at 18. Now in his mid-20s, Zach is still working with the “Middles,” the 8-10 age group.

“I’ve really connected with so many kids over the years,” Zach says.

New Song is a Hospice of the Valley program that is open to anyone in our community who has experienced the death of a loved one.

“It gives people a safe and supportive space to share their feelings and understand the sorrow they’re experiencing. Together, they learn it’s possible to live with joy again. And that is the magic of New Song,” Director Lisa Schmitt says.

In August, after more than a year of virtual programming, New Song is bringing back in-person support groups. Groups are held twice a month at six locations — in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Gilbert and Avondale. Services are available at no cost to families and all ages are welcome. Group sizes will be limited in capacity with CDC guidelines in place, and condensed virtual o erings will remain available for families who prefer online support.

In light of this much-anticipated return, New Song is seeking new volunteers (16 or older) and will provide training.

Volunteers like Zach say that helping families heal from the death of a loved one is one of the most rewarding things he’s ever done. His goal is to make sure kids know that losing someone close to them is never their fault, regardless of the circumstances.

“New Song is a great program. It really does help,” he says. “I think everyone gets something out of it — the families and also the volunteers.”

Volunteer training has four sessions. Trainings will be held all day Saturday, August 21 and August 28; and in the evenings on Tuesday, August 24 and Thursday, August 26. The training will be held at Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower Street, Phoenix.

“If the mission of New Song touches your heart, please consider joining,” says Jill Lovill, New Song’s clinical director. “Bring your caring heart, open ears and playful spirit. We will teach you the rest.”

To enroll in a support group, register for volunteer training or obtain more information, call 480- 951-8985, email info@newsongcenter.org or visit newsongcenter.org.

Katherine McKitrick lost two babies shortly after birth. New Song Center for Grieving Children was instrumental in getting her family through the trauma and grief. The McKitricks and their ve kids remain connected to New Song, attending family-friendly picnics and remembrance events. (Photo courtesy of Hospital of the Valley)

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The Healthy Geezer Marijuana use to help glaucoma

BY FRED CICETTI

QI heard that marijuana helps glaucoma. I’d like to try it, but won’t I get in trouble?

AMarijuana can help your glaucoma, and it could get you in trouble because there are legal restrictions upon its use. If you are interested in trying medical marijuana for your glaucoma, discuss this treatment with your doctor. (I could write an entire column on the marijuana laws, but I’ll stick to the health issues.)

Marijuana refers to the parts of the cannabis sativa plant, which has been used for medicinal purposes for more than 4,800 years. Doctors in ancient China, Greece and Persia used it as a pain reliever and for gastrointestinal disorders and insomnia.

Cannabis as a medicine was common throughout most of the world in the 1800s. It was used as the primary pain reliever until the invention of aspirin.

Marijuana contains at least 60 chemicals called cannabinoids. THC is the main component responsible for marijuana’s mind-altering e ect. Marinol (dronabinol), a prescription drug taken by oral capsule, is a manmade version of THC Geezer...continues on page 26

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Geezer...continued from page 25

One of THC’s medical uses is for the treatment of nausea. It can improve mild to moderate nausea caused by cancer chemotherapy and help reduce nausea and weight loss in people with AIDS.

Older people, especially those with no marijuana experience, may not tolerate THC’s mind-altering side e ects as well as young people. Doctors generally prescribe several kinds of newer anti-nausea drugs with fewer side e ects before resorting to Marinol.

Glaucoma increases pressure in the eyeball, which can lead to vision loss. Smoking marijuana reduces pressure in the eyes. Your doctor can prescribe other medications to treat glaucoma, but these can lose their e ectiveness over time.

Researchers are trying to develop new medications based on cannabis to treat pain. THC may also work in treating cancer pain as codeine. A recent study found that cannabinoids signi cantly reduced pain in people with multiple sclerosis, a disease of the nervous system.

Along with the legal implications of smoking marijuana are the health problems such as memory impairment, loss of coordination and the potential for withdrawal symptoms and hallucinations. Inhaling marijuana smoke also exposes you to substances that may cause cancer.

One study has indicated that the risk of heart attack more than quadruples in the rst hour after smoking marijuana. The researchers suggest that a heart attack might be caused by marijuana’s e ects on blood pressure, heart rate and the capacity of blood to carry oxygen.

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