Mom's Notes October November 2015 by TwoRedPens

NELSPRUIT

WE TAKE CARE OF THE TINIEST DETAILS OUR NEONATAL CRITICAL CARE UNIT OFFERS WORLD-CLASS INFANT CARE, RIGHT ON YOUR DOORSTEP. Mediclinic Nelspruit boasts the largest neonatal critical care unit in the Lowveld, with the ability to provide state-of-the-art maternity, neonatal and paediatric care.

SOUTH AFRICA • SWITZERLAND • UAE • NAMIBIA www.mediclinic.co.za

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The unit is staffed by a team of highly specialised medical personnel and supported by five paediatricians so that you may be assured of the expertise you expect and the care you deserve.

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here are a lot of great things about summertime, but for kids and adults alike, the best part is all the potential downtime to just hang out and play. Play is actually productive. It makes us more creative. And for kids especially, the benefits social and emotional benefits are HUGE. Kids today spend less time just playing than they did in previous generations, both indoors and out. All told, children have lost 8 hours per week of free, unstructured, and spontaneous play over the last two decades. The benefits of play are great - more farreaching than just helping kids blow off steam or get a little physical exercise. In addition to helping kids learn to self-regulate, studies show that child-led, unstructured play (with or without adults) promotes intellectual, physical, social, and emotional well-being. Unstructured play helps children learn how to work in groups, to share, to negotiate, to resolve conflicts, to regulate their emotions and behavior, and to speak-up for themselves.

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Le tour de fragrance The changing of seasons is a great cue for changing your smell. Light floral scents are right at home in the summertime when flowers are blooming

or some of us, the art of wearing perfume is in an arena all its own. The fashion icon Donatella Versace, for instance, has a collection of perfumes numbering in the hundreds. For the most part it comes down to personal preference, but of course there are some other factors to consider. Does it go with your outfit? Think of perfume as an accessory, like a necklace or a purse or a fabulous pair of shoes. A scent can send a message or create a mood, so changing your aroma to reflect how you feel or what you’re wearing is a fun way to accentuate your look. Maybe your yellow sundress calls for hints of citrus, while your favorite pink sweater begs to be paired with the aroma of cherry blossoms. Mix, match and get creative just like you would with any other item in your closet. Let’s not forget one of the most important times to change up your perfume: to suit the occasion. Daytime scents should be light - barely noticeable especially if you work around a lot of other people. Bold perfumes are best saved for evenings and special occasions. So if you like wearing perfume all the time, having different daytime and evening scents is something to consider. And, it’s not always your taste that’s changed, sometimes perfume makers reformulate their scents by swapping out ingredients. So if your favorite bottle just doesn’t smell like it used to, maybe it’s time to try something else.

Why not try some of our scents? Versace

Eros Pour Femme It smells like: Vacation along the Mediterranean coast—crisp, summery and with just the right amount of opulence. 6

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Prada

Candy Florale

It smells like: Candy and romance or a bouquet of flowers standing on the counter of an ice cream shop in Italy.

Estee Lauder Modern Muse

It smells like: What it means to be an independent and self-confident woman today, sure of herself and her style. A two accord composition of sparkling jasmine and sleek woods.

Jean Paul

Gaultier Classique

It smells like: Voluptuous note of roses, soft and sweet. In the middle, the light character of orange blossom warms with its hypnotic sweetness, before a creamy base of vanilla smothens the skin.

Thierry Mugler Angel

It smells like: Exotic and spicy itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a little stong but if you use a light hand it smells fantastic.

Crossing Centre: +27 (013) 755 5500 Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Langa Mall: +27 (013) 742 2225 White River: +27 (013) 751 2267/8 Visit www.mopani.co.za or find us on Facebook

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mom’sNOTES

Redakteurs Brief

Liewe Mamma

Oktober maand is die mooiste moosite maand! Oral waar jy kyk is die laeveld getooi in blomme, geel, pienk en pers. Alhoewel die Jakaranda boom as ‘n indringer beskou word, bly dit steeds baie mooi, veral na ‘n laatmiddag reën buitjie as die blomme soos ‘n pers mat onder die bome lê. Soos ek hier sit en deur die uitleg gaan, besef ek opnuut hoe dankbaar ek is. Ek het op die 22 Junie uitgevind dat my ma gediagnoseer is met borskanker. My wêreld het letterlik byna tot stilstand gekom. Inderhaas het ek planne gemaak en sy het by ons kom bly. Sy is tans onder behandeling by Dr. Retief en kry weekliks Chemo. Sy is baie sterk en ‘n regte vegtertjie. Ek is so trots op haar en is so dankbaar dat sy hier kan wees sodat ek na haar kan omsien. My hart gaan uit na elke ouer met ‘n spesiale kindjie, en na elke person wat geraak word deur kanker. DIt is “Onnie dag” op 5 Oktober! Met groot dankbaarheid wil ons van Mom’s Notes se kant af, dankie sê vir elke onderwyser wat so ‘n groot rol in ons kinders se toekoms het. Mag ek ‘n baie spasiale onderwyseres uitsonder, Juffrou Cherlene van Heerden. Sy gaan ook mamma word hierdie maand. Sy het ‘n ongelookflike groot verandering in my dogterjie se lewe gebring. Woorde is nie genoeg om dankie te sê nie, sy is voorwaar ‘n engel in my oë. Die Mom’s Notes is werklik waar besig om te blom. Dis met groot waardering en dankbaarheid aan ‘n dinamiese span! Ek wil graag vir Amanda uitsonder, wat so hard aan die layout en design werk. Sy vat letterlik elke prentjie in my kop en sit dit op papier vir my!

baarheid Met groot dank Yulandi

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INDEX

ON THE COVER

GIFTED CHILDREN

WATER SAFETY

True giftedness is rare, but the good news is that there’s loads you can do to help your child reach his or her full potential.

The Kroon Family -

The inspirational story of Kristi. pg 22 - 27

Water can be dangerous for kids if parents don’t take the proper precautions.

SERPENT TIME

With the warmer months upon us, snakes are becoming more common. Knowing about snakes can truly save a life.

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70 122

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Disclaimer: While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information, neither Mom’s Notes nor TwoRedPens can be held responsible for damages or consequences of any errors or omisions. The publisher does not stand warranty for the performance of any article or service mentioned in this magazine whether in an advertisement or elsewhere. Redistribution of Mom’s Notes, alterations or unauthorised reproduction of any advertisers’ artwork in any way, is strictly prohibited. Mom’s Notes and the artwork contained inside is the property of TwoRedPens and its advertisers.

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108 122 126 SWIMWEAR

Swim styles change all the time, jump into a new one with our tips.

MAGICAL CHRISTMAS

The German christmas markets is world renowned. Start planning your trip now.

MOVEMBER

Changing the face of men’s health.

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GROWING

strong

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Take a stand and show you care about people with serious blood disorders like leukaemia. Buy and wear your bandana on 12th October and contribute towards saving a life.

he Sunflower Fund was formed in 1999 in support of the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) and was inspired by Chris Corlett and Darren Serebroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heroic struggle against leukaemia. It was formed by parents whose children had contracted leukaemia, and in some cases had lost their battle against it. Their aim was to secure financial support in order to increase the number of bone marrow stem cell donors in South Africa. With the odds of finding a donor being 1:100 000, the idea is to expand the registry to at least 100 000. You can help by joining the SABMR. All you have to do to be registered on the SABMR is to give two tubes of your blood. We need your fast response and long-term commitment. The Sunflower Fund aims to educate and recruit a viable source of well-informed potential bone marrow stem cell donors who are ethnically diverse, in an effort to save the lives of those needing a transplant when suffering from life-threatening blood disorders.

RAISING FUNDS

The Sunflower Fund carries the full responsibility nationally for raising the funds needed to meet the costs of all tissue typing of bone marrow donors for the purposes of increasing the SABMR and has played a major role in enabling the SABMR to expand dramatically from 1 200 to over 70 000 donors over the past 15 years. The Sunflower Fund is a well governed organisation managed by a highly competent Board of Directors comprising of individuals with a variety of skills and expertise. The Sunflower Fund, originally founded in Cape Town in 1999, has launched Donor Recruitment & PR centres in Gauteng and Kwa-Zulu Natal, which help in the ongoing recruitment of donors, educating the public and fundraising events to ensure the SABMR continues to increase in numbers, demographic representation and quality of donors typed.

DEDICATED STAFF

A passionate and dedicated team of staff now runs The Fund which includes the national call-centre, all awareness drives and fundraising events. Many recruitment drives are held at schools, universities and corporate companies throughout South Africa. Pathcare and Western Province Blood Transfusion Services (WPBTS) continue to take blood samples of new donors on an ongoing basis in the Western Cape. The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) continues to take blood samples of new donors in KZN, Gauteng and Northern Province regions. The SANBS continue to do the tissue typing tests for us. The Sunflower Fund could not operate without the wonderful support and co-operation received from the SA National Blood Service and Pathcare. Published by TwoRedPens | www.tworedpens.co.za

FUNDRAISING EVENTS

The past year has been an exceptionally busy and productive one with regard to fundraising. Fundraising events during the year included our signature events: Annual Sunflower Golf Day, Miles for Marrow Cycle Ride, Annual Sunflower Ball and National Bandana Day campaign. Many smaller events are held around South Africa throughout the year. The Sunflower Fund thanks Pick ‘n Pay for their ongoing commitment to National Bandana Day, where every South African is encouraged to wear a bandana to work, university or school to show their solidarity with those fighting leukaemia and to raise funds for tissue typing. The Sunflower Fund is committed to the continued recruitment of new donors, in full support of the SABMR, in order to reach our mutual goal in the interests of all South Africans suffering from lifethreatening blood disorders such as leukaemia.

OUR MISSION

The Sunflower Fund aims to educate and recruit a viable source of well informed potential bone marrow stem cell donors who are ethnically diverse, in an effort to save the lives of those suffering from lifethreatening blood disorders. It strives to maintain the associated donor records of the South African Bone Marrow Registry.

Short-Term Goal

The Sunflower Fund’s short-term goal is to increase the SABMR to 100 000 donors and at a cost of R 2000 per donor to test them at the Molecular (DNA) Level: • We have set a target to recruit 6500 donors in 2015 (4500 via our targeted recruitment donor drives and 2000 donors via our call centre) • In January 2012, we implemented the new Molecular (DNA) Testing which is more accurate and more advanced but is now going to cost The Sunflower Fund R2 000 per test which means we would have to raise over R13 million.

ARE YOU?

• Committed to helping anyone. • Between 18-45 years old. • In general good health (not at risk of contracting hepatitis or sexually transmitted diseases). • Over 50kg and with a BMI <40. • A blood donor (preferable but not necessary). • Prepared to remain in the SABMR until you’re 60 years old. 12

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For more information on National Bandana Day or becoming a stem cell donor, call the toll free line on 0800 12 10 82 or visit www.sunflowerfund.org.za Published by TwoRedPens | www.tworedpens.co.za

Article: Ananda Craven

spesiale BEHOEFTES OUERS VAN KINDERS MET

“I am only one…but still I am one. I cannot do everything but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do something that I can do!! “

it is hierdie “commitment” en passie van terapeute, sielkundiges, dokters en onderwyseresse wat dit vir ouers moontlik maak om die pad aan te durf met ‘n kind met spesiale behoeftes (soos Down’s sindroom, outisme, disleksie ens.) en meestal in die proses nog staande bly. As ouers vir die eerste keer bewus raak van die feit dat hul kind ‘n gestremdheid/leergeremdheid/ inperking/ versteuring (”disorder”) of een of ander diagnose/probleem/agterstand het, word hul met ‘n totaal nuwe realiteit gekonfronteer. Hierdie nuwe pad wat saam met hulle kind geloop moet word, word gekenmerk deur: - ‘n lewe gevul met intense emosies - gekompliseerde besluite - ‘n behoefte aan baie inligting en - ‘n betrokkendheid by baie professionele persone met ‘n “vreemde nuwe taal”/terminologieë. Ouers beskryf hierdie nuus of diagnose as … “ ‘n ongelooflike slag”, “oorweldigende intense emosies wat soos ‘n vloedgolf oor jou kop losbars”, “feeling devastated”, “totale skok/verwarring”, “ ’n gevoel van bittere alleenheid/isolasie”, “asof ‘n swart sak oor jou kop getrek word”, “ die wind word totaal uit jou seile geneem”, en “’n mes wat in jou hart gedruk word”. Dit klink dalk bitter dramaties, maar onthou tog dat jou kind, eintlik jou hart is wat buite jou lyf rondloop!...en aan die wêreld se eise en genade blootgestel en onderwerp word. Ouers beleef gewoonlik verskillende emosies wat losweg in fases verdeel kan word, maar nie noodwendig in dieselfde volgorde of met dieselfde intensiteit deur almal beleef word nie.

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ONTKENNING/ONGELOOF

Tydens hierdie fase vind die ouers dit moeilik om te glo dat die nuus die waarheid en realiteit is. Baie ouers bevraagteken dan die opinie van die professionele persone (dokters/terapeute/ sielkundiges) en glo en voel dat hulle nie weet waarvan hulle praat nie of dat hulle ‘n geweldige fout maak. Woorde wat die ouers se gedagtes gedurende hierdie fase verder beskryf, sluit in: “ dit kan nie met my/my kind of ons familie gebeur nie”, “dit kan net nie waar wees nie”, of “hulle praat sekerlik van iemand anders”.In hierdie fase help dit ouers soms indien hulle aangemoedig word om ‘n tweede of derde opinie in te vorder en ander professionele persone te raadpleeg, totdat hulle werklik oortuig is van die bevindinge en diagnose. Dit is ‘n lang en moeilike pad wat die ouers moet stap en waartydens hulle gevoelens gerespekteer moet word. Die ouers is dan nog nie gereed om hierdie oorweldigende realiteit, wat hulle nie verwag het of wil hê, te aanvaar nie. Wees geduldig!

WOEDE

Die woede tydens hierdie fase is gewoonlik baie intens omdat dit deur gevoelens van verlies, gepaardgaande met ‘n diepe droefheid “grief” (wat moeilik beskryf kan word), veroorsaak word. Die ouers raak dan soms aanvallend teenoor die persoon wat die nuus, inligting of diagnose aan hulle oordra.

VREES EN ANGS

Die vees vir die onbekende is baie meer intens, as die vrees vir die bekende, al is hierdie feite/ diagnose (“bekende”) nie wat die ouers sou kies nie.

Die ouers beleef tydens hierdie fase â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;n oorweldigende onsekerheid oor die toekoms van die kind. Hulle vra hulleself vrae af soos wat van die kind gaan word indien hulleself nie meer daar is om na die kind se belange om te sien nie. Hulle vrees die gemeenskap se verwerping van die kind. Ouers verwag dan ook gewoonlik die heel ergste scenario gepaardgaande met die diagnose.

SKULDGEVOELENS EN KOMMER

Hierdie fase word gekenmerk deur selfbetwyfeling en selfs selfverwyt. Ouers beleef dan algemeen skuldgevoelens en is bekommerd dat hulle moontlik die probleem/afwyking kon veroorsaak het of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;n rol daarin gespeel het.

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Sommige ouers se persoonlike godsdienstige interpretasie kan soms gevoelens van blaam en straf veroorsaak en vrae soos “wat het ek gedoen om dit te verdien?”, word tydens hierdie fase aan hulleself gevra.

VERWARRING

Ouers beleef tydens hierdie fase verwarring en ‘n onvermoë om besluite te neem. Hulle sukkel om sin te maak van al die nuwe inligting. Ouers beskryf periodes van slapeloosheid tydens hierdie fase, wat meestal toegeskryf kan word aan “mental overload”, waartydens hulle gedagtes nie afgeskakel kan word nie en hulle ooweldig voel deur al die feite en opinies. Dit kom soms voor asof die ouers nie weet waar om te begin nie en doen dan soms NIKS. Baie ouers begin in hierdie fase om rond te “shop” en spring rond van die een professionele person/behandeling tot die volgende. Dit is ook algemeen dat die ouers alle hoop in hierdie fase vestig op verskeie alternatiewe behandelings wat die “magic cure” belowe. Dit gee dan ook algemeen aanleiding tot die volgende fase van hulpeloosheid, aangesien niks die problem onmiddellik wegneem nie.

HULPELOOSHEID

Die ouers beleef tydens hierdie fase ‘n “disempowering” magteloosheid en hulpeloosheid om dit wat besig is om te gebeur, asook die diagnose/gestremdheid te verander. Ouers oor die algemeen wil bevoeg voel om hulle kinders te kan help en te beskerm. Dit is dus baie moeilik om die diagnose en gepaardgaande implikasies te aanvaar en om beheer te moet oorgee. Dit is veral moeilik vir ouers om op ander persone (dokters, sielkundiges, terapeute) wat op daardie stadium nog redelike vreemdelinge is en waarmee daar nog nie ‘n diepe vertrouensverhouding opgebou is nie, staat te maak.

TELEURSTELLING

Die ouers beleef in hierdie fase ‘n diepe teleurstelling in die feit dat hulle kind nie perfek is nie. Dit is daarom soms baie moeilik vir die ouers om hierdie kind met al hulle probleme en tekortkominge onvoorwaardelik te aanvaar net vir wie hulle is. Die ouers se ego’s word tydens hierdie fase op die proef gestel en groot uitdagings vir die waardesisteem word beleef.

VERWERPING

Tydens hierdie fase word die kind sowel as die terapeute/sielkundiges/dokters en hulle opinies weggestoot en verwerp.

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Emosies van verbittering en sinisme kan die oorhand neem. Depressie kom algemeen in hierdie fase na vore en in ekstreme gevalle beleef die ouers selfs ‘n “death wish” tenoor die kind, aangesien die ouers glo dat dit sodoende van al die struikelblokke, teleurstellings en hartseer in hulle en hulle kinders se lewens ontslae sal raak.

ROU

Tydens hierdie fase moet die ouers van al hulle drome van ‘n perfekte bondeltjie mens met die lewe se mooi moontlikhede en oorwinnings vaarwel roep en afskeid neem, soortgelyk aan die rouproses van ‘n geliefde wat aan die dood afgestaan is. Die ouers verloor die verwagte “perfekte/ideale kind” en moet afstand doen van al die hoop en drome van wie die kind moes wees, wat hulle nou nie meer beskore is nie.

AANVAARDING

Tydens hierdie fase raak die ouers toenemend realisties oor kind se vermoëns. Die ouers wil primêr sien dat hulle kind gelukkig is in veilige geborge liefdevolle situasie waar daar begrip is en waar die kind die nodige stimulasie, ontwikkeling van potensiaal en realistiese bereiking van mylpale kan beleef. In hierdie fase is dit baie belangrik dat die ouers bemagtiging beleef en voel dat hulle deel kan vorm van die kind se groei , ontwikkeling en aanpassing, soos geïllustreer deur die volgende aanhaling:

“ We need respect, we need to have our contribution valued. We need to participate, not merely be involved. It is, after all, the parent who knew the child first and who knows the child best. Our relationship with our sons and daughters is personal and spans a lifetime”.

Die verhouding tussen die ouers en terapeute/ sielkundiges en dokters behoort op hierdie stadium gekenmerk te word deur wedersydse respek, vertroue, eerlikheid, openhartigheid en die uitruil van inligting en idees. Beide hierdie partye (professionele persone sowel as ouers) het belangrike kundigheid, elkeen op hulle eie terreine, om te deel en tot die proses by te dra. Ouers in hierdie fase van berusting en aanvaarding, besef dat die kind se ontwikkeling en funksionering anders is as die van die normgroep, maar dat die

kind beslis nie minder waardevol, “less human”, en minder belangrik is nie en dat hulle net soveel, indien nie meer afhanklik van die ouers se liefde, aanvaarding en respek is nie. HOOP is sekerlik die belangrikste en die waardevolste element wat hierdie fase kenmerk. Daar is ‘n Sweedse gesegde wat lui: ” Those who wish to sing, always find a song!. Koester dus hoop saam met hierdie ouers en verbly julle saam met hierdie ouers al is dit oor een klein nuwe mylpaal wat deur die kind bereik is. Die volgende aanhaling van ‘n ouer van ‘n gestremde kind ruk mens aan die hart: “This experience we did not choose has made us different, has made us better…. because out of it has come, for all of us, and unimagined life and I will not change the last word of the story … LOVE. Aan die ouers sowel as die mense wat hierdie pad saam met hulle stap, onthou asseblief dat die KIND (in al hulle uniekheid en glorie) eerste kom en dat die “disability”, versteuring, diagnose tweede kom. Published by TwoRedPens | www.tworedpens.co.za

S A FELY W

e all need some sun exposure — it’s the top source of vitamin D, which helps our bodies absorb calcium for stronger, healthier bones. But it doesn’t take much time in the sun for most people to get the vitamin D they need. And repeated unprotected exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause skin damage, eye damage, immune system suppression, and skin cancer. Even people in their twenties can develop skin cancer. Most kids get much of their lifetime sun exposure before age 18, so it’s important for parents to teach them how to enjoy fun in the sun safely. Taking the right precautions can greatly reduce your child’s chance of developing skin cancer.

FACTS ABOUT SUN EXPOSURE

The sun radiates light to the earth, and part of that light consists of invisible UV rays. When these rays reach the skin, they cause tanning, burning, and other skin damage.

UVA rays cause skin aging and wrinkling and contribute to skin cancer, such as melanoma. Because UVA rays pass effortlessly through the ozone layer (the protective layer of atmosphere, or shield, surrounding the earth), they make up the majority of our sun exposure. Beware of tanning beds because

they use UVA rays as well as UVB rays. A UVA tan does not help protect the skin from further sun damage; it just produces color and a false sense of safety.

UVB rays are also dangerous, causing sunburns,

cataracts (clouding of the eye lens), and effects on the immune system. They also contribute to skin cancer. Melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, is thought to be associated with severe UVB sunburns that occur before the age of 20. Most UVB rays are absorbed by the ozone layer, but enough of these rays pass through to cause serious damage.

AVOID THE STRONGEST RAYS

First, seek shade when the sun is at its highest overhead and therefore strongest (usually from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the northern hemisphere). If kids are in the sun during this time, be sure to apply and reapply protective sunscreen — even if they’re just playing in the backyard. Most sun damage occurs as a result of incidental exposure during day-to-day activities, not from being at the beach. Even on cloudy, cool, or overcast days, UV rays travel through the clouds and reflect off sand, water, and even concrete. Clouds and pollution don’t filter out UV rays, and they can give a false sense of protection. This “invisible sun” can cause unexpected sunburn and skin damage.

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Often, kids are unaware that they’re developing a sunburn on cooler or windy days because the temperature or breeze keeps skin feeling cool on the surface. Make sure your kids don’t use tanning beds at any time, even to “prepare” for a trip to a warm climate. Both UVA and UVA/UVB tanning beds produce sunburn. And there is an increased risk of melanoma in people who have used tanning beds before the age of 35.

IF YOUR CHILD GETS SUNBURN

A sunburn can sneak up on kids, especially after a long day at the beach or park. Often, they seem fine during the day but then gradually develop an “after-burn” later that evening that can be painful and hot and even make them feel sick. When kids get sunburned, they usually experience pain and a sensation of heat — symptoms that tend to get worse several hours after sun exposure. Some also get chills. Because the sun has dried their skin, it can become itchy and tight. Sunburned skin begins to

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peel about a week after the sunburn. Encourage your child not to scratch or peel off loose skin because skin underneath the sunburn is vulnerable to infection.

BE SUN SAFE YOURSELF

Don’t forget: Be a good role model by consistently using sunscreen of SPF 30 or greater, wearing sunglasses, and limiting your time in the sun. Doing so not only reduces your risk of sun damage — it also teaches your kids good sun sense. Source: www.kidshealth.org

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down right

PERFECT In this addition we caught up with the Kroon Family. Marita tells us about life, work and raising a child with special needs.

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aving children is like watching your heart walking outside your body for the rest of your life.... Having a child with special needs teaches you to not take anything for granted and that you cannot plan for tomorrow as today is a gift. Would I have it differently? I actually think not. Meet Kristi. She is 10, going on 11. She has long beautiful dark brown hair. She loves ice cream and hates load shedding. She kisses you hallo and can ask you to leave. She does not lie and she lives to dance and do gymnastics. She has Downâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s syndrome.

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What does that mean and how does it change a family? Kristi is the eldest of our 3 kids. Gerrit and I expected our first born when we were living in Cape Town. We wanted to keep her gender as a surprise. Yes, she came as a surprise. One that would change our lives for ever... On 1 September 2004 I gave birth to a baby with Down’s syndrome. We did not know before she was born. We weren’t prepared. The shock of the news caused such trauma that my body took years to recover from it. 5 years, 2 miscarriages, 3 babies: a down syndrome daughter, a girl and a boy, later - I truly understood why they said having children was not child’s play... Kristi’s name means ANOINTED and FOLLOWER OF CHRIST. Since very young we realised that although she is hard work and it involves a lot of admin, she has an anointment and touches people wherever she goes! She might be slow with certain development milestones, but her spirit is perfect and very tuned in to God, worshipping and other people’s feelings. Kristi’s speech is very slow and somehow unclear, but she is very eager to learn and also wants to do homework everyday as her sister and brother are doing! She can count and is busy learning to write her name. We didn’t know any better as she was our first born, and since day one we treated her as normal... Our nanny Eunice started to work for us when I found out I was pregnant with Kristi. This was a divine appointment as Eunice cared for and looked after Kristi since her birth. She assisted our family to cope with the shock and many days just assured me: Marita, she is a normal baby and she will grow up... Today she still plays a huge role in Kristi’s well being and really has a way to keep her happy and calm and even operational.. Kristi was a difficult baby. More because of her temperament than her condition. She was slow with fast reactions and no impulse control. With dedicated tutoring she became loved and she is reaching her possible potential. We invested in Kristi’s education and believed in early intervention. She received several necessary therapies and even does horse riding, swimming, gymnastics and dancing! She had her own teacher in her own class in a normal nursery school (Mosaiek) and this was excellent for her focused tutoring but also assisted socially as she played with and learned from the other scholars during break time. Our saving grace was the dedicated attention and help from Counselling Psychologist Ananda Craven. She monitored and managed Kristi during this time and introduced all the necessary angles to assist her with reaching her full potential. When she became too old for the nursery school, we were so fortunate to be told of Pro Gratia learning centre. She loves the kids in her class and is finally where she can grow into a functional being. Published by TwoRedPens | www.tworedpens.co.za

With Kristi we do not set goals. We follow her lead and are just soooo happy of all her achievements...Yes, we see the blessings in everything. She has beautiful hair, a fun personality, sense of humor and a quality of life... And she changed us for the better and for ever.. I once read this amazing story... That having a special needs child is like planning a trip to Italy. You research the country, read about the food, the currency and places to see. Once you are on the airplane, the captain announces that the route is changed and you will now be going to Holland. You arrive in Holland and it is strange and difficult to get used to. With time you adapt and get use to the specific food and ways of Holland. And it is okay. But you never stop wondering how it would have been in Italy... Having a sister with Down’s syndrome definitely gave our two younger kids qualities they wouldn’t have had otherwise... To them she is normal and part of the family... Although she is different. Being parents of a child with special needs is a job one will not choose out of free will. But given the task, with God’s grace you cope and adapt... Are we special? No. I think all parents are special. And you choose to survive... And honour God through all things... Article: Marita Kroon | Photography: Erika Grove 26

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“Don’t tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon.”

Lowveld Down Syndrome Support Group Contact Marita on 082 923 8918

22 October

NATIONAL DOWN SYNDROME DAY

What is Down Syndrome? Normally, each cell in the human body contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, which contain the genetic material that determines all our inherited characteristics. We receive half of each chromosome pair from our mother and the other half from our father. Individuals with the most common form of Down syndrome, trisomy 21, have an extra 21st chromosome. No one knows exactly why this chromosomal error occurs, but it does appear to be related to the age of the mother. At age 25, a woman has a one in 1,250 risk for having a child with Down syndrome. The risk increases to one in 952 at age 30, to one in 378 at age 35, to one in 106 at age 40 and one in 35 at age 45. However, 80% of children born with Down syndrome are born to mothers under the age of 35. This is because most babies, in general, are born to younger women.

In South Africa, Down syndrome is the largest single cause of intellectual disabilities affecting one in every 500 children born each year. It is therefore vital to raise awareness and make a difference â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to change society preconceived ideas and prejudices that they might have. Down Syndrome South Africa has 9 regional branches and 5 support groups across the country who will be hosting activities to celebrate National Down Syndrome Day. These awareness days play an important part in the positive shift in attitudes towards people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities. However it is necessary to have ongoing efforts at ensuring these positive attitudes. SHOW YOUR SUPPORT 0861 DOWNSA (0861-369 672) www.downsyndrome.org.za.

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Ultrasound

safety

Around three million babies are born in the world each year and have had an ultrasound scan while in the womb. Ultrasound scans have been used in pregnancy for decades.

o date, researchers have not identified any adverse biological effects clearly caused by ultrasound scans. The benefits from serial scans in monitoring pregnancies are considered to outweigh any potential risks. Most experts agree that this enviable safety record is achieved because scans are performed according to the guidelines provided by the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) The guidelines state that ultrasound safety is improved when the scans is done by a fully trained healthcare professional that uses the lowest levels of ultrasound wherever possible and each detailed scan is performed in the shortest time possible. Ultrasounds are only recommended when there’s a clear medical reason, such as checking that your baby’s developing is normally. Because of the sheer numbers of people exposed to ultrasound, any possibility of a harmful effect must be investigated thoroughly. The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) advocates continued study of ultrasound safety, improvements in the safety features of ultrasound systems and more ultrasound safety education for system operators.

WHAT IS ULTRASOUND?

Ultrasound is like audible sound, except at a very high frequency, which means that the pitch is so high that the sound is inaudible to human beings. In diagnostic ultrasound a transducer, or ultrasound probe, is placed in or on the patient’s body. Pulsed ultrasound waves emitted by the transducer pass 28

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into the body and reflect off the boundaries between different types of body tissue. The transducer receives these reflections, or echoes. A computer then assembles the information from the reflected ultrasound waves (the echoes) into an image on a screen or monitor. Additional safety factors which favors this image modality are; • Ultrasound examinations do not use ionizing radiation, thus there is no radiation exposure to the patient • Because there is no radiation exposure at all, an ultrasound won’t affect your baby inside your womb • Ultrasound imaging is non-invasive • Ultrasound images are captured in real-time

WHEN ARE SCANS USUALLY CARRIED OUT? During your first trimester, you may have an early scan at about six weeks or seven weeks. A dating scan should be consider when you are between 11 weeks and 13 weeks plus six days pregnant. This will confirm your due date. The first trimester screening test is also advised to be done within this gestational period. Screening Tests in the first trimester (FTS) is to identify pregnancies with an increased chance for birth defects, especially Down syndrome.

In your second trimester an anomaly scan is done at about 20 weeks. This is to check that your baby is developing normally. In your third trimester, your healthcare professional may recommend that you have a growth scan between 28 weeks and 40 weeks.

SCREENING

Screening examinations is recommended for early

WIN! 1 OF 4 FREE 4D SCANS TO THE VALUE OF R850 SMS us your Name & Surname, Contact details and how many weeks you are pregnant at the moment, to 083 462 8527. Competition ends 30 November 2015. Terms and Conditions apply.

assessment of anatomic development in situations of increased risk for major fetal congenital malformations. Screening for Down’s syndrome and other genetic disorders in the first and second trimester is offered to all pregnant women. There are different ways of carrying out screening tests. These tests DO NOT diagnose a problem; they only signal if further testing should be done. Screening results are categorized as either screen positive or screen negative. Other maternity facilities may give the result as ‘not at increased risk’ or ‘at increased risk’. If the screening test shows the risk of the baby having Down syndrome is ‘not at increased risk’, this means the chance of having Down’s syndrome is less than one in 300. This does not guarantee the absence of Down’s syndrome. A lower-risk result means that you will not be offered a diagnostic test, but it doesn’t mean that there is no risk at all of the baby having Down’s syndrome. If the result shows the risk of the baby having Down syndrome is at increased risk it does not mean the baby definitely has Down’s syndrome. An increased risk means you will be offered a diagnostic test.

the diagnosis of Down’s syndrome. The procedure does carry a risk (about 1%) for causing a miscarriage. To accurately diagnose Down’s syndrome in the second trimester, an amniocentesis can be considered. This involves sampling some of the fluid around the baby at 16 to 18 weeks gestation and is also nearly 100% effective. This test has a small (less than 0.5%) risk for causing a miscarriage. Performing further testing allows you to confirm a diagnosis and then provides you with certain opportunities such as: • Give parents the potential interventions that may occur (i.e. fetal surgery for spina bifida) • To plan for a child with special needs • Start addressing anticipated lifestyle changes • Identify support groups and resources • Make a decision about carrying the child to term. Advances in 3D and 4D ultrasound technology now offer capabilities ranging from better visualization of congenital birth defects to dynamic, multiplanar views of the fetal heart.

DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

The diagnostic test will be either chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis, which will give you a definite answer as to whether your baby has Down syndrome or not. CVS involves testing on a sample of the tissue (villi) that develops into the placenta. This test is carried out in the 1st trimester round 10 to 13 weeks of gestational age and is nearly 100% effective in making

Lerisa Labuschagne Ultrasound Specialist, Nelspruit Region 082 736 8868 | lerisa@4dscan.co.za

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specialCHAMPIONS The Dasha Foundation is a local school caring for disabled children for more than 20 years.

he School opened in 1995 with three children and one teacher. The numbers soon doubled. It was named DASHA School by the founder’Dasha’ meaning God’s Gift. Due to accommodation difficulties the centre and school amalgamated in 2003 and our house was purchased at the current address. The Workshop was started in 2004 with children who ‘graduated’ from school and others from outside who were too old for school. We have recently purchased the house next door as space has become a problem and a waiting list together with additional services must be met. A longer

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term development programme is in place which would enable us to have larger grounds, and provide additional facilities. The Foundation operates according to the Public School Calendar Year; and is open from 08h00-13h00 Monday to Friday followed by an afternoon care facility until 17h00.

Centre

Exercising and other activities are undertaken according to each child’s abilities. Regular visits by occupational, physio therapists, and oral hygienists take place. Interaction, and day-to-day skills are taught and practiced, such as feeding themselves, drawing, music, qualified instructors assist with swimming.

School

Regular school subjects are taught - reading, writing, and arithmetic, with each child working at their own level, in their own workbook. He/she follows a programme with specific goals according to their individual ability. This enables them to receive much individual attention. Basic relationships, outdoor activities and skills are dealt with. Pottery and art work are favourites, as well as the making of hand-made paper. Swimming and other sports are encouraged with regular visits to gymnasiums. Several take part in galas and have done very well. Some children do equestrian training regularly and this improves their self image as well as posture and physical fitness.

Lifeskills

Children are taught how to behave in public as well as how to relate to one another and to others. We teach through game and group interaction. Children are also expected to fulfill certain duties in the kitchen and dining room. Washing and drying of dishes, setting tables, making sandwiches and baking cookies are life skills that need to be mastered.

Workshop

Natural skills are developed such as knitting, sewing, bead and art work. They are involved in papermaking, cards, fabric painting, candle-making, needlework, and pottery. Good quality products are sold as opportunities arise. Several outside jobs have been undertaken successfully which bring in some finance.

pools observing underwater life and climbing sand dunes were the order of the day.

Funding

In spite of fees being paid, and a subsidy from Department of Social Services, running costs are not covered by these, so fund raising has to take place and donations are solicited from businesses and individuals.

How You Can Help

• Sponsoring a particular child by providing a monthly amount for that child. • Making monthly contribution to assist in covering general expenses. • Visiting the school and providing love and care for the children. • Volunteer of your time and assist with various activities, or teach new skills. • Supporting the development fund so that the school can ultimately have premises where 24 hour care can be provided. • Assisting in fund raising efforts. • Assist by supplying much needed materials. ails: ct Det Conta ck Street, o 8 De K uit 1200 r 0, Nelsp 41 4039 1 8 x o B 7 3 1 P.O. 0 : x t Tel / Fa l@telkomsa.ne o o h c s n.com a o h ti s a a d d n : shafou Email www.da

Activities

Mornings begin with a time of devotion, bible story, prayer and singing, with each child then moving on to their particular sphere of work. Part of the timetable is also to assist with cooking, washing of laundry and helping in the centre.

Extra Mural

• Music therapy and dance groups • Concert - participation, assisting with décor and costumes. • Gym - Weekly trips to Body Quest with trained instructors. • Horse riding and equine therapy done weekly. • Swimming (training by a qualified coach is offered if child has the ability to achieve in this field).

Outside Visits

Chimp Eden, Bird Rehabilitation Centre, Reptile Park, the Kruger National Park, African Silk Farm and Tshukudu have been visited. These are arranged by segments of the community or interested volunteers. A highlight in 2008 was for a small group who spent a week at Sodwana which included a boat trip where dolphins were spotted; snorkeling in rock Published by TwoRedPens | www.tworedpens.co.za

WIE IS PRO GRATIA LEERSENTRUM?

GESTEWEL PRO GRATIA LEERSENTRUM:

en gespoor

Pro Gratia (voorheen bekend as Estin Akademie) is geleë op die Hermansburgpad, 5km buite Nelspruit op die R40 na Barberton. Die perseel leen hom tot ‘n plaasskool-atmosfeer, en is tans die tuiste van 67 kinders met spesiale onderrig behoeftes.

WIE VORM DEEL VAN DIE BESTUUR?

Daar is drie direkteure wat elk ‘n unieke rol vervul, maar mekaar goed aanvul as bestuur van Pro Gratia. Me Andri Bester is die waarnemende hoof, terwyl Me Welma Bezuidenhout verantwoordelik is vir alle administratiewe en finansiële funksies. Me Christie Malan is die opvoedkunidge sielkundige, wat in beheer is van evaluasies, plasings, kurrikulum, emosionele welstand van die leerders en terapeutiese intervensie. Die personeel is bekwame, opgeleide dames wat ‘n hart het vir Pro Gratia se leerders. ‘n Ouerkommittee vorm ‘n verlengstuk van die leersentrum se personeel en bestuur.

WATTER TIPE LEERDERS IS GESKIKTE KANDIDATE? Pro Gratia maak voorsiening vir leerders vanaf die ouderdom van vyf jaar. Die fokus is hoofsaaklik op leerders met ‘n onder-gemiddelde, grensgeval en 32

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kognitief-gestremde intellektuele vermoë. Daar is drie strome: 1. Outistiese leerders en leerders met pertinente taalontwikkelingsagterstande. 2. Akademiese leerders – hetsy hoofstroom of SPO 3. Entrepreneurs wat geskik is vir beskutte arbeid.

word ook op ‘n meer konkrete, meer praktiese vlak gestimuleer. Basiese kuns- en handvaardighede, tuinmaaktegnieke en DIY-opleiding vorm deel van hierdie afdeling.

Daar word gepoog om leerders wat ‘n akademiese plafon bereik, maar oor sosiale en emosionele vaardighede beskik wat hulle toelaat om in die ope mark te kan werk, te plaas in ‘n leerlingskap of indiens-opleidingsomgewing. Leerders wat nie geskik is vir die ope-mark nie, maar wat eerder beskutte arbeid verlang, word op die perseel geakkomodeer en werksgeleenthede word binnenshuis geskep. Pro Gratia droom daarvan om hierdie leerders tot in volwassenheid te kan akkomodeer in ‘n veilige, gestruktureerde omgewing.

Die leersentrum se nuwe perseel leen hom tot genoegsame spasie vir latere ontwikkeling van ‘n sportveld. Huidiglik word geen formele buitemuurse aktiweite aangebied nie, maar leerders het toegang tot privaatklasse in musiek, fotografie, dans en kuns. Gedurende die winter van 2015 sal daar ook ‘n aantal perde op die perseel arriveer. Perdryterapie sal geïnkorporeer word in die skoolprogram, en privaat perdrylesse sal dan aanvang neem. Leerders het die geleentheid om gedurende die somermaande in klasverband, gedurende skoolure, te gaan swem saam met hulle fasiliteerders. Pro Gratia neem deel aan atletiekbyeenkomste teen skole soos Kamagugu, Estralita en DASHA.

WAT IS DIE SENTRUM SE TAALBELEID? Die onderrigmedium by Pro Gratia is Engels en Afrikaans. Leerders word volgens hul taalvoorkeur in geskikte klasgroepe geplaas. Alle beplanning, voorbereiding, kommunikasie en assessering word volgens die spesifieke klasmedium uitgevoer.

IS DIE SENTRUM GESKIK VIR FISIES GESTREMDE LEERDERS?

Die perseel is gedeeltelik rolstoel-vriendelik, alhoewel ons huidiglik slegs een leerder het wat nie onafhanklik kan beweeg nie. Pro Gratia is nie geskik vir leerders wat geheel en al blind of doof is nie, maar ons akkomodeer leerders met die volgende uitdagings of geremdhede: • Downs sindroom • Williams sindroom • Diabetes • Serebrale Verlaming • Hemipleë • ADHD • Asperger’s sindroom • Outisme • Epilepsie • Turner sindroom • Kognitiewe geremdhede • Angsversteurings • Fetale Alkohol sindroom • Taalontwikkelingsagterstande

WATTER KURRIKULUM WORD GEVOLG?

‘n Aangepaste CAPS kurrikulum word gevolg, met verskeie bronne as verwysing. Pro Gratia gebruik hoofsaaklik die Platinum reeks, maar vul dit aan met Alles-in-Een, Slimkoppe, Oxford, toepaslike Impakbronne en ander geskikte media. Die leerders ontvang remediërende intervensie op akademiese gebied, en vorder teen ‘n individuele tempo. Alhoewel daar enkele leerders is wat ‘n vol hoofstroom akademiese program volg, volg die meerderheid van Pro Gratia se leerders ‘n program waar die werksinhoud en volume aangepas is. Vir leerders op intermediêre en senior vlak word slegs een taal, wiskunde, lewensvaardighede, rekenaars en ‘n gekombineerde vak met geselekteerde sosiale- en natuurwetenskappe, en tegnologie aangebied. Leerders

WAT VAN BUITEMUURSE AKTIWITEITE?

IS DAAR ‘N NASKOOLFASILITEIT?

Pro Gratia bied ‘n naskoolfasiliteit aan vir die leersentrum se eie kinders, maar ook vir leerders van buite. Die fasiliteit word privaat bestuur en sluit ‘n gebalanseerde middagete, versnapperinge, toesig oor huiswerk en gestruktureerde spel in.

DIE PERSEEL IS BUITE DIE DORP. WAT VAN VERVOER?

Daar is ‘n vervoerdiens beskikbaar vir ouers wat dit moeilik vind om hul kinders persoonlik na en van die perseel te vervoer. Bepaalde oplaai- en aflaaipunte is vasgestel, en verdere inligting kan tydens registrasie by die sentrumkantoor gekry word.

IS DAAR ‘N KOSHUISFASILITEIT?

Pro Gratia het ongelukkig nog nie ‘n koshuisfasiliteit nie, maar dit vorm deel van die sentrum se langtermynbeplanning. Intussen vorm ouers ryklubs om leerders wat van ver kom na en van die sentrum te vervoer. Leerders kom hoofsaaklik uit die Nelspruitomgewing, maar ook van Barberton, Witrivier, Hazyview, Malelane en Komatipoort.

WATTER ANDER ONTWIKKELINGE WORD BEPLAN VIR PRO GRATIA?

Aanbouings aan die huidige perseel word beplan, en sluit ook ‘n permanente fasiliteit in vir ‘n voltydse spraak- en taalterapeut, asook ‘n arbeidsterapeut. Ons beplan verder ook die aanbou van ‘n saal, waar gestruktureerde binnespel, konserte en ander funksies aangebied kan word. Hiermee saam beoog ons ook om eersdaags ‘n toegeruste kook- en houtwerkklas op te rig.

KONTAK BESONDERHEDE:

Magiesdal 4, Hermansbugpad, Nelspruit 076 981 4733 | info@progratia.co.za | www.progratia.co.za Sielkundige: 079 036 1401 | christie@progratia.co.za Published by TwoRedPens | www.tworedpens.co.za

“G Is your child

gifted

ifted” has become one of the most tossedabout words in the parenting lexicon. Unfortunately sorry, but let’s get this out of the way right up front, it’s also one of the most misused. The vast majority of children are not gifted. Only 2 to 5 percent of kids fit the bill, by various estimates. Of those, only one in 100 is considered highly gifted. Prodigies (those wonderkinds who read at 2 and go to college at 10) are rarer still, like one to two in a million. And despite the boom in infant-stimulation techniques, educational DVDs, learning toys, and enrichment classes, those numbers haven’t been increasing. You can’t build giftedness; it’s mostly built in. Still, it’s hard to resist scrutinizing your child for signs of greatness. The growing fascination with giftedness is part natural impulse to see our offspring as special, part wanting to be sure a child’s needs are met, and maybe a bit of hoping for a competitive edge in the increasingly cutthroat school-admission process or bragging rights. True giftedness may be as rare as Einsteins and Mozarts, but the good news is that there’s loads you can do to help your child reach his or her full potential. Even better: whether young children are truly advanced or happily average (where they have lots of company), in the early years they need pretty much the same things. To raise a happy, emotionally healthy kid, follow these steps to success.

Forget about the “G” word

There’s plenty of wishful thinking about giftedness because there’s no standard definition of it. Broadly speaking, a gifted child has special abilities in a particular area. The five main ones are intellectual, academic, creative, artistic, and leadership, none of which is normally associated with the performance of babies and toddlers.

“’Gifted’ is often misunderstood,” says Julia Roberts, director of the Center for Gifted Studies at Western Kentucky University. “People don’t always recognize a gift because they’re expecting a prodigy.” And parents whose kids are “highly capable” or “advanced” in one area or another may not feel satisfied until somebody official labels it “gifted.” Many parents of kids under 5 look to IQ tests for a number that will “prove” their child’s ability. In truth, IQ testing doesn’t tell you much before the school years, and even then is generally considered unreliable. Why? Because “giftedness” is typically concentrated in one area and doesn’t refer to overall intelligence, the focus of an IQ test. 34

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Start with the basics

In the first three years of life, all children need to feel a sense of security and attachment. Being held, being loved, and having one’s basic needs met are all critical for future learning. The growing brain next needs stimulation in order to change and develop. One thing it loves: novelty. Every time your baby is exposed to new toys, words, sounds, textures, tastes, smells, faces, and places, they’re learning. You don’t have to work overtime to make this happen; everything in everyday life is new to a baby.

Giftedlegends

Play’s the thing

What even chart-busting toddlers and preschoolers don’t need are special “gifted” programs or learning tools such as flash cards, educational DVDs, or brainbuilding computer games. There’s no evidence that this “edu-tainment” does anything to boost children’s intellectual ability. Most educators believe kids don’t benefit from academically oriented preschools, either. Far more important is having opportunities to explore without constraint, and teachers and parents who know how to keep learning fun. “When it’s fun and playful, that’s when it gets into your head,” says Robin Schader, Ph.D. Neuroscientific research confirms that pleasure is what makes our brains want to repeat and remember an activity, and it’s that kind of natural repetition that fuels learning. This helps explain why play is everything to young children. It’s how they learn, experiment, tinker, express creativity, work through feelings, practice socialization, develop language and math skills, and see the world in new ways. Preschools should mainly be play schools, centered on this kind of discovery learning and the teaching of basic social skills. Many parents want their kids to start kindergarten being able to read Dr. Seuss, write their names, and count to 100. But a kid who can do all that is actually going to have a harder time than his peers in school if he can’t also sit still and listen, take turns, share, and follow directions. Those are the real skills teachers expect kindergartners to have.

Be a guide, not a coach

Ultimately, the relationship between a child and his parents and teachers shapes his attitude toward learning. Just don’t think you have to drive yourself (or your kid) crazy signing them up for teams and classes to find activities they love. Simply exposing them to different experiences will spark things that “click.” Build on their interests. If they like dinosaurs, find books and movies about them, or visit a museum. You don’t need to sit down and “teach” anything. Above all, don’t overfocus on cognitive abilities. You also want your child to be resilient, empathetic, and creative. And you both want to enjoy their childhood.

Samuel Reshevsky, age 8, defeating several chess masters at once in France, 1920 Samuel Reshevsky learned chess when he was 4 years old. He became known as a child chess prodigy and was playing simultaneous games of chess against adults when he was 6 years of age. At age 8 he was playing chess against strong players. Following the events of World War 1, Reshevsky immigrated to the United States (1920). As a 9-year old, his first American simultaneous exhibition was with 20 officers and cadets at the Military Academy at West Point. He won 19 games and drew one. He toured the country and played over 1,500 games as a 9-year old in simultaneous exhibitions and only lost 8 games. In his early years he did not go to school and his parents ended up in Manhattan Children’s Court on charges of improper guardianship. Albert Einstein • Developed the theory of relativity; the father of modern physics • He hated school. Oprah Winfrey • Media magnate; philanthropist • Her grandma taught her to read at age 3, which started her famous love of books. Mark Zuckerberg • Internet entrepreneur; Facebook founder • His dad taught him Atari BASIC programming in junior high. Jay-Z • Rap mogul; marketer • Unable to keep him from banging on the kitchen table, his mom got him a boom box. Alexander Graham Bell • Scientist; innovator • After he built a wheat de-husker out of brushes and paddles at age 12, his friend’s father gave him a small workshop. Published by TwoRedPens | www.tworedpens.co.za

BEHIND THE COUNTER with Sarah-Anne Mitha BPharm (Cum Laude)

his column hopes to shed some light on what it is like to be a pharmacist in a community pharmacy; to correct some misunderstandings and to share information on why we do things the way we do. Ritalin® and Concerta® or Methylphenidate Methylphenidate (Ritalin® and Concerta®) is a widely used medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). What many might not know is that Ritalin® and Concerta® are, in fact, schedule 6 medications. A schedule 6 item is the highest schedule that can be kept in a pharmacy. In the same locked cabinet are medicines like pethidine and morphine. The Medicine Control Council has decided, based on the danger potential of the medicine (addiction/ abuse/misuse) and/or the side effect profile, that Ritalin® and Concerta® need to be kept under lock and key. There are laws according to the Pharmacy Act specific to the dispensing of schedule 6’s: • the medicine can only be issued off an original, valid prescription; • within 30 days of the date it was written; • no more than a 30-day supply can be issued; • and no prescription is repeatable. So then, what’s the big fuss about Ritalin® or Concerta®? Unfortunately, these are the ADHD medications that are also known as ‘The Rich Kid’s Tik’ and ‘Kiddi Cocaine’. Statistics from June 2015 reveal that 60% of all Ritalin® prescription’s issued

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in South Africa are either misused (illegally traded) or abused (crushed and snorted - like cocaine - to get high). This figure does not include that which is sold on the black market. Although this was always seen as something that happened in universities, the increase of illegal sale and distribution of these ADHD medications within schools has been in the news several times in the last year and a half. One father, recently at our counter, commented that his children tell him Ritalin® and Concerta® are sold per tablet amongst pupils at their local high school. When Ritalin® is taken orally and in the correct dose it will not cause a ‘high’ or addiction. But when it is snorted it gives an intense high, which can result in an abusive pattern, or what is commonly known as drug addiction. From behind the counter we do all that we can to treat these specialised medicines with the utmost care and caution. We urge parents to do the same - take on the role of storing ADHD medications in a place unknown to your children; give your child a tablet a day and see to it that they swallow it in your presence. It would be unwise to treat Ritalin® and Concerta® casually. In our not-so-sheltered Nelspruit, I was offered Ritalin to snort by a school friend during my Matric year in 2005. And it seems as though this practice of nonchalantly offering medication around has only escalated since then. Source: www.health24.com

References: 1. Stough, et al. Psychopharmacology. 2001;156:481-484. 2. Roodenrys, et al. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2002;27:279-281. 3. Stough, et al. Phytotherapy Research. 2008;22:1629-1634

exam stress Tests and exams can be a challenging part of school life for both children and parents. But there are ways to ease the stress.

hildren who experience stress may be irritable, not sleep well, lose interest in food, worry a lot, and appear depressed or negative. Headaches and stomach pains can also be stress-related.

and going to bed to help them get a good night’s sleep. Cramming all night before an exam is usually a bad idea. Sleep will benefit your child far more than a few hours of panicky last-minute study.

Having someone to talk to about their work can help. Support from a parent, tutor or study buddy can help children share their worries and keep things in perspective. If you feel your child isn’t coping, talk to their teachers at school.

BE FLEXIBLE DURING EXAMS

MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD EATS WELL

A balanced diet is vital for your child’s health, and can help them to feel well during exam periods. Some parents find that too many high-fat, high-sugar and high-caffeine foods and drinks (such as cola, sweets, chocolate, burgers and chips) make their children hyperactive, irritable and moody.

HELP YOUR CHILD GET ENOUGH SLEEP

Good sleep will improve thinking and concentration. Most teenagers need between 8 and 10 hours’ sleep a night. Learn more about how much sleep kids need. Allow half an hour or so for kids to wind down between studying, watching TV or using a computer

Family Lives advises parents to be flexible around exam time. When your child is revising all day, don’t worry about household jobs that are left undone or untidy bedrooms. Staying calm yourself can help. Remember, exams don’t last forever.

HELP THEM TO STUDY

Help your child revise by making sure they have somewhere comfortable to study. Help them draw up a revision schedule or ask the school for one.

TALK ABOUT EXAM NERVES

Remind your child that feeling anxious is normal. Nervousness is a natural reaction to exams. The key is to put these nerves to positive use. Being reminded of what they do know and the time they have put into study can help them feel confident.

ENCOURAGE EXERCISE DURING EXAMS

Make sure your kids are active. Exercise can help

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boost energy levels, clear the mind and relieve stress. Walking, cycling, swimming and dancing are all effective.

DON’T ADD TO THE PRESSURE

Support group ChildLine says that many of the children who contact them feel that the greatest pressure at exam time comes from their family. “Keep things in perspective,” says Rosanne Pearce, a senior supervisor. “Listen to them, give support and avoid criticism.” Before they go in for a test or exam, be reassuring and positive. Make sure they know that failing isn’t the end of the world, and that if things don’t go well they may be able to take the exam again. After each exam, encourage your child to talk it through with you. Then move on and focus on the next test, rather than dwelling on things that can’t be changed.

MAKE TIME FOR TREATS

When the exams are over, help your child celebrate by organising an end-of-exams treat. Don’t use rewards as bribes. Instead, encourage your child to work for their own satisfaction, offering small, frequent treats. Source: www.nhs.uk

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BEATING STRESS THE BIRAL WAY Biral is a natural product of plant origin. It is the leading tranquilizer in its class and calms anxiety without impairing mental alertness and concentration. Biral contains two natural products that are renowned for their stress reducing properties. Passionflower extract is used in several parts of the world as a traditional medicine for the management of anxiety. Valerian has also been used as a medical herb since at least the time of ancient Greece and Rome. However, today, Valerian is commonly prescribed for its calming properties. Combined, these two ingredients offer a stress-beating formulation that can be used during the day and at night.

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brought to you by

Nelspruit Ford

facing the Fear Factor M

y family loves visiting Cox Farm every autumn to pick fruit, drink cider and enjoy a tractor ride. The highlight is riding the giant slide. Although sliding is good old-fashioned fun, the slide is big enough to scare small children. And that’s exactly what happened to my 5-year-old son, Josiah. But I knew that if my son didn’t face his fears, he’d forfeit all the fun. So I bribed him with pop corn. Riding down that slide together was an unforgettable memory and a teachable moment. When it was over, I explained to Josiah that fear keeps us from experiencing life to the fullest. Then I came up with a family mantra that I’ve repeated countless times since: Remember the slide! One of our responsibilities as parents is to help our kids face their fears. During the teen years, our kids encounter new fears, bigger fears. The fear of failure becomes more acute. The fear of rejection intensifies. And fear of the future enters the equation as they approach life after high school. No matter what form their fears take, our job remains the same: to help our teens make faith-based

decisions rather than fear-based ones. As our teens learn to trust God, their decisions will be guided by confidence in Him rather than by the fear of what might happen. We need to help our kids find their security in a relationship with Jesus Christ. As we model the love of our heavenly Father, our kids find security in that love, and it gives them the courage to live by faith. Although the teen years are fraught with insecurities and fears, our teens can live with confidence. Here are four keys to helping teens face their fears: CONQUER OUR OWN FEARS We can’t encourage our kids to face their fears if we’re not doing the same, so we need to start by asking ourselves, Do I function out of faith or out of fear? When we take a fear-based approach to life, our teens will sense it. We also need to set the example. A few years ago I hiked the Inca Trail with my oldest son, Parker. After completing the four-day trek, Parker wanted to go paragliding over the Sacred Valley. Although I have a fear of heights, my love for my son helped me face

that fear. Parker knew I was scared, so in facing my own fear, I set an example for him to follow. LET TEENS MAKE DECISIONS It’s essential during the teen years that we let our kids make more and more decisions for themselves. We need to establish clear boundaries like curfews, computer limits and relationship rules, but once those boundaries are established, we must give our kids room to make mistakes. We get to teach them, pray for them and then put some faith in them. We need to parent our faith in God and faith in our teens. Our trust will help to build their confidence. CHALLENGE TEENS TO TAKE RISKS Small steps of faith can result in giant leaps of spiritual growth. Whether it’s going on a missions trip, trying out for a new sport or volunteering at an inner-city ministry, it’s important that we encourage our kids to take steps of faith into unfamiliar territory. Overprotection just might short-circuit the development of a teen’s faith because trying new things is how we discover our limits and build faith. KEEP THE FOCUS ON GOD In my family, we believe this to be true: Your focus determines your reality. If we focus on fears, they become bigger and God becomes smaller. If we focus on God, He becomes bigger and our fears become smaller. But how do we teach our teens to train their focus? Two primary ways include prayer and reading Scripture. Helping our teens cultivate those spiritual disciplines will equip them to overcome their fears. As parents, we also get to proclaim the promises of God to our teens. They need to know that their footsteps are determined by the Lord (Proverbs 16:9); God is preparing good works for them to do (Ephesians 2:10); and in all things God works for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). It’s our consistent love that gives our teens the security they need to overcome their fear of failure and rejection. It’s our faith in them that helps them approach the future with a sense of hope. And it’s our faith in God that helps teens declare with the psalmist, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4). This article appeared in the August/September issue of Thriving Family magazine. Copyright © 2012 by Mark Batterson. Used by permission. ThrivingFamily.com.

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of vir sy meisie blomme koop nie

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Dr. Reddyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Laboratories (Pty) Ltd. Reg no. 2002/014163/07. Tel: +27 11 324 2100. www.drreddys.co.za Reference: 1. Passalacqua G, Canonica GW. A review of the evidence from comparative studies of levocetirizine and desloratadine for the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Erratum in.Clin Ther.2005 Oct:27(10):1669 2. Nicole Schoepke, Martin K. Church, Marcus Maurer. The Inhibition by Levocetirizine and Fexofenadine of the Histamine-induced Wheal and Flare Response in Healthy Caucasian and Japanese Volunteers. Available at http://www.medicaljournals.se/acta/content/?doi=10.2340/00015555-1490. (Accessed 05/06/2015) 3. Horak F, Zieglmayer R, Kavina A, Lemell P. Levocetirizine has a longer duration of action on improving total nasal symptoms score than fexofenadine after single administration.Br J Clin Pharmacol.2005:60(1);24-31. ZA/07/2015/DRL/002

Ace in Immunity. Ace in Efficacy Who may benefit from a supplement which helps maintain a healthy immune system? Elderly

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People following a poor diet

The immune system requires good nutrition to function optimally1

People who are stressed

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People with weakened immune systems

Cancer, AIDS and transplant patients and those with diseases that weaken the immune system2

People participating in strenuous exercise

Long-term repetitive intensive training (eg. marathon training) may reduce immune fighting cell levels3

Smokers

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Reference: 1. How to boost your immune system. Harvard Health Publications â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Harvard Medical School. Accessed 2014-10-30. Available at: http://www.health.harvard.edu/flu-resource-center/how-to-boost-your-immune-system.htm 2. What People with Weakened Immune Systems Need to Know About Mold. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated July 2013. Accessed 2014/11/07. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/preventinfections/mold.htm 3. Pool AJ, Axford JS. The effects of exercise on the hormonal and immune systems in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology 2001; 40:610-614. 4. Sopori M. Effects of cigarette smoke on the immune system. Nature Reviews Immunology 2002; 2:372-377. 5. Immunace. Vitabiotics [Internet]. Accessed 201411-05. Available at: http://www.vitabiotics.com/immunace/original/ 6. Immunace Extra.Vitabiotics [Internet]. Accessed 2014-11-05. Available at: http://www.vitabiotics.com/immunace/original/ 7. Jiamton S, Pepin J, Suttent R, Filteau S, Mahakkanukrauh B, Hanshaoworakul W, Chaisilwattana P, Suthipinittharm P, Shetty P, Jaffar S. A randomized trial of the impact of multiple micronutrient supplementation on mortality among HIV-infected individuals living in Bangkok. The Official International Journal of AIDS 2003 Nov 21; 17:2461- 2469 8. Impact Rx, March 2015 ZA/05/2015/Immunace/003

getting nosey 1 in 7 people suffer from rhinitis, a fancy name for stuffy nose. All together, that’s a lot of people who could benefit from fast and easy symptom relief.

he nose is our first line of defense to ensure healthy breathing. It filters the air that you breathe to protect your airways from airborne contamination and debris. To do this, the nose is lined with a layer of special cells and tiny hairs called cilia. The cells produce sticky mucus to trap dirt and germs. The cilia beat to push the layer of mucus out of the sinuses towards the back of the nose and throat. The nose also acts as an air conditioner, warming and moistening the air that you breathe in. The nose is a vital but often neglected organ, whose importance becomes clear when it is blocked. Breathing is a vital function: we cannot stop ourselves from breathing. We breathe without realising it, and yet this is an act that keeps us alive. The nose is the outermost extremity of the respiratory tract. The nose plays a part in our sense of smell and taste. The mucous membrane lining the upper surface of the nasal fossae contains the nerve endings of the olfactory organs, with some 5 million olfactory receptors. Thanks to their sensitivity, a human being can distinguish 3,000 smells. The nose is your first line of defense: The nose warms the air and acts as a fine filter. The nose is an organ

unlike any other. Sensitive, fragile; its internal lining, the nasal mucosa, is lined with a layer of special cells and tiny hairs called cilia and has two functions: • Air-conditioning: The nasal mucosa warms and moisturises 15,000 litres of air a day. • Filtering :The nasal cells produce a sticky mucus to trap dirt and germs and the cilia beat to push the layer of mucus out of the sinuses towards the back of the nose and throat. By conditioning and filtering the air, the nose acts as the body’s first line of defense against breathed-in air ‘aggressions’ such as microbes, pollution, smoke, dust, etc. If the nasal mucosa dries out, or if the cilia are dirty and clogged, the nose become irritated and can no longer efficiently protect us against external agents. This breach in our defenses makes us more vulnerable to colds, rhinopharyngitis and allergic rhinitis. Keeping the nose clean and clear will help the nose stay in top condition to protect the body against airborne contaminants and do its job properly. When you’re all stuffed up from a cold, you can get fast relief from a nasal spray. But take a minute to learn the different types and how to use them. It can make the difference between success and failure in clearing up that blockage. Your nose will thank you.

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TYPES OF NASAL SPRAYS

Decongestants.You can buy these over the counter or with a prescription from your doctor. They get rid of your stuffiness by narrowing blood vessels in the lining of your nose, which shrinks swollen tissues. Don’t use them for more than 3 days, or your cold symptoms could get worse. Salt-water solutions. They’re also called “saline” nasal sprays, and you can buy them without a prescription. They loosen up your mucus and keep it from getting crusty. Since they don’t contain any medications, feel free to use them as often you like. Steroid nasal sprays.You can get these over the counter or with a prescription. They’re approved to relieve allergy symptoms, but they’re sometimes used to help clear a stuffed-up nose that comes from a sinus infection. From the ancient Greeks to luxury spa resorts, the health benefits of sea water have been recognised for thousands of years. What makes it so good? Pure sea water is rich in the different salts, minerals and trace elements important for overall health and wellbeing. Our body cells are physiologically close to sea water.

In the early 1970s, a French man, François Herlemont, set about developing a way of delivering the health benefits of sea water straight to the nose as a gentle mist: a sea water nasal spray, called Stérimar.Today, it’s used in over 80 countries around the world. Stérimar is a pure, gentle sea water nasal spray suitable for the whole family, even babies. It is preservative free and can be used by pregnant women and people who cannot use traditional medication. Stérimar can be used daily to gently moisturise and clear the nasal passage, to relieve dry and stuffy noses associated with hayfever, seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis, colds, rhinitis, sinusitis and rhinopharyngitis. Stérimar can also be used daily to gently relieve congestion and blocked noses associated with rhinosinusitis, and chronic rhinitis without risks of withdrawal symptoms.

Source: www.webmd.com

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ResponsiblePharmacist E

very pharmacy has one, and at Mopani Pharmacies they are the ones with the friendliest smiles. We’re talking about that one pharmacist that makes sure the ship stays afloat by ensuring that every one of their clients receives the right medication at the right time. Few of us actually know that although every one of the staff members at Mopani Pharmacy is highly trained in their individual departments, they are all under the constant guidance of someone called a “Responsible Pharmacist”.

But what do they do? The term itself is explanatory as the role of the RP in a pharmacy is that of general overseer. These are usually the most qualified members of the team who ensure that the less experienced members of staff and the occasional interns, provide the correct advice and dispense the correct medicine to their patients. Many would call them “managers” or “foremen”, but Charl, Adelle and Hester prefer not to be labelled as anything more than members of a team that has helped keep Nelspruit healthy for more than three decades. Charl Weber “Despite all the hype and medical advancements in our field, we will never completely lose sight of our ultimate goal which is complete commitment to you, our community,” said resident RP, Charl Weber. “Robots and online advancements in the dispensary can never replace the warmth of human interaction. Nor will we, at Mopani, allow that because we care about our patients and in most cases have walked their road alongside them for many years. Nothing means more to a patient than that simple greeting as they walk through those doors knowing that their medication is ready for collection on time, and that the pharmacist is fully aware of his medical history. It is a comforting thought not only for our patients and customers, but also for us, as pharmacists and staff, as it helps us to stay at the top of our game in the knowledge that we can help you.” Charl, like his colleagues, is driven by only one goal – to help his community. In an interview with Charl it soon becomes apparent that not only is he at the helm of this impressive store, but he oozes passion for the industry and his chosen field of expertise. “As a responsible pharmacist, I believe that it is my duty to ensure that all of us here at Mopani are comfortable and happy in our working environment. The way to ensure this is through continuous training, refresher courses and product knowledge updates. We listen to our patients and our staff and take their advice on possible improvements to our service very seriously. In fact, we encourage regular feedback. At Mopani, we fight for the best for you, and we see it as our duty to advise you on the best way forward for your health.”

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safety

HOME& S

tatistics show that most accidents that happen in the home are mostly in the kitchen. The young and elderly are particularly at risk. Cuts from knives and cans, injuries from slipping on wet floors and faulty appliances are frequent events that occur in the kitchen and may be very serious. Most of us have not come to terms with staying safe and healthy in our kitchen due to the rush attached to cooking after a long dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work or stress we go through in our quest to satisfy family dinners. The awareness of kitchen safety is very crucial in the course of the preparation and cooking of food as well as during clean-up and daily living in our various homes. In as much as cooking is fun and we may also like to satisfy our hunger, let us also think about the knives, fire as well as bacteria!

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get kids to eat more

VEGETABLES Adults can be absurdly stubborn about eating their vegetables. But when it comes to picky eating, children take the cake.

he good news is it is not impossible. The bad news is that it requires consistency and persistance from the parents, and it won’t be easy. But if you’re willing to stick to your guns, you should come out triumphant in the end.

SET AN EXAMPLE 1behavior By far the best predictor of a child’s eating is the eating patterns of her parents. If

vegetables and healthy foods are relegated to an afterthought in your household, it’s tough to expect your kids to take to them. Kids eat what they know, and they won’t ask for a special meal if they do not know it is an option.

MAKE FOOD FUN 2 Kids love to play make believe. They also love games. Broccoli can be intimidating to a kid hoping

for macaroni and cheese. But if he is a dinosaur who needs to eat five miniature trees in order to outrun a tyrannosaurus rex, suddenly those florets are a lot more interesting. Relating healthy food to fun things the child already loves and turning it into a game is a great way to get a few bites of greens down the hatch.

THEM INVOLVED 3in aGET Children are more invested meal if they help with its

preparation. Taking your kids with you to the farmers market or grocery store and letting them pick one or two things to cook for dinner can make them far more excited to eat it later. Better yet, start a garden and teach them how to plant and harvest their own. Letting them clean carrots, snap beans, mix the dressing and set the table gives them a sense of pride and makes them more enthusiastic and cooperative at meal time.

ENFORCE THE “ONE 4 BITE RULE” Research consistently shows

that children who have initially rejected a food must be exposed

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to it at least 8-10 times for the food to be accepted. Many parents have had success with the “one bite rule,” requiring the child to try at least one solid mouthful of a rejected food whenever it is served. After enough exposures the food will be more familiar to the child and usually they begin to rate it more favorably.

FORCE THEM TO FINISH 5OneDON’T One bite is different from finishing your plate. of the biggest misconceptions among parents

is that forcing their child to eat a food she doesn’t like will get her to change her behavior. However, fighting and punishments create a negative meal experience, and the child will learn to associate food with the bad feelings. Negative food experiences have the opposite of the desired effect and actually increase picky eating tendencies. Require one bite, but try not to start a fight.

GOOD 6OnREWARD BEHAVIOR the other side of the coin,

creating positive food experiences can decrease picky eating tendencies. Research has shown that rewarding a child for trying one bite of a rejected food with things like stickers makes it easier for them to try the food. They are also more likely to rate the food positively in the future.

THEIR VALUES 7andUNDERSTAND Children don’t see the world as adults do, as a result they have very different values.

They could care less about health—most kids think they’re invincible—so telling them a food is healthy is unlikely to get you very far (and can often backfire). On the other hand, most children feel limited by their size and wish to be bigger and stronger. Explaining that broccoli “helps you grow” is therefore more effective than, “it’s healthy” or “because I said so.”

OFFER DIVERSE FOOD COLORS 8children One thing you have working in your favor is that like colorful foods.You can expose them

to more colors by adding more vegetables to their plates. While adults tend to like flavors mingled together, children often prefer them separate. So you may have better luck making separate vegetable dishes instead of a big, mono-color casserole.

ARRANGE FOOD IN PATTERNS ON 9Another THE PLATE reason to cook different vegetables

separately is that children love when their food is designed into patterns on their plate. Unlike adults, who prefer foods clumped near each other in the center of the plate, kids like their food separated into piles around the perimeter. If you shape it into a heart or smiley face, they’ll like it even more. This is another way to make food fun.

USE BUTTER, GARLIC AND 10 BACON There’s nothing wrong with adding additional

flavors to vegetables to make them more appealing to children. For a picky child, the most important thing is that he gets comfortable and familiar with the rejected food. If that means serving it along with something you know he’ll enjoy, like cheese or bacon, that’s fine. I encourage you to use ingredients that are as close to real food (minimally processed without strange chemicals) as possible, but children can handle a few extra calories, especially if it helps them learn to enjoy spinach.

KEEP AT IT 11 Some children will be more difficult than others, and will require more effort and patience.

It’s important to realize, however, that the habits they develop at a young age will remain with them long into adulthood. For your sake and theirs, it is worth solving picky eating problems as soon as possible. Continue to set a good example, create fun, positive experiences around food, let them help in the kitchen, enforce the one bite rule and do anything else you can to keep exposing them, in a pleasant way, to the healthy foods they reject. Your persistence will pay off. Source: wwwsummertomato.com

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efore you write off the humble watermelon, take another look. Give it a good long study, maybe a sniff and keep in mind that this fruit has been titillating eaters all over the world for centuries. Now that you have it down, read on for fun facts you probably didn’t know about the good ol’ Citrullus Lanatus.

WATERMELON COMES FROM AFRICA.

The fruit actually hails from Africa, namely Egypt. Scientists have found evidence of the watermelon in this country not only from seeds discovered in tombs, but also depicted in hieroglyphics dating back to the 2nd millennium B.C. The ancient Egyptians are thought to have cultivated this melon from a wild strain that grew in the area. Over time, the watermelon spread to the Mediterranean and Europe before landing in America. This migration is believed to have come due to the slave trade, which is why the fruit is such a staple in Southern cuisine. Now, even though watermelon is grown in 44 states, the U.S. is only the fifth-largest producer. Today much of the watermelon we eat gets harvested in China.

IT’S A BERRY.

That’s right: Even though watermelon belongs to the fruit category, it’s technically a form of berry called a pepo. A pepo comes from the family Cucurbitaceae, a variety that has a hard outer rind as opposed to the soft, easy-to-chew one found on a blueberry.

MOST WATERMELONS YOU BUY ARE HYBRIDS.

Right now approximately 300 types of watermelon exist, though only about 50 are eaten regularly. Some examples are the small and sweet Sugar Baby, a variety of icebox watermelon developed in 1955; the Little Baby Flower, one of the smallest types, capping at four pounds; the giant Jubilee, which can grow up to 45 pounds; and the Crimson Sweet, a cross between the Charleston Gray, Miles and Peacock varietals.

THIS FRUIT IS DARN GOOD FOR YOU. Beyond the water content, this is something you should be eating for a wealth of reasons. Watermelon is loaded with antioxidant-rich vitamins such as vitamins A and C, minerals such as potassium, phytonutrients, and is almost free of cholesterol, fat and sodium. It’s also a good source of arginine and citrulline, amino acids that maintain healthy blood vessels. And for you athletes out there, the Journal of Agricultural Food and Chemistry recommends downing a cup of watermelon juice before you work out to help reduce heart rate and muscle soreness. This is due to L-citrulline, an amino acid that the body converts to the circulation-promoting L-arginine. That extra blood flow means it’s also supposed to help in the bedroom department, and on that note, watermelon proves a great source of lycopene, that antioxidant linked to the prevention of prostate cancer.

WATERMELON yum-yum The watermelon isn’t just a summer time snack, it is also one of the most nutritious things to eat.

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ELECTRICAL

BEAUTYsleep No matter how well you clean your home, you may be overlooking one important area that impacts your health quality: your mattress.

very night, our bodies make about half a litre of sweat and shed nearly a gram of skin. Your mattress can easily become home to fungal spores, bacteria, and dust mites that feed on your shed skin. The average mattress is home to about 2 million dust mites. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no surprise that without regular mattress cleaning, your mattress can be the dirtiest thing in your entire house. Mattress cleaning is something that should be given much care. The majority of the allergens and dust mites that are found in your home are from your bedding. It is really a serious issue and should be given importance as fast as you can. You spend a third of your life in the mattress, so you are likely to be attacked by the allergens and dust mites. Professional cleaning is the best method to safeguard you and your family from allergic reactions. They cause many unwanted diseases Dust mites are found almost everywhere, they can live in any climatic condition and can cop up with any situation, they can live in the lowest of temperatures, only thing they need is some moisture, and that moisture includes your breath too. Dust mites are found not only on mattress but are also found in carpets and rugs, they are the main cause for asthma and many other dangerous respiratory diseases. There are many other things which governs the population of these mites. Even though you keep your home as dry as possible they grow and reproduce mainly in the mattress, especially in the pillow, these are the places which are moist by our breath and by our sweat. So the

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only cure is to clean your home regularly. The main thing that is to be done to prevent this from further multiplication is to clean your mattress, carpet and furniture regularly and to keep your home as dry as possible. When you consider just how much skin, sweat, and oil your body produces every night while you sleep and the millions of dust mites, fungal spores, and bacteria that call your mattress home, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to see why your mattress can be a major source of contaminants in your air. After all, you spend about eight hours every night on average in full contact with your mattress, breathing in whatever is hiding in your mattress.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU CLEAN YOUR MATTRESS?

Most of us either turn a blind eye to whatever is living in our mattress or fail to give it any thought at all after we remove our sheets and put them in the washing machine. The bedding itself should be washed at least once a week to minimize the amount of oil, sweat, skin, and fluids that get into your mattress, while your pillows should be cleaned at least twice a year. When it comes to the mattress itself, aim for a minimum of twice a year or once every season. www.carpetclean.tumblr.com

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upboard Warehouse has developed a reputation as a leader in the market for kitchen and bedroom cupboards, offering the best value your money can buy and outstanding quality at competitive prices. Whether you are: In the market for your fully fitted dream kitchen or bedroom cupboards or if you want to Do-It-Yourself and save money.

ALL CABINETS CAN BE SUPPLIED IN A DIY COST EFFECTIVE PACKAGE FOR THE HOME HANDYMAN OR WE CAN DESIGN, DELIVER AND FIT THE CABINETS FOR YOU.

Contact Info 17 Old Pretoria Road, Vintonia Central, Nelspruit Tel: 013 752 2092

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Boost A5 Openfile.indd 2

2015/08/28 1:52 PM

JUSTICE T

he organisation Bossie’s Community Justice is run entirely by volunteers with the help of donations. Their mission is to help make the Mbombela area safer, and so far things are going well. Working closely with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and security companies operating in the area, Bossie’s Justice has helped to uncover the first-ever drug laboratory in Nelspruit – also known as Mbombela – and with the help of paid informants, managed to secure the arrest of one of the province’s most wanted criminals. At the heart of its crime prevention approach is a simple solution – funds received from donations are used for recruiting and paying for informants, and for rewarding those who come forward with useful information. While the police are sometimes able to pay an informer, the amount of bureaucratic red tape involved means that often the information is received too late to be effective, says the organisation’s media spokesperson Ivan Doncaster. It is the unique approach of Bossie’s Community Justice, and the fact that it is entirely community driven, which is making the initiative so effective, believes Doncaster, a medical doctor working for the organisation in his spare time. “Thanks to the public this idea is a success.”

WHAT WE DO

Our team of experts safeguard crime scenes, ensure protection of DNA samples and provide professional and technical expertise to support the Police (SAPS) and security companies. We are dedicated to fighting crime in the Nelspruit and Lowveld regions. One of our objectives is to keep the members of public aware of crime prevention strategies and we are focused on broadcasting footage on our YouTube 68

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Channel of successes accomplished by the Bossies Community Justice team. Our team of highly specialized legal advisors, based in Nelspruit, offer their services to safeguard against offenders being released on bail, effectively prepare court cases and to object at parole hearings. We encourage the members of our community to be involved in keeping their communities safe and joining Bossies Community Justice in the fight against crime! We offer significant rewards for information leading to the arrest of criminals. Bossies Community Justice also provides trauma counseling to families affected by crime. We are a non-racial, non-cultural, non-political organization. We are not a security company.

THE TRUST FUND

Bossies Community Justice is a company registered under section 21 (non-profit organization) and we rely solely on the contributions made by members of public and/or businesses for the operation of this organization. Bossies Community Justice fund is used to: • Employ operational managers who will, once a distress call is received, coordinate between relevant role players e.g. Police (SAPS) and Security Companies. • Actively recruit informants with cash incentives. • Post significant rewards for information leading to the arrest of criminals. • Provide professional and technical expertise to support the Police (SAPS) when securing the crime scene. • Supply specialized equipment (e.g. night vision) for special operations with SAPS and security companies. • Render support with the assistance of our legal advisors to effectively prepare court cases, object at parole hearings etc. • Provide trauma counseling to families affected by crime.

EQUIPMENT AND SKILLS

Funding also covers the provision of much-needed equipment such as bulletproof vests and infrared night vision to helicopters, as well as acting as back-up support to the police, where this may be required.Now in its fifth year of operation, Bossie’s Justice has notched up a number of anti-crime successes and continues to grow, thanks to the efforts and enthusiasm of an increasing group of volunteers. “Our primary operational role is to enlist informants on the basis of providing a fee to them, and where possible, act on tip-offs to prevent crime before it even happens,” says Doncaster. “We help anybody in need of assistance, whether the person has donated money and time, or not.”

SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE

The project was launched after the murder of husband and father Bossie Bezuidenhout in his new home in Nelspruit in January 2010. At the time, Bezuidenhout’s friend Rupert Taljaard felt something had to be done, especially after the criminals ransacked the victim’s house twice in two weeks, bringing further trauma to the grieving family. At first established to bring Bezuidenhout’s murderers to justice by providing a reward to anyone with information, Bossie’s Community Justice has grown into a fully fledged crime fighting operation. Taljaard dreams of having the concept replicated in other parts of South Africa. “I am very positive with what we have achieved so far,” he says. “We have helped a great deal with crime prevention in the area and I would like to take this model to the rest of the country.” So far the organisation has been involved in up to 150 crime prevention operations and attended to about 200 distress calls made by the public. Recently, it has also made trauma counselling available to victims of sexual assault who can’t afford it.

COMMUNITY POLICING FORUMS

In South Africa, a formalised cooperative arrangement between communities and the police exists and is known as Community Policing Forums (CPFs). A number of CPFs are extremely successful and proactive and play an important role in being the eyes and ears of the police in designated areas in the country. CPFs are voluntary and fall under the SAPS Act of 1995. As the name implies, these forums act as a structure for joint cooperation between communities and the police station servicing those communities. Social media platforms are proving to be helpful in spreading the message and getting the job done, as shown by the official Facebook page of the Parkview Community Policing Forum. Among their many functions, CPFs often initiate neighbourhood watches and regular patrols in their area; they run crime prevention awareness campaigns among the community; and members carry out a citizen’s arrest where necessary. Regular meetings are held between forums and the local police station, which helps to maintain a close relationship. Source: www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com

The Bossie’s Justice emergency number, available to anyone in need

082 567 5212

Email: bossiescommunityjustice@gmail.com Website: www.communityjustice.co.za Published by TwoRedPens | www.tworedpens.co.za

early 1,000 kids die each year by drowning. And most drownings happen in home swimming pools. It is the second leading cause of accidental death for people between the ages of 5 and 24. The good news is there are many ways to keep your kids safe in the water - and make sure that they take the right precautions when they’re on their own. Keeping Kids Safe Kids need constant supervision around water - whether the water is in a bathtub, a wading pool, an ornamental fish pond, a swimming pool, a spa, the beach, or a dam.

safety Pools, dams and beaches mean summer fun and cool relief from hot weather. But water can also be dangerous for kids if parents don’t take the proper precautions.

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Young children are especially at risk - they can drown in less than 6 centimeters of water. That means drowning can happen where you’d least expect it - the sink, the toilet bowl, fountains, buckets, inflatable pools, or small bodies of standing water around your home, such as ditches filled with rainwater. Always watch children closely when they’re in or near any water. If you’re not a swimmer yourself, it’s a good idea to take lessons and learn how to swim. And kids over 4 years old should learn, too. Don’t assume that a child who knows how to swim isn’t at risk for drowning. All kids need to be supervised in the water, no matter what their swimming skills. And infants, toddlers, and weak swimmers should have an adult swimmer within arm’s reach to provide “touch supervision.” Home Pools Having a pool, pond, spa, or hot tub on your property is a tremendous responsibility when it comes to safety. Hot tubs may feel great to adults, but kids can become dangerously overheated in them and can even drown - so it’s best not to let them use them at all. Having a fence (one that goes directly around the pool or spa) between the water and your house is the best safety investment you can make and will help prevent pool-related drownings.

• Fences should stand at least 130 cm high with no foot or handrails for kids to climb on. • The slats should be less than 110 mm apart so a child can’t get through, or if chain link, should have no opening larger than 50 mm • Gates should be self-closing and self-latching, and the latch should be out of kids’ reach. Making Kids Water Wise It’s important to teach your kids proper pool and spa behavior, and to make sure that you take the right precautions, too. Let kids know that they should contact the lifeguard or an adult if there’s an emergency. Kids shouldn’t run or push around the pool and should never dive in areas that are not marked for diving. If the weather turns bad (especially if there’s lightning), they should get out of the pool immediately. If you’re at a party, it’s especially easy to become distracted, so designate an adult who will be responsible for watching the children. If you leave your child with a babysitter, make sure he or she knows your rules for the pool. At Water Parks Water parks can be a lot of fun for kids, as long as you keep safety in mind. Before you go, make sure the park is monitored by qualified lifeguards. Once there, read all posted signs before letting your child on any rides (many rides have age, height, weight, or health requirements, and each has a different depth of water). Teach your kids to follow all rules and directions, such as walking instead of running and always going down the water slide in the right position - feet first and face up. Know which rides are appropriate for your child’s age and development. For example, wave pools can quickly go from calm to rough, putting even a good swimmer in over his or her head. Younger children can be intimidated by older kids’ splashing and roughhousing. What to Do in an Emergency • If you find a child in the water, immediately get the child out while calling loudly for help. If someone else is available, have them call the emergency services. Check to make sure the child’s air passages are clear. If the child is not breathing, start CPR if you are trained to do so. When the emergency number is called, follow the instructions the emergency operators provide. • If you think the child may have suffered a neck injury, such as from diving, keep the child on his or her back and brace the neck and shoulders with your hands and forearms to help keep the neck from moving until emergency help arrives. This type of immobilization minimizes further injury to the spine and is best done by someone who is trained in the technique. Keep the child still and speak in calm tones to keep the child comforted. Continue to watch for breathing.

Waterborne Illnesses Water illnesses can happen when someone has contact with, swallows, or breathes in water that is contaminated with germs. This can happen in a swimming pool, hot tub, water fountain, water park, lake, or ocean. Most such infections are diarrhea-related and often are caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium, which normally lives in the gastrointestinal tract and is found in feces (poop). Other infections can affect the skin, eyes, ears, and respiratory tract. Kids, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems can be the most affected by these infections. A few tips to protect against recreational water illnesses: • Kids with diarrhea should not swim. • Take kids on bathroom breaks often and change swim diapers often (not at the poolside). • If you are taking a baby in the water who is not potty trained, use a swim diaper. • Wash hands after using the bathroom or changing diapers. • Avoid swallowing or getting water in your mouth. • After swimming, dry ears well with a towel/ washcloth, tilting each ear down to help water drip out of the ear canal. This can help prevent swimmer’s ear (an ear infection due to trapped water in the ear canal). Water Safety and Babies Drowning, although the biggest worry, isn’t the only concern when babies are exposed to water. Infants are particularly susceptible to diseases that can spread through water. After a dip, wash your baby with a mild soap and shampoo the hair to remove pool chemicals. Also dry the baby’s ears carefully with a towel or cotton ball to help prevent swimmer’s ear. Water temperatures below 29°C can cause babies to lose heat quickly, putting them at risk for hypothermia (when body temperature falls below normal). Shivering infants or those whose lips are turning blue should be removed from the water immediately, dried, and kept in a towel. Infants also can spread disease in a pool. Cryptosporidium can be released into pools by babies with leaky diapers. The safest thing to do is to keep your baby out of public pools until the child is potty trained. If you do decide to take the baby in for a dip, use waterproof diapers only and change the diapers often, washing your child well each time. Keep any child with diarrhea or a gastrointestinal illness out of the pool during the illness and for 2 weeks afterwards. Provide frequent bathroom breaks for kids who are already toilet trained. Water play can be a great source of fun and exercise.You’ll enjoy the water experience more by knowing and practicing these safety precautions. Published by TwoRedPens | www.tworedpens.co.za

FAST FIRST AID TIPS

common accidents

From the moment your child takes their first steps, they bound to have some tumbles.While you can’t always prevent your natural-born daredevil from getting hurt, there’s plenty you can do to make him feel better.

cold compresses; call 082911 or 084124 and cover the child with a clean sheet or a blanket to prevent hypothermia until help arrives.

CUT OR SCRAPE

FOLLOW-UP CARE: Don’t pop any blisters yourself. If the skin breaks, apply an anti-biotic cream and cover the area with a bandage or gauze and tape until it’s healed. Watch for any redness, swelling, tenderness, or discharge -- all signs of infection.

e asked top First Aid training Company OHS Academy to share the best methods for patching up wounds, stocking a firstaid kit, and calming little patients -- so you can fix any boo-boo fast! ACT FAST: If there’s bleeding, first press firmly over the site with a clean cloth until it stops, anywhere from 3 to 15 minutes. Clean under lukewarm running water and gently pat dry. When a wound is dirty or was caused by an animal scratch, rinse it with saltwater and gently lather with detol hand wash soap. If the skin is broken, apply a thin layer of an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment (like Bactroban), then cover with a bandage or gauze and adhesive tape. If you can’t control the bleeding with direct pressure, call 082911 or 084124, or head to an E.R as fast you can safely. If a large piece of skin has been removed, wrap it in a clean, moist cloth and place it in a bag over ice -- a doctor may be able to reattach it. An animal bite that has caused a deep cut should be seen by a doctor. FOLLOW-UP CARE: Dab on the anti-biotic ointment and apply a new bandage twice daily until the cut heals, so your child can’t pick at it. If it appears to be forming or draining pus or becomes swollen, tender, or red, see a doctor right away to treat the infection. After the wound heals, slather on SPF 30 until it starts to fade, because newly healed skin can sunburn more easily, making any eventual scar more noticeable.

BURN

ACT FAST: Immediately hold under cool running water. Cover any small blisters with a loose bandage or gauze and tape; call a doctor as soon as possible if burns are on the face, hands, or genitals, or if they’re larger than 0.5 cm anywhere on the body. If the burn looks deep -- the skin may be white or brown and dry -- go to the E.R. For a burn covering a tenth of the body or more, don’t use 72

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DID YOU KNOW? Scalds, from hot foods or liquids, are the most common burn injury in children ages 6 months to 2 years.

NOSEBLEED

ACT FAST: Have your child sit upright, but don’t tilt her head back. Loosen any tight clothing around her neck. Pinch the lower end of her nose close to the nostrils and have her lean forward while you apply pressure continuously for five to ten minutes. Don’t release and check the nose; it could prolong the bleeding. FOLLOW-UP CARE: If the nosebleed is the result of a trauma, reduce swelling by holding an ice pack against the bridge of the nose after the bleeding slows down. If it persists after 10 minutes or returns later, call your doctor or go to the E.R. to check for a break.

SPLINTER OR GLASS

ACT FAST: Use soap and water to wash around the splinter. Clean a pair of tweezers with rubbing alcohol and slowly pull the splinter out. Wash the skin again. When a splinter is hard to remove, leave it for a day or so to see whether it comes out on its own. If your child steps on a piece of glass, and it’s not a single shard you can easily remove, gently wrap a clean cloth around the area and go to the E.R. Ask your doctor about an X-ray even if you think you’ve gotten the glass out; scans often find shards that can lead to infection.

FOLLOW-UP CARE: If the splinter isn’t out after a few days or is causing your child pain, turning red, or has pus, see your doctor to have it removed safely.

EYE TRAUMA

ACT FAST: When your child has severe pain, constant tearing, light sensitivity, or blurry vision after being poked or hit in the eye, hold a cool, wet cloth over the area and head to the E.R. He may have a scratch on the eye’s surface, which is treated with prescription drops or ointment and usually heals within 48 hours. If a chemical has been splashed in his eye, hold the lid open and flush with lukewarm water and call Poison Control FOLLOW-UP CARE: Monitor your child for pain and vision problems in the weeks that follow a poked eye. These could be a sign of traumatic iritis, an inflammation of the coloured part of the eye, or a deeper injury.

INSECT BITE OR STING

ACT FAST: If the insect left a stinger, gently scrape the skin with your fingernail or a credit card to remove it without breaking it. (Using tweezers can squeeze out more venom.) Call 082911, 084124 if your child has trouble breathing, is coughing, or develops a hoarse voice, hives, or swollen lips or tongue. FOLLOW-UP CARE: For itching, hold a cold compress over the area for a minute, or apply calamine lotion or a 1% hydrocortisone cream or topical antihistamine (if the skin isn’t broken or scabbed). Contact your doc if you suspect a tick bite. He may want to test for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. DID YOU KNOW? Bites and stings are the third most common accident seen in the E.R. among kids 4 and under.

HOW TO CALM YOUR CHILD

Keep your expression and tone of voice as relaxed as you possibly can, and try these doctor-tested tips.

IF YOUR CHILD IS 5 OR YOUNGER

• Cover wounds with a cloth as you treat them. If you can, have another adult do the bandaging while you comfort your child. • Distract her with books, small toys, bubbles, or stickers. • Use age-appropriate words. If your child doesn’t know what a hospital is, say it’s a place where people help boo-boos feel better.

IF YOUR CHILD IS BETWEEN 6 & 12

• Involve him in first aid. Even letting him hold the ointment can help him feel more in control. • Keep him busy with movies or TV shows, portable electronic games, an iPod with calming music, or stories (true or imagined). • Preview it all. Being surprised by a pinch or a sting only creates more anxiety about what’s coming next.

Tel: 013 000 0008 Cell: 071 672 1000 17B NelAcres Cnr of Geelhout and Figtree www.ohsacademy.co.za

FIRST-AID ESSENTIALS Published by TwoRedPens | www.tworedpens.co.za

Any emergency can be handled easily with adequate preparation, including a medical one. A well stocked first aid kit, kept within easy reach is a must for every home.

aving a first aid kit in the home is not an option but something that every home should strive to have. They are important because they help treat injuries and even ailments that do occur at home. From less severe problems to more serious ailments, first aid kits will help in reducing infection risks and even the severity of an injury. There are many supplies that are found inside a first aid kit, and in order to know how to use each of them, you may need to attend first aid class.

BENEFITS OF HAVING A FIRST AID KIT IN THE HOME

Central location of medical supplies A first aid kit contains all the necessary supplies in one location. This avoids a situation where a person spends a lot of time looking for particular supplies. But if you know that whatever you are looking for is in a first aid box, you will go straight to the box and fetch it without wasting much time. In fact, as a rule, the first aid kit is normally placed in a location that all family members know so that they can get it as fast as possible. First Aid Kit can be used while you are travelling. If you have a trip with your family, it is a good idea to take a long your first aid kit. Just put

it in your vehicle. Whether it is an accident on the road or by a camping fire, you can always treat it before getting medical help. Emergency medical supply within your home. First aid kit is an important source of emergency medical supplies. Despite the kind of medical emergency that may arise in the home, you will always be able to counter it. Even if it is a snake bite or choking, you will always have the right medical supplies to deal with them.

CONTENTS OF A FIRST AID KIT

The kit contains things like wrap to be used in case of a sprain, gauze for covering open wounds, medical tape that holds the gauze or the wrap to the skin and bands aid which is normally used for cuts and minor scrapes. Rubbing alcohol is also normally included to be used to clean open wounds. Also, there are hand sanitizers and antibiotic creams. First aid kits are important and all homes should have them. Injuries can happen anywhere and anytime. Having a first aid kit that can be easily accessed ensures that everyone in the home is safe. The kits can be used in reducing infections that come from open wounds and also severity of an injury.

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the importance of

FIRST AID KITS IN CASE OF EMERGENCY BURNS

If your child has scalded his/her hand, the first point of action is to put the hand undercold running water for a few minutes before applying any lotion or antiburncream. If the burn starts wrinkling and drying, it is advisable to keep it open. It is necessary that you dry out the burn with a piece of sterilised gauze before you apply any antiseptic or anti-burn cream. Dab at the burn and do not wipe it. In case you do not have a burn-healing ointment, the white of an egg or honey can be used to cover the scald till you see a doctor.

WOUNDS

A bleeding wound has to be cleaned with water first and then with an antiseptic solution like Dettol or Savlon. Wipe the wound with a sterilised gauzepad. If the wound needs to be covered, use sterilised bandages and gauze tape. It is necessary that you make sure the wound is clean and dry before you apply an antiseptic cream on it.

SPRAINS

Sprains can be bad if they are not attended to immediately. If your child suffers a sprained ankle or

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CHOOSE FROM MOPANIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S COMPREHENSIVE FIRST AID KITS RANGE a sprained wrist, it is important that you massage the injured ankle or wrist with an ice pack. Tie a bandage securely around the injury. If there is a break anywhere, it is always useful to hold the broken bone in place by tying a splint on either side of the injured area and holding it there with the help of a bandage till you reach the doctor.

SPLINTERS

In order to remove a splinter, you need a pair of tweezers, some gauze and an antiseptic liquid. Usually splinters go under the skin or nails by piercing through the skin.You must ensure that the splinter has not pierced the skin too deep before trying to remove it. If you do not see the end ofthe splinter, do not attempt to squeeze the spot where the splinter is set. Trying to remove the splinter forcibly will cause it to break inside the body. In such cases, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best you let a doctor check it out. After removing the splinter, apply an antiseptic liquid. Do not keep the wound open as this can lead to infection when the wound comes in contact with the bacteria in the surrounding air.

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Article: Chris Hobkirk

serpent time

Knowing the difference between snakes can truly save a life.

s one of the most varied vertebrates on our planet - there are approximately 3000 species of snakes spread across every continent except Antarctica - snakes display an array of sizes and colors…but all are immediately recognized by their long, narrow, legless shape. With the warmer months upon us, snakes are becoming more common.

Rinkhals

(Hemachatus Hemachatus) Venom: Cytotoxic and Neurotoxic - bite can cause tissue damage and respiratory problems. Even though the Lowveld is not the natural habitat “hitch hikers” have been caught on occasion in the towns of Nelspruit and White river. They are restricted to the Highveld areas of Mpumalanga. The rinkhals is a close relative of the true cobras; it spreads a hood, ‘spits’ and has a pair of fangs fixed to the front of the upper jaw. Among other subtle features, the rinkhals differs (with a true cobra snake) by having keeled scales and by giving birth to live young (Viviparous).

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Rinkhals has characteristic throat bands. Once you know which features to look out for there is no mistaking the rinkhals – if it is standing up and spreading a hood. When standing in defence the first feature you might notice are the white bars on the throat area. These bands may vary in number and configuration between individuals. They generally show a very dark brown to grey/ black on their back with white bands on the throat. Another not so commonly seen colour variation includes bands of light brown to orange down the entire back of the snake. This banding together with a stocky build could mistake this snake for that of a puff adder, although the bands do not form the same chevronlike pattern. These snakes are well known for shaming death, a strategy of defence.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS Mediclinic Nelspruit: 013 759 0500 Kiaat Private Hospital: 013 590 9161 76

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Mozambican Spitting Cobra

Black Mamba

(Naja Mossambica)

(Dendroaspis Polylepis)

Venom: Cytotoxic - bite predominantly causes tissue damage.

Venom: Neurotoxic - this venom can shut down the human nervous system and can be deadly.

It is considered one of the most confident African venomous snakes, overshadowed only by the black mamba. As the name indicates, the Mozambique spitting cobra can “spit” it’s venom. However “spraying” is probably a more accurate definition. The snake can spit/spray it’s cytotoxic venom with great accuracy at distances up to 3 m long. If the venom hits the eyes it will cause immense pain and burning sensation. Permanent blindness is extremely rare and not considered a possible long term side effect. When molested, this snake can also elevate as much as half of its body. This snake species does not necessarily bite as it can keep predators and threats at bay from a distance from itself by spraying its venom as the first line of defence.

The snakes speed, agility, size and venom potency put him in a class of his own. The stories and myths surrounding this snake have given him an amazing reputation across the world but in reality they are a very shy and elusive species. In spite of the name the “black” mamba skin color is not black, it’s rather brownish/olive or brown/grey, the name derives from it’s black mouth, displayed when it feels threatened. It’s venom is an extremely potent neuro and cardio-toxic mix, capable of killing a dozen men within the hour, without proper treatment and anti-venom, the mortality rate is almost 100%. The antivenom treatment however is extremely effective so hospitalisation is essential as soon as possible following a bite.

Boomslang

Puff Adder

Venom: Hemotoxic - the venom disables the blood clotting process and causing death as a result of internal and external bleeding.

Venom: Cytotoxic - this venom destroys red blood cells – causes hemolysis, disrupts blood clotting, and often organ failure.

When compared to that of the black mamba the boomslang venom, drop for drop, has a much higher potency. Luckily however their delivery of this super venom is very poor together with a very gentled natured snake, makes the boomslang a zero threat in and around the house. The name “boomslang” comes from the afrikaans word “tree snake”, it’s a “treedwelling” snake species. Unlike like the Gaboon viper, the boomslang fangs are small and situated further back in its mouth, however it can open its mouth at a full 180 degrees to bite.

The assumption is that it is a “fat” and “lazy” slow moving snake. It is however the fastest striking or biting snake recorded by man. Since the species relies on camouflage to hide and will lie still when approached, people tend to believe it is easy to catch, pick up or handle. They are good swimmers and climbers. When disturbed the species hisses loudly forming a tight coil and then strikes as a last resort. In a single bite it can inject between 100 and 350 mg of cytotoxic venom, the lethal dose for a human is around 100 mg.

(Dispholidus Typus)

(Bitis Arietans)

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avoid getting HERTZ

Electricity has become such a necessary part of our lives that we tend to take it for granted, but using it safely is vitally important.

odern living has meant we use more and more electrical appliances in the home. For instance, just 20 years ago the average UK home had a hi-fi system and one TV or video, whereas today it is more likely that there are at least two TVs, a DVD player, a satellite receiver, games console, microwave and computer. So the risk of electrical accidents in the home is much higher than before.

WHO SHOULD CARRY OUT ELECTRICAL WORK IN MY PROPERTY?

It is important that any electrical installation work is carried out only by people who are competent. This means people who have the knowledge, skills and experience needed to avoid dangers to themselves and others that electricity can create. It’s easy to make an electrical circuit work - it’s far harder to make the circuit work safely.

MAIN SWITCH

The main switch in the consumer unit (fuse box) allows you to turn off the supply to your electrical installation. Some electrical installations have more than one main switch. For example, if your home is heated by electric storage heaters, you may have a separate consumer unit for them. The consumer unit should be easy to get to, so find out where the main switch is to turn the electricity off in an emergency. 78

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FUSES

Older homes often have re-wireable fuses which automatically disconnect the circuit to prevent danger. When a fault or overload current flows through the fuse wire, it will become hot, and melt when the current goes above a safe level. The melted fuse breaks the faulty circuit so protecting it against overloading

CIRCUIT-BREAKERS

Newer homes are likely to have circuit-breakers in the consumer unit which switch off a circuit if there is a fault. Circuit-breakers are similar in size to fuseholders, but give more precise protection than fuses. When they ‘trip’, you can simply reset the switch. However, you first need to find and correct the fault.

ELECTRICAL DANGERS AROUND THE HOME

Electricity improves our daily lives - but only when used safely. Don’t create hazards by overloading sockets, and never ignore warning signs like burning smells, sounds of arcing (buzzing or crackling), fuses blowing or circuit-breakers tripping. Electrical accidents are most likely to happen when equipment is damaged or misused. Failure to correct the problem could have devastating effects. This sounds like common sense, but you would be surprised how many of us fail to follow basic safety guidelines.

OBVIOUS DANGERS – YET WE ALL MAKE THESE MISTAKES

• Unplug appliances before you try to do any

maintenance on them • Trailing the cable under the carpet or rug to keep it out of the way. • Drying clothes on an electric heater, with water dripping onto live parts - This is particularly dangerous, and could cause an electric shock or fire. Many electrical appliances, such as heaters, have ventilation slots to prevent overheating. If these slots are covered up, the appliance could overheat and catch fire, or if water drips in, there is a risk of electric shock. • Never drill or fix nails in walls without knowing what’s behind them - Walls and partitions conceal electrical cables and gas and water pipes.

ELECTRICITY SAFETY AT HOME

• Check electric cords often for damage. Have damaged cords repaired right away. Worn cords can cause shock, short circuit or fire. • Pull the plastic housing of the electric plug to take it out of the wall socket; never pull on the cord. • Do not overload electric outlets with too many items plugged in at once. • Water and electricity do not mix. Do not operate electric appliances such as radios or hair dryers near a bathtub or sink full of water. • Never stick your fingers, toys or anything except electric plugs into electric outlets. • Unplug any appliance that emits sparks or that does not work properly. • Always unplug an appliance before cleaning or repairing it. • Always unplug the toaster or other appliance when removing a piece of stuck food. • Remember that a turned-off appliance is still connected to electricity until it is unplugged. • Limit use of extension cords. Make sure the cord is the appropriate size for use. Some appliances or equipment require heavy-duty cords.

ELECTRICITY SAFETY OUTDOORS

• Never fly kites near overhead power lines. If your kite becomes caught in the lines, let it go.You could get a bad shock or be electrocuted. • Go inside during thunderstorms. It is very dangerous to stay outside when there is lightning. If you get caught outside, squat low to the ground allowing only your shoes, which act like insulators, to touch the ground. • Always wear closed-toe shoes when operating an electric lawnmower or hedge clippers. • Never use electric appliances outside in the rain or on wet surfaces. • Stay away from electrical equipment, such as substations, transformer boxes and electric poles. • Be aware of the location of power lines when using an extension ladder and long-handled tools such as swimming pool nets and tree-trimmers. Source: www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.

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DOG safety 3

Keep an especially close eye on toddlers.

According to the National Canine Research Foundation, 88 percent of 2-year-olds that died as a result of a dog attack were unsupervised when the attack occurred. As your new pet and your kids become acquainted with one another, keep an especially watchful eye on babies and toddlers.

dog can help your child develop a sense of responsibility, encourage exercise and provide him or her with endless affection. But when kids and dogs meet, there’s also the potential for danger. And the decision to bring one into your family’s home shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Establish what’s acceptable.

If your children aren’t accustomed to being around a dog, don’t expect that they know how to behave appropriately. Children must be taught what’s acceptable, and understand the importance of changing their behavior based on the dog they are interacting with. Some dogs won’t mind their tail pulled, while others won’t think twice about biting your playful toddler for doing so. Sometimes it’s challenging to teach younger children how to act around dogs.

Establish rules and respect.

Before your four legged friend joins your home, sit down with your family and brainstorm rules. Even preschoolers know it’s wrong to hit, kick or be cruel to a dog in other ways. Remind children that it’s never a good idea to bother a dog while he or she is eating, guarding a toy or sleeping. And while you’re having a family chat, it’s a great time to hash-out who will be responsible for feeding, walking and otherwise caring for your dog’s needs.

Spay/neuter your dog.

Spay or neutering your pet not only prevents unwanted pregnancy, it almost always calms a dog and reduces aggression- especially in male dogs. If you’re getting a dog that isn’t spayed or neutered, contact a vet or your local humane organization to ask about reduced cost spay or neuter programs.

Set expectations for your pet.

Just like the rest of your family, your pet should know his boundaries, what’s expected of him, and what will happen when he behaves in an unacceptable manner. Researching your dog’s breed to get a feel for traits commonly associated with it will help you understand his needs. For example, some dogs are natural people pleasers and others need much more firm discipline to behave as expected. Whatever your discipline strategy is, establishing rules from the very first day is essential to keeping your kids safe and nurturing a dog that’s pleasurable to be with. Be consistent with expectations and discipline, and teach your children to help obey the rules too.

Exercise!

Exercising your dog regularly will help him get out excited energy that often results in hyperactivity. And a hyper dog can be a dangerous one, especially for small children who can be knocked down. Older children can be taught how to walk your dog, and younger ones can toss a ball. Start your dog’s exercise program slowly, be sure to include a warm up and cool down period. If you live in a warm climate, be sure he has access to a bowl of water throughout the play period. Your vet can recommend exercises that are appropriate for his breed, age and weight. A dog can bring immeasurable pleasure to your family when you talk to your children about what to expect from your new pet, how to behave around him or her, and make rules that your entire family can abide by.

Source: www.safewise.com

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noble

HEROES Lowveld gets a blood bank for dogs. You’re best friend could save another companion. Find out how

f you have a dog as part of your family, you may be well aware of the fact that our fury family members get sick too… especially in the Lowveld! Part of the reason is that we have many boomslang, lots of ticks in summer and uhm, rats… These facts may seem unrelated, but they have something in common: The haemotoxic venom from a boomslang bite inhibits blood clotting, which leads to sever blood loss…The Babesia parasite transmitted by ticks multiplies in the red blood cells of our dogs and breaks them down faster than the dog can replace it… Rats, we all dislike a rat in our kitchens – what do we do? We fix that rat with rat poison! And dogs also like rat poison, a fact that may cause them to bleed internally. There are many other reasons why a Lowveld dog may become anaemic, but these may make your dog so anaemic that it would need a blood transfusion to survive… Veterinarians need canine blood to transfuse dogs. In the past, the vet would rely on a donation from a dog from a client or his own family dog. Now there is a dedicated registered blood bank, run by a veterinarian, to provide vets with safe and cost-effective blood. As with human blood banks, Lowveld Blood Bank relies on generous blood donations from dogs. To build up a blood bank with enough donors take considerable time. We were very fortunate to have a few donors registered from Pro-Life Pet Sanctuary. The resident dogs at the sanctuary were rescued from various walks of life… while they stay at the sanctuary, some of them are enlisted as blood donors. They are local

dog heroes and they are up for adoption. You may wonder: Why would a dog want to donate? They don’t know that they saved a life… What they do know, is that they visit the vet, they like the vet because they get biscuits and some freebies and for some reason, their owners are very proud of them. What does it take for a dog to become a local blood donor? Donors can be of any breed, but size does matter. They need to weight over 25 kg and be between 2 and 8 years old. If your dog is suitable, your dog can be registered as a donor and Dr Marita Raath will contact you for a donation every 8 weeks or longer. Every time your dog donates blood, the vet will do a clinical exam, a blood smear and blood counts to make sure that your dog is healthy and ready to donate. During the donation process most dogs are sedated lightly to help them keep still. The sedation is reversed after 10 – 15 minutes (the time it takes for a 500 ml bag to fill with blood) and they are then rewarded with biscuits and love. o r dog t like you r, please ld u o w o If you a blood don become contact

ath rita Ra.com a M r D raath marita@2 564 1116 8 Cell: 0

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International Diabetes Day 14 November 2015

In 2014 at least 58 people died every day from diabetes in South Africa. More awareness is needed as it is estimated that about 50 percent of people living with diabetes are unaware they have the illness.

nsulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to control blood sugar. Diabetes can be caused by too little insulin, resistance to insulin, or both. To understand diabetes, it is important to first understand the normal process by which food is broken down and used by the body for energy. Several things happen when food is digested: • A sugar called glucose enters the bloodstream. Glucose is a source of fuel for the body. • An organ called the pancreas makes insulin. The role of insulin is to move glucose from the bloodstream into muscle, fat, and liver cells, where it can be stored or used as fuel.

Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, but it is most often diagnosed in children, teens, or young adults. In this disease, the body makes little or no insulin. This is because the pancreas cells that make insulin stop working. Daily injections of insulin are needed. The exact cause is unknown.

People with diabetes have high blood sugar because their body cannot move sugar from the blood into muscle and fat cells to be burned or stored for energy, and because their liver makes too much glucose and releases it into the blood. This is because either: • Their pancreas does not make enough insulin • Their cells do not respond to insulin normally • Both of the above There are two major types of diabetes. The causes and risk factors are different for each type:

Diabetes is caused by a problem in the way your body makes or uses the hormone insulin. Insulin helps move blood sugar (glucose) into cells, where it is stored to be used for energy. Eating too much sugar won’t cause diabetes. But it may make you overweight, which can put you at risk for diabetes. Being overweight makes it harder for your body to properly use insulin.

Type 2 diabetes is much more common. It

most often occurs in adulthood, but because of high obesity rates, teens and young adults are now being diagnosed with this disease. Some people with type 2 diabetes do not know they have it. There are other causes of diabetes, and some patients cannot be classified as type 1 or type 2.

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Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose

SYMPTOMS

Controlling your blood glucose level is a very important part of managing diabetes. Regularly testing your blood glucose helps measure the effectiveness of your meal plan, physical activity and medications.

A high blood sugar level can cause several symptoms, including: • Blurry vision • Excess thirst • Fatigue • Frequent urination • Hunger • Weight loss

The results of self-monitoring can help guide you and your healthcare team to adjust the many parts of your therapy.

After many years, diabetes can lead to other serious problems. These problems are known as diabetes complications, and include: • Eye problems, including trouble seeing (especially at night), light sensitivity, and blindness • Sores and infections of the leg or foot, which untreated can lead to amputation of the leg or foot. • Damage to nerves in the body, causing pain, tingling, a loss of feeling, problems digesting food, and erectile dysfunction. • Kidney problems, which can lead to kidney failure. • Weakened immune system, which can lead to more frequent infections. • Increased chance of having a heart attack or stroke.

To self-test your blood glucose, you need a blood glucose meter, a test strip and a lancing device. Then, follow these basic steps: • Wash and dry your hands. Using warm water may help increase the blood flow to your fingertips. • Follow the instructions included with your lancing device to get a drop of blood— which normally include shaking your hands below the wrist or gently squeezing your finger a few times to help. • Apply the blood drop to the test strip as directed. • Wait a few seconds to view your results • Dispose of the lancet and test strip in the proper manner.

Source: www.nytimes.com

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a guide to

Diabetes More and more children are being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in South Africa.

iabetes is a condition that affects how the body uses glucose, the main type of sugar in the blood. Glucose comes from the foods we eat and is the major source of energy needed to fuel the body’s functions. In people with diabetes, the body either can’t make or can’t respond to insulin properly. Insulin works like a key that opens the doors to cells and allows the glucose in. Without insulin, glucose can’t get into the cells (the doors are “locked” and there is no key) and so it stays in the bloodstream. As a result, the level of sugar in the blood remains higher than normal. High blood sugar levels can causes longterm health problems.

WHAT IS TYPE OF DIABETES?

There are two major types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes cause blood sugar levels to become higher than normal.

TYPE 1 diabetes results when the pancreas loses its ability to make the hormone insulin. In type 1 diabetes, the person’s own immune system attacks and destroys the pancreas cells that produce insulin. The cause for type 1 diabetes is unknown and it cannot be prevented. TYPE 2 diabetes accounts for the majority of people with diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, the body is resistant to the insulin it produces and / or the body does not produce enough insulin to meet the body’s needs. In many cases type 2 diabetes can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle including weight loss, healthy eating and exercise. MANAGING DIABETES WILL HELP PREVENT COMPLICATIONS

Living well with diabetes takes work, but diabetes can be managed. With proper monitoring and partnering with your health care team you can prevent complications caused by diabetes and live a healthy life.

HEALTHY EATING: STARCHES:

Starches are carbohydrate – rich foods. Carbohydrates are the main sources of energy for our body to 84

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function properly. Carbohydrate have the biggest effect on blood glucose levels, therefore portion control is crucial for all meals and snacks. One quarter of your plate or about the size of your fist is recommended starch portions size for all meals. Starches include: rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, breads, cereals, porridge, rolls, crackers and starchy vegetables. Wholegrain starches provide additional health benefits and slow down the effect that carbohydrates have on your blood glucose levels.

VEGETABLES:

Fill the largest part of your plate with non-starchy vegetables and salads. Non starchy vegetables are very low in energy and do not affect your blood glucose levels but are high in nutrients. Try to add a variety of colours textures and tastes. Avoid serving with sauces and high fat dressings. Fruit make an ideal snack. Keep to a maximum of 3 fruits per day. Avoid all fresh fruit juices.

PROTEINS:

Proteins are an important building block for muscles. The recommended protein portions portion size for a meal is the size of the palm or the quarter of your plate. Good protein choices are meat, fish, chicken, turkey, eggs, ostrich and low fat cheeses. Choose lean cuts of meat and remove any visible fat or skin before cooking.

FATS:

Healthy fats are important to help the body absorb fat soluble vitamins like vitamin A, D, E, K. Try to choose small portions of healthy fat daily. Choose between nuts, avocados, olives , seeds, oily fish. Keep in mind that fats are high in kcal and can lead to weight gain. Try to limit saturated and trans fats, like in some commercially baked products and animal fats.

WHY NOT TRY OUR

ALTERNATIVES?

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GLUTEN FREE

DIABETIC FRIENDLY

PALEO

BANTING

Check labels and aim to keep sugar < 10 g per serving size. (Sugar Substi…what?)

At Mopani we strive to offer healthy foods and allergen free alternatives. We have ranges that offer something for lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance, sugar free and sugar alternatives, low GI, Paleo and banting. We want our community to live a healthy lifestyle and so we offer healthy alternatives to support that lifestyle and we will continue to grow our offering to feed everybody’s needs.

Sugar substitutes are non-caloric artificial or natural sweeteners that can replace the sweetening power of sugar in various products. These include aspartame, sucralose, stevia, neotame, and acesulfame K. Each substitutes profile is unique and useful for different applications. Other sugar alternatives: - Fresh fruits - Dried fruit - Xylitol

ur bodies are all unique with different requirements, at times it will tell us what it cannot cope with in the form of allergies or intolerances.

SUGAR

Sugar has become a constant companion in most of our lives. Whether added to tea or coffee, or in soft drinks and processed foods, sugar dominates our diets. Too much sugar can make you feel hungry and tired and increase your risk for obesity and therefore diabetes. Sugar Is empty calories, this means it contains no vitamins and minerals, just calories. Added sugar refers to sucrose (table sugar), honey, and other caloric sweeteners that add sugar to the overall nutrition profile of a product or recipe.

Remember: What matters is your overall diet, it requires a balance of proteins, carbs, and fats.

WHEAT AND GLUTEN

The terms “wheat” and “gluten” are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat, barley and rye. While all wheat contains gluten, not all gluten comes from wheat. Possible symptoms of wheat intolerance: swelling of the throat, hives, itchy skin, nasal congestion, watery eyes, difficulty breathing, abdominal cramps discomfort and nausea.

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Food Sense is in essence about eating sensibly. We need to take care of our bodies if we are to live to our full potential and be sure that we are following a healthy diet. Gluten intolerance can range from gluten sensitivity to coeliac disease. The best treatment for both wheat intolerance and coeliac disease is to remove the offending grains from the diet. Other terms that indicate the presence of wheat include semolina, spelt, triticale, seitan, bread flour, farina, couscous, bulgur, malt etc. Those who cannot digest gluten properly must eliminate all wheat products, as well as foods that contain barley and rye. Substitutes: • Rice • Corn • Buckwheat • Potato and Potato Flour • Quinoa • Polenta • Maize Although it might seem like having wheat intolerance or gluten allergy is restrictive, there are a lot of things that are safe to eat. The foundation ingredients of both wheat-free and gluten-free diets is fruits, vegetables and protein, like lean meats, chicken, fish and legumes.

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DAIRY

Allergy - cow’s milk Cow’s milk allergy is an immune response to one or more of the proteins in cow’s milk. This means that when you consume cow’s milk, your immune system identifies the protein as dangerous and mobilizes your body’s defenses. If you are allergic to dairy, you may experience one of the following reactions: - digestive tract (e.g. bloating, vomiting or diarrhoea/ constipation) - skin (e.g. eczema), - respiratory system (e.g. asthma, chest infections) - Inflammatory response such as headaches or joint pain. Intolerance to dairy is less severe but may also bring about digestive, skin and inflammatory symptoms. Dairy intolerance may have various causes; the most common is an inability to digest lactose. All animal milks (cow, goat and sheep) contain a sugar called lactose. Dairy alternatives: - Rice Milk ( powder and ready to drink) - Soya milk & Yoghurt - Oat Milk - Almond Milk (powder and ready to drink)

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I LOVE MY

GIFT Receive your 7-piece gift* with the purchase of any two Elizabeth Arden products, one being a moisturiser or foundation.

NEW YORK

Offer available from 28 September to 18 October 2015. Limit one gift per customer, while stocks last. Excludes all other offers, promotional lines and gift sets. Exclusive to Mopani Card Holders. No traders. E. & O.E. Crossing Centre (013) 755 5500 Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Langa Mall (013) 742 2225 White River (013) 751 2267/8 www.mopani.co.za | Find us on Facebook

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I AM survivor L

ife after cancer means returning to some familiar things and also making some new choices.

After a marathon of cancer diagnosis and treatment that may last six months to a year, you can hardly wait to get back to a normal life again. But the day of your last radiation treatment or chemotherapy infusion doesn’t mark the end of your journey with cancer. Instead, you’re about to embark on another leg of the trip. This one is all about adjusting to life as a cancer survivor. In many ways, it will be a lot like the life you had before, but in other ways, it will be very different. Call it your “new normal.”

From your relationships with your family and your spouse to eating habits and exercise, cancer will change your life in ways that last well after treatment ends. How do you fight lingering fatigue? What should you eat to help prevent a cancer recurrence? These are just a few of the questions that may nag at you as you make the transition from cancer treatment to cancer survival. Published by TwoRedPens | www.tworedpens.co.za

edicating the entire month of October to breast cancer awareness does send a powerful message regarding the severity of this critical illness. Globally, breast cancer is the most frequent diagnosed cancer amongst women. In fact, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that breast cancer has led to the demise of more than half a million women world-wide during 2011. The WHO also states that the majority of breast cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, where most of the women are diagnosed in late stages mainly because of inferior infrastructure and a lack of awareness. According to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), one in 26 South African women is affected by breast cancer with an estimated annual death toll of 3000. In first-world countries like the United Kingdom (UK) women who are diagnosed with breast cancer now have a 78 per cent chance of surviving at least a decade compared to only 40 per cent some 40 years ago. Actually, according to cancer research UK, between 1991 and 1993, 146 people out of every 100 000 had an expectation to die from one of the four major cancers but by 2010 to 2012 these statistics declined to 102 deaths out of every 100 000 people.

DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T BECOME A

breast cancer STATISTIC

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For breast cancer, they estimate that the death rate in the UK has decreases by 38 per cent in recent years. This is as a result of acute awareness of the illness and its impact, the advances in detection technology as well as a preventative approach that includes regular breast examinations.

A GENETIC PRE-DISPOSITION

According to Momentum’s Chief Medical Officer, Adela Osman, “approximately five to 10 per cent of breast cancers are thought to be hereditary, caused by abnormal genes passed from parent to child. Due to remarkable advances in the medical fraternity, scientists have managed to identify gene mutations that make some women more vulnerable to developing breast cancer than others. The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are widely known as breast cancer risk genes but in recent years, women with mutations in another gene called PALB2 are estimated to have a one in three chance of developing breast cancer by age 70”. She continues by saying that “research has proven beyond a doubt that women who are genetically unable to efficiently metabolise and eliminate excess oestrogen face a significantly higher risk of developing breast cancer. This risk is enhanced even more when women are taking additional hormones such as oral contraceptives. Thankfully, research scientists are working around the clock to develop targeted DNA testing that provides insight into our genetic strengths and weaknesses”. Osman points out that “one such advancement in understanding our cellular processes includes the concept of apoptosis which is defined as ‘the process of programmed cell death that may occur in multicellular organisms’. It is a natural process in the body where cell degradation of unnecessary or dysfunctional cellular components are triggered through the action of lysosomes. Hence, it is an evolutionary conserved stress response that is present in all living cells. Therefore, apoptosis can play a vital role in preventing cancer because there are mechanisms that detect fatal genetic errors in cells and these defective cells exhibit the apoptotic response by committing ‘suicide’ and thus protect the rest of the body’s multicellular composition. It is for this reason that numerous cancer therapies attempts to reactivate the apoptotic response in cancerous cells but a lot still needs to be understood before apoptosis will become an effective cancer fighting reaction.”

A THREE-DIMENSIONAL APPROACH TO BREAST CANCER DETECTION

Research has shown that the most effective method of detecting breast cancer still remains regular mammogram screenings. As with many other critical illnesses, the risk of breast cancer increases as one

gets older. For example, according to the American Cancer Society, about one in eight invasive breast cancers develop in women younger than 45 year and about two out of three invasive breast cancers are found in women 55 years or older. The new 3D mammograms, used with standard digital mammograms, increase the breast cancer detection rates by more than 40 per cent. This is because conventional mammograms take images of the breasts from two angles while the 3D scanner moves in an arc over the breast, taking images from various angles. Adela does however note that this new technology is more expensive than the traditional mammogram process and these costs are not covered by all medical aids. Adela further states that “according to Momentum’s most recent claim statistics it is clear that the highest claim events under the critical illness benefits are for cancer, strokes and heart attacks. If we specifically focus on female cancers, then breast cancer does feature as the highest claim event. We attribute this trend to early detection and awareness. Also, the average age of claimants, as a result of breast cancer, seems to be 30 to 50 years and many claims are for early stage cancers, possibly because of timely intervention and managed care”.

SHOULD THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPEN

From a comprehensive point of view, Adela states that “Momentum can provide cover for many possible risk scenarios. Momentum Myriad’s critical illness benefit offers a choice of an affordable severity-based benefit or a benefit that pays 100 per cent even for lower severity conditions. Furthermore, Myriad’s critical illness benefit pays out a lump sum should the insured life suffer a defined critical illness like breast cancer. By linking Myriad’s Longevity Protector to the critical illness benefit, and should the insured life suffer a qualifying moderate or severe claim event, she will also receive an additional payment every five years for as long as she lives, on top of the critical illness lump sum payment. Hence, the critical illness payments will simply never run out, no matter how long the insured life lives”. Osman concludes by saying that “breast cancer strikes randomly and does not spare women in their capacity as mothers.” However, they can rest assure that Momentum also protects their children. This is because children automatically receive free critical illness cover of 10 per cent of the parents’ cover. Source: Momentum Health | Momentum Financial Planning Anton Roets: Financial Planner +27 (013)751 2524 Cell +27 (082) 555 0749 Tel m.co.za Email: anton.roets@momentu Str White River 1240 The Palms Office Suites, 19 Palm

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Crossing Centre: +27 (013) 755 5500 Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Langa Mall: +27 (013) 742 2225 White River: +27 (013) 751 2267/8 Visit www.mopani.co.za or find us on Facebook

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chocolate hazelnut

TARTUFO

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A H A S PA R TH MP O F E VA E R T R5 LU O 00 E *

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sleep and debilitating daytime sleepiness.

ARE YOU AT RISK?

Below are a few questions to ask yourself or your bedpartner. If you answer â&#x20AC;&#x153;oftenâ&#x20AC;? to most of these, you may suffer from OSA and should consult your physician for further advice. OSA Checklist

Often

Sometimes

Never

Do you snore? Do you wake with a choking sensation at night? Does your bed-partner report breathing pauses during sleep? Are you a restless sleeper? Do you wake feeling unrefreshed? Do you suffer from excessive sleepiness? Do you have morning headaches? Do you have poor memory or concentration?

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Want to ere? advertise h please call a Yulandi Jansm 7 083 462 852 The Tree-Top Challenge

The Tree-Top Challenge is an elevated obstacle course or high ropes course, made up of interconnecting poles and trees that support various obstacles or elements between them.

Adventure Parties

We offer different adventure party packages to suit everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs.

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Surané: 079 884 4001 s.danceacademy@gmail.com

Kiddies Parties and so much more! • Themed kiddies parties • Jumping castles • Waterslides • Hiring of tables, chairs, table cloths, and theme related nicolette@monkeymagic.co.za | www.monkeymagic.co.za Unit 11, central park, 12 suikerriet str, nelspruit Tel: 013 010 1245 | 082 388 0594

Ballet Classes

• Nelspruit Studio: Cnr of Piet Retief & Sarel Cillier s str • Ngodwana Rainbow Kids & Clivia Studio • Various Pre-Schools • Barberton

DANCE ACADEMY OF S.A. Tiny Tots | Pre-Grades | Grades | Majors

Jumping Mania Jumping Castles & Sliders FOR RENT!

We also do cupcakes, party packs and rent out tables, chairs & linen. Ideal for a perfect party or event NADIA vd Walt 082-771-7442 jumpingcastlesnst@gmail.com

Nelspruit Jumping Castles

SAVF Cecilia van Wijk Kleuterskool (Gestig 1960)

SAVF Cecilia van Wijk Kleuterskool Murraystraat 31, Nelspruit SAVF Cecilia van Wijk Kleuterskool

Tel/Faks: 013 752 4491 | epos: cecilia.vanwijk@telkomsa.net Murraystraat 31, Nelspruit Daar word ook buite aktiwiteite Afrikaanse Christen Skool Tel/Faks: 013 752 4491 | epos: cecilia.vanwijk@telkomsa.net Daar wordby ook aangebied diebuite skoolaktiwiteite soos, Beauaangebied dieAqua-Kids, skool soos, Beau- Gerigistreer by Departement van Onderwys Arts, Ruga by Kids, Playball, Arts, Ruga Kids, Aqua-Kids, Playball, Kindermuzik, Sporty girls, Monkeynastix 18 maande - Gr R SAVF Cecilia van Wijk Kleuterskool Kindermuzik, Sporty girls,aktiwiteite Monkeynastix en Dance Academy. Die vind Murraystraat 31, Nelspruit en Dance Academy. Die aktiwiteite vind Tel/Faks: 013 752 tyd 4491 | epos: cecilia.vanwijk@telkomsa.net gedurende skool plaas. gedurende skool tyd plaas. SAVF Cecilia van Wijk Kleuterskool Elke laaste Vrydag van die maand is Elke laaste Vrydag is speelgoeddag. Danvan magdiediemaand kleuters NPO-010-262 speelgoeddag. mag kleuters hulle speelgoedDan skool toediebring en hulle skool toe bietjiespeelgoed by die maatjies kombring spog.en Murraystraat 31, Nelspruit bietjie by die maatjies komkleuters spog. Ons probeer ook vir die 013 752 4491 | epos: cecilia.vanwijk@telkomsa.net Ons probeeruitstappies ook vir dieTel/Faks: kleuters interessante reël. Ons het die interessante uitstappies reël. Ons het die al die Dinausarus park besoek, Nelspruit al die Dinausarus park besoek,tuine, Nelspruit Polisie se Lugvleuel, botaniese die Polisie se en Lugvleuel, botaniese playpark nog ander plekke. tuine, die playpark en nog ander plekke. Daar word ook interessante dae gehou • Die grondslag van die skool • Informele vakansieprogram Daar ookkinders interessante daemaak gehou om ditword vir die lekker te bv. • Die grondslag van die skool • Informele vakansieprogram om dit vir die kinders lekker te maak bv. Hoededag, fantasiedag, speelgoeddag, is gegrond op Christelike word gedurende vakansies

We believe in an Holistic approach - the development of a child’s intellectual, emotional, social, physical, artistic, creative and spiritual potential. WE PROVIDE A FUN, SAVE, CLEAN AND LOVING ENVIRONMENT WITH A LOVELY BIG PLAY AREA. Inclusive in our fees: Delicious wholesome healthy meals, Monkeynastix Movement Education Program, Palette and Paintbrush Sensory development program, as well as Music and Rhythm.

The most unique Movement Education Programme in the world! Designed by specialists, endorsed by therapists & teachers & loved by children. Monkeynastix concentrates on: General Fitness Gymnatics Basic Movement Skills Aerobics Speed and Agility Cardio Vascular Fitness Motor Imitation Skills

Half-day/Full day - Ages 1-4 years old

For more information contact Mar le: 0823049664 | Email: hullabaloonsp@gmail.com For more information please have a look at our website: www.monkeynastixonline.co.za Nelspruit/Barberton: Rolandi 082 827 8359 White River: Marle 082 304 9664

Professional tuition that builds the foundations for academic success.

Facebook (www.facebook.com/KipMcgrathEducationCentreNelspruit)

Visit us at www.kipmcgrath.co.za or Call us on 013 741 5356. sms “Register” to 083 265 8641 to arrange a free assessment.

Dance Mouse the beneﬁts are ENOR'MOUSE...

Dance Madness continue the dance madness...

DANCE MOUSE is a unique and diverse dance programme that is offered as an after school activity for both boysand girls from Grade 000 – Grade 7. The new DANCE MADNESS syllabus will be on offer from grade 8 – 12. Teaching children technique and rhythm, and increasing their overall self-conﬁdence. For more info please contact Maryke du Toit Cell: 082 818 0913 | nelspruit@dancemouse.co.za | www.dancemouse.co.za | Like us on Facebook

Ons bied stimuleering “mamma en peuter” klasse in ‘n privaat sprokies wereld vir ouderdoms groep 1 – 3 jaar. Ons gespesialiseerde toerusting fokus op groot spier oefening, balans, voelbare sintuie en soveel meer. Kom bou ‘n hegte band met jou peuter en boek jou eerste lessie GRATIS vandag! Klasse word in Afrikaans en Engels aangebied Olivia @ 072 802 6098 | nelspruit@clamberclub.com vir SPORTS navrae by speelgroepies en kleuterskole kontak Elzanne 084 900 0144

Dap Exclusive Carpentry Projects Home is where the heart is, and it has been said that the kitchen is the ‘heart of the home’.

Kitchens Bathrooms Bedrooms Bars Wall Units Wooden Finishes Free Standing Units Derek Pretorius 082 707 0235 | dapexclusive@gmail.com www.dapexclusive.co.za

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HI-Q NELSPRUIT 43 RAPID STREET, RIVERSIDE | TEL: 013 755 5087