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MANI & M A Y A 'S F R U IT Y TREATS

Issue No.1 April 2019

23 APRIL 2019

Available On @surefireyouth @militarycadencecandy

Author Brett Thomas WTP LIFESTYLE MAG | 2

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WTP

CONTENTS KIDPRENEURS + HEALTH + LIFESTYLE

05 EDITOR'S NOTE BLAINE WAY

10 BALLOONZ

17 LIFE AFTER THE MILITARY

25

25

Exclusive

MAYA AND MANI FRUITY TREATS 20 HOW TO BE THE PERFECT DAD

AMORAI'S WORLD

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14

03

WHAT'S ON YOUR PLATE?

SEPTEMBER 2015 | ISSUE 05

35

27 1000 MILES

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Editor's Note

From disruptive culture to out-of-this-world inventions, this issue celebrates the innovators and their relentless need to question the way things work.

46

51

40

Welcome Everyone to who's downloaded, reading or has physically purchased WTP Lifestyle Magazine.

This is my first magazine I want to give thanks to the man above, and everyone who's helped me along my path to this point. I hope everyone will enjoy the magazine as we hope to put more content, more captivating topics and more stories to help inspire, empower and educate our readers on everyday life helping you get through your day.

I would like to give a special thanks to my WTP Staff, who's worked hard with me to help bring our ideas to life.

Let us know your feedback by leaving comments at social media links below.

Enjoy Your Day and Thank You.

Blaine Way Sr

BLAINE WAY SR. Editor-in-Chief

WTP LIFESTYLE MAG | 5

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Get To Know Our Staff

Kennisha Bracely aka : Dr.B

Editor in Chief : Blaine Way Sr.

Staff Writers: Desmonae Flowers, Senior Writer Aja Edwards Dr.Bracely Marsha Donaldson, Erica Lorraine, Erika Marie, Blaine Way Sr.

Contributing Writer:

"Never Let Anyone Tell You, You Can't Do Something, Do it and then Throw in Back In Their Face with a Smile."

Mashonda Waddell

Photography: Mashonda Waddell Kawayne Parker Erica Lorraine

Hobbies : Exercising, Sports, Traveling Food: Pizza, Seafood, Fruit Movies: Comedy,Suspense

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By: Aja Edwards & Blaine Way When you're an event planner and you have obligations to your clients, but your daughter doesn't want to leave your side, what do you do? Well for Tonya Terry who was facing this dilemma the answer wasn't hard. Tonya took notice of how her daughter wanted to help mommy all the time and be there when creating these events, so she decided to involve her by creating the first premium Daughter and Mom party supply & balloon boutique called "Balloonz" based in Raleigh NC. I had a chance to catch up with Tonya during her busy schedule and gain some insight of how this duo got started.

What is your biggest trial that you’ve faced or face, and what is the biggest reward you’ve had in this business?

My biggest trial was finding consistent help and someone as passionate about my dream as myself.

With parties ranging throughout the entire day, anytime of the week, every hour....how do you balance work life and mom life? It takes a lot of prayer and faith. Some days I have so many things to do that it gets overwhelming but I often times have to remind myself of my why; my kids alone help to center my focus.

What are some words of advice that you would give to someone who wants to get into event planning? Have Faith and don’t do anything without putting GOD in it. That way you relieve yourself of the stress of making things work. If it belongs to him he is responsible for making everything work.

What are your plans for Balloonz and what do you want your customers to know that they might not already know? We plan to expand to other cities providing balloons services and premium party goods. I want my customer's to know that we offer all kinds of balloons concierge services we deliver to both corporate and personal events.

WTP LIFESTYLE MAG |10

Booking Info: 919-455-1778 Shopballoonz@gmail.com

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Things To Do:

By: Erica Lorraine

“When I say Soul, you say Circus!” “Soul, Circus, Soul, Circus!” From beginning to end, the UniverSoul Circus grabs your attention, and keeps you on the edge of your seat. This is not your average circus, and consists of different cultures, and people of different backgrounds, bringing a piece of their culture to the show. With their motto that” We are every culture, every family, and every generation,” You feel like you are at a huge family reunion, mixed with an Old-School Kickback. Everyone is so welcoming! I had a hard time finding my seat, and more than one worker assisted me with finding it. Let me tell you, this is a fast paced show! You will constantly be clapping, laughing, and dancing. The ring master is witty, and makes sure there is never a dull moment.

Once the acts began, I was unable to keep my mouth closed, with so many jaw dropping stunts! There were dancing dogs, a zebra and camel show, West African horsemen, and stilt walkers from Trinidad and Tobago. I was really impressed with the Mongolian acrobats, who were actual Shaolin Kung Fu Warriors, and the high wire walkers. The high wire walkers made my stomach clench up watching them move, and glide effortlessly across thin wire in the air. My eight year old daughter was amazed by the bone crushing contortionists from Guinea, who had all of us oohing and aweing, covering our eyes at the flexibility of their limbs.

There is even a high flying motorcycle show, where two to three bikes are literally soaring through the air. One eye blink during this show, and you are sure to miss something! One thing I loved most is how much they included the audience, with singing games, and also a soul train line. Viewers were able to get up and have fun to hits by Frankie and Beverly Maze, rapper Blueface, and also Baby shark melodies! Every genre was able to get their jam on. At the end of the show, each act walks out holding a flag of their country. It was such a beautiful sight to see, and very empowering.

The show itself last about 2 1/2 hours, and you don’t even realize you’ve been sitting for that long!

The Universoul Circus was originally founded by a Baltimore native, as a way to showcase black talent, and inspire black audiences. It has now expanded to not only include African Americans, but talent from all over the world. For almost twenty years, the Universoul Circus has been debuting its shows from state to state. With a motto that “Everyone Belongs,” they exemplify unity, and inclusion.

Embracing all types of races, and cultures, this special show is what is needed outside of the circus realm.

My daughter will always remember not only the beautiful acts, but the beautiful way that people from different parts of the world were able to come together, and display what makes them special. This is wonderful for children to see, and experience, heightening their curiosity about other cultures. We are already preparing to see it next year, and if you have time to go see this show, you definitely should! So I’m going to end this review the same way the ring master ended the show, with Love, Peace, and Soullllll!

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By: Dr.B

What's On Your Plate ?

Do you know why you are eating what you are eating? Is what you're eating what’s best for you as an individual, or are you eating it because it’s the next new big “diet” that everyone seems to be following? Have you ever thought about what prompted you to start eating the way you do? In most cases nutritional information and decisions about what you put on your plate comes from the various media outlets, books, internet, or individuals within your circle of friendships that may or may not be what your body requires

What would you think if I told you that you do not need anyone else to tell you what to put on your plate? Someone once said, “one person’s food, is another person’s poison”.

WTP LIFESTYLE MAG | 14

It is important to understand that what’s on someone else’s plate may not be what’s best to put on your plate. Some people may only need a 100% plant-based diet because that’s what works for them. Other people may need to include a balance of fish, beef, and vegetables.

The choice of what you eat should be based on YOUR personal health, and how YOU feel when you eat YOUR choice of healthy foods.

Do not allow the judgments and food shaming that others project to become a deciding factor about how you plan to eat what’s healthiest for you. Most individuals fail in maintaining a diet that they were forced into.

I mean let’s be honest, no one really likes to be told or shamed into what to eat. Furthermore, the individual biological design of our bodies does not always allow us to copy the diet that others adopt. You must learn to be the expert in deciding what’s best for you. Trust yourself and the signals your body gives you about the nourishment it needs. Maintaining a healthier lifestyle is a journey, not a destination. The best way to enjoy the journey is by taking small and attainable steps. Below are 5 suggestions to explore as you are embarking on a journey towards better health.

Evaluate your primary foods.

Stay away from diet trends.

.

Manage the "Cravings".

Incorporate healthier foods.

Be honest with yourself.

Stop the “absolute all or nothing” thought process and take the “less of this and more of that” approach.

WTP LIFESTYLE MAG | 8

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By:Blaine Way LIFE AFTER THE MILITARY

The Davenports

Meet Trandon and Andrea Davenport, both veterans that served their country. Andrea served in The National Guard and Trandon in the US Army. Being married in the military wasn’t easy with constant deployments and priceless moments missed, it created controversies that most couples don’t recover from. Luckily, the Davenports have persevered and are still together and welcomed a son, Tannen, who not only brought them closer together, but helped them decide it was time to move on from the military and create new memories. I sat down with the Davenports to discuss the transition from the military to the civilian life and how their son helped them start a new chapter.

When transitioning from the military to civilian life, what difficulties did you face; and how did you plan for life after the military? The transition from military to civilian life was not difficult due to months of preparation and planning on our part. (We) although I was active duty, entered into the military with a list of goals to accomplish and once those goals were achieved it was time to begin the next chapter in our lives. My tips to make the transition easier is to create a plan for your professional and personal life. This will allow you to multitask accomplishing things that need to be fulfilled before exiting.

What tips can you give to someone else transitioning out the military, still trying to support their family?

Do not just wake up one day and get out of the military. I suggest everyone build their resume as much as possible before exiting the military such as receiving certifications, college courses and anything valuable to the career you are planning on pursing outside of the military. About two years out begin reviewing resources needed outside military and begin obtaining those skills to receive a job before exiting the military.

How has raising Tannen changed the both of you? We both have changed our priorities regard things of importance. Tannen is our top priority. Although we still make time nurturing our marriage relationship, ensuring Tannen has everything he needs to become a knowledgeable and respectful adult is our mission as parents.

With you and your wife being prior military what are some things you have learned from the military that you now instill into your son? We instill discipline in Tannen because peer pressure is a significant issue growing up. This will allow Tannen to make choices that are right even if his friends decide to do something else.

Thank you to the Davenports for sharing your story we wish your family continued blessings.

WTP LIFESTYLE MAG | 18

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How To Be A Perfect Dad By: Blaine Way

WTP LIFESTYLE MAG | 10

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How to be a Perfect Dad!? It sounds easy however it can be one of the biggest difficulties a man can face in his life. It consists of constant, life-changing decisions.

A simple “Yes” or “No” can influence the outcome of your child’s thoughts and the entirety of their day. So how do you become a “Perfect Dad”? Well to be 100% real with you, if you’re involved in your child’s life and take on the other half of the responsibilities of helping raise your child(ren), then you’re already on the right path.

1. Be Involved! Make time to attend your child(ren)’s events. Even if they are horrible your presence and support is all that matters. It will be the highlight of their day!

2.Give your child what they need, not what they want. We all as parents want to give our child(ren) the things we didn’t have or couldn’t have but giving your child material things in place of your physical presence CANNOT be substituted.

3. Be an influence on your child directly or indirectly. You don’t have to be motivational speaker to influence your child, but you can indirectly influence them by taking them to events letting them be positively influenced by others.

4.Refer to Tip 1! I will say this again, BE INVOLVED AND STAY INVOLVED!

5. Make time for them. Sometimes we get so caught up in work that we forget to make time for family. Remember time waits for no one, and tomorrow isn’t promised.

6. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Be the Dad you know you can be to your child and don’t wait until they are grown to regret.

7. Limit Excuses. I say limit because life is always changing and there might be times you can’t make it to an event or do something with them; but don’t let excuses become a routine.

8. Listen. I have a hard time listening myself, but giving your child an opportunity to talk to you not only lets them feel comfortable but it also allows you to gain a better understanding of them, and it lets you know what’s going on in their daily life as well.

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9. Teach rewards and discipline. Rewards and discipline are made to complement each other. Nothing is wrong with giving rewards, but don’t forget to give discipline measures too. Having a child turn 18 and get locked up in jail is a feeling no parent wants.

10. Don’t be afraid to fail. Being a Father is difficult; we are all going to fail at times but learn from your failure and turn it into growth.

So, in reality there isn’t a "Perfect Dad." As a Dad understand you’re going to mess up, and you might not get everything right at the start. However, continue to push forward, learning not only yourself but your child as well, and everything will start coming together like a masterpiece.

Now Go Be The Perfect Da

WTP LIFESTYLE MAG | 12

...

You can Be

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Mani & Maya Fruity Treats

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Fruity Treats

Who would have thought a simple conversation would spurn into a full pledged business? Desiree Middleton the mother of Mani and Maya had no idea that when she told the girl’s they couldn’t work because they were too young and to create their own products that they would take their mother’s advice and run with it. Mani & Maya have not only created their own product, they have created a brand that is known throughout Charleston for their flavorful lemonade that can be found in multiple restaurants. Mani & Maya have been successful in their lemonade business that’s now been featured on multiple media platforms. Not to keep everything to themselves of how they created a successful business, they went a step further and hosted a Kidpreneur event featuring other liked minded business kids that are becoming moguls themselves.

With Mani and Maya busy schedule I had to chance to sit down with their mother Desiree their manager and gain some insight on these two ladies fast growing careers.

Being a single mom how did you influence your girls to create their own business.

I am not sure that I had much of an influence other than suggesting the idea. Everything pretty much came from them. The concept, the recipe’s, the type of business and how they wanted to execute it was all them. They’ve seen many business owners in our family, my father has been a business owner for over 40 yrs., their Uncle (my brother), a few cousins… so they have seen first hand what being a business owner and entrepreneur can do for their lives.

How do your girls feel about being business owners at such a young age?

I still don’t know if they are aware of the gem that they truly have created. They’re kids, so to them it’s just a fun way to make money. I have tried to explain to them that this thing has become much bigger than what any of us anticipated. But to them, they are just having fun

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How do you manage your household? Is there a conflict of time scheduling?

Oh man! LOL. Managing the household was already tough, now that they are business owners, it’s definitely become more challenging. I work a full time job, which can be pretty stressful by itself at times, plus add a very active 1.5 year old to the equation and time management at home is definitely a challenge. But, I try to use my free time as wisely as I can. Keeping up with the girls’ schedule of events, interviews, our weekly orders from regular customers… yeah I’d say it is pretty tough. I try to have as much mommy time as I can, because that is needed, but with their business doing as well as it has been, I don’t see a slow down any time soon. Not complaining because that is a great thing, but time management… yeah, we are still working on that.

Seeing your girls doing what they love how does that make you feel as a mother?

As a mom, I am extremely proud of them. I look at their pictures from different events, and even look at them in person and still can’t believe I birthed them, LOL! I am just happy that I didn’t ignore their passion and helped them to be able to do this. It makes me feel very proud to call them mine.

What are the Fruity Treats most ordered items?

I would say that the most ordered items are definitely the fruity lemonade and fruity pink lemonade. During the warmer months when we do a full menu, the pineapple fruity drink is a hit as well, it’s mostly the lemonade in a cored out pineapple. I think the customer’s love the look of it… it feels tropical!

What would like the readers to know about Mani & Maya’s Fruity Treats that you haven’t answered already.

I’d definitely like for people to know that there are so much more to these girls than fruity treats. They have personalities out of this world! There is truly never a dull moment, and they are so kind hearted! One thing that I would like to think is super special about the girls and their business is the partnership that we have with MUSC Children’s Hospital. My youngest daughter (Taylor) has sickle cell. So the girls donate funds to MUSC every couple of months, from their profits to benefit sickle cell research and patients at MUSC. Taylor has been hospitalized a few times because of this disease, one of the first times was during one of the girls’ events, we had to shut down everything and head straight to the hospital. I think it scared them. Right after that was when they decided they wanted to help.

To keep up with Mani & Maya make sure to follow them on their social media.

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Amor s World '

Jessica Thompson, mother of Amora Thompson has started a legacy for her daughter, involving her in modeling and even vlogging for YouTube. She manages Amora’s social media accounts, bookings, and content for vlogs. In this interview, we have the honor of looking from a parent’s point of view at the children’s entertainment industry.

An Interview with Jessica Thompson of “Amora’s World” Looking in Amora’s World, mother and manager Jessica Thompson describes what it’s like to be a parent of a child in the modeling/entertainment industry.

How often does she vlog? How do you come up with content for the vlogs?

We try to post a video weekly, sometimes we might skip a week and post the following week, but we pretty much try to stay on the weekly schedule. Amora decides what she would like to vlog about. Amora and I sit down and discuss everything when it comes to a video. Amora’s channel isn’t about one thing. We show the fans what Amora likes, what she does, and where she goes. That’s why it’s called Amora’s World What is the goal and purpose for Amora’s World?

Amora’s goal is to one day become a model/actress and the sole goal/purpose for Amora’s World is to give her the platform to allow her followers and others to see that she has ability to be in front of the camera without fear whether its acting or modeling. Amora wants to be an encouragement to other children and let them know that it’s okay to live their dreams and to not be afraid.

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What made Amora want to model and become a vlogger?

Amora and I would always watch vloggers on YouTube, we watched so many different people and what they do on a day to day basis. Amora asked me if she could do it. I would tell her no it’s too much work plus you must have followers who want to watch you etc. But Amora didn’t care about that she said she just wanted to vlog. She asked me for about 6 months until one day I said, "Sure why not, let’s do it!"

What advice do you have for other parents who have a child model?

Never give up, never get discouraged, and a real modeling agency doesn’t take your money because they know they will make money off your child. My favorite saying that I always tell my daughter when she says she's nervous or scared about a show is “If your dreams don’t scare you then you’re not dreaming big enough, you want to dream BIG." We as parents should always encourage our children, motivate our children and build the platform for our children when it comes to whatever they want to be. And that is exactly what I am doing.

@Amora's World By: Erika Trice

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Helping Your Child Succeed

As children grow the possibility of being influenced by negative behavior grows every year. Parents are the initial contact and impact for positive influences. Children are the mirror in which all of our good or bad behavior manifests. It's a parent’s duty to be a consistent positive influence in their child’s life. How to be a positive influential parent is not always taught, so here are 7 ways to become and remain a positive influence in your child’s life: Be present in your child’s life: A child needs to be engaged with not only your presence but with your input. If you cannot be present you create a home of uncertainties, paranoia, and lack of trust from your child. Nothing is worse than having a parent at home and they are preoccupied with work or technology. Even with a busy schedule time should be taken out for the child where there are no distractions.

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It's okay to make mistakes: Do not patronize or belittle a child for making mistakes. Adults still make mistakes, instead consult with your child and let them understand what their mistake is and how to fix it. Even the smallest child beginning at the age of 2 can understand constructive criticism, words just have to be chosen differently depending on the age and situation.

Accept your children for who they are: This generation is loud and proud of their sexual orientation, gender, lifestyle, attire etc. Try to understand even if you do not agree with their choices. No matter how they have changed their outside appearance this does not negate the fact that they are your child.

Create a home of love and communication: Every parent/child relationship expresses love in different ways. So each home has to find what works best for that relationship and continue to do so even in frustrating and hard times. All thriving relationships rely on effective communication. This also helps the child function properly within society as they get older and verbally express their feelings or situations even when it is difficult to do so.

Volunteer at your child’s school: As your children get older they may feel embarrassed to have you at their school but being a willing participant can be a welcomed surprise. It shows that you took the time out of your day to show that your child is important, allows you to keep up with important events, and get to spend more quality time with your child.

Stay Consistent: In any relationship consistency is key, this is especially true in establishing and keeping a great relationship with your children. Studies show poor parental ‘internal consistency’ (when a parent is inconsistent with their own approach from day-today) can cause children to develop attachment issues. They could find it difficult to see you as a reliable source of comfort and there can be little predictability or structure (Services, Melbourne Child Psychology & School Psychology.

(2017). As a parent you should be the first and continuous example of dependability and trust. Children thrive on a schedule which includes bedtimes

Teach your child how to address negative influences: With effective communication, morals, and values instilled in your child it makes it easier for them to address and reject negative influences. They feel more comfortable to have a conversation with you about an incident rather than trying to deal with it on their own. It allows you as a parent to be aware of what obstacles your child faces in school and get the administration involved. These skills in addition to others will make it easier over time for them to understand the difference in positive and negative influences.

Co-Parenting After...

BREAKUP By: Erica Lorraine

So how do you co-parent with a person that you secretly wish would get hit by a bus? I legit asked myself this question three years ago.I was sitting in my car ,waiting for my ex-husband to bring my daughter back to our pick up/drop off spot, and I was disgusted that I still had to interact, and speak to the one person, who I felt had hurt me the most.

This type of thinking unfortunately, is the number one reason why most people find it difficult to co-parent. So how did I move past my feelings, and master co-parenting? It’s simple, I killed him. Problem solved. But no, for real he’s still alive, and I just had to learn that personal feelings are irrelevant when it comes to co-parenting! It’s not about you or the other parent, it’s about your child. How you feel about a person personally, has nothing to do with their ability to parent. So how do we make this thing work? Here are a few suggestions I had to take that will get you to the Promised Land!

Communication You cannot communicate the same way you did while you were in a relationship with the other parent. Change the way you communicate! I put on my best “office voice” when speaking to my daughter’s father. This has always helped me to keep my tone in check, which will keep arguments to a minimum. Being as professional as you can, will set the tone of the relationship, and delete those gushy feelings you, or the other parent may still be harboring. In the beginning of our break-up, it was easier to send text messages than to call. If you choose to communicate via text, be careful to make text messages clear, and direct to avoid misinterpretation. DO not use emoji’s. Remember, you are trying to establish a professional relationship, and should speak to each other as you would your supervisor, or co-worker.

WTP LIFESTYLE MAG | 44

Communicate boundaries, and establish times and dates for visits. All major decisions such as healthcare, education, and trips out of the country, should be communicated before made.

The Dynamics of the relationship can become even more challenging when the other parent wants to include their significant other. Whenever a parent communicates they are in a new relationship, communicate how that person will interact with your child. and it may require everyone sitting down and meeting. If you are unable to amicably adhere to these terms, it may be best to seek legal mediation to establish a parenting plan.

Mind Your Business These three words will keep you drama free, and also aide in the healing you need to complete in order to effectively co-parent. Before you ask the other parent anything, first ask yourself: Is this going to hurt my child? Does my child benefit from this? What does this have to do with me? It can become very difficult when the other parent begins to date. Do not put out a BOLO (Be on the Lookout) amongst your girlfriends/guy friends to seek out this new person on social media. Mind your business.

Until your child comes to you with a concern, it’s not worth the drama, and tension it will cause between the two of you. It will only delay your personal healing, and grow bitterness. Keep all concerns strictly about the child’s welfare. Terrance going out on a date Friday night has absolutely nothing to do with his visitation next Saturday. Stop it!

Respect Put some RESPECK on each other’s names. When with your child, never talk negatively about the other parent. It’s inappropriate, and can cause your child to be confused about how they should feel towards that parent. You can also destroy a child’s esteem towards their parent, which can affect their own self esteem. Although I may feel my ex-husband is a slimy toad, he will always be the prince in shining armor to my daughter. Make it a point to paint a positive image of the other parent to your child. Respect each other’s decisions. I do not allow for my daughter to eat anything after 8:00 p.m., I communicated this to her father, so that when she is at his home, he is implementing the same rule.

This builds up trust between parents, and allows for them to function as a team in regards to the child.

Respect the fact that each of you love your child, and are committed to making sure they become the best human being they can be, despite the unforeseen circumstances and choices made by their parents. Respect each other for your children. Believe it or not, by doing so shows your child how much you actually love them.

Time There is so much to gain from just giving a situation time. Time for what? Time to heal, to move on, and to evolve. Give yourself time to adjust to this new relationship of co-parenting. There will be moments that will exhaust and frustrate you, and it may be because, deep down inside you still care for that person. We are all human, and you can’t magically make feelings go away, but you can learn to control them over time. It’s also important to remember that you can never recoup time. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. Don’t steal time away from your children being with the other parent. This time is where they can make memories that will stay with them for a lifetime.

This realization is what helped me during the times that I didn’t want to share my daughter during certain holidays, and festivities. I had to remember that he was her father, and loved her just as much as I did. How dare I rob her of quality time with her dad? Time that will help to develop her confidence, and cultivate how she will interact with men as she grows older.

It’s also important to remember that you never recoup it’s gone, it’s gone forever. Don’t Co-parenting is something that took timecan to master, and it’stime. didn’tOnce happen overnight.

My ex-husband steal fromrespect your children being with other and parent. is where they cantogether make for and I time haveaway a mutual for each other as the parents, are This able time to co-exist, and come memories that will stay with them for a lifetime. the betterment of our daughter.

Feelings come and go, and how you feel today, will not be how you feel years from now. Focus on the bigger picture, and focus on the success of your children. In an effort to punish the other parent due to how YOU feel, really only hurts the child. Remember, as parents we each play a different role in our children’s lives. Let the other parent star in their role, in the most important production, your child’s life.

Madison 12yrs old was born with sickle cell disease diagnosed at birth. She has experienced many trails that a person normally doesn't go through. Madison has had issues ranging from severe health problems, several surgeries, followed by hospitalizations, a stroke at the age of 4 and chronic blood transfusions for 9 years. While the majority may not know, that this disease is considered an incurable disease that predominately affects black communities.

Well Madison mom (Latrice) couldn't accept and wouldn't accept that this disease was incurable due to the growth of new technology and discoveries. Latrice researched and spoke to her doctors about new innovative treatment options. She finally found some information that was worth her attention but would it work? How could she be sure this was the answer?? So many difficult questions filled her mind but if there was a possibility of her helping to cure Madison then she would dig deeper and have to figure it out. Her hard work and research paid off which led myself sitting down with Latrice and Madison to interview them of how her mom determination led to Madison being cleared 100% Sickle Cell Free. Latrice didn't want to stop there she wanted to share her daughter story to help raise awareness and in hope that she can help another family.

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With Your daughter being diagnosed with sickle cell since birth how has it changed your family?

With Madison being diagnosed with sickle cell at birth and the complications that followed, it initially changed our family significantly. As a baby, she would get fevers and be in the hospital 3-4 days almost every month. I had to leave my job because my husband was deployed, we didn’t have family here, and I had 2 girls to take care of.

During the first year my church family, Harvest Family Church, helped me out tremendously by making sure my oldest daughter was cared for while I was in the hospital with Madison, usually at Duke Children’s Hospital. Around 9 months of age Madison was diagnosed with splenic sequestration (enlarge spleen), caused by the sticky, irregular shaped sickle cell blood causing the blood to get trapped in the spleen. Due to her age the only treatment was chronic monthly blood transfusions to help force the blood out of the spleen. We did this from around 10 months until she was 2 years old, when she had surgery to remove her spleen. During the course of the next few years Madison experienced several hospitalizations ranging from various complications from pneumonia, a stroke at the age of 4, having ports placed, monthly blood transfusions for 9 years, and her gallbladder removed.

What made you keep researching after numerous doctors told you there was nothing else they could do?

With all the advancements in medicine and prayer, I always felt like my daughter would be healed. I initially heard about bone marrow transplant from my daughter's Pediatrician, who told me about a patient that had the procedure done and was cured and moving on with her life as a student at UNC Chapel Hill. I began to research to determine if this was a viable option for our family. As Madison entered middle school I began to pursue this option more aggressively because I wanted to have this done before high school and I knew the process was long. I spoke with her hematologist, June before her 6th grade year and had my other daughters tested to determine if they were a match. I also saved my baby girl's cord blood when she was born that was stored at Duke for free because Madison was a patient there. Unfortunately, my two daughters were not a match, but I did not stop there. I still scheduled the consultation with the Pediatric bone marrow team just for information, no expectations, only because I did not think I had any other options. When I sat down with the doctor I was prepared with all my research and a list of questions, but I was so surprised to hear that although there was no sibling match we still had options.

What are some of things your daughter likes to do? And what’s next in the future for your daughter now that her sickle cell is cleared. She is a normal pre-teen that enjoys hanging out with family and friends, playing video games, watching movies, cheerleading for her school, reading and eating. The sky is the limit for her! Once she has completed her recovery she will be able to resume normal activity without the limitations that she had to endure with sickle cell, without the multiple doctor appointments that would cause her to miss out on activities and school, and without all the medications.

What words of advice can you give to another parent that may be going through similar trials? I know it is hard and very difficult to see your child going through this process, keep praying and encouraging them. Talk to the team of doctors, make sure you are included in the decision making process for your child. You are a vital part of your child’s medical team and make sure they know that. If you need help or need a break, don’t feel guilty about it, you have to take care of yourself as well. Try not to feel guilty during that trial process, wondering if you made the right decision, it is a short term trial for a long term benefit. Trust yourself and know that you know, and want what is best for your child.

Is there any advice your daughter would like to tell another child that may be diagnosed with sickle cell too. Madison’s advice is to surround yourself with positive people who will support you. If you are going through transplant, her advice is never give up. Some days you will feel bad and other days you will feel good.

What would you like for the readers to know that they might not already know. I would like the readers to just know that there are options; there is a cure for sickle cell disease. I would like for them to do their due diligence and talk to their child's provider. Find out if this is a viable option, advocate for your children, and always push to provide the best quality of life for them. This process takes a huge sacrifice for families, but to hear my daughter say it was worth it was everything for me.

Thank you to the Stokes family for sharing your story as we wish your family continued blessings and Madison a speedy recovery.

By: Blaine Way

Shrimp and

Andouille

Sausage Jambalaya

Way To Cook Recipes

Ingredients:

Directions:

1 lb of Andouille Sausage ¼ slices 1 lb of Fresh Shrimp. peeled and deveined 2 tbsp unsalted butter 3 tsp of cayenne pepper 2 tbsp cumin 1 Cup of diced tomatoes 6 ounces of tomato paste 1 cup half and half 1 ½ cups of chicken broth 2 Cups of white rice or rice of choice Salt and Pepper to Taste 1 tsp of parsley for garnish

● Place butter in stockpot and sausage over medium heat stir occasionally for 5-6 minutes until sausage begins to brown. ● Add cumin and cayenne pepper continue stirring for 1-2 minutes. ● Pour in chicken broth, tomato paste; continue to let ingredients cook to a slow boil 5-7 minutes. ● Add rice and half and half, stir then cover until rice is tender, about 40 minutes. ● Stir in shrimp, replace lid and cook for 5-6 minutes.

Uncover salt and pepper to taste let stand for 5 minutes, the sauce will thicken. Garnish with parsley pair with favorite biscuit or roll and enjoy!

By: Desmonae Lloyd

Autism Doesn't Define Me Knowing that something is different about your child is one thing, but finding out what it is can change your life forever. This is what happened to Ms. Lindy McCollum a fifth-grade teacher for Math and Science at Hardin Valley Elementary in Knox County of Knoxville, Tennessee. Her 6-year-old son Braylen is thriving now but they both had a long journey to get where they are today.

Autism cannot officially be diagnosed at an early age. Despite previous concerns at his 12-month checkup, speech services recommended by a doctor at 15 months, and TEIS (Therapeutic Early Intervention Services) until age 3, Braylen still couldn’t be effectively diagnosed until he was 4 with Autism due to the type of testing needed to confirm his condition through the Cherokee Health system. Autism is defined as a mental condition, present from early childhood, characterized by difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts. Ms. McCollum, decided to strengthen his weakness, that other children do not normally have, by doing research on any way that she could help her son, but first she went through various stages considering the news of her son’s diagnosis. She went through a grieving stage, where she had to learn to accept that Braylen could not do what other children his age could do.

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In addition, she went through the anger stage where she wanted to know why her son had to have Autism; followed by a stage of blame where she put the blame on herself because he had Autism wondering if she had done something different then maybe he wouldn’t have Autism, even though she knew she did everything correct throughout her pregnancy.

Finally she begin to feel a sense of pride, Braylen had Autism, that’s a fact and it wasn’t going away. She realized that he could touch more lives and give a new outlook on not only her life, but also any person that he came in contact with. Braylen has consistently adapted to learn new things in different ways and because of that Ms. McCollum has been fascinated seeing his accomplishments first hand.

Ms. McCollum immediately went into survival mode as any parent would when they finally get the confirmation on their child’s diagnosis. With her having a background in special education courses for her degree she utilized her old textbooks. She decided to get training through Knox County to serve children with Autism or those who needed help communicating, due to Braylen still being non-verbal. Braylen’s speech therapist and occupational therapist gave her tips in addition to all other resources she had utilized at this time. Throughout Braylen’s life Ms. McCollum has continued to connect with parent who’s children also have Autism or speech problems. During this journey Ms. McCollum has learned that with Autism there isn't one simple way to neither describe a child with Autism nor meet the needs of one with Autism.

Each child is different while they may share some of the same qualities. You are constantly learning and continuing research to be sure that you are doing everything possible to help your child excel in life. I was able to ask Ms. McCollum further questions about her experience with Braylen and some that would help other parents/guardians who have children with Autism…

Dealing with children on a daily basis does this make it easier to deal with your own? Dealing with other children on a daily basis doesn’t necessarily make it easier to deal with my own. If anything, having my son helps me with working with other children. With my son having Autism, it has taught me a lot that I am able to carry into my classroom.

What advice would you give to parents that have Autistic children? If I were to give any advice to parents that have a child with Autism, it is for them to know that they aren't alone. We all go through every single emotion that one may feel when having a child with Autism, and we need to know that there are others who go through the same things. It is important to find a community or support group of parents who have children with Autism. It’s important that we lean on each other in those low moments and those high moments. We can get those moments more often from each other as parents because of the connection we share.

What is something interesting that you want people to know about children with Autism?

There is a quote that says, "If you've met one child with Autism, you've met one child with Autism." This is so true. Every child is different. You have to truly take the time to get to know each child individually to build a relationship with it.

Is it true that keeping an Autistic child on a schedule is the best option for fewer outbreaks? Having a child on a daily schedule is a great way to eliminate some of those moments that may trigger a meltdown. It certainly is not the answer to avoiding them completely, but there is success of knowing what to expect. Having a schedule also allows an avenue to help them adapt to change when you are able to give them enough of an idea through their schedule that something is going to be different than their normal schedule.

For more ways to learn about Autism and resources to help your child or loved one in your area visit https://www.autismspeaks.org.

Survival Parenting guide 1. If your kid is asleep don't wake him/her up..enjoy your peace of mind ...while you still have it haahahaha.

2.

Don't bring "YOUR" food around your kids if you want

3.

Appreciate the small things literally, because they don't

to keep it.

stay cute forever.