Category Archives: medical moment

“There are angels at Mary Free Bed”: Stroke victim shares journey of healing through local rehabilitation center

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In 2005, Wyoming native Carol Jennings suffered an ischemic stroke that paralyzed her right side and rendered speech nearly impossible (Courtesy, pxhere.com)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


Carol Jennings says angels live at Mary Free Bed (Courtesy photo)

In July 2005, Wyoming native Carol Jennings suffered an ischemic stroke that paralyzed her right side and rendered speech nearly impossible.

Twenty years later, 82-year-old Jennings is living a full life, and she says it is largely due to the care she received at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital (MFB) in Grand Rapids.

“Mary Free Bed, they have angels that live there,” says Jennings. “The therapists work very hard, and they were just wonderful.”

The journey to recovery, however, was not easy – or short.

A long road home

Jennings and her husband Chuck were far from home when she suffered the stroke. On their way home from Boston, MA, the couple stayed overnight at a hotel in Syracuse, NY. Jennings had a headache that night and took medication to help her sleep.

The next morning, they were packing for the trip back to Michigan when Jennings realized something was not right.

“I was going to drive, and I had gone out to the car and fixed the seat, went back in and stroked,” says Jennings. “I don’t remember a thing after that.”

Jennings does not remember much about the day of her stroke (Courtesy photo)

At St. Joesph’s Health Hospital, Jennings received a clot buster injection to help break up the clot on the left side of her brain. The next thing Jennings remembers is opening her eyes to find a nurse leaning over her, asking if she felt better.

“I couldn’t answer her,” Jennings recounts in a book called The Promised Piece. “I could think, but couldn’t say anything.

“I had so many questions, and my lips and my heart were separated by miles. I couldn’t coordinate my thinking or my hearing, and now my eyes were tearing up and my voice was absent. I was instantly experiencing total grief.”

Jennings underwent treatment at St. Joseph’s for 11 days.

Restoring hope and freedom

Mary Free Bed is the nation’s most comprehensive rehabilitation provider and one of the largest not-for-profit, independent rehabilitation hospital systems in the country, states the MFB website.

MBF’s roots date back to 1891, when a small group of women wanted to help people who could not afford health care. Today, MFB works to restore hope and freedom through specialized physical medicine and rehabilitation programs and services.

Jennings was flown to MFB in Michigan where she underwent treatment for another 19 days.

(Courtesy photo)

Tough love

Jennings’ entire right side was paralyzed. She choked when swallowing ice chips, liquids and soft foods, making eating and drinking nearly impossible.

Her weakened right hand became the helping hand instead of the dominant. Jennings had to relearn how to perform numerous tasks, such as eating and writing, using her left hand.

Through everything, Jennings’ husband and her lifelong friend, Marilyn Emery, remained by her side. They provided love and support as Jennings worked toward regaining a normal life.

Jennings’ occupational therapist (Kristi) and speech therapist (Marie) also played a vital role in her recovery and provided Jennings with hope. She remains close with both women today.

“They work so hard, even if you stumble and don’t want to do [things],” says Jennings. “They keep you going. They are just so patient; they really are angels.”

Forever changed

After undergoing years of speech therapy for aphasia, Jennings now puts voice to her thoughts and questions. However, that voice now carries a different pitch, and she is often mistaken for having an accent.

Carol Jennings (right) shares about the challenges and recovery of her stroke (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

When Jennings gave a speech and asked to see the recording, Emery hesitated, knowing the pitch and tone of Jennings’ voice was lower than before the stroke.

“I didn’t know if she should listen to it, but she wanted to use it as a tool for her voice pitch,” says Emery. “She cried when she listened to her speech and said, ‘Did I really sound like that?’”

In order to be discharged from the therapy program, Jennings had to go out to lunch with Chuck and her therapist, order from the menu, and pay for the meal herself. She also had to pass a driving test. Jennings flunked the test the first time because her leg wasn’t strong enough to hit the brake pedal.

But she refused to give up.

“She’s a fighter”

Jennings attended therapy seven days a week, a daunting and difficult schedule.

Tasks that previously took no effort or thought now put Jennings’ sanity and patience to the test.

Jennings got her wish and once again danced with her husband Art (Courtesy, MFB)

As Chuck drove Jennings to therapy appointments, he read street signs and billboards, then encouraged Jennings to repeat them.

“I didn’t realize that I had to put my tongue a certain way when I said certain words,” says Jennings, adding that it was one more thing to relearn.

“It came back. Everything will come back, but it takes so long. I learned patience.”

When asked by the MFB marketing department to name the one thing Jennings wanted to do again, her reply was instant: “Dance with my husband.”

In time, Jennings once again danced in Chuck’s arms, their picture gracing local billboards and television screens as a testament to MFB’s rehabilitation skills. But much of that healing and strength came from Jennings herself.

“She’s a fighter,” said Emery. “She is a marvelous witness of what can happen.”

Faith, family and friendship

A large part of Jennings’ healing, she said, also came from her relationship with God.

“My mind never shut down, but I couldn’t talk much. All of a sudden, I said, ‘You know, Lord, if you want me to live, what do you want me to do? I can’t do anything.’”

(Courtesy photo)

Jennings would talk with God daily as she struggled in therapy.

“Just going there helped me to realize that God had to be working for me because some days I couldn’t work for myself,” said Jennings. “I would go, but He would give me the strength.

“My relationship [with Him] grew and grew. And He got me better. Better to do what? To help write a book.”

That book, The Power of Friendship: Lessons Learned from Lifetime Friends, details the lifelong friendship of Jennings and Emery – and the impact of true friendship.

When planning the book, Emery asked Jennings what came to mind when she said God. Jennings replied: Center.

“I thought, God will be the center of our book,” says Emery. “That He pulled her through, and she needed Him. We were there because she survived.”

Working on the book with Emery forced Jennings to utilize her mind and gave her purpose. “I felt the power of friendship,” says Jennings. “They were pulling for me, and I thought: I’m not going to let them down.”

“There is power in friendship.”

Jennings and Emery view each other as sisters (Courtesy, Deborah Reed)

“Carol told me that the book and all of her friendships gave her purpose,” says Emery. “You remember those people who were there for you. You never forget it.

“We’re sisters. Not of blood, but we’re sisters.”

The friends and family that banded around Jennings during her recovery, Emery continues, is a testament to the impact Jennings makes on others’ lives.

“She’s somebody you don’t forget,” says Emery.

Moving forward – with ink

Jennings’ tattoo reminds her that she is a survivor (Courtesy, Jennings)

Five years after her stroke, Jennings returned to Syracuse to meet those at St. Joseph’s who helped her. Being able to thank her “angels” in person gave Jennings a sense of thankfulness and appreciation.

A tattoo with the date of her stroke now encircles Jennings’ right ankle.

“The inking is a reminder that I am a survivor,” says Jennings. “I never wanted to forget what I went through.”

Though not always easy, Jennings continues trying new things – and spending time with friends.

Read more about the lifelong bond between Carol Jennings and Marilyn Emery here.

More information about the book, The Power of Friendship, can be found here and here.

Emmanuel Hospice shares four conversation starters for advance care planning

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It is important to talk with loved ones about your health care wishes and designate someone to make decisions on your behalf when you are no longer able to do so (Courtesy, Emmanuel Hospice)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


Who will make decisions about your health in the event you are not able to make them yourself?

That is the question at the heart of National Healthcare Decisions Day. Every April, this annual initiative emphasizes the importance of talking with loved ones about your health care wishes, formally documenting those wishes and designating someone to make decisions on your behalf when you are no longer able to do so.

This process, known as advance care planning, is something Britt Fischer regularly discusses with patients and families in her role as a social worker with Emmanuel Hospice. In Fischer’s experience, many people wait until retirement or until they have a serious incident or diagnosis, but the conversation should happen sooner.

“Working for a hospice provider really opened my eyes,” Fischer says. “Every day is not guaranteed, so it is never too soon to get these plans in place.”


Many people wait to plan until retirement or until they have a serious incident or diagnosis, but the conversation should happen sooner (Courtesy, Adobe Stock)

Health, decision and rights

Advance care planning can be intimidating to talk about because of the stigma around end-of-life discussions in our society, but Fischer likes to say, “it is less about death and dying, and more about your health, your decisions and your rights.”

“Everyone has the right to know who is going to be making decisions for them,” she says. “Everyone should be able to feel confident that person is going to make decisions that are in line with their wishes – not anyone else’s.”

To help broach the topic with loved ones, Fischer recommends four conversations starters:

  • I recently learned about advance care planning. Have you discussed your wishes for future medical decisions with any loved ones?
  • Do you know who would be your health care proxy or durable power of attorney for health care if you couldn’t make decisions for yourself?
  • Do you know if you have an advance directive in place? If not, can I help you with one?
  • What do you think are the most important decisions to make ahead of time regarding your health?

Clarification and documentation

Fischer recognizes advance care planning can also be confusing because there are a lot of different terms that are used – many of which mean the same thing.

“We want to see a durable power of attorney designated specifically for health care,” Fischer clarifies. “This is sometimes referred to as a health care proxy or patient advocate, but what it comes down to is whether you have in writing who will be responsible for making decisions for different medical events. We recommend listing additional people as backups in case the first-named person is unable to serve when the time comes.”

Filling out an advance directive form will serve as a legal guide for designating a decision maker and documenting your wishes (Courtesy, Adobe Stock)

Filling out an advance directive form will serve as a legal guide for designating that decision maker and documenting your wishes. It is recommended to review and update your advance directive anytime one of the “3 Ds” happen – death, divorce or diagnosis.

“There are many advance directive forms available online,” Fischer says. “CaringInfo.org is a great resource to find an appropriate one for your state. You’ll also need two people who are not related to you to witness. Often neighbors or friends can help with that part. Notarization is not necessary.”

In the state of Michigan, living wills are not legally binding. Only a durable power of attorney for health care can ensure your wishes are honored.

Fischer also recommends filling out a Michigan funeral representative form, which designates someone to make decisions about funeral arrangements and cremation.

“I’ve found it’s best to be clear and concise about what you want to happen at the end of life,” Fischer says. “This ensures your wishes are honored, rather than leaving your loved ones to guess or debate during an already difficult time.”

Exercise Snacking: The ‘little bit a lot’ approach to physical activity

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Physical therapist Peter Vander Weide working with participant Anwar (Courtesy, Care Resources)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


While it’s no secret physical activity is one of the most important ways to maintain good health, fitting in regular movement is easier said than done, especially as we age.

To make exercise more accessible, “exercise snacking” is growing in popularity for older adults. The idea is to incorporate small bursts of activity into your everyday routine.

‘A little bit a lot’

These “snacks” of activity can involve movement that already occurs in your daily life – things like getting up and down from a chair multiple times or doing weight shifts while washing dishes.

Increasing every day movements can produce healthy results (Courtesy photo)

“This is what I like to call the ‘little bit a lot’ approach,” says Peter Vander Weide, a physical therapist at Care Resources in Grand Rapids who has been a clinical specialist in geriatric physical therapy for 20 years. “You’re more likely to do it because you don’t consider it a formal exercise program. Rather, you’re just doing a little more activity than you normally do each day. It’s a mental shift.”

There’s also the convenience of not needing any special equipment and being able to exercise snack anywhere spontaneously throughout your day. As it turns out, a “little bit a lot” adds up. According to the National Council on Aging, recent research has shown exercise snacks can lead to “significant health gains.”

A phenomenal impact

From his decades supporting older adults, Vander Weide can’t emphasize enough the need to stay active.

Regular physical activity generates both physical and mental health benefits (Courtesy photo)

“As we get older, our connective tissue becomes inflexible and we gradually lose muscle with aging, which is called Sarcopenia,” he says. “Some sources say people can experience 50% muscle loss by 80 years old.”

But the benefits of achieving regular physical activity are plentiful, Vander Weide notes.

“Regular physical activity will help you maintain maximum strength and improve circulation, digestion, respiratory function and flexibility while reducing joint pain,” he says. “Then there’s the impact on mental health. Exercise increases levels of serotonin and helps the body release endorphins that are better than eating a piece of chocolate. These decrease pain, depression and anxiety.

“Bottom line: Exercise is phenomenal for aging individuals – and for all of us, really.”

Simply moving

Vander Weide acknowledges it takes effort to exercise, and that alone can be a barrier. He says this concept of snacking works better because it’s not asking you to run a marathon, it’s inspiring you to find simple ways to do more a little bit at a time.

“You just simply have to move,” he urges.

Examples of suggested exercise snacks include:

  • Lean into the counters in your home to stretch your calf muscles out.
  • Grab on to your kitchen sink and do weight shifts side to side and then front to back.
  • Do a few sit-to-stands from a chair. 
  • Side-step from one room to another and back.
  • Speed up your pace as you walk through a hallway in your home.
  • March in place while looking for something in the fridge or pantry.

Moving with intention

Lastly, Vander Weide cautions to do these movements with intentionality. He believes one of the most important concepts to understand in aging is that the body compensates to failure.

Moving with intention is vital to maintaining normal function (Courtesy photo)

As your muscles get weaker or your body alters function due to pain, the brain will figure out how to compensate to accomplish the task. This may work for a while, but it often leads to further dysfunction. If proper form is used during exercise snacks, your body will regain or maintain “normal” function. 

For more information on physical therapy and group exercise classes provided by Care Resources for adults 55 years and older, call 800-610-6299 or visit CareResources.org.

PAWS highlights increasing need for service dogs for children with autism

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Nolan (left) and TREASURE with parents Vanessa and Derek (Courtesy, PAWS)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


“When I first met TREASURE, I was super excited!” shared Nolan Casula, one of the many children benefiting from the partnership of a Paws With A Cause (PAWS) Service Dog for Children with Autism (SDA).

TREASURE, a lovable Golden Retriever, joined the Casula family as Nolan’s SDA companion last year. The service dog quickly became Nolan’s new best friend, helping him navigate the world and offering comfort and support.

In recognition of Autism Awareness Week (March 24-28) and Autism Awareness Day (April 2), PAWS shined a spotlight on the impact of SDAs like TREASURE and the ongoing efforts to meet the rapidly increasing demand for these dogs.

PAWS provides custom-trained assistance dogs that empower individuals living with disabilities to lead fuller, more independent lives (Courtesy, PAWS)

The impact of SDAs

PAWS provides custom-trained assistance dogs that empower individuals living with disabilities to lead fuller, more independent lives. One category of assistance dogs is SDAs.

These dogs play a crucial role for children on the spectrum by enhancing social interactions, expanding verbal and nonverbal communication, teaching life skills, increasing interest in activities, and reducing stress within the family – something the Casula family can attest to.

Nolan’s parents, Vanessa and Derek Casula, shared, “The impact that TREASURE has had on our family has been nothing but positive. What once were challenges are no longer the case.

“We no longer have to dread bedtime, we no longer have to dread simplistic things such as showering or brushing teeth. I don’t have to try to convince him to read a story because now he willingly does so to his best friend TREASURE.”

An increasing demand

(Courtesy, pxhere.com)

However, the demand for these life-changing dogs continues to grow. PAWS currently receives four applications for every one spot available for SDAs. In 2025, PAWS did not offer applications for this category of assistance dog due to the already extensive waiting list.

For PAWS, meeting this increasing demand requires strategic growth and additional support from the community.

Renovating PAWS’ national headquarters based in Wayland, MI, is one of vital changes being made to expand the mission work and ability to reach more people like the Casula family. The updated facilities will enable PAWS to continue delivering world-class service, increase the number of dogs in training, and therefore, the number applicants the organization can serve.

A need for foster puppy raising volunteers

With a goal to double the placements of assistance dogs by 2030, PAWS also needs to increase the number of volunteers in the Foster Puppy Raising program.

Volunteer Foster Puppy Raisers provide a loving home and basic obedience training for future assistance dogs before they are ready to begin formal training. Before TREASURE met her forever person, Nolan, she lived with Bonnie Sposato, a volunteer Foster Puppy Raiser for PAWS.

There are currently over 150 volunteers that are a part of the Foster Puppy Raising program at PAWS, but this number will need to grow (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

“It honestly gives me goosebumps in the best way to think about the changes and the impact that miss TREASURE is going to have on a child’s life,” said Sposato. “Her new person loves her, and she loves him so much. It is the best feeling ever.”

There are currently over 150 volunteers that are a part of the Foster Puppy Raising program at PAWS, but this number will need to grow over the next year to help serve more people with disabilities. To reach more people like Nolan and his family, PAWS is asking the community to consider becoming a raiser, co-raiser, or a starter/finisher home.

“Providing assistance dogs for the people who need them begins with our volunteers,” said Michele Suchovsky, CEO of PAWS. “By providing the dog with a loving home in the early stages of life, our volunteers are helping us make an incredible impact for people like the Casula family.

“TREASURE helps Nolan feel safe, understood, and supported. She is providing peace of mind to Vanessa and Derek, helping them navigate the challenges of autism with greater ease.”

An encouraging word

(Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Nolan provided his thoughts on the importance of helping more children like him receive their SDA, encouraging people to donate to PAWS and volunteer: “Because of donations from people like you, I have my best friend TREASURE. Your donation will also allow for other kids like me to have a best friend too!”

More information about PAWS, ways to donate, and how to join the volunteer program can be found at: pawswithacause.org.

Snow Day! Care Resources participants revisit their youth with an indoor snowball fight

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The Care Resources team planned a fun snow day for its participants, kicking off with the thrill and nostalgia of a snowball fight (Courtesy, Care Resources)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


100 fake snowballs were launched inside Care Resource’s newest location in Lowell (11730 Fulton St. E) on Jan. 13 during a full day of winter-themed activities.

100 fake snowballs flew through the air during a good-natured snowball “fight” (Courtesy, Care Resources)

With Recreation Therapist Lorelei Smits at the helm, the Care Resources team planned a fun snow day for its participants, ages 55 and older. The day kicked off with the thrill and nostalgia of a snowball fight, with nine staff and nine participants joining in the lighthearted fun.

Smiles and laughter were in abundance during the snowball fight (Courtesy, Care Resources)

“Our indoor snowball fight was a success,” said Smits. “We heard many participants say ‘that was so fun,’ and they appreciated the creativity of the event. Everyone – staff and participants – were smiling and laughing the entire time.”

Smits went on to say that the indoor snowball fight led to sharing memories of Michigan winters (especially the blizzard of ’78) and other winter trivia and fun facts.

After the snowball fight, staff posed behind cardboard cut-outs for participants to throw snowballs at.

There is “snow” place like Care Resources!” (Courtesy, Care Resources)

“Participants had a good time throwing snowballs at staff!” said Smits.

Other activities included winter trivia, crafts and hot chocolate.

Improving health through fun

The snow day was a creative way to improve health through fun activities (Courtesy, Care Resources)

Designed to create a time of fun, connection and a change of pace to the normal routine, Smits had a few additional goals in mind as well.

The snow day activities incorporated functional elements supporting participants’ health and wellness goals, such as exercise to strengthen upper extremities and improve arm movement and coordination.

Socialization and memory recall helps support cognition and emotional wellbeing.

“It was a creative and fun way to incorporate exercise, reminiscing and socialization,” said Smits. “Our Lowell building just opened up on Jan. 2, and this activity helped our participants and staff build connections.”

Learn more about Care Resources and the care and events they offer here.

Trinity Health vascular surgeons prevent life-threatening aortic aneurysm rupture

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Drs. Kosovec and Greenberg used an innovative new procedure that enables surgeons to provide care that is both effective and timely for complex aneurysm repair (Courtesy, pxhere.com)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


A West Michigan patient is on the road to recovery after two Trinity Health Grand Rapids surgeons successfully repaired a complex aortic aneurysm using a groundbreaking new procedure available at just a few sites in Michigan.

On November 18, Michelle Kosovec, MD, Section Chief, Vascular Surgery, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, and Joshua Greenberg, MD, Medical Director, Endovascular Services, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, completed a thoracoabdominal branch endoprosthesis repair of a complex aortic aneurysm.

The patient, a 61-year-old man, was discharged from the hospital a few days later and is doing well.

Complex surgical repair

Picture of a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (Courtesy, UF Health)

The aorta is the largest artery in the body, and carries blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body.

A thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm is a bulging in the aorta that extends from the chest to the abdomen. Over time an aneurysm may grow, further weakening the wall of the aorta, or it can burst completely causing rupture, which is bleeding inside the body.

Surgery to repair the aneurysm significantly reduces the risk of an aneurysm rupture, which can be fatal.

However, this is often one of the most difficult aortic aneurysms to treat because there are important blood vessels that supply critical organs in this location, all of which are stented individually while relining the inside of the aorta to provide a seal.

The current standard of open surgical repair is complex and associated with a high rate of mortality and morbidity.

Using an innovative new procedure

For this patient, Drs. Kosovec and Greenberg used the GORE® EXCLUDER® Thoracoabdominal Branch Endoprosthesis (TAMBE), an innovative new procedure that enables surgeons to provide care that is both effective and timely for complex aneurysm repair.

“For these extensive aneurysms – those that span the chest and belly – we’re now able to treat them with this much more advanced device that supplies blood to the aorta, abdominal branch vessels and lower limbs,” said Dr. Kosovec. “For patients, it’s a much less invasive treatment option with potentially lower rates of surgical complications, blood loss and death, as well as shorter hospital stays, and a quicker recovery compared to open surgical repair.

“This is the biggest innovation in the last 10 years and our Grand Rapids team is one of just a few sites in the state that’s able to offer it.”

Resource link

Visit Trinity Health Michigan for more information about their cardiovascular care.

Honoring those who served: Wyoming veteran provides comfort for hospice veterans

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Ryan Gadberry (pictured) is no longer on active duty, yet continues to serve (Courtesy, Hospice of Michigan)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org

Gadberry works to ensure veterans are recognized for their service (Courtesy, Hospice of Michigan)

Wyoming resident Ryan Gadberry served four years (2013-2017) in the U.S. Marines. While no longer on active-duty, the local veteran continues serving by bringing comfort and recognition to hospice veterans during their end-of-life journey.

Already serving as Property Manager for Hospice of Michigan, Gadberry stepped in to help when he heard Hospice of Michigan needed veteran volunteers.

For the past eight months, Gadberry has used his military experiences to make a meaningful impact.

“I am more than happy to give back,” said Gadberry. “It’s very heartwarming; it makes you feel like you’re doing something really important.”

Camaraderie and compassion

Hospice of Michigan strives to deliver the holistic, loving care veterans deserve. Veteran volunteers make a difference in the lives of others by sitting and visiting with fellow veteran patients.

Gadberry said there is a specific connection between veterans due to shared military training and history.

Wyoming veterans gather at an annual local breakfast (Courtesy, City of Wyoming)

“You can meet a total stranger and, once you find out they are a fellow service person, there is an immediate connection,” said Gadberry. “You’re no longer a stranger.”

That connection has been frequently proven, but one instance made a lasting impact on Hospice of Michigan Volunteer Program Manager, Lauren Becker-Barkman.

A lifelong Marine within hours of the end of his life journey was restless, repeatedly reaching and calling out.

“There was no peace in this man’s world at this time,” said Becker-Barkman. “He’s uncomfortable, he’s restless.”

Veterans can make a difference in each other’s lives (Courtesy photo)

The hospice team asked a veteran volunteer to sit with the veteran in hopes of making a difference in his end-of-life journey.

“By the time [the volunteer] left,” said Becker-Barkman, “he was comfortable, he was at peace. He wasn’t calling out, he wasn’t reaching out.”

The veteran passed within a few hours – and what was said during that time together remains unknown.

“We don’t know what was said or what passed between these two veterans, but whatever it was allowed this man to find peace and to be able to go on peacefully,” said Becker-Barkman. “That’s the kind of connection you can’t make up. The impact is immeasurable.”

Gadberry personally cultivates that special connection with hospice veterans through empathy and understanding.

A desire to serve

Gadberry is thankful for his time in the Marines (Courtesy, Hospice of Michigan)

A first-generation serviceman in his family, Gadberry always knew he wanted to be a Marine.

“Even when I was a kid, that was the plan. Finish high school, join the Marines. That’s what I did.”

Gadberry served as an intelligence analyst, working with several overseas ops – and has no regrets.

“I love that I did it; it definitely turned me into the man I am today.”

And that man gets a visible bounce in his step when meeting fellow veterans.

An unexpected impact

“He gets a little pep in his step knowing that he’s going to meet a veteran,” said Becker-Barkman, adding that Gadberry is also asked to read poems or talk about the impact of veteran connections often. “He’s incredibly humble about being a veteran himself…so to know that he’s also getting some recognition and that he’s continuing to make an impact, it’s really cool.”

A local woman raises her voice in song at a vet pinning ceremony (Courtesy, Hospice of Michigan)

Gadberry said that volunteering has impacted him in ways he didn’t expect – especially the pinning ceremonies.

“What surprised me was the impact it has on the families,” said Gadberry. “It’s overwhelming to see. It’s important to make that veteran feel remembered and seen, but they’re on their end-of-life journey, they’re going to be gone soon. But that ceremony, and those memories, are going to be passed on and kept with the family members for many years to come.”

Though many veterans are recognized for their service through their communities, American Legion or VFW, there are just as many who never see recognition of any kind. Gadberry said giving that recognition to veterans during the last steps of their end-of-life journey is memorable for all involved.

“Every ceremony, every event is completely different,” said Gadberry. “Every time I do it, I take away something different and I learn a little bit more.”

Becker-Barkman said her time with Hospice of Michigan has also been life-changing.

“I’ve learned so much about end-of-life care and what that entails for us as human beings,” said Becker-Barkman. “I get to be surrounded by so many brilliant, loving, giving people that it’s changed my entire outlook on everything.

“It’s magical to be surrounded by people who are so willing to show up for people they don’t know at what can be the hardest time in their life; it’s rejuvenating.”

The value of serving in new ways

Hospice of Michigan is continually in need of compassionate veteran volunteers to provide that much needed support and camaraderie to hospice veterans. Regardless of how they served, the bond between veterans opens a door of trust and communication through mutual understanding.

“Veterans share a unique bond,” said Kathy Lietaert, Hospice of Michigan Statewide Volunteer Program Manager, in supplied material. “Through our veterans hospice program, every act of service by volunteer veterans brings comfort, connection and compassion to hospice veterans who need it most at the end of life.”

Volunteers can make a life-changing impact with a minimal time commitment (Courtesy photo)


Becker-Barkman said they are always looking for more volunteer support, in Grand Rapids and throughout the state – and their volunteering schedule is flexible.

“You could [visit] one patient a month, visit once a week, or whatever fits your schedule,” said Becker-Barkman. “We don’t have any rigid guidelines. We want volunteers to be able to fit this into their lives in a way that’s meaningful and not overwhelming for them.”

Volunteer orientations are hosted on an as-needed basis so prospective volunteers can learn in their own time. Training or previous volunteer experience is not needed. All veterans willing to donate their time and companionship to hospice care patients are welcome.

Gadberry believes that veterans will step in to help once they are aware of the need.

“I was more than happy to help out,” said Gadberry. “I think that will be the case for other veterans out there. If they hear that another veteran needs some form of help, they will always step up.”

Learn more!

Prospective volunteers can contact Lauren Becker-Barkman at 616-250-9110 or lbecker-barkman@hom.org.

Learn more about Hospice of Michigan and submit an online volunteer application here.

NICU babies dress up for Halloween at Trinity Health Grand Rapids

Citizen Journalism, Health, Holidays, Kent County, Kids Activities, medical moment, West Michigan, , , , ,
(Courtesy, Trinity Health)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


With Halloween days away, the tiniest patients at the Trinity Health Grand Rapids Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are ready to celebrate! Their Halloween costumes were all hand-made by NICU nurses to fit these tiny patients without disrupting their care and monitoring.

Though the babies are not able to go outside to trick-or-treat, dressing up in the costumes allowed families to experience a childhood milestone.

  • (Courtesy, Trinity Health)
  • (Courtesy, Trinity Health)
  • (Courtesy, Trinity Health)
  • (Courtesy, Trinity Health)
  • (Courtesy, Trinity Health)
  • (Courtesy, Trinity Health)
  • (Courtesy, Trinity Health)
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About Trinity Health NICU

Trinity Health Grand Rapids NICU is a licensed 15-bed, Levell III NICU, that cares for 200 to 300 newborns on the unit every year. We have successfully cared for babies born at 22 weeks gestation and weighing as little as 11 ounces.

To learn more about Trinity Health Grand Rapids NICU services, visit their website.

Tips for preparing children with autism for Halloween

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There are several things you can do to prepare children with autism for Halloween fun! (Supplied)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


Dr. Candice Lake, Director of Wedgwood Christian Services’ Autism Center for Child Development, has authored a tip sheet to help parents of autistic children prepare for the trick-or-treat season.

Lake focuses on practicing, safety and reminders for community members.

Tips for Preparing Children with Autism for Halloween

Trick or Treating

  • Trial run wearing the costume
  • Practice saying trick or treat or using a communication card
  • Work on taking just one piece of candy and saying “Thank you” or using a communication card
  • Talk about how to know if a house is participating
  • Lights off vs. Lights on
  • Look for people present
  • Pre-walk the route or neighborhood you will be trick-or-treating in

Work on Safety Skills

  • Stay with an adult when walking
  • Look both ways before crossing the street
  • Stick to the sidewalk or edge of the road, not the middle of the street

Reminders for Community Members

  • Think about ways you can provide a more inclusive experience
  • Non-food treats such as pencils, stickers, or small toys
  • Limit scary or flashing decorations
  • Some kids may not have the verbal skills to say “Trick-or-Treat” or “Thank You” or feel comfortable wearing a costume – and that’s okay!
  • Teal Pumpkin Project is a great resource for additional tips on making this a Happy Halloween for everyone!

Walk for Apraxia event to benefit children with rare motor speech disorder Sept. 14

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The Walk for Apraxia is the largest community event that celebrates the hard work of our apraxia stars (Courtesy, Apraxia Kids)



By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


Raising awareness is a tangible way communities can help children with apraxia thrive (Courtesy, Apraxia Kids)

The 2024 Grand Rapids Walk for Apraxia event will be held on Sept. 14 at Beachwood-Bluffton Park to benefit children with apraxia of speech.

The event begins at 11 a.m. with a ceremony beginning at 12 p.m. Registration is FREE!

Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a rare motor speech disorder that makes it difficult for an individual to speak. Treatment includes intense speech therapy and sometimes other therapies to help individuals reach their highest communication ability. However, there is no cure.

Raising awareness is one of the most tangible ways communities at large can help children with apraxia thrive. Increased collective awareness means that children will be diagnosed faster, resulting in better, earlier intervention.

Celebrating apraxia stars

The Walk for Apraxia is the largest community event that celebrates the hard work of our apraxia stars, children diagnosed with CAS. The day includes family-friendly activities, a ceremony and a short, inclusive group walk to raise awareness.

Neil Kilby, father of an Apraxia Star, says, “Apraxia Stars need a team behind them. That team includes both parents, family members, SLP’s and organizations like Apraxia Kids.”

(Courtesy, Apraxia Kids)

Participating in the Walk for Apraxia helps show Apraxia Stars that there is a team of supporters surrounding them in their community. Invite friends and family to this community event to meet local Apraxia Stars and show support for all of their hard work!

Funds raised through the 2024 Walk for Apraxia benefit Apraxia Kids, the leading nonprofit that works to strengthen the support systems in the lives of children with CAS. Apraxia Kids educates both families and speech-language professionals so that children with CAS can reach their highest communication potential through accurate diagnosis and appropriate, timely treatment.

Event registration

For more information on how to join the Walk for Apraxia, click here.

Summer Surge: Is COVID-19 here to stay?

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U.S. health officials now consider COVID-19 an endemic disease which essentially means that COVID is here to stay in fairly predictable ways (Courtesy, KCHD)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


Cases are rising across the United States and many people have experienced the uptick over the past few weeks. They’ve either tested positive themselves or know someone else who has.

Health officials consider COVID-19 here to stay (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

In fact, U.S. health officials now consider COVID-19 an endemic disease which essentially means that COVID is here to stay in fairly predictable ways.

“COVID-19 is one of those viruses that behaves differently than other respiratory viruses like flu and RSV. COVID-19 infections are driven more by human behavior and immunity than weather patterns or seasons,” said Andrew Jameson, MD, an infectious disease specialist with Trinity Health Medical Group in Grand Rapids. “We’re going to have to learn to live with it.”

According to Dr. Jameson, a reason why COVID-19 cases are starting to rise: the virus has evolved to be a very good spreader, allowing it to infect people even if they have several layers of protection from past infection, vaccine, or booster. People become susceptible to an infection again not all that long after their most recent infection or booster shot.

“Despite immunity to new infection waning, most of the recent cases that result in hospitalization are in people who did not get the most up to date vaccine” said Dr. Jameson. “We do find, however, that protection with the vaccine against severe illness does hold up over time for most people.”

Are there new COVID-19 variants this year?

Since the original Omicron variants emerged back in 2021, the virus has continued to evolve and mutate – this is what viruses do.

Currently, the CDC is monitoring a trio of variants — called KP.3, KP.2, and LB.1 — that are on the upswing.

What are the symptoms now, and have they changed?

Many COVID-19 symptoms have stayed the same since 2020: fever, sore throat, coughing.

Many COVID symptoms have remained the same since its inception – however, there are some variants (Courtesy photo)

Other symptoms have shifted: it used to be common for people to lose their sense of taste and smell when they got sick, but that now seems to happen less frequently.

If you’ve been infected before, it’s important to understand that symptoms can vary from one infection to the next. It may actually feel like an entirely different illness. Or, you may experience the same symptoms, but in a different order.

COVID-19 symptoms include:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

“No two COVID infections behave exactly the same,” said Dr. Jameson. “In general, the more immunity a person builds up – from infections or vaccinations – the symptoms of another infection tend to be milder. But there’s no guarantee.”

How long do test kits last?

If you’re not feeling well and have trouble finding new at-home tests to purchase at your local pharmacy, you may wonder if you can use older test kits you may have.

The FDA says that tests should not be used beyond their expiration date.

“Medical” pieces of a COVID-19 home test kit (Chicago.gov)

I may have COVID. What should I do?

The CDC recommends treating COVID-19 just like other respiratory viruses such as flu and RSV:

  • Stay home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick) if you have symptoms that aren’t better explained by another cause.
  • CDC guidelines say people should isolate for five days from their first symptoms, after which they can be around other people if they’ve been fever-free for 24 hours and wear masks inside.
  • Seek health care promptly for testing and/or treatment if you have risk factors for severe illness.
    • Treatment may help lower your risk of severe illness.

For people whose immunity is impaired by disease or transplantation, there is a new treatment available: a monoclonal antibody called pemivibart (sold as Pemgarda) provides a similar level of protection as vaccines do for everyone else. However, it is expensive and given by infusion.

When should I get a COVID-19 booster shot?

The COVID-19 vaccination can help protect against the virus (U.S. Government)

Vaccines and boosters continue to be the go-to protections against severe illness from the virus.

“For those who are at high risk for severe illness – the very elderly, the elderly with comorbidities, and those who are immunocompromised – go ahead and get a booster vaccine now. The vaccines are still active against some of the circulating variants,” Jameson said.

“By the time the new vaccine comes out in a few months or so, you’ll be eligible to get another shot toward the late fall.

“For those whose risks are a bit lower, you can wait until the fall boosters come out.”

If you have any questions about COVID-19 as it relates to your health, or when it’s best for you to get a booster vaccine, talk to your doctor.

Trinity Health Grand Rapids offering Lecanemab for patients with early symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease

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By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


Alzheimer’s is still a mystery to those in the medical field (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

Few diagnoses are more frightening than hearing that one has Alzheimer’s or another disease that causes dementia.

The Alzheimer’s Association estimates about one in nine Americans over 65 have Alzheimer’s disease. This number is expected to more than double in 25 years.

“Alzheimer’s is a complicated disease,” said Kevin Foley, MD, FACP, AGSF, Medical Director of the Trinity Health Medical Group Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Program at Trinity Health Hauenstein Neurosciences – Grand Rapids Campus. “Even though it was discovered more than 100 years ago, we have yet to really understand what causes it, whether genes, environmental triggers, or something else.

“The formation of amyloid plaques in the brain is a hallmark of the disease, and the process can begin up to 10 years before a person shows any symptoms.”

While advances in treating cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, have been made in recent years, nothing seemed to have worked as well for treating Alzheimer’s.

Hope for slowing cognitive decline

Lecanemab can slow the progression of mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia (Adobe Stock Photos)

In 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved aducanumab, an amyloid-beta-attacking monoclonal antibody—a lab-made version of an antibody found in the human immune system.

Aducanumab was the first drug ever approved for slowing cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients. But trial data showed – at best – hints of a possible, small average slowing in cognitive decline.

In 2023, the FDA approved lecanemab (Leqembi®) using the Accelerated Approval Pathway (AAP). Under the AAP, the FDA may approve drugs for serious conditions where there is an unmet medical need and a drug is shown to have an effect on a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict a clinical benefit to patients. In this case, the surrogate endpoint is removal of amyloid.

“Lecanemab can slow the progression of mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease by eliminating amyloid protein from the brain,” said Dr. Foley. “It is classified as a ‘disease modifying’ drug, and the evidence so far shows a modest effect on slowing memory decline by several months.”

This treatment may be effective for patients in the early stage of the disease when symptoms, such as difficulty remembering names and completing tasks, are still manageable without much daily support.

Procedure and cost details

Dr. Foley and his team have two patients currently undergoing lecanemab infusions. More patients are going through the screening and approval process to see if they are a candidate for the treatment.

Trinity Health Grand Rapids (Courtesy, UMHW)

If a patient is approved, lecanemab is given as IV infusion every two weeks for 18 months. Brain MRIs will be done along the way to monitor for side effects. Patients also must be re-certified at six months to continue the treatment.

Health insurance plans will cover some of the expenses associated with the screening and treatment. There is no cost for the recertification at six months. An annual estimate for all non-covered expenses associated with screening and treatment is $6,000 – $7,000. The actual amounts covered are insurance company specific, so actual out of pocket costs could be less than this estimate.

Hope for the future

“For patients with Alzheimer’s, the hope of staying at the same level longer and slowing how fast it progresses, so they can keep doing what they enjoy, is important,” said Dr. Foley. “While this is not a ‘cure’ for disease, further studies may lead to an even more successful treatment.”

The 26th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, April 27

Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Crime Prevention, Going Local, Health, Kent County, medical moment, Upcoming Events, West Michigan, , , , , ,
(Courtesy, DEA)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


National Prescription Drug Take Back Day provides a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.

Residents can safely and anonymously bring expired, used prescriptions or over the counter medications to this free event for proper disposal.

Wyoming Police Department officers will be stationed at the University of Michigan Health-West Professional Building (2122 Health Dr) and at the Wyoming Police Department (2300 De Hoop Ave) from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 27 to assist in the medication collection process.

Prevent medication misuse and addiction

Unused prescription drugs often find their way into the wrong hands, creating dangerous and often tragic situations.

The DEA encourages the public to clean out their medicine cabinets and remove unneeded medications from their homes. This can help prevent medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting.

October 2023 Take Back Day results included:

  • Total Law Enforcement Participation: 4383
  • Total Collection Sites: 4675
  • Total Weight Collected:  599,897 lbs. (300 tons)
  • Total Weight All Time: 17,900,351 lbs. (8,950 tons)

Find a collection site near you

Locate a local collection site near you here.

Locate year round pharmaceutical disposal locations here.

Narcan vending machines with 24-hour access now available at four Cherry Health locations

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Narcan is a life-saving medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose (Courtesy, Cherry Health)



By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


Cherry Health recently installed new Narcan vending machines at two of its Grand Rapids locations. These Narcan vending machines provide expanded 24-hour access to free opioid overdose reversal kits.

Narcan vending machine (Courtesy, Cherry Health)

The newest vending machines are located at Cherry Health’s Southside Health Center (2303 Kalamazoo Ave. SE) and Westside Health Center (669 Stocking Ave. NW).

A $20,000 grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBS) made purchase of these Narcan vending machines possible.

What is Narcan?

Opioid overdose is a leading cause of accidental deaths and has led to a decrease in life expectancy nationwide. Naloxone/Narcan is a nasal spray drug that restores breathing by blocking opioids’ effects on the brain. It has no potential for abuse.

24-hour access to Narcan could potentially save lives (Courtesy, Cherry Health)

“Narcan is a life-saving medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose,” said Cherry Health Chief Behavioral Health Officer Bob Smith. “With the support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, we are able to expand Narcan access throughout West Michigan and potentially save more lives by providing safe and effective overdose reversal medication in the communities we serve 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”

Jeff Connolly, Senior Vice President and President of West Michigan and Upper Peninsula BCBS of Michigan recognizes that there is a stigma often associated with substance abuse disorders. “People may be reluctant to seek treatment due to the potential judgment or disapproval of those around them. That’s why programs such as these are critical in equipping people with the life-saving tools they need while navigating a long-term treatment option.

“We’re proud to be part of this live-saving initiative and shifting the stigma toward more positive recovery solutions.”

Four locations: Narcan vending machines

Cherry Health now has four Narcan vending machines in West Michigan. All locations are listed below:

(Courtesy, Cherry Health)

Heart of the City Health Center, 100 Cherry St SE, Grand Rapids

Cherry Health Southside Health Center, 2303 Kalamazoo Ave SE, Grand Rapids

Cherry Health Westside Health Center, 669 Stocking Ave NW, Grand Rapids

Montcalm Health Center, 1003 N Lafayette St, Greenville

Mental Health: Rewriting the Narrative – Part 1

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A grieving mother gives voice to her daughter’s pain

Jessica Gregory’s journal and last letter to her mother (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org

TRIGGER WARNING: This article contains sensitive information about depression and suicide that may be distressing or traumatic for some individuals.


Jessica Gregory (Courtesy, Julie Gregory)

At approximately 3 a.m. on March 10, 2015, 28-year-old Jessica Diane Gregory silently ended the internal pain she fought to free herself from most of her life.

Jessica’s mother, Wyoming resident Julie Gregory, prefers to focus on Jessica and her struggles versus the act of suicide when talking about her daughter’s death.

“I lost my daughter to depression, bullying and bipolar disorder,” said Gregory when talking with WKTV Journal.

Mental illness does not discriminate

Jessica had a family who loved her, was in the top 20 in her high school class of 2004, participated in sideline cheer and the competitive cheer team, ran track and had amazing friends.

Despite all of these things, Jessica was hounded by a darkness that led to physically harming herself and a suicide attempt in high school. Jessica’s internal struggle eventually spiraled into a loss of all hope.

Excerpts from Jessica’s journal and various other writings reveal the internal pain she battled daily:

Several pages of Jessica’s journal contained detailed plans of how she could end her life.

“I’m not ashamed or scared to talk about suicide or how my daughter ended her pain,” said Gregory. “We need to end the stigma surrounding suicide and mental illness. Redefine the way people talk about suicide and the way we think about suicide, and look at it as an effect of an illness.

“Why is it that the brain is the only organ in your body that will get judged for being ill?”

Gregory went on to say that those who die by suicide have lost a battle with a disease.

“They couldn’t hold on any longer,” said Gregory. “I feel it’s our job to help them hold on. Mental illness is treatable.”

‘I’m sorry, Mom. I love you.’

The last time Gregory saw her daughter alive was like a hundred others. There was nothing to indicate Jessica planned to end her life that night.

After having dinner with her family, Jessica and Gregory finished a jigsaw puzzle and began another.

Gregory had no idea Jessica purchased a handgun nine hours earlier.

Jessica’s journal and last letter to her mother (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

At approximately 10:30 p.m., Jessica helped her mother put the puzzle table away and went home to her apartment.

After writing one last letter to her mother in pink marker – her favorite color – Jessica silently ended the pain she battled daily.

Before you ask…educate yourself

Gregory said one of the hardest questions people ask her is: “How did she do it?” Gregory’s palms turned toward the ceiling, shrugging in disbelief and saying, “Does it matter?”

An entry from Jessica’s journal (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

What matters to Gregory is that her daughter is gone forever.

Another question Greogry repeatedly faces is, “Why didn’t you get her help?”

“We did get her help,” Gregory said vehemently. “She did go to the doctor, she was on meds, she went to therapy. She had a psychiatrist, she had a counselor, she had all these people. She had a team of people.

“You can put a mask on and show people what you want them to see,” Gregory continued. “It’s not always easy to see.”

Dr. Valencia Agnew of Adolescent and Family Behavioral Services agrees.

“Even when parents, and people in general, have noticed a lot of signs, it is also possible to miss signs,” said Agnew.

Jessica with her cat, Desi (Courtesy, Julie Gregory)

When Gregory went back and looked at specific dates in Jessica’s journal, she was stunned at how well Jessica hid her true emotions.

After one particular journal entry that conveyed Jessica’s wish to die, Gregory looked back at Facebook pictures, realizing it was the same day the family attended a birthday party. All pictures from that day portrayed Jessica as happy.

Gregory thought to herself, “She was happy. That was the mask she wore. And she was thinking all day about how she could die?”

Selfishness vs. Mentally Ill

Entry from Jessica’s journal (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Gregory shares her daughter’s struggle because she wants others to understand that the thought process of a mentally ill person is not normal.

“I am simply showing people how the mind of my mentally ill daughter was thinking,” said Gregory. “She wasn’t looking to hurt anyone. She was ending her pain and what she thought was a life that couldn’t get better.”

Suicide is not selfish, Greogry continued. “Suicide is a desperate way to end pain, physical or mental. It is a hopelessness that things will never get better. It is a feeling that family or friends will be better off without them.

Entry from Jessica’s journal (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

“Those who are suffering don’t want to end their lives, they want to end their pain.”

Gregory also hopes to end usage of the term “committed suicide.”

“In 1964, it was a law that it was illegal to commit suicide – but they didn’t know anything about it,” said Gregory. “Now that we know more, we can talk more about it and we don’t have to use those ‘committed’ words.”

“We say ‘died by suicide,’” Gregory continued. “Instead of focusing on the act, we focus on the person and what was going on.”

Picking up the Pieces

Gregory and her family faced a lot of “firsts” as they learned to maneuver life without Jessica. Gregory credits their faith in God and having each other to lean on as the key to their survival.

Julie Gregory is dedicated to helping others navigate the pain she endures daily (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

The grieving mother’s main focus after losing Jessica was making sure her son, younger than Jes by 14 years, was okay. That everyone around her was okay.

And that included other people who found themselves enduring the loss of a loved one.

“I had hundreds of people send me messages,” said Gregory, adding that she welcomes those messages. “People can come to me.”

Gregory is a vocal advocate for the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan’s be nice. program. She encourages schools and organizations to take part in the program, take action, and save lives.

However, for Gregory, personal comfort and healing comes in the form of helping those enduring the aftermath of loss. She does this through the i understand love heals program.

“For me, helping people pick themselves up after – it just hit home.”

Grieving and healing

“I didn’t have time to grieve, and I still won’t take that time to feel sorry [for myself], because I need to be 100% to help all these other people,” said Gregory.

While Gregory admits that is not the healthiest approach, she has no plans to stop being that voice for Jessica and a source of hope for those grieving.

Jessica’s last words are tattooed on Gregory’s forearm (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

“Just to know that I’ve helped others is healing to me, and so I don’t know any other way to grieve,” Gregory said. “I grieve sitting at that big table and having new people come to the group that literally just lost their family member two weeks ago.

“And I feel their pain, and I will grieve for that family and those lost, and for Jessica.”

A voice for Jessica

Gregory proclaims herself to be an open book, refusing to hide that her daughter ended her own life.

Instead, two years after Jessica’s death, Gregory chose to open both her own life and Jessica’s to scrutiny and possible ridicule in the hopes that even one person would see – and choose – hope.

Jessica with family and friends (Courtesy, Julie Gregory)

Picking Up the Pieces is a blog that unveils Jessica’s journey, her internal pain, bullying she experienced at her job, and the aftermath Gregory endures daily since finding Jessica in her apartment nine years ago.

Gregory does not hold back, laying bare the pain and darkness – and emphasizing the glimmer of hope she knows is always present, even if not always noticed.

Though Gregory has been pushed out of her comfort zone countless times over the last several years, she embraces each challenge so she can share Jessica’s story and be that voice for her daughter.

“If I reach just one person, letting them know they aren’t alone, it is worth sharing,” said Gregory. “Or, maybe someone reading these pages who doesn’t have a mental illness will be enlightened by what is in someone’s mind that does.”

#ThereIsAlwaysHope

Jessica applied for a new job before she took her life. A job at a hospital where she could help others and could carry out her personal life mission. Multiple interviews and a job shadow followed.

A Picking Up the Pieces blog entry (Courtesy, Julie Gregory)

The darkness Jessica fought against, however, overwhelmed her before she heard their decision.

“The day after Jessica’s suicide, there was a message left on her cell phone voicemail,” said Gregory. “It was a message from the hospital she had applied at.

“She received that call one day late…”

Julie and Jessica both have a tattoo symbolizing a mother and daughter and their love for each other (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

The timing of that voicemail is something Gregory encourages all who struggle to contemplate.

“There is always hope,” said Gregory. “No matter how bad today can be, things will get better. You can’t leave today, because tomorrow everything could change.

“Life is all hills and valleys, and for every valley that you’re in, those hills are going to be amazing.”

Monica Ruiz, in a personal place of mental health recovery for the past few years, echoes that message.

“I do believe that all suffering is temporary,” said Ruiz, adding that there will be moments of relief even in the lowest times. “So please hold on. There is help. It gets better.”

A radical resolve

Gregory’s resolve to eradicate stigma and live with hope is evident in each word of Picking Up the Pieces.

“I am determined to be more than just a survivor,” said Gregory on her blog. “I am determined to find the silver lining, I am determined to see my glass as half full, I am determined to keep talking about mental illness and the side effects that ‘Pain’ can cause some people.

“I am determined to help change the definition of suicide.”

Eradicating stigma 

“The stigma needs to be lifted about mental struggles,” said Gregory. “We need to talk about it, out in the open, and not treat it like a dirty secret – those days are past. We need to continue this conversation.”

Help stomp out stigma surrounding mental illness by joining the free annual be nice. Stomp Out Stigma 5K Walk event in May each year.

The be nice. program and action plan (notice, invite, challenge, empower) educates students, staff, and community members about mental illnesses and encourages them to exchange stereotypes for understanding, compassion and acceptance.

Resources

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. It is a free, 24/7 service that offers confidential support, information and local resources.

You can also text “HOME” to the Crisis Text Line: 741741, or text “nice” to the Crisis Text Line: 741741 to be connected with a be nice. crisis counselor.

Search for local treatment in your area: Local Resources.

Support for LGBTQ youth: The Trevor Project.

*Find more Mental Health: Rewriting the Narrative resources by clicking here.


Click here for full video: Lived Experience

February is National Heart Month: American Medical Response shares heart attack warning signs

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People are encouraged to focus on their cardiovascular health during February (Courtesy, pxhere.com)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org



Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of disability.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coronary heart disease is the most common form of heart disease and often can lead to heart attacks.

February is National Heart Month, and American Medical Response (AMR) is providing tips to help you know the risks and signs of a heart attack and what to do if you witness these signs.

“Heart attacks can be sudden, but most start slowly with mild pain and discomfort,” stated John Robben, AMR Regional Director for Western Michigan. “Often, people who are having a heart attack aren’t sure what’s wrong and therefore delay seeking help.”


(Courtesy, pxhere.com)

Warning signs of a heart attack

Robben says to look out for these signs of a heart attack:

Chest Pain – Most heart attacks cause discomfort or pain in the center of the chest that can last for several minutes. The pain may go away and then return. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

Discomfort in Other Areas of the Upper Body – This can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

Shortness of Breath – May occur with or without chest discomfort.

Other signs – Other symptoms might include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

Warning Signs can be Different for Women – The most common symptom for both women and men is chest discomfort, but one can have a heart attack and not experience chest pain or pressure. Women are more likely to have symptoms such as back pain, jaw pain, shortness of breath, indigestion and nausea or vomiting.


(Courtesy, American Medical Response)

What to do

If you or someone you are with has chest discomfort, especially with one or more of the signs of a heart attack, call 911 immediately.

Calling 911 is the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment. Emergency medical services can begin treatment when they arrive. EMTs and paramedics are also trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped.

If a person’s heart stops before the ambulance arrives, you should begin CPR and send someone to find an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

Be Prepared: It only takes a few minutes to learn compression-only CPR. Call Guardian Flight to find out where you can learn this life-saving skill.

For more information on heart attacks, visit heart.org.

Respiratory illness rates are high – know when to seek medical attention

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(Courtesy, pxhere.com)

By Kent County Health Department

deborah@wktv.org


Respiratory viruses are on the rise in Michigan and in Kent County.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitors flu activity across the U.S. and now categorizes Michigan’s flu activity level as high. Local hospitals are seeing an increase in upper respiratory illnesses including influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and COVID.

(Courtesy, Kent County Health Department)

The rise in the three illnesses has many of us feeling the symptoms which may include runny nose, congestion, and coughing. But how can you tell if what you have is a common cold or something more severe?

COVID has changed

For people who are up to date on vaccination the symptoms are much less severe and can easily be confused with a cold. At first, one of the telltale signs of COVID was the loss of taste and smell. Health officials say that isn’t happening as much anymore because of the level of immunity people have acquired from having the illness, getting vaccinated, or both.

If it is COVID, you may have stomach issues like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The flu and RSV do not usually have these symptoms. If you are having gastrointestinal issues with your other symptoms, you should consider a COVID test.


Symptoms for respiratory illnesses can vary (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

RSV symptoms

RSV can be fairly mild, but for people over 65 and children the illness can become very severe. Medical professionals say RSV patients will typically have wheezing or symptoms that look like asthma flare ups. RSV symptoms usually in stages over the course of 4 to 6 days.

Flu symptoms

The flu generally comes all at once. Sudden onset of symptoms like fever, cough, fatigue, body aches and a sore throat can seem to strike out of the blue. COVID, colds and RSV do not do behave that way, instead a person may have new symptoms for several days when they have become infected with those illnesses.

This chart can help you interpret your symptoms:

Respiratory Illness Symptoms (Courtesy, KCHD)

I have some of these symptoms, now what?

When you are feeling symptoms, medical professionals say that getting tested for COVID should be the first thing on the list. If that is negative, it is wise to get a flu test. After a positive flu test, you may be prescribed antiviral drugs like Tamiflu that can dramatically shorten the number of days you suffer.

When to seek medical attention

You should seek medical attention immediately if you are experiencing severe flu symptoms like difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, dizziness, seizures or severe weakness or muscle pain.

Vaccine resources

Fortunately vaccines exist for COVID, RSV and influenza and there is still time to protect yourself if you have not received yours yet. Other simple steps you can take to protect yourself and others include staying home if you are sick and washing your hands correctly and often.

Call KCHD today to make your vaccine appointment at 616-632-7200.

Infant fatalities rise due to “comfort” practices: Learn safe sleep habits and products for your baby

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission is working to educate parents and caregivers on safe sleep practices and products (Courtesy, pxhere.com)


By Rachel Rickman

WKTV Contributing Writer

Most infant fatalities are preventable is safe sleep practices and products are used (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

Parents and caregivers spend a great deal of time and money ensuring their baby’s safety and comfort. However, an adult’s concept of “comfort” can unintentionally become deadly to a baby.

According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC), 160 babies die every year because of unsafe sleep practices and products.

Many of these deaths are preventable, and the CPSC is combating the issue from multiple fronts.

Nychelle Fleming, CPSC Communications Specialist, and Pam Rucker Springs, CPSC Office of Communication Director, are at the forefront of public education regarding the issue of safe sleep practices for babies.

Getting back to the basics

The purpose of the CPSC is to create transparency and accountability for consumers when it comes to the products they buy and use.

“There are so many products out there with fancy names, but we need to get back to the basics,” said Fleming. “Products that are intended for sleep according to federal regulations.”

The CPSC oversees 15,000 categories of products, working with manufacturers and retailers to let consumers know when there is a problem with a product.

“Almost everything in your home that you don’t eat or drink we have regulations to manage,” Rucker Springs said. “We’re the people that will let you know: ‘Hey, there’s a problem with this product and you need to contact the manufacturer.’”

Concerning data: baby sleep environments

Recent CPSC data shows that 100 of the 160 annual nursery product-related deaths were associated with the presence of extra bedding being added to bassinets or play yards.

The incline of a carseat can cause restricted airflow and suffocation (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

“It’s important to start with a product that’s intended for sleep,” said Fleming. “Your crib, your bassinet, your play yard, with just the fitted sheet, and only placing the baby on their back in accordance with the American Pediatrics recommendation.”

When it comes to a baby’s “comfort,” it is important to be aware that safety comes first.

“We want our babies to be comfortable like we’re comfortable, with lots of fluffy pillows and warm comforters, but that can be the worst thing you can do for baby,” said Rucker Springs.

Fleming added, “What can be appropriate for an adult can actually be deadly for babies who don’t developmentally have the ability to lift their head and nose away from soft bedding that can conform to their nose and mouth – or even incline products which cause them to go chin to chest. Again, that flat surface is the best for baby to sleep.”

Incline products produce risks because a baby can tilt chin to chest, causing a lack of airflow and suffocation.

“Even if your baby falls asleep in another product like a baby swing or car seat carrier, we tell you to transfer the baby as soon as possible to that crib, bassinet, or play yard: a firm flat surface,” Fleming said.

Ethnicity and infant deaths

Recent statistics regarding infant deaths due to unsafe sleep products and practices show Black families experiencing a higher number of deaths than other ethnicities. Rucker Springs connects those statistics to upbringing and cultural practices within communities.

The CPSC is working to raise awareness in all communities (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

“It has to do with the practices we all grew up with,” Rucker Springs said. “There are things we grow up with that are inherently unsafe for babies. But that’s what we’re (the CPSC) here to do: educate people as to why it may not be the best thing for your baby.”

Fleming added, “We’re trying to raise awareness where we’re seeing communities who are disproportionately affected. 160 deaths annually, and about 29% were African American children. We want to make sure everyone knows how to create a safe space for baby.”

When asked about information access within Black communities, Fleming said, “The commission has worked with the American Pediatric association for years, and the ‘Back to Sleep Campaign’ has been in effect for over 30 years, but we’ve found that African American families are still not necessarily getting that message—even the simple message of placing your baby on their back to sleep.”

“What our organization is trying to do is educate people at the community level and through trusted voices,” Rucker Springs said.

Information overload: How to keep up

When it comes to learning more about the commission and staying up to date on the latest safety recommendations and recalls, consumers can go to CPSC and CPSC Safe Sleep.

However, with an average of 300 recalls per year, Fleming says it is hard for consumers to keep up.

Signing up for alerts and following social media can help you stay informed (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

“We want consumers to sign up directly for recalls so they can learn about recalls directly through email notification,” said Fleming.

Go to CPSC Recalls and Safer Products to sign up for recall notices or report a problem with a consumer product.

Robust social media sites and outreach to other organizations are also a priority for the CPSC.

“Download the app, and (follow) our social media,” said Fleming. “We heavily use our social media – Facebook, Twitter (now called X), and Instagram – to get you information.”

“We’re reaching out to other trusted (community) platforms and channels, like churches, where a lot of folks get their messages,” said Rucker Springs, adding that they also have a neighborhood safety network where various product information is sent out via posters.

“Posters that parents can download and share with their schools, community groups, churches, and other community centers,” said Rucker Springs.

The difference between life and death

As a parent, the safety and comfort of your baby are everything. Having the most up-to-date information on safe sleep routines and products can literally make the difference between life and death.

Detailed information on recommended safety practices and product recalls can be found at CPSC.



Rachel Rickman is a freelance writer, editor, and former university English Instructor with a BA, MA, and MFA focused on writing. She grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, but currently resides in Rosarito, Mexico with her husband and son.

Much of her work focuses on “narrative recipes”—personal essays with recipe/cooking ideas.

School-based dental programs give children access to adequate healthcare

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Over 20 million children in the U.S. face barriers to receiving quality health care (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

By Lauren Konsdorf

WKTV Contributor

The 19th century proverb, “An apple a day keeps the dentist away,” is easier said than done for some families. Over 20 million children in the United States face barriers to getting quality health care, with cost and transportation being two of these barriers.

Meeting families where they are

School is back in session, and this means more contact with other children and daily germs. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Nationwide Children’s Hospital provides school-based health programs, one of the programs tackling the most common chronic condition among children, tooth decay.

Tooth decay is the most chronic condition among children (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

“It is a great partnership, and we are grateful for the services provided to our families,” Wyoming High School Principal Josh Baumbach said.

The Wyoming Public School district benefits from dental clinics which include preventative care appointments and performing most restorative procedures. Partnering with Cherry Street Health Center, Wyoming families have the ability to request dental services for their children.

Shauna Bayer, Associate Director of School-Based Programs at Cherry Health, said the programs participated in 857 exams last year in the Wyoming school district, 55 of which had urgent needs. Bayer also said the program treats every child the same whether they are insured or not. It provides families with care that they might not have access to.

“It makes it worthwhile to come to work every day,” said Bayer.

School-based dental clinics have helped over 1,000 children

Since July 2021, the school-based dental clinics have treated more than 1,000 children and have completed more than 7,000 procedures.

School-base dental programs help families access important healthcare (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

Mary Kay Irwin, Senior Director of School Health Services for Nationwide Children’s, wants to improve health outcomes for all children.

“We know that children can reach their full potential in the classroom when they are healthy, live in a safe and stable environment, and have access to the resources they need,” Irwin said.

The dental program creates outcomes for children and families that need access to important healthcare.

Irwin said working together and meeting families where they are is key to helping children access important care that they would not otherwise receive.

School-based dental services help with eliminating barriers that exist in receiving adequate healthcare for school children, creating a more resourceful environment and a future of children enjoying a five-letter facial expression – a smile.



Lauren is a senior at Central Michigan University and is studying Broadcast and Cinematic Arts with double minors in Journalism and Communications. She is a radio host for a specialty show on 101.1 The Beat, and is Promotions Video Editor for WCMU Public Media. She hopes to become a lifestyle reporter or host after college.

Women receiving cancer treatment to experience pampering, renewal at upcoming Self-Care Day Oct. 13

Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, Local Business, medical moment, Upcoming Events, West Michigan, , , , ,
Self-Care Day, offered by The Healing Nest of Western Michigan, is intended to help cancer patients find rejuvenation of both mind and body (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org

Self-Care Day will offer alternative therapies by trained and certified volunteers (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

A day of renewal and pampering for women receiving cancer treatment will take place at Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids on Friday, Oct.13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Offered by The Healing Nest of Western Michigan and with collaboration with Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids, the free Self-Care Day event will include a variety of self-care opportunities. Massages, Healing Touch, Reiki, yoga, and meditation will be available options.

Attendees are welcome to join one or all of the relaxing offerings.

Benefits of self-care

Founded by Reiki Master Laurel Williamson, The Healing Nest is a group of volunteers with specialized training and certification in the above listed alternative therapies.

“People just need a lot of love when [they are] struggling with [cancer],” said Williamson. “You’re vulnerable, you’re scared, you don’t feel good, and you’re worried about the next test or the test results. It’s a constant strain mentally and emotionally. The things we are offering just help take you out of that space and into a place of relaxation, peace, and less anxiety.”

A partnership that was meant to be

Laurel Williamson hopes to continue offering self-care events in West Michigan (Courtesy, Laurel Williamson)

Williamson had grown up watching actress and comedian Gilda Radner with her mother and sisters and knew she had died from cancer.

“I’d heard of the organization that Gene Wilder put together in her honor and memory, and my son-in-law mentioned that I give them a call,” said Williamson.

Needing a place that would allow her to host The Healing Nest event, Williamson visited the renovated farmhouse accommodating Gilda’s Clubhouse (1806 Bridge St. NW, Grand Rapids).

“It’s an incredible place,” said Williamson. “It was taken down to the studs and [they] invited the community in and asked them if they would write their prayers and intentions on the studs before they put the drywall over. It’s just full of prayers and intentions for healing.

“You can feel the love in the building, you can feel the love on the grounds, and you know their doors are open for anyone affected by cancer in any possible way,” Williamson continued. “Their doors are open to anyone experiencing grief. I’m honored that they would like to work with us.”

Gilda’s Club provides a variety of free opportunities for local cancer patients (Courtesy Photo)

Director of Program Operations of Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids, Lindsay Jousma, said the Club’s desire is to provide a multitude of free service opportunities for local cancer patients.

“Cancer can take a toll on one’s emotional and physical wellbeing,” said Jousma. “By partnering with Laurel and the volunteers at The Healing Nest of Western Michigan for Self-Care Day, we hope to give women living with cancer a special day to care for themselves and their emotional wellbeing.”

How to help someone who is struggling

Williamson said that simply giving a cancer patient a ride to the event is helpful.

“If they were feeling sick from the effects of the chemotherapy…it [takes] a lot for them just to get up and put lipstick on that day,” said Williamson.

She continued to say that help and encouragement can become a matter of “just holding space for them with this pure intention of nothing more than love and helping them.”

Slowing down mental chatter, unwinding the nervous system

Self Care Day is intended to provide relaxing, peaceful effects of slowing down mental chatter, breathing deeply, and allowing the nervous system to unwind.

Reiki, one of the event offerings, is intended to help slow mental chatter (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

“Yoga and meditation and Reiki and healing touch all kind of go about it in the same way,” said Williamson of the event’s offerings. “And that is to bring all of the mental chatter to a place of stillness. It’s slowing everything down so that person can be inside their body for a moment, feel their heart beat, and concentrate.

“As a volunteer at The Healing Nest of Mid-Michigan, I saw how its healing resources can rejuvenate a person’s mental outlook,” Williamson continued. “That’s the idea of The Healing Nest, to bring people in and allow them to take that deep breath, sigh, and just be. Now, local women living with cancer have a peaceful place where they can visit and receive free services that target their mind, body and spirit.”

Looking ahead

The Healing Nest is looking for local volunteers (Courtesy Photo)

It is Williamson’s intention to host self-care events regularly. Many of her volunteers, however, travel from the east side of the state to help put on the events.

Because of this, Williamson said they will begin by offering self-care days quarterly.

“I would love to offer it much more often, so I am open to local volunteers,” said Williamson, explaining that volunteers would need to be licensed or certified in their field.

Register for Self-Care Day services

Slots for services are still available for Self-Care Day. Interested participants can register by contacting The Healing Nest by phone: 248-762-2883, or email: laurel@healingnestwest.com.

More information can be found online at www.healingnestwest.com.

For more information about Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids and their services, visit gildasclubgr.org.

The Healing Nest and Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids would like to thank Meijer for sponsoring the food and water for Self-Care Day.

Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan surpasses expectations with 100 life-saving surgeries

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The Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan completed its 100th surgery at University of Michigan Health-West (Courtesy, UMHW)

By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


Ten months since launching the state’s newest open-heart surgery program, the Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan completed its 100th surgery at University of Michigan Health-West, surpassing its first-year goal of 50 operations.

The program gives West Michigan patients greater choice and access to top-rated care close to home while also reducing costs. The Grand Rapids market was previously the largest in the state with a single open-heart program.

The UMHW cardiovascular operating room has state-of-the-art equipment (Courtesy, UMHW)

UM Health-West CEO Dr. Peter Hahn said the milestone is a testament to the collaboration and meticulous preparation that led to the program launch last October.

“Before we saw a single patient, we built and equipped a state-of-the-art operating room. We assembled a team of leading heart surgeons and cardiovascular experts, and we designed protocols to ensure our first patient could have the same expectation of excellence as our 100th patient,” Hahn said. “We intend to continue building on that success.”

Dr. Alphonse DeLucia III, who leads the UM Health-West cardiac surgery team, said the program’s success shows the genius of the model established by the Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan. The joint operating agreement leverages the expertise of Trinity Health Muskegon, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, UM Health-West, and more than 125 years of cardiovascular leadership from University of Michigan Health in Ann Arbor.

“Patients no longer have to wonder if they are getting the best option for care,” DeLucia said. “Patients go through their own cardiologist. If advanced cardiovascular care becomes necessary, the Network provides the collective expertise from all four programs to evaluate each case and ensure the best possible treatment.”

Trinity Health provides access to some of the most accomplished surgeons in the state (Courtesy, UMHW)

Whether surgery takes place at Trinity Health Muskegon or at UM Health-West in Wyoming, the Network provides access to some of the most accomplished surgeons in the state. These surgeons have decades of experience and have performed thousands of operations.

Another aspect that sets the program apart, said Dr. Theodore Boeve, a cardiothoracic surgeon based at Trinity Health Muskegon, is that it draws on the renowned cardiovascular expertise of University of Michigan.

“Some of the greatest advances in cardiovascular medicine and surgery got their start in Ann Arbor, and Michigan Medicine continues to be a leader in improving outcomes for patients with heart disease,” Boeve said, noting patients benefit from the latest research and clinical trials. “This opens an entirely new scope of treatment options.”

UM Health-West Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ronald Grifka said the early success confirms that the cardiac surgery program and the Network are addressing a critical necessity for the fastest-growing region of the state.

The overwhelming success of the cardiovascular program has encouraged plans for further expansion (Courtesy, UMHW)

“The fact that we expect to perform close to 125 surgeries in our first 12 months – and possibly 200 in our second year – shows West Michigan needed more options in the fight against heart disease, the No. 1 cause of death,” Grifka said. “We are making a direct impact on the quality of life for our patients across the region.”

Dr. Himanshu Patel, Executive Director of the Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan says the overwhelming success of the program has encouraged plans for further expansion and advancements.

“Expansion in the next decade is not a matter of if, but when,” Patel said. “We are confident of this, just as we fully expect to continue delivering more breakthroughs and sophisticated treatments for our patients.”

Kidney transplant patient celebrates 50 years of kidney health

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Guadalupe Alejos (Courtesy, Trinity Health Grand Rapids)



By Trinity Health


In 1973, Guadalupe Alejos was one of the first to undergo a kidney transplant at what is now known as Trinity Health Grand Rapids. Fifty years later, that kidney is still functioning and has allowed him to lead a full, happy and productive life. He raised his family and now enjoys his retirement years.

Today, doctors tell their patients a kidney from a living donor lasts an average of 15 to 20 years, and from a deceased donor, 10 to 15 years. The longevity of Alejos’ kidney is miraculous.

The future didn’t look that bright back in the mid-1960s when he was diagnosed with a degenerative kidney disease called glomerularnephritis, which affected both of his kidneys. For several years, Alejos held the disease at bay with medication. In 1968, he married his high school sweetheart, Lupe.

Lupe (left) and Guadalupe Alejos. (Courtesy, Trinity Health of Grand Rapids)

“When I married him, I knew he was sick,” Lupe said. “I knew what I was getting into. Your heart rules.”


Both Alejos and his wife have a great faith in God, which permeates their daily living.

By 1973 at the age of 27, Alejos’ kidneys were barely functioning, and he was so ill that Lupe found him collapsed, unable to walk. He began dialysis, and Dr. William Bouman (now retired) told him his only hope was a kidney transplant.

The hospital was just starting a transplant program, and Dr. Bouman – one of its founders – cautioned Alejos that the transplant procedure was still unproven.

“I was so sick, that even if my chances [of survival] were 10 percent, I’d have taken it,” he said.

His six brothers were tested as potential donors, and his oldest brother, Vincente, agreed to give Alejos one of his kidneys. Following the transplant, Vincente has had no issues living with just one kidney.

On July 23, 1973, Dr. Robert Levine (now deceased) – another of the program’s founders – performed what then was a new and rare procedure in Grand Rapids, transplanting the kidney into Alejos’ abdomen. The diseased kidneys were not removed, so he actually has three kidneys.

Every six months, Alejos visits the Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center, and follows a healthy lifestyle to keep his kidney functioning. For 25 years, he worked in social services for the State of Michigan, retiring in 2001.

“Without the transplant, I would have been gone long ago,” Alejos said.

Lupe said, “I thank God every day. Thank you for giving us every day to enjoy life.”



The Alejos family also have a devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and proudly display her statue at their home. They attribute Alejos’ transplant success to Our Lady’s intervention.

Our Lady of Guadalupe statue. (Courtesy, Trinity Health of Grand Rapids)

Because of his transplant, Alejos and his wife have been able to travel to Mexico and California to visit family members during these past five decades. The couple has also enjoyed raising their three children, who have given them seven grandchildren. “Now we are waiting for great grandchildren,” Lupe said with a smile.

As they reflected on the care they received at Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Alejos and Lupe shared their thoughts.


“Trinity Health Grand Rapids is a hospital you can trust for a kidney transplant and other health issues. I was so lucky to have dedicated doctors who took care of all my needs. The hospital has caring and attentive people. I would recommend them by all means,” Alejos said. “God works in mysterious ways. I think He chose those doctors to help me and others, and to use them for His purpose.”

Lupe added her thoughts as well: “I am so grateful to God, Vincente and the doctors for the years we have had together. I’ve had my share of illness too. And Guadalupe was able to be there for me because of his transplant.”

The couple’s gratitude also extends to organ donors, especially living kidney donors.

If you decide to do it,” Lupe said. “May God bless you. That is a big gift. I can’t say enough to those who decide to do it.”

Since 1973, The Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center has performed close to 3,000 kidney transplants. It is the first and only kidney transplant center in Michigan to partner with the National Kidney Registry, an extra avenue of hope for hard-to-match patients.

One of the latest technological innovations, robotic live donor nephrectomy, has created even more opportunities for live kidney donations for our patients. Transplantation services are provided by the most experienced multidisciplinary kidney transplant team – composed of nurses, physicians, pharmacists, social workers, referral coordinators, financial coordinators, and medical assistants – in West Michigan.

To learn more about the Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center, visit https://www.trinityhealthmichigan.org/find-a-service-or-specialty/kidney-transplants/

5 ways to keep your heart healthy in 2023

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, medical moment, ,

By Ronald Grifka
University of Michigan Health-West

The recent cardiac arrest of the Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin during a Monday Night Football game coincides with the beginning of American Heart Month, and the annual February focus on cardiovascular health. Focus is needed for any health plan to be a success, but executing that plan poses a distinct challenge.

With many new research studies, medications, supplements and therapies available, formulating a health plan that most adults can maintain throughout the year can be confusing. Here are five tips that should be both sustainable and successful.

1. Diet and exercise

The familiar trope ― more exercise, healthier diet ― remains the best place to start. The benefits to your heart of a healthy diet and exercise can fill a library of books.

 

Adding exercise is an important tool for a healthy heart. (Pxhere.com)

The typical American diet is riddled with too many calories, excessive carbohydrates, and the wrong type of fats. An unhealthy diet can lead to numerous health problems including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attacks, strokes and cancer, just to name a few. Billions of dollars are spent on these health problems caused by an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise.

 

Without making changes, an unhealthy lifestyle can rob us from months and years of great life with our family and friends. Are those chips, dips and large sodas more valuable than another healthy year or two with your kids? Grandkids? Friends? Travel?

Let’s make 2023 the year we get off the couch, put down the remote control and cell phone, choose a small beverage (instead of the supersize) and get some exercise.

2. Drink more water

As we eat better and exercise more, another health problem comes into focus: chronic dehydration.

Drink plenty of water to make it easier for your heart to pump blood. (Pxhere.com)

Sixty percent of our body is water, so better hydration is beneficial to many bodily systems ― including circulation. Keeping the body hydrated helps the heart more easily pump blood through the blood vessels to the muscles. It helps the muscles work more efficiently, effectively reducing the heart stress on well-hydrated individuals.

A myriad of problems results from dehydration, including muscle cramps, fatigue, headaches, and immune system dysfunction, just to name a few. Take your water bottle to work or school, fill it several times a day, and enjoy the benefits of drinking water. The cost is almost nothing, while the benefits are enormous.

3. Remember your annual check-up

Annual check-ups are important. (Pxhere.com)

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many in-person health examinations and preventative studies were canceled. Now is the time to make sure you see your health care provider to get a thorough physical examination and recommended tests (blood work, x-rays, etc). These include screenings for diabetes, hypertension, and other diseases of the heart.

In addition to annual check-ups, don’t forget any important screening tests for your demographic group, such as a colonoscopy or mammogram. As the pandemic wanes, we are starting to see patients returning for evaluation. Unfortunately, we are detecting advanced health problems that were ignored during the pandemic. The treatment for these ignored problems will be more demanding, aggressive, expensive ― and possibly less successful.

 

See your healthcare provider soon to get a thorough physical exam, and recommended tests to prevent any avoidable health problems.

4. Quit smoking

Heart attacks are side affects from vaping and legalized recreational marijuana. (Pxhere.com)

The U.S. has done an amazing job to decrease cigarette smoking. The detrimental health effects of smoking are profound, well-documented, and affect every system in the body.

 

In the last few years, however, vaping and legalized recreational marijuana use have eroded our progress. Heart attacks are among the many side effects of smoking, which also include oral cancers, lung cancers, strokes and COPD (emphysema). Chemicals used in popular vape flavors like clove, mint and vanilla can harm blood vessel cells that help keep the heart healthy.

Make 2023 the year to not light up or vape.

5. Sleep

Getting seven to nine hours of sleet every night is another healthy step. (Pxhere.com)

One additional concern to mention: we all need 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night. This might mean turning off the TV, not surfing the internet as long, or putting down our video games.

Studies show short sleep duration or poor sleep quality is associated with high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and atherosclerosis. Habitual short sleep increases the chance of cardiovascular events.

Sleep also keeps us alert and attentive for the following day. Get a good night’s sleep, so the following day is yours to conquer!

Ronald G. Grifka, MD, FAAP, FACC, FSCAI is the Chief Medical Officer of University of Michigan Health-West, and Cardiologist at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital

Local artist shares her gratitude to healthcare workers through film

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By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

A tragic situation lead local artist Kim Johnson to be a witness to the chaos world of the healthcare workers as they struggled to help those with COVID 19, which in turn has lead to an insightful and personal narrative of what Johnson saw.

“If My Paintings Were on These Walls” will premiere on Feb. 17 on WKTV’s Comcast Channel 25. (WKTV)

Friday, Feb. 17, WKTV will premiere Johnson’s short film “If My Paintings Were on this Wall” at 7 p.m. on Comcast Channel 25 or you can live stream it at WKTV.org. The film is a combination of watercolor paintings and an essay by Johnson with video clips, narrated by Grammy Award winner singer, actress and author Debby Boone.

“Having seen Kim’s artwork, I knew that she would do a beautiful job executing this project.” Boone said. “There is real emotion and humanity in these pictures that is quite beautiful and her essay really communicates the sacrifice [many] have been willing to provide for people during such a trying time with the pandemic and the overload in these hospitals.

“You know they are exhausted and their personal lives are maybe falling apart and yet, they still show up with love and compassion for the people they’re trying to serve.”

The story of Kim and Georgia Johnson

Covid 19 turned many people’s lives upside down and local artist Kim Johnson and her mother, Georgia thought that was going to be the case for them.

But a trip to the hospital lead to the discovery that Georgia did not have Covid like everyone thought, but rather metastasized breast cancer, which would take her life in 21 days.

During that time, Kim Johnson spent every waking hour at the hospital and when her mother was getting tested or sleeping, Johnson, with sketchpad in tow, would draw what see was seeing: the nurses looking so tired but kept going, health care workers being yelled and assaulted by frustrated and frightened patients; and those running from one hospital room to another to take care of patient needs.

“At the time, I was a pretty bitter person,” Johnson said. ”I disliked anyone in the healthcare field. I disliked [Georgia’s] doctor because I thought he could have caught it.

 

“I was pretty nasty and my attitude stunk in the time that she was there and a lot of times I left the room and took my sketchpad with me and God worked on my heart a little bit because one of the first things I saw, or rather heard, was there was a patient screaming. The F-bomb was flying right and left, and the next thing I know this nurse came out and she was balling…she crumbled to the floor in tears and someone came to console her.”

This would be the first of many sketches but after her mothers death, Johnson’s resentment toward anyone in the healthcare, caused her to pack up the drawings along with her art supplies. After selling the family home, she had no intention of having anything to do with art.

Finding compassion and gratitude

Six months later, Johnson began to have a change of heart, developing compassion for the healthcare workers. She rekindled her love for drawing and watercolor painting, and through most of her supplies were in storage, she was able to find a few supplies packed away including the sketchbook she had at the hospital.

One of the 38 paintings by Kim Johnson.

It is from that sketchbook she wrote her essay about her experiences and interactions within those 21 days and painted 38 4×6-inch paintings, all of which is included in the video.

Johnson has long followed and admired four daughters of legendary singer Pat Boone since 1977 when Debby Boone recored the song “You Light Up My Life.” She also was a fam of the 1979 Boone Family Easter Special. Through a meeting on the now defunct My Space, Johnson meet and became friends with Cherry Boone O’Neill, Debby Boone’s sister. It was through that friendship, which eventually migrated to Facebook, that she met Debby Boone, who upon hearing of the project agreed to narrate it.

“Honestly, I never thought that I would ever have the opportunity to meet Debby Boone, let alone work with her on a project I created,” Johnson said. “She narrated something I wrote. I still cannot believe that it is happening. I am beyond honored.”

There will be a private showing of the film at the WKTV Community Media Center in February. In March, there will be a public showing that will be followed by a brief appreciation recognition for healthcare workers in all capacities. The film also will be available on Kim Johnson’s YouTube channel at the end of March.

Medical Moments: Women’s Health

3-bottom, Community Health, medical moment, ,

By Dr. Afriyie Randell
WKTV Community Volunteer

March was Women’s History Month and with that in mind, this is a good time to highlight the everyday women’s journey through healthcare.

Most young women are healthy and are not seen for regular checkups, however even as a young adult routine exam are essential. Same goes for men. By the time you are 18 years of age you should have had one or more encounters with a health care professional to monitor your growth, been seen for a sick visit, or even received a vaccine.

 

You should visit your health care provider from time to time even if you are healthy. The purpose of these visits is to:

1.     Assist you in getting to know your provider just in case you may become ill

2.     Encourage a healthy lifestyle

3.     Screen for Medical concerns

4.     Go over Family and Past Medical history 

5.     Update Vaccinations

6.     Assess your risks for future medical problems

7.     Physical Exam

8.    Obtain routine lab work

These visits could help you to avoid medical conditions such as high cholesterol and diabetes that are often obtained from labs in the early stages without evidence of symptoms. Not to mention high blood pressure is checked regularly at these visits.

 

There are of course more specific times when you should see your provider especially between the ages of 18 and 39.

You may be screened for alcohol misuse as early as 18-years-old with too much drinking being seen as greater than three drinks per day or seven drinks per week.

Screening for mammograms begins at 40, while screening for colon cancer begins at 50 but should be considered sooner if someone in your family has or has had it/

Cholesterol screening should start at 20 if you have known risk factors for heart disease such as smoking, high blood pressure, obesity or family history.

Go to your dentist twice a year or yearly.

Receive a flu shot every year. Also consider the COVID 19 vaccine as well as get up to date with all other vaccines.

Cervical Cancer screenings begin at age 21 and as per provider recommendations thereafter usually ranging from three to five years depending on your age.

Always remember to take good care of your health.

Snapshots: WKTV Journal-produced videos you might have missed

3-bottom, Community Health, Health, Local Faces, medical moment, Non-Profits, WKTV Projects

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“We wanted to find something a little more competitive for our kids … We wanted to make it a more equitable playing field for our student athletes.”

Jason Faasse, Godfrey-Lee Public Schools athletic director

On why the Legends will be moving to a new conference for 2021-22

See video here.

Talking with a leader about ‘Black leadership’

WKTV Journal In Focus recently talked with Kent County Commissioner Robert Womack, who late last year was named to co-chair Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s new state initiative, the Black Leadership Advisory Council. Go here for the story.

Dr. Afriyie Randle

Talking with ‘Dr. Randle’ about dementia

In a recent “Medical Moments with Dr. Randle”, she talked about the different stages of Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia, and how early detection can help in assuring your loved one is cared for properly. Go here for the story.

Feeding America West Michigan currently owns 30 trucks, that drove about 418,000 miles in 2019, according to the organization. (Feeding America WM)

Talking with a local non-profit ‘Feeding America’

During a recent visit to the studio of WKTV Journal In Focus, Feeding America West Michigan looked back on 40 years of helping to feed those at risk of hunger after experiencing a 2020 that presented both challenges and opportunities. Go here for the story.

(Not so) Fun Fact:

20

There are at least 20 invasive species of plants being battled in Kent County by landowners and the Kent Conservation District. Jessie Schulte, of the Kent Conservation District, worked with WKTV to explain the problem and a District-led strike force. Video on the issue.

Medical Moment: Dealing with stress

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By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

There is no argument, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted how people live their everyday lives.

Limited contact with family and loved ones, working from home, and limited travel have all added to the stress levels people are experiencing during this time period, according to Dr. Afriyie Randle in the latest Medical Moment.

During these times, people have experienced angst, anxiety, depression, and overall mental stress, Randle said. According to the Centers for Disease Control, by late June 2002, 40 percent of adults reported struggling with mental health or substance use. About 11 percent reported they had seriously considered suicide. 

“The first thing you should know is that it is OK to not be OK,” Randle said, adding that people should be gentle with themselves during this time.

 

Other tips are:

Do what you can when you can and be fine with it

Learn your triggers and what sets you off and reduce your exposure to it

Stop the negative feedback loops with positive re-enforcement

Just breathe and take a break

Seek out positivity and uplifting people

Mediate on your own

Seek professional help through organizations like Network 180.

“Step away and do something that is entertaining and fun whether that is spending time with family, watching a movie or reading a book,” Randle said. “Accept that it takes time to change and don’t beat yourself up for the way you feel.”