I care about my child.

Even though I may not attend parent conferences and other school activities, I do value the time that teachers spend with my child.  Work schedule, taking care of siblings and other activities simply take a lot of the free time that I’d like to spend with my child.

I have a great deal of trust in what teachers do.  I may not know the lastest reading theory or understand the new math, but I can, however, interact with my child and determine if he/she is learning or not.

I want my child to succeed.

Like other parents, I want my child to see the benefits of attending school.  To have a meaningful life is our goal for our children.  In structuring school and parent involvement activities, please consider the life I live.  This means that meeeting times and places need to be arranged for the convenience of the parent not the school.  This may require changing existing school routines and looking at school services from a parent perspective.

I like to hear from you when things go well, not only when my child has done something wrong.  I realize that my child is not an angel all the time, but he/she is still an angel in a parent’s eye.  We can build trust and lessen the problems by communicating often, in both good and bad times.

My child is an individual.

I spend many hours with my child, and what I know can help with his/her education, so it is important that we talk often and in an open manner.

While alcohol is widely used in our society, it can clearly have negative effects on women and can lead to larger medical problems.  With 2-3 drinks per day, a woman increases her risk of developing cirrhosis or high blood pressure.  At four or more drinks per day, there is a 40% increase in the likelihood of developing breast cancer.

Women become intoxicated at nearly twice the rate of men.  Studies have shown that when controlled for body weight, women become intoxicated faster and display a higher level of alcohol than men.  This appears to be caused by differences in the ways in which men and women process or digest alcohol.

Alcohol can also have a negative impact on families.  It is responsible for the most preventable birth defect: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.  Alcohol or drugs have also been estimated to be involved in nearly half of all domestic violence cases and as high as 80% of all child abuse cases.

How can you tell if you are having problems with alcohol?  You may want to ask yourself several questions:

Have people commented on your alcohol use?

Do you keep drinking in spite of negative consequences?

Are you missing work or school due to alcohol use?

Do you feel guilty about your drinking?

Do you hide your alcohol use from others?

Is alcohol affecting your relationships with family or friends?

If your are concerned about your drinking, help is available.  Substance abuse counselors can help you and your loved ones develop the skills to create an effective recovery plan.  Support groups can also be helpful in developing a social network that is free of alcohol.

Ann Dolan, LCSW, CSAC is a psychotherapist who specializes in treating substance abuse issues and practices at the Aurora Behavioral Health Center/North Shore in Glendale, Wisconsin.  For more information or to schedule an assessment regarding the use of alcohol, contact Aurora Behavioral Health Services at (414) 773-4312.

                                                                                                                                           Ann Dolan, LCSW, CSAC

So much of the information we read, see,or hear about cancer addresses awareness, prevention, research, even treatment, but there is another component of cancer that often times is not covered and that is the emotional side of cancer.

So, you or a family member is diagnosed with cancer.  Now what?  Well, first and foremost, it’s good to remind yourself that cancer is a disease, not a death sentence.  Some common cancers such as breast and colon cancer have up to 98 percent survival rate if they are found early.  If depression lasts for a long time or interferes with the ability to carry on daily activities, there is a reason for concern.

Some symptons of depression to look for include:

• Persistent sad or “empty” mood
• Loss of interest or pleasure in ordinary activities
• Fatigue, loss of energy, feeling “slowed down”
• Sleeping problems, including insomnia, early waking or oversleeping
• Loss of appetite or overeating
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness or helplessness
• Excessive crying
• Chronic aches or pains for no apparent reason

For more information on the emotional side of cancer, call 414.374.9445.  For 24-hour access to a cancer specialist, call 800.227.2345 or log onto www.cancer.org.

Tobacco affects everyone differently.  One baby might be harmed by the mother’s smoking, yet another may not.  Smoking can harm the baby in different ways at different times during the pregnancy.

Smoking can cause a mother to lose her baby, or give birth too early before the baby’s body and organs are ready.  It can also cause birth defects or low birth weight.  Small babies have more health problems and are at risk for dying suddenly due to crib death.  Smoking during pregnancy can cause a baby to get more colds, ear infections, and lung diseases.

The best way to make sure your baby isn’t harmed is to stop smoking.  It is never too late during a pregnancy to stop smoking.  The sooner you stop, the safer your baby will be.  To stop smoking, you must first want to quit.  There are many quitting options, but all quitting takes work.  Some ideas to get you started include deciding when you want to quit, asking for help, making a quit plan, getting support, and rewarding yourself.

It is important to list the reasons why you want to quit.  Create your list and put it where you can see it often.  Your doctor can help you find ways to quit such as nicotine replacement therapy.  Making a plan to quit will help you face the challenge of quitting, and will provide you with options to quit smoking.  Getting support from your family, friends and coworkers will increase your chances of success also.

                                                                                                                                        -Lisa Phillips

                                                                                                                    Milwaukee Health Dept.

“When my feet hurt, I hurt all over!”  Podiatrists hear this so frequently.  This is how people feel about their foot pain.  They can’t think clearly or focus because of the aching pain.   Pain is the number one reason a person will seek professional care.  I know that, when I get rid of their foot pain, I am helping them “all over”.

People can be unnecessarily mean when their feet hurt.  It is not easy to get along with someone under these circumstances.  When their feet hurt, “people skills” go out the window.  When I help one of my patients who has a particularly bad problem with their feet, that I know has just got to hurt miserably, I advise them to go back and apologize to everyone who head they bit off!  It tickles me to see that “How did you know?” look of guilt on their face!

Astute psychiatrists recognize that when their patients do not respond to the antipsychotic medication, it could be that their feet hurt.  Inability to cope with life’s stresses can often coincide with neglect of personal health needs.  When the patient’s foot pain is properly addressed, they respond better to the psychiatrist’s therapy, reducing the amount of medication needed to control their symptons.

So the next time you notice how irritable a person may be, ask them, “Do your feet hurt?”

                                                                                                              -Dr. Rene Settle-Robinson

We got issues that we don’t even talk about in the church.  Even domestic violence that’s going on, it’s not going on only in the world; it’s going on in the church.  If we’re not willing to take it beyond the four walls of the church, then how can the world truly be affected?  We have to be willing to take it to the edges, and the highways and the byways of the world.  And the good news that I preach, my sista, is that God is not mad at you!  Contrary to popular opinion, there’s nothing that you’ve done that God can’t forgive.  There’s no place that you can go that he’s not there, he knows how you got there.  But God has the ability to take the mess of your life, all the junk and turn it around for the good.  He has the ability to take the mess of your life and use it to fertilize you future!

There are many programs to help you and your children get free or low cost health care.  Many families, working and non-working, are eligible.  These programs offer many benefits, such as doctor visits, hospital services, prenatal care, HealthCheck and check-ups, immunization shots, eyeglasses, hearing aids, prescription drugs, family planning, therapies, mental health services, alcohol/drug addiction care, dental care and emergency services.

Your and your children may be eligible if you:

• Have children under age 19 living with you, or you are pregnant.
• You meet certain income guidelines.

 The most important thing to do is apply for these programs, even if you are not sure if you qualify.

Documents/information you will need for each person applying:

Social Security Number

Birth Certificate

Marital status

Citizenship status

Employer’s name and address

Income wages

If you alread have health insurance coverage:

• Name of insurance company
• Policy number and who is covered under the policy.

You can also apply for these programs online at: www.access.wi.gov.

Girlfriends Health Guide for Women of Color is excited to announce that as of April 1, 2008, it will be teaming up with the Sister Study, a study done by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).  The Sister Study is aimed at women in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, ages 35 to 74, who have sisters (living or deceased) with breast cancer.

Through this new relationship, Girlfriends and Sister Study hopes to recruit women from every walk of life to join the study and ultimately find a cure for breast cancer.  Girlfriends Health Guide for Women of Color will use its strong web presence as well as their magazine to reach women of different backgrounds, occupations, ages and ethinic groups.

“We appreciate the support from the Girlfriends Health Guide for Women of Color and look forward to working with them to spread the word about this important research,” said Dale Sandler, Ph.D., chief of the Epidemiology Branch at NIEHS and principal investigator of the Sister Study.  “If you’re a woman of color whose sister had breast cancer, your participation in the Sister Study is especially important,” continued Dr. Sandler.  “We want to learn more about how to protect future generations-daughters and granddaughters-from this devastating disease.”  The women that are participants in the study must have never been diagnosed with breast cancer themselves.  To learn more about the Sister Study, visit the website www.sisterstudy.org, or visit www.girlfriendshealthguide.com.  For Spanish, visit www.estudioehermannas.org.

A toll free number is also available 1-877-4SISTER (877-474-7837).

                                                                                          -Robyn Hamilton

A recent stay in the hospital became the most relaxing, inspiring, spiritual week I’ve had in a while.  There was a peacefulness that comforted me.  There was a coming together of all that is good in my life.  I have never felt more grateful for being alive, regardless of my health.  Somehow, I had managed to rise above my current circumstances. 

I became connected to my humanity in a way that included my mind, body and spirit, which is the manifestation of love in its purest form.

There are many studies that have shown that a person’s emotional state may affect his or her physical health.  More important is our perception and subjective interpretation of a stressor such as an illnes and how we react to it.  However, stress is an integral element in our lives, it plays an important role in our survival.  You can balance its negative effects by practicing relaxation, meditation, prayer and or anything that soothes your soul.  I must confess to utilizing the skills of a massage therapist, nail technician, and an esthetician as often as I deem necessary.

Many therapists have told me that I have a unique perspective, a coping style that embraces many perspectives of psycho-social analysts of past and present.  I also believe that when we are open and receptive to situations, we are given a gift, an opportunity to learn something on this path, this journey we call life. 

It is through our pain that we connect with others, it softens our criticisms of one another.  It is by walking in their shoes, that we can have empathy for one another.  Practicing our SPIRITUALITY is the way you and I find meaning, hope, comfort and inner peace in our lives.

                                                                                                                      -April Sharkey

                                                                                                                            Consultant

On Wednesday, January 30, 2008 the BloodCenter was honored to facilitate the first reunion for patients with sickle cell disease and their blood donors.  Bob Moore, a weather anchor and reporter for Fox 6 News Milwaukee, was the emcee for the event which took place at the YMCA Northside Branch in Milwaukee.

Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder that primarily affects African-Americans.  The red blood cells in patients affected with this disease become stiff and sickle-shaped, which makes blood flow to organs and tissues very difficult.  Strokes are often a complication associated with sickle cell disease.  Patients who suffer from strokes receive frequent blood transfusions to prevent more strokes from happening.

Ten patients and nearly 30 donors participated in the reunion.  Moore gave each patient a brief introduction which included a list of their favorite things or their goals in life.  After the names of the donor or donors were called, the patient who benefited from the donation presented them with a token of appreciation.

Shon Nizer was one of the donors present at the reunion.  Shon said the reunion was a very emotional experience, her patient match was Angela Gill, a young professional who is very active in her church and one of the patients featured on many BloodCenter promotional materials.  Shon recalled meeting Angela, “It was very touching to find out who was receiving my blood.  I’ve seen her picture on some of our ads and I never knew I was helping her.”  Shon is one of four donors that help make a difference in Angela’s life.

One particular story resonated with many of the people that attended the reunion.  Demaray Dozier is a 5-year old who is full of life, enjoys going to school, as well as watching the movies Cars and Ratatouille.  Two weeks prior to the reunion, Demaray suffered from a stroke.  Demaray is able to lead a normal life thanks to his donor, Tylesha Mcray.

People diagnosed with sickle cell disease can begin receiving transfusions as young as six months and continue throughout their entire life.  Although these patients can receive blood from anyone, it has been found that the best matches come from someone with the same ethnic background; this is why the need for African-American donors is so high.

The first sickle cell patient/donor reunion was a project of BloodCenter of Wisconsin’s Community Blood Donation Program.  The goal of the program is to increase the number of African-American donors and positively impact healthcare for patients in the African-American community.