Midlands Woman Magazine

CELEBRATING, MOTIVATING, AND EDUCATING Real WOMEN

VOL 2, NO 1COMPLIMENTARY

TM

MY DAUGHTER’SDIAGNOSIS Beth McCrary shares her family’s experience with Type 1 Diabetes

Meet KathleenSWINNEY One on One with the Clemson University Coach’s Wife

MEET LEXINGTON MEDICAL CENTER’S

Dr. Jeffrey Travis

MY DAUGHTER’SDIAGNOSIS Beth McCrary shares her family’s experience with Type 1 Diabetes

Meet KathleenSWINNEY One on One with the Clemson University Coach’s Wife

MEET LEXINGTON MEDICAL CENTER’S

Dr. Jeffrey Travis

�www.midlandswoman.com

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEFLori Samples Duncan

[email protected]

MEDIA REPRESENTATIVESTheresa AdamsCathy Williams

[email protected]

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSKay H. BarlowRuth Chapman

Lori Samples DuncanTammy FerrisTim LoonamPatti Mack

Beth McCraryChris MifsudMark Radin

Mandy RiversHeather RogersElaine Samples

DESIGN Melissa W. Morris

PHOTOGRAPHYClark Berry Photography

Patrick Mooney Photography

In this Issue

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Find us on facebook!

16 My Daughter’s Diagnosis with Type 1 Diabetes

18 Complete Cardiac Care at Lexington Medical Center

20 A Rare Form of Pain Relief... Now in Your Neighborhood

23 Keeping in Touch with Matters of the Heart

Kids’ Stuff24 An Era of Meanness

25 Phineas and Ferb are Coming to Columbia!

26 What Makes a Good Parent

Professional28 Kindra Smith: Consultative Insurance Group

31 Let the pros turn your man’s “Honey Do” list into “Honey DONE!”

Celebrating the Survivor in You!32 Haley Thomas: A Brain Tumor Survivor

Pets34 New 6 Month Heartworm Prevention in Dogs

Business & Web Directory35 Contact our advertisers

Personal Note36 A Mother’s Heart

From the Editor 2 Happy 2012!

Events 3 What’s Happening?

Let’s Talk 4 The Etiquette of Sympathy

5 Recipe: Naked Chicken Tenders

6 Where Will You Go from Here? A One on One with Valorie Burton

8 The Heart of Ministry

10 Meet Kathleen Swinney

12 With Love from Russia

Health & Wellness15 BrightStar Care Home Healthcare Business Offers Kidcare Services

Midlands Woman MagazineWoman 2 Woman Publishing

(803) 785-4475 711 East Main Street, Suite A-2

Lexington, SC 29072

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication. However, the publisher cannot assume respon-sibility for errors or omissions. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. © 2011

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� Celebrating, Motivating and Educating Real Women� Celebrating, Motivating and Educating Real Women

t’s 2012 y’all! Can you believe another year has passed? Midlands Woman Magazine wants to thank you for allowing us to share the

wonderful stories inside these pages with you. We appreciate all of the great feedback that we received from you.

This issue was a lot of fun to put together. We interviewed several inspiring local young people whose stories we wanted to share. We also had the opportunity to reach out and see some great things that are coming about in our community for a group of young people who are striving to make changes that will affect their lives long term. Some of us are lucky enough to be born into homes with two loving parents who treat us with respect and give us the tools we need to make good decisions going forward in our lives. Some of us are not.

As always, we want you to be mindful of the fact that our advertisers made each issue of Midlands Woman possible. They continually support the work that we are trying to accomplish in our community by bringing you a quality publication meant to celebrate, motivate and inspire you to want to appreciate what you love about your life and make changes in the areas you are not happy with. I honestly feel these businesses are committed to providing you with quality services and products. Don’t forget to tell them that you saw them in our Midlands Woman Magazine!

Don’t forget to become a fan on Facebook to hear a quote each day or to win some of our great prizes. We are hosting the Naturally Sweeter Fashion Show on April 27th where proceeds will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, so keep an eye out for more information.

I look forward to seeing you soon,

Lori Samples DuncanEditor-in-Chief

ICELEBRATE

Heart Month!Heart Month!

Isaiah 52:7How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace; that brings good tidings of good, that publishes salvation; that says unto Zion, Thy God reigns!


Events

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Home, Auto, andCommercial Insurance

Our staff has acumulative of over 100 years

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Call or visit our websitefor a quick quote!

What’s HAPPENING?

Cancer of Many ColorsMarch 15, 5:30 – 9:30 p.m.DoubleTree by Hilton, ColumbiaThe Lexington Medical Center Foundation is host-ing this exciting event, where you sample signature cuisine from local restaurants, receive free wine and beer, bid on silent auction items, enjoy music from The Tams and take home a special event hand painted wine glass by Kay-Kay’s Kreations. Tickets are $65 per person. Proceeds support the needs of cancer patients throughout the Midlands. Please call (803) 791-2540 to reserve your tickets.

Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 StepsMarch 9 – 24, Wednesday through Saturday 8 p.m.; Sunday at 3 p.m.Town Theatre, ColumbiaIn 1935, Alfred Hitchcock presented an adventure spy story thriller The 39 Steps. Town’s offering is related to the suspense-filled classic, but has some surprises of its own. Audiences will appreciate the allusions to (and puns on the titles of) other Hitch-cock films including Rear Window, Psycho and North by Northwest. One actor plays the show’s hero, one actress plays the three women with whom he has romantic entanglements and two other ac-tors play the remaining personalities ranging from heroes, villains, men, women, children and even the occasional inanimate object. Don’t worry - you’ll be “thrilled” with lightning fast changes and special ef-fects in this unique theatre farce. www.towntheatre.com

17th Annual Columbia International Festival: The World Comes To ColumbiaMarch 31 – April 1South Carolina State Fairgrounds(Americraft - Cantey Building)This event showcases the music, culture, food and performing arts of the various cultures, nationali-ties, races and language groups represented here and brings all of the area’s international communities together to build better community/race relations between various ethnic/cultural/language groups and with the statewide community at large.www.cifonline.org

Fight Like a Girl: Round 5Friday, April 20, 7 – 11:30 p.m.Columbia Conference CenterTicket holders will enjoy a delicious buffet and first class catering from the in-house chef at CCC and

dancing the night away to live jazz provided by Elliot and the Untouchables. Paparazzi will be on hand to capture all the pink carpet excitement! The casino tables will be up and running with anxious dealers – ready to provide everyone’s favorite Vegas-style games and entertainment. At the conclusion of the evening “winnings” can be exchanged for raffle tickets which guests will use for the chance to take home many fabulous prizes! Proceeds from the event will directly benefit the SCOA CARES Foundation. All proceeds from the 2012 event will be given in memory of Michelle Mason Cooper: friend, sister and inspiration to the Ta-tinis and so many others.www.theta-tinis.com

Disney on Ice: Toy Story 3April 12 – April 15Colonial Life Arena, ColumbiaHave you heard the buzz? The toys are back in town! Disney on Ice presents Pixar’s Toy Story 3! The block-buster movie, Toy Story 3, and memorable moments from Toy Story and Toy Story 2 are hitting the ice in this sensational live production. Catch all the heroic action when Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and the Toy Story gang escape from the rambunctious tots of Sunnyside Daycare and race for home in their most daring adventure ever. Rediscover the humor, friendship and charm – this takes family fun to in-finity and beyond! Visit the website below for more information or to purchase your tickets. You can also call 1-855-4-LMC-TIX to order tickets.www.coloniallifearena.com

Naturally Sweeter Fashion ShowApril 27Join us for some fun and a book signing with Mary Stockwell Black, author of A Real Woman’s Guide to Diabetes. Proceeds from this event will be do-nated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Visit us online for more information on how you can purchase a ticket or volunteer for this event.www.midlandswoman.com

� Celebrating, Motivating and Educating Real Women

O n a beautiful spring day I was driving home after welcoming my first grandchild into the world. Little Samuel Carroll Niles was whole and healthy, and life was

good – almost. My husband had suffered a serious fall in October and was unable to accompany me. He seemed to be recovering, but I was still concerned about him.

I was nearly home when my cell phone rang. The call was from a friend who had stopped by to visit Hank and became alarmed when there was no response. I drove into my driveway with the lights of the EMS truck flashing in my rear view mirror. I lost my warm, wonderful, gentle husband. With-in a three-week period, I became a grandmother and a widow.

As I attempted to get back to life “as normal,” I found that grief had its own timetable. When I was able to write again, I decided that I needed to address this issue that confronts everyone at some point, person-ally and professionally. It is often difficult to know what to say or do when a death occurs. I want to share what I have learned that may help when someone you know—a client, a colleague, a coworker or a friend—loses a loved one.

It is important to do something. Many of us are so uncomfortable with death that we don’t do any-thing at all—afraid of saying or do-ing the wrong thing.

Attend the funeral or the memo-rial service if you can. Your pres-ence offers inestimable support. Even if you can’t speak directly to the family members, you can sign the book that they will look at over and over again and they will know you cared enough to be there.

Write a note as soon as you can. Personal notes of condolence are

a source of great comfort—more than you can imagine. I was moved by the ways people expressed their sympathy. There were those who simply spoke of their sincere sor-row for my loss. There were those who described what Hank had meant to them personally. Oth-ers wrote about the character and personality of the special person I had lost. I was grateful for each and every one.

Commercial sympathy cards are equally cherished. It was clear to me that the commercial cards I re-ceived had been carefully chosen. Each one came with an additional sentence or two written by the sender. Be sure you take the time to add a short personal note. Send flowers unless the family specifies otherwise. Send them to the fam-ily, the funeral home, the church or the gravesite. Flowers add warmth and are visual reminders of the support of friends. Flowers and personal gifts continued to arrive weeks later to confirm that neither my pain nor I had been forgotten.

Take food and other items for daily living to the house. The last thing the grieving family can think about is grocery shopping and meal preparation. A thoughtful neighbor called me and said, “I am going to the grocery store. What do you need?” My response was a baffled, “I have no idea.” This kind, generous person filled her car with everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to paper towels and

toilet tissue. She even included pet food for the four-legged members of the family.

Make a contribution to the chari-ties indicated by the family. Honor the wishes of the deceased. Give to the causes they chose unless the obituary states that contributions should be made to the donor’s fa-vorite charity. If you missed the funeral notice and don’t have that information, call the funeral home. They will have a record.

Be specific when you offer to help. Most people say, “If there is anything you need, call.” While their intentions were genuine, I didn’t always know what I could ask certain people to do. When our assistant rector uttered those words, my face must have flashed back a message that said, “Like what?” because he immediately followed with a verbal list of all things I could call on him or oth-er church members to do. One neighbor offered to walk the dog. Another proclaimed to be handy with household repairs if anything broke down or stopped working. Someone else volunteered to pick up family members from the air-port. Once people were clear on what they could do, I knew where to turn without hesitation for what I needed.

Make a note of the date of the death. Honor the anniversary with a note or a phone call that says you haven’t forgotten.

Any gesture you make is comfort-ing. A simple word, a hug, a phone call, a card or an offer to run an er-rand are just a few ways to express your sympathy.

Keep in mind that great authors, poets and thinkers have written for centuries about grief and loss, searching for just the right words to console themselves or someone else. When all is said and done, there are no words. Sometimes the best you can offer are the words, “I’m sorry.”

I hope that what I have learned first hand will help you to reach out with confidence and ease the next time someone close to you suffers a loss.

Lydia Ramsey is a business etiquette expert, professional speaker, corporate trainer and author of Manners That Sell – Adding The Polish That Builds Profits. For more information about her pro-grams, products and services, visit her web site www.mannersthatsell.com.

The Etiquette of SympathyWhat to do When Someone You Know Suffers a Loss

by Lydia Ramsey

Lydia Ramsey


For more budget friendly recipes, visitwww.mandyrivers.com

by Mandy Rivers

I use my chicken seasoning each and every time I cook chicken. Whether I’m baking it, grilling it, frying it,

sautéing it or putting it in ice cream, it gets a good coating of the seasoning. But my very favorite way to use it is to coat chicken tenderloins and pan-fry them without breading… kind of like a naked chicken tender. Once cooked, you can use the tenderloins in so many dishes.

When you’re cooking on a budget, you can make one 1-lb. package (about $5.00) stretch to feed your family.

NAKED CHICKEN TENDERS • 4 tablespoons Chicken Seasoning (recipe below)

• 1 pound chicken breast tenderloins• 3-4 tablespoons vegetable oil

Using kitchen shears, cut the white tendon from each ten-derloin. Or don’t. I just do it because they skeeve me out.

Liberally coat tenderloins with Chicken Seasoning. And I do mean liberally. This is less than 2/10 salt so rock it out.

Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Use enough oil so that the bottom of the skillet is thoroughly covered. Once your oil is good and hot, place about half the tenderloins in the skillet. Do not overcrowd the pan. These cook quickly so you’re not going to miss Christmas if you have to cook two batches. Cook about 4 minutes or until lightly browned on each side then remove from heat.

Let chicken rest about 10 minutes before cutting. I mean it!

Chicken Seasoning• 2 tablespoons salt• 2 tablespoons paprika• 2 tablespoons garlic powder• 1 tablespoon dried thyme• 1 tablespoon white pepper• 1 tablespoon black pepper• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper*• 1 tablespoon onion powder

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight con-tainer. I keep mine in a large used spice container that still has its shaker top for easy use.

*if you prefer a Southwest vibe, use chili powder instead

Serving SuggestionsYou can absolutely serve these on their own but if you need to make one pound stretch, here are a few ideas:

Big Fat Salad: Make everyone their own entrée size salad on a dinner plate. Cut the tenderloins into bite-sized pieces and place on top. My brood likes their Big Fat Salad with romaine lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, chopped boiled eggs, cheddar or blue cheese and whatever else I might have handy. Serve with ranch, blue cheese or honey mustard dressing.

Chicken Alfredo: Cook linguine according to package di-rections. Meanwhile heat jarred alfredo sauce (Gasp! These are weeknight meals, remember? Don’t get all judgey, we’re pimping on a budget here) and add 1 teaspoon Chicken Seasoning. Toss pasta with alfredo sauce then plate pasta with chicken on top.

Recipe



Midlands Woman: Valorie, your message is that of empowerment. Where do you draw the strength to motivate others?Valorie Burton: I learned my mis-sion after I’d prayed about it for a couple of years. I felt like God spoke to me one day in my spirit that I was supposed to inspire women to live more fulfilling lives and I would do it through writing and speaking. That’s really why I do what I do. And I know that it is God who gives me the strength. At

times, when you get tired, I really feel like my work inspired. I can’t attribute it to anything other than God, really.

MW: What single attribute of yours would you say has contributed most to the success you’ve had?Valorie: Besides the fact that I know it’s my purpose, I’ve been able to persevere. It hasn’t always come easily to get

A Certified Personal and Executive Coach who has served hundreds of clients in over 40 states

and eight countries, Valorie Burton is founder of The Coaching and Positive Psychology (CAPP) Institute – a training and leadership development company. She is a published author who is deeply committed to helping people be more resilient so they can thrive in life and work. Her newest book, Where Will You Go From Here?, helps readers move forward when life doesn’t go as planned. We had the chance to sit down with Valorie and discuss her latest book, and I hope you will enjoy her unique insight as much as we did!

A ONE ON ONE with VALORIE BURTON

by Elaine Samples

Where will you go from here? Let’s Talk



book deals and to have a business for almost eleven years writing and speaking — that’s not a typical way to earn a living.

Perseverance is key to anything just because if you give up too soon, you never know what could have been. One of the things that keeps me going is I get a lot of communi-cation from people who have read something I’ve written or heard me speak and just knowing that they did something positive in their life, made a change, overcame a fear, or went after a dream because of something I said, motivates and inspires me.

haven’t been a kid for twenty years, she is still as dedicated to me now as ever, though in an adult way. MW: Tell us about the idea for your latest book, Where Will you go From Here?Valorie: This is a book that’s for people who — you’ve been walk-ing along your path and feel like you got sideswiped into a ditch. So, it might be that you ended up divorced, that you received an unexpected health diagnosis, lost your job, lost your home, or had a financial setback. We all have those ditches that we land in, and the book is about how you bounce

back from the setbacks and the unexpected turns in life — because you don’t have to stay in the ditch. It knocks you out and you might wake up and see stars. Though you can’t get up and run yet, you can get out of the ditch. You can forge a new path if you need to, or you can find your way back onto the old path.

MW: You offer five commit-ments to help when bouncing back from a setback:1) I will not feel sorry for myself.2) I will not stare at a closed door.3) I will dig deep to unearth the courage I need.4) I will direct my thoughts. My thoughts will not direct me.5) I will choose to believe that all things work together for good.

I really like, “I will direct my thoughts. My thoughts will not direct me.” I once heard Bishop T.D. Jakes say, “What you think about, you will become.” Can you tell us about how we can direct our thought life to be more healthy? Valorie: It’s about building self-awareness and that starts with noticing what you are saying to yourself, particularly when you deal with a challenge. One of the best things you can do is to iden-tify the self-sabotaging, counter-productive thoughts that are most

common for you and develop the thoughts you want to replace those with so that when those common thoughts come to you, you al-ready know what you are going to say. Decide to be very intentional about being more positive.

MW: I especially like what you said about having the choice to become better or bitter. When my father died, my sister decided that she could use the most tragic thing in her life and become depressed or she could use the tragedy to make her better. Woman 2 Woman Pub-lishing was born out of that very concept. Any advice on putting that instruction into action? Valorie: There is something that researchers call Post Traumatic Growth. We can actually grow as a result of our trials, and not just have to go through them.

Ask yourself, “How will I be better because of this?” After my divorce, I made a decision that I will be a wiser woman. When my instincts tell me something, I will pay atten-tion.

I think a lot of times we have to say, “How will I be better?” Whether you are more grateful, you learn to enjoy your family more, or you were forced to slow down, there are a lot of good things that can come from a bad situation.

When the bitterness comes up, I think if you are angry, you have to acknowledge it and find a con-structive way to get through your anger. But bitterness and negative emotions damage your immune system. They are not good for your health or life expectancy, so if you

want to live a long, happy life, you can’t do it bitter.

MW: Anything else you would like to share regarding resilience and bouncing back after serious set-backs?Valorie: I think that it is really criti-cal to put things into perspective by talking to other people, reading other people’s stories and not iso-lating yourself. It’s the reason that I shared so many other people’s sto-ries in the book. I thought I’d really gone through something and then I interview these people and many of them are people I knew, but I had no idea what they had gone through and bounced back from.

One of the most important things you can do to be resilient is to be aware of other people who’ve got-ten through things at least as diffi-cult, if not more difficult than what you’ve gone through and it will give you help and perspective.

MW: So, tell us, where will YOU go from here? Anything exciting in the works that you would like for our readers to know about?Valorie: I have another book com-ing out in 2012 called Successful Women Think Differently, and it is about all the habits that make you happier, healthier and more resil-ient.

We are continuing our coach train-ing program and I’m also working on a television show concept. I just signed a deal with a produc-tion company to develop a show and I’m really excited. So, I have big goals and I trust if I persevere, eventually they will all come to-gether.

Perseverance is key to anything just because if you give up too soon, you never know what could have been.

MW: At Midlands Woman, we are always excited when we hear about women inspiring other women. Can you tell us about women who inspire you?Valorie: My mother has inspired me most. In addition to being a good, loving person who always does things for others without seeking glory or recognition, she is the most determined woman that I know, having suffered a brain aneurysm and bounced back. By all medical accounts, she should have died, but her faith continues to inspire me. And she’s just always been a good mom. She’s the one who taught me how to write when I was three years old, and how to read. I have loved books since I have had a memory and I attribute that to my mom.

I also feel blessed to have a mom that knows part of her purpose was being a mother, and although I

Get the Book!Order your copy of Valorie’s latest book

Where Will You Go from Here?at www.amazon.com

or www.valorieburton.com

Let’s Talk


A Heart for Ministry by Mark Radin

t’s not unusual for a wife to support their husband, but what makes this story different is that Angie Foster is doing it so her husband can go to prison. Joe, her husband of 25 years, has not been sent there by the Courts, but

by his heart. Every Friday for 12 years he has visited prison inmates, to meet, converse and share the Bible. “Over the years, I have witnessed so many positive changes in prison that my wife and I have decided the time is right for me to do this work full time”, explained Joe.

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Angie, who currently works full time, joins him during weekend and holiday visits. Through the years, Joe has been so encouraged by what he has witnessed that they have reworked their family budget to enable him to try and spend ad-ditional days there. They have ac-cepted that loosing Joe’s income is going to be extremely tough, and that sacrifices are going to be made, but they believe outside support will come.

Joe, who is 55, explains, “There are a lot of mean and angry men in prison, but very often if you scratch that surface away there is a

kind heart. It does not always work out that way, but when it does it makes it so worthwhile. And if my time only helps a few prison-ers turn to the Lord, adhere to the 10 Commandments, stay out of prison when released, and look to others with compassion, I am re-freshed and energized. I just feel its God working thru me to help me serve Him more and help others.”

Kirkland Prison on Broad River Road in Columbia, S.C., annu-ally receives all of South Carolina’s 16,000+ recently sentenced male offenders, evaluates them, and then assigns them to their longer

term detention centers. The Prison Wardens, Chaplains, and staff, are encouraged by Joe and Angie’s commitment. Over the years, staffing and funding levels for programs such as Pastoral Care, have been trimmed or eliminated. “Their extra commitment could not come at a better time. There is currently an increasing void in

the Spiritual guidance the pris-oners receive, and the time Joe is committing to the prison church is going to help fill that, and enable us to continue to contribute to the rehabilitation and refocusing of of-fenders.”

Angie explains, “Prisons are not supposed to be nice places, and

‘There are a lot of mean and angry men in prison, but very often if you scratch that surface away there is a kind heart.’


I assumed Kirkland would be filled with unfriendly inmates, so my first visit was scary. But, as with all groups of people there are good and bad ones. And over the years I have heard marvelous examples of how my husband has been able to share the gospel, and turn some of the prisoners to Christ. That inspires both of us tremendously. A lot of people have cautiously suggested that some prisoners turn to God sim-ply to try and secure early release or favorable treatment. And I am sure that is true in some cases, but in others it is truly a change that I have witnessed and it is great to be a part of that.”

An example of this change is found in a thirty three year old who was incarcerated at Kirkland for 5 years. During that time, he attended Joe’s life guidance and Bible classes. He was released this April, and spends his time working with his local church, contractors and attending tech-nical college. He was 28 years old when sentenced to 5 years in prison. He confessed to being scared, because he did not know what to expect, and angry that he had allowed his life to be eroded to serving time. Meeting Joe and attending his life and Bible group

helped him get thru his prison time, and eventually be released with Spiritual as well as life skills. Both of which he relies on daily. Robby added, “Joe enabled me to refocus my life to better serve the Lord and my family.”

Two months ago Joe and Angie formed the Cross Over Prison Ministry under the guidance of the Great Commission Ministries in Florida. GCM was founded in 1989, and works with missionar-ies around the world. They share advice on how to raise funds, and enter full time ministry.

Joe and Angie live in Lexington, South Carolina, have two sons and a 2 month old grandson. They attend Riverbend Commu-nity Church in Lexington. Their longer term goal includes estab-lishing a training house for of-fenders to stay after release. There they plan to have facilities and team members available to teach income generating practical, ad-ministrative and contractor skills to former long term servers.

For more information, contact Angie Foster (803) 546-5128 or Joe Foster (803) 361-9226.

Joe and AngieWe’ve been making a world of difference to students

who learn differently since 1983.

We get it. Do you?

1041 Harbor Drive, West Columbia803. 796.7622 • [email protected]

Proud to be Different Since 1983Glenforest School is a K – 12, SACS Accredited,

Independent 501(c)(3) nonprofitschool for students who learn differently.

glenforest.org

Debi Washburn-SykesIndependent Beauty Consultant

561 Kaymin Hill CourtLexington, SC 29073(803) 984-6341(803) 520-8376www.marykay.com/dwashburn-sykes

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�0 Celebrating, Motivating and Educating Real Women

by Lori Samples Duncanphotography by Clark Berry Photography


had the opportunity to visit Clemson University this fall to meet with

Head Football Coach Dabo Swinney’s wife, Kathleen. It was an exciting visit for me because Clemson is beautiful and the surrounding town has lots of charm. As I drove onto the campus filled with laughing students walking and playing sports on beautiful lawns, I was reminded of my own college experience at Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia.

Hollywood has brought many of us glimpses into the lives of a coach’s family. There are dozens of movies that document signifi-cant athletic teams and histori-cal moments in sports through the years and in each movie there is always one con-stant: the strong character of the coach’s wife. Kath-leen Swinney is one such Coach’s wife.

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��www.midlandswoman.com

She was a gracious hostess when she showed me Death Valley. Although their older son was at middle school basketball try outs, I had the privilege of meeting two of their young sons, Clay and Drew, and was afforded the occasion to witness Coach Swinney with his sons. It was a special moment for me because as an overly exuber-ant fan of college football myself, I think sometimes we forget that the men behind the logo are fathers, husbands and friends. Coach Swin-ney appeared to be a loving and at-tentive father. I saw him ruffle each son’s hair and ask about their day. And ladies, he is even better look-ing in person than he is on TV. A kind man, he had one of my favor-ite quotes crocheted in a frame on his wall: “No man can open a door God closes and no man can shut a door God opens.”

All that being said, I wasn’t at Clemson for a visit with Coach Swinney. I was there to speak with the woman behind the man. I asked Kathleen to tell me a little about her, and her role as a support to her husband.

Dabo and Kathleen met during grade school in Birmingham, Ala-bama, she was a first grader and he was a second grader. Kathleen says he still teases her to this day saying, “I got you elected to safety patrol.” Yes, Coach Swinney still reminds his beautiful bride that he rallied for her to hold that esteemed title back when he was a fifth grader and she a fourth. Here they are, a few years and three children later, Dabo a head coach of the new ACC Championship team.

Kathleen’s favorite part about be-ing a coach’s wife is all of the play-ers and people she meets. “18-22 is a big transformation time and it is truly neat to see the boys grow into young men and to get to know their parents. Clemson graduates over 90% of their players, and I’m always a little sad to see them go, although we stay in touch. Another

really neat part of football that is so special to me is watching as people from different backgrounds be-come best friends. Boys who most likely would never have met, sud-denly find themselves at each oth-er’s homes for the holidays. Dabo still has friends back from when he played at Alabama who he stays in touch with. Watching people grow as a result of this common bond called football is really fascinating to me.”

And the most difficult aspect of being married to a coach, for Kath-leen, is those times when you are subjected to intense criticism and downright cruelty in the court of public opinion, “While we know that you have to win in order to keep your job, it is our belief that Dabo’s real life work is growing and molding these young men. That’s his number one responsibility.”

Knowing that it presents some special challenges, Kathleen would advise other wives of football coaches to “love and support your husband if coaching is what he is called to do. It’s a privilege to be a coach or a teacher and if you are a woman of faith, supporting him is a lot easier.”

Being a football family requires a lot of sacrifice, especially when it comes to time spent together. “Sev-en months a year,” states Kathleen, “my husband works seven days a week. When the season is over, he and his staff recruit through February. That’s a lot of time away from the family and our children’s activities.”

If you follow college football in the south at all, then you likely know that Clemson ended Auburn’s 17 game winning streak this fall. “It was absolutely wonderful!” ex-claims Kathleen, “especially since both of us are Alabama (Auburn’s biggest rival) graduates, Auburn is just the team you want to beat! Especially after last year. I was so happy for him and so happy for

the players. You could literally see the excitement coming from him. It was just thrilling. They were well prepared.”

Kathleen says that the moment in her husband’s career, which stands out the most is when he was named head coach of the Clemson Tigers. Having read about him, seen him on television, and met him briefly, I asked Mrs. Swinney if Dabo was really as nice as he seems: “Abso-lutely! He is very driven and strict with his rules when it comes to his team and his boys. He just wants the best for everyone. He loves his players, his coaches, and he is the most wonderful father.”

In her free time, Kathleen enjoys spending time with her family, as they go to Clemson basketball and baseball games, pro sporting events and travel when time permits. And of course, she enjoys reading and reading books with her sons. She and the other coaches wives also enjoy baking goodies for the play-ers when they are allowed those extras.

As I talked with Kathleen, it was very evident to me that coaching

football isn’t just a job for her hus-band. She feels like he is there to make a difference in people’s lives. And she is there to help him do just that. I felt like I had just spent a couple of hours with a friend af-ter my time with Mrs. Swinney, I felt honored to be in the presence of someone who really lives ev-ery day to make an impact on the world around her.

As we were walking toward the stadium one of the Clemson staff poked their head out of an office and informed us we were talking to “the second hottest woman in college football,” and in truth it was hard not to miss what a lovely lady she was. Kathleen like many of the coach’s wives I have had the privilege to interview radi-ated that beauty from the inside out. She was an absolute delight to interview and no matter what col-lege team is my personal favorite I will never again be able to watch a Clemson game without thinking of this smart, vibrant lady who spoke of her husband with such obvious love and devotion. The University of Clemson, in my humble opin-ion is lucky to have Coach Swin-ney and his wife.

The Swinney Family

Let’s Talk

�� Celebrating, Motivating and Educating Real Women

by HeatherRogersWith Love from Russia

Jeff and I were high school sweethearts, graduating from Irmo High School. Jeff ’s aunt and uncle adopted two chil-dren from Russia when we were engaged and at that time it planted a seed in my heart.

year ago we decided to put our house on the market, thinking we would capitalize on the decline in the housing industry, and then

upgrade to a larger house. After a few months of the stress, we decided that it just didn’t feel right; maybe we were pushing too hard and this wasn’t what God intended for us. We began to pray about it and asked God for answers. After

the birth of our first child, Sara Kathryn, my husband Jeff and I had begun to talk about the idea of adoption. Over the years we mentioned it often, researched it, had contacted an agency and began initial discussions, but it seemed the babies kept coming Macie (5) and Amelia (2). Each time I would hear an adoption story, it brought tears to my eyes and I longed to do the same thing. But I thought how could we ever do it – so many obstacles.

A

We have been fortunate to see Nata-lie and John grow with lots of love into the beautiful adults they are to-day. So we knew if we were going to adopt – it would be from Russia.

Last March (2011), we were in the

midst of praying and asking God to show us what He wanted us to with the house situation and again we brought up the idea of adoption. We were studying the book – Radical by David Platt in our Sunday school class. In summary, it talks about


After our journey, two words come to mind – joy and thankfulness. Joy to have this beautiful child and thankfulness that I listened and followed God’s will.

beyond belief. We have 3 precious little girls and a wonderful life, but we also know why we have these blessings and who gave them to us. We know we are meant to share God’s love.

After 2 trips to Russia, the time finally came for us to head to Moscow and pick up our son. We could hardly wait to hug him and kiss that sweet face. The girls couldn’t wait to meet their brother. The minute I saw him, he stole my heart.

On December 10, 2011, we arrived home with our son. We named him Bryant Alexander Rogers – Bryant is Jeff ’s middle name and Al-exander is Bryant’s given name in Russia.. He is 13½ months and only weighs 15.5 pounds. We are hoping to get him “fattened up.”

After our journey, two words come to mind – joy and thankfulness. Joy to have this beau-tiful child and thankfulness that I listened and followed God’s will.

A big thank you to the grandparents for taking such good care of the girls. To our pediatri-cian who has been so supportive throughout this whole process. She has been emailing me from Moscow and answering my questions. Our family, friends, my employer – Columbia Women’s Healthcare and fellow employees for their support and prayers.

We are home and it is sweet. Oh, how I love it!

Heather Rogers is an Ultrasonographer at Colum-bia Women’s Healthcare.

This article was submitted by Shirley Keels of Co-lumbia Women’s Healthcare. Visit columbiawhc.com or call them at (803) 254-3230.

how we need to get back to the mindset that the Gospel is for every nation and determine that we will take the message and share His love, at any cost, to those in need. As we read chapter 4, we literally became overwhelmed with a feeling that words simply cannot de-scribe. What we felt, what we heard that day were the answers to our questions. It was God answering our prayers for guidance and pro-viding us the sign. It could not have been any clearer.

As a Christian, we often wonder how God speaks to us. Will we know when it happens? How does it happen? This is the very first time in our lives that we have felt this way! I am speechless when I think about it. Not only is it the message that we read that day but it is a combination of events to follow; our ser-mon on Sunday, the fact we had missionaries in our class and at our Church talking about spreading the Word to all nations and most important – Sharing that love! We felt that God was spelling it out to us exactly what He wanted us to do. We truly felt that we have been blessed with so much in our lives that it would be a shame not to share it with a child in need. A child we could love and give a wonderful life.

We met with our awesome Pastor to discuss all of these feelings and what to do; my big-gest fears were how adoption would affect our 3 girls and how we are going to travel. I have a fear of flying; yes I’m the one with sweaty palms squeezing Jeff ’s hand until it’s blue and sometimes with tears in my eyes. I am the person that jumps at turbulence and screams “we’re going down”. Little did I know eventu-ally I would spend 75 hours in the air!

After much prayer and consideration, we de-cided we are following God’s will and adopt-ing a little boy from Moscow, Russia. Some of you may think we are crazy (yes, 4 kids) but we don’t! We have never felt more sure about something in our lives. We know this is God’s intention for us. Jeff and I have been blessed

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our children are your life. We know juggling every day demands is challenging for all parents. BrightStar Care has a unique understanding of the issues today’s families face. Finding experienced and compassionate caregivers

can be a challenge – but it doesn’t have to be.

BRIGHTSTAR CARE HOME HEALTHCARE BUSINESS

Offers KidCare Services

BrightStar Care is a full-service healthcare staffing agency special-izing in providing both medical and non-medical private duty homec-are and healthcare staffing to our clients. We offer flexible sick-day and sitter services, pediatric homecare for children with special needs and our clinical caregivers are experts in well-baby and new-born child care.

Our Pediatric Nursing services:• Neonatal nursing and care for premature babies• Cardiovascular disease• Complex intravenous therapy• Pediatric oncology• Chronic diseases• Infectious diseases

Our Pediatric Nursing specialties:• Genetic disorders• Congenital disorders• Respiratory disorders• Neurological disorders• Genetic disorders• Congenital disorders• Gastrointestinal disorders• Orthopedic disorders• Renal disorders• Blood disorders• Endocrine disorders• Dermatological disorders• Immunological disorders• Hematological disorders

Each client receives a personal, in-depth assessment conducted by our Director of Nursing that, among other things, takes into account their condition, personal-ity and environment. We then put that knowledge to use, creating an individualized plan of care that meets our clients’ unique physical and emotional needs – a plan that strives to not only improve their health, but enhance their qual-ity of life. This process, along with continual oversight by our nursing staff, helps us ensure the right fit between our clients and their care-givers, and enables us to quickly modify a client’s plan of care as their needs evolve.

BrightStar is one of the few home healthcare providers that offer both medical and non-medical homec-are available to all clients 24/7. Non-medical care services include; bath visits and grooming, new mother support, housekeeping, meal planning, cooking, shopping and errands, and transportation assistance. Medical care services often involve RNs (Registered Nurses) and LPNs (Licensed Prac-tical Nurses) who are qualified to administer medications and perform advanced medical pro-cedures. Medical services could

include anything from in-home blood draws and injections, medi-cation setup, administration, and oversight, tube drain and/or bag maintenance, and wound care. This medical background is why Bright-Star Care caregivers are uniquely qualified to assist parents of special needs children, in particular.

Potential caregivers are screened in the following manner: • In-depth interview to determine skills and experience• Criminal background check through the State Police according to state guidelines• License/certificate verification in accordance with state law and requirements• Continual license status monitoring throughout employee tenure• Reference checks• State health screenings as required by law• No-cost Hepatitis B vaccination• Bloodborne pathogens training as stated by OSHA guidelines• Current CPR certification• Drug Screening

At BrightStar, we realize that babies, infants and children living with disabilities or special needs have unique care requirements.

That’s why we have trained care professionals who specialize in administering in-home pediatric care and can provide comprehen-sive case management and support for children with disabilities and special needs. From autism, spina bifida and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to cerebral palsy, any spinal injury and more, our caregivers give them the care they need and the support they deserve.

From complex medical equip-ment, to accessible transportation and skilled nursing, our advanced expertise in this area ensures each child’s safety, all so you and your family can get the most out of life.

Special Needs services include:• Bath visits and toileting• Dressing and grooming• Oral and personal hygiene• Reporting conditions and changes to supervisory RN and/ or Physician• A wide range of therapies (from speech therapy and physical therapy to autism therapy)• Toileting

To find out if BrightStar Care is a match for you and your child, call us today at (803) 358-8315.

Health & Wellness



by Beth McCraryphotography by Clark Berry Photography

I will never forget the second day of second grade for my daughter Hannah. It was

Thursday, August 21, 2008, the day she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Very briefly, our world was turned upside down as we navigated the waters of learning how to treat and manage a very challenging disease. Prior to Hannah’s diagnosis, I knew very little about Type 1 Diabetes, as it was simply not on my radar.

My Daughter’s Diagnosis withTYPE 1 DIABETES

After a three night stay in Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital, we were sent home with syringes, insulin, a glucose meter, lots of reading mate-rial, and a Bag of Hope. My husband Sam remarked that he felt like we were taking home a newborn with a whole new set of directions. And we were. However, our goal from the moment Hannah was diagnosed was for her to lead as normal a life as possible with Type 1 Diabetes. She was back in school the Monday following her diagnosis and back on the soccer practice field the follow-ing weekend.

The Bag of Hope we were given con-tained Hannah’s first glucose meter with test strips, Rufus the diabetes bear, a video about Type 1 Diabe-tes, and plenty of reading material. Most importantly, the Bag of Hope connected my family to the local Palmetto Chapter of JDRF. We at-tended our first outreach event the Tuesday following Hannah’s diag-nosis and we have been involved ever since. It was a cooking class for children with Type 1 Diabetes. This opportunity introduced us to our greatest source of hope for a cure for people living with diabetes.


The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is an organization that was founded in 1970 by par-ents desiring to make a differ-ence in the lives of their children and loved ones living with Type 1 Diabetes. To this day, it remains a volunteer driven organization de-voted to preventing, treating, and finding a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. It only made sense to our family to get involved and do everything we can to raise awareness and funds to help JDRF find a cure.

Allow me to tell you why a cure is so important for all people with diabetes. Diabetes is a challeng-ing and misunderstood disease. There are far too many myths and misconceptions surround-ing it. Because there are several types of diabetes and the cause of each is unknown, much confusion abounds. Far from an expert on diabetes, I have learned quite a bit in the past few years.

The most common types of diabe-tes are referred to as Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes. Con-trary to popular believe, eating too much sugar does not cause diabe-tes. Diabetes is the result of a pan-

creas that no longer works prop-erly. When diabetes is present, the pancreas no longer makes enough (or any) insulin to break down the carbohydrates in foods to properly fuel the body.

Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s im-mune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. While its causes are not yet entirely understood, scientists believe that both genetic factors and environmental triggers are in-volved. Insulin must be given by multiple daily injections or via an insulin pump. Yet insulin is not a cure, it is what keeps a Type 1 Dia-betic alive.

Diabetes affects the entire fam-ily. This isn’t entirely a bad thing because diabetics need to eat the same way that the rest of us should eat – a diet consisting of healthy

choices, moderation and portion control. Contrary to what many people think, we learned that Han-nah can eat sugar, just in modera-tion like the rest of us should. We do not forbid or deny her the oc-casional piece of cake or candy. We teach healthy choices and lots of exercise to control her blood sugar.

In addition to her JDRF advocacy work, Hannah also serves as the SC Ambassador for the Diabetes Dude. You can read more about Hannah’s diagnosis story under friends of the DD at www.thedia-betesdude.com.

Over the past three years we have served as mentors to newly diag-nosed families and make ourselves available whenever possible to do what we can to help JDRF. I began a two year term on the Board of Directors for the Palmetto Chap-

ter of JDRF in June of 2011. In March of 2011, I was chosen to at-tend the annual Government Days in Washington, DC as one of the South Carolina delegates. I visited with each of our Congressman to thank them for their past support of legislation involving diabetes re-search and funding and asked for their signatures on a letter urging the Commissioner of the FDA to accept guidelines for the Artificial Pancreas Project. I will be return-ing to Washington in March of 2012 to ask for continued support of the Special Diabetes Program.

Please consider getting involved to help JDRF raise awareness of diabetes. People living with Type 1 Diabetes didn’t choose it, diabetes chose them. Sadly, it can strike any one at any time and if not treated and managed properly can lead to life-threatening health complica-tions or death. Together, we can make a really big difference for all people living with diabetes!

We definitely feel that JDRF is our greatest source of HOPE for a cure. For facts about JDRF and Type 1 diabetes please visit www.jdrf.org.

The McCrary Family

...our goal from the moment Hannah was diagnosed was for her to lead as normal a life as possible...

Health & Wellness


Dr. Jeffrey Travis, Lexington Medical Center


COMPLETE CARDIAC CAREat LEXINGTON MEDICAL CENTER

D id you know that more women than men die of heart disease each year? Or that five times as many women die of heart disease than breast cancer? Heart disease is the #1 killer of

men and women in America. The problem is especially significant in South Carolina, where one out of every three deaths is related to heart disease.

Lexington Medical Center is dedi-cated to helping community mem-bers with heart disease. The best treatment is complete cardiac care close to home. This spring, our hospital will begin offering a full range of cardiovascular services to our community, including open heart surgery.

The first component of our car-diovascular program is Lexington Medical Heart Center, a program affiliated with Duke Medicine, home to the #7 ranked heart pro-gram in the nation. Lexington Medical Heart Center will offer complete cardiac care, including open heart surgery and therapeu-tic catheterizations. Our affiliation with Duke Medicine will allow us to develop a program based on ex-cellence, consult with Duke physi-cians and have access to the latest advances in cardiovascular care.

The second component of the heart program is Lexington Car-diovascular. This new Lexington Medical Center physician practice will be home to Dr. Jeffrey Travis, our new heart surgeon. Dr. Travis has more than 14 years of experi-ence and has completed 750 heart surgeries in his career. Dr. Travis is a South Carolina na-tive who completed his under-

graduate degree at Clemson Uni-versity and earned his medical degree at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. Dr. Travis completed residencies in General Surgery and Cardiotho-racic Surgery at Wake Forest Uni-versity Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

He joins the Lexington Medical Center network and Lexington Cardiovascular from Columbus Cardiovascular Surgery in Colum-bus, Georgia. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery, American Board of Thoracic Sur-gery and the National Board of Medical Examiners.

“Our cardiac care program will contain the quality you’ve come to expect from Lexington Medi-cal Center,” Dr. Travis said. “It will have patient-centered care with emphasis on the highest quality possible.”

Victor Gomez will serve as a phy-sician assistant at Lexington Car-diovascular. As a cardiovascular physician assistant, he has more than twelve years of experience in minimally invasive endoscopic vein harvesting, a procedure al-lowing the vein for coronary by-pass surgery to be harvested from a keyhole incision in the leg.

The specialists at Lexington Car-diovascular have expertise in all areas of the cardiovascular system including cardiothoracic, lung and esophageal, carotid artery and abdominal aortic aneurysm surgeries. Dr. Travis has specific interests in arterial conduits for coronary artery bypass grafts, mi-tral valve repair and aortic root replacement.

Lexington Medical Center’s new cardiovascular program also seeks to educate the public about heart disease prevention. That starts by “knowing your numbers.”

“Most women know their credit card limit, their dress size and shoe size, but they don’t know their cho-lesterol levels,” Dr. Travis said.

In case you’re wondering, doctors recommend total cholesterol to be less than 200, LDL (bad) cho-lesterol to be less than 100 and HDL (good) cholesterol to be 50 or higher.

You’ve trusted Lexington Medical Center for more than 40 years to take care of you and your family. Now, if you or someone you love needs complete cardiac care, we hope that you will allows us to care for you again.

Blood Pressure: Less than 120/80

Total Cholesterol: Less than 200

LDL (bad)Cholesterol: Less than 100

HDL (good)Cholesterol: 50 or higher

Body Mass Index (BMI):

Less than 25

Visit www.lexmed.com to calculate your BMI and learn more about

complete cardiac care at Lexington Medical Center.

Know YourNUMBERS


The Hidden Cause of Your PainDo you ever stop to consider the miracles that happen in your body every second of your life? Without any conscious effort, our bodies breathe, digest, circulate, and regenerate. Yet, we only pay attention when pain alerts us to the unconscious mechanics of our bodies—and it’s often a rude awak-ening!

Every organ and muscle of your body is individually wrapped in a special collagen protein tissue called fascia. Layers of fascia also connect the organs and muscles, holding the body together. This system of connective tissue acts like a spider web; when one area moves, the entire system responds. Much like the rest of your body’s automatic responses, if one part is injured, other parts instantly act to compensate. This domino effect can cause imbalance, long-term dysfunction, and pain—unless the pattern is interrupted. A unique therapy called Rolfing® can restore flexibility and balance to your body, addressing your pain at its source.

The Origin of Rolfing® and How It Relieves PainRolfing was named after its in-ventor, Dr. Ida Rolf. In 1920, she earned a Ph.D. in biological chem-istry from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia Univer-sity in New York. Dr. Rolf worked

at the Rockefeller Institute for 12 years and became an Associate there—striking accomplishments for a woman of that era! During the 1930’s, Dr. Rolf was motivated to find solutions for her own sick child. Dissatisfied with the medical treatment of the day, she explored osteopathy, chiropractic, yoga, and other healing methods.

For the next 30 years, Dr. Rolf developed and taught her tech-nique, which became known as simply, Rolfing. Today, students travel to the Rolf Institute® of Structural Integration in Boul-der, CO—the only facility in the United States that offers certifica-tion in Dr. Rolf ’s methods through a program requiring over 1,000 hours of training. There are cur-rently only about 1,700 Certified Rolfers™ worldwide; only eight in South Carolina, according to the Institute’s website.

Rolfing is a massage-like technique that focuses on the fascia; however, recipients remain partially clothed. Rolfers strategically apply deep pressure, a basic energy to which all bodies respond. The muscles then move freely, which corrects the posture so that simple gravi-tational forces have a therapeutic effect—a new experience of feeling “right with the world”!

“When the body gets working ap-propriately, the force of gravity can flow through. Then, spontaneous-

ly, the body heals itself.”- Dr. Ida P. Rolf

Meet Kimberly Richey, Certified Rolfer in Your NeighborhoodKimberly Richey heard about Rolfing ten years ago in mas-sage school, but an injury to her thumb encouraged her to become a patient. “As a massage therapist working in a medical setting, the pain in my thumb worried me,” Kimberly explains. “After three sessions, I felt better and knew I had to become a Rolfer.” Kimberly recently moved to Columbia from Charleston, and is enthusiastic about providing this rare healing therapy to her new neighbors. “I’m passionate about helping people become advocates for their health and well-being,” she asserts.

Rolfing consists of ten initial ses-sions. Each session focuses on a different part of the body and

builds a strong foundation for the next. Kimberly asks her patients to direct their attention to bodily sensations and describe them. She works on specific areas of pain and assesses the body as a whole to find the source of the discomfort. She then teaches her patients how to break harmful patterns with exercises, stretches, and small ad-justments to everyday movements. As a result, Rolfing provides longer-lasting relief. Rolfing is a mind-body healing experience, resulting in a relaxed mindfulness. As you stop and pay attention to your miraculous body, you can un-cover hidden sources of pain and a path to greater vitality.

Kimberly Richey is a Certified Rolfer who loves helping her patients feel better, live their passions, and achieve their goals. To learn if Rolfing is right for you, or to make an appointment with Kimberly, call (803) 445-4636 or visit www.KimberlyRicheyRolfing.com.

I f pain stops you from enjoying activities you love, you may be surprised (and relieved) to discover a little-known therapy that treats a part of your body you’ve never heard of.

by Chris Mifsud

A Rare Form of Pain Relief… Now in Your Neighborhood

Kimberly Richey

Health & Wellness

‘I’m passionate about helping people become advocates for their health and well-being.’


What is Rolfing?Rolfing is a type of bodywork that helps your body’s muscles work together more efficiently. It helps to eliminate chronic pain and injuries,and anyone can benefit from it! Rolfing can alleviate pain, as well as improving your mobility and flexibility.

INSHAPEPHYSICAL THERAPY & WELLNESS CENTER, LLC

INAQUA: Aquatic Physical Therapy & Aquatic Treadmill

INEVALUATION: Individualized Physical Therapy Evaluation

INFRARED: Laser Light Therapy promotes healing and pain control

INSTEP: Anti-Gravity Alter G Treadmill with Video Gait Analysis

INPOWER: Strength Training & Pilates with access to Wolf's Fitness amenities

INMOTION: Flexibility Training, Joint and Soft Tissue Mobilizations

INDURANCE: Cardiovascular and Muscular Endurance Training

INBALANCE: Balance, Coordination and Proprioception Training

INLINE: Spine Rehabilitation & Joint Mobilizations promotes Alignment

INPEACE: Relaxation Techniques & Massage for Pain Control

INFLOW: CranioSacral Light Touch Therapy & Modalities

INPHASE: Exercise Protocol gradually progressing from Water to Land

INTAKE: Dietary Analysis, Record of BMI and Hydration

(803) 957-3373 • www.inshapesc.com5432-A Augusta Road • Lexington


D id you know that in the United States, more women suffer from heart related illnesses than breast cancer? According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of death of American

women, killing more than a third. Women are generally up-to-date on mammograms or self-breast exams, but most do not think about their heart health until a major issue arises.

Both sexes are at risk for heart dis-ease, but women are especially at risk. The good news is, by being proactive, heart-related illnesses can often be prevented.

Physicians say the key to preven-tion is monitoring risk factors, making lifestyle changes and not ignoring symptoms.

Cigarette smokers are 2 to 4 times more likely to develop heart dis-ease than non-smokers so do what you can to beat the habit.

Total cholesterol levels in adult women should be below 200mg/dL and in the U.S., 46% of women have levels of at least 200mg/dL or above. Plus, less than 33% of women in our country get regu-lar leisure-time physical activity, which also leads to another major risk factor—obesity. Eating right and exercising can significantly decrease those levels and lead to a healthier body and heart.

Eating healthy and getting exer-cise also lead to a healthy heart. However, some people do all of the right things and still suffer

from high cholesterol, for ex-ample. Risk factors for heart

disease and cardiovascular disease are also hereditary so sometimes these condi-tions cannot be avoided. In these cases, be proactive by knowing your family’s

medical history and by pay-ing attention to symptoms so

that you can notify your doctor as soon as possible about anything that might require immediate at-tention.

Symptoms can be easily ignored or passed off as something else, par-ticularly for women over the age of 50 who might attribute unusual feelings to side effects of meno-pause or tiredness.

In addition, the symptoms are slightly different in women than in men. The list below will provide

you with a few of the warning signs of which people should be aware.

Common symptoms for MEN:• Mid-chest discomfort/pain/ pressure• Neck/jaw/throat discomfort/ pressure• Dizziness• Arm/shoulder discomfort/ pressure• Shortness of breath• Nausea &/or vomiting• Sweating• Heartburn• Unusual Fatigue

Common symptoms for WOMEN:• Mid-back or abdominal discomfort/pain/pressure• Shortness of breath• Nausea &/or vomiting• Neck/jaw/throat discomfort/ pressure• Dizziness• Sweating• Left-sided pain• Heartburn• Sense of impending doom

Suffering from a cardiac incident is a seriously scary situation for everyone, but the good news is, you can get your life back after an unfortunate event such as a heart attack or stroke. In fact, there is a nationally ranked open heart surgery program right here in the Midlands so if surgery becomes necessary, people in the commu-nity have a great resource for care.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) “3 star” rating that was re-cently released is an external rating system that evaluates open heart surgery programs based on clini-cal outcomes. Providence Hospi-tals open heart surgery program has consistently received 3 stars, which is the highest ranking, from the STS Surgeons since the ratings began in 2006.

Heart care spans such a broad spec-trum. Your family care physicians, cardiologists, physicians’ assistants, nurses and all health care provid-ers who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease can help, but prevention methods start at home. It is particularly easy for women as the caretakers to be very busy with families, jobs and other everyday responsibilities, but no one, women or men, should ever become too busy to take care of themselves.

The bottom line? Know your body and what is normal for you. If you experience something unusual, notify your physician. And be pro-active by scheduling regular physi-cal examinations with your doctor. This physician/patient relationship can also prove to be a life-saving step in avoiding heart disease from turning into something fatal.

Learn more about the nationally-recognized cardiovascular services at Providence by visiting www.providencehospitals.com.

Keeping in Touch withMATTERS OF THE Heart

Health & Wellness


As parents, we must stay connected with our children. Talk with them, listen to them and get to know their friends.

R arely do we look into the crib at that precious newborn and see a child who will become a bully, be bullied or stand by and watch another person bullied. Yet, statistics show that bullying takes place every 7 minutes on

our playgrounds and goes unreported a majority of the time.1

Bullying is a learned behavior. It is meanness, a quality we do not want to see in ourselves and espe-cially not in our children. In view of recent suicides throughout the country, we must recognize bul-lying as a serious problem, with serious repercussions and in need of serious attention. As parents, we are our children’s greatest teachers. We must model kindness and show that bullying will not be tolerated. According to Olweus, a bullying prevention program, a person is bullied when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to nega-tive actions on the part of one or more person, and has difficulty defending himself or herself. 2 Bul-lying comes in many forms, both direct and indirect.3

Physical bullying involves hitting, kicking, shoving and spitting with the intention of causing physical harm and fear. Physical bullying is most often done by boys to other boys.

Verbal bullying includes name-calling, teasing and making insults or threats to embarrass and intimi-date.

Social or relational bullying is mental harassment by teasing, excluding or humiliating. Threat-ening gestures, body language, dirty looks and gossip are used to isolate individuals and destroy status within a peer group. Social bullying is most often done by girls to other girls.

Cyber bullying is the newest and perhaps the most harmful type of bullying our children are experi-encing. Text messages, voicemails, e-mails and social networking sites are used to threaten, intimidate and spread false rumors about a victim. Our children are tech savvy but often emotionally insensitive to the feelings of others. In today’s world of immediate connection, one photo upload or derogatory post can go “viral,” causing great harm and hurt almost instantly.

As parents, we must stay connected with our children. Talk with them, listen to them and get to know their friends. Let them know that bullying is wrong, unacceptable and carries serious consequences. Watch for signs that your child is

being bullied. If he or she no longer wants to go to school or ride the bus, begins losing his or her school sup-plies or lunch money, has unexpected cuts and bruises, you may have a problem and you need to investi-gate. Go to the proper authorities. Start at the school, but do not stop there if the issue is not resolved.

Bullying is not only about the bully and the victim. Bullying also impacts those who witness such acts. Many simply stand by and do nothing, often resulting in years of emotional distress and guilt. We must teach our children empa-

thy. We must show them how to treat others and encourage them to seek help when needed. In the simplest words, we must foster love and kindness. Love and kindness should be taught early and often, as no one wants their child to grow up in an era of meanness.

Midlands Education and Business Al-liance is a local nonprofit working to connect students, parents, educators and employers to education and career opportunities in the Midlands through programs and partnerships of business, school, college, faith and other commu-nity leaders. MEBA fosters community collaboration between business and education to promote economic devel-opment and enhance the quality of life in the Midlands. For more information on bullying, please visit our website at www.mebasc.com/your-child for tips and links to other great organizations and resources.

1 Pepler, Craig & Roberts, 1998.2 Olweus. Retrieved from http://www.- olweus.org/public/bullying.page 3 Bully Free Program. Facts About Bullying. Retrieved from http://www.bullyfree.com/free-resources/facts-about-bullying

About Kay H. BarlowKay H. Barlow is the Parent and Com-munity Education Director for Mid-lands Education and Business Alliance. Ms. Barlow has over 20 years experi-ence working with students of the nine school districts of the Midlands and with various parents and community. Much of her time is spent working with educators, social workers and busi-nesses dealing with the growing issue of poverty in South Carolina and its effect on the families of this state. Ms. Barlow holds an undergraduate degree from Missouri Baptist College and a Masters of Education from the Univer-sity of South Carolina.

by Kay H. BarlowAn Era of MEANNESS

Kids’ Stuff



PHINEAS and FERBare coming to Columbia!

ed series, including “Gitchee Gitchee Goo,” “Squirrels in My Pants,” “Backyard Beach,” “Busted,” “Today is Gonna Be a Great Day,” and “Summer Belongs to You.” Familiar songs serve as a main ingredient in the plot, advanc-ing the story from scene to scene, while taking on a whole new feel when fused with fresh, original choreography and inventive special effects.

This family friendly event will be at Colo-nial Life Arena for two shows only February 24 at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tickets start at $19 and are available at the Lexington Medi-cal Center Box Office at Colonial Life Arena, online at www.LMCtix.com or by phone at 1-855-4-LMC-TIX.

Produced by Feld Entertainment, Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever!, brings Phineas, Ferb, Candace, Isabella, Baljeet, Buford and friends to the stage as they make the most of the last day of summer by building an invention bigger, better and more amazing than ever. Before anyone can wonder “Hey! Where’s Perry?,” the pet platypus dons his Agent P fedora, and hilarious hijinks un-fold as he battles Dr. Doofenshmirtz to save the Danville Tri-state area and audiences everywhere from the evil scientist’s most hav-oc-wreaking scheme to date.

“We are filled with a great sense of pride over this upcoming live tour and are especially thrilled with the achievements of the Feld creative team which has produced a smart, interesting and funny stage show, that ex-tends the characters, stories and comedy that are at the heart of what we do every day,” said “Phineas and Ferb” co-creators Dan Poven-mire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh.

Audiences will be whisked on a high-energy ride that is part action adventure and part rock concert, while they move it and shake it to a soundtrack of hit songs from the animat-

P hineas and Ferb are gonna do it all! Disney Channel’s animated gem, the critically acclaimed “Phineas and Ferb,” TV’s #1 animated

series among Tweens 9-14 for three years running, has reached a new pinnacle by inspiring an exciting live touring stage show which will play more than 80 hometowns across the country beginning in August.

Fri. FEB. 244:00 & 7:00 PM

Tickets Available At:Lexington Medical Center Box Office

at Colonial Life Arena1-855-4-LMC-TIXwwwww.LMCtix.com

& Columbia’s Play It Again Sports

Groups of 10 or more call(803) 576-9078

www.phineasandferblive.com

Audiences will be whisked on a high-energy ride that is part action adventure and part rock concert...

Kids’ Stuff


I suppose it is human nature to second guess yourself. I find lately I am doing a lot more of it. I have been questioning our parenting skills recently. As you may know we have three children, two cats and a dog. The only

one who is truly good and pure is our kitten. Don’t worry, we haven’t had time to corrupt her yet.

When our oldest child, our daugh-ter, was born we were 27 and 30 years old. We spanked our daugh-ter when it was necessary and she had a terrible temper.

I can remember when she was still in the crib, about 2 years old, she would get so mad when I put her in her room that she would scream, turning bright red, and eventually throw up all over her crib. This was a temper tantrum pure and simple and was only done because she did not want to go to bed.

I can remember heated confronta-tions, at 4 years old, over what she was going to wear that day. And her most difficult year, her 7th grade year, the year I was pregnant, I thought we might kill each other. With her pre-teen hormones and my pregnancy hormones rag-ing and two fiercely independent women at odds, you can only imagine the friction.

One thing we knew for sure; she will never be abused by any man. She’s never had a problem letting people know exactly what she thought of them and has never been dependent on anyone. She eventually grew into a beautiful young woman who is now 18 years old and a freshman at Lander Uni-versity. We are very proud of her. Still…there are a few things we

wish we would have done differ-ently.

When our second child, our older son, was born we were 32 and 35 years old. We didn’t spank our son nearly as much, but we used time out instead. We didn’t have the temper issues with this child. But we did have more school discipline issues. Maybe it’s because he is a boy, and generally bigger and taller than his classmates but we had more school issues with him.

He’s the most polite child you will ever meet. He’s a champion of the underdog, kind and immensely considerate. At 9 years old he was diagnosed with ADHD. Once we

had a diagnosis and a treatment plan, the world was open to him, his grades began to improve – lit-erally overnight and some of his annoying idiosyncrasies slowed. The only reason this diagnosis was found was because I pushed, hard. When it seemed that the educa-tors in his life had all but given up, we didn’t. He’s not a straight A student, but he tries hard. And he’s made more A’s in his life than either of us ever did.

When our youngest child, our young son, was born we were 39 and 41 years old. He is very much like his 12 years older sister, not only in looks, but in personality. We seem to have reverted to talk-

ing to and trying to reason with our young son. What has been the result? We are having behavior is-sues at school and day care. Oh it’s nothing serious, mind you. He’s not a bully, he doesn’t fight, but he does have a temper. Because his older brother fights with him and his much older sister watches inappropriate television shows and uses poor language around him, he is “faster” than the other children. He is more worldly than other children his age. He doesn’t use the most appropriate language, using PG words instead of G words sometimes. He doesn’t always remember to say

by Ruth Chapman

What Makes a GOOD PARENT

Kids’ Stuff

The only reason this diagnosis was found was because I pushed, hard. When it seemed that the educators in his life had all but given up, we didn’t.


Know the Risks!

THEHAPMAN

OMPANYCC

F I N E J E W E L E R S

Specializing inOn-Site Repair

and Custom Design

www.thechapmancompany.com

803-996-5530903 North Lake Drive

Lexington(look for the black awning)

the head, but if you try to rub her down her back, look out, because she will bite you. We got her from some friends when our oldest turned 7, so she’s a long time member of the family and not going anywhere. Funny, her sweet sister Holly, whom we also got for our daughter’s birthday disappeared early on. We think a resident hawk may have taken her. It’s strange how the sweet one disappeared and the mean one has been left with us all these years.

We now have a kitten named Millie who just appeared under the car one day. Our young-est child has dubbed her “the most adorable kitty ever!” She loves being stroked and petted and thus has a friend for life in our little one. Hopefully, Molly won’t corrupt her and will even learn some good behavior.

Do we have straight A students? Much to our chagrin, no. But, I believe we have children with good personalities. Children who are so-ciable, polite and can carry on a conversation with anyone. They are not strong book learn-ers, and so far, none of them share my joy of reading. Neither my husband nor I were straight A students, either and we have suc-cess in all aspects of our lives. We both gradu-ated from USC, although I’m not sure our children will attend there. But we’ll be there at every step of the way to encourage, discipline and be a champion for them, no matter where they go or what they do.

In assessing our lives and our children’s prog-ress, perhaps we’re not such bad parents af-ter all. We probably won’t win any parenting awards, but so far….so good!

‘yes ma’am’ and ‘no sir’ as we in the South pre-fer. But he’s a loving child and seemingly very bright, albeit not as enamored with school as he used to be.

He has been “in love” with the same little girl since he was 2. Recently he told us (he’s 6 years old remember) “We broke up. We decided just to be BFFs.” He is a character, full of mischief, similar to Dennis the Men-ace. This mischievous behavior isn’t always appreciated by authority figures. Still, we are always told by others how happy he seems. My former staff members used to tell me that it was inevitable that our child would have to be a happy child, because I smiled during my entire pregnancy.

Then there’s the family dog, a rescue beagle mix, named Dixie. She is the worst dog we have ever had! But we love her. She couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn when aiming her urine stream and has pretty much ruined all the rugs in the house and much of the hardwood floors. We got tired of her bust-ing through the screened porch screen, so we put in a doggie door. She is so skittish that if the door isn’t propped open, she again busts through the screen less than a foot away from the door! So much for the doggie door! But we haven’t given up on her and the kids adore her.

Finally, we have one of the meanest black cats you’ll ever meet. When I was still able to park my SUV in the garage, Molly would hide in the wheel well and when you least expected it, she would reach out and take a swipe at you, for no reason! She doesn’t mind being pet on

Check out the articles in ourHealth & Wellness section for more

information on heart health!



CONSULTATIVE INSURANCE GROUPKindra Smith of

Like most of us, Kindra Smith is pretty busy these days. She runs Consultative Insurance Group and she and her husband Ron have recently become first time grandparents.

for partnership organizations such as USC and Clemson graduates.

Kindra’s agency has won multiple awards throughout the past 14 years for sales and ser-vice, in addition to being “On Your Side” cer-tified for outstanding commitment to hands-on service to clients. They proactively offer every agency client an opportunity to review their accounts on an annual basis in an effort to ensure that their policies are keeping up with the changes in their lives and they offer various networking opportunities to market the clients to each other.

You can hear the pride in her voice as Kindra speaks of her personnel, “I am blessed to work with a group of professional, experienced in-dividuals that truly care about my clients. My staff is awesome!” And what does she enjoy most about her work? Simply put, helping clients. “I know it may sound canned,” says Kindra, “but it is the truth. I live by the old Nationwide tagline ‘There is no greater ser-vice than protecting the needs of others.’ I am honored to be in a position where I am able to make a living by doing what is right and pro-tecting my clients against everyday risks that they face. Who could ask for more?”

If you believe as I do that we are all placed on this earth for a purpose, then it would not be a stretch to conceive that Kindra Smith’s call-ing is that of insurance sales. She is passionate about her craft and I would venture to say that is one of the reasons she has realized such suc-cess in a very competitive industry. She cares about her clients and offers the one-on-one service that seems to be a lost art for many in-surance businesses. If you are in the market for personal or business insurance, check out her website at www.consultativeinsurance.com.

Kindra grew up in Saluda, South Carolina and attended college at Clemson University, where, industrious even as a young girl, she finished her bachelors degree in two and one-half years. Throughout high school, Kindra worked at her father’s insurance agency and, not wanting to miss out on anything new in the industry while away at college, she worked for various agents in the Clemson market-place. After college, she moved to Columbia and started working in Claims for Nation-wide, during which time she was approached by a local Nationwide Sales Manager to inter-view for an agency opportunity where a long-term agent was retiring. “And the rest,” says Kindra, “is history!”

Today, Kindra has offices in Columbia and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and

three more in the Cleveland, Ohio area (where her husband, Ron, grew up and his agency is based). Their agencies merged last Janu-

ary to become Consultative Insurance Group. They are a

multi-line insurance agency specializing in home, auto,

and commercial/ busi-ness insurance that also offers life insurance and financial products. Kindra’s agencies can also help with special risk situations such as vacant homes, homes under construction, or

life insurance for higher risk individuals. They offer

special bundling discounts of up to 25% for clients who carry multiple policies with their primary carrier, Na-tionwide and discounts are also available

Professional

by Elaine Samplesphotography by Clark Berry Photography


The Ta-tinis and Columbia Conference Center Proudly Present the

5th Annual FIGHT LIKE A GIRLSurvivor Celebration & Fundraiser for “SCOA CARES” Foundation

In memory of Michelle Cooper

Advance Tickets $60/person and $100/pair$75/person at the door

Formal Attire/Black Tie Optional

Advance Tickets available at www.theta-tinis.comor at the following locations:

SC Oncology Associates: 166 Stoneridge Drive, ColumbiaDems Fine Jewelers: 1068 Lake Murray Boulevard, Irmo

KleenKare on St. Andrews: 6179 St Andrews Road, Columbia

SCOA Cares Foundation | By Invitation Only | Columbia Conference Center | Dems Fine Jewelers

Young Survival Coalition Columbia | KleenKare Cleaners & Laundry (St. Andrews Road) | Picasso Perfect Photography

Friday, April 20th 2012 from 7:00 to 11:30 pmColumbia Conference Center (off of Fernandina Road)

169 Laurelhurst Avenue • Columbia, SC

• VEGAS-Style Entertainment• Prizes• Dinner & Dessert

Buffet• Live Music featuring

“Elliot & The Untouchables”

• Hannah Horneas Mistress of Ceremonies

SURVIVOR PRE-PARTYfrom 6 to 7 pm for ticket holders

To RSVP, email [email protected]


www.blythewoodgloriosaflorist.com

Best Little FloristServing Richland, Lexington, Fairfield Counties

Quality Service and FreshnessAbsolutely Guaranteed

Wade and Carla Lomas

for the KID in everyone!

For more info or to purchase tickets:Visit www.columbiachildrenstheatre.com

or Call (803) 691-4548

Richland Mall, 2nd level • 3400 Forest Drive, Forest Acres

Pinkalicious The Musical– February 10-19 –

Rumplestiltzkin– April 13-22 –

The Commedia Cinderella– June 15-24 –


by Tammy Ferris

M ost all of us have one – a “Honey Do” list. Some items on your list may be as simple as replacing an air filter or changing out

a light bulb, but let’s face it; not all your household maintenance chores are that easy. Even fixing a leaky faucet can be tough if your guy doesn’t know exactly what he’s doing. Since February is the month of love, maybe your best Valentine’s Day gift is giving him a break from home repair and saving yourself the frustration of waiting for it to get done!

Let the pros turn your man’s “Honey Do” list into “Honey DONE!”

Men seem to have an innate feeling that they should fix things themselves. The problem is that homeowners with basic skills experience run into unexpected problems and that’s when they call us. The problem is that by the time we arrive on the scene, the job has become bigger than it needed to be.

From fixing leaky plumbing to installing a new thermostat to upgrading electrical systems, Gene Love technicians want to help couples avoid the frustrations that often come with do-it-yourself projects.

If your guy’s too stubborn to stop and ask for directions, he’s probably also too proud to get help from professionals with what he consid-ers minor household repairs. He’ll tell you, “No problem. I saw a show about how to fix that. I’ll take care of it this weekend.” Yes, he probably did see a show about how to fix it. Those do-it-yourself programs are getting more popular all the time. You might already know that there’s an entire cable network that only runs DIY pro-gramming. Even a quick Internet search of “do-it-yourself ” brings up more than 200 million – yes, million! – links. But what looks easy on TV or the Internet, isn’t always so simple when you get right down to it.

Some of our local at-home handymen learned that the hard way. They called Gene Love to get help fixing projects they admit they messed up, like trying to install a new thermostat, ceiling fan or a new flapper in a toilet. I’m sure they hated having to dial our number, but their se-crets are safe with us! Certainly there are some home fix-ups perfect for do-it-yourselfers. But

no matter how simple the job may be, safety must always be top of mind.

Fixing a leaky pipe, faucet or toilet valve may re-quire using a soldering torch on copper pipes. • Always use extreme caution when with a propane torch and solder especially when working in tight spaces.• Good safety glasses are a must.• Wear protective clothing. Hot solder dripping on your arm or leg can cause severe burns.• Find your home’s main water shut-off valve is just in case a pipe breaks and water starts flooding your home.

If your furnace stops working, there may be a very easy fix. Check these first:• Make sure the air filter is clean and the blower motor door is attached properly.• Check to see that the gas valve, power supply switch and breaker are all set to the “on” position.• Many thermostats require batteries. You may simply need to replace them to get your furnace working again.• Make sure your pilot light is on and use precautions if you have to re-light it.

Electrical work is one of the few DIY projects that can kill you. Always think “Better safe than sorry” when working with electricity.• Always make sure the power is off to the circuit you’re working on. Double-check it because sometimes electrical boxes are fed by more than one circuit.• Never assume your house is wired properly. Ungrounded and swapped wires are common even in newer homes.

• Wear rubber-soles shoes or stand on a rubber mat when doing electrical repairs.• If you’re not comfortable using high-powered tools, don’t. Call a licensed electrician.

It simply isn’t worth risking serious injury, or worse, to save a few dollars doing it yourself. The latest statistics show 4 million people visit emergency rooms every year in the U.S. due to injuries from DIY projects.

Some projects simply require more extensive training than others. Gene Love technicians know the most efficient and safest ways to fix those annoying little household headaches. They also stay up-to-date on the latest national and local codes required to keep your home and family safe. One of those national codes requires all homes have GFCI receptacles. Are you con-fident your husband knows what that is? Could he install one safely, if necessary?

Save your “helpful” husband the embarrass-ment and the bruised ego. Hire a professional from Gene Love to get the job done right the first time. Give him the gift of service for Valentine’s Day and we’ll give you money off that gift. We love to keep you both happy!

Tammy Ferris is the owner of Gene Love Plumb-ing, Air and Electric, serving the greater Columbia, South Carolina area for more than 25 years. Gene Love plumbers contain and control water and guar-antee their work. Gene Love consistently earns “Best Plumbing Company” and other service industry awards. Gene Love consistently earns “Best Plumb-ing Company” and other service industry awards. For more information on a sweet Valentine’s gift offer, go to www.genelove.com or call (803) 719-5334.

Professional


Haley was a bit far sighted, that was normal for her age and she would “grow out of it.” Jessica wasn’t satisfied with this answer, so she made an appointment with a pediatric optometrist. On January 26, 2004, Lexington experienced an ice storm and Haley was feel-ing particularly bad. Jessica braved the weather and took her little girl to the emergency room, where the doctor said she had a virus.

That was Tuesday. On Friday, it was time for the pediatric eye exam, where they learned Haley’s eyes were hemorrhaging and an immediate MRI was ordered.

On January 30, 2004 at 6:33 pm,

their world forever changed. “No words can explain how I felt when Dr. Lynwood Smith told me Haley had craniopharyngioma, a benign tumor that develops near the pi-tuitary gland,” remembers Haley’s mom. “He said she had so much fluid built up on her brain that she only had two days to live if the fluid wasn’t removed.” Two days. “My world fell apart. Every mother should be able to heal their child but there was nothing I could say or do to fix this. If they get stitches, you can baby them. You can kiss boo boos and make it better. In most instances, you can help take away the pain. But not here. There was nothing I could do. It was all in God’s hands.”

The night of Haley’s diagnosis, the doctor suggested that he needed to explain to Haley what was happen-ing. When Jessica walked into Hal-ey’s room and Dr. Smith began to speak, she couldn’t hold back her tears. But this time, it was Haley’s turn to make it better.

“She grabbed my hand and looked me right in the eyes and said, ‘Mama, don’t cry. God told me I am going to be ok,’” recalls Jessica. Haley told her mom that God vis-ited her in the hospital room and told her she was going to have surgery, but that she shouldn’t be scared because she was going to be just fine. Haley had emergency surgery the very next day.

“That night, Haley was in ICU and kept asking for her angel teddy bear,” says Jessica. “We had fam-ily and friends at the hospital and, with a little prompting, I finally de-cided to go home and get the bear for her. When I walked into her room to retrieve the bear, I com-pletely lost it. At that moment, it hit me that my child may not come home.”

But Haley had a different idea. From the time she found out about her tumor, this little girl was deter-mined to beat it, even saying to her mom, “I’m going to beat this!” at times.

On February 18, Jessica received

hen she was seven years old, Haley Thomas had headaches and squinted a fair amount of time. Thinking eye glasses may be in order, her mom, Jessica Sheppard, took Haley to the eye doctor and was told that

although Haley was a bit far sighted, that was normal for her age and she would “grow out of it.”W

by Elaine Samplesphotography by Patrick Mooney

HALEY THOMAS{A Brain Tumor Survivor}

Midlands Woman ce lebr ates the sur v ivor in you


by Elaine Samplesphotography by Patrick Mooney

heartsonfire.com

Fine Jewelers 1068 Lake Murray Blvd Irmo SC 29063

803.407.5290 | www.demsjewelers.com

a call from St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital requesting that she and Haley come to Memphis for treat-ment. They would need to bring clothes for nine weeks. Haley had an older brother at home, Nick, who was eight years old. With her heart breaking again, Jessica left Nick with family as she and Haley set off for Memphis: “I had to leave one child behind to get one child better,” Jessica remembers sadly. “It was so hard to go, but it was the only option for Haley.”

For fifteen hours, these two were on the road to Memphis, arriving at their destination at 11:00 pm. When Haley was admitted, she would need surgery to remove a cyst off her brain away from the tumor. Her head would be bolted down and she wouldn’t be able to eat, talk, or move her legs for 72 hours. At least that is what the doctors said. But, again, Haley had a different idea.

After the surgery, Jessica was in the waiting room and the nurse came down the hall and announced, “Haley wants a Sprite, a cheese-burger, and her mama.” The doc-tors would later go on to say that Haley was the best cranio patient they had treated because she re-sponded to well.

Every day, taking only weekends off, Haley would go to radiation, for a total of 52 rounds, in order to shrink the tumor. In May, she was released and mommy and daugh-ter were free to go back home to big brother Nick.

The doctors warned that Haley’s hair would fall out and suggested that Jessica change her pillowcases from light to dark so that Haley would not have to see all of her hair on the pillow. When Jessica explained this to Haley, she was not concerned. She simply told her mother “If my hair falls out, God wants it to fall out. He’ll make

it grow back.” And again, Haley was right. She lost a small patch of hair the size of two quarters at the bottom back of her head. “Now, Mama,” said Haley, “Aren’t you glad we didn’t cut my hair off?! I told you I am going to beat this!”

As a testament to Haley’s faith, none of the side effects the doctors warned of happened. Although they said she would need glasses, Haley has 20/20 vision. Although they said she would likely have a stroke, to this day Haley hasn’t had a stroke. (And personally, I don’t think she ever will.) They warned of more surgery being likely – but

Haley hasn’t had to have another surgery. And although her life has a lot of doctors’ appointments that other children her age don’t have, she is a beautiful, active young lady who radiates from the inside out.

Today we celebrate Haley Thomas, the little girl who believed.

This article is brought to you by Dems Fine Jewelers. Visit www.demsjewelers.com or call (803) 407-5290.

Today we celebrate Haley Thomas, the little girl who believed.

Haley and her mother

Celebrating the Survivor in You!


W hen the weather is cool it’s easy to forget about flea and heartworm prevention in our pets. With all the new flea, tick and heartworm prevention products on the market, including products that take care of all three

parasites, it’s also easy to miss your monthly heartworm prevention. If it’s cold outside and you’re not seeing fleas, you don’t have to give that pill or apply that topical, right…? WRONG! All it takes in South Carolina is a sunny afternoon for us to see mosquitoes.

Remember, heartworms are spread by mosquitoes who inject micro-scopic heartworm larva into your cat or dog when bitten.

In dogs, the larva migrates through the lungs to the heart where they mature into adults, reproduce, cause severe irritation to the heart and lungs which can lead to other disease such as anemia and heart failure. Then, when mosquitoes bite your pet the heartworms can be s spread to other animals (and even people!). In cats, however, the heartworm larva migrates to the lungs and dies causing severe irritation; few heartworms actually make it to the heart. This irrita-tion leads to heartworm associated

respiratory disease (HARD), of-ten mistaken for feline asthma or bronchitis.

The veterinarians at Grace Animal Hospital recommend monthly heartworm prevention year-round for your dog AND cat, even if they are ‘indoor-only’. We offer both topical and oral heartworm pre-vention products for your pets, but remember these products only work if you give them monthly! Grace Animal Hospital is also proud to announce the release of ProHeart 6, a heartworm preven-tive for dogs only given by injec-tion that is good for 6 months so you don’t have to worry about re-membering to give a pill or apply

a topical. ProHeart 6 is given by a simple, safe injection.

Call today for an appointment to see if this outstanding, safe prod-uct is appropriate for your dog or to find out about other preventives for your cat. For more information visit www.gracepets.com.

by TimLoonam DVM

New 6 Month HeartwormPrevention in Dogs

GraceAnimal

Hospitaland Pet Lodge

Dr. Briana DavisDr. Tim Loonam

Dr. Jacinda DeRoy

147 Charter Oak Road • Lexington, SC 29072

803.808.PETS (7387)www.gracepets.com

Small Animal Medicine and Surgery

Small Animal Dentistry

Equine Services

Pharmacy and Laboratory

Behavior and Training Consulation

Goats, Sheep and LlamaServices

Nutrition and Retail Products

Referral and Consultation Services

Pet Lodge

COMPLETE,COMPASSIONATE CAREFrom Your Other Family Doctor

Thanks for voting us “Best of Lex-ington” and ‘Best of Lake Murray” in the categories of Best Veterinar-ian, Best Veterinary Hospital, and Best Boarding Facility. We vote YOU as the best clients and pets in the world!

Pets

HeartwormLife Cycle


Business & Web Directory

Hello.Meet LMC Mobile.

Designed to work with your smartphone.

Check it out by visiting:

www.lexmed.com

BeautyMary Kay (Debi Washburn-Sykes) ................ 9www.marykay.com/dwashburn-sykes

DentistAlison Lockhart, DMD .................................. 14

EntertainmentColonial Life Arena ........................................ 25www.coloniallifearena.com Columbia Children’s Theatre ........................ 30www.columbiachildrenstheatre.com

FitnessInShape Physical Therapy & Wellness Center, LLC ..................................................... 21www.inshapesc.com

FloristBlythewood Florist ......................................... 30www.blythewoodgloriosaflorist.com

Health ServicesBrightStar Care ............................................... 21 www.brightstarcare.comLexington Medical Center ....... 35, Back Coverwww.lexmed.comProvidence Heart & Vascular Institute ........ 22www.www.providencehospitals.comKimberly Richey ............................................. 21www.KimberlyRicheyRolfing.com

HotelWingate by Wyndham ........Inside Back Coverwww.lexingtonwingate.com

InsuranceConsultative Insurance Group ........................ 3www.consultativeinsurance.com

JewelryDems ................................................................ 33 www.demsjewelers.com The Chapman Company ................................ 27www.thechapmancompany.com

OB/GYNColumbia Women’s Healthcare .................... 13www.columbiawhc.com

PetsGrace Pets Animal Hospital .......................... 34 www.gracepets.com

PhotographyClark Berry Photography ... Inside Front Coverwww.clarkberry.com

Plumbing, Air & ElectricalGene Love Plumbing, Air & Electrical ........ 30 www.genelove.com

SchoolsGlenforest School ............................................. 9www.glenforest.org

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an you believe it is 2012? Our family has experienced many milestones again this year. I have come to realize as a parent that this is an ongoing

progression with our children.

We now have two teenagers in the house, a skateboard loving nine year old, and, of course, Ryan who turned five on January 20th. I can hardly believe it has been five whole years since God blessed us with Ryan. As I have said before, each of our children are different and special in their own way. Often times, I have pondered as to the varied roles each child plays in our little family and how each of their person-alities seem shaped and defined by the order in which they were born. Trey began talking very early and even formed complete sentences before he was two years old. However, I was convinced that Ryan had a developmental delay because he wasn’t much of a talker until he was three. Abby was on her feet walk-ing at eight months old! Yes I know it sounds too young to believe, yet it is the truth. And I can honestly say that the little lady hasn’t slowed down since! Each of the boys took their time, but by twelve months everyone was on their feet and moving around. Colton earned the nickname “Hammer” from his dad because at less than two he would “hammer” his head against a wall if things didn’t go according to how he supposed they should. Before too long, he learned that this behavior would not produce the desired result and apparently it didn’t feel good either, so he stopped. To this day, Trent still affectionately calls him “Hammer.”

As parents, we work hard to make sure our children are healthy and happy. I have learned in parenting that they each need different things from us. While I may need to be firm with all of them about certain things, the sensitive child requires a softer touch. It became pretty apparent very early in Ryan’s life that the first thirty minutes of his day should be a quiet, loving time, or the remainder of his day felt some-what frustrating. I learned that Colton likes to be awake a few minutes before he has to take a shower and get ready for school and he doesn’t mind waking up early to facilitate this. Alternatively, Trey prefers to roll out of bed, shower, dress and be out the door in twenty minutes. And my Abby prefers to spend an hour the night before school getting everything ready for the next day, including her clothes, or the mornings can be pretty exasperating for her.

All of the kids have different needs, yet they all live in the same house with the same two parents, and live very similar lives. They also have different interests and talents. While Trey lights up at the talk of aeronautical advancements, he tends to be a little quiet otherwise. Colton possesses a special gift that encourages others, and being with friends on a continual basis is important to him. Abby, the social but-terfly, really enjoys helping people. She tends to be a “friend to the friendless” and she derives great joy in doing nice things for others. Ryan loves to read and he processes the story and asks questions about it. His imagination is boundless and I love that his elephants are still green and blue. Although he is still defining his role in our house, he calls himself “kingdid.” (This is his word and apparently it denotes a ruler of some sorts, as he informed me once that he was “king of my tummy.”)

I believe it’s my job to parent each of my children in a way that best speaks to him or her. It is my respon-sibility to encourage Trey’s mathematical mind and love of engineering, Abby’s gift of service, Colton’s gift of compassion, and Ryan’s gift of leadership. They were all created with a purpose and if I miss my mark, it could cause them to miss their destiny. Being their mother is the greatest responsibility and true work of my life. I heartily embrace the challenge and pray every single day for wisdom. This heart month means so much to me. I celebrate the beautiful man I married who loves me in a way I never expected, both of our birthdays and our anniversary, and I celebrate four reasons that I strive every day to make my world a better place. My heart belongs to the five of them. I wonder what gifts your children possess? I petition you to consider today what God has entrusted you with. I believe our heritage is in our children.

God bless you all!

Lori Samples Duncan

C

Proverbs 4:23Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Ryan

Colton

Abby

Trey

photos by Patrick Mooney

A Personal Note

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