It seems that our country is always in need of blood donors.  Much of today’s medical care depends on a steady supply of blood from healthy donors.   Here are some interesting blood donation facts:

More than 4.5 million patients need blood transfusions each year in the U.S. and Canada alone.  There are 43,000 pints of donated blood used in the U.S. and Canada each day.  Someone will need blood every two seconds in the United States.  One out of seven people entering a hospital will be in need of receiving blood.  Of the U.S. population, only 37 percent are eligible to donate blood, yet only 10 percent of those people contribute annually.

One pint of blood can save up to three lives.  Healthy adults who are at least 17 years old, and at least 110 pounds may donate blood.  The most common form of donation—every 56 days, or every two months. Females receive 53 percent of blood transfusions; males receive 47 percent.  Blood or plasma that comes from people, who have been paid for it, cannot be used to human transfusion.

Healthy bone marrow makes a constant supply of red cells, plasma and platelets.  One unit of blood can be separated into several components: red blood cells, plasma, platelets and cryoprecipitate.  Most donated red blood cells can be stored for 42 days.  There are thirteen tests (11 for infectious diseases) performed on each unit of donated blood.

If only one more percent of all Americans would give blood, blood shortages would mostly disappear.

There will be a blood drive on June 17, 2008 at the Mountain Christian Center (40299 Hwy 49 in Oakhurst).  Donation times are from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.  All donors will receive a variety of discounts from valley businesses for dining, recreation, entertainment and services.

So everyone, get out and donate now.  It will make you feel great!

Written by Chuck from Good Ol Daze

Good Morning Family and Friends,

I am writing this on behalf of my neighbor, Danny Zabicki, age sixteen.  Fifteen months ago Danny was diagnosed with stage 4 Rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft tissue cancer.  It has been a tortuous year long battle for Danny and his family to fight this monster.  He had just completed the last of the chemo and radiation treatments last week and went in for tests/scans to determine the success of the treatment.  Unfortunately, a tumor at the base of his brain in the lining was discovered.

They came home and had an evening with friends to take their minds off the situation.  About 8 a.m. on Saturday (5/31), Roman (Danny’s dad) called and asked us to watch for the ambulance.  Frank jumped in the truck and went down to the main road to direct the fire trucks/ambulance.  Danny had woken up with a severe headache that went into seizures.  When the medics brought Danny out on the gurney, he was unconscious.  All we could do was hold onto his parents.

About 4 p.m. that afternoon, brain surgery took place to drain off the blood that was inside his head.  The neurosurgeon was successful in getting the blood/blood clot out but was not able to do anything at the time about the tumor.  He has a shunt to drain off additional bleeds (if any) and is on a ventilator.  He does respond to pain and the presence of family/friends.  Further tests will be done shortly once he has gathered more strength to fight this monster.

I am asking, begging, pleading with all of you to pray for Danny, his Mom and Dad (Roman and Laura) and his brother, Andrejz (Onjy).  His Polish family in Michigan has started Danny’s Army and is praying every day at 9 a.m. (PDT).  The power of prayer is wondrous and has brought Danny this far.  The family’s faith in God is powerful but I am sure they are doubting now.  Danny is in the arms of an angel now and desperately needs your prayers.

Thank you so much for listening to me.  We have no more words for the family…just hugs and prayers.

Love to all of you,

Dianne & Frank

P.S.  If you want to spread the word even further, that would be most appreciated!  If you want to follow his story, you can go to www.carepages.org.  His story is under patient dannyzab.

With nice weather comes the urge to get out the old nag (not your wife) and go for a ride. Horseback riding is a lot of fun. But like lots of fun things, there are dangers and risks as well as enjoyment when being around horses. To help minimize the danger and risk, there are a few rules I have found to observe. Around the Barn Always wear appropriate clothing. Open-toed shoes are a big no-no in the barn or on the horse. Protect your feet. They are almost as important as your horse’s hooves. Put away equipment. Make sure pitchforks, rakes, etc. are stored properly and not left out where human or animal can trip over them. Clean up. Always sweep after doing stalls, grooming, etc. Pay special attention after the farrier visits and make sure there are no nails left out where they could puncture someone’s foot. Watch out for flying hooves. Most horses will not kick someone on purpose. Usually they are startled or really going after a fly. Avoid walking behind a horse. If you must pass behind, walk close to the animal (so his feet cannot gain momentum) and talk to the animal so there are no surprises for either of you. While cleaning hooves be careful to hold the horse’s leg in a position that is comfortable for the animal and not to the side. Place the hoof down after cleaning rather than dropping it to avoid injury to the animal. Keep animals separate. Be aware of which animals get along and which ones do not like each other. Avoid bringing animals’ close together in confined spaces and respect their personal space. Lead them in. Do not allow horses to charge into the barn at meal times. It may take some extra time, but it is worth it to lead them in one by one and escort them personally to their stall. Use a lead rope. Leading a horse by just the halter is not wise. While 99% of the time this may not be a problem, it’s the other 1% when the horse becomes agitated over an imagined danger and ends up in the next county that can be a problem. Do not leave your horse in a pasture wearing a nylon halter. Nylon halters are actually too strong and if he gets caught on a branch, he could be trapped or worse. If you must have a halter on your horse, use a leather one. On the Horse Use an approved helmet! There are plenty of styles to choose from including safety helmets that look like cowboy hats. Your brain is worth protecting! A helmet can be the difference between brushing the dirt off your pants and jumping back on the horse and a trip to the hospital or worse. Wear sturdy shoes with a heel. Good shoes keep your feet safe in the stirrup especially at those times when balance may be hard to get. Wear long pants that fit. While they should not be loose enough to get caught on anything while riding, your clothes should also be comfortable and not too tight. Check your tack. Every time you ride check your saddle and bridle for problems with stitching or rot. Ideally you should clean your tack every time you ride and store it in a dry area to avoid conditions that may cause decay in the leather or stitching. Make sure your stirrup leather can easily slide out of the saddle and the keeper is down. If you do fall with your foot still in the stirrup, you do not want to be dragged. Make sure the bridle fits well and it has not been readjusted since you last rode. A poorly adjusted bridle can make for a horse with a poor attitude. Tighten the girth before getting on and check it again after riding a few minutes. Make sure it is snug but not over-tight. You should barely be able to slide your hand between the girth and the horse. Horses are a great way to reach responsibility and even great therapy for special needs kids. But kids under the age of eighteen should never ride unsupervised and even adults should not go off without a companion. After all equines are unpredictable animals and should be respected as such.

With the warm weather upon us those pestering mosquitoes are coming out. Here are a few tips that may help relieve some of the annoyance. 

In these days when gas prices are soaring, many people are looking for alternate modes of transportation. Some people adapted the bike-riding habit years ago; others are just catching on. Either way, it cannot hurt to consider new ways to get where you need to go. Biking is not only better for the environment; it can also create a healthier you.

May is Bike Month, May 12-16, 2008 is Bike-to-Work Week, with May 15 being highlighted Bike-to-Work Day.

Here are some ways you can take part in Bike Month in May and beyond-

-Follow the example of Sacramento, CA and track community biking miles.
-Have a progressive dinner with bikers traveling and eating along a pre-determined trail.
-Have a bike parade on your block.
-Ride your bike to the library and get a book about cycling.
-Teach a child how to ride a bike.
-Go to a cycling race.
-Make a bicycle-themed dessert.
-Set up a scavenger hunt for cyclers.
-Help to clean up litter on a bike trail.
-Donate a bike helmet to someone who needs one.

For more ideas visit the Bike League website.

The place to be on May 17, 2008, is Wasuma Elementary School where you can celerbrate life and join the fight against cancer. Each year the American Cancer Society, with the help of many local  volunteers put on the event national known as Relay For Life^®. It’s a time and place where people come to celebrate those who have survived cancer, remember those we’ve lost, and fight back against a disease that touches all our lives.

Join this year and be a part of the celebration and fight for life.

Your involvement will help the American Cancer Society work towards a mission of eliminating cancer and will support much needed services in our community. If you want to be a part of the fight against cancer or your interested in learning more or receiving an invitation, please email Rebecca Morris at rebecca.morris@oakhurstmed.net

Although many of us are blessed with healthy children, I was reminded once again that childhood Cancer is on the rise in the United States. 

Did you know…?

Each year in the U.S., approximately 12,500 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer.  That is the equivalent to two average size classrooms diagnosed each school day.

Childhood Cancer can affect any child - from newborns to teenagers. There is no known cause for Cancer.  No one knows why some children get Cancer.   No one knows why some children get well and some children don’t.

Children tend to develop different types of Cancer than adults do.

There are currently over 40,000 children receiving treatment for Cancer in the United States.

Cancer remains the number one disease that claims the lives of children in the US.  More children, under the age of 20, will die from cancer than AIDS, asthma, cystic fibrosis and diabetes combined.

Leukemia’s, tumors of the brain and nervous system, the lymphatic system, kidneys, bones and muscles are the most common childhood cancers in the US.

Combined, the cancers of children, adolescents and young adults to age 20 are the sixth most common cancer in the U.S.

In the 1950, less than 10 percent of children with cancer survived.  Currently, nearly 80 percent of children diagnosed become long term survivors and the majority of those are considered cured.

Many breakthroughs in pediatric oncology have helped increase the survivability of adults with cancer.  Many of the principles in therapy used today in treating adults were first developed and tested in children.

Research is needed to end all types of Cancer and funding is the key.  There are many organizations that are leading the charge in the US.  Please consider donating money to organizations like St. Jude’s Children Research Center, The Pediatric Cancer Foundation or New York’s Sloan Kettering.

The five stages of grief as outlined by Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, a Swedish doctor and pioneer in the studying grief are as follows:

1. Denial and Isolation
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance

Dr. Kubler-Ross came up with these stages as she was dealing with patients who had terminal illnesses. She helped to take away some of the stigma associated with having a terminal illness and advocated that such patients be treated with compassion, rather than being belittled or ignored by the medical establishment. Her work has had lasting effects.

Some have found that these stages of grief apply to a variety of situations. Death is not the only loss we experience. People also grieve when they lose jobs, end relationships, and close various chapters in their lives.

If you are grieving and need help coping, consider attending the free group sessions at Hind Hospice that will begin on Wednesday, February 27 and last until May 21. During those 12 weeks the group will meet every Wednesday from 1-2 pm. Counselor Emily Susann will facilitate and the sessions, which are sponsored by the Hospice’s Center for Grief and Loss, are open to anyone who is going through bereavement and wants help.

Colloidal silver has been touted as a natural solution for combating bacteria, virus, and fungi. In ancient Rome, silver was known to have antibiotic properties. But in modern times, doctors warn against using silver as a remedy. They say that it is dangerous to ingest or even apply the heavy metal to the skin. Yet many people still take it because they’ve heard about what it can do—ease sinus infections, dermatitis and other inflammatory issues, scarlet fever, shingles, and even pneumonia.

One gentleman says taking colloidal silver both internally and topically has helped alleviate some health problems and despite the fact continued use of colloidal silver has turned his skin a noticeable shade of blue, he still uses it.

Recently, I saw him on the Today show talking with Matt Lauer about his condition. His girlfriend accompanied him and there was also a doctor present for the interview. He admitted to getting some stares, some curious questions, and sadly even some less then kind treatment.
This man has actually decided to move to Madera because he felt our area would be more welcoming that where he lived in the past.

Isn’t it nice to know that we live in an area that is known for its great people? Hearing that someone moved her because he felt he would be more accepted just goes to show that we all are doing something right.

Who among us has not over-indulged in the holiday goodies?  Heck, they are everywhere we look, just calling out to us!  From grocery stores, to desk tops to platters given by friends, you just cannot escape all the calories.  Sweet potatoes, cookies, pies and even grandma’s green bean casserole (healthy… nope), they are all torture to pass up during the holidays.

Tempting little holiday goodies and yummy holiday meals can add up to serious problems for your waste-line.  It takes consuming 3500 extra calories to add up to a weight gain of 1 pound.  The average person gains 2 pounds from Thanksgiving thru New Year’s.  Most people do not lose the weight that they put on during the holidays.  This weight gain will translate into 20 pounds over a 10 year period.  This additional poundage can cause serious long term health problems.

Here are some tips to help keep those calories away when you are going to a party:

Position yourself away from the buffet table so that you are not tempted to nibble while you mingle.

Have a healthy snack before you arrive at the party.

Minimize the amount of alcohol that you consume.  Not only does it have useless calories, it will dehydrate you and you will drink even more.

Use a small plate or a cocktail napkin to hold your food. 

Don’t forget the fruits and vegetables.  They are filling and have the least amount of calories.

With a little planning, you too can avoid gaining those unwanted calories!