Inhealth 12/01/2015

Saving Antibiotics

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Health

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Health

SPOKANE • EASTERN WASHINGTON • NORTH IDAHO also at inlander.com/inhealth 1227 W. Summit Parkway, Spokane, Wash. 99201 PHONE: 509-325-0634

EDITOR Anne McGregor

annem@inlander.com

MANAGING EDITOR Jacob H. Fries ART DIRECTOR Chris Bovey CALENDAR EDITOR Chey Scott COPY EDITOR Michael Mahoney CONTRIBUTORS Chelsea Bannach, Kristen Black, Carla Brannan, Jim Campbell, Jeff Ferguson, Linda Hagen Miller, Laura Johnson, Annie Kuster, Young Kwak, Dan Nailen, Taryn Phaneuf, Sarah Philip, Mitch Ryals, Carrie Scozzaro, Matt Thompson, John R. White, Daniel Walters, Makayla Wamboldt PRODUCTION MANAGER Wayne Hunt ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Kristi Gotzian DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Kristina Elverum

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InHealth is published every other month and is available free at more than 500 locations throughout the Inland Northwest. One copy free per reader.

Subscriptions are available and cost $2.50 per issue.

Call x213. Reaching Us: Editorial: x261; Circulation: x226; Advertising: x215. COPYRIGHT All contents copyrighted © Inland Publications, Inc. 2015. InHealth is locally owned and has been published every other month since 2004.

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4 Health DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

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Health 5

FROM THE EDITOR

collaboration innovation collaboration drives innovative health care

At INHS collaboration drives everything we do.

Through innovative health care technology, health education and patient care, more than 1,000 INHS employees are creating tomorrow’s health care today.

St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute Engage Northwest MedStar Northwest TeleHealth Community Wellness COHE Community of Eastern Washington Health Training

We improve patient outcomes.

We lead health care innovation.

We create healthier communities.

Do you have a story idea? Share it with Editor Anne McGregor at annem@inlander.com.

Preserving Progress

F

or thousands and thousands of years, humans have worked to heal each other. But many of the greatest medical advances have occurred in just the past two centuries.

Vaccines, X-rays, anesthesia — where would modern medicine be without any of those? Luckily, we can continue to take for granted pain-free surgery; vaccines new and old shield us from diseases that once ravaged entire populations.

We’ve also moved far beyond X-rays in our methods to see inside the living body. But one of the greatest achievements of modern medicine — the ability to combat and prevent infection through the use of antibiotics — is at risk. As you’ll read in Mitch Ryals’ report, there is ample cause for concern. That’s why a new coalition in Washington state is taking steps to promote the careful and effective use of these essential medications.

Doing what we can to stay healthy is one way to help reduce the use of antibiotics.

Keeping vaccinations up to date is a prudent first step; paying daily attention to exercise and sensible eating never hurts. But it can be hard to stay motivated during the long nights of winter, when it’s dark by 4 pm. Settling in on the sofa at day’s end can be so appealing. Taking a break from routine can help you beat the winter blahs, and that’s exactly what our Road Trip feature is designed to do. Linda Hagen Miller has found five beautiful destinations within a half-day’s drive that are sure to reinvigorate your commitment to wellness.

To your health!

Inland Northwest Health Services (INHS) is a non-profit corporation in Spokane, Washington providing collaboration in health care services on behalf of the community and its member organization Providence Health Care.

6 Health DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

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CHECK-IN CHARITY CORNER

A Clean Start

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ext time you crawl out of your cozy, warm bed to groggily climb into the shower, don’t take it for granted. The first-world luxury of hot, running water, soap and shampoo isn’t something everyone has access to — a fact easy to overlook by those who do. That’s why the Washington and North Idaho travel and insurance offices of AAA are once again teaming up to host the eighth annual Soap for Hope toiletries drive, collecting donated hygiene products to distribute to community nonprofits that will benefit most.

“A lot of our clients come home from vacation with shampoo and conditioner from hotels, and it’s easy to let that stack up, and then you eventually throw them away,” explains AAA Washington spokesperson Jennifer Cook. “So we thought, ‘Why don’t we use those for good?’”

Thus Soap for Hope was born, with all AAA offices across the region — including two in Spokane and one in Coeur d’Alene — helping collect donations. The annual drive started in November, and runs through the end of the year.

Locally, the donated items are distributed to

the women’s shelters operated by Transitions and the Volunteers of America Hope House for women.

Cook says that on average, the Spokane offices gather 4,500 individual items through the drive.

“It seems really trivial, but it’s more helpful to someone worrying about putting food on the table and having a roof over their head — it’s one less thing they have to think about or spend money on,” Cook says.

Donations to Soap for Hope aren’t limited to travel-size hotel samples — the agency accepts

ASK DR. MATT

Up All Night Matt Thompson is a pediatrician at Spokane’s Kids Clinic.

STAY CONNECTED Email InHealth Editor Anne McGregor at annem@inlander.com. The conversation continues on the Inlander Facebook page, and stay in touch with us at Inlander.com/InHealth.

My 2-month-old daughter has stopped sleeping through the night! She wakes up after four hours, eats, and then goes back to sleep for another three of four hours. Then she naps all afternoon.

She is also still sleeping in her swing next to our bed at night. We only leave it on long enough for her to fall asleep. Is there harm in doing this?

he timing of things you describe is very appropriate. Until two months or so, babies often need the squeeze of a good swaddle, a parent’s arms or a swing or bouncy chair to settle down to sleep and stay asleep, largely because three-fourths of their sleep architecture is light REM sleep, and they startle and move around a lot.

At about two to three months, they begin

T

all new and unopened products, including body soap, shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, razors, lotion, dental-care items and feminine hygiene products.

— CHEY SCOTT Drop off donations before Dec. 31 during business hours at AAA offices, located at 1314 S. Grand and 7307 N. Division, Suite 103, in Spokane, and at 296 W. Sunset Ave., Suite 33, in Coeur d’Alene.

More information at bit.ly/soap4hope.

to shift to a pattern that is about three-fourths deeper non-REM sleep, and just one-fourth REM sleep. This means they usually can get used to sleeping in a more traditional, and safer, crib-type setting. This is good, because the swings can be dangerous, particularly as babies get stronger and are able to move around more. The recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics are a flat mattress with a single sheet — just like in prison. I would start putting her in her crib for that afternoon nap. I think you will find she will be more comfortable on the boring mattress now.

It is OK to wake her two hours or so into her nap, feed her and try to engage her in play. Those who caution “never wake a sleeping baby” are not sleeping at your house.

Be ready because a new pattern — in which frequent nighttime waking becomes common — appears at about four months.

— MATT THOMPSON DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

Health 9

CHECK-IN SUPERFOOD

Hemp: High in Protein, Not THC ATTRIBUTES: Hulled hemp seeds are legal and delicious. The strains of cannabis used to produce hemp seeds don’t contain detectable amounts of THC, the compound in marijuana that produces a high.

SUPERPOWER: Tiny seeds offer a highly digestible, nearly complete source of protein with a robust amount of heart-healthy Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Hulled hemp seeds are also a good source of fiber, vitamin E, magnesium and potassium.

WEAKNESSES: Heat can degrade hemp seeds’ fatty acids, so for maximum benefit add them to food after cooking, and store opened packages in the refrigerator.

Introduce hemp seeds into your diet gradually to avoid digestive upset.

HOW TO USE: Bob’s Red Mill offers hulled hemp seed at local grocery stores. Here’s their recipe for Hemp Pesto: In a blender, purée 1 cup packed fresh basil leaves, ½ cup hulled hemp seed hearts, ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, 2 cloves of garlic and ½ teaspoon salt. Slowly add ¼ cup olive oil to blender and process two to three minutes. Store in refrigerator up to one week.

— ANNE McGREGOR

PILL BOX

Clean Out the Cabinet I would like to dispose of some unused pain medication. How can I safely do that?

John R. White chairs WSU-Spokane’s Department of Pharmacotherapy.

H

anging on to expired, unwanted or unused prescriptions can present many problems. and it’s a good idea to dispose of medications that you’re not using. One issue with pain medication in particular is the potential for theft and subsequent misuse and perhaps even fatal overdose with the drugs. Because of this, the FDA is particularly concerned about unused pain medication.

The best way to dispose of medicine you’re not going to use is through a community medication take-back program or through DEA-authorized collectors. Unfortunately, these outlets are not

always available. The Spokane Aquifer Joint Board asks that medications not be flushed down the toilet or poured into a drain, as this can contaminate the aquifer. On the other hand, the FDA has a small list of potentially dangerous medications that they say should be flushed if other safe methods of disposal are not available. Most of the medications on this list are opioid pain meds. The complete list of meds can be found by entering “Flush List” at FDA.gov.

For other medications, if take-back programs are not available in your area, you can mix the medications with used coffee grounds, dirt or kitty litter and place this mixture in a plastic bag.

The bag can be disposed of through household trash. Dispose of the medication container after you have removed all personal information. Medication can also be secured in plastic bags (best to add used coffee grounds or other material) and taken to one of the four Spokane County Household Hazardous Waste drop-offs.

— JOHN R. WHITE

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10 Health DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

Whitworth President Beck Taylor speaking at the Young Child Expo on October 2.

THEIR OWN WORDS

Baby Steps in Healthy Economics

“W

Beck Taylor is the president of Whitworth University. In addition to overseeing the university’s 3,000 students, he continues his collaborative research at the intersection of economics and child development. In particular, Taylor looks at ways of applying economic principles to social programs, helping to assure that wellmeaning programs are delivering the “biggest bang for the buck.” Taylor’s remarks here were taken from his presentation at October’s Young Child Expo in Spokane.

hen I started this research some 15 years ago, this was the summative statement we could say to each other around poverty: ‘It’s bad. We’re not for it.’ “[But] what are poverty’s pathways of mediation?

Just having an extra dollar in my pocket as a parent does not automatically transfer into better child outcomes. That dollar has to be translated into something that can influence child development.

“The good news is that the young brain is dynamic and malleable and responsive to changes in the environment. The good work that our public policy makers can do can make a difference. We know that income matters, but interventions matter, too.

And as we are looking at the portfolio of interventions and economic policy, we need to be measuring cost-effectiveness. We don’t have all the resources in the world. We need to be spending our public dollars

YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

on those things that we find have the biggest bang for the buck, and I think that’s where economists can come in and say something fairly informative.

“I happen to serve here in Spokane on the board of Greater Spokane Incorporated — it’s our local chamber of commerce and economic development corporation. As an economist who is thinking about early childhood development and education, I see one of my roles as trying to gain partners within the corporate community, so that they see it in their best interest as well to invest in early childhood. As we are trying to get early childhood packages passed in the state of Washington, for example, I have found that only the most progressive corporate leaders can look ahead 15 to 20 to 25 years and see how investments today can affect their workforce and their profitability later on.”

— COMPILED AND EDITED BY ANNE McGREGOR

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Health 11

CHECK-IN

Features of the new CICU at Providence Sacred Heart.

HEALTHY DESIGN

Heartfelt Care

B

y definition, a Cardiac Intensive Care Unit is not where anyone hopes to be in need of finding a bed. Even the prospect of visiting such a unit can be a little unsettling. But the nearly completed remodel and expansion of Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center’s CICU shows it’s possible to make places to care for seriously ill people less intimidating.

In the remodel process, thoughtful details were key, and nursing staff were included in the planning at every stage. “For example, nurses suggested that the corridors be reconfigured to form a lopsided circle,” says Kim Grippi, RN, CICU nurse manager.

“This change created a shorter distance for nurses

moving among patients, and improved the ability to move equipment, beds and supplies throughout the unit.” Nurses can chart on patients from niches between each pair of rooms, avoiding disruption.

Patient needs were of paramount concern, especially since some of them remain in the unit for weeks or even months while awaiting a heart transplant. Larger rooms with bountiful light will, for the first time, allow for more than one visitor. And beds are now more mobile, able to rotate to look out over panoramic city views from the hospital’s hillside location. Doing the renovation in phases allowed the unit to remain open for the duration of the project.

Just a breath of fresh air can sometimes ease the burden of hospitalization, and for the first time, the CICU has direct access to the outdoors, in the form of the centrally located Kalispel Tribe Outdoor Courtyard. Featuring sitting areas framed by care-

LIFE COACHING

A Year in Review “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” — SOREN KIERKEGAARD

Carla Brannan is a certified professional life coach in Spokane.

O

ne year is ending and a new one is beginning. How was 2015 for you? Year-end reviews are standard practice in the business sector. A report of the year’s transactions offers valuable information. A personal review will also help you take an emotional, professional, personal and financial account and step

fully selected hypoallergenic regional plants, the courtyard was funded by a $500,000 donation from the Kalispel Tribe.

More cardiac surgeries are performed each year at Sacred Heart Medical Center than at any other hospital in the state: 56 cardiologists and 11 cardiac surgeons are on staff. The $19.2 million expansion from 22 to 34 beds was approved as part of the 2012 Certificate of Need agreement with the Washington State Department of Health.

The Providence Health Care Foundation of Eastern Washington has raised $1.8 million for the CICU campaign. In hopes of reaching their $2 million goal by the end of the year, they are seeking donations from the community. The names of those contributing $1,000 or more will be listed on the unit’s donor wall. Visit phccardiaccare.org to learn more.

— ANNE McGREGOR

more confidently into 2016. Here are some questions to consider: What did you do this year that you have never done before?

What was the smartest decision you made this year?

What was the biggest risk you took?

What new things did you discover about yourself?

What are you most grateful for this past year?

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

What do you wish you had done more of?

What do you wish you had done less of?

Reflecting on the past year will help us to enter 2016 on a high note, with a clean slate and thoughtful ideas to create a purposeful year ahead. Happy Year End and Happy New Year!

— CARLA BRANNAN

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12 Health DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

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BRAIN EXERCISE

5

Sudoku

RATINGS: Gentle (left), Tough (right) To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

2

4 2

7 1 5 6 8 3 5 1 4 9

Answers to all puzzles on page 45

PUZZLES BY JEFF WIDDERICH & ANDREW STUART www.syndicatedpuzzles.com

1 4 8 9 1 2

7 1 8 3

9 6

Codewords

Each letter has been replaced by with a number. Using the starter clues, work out the words that must go in each cell on the codeword grid. Some well-known phrases and names may also be found. For a three-letter clue, turn to page 21.

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7 1 5 4 3

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Str8ts

RATING: Moderate Like Sudoku, no single number can repeat in any row or column. But rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments.

These need to be filled in with numbers that complete a ‘straight’ — a set of numbers with no gaps but can be in any order. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution above to see how ‘straights’ are formed.

9

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NOW OPE N !

DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

Health 13

No one fights cancer alone.

As a community, we are working together to fight cancer. Thanks to your generosity in 2015, we have been able to send children battling cancer to summer camp. We have helped cancer patients pay for critical medication, provided gas cards to help low-income patients drive to daily radiation treatments, donated hotel stays to families seeking cancer treatment and funded groundbreaking cancer research. All right here in the Inland Northwest.

We look forward to an even greater impact in 2016 and invite you to join us in this fight – so no one fights cancer alone.

NEWS

Digital illustration of yersinia pestis, the bacteria that causes the Plague.

“Today, modern antibiotics are effective in treating plague,” according to the Centers for Disease Control.

MEDICATION

Gut Reaction How the most powerful treatment against bacterial infection is becoming obsolete

BY MITCH RYALS

A

stew of bacteria constantly sloshes around in our guts. Most of it is supposed to be there, helping to digest food and absorb nutrients.

There are harmful bacteria as well that can cause infections, in the gut and all over the body. Before the use of antibiotics became widespread in the 1940s, maladies such as a sore throat or even a small cut that became infected could wind up causing death.

Antibiotics were (and still are) miracle

drugs, but biology adapts, and in the 87 years since Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, bacteria have continuously evolved, developing new defenses against attack. In fact, by 1946, 18 years after Fleming’s discovery, an estimated 14 percent of one particular bacterial strain was already resistant to penicillin. Since then, the dance has continued: scientists identified more antibiotics, and bacteria continued to evolve.

But now, thanks to what some experts call unethical use of antibiotics in humans

and animals, the multitude of varieties of bacteria may be outpacing our efforts to control them. Time may be running out for the world’s defenses against bacterial infections.

In 2014, the World Health Organization released its first report on the worldwide threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, saying that without a coordinated plan of action, we are headed for a post-antibiotic era. ...continued on next page

DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

Health 15

NEWS

Deo Mshanga tests samples for antibiotic resistance at a Washington State University lab. WSU PHOTO, HENRY MOORE JR.

“GUT REACTION,” CONTINUED...

For some people, that era is already here, says Dr. Guy Palmer, Regents Professor of Pathology and Infectious Diseases and the Senior Director of Global Health at Washington State University.

According to a 2013 report from the Centers for Disease Control, 2 million people become infected with antibioticresistant bacteria every year, and at least 23,000 die from the infections.

“Antibiotics are an amazing part of medical history,” Palmer says. “But resistance to them by bacteria is also a fact.

It’s inevitable, but the speed with which it occurs could be preventable.”

Consider the impact of a “postantibiotic era” on health care as we know it: Procedures that define the heights of medical advances — such as bone-marrow transplants, cardiac bypasses and joint replacements — will become much riskier, possibly too risky to attempt; chemotherapy will become a challenge, as patients with weakened immune systems won’t be able to count on protection against infection; and people

16 Health DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

with common illnesses ranging from strep throat to gonorrhea to a urinary tract infection may no longer be able to go to the doctor, get a prescription and walk out confidently, assuming their symptoms will soon be gone.

“Health care in the 21st century is built on the back of antibiotics,” says Dr.

Scott Weissman, assistant professor at Seattle Children’s Hospital and the medical director for the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program. “Antibiotic resistance has changed the way we manage otherwise healthy people with infections, and is making decisions that were once routine much more difficult.”

NEW ANTIBIOTICS ON THE HORIZON?

R

esearchers at Northeastern University in Boston discovered a new antibiotic without any detectable resistance earlier this year.

The discovery marks the first major revolution in antibiotic resistance in decades, though the drug, teixobactin, has only been tested on mice. Human tests are at least two years away, and the drug is another five or six years from market.

Despite the breakthrough, the wider scene of antibiotic development isn’t booming. According to the Washington State Department of Health, new antibiotic approvals by the FDA have declined significantly since the 1980s, although two new antibiotics were approved this year.

It’s an expensive and time-consuming process, says Dr. Guy Palmer, Regents Professor of Pathol-

ogy and Infectious Disease and Senior Director of Global Health at WSU. For pharmaceutical companies, the expense often doesn’t outweigh the potential profit.

In recognition of this issue, President Obama signed a law in 2012 that extended by five years the amount of time pharmaceutical companies have exclusive rights to sell antibiotics without competition from generic brands.

Although he says new antibiotics are necessary, Dr. Scott Weissman, assistant professor at Seattle Children’s Hospital, also says that in order to fully address the problem, “the new antibiotics will have to be introduced in a setting where antibiotic stewardship practices are in place.”

— MITCH RYALS

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

Fleming won the Nobel Prize in 1945 for his groundbreaking discovery, but he emphasized that misuse of the drug would allow bacteria to mutate, rendering penicillin ineffective. At his Nobel lecture, he gave the example of a man with strep throat who didn’t take enough penicillin — he took a course of medicine that killed some, but not all, of the insidious bacteria. The remaining bugs developed defenses against penicillin and passed those traits to their descendants. The man infected his wife, and she died from the infection.

“If you use penicillin, use enough,” Fleming said at the time.

Resistance is hastened when antibiotics are not prescribed correctly — in the right amount, for the right amount of time or for the right infection. In those cases, the resistant bacteria survive and can begin to multiply — sometimes at the rate of a new generation every 15 to 20 minutes — passing along their defense mechanisms and quickly creating an army of superbugs.

With all the evidence of increasing antibiotic resistance, it would seem that antibiotic prescription would be taken exceptionally seriously. That isn’t always the case. “It comes down to physicians being anxious about a patient because they’re uncertain about a diagnosis, or maybe the patient is expecting antibiotics and the physician wants to please them as a customer,” Weissman says. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control estimates that up to a whopping 50 percent of antibiotics in hospitals are not “optimally prescribed.”

It’s not always easy to determine the best course of action in patients whose

“Health care in the 21st century is built on the back of antibiotics.”

— DR. SCOTT WEISSMAN lives, and illnesses, are playing out in real time. For example, it might seem simple to advocate using antibiotics in a life-or-death situation, but it’s much more challenging to determine the best course of action when things are less obvious; occasions in which a physician is unsure of the diagnosis and opts to first protect the patient by using a

ANTIBIOTIC ETHICS

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4 Take the full dose of antibiotics prescribed to you, even when you start to feel better. If you don’t, you risk enabling some of the bacteria to develop resistance, survive and thrive.

4 Don’t take other people’s antibiotics: A physician prescribed a type and dose specific to your infection. “Antibiotics are for a course of therapy, and you might feel better, but by not completing the course, you’re lowering the chance of not killing off the infection,” says Mariesa Durrant, a clinical pharmacist at Providence Sacred Heart.

“That affects your current infection, as well as ones in the future.”

4 Don’t expect an antibiotic from a physician.

Some infections, such as viruses, can’t be treated with antibiotics. Taking them unnecessarily only exacerbates the antibiotic resistance problem and won’t help you.

4 Wash your hands: It helps stop the spread of bacteria.

4 Get a flu shot every year. Even though the flu is a virus, which is not treatable with antibiotics, contracting it can leave you vulnerable to bacterial infections.

— MITCH RYALS powerful, broad-spectrum antibiotic, rather than waiting to choose a more targeted antibiotic with a smaller spectrum of destruction.

Palmer says there is very little quantitative data surrounding this discussion, a hole his team of researchers at Washington State University is hoping to fill.

ONE BAD BUG

Hospitals throughout the state, including in Spokane, voluntarily track a number of bacteria, according to Carol Wagner, senior vice president of patient safety with the Washington State Hospital Association.

There are two types of antibiotic resistant bacteria that state law requires care centers, labs and health care providers to report.

The first is Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA). The second is a particularly virulent group of superbugs known as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). This group releases potent enzymes that destroy the very antibiotics sent to attack them, rendering what Weissman calls “the most powerful antibiotic in the history of mankind” powerless. ...continued on next page

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Health 17

NEWS “GUT REACTION,” CONTINUED...

The bacteria can wreak havoc, causing a wide range of infections, from the urinary tract to the bloodstream to the lungs. According to the CDC, the mortality rate for these kinds of infections is 40 to 50 percent.

WHAT IS WASHINGTON STATE DOING?

The Washington State Department of Health has recognized Palmer’s and others’ claims that antibiotic resistance is not a one-dimensional issue. To that end, the department has joined with 10 other groups of stakeholders, including universities and state health departments, to combat the issue. It’s known as the “One Health” approach.

“The approach means people who’ve never talked to each other are talking now,” says Dr. Marisa D’Angeli, medical epidemiologist for the Department of Health.

“That’s a really important part of tackling this problem.”

D’Angeli points to a push for the collection of bacterial resistance data in humans, animals and the environment. Once researchers have the data, they’ll have a

18 Health DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

better understanding of what resistance exists in the state, and how it’s changed over time.

Although bacterial adaptation is inevitable, we do have control over how quickly

it happens, Palmer says. Antibiotic stewardship programs like the ones throughout hospitals in Spokane are key examples of how to gain control.

As a clinical pharmacist at Providence

ANTIBIOTICS AND ANIMALS

A

ntibiotics given to animals contribute to the problem of antimicrobial resistance, but according to Dr. Guy Palmer, Regents Professor of Pathology and Infectious Disease and Senior Director of Global Health at Washington State University, this is a much bigger problem throughout the rest of the world than in the United States.

Before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration started regulating the amount and type of antibiotics administered to food animals, cows, pigs and chickens in the U.S. were given feed that contained antibiotics, because they help stave off infection and help the animals grow. The animals then became a breeding ground for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Those germs could infect humans through improperly prepared meat. Fertilizer and water containing trace amounts of animal feces also could

infect humans.

In 2012, the FDA instituted guidelines requiring sponsors of animal drugs to remove packaging labels on feed that say antibiotics promote animal growth. In June of this year, the FDA finalized a policy that requires veterinarians to authorize the use of antibiotics in animals.

“That’s a fairly major change,” Palmer says, but he adds that changing the amount of antibiotics given to animals in the U.S. is a small fix for a much larger problem. The practice is still rampant in other countries, especially in the rural areas of India and China.

“The change puts the U.S. in a leadership position,” says Palmer, “but it’s naive for anyone to think this is the solution.”

— MITCH RYALS

Sacred Heart Medical Center, Mariesa Durrant’s job is to constantly monitor antibiotic use throughout the hospital. That

“People who’ve never talked to each other are talking now. That’s a really important part of tackling this problem.”

— DR. MARISSA D’ANGELI means tracking which antibiotics patients are given, how much they’re given and for what amount of time. It also means reevaluating whether the original prescription should be changed.

“Appropriate use means the right antibiotics for the infection you have, and using them for the right amount of time,” Durrant says. “It’s specific for every patient and every type of infection.” n

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Health 19

NEWS

KIDS HEALTH

The new toolkit is designed to help caregivers respond to the needs of children who have experienced trauma.

Fighting Trauma Aiding children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences just got a little easier

BY TARYN PHANEUF

A

s if it weren’t enough to experience abuse, neglect, homelessness, hunger, or some combination of all of those things, many children face a world of adults who don’t really understand how to help.

Study after study documents the effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on a person’s health and brain development. Most recently, research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that the more ACEs people had, the

20 Health DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

higher their risk of suffering heart disease, diabetes or stroke as an adult — even if the trauma ended decades ago.

For teachers, parents and daycare providers — or anyone else who cares for children with these kinds of experiences — the challenge of helping them just became a little more straightforward through a user-friendly “toolkit” developed by the Spokane Regional Health District that pulls together current research and offers resources and strategies.

It hasn’t been long since the toolkit was completed, and its authors hope to see it put to good use in the city, where the scope of the problem is vast. A 2014 study found that, on average, adults in Spokane reported three to eight ACEs, says Sheila Masteller, Community and Family Services director at the Health District. Among children, “Title I schools in Spokane are very impacted,” she adds. While poverty doesn’t cause ACEs, it can contribute to a lack of resources and skills to respond well to adverse experiences.

R

esearch shows that building resilience in children through creating environments that are stable, as well as emotionally and physically safe, can help counteract the effects of ACEs. But it can be hard for even well-meaning caregivers who don’t fully understand the effects of trauma to respond effectively to kids’ needs.

That’s because children (and adults, for that matter) under psychological stress often act out, have trouble focusing or

experience problems connecting with when a child acts out because of ACEs, the other people. “When kids are living with natural reaction is to punish them,” Chiang complex trauma day in and day out, a lot says. “I think that if parents understood of times they’re just trying to maintain the incredible negative impacts of ACEs, it some level of keeping themselves safe,” potentially could modify their actions with says Melissa Charbonneau, a public health a child,” while still holding them accountnurse and the toolkit’s co-author. Most of able for their actions. their energy is consumed by just trying honda Crooker, who has 20 years to protect themselves, in ways that don’t of experience as a public health always seem logical to outsiders. “It might nurse, recently turned her attenlook like unhealthy behavior, but that’s tion to teaching foster parents about ACEs what they’re doing to keep themselves using the toolkit. “By definition, [foster safe,” she adds. children] have been through some sort of Training caretakers to respond with trauma,” Crooker says. “Their brains work sensitivity to trauma has worked in other differently. They struggle with behavior places, says Antony Chiang, president of issues because they don’t have emotional Empire Health Foundation in Spokane, thinking skills. Their responses are very which also prioritizes mitigating ACEs. emotional and raw … Helping foster After teachers at an alternative high school parents to understand how their brains are for troubled kids in Walla Walla received different — what causes it, how they’re difsimilar training, graduation rates improved ferent — is really half of the battle, because and police-reported incidents and out-ofonce you understand that, it school suspension rates gives [you] more patience in declined, Chiang says. In at dealing with the kids that are least one instance, a student from the puzzle on page 13 in [your] care.” stopped skipping school beThe best techniques for cause teachers learned ways 21 = A; 13 = H; 25 = T dealing with children who to respond to his behavior have experienced trauma can sometimes be with more compassion. counterintuitive for caregivers. For exam“I think that the bottom line is that

R

CODEWORDS: HINT

ple, children who have experienced a chaotic life may not develop “causal thinking,” Crooker says. They often don’t understand cause and effect. That means caregivers can’t rely on common techniques like punishing bad behavior. “Consequences … make no sense to kids who don’t have causal thinking firmly in place,” Crooker says.

Through the voluntary workshop called Fostering Healthy Connections, foster parents can attend support-group sessions where they discuss problems they’ve encountered and help each other apply the appropriate parenting tools.

Crooker hopes that trauma-sensitivity training will become mandatory for anyone seeking a foster care license through the Children’s Administration in the state’s Department of Social and Health Services.

“Parents have given really, really great feedback,” she says. “I think part of what has been really rewarding for me is seeing how they keep coming back. It’s been six months and I still have the same core group. That also tells me that it’s been helpful for them.” n Download the SRHD Trauma Toolkit at srhd.org/123care.asp

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Health 21

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LIVING Silver Mountain’s Morning Star Lodge

Get Out the Map GETAWAYS

A winter getaway can help you not just survive, but thrive, in winter’s cold, short days

BY LINDA HAGEN MILLER

B

ears hibernate in the winter, snoozing through the dark days, living off fat stores.

By the end of the season, they emerge lean and ready for spring frolicking. Humans tend to hibernate in the winter, too — holing up with comfort food, wintry drinks, good books and Netflix series to binge-watch. Unfortunately, we do not come out of winter’s sleep thin and energetic; we pack on weight, adding an average of 5 to 7 pounds each winter.

“Exercising may be particularly difficult in the winter months, given the inclement weather, holidays, and increase in sickness,” says Christopher P. Connolly, Ph.D., director of the Exercise Physiology & Performance Laboratory at Washington State University. “However, regular exercise during the winter months will likely improve mood and quality of life, while providing

a boost in immune function to ward off common upper-respiratory tract infections.”

Connolly points to scientific literature that recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity per week, as well as some vigorous-intensity physical activity.

“The real problem is that only a small fraction of Americans achieve the 150 minutes of exercise recommended, and therefore do not receive the incredible health benefits that accompany regular physical activity,” Connolly says. “Sufficient levels of activity can be achieved by simply going for a brisk walk 30 minutes a day.”

Your psychological health also can be improved with regular exercise. Depression and mood disorders are common in winter, and exercise has the added benefit of helping lift the winter blahs.

“Recently, research has been conducted exploring the effectiveness of exercise treatments specifically on Seasonal Affective Disorder,” Connolly adds. “A number of investigations have found that exercise may lessen the negative effects of SAD, especially when combined with light therapy. In these winter months, when there is less sunshine and the days seem gloomy, perhaps one of the best things an individual can do is go for a brisk walk. Physical activity can only help.”

Make a promise that this will not be the winter you mope around or go up a pants size.

Planning an active outdoor getaway can supply the incentive you’ll need to stick to your health goals through the coldest, darkest days ahead.

These winter escapes are all within four hours of Spokane and Coeur d’Alene: ...continued on next page DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

Health 23

LIVING

Cascade Serenity SLEEPING LADY RESORT

N

ot far from touristy, ever-popular Leavenworth, Sleeping Lady is more “aahhhh… ” than oom-pahpah; more eco-resort than Bavarian motel.

Not that there’s anything wrong with those things, but sometimes you need luxurious cabins, farm-to-table food, and, most of all, peace and quiet.

Dating back to the 1930s, the resort has been a Civilian Conservation Corps base, a guest ranch and a Catholic youth retreat. In 1991, Harriet Bullitt, whose family owned the adjacent property, purchased the land. A daughter of Seattle’s prosperous Bullitt family, celebrated for their philanthropy and support of the arts, Harriet set about creating a retreat that would embody her love of the valley and belief that sharing nature is the best way to preserve it.

She’s done a fine job. Low-profile cabins fitted with hand-hewn log beds, heated towel racks and down comfort-

ers are scattered around the property, connected with gravel paths that meander past water features, imaginative sculptures and natural landscaping.

Getting out and enjoying the snowblanketed valley is as easy as strapping on a pair of cross country skis and schussing along the 8 kilometers of groomed trails just outside the resort’s main lodge. Tubing and sleigh rides can be arranged, and many guests use Sleeping Lady as their base for skiing at Stevens Pass and Mission Ridge, both about 40 miles away.

If the snow doesn’t fly, Sleeping Lady can keep you moving with hiking trails, the Sculpture Walk and the indoor Play Barn, where you can shoot pool and play table tennis. The Aspen Leaf Spa has a complete menu of massage options.

Sleeping Lady is family- and dogfriendly. Roki, an Icelandic shepherd and resident canine ambassador, will probably be on hand to sniff hello. Winter packages start at $276. sleepinglady.com, 800-574-2123

24 Health DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

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Health 25

LIVING T QUINN’S HOT SPRINGS RESOR

l a r e c i g a Min M I

f you’ve overdone the downhill skiing or if the cold winter weather is irritating your arthritis, head east to Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort, 145 miles from Spokane, for mineral hot-tub soaks, hearty Montana food and miles of hiking in the adjacent Lolo National Forest.

Miner and Irish immigrant Martin Quinn would be proud to see the frolicking that now goes on at the hot springs he laid claim to in 1885. Quinn, who literally stumbled upon the springs, knew a good thing when lowered his tired body into the soothing water. Quinn eventually married, and he and

26 Health DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

wife Fannie built a house, guest cabins, bathhouses and a dance hall on the property.

Six natural soaking pools vary in temperature from 60 to 106 degrees and contain a soothing blend of minerals like silica, sulfate, magnesium, sodium, potassium and iron. Pools are chemicalfree and constantly flowing. One of the historic cabins was converted to a massage suite, and three certified therapists are on hand for appointments.

The Harwood Restaurant serves steak, seafood, chicken, duck and even a wild game meatloaf. Quinn’s Tavern is a lively spot with a pool

table, weekend karaoke or a live band, an assortment of domestic and international beers and more than 100 different varieties of wine.

Sprawling across 100 mountainous acres in Paradise, Montana, Quinn’s has accommodations that can be as social or as private as you wish.

From family- and pet-friendly cabins to luxury, adults-only lodge rooms and suites, the options work for a family reunion or a romantic getaway.

Prices start at $145, and winter packages are available, too. quinnshotsprings.com, 406-826-3150

s r e k c i l S y t i C

WESTERN PLEASURE GUEST RANCH

D

ude ranches aren’t just about getting in touch with your inner cowboy or cowgirl.

At Western Pleasure Guest Ranch northeast of Sandpoint, you can enjoy Old West ambiance without saddle sores, and still get plenty of outdoor exercise. The 1,100-acre ranch abuts Forest Service and timber company land, guaranteeing you’ll feel far from the madding crowd.

In 1940, Riley Wood came to Sandpoint, built a log cabin and settled in. Today the ranch operates as a year-round guest facility managed

by Riley’s granddaughter, Janice Schoonover, and her husband Roley. Their grown kids and their

spouses all work on the ranch as well.

Western Pleasure’s horses mostly take the winter off, but there are plenty of other ways to get fresh air and exercise. The ranch has partnered with Schweitzer Mountain Resort on a variety of ski-and-stay packages that include lift tickets, and the horses do get hitched up for picturesque sleigh rides. One- or two-night options are available, and you can choose a spacious fireplace log cabin or a room in the beautiful lodge. Prices start at $365 per couple.

Not a downhill skier? Miles of groomed cross country ski trails are just outside your door. Two

nights’ lodging, a horse-drawn sleigh ride and tummy-filling ranch breakfast are included in the package. Bring your own skis or rent from nearby Tauber Angus Farm which has even more cross country trails: $440 per couple.

Snowmobiling may not add steps to your Fitbit, but it will increase your heart rate. Packages include backcountry snowmobiling, two nights in a lodge room or log cabin and enough breakfast to power you through the day: $710 per couple Packages are not available from Dec. 2 through Jan. 1. westernpleasureranch.com, 888-863-9066 DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

Health 27

LIVING IZAAK WALTON INN

Derailed H

ow often do you have the chance to sleep in an authentic railcar? The Izaak Walton Inn on the edge of Glacier National Park near Essex, Montana, is awash in railroad history, from its 1930s lodge to genuine cabooses and a locomotive outfitted for overnight guests.

Once considered “modern in every detail,” the Izaak Walton Inn opened in 1939 as lodging for railroad workers. As a National Historic Landmark, very little of the interior and exterior have changed, caught in a time warp that means no cell service, televisions, telephones, elevators

28 Health DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

or air conditioning. You can connect to Wi-Fi in the Flagstop Bar. On a rise overlooking the train tracks and the Inn, cabooses painted red, orange, green and blue sleep four and are outfitted with a kitchenette and bathroom. Three luxury cabooses have a bit more space, including a full kitchen and gas fireplace.

The GN 441 locomotive is a sleek diesel, just like those that once rolled past the Izaak Walton Inn. Big enough for two couples or a small family, the locomotive boasts a reclaimed oak floor and antique furniture. Simple rooms are available in

the Inn, and several log cabins offer full kitchens, separate bedrooms and lofts.

Winter is one of the best times to visit the Izaak Walton Inn. Summer crowds are gone and a snowy hush underscores the fact that you’re on the edge of 1 million acres of pristine forest land. Thirty-three kilometers of cross country and hiking trails fan out from the hotel and equipment is available to rent. Cabins, cabooses and rooms at the inn range from $109 to $450; a two-night minimum usually is required. izaakwaltoninn.com, 406-888-5700

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Health 29

LIVING SILVER MOUNTAIN RESORT

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urfing and downhill skiing don’t usually go hand in hand, but when they do, you find a winter destination packed with adrenalin-rush fun for the whole family. Kellogg, Idaho, offers both the winter-weary and the snow lover a mother lode of winter recreation at its Silver Mountain ski resort and indoor water park.

Supposedly a mule led Noah Kellogg, a justgetting-by miner looking for gold, to an outcropping of lead ore that eventually developed into the Bunker Hill and Sullivan mines. Recreation came to the remote town when the first downhill ski run was cut into what was then called Jackass Mountain.

30 Health DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

Today, Silver Mountain boasts 1,600 acres of terrain, 2,200 vertical feet, 73 named trails and an average of 300 inches of annual snowfall. A 700foot moving carpet serves the beginner area and snow tube park.

You’ll feel like you stepped off the airplane in tropical Hawaii when the constant, 84-degree temperature hits your face at Silver Rapids, Idaho’s largest indoor waterpark. At the base of the mountain, adjacent to the gondola, Silver Rapids entertains all ages: there’s the gentle Pollywog Pond, the Moose Sluice family raft ride, the FlowRider surf wave and the thrilling Prospector Plunge.

If you like your exercise on the dry, flat side, the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes runs past the lodge and is perfect for a winter walk. Drive 10 miles to the Enaville Trailhead and hike west for a pretty walk along the Coeur d’Alene River.

Waterpark entrance is included in your room rate at Silver’s Morning Star Lodge ($139 to $449).

Choices include handsomely furnished studios, one- and two-bedroom suites and family lofts with full kitchens and fireplaces. All lodging has quick access to the waterpark, and the gondola to the top of the ski and snowboard hill. n silvermt.com, 866-345-2675

LIVING

COOKING

James Finlay readies microgreens for sale. Finlay and his wife Mary grow and harvest the greens year-round at their Hayden-area home. ANNIE KUSTER PHOTOS

Edibly Evergreen Nutrient-packed microgreens can be grown locally, even in the depths of winter

BY CARRIE SCOZZARO

I

t was during one of her pregnancies that Mary Finlay discovered she could not eat lettuce, not even organic lettuce.

Then she tried microgreens — the term for young plant varieties like pea shoots and radishes that germinate quickly, sometimes in as little as a week. It was a match made in heaven.

Not only did microgreens prove palatable to this health-conscious North Idaho

32 Health DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

mother of five, they provided a wealth of nutrients in every tiny mouthful. Researchers have found that the diminutive delicacies contain as much as 40 times the vital nutrients — vitamins like C, E and K, as well as antioxidants — as the full-grown versions of the same plant.

She made salads with them, put them in smoothies and inserted the greens anywhere lettuce might normally show up.

After finding supplies limited in grocery stores, the Finlays started growing their own microgreens, experimenting with different varieties and setups. Eventually they looked into expanding and monetizing their efforts. It’s become a healthy little business, with the greens selling selling for $4 per ounce.

“We started with microgreens because we didn’t need any land or property in order to grow them, and they have a good return on investment,” says husband James Finlay, who like many others worked several years in North Dakota’s oil fields when the economy turned sour in 2008.

With Luke Miller Callahan’s The Complete Guide to Growing and Selling Microgreens as a guide, the couple converted a portion of their Hayden-area garage with lights, shelves, reflective material (to trap heat and focus the light), and a small heater. They fill trays one-inch deep with the best soil they can find — they like FoxFarm dirt with built-in fertilizer — and compost the spent

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Herb Salad with Citrus, Apples and Chèvre The Cellar’s Chris Detar often takes a less-ismore approach to microgreens, just adding a little oil and salt so the natural flavor of the greens shines through. But the tiny leaves are also delicious paired up with “macro” greens. In this salad, perfect for accompanying a hearty holiday meal, the bright citrus dressing complements tart Granny Smith apples, peppery arugula and a distinctive medley of microgreens.

SALAD 1 cup arugula ½ cup parsley leaves ½ cup radish sprouts ½ cup pea shoots 2 Granny Smith apples, sliced ½ cup chèvre cheese soil after harvesting. The Finlays use nonGMO seeds to grow such varieties as pea shoots, sunflower, broccoli, kale, daikon and rambo radish. They call their operation Fortis Farm, and have plans to add ducks (for both meat and eggs), as well as more crops in the near future.

“The more we learn about where our food comes from and where it is grown,” says James, “the more we want to grow our own, and it turned into ‘How can we pay for what we eat?’”

Selling to local restaurants is a winwin, and the Finlays have found a willing supporter in Chris Detar, head chef at The Cellar in Coeur d’Alene.

“All the micros are used with flavor as the primary focus, and the beauty comes naturally,” says Detar, who purchases sunflower and pea shoots, as well as broccoli, kale and chard, which he likes to pair with pork or lamb.

“Radishes,” he says, “have a very peppery bite and pair very well with steaks and rich meat dishes, almost like a touch of

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1. Zest and juice all citrus.

2. Combine all dressing ingredients except oil in a blender.

3. Slowly drizzle oil into blended ingredients, keeping blender on low speed to emulsify.

4. Toss apples with greens and chèvre.

5. Dress greens to taste, seasoning with more salt and pepper if desired. horseradish.”

The potential for microgreen varieties is virtually limitless. Any edible green is fair game: cabbage, carrots, beets, mustard, watercress, arugula, celery, clover, flax, kohlrabi, garlic chives, spring onions, even cilantro and dill.

In addition, microgreens are less risky to grow than sprouting seeds in a jar, a method linked to a range of serious bacterial outbreaks such as salmonella. They can be grown hydroponically or even aeroponically.

Harvesting microgreens is as easy as using a pair of scissors to trim the plants just above the soil line. The Finlays then package the greens in 2- to 4-ounce compostable containers and deliver them to customers.

Of course, they continue to grow some for themselves, including their young children, who never have to be cajoled to eat their greens. Adds Mary, currently expecting the couple’s sixth child, “Being pregnant, this is like taking my multivitamin every day.” n

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Health 33

LIVING

Students focus on a pose at Spokane’s Perry Street Brewing.

FITNESS

Poses and Pluses Niche yoga classes offer new dimensions to an ancient exercise

BY CHEY SCOTT

W

hen Alison Rubin and her husband moved their young family to Spokane from Los Angeles in the early 1980s, she remembers there was only one yoga studio serving all of the Inland Northwest.

Even in Southern California, yoga was at that time considered a hippie thing — something underground and alternative, Rubin recalls. Nothing like what the ancient practice has become now: A multibillion-dollar industry supported by an estimated 20 million Americans, the majority of them women.

Rubin, who owns Harmony Yoga studio in Spokane, has taught yoga for more than 30 years. In that time she’s seen

34 Health DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

people’s perceptions of the practice change drastically.

“I started teaching at the Spokane Club, and at that point yoga was so underground I had to call it power stretching, because when I listed it as yoga no one showed up,” she remembers. “Gradually I was able to change the name over the years to yoga, and then I opened up a yoga studio and started to teach classes, and they got really popular.”

Since those early days of yoga in the U.S., the practice has more recently branched out to include sessions taught in intensely heated rooms (hot yoga or Bikram-style yoga), on standup paddleboards in the water, using acrobatic silks

(aerial yoga) and in social settings that offer beer or wine following a workout. Years ago, Rubin even taught a class to a local nudist colony, and has heard of classes pairing cannabis with poses (ganja yoga).

While it’s hard to predict whether these trendy twists will last, she does believe the basic practices and philosophy of yoga will endure.

“Whatever you can imagine, it’s going to be happening,” she says.

S

pokane yoga teacher Lily Fife has taught a variety of yoga classes across Spokane for a little over a year now as a certified instructor, with a special focus on what’s called holy yoga. About two

Celebrate

HOLIDAY PARTIES ON

THE RIVER

The “Beer Flow Yoga” workout concludes with a round of brews. SARAH PHILIP PHOTOS years ago she was introduced to the yoga practice that melds Christian spirituality with strength- and flexibility-focused poses, slowed breathing and relaxation of the mind. “[Holy yoga] was a new way of connecting in my yoga practice. It had always been a place for reflection and worship and connecting with God,” Fife says. She usually offers a prayer before and after class at the Training Ground on Spokane’s South Hill, and as she leads participants through poses, Fife also shares teachings from the scripture she’s chosen to incorporate into the session.

Fife also teaches aerial yoga classes at The Training Ground (although she’s taking a break now while she’s pregnant).

Aerial yoga involves using a looped fabric suspended from the ceiling — it’s the same kind of aerial silk fabric used by circus acrobats — to help support and hold various poses. Fife explains that the silk is more like a prop, just like a stretching strap, foam block or bolster cushion might be used in other types of yoga.

“It really helps with alignment and balance and poses,” she explains. “It also helps build core and shoulder strength, and it’s really playful because a lot of people haven’t been upside down or spun around since childhood.”

Y

oga’s quiet and meditative atmosphere doesn’t typically encourage socialization, and many instructors see their students come and go without

speaking a word to anyone else. To lighten the mood, some teachers are offering yoga classes that include a post-workout refresher. One Saturday a month at Perry Street Brewing, Fife teaches “Beer Flow Yoga.” Sessions are beginner-friendly, in that she teaches a basic yoga flow, which involves slowly transitioning from one pose into another. The $15 class fee allows attendees to also enjoy a pint of beer while they mingle after class.

Similarly, Barrister Winery in downtown Spokane hosts a weekly “Class and a Glass” yoga session on Monday nights ($15; starts at 5:30 pm) that encourages participants to enjoy a glass of wine as they relax and socialize with fellow yogis after the hour-long class.

After a recent morning yoga session at Perry Street attended by about two dozen people, participants roll up their mats and help move the brewery tables back out from around the walls. Conversation echoes from the cement floors as women and men in workout wear gather around the bar to enjoy a pint before heading out to enjoy the rest of their weekend.

“People still have some preconceived notions about what yoga is,” Fife says. “At Perry, people might think, ‘Oh it’s at a brewery and it’s chill,’ and women bring their boyfriends. I don’t see that as much at other yoga places. The beer is part of it, too, but they also experienced something that felt good and right. That is my hope — to experience yoga and maybe start to practice at some point.” n

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Health 35

LIVING

PARENTING

Music therapist Kim McMillin uses instruments and singing to help young clients boost their sensory-motor and cognitive skills. JEFF FERGUSON PHOTO

Singing Music’s Praises For children attempting to cope, music is transformative

BY CHELSEA BANNACH

F

or those who visit music therapists like Kim McMillin, music can heal.

Inside McMillin’s South Hill office, the walls are painted a calming shade of lavender, and the room is filled with musical instruments — tools she uses to help her clients reach their full potential.

“Music is powerful,” says McMillin, one of three practicing, board-certified music therapists in Spokane.

It can help children cope with wide variety of issues — autism spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, depression, anxiety, stress and social skills.

The American Music Therapy Association defines it as the clinical and evidence-

36 Health DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

based use of music interventions to address physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs of individuals and accomplish goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional. McMillin also is a licensed mental health counselor and registered nurse.

“Music organizes the brain,” she says.

“That’s essentially what I’m doing here — I’m helping them organize the brain.” The goal of music therapy isn’t to teach music, but rather to use it as a technique to boost sensory-motor and cognitive skills, as well as language, problem solving and impulse control.

Through singing, listening, moving and

playing, “You can use music not only to calm, but to focus,” McMillin says.

Music therapists also can work in conjunction with others, such as occupational therapists.

“We may be focusing on the same goal, but come at it from a different angle, using music to reach that certain goal,” says McMillin. And reaching a goal is a big part of therapy.

“Success is a huge thing, the feeling of success,” says Carla Carnegie, another music therapist serving the Inland Northwest.

“And that’s what we’re doing with any of these things. It increases success, which is motivating to anybody, child or adult. We all want to feel successful.”

Therapists are equipped to adapt music therapy to those with special needs. Adaptive mallets with straps can help a child with low muscle tone, for example.

Both Carnegie and McMillin caution parents to beware of those claiming to be so-called sound healers, who are not boardcertified therapists, and stress that music therapy is different than music for entertainment. Like other types of therapy, music therapists perform an assessment, create a treatment plan and continuously evaluate.

For some, treatment terminates when they reach a goal; for others, it’s appropriate to have ongoing treatment.

“Music therapists have many tools in their toolbox that we can pull out, depending on the needs of the client,” says Carnegie, who takes her mobile practice to clients’ homes. “We’re engaging them in music because the brain that is engaged in music is changed in music.”

Carnegie, a neurologic music therapist, says music “lights up the brain.”

“Music is processed globally,” she says.

“When we are talking, our language and speech areas are firing, but when we’re engaging in music, the whole, entire brain is active.”

M

usic’s ability to “light up the brain” is evidenced in the robust body of research showing numerous positive outcomes of music education for all kids: enhanced learning, a better understanding of advanced mathematical concepts and improved test scores, among others.

A 10-year study, tracking more than 25,000 students, showed that music students earn higher marks on standardized tests than those with no music involvement, regardless of socioeconomic background.

There are social benefits, too. Students who participate in a school band have the lowest levels of current and lifelong use of

alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs.

Ben Brueggemeier, band instructor at Ferris High School for 19 years, agrees that there are many side benefits to music education, but he hopes never to minimize the intrinsic value of music itself. “I think a lot of times, when people get into what music does for kids, they get caught up in how it can make their science and test scores better,” he says. “I think that’s true, but I would hate to think that’s the reason why kids are doing music.”

Music is deeply personal, speaking to kids’ creative, emotional side and encouraging self-expression, he says. “I think kids are doing music because they love it.

I think it helps us reach a side of us that doesn’t get reached in other classes as much.”

At the same time, music students often form deep bonds with their peers as they spend years practicing and performing together as they move from grade to grade.

“There is that bond,” Brueggemeier says.

“There is that family. There’s a sense of safety in that, and then, of course, there’s the musical accomplishment of what they can do.” n

MUSIC TO BABIES’ EARS

F

or babies and younger children, programs like Kindermusik, which has classes for children from birth to 7 years old, strive to encourage a love of music from a young age, while also fostering child development.

“The kids just feel like they’re having this wonderful, delightful time,” says Kindermusik instructor Teresa Birch. “But in reality, the activities come together to help the children grow in every area of development … It doesn’t ever feel like tons and tons of work. It feels like joy.”

Birch offers these suggestions to help parents incorporate music into everyday life:

4 Break out the pots and pans and a wooden spoon to let small children explore percussive sound, or fill various containers with things like dry rice or beans to make different-sounding rattles.

4 Dance to music with scarves or streamers.

4 Create songs to go with the day’s rituals — snack time, bath time or bedtime, for example.

4 Rock and sing to babies. Babies recognize and love the sounds of their caregivers’ voices. “Any time we’re singing and speaking to babies, their wonderful brains are seeking patterns very early on, from the moment they’re born,” Birch says.

4 Parents can gently caress their baby and draw a heart on baby’s tummy while they speak or sing to them. “So much benefit comes from that touch,” Birch says. “And eye contact, too. What they’re hearing is ‘I love you, my darling child. You are my treasure, you are my jewel.’”

— CHELSEA BANNACH Music classes for children and teens also can be found at spokanecity.org. Information on Kindermusik is at kindermusikfun.net.

DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

Health 37

LIVING

JIM CAMPBELL ILLUSTRATION

HEALTHY MIND

Thoughtful Television?

A recent study says that watching critically acclaimed TV makes us more emotionally intelligent, but not everyone is convinced

BY LAURA JOHNSON

W

hether you religiously watch Fargo or Keeping Up with the Kardashians, we’d all like to believe that our favorite TV shows make us cooler and better than other people who don’t watch them. But what if watching TV also could make you smarter? A study published in the journal Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts by two psychologists at the University of Oklahoma suggests that watching prestige television (sorry, Kardashian lovers) heightens one’s ability to perceive others’ emotions.

This isn’t the first study to suggest that watching TV can offer benefits — a 2013 Washington State University professor’s co-study said that watching crime dramas like NCIS would make you more likely to step in to help if you witnessed a sexual assault — but this is the first study to suggest

38 Health DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

that the medium of television can improve people’s “theory of mind,” which the study defines as “the ability to interpret the mental states and emotions of others.” That same idea was already associated with literary fiction, often seen as a superior form of entertainment to TV or film, but researchers Jessica Black and Jennifer Barnes supposed that TV could also measure up to the same scrutiny.

“By forcing readers to view the world subjectively through these different perspectives, by presenting complicated characters whose mental lives can be difficult to perceive — these are not intrinsically tied to the written form. Rather, they reflect the complexity of the characters presented and the degree to which the audience is forced to work to construct their own understanding of those characters,” Black and Barnes

supposed in their hypothesis.

The researchers ran their relatively small study twice, each time with about 100 students.

Here’s what they did: Students were split into three smaller groups. One group watched an episode of “high-end” TV (Mad Men, West Wing, Lost or The Good Wife), another watched a documentary (How the Universe Works, Shark Week, Nova or Through the Wormhole) and the last group didn’t watch anything. Then each group was given a test that measured ability to interpret facial expressions. Those who watched the dramas did notably better than those in the other two groups. Females excelled more than males on the test.

“I wish this was all sound research,” says Monica Bartlett, associate professor ...continued on page 40

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Health 39

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LIVING “THOUGHTFUL TELEVISION,” CONTINUED... and chair of the psychology department at Gonzaga University. “I think the studies are majorly flawed. There’s a million variables, and that’s part of the problem. I think it’s still up for question.”

Black and Barnes do note that there is much room for future research; for example, if having test subjects watch over-thetop dramas, critically acclaimed comedies or trashy reality TV would produce the same results.

T

he Inlander’s own TV critic, Daniel Walters, says that this study’s findings don’t surprise him in the least. But he counters that it’s not just prestige TV that can make people more cognizant of others’ emotions. Instead, it’s the acting. For instance, Viola Davis’ standout performance on the soapy Shonda Rhimes vehicle How to Get Away with Murder is so riveting, you have to pay attention to everything she’s doing on-screen to catch the nuances.

Dan Merchant, the co-executive producer/writer/director of Z Nation, which is filmed in Spokane, is the first to admit that his show about a zombie apocalypse is not highbrow.

“In the industry, they call Z Nation a genre show or science fiction, and it’s clearly that. We consider it an entertaining show; we’re just trying to make a fun hour of television,” says Merchant, currently working the postproduction side of season two. “But one thing we do try to get out of people is empathy.”

Merchant, a filmmaker from Portland, says that good stories help people to understand other people. Z Nation is that kind of show, Merchant says.

“I think it has to do with our legitimate emotions in the show,” he says. “It’s a heightened [fictitious] situation here, but it’s still dilemmas that we’re working with that cause viewers to think and feel.”

Of course, an even better way to experience human emotion is to hang out with real-life people.

“It’s just about everything in moderation,” Bartlett says. “I don’t believe that TV is all bad.”

The 2005 book Everything Bad is Good for You by Steven Johnson even suggested that the intricacies of today’s TV shows could make people smarter than shows from decades ago. These ideas aren’t all so new.

Black and Barnes’ study may be a step in the right direction, but it’s still too early to announce to your friends that binge-watching Breaking Bad makes you smarter. n

Dr. Kevin Johnson and aesthetic nurse Brittany Rayson use a laser for tattto removal at Spokane’s Advanced Aesthetics.

SARAH PHILIP PHOTO

BEAUTY

Not-So-Permanent Record Some questionable decisions don’t have to last a lifetime

BY DAN NAILEN

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he trend of embellishing skin with art has blossomed over the past couple of decades to the point that, according to the most recent Harris Poll in 2012, roughly 20 percent of Americans have a tattoo.

Another industry has risen alongside that of tattoo artistry, though, as many eventually realize that they actually don’t want that art to be permanent after all. In 2012, there was a 43 percent increase in the number of tattoo removals over the year before.

Tattoo removal is, in fact, booming.

Sometimes it’s for a job. Sometimes it’s because an artist didn’t make that dragon look quite right. And often it’s because a couple has split, leaving one or both parties with unwanted ink reminders of love gone wrong.

“Exes!” Jacklyn Blindauer says when asked why people visit Silver Safari Body Piercing and Tattoo Removal at Spokane’s NorthTown Mall. “People who just got

divorced, I think that’s the majority of our [tattoo-removal] clients.”

Wedding-ring tattoos are a big part of the removal business at Advanced Aesthetics, too, according to Brittany Rayson, an aesthetic nurse at the firm that runs clinics in Coeur d’Alene and Spokane, using lasers to, among a variety of other health and beauty functions, remove unwanted ink.

“I’ve been surprised with the number of messed-up tattoos that we do,” Rayson says, “ones that have just obviously come out different from what they were going for. There are a lot of misspelled words.”

While he’s only been doing tattoo removal for about three years, when the laser technology improved to the point that the results were good enough to offer at Advanced Aesthetics, owner Dr. Kevin Johnson figures he’s seen as many different reasons to remove tattoos as he’s seen types of people who get tattoos. Names of exes are high on the list, as are employment issues. Others simply outgrow what was a

youthful decision, done on a whim.

“A lot of the time it’s women who are generally in their 30s who now have children, and they got their tattoo when they were 19 years old and it seemed like a good idea when they were on spring break,” Johnson says. “They decide now that they don’t want their kids to see their ‘tramp stamp.’ Or it’s just changed over time, faded.”

S

itting in his downtown Spokane office, Johnson calls up statistics on the most likely people to get a tattoo removed in 2015. Sixty-nine percent of them are women, most are single and college-educated, between the ages of 24 and 39. One of his early patients when he got into tattoo removal, though, fell far outside those “typical” parameters.

“One of our first patients was my dad.

He’s 77,” Johnson says. “He had his tattoos, he got them when he was in his teens, and he’s felt bad his whole life because his grandmother cried when she saw his tattoos. He’s glad to have them gone.”

Christina Dahm, a 26-year-old Spokane resident, decided to have the large tattoo on her shoulder removed, even though she loved the message behind the Day of the Dead-style design dedicated to her grandmother’s memory. Dahm designed the piece herself, but “it didn’t quite turn ...continued on next page DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

Health 41

LIVING “NOT-SO-PERMANENT RECORD,” CONTINUED... out the way I wanted. I wanted to create something that would commemorate her life and memory, while also showing that she has passed away,” she says. “I did love the tattoo and what it represented, but it didn’t really capture who she was.”

Dahm explored different removal methods before deciding on laser removal. She consulted with Advanced Aesthetics, talked to Johnson and eventually had Rayson start work. Her timing couldn’t have been better, as Advanced Aesthetics got a new PicoSure laser, which Johnson says is the latest and fastest available.

To Johnson, the advantage of laser removal is the minimal scarring compared to other means. The goal, he says, is to “remove the ink completely so that it looks like the skin never had the tattoo, like there’s no ink there and also no bad scar.”

Avoiding scarring was the main reason Dahm chose to go with laser removal.

The PicoSure laser works by sending a barrage of ultra-fast laser pulses into the skin. They shatter the embedded tattoo ink into small particles that the body’s immune system can then destroy on its own after that initial assist. A silver-dollar-size tattoo

A patient getting started on the process of laser tattoo removal. can be treated in just a minute, and a tattoo can sometimes disappear in just a couple of sessions, depending on the ink used and the individual’s body.

“If you can imagine the ink as a rock, we’re breaking it down into pebbles and sand, allowing the immune system to come in and gobble up the ink and process it and make it go away,” Johnson says. “Similar to healing a cut, the scab cells come in and eat up the debris.”

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42 Health DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

The process is not painless, but Dahm says it “didn’t hurt any more or any less than getting the tattoo.”

“The best way I can think to describe it would be if someone were to pinch the back of your arm very lightly over, and over, and over again,” Dahm says. “It’s not a pleasant feeling by any means, by anyone’s standards. But I thought I was going to be in serious pain. Come on, it’s a laser!”

Some turn to creams or other means to remove their tattoos. At Silver Safari, they use a product called Tattoo Vanish.

“Basically, we open that top layer of skin [with tattoo needles], we put in that Tattoo Vanish, let that soak in, and then you’ll scab up pretty typically for two to three weeks,” Blindauer says. “When the scab forms, it will pull the ink with it, so ink is pulled with the scab.”

This method also can take multiple visits, depending on the person and tattoo.

Currently, the FDA states that is has “not approved tattoo removal ointments and creams.”

I

YO U D ESER V E

ADVANCED AESTHETICS PHOTO

n the future, tattoo removal may become less difficult. Non-permanent tattoos using micro-encapsulated inks that disintegrate when hit with a laser are already being marketed under the name Infinitink. As of now, there are no published data on the safety or efficacy of these inks. Meanwhile, in Canada, a researcher at Nova Scotia’s Dalhousie University developed a process to cause skin cells to relinquish tattoo pigment. It’s still in the testing stage, and after a flood of inquiries, researchers announced they do not need any test subjects.

For now, any tattoo removal effort requires a detailed consultation. As always, it’s good to check with your doctor before undergoing any kind of procedure. n

FITNESS FAIR

New Year’s Health Hub

W

ith the cooler weather settled in and the trees all bare, it’s time to either take to the slopes or move our workout routines indoors. For many of us, this means saying we’ll hit the gym later, but for now we’ll be cozying up on the couch with some Netflix instead. That fitness class our friend invited us to sounds like fun, but the fear of embarrassing ourselves in the back of the room keeps us confined to our comfortable workout routines… or lack thereof.

Chris Cody of Cody Productions, Inc. wants to push past this fear by giving everyone the opportunity to test out a variety of classes — no strings attached — during the first annual Spokane Health & Fitness Expo. The two-day event, sponsored by Foothills Lincoln Mazda, takes place just in time to provide some needed inspiration for those New Year’s resolutions, transforming the Spokane County fairgrounds into a hub of health. The Expo will not only feature classes like yoga, spin, barre and CrossFit, but also includes a climbing wall, fitness apparel sales, massage, supplements, health seminars and booths from local companies with a desire to create a healthier community.

Think the Bloomsday Trade Show on steroids.

A couple of highlights from the event include a live Jiu Jitsu tournament and CrossFit competition

dubbed “Fittest at the Fairgrounds.” So slip on your yoga pants, strap on some spin shoes or just show up to spectate and enjoy free samples. Either way, there is bound to be something for everyone at the Expo — fitness fanatic and casual dog-walker alike.

— MAKAYLA WAMBOLDT Spokane Health & Fitness Expo • Sat, Jan. 9, from 10 am-6 pm; Sun, Jan. 10, from 10 am-4 pm • $8/adults; $5/ages 6-12, good all weekend • Spokane County Fair and Expo Center • 404 N. Havana • spokanehealthfitexpo.com

DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

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LIVING DECEMBER - JANUARY HEALTH EVENTS BLOOD DONATION Give blood at the Inland North-

west Blood Center, which requires up to 200 donors each day to ensure the blood bank is adequately stocked. Donors can schedule an appointment online or donate during walk-in hours. Spokane office: Mon, Fri, Sat, from 7 am-3 pm; Tue-Thu, 11 am-6 pm. Coeur d’Alene office: Mon and Fri, 7 am-3 pm; Tue-Thu, 11 am-6 pm; Sat, 10 am-3 pm. inbcsaves. org (423-0151)

SECOND HARVEST FOOD SORTING Join other volun-

teers to sort and pack produce and other bulk food items for delivery to local emergency food outlets.

Ages 14+. Shift dates and times vary; sign up at inland.volunteerhub.com/events. Second Harvest Food Bank, 1234 E. Front (252-6267)

TREE OF SHARING The 33rd annual program col-

lects and distributes requested items to regional nonprofits and social service agencies serving lowincome, disabled and elderly members of the community. Pick up a tag and drop off items by Sunday, Dec. 13. Tags available at NorthTown, River Park Square and Spokane Valley malls. treeofsharing.org (808-4919)

SANTA EXPRESS The 22nd annual holiday store of-

fers items at allowance-friendly prices (50 cents to $8) for area children (ages 4 to 12) to purchase for their friends and family, with proceeds supporting the mission of the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery.

Open through Dec. 23. Mon-Fri, from 11 am-8 pm; Sat, from 10 am-8 pm; Sun, from 11 am-6 pm. At 707 W. Main (skywalk level). vanessabehan.org

HOLIDAYS AT THE HEARTH Members of the commu-

nity are invited to join staff and clients served by local nonprofit Women’s Hearth for an afternoon of sugar cookie decorating, carol singing and more.

Thu, Dec. 3, from 4:30-6:30 pm. RSVP requested to mtracey@help4women.org. Women’s Hearth, 920 W. Second. help4women.org

EXCHANGE CLUB CRAB FEED & AUCTION The 49th an-

nual event raises funds for programs and services that help prevent child abuse, including the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery and the Children’s Home Society of Washington. Last year’s netted a total of $50,000 in donations. The event includes a social hour, dinner and silent and live auctions. Sat, Dec. 5, at 4:30 pm. $65/person; table sponsorships available. Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. downtownspokaneexchangeclub.org (226-2448)

JINGLE BELL RUN This annual event is a fundraiser run for the Arthritis Foundation, with holidaythemed costumes strongly encouraged. $35/person; kids’ 1K run with the Elves is free without a Tshirt. Sat, Dec. 5, at 9 am. Starts/ends in Riverfront Park. spokanejinglebellrun.org

44 Health DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

MOBIUS SANTA BREAKFAST The 12th annual breakfast event benefits programs at Mobius Children’s Museum, and is held in conjunction with Christmas Tree Elegance. Families are invited to spend the morning with Santa over a breakfast and other holiday festivities Sat, Dec. 5, from 9-11 am. $25/person; event sells out yearly. Davenport Hotel, Grand Pennington Ballroom, 10 S. Post. mobiusspokane.org

of local bakers, architects and pastry chefs competing to build the most elaborate gingerbread house, as voted by the public. Families and kids can also make their own gingerbread houses, take photos with the Gingerbread Man and watch the houses being constructed. Sun, Dec. 13, from 10 am-1 pm; kids’ activities from 10 am-4 pm ($7 to build your own house). Free to watch. Davenport Grand Hotel, 333 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. ccckministry.org (3250393 x 331)

UNION GOSPEL MISSION VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION

WHITE CHRISTMAS BENEFIT PERFORMANCE Attend

Learn about volunteer opportunities and services offered through the ministry at monthly orientation events. Dec. 8 and Jan. 12, from 6-8 pm at both UGM locations: Coeur d’Alene (Center for Women & Children), 196 W. Haycraft Ave., and Spokane, 1224 E. Trent. Also Dec. 22 and Jan. 26, from 10 am-noon in CdA, and from 6-8 pm at Anna Ogden Hall, 2828 W. Mallon. uniongospelmission.org/events (535-8510 x 2 or 208-665-4673) PROVIDENCE MAMMOGRAM & OSTEOPOROSIS EXAMS

The Providence Women’s Health Center Coach travels around to Northwest communities to offer quick and convenient women’s health screenings of breast and bone health. Insurance can be billed and those without insurance are directed to programs that can help cover the cost. Upcoming stops and dates: Dec. 3, Deer Park Physical Therapy & Fitness Center; Dec. 8, Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center; Dec. 9, Washington State Employment Security Office; Dec. 11, CHAS Maple Street Clinic; Dec. 12 and Dec. 21, Shoshone Medical Center in Kellogg, Idaho; Dec. 15, Moline Healthcare; Dec. 17, Premera Blue Cross; Dec. 28 and 30, Express Scripts, Liberty Lake.

Find more info and upcoming dates and locations at washington.providence.org/events or call 4742400.

ELF AT THE BING Celebrate the holiday season at this benefit screening hosted by the Inlander and benefiting Catholic Charities of Spokane’s Fatherhood Project. Thu, Dec. 10, at 7 pm. $5 suggested donation. Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague. catholiccharitiesspokane.org COMEDY FOR A CAUSE The Checkerboard Bar in Spokane hosts live, local comedians in a benefit event for Second Harvest Food Bank. Bring a nonperishable food donation for a chance to win prizes. Sat, Dec. 12, at 8 pm. Ages 21+. Checkerboard Bar, 1716 E. Sprague. (535-4007) INFANT/CHILD CPR CLASS A course for all caretak-

ers of young children under the age of 5, covering how to properly give CPR, basic first aid and basic newborn care. $30/two attendees. Offered Dec. 12 and Jan. 16 (Sacred Heart) and Dec. 16 and Jan. 20 (Providence Medical Park). Sign up at washington. providence.org/events. (474-2400)

CHRIST KITCHEN GINGERBREAD BUILD-OFF The 11th

annual gingerbread house build-off features teams

the Spokane Civic Theatre’s production of the holiday classic and help Hearth Homes continue supporting its programs and services. Wed, Dec. 16, at 6 pm. $35. Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard. bit.ly/1Mz353b (926-6492)

LUNCH & LEARN: SLEEPING SOUNDLY Inland Northwest Health Services hosts an informative session during the lunch hour on how to improve your sleep habits. Thu, Dec. 17, at noon. Free. INHS Community Wellness Center, 501 N. Riverpoint Blvd., Ste. 245. inhs.org MEDICARE 101 Qualified reps from health insurance

companies provide an overview of Medicare and the different types of plans, but cannot discuss specific benefit plans or coverage. Thu, Dec. 17, from 6-7 pm. Free. North Nevada Professional Building, 9911 N. Nevada. (877-315-3279)

BLESSINGS UNDER THE BRIDGE WINTER EVENT The lo-

cal nonprofit hosts an event to serve its clients in the community’s homeless population, offering a free hot brunch, hot drinks, holiday treats, distributions of winter clothing, blankets and gifts. Sat, Dec. 19, from noon-3 pm. At Fourth Avenue and McClellan Street. See Facebook page (facebook.com/ BlessingsUTB) for a list of needed donations and for information on how to sponsor a table at the event.

SPOKANE HEALTH & FITNESS EXPO Attendees can meet exhibitors, hear guest speakers, participate in fitness classes like barre, zumba, CrossFfit, jiu jitsu and more. Sat, Jan. 9, from 10 am-6 pm and Sun, Jan. 10, from 10 am-4 pm. $8/adults; $5/ages 6-12, admission (cash only) good all weekend. Spokane County Fair & Expo Center, 404 N. Havana. spokanehealthfitexpo.com ENGAGING FAMILIES WITH LITERACY ACTIVITIES Learn

how to design a family engagement program based around literacy activities that are sure to encourage all your families to attend. Free, registration required. Sat, Jan. 23, from 10 am-noon. Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main. (893-8400) n

The calendar is a free service, on a space-available basis.

Mark submissions “InHealth Calendar” and include the time, date, address, cost and a contact phone number.

Mail: 1227 W. Summit Pkwy, Spokane, WA 99201; or Email: calendar@inlander.com.

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Health 45

LIVING

PEOPLE

Ken Hopkins is thankful to be back to work — and alive: “The lights could have gone out completely.”

In Search of Normal Ken Hopkins reflects on the moment that changed everything

BY DANIEL WALTERS

O

n the first day of the year 2000, an inflatable Extreme Sno-Tube II sled came barreling down a hill at Spokane’s Holmberg Park toward a 7-year-old boy. Tom Higgins, a 38-year-old bystander, tossed the boy out of the way, and the sled hit him instead. The accident left Higgins paralyzed from the neck down.

For weeks, Higgins was celebrated as a local hero. He was interviewed by newspapers and television shows and radio hosts.

One of those radio hosts? Ken Hopkins.

Fifteen years later, Hopkins — the “Ken” in KZZU’s hit morning show “Dave, Ken & Molly” — experienced a similar accident.

He was hospitalized, paralyzed, and facing a vastly different sort of life going forward.

Hopkins still doesn’t know exactly what happened on July 13. The last 20 seconds before the accident are just gone, like a missing reel in an old film. He knows that one

46 Health DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

moment he was on his bicycle, finishing up a 10-mile ride, and the next he was semiconscious in an ambulance speeding toward Sacred Hear Medical Center. He had a serious concussion. He knew he’d broken three ribs, but only because the doctors had told him. He couldn’t feel the broken ribs himself.

The crash had left him paralyzed.

“I didn’t sever my spine, but I damaged my spine at the chest level,” Hopkins says. Now it’s November. He’s sitting in the living room of his South Hill home in a wheelchair.

Hopkins spent 24 days in the hospital. At first the pain was all-consuming.

Wherever he could feel, he could feel pain.

Eventually, as he began to recover, the pain began concentrating in specific spots of his neck and back. But he still couldn’t feel anything below his chest. He can’t tell

KRISTEN BLACK PHOTO

when he needs to go to the bathroom.

Hopkins hears people praise him for how positive he’s been about the accident.

But that’s not the whole story. He has had flashes of despair and self-pity. “There are some ‘poor me’ moments,” Hopkins says.

“There’s still dark moments, and there are tears, and there’s ‘How did I get here?’”

I

t’s 6:15 am on Nov. 2, and for the first time, Ken Hopkins is officially back behind the microphone at “Dave, Ken & Molly.”

“Look at this. Really, look at this,” cohost Dave Sposito says. “Ken is back. We’re actually looking at you. … I think I speak for the 82,000 people that are listening at this moment; it’s great to have you back.”

“Oh, well, thank you so much,” Hopkins says. “I thought you were saying you were speaking for the 82,000 when you say, ‘Where you been? What’s going on?’”

With that, they laugh effortlessly, as morning radio show hosts tend to do. The crew chats about their Halloween weekends, they joke about showbiz gossip, and they play “Win Dave’s Money,” just like they have for years. Things feel almost normal.

But it’s a very different kind of normal than before. On this day, Hopkins had to wake up at 4:15 to be at the studio in time.

Life takes longer than it used to. Everyday routines — brushing teeth, shaving, showering and getting dressed — turn into herculean tasks. You have to budget more time, he says, for practically everything.

By the time you get to work, Hopkins says, “you’ve done a half a day’s work that nobody else is going to know about.

“It’s a lot different than zipping into the shower and then going and getting dressed, and all of the sudden you’re out the door and you’re at work,” Hopkins says.

In rehab at St. Luke’s, the first thing he learned how to do was a “transfer” — pulling himself from his wheelchair to his bed or couch.

“It’s half muscle and half technique,” Hopkins says. “The first time I tried it, I thought, ‘This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’ll never be able to do this.’”

Eventually, baby step by baby step, he managed to figure it out. Even after he left rehab, he had to wait to return home. His house had to be renovated. A ramp was installed in the garage. His bathroom was gutted and reconfigured to accommodate a toilet and shower that he could use.

He knows very well he has an advantage that many don’t: A family there to help him recover.

“It’s hard not to — once the smoke clears — say I’m blessed to be back sitting in my house right now and with my family,” Hopkins says.

He knows he could have been single, living in a South Hill apartment, without his wife, Trish, to help him recover. He knows could have been paralyzed higher up.

“I didn’t have a brain injury. I still have use of my hands and arms, and I can function,” Hopkins says. “I could have died.

The lights could have gone out completely.”

H

opkins also knows that, partly because of his public profile, he’s experienced a unique outpouring of generosity from the Spokane community.

The community knew Ken Hopkins.

When Sposito put up a GoFundMe page after the accident to raise money for Hopkins, the locals flooded in to raise more than $50,000. KZZU clients jumped in with deals and sponsorship. When Dutch Bros. Coffee offered a two-dollar 16-ounce drink deal, with a dollar from every drink going to Hopkins, the line of cars stretched into the street.

“There was a point where I thought, gosh, I wonder — that’s enough,” Hopkins

says. “That’s enough for me, let’s move on.”

As grateful as he was for the community, it was almost a relief when the attention subsided.

“To me, that’s almost part of moving along with your life,” Hopkins says. “Normalcy is going to return.”

It’s a different kind of normalcy, of course. To understand what that means, he’s talked to others who’ve been paralyzed after accidents. Tom Higgins, for example, visited him in the hospital.

“I’m tired and I’m drugged. But it was an awesome gesture: Sharing a little bit of his story again,” Hopkins says. “Meeting him, and others like him, just gives you a shot in the arm: ‘You can do this. Look at me. Here I am.’”

At St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute, he met others in wheelchairs who could give him a perspective on what his life might look like beyond the horizon. They dispensed with the spin and gave it to him straight: This is what his life might look like five, 10, 15, 20 years from now.

Someday, Hopkins says, he wants to play that role: To mentor and comfort others who’ve been in accidents, to help them turn the unthinkable into a new normal. n

Are You Up for the Challenge?

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Get tech savvy – link your couch to 5k program with your myfitnesspal.com account to automatically input your activity calories.

Monitor your hydration – drink enough so your urine color is pale yellow to clear.

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Perform the pantry shuffleget rid of all the old junk food, gels, bars, and get back to the basics with whole foods this off-season.

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GET MORE TIPS AND INFO at nsplit.com DECEMBER, 2015-JANUARY, 2016

Health 47

to deliver my children because I love and trust the people I work with.

Beth Perez, RN Providence Holy Family

PROVIDENCE HEALTH CARE: One coordinated system.

Aligned with the region's premier hospitals. And unified by a mission to put patients first. Find your doctor at phc.org

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