Salem MOM | August / October 2023

THE POWER OF PROTEIN

NALOXONE FOR YOUR PURSE

503.769.9522

1373 N 10th Ave, Stayton santiamhospital.org

Welcome Amanda Wagner, MD, OB/GYN

Santiam Women’s Clinic

Santiam Women’s Clinic is pleased to welcome Dr. Amanda Wagner, MD, OB/GYN. Dr. Wagner works with her patients to provide the birth experience they desire. Part of that is letting patients know that what they are looking for can be possible within a hospital setting.

Dr. Wagner comes to Santiam Women’s Clinic from a hospital-based practice at Mercy Health in Paducah, Kentucky. She completed her medical residency at New York’s Richmond University Medical Center.

In her free time, Amanda loves to paint with watercolors and spending time with her husband and twin children. They enjoy gardening, going to the farmer’s market, hiking Silver Creek and visiting the Oregon coast (and our lack of humidity)!

• Personalized pre-natal care

• Birthing rooms offering numerous amenities, including private in-room labor tubs

• Delivery by your OB Team in Santiam Hospital’s state-of-the-art birthing center

• Compassionate, Highly-Trained LDRNs, Labor Tubs, OHSU NICU Telemedicine Support

1401 N 10th Ave., Stayton · 503.769.2175

Birth Center Tours are first Tuesday of every month at 6:00pm. Visit our website at santiamhospital.org

Teresa Nitti, APRN, CNM

Sara Dunham, MD

Amanda Wagner, MD, OB/GYN

Brooke Renard, MD, OB/GYN

Dr. Amanda Wagner and family

meet the experts

Support

Support for Families with Audrey Benson, page 8

Pets

Pets are Family with Dr. Emily Kalenius, page 18

Health

Healthy MOM with Santiam Hospital, page 6

Drive

On the Road with Monika Duke, page 10

My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.

[They know what they’re talking about]

— Mark Twain

Because I said so!

Publisher

Matthew Nelson, Active Media, Inc

PO Box 672, Aurora OR 97002-0672 info@activemediausa.com

503-825-2100

Editor-in-Chief

Managing Director

Audrey Meier DeKam audrey@mommag.com

Salem Advertising Representatives

Kim Leighty kim.leighty@mommag.com

503-510-9036

Tina Toney tina@activemediausa.com

503-991-4547

Mid-Valley & Lane County Business Development Manager

Linda Blair linda@mommag.com

541-231-7250

Designer Sean Carver sean@activemediausa.com

This is me

Standing in the cold rain on Halloween night to hand out candy had me questioning my life choices. Oct. 31 is my oldest child’s birthday, which makes it a special one for our family. But once he gets those presents and gift cards, he’s off to consort with his crew. My younger son then goes trick-ortreating with his pals who have ditched the plastic pumpkin candy receptacles in favor of pillow cases, with the mission of scoring pounds of candy.

So I’m on my own for the evening, and I find myself, year after year, wanting to up my Halloween game. It started with the commitment to full-size candy bars. Then the year we added a nifty candy slide (2020, for obvious reasons) which has become an annual feature. Now I find myself eyeing inflatable yard decor at home stores. I plan out costumes for me and my dog — who is always willing to participate — months in advance. I have to ask myself, what has me so amped about this holiday as an adult?

Human behavior is motivated by reward. The most obvious one is seeing the adorable kids in costumes. The princesses, the plump babies as pumpkins, the moody teens with hastily thrown-on masks…from the handmade to the fresh-from-the-pop-up store, all of them are delightful.

But there’s another layer to why I do this. As moms we’re all about the responsible side of parenting: feeding kids their vegetables, getting them to well child visits, filling out the sports forms…it’s hard to break from that track to just be playful. Halloween is a built-in annual day devoted to make-believe. Want to be a giant

tardigrade? Viking? Strawberry Shortcake that you longed to be in fifth grade? The night is yours for both you and your inner child.

I also want my kids to remember, when they’re middle-aged men worried about escrow and colonoscopies, that their mom took time to be goofy. That doing so breaks up the all-work mode and gets in muchneeded play. I hope that as adults they’ll bust out Halloween costumes of their own. Some local kids have come to expect me. Hey, weren’t you Carole Baskin a few years ago? Yup, as well as a porch pirate, a handmaid, Rex from Napoleon Dynamite and a whoopie cushion. Last year, I was the bearded lady and my dog was the greatest showman. The neighbors must think the hot-gluing of costumes has gone to my brain. What can I say? This is me.

Audrey Meier DeKam Editor-in-Chief

Safe kitchen, happy holidays

One ingredient that ties most family gatherings together is food, and with all of the prep, hustle and bustle in the kitchen this season, there are a few ways to keep your preparations safe and the holidays happy.

FIRE AND BURN SAFEGUARDS

The kitchen, though a workplace, can often become the center of social activity. When cooking, limit the traffic of children, pets and non-cooking guests to prevent burns and tripping. Avoid accidental burns by turning handles away from the edge of the stove so they aren’t bumped, and never cook barefoot.

Make sure that countertop appliances such as slow cookers are set far enough from the edge of the counter so that little hands can’t pull them down. Never walk away from things cooking on the stovetop, and set timers to remind you to check what you have cooking in the oven.

Make sure you have a working smoke detector outside the kitchen, and a small fire extinguisher within reach.

FOOD SAFETY

There are food safety considerations both before and after a meal is prepared. Make sure that all meat, casseroles and leftovers are cooked to proper internal temperatures, which vary from about 145 degrees for seafood and steak, to 165 degrees for most everything else. When in doubt, check a reputable source like foodsafety.gov. Many of us are too busy to remember specifics, so it’s handy to have a printed guide clipped and visible, like the one provided here on the right. After a meal, refrigerate leftovers as soon as possible to reduce the internal temperature quickly. Food that is left out too long can harbor harmful bacteria that can cause foodborne illnesses. Food poisoning is never part of a happy holiday.

GUESTS

In a family or social setting, it can be difficult to make dishes that everyone likes. But it should be a priority to make sure the dishes are safe. Be mindful of food allergies that your guests might have, and let everyone know if something contains nuts, dairy or shellfish, which are common allergens.

The holidays are a special time, but we can all agree they can also be stressful. Taking the time to safeguard special holiday meals, from kitchen to freezer and back again, can take some of the pressure off and make for a very enjoyable time with family and friends.

Brought to you by: santiamhospital.org

Bright lights, scratchy fabric, loud music, OH MY!

Fall holidays and festivities can be so much fun: sweet treats, dress-up and staying up past bedtime are what most kids dream of. However, some children struggle with all these changes, especially if sensory sensitivities are present.

Sensory sensitivities are when some people’s central nervous systems are extra sensitive, and their minds process things like touch, social interactions and feelings in a very detailed way. This can be a common occurrence in kids who have autism or other diagnoses.

If your child has sensory sensitivities, consider these ways to be supportive:

Preparation and communication

Communicate with your child about upcoming events, detailing what to expect. Having a wall calendar or white board with the dates visible is a useful tool. Talking to party hosts about the child’s sensitivities can lead to adjustments in factors like lighting and music. Find a quiet space to allow for your child to regulate themselves and have a break from the merriment.

Attire trial run

For festivities where participants are expected to dress up, a test run may be helpful. Have your child wear their outfit or costume for an evening at home a week ahead of time. Are the shoes too snug? Are the ruffles too itchy? This will give you time to make adjustments so everything feels comfortable at the event.

Noise-canceling headphones

There is no shame in the headphone game! Noise-canceling headphones are a great tool for those who struggle with loud or multiple noises occurring at once, such as the clanging of dishes and noisy conversations of a Thanksgiving dinner. Add some decor to make the headphones match the outfit.

It helps to have calm, quiet time before each event, and afterwards have a routine at home that allows your child to decompress. Planning ahead for kids with super senses makes all the difference for their enjoyment of fall fun.

Audrey

Benson Behavior Supervisor

922 NW Circle Blvd, Ste 160-112 Corvallis, OR 97330

kidsnw.org | 1.888.360.0360

Brought to you by:

KIDS NW connects families with compassionate caregivers, specially trained in serving individuals with disabilities.

It’s tailgating time!

TAILGATING for your favorite sports team can be a blast for families. The cost is low, and the fun and excitement are high.

To kick off your tailgating, first check the rules with your sports stadium. They will have guidelines and rules regarding alcoholic beverages, open fires/bbqs, designated parking and times. Be sure to investigate thoroughly before going.

After you have your date and details set, it’s time to pack. Don’t forget:

• Coolers with ice for all your perishable food and drinks.

• Water: a five-gallon sports dispenser type is perfect for drinks – and when you might need to rinse off sticky fingers.

• Show your team spirit with foam fingers, flags, face paint, clothing, blankets and more.

• Stove and/or portable grill for food prep. Hot dogs are simple to cook, and kids love them.

• Snacks: if you can find items in your team’s colors, it makes it all the more fun.

• The cleanup: wet wipes, hand sanitizer, all purpose spray, paper towels and a few garbage bags.

You can deck out your parking space in all sorts of spirited ways, such as:

• Mark the space with an indoor/ outdoor rug or astroturf.

MEET MONIKA DUKE

• Create a living room-style hangout space outdoors with camp furniture.

• A pop up canopy is a must for rain or shade.

• Hang garlands and battery-powered string lights in the colors of your team.

• Bring the music! Be mindful of tailgating neighbors. During the game, you can tune in to the live broadcast. The kids will be tired after all the merriment (which is what we want, right?). If you leave late with littles in tow, pack their pajamas so they can go right from the carseat and into bed.

No matter how your team fares, the day of fun spent together as a family creates memories and traditions you can enjoy for years.

Monika Duke, executive assistant, has been with Capitol Auto Group for 21 years. She is the mother of two daughters: Lauren, age 18, and Morgan, age 17, who were born on the same day exactly one year apart! Monika enjoys working at Capitol because of the great owners and her co-workers. She also loves the freedom Capitol provides to do her favorite activity outside of work: watching her girls play competitive soccer all over the West Coast.

Brought to you by:

Sara Olsher

PROFESSION: CEO, Mighty + Bright

COMMUNITY: South Salem

CHILDREN: Charlie, age 13

PHOTOS BY: BETTY

BOYCE

Family comes first.

All families are unique. Tell us about yours. My immediate family is my daughter and I, and our three cats: Batman, Waffle and Tater Tot. We live five minutes from my parents, which is fantastic.

Every family has its own traditions, rituals or inside jokes. What are some of yours? We hang our Christmas tree upside down from the ceiling. My daughter gets half of a cake for her half birthday. We have a lot of cat-related rituals, too — we slow blink at each other.

When did you know you wanted to be a mom?

I never grew up wanting kids, because I was really never around them. I was an only child mostly surrounded by grownups and was more comfortable with them. When I was in my late 20s, though, I suddenly had an intuition that I wanted to be a mom. Charlie has truly been the best decision I ever made.

Has the pandemic changed the way you parent, beyond just the practical and logistical parts? If so, how? The pandemic was the third big trauma that affected my daughter and I — the first being divorce when she was two, and the second was my cancer diagnosis when she was six. During my cancer treatment, I had to prioritize what was truly important to me, and the pandemic did the same. I was laid off from my day job during the second week of the pandemic, and it made me realize that I never should have been twisting myself into a pretzel for that job to begin with. Spending time with my daughter was my priority, and while I did look for another day job, I also decided to take my business more seriously to see if I could build it big enough to support us. I’ve never looked back.

Tell us about one of your proudest mom moments. My daughter makes me proud regularly. She’s incredibly compassionate and self-aware, and she’s turning into an incredible teenager who I truly love to hang out with.

Now tell us about one of your most humbling mom moments. It’s part of my parenting philosophy to try to stay humble and admit when I’m wrong. I know that I have a lot to learn as a human, so I try not to be a dictator about things and attempt to listen to what my child has to say. She regularly reminds me when I’m not doing that, which I appreciate.

In what way is your child like you? How are they different? We are both really weird and like to sing at the top of our lungs. We also dance, especially in the kitchen. If you can’t enjoy the little things, what’s the point?

You know you’re a mom when you hear yourself say, “________.” “Turn off the lights! I’m not made of money!”

Your biggest wish for your child is… That she surrounds herself with people who deserve her.

No one works harder than mom.

We know that being a mom is a full-time job. How do you balance (or not) motherhood, activities, work, volunteering, household responsibilities, and life in general? What sometimes falls through the cracks? I say no and set boundaries. I wasn’t always good at this (in fact, I was terrible at it), but I think cancer treatment made it easier to slow down, think about what I can handle, and prioritize. This is why we don’t have a dog — I recognize that I don’t have the bandwidth to handle everything that’s involved in that, as much as I love them.

THIS SINGLE MOM AND CANCER SURVIVOR FOUNDED HER COMPANY ON MORE OF WHAT WE ALL NEED IN LIFE: SIMPLIFYING THE COMPLEX.

Tell us about your work. What is Mighty + Bright? Back in 2015, I went through a divorce. Unfortunately my daughter, who was two, was suffering from really overwhelming anxiety. I felt like I’d tried everything to help her, until I finally reached the end of my rope and found a therapist that accepted toddlers. After we’d been in play therapy for a few months, the therapist had an upcoming vacation and started preparing my daughter for a missed therapy session. She took out a construction paper calendar and used stickers to show my daughter when they’d be missing their appointment. I said to the therapist, “I’m not sure she understands the concept of time, let alone what missing a session would feel like. Is this really necessary?” The therapist responded with, “Absolutely. It can really break trust between a therapist and a child if there’s a break and no one talks about it.”

It was a total light bulb moment for me. I suddenly realized that my daughter had no idea what to expect every day — including which days were school days and when she’d see her dad next — and that was causing her a boatload of stress. I went down a research rabbit hole and learned that kids, because of how their brains develop, can’t retain information we share with words. They need it to be visual. So while I was communicating the plan to my daughter, she wasn’t able to process it. That made her feel unsafe.

Creating a visual, illustration-based calendar for our home completely changed the game for my daughter’s anxiety level. I knew that other kids would benefit from a visual calendar like the one I created. Visuals set kids up for success because once they actually understand what to expect and what’s expected of them, they can finally meet our expecations, which builds confidence and motivates them to keep at it. It’s a win-win.

Mighty + Bright started with the first coparenting calendar for kids, and that’s all I sold for about four years — until I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Charlie was six when I wrote my first children’s book to explain the science of cancer in a way that kids can understand. I now have ten children’s books, including a new one for parents living with a chronic or terminal illness, and a whole line of products to help make parenting easier by putting some structure around common challenges. These products help parents teach their kids to solve their

own problems, learn positive self-talk, and even make playing with our kids more fun.

Tell us about a recent achievement you’re proud of, or a personal passion or talent.

I won the title of 2023 Remarkable Woman from KOIN6 News, and I was flown to Los Angeles to meet 111 other Remarkable Women from across the country. It was an incredible honor.

When was the last time you failed? What did you learn? I fail so often I don’t really keep track of my failures. If you’re not failing, you’re not trying. Every day is a learning experience! Do you have a goal you’d like to accomplish within the next five years? I would like to take my daughter to Japan.

If mom’s not happy, nobody’s happy.

Tell us about your upbringing. How did it shape the mother you are today? I was very lucky to have really loving parents who wanted to give me opportunities and teach me lessons they didn’t learn as kids. I have that same drive to make a better life for my daughter. I also had a mother who was very open with me, and as a result we have a close relationship. That’s made me the mother I am today.

What does your parenting village look like? I spent the last 15 years in California with absolutely zero village. I moved back to Oregon because I really wanted to be close to my parents. There’s a lot of talk about

this mythical village, as if it is the solution to how overwhelming parenting is. But I don’t think many moms have a village these days. We are very lucky if we do. I believe we have to simplify parenthood to survive. How do you think parenting can be easier?

Structure makes everything easier, including parenthood. Structure basically gives you a framework for how things are done, so you don’t have to think about it anymore. So much of motherhood is planning and thinking, and it gets exhausting.

If we can outsource things to our kids by giving them visual “to do” lists that actually make sense to them, we don’t have to think as much. If we have a method of connecting with our kids where we don’t have to come up with ideas or worry about how long it will last, we don’t have to think as much. It inspired me to create a line of adult charts for splitting up chores between adults in the household, tackling clutter and handling other types of overwhelm…it basically gives you a place to start.

What do you think is the most important life skill or value your parents taught you? Resilience.

Which good habit do you wish you started earlier? Healthy eating.

When did you realize you were no longer a child? When I got divorced and had to parent alone.

MOM’s Favorite...

Tell us about your favorite… …family game: Cards Against Humanity: Family Edition

…words to live by: Safety is an illusion, so you might as well dream the big dream!

…place to find some peace & quiet: The walking paths near my house and Minto Brown

…binge-worthy TV or podcast: Ted Lasso

…way to get out of making dinner: Assign the job to your kid

…time-saving app or digital tool: Goblin.tools to help with planning and breaking down tasks. Trello to organize tools.

What is one thing you never had that you want for your child? As a kid? Confidence.

What’s your superpower? Making complicated or complex things more simple. Name one thing that is part of your daily routine that you just can’t live without. Crunchy ice.

Listen to mom.

Is motherhood what you expected? What surprised you the most? Not even a little! It is so much more complex than I anticipated. It is both the hardest thing I’ve ever done and the best.

What advice do you have for parents who are going through something especially hard, like divorce? There are very few of us who were raised with the skills to cope with difficult things, so we’re struggling a lot and trying to help our kids at the same time. And then on top of it, we usually feel guilty, which doesn’t help.

The truth is, no one gets out of life without something hard happening to them. Life is both beautiful and incredibly hard. When hard things happen in childhood, I think about it like this: it’s an opportunity to help our kids learn how to cope, so when they’re faced with difficulties as adults they have some coping skills already. That’s a gift.

I think part of the problem comes from feeling like we aren’t coping particularly well as adults, so we don’t know how to help our kids learn to cope. I want to reassure parents that they only need to be one step ahead of their kids. We can learn this stuff

together. Having a fully developed brain already puts parents one step ahead of kids naturally (ha!), so if you learn together, you can totally handle it.

How did you handle a cancer diagnosis while parenting? Getting diagnosed with cancer was awful. I had a family history, but would never have expected to get a cancer diagnosis in my early thirties. Dealing with the unknown (especially the unknown about our own mortality) is one of the major stressors of being human. And of course as a mom, my primary worry was about how my daughter would handle it. I didn’t want her to be traumatized for life.

I knew that I needed to have an open conversation about cancer with my six yearold, and I knew that I needed to prioritize connecting with her and sticking to routines. But the truth of cancer treatment is that it throws life into chaos. It makes it super hard to stick to a routine, and you’re so exhausted that the mental labor of figuring out how to connect with your kids is really hard. I think that’s true of any major illness, whether it’s something dramatic like cancer, or a chronic illness. You have to learn how to navigate a new normal.

The diagnosis and chemo experience made me realize that there is a huge gap in resources for parents who have cancer. The books available didn’t explain what cancer actually is, or how it affects a kid’s life. There weren’t any resources for supporting kids through this experience, especially if a parent has a terminal cancer.

I wrote Cancer Party! and soon after, What Happens When Someone I Love has Cancer to help make the initial conversation easier. I have a free guide for having the cancer talk with your kids. I also created a calendar specifically to help kids cope with a parent in treatment, including planning lowenergy ways to connect.

My newest book, What Happens When Someone I Love Doesn’t Feel Good, is applicable to people with chronic or terminal illnesses. And next year I have a book coming out to help parents tell their kids that they will die. These are not easy conversations to have, but when there’s structure around it with a book, we at least know where to start. And there are so many reasons why we need to tell our kids what’s going on. What advice would you give your younger mom self? What do you wish you knew then that you know now? I spent much of my daughter’s early childhood feeling fiercely protective of her and worrying that she wouldn’t be okay. I wish I could take some of the stress away from that version of myself and let her know that everything will not only work out, but she will be thriving.

What message would you like to share with other moms? Remember to tell it like it is. Pretty much everything will work out, because we are smart people who can figure things out. Trust future you to do a good job handling whatever comes her way.

MOMs Love Local

We love locally owned businesses, restaurants, places and organizations. Share your favorite…

…shop to pick up a gift for friend: Green Space Design by Jude, Ernie & Gray

…coffee spot: Archive Coffee & Bar

…restaurant to take kids: Pho Keizer

…boutiques to find a new shirt or home décor item: Olivia’s, Gatsby

…event in your community: Salem Art Fair & Festival

…any other local places you love: On Any Sundae, Aunt Bee’s House, The Fussy Duck

Pumpkin spice and everything nice

While we sip pumpkin spice lattes and bundle up in cozy sweaters, our pups can enjoy these healthy home-baked biscuits.

Peanut butter pumpkin dog biscuits

2 ½ cups flour

¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon salt

½ cup pumpkin puree

2 Tablespoons peanut butter

2 large eggs, beaten

Preheat the oven 350 degrees. Combine the flour, cinnamon and salt in a mixing bowl then whisk in the pumpkin, peanut butter and eggs until fully mixed.

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead it a few times until it comes together. Roll the dough to a thickness of about ½-inch, then use cookie cutters to make shapes.

Bake on parchment paper-lined cookie sheets for 35 to 40 minutes until hard, then cool completely.

For an added treat, you can dip the cooled biscuit end in melted white chocolate (white chocolate contains no cocoa so it’s pet safe).

WILVET SOUTH

24/7 urgent care

444 B Street in Springfield wilvetsouth.com

Brought to you by: Emily Kalenius, DVM

THE POWER OF PROTEIN

Protein makes all the difference in satiety (pronounced suh-tye-ah-tee), which is a fancy word for a feeling of lasting fullness. Keep the kids filled up with these fast, protein-filled dinners and snacks.

TERIYAKI TOFU

2 Tablespoons soy sauce

1 Tablespoon fresh ginger root, grated

1 Tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice

1 teaspoon honey

1 clove of garlic, minced

1 small onion, diced

1 pound firm tofu, cut into ½” slices

¼ cup flour

¼ teaspoon black pepper

2 Tablespoons oil

Mix the first six ingredients to make a marinade, then pour it over the tofu slices and let it refrigerate for two hours.

Reserve the leftover marinade. Mix the flour and pepper together in a shallow bowl. Dredge each tofu slice in the flour mixture on all sides.

In a skillet, heat the oil on medium. Brown the tofu slices in the oil, about five minutes per side. Add in the leftover marinade and bring to a simmer.

If you want to add chopped broccoli, add it along with the marinade. Serve over rice with vegetables like edamame, sliced radish and shredded carrots.

GRILLED CHICKEN KABOBS

½ cup soy sauce

½ cup ketchup

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon garlic powder

2 pounds chicken, cut into 1-inch cubes

8-10 Wooden skewers

Combine the first five ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Add the cubed chicken and coat with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes. You can make this earlier in the day and marinate it for up to six hours.

Soak wooden skewers in warm water for 30 minutes. Skewer chicken pieces on each, then grill over medium-high heat for five to seven minutes, or until the internal temperature of chicken reaches 165 degrees.

These can be served over rice, pasta, a bed of lettuce or enjoyed on their own.

TANGY TURKEY MEATBALLS

16 ounces grape jelly

12 ounces chili sauce

2 pounds precooked turkey meatballs

Combine all ingredients into a slow cooker and set to low.

Cook for two to three hours until the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 165 degrees. These are a crowd-pleaser for potlucks.

ROASTED CHICKPEAS

2 cans of chickpeas, rinsed and drained

Olive oil to drizzle

Sea salt to taste

Parmesan cheese to taste

Dry the rinsed chickpeas on a towel. Make sure they are fully dry, or they won’t get crisp in the oven. Discard any loose skins.

On a baking sheet, drizzle the chickpeas with olive oil and sprinkle on the sea salt. Mix until well coated.

Bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Give the pan a shake, then bake in 15-minute increments until they reach your desired doneness.

Allow them to cool for 10 minutes, then top with parmesan cheese.

These work well as a snack or added to salads.

According to the USDA, most Americans are doing well with protein from meats, poultry and eggs but we’re not getting enough from seafood, nuts, seeds and soy.

When it comes to deciding on the safest choice in window coverings for a home with children or pets, why take chances? Fortunately, with Budget Blinds you don’t have to. From cordless child-safe blinds and cordless shades with retractable lifts, to motorized shades, we have the safe solutions that minimize the risk of accidents or injury.

When it comes to deciding on the safest choice in window coverings for a home with children or pets, why take chances? Fortunately, with Budget Blinds you don’t have to. From cordless child-safe blinds and cordless shades with retractable lifts, to motorized shades, we have the safe solutions that minimize the risk of accidents or injury.

— Portland Police Bureau, June 29, 2023

— Albany Democrat-Herald, March 25, 2023

Should you get naloxone for your purse?

The stories are gutting: a teen dies from taking what they thought was a sleeping pill. A toddler dies from eating a pill off the floor of a vacation rental.

At the root of these heart-breaking headlines is fentanyl.

FENTANYL is a synthetic opioid. Opioids are powerful pain-relieving medications that are used in medical care, but have found their way onto the streets. Fatal overdoses are 10 times higher than they were 20 years ago. Naloxone — known more commonly by its brand name NARCAN — is a fast-acting reversal medication to opioid overdose, administered in a nasal spray form. It has only just recently become available over-the-counter. As parents, should you get naloxone to have on hand? Just how seriously do we take this issue? We asked John McIlveen, Ph.D., and State Opioid Treatment Authority for the Oregon Health Authority, for guidance on separating the myths from realities.

MYTH: Fentanyl is a big city problem.

REALITY: It’s an everywhere problem. “Exposure to fentanyl can happen anywhere, including cities, suburbs and rural areas,” said Dr. McIlveen.

He notes that the vast majority of street drugs are fentanyl. “It’s not that pills are laced with fentanyl, it’s that they are fentanyl,” he said. “Part of the rise in overdose deaths is due to an increase in illicit fentanyl that is pressed into pills that look like prescription pills such as oxycodone, alprazolam and others.”

“OREGON NURSES SAY CARRY NALOXONE, SAVE A LIFE”

“One week in Linn County: 4 fatal fentanyl-related overdoses”

“Concerning Trend of Fentanyl Overdoses Involving Young Children”

MYTH: I have little kids, so I don’t have to worry about this until they’re teenagers.

REALITY: Your kids go to their grandparents’ house, to friends’ houses, camps and more. Remind them never to take any medicine without your permission. “You do need to think about substances, including fentanyl right now,” said Dr. McIlveen. “Little kids visit other people’s homes, other people may come to your home and little children also go to public places in their communities.”

MYTH: If you touch fentanyl, you’ll die instantly.

REALITY: “No, there is no evidence that that’s the case,” said Dr. McIlveen. “Same for smoke — no active ingredient has been found in the exhalations of smoke.” Most of the drug stays in the body of the smoker who does not exhale enough to create a reaction in others.

That said, he cautions, “No matter the setting, little kids are curious…If a young child eats, drinks or puts a legal or illegal substance in their mouths, they can get seriously ill or die. Since illicit fentanyl can look like prescription pills, it’s critical that parents teach their children [that] pills are not candy.” He suggests parents ask all visitors, including family members, friends and caregivers, if they have any medication in their bags, coats, purses, etc., and if so, that these be stored out of reach and out of sight of children.

MYTH: No one in my family does drugs so I don’t need to think about this.

REALITY: There is both legal, pharmaceutical fentanyl and illegal, street fentanyl. Both need to be on your radar.

There are necessary reasons for people to take prescription fentanyl under a physician’s

TAKE ACTION

How do I get naloxone?

Just this fall naloxone is available for over-the-counter purchase, at about $50 for a two-pack of the brand-name version NARCAN.

Check with your insurance to see if you can bring that cost down, and note that not all pharmacies carry naloxone, so you will need to ask.

Naloxone is free via Oregon Health Plan/Medicaid, and it is freely distributed to vulnerable populations via SaveLivesOregon.org.

guidance, for pain control like that of advanced cancer. That medication needs to be securely stored away from children and curious teens. He recommends the website Upandaway.org for tips and resources on medication safety and related topics.

On the streets, fentanyl is commonly mixed with drugs like heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, and made into pills that resemble other prescription opioids such as oxycodone. Drugs mixed with fentanyl are extremely dangerous, and many people may be unaware that their drugs contain fentanyl. It is nearly impossible to tell if drugs have been laced with fentanyl without the use of fentanyl test strips because fentanyl cannot be seen, smelled or tasted.

MYTH: I monitor my kids’ phones so I’d know if they were talking to drug dealers.

REALITY: There are shadow accounts and friends to take into consideration. “Communication with your kids is important — if they ask you about fentanyl, be honest and open with them. It’s better to stick to the facts in a genuine discussion instead of using scare tactics.”

MYTH: I better throw out my kids’ Halloween candy or just not trick-or-treat. What if there’s fentanyl in there?

REALITY: “This is unlikely, and families interested in celebrating Halloween may go trick-ortreating as they see fit,” said Dr. MacIlveen. “While parents and guardians know their kids best, children younger than 12 should be accompanied by an adult when trick-or-treating.”

Sources: Oregon Health Authority | StopOverdose.org | Center for Disease Control and Prevention

TALK TO YOUR KIDS And talk with them often

Making this a regular conversion helps underscore its importance, even if your tween or teen rolls their eyes and says, "I know," dramatically. Visit LinnTogether.org for resources.

STORE AND DISPOSE OF ALL MEDICATIONS SAFELY

If someone in your household takes prescription controlled substances like opioids, consider investing in a small safe with biometric entry that requires

your thumbprint. Safely dispose of old and unused medications in your home, and do the same for your aging parents who may not have the ability to do so.

IF YOU NEED TO ADMINISTER NALOXONE

Call 911 immediately. Naloxone can only buy time in an overdose situation, and you may need to use two doses. Numerous short videos are available online to learn how to administer naloxone.

LIKE MANY TEENAGERS, Mckenzie Vail had life stretching out in front of her. But the bright and determined 19-year-old’s life was cut short by accidental opioid overdose. In 2020, Mckenzie made a fatal decision to take the pills her friends were taking. “She and her boyfriend fell asleep, and hours later he woke up and she didn’t,” said her mother, Sarah Vail. Devastated by guilt, her boyfriend posted an apology video on social media and then took his own life.

“Our daughter was meant for great things, even in death. We share her story and save others through education,” said Vail, who has established a foundation in her late daughter’s name. The foundation aims to provide scholarships to those pursuing mental health professions to help people struggling with suicide, domestic violence, grief or substance abuse. The foundation also hopes to coordinate speaking engagements at schools to share McKenzie’s story.

“Our tragedy has to end in purpose,” said Vail. Visit Facebook.com/mckenziesstory/ to learn more.

Mckenzie Vail of Cottage Grove, Ore.

Knowing your genetic cancer risks

As advances are made in finding genetic risks for cancer, the questions arise: How much do you want to know, and does the knowledge change your actions?

There are numerous sides to learning your personal risk of cancer, with no one-size-fits-all answers. For Oregonians who want to know, a free program is available: the Healthy Oregon Project (HOP) is a research study that combines genetic cancer screening using a saliva sample, along with health surveys. The HOP goal is understanding why some people get cancer and others do not, and how to identify cancer much earlier.

THE BENEFITS

Choosing to learn your genetic cancer risks can be useful in monitoring your own health — and that of your biological children and relatives. It can lead to seeking out screening earlier than you might normally, or making lifestyle choices to lower your risks.

Eugene mom of two, Autumn Shafer, is both a HOP participant and a research collaborator from the University of Oregon. “I have a family history of cancer so I was both curious and a little anxious to know if I had any of the cancer risk variants the study was screening,” she said. “Also, as a mom, I wanted to know for my own peace of mind and so I could share this health knowledge with my kids one day.”

People may be more inclined to seek out genetic testing if they have several biologically related relatives with cancer, especially the types that are linked to single gene mutations such as breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancers. Particular races or ethnicities may have higher rates of certain cancers. Adoptees who do not have access to familial health history might also seek out genetic testing to gain a deeper understanding of their future risks.

THE DRAWBACKS

Just because you have a genetic risk does not mean you will get cancer. The knowledge can only tell you what might happen versus what will happen, and a positive result can have you spinning with anxiety. Some people would rather not worry about something that may or may not ever happen.

Many of us have heard of BRCA gene mutations linked to breast cancer, with celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Christina Applegate putting it in the spotlight. For them and others, having a BRCA mutation then becomes a question of whether to have a double mastectomy, pursue intense and frequent cancer screenings or change nothing at all.

“One hesitation we hear from Oregonians is fear of what to do with the results if they were to have a positive genetic variant detected,” said Dr. Jackie Shannon, a principal investigator for the HOP study. “The 32 genes HOP screens for are ones that are medically actionable, meaning there are recommendations for what those people can do to reduce their cancer risk.”

THE PROGRAM

The HOP study started in 2018, supported by Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Knight Cancer Institute as part of

the Cancer Moonshot grant by the National Cancer Institute. Participating entities include the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, OCHIN and others.

A positive result, meaning a genetic risk was detected, can lead participants to take action to prevent or identify cancer at its earliest stages when treatment is more effective. Participants with a positive test result are contacted by an OHSU genetic counselor to review the associated cancer risks and are connected to a wide range of resources.

If you participate in HOP and find out that you have none of the markers they test for, your results are still useful. Here’s why: the survey portion of the study is useful in learning health, wellness and behavior information that can be used to answer many different questions about population health.

Consumer tests like 23andme are somewhat similar to the saliva test that HOP provides, though there is a cost. The HOP study is free, and while it does not provide ethnicity results like a consumer kit, it gives participants the opportunity to contribute to research that moves the needle on early detection.

PRIVACY CONCE RNS

If there’s a positive result, many are concerned how it will factor into medical records and insurance. An OHSU medical record is only created for participants who have a positive result through the study but those results are not recorded into an individual’s medical record outside of OHSU.

People may choose to share results with a primary care provider to then have it recorded in a medical file. Under the federal genetic privacy law Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), health insurance companies may not discriminate if they find a positive result including results of predictive genetic tests. Predictive genetic test results cannot be considered a pre-existing condition. However, disability insurance and life insurance companies are not covered by GINA and they may require copies of your medical records to approve a new policy. HOP does not directly share results with insurance providers.

THE BOTTOM LI NE

If you don’t want to know, still keep up with routine screenings for breast, cervical, colon cancer and others recommended by your healthcare provider. If you wish to enroll in the HOP study, visit HealthyOregonProject.com for information.

For moms like Shafer, her participation goes beyond the personal. “It feels like I’m a part of a community of people who care about cancer research. We’re all in it together so contributing to this research is one way to help one another.”

Sources: American Cancer Society | Healthy Oregon Project

Thriving through parenthood: Navigating life with mental resilience

Parenting is a journey filled with ups, downs and zigzags. When you’re mentally strong, you’re more resilient to the inevitable zigs and zags life with little ones brings. Here are our top tips to strengthen your mental resilience, so you can bounce back no matter the challenge:

1. Practice self-care: Make time for activities you enjoy, engage in relaxation techniques like meditation or deep breathing, maintain a balanced diet and ensure you’re getting enough sleep. Self-care helps you recharge and better cope with the challenges of parenting.

2. Seek support: Don’t hesitate to reach out for help when you need it! Whether it’s from friends, family members or professionals, having a support system in place can make a significant difference in your mental health. Sharing your feelings and experiences with others can provide emotional relief and perspective.

3. Set realistic expectations: Parenting can be challenging, and it’s important to set realistic expectations for yourself. Avoid comparing yourself to other parents or striving for perfection. There will be ups and downs, and it’s okay to make mistakes. Give yourself credit for the effort you’re putting into parenting — self-compassion is key.

4. Lead by example: Your little ones are like sponges, soaking up everything around them. When they see you valuing and prioritizing your mental well-being, they learn that it’s important, too.

Following these tips will not only help you become more resilient, but it’ll also set the stage for a lifetime of healthy habits for your kiddos! Brought