Volume 5 No. 3
COMPLIMENTARY
Meet
LINDA KNAPP
Alicia Kough
Aiken Active Seniors
Turning Passion into a Reality with Karen Poteat
ALAN GLOVER of Sears Homestore
of Edward Jones
ROBIN CARPENTER Raising a Hero
jndwarren@aol.com 803-270-6572
Like me on Facebook:
Deva Andrews-Warren Photography www.deva-warren-wrdd.squarespace.com
In This Issue
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12 www.aikenwomanonline.com
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Lori Samples Duncan loriduncan86@gmail.com
ADVERTISING
Cathy Williams cw@woman2womanonline.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Patti Kimsey Lori Duncan Carol Ryall Patti McGrath
From the Editor 2 We say Goodbye to Summer, but Not to Great People!
Events GRAPHIC DESIGN
Lisa Ashworth woman2womanlisa@gmail.com
COVER PHOTO
3 What’s Happening?
Let’s Talk
Survivor in You!
14 Robin Carpenter: Raising a Hero PHOTOGRAPHY
Deva Warren Mell Bella Photography
Alicia Kough of Edward Jones
10 Meet Linda Knapp 24 Active Seniors 26 Sears Homestore
7 Angela Stoneworth: The Woman
Celebrating the
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22 Herlong & Doran
Behind DNA Baskets Deva Warren Photography
Professional
18 Keeping Kolten’s Memory Alive
Recipes 21 Homemade Hot Dog Chili
29 Cumberland Village
Health & Wellness 33 The Mystery of Dyslexia 34 A Healthier Lifestyle is Now at your Fingertips!
Web Directory 35 Contact our Advertisers
Personal Note 36 Baseball Memories
Find us on facebook!
Aiken Woman Magazine
Woman 2 Woman Media, LLC (803) 785-4475 104 Pine Tree Drive Lexington, SC 29073 Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication. However, the publisher cannot assume responsibility for errors or omissions. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. © 2014
www.aikenwomanonline.com
From the Editor
ummer is coming to an end, but our supply of amazing people and stories from the community never does! This issue is great because it not only features some remarkable women, but some remarkable men and even children as well. Read the stories of great talent, great courage, and great places between the covers of this issue. Be inspired by Angela Stoneworth’s talent, cry with the parents of Kolten Johnson, who want to make a difference in the world, and learn more about the ever changing world of medical technology with the most trusted hospital around, Aiken Regional. Life is always changing, and even as I write this to you I am amazed at how fast the time has flown by this year. Half of 2015 is already over, and what a year it has been! As Summer is coming to a close, remember to make the best of it while it is here. Celebrate this hot but enjoyable season by spending some time outside with your family, go to another cookout, take your children to the water to cool off, and just enjoy some time with the people that you love while you have all these opportunities available! I always want to offer a reminder that the businesses within Aiken Woman Magazine have made a commitment to you, the reader, to always offer quality products and services to the people of this community. Please visit them online or in their store and let them know where you heard about them, because it is through their support that AWM is able to bring you the stories of real Aiken Women in every single issue. As always I hope you enjoy this issue. If you would like to send us a story or suggest someone you feel should be featured in Aiken Woman Magazine, please feel free to email me personally at loriduncan86@gmail.com. God Bless and See you soon! Your friend,
Lori Samples Duncan
Isaiah 40:31
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating
Real
Women
Events
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN AIKEN? Sidewalk Sale September 3 - 5, 2015 Downtown Aiken Come Shop Local Labor Day Weekend! Thursday, Sept. 3rd - Saturday, Sept. 5 participating stores will have great sidewalk sales! So stop by Downtown Aiken to grab some of these great deals!!! For more information, please contact Aiken Downtown Development Association. Participating stores include: 3 Monkeys, Aiken Antique Mall, Aiken Center for the Arts, Epona, Equine Divine, Folly, Powercuts Salon and Spa, ReFresh, Return Engagement, and more!
“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” September 4 - 19, 2015 Weekends 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Aiken Community Playhouse
A mental institution serves as the setting for a battle of wills between a rebellious and free spirited R. P. McMurphy and the inflexible Nurse Ratched. This drama plays out mankind’s efforts to retain some semblance of individuality, dignity and freedom in a world in which society demands that we conform. Directed by Bob Franklin. For tickets, please call 803.648.1438 or visit http://www.aikencommunityplayhouse.com
SPCA Dogwash September 12, 2105 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare SPCA summer dog washes are back! Bring your dirty dog(s) out to the SPCA for a good scrubbing and help us continue to help homeless pets. Washes start at just $15 and we do nails and ears too!
Pass it on Kidsignment Sale September 18 - 19, 2015 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Aiken’s First Baptist Church
Women Build Kitchen Tour October 11th, 2015 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Downtown Aiken
A benefit to the Parent’s Day out Program at Aiken’s First Baptist Church and many people in need throughout the globe. This AWESOME consignment event features items from infants, children, teen and maternity with some additional items just for Mom! Look for necessities such as clothing and shoes in addition to baby and infant needs such as highchairs, pack and plays, strollers, swings and bath tubs. The sale offers many toys, stuffed animals and books for all children ages. Grab great prices on bikes, riding toys and even sports equipment (bats, gloves, cleats). Deals can also be found on furniture and bedding items from infant to teen. Also, it is the fall sale so be on the lookout for Halloween costumes and Christmas dresses! If it’s child-related you can find it here. Plus new this year scarves, purses, wallets or some jewelry items for all of Mom’s hard work. For more information about Consigning, Volunteering or even Donating to this spectacular event go to http:// www.passitonaiken.com
A tour of beautiful homes in Historic Aiken, featuring a variety of kitchen designs and decor. Come enjoy samples from local caterers, beautiful floral designs, and inspiring table arrangements presented by Atlantic Broadband. Tour benefits Aiken County Habitat for Humanity Women Build Program. Tickets cost $25 and will be available to purchase beginning September 15th at the following sites: Aiken Office Supply, Cold Creek Nurseries, Herbal Solutions, Plum Pudding or their website at www.aikenkitchentour.com
Oktoberfest October 3, 2015 6 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Newberry St Festival Center Join us for the third annual Oktoberfest to enjoy authentic German music, delicious German food, and real German beer and wine! This is one event you do not want to miss! Admission is free.. The event is hosted by the Aiken Downtown Development Association, Aiken Young Professionals, and the University of South Carolina Aiken. Admission is free and will feature live music, traditional Bavarian treats, and even a large screen for viewing the big football games! For more information, visit www.downtownaiken.com.
An Evening in the 1800’s October 17th, 2015 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Aiken Historical Museum Join an Evening in the 1800’s at the Aiken County Historical Museum, as Kim Poovey an author, storyteller, and living historian transports you back in time to the 19th century. Enjoy a glass of wine/beer and wonderful hor d’oeuvres, sit back and listen to amazing music from Cathy Benedetto, and travel to the Victorian era with Kim Poovey. Catered by Deft Chef. All proceeds are tax deductible and go to the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor to find a cure for Essential Tremor.
Holiday Cup October 31, 2015 Aiken Horsepark The tradition of Steeplechasing continues in Aiken with the 24th Renewal of the Aiken Fall Steeplechase on Saturday, October 31, 2015 The Committee seeks your continued support in making the day worthy of Aiken’s sporting traditions and welcomes your participation for the benefit of the The Hitchcock Woods Foundation.
CELEBRATE ANY OCCASION WITH
Floral Gallery Our stunning arrangements are designed with care using the finest and freshest blooms and are guaranteed to last long after your special day. WWW.FLORALGALLERYONLINE.COM Send Locally! 1631 Whiskey Road, Mitchell Shopping Center Aiken, SC | (803) 649 - 7959 Owner/Designer Casey McKinney www.aikenwomanonline.com
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Professional
Meet
Alicia Kough “I am from a small town in central Pennsylvania called Huntingdon. It’s where I was born and raised, and I never thought I would leave,” Alicia Kough says with a smile. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Saint Francis University in nearby Loretta, Pennsylvania. Then, one day she was discussing changing jobs with her mother who was working in Aiken.
By Patti McGrath Photo By Deva Warren
“One of the reasons I love my job is because it allows me to have a meaningful impact on the lives of my clients.”
“My mother, who had been working for Edward Jones at that point for about ten years, encouraged me to look into opening an Edward Jones office in my hometown. We didn’t have an established office in Huntingdon, so I began to do some research on the firm and absolutely fell in love with the company. I studied, trained, tested and worked hard to build my business from scratch in Pennsylvania.” After several years, the possibility for Alicia to work at Edward Jones in Aiken became available.
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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating
Real
Women
“My mother, Sandra Kelly, had been working as the office administrator with Financial Advisor Cathy Griffis in downtown Aiken,” she explains. “When Cathy decided to retire, she invited me to become the successor of her downtown office. After much thought and consideration, my family and I gratefully accepted the opportunity. So, here we are!” “It’s great here; we love it” she exclaims. “There are so many wonderful things to do in Aiken. The people are lovely and welcoming and the downtown is always full of
Professional activity and events.” Since arriving here, Alicia continues to love her work. “I am new to Aiken but I bring experience with me,” she states. “One of the reasons I love my job is because it allows me to have a meaningful impact on the lives of my clients. I am excited to work for a For tune 500 company in a town like Aiken that doesn’t just say the client is first - they ensure that the client’s needs are the top priority. I have big city resources in a small office staffed with people who know the clients personally.” Alicia works with clients to develop their financial goals and implement a strategy to reach them. She helps both women and men but says women need to pay par ticular attention to their financial situation for several reasons. She explains “women are frequently
still paid less than men, they’re more likely to live longer, and often spend less years in the workforce in order to care for young children or aging parents. Statistics show women are less likely to par ticipate in a retirement plan at work, for a number of reasons,” she continues. “The financial services industry can be very complicated if you allow it to be. I love that I can help those who have put their trust in me, to experience this facet of their lives in the most positive way possible. Women are under-served in the financial advising world and I would like to offer my help to you today!” Alicia’s door is always open for those who need her advice. Edward Jones is a full-service brokerage firm, and “what that means is that we’ve got what you need,” she smiles. “I can provide assistance to clients looking to save
for education expense, retirement, estate planning or transfer of wealth, insurance needs and everything in between.” “I will serve my clients with the utmost honesty and will always put their needs first when making a recommendation for them,” Alicia promises. “I believe that my personal approach to doing business will always be what sets me apar t from my competition.” Edward Jones - Member SIPC Be sure to visit www.edwardjones.com and feel free to call to schedule your complimentary retirement readiness review (803) 649-5138. You’re welcome to stop by the office at 407 Hayne Avenue, Southwest, in downtown Aiken.
If You’re Leaving Your Employer, Do You Know Your 401(k) Options? At Edward Jones, we can explain options for your 401(k), including leaving the money in your former employer’s plan, moving it to your new employer’s plan, rolling it over to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) or cashing out the account subject to tax consequences. We can help you review your options so that you can select the one that’s best for you. If you decide to roll it over to an Edward Jones IRA, we can help.
To learn more, call or visit your financial advisor today.
Alicia S Kough, AAMS®
www.edwardjones.com
Member SIPC
Financial Advisor .
407 Hayne Avenue Southwest Aiken, SC 29801 803-649-5138 IRT-1948D-A-AD
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3
ENTARY
CELEBRATING, MOTIVATING, AND EDUCATING WOMEN
Real
The Woman Behind DNA Baskets
G
By Patti McGrath Photos by Mell Bella Photography
od had a plan for Angela Stoneworth, she just didn’t know what it was. “My grandmother and I owned a basket stand on Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant. It was there I perfected my skills as a basket maker. At nineteen, I married a military man and moved away from South Carolina. Long story short, eight years later, I returned with no husband, no money, devastated and confused. I was jobless with two babies and two suitcases. I had no idea what to do,” Angela exclaims. www.aikenwomanonline.com
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Let’s Talk Fortunately her mother, Albertha, took her and her children in, and Angela began making baskets again. Albertha began teaching her daughter the newer styles of baskets they were making at the time and Angela began selling her baskets to the basket makers in the City Market in Charleston. Times were hard as she began rebuilding her life but she says, “I remember one day I was making baskets in the midst of my devastation and hearing God say to me, ‘Lift up those beautiful hands!’ At that moment, I lifted up my hands and began to praise God and a peace came over me. I knew that my children and I were going to be alright.” God’s plan for Angela began with making baskets. Then, in March of 1996, Angela met a man named Darryl Stoneworth. He was from New York, but his mother was born and raised in Mount Pleasant. He loved visiting with his parents on vacations so he could meet his southern relatives. But, this trip to South Carolina was for a more permanent stay. His mother had taken ill in New York and wanted to come home. “Darryl came to SC to care for her and his 82 year old father,” Angela recalls. She met Darryl the day he arrived because she was the home attendant for his mother Ms. Lucille. “It was on my second and final day as home attendant for Ms. Lucille that destiny intervened. Darryl’s mother looked at us both and
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said, ‘Darryl, do you see Angie?’ He answered, ‘Yes ma’am.’ She said, ‘Angie, do you see my son Darryl?’ I said, ‘Yes ma’am.’ She said, ‘Darryl, she’ll make you a good wife!’ I didn’t know them well and thought it was quite strange for this woman to tell her son that I would make him a good wife. Little did I know that three years later we would be married and raising three beautiful children together.”
Time passed. Angela’s mother, Albertha, continued selling her baskets in the Charleston City Market and Angela would give her a few baskets to sell for her since she was staying home with her three small children. Then, in December 2008, Albertha had a stroke while selling in the Market and in May 2009, Darryl was laid off from his job.
Once again, God had a plan. “After talking it over, we decided to begin going to the market for my mother and ourselves. It was at this time Darryl took a real interest in sweetgrass baskets and the rest is history,” Angela states. “In fact, it was Darryl who came up with the business name, DNA Baskets. I thought it stood for Darryl and Angela’s Baskets, but my husband said it also represents the generations of my family who made sweetgrass baskets in America and our ancestral DNA of those who brought this rich cultural heritage from the west coast of Africa.” So, what is so special about sweetgrass basket-making? “Sweetgrass basketmaking is the oldest, living, African, handmade art form in America. It was originally used as a work tool with rice crops in West Africa and here in America during slavery,” Angela explains. “Sweetgrass baskets soon became an intricate part of daily plantation living. They were used for a variety of utilitarian purposes in the work fields of the plantations and were also as a vital part of everyday life in the plantation homes. They are made from two different leaves, long leaf southern pine needles and palm leaves, and two different types of grasses, bulrush and sweetgrass.” The best part about DNA Baskets is you don’t have to be in Charleston to buy one. Visit www.dnabaskets.com to shop or please contact them at (843) 442-4599 for their location. They would love to meet you!
Let’s Talk
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9
Professional
MEET
Linda Farron Knapp By Carol Ryall Photo By Deva Warren
“My husband tells people he supports my addiction to the law. I am one of those nerdy types who like to catch up on the latest journals and white papers on my vacation and have a hard time saying ‘No’ to a worthy cause that needs my legal skills,” stated Attorney Linda Farron Knapp. She continued, “But my biggest delight is not my clients or the law, it’s my daughter, Kimberly, and grandsons. She is a great mom, a devoted wife and employee, and those boys keep us in stitches!” Linda has been married four decades to her high school sweethear t, Dennis, an engineer at the Savannah River Site. “The years have been good to us. Dennis and I have been blessed with challenges that required us to work hard and together. We moved 22 times, cared for my mother following a massive hear t attack followed by a stroke, and dealt with my stage 4 breast cancer in 2013. When 10
Celebrating, Motivating and Educating
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a couple is united by love, with the same values and commitment, marriage is a lifelong journey of discover y and joy.” Dennis also helps out on Fridays, evenings and weekends when she needs someone to witness a signature for her clients. In turn, she has been his producer for community theater productions of “Inherit the Wind”
Women
which was performed in the renovated Barnwell County Cour thouse, “Twelve Angr y Men” which helped raise monies for legal ser vices for the poor, and “I don’t live there any more”, a musical based on the moving of Old Ellenton for the building of the bomb plant. Currently she is helping with production of the musical “1776”, based on the writing of the Declaration of Independence.
Professional Attorney Knapp believes there is no balancing when it comes to running a business and her family obligations. Family comes first, then when client matters do demand some sacrifice of time and
problems. I have offices in both Aiken and Barnwell and spend most Tuesdays and Thursdays in Aiken. I see clients by appointment only, although my associate Richard Duerinckx, who is also a USC Law School graduate, will still take a walk-in at the Barnwell Office when he is able.“
Our firm mission statement recognizes our common Christian values in how we handle our jobs competently and deal with clients compassionately.
Linda writes the column Boomer Briefings for the Aiken Standard on probate, estate planning, elder and disability law issues as a community ser vice, and has aided a number of nonprofits with formation or reorganization, and obtaining their 501(c) (3) recognition from the IRS. She has ser ved on the SC Bar Solo/Small Law Firm Council and as its Chairwoman. She has taught young attorneys about the ethical and business side of practicing law, ser ved on other Bar committees, and assisted a wide variety of organizations in Aiken and Barnwell Counties. Clearly, Linda Farron Knapp is a busy lady, who ser ves both her family and her community well.
attention, there are no hard feelings. Linda extends this philosophy of protecting family time to all members of her staff. “Other than Attorney Duerinckx, my staff (Teresa Bowers, office manager/bookkeeper, Dana Turner, paralegal, and Linda Kennedy, legal assistant) all work par t-time. This gives their work hours enough flexibility to cover their families’ needs. Our firm mission statement recognizes our common Christian values in how we handle our jobs competently and deal with clients compassionately.” Linda stated, “I have an AA from Napa College in California. I went back to work on my BA in pre-law at Youngstown State University in Ohio.” Linda clerked for SC Supreme Cour t Justice Jean H. Toal in her third year at USC School of Law, and then worked at a general practice firm for nearly a decade before deciding she really wanted to focus her law practice solely on elder and disability law. She helped star t the SC Legal Ser vices initiative in these areas and wrote a book on Informal Probate in South Carolina. “The Knapp Law Firm focuses on estate and long term care planning, as well as guardian and conser vatorships, VA Aid and Attendance and Medicaid benefits, SS and SSI disability appeals and special needs planning, probate administration, family law and small business matters. These areas of the law area are interrelated and having a solid knowledge of each allows us to help clients through most www.aikenwomanonline.com
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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating
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Women
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Robin Carpenter says her most important role is that of a mother. 14
Celebrating, Motivating and Educating
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Raising a
Celebrating the Survivor in You!
Hero
By Lori Duncan Photos By Mike Guinto - Combat Camera.
hen I realized that I wanted to interview Robin Carpenter, it was totally selfish of me. I wanted to know what kind of woman raised such an unselfish hero as Kyle Carpenter: a man who is credited with using his body as a shield to protect fellow Marines. William Kyle Carpenter (born October 17, 1989), also known as Kyle Carpenter, is a medically retired United States Marine who received the United States’ highest military honor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in Marjah, Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2010. According to Wikipedia, Carpenter is the youngest living Medal of Honor recipient. Although I am not sure I was successful, I tried to articulate to Robin the reasons I wanted to interview her. As a mother of four and a woman who loves my country, I appreciate what her son did. I am grateful for his and his fellow Marines’ service. I also appreciate the sacrifices that our military service men and women, as well as their families, make on a daily basis. So who was this woman who raised her to son to be the kind of man who would willingly place himself in harm’s way to protect someone else? Robin Carpenter is the mother of three boys. She is an employee of Lexington Medical Center at the Irmo facility as an x-ray technician. However Robin says her most important role is that of a mother. Easy going and down to earth, talking with Robin was like chatting with one of my neighbors. Robin says when she found out she was pregnant with twins, she was so excited. “Kyle helped us raise them. He is such a good brother.” It was interesting to me as I talked with Robin about the twins that they chose to attend different high schools.
That said to me that Robin was the kind of mother that supported her children’s decisions to be their own people and nurtured each of them differently, focusing on their individual needs. Now, all three of Robin’s sons are college students. Kyle is at USC and the twins, Peyton and Price, are at two other schools. Peyton is at Tri-County and will hopefully be transferring to Clemson in the fall and Price is at the Citadel. Robin says family is her first priority. She is very close to her mother and sisters and lots of nieces and nephews. “Extended family is very important to me.” Robin explained to me that they were not a military family. Her boys didn’t have grandfathers or uncles who served. Kyle didn’t even grow up with a military father. However, she was not surprised that Kyle did what he did when the details of that day starting coming to light. “That is just who is he. He was always the kind of person who would protect others.” From the story Robin recounted, I got the impression that it didn’t matter who needed his protection, he was willing to give it. So when Kyle came to her and his dad and said he was going into the Marines, Robin and her husband were not overjoyed. Now, don’t get me wrong. I got the distinct impression that Robin and her family are very much lovers of America. It was just unexpected. After talking with Kyle and one another, they both agreed to support Kyle’s decision. She never felt easy about his going, and she says she prayed every day for www.aikenwomanonline.com
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Celebrating the Survivor in You!
Kyle while he was away. When she learned of his accident, she wasn’t even shocked. It was like she knew something was going to happen. Time seemed to fly as I listened to Robin walk me through part of the process of learning Kyle was injured. Robin says there isn’t a single branch of the military that she has not had some dealing with since Kyle’s injury. “Everyone has treated us wonderfully.” Robin laughed and even gave me some helpful advice as she shared details of getting Kyle home and settled. I was fascinated with her mothering skills; I think in part because I have never felt more helpless in my life than when my child was in pain and I couldn’t help them. I remember when my oldest was four and he had a blister on his inner ear. For about twenty minutes he begged me to help him. I could only
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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating
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cry with him and hold him until the pain medicine kicked in. I remember the faces of the other mothers in the doctor’s office that day: tears streaming down their faces for a stranger’s little boy. Not because they loved my son, but because they loved their sons. I felt the same way about Robin. I felt as if I knew Kyle. I felt as if this woman was taking care of all of our sons. She was helping heal a part of all of us, because after all, Kyle was defending our freedoms. I prayed for him before I ever knew his name. I prayed for his mother after I knew his name. I asked Robin’s husband and her sons to share a little about her with us. Here is what they had to say. “On this upcoming Mothers’ Day, there is no more deserving mother than Robin Carpenter. While other Mom’s may have experienced more
Women
tragedy and grief in their life, none have exhibited more love and selflessness through it. “Much like Kyle never complained about the intense pain and discomfort he felt, Robin never complained about the emotional pain, loneliness, and helplessness she felt as a Mom. “Not only the inability to ease Kyle suffering, but also being away from her twin sons Peyton and Price for their birthdays and missing their school functions. “She was tired - but never showed it. “She was scared - but told everyone it was going to be okay. “She was lonely- but always spoke and encouraged every stranger she met at Bethesda Hospital. “Before Kyle left after 3 1/2 long years,
everyone at Bethesda knew Robin “Birdie” Carpenter. “She was petite- but don’t neglect taking care of her baby, Kyle. She learned quickly the squeaky wheel gets the grease. She was the mother- the mother that I admired.”
While other Moms may have experienced more tragedy and grief in their life, none have exhibited more love and selflessness through it. Price sent me this… “The only things I have to say about her is she is the perfect example of a mom. She would give up anything and everything for me or my brothers and without a second thought of if it benefits herself. She’s is completely sacrificial and anyone you talk to who knows her would tell you that.” Peyton had this to say, “She is the best mom I could ever ask for. She tells me every day that she is thinking about me
and that she loves me. She dedicates every second of her life to me and my brothers.” Kyle said this about his mother, “She brushed my teeth when my hands and arms couldn’t. Instead of having a comfortable bed, she slept in a hospital bed next to me so I could fall asleep. She loves me more than I can comprehend. She cooks dinner and cleans everyday so we can have good meals and a clean house. She checks in daily with my brothers and me to make sure we’re ok. She is the rock of our family. Happy Mothers’ Day, Mom! I love you and thank you for always being there and helping me to become the man I am today.” After listening to her husband and sons, what else can I possibly write about Robin Carpenter?
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Stories from the Heart
“I don’t know how useful his story is, but I will continue to tell it.”
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A iken Woma n c e l e b r a te s th e s u r v i vo r i n yo u Real Women
Celebrating, Motivating and Educating
Celebrating the Survivor in You!
Keeping Kolten’s
Memory Alive
P
atty Johnson wants all parents to know what she and her husband Kurt did not know until it was too late. On the morning of September 3, 2014, Patty found their 4 year old son Kolten unresponsive in their home. In the midst of her panic, she was able to dial 911 and receive help with administering CPR until the first responders arrived. Upon their arrival, they were able to get a heartbeat and a pulse, which gave Patty hope. Patty would hold onto that hope until they arrived at the hospital. Kolten was rushed to Trident Hospital in North Charleston where he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Patty recalls, “We were floored. I couldn’t understand how a perfectly healthy 4 year old could be in this condition virtually overnight.” Within an hour of arriving at Trident, Kolten was transported to MUSC where he was declared brain dead after all day testing. Kolten’s body had gone into Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) and he passed away shortly before 7:00 am on September 4, 2014. The Johnsons didn’t know anything about Type 1 Diabetes prior to Kolten’s death. To their knowledge, no one in their family or circle of friends is living with T1D. When Kolten began exhibiting some of the classic signs of T1D in late August, it never occurred to Patty or Kurt because they were unaware of the signs and symptoms. Like many parents, they explained away his excessive thirst to the dog days of late summer in the South. It was only natural that he would frequent the restroom more because he was drinking so much. And because he was eating more than usual, they were not concerned with his weight loss. Like a typical boy, he played hard and had a hearty appetite. Looking back now, the first signs of something being seriously wrong with Kolten began less than 24 hours before Patty found him unresponsive. He had complained of not feeling well and had begun vomiting the previous morning. He was able to eat some crackers and a popsicle and stopped throwing up during the day. When he went to bed around 8:00 pm that evening, he began throwing up again. At this point, the Johnsons made a decision to take him to the doctor the next day. Tragically, Kolten never made the 10:30 am appointment with his pediatrician. That is just how quickly the onset of Type 1 Diabe-
TEAM KOLTEN tes occurs and can quickly become a dire situation. Type 1 Diabetes often presents as the flu, a stomach bug or strep throat and is easily missed by parents and even the medical community. After Kolten passed away, Patty and Kurt felt they needed to get their younger son tested for Type 1 Diabetes. Kale is now enrolled in the Trial Net program that screens for Type 1 Diabetes as will his new sibling that is due in July. Trial Net is comprised of an international network of researchers who are exploring ways to prevent, delay and reverse the progression of type 1 diabetes. It was through Trial Net that the Johnsons heard about JDRF. JDRF (formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) is the largest charitable funder of Type 1 Diabetes research and also one of the largest sources of support for newly diagnosed families. Since connecting with JDRF, Patty and Kurt have found a renewed source of hope. “The wonderful people at MUSC gave us some information about the JDRF. I felt very strongly that I needed to focus on something to keep me sane. I didn’t jump right into it. I was and still am very much grieving. After a couple of months, I started to think about participating in the JDRF walk. I felt it necessary to share Kolten’s story to that community. If anyone
was going to understand, it would be them.” In March of 2015, the Johnson’s formed Team Kolten and participated in the Charleston JDRF Walk to Cure held annually on Daniel Island. The children’s play area at the walk was named, “Kolten’s Korner” and dedicated in his memory. “We felt so blessed to have so many people not only walk, but donate in Kolten’s honor. It will always amaze me just how good people are. We had such an outpouring of support after he died, and that support continued months later at the walk. I do believe that we have made people aware of this disease that wouldn’t have been.” Realizing that awareness is key, Patty and Kurt have decided to share Kolten’s story to help save lives. “I don’t know how much Kolten’s story can help anyone else, but I don’t want him to have died in vain. If just one family can prevent this from happening by knowing the signs (no matter how faint they may be), then he didn’t die in vain. I will always wonder if I had seen them for what they were, would Kolten be alive. If I had taken him to the doctor when he started drinking a lot, would he be alive. I’ll never know the answer to these questions, but maybe someone won’t ever have to ask them. It is extremely hard for me to talk about him and how he died, but I have to. I feel that by not talking about it, I’m not honoring his life and death. He existed. He www.aikenwomanonline.com
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Celebrating the Survivor in You! matters. If I tried to put it behind me without sharing, I just don’t feel like I’m honoring him. This is my way of keeping his memory alive.” Patty thinks the best way to inform parents about Type 1 Diabetes is during the early check-ups after birth. “There is no need to scare parents, but like every other life threatening disease, we as parents, should be informed. There should be a check list at the
time of check-ups. There should also be testing at least once a year. It’s not difficult, and as I now know, could save lives. We are told about food allergies, why not this?” Patty also feels it’s important that parents be keenly aware of the signs and symptoms of T1D and not dismiss them. “Kolten was a very active child. He was in preschool the year
before and the year he died. He played T-ball in the spring of 2014. He took swimming lessons the whole month of June. He also played soccer for a couple of weeks right before he died. In fact, his first soccer game was supposed to be that Tuesday night that he got sick. Not to mention a whole summer of swimming, and playing outside. I feel the need to share this because these are all reasons we weren’t too concerned about his increased thirst. It being August in the South, it was also very hot. That being said, now knowing what I know, any parent should have an increased concern if their child does show this sign.” For now, the Johnsons are still very much grieving the loss of their son and trying to find a new normal for their lives. They want to stay involved with JDRF and be a part of finding a cure in Kolten’s memory and for their other children. “Everything about Kolten is important to me. I don’t know how useful his story is, but I will continue to tell it. I also don’t know what it’s like to have a child live with Type 1 Diabetes. I do know what it’s like to have a child die from it. From what I’ve read and heard, it’s an extremely hard disease to live with. Children shouldn’t have to live with this. It’s horrible. I really don’t know why I don’t hear about it as much as other diseases. I pray for a cure.”
PATTY AND KURT Warning signs of T1D may occur suddenly and can include: • Extreme thirst • Frequent urination • Drowsiness or lethargy • Increased appetite • Sudden weight loss • Sudden vision changes • Sugar in the urine • Fruity odor on the breath • Heavy or labored breathing • Stupor or unconsciousness *source www.jdrf.org For more information about Type 1 Diabetes and getting involved with JDRF, visit www.jdrf.org For more information about Trial Net, visit www.diabetestrialnet.org Beth McCrary is a freelance writer living in Lexington, SC who is passionate about raising awareness of Type 1 Diabetes. She serves as the Advocacy Team Chair for the JDRF Palmetto Chapter and is mom to Hannah, T1D Warrior since 8/21/08.
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Love Where You Live
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Nancy’s knowledge of Aiken helps her clients find the special places they call home. Homes that nurture memories, and make the good life in Aiken even better. Will it be a home in a golf course community, an historical dwelling downtown, or an equestrian property? To find your home in Aiken, contact Nancy at (803) 295-3424. Vice President
nancy@nancycerra.com www.NancyCerra.com
Proudly Supporting Our Community Achieving and sustaining financial success requires the stability and commitment of a financial partner you can trust. We take pride in being that partner that serves our community offering a full line of personal and business products to help meet any financial need. Call us at 803.649.4240 in South Carolina or 706.738.6990 in Georgia or stop by any of our conveniently located branches and find out what we can do for you!
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Susan Yarborough Aiken County Executive Vice President
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HERLONG
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Your Future Doesn’t Have to Feel Uncer tain Planning for the future can be intimidating with so many variables to consider. As women tend to outlive their husbands, it is important for couples and individuals to make plans for the future. A good financial adviser can help a client to feel safer and more secure about his or her financial future. By addressing risks, an adviser can help to eliminate fears. At Herlong & Doran Financial Group, our advisers offer a holistic approach to managing personal wealth through insurance, investments, and tax strategies. Though they are not accountants or attorneys, the advisers at Herlong & Doran can review tax reports and legal documentation to make sure that applicable planning issues are addressed. New York Life Insurance Company also has talented planning professionals on staff who can offer ideas and strategies for client consideration. Another one of our planning resources is Eagle Strategies, LLC, which oversees our financial planning and investment advisory services. Our financial planning process includes an initial meeting to gather data and to understand a client’s concerns and objectives. Our professionals affiliated with Eagle can then design a plan best suited to a client’s needs. Once a recommendation has been made and agreed to by the client, the plan is then implemented. An adviser will periodically review the plan with the client to make sure goals are being met and any major life events are being considered. Thomas Herlong, a financial adviser since 1993, has been in the Johnston area for just over 22 years. After recently partnering with Andrew Doran, the financial group has expanded into the Aiken area. Herlong & Doran Financial offers personal planning including life insurance, longterm care insurance, disability income protection, retirement planning, fixed and variable annuities, and college planning. They also offer estate planning and business succession planning. Herlong, managing partner of Herlong & Doran Financial, explains, “Our mission is to align our clients wealth with their values. We accomplish this by taking a holistic approach with each of our clients. We help educate our clients so that they make sound financial decisions no matter the
stage of life. At Herlong & Doran Financial Group, we offer trusted counsel to affluent individuals, business owners and executives who value customized and proactive financial planning. By leveraging our industry expertise, fact-based analysis and client collaboration, we can provide long-term peace of mind through thoughtful consideration of each client’s individual needs.” Herlong is among a small group of financial advisers trained to use the Financial EKG process, which follows clear and concrete steps to aid in the development of a customized plan to meet client objectives. This process targets proper asset allocation and finding the balance between pretax and post-tax allocation strategies. Herlong is a life member of the Million Dollar Round Table and member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Professionals. A Clemson graduate, Herlong still lives on the family farm in Johnston, South Carolina. Doran, a graduate of the University of South Carolina Aiken, was recently named “New Org Agent of the Year” by New York Life for the Charlotte General Office for 2013. He is a consistent New York Life Council Qualifier, which is reserved for the leading agents in the company. He is also a qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table. Doran began his career as an agent with New York Life in 2010 and is proudly a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Professionals. MDRT is recognized throughout the industry as the standard of excellence in life insurance sales performance. Herlong & Doran Financial Group, LLC, is located at 424 Calhoun Street in Johnston and at 2210 Woodside Executive Court in Aiken. Find out more at www.herlonganddoran.com or call 803-275-5090. Registered Representative offering securities through NYLIFE Securities, LLC., (member FINRA/SPIC) 6100 Fairview Road, Suite 400, Charlotte, NC 28210 (B) 704-371-8500 *Financial Adviser offering services through Eagle Strategies LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser. The Herlong & Doran Financial Group, LLC is not owned or operated by Eagle Strategies LLC or its affiliates.
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Professional
I spent many nights alongside my mother who worked in a nursing home. I remember having the feeling of ‘I GET to go to work with my mom today!’, and that is the attitude I have had in my 20 plus year career as a geriatric nurse. I have always felt a great sense of honor to be able to make a difference in the life of an older person.
Karen Poteat of Aiken Active Seniors
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Karen Poteat knew as a child that she wanted to work with seniors when she grew up. “I spent many nights alongside my mother who worked in a nursing home. I remember having the feeling of ‘I GET to go to work with my mom today!’, and that is the attitude I have had in my 20 plus year career as a geriatric nurse. I have always felt a great sense of honor to be able to make a difference in the life of an older person. “As I continued to work with seniors, though, I kept noticing two groups of seniors who I felt were underserved in our community: older seniors who, in spite of having some challenges due to advanced age or mild decline, still wanted to socialize and stay active and seniors with dementia whose families wanted to care for them at home, but also wanted them to be engaged in meaningful activities and have social connections outside the family. There just were not many options for these seniors nor their families so I decided to find a solution myself.” In 2013, after years of planning, Karen opened her unique senior day center, Aiken Active Seniors. Poteat’s goal is to give older seniors and those living with dementia a better way to spend their days. “We took the bare bones adult day care model and added a warm ‘friend’s house atmosphere’, purposeful activities designed not just to pass the time but to improve quality of life, and created an inviting social club for our seniors.” Aiken Active Seniors offers two thoughtfully planned programs to meet the diverse needs of seniors. SeniorFIT is a social club for older seniors who don’t want to just sit in their recliners all day. This program of fun, thoughtfully planned activities helps older seniors and those with mild dementia remain physically and mentally strong while enjoying the compa-
ny of other seniors. SeniorFOCUS is an affordable Dementia Care program that provides caregivers a much-needed break while engaging their loved one in structured, purposeful activities that can help slow the decline associated with dementia. “These programs allow us to help families stay together while maintaining a high quality of life and give seniors something that they can really look forward to each week.” Karen’s senior day program has been recognized nationally and was recently awarded SCORE’s American Small Business Championship Award. The local community supported Aiken Active Seniors through online voting, and then, the National Board for SCORE chose the center as one of its 102 winners across the United States. Poteat said, “I am constantly working to improve my business so that I deliver the highest quality service to our families. Being recognized nationally by an organization like SCORE for our innovative programs and sound small business decisions has reinforced my determination to continue to strive for excellence in providing senior care to Aiken families.” For more information on Aiken Active Seniors, visit www.aikenactiveseniors.com or call 803.226.0355. You may also find Aiken Active Seniors on Facebook.
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M E E T ALAN GLOVER By Patti Kimsey Photo By Deva Warren
Were you one of the many disappointed when the Sears in Aiken closed its doors? You weren’t the only one. Alan Glover, who had been the store’s general manager since March of 2007, was there when the company closed its doors in April 2014. It was especially hard for considering Alan had spent many years of his career in numerous positions with Sears. “I started working at Sears in 1987 in Oklahoma doing basic maintenance. When my dad retired from the Air Force, our family moved to Boca Raton, FL and I transferred to the Sears there. While there, I was given my first management opportunity, but it required me to move to a new store opening in Aiken, SC,” he remembers. “In October of 1989 I moved to Aiken to open the Sears store at the new Aiken Mall. I was the visual sales manager. While there I met my wife Jessica and we married in 1991. The same year I was transferred to open a new mall in Rock Hill, SC.”
Sears Hometown is a combination of the old catalog stores and the retail store. “We have the ability to get anything a Sears store can get, but we can do some things they can’t. For example, we can work with builders and developers and help them with bulk purchases. We can give much more personal service here,” he states. “We have lawn mowers, lawn tractors, and Craftsman tools. We can do the Craftsman tool exchange and if we don’t have it, we can go straight to Craftsman and have it sent to your home. We have Sealy mattresses, and of course, our main items are our appliances.” The reception to the store in its first six months has been amazing, and now the store has just been remodeled to add more even more appliance brands. Alan enjoys telling people that this isn’t Chicago’s Sears; this is Aiken’s Sears. Visit him and his staff at Sears Hometown in Mitchell Shopping Center today!
After a couple more moves and job changes, he eventually made his way back to Aiken and to Aiken Sears. So, when the Sears that he helped open in Aiken closed, he and his wife had to decide what their options were. He didn’t want to move to another store. “Aiken is the best place I have ever lived. I love the culture and history, and that I never know who I am going to meet,” Alan explains. “People from all over the world either visit or live here. When you combine this with the people who have been here for generations, it makes Aiken a well- rounded place to live.” He didn’t want to work for the competition either, so he contacted Sears Hometown and began doing research, and it felt like the right decision. “The fact that I could own the store, be more involved in the community, work with builders, etc. made the idea attractive to us. These are all things I could not do while running a corporate store,” he says. “My wife and I discussed all the aspects of opening a new store and decided to do it!” He contacted a few former Sears’ associates and about six months ago open Sears Hometown in Mitchell Shopping Center on Whiskey Road. “We are focused on customer service and what we can to meet their needs. We take pride in doing what the competition won’t do,” Alan exclaims. “For example, we had a female customer buy a lawn tractor. We helped her find the one she was most comfortable using that fit her needs. When we delivered it, we stayed with her while she tried it for the first time to make sure she was comfortable using it. Later, she responded to a survey complimenting our sales associates who handled the delivery, saying she’d recommend us as a female friendly store.”
Alan Glover Owner
AIKEN (803)226-9035
1551 Whiskey Road Aiken, SC 29803
Mon-Sat 9AM-7PM Sun 12PM-5PM
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Enjoy a Resort-Style Retirement Without the Sticker-Shock Choosing a retirement community shouldn’t feel like a car dealership. At Cumberland Village you will not suffer from sticker-shock:
» NO Expensive Buy-In » NO Non-Refundable Application Fees » NO Long-Term Commitment Finally enjoy your retirement in one of our independent patio-homes or apartments with all our resort-style amenities and services!
(803) 643-0073
3335 Wise Creek Lane | Aiken, SC 29801 Cumberland-Village.com
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Resort-Style Retirement Communities Can Be Affordable By Dougal Kear of Cumberland Village We all dream of the day we can retire and move to a resort community that is beautiful and comfortable with no “to-do� lists as everything is taken care of. There are many retirement communities out there that will provide all that and more. However, with many requiring retirees to buy-in and take an ownership stake in the community, a fee that may run hundreds of thousands of dollars plus you still must pay monthly fees for upkeep, meals, and utilities, many retirees believe that dream is financially out-of-reach. There are retirement communities, like Cumberland Village in Aiken, that are all rental units with no large buy-in required. For those who still want a home, two-bedroom, two-bathroom patio homes are available, or for those wanting to downsize even further, they can choose a studio, one or two-bedroom apartment. All are available on a rental basis with no buy-in, application, or other administrative
fees. You just pay month-to-month so you can keep your savings in the bank or in other investment vehicles. While the monthly rental rates at retirement communities may be higher than traditional rental units, you need to look at all the amenities and services you will be receiving for that monthly rate, and compare it to what you are already paying now for expenses and upkeep of your current home. You need to add-up what you currently pay for property taxes, home owners insurance, water, sewer, trash pick-up, landscaping, pest-control, groceries, dining out including gratuities, cleaning supplies, interior and exterior maintenance, major home repairs, entertainment, health club memberships, gas, and if you still have a mortgage, add that in too. Then, compare all that to what the monthly
rent will be for the home or apartment you desire at a retirement community and find out what is included. At Cumberland Village, the monthly rent includes meals, water, sewer, trash removal, landscaping, pest-control, housekeeping, linen service, all maintenance and repairs, local transportation, access to all resort amenities (indoor pool, two fitness centers, library, 24-hour concierge, free social hour with entertainment, on-site barber/beauty salon, daily activities), and for our apartments, electric is included too! So, take a look, compare, and you will find that a resort-style retirement is affordable. So, don’t delay; start to finally enjoy your retirement today. Cumberland Village is a resort-style retirement community located in Aiken, South Carolina. For more information about Cumberland Village, visit Cumberland-Village.com or call (803) 643 - 0073. www.aikenwomanonline.com
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Both Locations have Flu Shots in Stock! $29.99
Medicare part B patients are covered at 100%...
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Serving Aiken’s families for 28 years. 803.649.1776 333 Newberry St., NW 803.648.1776 110 Price Ave.
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VOL 1, NO 4 COMPLIMENTARY
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Did you miss our Spring issue? Find previous issues online:
Mary and Ron share their “Labor of Love” for the real shares her live Gamecock Nettles
Cherie inspirational journey
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at LIFE
aN
EMES EXTR overs KEOVER make MA several personal feature We – from ! in this issue landscapes health to
M OO ZEA TON H
pounding local Com Meet your of Custom ders, LLC Pharmacist n Compoun Prescriptio
FAITH G the NGINwith CHA FOUR NELS Your Mind and YOUR LIFE Daniel and Stephanie discuss the recent diagnosis of their son weight Achieve long term management by changing your diet your habits, NOT
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MOVE FORWARD Merging Diagnosis & Pain Relief SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
November is Pancreatic Cancer Month
William E. Durrett, M.D.
Anesthesiology, Perioperative Medicine, & Interventional Pain Medicine
aikenpain.com | 803.642.6500
PLANNING A SUMMER VACATION?
Don’t Forget to put the Family Car on your “TO-DO” List! Prepare your vehicle for the road trip, with our
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Health & Wellness
THE MYSTERY OF DYSLEXIA By Ann Whitten, M.Ed., Aiken Learning Lab
S
ara was a happy, imaginative preschooler who loved people, drawing, riding horses, and listening to stories. In kindergarten and first grade, she was talented in math but could not remember letter names and sounds, sight words, or how to spell her last name. By the end of first grade, Sara was crying about homework, struggling with reading, and no longer wanted to go to school.
Because it is a language-based difficulty, students often have related problems with acquiring vocabulary, comprehension skills, and in writing. One in every 5 people, or 20% of the population, is believed to have dyslexia.
Matthew sailed through his early years of school. He spent hours building imaginative creations with Legos and was an exceptional soccer and baseball player. Reading wasn’t easy, but he memorized many common words and used pictures to help guess others. When reading a passage that he had not heard before and that did not have pictures to illustrate the text, he guessed words based on the first letters and confused similar looking words (what and want, expect and expert). In the upper elementary grades, Matthew was a slow and choppy reader who overlooked punctuation and did not phrase text well. He was unable to break a long word into recognizable chunks. Reading was exhausting and avoided whenever possible. Matthew felt embarrassed, struggled with his work, and had behavior problems at school.
• Learning to speak and pronouncing words clearly. • Learning the alphabet, numbers, and days of the week. • Distinguishing similar-sounding words. Rhyming words.
Sara and Matthew are typical of children who are identified as having dyslexia. Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological-- meaning that the reading, spelling, and language difficulties typical of dyslexia originate in the structure of the brain. These difficulties are not due to laziness or motivation. A person with dyslexia has difficulty recognizing words quickly and accurately and has poor spelling and decoding skills. Decoding means using phonics and syllable patterns to help read unknown words. People with dyslexia have difficulty recognizing individual speech sounds within words, and learning that sounds can be blended together for reading and pulled apart for spelling.
Signs of dyslexia in preschoolers may include difficulties in these areas:
In the early school years, parents and teachers may observe difficulty: Naming letters, learning letter sounds and blending sounds into words. Recognizing and remembering sight words, vocabulary, or spelling words Using phonics to help with decoding unknown words, (just guessing words). Reading orally with good accuracy from age-appropriate books. Showing confidence and interest in reading. Learning to copy, spell, and write sentences. From upper elementary through high school, students may demonstrate earlier weaknesses and also struggle with: • Understanding humor, puns and idioms. • Reading aloud (slow or inaccurate) or silently with good understanding. • Feeling confident and interested in reading. May “hate” to read. • Remembering sight words and new vocabulary words. • Accurately analyzing unfamiliar words (tending to guess using the context). • Reading words and letters in correct order, reversing or skipping over them.
• Understanding word problems in math. • Breaking multisyllabic words into smaller “chunks” or syllables for reading. • Misreading or omitting little words, adding words into the text. • Mastering spelling rules and spelling words consistently and correctly. • Understanding complex text. • Generating ideas, organizing writing, taking notes, and proofreading. • Learning a foreign language. Failing to learn to read defeats dreams and closes doors to opportunities that an otherwise talented student might pursue. Students with dyslexia have minds that process information differently and in unique ways. Researchers are studying the extraordinary strengths that exist in this type of brain structure. People with dyslexia are found in many creative professions and have the potential to be future entrepreneurs, scientists, artists, actors, musicians, engineers, physicians, and writers. We cannot afford to waste their talents. It is critical for students with dyslexia to receive intervention early in their school experiences. Researchers have consistently demonstrated that most struggling readers can be brought up to grade level in basic reading skills if appropriate teaching is provided early, with sufficient intensity, and for a long enough time.
For more information on dyslexia, learning disabilities, and effective remediation see: SC Branch of the International Dyslexia Association, www.scbida.org and Learning Disabilities Association of SC, www.ldasc.org.
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Health & Wellness
A Healthier Lifestyle is Now at Your Fingertips Wellness portals offer information with a few easy clicks Taking steps to improve your health and weight can be a personal and sometimes overwhelming process. The amount of readily available information today is vast and ever changing. Scientific studies are often conflicting about which nutrition regimen or exercise program is the most effective. From fad diets to magic pills, it feels impossible to know where to turn and which source to trust. WE – Women Enlightened for Better Health – is a program created by Aiken Regional Medical Centers to help women take charge of their lives by providing them with resources to make informed decisions about their overall health. The Aiken Regional Medical Centers website features two informative and easy-touse portals where women can find health and weight-loss information in the comfort of their own home. The Taste of Wellness Portal at www.aikenregional.com/wellness has a number of features. The portal is easy to navigate, with user-friendly tabs to identify the various sections. Women can learn ways to beat stress, tips for disease prevention and find healthy recipes with step-by-step videos they can share with their
friends on Facebook. Weight-loss surgery can be an uncomfortable topic to discuss, even with a physician. The Weight-Loss Surgery Portal, located at the Weight Loss Support section of Aiken Regional’s website (www.aikenregional.com/ weightloss), allows women to explore surgical options privately and learn about the steps involved before and after surgery. They can also find recipes for every meal of the day and exercise routines.
LIV® Breast Self-Exam Aid promotes more accurate self-exams While many people think of breast cancer as a disease that strikes women later in life, the truth is breast cancer can develop in any woman, at any age. The LIV® Breast Self-Exam Aid helps women perform a more accurate self-exam. The LIV is a gel-filled touch enhancer that helps women more easily detect changes or lumps during breast self-exams, which they can report to their doctor. The LIV Self-Exam Aid is not a substitute for normal clinical breast exams and mammograms, but it enhances the ability to detect abnormalities – and it is a way for younger women who are not old enough for mammograms to be proactive in their breast health. Join WE and receive a free LIV Aid!
A free health program for
women in the Aiken community
The LIV aid is just one of the benefits of joining WE – Women Enlightened for Better Health -- a free women’s health initiative offered by Aiken Regional Medical Centers. WE is a unique program created by Aiken Regional to empower women of all ages to live their best life – in the best of health. WE membership provides guidance, support and care navigation to women as they make health decisions for themselves and their family.
WE membership includes these benefits: Personalized outreach from Women’s Health Nurse Navigators. A nurse navigator assists members in accessing healthcare providers and obtaining referrals. They also provide health information and help members take advantage of Aiken Regional’s full range of services, such as support groups, community resources and educational programs. New-member orientation and tour. New members can learn about the complete benefits of the WE program by attending a new-member orientation. Members meet Women’s Health Nurse Navigators, receive a full explanation of WE benefits, learn about the LIV Breast Self-Exam Aid, and more. A healthy meal and facility tour are included. Price reductions on Aiken Regional-sponsored educational classes. Health news updates. At aikenregional.com/we and through email blasts, Facebook page and WE updates in Aiken Regional’s Quality of Life quarterly newsletter, get the latest health and nutrition information, fitness class schedules and information on exclusive members-only events. Programs for members. For women of all ages — WE has seminars and activities suited just for you. To learn more or to become a WE member, call 803.641.58WE or visit www.aikenregional.com/WE. Physicians are on the medical staff of Aiken Regional Medical Centers, but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Aiken Regional Medical Centers. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians.
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www.floralgalleryonline.com
www.knapplawfirmpc.com
Smith Massey Brodie Guynn & Mayes PA..... 30
Health Services
www.smbgm.com
Aiken Regional Medical Centers....... Back Cover www.aikenregional.com
Automotive Services
Synergy HomeCare.............................................. 31
Auto Tech, Inc............................................................6
www.synergyhomecare.com
www.aikenautotechinc.com
Hearing Associates of South Carolina............. 32
Wayne’s Automotive & Towing Center............ 32
www.hearingassociatesofsc.com
www.waynesautomotivecenter.com
The Pain & Brain Center.................................... 32
Pharmacy Aiken Family Pharmacy....................................... 30 www.aikenfamilypharmacy.com
Photography Deva Andrews-Warren Photography............... IFC www.deva-warren-wrdd.squarespace.com
Real Estate Nancy Cerra........................................................... 20 www.nancycerra.com
Resturants Red Bowl................................................................. 12 www.redbowlaiken.com
www.aikenpain.com
Banking
Carolina Heart and Vascular Center................ 30
Georgia Bank & Trust.......................................... 21 www.georgiabankandtrust.com
Home Services
Retirement Living Cumberland Village............................................... 28 www.cumberland-village.com
Aiken Flooring........................................................ 12 Dentist
www.aikenflooring.com
Alice D. Hale.......................................................... 31 www.dralicehale.com
Hotels
Dr.Tal Wilkins......................................................... 32
Wingate.................................................................. 13
www.aikendental.com
www.wingatehotels.com
Education
Insurance
Carolina Academy of Music............................... 12
State Farm Hannah Clark.....................................6
www.carolinaacademyofmusic.com
www.SFagentHannah.com
Financial Planning
Pets
Edward Jones............................................................5
Veterinary Services............................................... 30
www.edwardjones.com
www.aikenpetvet.com
Salons Salon Trale............................................................... 13 Studio South........................................................... 13 Shopping Sears Homestore.................................................. 27 Transportation Best Friend Express.............................................. 13 www.bestfriendexpress.com
www.aikenwomanonline.com
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A Personal Note
A
nother season of baseball is over for us at the Duncan household. Of my three sons, Colton is our baseball player. Trey started for a few years but chose football when he was eight. Ryan started at five but preferred soccer. Colton began his baseball journey when he was four. At the community YMCA, it was a fun experience. For his five-year-old season, we moved to Lexington Recreation and so began the next seven years of baseball. Colton loves the game of baseball. He loves his teammates and coaches. He will be the first one to tell you who the “good guys” are (in his humble opinion, of course!) He is that guy who just loves the game. No doubt he will be the kind of man who plays for our church softball team one day and coaches his son or sons in Little League. When he was seven, Colton had a coach who shaved his head for cancer. That inspired Colton. Later, when he heard me talking about a little girl with leukemia, he decided he wanted to shave his head to raise money and help her family. We had a big party at Snip-Its in our community and invited the community to come out and support the cause. That same year, he broke his wrist and was out of baseball for half a season. Seven seasons of games provide many memories, both good and bad. I’ve witnessed parents screaming at their children after we lost games. I saw a 10-year-old pitcher cry, as he stood in front of parents and friends being berated by his father. I watched other parents scream at children who didn’t even belong to them because they made a bad play or struck out. Baseball was ugly at times and beautiful at others. I watched coaches who never raised their voice, and I watched coaches who screamed to hear themselves scream. I also watched coaches who encouraged our sons to do their best. The last two years we have been privileged to be with a set of coaches who are outstanding. Guys who love baseball almost as much as their sons love it. Or, perhaps, they love baseball because they love their boys so much. Last year we won the championship game for our division. We had some superstars on our team who went on to play for the high school teams this year. There were some returners on our team for this season, but no one stood out as being a phenomenal baseball player. There were lots of good solid players, but no superstars. This year’s team has been, by far, my favorite team to watch play. It seemed when some of our solid players had a bad day, some of our other players stepped up and made a great play or hit a deep ball and scored some needed runs. This little team with no “superstars” won every single game. There were close calls. I remember a game when a player was injured on the other team. It was scary for the boys and parents to watch, but we rallied and won. In fact in three games we came back from a deficit to win the game. We had two Jacks on our team, and two Jacksons, Zane, Mason, Colton, Braden, Carson, Bryce, and Alex and they played for Academy Sports. We made it to the championship again this year. In the first game of the tournament, the coach’s son was injured. This young man was the heart of our team; a good player, a better person. I never witnessed him be anything but respectful and kind. My son told me once that Braden was a friend to everyone. He said even when the other boys might be inclined to pick on someone or be unkind, Braden never participated. Our whole team went down with Braden when he injured himself at first base, and we lost the first game of the playoffs.
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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating
Real
Women
A Personal Note
I should back up and tell you this year the parents were the best, as well. Baseball parents aren’t like football parents in my experience. Baseball is an individual sport as well as a team sport. Parents cheer differently at baseball games. In baseball, most people tend to cheer only for their sons. I like to cheer for all the kids (but, especially for my boy, of course.) These parents were exceptionally sportsmanlike. I never heard one of them say anything ugly (at least not out loud) when someone struck out, and we needed them to get a hit. I never heard a dad yell at anyone but an umpire. Bryce’s dad had this great “radio voice”, and he would yell for all of our children. He knew each of them by name. He would encourage every hitter, every pitcher and his own son, (who was a good solid player) as well. On several occasions I witnessed him leaving the ball park with his arm over Bryce’s shoulder, both of them smiling. Good job, Dad. We won game two. Braden returned with a cast on his arm, cheered on his teammates and stood with his face to the field encouraging his friends. He came back to see his team, and his father win a championship. Game three we won again, and the title was ours, for the second year in a row. We won because we were a group of eleven boys who played as a unit; not because we were a team full of superstars. When one couldn’t produce, another player did exactly that. They also had a coach who cared more about them as individuals and giving their best effort than just winning games. Don’t get me wrong. Clete Cordero likes to win. My husband and I met Clete when Colton did, so my interaction with him is just the parent of baseball player that he coached for two years. You remember the scripture that says, you will know a tree by the fruit it bears? Well, I feel safe to say he is a Christian. I know that he is a hard worker who loves his son. I know he loved to see those boys win. You could see it in his expression, and you could hear it in his words. Sometimes he would get upset because they had worked on something at practice, and it didn’t materialize in a game. He would take his hat off and mutter under his breath, or he might call a player out. But, he would also be the first one to encourage a player. He would yell at the top of his lungs to tell him what a great job he did on a stealing a base, or making a huge play. I heard him say every child’s name multiple times during the season when his words were encouraging and affirmative. A coach holds a lot of influence over our sons and daughters at this age. A good coach or a bad coach can have an immense influence on a young person’s self-image. We have been lucky to have men who understood their influence and were careful of how they used it. Coach Clete, Coach Cash, and Coach Anderson really made these last two seasons fun for our boys. Baseball is a great sport with many good memories attached to it for me. I used to watch the Braves play with my dad. I took the kids to Major League games when we were in Atlanta. I saw Glavin and Smoltz and Chipper Jones play when they were in their prime. That was exciting, but my all-time favorite baseball player is number 12. He is 12 years old. He has blonde hair and blue eyes and a smile he is always ready to share. He has a lot of his father’s characteristics, and he is strong-willed like his mother. Some people wait a lifetime to meet their favorite player. Mine calls me Mom. Congratulations to all the baseball players finishing up the 2015 season. Hope to see you next season at the ballpark. Until Next Time, Your Friend
Lori Samples Duncan
Good teams become great ones when the members trust each other enough to surrender the “me” for the “we.” -Coach Phil Jackson www.aikenwomanonline.com
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A Healthier Lifestyle is Now at Your Fingertips
NOW OFFERING WELLNESS PORTALS FOR HEALTHY LIVING. The Aiken Regional Medical Centers website now offers two exciting portals to help you live a healthier lifestyle and manage your weight in the convenience and privacy of your own home. Featuring informative articles, nutritious recipes and tips for weight loss and exercise, the Taste of Wellness Portal and the Weight-Loss Surgery portal offer easy navigation to learn more about: • Tips for stress and disease prevention • New fitness routines • Exercise before and after weight-loss surgery • Recipes, including videos you can share on Facebook is a FREE women’s health initiative created by Aiken Regional Medical Centers to empower women of all ages to live their best life, in the best of health.
Become a member and receive a FREE LIV® Breast Self-Exam Aid. or visit Call 803.641.58 www.aikenregional.com/ .
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