Healthy Living September 2014

TEST YOUR BEAUTY IQ

The truth behind 10 common myths

GOOD KIDS DON’T JUST HAPPEN

Few jobs are more harrowing than raising a teen

TO STRETCH OR NOT TO STRETCH

Stretching can improve your overall health

Limbstitute has made giant strides utilizing the latest techniques and technologies to improve limb health—but the first steps are yours. Simply put, the Limbstitute was created to save legs. We provide comprehensive vein care and incorporate

the latest technologies—closing off veins with radio waves for example—to get the best results. We’re also wound care specialists and experts in artificial skin grafts. We do whatever it takes to save a limb and give a patient their life back.

TomTran PA-C, MPAS • Phlebologist

MikeRichards PA-C, MPAS • Phlebologist

Leading – Edge Treatments Of Macular Degeneration Diabetic Retinopathy

Mid Florida Eye Center is giving patients new opportunities for restored sight.

DEDICATED RETINA INSTITUTE

Mid Florida Eye Center’s Retina Institute has been selected for high-profile clinical trials.

TWO RETINA SPECIALISTS

Dr. Shawn C. Wilker has joined Lake County’s first retina specialist, Dr. Ray D. Maizel, to bring additional breakthroughs in retinal eye care to Central Florida.

ADVANCED OUTPATIENT VITREORETINAL SURGERY IN A CONVENIENT, COMFORTABLE OUTPATIENT SETTING

Mid Florida Eye Center’s Surgery Center of The Villages offers advanced vitreoretinal surgery, a revolutionary procedure that allows patients a faster recovery and improved comfort.

MACULAR DEGENERATION SPECIALISTS

The two Doctors are also available to provide leadingedge treatments to patients with retinal diseasessuch as macular degeneration, retinal detachments, and diabetic retinopathy.

Visit Mid Florida Eye Center’s Retina Institute to learn how these and other recent breakthroughs could change your life.

Ray

Maizel, M.D. Shawn C. Wilker, M.D.

FEATURING 26 COURAGE

September 2014

Courage often isn’t glamorous or dramatic; it takes a strong character and a firm passion to follow one’s heart and act instead of react to fears and uncertainties.

2014 er and a firm to follow one’s heart and act rt a uncerta

This month, “Healthy Living” features people who remained brave in the face of adversity.

This month, Livin emaine adversity advers

WRITERS: JAMES COMBS AND SHEMIR WILES

C MBS S EMIRHEM S COMB

CONT N CON INUED

HEALTHYBODY

SHAPE

38 STRETCHING: THE TRUTH With these exercises, focusing on flexibility won’t be a stretch.

WRITER: TRACY DRAPER

LOOK

42 THE TRUTH BEHIND 10 COMMON BEAUTY MYTHS

Don’t be fooled by some of the things you hear.

WRITER: RUTH ANN BYRD

HEALTHYMIND

RELATE 46 KNOW YOURSELF TO KNOW OTHERS

Understanding your personality type can help you appreciate people’s differences.

WRITER: ROBERT H. BLANCHETTE, ED.S.; M.ED.

HEALTHYSPIRIT

PARENTING 50 THE COURAGE TO PARENT TODAY’S TEEN

Raising a good kid can be done with a little love and wisdom.

WRITER: MARY ELLEN GRIFFITH

GUIDANCE 52 COURAGE IS EVERYWHERE … EVEN WITHIN YOU

There is more to being brave than meets the eye.

: RICHAR M.D., FACS

FINDING COURA THE RIGHT T urageousness ?

WRITER: RICHARD BURG B.A., M-DIV

IN EVERY ISSUE

10 EDITOR’S LETTER

12 MEDICAL MYSTERIES

14 HEALTH MATTERS

18 HEALTHY INSPIRATION 60 CALENDAR

66 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

HEALTHYFINANCE

Your partners for life

Samuel J. Goss, D.O., FACC, is one of our invasive cardiologists at Cardiovascular Associates of Lake County. He specializes in cardiovascular disease, and performs various procedures in the diagnosing and treatment of heart disease, such as Diagnostic Catheterizations, Nuclear Stress Testing, Cardiac P.E.T. and Echo-cardiography. He is one of 6 cardiologists on our staff performing Targeted Endovenous Therapy, a radio-frequency ablation procedure for the treatment of varicose veins.

As one of the oldest and most experienced private cardiology practices in Central Florida, at Cardiovascular Associates of Lake County, we are dedicated to bringing innovation in cardiovascular care to our patients. Since 1992, we have been your partners for life.

Courage is on display all around us, if we just take the time to look.

Rita Corsair taught me that truth 40 years ago.

Grandma Rita knew courage. Her husband was a fall-down drunk; she was crippled in a terrible auto accident; she worked in a home for troubled teenage girls and at a mental hospital.

I didn’t know all those things on the day she saved my life.

Grandma Rita came to live with us after the old man drank himself to death. Living alone wasn’t an option. Her left leg was badly deformed. It actually had a dent that nearly ran from kneecap to ankle. That leg looked like an unbaked loaf of bread, sliced from end to end. Her right leg wasn’t much better.

Grandma Rita spent a lot of time in her room doing crossword puzzles.

I never thought of her as courageous … until she rescued me.

One day, I decided to mow the narrow crest of the hill with the John Deere rider instead of the push mower like I was supposed to. And I got stuck trying to turn around — couldn’t go forward or backward. And the parking brake didn’t work. I decided to jump off and let the mower roll down.

Seemed like a good plan. But as I tried to jump off, the rider careened down the hill quicker than I could shout, “I’m a moron.” At the bottom, it flipped over, pinning me underneath 568 pounds of Moline, Illinois, pride.

I struggled to wiggle free, but couldn’t. As the muffler burned skin off my leg I screamed with all my might, though Grandma Rita was the only one home.

I screamed and screamed.

And then I heard her. “Oh, my God. Oh, my God.”

I remember thinking, “How did she get here?!” Her walker was useless on a driveway of crushed rock and ground littered with twigs, butternuts and gopher holes. Somehow, Grandma Rita hobbled 80 yards.

Through her tears, she tried to lift the riding mower. As veins I had never seen appeared on her neck, I pulled my pinned leg free.

Grandma Rita was in bed for two days and bruised for two weeks, but proudly bore the discolorations like the badges of courage they were.

This month, Healthy Living salutes courage.

By the time you reach the back cover, you should know how to find your inner courage. It’s in there. It’s in all of us. We just have to liberate it.

Until next time, Gary Corsair

Comments or questions for our editor? Please email gary@akersmediagroup.com. Our goal is to provide you with the best quality publication, so your feedback is vital.

KENDRA AKERS publisher/editor-in-chief kendra@akersmediagroup.com

DOUG AKERS vice president doug@akersmediagroup.com

JAMIE EZRA MARK chief creative officer jamie@akersmediagroup.com

EDITORIAL // DESIGN // PHOTOGRAPHY

GARY CORSAIR executive editor gary@akersmediagroup.com

SHEMIR WILES senior staff writer shemir@akersmediagroup.com

BOB TENNANT copy chief bob@akersmediagroup.com

MARY ANN D ESANTIS editor-at-large maryann@akersmediagroup.com

JAMES COMBS staff writer james@akersmediagroup.com

FRED LOPEZ chief photographer fred@akersmediagroup.com

STEVEN J. CODRARO creative director steve@akersmediagroup.com

JOSH CLARK senior designer/advertising josh@akersmediagroup.com

ANTHONY CASTO senior designer/editorial anthony@akersmediagroup.com

MICHAEL GAULIN production director michael@akersmediagroup.com

RHEYA TANNER designer rheya@akersmediagroup.com

MATTHEW GAULIN photography assistant matt@akersmediagroup.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS//PHOTOGRAPHERS

ROBERT H. BLANCHETTE, ED.S RICHARD T. BOSSHARDT, MD, FACS RICHARD BURGUET

RUTH ANN BYRD

ROBERT AND THOMAS FROSS

MARY ELLEN GRIFFITH

FRED HILTON

MORGAN ELLIS

SALES // MARKETING

TIM MCRAE vice president of sales and marketing tim@akersmediagroup.com

MIKE STEGALL senior account representative mike@akersmediagroup.com

ANDREW AKERS account representative andrew@akersmediagroup.com

MELANIE MELVIN director of client services melanie@akerscreative.com

HEIDI RESSLER account representative heidi@akersmediagroup.com

AUBREY AKERS production coordinator aubrey@akersmediagroup.com

DEBRA MATLOCK account coordinator Deb@akerscreative.com

ADMINISTRATION

TINA MORRISON office manager tina@akersmediagroup.com

BRITTANY BUELL administrative assistant brittany@akersmediagroup.com

DISTRIBUTION

SCOTT HEGG distribution manager scott.hegg@akersmediagroup.com

SNAKEBITE? RANDOLPH SCOTT CAN’T HELP

WRITER: FRED HILTON // PHOTO ILLUSTRATOR: ANTHONY CASTO

As 12-year-olds, my buddies and I would troop down to the local theater every Saturday to see the matinee, which consisted of two movies, a newsreel, two cartoons and the latest Superman serial.

The cost for admission was 12 cents and, yes, that makes me older than dirt.

The matinee always included at least one cowboy movie. In most of the westerns, some nice cowboy would be bitten by a monstrous, nasty-looking rattlesnake. The victim would writhe in pain and appear to be getting very close to Boot Hill. Then the cowboy hero — usually played by Randolph Scott — would spring into action. He’d whip out his trusty Bowie knife, carve a neat “X” right below the wound, suck out the venom-infested blood and spit it on the sagebrush. The snake-bitten cowpoke would miraculously recover, presumably to live happily ever after.

I never thought I’d need Randolph Scott’s venom-removal skills until I moved to Florida, where alligators and poisonous snakes play rock-paper-scissors to see who gets to gobble up the next tourist. Scary signs at rest stops warn of poisonous snakes and, if you’re older than dirt, you never met a rest stop you didn’t like.

Does the venom-sucking trick really

work? The definitive word on dealing with poisonous snake bites is “Bites of Venomous Snakes,” written by three physicians and published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine. One of the three, Dr. Robert A. Barish, said “the evidence suggests that cutting and sucking, or applying a tourniquet or ice, does nothing to help the victim.” Dr. Barish is an emergency room physician and associate dean of clinical affairs at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. “Although these outdated measures are still widely acclaimed by the general public, they may do more harm than good.”

So what do you do if someone is bitten by a poisonous snake?

“Go immediately to the hospital,” says the website of Reptile Gardens in South Dakota. “Antivenom is the only effective treatment available for treating snakebites.”

The best thing for snake bite is your cell phone: call 911 immediately.

Sucking the venom from a wound may actually make things worse. The Pennsylvania State University website says “… when an individual places their mouth over the site of the bite, their saliva further contaminates the wound and makes it harder to treat (not to mention, the individual also runs the risk of inadvertently allowing venom to enter their bloodstream if they have any small cuts in their mouth).”

This borders on blasphemy, but it seems that Randolph Scott was wrong.

FRED HILTON spent 36 years as

Source continue: Pennsylvania State University website; http://sites.psu.edu/rclbaskin1213/2013/03/19/if-you-get-bit-by-a-poiso nous-snake-you-shouldtry-and-suck-the-venom-out-fact-or-fi ction/; “Don’t Suck a Snakebite, Experts Dispel Snakebite Remedy Myths,” by Charlotte E. G rayson Mathis, M.D., Women’s Health, WebMD.com; http://www.webmd.com/women/news/20020802/dont-suck-snakebite; “Snake Bite Urban Myths: What You Shou ld Not

Do If You are Bitten by a Snake,” by Steve Thompson, Yahoo.com; http://voices.yahoo.com/snake-bite-urban-myths-not-if-you-10748 0.html

the chief public relations officer/spokesman for James Madison University in Virginia and 10 years as a reporter and editor for The Roanoke Times in Virginia. He is now happily retired in The Villages with his interior designer wife, Leta, their Cadillac Escalade golf cart, and their dog, Paris. (Yes, that makes her Paris Hilton).

BE ON YOUR GAME

With college football and the NFL in full swing, many will spend their weekends sitting comfortably in recliners, cheering their favorite team. To avoid being sacked by calories, tackle those temptations for greasy pizza and fat-filled potato chips and try healthier game-day options.

• Make small sandwiches from lean ground turkey or grilled chicken.

• If you’re going to make dip, use a low-fat dairy products such as sour cream, Greek yogurt or cream cheese as the base. Then add spinach or finely chopped vegetables.

• Make nachos with baked, whole-grain tortilla chips. Use lean ground beef and low-fat cheese and then top the nachos with fresh vegetables.

• Fire up the grill and make steak kabobs with peppers and onions. This flavorful, low-fat treat is also high in protein which will satisfy the meat lovers at any tailgate party or backyard barbecue.

Sources: livestrong.com/article/511230-healthy-snacks-for-a-football-game-party/

FEATURING DR.FRANK BONO

TUESDAY SEPT 2ND AT 4:30PM Comfort Suites

1202Avenida Central, Lady Lake

Seating limited! Reserve today!

RSVP: 352.205.7923 x400 Bring your x-rays & MRI’s for a complimentary consult

“I was walking a mile by the end of the week and by week three I was riding my bike. Now I’m living my life again!”

MEDICARE & OTHER INSURANCES ACCEPTED!

Over 30,000 patients treated & 12,000 surgeries performed.

NATIONALLY FEATURED IN

DR. FRANK BONO + DR. JAMES RONZO BOARD CERTIFIED, FELLOWSHIP TRAINED

READ … URGENT

An urgent care center opened July 1 on the Leesburg Regional Medical Center campus. The facility features diagnostic tools such as X-ray and laboratory services, and patients needing a diagnostic assessment before a scheduled surgery or procedure can have all their screenings performed under one roof.

This is another example of Central Florida Health Alliance’s ongoing efforts to improve patient services.

“We’re growing along with our community, and we are dedicated to doing so in a meaningful, efficient and sustainable way,” says Bill Pfingsten, vice president of ambulatory services. “We’re excited to bring the community a beautiful urgent care center staffed with an experienced and talented medical team that has onsite access to the tools they need to deliver the best care in the area. We believe this addition to our campus will significantly improve convenient access to quality care for the residents of Leesburg and the surrounding area.”

NOT SO FAST

The more fast food we consume, the more we become a super-sized society. The following statistics offer proof.

$100 BILLION is the amount Americans spend at fastfood restaurants each year.

DID YOU KNOW? September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. In 2012, more than a third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

HEALTH TRENDS

Looking to sow the seeds of better health? Consider chia seeds, one of the latest health crazes. Many Americans eat chia seeds with yogurt and in oatmeal, smoothies and salads.

Chia seeds:

• Are an excellent source of fiber.

• Are rich in omega-3s.

• Help boost calcium levels.

• Help decrease blood pressure and triglyceride cholesterol.

• Contain manganese, which helps fight free radicals.

Sources: chiroone.net/bewell/why-chiaseeds-are-the-latest-health-craze

NOTHING TO SNEEZE AT

Edward Neuzil, owner of Allergy, Sinus and Asthma Family Health Center in Lady Lake, was recently inducted as a 2014 Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

“I love helping people, and that’s why I decided to become a nurse practitioner,” says Neuzil, who has more than 35 years of experience in the medical field. “Nurse practitioners provide a tremendous service in ensuring more people have access to medical care. A fellowship is an honor because it means colleagues across the country look at you as a leader in both the community and in the nation.”

Neuzil has owned his practice for 13 years. One of his greatest professional achievements is developing the Dr. Neuzil Irrigator to help patients who suffer from allergies and other chronic sinus conditions. The product is sold by retailers throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

1 MEAL at a fast-food restaurant contains all the calories you need in a day.

1 4

OUT OF

Americans eat fast food daily.

45 MILLION people around the world are fed by McDonald’s daily. That is more than the population of Spain.

Source: Cblog.partnersforyourhealth.com/Blog/ bid/85971/Shocking-Fast-Food-Statistics-YouShould-Know

Healthy inspiration

A POSITIVE SPIN FOR VETERANS

WRITER: JAMES COMBS

She went the distance, despite low-back pain, a tingling sensation in her left shoulder, numbness in her left foot and an “icy electricity” sensation in her hip.

Nothing could stop Tracy Draper from finishing a 35day, coast-to-coast bicycle ride and raising funds for wounded veterans.

A morning ritual motivated her to push through the pain.

“Before we hopped on our bicycles, we started every day by telling an inspirational story about a veteran who received help from Hope for Warriors,” says Tracy, a resident of Eustis. “Anytime I felt pain, I made a conscious effort to tell myself to shut up and keep pedaling. My pain was nothing compared to veterans who suffer physically from lost limbs or emotionally from losing friends on the battlefield.”

Tracy, 48, and six other bicyclists recently completed a 3,059-mile bicycle ride from Malibu, California, to Amelia Island, Florida. They raised more than $15,000 for Hope for Warriors, a nonprofit

organization that assists veterans who have sustained physical and psychological wounds during war. Tracy spent two years organizing the ride, which she affectionately named Ride Across USA.

“Doing this was very important to me because I have a deep appreciation for our military,” she says. “My father is a Vietnam veteran and my son is attending the U.S. Air Force Academy.”

Much like veterans who return home from war, Tracy and her team received a hero’s welcome as they pedaled into small towns across 10 states. They enjoyed police, firefighter and motorcycle escorts. The mayor of Augusta, Kansas, invited the cyclists into his home for dinner. And one appreciative woman — a complete stranger — presented the team with a $1,000 check.

“People would cheer for us and wave American flags,” Tracy says, tears flowing down her cheeks. “In one Kansas town, a pastor allowed us to shower at his home and then fed us dinner at his church.”

While cheering crowds warmed Tracy’s heart, one of

the most memorable moments of the journey occurred in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.

“Our team got split up due to the confusion of the mountainous terrain and I found myself riding alone for two hours,” she says. “During that time, I saw snow-covered peaks and wildflowers and heard the rush of a nearby river. It was a peaceful moment and helped me truly realize the impact our ride would have. I started signing ‘America the Beautiful’ and ‘How Great Thou Art.’”

The ride concluded July 8 in Amelia Island, where team members symbolically dipped

their front bicycle tires into the Atlantic Ocean. Tracy, who’s writing a book about the adventure, lost 9 pounds.

“I’m physically and mentally stronger,” she says. “You cannot complete a coastto-coast bike ride and come back weaker.”

Without question, though, personal health benefits took a backseat to helping veterans overcome deep war scars.

“Several years ago, I read that 22 veterans commit suicide each day,” she says. “Through this ride, we our giving our servicemen hope. Without hope, they may think life is no longer worth living.”

Photo courtesy of Tracy Draper

High-Tech Health Care

A group of trained surgeons performing minimally invasive surgeries with the use of robotic technologies.

Da Vinci robot features a magnifi ed 3D HD vision system and special instruments that bend and rotate equal to the human wrist. The features enable our surgeons to operate with enhanced vision, precision, dexterity and control, through a minimally invasive incision.

One of the many procedures performed is the treatment for GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease). The most common signs and symptoms of GERD are frequent acid reflux and heartburn.

For more information regarding this minimally invasive procedure, along with other surgical procedures performed by the group, please visit our website www.MidFloridaSurgical.com

Clermont

1804 Oakley Seaver Dr. Suite A

Clermont, FL 34711

352.243.2622

10000 W. Colonial Dr. Suite 288

Ocoee, FL 34761 407.521.3600

Exclusive CHARTER CLUB MEMBERSHIP

FILLER

It’s not too late to secure your Charter Club membership and discover all the places life can go at Brookdale® Place at Freedom Pointe! Our expansion of services now includes rental options for Assisted Living and Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care. Become a part of an exceptional senior living community that offers features and amenities including a comfortable, home-like environment, social connections, and dining experiences designed to promote daily moments of success. Charter Club membership benefits include:

• $1000 off the Basic Service Rate per month for six months

• 32 inch flat screen tv

• Ten hours of personalized living services including:

• Initial move-in

• Unpacking

• Furniture placement

Our expanded services now include a variety of financial and rental options for Assisted Living and Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care.

To become a Charter Club member, call (352) 750-1355, ext. 3127 today!

The Future of Eye Care Is Clear.

From routine eye exams to the latest innovative procedures such as laser cataract surgery and eyelid surgery, managed treatment of macular degeneration and glaucoma, even allergy immunotherapy – you’ll find the experience, know-how and one-on-one service your eyes deserve from our board-certified ophthalmologists and friendly, devoted staff.

Lake Eye’s skilled doctors have years of experience and countless successful surgeries and procedures that have repaired and restored the vision of thousands of patients throughout Central Florida.

Each of our offices has a full-service optical department with a stunning selection of brand-name frames and lenses, making us your one-stop destination for anything and everything your eyes need to get and stay focused, healthy and comfortable.

Correct and protect your eyes with a visit to Lake Eye – contact us today.

The clear choice for a lifetime of healthy vision.

The future of orthopedic surgery

Dr. Vrej Manoogian is the only doctor in Florida to offer this revolutionary tendon-sparing BioPro TKO knee implant

Dr. Vrej Kristapor Manoogian is offering the most advanced treatments available for hip, knee, and shoulder problems.

Dr. Manoogian is the inventor of the “Living Hip” total hip replacement. This is the most bone-conserving total hip available and has the ability to maintain bone integrity throughout the entirety of a patient’s life.

With regards to shoulders, Dr. Manoogian performs arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs through incisions only millimeters in length. He also performs a multitude of other completely arthroscopic shoulder treatments, open procedures, and, when necessary, total shoulder replacement arthroplasty.

When it comes to knees, Dr. Manoogian offers the TKO implant, a complete ligament-sparing total or partial knee replacement. He offers other surgical knee replacement procedures, as well. Rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach, he carefully examines the ligament and functional status of the patient’s knees to see which option would best suit the individual patient.

Dr. Manoogian’s treatment philosophy has been and always will be to proceed with the most conservative treatments available to restore function to normal or as normal as possible.

When we think of courage,

we may think of soldiers storming a hill, officers drawing iron on violent criminals or a firefighter carrying a helpless child out of a burning building.

These extraordinary individuals who masquerade as ordinary people are in every community … even ours.

g These extraor peop

But courage often isn’t glamorous, and the courageous look very much like ordinary people.

PHOTOS: FRED LOPEZ+MATTHEW GAULIN ILLUSTRATION: JOSHUA CLARK

Braveheart

As explosions continued, Tavares police officer Michael Woods aided injured employee

officer Michae

Gazing into the night sky, Cpl. Michael Woods saw propane tanks ignite into self-propelled rockets and heard them whistle in fl ight as they landed in every direction.

“Everywhere I looked,” he says, “I saw red molten missiles flying through the air like tracers.”

WRITER: JAMES COMBS sel lan lo a enforceme to violent deaths, su him more than witn

A law enforcement officer since 1980, Woods has responded to violent deaths, suicides and plane crashes. But nothing shook him more than witnessing the massive Blue Rhino propane plant explosion in Tavares on July 29, 2013.

“I’ve never been joined the Tavares P

“I’ve never been that scared in my life,” says Woods, who joined the Tavares Police Department 23 years ago. “I was worried whether I’d make it out of there alive.”

That fear did not hinder him from performing his job in a heroic manner. One of the first officers at the scene of the explosion, he responded to a report that someone had been hit by a vehicle on County Road 448. The injured man was Kaghy Sam, a Blue Rhino employee who was struck while trying to flee the plant.

That fear did no a manner O respo Cou Sam, a Blue Rhino e flee the “H His i left foot w Woodds “Hi like a pretzel H his a burned and h ser former eme CPR. Tha moments A propane Chevrole

“His left foot was positioned between his shoulder blades,” Woods says. “His femur was broken and his foot was bent like a pretzel. He was struck so hard by a Chevy Suburban that his shoes and hat were on the road. His skin looked burned and his pant legs were shredded. It was awful.”

As the series of fiery blasts continued, Woods, a former emergency medical technician, administered CPR. That’s when one of the most frightening moments of his law enforcement career occurred. A propane tank struck the right front fender of his Chevrolet Tahoe police vehicle.

“It fe “H have g Wo there, Medica secondLast S Valor for h conditions. receive, “I told our because I was officer have done what I

“It felt like I had been hit by an elephant,” Woods says. “Had it landed several feet higher it would have gone right through my windshield.”

Woods carefully loaded Sam into his Tahoe and drove him to the nearest command station. From there, the victim was airlifted to Ocala Regional Medical Center and treated for broken bones and second- and third-degree burns.

Last September, Woods was given the Medal of Valor for his bravery during extremely dangerous conditions. It’s the highest honor a police officer can receive, yet he remains humble.

“I told our chief that I should not be recognized because I was just doing my job,” he says. “I just happened to be the officer who was closest to this man. Anyone would have done what I did. There was nothing heroic about it.”

He’s all heart

WRITER: JAMES COMBS

Through faith, one can build a brighter future.

That’s something Tim Williams has learned during his strenuous battle with congestive heart failure.

The past few years have tested the 52-year-old Leesburg resident’s courage. Retaining water and ballooning to 424 pounds led to a 28-day hospital stay. Dressing himself was impossible without assistance from his wife, Spring. And he spent days in bed gasping for his next breath.

Odds are against him regaining any semblance of a normal life.

The 6-foot, 9-inch, 345-pound former college basketball player needs a heart transplant.

That in itself would require a miracle.

“Unless Shaquille O’Neal dies,” he says, “it’s going to be difficult to fi nd a heart for somebody my size.”

Spiritually, though, the gentle giant has already undergone a change of heart. He’s using what time he has left to make an everlasting impact on young men he inspires and mentors at a basketball camp.

“Through all of this, I had to learn to detach ‘self’ from my path and realize it’s my destiny to help others. I love myself more than ever because I’m willing to give every aspect of myself to make someone else’s life better.”

Heartbreaking reality

“Your blood pressure is ridiculously high. If you are not careful, you will someday have an enlarged heart.”

A doctor issued that warning to Tim in 1987 when his blood pressure registered at 190/130. The words barely fazed him because he was only three years removed from playing college basketball at Edinboro University in Pennsylvania.

Despite possessing laser-like focus on the basketball court, Tim was not

15 feet using a walker. I took my frustrations out on my wife. I feel bad about that because without her I would not be alive.”

He was forced to go on disability, a devastating blow to someone who spent much of his career passionately counseling youth in reformatories and juvenile detention centers.

Despite his hardships, giving up was never an option. In August 2013, he located a Tampa doctor who performs bloodless heart transplants. That was a godsend, because blood

formed a basketball camp for teenagers called No Days Off, or NDO. During the four-day camp, held at his home in June, he incorporated physical fi using equipment he purchased out of pocket. The four children in his camp range in ages from 12 to 15.

“I love using sports as an outlet to teach children because sports bring people together. I also encourage the kids to take a close look at me and I let them know they can prevent heart disease.”

mentally prepared to battle earlystage heart disease. It made little sense that a physically fit athlete in his 20s could possibly experience the onset of cardiovascular problems. Living a healthy lifestyle never became a priority.

The consequences followed later in life.

His life-changing moment occurred in January 2010 when he entered the Leesburg Regional Medical Center emergency room gasping desperately for air. Doctors diagnosed him with cardiomyopathy, a condition in which a heart enlarges and is unable to pump blood through the body. At age 48, he had a pacemaker implanted. The pacemaker’s effectiveness was limited, forcing Tim to live a miserable existence between 2012 and 2014.

“I laid around and did nothing. My legs and ankles were swollen because of all the fluid I retained. I was fortunate if I slept two hours each night or walked

transfusions confl ict with his beliefs as a Jehovah’s Witness.

“I’d rather die than receive a blood transfusion,” says Tim, who became a Jehovah’s Witness in 2003 and is a member of the Fruitland Park Congregation of Jehovah’s Witness.

He remains on the waiting list for a donor heart of the same blood type and size. Even if a match occurs, he’s left wondering how he’ll pay for expensive post-transplant medication. Meanwhile, he wears a tube around his arm that intravenously pumps Primacor, a medication that helps the heart contract. It’s improved his mobility and breathing but is only a short-term treatment for congestive heart failure.

Ray of hope

Tim realizes his life is not over; it has simply been redirected.

Because the Primacor treatments improved his quality of life, Tim

Tim also uses the camp to draw from his life experiences and help the teens avoid trouble. He was raised by his mother, Emma Williams, in White Plains, New York. He joined a gang and at age 12 was arrested for marijuana possession.

“I don’t want these kids to make the same mistakes I did. Because there’s so much pain and poison in the world today, I openly talk to them about life and encourage them to talk to me about their problems.”

Health permitting, Tim would like to expand the camp to seven days and fi nd a facility large enough to accommodate more children.

“Nothing I do is about me; it’s about my God. He is using me to be a positive role model for others. That in itself gives me hope. Without hope, I would be a terminally ill individual in despair.”

Tim’s heart is physically weak.

But spiritually, it’s stronger than ever.

“Unless Shaquille O’Neal dies, it’s going to be difficult to find a heart for somebody my size.”

‘Ova’coming cancer

Hospital group helps women fight the good fight WRITER: SHEMIR WILES

Six years cancer-free would have been a great reason to celebrate. After all, Karen Ingalls’ doctors gave her only a 50 percent chance of living for five years.

Recurrence, unfortunately, is always a possibility.

“I thought when I hit my five-year mark I was clear,” she says, “but you’re never really clear.”

Since February, when doctors discovered a 3-inch tumor in her abdomen, Karen has been undergoing chemotherapy. And while her hair is gone again, her courageous spirit never wavers.

Much of that has to do with the support she receives from her “sisters” who make up the Lake County Lunch Bunch for Gynecological Cancers support group.

On the second Tuesday of each month, the group

meets in the Cancer Institute conference room at Florida Hospital Waterman. They are survivors of, or currently battling, a gynecological cancer, which can include ovarian cancer, uterine cancer or even cancer that started in the breast and metastasized to the ovaries.

“We have women in all different stages of their journey,” says Karen (wearing white hat in photo). “And the beauty of that is we can share our personal stories and empathize on a level others may not be able to.”

Karen remembers her first fight with ovarian cancer all too well. It was 2008 and she went to her gynecologist for an annual pap smear. The doctor did a pelvic exam and found what felt like a tumor.

“So she sent me to have a CT scan and an MRI done,” Karen says. “That’s when they

found I had a tumor the size of a honeydew melon.”

Before being wheeled into surgery, the doctor informed her he wasn’t sure she had cancer. If the tumor were benign, the surgery would last only a couple of hours; if it was malignant, the surgery could take hours longer.

“I remember looking at the clock after waking up and bursting into tears because I knew my surgery has been a six-hour ordeal,” she says. “From there I had to undergo chemo and I incorporated some complementary therapies like yoga, meditation and qigong.”

While her battle wages on, Karen views every day as an opportunity to educate people about gynecological cancers.

“Ovarian cancer is a silent killer because most of its symptoms aren’t unusual: indigestion, bloated abdomen,

back pain, stomach pain. I went from a size 6 to a size 8 and I just thought I was gaining weight. I had a bloated abdomen, but I didn’t think much of it because there was no pain. I was still running around playing golf three to four times a week.”

Karen stresses the importance of knowing your family history and knowing the symptoms linked to ovarian cancer. She also reminds women that a pap smear can only detect cervical cancer, not ovarian cancer.

“If someone tells you that you don’t need an annual pelvic exam after menopause they are wrong,” she says. “Women have to be proactive when it comes to their health.”

Karen published a book chronicling her battle called “Outshine: An Ovarian Cancer Memoir” to help women with ovarian cancer.

At Promise Hospital of Florida at The Villages, “people” are paramount. We understand and appreciate the significant value of our employees and the important roles each of our staff members play in delivering quality patient care; we strive every day to be an excellent healthcare employer. We pride ourselves in hiring dedicated, passionate employees who share our company’s core values.

OUR DEPARTMENT MAKES “PEOPLE” OUR PRIORITY …

Shirley Daniel, Manager of Human Resources, left, and Kelly Robertson, Human Resources Assistant, with all the happy staff of Promise Hospital.

— JESSICA TERESKUN, RN

Are you someone who avoids the dentist because of fear or anxiety? Have you put off dental care for so long that you’re afraid you need significant costly treatment? John T. Murrell, DMD is a Mount Dora dentist who focuses on the treatment of complex dental problems. We understand the real fear some people have about visiting the dentist. Dr. Murrell offers oral conscious sedation to help patients overcome these challenges and get the dental care they need.

Dr. Murrell is very professional and caring. He really knows what he is doing. His staff is also very nice.”

— Beverly Pires

Rain or shine, good is always there. I don’t wait for something bad to happen to do something good. That’s why I offer things like free coverage checkups and rewards for safe driving. I’m here to help you live the good life every single day.

Sometimes the most powerful medicine in the world is the simple comfort of home

BODY

SHAPE // LOOK

STRETCHING: THE TRUTH 38 THE TRUTH BEHIND 10 COMMON BEAUTY MYTHS 42

SHAPE

STRETCHING: THE TRUTH

WRITER: TRACY DRAPER

Were you one of those kids who could slide right into a split? Maybe or maybe not. Either way, we won’t be doing any splits in this demo, but be encouraged that anyone, at any age, can begin stretching and, by doing so, improve their overall health. The demonstrations this month can revitalize you if you incorporate them into your day. Surely, you can take three to five minutes to try them; you just might become hooked once you feel how relaxed your muscles are.

HAMSTRINGS

For this exercise, you can have a partner help you or use a doorway to be your resistance.

START POSITION: Hold onto a chair, take a giant step backward with one leg and press your heel into the ground.

HOLD IT: Maintain position for 20–30 seconds before changing legs. Repeat each side 2–3 times.

TRAINER’S TIPS

• Adjust your back leg as needed to keep your heel on the floor.

• To stretch your hamstrings, simply shift your weight to the back leg, straighten out the front leg and flex your foot toward you. Feel the stress leave your body.

MUSCLE GROUPS TARGETED: calves

Start position

Second position

STAY-AT-HOME SALLY

A young mom at home with her kids gets plenty of exercise just chasing them, right? Not necessarily. The stresses of being a stay-at-home mother are real and sometimes quite intense. Here are some things Shelly can do to make the most of her time at home:

STAY

HYDRATED

Your muscles are made up of 76 percent water. When muscles become dehydrated they lose their ability to contract and relax properly, which leads to cramps and poor flexibility. Fruit smoothies and protein drinks can help you stay hydrated. These deliver high-quality, easily absorbed nutrition along with lots of water.

Source:http://www. livestrong.com/ article/553776-the-bestfoods-for-stretchingmuscles-in-yoga/

• Just as children need a schedule, so does Mom. When the kids are napping or enjoying quiet time after lunch, stretch away some stress.

• During the day, teach the wee ones about stretching and get them to stretch with you. They will learn by your example.

• While sitting on the floor with the children, cross your legs “Indian-style” and gently turn your torso to the left and right, holding for five counts each way. Your hips, waist and lower back will get some muchneeded relief.

LOWER BACK

START POSITION: Sit on the edge of any seat with feet and knees together.

MOVE IT: Round your

TRAINER’S TIPS

• Go slowly.

back forward and slowly lower your chest toward your thighs.

FINISH POSITION: Cross your arms underneath the back of your legs and pull your chest as close as you can to your legs. Hold

for 20 or more seconds, allowing tension to leave your lower back. Slowly sit up, supporting your lower back by placing your hands on top of your thighs as you roll up.

MUSCLE GROUPS

• Relax your mind as you stretch by not thinking of work or other demands.

SHOULDER AND CHEST

START POSITION: Find a corner and place arms on the walls at chest height. Step one foot into the corner.

MOVE IT: Exhale and lean in slowly,

feeling the front of your shoulders gently stretching. Hold for 20–30 counts, breathing slowly the whole time.

FINISH UP: Step back in, lower arms a few

TRAINER’S TIPS

• Relax as much as possible when stretching. A tense muscle doesn’t stretch very well.

WRAP-UP

The benefits of stretching are numerous: relieving lower back pain, increasing circulation, improving range of motion, reducing stress and improving flexibility. Who doesn’t need

• Focus on deep, even breathing while stretching.

• If you ever feel pain, stop. What you

some relief from daily muscle tension?

With these simple exercises, you can easily get out of your seat, walk away from your desk and get some instant relief. By incorporating these several times a week you will not just feel

TARGETED: multifidus, erector spinae

inches and repeat. You can also raise your arms a few inches above chest height to stretch a different angle of the muscle.

should feel is a gentle pull that is relaxing; it should never hurt.

better, but stand a bit taller and have less stress in your body.

MUSCLE GROUPS TARGETED: pectoralis major, minor and anterior deltoid

TRACY DRAPER is an AFAA-certified personal trainer with more than 12 years experience in personal fitness training. As a wife and mom, she discovered a few years ago that she could once again be an athlete as well.

BODY LOOK

THE TRUTH BEHIND 10 COMMON BEAUTY MYTHS

WRITER: RUTH ANN BYRD

1. MYTH: Shaving makes hair grow back thicker and darker.

TRUTH: Scientific studies have shown shaving has no effect on hair growth, color or coarseness. However, as shaved hair regrows, the tip will feel blunt because it has been cut. Notice how the hair on your head appears thicker after a haircut. Heredity and hormones do affect hair density and color. Puberty, pregnancy and menopause are the three stages of life when hair growth patterns are most likely to change. Hair growth can also be affected by some medical conditions and medications.

2. MYTH: Regular waxing will eventually cause hair to stop growing.

TRUTH: Waxing can sometimes damage hair follicles to the point where they stop producing hair. But in many cases waxing will make hair grow back thicker and deeper

because of the healing process that takes place in the traumatized follicle once the hair is ripped from its root. Waxing is the exact same treatment to your hair follicles as tweezing. Has anyone ever told you tweezing would eventually stop the hairs from growing? I mean, really?!

3. MYTH: Tweezing a gray hair makes two come back in its place.

TRUTH: There is no scientific data to back this one up. Sorry, but if you are caught in the downward spiral of graying hair, no amount of tweezing (or not) will change things.

4. MYTH: Nothing will make your pores smaller; you are stuck with them for life.

TRUTH: Skin gradually loses collagen and elastin with normal aging, causing it to stretch and sag. This laxity makes pores appear larger. Retinols and beta and alpha hydroxy acids

stimulate exfoliation and collagen production, which will gradually increase collagen and elastin and thus tighten skin and pores. Even better, there is new technology with lasers that will reduce pore size. See your local cosmetic surgeon or dermatologist for more information.Yes baby, we’ve come a long way!

5. MYTH: Everyone needs daily unprotected sun exposure to get enough vitamin D.

TRUTH: According to the Skin Cancer Foundation (skincancer.org), our body produces vitamin D when exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) rays (the sunburncausing rays), which are only present midday. Our bodies produce only a limited amount of vitamin D from UVB rays. Further, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays is linked to skin cancer, immune suppression, photoaging, cataracts and other health issues. Therefore the

Skin Cancer Foundation recommends obtaining vitamin D largely from food or supplements, while protecting skin from excess sun exposure.

6. MYTH: Caffeinated coffee causes rosacea flare-ups.

TRUTH: While this seems to be the case for many people, according to the National Rosacea Society, medical studies show it is not coffee or caffeine that causes exacerbation of symptoms, but rather the heat from this beverage.

7. MYTH: Blackheads are caused by inadequate cleansing.

TRUTH: Blackheads occur when the opening of a pore becomes clogged with dead skin cells that fail to shed normally. The normal shedding process is hindered by enzymes, which cause dead skin cells to cling to the lining of the pores. This problem is often coupled with

overproductive sebaceous glands. The sebum cannot exit the pore so it oxidizes, turning black. Surface debris can be scrubbed off but the pore remains clogged until the malfunction in the pore is resolved. The best way to prevent clogged pores is to apply topical salicylic acids to dissolve the enzymes that cause dead skin cells and debris to cling to the lining of the pores. Excess sebum production is best controlled by the use of topical retinoids.

8. MYTH: Expensive cosmetics work better than inexpensive cosmetics.

TRUTH: The price of a cosmetic has absolutely nothing to do with quality. There are many high-quality inexpensive products and many worthless expensive products and vice versa. It all boils down to the ingredients and formulation of the products, not the price.

9. MYTH: There are miraculous skin creams that work as well as Botox.

TRUTH: Unfortunately, there is currently no topical beauty cream that can begin to compete with Botox, which is injected directly into the offending

muscle, causing it to physically relax wrinkles and smile lines. Please note: I am wording this gently because Botox contains botulin toxin, which temporarily paralyzes muscles. Eek! Try not to think about this too much or you will never try it. My point is, if Botox were applied directly to the skin it could not penetrate sufficiently to cause muscle relaxation. The toxin must be injected directly into the correct muscles in the correct amount.

10. MYTH: Never use a facial cleanser because it strips your face of natural oils;

just splash your face with water twice a day.

TRUTH: High-quality facial cleansers are specially formulated to dissolve and exfoliate makeup, oils and dead skin cells while preserving the skin’s protective barrier. This paves the way for good penetration of serums and moisturizers.

RUTH ANN BYRD, owner of Aesthetic Skin Solutions in The Villages, is a licensed aesthetician specializing in skin rejuvenation and clinical treatment of sun damage, rosacea and acne. She is also licensed in electrolysis, laser hair removal and permanent makeup. She can be contacted at 352.874.3653.

RELATE KNOW YOURSELF TO KNOW OTHERS

WRITER: ROBERT H. BLANCHETTE, ED.S.; M.ED.

In June, I introduced you to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, a self-report inventory created during World War II to assess and determine 16 possible broad categories of personality types. In that issue, we discussed the significant role and influence of personality type as it relates to couple and family relationships.

Now, we’ll dig deeper into how a working knowledge of personality type helps us understand ourselves at a much deeper level. The fundamental principle behind the Myers-Briggs framework is to view and understand ourselves through the “lens” of our individual personality type. After understanding ourselves at a deeper level, we are in a better position to learn, appreciate and anticipate — as well as honor — differences in others.

People are very complex and have different personality types. Knowing yourself opens the door to understanding others and then, walking through the door, leads you to establish more successful relationships.

The Myers-Briggs framework addresses four personality types. Each is further broken down into two opposite preferences — one of which describes us better than the other.

• First, it assesses where you prefer to devote most of your attention and where you recharge your energy. This answers the question: “Are you introverted or extroverted?”

• Second, it asks how you prefer to take in information. This would

determine whether you are more oriented to “sensing” (focusing on what is more tangible and real), or to “intuition” (looking at the relationships between things and creating patterns between them).

• Third, it assesses how you make decisions. Do you prefer “thinking” (looking at the pros and cons) or “feeling” (basing decisions on personal values)?

• Fourth, it asks how you organize and deal with the outside world. It questions you on your preferences in terms of “judging” (living in a planned and systematic manner) or “perceiving” (exercising flexibility and spontaneity in most situations).

When combined, these four areas provide a useful representation of your personality type.

People tend to more fully develop behaviors, skills, abilities and attitudes associated with four of the eight possible preferences assessed by the MBTI. However, though we might have a particular preference, our personality types are adaptable: When the situation and circumstances require flexibility, most of us are quite capable of operating out of our preferred comfort zone and engaging the opposite preference as needed.

Developing self-awareness of how individual personality type operates is important and matters because it impacts everything we think, say

and do. It helps in accepting yourself and feeling good about who you are. Everyone does best when working with innate strengths. But we all can and do act outside our personality preferences.

In fact, knowing your personality type gives you the insights to address both areas of natural preferences and your blind spots — which tend to be associated with our opposite or “shadow” preferences.

Personality type is at the heart of good and bad relationships — both personally and professionally. It impacts group dynamics and helps form the culture of organizations. It is partially responsible for how we act in conflict, under stress and during times of change.

Aristotle was reported to have said: “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” Knowing who you really are and what makes you tick will help to fortify your courage to stand by and act upon your convictions in times of personal challenge and turmoil, instead of responding like a “flag fluttering whichever way the wind is blowing.”

Personality type is not the answer to everything, but just one more tool to help you grow, achieve and prosper in your life.

More information: personalitypage.com.

ROBERT H. BLANCHETTE, ED.S.; M.ED. is in private practice, providing educational psychology/counseling services in Lake County. He can be reached at 352.217.0131 or humcollab.b@comcast.net.

SPIRIT

PARENTING // GUIDANCE // MENCOURAGEMENT

THE COURAGE TO PARENT TODAY’S TEEN 50 COURAGE IS EVERYWHERE … EVEN WITHIN YOU 52 FINDING COURAGE TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS 54

PARENTING

THE COURAGE TO PARENT TODAY’S TEEN

WRITER: MARY ELLEN GRIFFITH

Let’s face it: Few jobs are more harrowing than raising a teen.

We parent in a digital age, when one bad choice can turn into a life-changing mistake portrayed on a global stage. Not to mention the daily negative influences our kids face, ad nauseum.

Reality TV shows that depict humans with the intelligence and values of baboons in heat rule prime time. We wring our hands over the temptation to text and drive as we watch a local news report about a “good kid’s” brilliant future thwarted by one single glance at a lighted cell phone. And sadly, even in Lake County, it’s as easy for kids to find and buy marijuana as it is a Snickers at the local Cumberland Farms.

So how do we walk that tightrope between letting teens discover themselves and their individuality, and keeping them healthy and safe? And doing that without burying them at 13 and digging them back up at 19?

With the courage to lovingly and wisely parent, that’s how.

It’s not easy, but running away from home is not an effective option for parents who want to raise kids who don’t end up on the FBI’s most wanted list. Anyway, that’s the coward’s way out. Here’s some stand-your-ground, but sensible, advice I have picked up about raising teens. It

only scratches the surface; however, it will hopefully slow the roller-coaster ride of raising a teenager long enough for you to catch your breath and remind them how much you love them.

SET CLEAR BOUNDARIES.

Dr. Steven Van Gelder has not only raised his own kids, but is also a local psychotherapist who helps adults navigate the choppy waters of teen parenting.

“The worst thing you can do is paint an adolescent into a corner,” Van Gelder says. Instead he suggests coming up with a “program,” part of which gives your teen a choice.

It works like this: Think of the privileges you provide that your teen can’t live without: a TV in his room; his own personal cell phone; perhaps a laptop. Then choose an “absolute.” If your son or daughter doesn’t meet your expectation, that privilege is revoked. Suppose while perusing your son’s Twitter account, you find he is using language that would make Richard Pryor blush. Let your son know you are delighted he enjoys social media, and you wish to continue to provide him with that benefit, but if he cannot use appropriate language, you will have no choice but to turn off his access to Wi-Fi and confiscate his cell phone.

You may find using this strategy can help avoid a household battle of epic

proportions even if you have to follow through with the consequence. After all, it was his choice. The good news for your teen is he can earn the privilege back by following the “program” you set forth.

STOP TALKING.

It is a sure guarantee an adolescent will avoid the truth like the plague if you act as judge and jury every time he or she tries to share it with you.

Relish the fact your kid trusts your judgment enough to come to you in the first place. Listen without criticism. Your teen may simply be processing information and will come up with the appropriate answer on his own. If you do feel a need to respond, do it without judgment. Use statements such as “my experience with this is ...” or “my concern with this choice is ...” that include when their behavior has affected you. If you have signed a contract with your son that you will pick him up from a party, so he doesn’t drive home drunk, no questions asked, live up to your part of the contractual obligation. No questions asked. Stay quiet. There’s no need to go into the dangers of teenage alcohol abuse. He knows. That’s why he called you.

AND MOST OF ALL REMEMBER LOVE.

Sometimes when Mr. or Miss I-Know-It-

All-And-You-Are-The-Biggest-Idiot-on-thePlanet goes into rebellion mode, we tend to forget who they are.

Remember, the kid who crashed your convertible because he thought it more important to fi nd a certain CD than watch the road is the same one who pulled over to help a frightened turtle cross the road last week. And remind him who you are: someone he can count on for love and support.

I love you!

Glenda Weber, reading coach at Umatilla High School, is a very wise mother of three successful kids in their 20s. She braved the inevitability of a generation gap early on in a letter she wrote to her daughter on her 13th birthday. Knowing the next few years would be hard on them both, Weber told her daughter she will be forever loved.

“There are times we won’t like each other, or understand each other,” Weber

wrote, “but we will always love and support each other. When you doubt my love, take this out, and read it again, and know it is true.”

MARY ELLEN GRIFFITH is a freelance writer currently working on her second book. She teaches English at Mount Dora High School, is an adjunct English professor at Valencia College, and lives happily with her daughter Lexi; their two dogs, Maxine and Charlie; and two cats, Atticus Finch and Boo Radley.

SPIRIT

COURAGE IS EVERYWHERE … EVEN WITHIN YOU

Everyone knows courage when they see it, or thinks they do. Most examples of courage, however, are easily missed. They are all around us and come in all shapes and sizes, if we only have eyes to see.

Physicians are confronted on an almost-daily basis with patients who demonstrate a very high level of courage. One of the bravest I have known came to me as a young lady with cystic fibrosis and I have known her for 20 years. The threat of death has been a constant in her daily life, never more so than when she underwent a double lung transplant and the subsequent episodes of rejection all transplant patients undergo. Now in her 40s, having lived well beyond any reasonable expectation, she has so much joy and enthusiasm for life that it makes us regular, healthy folks look positively unappreciative and depressed by comparison.

Not all examples of courage are so dramatic.

I remember an older patient crippled with multiple sclerosis who was bedridden and incapable of any useful movement of her arms or legs. Her husband cared for her without assistance and, against daunting odds, protected her from bedsores until, at last, she developed a small one over her tailbone. Even a small bedsore can take months to heal. Every time she came to the office, I would offer to help get her onto the exam table. Her husband would decline my offer and, very gently and carefully, pick her up out of the wheelchair to place her on the table with a smooth, practiced movement that bespoke years of practice. He picked her up as if she were a doll, demonstrating surprising strength in his wiry body.

This was courage of unconditional, sacrificial love such as I have rarely seen. Some patients humble you.

In November 2013, I completed the Florida Ironman triathlon, an accomplishment of which I am very proud. Looking around at the crowd of participants, the standouts were the handicapped athletes taking on the same challenge.

There was a blind girl who completed each discipline with a sighted guide; a paraplegic whose friends carried him to the

water’s edge; a number of amputees, with prosthetic arms and carbon fiber legs.

To see individuals who overcame such obstacles participate in this event put things in perspective: How many able-bodied people ever challenge themselves that way?

People make courageous decisions every day, sometimes many in one day. There are those people who step out on faith and take a chance to make a dream come true.

Especially courageous is the single mother who works her way through school to make a better life for herself and her children; the couple who work through a bumpy point in their marriage rather than just throw in the towel and walk away; the middle-aged child who cares for an aging parent, rather than shove him or her into a nursing home. The examples go on.

Everyone loves inspirational stories. We all need them. We need to know that others, many worse off than us, have overcome the obstacles in their lives to emerge triumphant. It gives us reason to say to ourselves, “I can do this, too.” Healthy Living is great for inspirational stories. Many are in this courage-themed issue.

Why is it some people overcome and others never do? It boils down to courage versus fear. Overcomers find a way to move beyond their fears — fear of failure, fear of criticism, fear of the unknown — and forge themselves a better future.

Where does this courage come from and how do we draw on the stores of courage all of us possess?

Ah, that is the question and it will be up to you to supply the answer.

I and many others look forward to hearing your story.

WRITER: RICHARD BOSSHARDT, M.D., FACS

RICHARD BOSSHARDT, M.D., graduated from the University of Miami School of Medicine in 1978. He founded Bosshardt & Marzek Plastic Surgery Associates, Lake County’s first practice to provide full-time cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery services, in 1989.

Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. — C.S. Lewis // Courage isnotsimply oneofthevirtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. // Courage is not simply one of the virtues

75% of Americans experience some type of foot pain, causing many to believe they must learn to live with it, but I’m happy to report that arthritis, bunions, hammertoes, heel pain, neuromas and other foot and ankle disorders can be improved – even cured – through the specialized reconstructive and reparative surgeries I’ve performed on thousands of revitalized patients.

FINDING COURAGE TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS

It seems to me courage, the theme of this Healthy Living, ought to be an easy topic to explore in a feature titled “Mencouragement.”

But looks are so often deceiving. My experience has been that most men have been painted by their families, culture and the media a picture of what society believes courage ought to look like. It is the fellow with pluck — the daring, audacious fellow with spunk — whom we often view as courageous.

But as a pastor, I see evidence of courage in some pretty unexpected places. You can see the gallantry and boldness of real courage in the nursing homes and assisted-living facilities around us. Fresh in my heart is the image of a husband standing beside his wife through her cancer, caring for her every need along the journey, and then watching helplessly as she slips into eternity.

Sometimes there are amazing illustrations of moral strength and courage displayed in small and quiet places that slip by us unnoticed: the courage of a person who decides he will pay his debts instead of file for bankruptcy and foreclosure; the choice of a husband to remain with his wife after she has admitted her unfaithfulness, and moving ahead in their marriage; the courage of parents with a handicapped child; the tenacity

of a wounded soldier to pursue the grind of recovery.

They’re just a sample of powerful illustrations of courage.

Where does that determination of spirit and heart come from? Is courage actually something we just have to manufacture in our lives when life is hard, similar to the way our bodies produce adrenaline? I don’t think so.

I am soon to enter my sixth decade, and I have the perspective of a few years that tell me true courage, bravery, pluck — whatever you want to call it — comes from something more than just pulling ourselves up by our own bootstraps.

James Taylor tells us “You’ve Got a Friend.” I agree. Friends are one source of genuine support when “wintertime seems so cold.” But they are not the originating source of our courage.

Webster’s definition — the ability to do something you know is difficult or dangerous — bothers me. My life experience tells me courage is not so much an ability, but rather a response: Courage is evidenced by the choices we make in light of brutal circumstances. We display our courage when we continue to live by our principles, by continuing to do what the Bible says is right, even if it is difficult, unpopular, or “friends” tell us otherwise.

Reflect on the bad advice Job’s wife offered him in the midst of his suffering and

circumstances: “Curse God and die,” she told him. The book of Job shows us a man who had deep-seated courage that sprang from his conviction that God is in control of all of life (and death), and that God, because he is sovereign, can be trusted.

There are numerous men of courage in the Bible: Samson, who killed all the Philistines; Young David, who killed the mighty and fearsome Goliath. They were willing to sacrifice all for their convictions.

There is one other man of courage I must surely point you toward as the supreme example: Jesus Christ, the very picture of courage, because he remained faithful and sinless from birth through death, in spite of the burden of the sin of humanity and the reality he would be crucified and die in our places.

Courage, mencouragement, comes from living in light of truth, and by our conviction that doing what is right is what we must do. The hard truth is, it is not always easy. But it is what we must do, no matter what, if we are men of courage.

RICHARD BURGUET, B.A., M-Div., has been ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America for more than 30 years. He has served churches in South Carolina, Mississippi, Maryland, and Georgia. Richard is pastor of New Hope Presbyterian in Eustis and is co-author of Covenants Disciples Workbook. New Hope is at 19535 Eustis Airport Road and on the web at www. newhopepca.com.

WRITER: RICHARD BURGUET, B.A., M-DIV.

Bryan Carter, MPA-C Phlebology - Surgery

EXCHANGE

CHALLENGING CHATS, COURAGEOUS DECISIONS

WRITERS: THOMAS FROSS AND ROBERT FROSS

Life is full of challenging conversations, especially those financial in nature.

Whether it’s budgeting with your spouse, talking to your children about spending habits or helping elderly parents deal with their estate, it takes courage and tact to successfully manage a challenging financial conversation.

The New York Times bestseller “Difficult Conversations: How to Talk About What Matters Most,” developed by researchers from the Harvard Negotiating Project, defines a difficult conversation as anything you find hard to talk about for fear of the consequences. As financial professionals, we understand how to navigate tough conversations about money; here are a few tips we’ve learned along the way:

CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIME AND PLACE.

Where and when you speak with someone is as important as how you approach him or her. It can be tempting to put off a stressful conversation, but delays can heighten your emotions and increase the risk a problem will turn into a crisis. That said, avoid springing serious discussions on your family during the holidays or large family gatherings. Try to find a time and place where you can be alone and free from distractions.

CONSIDER THE PURPOSE OF YOUR CONVERSATION.

Before speaking with the other person, think about your goals for the conversation and try to focus on a few key issues you’d like to resolve. It’s also important to understand your own perspective and identify the personal baggage you’re bringing into the conversation. That can help you downplay your own emotions and focus on the other person. Ask yourself questions such as:

• What’s the purpose of this conversation?

• What’s my ideal outcome?

• What am I afraid of?

• Am I the right person to be bringing this up?

• What emotions and history are here?

Acknowledge the source of your own fears so you can explain them to the other person. For example, you might be worried your parents’ lack of estate planning might damage important family relationships, or your children’s financial mistakes might affect your own finances. Your fears and concerns are legitimate. Understanding the source of your anxiety and being able to express

it constructively to the other parties may help them understand how their choices affect others.

AVOID CRITICISM AND CONFRONTATIONAL LANGUAGE.

Few things are as likely to raise someone’s defenses more quickly than outright or implied criticism. Resist the urge to criticize and focus on your goals by using compassionate and constructive dialogue. Avoid using inflammatory language such as:

• You always …

• You never

• You have to

• I can’t believe …

Sentences that start with those words can come across as accusatory and may force the other party into defending their choices. Your goal is to open up a productive conversation, rather than turn it into an argument. Try to say things such as:

• I’d like to talk to you about …

• I need your help understanding …

• Can you explain to me why …

• I’m concerned about … Can we talk about it?

TRY TO SEE THE OTHER PERSON’S PERSPECTIVE.

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the outcome you want, but successfully navigating a challenging conversation means you need to see past your own needs and understand where the other person is. What do they want? What are their fears and concerns? By understanding their perspective and treating them with compassion, you’re much more likely to achieve a successful outcome. Though you may be frustrated, worried or angry, take a step back and try to approach every discussion from a place of love and sensitivity.

BRING IN AN EXPERT OPINION.

Sometimes issues become too complex

or emotional to handle alone. It’s very common for family members to be reluctant to discuss financial issues with one another. If your attempts to address the issue are rebuffed, it can be useful to call in an expert who can offer a neutral perspective and maintain focus on the problems you’re trying to resolve. Sometimes, just sitting down with a financial professional is enough to move the conversation back to productive territory.

NEXT STEPS

Financial conversations can be very challenging, but they’re critical to maintaining your family’s financial wellbeing. We hope we’ve provided some tools and the courage to have one of

those talks that you’ve been putting off.

As financial professionals, we frequently have to engage in tough discussions about money with our clients and their family members. Often, one of the most important services we can provide is that of a neutral. If you or someone you love is struggling to navigate a difficult conversation, we urge you to reach out to us or another trusted professional.

ROBERT AND THOMAS FROSS founded Fross & Fross Wealth Management with the shared vision of creating a truly world-class experience for their clients. Specializing in offering comprehensive financial planning to high net-worth retirees, Fross & Fross manages over $300 million in assets and maintains a stellar reputation of professionalism and experience throughout The Villages.

Less than one-half (45 percent) of couples agree that day-to-day financial decisions are made jointly. Source: Fidelity’s 2013 Couples Retirement Study Executive Summa

Calendar

SEPTEMBER 4

Cancer Support Group

Diagnosis, treatment and recovery from cancer can be a time in someone’s life when he or she needs support.

1:30-3p.m. Florida Hospital Waterman Cancer Institute, Conference Room 1000, Waterman Way, Tavares.

SEPTEMBER 20

Rabies VaccinationPet Adoption

Lake County Animal Services holds rabies vaccination clinics at its shelter at 28123 County Road 561 in Tavares from 9a.m.-noon, with adoption hours from 10a.m.-4p.m.

Information: lakecountyfl. gov/adopt

SEPTEMBER 20

Trail Ride

SEPTEMBER 9

Mended Hearts Group

Mended Hearts is a nonprofit that offers the gift of hope to heart patients, their families and caregivers. Noon-1p.m. Florida Hospital Waterman, 1000 Waterman Way, Tavares.

SEPTEMBER 10

Wednesday Farmers Market

The Market Place will operate at Palmetto Plaza on the Avenue (intersection of Kensington Street, East Macdonald Avenue and Palmetto Street off East Orange Avenue).

Information: 352.483.5460.

SEPTEMBER 18

Free HIV Testing

The Lake County Health Department invites the public to take advantage of free HIV testing from 9a.m.-noon at Leesburg Community Medical Center, 1210 West Main Street, Leesburg.

Watch for white-tailed deer, black bears and wild turkeys during a guided bike ride along the grassy trails near Lake Akron in Paisley. All experience levels and ages are welcome; participants must bring their own bicycles and water. 9:30-11a.m., Ellis Acres 25302 County Road 42, Paisley.

Information: lakecountyfl. gov/parks

SEPTEMBER 20

Hats On 4 Hunger 5K

The run/jog/walk benefits Deliver the Difference’s weekend Kidspack program, which provides meals for worthy area schoolchildren. Event starts at 8a.m. along Lake-Sumter State College’s Silver Lake. $20 or $25 to preregister; $30 day of event.

Information: hatson4hunger5k.com

SEPTEMBER 21

Iron Girl Clermont Triathlon & 5K

Join the Iron Girl Team on the beautiful grounds of Waterfront Park for sprint and super sprint courses as well as a 5K, 330 Third St., Clermont. Prices vary from $35 to $125. Information: clermont@irongirl.com

SEPTEMBER 22

W.A.L.K. Amputee Support

Waterman Amputee & Limb

Loss Konnections, 6-7p.m., Mattison Conference Room B, Florida Hospital Waterman, 1000 Waterman Way, Tavares

SEPTEMBER 26

Golf Tournament

Annual event benefits the hungry and homeless on their road to a responsible life. 8:30a.m., Orange County National Golf Center, Winter Garden.

Information: 352.617.8788.

SEPTEMBER 21

5K Walk-Jog-Skip

Enjoy Harbor Hills Country Club golf course as you make the journey any way you like to benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Lake and Sumter Counties. Awards and activities. $25 until Sept. 20; $30 day of race. Information: harborhills. com/5k

SEPTEMBER 27

Food & WineTasting Tour

Explore the historic town of Mount Dora and drop in on some charming restaurants, quaint food shops, and local wine bistros to savor the culture and lakeside beauty. Tour departs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays year-‘round at 2p.m. from the Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce.

THE NATURAL NAIL SPA

For a relaxing and enjoyable spa experience, try the Natural Nail Spa, a podiatrist-owned and certified modern nail lounge that maintains a pampering, relaxing atmosphere and the utmost sterilization and safety techniques. Even the nail polish bottle goes home with the client — just another step to heighten the “safe pedicure experience.”

PROMOTING SAFETY

National Night Out is a movement across the country designed to make communities safer. The City of Clermont celebrated the event at Waterfront Park. Attendees had an opportunity to meet law enforcement officers, firefighters and paramedics and listen to guest speakers. In addition, they received an up close and personal look at law enforcement and emergency vehicles.

PHOTOGRAPHER: MORGAN ELLIS

1. Carolyn, Jada and Keith Cater

2. Santiago and Diego Hernandez

3. Pat Burke and Brad Tumer with Kailea, Elijah, Aiden and Colin Cordner

4. Alora Katz, Reagan Stanley, Angie Stanley and Victoria Jones

5. Robert Lovvorn, Aspen Hatcher and Wyatt Hatcher

6. Justin Wilson and Patrick Ray

7. Tim Palinski and “Cash”

8. Jason Sayre, Victor Sanchez, Brent Joyner and Shane Strickland

9. Dana and Presley Perrino, AJ Craft and Joy Randa

Is Your SPECIALIST… REALLY A SPECIALIST?

Hip fractures from osteoporosis kill more women than breast cancer -- a fact that few people know. With the right treatment, however, osteoporosis is preventable and treatable. Dr. Claudia L. Thomas, a fellowship-trained Orthopaedic surgeon, applies leading-edge research to help patients reduce bone loss and fracture risks. After completing a fellowship in Orthopaedic Trauma and Spine Surgery with the University of Maryland Shock Trauma, Dr. Thomas served as the director of the Fracture Clinic at the renowned Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her specialties include non-surgical approaches to back pain and prevention of future injuries due to osteoporosis. Relieving your pain is her top priority.

If you are a post-menopausal woman, a man over 50, or had a parent who broke a hip, you may be at higher risk for osteoporosis. Call today for an appointment. EXPERTISE MATTERS.

ALOHA FROM OKAHUMPKA

The Hawaiian-themed event Sandals and Sangria raised money for two Leesburg Regional Medical Center Foundation programs: Ladies in Philanthropy and the LRMC capital campaign. Hula girls, fire dances and roast pig were all part of the event, held inside the home of June Lew. Attendees also bid on items such as trips and jewelry.

PHOTOGRAPHER: MATTHEW GAULIN

1. Kathy, Jim and Laurie Safford

2. Lee Machuta with Gary and Diana Blankley

3. Wade Boytte and Lynee Winker

4. Melody and Travis Hayes

5. David and Paige Booth

6. Thomas and Judith Creamers

7. Amy Cerley and Christie Magnifico

8. Robyn Hassell and Coralee Millang

9. Edward Williams with Ray and Barbara Moran

WHEN A SINKHOLE MAKES YOUR WORLD CRUMBLE AROUND YOU

WRITER: HEATH NAILOS // ILLUSTRATOR: ANTHONY CASTO

Disastrous sinkholes are relatively rare, but recent sinkholes that have opened up locally and around the state have many homeowners wondering: Does my insurance cover that?

In most states, the answer is no. However, in Florida, home insurance providers are required to offer coverage for “catastrophic ground cover collapse,” which covers the insured if his or her home or property is damaged due to a sinkhole. By law, insurers must also offer additional separate coverage for other sinkhole damage.

Under Florida law, “catastrophic ground cover collapse” is defined as geological activity that cover results in all of the following:

• The abrupt collapse of ground cover;

• A depression in the ground cover that is clearly visible to the naked eye;

• Structural damage to the building, including the foundation;

• The insured structure being condemned and ordered to be vacated by the government agency authorized by law to issue such an order for that structure.

In other words, if a sinkhole swallows your home or part of your home outright, you should be compensated through a typical home insurance policy. Beyond that, things can get confusing, and in some cases, nightmarish scenarios have played out for policyholders and providers alike.

Because of recent changes in Florida statutes, structural damage that’s not as severe as that outlined in the list above has been largely written out of insurance claims.

WHAT DOES YOUR POLICY COVER?

It’s wise to talk with your insurance agent to determine if you are covered against sinkhole damage, and if any optional coverage is available.

If you do have sinkhole coverage, don’t drop it without consulting your attorney.

WHEN DO I CALL FOR HELP?

While stair-step cracks and cracks in floors and foundations are often caused by routine settling of homes, damage from an actual sinkhole may be as minor as a cracked sidewalk or as large as a swallowed home, (such as the headline-grabbing sinkhole that opened up in Seffner, near Tampa,

and resulted in loss of life). Actually, as many as 99 percent of “sinkholes” are not actually holes.

Repairing a sinkhole house typically costs more than $100,000 and if not handled correctly can affect the value of your home.

WHAT CAN I DO TO PROTECT MYSELF?

Property insurance issues can be highly complex. Homeowners worried about their coverage should first go over it with their insurer. It is also very helpful to have an attorney who knows the relevant laws and how claims are filed look at it. The time spent could save you a lot of money down the road.

If problems or concerns arise, you want to consult with an attorney who understands not only the legal aspects

of these cases, but also the technical aspects of them. An attorney experienced in property law can go to your house, look at it with you and help you consider your options. Sometimes it’s better to make a claim — other times not.

The initial consultation should be free, so there’s no reason not to include an attorney on your team. Then, should you have a claim later on, your attorney will be at your side to ensure you are treated and compensated fairly.

HEATH NAILOS, a partner at Boyette, Cummins & Nailos, Attorneys at Law, has focused much of his career in areas of law including personal injury, litigation, sinkhole disputes and issues associated with sinkhole claims. His firm, based in Clermont, Winter Park and Tavares, also focuses on areas including bankruptcy, short sales, foreclosure defense, family law, disability, trusts, wills and estate planning.