CHILTON COUNTY
September 2021
FLY BUNGEE
PROVIDES UNIQUE EXERCISE
INSIDE
4Heart South's new location 4Perfect Peaches stay fit through fun 4Surviving Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever 4Childhood Cancer Awareness Month WELLNESS 1
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205-663-5775 or visit us at heartsouthpc.com Now offering diagnostic testing in our new Clanton Office CLANTON CLINIC 206 medical center drive 2 Clanton, WELLNESS AL 35045
ALABASTER CLINIC 1022 1st Street North Alabaster, AL 35007
BIBB CLINIC 208 Pierson Avenue Bibb, AL 35042
STAFF LISTING PUBLISHER Tim Prince
INDEX 4
EDITORIAL Joyanna Love, managing editor Zachary Seifter, writer Emily Reed, freelance writer MARKETING Zack Bates, marketing consultant
MOVES TO HEALTH Perfect Peaches stay fit through line dancing
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LEARN TO FLY Bungee class gives unique workout opportunity
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SURVIVOR Tick bite leads to Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
CUSTOMER SERVICE Kelsey Hubbard
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PRESSROOM & MAILROOM Chris Love, production manager Michael Turner, assistant production manager Malinda Nance, mailroom manager
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EXPANDED SERVICE Heart South moves to new location
MAKING GAINS September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
ON THE COVER CHILTON COUNTY
September 2021
FLY BUNGEE PROVIDES UNIQUE EXERCISE
INSIDE
4Heart South's new location 4Perfect Peaches stay fit through fun 4Surviving Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever 4Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Alexis Bryd teaches Fly Bungee at the YMCA of Chilton County. PHOTO BY Keith McCoy
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Perfect Peaches stay fit through line dancing STORY AND PHOTOS BY JOYANNA LOVE
years ago when the program met at Chilton Medical Center. However, Headley has been group of local seniors have dancing for much longer than found a way to stay healthy both physically and mentally that. “I have loved dancing all my life, through line dancing. and you know God gives you the The Perfect Peaches line dancers practice each Monday and desire of your heart, so he allowed Wednesday for about an hour and a place in Clanton to open up, which was the skating rink,” a half at Senior Connection in Headley said. Clanton. Becky Sides and Pat Coe joined The group is led by Judy Headley doing line dancing at the Headley of Clanton. rink. Having line dancing as a part “We have been doing it now for of Senior Connection’s offerings probably 30 years,” Headley said. was initially director Vanessa Now, Perfect Peaches McKinney’s idea. That was 10
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“I have loved dancing all my life, and you know God gives you the desire of your hear t, so he allowed a place in Clanton to open up, which was the skating rink. — Judy Headley of Clanton
performs for local groups at nursing homes, festivals and other locations when invited. “Anywhere anyone wants us to dance, we go because we are free,” Headley said.
Dancing for nursing home residents is fun for the group because they know some of the residents. About six years ago, the group attended a state competition and won.
LEFT: Perfect Peaches members are, from left, Pat Coe, Janice Patterson, Becky Sides, Ann Arnold, Shelia Atchison and Judy Headley. ABOVE: The Perfect Peaches strike a pose at the end of a dance.
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Some of the Perfect Peaches have been line dancing for 30 years.
Rhythm is essential for line dancing, Headley said. However, once someone learns a set of key steps, they can build off of those to learn other dances. “Most people, they can pick up on it,” Headley said. “We started out with very basic (steps), and now we are intermediate as we so call ourselves.” Coe said new sets of steps are frequently being created. While the dancing has remained the same, the styles of music the group dances to has expanded over the years. “We started out with … pretty strictly country music, but now it covers … all kinds of music,” Headley said.
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Headley has “met a lot of people” through line dancing. “That is one thing I enjoy,” Headley said. “We are like a family.” She said the Perfect Peaches really are family because they talk about everything during meetings. Coe also said she has enjoyed the close friendships that have formed. “We do get along great,” Coe said. Sides had been a part of several dance groups in the past, and joined Perfect Peaches about eight years ago. “When we all get together, we can all say what we want to, and it won’t make the other one mad — that is the good thing about it,” Sides said. “We are
like sisters. We can disagree, but we still love each other.” She said each member helps the other to stay on track during practice. Sides said it meant a lot to her that the group was so close. Shelia Atchison and Ann Arnold, both of Maplesville, joined the group seven years ago. “Basically, we started just for the exercise, but then its like they said the friendship is the key thing for all of us,” Atchison said. “I had always liked to dance but had never really had the opportunity until we came here to be a part of this” “It’s been one of the best things in my lifetime,” Janice
Patterson of Clanton said. The group also enjoys other activities together, such as day trips and Christmas parties. In addition to having a close-knit group of friends, members of the group also gain many health benefits. “Dancing is the number one exercise because of the heart, your balance, your breathing, your mental (health), so it covers everything,” Headley said. Line dancing is particularly good because one can do it at any age. Many of the members of Perfect Peaches are in their 70s, and they have had line dancers in their 80s in the past. Knee and hip issues
Friendship is what members of the Perfect Peaches enjoy most about the group.
may be the only physical limitations to being able to line dance. However, one of the dancers has had a hip replaced and was able to come back to the group. Remembering the steps
to each dance helps keep one’s mind sharp, the group said. The Perfect Peaches also said line dancing is a good stress reliever. Being a part of Perfect Peaches has allowed one
member to overcome lifelong stage fright. “I had never had the courage to do something like this,” Patterson of Clanton said. “I would not get on a stage for any reason. I had stage fright, but I was determined in my life time to try to overcome that.” Other members of the group confirmed that she has. In addition to hosting the Perfect Peaches, Senior Connection, located at 304 Park Drive in Clanton, offers a number of other exercise opportunities for senior residents of Chilton County. More information is available at facebook.com/ seniorconnection/.
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Bungee class gives unique workout opportunity 8 WELLNESS
STORY BY JOYANNA LOVE PHOTOS BY KEITH MCCOY
R
un and jump. Participants throw their arms up and out as they rise momentarily in the air. They land assisted by a bungee cord secured to the ceiling and
attached to them via a harness. This is Fly Bungee. Instructor Alexis Byrd was first introduced to the workout when she began taking classes at the Y. When a new instructor was needed, they asked her to take over. Byrd had to pass an online
assessment for fitness training before she could teach the class. She had been interested in trying the workout because it looked fun. “When you come and you want to work out, it is a fun workout for you,” Byrd said. Prior experience in a gym is
Fly bungee participants do a star exercise as a part of the class.
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LEFT: Charlene Wear does a handstand as part of a bungee workout class. ABOVE: Vicki Curry was excited to find a Fly Bungee class in Chilton County.
not required to start Fly Bungee, however, Byrd warns those who are not used to exercising on a regular basis will be sorer when they first start. During the workout, participants are connected to the bungee cords mounted to the ceiling by a harness similar to what rock climbers use. This will cause soreness until the participant gets used to the harness, Byrd said. “You get a lot of resistance from the bungee itself, so once you get used to the soreness of the harness that is holding you, you can add the resistance to the running and the jumping, so it helps build your muscles,” Byrd said. “It is a full body work out, so you are building muscle everywhere in your body, and you are also working your abs in some movements too.” Byrd said she burns an average of
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Pushups are a part of the bungee workouts.
250 to 300 calories per class. Classes are offered at the Y on Monday at 9 a.m., a Glow in the Dark version on Tuesday at 6 p.m. and a Thursday 6 p.m. class. Each class can have a total of five participants. “This has been a fun thing for me,” Vicki Curry of Thorsby said. Curry had seen a clip of a bungee workout and began
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researching where she could take a class. “I found this … and I couldn’t run down here fast enough for it,” Curry said. “It is a good overall workout, especially for somebody my age.” Curry said Fly Bungee allows her to work up to higher resistance over time. “It lets me know what stage I’m at,” Curry said.
While she said the workouts are not easy, Curry does enjoy them. Byrd makes sure that each participant knows the steps to the exercises and the safety precautions that need to be taken. The harness connection height is adjusted for a participant’s weight and height. Participants must weigh between 80 and 240 pounds.
Get off the bench and back in the game. Football, baseball, soccer, cross country and other activities are a way of life in Alabama. If you’re participating in any sport or outdoor activity, we’re here to cheer you on and let you know that the doctors at Precision Sports Medicine and Orthopedics are available in case you need care. The services we offer and conditions we treat include the following: Sports injuries, trauma and sideline care Arthroscopic surgery Muscle, tendon and joint pain Broken bones or stress fractures Concussion management Regenerative medicine Shin splints, plantar fasciitis and iliotibial (IT) band pain
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Michael Patterson, MD Dr. Michael Patterson is a boardcertified orthopedic surgeon with over 15 years of experience. He earned his medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine before completing a residency with Orlando Regional Healthcare System. He was fellowship–trained and served as the fellowship director at the American Sports Medicine Institute.
Cavin Spellmon, Jr., MD Dr. Calvin Spellmon, Jr. is boardcertified in pediatrics and primary care sports medicine. He completed medical school at Meharry Medical College and finished his pediatric and chief residency at University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital. He had his primary care sports medicine fellowship at Campbell Clinic Orthopedics.
To make an appointment, call 855-219-6200 or visit PrecisionSportsOrtho.com
Robin Green enjoys Fly Bungee because it has a low impact on her joints.
Curry said she is also a patient teacher. Robin Green of Clanton said she “decided to try it because it was different.” She has enjoyed that “it’s easy on the joints, and its interactive.” Adjusting to the harness was the most challenging part for her because it is uncomfortable.
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Some of the specific moves can also prove to be a challenge “but it’s fun to try,” Green said. “It’s a fun class it is different from anything else here,” Green said. During each session, Byrd has fun music playing in the background. She explains the move before the class does it. “First, we warm up (with)
just basic arm and leg stretches,” Byrd said. “Then, we do some resistance work, where we walk out and we feel the resistance of the bungee with some pushups and different exercises, and that works us up to the running and jumping stages.” The jumping stages take participants off the ground and into the air momentarily
Instructor Alexis Byrd demonstrates a pushup during the class.
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before the bungee cord helps them land. Additional exercises are added at the end to ensure a full body workout. Some of these include using small weights. For the Glow in the Dark classes, the main gym lights are turned off and blacklights are used. Byrd said she encourages participants to wear white or neon, so it will glow. Disco lights and glow sticks also add to the fun. Fly Bungee classes are $3 for Y members and $10 for non-members. However, if five non-members want to take the same class, the cost goes down to $30 for the entire group.
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Small weights are used in exercises toward the end of the class.
Nicole Dennis jumps into the air as a part of the workout.
Charlene Wear showcases why it is called Fly Bungee.
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Tick bite leads to lengthy medical treatment for toddler 20 WELLNESS
STORY BY EMILY REED PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
A
fter celebrating Mother’s Day 2018 outside with his family, Daxton Cordell was bitten by a tick, which resulted in him contracting Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Cordell was 14-months-old at the time, and spent much of the Mother’s Day weekend playing outside with his sister, Addie. “We found the tick bite attached on the top of his head,” said Cordell’s mom Samantha Cordell. “Several days after being outside, he had a fever, decreased appetite and overall malaise. I am a registered nurse, so I had been tracking and treating him at home for the fever. This was until he started getting little red spots on his trunk and after a day or two it started really spreading outward to his arms and legs. The Sunday before Memorial Day, I called the after-hours clinic for his pediatrician to report his symptoms, and they told us to take him to the emergency room.” Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is a bacterial infection which is spread through a tick bite.
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“We were in the hospital for 31 days straight. When he was discharged, he was completely blind and had to relearn to move his whole body. His speech and education have been delayed due to his vision impairment. He now has cor tical vision impairment, which is due to brain damage secondary to RMSF. He can see some now, but we truly don’t know what his future holds.” — Samantha Cordell
According to the CDC, a rash is a common sign with people who are sick with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RSMF). The rash usually develops 2-4 days after a fever begins, and can vary over the course of the illness. Some rashes can look like red splotches and some can look like pinpoint dots. The CDC says that while almost all patients with RMSF will develop a rash, it often does not appear early in illness, which can make diagnosing RMSF difficult. Initially, Cordell was treated for Kawasaki Disease. After he continued to decline, he was put on several antibiotics, steroids, and anti-fever medications, which led to him having a seizure and slipping into a coma which lasted for five days. “We were in the hospital for 31 days straight,” Cordell said. “When he
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was discharged, he was completely blind and had to relearn to move his whole body. His speech and education have been delayed due to his vision impairment. He now has cortical vision impairment, which is due to brain damage secondary to RMSF. He can see some now, but we truly don’t know what his future holds.” Cordell is now 4 years old, and his mom, Samantha, spends time trying to educate others about RMSF. “I think some people don’t realize that is very common here,” Cordell said. “It is very important for people to take tick bites seriously. I share educational information and articles on social media. If I hear of a child with symptoms even remotely close to Daxton’s, I reach out to the parents and ask that they please ask questions about the possibility of RMSF, and always advise
that they read about it on the CDC’s website.” Oftentimes spotting a tick can be difficult, and Cordell said she found the one on her son’s head by washing his hair. “I felt something, saw that it was a tick, and I panicked because I already hated any bugs, but definitely ticks,” Cordell said. “I yelled for my husband to come and get it, he got it with tweezers, and it was a small, brown tick that was attached, but not at all engorged.” Cordell said due to RMSF being the deadliest tick-borne illness, if left untreated, she encourages those that may think they have contracted it to not delay treatments, while waiting for test results. “Always trust your instincts,” Cordell said. “Do not be afraid to ask questions or say ‘no’ when you don’t feel good about something.”
CREATE A SAFE, TICK-FREE ZONE IN YOUR YARD Despite their diminutive stature, ticks are a big concern for people, particularly those with pets. As the weather warms, ticks are out looking for a host to climb on and get a blood meal. Ticks are a significant concern because they can be infected with bacteria, viruses or parasites, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, tularemia, and babesiosis are just a few of the many tick-borne diseases. These pathogens can be passed to humans and pets via the bite of infected ticks. In 2018, at least one variety of disease-transmitting tick had been found in all of the lower 48 states, according to the CDC. In addition, researchers at Cornell University identified 26 species of ticks along the East Coast alone. Preventing tick bites has never been more important. The process starts right in one’s own backyard. According to Consumer Reports and the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program, controlling wildlife that enters one’s yard can help keep tick numbers down. Open access means animals can enter and so can ticks. Fencing and pest management
solutions may help. Other ideas include landscaping techniques that can reduce tick populations: • Remove leaf litter from the yard. • Clear tall grasses and brush around homes and at the edges of the lawn. Mow regularly to keep the lawn short. • Create a barrier between wooded areas and the yard if it abuts a forested area. According to Consumer Reports, a three-foot-wide path of wood chips or gravel can prevent tick migration by creating a physical barrier that’s dry and sometimes too hot for ticks to tolerate. Such a barrier also serves as a visual reminder to anyone in your household to be especially careful if they step beyond the perimeter. • Bag grass clippings, which can serve as habitats for ticks. • Remove old furniture, trash and other debris that can give ticks places to hide. • Remember to use a tick-repellent product when venturing into wooded areas. Flea and tick products also are available for pets; consult with a vet. Ticks are problematic, but various measures can help control tick populations in a yard.
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405 Ollie Avenue Clanton, AL. 35045 205-755-2382 Download our mobile App: YMCA of Chilton County www.ymcaofchiltoncounty.com
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EXPANDED
SERVICE 24 WELLNESS
Heart South moves to new building in Clanton
STORY AND PHOTOS BY JOYANNA LOVE
H
eart South has moved to a larger location to better serve Chilton County. Previously, Heart South had an office in the outpatient services area of St. Vincent’s Chilton. This space offered the cardiologist teams a place to work, but the new space has allowed them to expand the services offered. In May 2021, Heart South moved to its own building on Medical Center Drive. Heart South has had a presence in Clanton for the past 25 years. Dr. John McBrayer has been with the company that entire time. “We love being here,” McBrayer said. “We have been coming a long time, and we
BOTTOM LEFT: Heart South has moved its Clanton office to Medical Center Drive. TOP FAR LEFT: Chelsea Baker is a patient access coordinator. TOP LEFT: The Heart South waiting room has special touches to create a calming atmosphere. ABOVE: Dr. John McBrayer is one of the cardiologists at the Clanton location of Heart South. (Health masks were taken off momentarily for photos.)
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Anna Marie Cox is a registered vascular tech at the Clanton location.
intend to be here a long time because we all like it. One of our partners lives here … We all feel we have a vested interest to make sure the medical care continues to improve and progress.” He said the new building gives more space. “We are able to provide services, such as blood drawing and nuclear echo(cardiograms) right on site,” McBrayer said. “Any time you have control of
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your business, how you are doing things, it makes it better for you.” This has also allowed for patients to get lab results quicker by sending the samples to the Alabaster office. Many test results can also be given in house, although there are some that have to be sent off. Anna Marie Cox, a registered vascular tech, does echocardiograms, which focus on the function and
structure of the heart. “Typically, the echocardiogram and the stress test go hand in hand,” Cox said. “We can make sure there are no blockages with a stress test and also make sure the heart is functioning properly with the echo.” Irregularities with the heart valves may lead to it being monitored on a regular basis or scheduling a procedure at a hospital to address it.
“My mom, 15 years ago, was treated by Hear t South. They saved her life, and I love that I can carry through on that for other people.” — Kirsten Larsen-Vansant
Vascular ultrasounds are used to view arteries, veins and the aorta to spot issues. Cox said an echocardiogram usually takes 30-45 minutes, while a vascular ultrasound takes 20-30 minutes. Having the new location has made these services more convenient to residents, who can now go straight into the office, rather than having to go to the hospital. The new location is easy to get in and out of with its own designated parking lot. The most common reasons people are coming to a cardiologist is coronary disease, hypertension and congestive heart failure. However, McBrayer said preventing these types of conditions is also a focus. “We are trying to keep cholesterols low and treat that sort
of thing,” McBrayer said. He said the goal is always to help people. The Clanton office of Heart South has five doctors that rotate days. Nurse practitioners, nurses, lab technician and patient support staff are all a part of the Heart South team. Working for Heart South is special for Nurse Practitioner Kirsten Larsen-Vansant. “My mom, 15 years ago, was treated by Heart South,” LarsenVansant said. “They saved her life, and I love that I can carry through on that for other people.” Larsen-Vansant said in her role, she “supports the physician in collaborative care.” A nurse practitioner is in the room when the doctor sees the patient. “We function to put the notes together, place the orders and help
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This nuclear spect camera is used when a patient is having a nuclear cardiology stress test done.
to review the chart and help with the decision making during the visit,” LarsenVansant said. She also builds relationships with the patients, and can see them if the physician is unavailable for hospital follow ups and acute issues, such as chest pain. She communicates with the hospital about patient care and works to address any issues with test results. “I enjoy working
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collaboratively, but also getting to know the patients and developing the long-term relationships in the clinic setting, and look forward to serving them for their lifetime of care,” Larsen-Vansant said. Moving to the new location has brought an increase in patients to the Clanton office. “We are already adding an echo tech,” McBrayer said. About 30% of patients are referrals, but the majority contact Heart South directly.
Larsen-Vansant said the new location gives Heart South “autonomy, so that we can provide thorough service for the patient. We were limited in what we could do at the hospital. We weren’t providing the testing and the diagnostics.” The staff can also now do pacemaker checks. While seeing a cardiologist is something most people think of only when there is a problem, McBrayer
This treadmill and EKG equipment are used during a stress test.
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Kirsten Larsen-Vansant is nurse practitioner at the Clanton Heart South location.
recommends getting cholesterol checked at age 40 “to assess your risk.” When patients first step into Heart South, the person they talk to is a patient access coordinator like Chelsea Baker. Baker greets patients and handles taking insurance and primary care information, in addition to processing copays. She said she also explains what needs to be done to the patients.
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Baker tries to help alleviate the anxiety of being in a cardiologist office by being friendly and answering any questions. Many of those questions often have to do with the doctors, what tests might be done that day and what the patients needs to do next. “What I like about the move is that we have our own space,” Baker said. “We have a larger area. I have a second person to help me
as well. Patients really love being able to come here, rather than having to go to the hospital.” The décor of the office was also chosen with potential anxiety of patients in mind. Canvas print of beautiful scenery hang on the walls of the hallway and in some of the offices. Heart South’s main office is in Alabaster, and it has an off-site clinic in Bibb County with 12 doctors working for the company.
Artwork in the hallway was important for giving the new office an atmosphere that did not feel like a hospital.
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MAKING
GAINS September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
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C
ancer can be an intimidating diagnosis at any age. Receiving a cancer diagnosis for one’s child can be especially difficult. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and cancer-oriented organizations are looking to share information and support patients and families. This year, aTeam Ministries in Homewood, which offers support to patients and their families facing a childhood cancer diagnosis, is encouraging Alabama residents to be a part of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month by praying for and encouraging patients and families. The ministry is creating opportunities to get cards of encouragement to children battling cancer. Cards can be mailed or delivered to 1809 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, AL 35209. More information is available at ateamministries.org. According to the American Cancer Society, the most common childhood cancers are “leukemia, brain and spinal cord tumors, Neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, Lymphoma (including both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin), Rhabdomyosarcoma, Retinoblastoma, Bone cancer (including osteosarcoma and Ewing
“ACS has asked several communities to focus on childhood cancer and since through our church we’ve had four different children to battle — and win over — childhood cancer, we asked could we be that childhood cancer team. So, we created a new team.” — Organizer Sunny Mays
We work tirelessly to help kids get well because Hugh has a long list of stuff he wants to do. WE DO WHAT WE DO BECAUSE CHILDREN HAVE DREAMS.
Children’s of Alabama is dedicated to helping kids live the most fulfilling life possible. We put in a lot of time and training to make that happen.
CHILDREN’S DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM (RUSSELL CAMPUS) 1600 7TH AVENUE SOUTH BIRMINGHAM, AL 35233 (205) 638-9100 | ChildrensAL.org CHILDREN’S SOUTH PEDIATRIC OUTPATIENT CENTER
GREENVALE PEDIATRICS ALABASTER
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BIRMINGHAM, AL 35243
ALABASTER, AL 35007
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205-663-9550
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sarcoma).” “Unlike many cancers found in adults, lifestyle-related risk factors (such as diet and exercise) don’t play much of a role in a child’s risk of getting cancer,” according to ACS’s Childhood Cancer Fact Sheet. “A few environmental factors, such as radiation exposure, have been linked with an increased risk of some childhood cancers. But in some cases, exposure to radiation might be unavoidable, such as when a child needs radiation therapy to treat another cancer. If your child does develop cancer, it’s important
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to know that it’s extremely unlikely there is anything you or your child could have done to prevent it.” Research has led to more advanced medical treatment of childhood cancer in recent years, leading to better outcomes for patients. Chilton County has several childhood cancer survivors. In 2019, West End Baptist Church joined the American Cancer Society’s #GoldTogether campaign with its Going #GoldTogether for God’s Children Relay for Life team in honor of childhood cancer survivors. “ACS has asked several communities to focus on childhood cancer and since through our church we’ve had four different children to battle — and win over — childhood cancer, we asked could we be that childhood cancer team,” organizer Sunny Mays said in an interview at the time. “So, we created
a new team.” “Because of major treatment advances in recent decades, 84% of children with cancer now survive five years or more,” according to the American Cancer Society. “Overall, this is a huge increase since the mid-1970s, when the 5-year survival rate was about 58%. Substantial progress has been made against the most common types of pediatric cancers, boosting overall survival rates.” Fortunately, many childhood cancers are found in the early stages. “Cancer in children is not common, but it’s important to schedule regular health checkups and have your child checked by a doctor if they have unusual signs or symptoms that do not go away, such as: An unusual lump or swelling, unexplained paleness or loss of energy, easy bruising or bleeding, an ongoing pain in one area of the body, limping, unexplained fever or illness that doesn’t go away, frequent headaches, often with vomiting, sudden eye or vision changes, sudden unexplained weight loss,” according to the American Cancer Society. “Most of these symptoms are likely to
be caused by something other than cancer, such as an injury or infection. Still, if your child has any of these symptoms, see a doctor so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed.” The closest hospital for Chilton County childhood cancer patients is Children’s of Alabama. “In Chilton County to be such a small community, you have absolutely a much proportionately higher number of children in this county who have or have had cancer,” Kellie Reece of Smile-A-Mile said in a presentation to a Clanton civic club last year. Smile-A-Mile offers programs for patients at Children’s of Alabama and funds a Pediatric Hematology/ Oncology Fellow in training with the UAB Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. The organization offers camps in the summer time to give patients the chance to enjoy a fun time despite their diagnosis. A separate camp for siblings is also offered. More information is available at smileamile. com. To find out more about childhood cancer visit cancer.org/ childhood.
Find the care you need close to home Ascension St. Vincent’s Chilton From the routine to the unexpected, you can count on compassionate, personalized care from Ascension St. Vincent’s Chilton care teams. This includes giving you access to a variety of specialties right in your own neighborhood. We are maintaining strict precautions to help keep you and your family safe in our care. Specialties: • Gastroenterology
• Nephrology
• Pulmonology
• General Surgery
• Ophthalmology
• Sleep Medicine
• Emergency Care
• Orthopedics
• Ear, Nose and Throat
• Podiatry
Ascension St. Vincent’s Chilton 2030 Lay Dam Road Clanton, AL 35045 ascension.org/StVincentsChilton
To find a doctor who is right for you, call 205-289-5581 © Ascension 2021. All rights reserved.
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