Your Health March 2022

Your Health MARCH 2022

Tribute to Dr. Annette Horne

The Magic of Ice Cream

Helping Ukraine

Published By The Sulphur Springs News-Telegram

Breathe Cleaner

more We do more with less.

Because our patients deserve nothing less.

For medical care, who wants to do more with less? Not us. At Hunt Regional Healthcare in Greenville, we’re investing in your care by providing the latest technology available in the region.

We’re growing and expanding to provide healthcare at the highest level.

Hunt Regional Healthcare is home to advanced outpatient and diagnostic services, from robotic surgery to cancer care to multi-dimensional digital imaging. We do more with more. That’s why patients trust us with their health. From our expansive list of services to our highly trained medical staff, we work hard to bring you the latest advancements in care, comfort and cuttingedge technology. We’re more than just a hospital. We’re a therapy center, a sleep lab, a cancer facility, and more.

Hunt Regional Medical Center offers robotic-arm assisted total knee, partial knee, and total hip replacements with Stryker’s Mako System. This highly advanced robotic technology transforms the way joint replacement surgery is performed to bring you the precision accuracy of robotic-arm technology, combined with the expertise of a surgeon.

Our digital imaging services include 4D-CT cancer treatment, 3D mammography guided by artificial intelligence, a powerful open MRI system, and lowdose CT for lung cancer screening. Our cutting-edge technology allows for the most accurate diagnoses with the least invasive methods.

The cardiopulmonary team at Hunt Regional offers advanced heart, vascular, and pulmonary care for patients with heart and vascular conditions. The

cardiac cath lab at Hunt Regional Medical Center restores bloodflow 28 minutes faster than the national average. We work faster than anyone in the area because we know time is muscle, providing 24/7/365 coverage to handle emergencies and scheduled interventional and diagnostic procedures.

Hunt Regional is home to the area’s only Level III neonatal intensive care unit. You can take comfort in knowing our expert neonatologists provide aroundthe-clock advanced treatment for premature, low birth-weight, and critically ill infants.

Our sleep disorder clinic offers on-site or at-home testing to diagnose and treat sleep problems including insomnia, sleep apnea, and restless legs.

For patients in need of therapy services, the rehabilitation team at Hunt Regional works hard to help patients get back to doing what they love as quickly as possible.

Individualized inpatient and outpatient programs are designed around powerful tools like a weight-stabilizing harness, hydrotherapy treadmill, cognitive therapy techniques, and more.

Hunt Regional Healthcare provides innovative, compassionate, expert care at multiple locations throughout Northeast Texas.

In addition to a large regional hospital conveniently located in Greenville, Hunt Regional Healthcare’s emergency facilities, outpatient lab draw stations, and outpatient walk-in imaging centers can also be found in Sulphur Springs, Commerce, Emory, Rockwall, Royse City, and Quinlan.

[ Visit www.huntregional.org to find a physician or learn more about our services. ] YOUR HEALTH 2022 3

On the Cover

Dr. Annette Horne Page 20

Your Health magazine is a publication of the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram and is published one time a year.

Your Health is copyrighted by and a registered trademark of the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Reproduction of any part of the publication is strictly forbidden without written permission from the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram.

A Letter from the Publisher Thank you so much for picking up a copy of this year’s Your Health 2022 Magazine. This last couple of years, more than ever, people all over the world have been laser focused on not only their own health, but the health of others around them.

The goal of our magazine is to focus on the positives and try to give you information that will help you and your family remain healthy and strong. Just within the past month, Sulphur Springs lost an amazing doctor and we felt we needed to honor her in this edition. Dr. Annette Horne was an amazing individual and our reigning Best of Hopkins County, Best Primary Care Physician.

She will be missed by all who knew her. Inside this edition is a wonderful story about her.

We are in a position today to focus on the positives. More and more people are getting vaccinated, less people are needing to wear masks and the COVID numbers are dropping. People here in Hopkins County are starting to gather again for concerts, festivals and so many other group events.

Those are the things that make Hopkins County a destination spot for so many people. Let’s stay smart so we can remain healthy and active and enjoy every minute of our lives. If this pandemic has taught us anything, life is short and we need to love, laugh and dance every day!

Dave Shabaz

Publisher Dave@ssnewstelegram.com

4 YOUR HEALTH 2022

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CONTENTS PUBLISHER Dave Shabaz

26

ADVERTISING SALES Daylan Millard GRAPHIC ARTIST Faith Whittle CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:

Holly Ragan Whitney Vaughan Lara Colby Erika Mayorga

23 YOUR HEALTH 2022 5

CrossFit Sulphur Springs

A common misconception with CrossFit, is that you have to be an elite athlete, and already be extremely fit to participate. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

Since the beginning, Kate and I have focused on creating an environment where every person in Sulphur Springs would feel comfortable stepping foot into the box.

Each one of our workouts is programmed so that seasoned athletes and beginners can participate side by side. We have a modification for every movement so that a person’s limitations don’t get in the way of them becoming a better version of themselves.

The methodology behind CrossFit makes it extremely effective and pushes participants to make valuable lifestyle changes. The workouts are varied every day and focus on functional movements that carry over to everyday life. These movements coupled with promoting sound nutrition practices has helped our members become some of the

fittest people in Sulphur Springs. We focus on developing the foundational movements of Squat, Deadlift, Press along with the complex Olympic lifts of Clean, Jerk, and Snatch. All of these movements can be completed at weights that the athlete is able to lift. We focus on proper technique and encourage members to be patient with their progression to lifting heavier to help prevent any sort of injury.

The bonus that comes with joining CrossFit Sulphur Springs, is the community that has been created. Each day folks come into our box to push themselves and to find ways to make themselves BETTER. Doing this alongside other folks, creates bonds and friendships that are second to none. It removes the barriers that ego can create, and allows people to find value in encouraging others to accomplish their own goals.

We offer a variety of classes and class times, but all at their core, leverage the CrossFit methodology. Our classes consist of our

standard CrossFit class. Our Legends Class is focused on the aging population and promotes stability and range of motion.

Our CrossFit Kids program, which is becoming more and more popular, promotes a fun atmosphere to learn the importance of fitness. Our Pulse class focuses on developing an individual’s cardio and bodyweight strength. It’s a great into class for those that want to try CrossFit, but are intimidated by the weights. Our OLY class focuses on developing the skills and strength required for excelling at the Olympic lifts.

We offer a free Community Workout on Saturdays at 9 a.m. for folks that are looking to try out a class and get a feel for what CrossFit is.

The hardest step for folks is just showing up for the first workout. Once you commit and try it, you will soon realize it will become the best hour of your day!

YOUR HEALTH 2022 7

“Treating your family like they’re our own.”

What’s our mission at Heritage Home Health and Hospice? To provide our patients and their families experiencing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual suffering quality home health and end-of-life care with love, dignity, and respect. We have been providing compassionate care to East Texas for over 10 years. Our company has grown organically through friend and family recommendations, and trusted professional relationships: proof that our mission and vision are being accomplished.

We sincerely cherish the time we spend with the patients and families who give us the opportunity to care for them, and it is our promise that our staff and caregivers share this philosophy.

Owner Blake Rich was raised in and around nursing homes through the work of his parents and realized at an early age his love for the elderly and the importance of providing them with quality care. John and Lawanda Rich, Blake’s parents, opened Heritage Home Health in 1987, in Texarkana, Texas. After graduating high school, Blake moved away to college to pursue a degree in business, but quickly realized that his calling was to care for others. He then changed his major and began the path to obtaining a degree in the nursing field. Blake attended UT Tyler and graduated with his BSN in 2007. Immediately after graduation, Blake began working for his mother at Heritage. Blake was mentored by his mother until he and his wife, Jessica, decided to purchase Heritage from his parents in 2009.

After Blake & Jessica purchased the business, they mutually decided to pursue Blake’s dream of opening a hospice agency. In December of 2009, Heritage hospice accepted their first hospice patient and shortly after became CHAP and Medicare certified. From that time, they worked to build and manage the new and vastly improved Heritage Home Health and Hospice.

In 2014, Blake opened Heritage’s second hospice branch in Jefferson, Texas, then a Kilgore, Texas branch the following year. With growth came many more challenges that Heritage would soon have to overcome in order to continue to build teams and develop the business. As Heritage expanded its service into different areas, they found that more was needed in the Northeast Texas community. In 2018, Heritage continued to extend its reach by opening the Sulphur Springs branch that those who live in the area are familiar with today. Branches in Pittsburgh and Tyler followed in 2019, and despite setbacks due to COVID-19, Heritage moved its Kilgore, Texas office to Longview, Texas, acquired Abacus Home Healthcare, and began offering home health services at all locations. Our staff takes pride in being compassionate servants in the communities they serve.

Blake Rich is not a leader who wants to hide in the shadows of his company and let the work fall on everyone else. He is very actively involved in every aspect of the daily running of Heritage and takes pride in being an accessible leader who will come alongside his employees and engage with them as human beings first. In his own words, Heritage

is his pride and joy solely because “being one of the last locally owned Home Health and Hospices is really rewarding. I have seen a lot of our competition join bigger organizations, all for a good cause I am sure, but there is still a local touch that I believe is missing. I also think watching our team grow is fantastic, whether it is a new nurse hitting the field, or a seasoned nurse exploring options and advancing into a different position, it’s extremely rewarding to facilitate that. And of course, wonderful patient and family feedback. Nothing makes me prouder of Heritage than when I’m stopped in public and told what a wonderful job we do.”

Of course, with the rapid spread of COVID-19, Blake faced several challenges day in and day out, to which he responded to by taking on an attitude of complete positivity in the face of what could potentially have been utter chaos. “The biggest challenges come from an industry that never settles.”, Blake says. “State and Federal regulations are constantly changing how we operate so our team must stay sharp around the clock.

What we know about our operations today may be drastically different very soon, with little warning or time to prep. This is not anything new to us, but it can certainly be considered a challenge.”

At the heart of Heritage, Blake’s philosophy is always to put patient care above anything and everything. “Homecare has been in my family since 1987 so I have always been exposed to it. I learned I had a passion for taking care of people at home while completing my clinicals in 2006 in the BSN program at the University of Texas, Tyler. Heritage allowed me to provide the restorative and end of life care I would want my loved ones and myself to receive.”

As Heritage looks toward the future, and all the impending unknowns that tomorrow holds, Blake and the entire Heritage team are fully committed to seeing their mission come to complete fruition. Heritage wants to be a staple in any community its apart of. Embedding ourselves into the community is equally as important as our quality care is. As Blake ponders on where he sees Heritage in 10 years, he shares, “I see Heritage remaining the gold standard of care for the next 10 years and beyond. I think with steady growth, strong values, and patient priority, Heritage will have continued to strengthen its foundation in the household name.”

Testimonials from our patient’s families bring life to our vision for Heritage: “After our family member suffered 2 debilitating strokes within 2 months, we were devastated when she received the diagnosis of terminal pancreatic cancer. Her doctor’s advice was to take her home and make her comfortable. That is when we were introduced to the wonderful staff at Heritage Home Health & Hospice. From the intake personnel to the chaplain, case workers, RN’s, and aids, we knew she was in good hands!

By the time we arrived home from the hospital, the necessary equipment had been delivered and set up. It was indeed a blessing to have these caring, loving, and competent people tending to our loved one. Hospice work is most definitely a calling, and these were some of the best.”

We are so grateful to have the abilities, staff, and resources to give back to our community in one of the most sensitive areas of one’s life. We don’t take what we do lightly. We acknowledge our responsibility and the needs of each family, and we do our best to meet every one of those needs. Thank you, Hopkins County for entrusting us for 5 years to care for your loved ones. We hope to continue to flourish and provide our services with love, dignity, and respect to all who need it.

YOUR HEALTH 2022 9

Well-Child Exams | Newborn Care | Sports Physicals Treatment for Chronic/Acute Illnesses | Immunizations

Tod Conner, MD

Melaine Reese, APRN, CPNP-PC*

Gynecological Services | Complete Prenatal Care Contraceptive Management (including LARC placement) Postpartum Care | Newborn Care | Lactation Services Labor & Delivery (through partnership with CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital - Sulphur Springs)

Martin Fielder, MD, FACOG

J. Darryl Doughtie, MD, FACOG

Jessica Brooks, APRN, WHNP-BC**

106 Medical Circle | Sulphur Springs, TX 75482

903-885-1730

*Supervising Physician: Tod Conner, MD. ** Supervising Physician: J. Darryl Doughtie, MD, FACOG.

Blueberry Muffins

By Whitney Vaughan

Ingredients: 1 1/4c all-purpose flour 1 scoop protein powder (I used PEScience Snickerdoodle) 2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 1 egg 1/2 c 2% Fairlife milk 1/3 c sugar (Yes, sugar) 1/4 c Truvia Brown Sugar Blend 1/4 c vanilla Greek yogurt 1/4 c coconut oil 1tsp vanilla extract 1c (140g) blueberries + 1tbsp flour, for coating 2 tbsp Truvia brown sugar blend, for muffin tops

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Preheat oven to 425°F and spray muffin pan with cooking spray (I use Pam) & set aside.

Start by washing & drying the blueberries & then placing in a bowl with a tbsp of flour to coat.

(This help prevent the blueberries from sinking to the bottom of the muffin.)

In a medium-sized bowl, add the flour, protein powder, baking powder, & salt; whisk the dry ingredients together and set aside.

In a separate larger bowl, add the egg, milk, sugar, brown sugar blend, yogurt, oil & vanilla. Whisk until combined.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring gently until smooth and combined, without needlessly over-mixing or muffins with become tough.

Fold the blueberries in, saving some to top the muffins with.

Scoop the batter evenly into the muffin pan. I use 1/4 c measuring cup to help keep them even. (Should make 1 dozen muffins) Add your remaining blueberries to the top of the batter and sprinkle each one with the 2tbsp of brown sugar blend.

Bake for 12-14 minutes or until golden brown.

(A toothpick inserted in the center should still be slightly gooey for a moist texture.)

Let muffins cool for 5 minutes then remove & transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. To warm, pop in the microwave for 30 seconds before enjoying!

Serving size: 1 muffin Macros (in grams): 5P/6F/22C

YOUR HEALTH 2022 11

Italian Chopped Salad 2 c romaine lettuce, chopped 5 cherry tomatoes 2 oz thick sliced deli ham, chopped 15 g turkey pepperoni slices 1/4 c marinara sauce, (I recommend Rao’s brand) 1/4 c mozzarella cheese, shredded

Wash the vegetables first. Once the lettuce, tomatoes and vegetables are chopped, assemble them together like a salad.

Finally, top with the marinara sauce and cheese.

Enjoy! *I recommend chilling the marinara sauce before adding to the salad.

Serving size: 1 Macros (in grams): 22P/12F/12C

By Whitney Vaughan

12 YOUR HEALTH 2022

Beef Ramen

Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef (94/6) 1 (200g) large red bell pepper, seeded & diced 1 (12oz) bag broccoli florets 1 tbsp olive oil Sauce: 1/2 c low-sodium soy sauce 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar 2 tbsp brown sugar, packed 1 tbsp garlic, minced

Macros (in grams): 19P/8F/10C **Minus the noodles** Servings: 6 Serving size: 172g 1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil and sauté the bell pepper and broccoli until tender. Pour into a bowl and set aside. Brown meat in leftover “juices” from veggies.

2. While meat browns, mix all the ingredients for the sauce together and whisk.

3. Once meat is cooked, add veggies back to the skillet and pour sauce over the mixture.

4. Add this over a portion of ramen noodles, cooked according to directions.

By Whitney Vaughan

YOUR HEALTH 2022 13

The average person waits

SEVEN YEARS to get their hearing checked.

That’s seven years of missed laughs.

Seven years of missed conversations.

Seven years of missed moments.

Reclaim those moments and receive these additional benefits of better hearing:

Better hearing improves relationships and intimacy between couples.

Being able to listen to music elevates mood and improves cognition.

Hearing well keeps you balanced by reducing the risk of falls.

Soothing nature sounds lower blood pressure and induce relaxation.

BrooksHearing.com

Lance Brooks, BBA, ACA, Audioprosthologist • Jami Brooks, Au.D., CCC-A, SLP, Doctor of Audiology Cathy Stewart, ACA, Audioprosthologist • Corrine Koepsell, Au.D., Doctor of Audiology

Greenville • 5002 Sayle St

Paris • 3130 Lamar Ave

903.274.4700

903.737.8800

Sulphur Springs • 1217 S Broadway St, Ste N

Mt. Pleasant • 301 W 19th St

903.438.1600

903.717.3597

ASK THE HEARING PROFESSIONALS Q: I thought I had hearing loss, but it was just something blocking my ear canal. Is that common?

• Family history. Infant hearing loss or deafness is one of the most common congenital health issues. There’s also a strong likelihood that hearing loss in the elderly is in part due to genetics.

A: It’s more common than you might guess. Your ears should be self-cleaning, but sometimes debris or earwax buildup blocks your ear canal, leading to partial or complete hearing loss. Removing the blockage usually results in restored hearing.

Many other things cause hearing loss as well, including: • Age. Age-related hearing loss most commonly happens because of naturally occurring changes in the inner ear.

• Loud noise. This is one of the most common causes of hearing loss. Hearing protection is affordable and accessible, however, so it’s also one of the most preventable causes.

• Ear infection. Fluid sometimes builds up behind the eardrum as a result of an ear infection, making it difficult for some of the tiny structures in your middle ear to work properly.

• Disease. Some conditions, such as the inner-ear disorder Ménière’s disease and the middle-ear disorder otosclerosis, can affect your hearing.

Q: I feel like my hearing loss has made my brain foggy.

Could that be possible?

A: The short answer is yes, absolutely.

Now for the longer answer. You hear with your brain, not your ears.

Your ears actually transmit sound to your brain, which tries to locate the sound, focus on it, filter out any background noise, and then understand it. But hearing loss jumbles sound information. The result? Your brain has to work harder to understand sounds, so you have less brainpower for other things — like thinking. So hearing technology helps you recover brainpower. Plus, your brain relies on information from BOTH ears to locate sounds and hear in noisy environments.

If you know someone who has hearing loss in one ear, notice how, even with a “good ear,” they often struggle to hear. That’s why, for the vast majority, both ears require treatment to optimize hearing.

BrooksHearing.com

Lance Brooks, BBA, ACA, Audioprosthologist • Jami Brooks, Au.D., CCC-A, SLP, Doctor of Audiology Cathy Stewart, ACA, Audioprosthologist • Corrine Koepsell, Au.D., Doctor of Audiology

Greenville • 5002 Sayle St

Paris • 3130 Lamar Ave

Sulphur Springs • 1217 S Broadway St, Ste N

Mt. Pleasant • 301 W 19th St

903.274.4700 903.438.1600

903.737.8800 903.717.3597

wesleyhouseseniorliving.com

At Wesley Cottages our goal is to offer you a safe and secure place to live while making your daily life as simple and carefree as possible. Our campus is beautifully maintained, and we are proud to offer you a list of amenities to simplify your life.

YOUR HEALTH 2022 17

Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Colonoscopies?

It’s that time again. Your doctor is asking you to get a Colonoscopy. That sounds dreadful. Why on earth would anyone want a Colonoscopy? I don’t have any family history of Colon cancer! I feel fine! Why do I need a Colonoscopy?

Below, Dr. Vivian Ebrahim, a Gastroenterologist at Texas Modern Gastroenterology answers every question you have ever had about Colonoscopies.

What is the big deal about Colon Cancer?

Colon cancer is the THIRD leading cause of cancer death in the United States for both men and women, but it is one of the most preventable.

This year, there is an estimated 150,000 new cases of colon cancer. More than 50,000 people will die from colon cancer this year.

What is my risk of developing Colon Cancer if I live in the United States?

One in 23 men will get colon cancer. One in 25 women will develop colon cancer. Your risk is doubled if you have a parent, sibling with colon cancer or colon polyps after the age of 50. Your risk of developing colon cancer is even higher if any of these family members were diagnosed less than 40.

Even without a family history, cigarette smoking, excessive red meat consumption and excessive alcohol consumption can increase your risk.

What is a Colonoscopy?

A Colonoscopy is a procedure in which a physician called a Gastroenterologist examines the entire colon. We use Colonoscopy to diagnose and evaluate common colon diseases, such as colon polyps, colon cancer, diverticulosis, inflammatory bowel disease, bleeding from the colon, any change in bowel habits, or things like abnormal X-rays or CT scans. During a Colonoscopy, Gastroenterologists are also able to provide therapy for most things, like removal of polyps or controlling bleeding. The key with colonoscopy is we can find things and deal with them at the same time.

Why should I get screened for Colon Cancer if I don’t have symptoms?

Pre-cancerous polyps (called adenomas) can grow for years and transform into cancer without producing any symptoms. By the time symptoms develop, it is often too late to cure the cancer, because it may have spread. Screening identified cancers earlier and actually results in cancer prevention when it leads to removal of precancerous polyps.

What are you looking for during a Colonoscopy?

When we are screening for colon cancer, we are looking for polyps. A polyp is a small clump of cells on the lining of the colon. Most colon polyps are harmless. Some colon polyps can develop into colorectal cancer, often fatal when found in its later stages. Not all polyps turn into cancer, but all cancers start as polyps. Because colon polyps do not usually cause symptoms, it is important to have regular colorectal screenings such as colonoscopy.

Remember: screening by colonoscopy with polyp removal prevents Colorectal Cancer before it can start.

If colonoscopy is so effective at detecting polyps, why aren’t more people having it?

A common reason is fear or avoidance of the bowel preparation “prep” which involves taking a laxative which causes temporary diarrhea for several hours. In addition, many people are simply unaware that they need colon cancer screening.

Well, what is the bowel prep like?

This is an important obstacle in the eyes of many patients to getting a colonoscopy, but it need not be!

There are a variety of preparation methods for colonoscopy ranging from liquids (of varying quantity) with or without enemas, to pills, which rid your colon of feces. A clean colon is essential to allow for a careful examination for polyps or other abnormalities.

Your doctor can discuss and prescribe the most appropriate preparation method for you, taking into account various factors such as your age, personal preferences, kidney function and physical stamina.

The big gallon of salt water is a thing of years past for most people. As long as you don’t have kidney, liver issues, most people are able to get the “smaller volume preps” or the tablet preps. You can speak to your Gastroenterologist to see which one is right for you.

Is Colonoscopy painful? Will I be sedated?

No, colonoscopy is not usually painful. We perform colonoscopies with anesthesia, in which you are asleep, but comfortable and breathing on your own. The most common type of sedation also has some mild amnesiac effect, so most patients do not even remember the procedure!

My friend had a complication during a Colonoscopy. Is it even safe?

Yes, complications can happen, however, complications are associated with virtually every form of testing done in medicine. Colonoscopy has been found to be safe when performed by a well-trained physician, such as a Gastroenterologist.

Most complications are related to anesthesia, like heart and lung problems. Also, the colon may become torn (perforation), which may require surgery.

Rarely, bleeding from a polyp removal or from the procedure itself may require additional treatment such as hospitalization and/ or blood transfusions. As you read about these procedures, you should weigh these risks against the more frequent risk of developing colon cancer if appropriate testing is not done.

When should I have a Colonoscopy?

45 is the new 50!! If you have no colorectal symptoms, no family history of colon cancer, polyps or inflammatory bowel disease, you should have your first exam at age 45 whether you are a man or a woman, since colon cancer affects both EQUALLY. If you have a family member, like a parent, sibling or child with a history of pre-cancerous polyp or colon cancer, you should start screening 10 years younger than the youngest age of the affected family member, or age 40, whichever is younger.

Which symptoms should not be ignored?

Reach out to your physician if you have any new or worrying symptoms such as blood in the stool, a change in bowel habits, rectal or abdominal pain, or unexpected weight loss, unexplained or new anemia.

Why can’t I just have the “poop in the box” test?

That seems so much easier than a Colonoscopy!

There are several options for colon cancer screening. With a colonoscopy, your doctor can see and remove pre-cancers called polyps and preventor detect or confirm colorectal cancer ALL IN 1 STEP. There is a multitarget stool DNA test, which is a non-invasive screening test for colorectal cancer. It looks for abnormal DNA associated with colon cancer or polyps. With this test, your chance of getting a “false positive test” may increase with advancing age. If the test is positive, the second step of Colonosocpy is still required.

Who can do my Colonoscopy for me? Who can answer all my questions?

Dr. Vivian Ebrahim is a board-certified Gastroenterologist who provides high quality, comprehensive care for patients with a wide variety of gastrointestinal ailments at Texas Modern Gastroenterology. She can answer all your questions and she feels that she makes Colonoscopies fun!

Dr. Ebrahim was born in Dallas, Texas and raised in Rockwall, Texas. She earned both a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts in History at Southern Methodist University. She attended Texas Tech University School of Medicine where she received her Doctor of Medicine degree.

She then completed her Internal Medicine residency at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Ebrahim completed her Gastroenterology Fellowship at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. Dr. Ebrahim is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology.

She has practiced in East Texas for the last few years and is now proud to call Sulphur Springs home.

Where is Dr. Ebrahim’s office? How can I reach her?

Our office is located within East Texas Surgery Center, behind Sulphur Springs Imaging Center and across from Fresenius Dialysis Center. We are located at 1402 Medical Drive, Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482. You can reach her office at 903-5582222 and you can fax our office at 903-558-2225.

Our website is www.txmoderngi.com and you can find us on Facebook!

YOUR HEALTH 2022 19

Sadly, the Good Do Die Young

By Dave Shabaz, Julie Davis, Leslie Forshee, Nancy Rooks, Christi Hardy and Holly Ragan

In late February of this year, Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County lost an amazing person and physician, when Dr. Annette Horne passed away at the age of 63.

Each year, The News-Telegram asks the county to vote for “The Best” in a variety of categories, one being, Best Primary Care Physician. Dr. Horne won that category in June of 2021.

That honor shows how well loved and respected she was.

With the help from her family, we were able to learn a little more about her life. She was born in Dallas, Texas to Joseph E. and Dorothy Bunch, although her family lived in Paris Texas at the time. The doctor knew that she was an RH baby and sent Dr. Horne’s mother to Dallas for the delivery, knowing that they were possibly going to have complications.

Hours after her birth, Annette received multiple blood transfusions to combat the incompatible blood type. There were many risks to this original method of treating RH Disease, but fortunately, Dr. Horne

20 YOUR HEALTH 2022

suffered no known side effects. Dr. Horne stayed in the hospital in Dallas for days with her three other siblings, Nancy who was age 10 at the time, and twin siblings Christi and Vicki, age five, anxiously awaiting her homecoming in Paris. Once home, Nancy claimed Annette to be, “her baby” and she recalls rocking her and feeding her, being the “little mother” to Annette.

While growing up in Paris, Dr. Horne’s father, Joseph, worked as a milkman for Foremost Milk and her mother Dorothy, was originally a housewife and then helped open the YMCA in Paris. She later worked as a school secretary, for over 30 years for the Paris School District.

Dr. Horne attended Paris High School (she was a Blazette) and met Steve Horne there. He was the president of the band and a talented percussionist (although they did not date until college). She then went on to attend FUMC Paris and when her daughter stated, “so you and Daddy went to the same church?” Dr. Horne

retorted “I ATTENDED church, your father was a member,” and they’d both laugh. Both Annette and Steve graduated Paris HS in 1976 and attended Paris Junior College. This is where they began dating. They were members of the PJC Madrigal Singers (Steve sang and played percussion).

After both earned Associate’s Degrees, the couple attended The University of North Texas at Denton. Dr. Horne earned a Bachelor of Science (she was pre-med) but did not do well on the MCAT post-graduation. Assuming it was a sign, she completed her secondary educator certification and would go on to teach high school chemistry and biology at Marcus high school for 10 years.

The young couple married at the FUMC Paris on August 16th, 1980 and then moved to Lewisville, TX where they had their daughters Julie (1983) and Leslie (1987). In 1991, Steve encouraged Annette to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a family practice physician saying “I know one day we will be retired on

“Dr. Annette Horne, DO has served Hopkins County since 1998. Since, 2017, Dr. Horne has been employed by CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic here in Sulphur Springs. On more than one occasion, Dr. Horne was voted most compassionate family care physician by the Sulphur Springs Community.

She will be truly missed, but remembered for her care for her patients, her passion for worthy causes in Hopkins County and the joy and love she had for her family and grandkids. She was a respected member of our medical staff and served on several hospital medical staff committees. She will be truly missed!. We plan to honor her legacy with a park bench with her name in our Memorial Gardens. Blessings to her family and dear friends.”

~ Mr. Paul Harvey, President/CEO CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Sulphur Springs

YOUR HEALTH 2022 21

Dr. Annette Horne and her two daughters, Leslie Forshee and Julie Davis the front porch in our rocking chairs and you will look at me and say ‘I wish I had gone for it, become a doctor’ and I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself for not pushing you to fulfill your dream.” Annette studied, did well on the MCAT, and was accepted into Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth (now called UNT Health Science Center) at the age of 34. When she called her mother to tell her the big news, Dorothy said “but Annette, you’ll be FORTY when you get out of medical school.” To which Dr. Horne replied “Well, mother, I’ll be forty anyway. Might as well be a doctor.”

The young family moved to Euless and the girls attended Grapevine-Colleyville ISD schools. Shortly after Annette began medical school, Steve was laid off. Although the girls/ daughters never realized any strain or hardship this caused, Steve was hired within six months of being unemployed. He was the manager of the Mary Kay Global Distribution ASRS building in Dallas (a position he held until his untimely death). Upon completion of medical school, Annette chose to begin her medical practice in 1998 in Sulphur Springs, TX to be closer to her family, (Nancy Rooks in SS, Christi Hardy & Dorothy Bunch in Paris) and Steve wanted to be closer to the lakes of Northeast Texas (he was an avid fisherman and planned to become a fishing guide after retirement). Julie began 9th grade at SSHS and Leslie began 6th grade at SSMS. The couple designed and built the home they planned to retire in. The layout was specific to their desires, including a garage that was long enough to back a boat trailer still hitched to his truck.

On September 13, 2000 Steve suffered a pulmonary embolism. He had suffered from chronic sinusitis and had recently had a central port removed (he was on IV antibiotics

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as his sinus infections became more and more resistant to antibiotics). Early that morning he sat up on the side of the bed and said “Annette, I can’t breathe” and that was it.

My mom was so upset that she couldn’t save him. She did eventually forgive herself, but, being a doctor and saving/ healing so many others, it was difficult to accept the reality that she could not save him. He only got to witness her live her dream of being a doctor for two short years. He passed 4 weeks after their 20th wedding anniversary, 2 weeks after Julie’s 17th birthday, and 9 days after Annette’s 42nd birthday.

From that moment on, Annette became both mommy & daddy to 2 teenage girls, and she never once complained.

She managed to balance practicing medicine, taking calls, and all of the extra-curricular activities and events for both daughters.

Dr. Horne was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2009, and again she fought and persevered. She never let her diagnosis define or limit her. She faithfully continued to serve Hopkins County as she remained dedicated to her patients and practice, making accommodations along the way.

When the pandemic hit, Dr. Horne was asked if she was going to take a leave of absence due to her immunocompromised status as a result of her Multiple Sclerosis. She said, “absolutely not! I will not live my life in fear and abandon my patients.” It was because of her selfless heart and passion for practicing medicine that she would ultimately contract COVID-19 and pass away a month after her initial diagnosis, at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital, surrounded by family. Our world needs more people like Dr. Annette Horne. She will be missed.

Helping Ukraine Call 903.439.4090

By Holly Ragan

for more information.

Our mission at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs is to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. We make that a priority every day, and let that be the guide for our daily actions when taking care of our patients, their families, and even our associates.

While the invasion of Ukraine has definitely affected the current state of our economy, it is no match for what the country and its citizens are enduring. It hits even closer to home, as one of our associate’s spouse is from Ukraine, and more specifically Krakiv, which is just outside the capital and most populous city of Kiev. Mr. Harvey sat down with Ganna, a wife to one of our anesthesia team members.

Ganna has been living as a US citizen for the last 12 years, but all of her family – parents, grandmother, cousins, friends – are still in Krakiv. The country is currently fighting to maintain its independence. Ganna says – “they are fighting for the Ukrainian flag – not Russia”. She says their family wants to stay in Krakiv, despite the catastrophic attack, where they are bombing non-stop. They all wish to take a stand for their country, including her 83 year-old grandmother, who remembers World War II. They are taking shelter in their basement, have limited food and water, and are trying to help others as they flee the capital city. However, Ganna says, there is constant disruption in the communication. She also said there are some people who have lost everything from family, to homes, to food. Additionally, she mentioned children who need medical care for chronic illness.

Although limited, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital is making their best effort by sending over boxes of medical supplies, and meeting basic needs. Additionally, through the Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation, the hospital administration has set up a way to donate to Ganna’s community of Krakiv. By going to the following website, you may give to help Ukraine, and rest assured the money is being sent to their community via secure methods. www.christushealth.org/trinity/sulphur-springs/patient-resources/hopkins-county-health-care-foundation/online-giving Under the Designation option, select “Helping Ukraine” in the drop down box. Any amount is helpful, and every dime will go securely and directly to helping the people in Krakiv.

Thank you in advance for your support of Ganna and her husband, who are part of our family at CHRISTUS. Additionally, thank you for the support of the families and community members facing unimaginable circumstances in Ukraine. And thank you for helping us fulfill our mission to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ.

Ganna would tell you how appreciative she is of the support. She would also encourage you to hug your family members, and tell them and show them how much you love them.

YOUR HEALTH 2022 23

The Magic of

Ice Cream

By Lara Colby

It was 2016 and I owned an antique shop on Connally St. in downtown Sulphur Springs, TX. After being opened for 6 months, my husband and I decided to add an ice cream counter within the shop. Long story short, the ice cream took over and the antiques eventually went into storage to become more antique. As time went on, I would hear some customers comment that they did not want ice cream because they were “cutting back”, or “on a diet”, or “trying to be good”. So, I decided to do my own research and see if ice cream was really all that bad for us. And here is where the magic began to show.

Let’s start with the 10 surprising benefits of eating ice cream!

It is loaded with vitamins and minerals Ice cream contains the goodness of vitamin D, Vitamin A, calcium, phosphorus and riboflavin. In addition, certain flavors like dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants and flavonoids.

It gives you energy It instantly makes you feel pepped up and energized.

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It helps boost your immunity As a fermented food, it is beneficial to respiratory and gastrointestinal health, which improves your immunity.

It helps in stimulating your brain Studies show those who have ice cream first thing in the morning were more alert than people who didn’t do so.

It helps in strengthening your bones Our bodies do not produce calcium naturally, so we must consume calcium rich foods. Ice cream is loaded with calcium and contributes to our daily needs.

It makes you happier!

Eating ice cream produces the hormone serotonin, which is known as a feel-good hormone.

It can help prevent breast cancer Lack of calcium in the body is one of the culprits of breast cancer in women. Ample calcium intake can lower or reduce the chances of breast cancer. As stated above, its loaded with calcium.

It improves your fertility Studies show, women who consumed high-fat dairy products (like ice cream) had better fertility rate in comparison to women who consumed skimmed or non-fat dairy products.

It helps you lose weight!

It increases your libido Phosphorus in ice cream improves the circulation of oxygen to your tissues and maintains PH balance of your body, which keeps tabs of your testosterone levels.

As you can imagine, I was quite surprised myself to read these magical benefits of ice cream. How can it help you lose weight?! Most would think it causes weight gain. But we forget that its ingredients are actually made up of what our bodies need and love! Vitamins, Minerals, good fat, and its clinically proven to make you happy! In moderation, ice cream can help you achieve the feeling of fullness and will make you feel satiated and less deprived of tasty food. Now this isn’t an invitation to indulge in a pint of ice cream at a time. Moderation and portion control are the keys to unlocking the magic of ice cream.

Information and education are keys to running a successful business. I wanted to truly know what we serve our customers and how it can benefit them.

I’m not going to lie; it’s been a challenge to convince our dieting customers that eating ice cream should not make them feel guilty. Slowly but surely the message is getting out and we have regulars who enjoy the magic of our ice cream without the guilt.

They truly taste the difference, and Taste the Magic!

Tiffany Gebel, MD OB/GYN

Lady Business... that’s her business.

LONESTAR CLINIC 1216 Church Streeet Sulphur Springs, TX 75482 903-885-2820

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Breathe Cleaner

According to a NASA study called, “Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement”, this study helps us understand how house plants purify your air in your enclosed spaces. NASA had this experiment held in 1989 when architects were building efficient buildings to save energy, keep buildings warm in winter and cool in summer in exchange for less fresh air. Thus, with these buildings being in use, they realized employees began to complain about certain health issues like skin rashes, itchy eyes, respiratory and sinus congestion, headaches, and other allergic symptoms.

This was later called “Sick building syndrome”. They realized 30% of all new buildings or remodels had various levels of indoor air pollutant. NASA said, “Man himself should be considered another source of indoor air pollution, especially when living in a closed, poorly ventilated area.”

In this experiment, the following house plants were used: - Mother-in-Law Tongue “Sanseveria Laurentii” - English Ivy “Hedera Helix” - Gerbera daisy “Gerbera Jamesonii” - Bamboo Palm “Chamaedorea Seifritzii” - Chinese Evergreen “Aglaonema

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Modestum” - Ficus “Ficus Benjamina” - Janet Craig “Dracaema Deremensis Janet Craig” - Marginata “Dracaena Marginata” - Mass Cane/Corn Cane “Dracaena Massangeana” - Peace Lily “Spathiphyllum “Mauna Loa” - Pot Mum “Chrysanthemum Morifoloum” - Warneckei “Dracaena Deremensis Warnecki” The scientists put together plants listed above into chambers and released harmful chemicals like: Ammonia, Formaldehyde, Xylene, Trichloroethylene, Benzene. After 24 hours, they tested the air quality of each chamber and some plants were able to remove 90% of these pernicious chemicals.

The Snake Plant, Peace lily, Algaonema, Gerbera Daisy, and the Boston Fern all have an amazing chemical removing ratio, in air carcinogen, which is an agent that can cause cancer in humans. The main chemicals that promote carcinogen damage are Formaldehyde, Benzene, and Trichloroethylene. For example: glues, paints, lacquers, preservatives used in medicines and cosmetics. Other consumer products include fabric softeners, liquid

By Erika Mayorga dishwashing, tobacco smoke, cleaning products, gasoline, and resins used in the manufacturing of composite wood products like hardwood plywood, or particleboard.

The Snake Plant scores high on removing harmful chemicals and purifying the air, and in return, giving fresh oxygen to your space. They are easy to care for by being flexible with low to high light spaces and reduce watering to once a month as it grows.

The way these plants do their job is by consuming the air toxins out of the atmosphere and segregating them in their roots and cells. Some of these chemicals are fragmented down by fungi and soil and others are stowed in the plant. Remember - the larger the plant you have, the more capable they are at exchanging things with the air than a small plant can do for you.

The Mass Cane “Dracaena Massangeana” is best near a South or West facing window and can withstand some direct light but thrives best with indirect lighting. These are best in your living room or even bedroom because they can fill your space easily growing between 3- 6 ½ ft tall making any room pop with the color variations while keeping the air clean as well. Watering is

best every 4-5 days to keep the soil moist but not wet and thrives best with humidity levels between 40-50%.

The Peace Lily, is a great beginner plant for those who want foliage with air purifying qualities. While a tad bit dramatic, it is a very popular choice for most households due to its large foliage and flowers, which put off a light scent.

The fast growers thrive in almost any room, even with artificial lighting. They do not like to be dried out, so you have no fear of overwatering, and prefer to have a constantly moist soil to achieve best growth along with being misted regularly to achieve desired humidity. The best part about this plant is if it happens to dry and starts drooping down, it just needs a thorough soak to bring it back to life.

A very easygoing plant that is well loved is the Aglaonema Modestum commonly known as the Chinese Evergreen which comes in many variations, including pink and red. While this plant is flexible it thrives best in medium light, or indirect.

They can flower during spring and summer, and look similar to a Peace Lily, these can be pruned to redirect energy back into the plant. The Chinese Evergreen prefers moderate watering, letting it dry slightly between with an average humidity. If you have trouble with humidity this would be great in a bathroom or kitchen bringing a pop of color while still cleansing the air. They are great for small spaces only growing to 3 foot tall and 2-4 wide at full maturity.

A favorite of mine is the English Ivy, and one of the best air purifying plants removing toxins such as formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, and toluene. It will do best with indirect bright light, in a north or east facing window and looks great in your kitchen, bathrooms and living rooms.

Because it trails it would look best in a hanging basket, sitting on a high counter or allowing it to climb upward on a trellis.

Indoors vines can become leggy and can be pruned in order to achieve the best look. When watering, allow it to dry out thoroughly to prevent rotting. It needs some humidity and can be misted once to twice a week or sit in a pebble tray for best results.

For those who travel or are still learning

all things plant related, the Bamboo Palm is the way to go, with a very easy going care routine. These thrive in low lighting or some indirect medium light, any direct lighting can cause burning. These will look best in offices or bathrooms because of their low light needs. Filling a space is easy with the Bamboo Palm because if allowed can grow between 4 to 12 ft tall, looking full with its overhanging foliage. When watering you will want it to be halfway dry before your next watering and it’s best to not let it sit in water which could cause damage. It grows best in medium to high humidity with indoor temperatures at 65 to 80 degrees. And pruning dead or dying leaves will keep it looking its best. Keeping it away from windows and doors is very important because they will not respond well to drafts or cold and can cause damage to the leaves.

Janet Craig “Dracaena Deremensis Janet Craig” is great for those who enjoy cacti and are looking to expand into something similar. Known for removing the toxin trichloroethylene from the air. This plant is known for its beautiful long tapered leaves that are a vibrant green looking spectacular in any space. It will grow up to 10 ft tall and 3 feet wide and can live in low lighting but to achieve larger leaves it does best in indirect filtered lighting. It is great for offices since it’s quite hardy in cooler temperatures as low as 70 degrees and as high as 90 degrees. When watering it’s best to wait until it’s dry at least ½ way down before watering in a pot with drainage.

Do not leave sitting in water, because this could cause rot. This air purifier can live for decades if cared for correctly.

With a cool name like Dragon Tree you can’t help but fall in love with it. The Dracaena Marginata is a great plant for beginners who love spindly leaves and bright color. An easy plant to maintain and a great air purifier. The foliage on this plant is a green swordlike leaf with red edges sure to draw attention.

Dragon trees are great at adapting to light

but you’ll find they do best with bright indirect light, keeping them out of bright direct light which scorches the leaves. It naturally sheds leaves as it grows new ones so if you see a few falling, don’t fret. If you want to put a spotlight on this plant so to speak, it will do best in a North or South facing window in your living or bedroom.

It’s drought tolerant but for the best care, water once a week or when the topsoil has dried out.

Available in a variety of colors such as pink, yellow, and orange the Gerbera daisy is an eye-catching flower sure to brighten any day and space while keeping the air clean as well. The daisies are diamond shaped with jagged edges, these leaves are very thin and need to be removed if damaged to keep the plant looking great.

They are a very sensitive plant that will not tolerate cold weather and if kept indoors must be away from possible drafts. It will grow best in bright light such as North or East facing windows but doesn’t like harsh heat. So it would be great in your living room window or in your sunroom.

The daisy grows best when watered once a week, or when the soil has dried an inch or two below the surface. If you see your daisy losing leaves in the fall don’t worry because the plants can be dormant in the winter and will only need to be watered about once a month.

If air purifying plants is something you’re interested in then you should be aware that while one plant purifies the air, power is in numbers. So the greater number of plants the better the air. These plants are great for those who are just getting into plants or for those who have a jungle full of wonders.

The power of air purifying plants is endless and it’s in your hands.

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Let our family help yours grow.

• LDRP rooms for one room throughout entire stay • Experienced, supportive nurses • Certified breastfeeding consultants • Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit • Hospital tours and classes • Multiple options for pain management • Special meal for mom and gift for baby

Call 903.439.4090 for more information.

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