Effingham February March 2016

February/March 2016

Julie Hales

Leading Effingham’s 2016 Kiss A Pig Campaign

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CONTRIBUTORS

Cindy Burbage

is a native of Richmond Hill. She began writing in college and took a hiatus to raise her four beautiful children. Cindy enjoys traveling and is always ready for a road trip. She believes that faith is greater than fear.

Katrice Williams

is a married mother of two. She graduated from Georgia Southern University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree. She moved to the Atlanta Metropolitan Area to pursue business career endeavors. A few years later, her husband, Tony, received a job offer in our area, and the family moved to Pooler. After spending time as an at-home mom, she decided to pursue an area of personal interest—writing.

In her spare time, Katrice enjoys the 3F’s: family, food and fun!! She’s also fond of occasionally writing a bit of good poetry.

Shannon Robinson is a free-spirited freelancer that collects hobbies

Jeff Whitten

Lea Allen

and has a story for every conversation. She enjoys writing and honing her skills in this craft.

Kathryn Vandenhouten

is a freelance writer who enjoys meeting new and interesting people. She earned her English degree at Georgia Southern University, and caught the travel bug while studying abroad in Costa Rica, where she received a minor in Spanish. After college, she worked briefly in Yellowstone National Park, where she enjoyed hiking and photographing the scenery and the wildlife.

Lane Leopard

Luke Smith is a full time photographer and single father based out of

Rincon, GA, Having grown up in Cajun country in Louisiana, Luke feels right at home on the Georgia coast and has for the last 10 years. When he’s not doing freelance photography for commercial clients, Luke is spending time with his son.

Miranda Osborn is an Australian-born professional whose career started somewhere between journalism and fetching coffee before taking a happy turn to photography, graphic design and all things visually creative in-between. From newspaper photos to magazine shots, from product shoots to weddings, her CameraKoala.com photography has appeared in numerous nationwide catalogs, publications and has had the privilege to grace several magazine covers in Liberty County, GA.

DiAnna Jenkins

Marsha Stewart

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in this issue February/March 2016

features

08 14 19 23 25 28 32 36

Julie Hales Effingham’s Representative For The 2016 Kiss A Pig Campaign

Gene Hinely A Veteran, A War...And Two Dogs

Ella Bothwell Though She Be But Little, She Is Fierce

Effingham Health System “Where We’re Going, Where We’ve Been”

New Rehabition Center at Effingham Health System

Tara Brant Kicking The Bucket List

Lisa Scarborough Founder of Coastal Pet Rescue

Cynthia Grovenstein Making A Difference And Living The Dream

u L u L

departments

07

Publisher’s Page

51

Let’s Do Business

57

Real Estate

specials

39

06 February/March 2016 | www.Effingham Magazine.Com

Tips From Your Health and Wellness Professionals

PUBLISHER’S Thoughts

Kicking Diabetes in the “BUTT” Julie Hales owner/publisher julie@idpmagazines.com Jeff Whitten editor jeff@idpmagazines.com Lane Leopard graphic designer lane@idpmagazines.com Lea Allen administrative assistant/circulation lea@idpmagazines.com DiAnna Jenkins account executive dianna@idpmagazines.com Marsha Stewart account executive marsha@idpmagazines.com

Effingham Magazine is proudly produced by:

108 International Drive P.O. Box 1742 Rincon, GA 3126 (912) 826-2760

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Write to us and tell us what you think. Effingham Magazine welcomes all letters to the editor.

Please send all letters via email to Jeff Whitten at jeff@idpmagazines.com, or mail letters to P.O. Box 1742, Rincon, GA 31326. Letters to the editor must have a phone number and name of contact. Phone numbers will not be published.

ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS Effingham Magazine welcomes story ideas from our readers. If you have a story idea, or photo essay you would like to share, please submit ideas and material by emailing Jeff Whitten at jeff@idpmagazines.com Stories or ideas for stories must be submitted by email. Only feature stories and photo essays about people, places or things in Effingham.

CIRCULATION: Effingham Magazine is publlished bi-monthly (six issues a year), printing 10,000 copies and distributed to over 180 locations.

Reproduction in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.

This is my first publisher’s letter of 2016, and probably the most personal one I have ever written.

Some say that, at times, things just align with the stars. Well, to many, that is how my story may seem.

To me, it was God putting an opportunity in front of me that He wanted me to take advantage of.

Back in November, my health took a pretty bad turn. I knew I had not been feeling well, but had no idea the enormity of the problem. After a pretty intense trip to the emergency room at Effingham Hospital, my diagnosis was determined – a damaging high blood sugar level.

Yes, DIABETES! What an ugly word, it should only be four letters. It’s that bad.

My follow up appointments brought on more bad news about the damage the diabetes had already done. I was scared. It takes a lot to scare me, but this did.

In the midst of all the testing, a dear friend came by Julie Hales, PUBLISHER to see me, Tanya Milton. Tanya is very involved in the American Diabetes Kiss-A-Pig campaign. She asked for my help. A few days later, Maria Center, Director of our area’s ADA came by my office and asked me to head up a campaign team for Effingham County.

What? Could the timing of this had been more perfect? Not only did this give me an opportunity to help raise awareness in my community to this deadly disease, but to also educate myself and keep me accountable on my fight to get healthy.

With that being said, I agreed. I am now the campaign chair for Effingham County’s Kiss-A-Pig team. We have already started making big plans for our fundraising efforts.

So, be on the lookout, you will see me or a member of my team out promoting. We are in search of sponsors and helpers. If any of you want to help, please email me or call. My cell is 657-4120 and my email is Julie@idpmagazines.com.

We have a new Facebook page started for the campaign. You can go here to follow our progress and to see the many up-coming fun activities we have planned. Go to “Hams from Effingham” on Facebook and like our page.

I bet there are a lot of you out there that would like to see me kiss a pig! Let’s make it happen!

February/March 2016

Julie Hales

Leading Effingham’s 2016 Kiss A Pig Campaign

ABOUT THE COVER Julie Hales, Effingham’s “Hams from Effingham” campaign chair for the American Diabetes Association Kiss-A-Pig contest, warming up to “LuLu,” the official mascot for this year’s campaign.

Photo by Susan DeLoach Susan DeLoach Photography

www.Effingham

Magazine.com | February/March 2016 07

JULIE HALES:

Effingham’s Representative for the 2016 Kiss a Pig Campaign Let’s Bring Home the Bacon for The American Diabetes Association

A

As the owner of Independence Day Publishing, Julie Hales has made a career of spotlighting outstanding residents in Effingham Magazine, Effingham Sports Digest, Pooler Magazine, Beaufort Lifestyle, and Chatham Isles Living. Now, she gets to take the spotlight to raise money for a cause that is personal to her: diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association has chosen her to be a part of the Kiss a Pig Campaign, which is their largest fundraising event of the year. Hales will be representing Effingham County as the team captain of “Hams from Effingham.” And she is confident that she can get the people of Effingham County to ban together to raise the most money for diabetes.

Pigs are honored by the ADA as the original source of insulin and recognized for saving lives, so creative porcine puns are a fun part of the Kiss a Pig fundraiser.

This year’s theme is: “Hollywood: Your Chance to Hog the Spotlight.” The team captain who raises the most money wins the competition and gets to kiss Lulu the pig, the official mascot of the American Diabetes Association.

Hales was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about fifteen years ago, and she was living a normal life until her health made a sudden and unexpected turn for the worse. In November, she was at a function giving a speech when she felt like something burst inside her head, and excruciating pain followed. She was taken to the ER, where her blood sugar was a dangerously high 393.

Just like that, with no warning at all, her diabetes had gone from a controlled chronic condition to a life threatening one. For that reason, it is often called

story by katie vandenhouten photos by susan deloach “the silent killer.” More Americans die each year from diabetes than from breast cancer and AIDS combined.

The health scare was a wakeup call for Hales. “The initial visit in the ER was bad enough, having to have a CT scan done because they thought I had a brain bleed.

Then all the follow up appointments with my doctor and tests, none of which had good results,” she says. “So I am on a mission to get better.”

In addition to spearheading the Kiss a Pig fundraiser in Effingham, Hales joined her own office competition at Independence Day Publishing to raise additional funds for diabetes and to encourage herself and her employees to maintain a healthier lifestyle. She is asking people to sponsor her for each pound she loses from January to May 1.

Long-time employee of IDP, Lane Leopard, is also competing in the office weight loss challenge. She says, “Our office has always been a close group of people who really care about each other.

When Julie made the decision to join the ADA campaign, and getting herself healthy, we all backed her 100% and wanted to help in any way we could.

She’s always supported me in everything I have set out to do, and this is a way for me to pay that forward, and get myself healthier as well.”

Lea Allen, administrative assistant at IDP, is thrilled that Hales is raising awareness for others and making an effort to get healthy. “Ever since I have known Julie, she has always been so big into giving back to the community. I think it is amazing that she is heading up the Kiss a Pig campaign here in Effingham County to raise awareness of diabetes,” she says. “And the most amazing part is that she is not only helping and

08 February/March 2016 | www.Effingham Magazine.Com

supporting her community, but also giving back and helping herself by adopting a healthy lifestyle to tackle and control her diabetes.”

Hales is no stranger to community outreach. She feels honored to be able to make a difference in the community where she grew up. “I have been involved in a lot of community organizations such as United Way, Effingham Victim Witness, Optimist Club, the Recreation Department and many others. Giving back to the community that has afforded me so much is very important to me,” she says. And that is one of the reasons she was chosen to represent Effingham County for this event.

Though she has participated in countless charities and fundraisers through the years, this one is special to her. “This is actually the first time that I have ever been asked to be involved in something that can, and does, affect me,” she explains. “I am experiencing major health issues as the result of this disease.”

Hales is deeply committed to this cause and to educating as many people as she can about diabetes. “Trust me. It is nothing to play with,” she says. “And people need to know more about it and what they can do to prevent it and keep it under control.”

One of the frightening aspects about diabetes is that anyone can develop it at any age. That is why education is a crucial part of fighting the disease. In its early stages, many people experience no symptoms at all, which is why it is important to get screenings and to be aware of the signs, symptoms and risk factors.

Some warning signs include extreme thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision and tingling in the lower extremities.

Individuals who are overweight, have a

www.Effingham

Magazine.com | December/January 2015-16 09

sedentary lifestyle, are over the age of 45, or have a family history of diabetes are at an increased risk. African Americans and Latinos also have a higher risk for developing the disease.

“As you can probably tell, I am very passionate about raising awareness,” Hales reiterates. “I had no idea the health problems my diabetes was causing and I feel certain there are many of our residents that have the same issues and many that have this disease that are not even aware they do.”

She couldn’t be more correct, according to The American Diabetes Association. In fact, it is estimated that nearly 30 million Americans have diabetes, and 7 million of them don’t even know they have it.

What’s even scarier is that 86 million people are considered to have “pre-diabetes” and may eventually develop Type 2 Diabetes if their health goes unchecked. Many people don’t realize that this disease can lead to amputations, blindness, cardiovascular disease, kidney complications and even death if left uncontrolled.

Maria Center, the Director of the American Diabetes Association for Southeast Georgia and coastal South Carolina, says it is crucial to raise awareness and educate as many people as possible of the dangers of diabetes. “I don’t think people realize how much damage this disease can do if unmanaged,” she says. “I want people to know that diabetes is serious and potentially deadly if not controlled.”

Center is confident that Hales will do an outstanding job as Effingham’s Kiss a Pig team captain. “We chose Julie because she has deep roots in Effingham County and is a well respected leader with a personal interest in diabetes. She has the ability to engage many other leaders to help the Association.”

She maintains that the best part of working for the ADA is bringing people together from all backgrounds to work toward

10 February/March 2016 | www.Effingham Magazine.Com

a common goal. “It’s very rewarding to see people working for something larger than themselves,” says Center. “We also have a great time for a great cause.”

Anyone who knows Julie Hales can attest that she knows how to have fun, and so Effingham County should be in for a good time at the coming Kiss a Pig festivities. “And who knows,” she adds, “I may get to kiss that darn pig!”

To keep track of the upcoming Kiss a Pig events in Effingham, visit “Effingham Magazine” or “Hams from Effingham” on Facebook.

American Diabetes ALERT Day is Tuesday, March 22.

FREE blood glucose screenings will be scheduled in Effingham County and throughout the region.

Saturday, May 21st Winner will be announced at the Wilmington Island Club in Savannah.

For more information or to donate to the Effingham County Kiss A Pig Campaign, contact Julie Hales at (912)657-4120 or Julie@idpmagazines.com

www.Effingham

Magazine.com | December/January 2015-16 11

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13

Gene Hinely: A Veteran, A War...

And Two Dogs

story by jeff whitten photos by miranda osborn and luke smith 14 December/January 2015-16 | www.Effingham Magazine.Com

T

his is a story of a man, a war and two dogs. It’s a story of perserverance and bonds that can come from scars that don’t heal.

The man is Charles “Gene” Hinely, who was born and raised on Hinely Hill in Effingham County and at 67 still lives within a rock’s throw of where his grandafther was born.

The war was Vietnam.

The dogs, both black labs, are called Traveler, after Robert E. Lee’s horse. One Traveler is long gone, but kept Charles and fellow soldiers alive in Vietnam. The other is very much here. He’s Traveler 2.

Traveler 2, all 125 pounds of him, saves Charles Hinely’s life now. Saves it every day.

“You just don’t know where I’d be without this dog,” Hinely said. “You just don’t know. I wouldn’t take a million dollars for this dog.”

The story begins in 1969. That’s the year Charles Hinely was drafted and went into the Army. Charles was 19 and married to Veronica and already had a job at Great Dane Trailers in Savannah, a job he would come back to after the war. Charles would work for many years at Great Dane before retiring.

But in 1969, Charles went off to Fort Gordon for basic and advanced individual training and was then given the opportunity to become part of a combat tracker team. He took the Army up on the offer, was sent to MP school and then underwent combat tracker training. He then was trained to work as a dog handler as part of five man combat tracker teams, a speciality which gauranteed Charles would end up in Vietnam.

“Everybody was going to Vietnam anyway, so it wasn’t a big deal,” he recalled. “They told us when we finished this course, we were going to Vietnam and we were going to walk point. That’s what they told us, and that’s what happened.”

If you’ve never heard of combat trackers, you’re not alone.

Using dogs - black labs because of their temperament - to sniff out enemy soldiers adept at striking and then melting away into the jungle was something untried by the United States prior to Vietnam.

The first trackers were actually trained in Malaysia, at the behest of General William Westmoreland, the top commander in Vietnam who’d gotten the idea from the British. Those first trackers came back and taught others when the Army opened its own tracker school at Fort Gordon.

Everything was kept secret and it would always remain a small, elite band. Only about 750 combat trackers were deployed to Vietnam, a mere drop in the bucket compared to the more than 648,000 American military personnel who served there during the war.

Hinely and Traveler were assigned to the 62nd Infantry Platoon Combat Tracker team as part of the 1st Air Cavalry Division, and he spent part of 1970 and 71 in Vietnam, making stops in Bien Hoa, Long Phen, Cambodia and Laos. It was deadly work.

“When we went into the bush, it was just the five of us, that was it. We made contact, it was the five of us, until we could call a company in.”

The tracker teams would be called in by companies to help find enemy soldiers, but they were also used to help find missing American servicemen and were adept at finding boobytraps.

“What usually happened, a company would make contact with the enemy and would call us in,” Charles said. “We had our own helicopters. Sometimes they could set down and let us out, sometimes we’d have to rappel in.”

The 5-man teams included a soldier who worked as a visual tracker, with a soldier to cover him; a dog handler and his cover

man; and the radio man. Sometimes the teams would lead a company, sometimes they’d be on their own.

If the escaping Vietcong or North Vietnamese left broken limbs or footprints or other marks of their passing, the visual tracker would take the lead while his cover man kept an eye out for ambushes and booby traps.

Once the visual trail disappered, Hinely and Traveler took over.

It could be harrowing work, because handlers had to watch the dogs, each of whom had a unique way of alerting when it picked up the scent of an enemy. Booby traps and ambushes were a real threat in the dense jungles of Vietnam.

“While I was watching the dog to get his alert, I couldn’t watch the bush, so my cover man would watch the bush,” Charles recalled, and noted that Traveler alerted in different ways depending on what he found. “If there was a booby trap he’d throw me an alert where his ears would stick straight up. If the enemy was close, he’d throw me another alert by turning around and looking at me a certain way.”

The trackers, who patch shows a Native American looking at the ground, became so good at their job and so feared by the NVA they put out bounties of $2000 each on the heads of each combat tracker and dog. “When we found out all that, we didn’t wear any patches at all,” Charles said. “We didn’t advertise it.”

Before it was over, Charles and Traveler went into the jungles 75 times. Two of his friends were killed, and there were things he saw and did he doesn’t like to talk about. “You did what you had to do,” Charles said. “We all did. We saw some pretty rough stuff in our time.”

And then he came home, minus Traveler, who ultimately got back to the United States and lived out his days after being adopted by an Army officer. Charles was awarded a Bronze Star for valor, an Air Medal, an Army Commendation Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service medal with two bronze service stars, a Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Rifeman Badge with the automatic rifle bar, and the Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with a palm. He kept those, and just about everything else from those long ago days, stashed it away and went on with his life. The Army told him not to say anything about the Combat Tracker Teams, so he didn’t.

He and Veronica stayed married and are married still. They raised a family -- the Hinelys have two daughters, Jennifer Reese and Stephanie Wallace, and three grandchildren -- Rebekah Wallace, Meghan Wallace and Daniel Reese.

In short, Charles came home from war to live a good, productive and honorable life.

“I was one of the lucky ones, I never got to drinking bad, never messed with drugs over there at all, and a lot of people can’t say that,” he said.

But bonds formed in war die hard, and since 2000 he and other combat trackers have met for reunions, and word has been getting out about the trackers. Still, for Veronica, those first reunions were learning experiences. “Until I went with him to that first one I had no idea of what he’d done in Vietnam.”

The war kept coming back in other ways, too.

Charles had been exposed to more than the threat of booby traps and vengeful Viet Cong. In Vietnam the U.S. military sprayed a herbicide known as Agent Orange from aircraft “to protect American and allied troops by defoliating the dense jungle vegetation hiding enemy positions,” according to the Veterans Administration. The VA estimates that between 1962 and 1971, nearly 11 million gallons were sprayed in Vietnam alone.

It’s unknown precisely how many soldiers were exposed to Agent Orange, but Charles was. Agent Orange has caused a www.Effingham

Magazine.com | February/March 2016 15

Gene and Traveler 2

Traveler 1

number of health problems, and Charles got diabetes. He’s also had two heart attacks and a stroke. In 2007, he was put on on the Agent Orange registry, and so are family members because there’s a chance some of the sicknesses caused by the herbicide can be passed down.

Something else was wrong, too. Charles began having nightmares. Starting about 2004, he became claustrophic. He’d get angry for no good reason. He was jumpy. Things that happened in Vietnam long buried began to come back to the surface.

Charles began seeing a psychiatrist through the VA. He was diagnosed with Post Tramautic Stress Disorder.

“All of us from Vietnam didn’t want to admit that. It’s a man thing, we didn’t need help. But when it finally started coming out, my family kept telling me I need to find out what’s wrong,” Charles said. “I found out it was PTSD. They give me medicine for it.”

These days, the VA considers Charles 100 percent disabled. He gets a check for that.

“People say I’m lucky to get that check,” he said, shaking his head. “Yeah, I’m lucky. I’m 66 and I’ll be lucky to be 69 or 70 maybe. I’d a lot rather not have it.”

But it wasn’t until about two and a half years ago that Charles got Traveler 2. The idea came from Veronica, who knew that medication, group therapy and visits to the psychiatrist weren’t helping. Her husband’s nightmares and panic attacks were getting worse, not better. But first she had to convince Charles’ psychiatrist, who wasn’t sure a dog would help.

Veronica was sure.

“I’ve been with him 48 years,” Veronica said. “I just knew in my heart the answer to everything was the dog.”

She called her youngest daughter, Jennifer, and told her they needed to find a black lab. “It’s got to be full blooded, it has to be solid black with no markings.”

Jennifer got on Facebook and spread the word. “Within 30

16 February/March 2016 | www.Effingham Magazine.Com

minutes she got a phone call from a man named Randy Brewster, who knew somebody who bred them and had a litter of 4-weekold puppies.”

Charles was invited out to look at the puppies and was given literally - pick off the litter.

“Charles asked how much were the dogs, and he was told ‘Sir, for what you did for our country there’s no charge for that dog,’” Veronica said.

Those folks are Eric and Sha Brazzell. Their kidness is much appreciated.

Since getting Traveler 2 in 2012, Charles hasn’t been back to a group therapy session. “Every Wednesday for 2 and a half years I went to that support group,” he said. “The day I got him, I never went back. That’s how much that dog has helped me.”

Traveler 2, who has never been trained as a therapy dog, has helped ease anxiety attacks and more. “Sometimes I’ll wake up and he’s got one of his front legs around me and he’s looking me in the face, right in the face, and then he’ll lick me and that helps distract me and keep me from having the anxiety attack.”

Traveler 2 even lets Charles know when his blood sugar gets too high. Traveler 2 may be big and he may be rambunctious, but he’s worth everything you can imagine to Charles and Veronica, who thought their dog-raising days were behind them.

“You just don’t get a puppy at 62,” Veronica said. “And now my house is never clean and there’s always dog hair and it might smell like a dog. But for what it does for him, I’ll take it. If you can’t, don’t come in.”

The first Traveler is honored in photographs displayed around the house. Traveler 2 just owns the house, and the two human hearts that live inside it.

“That dog has helped me more than any medicine or doctor or support group I ever went to,” Charles said. “He’s something else.”

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Ella Bothwell:

Though She Be But Little, She Is Fierce story by katrice williams photos by miranda osborn

“Whoever takes the lowly position of this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven.

Therefore, whoever welcomes one such child in My name welcomes Me.” - Jesus Christ

T

he unfaltering courage that a precious child exhibits in circumstances that may appear incomprehensible to most individuals is nothing short of amazing.

Ella Bothwell, a 7-year-old Effingham native and the daughter of Ben and Kristine Bothwell is a beautiful little girl that exemplifies such courage.

Ella was diagnosed last April with DIPG, Diffused Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, a rare form of brain cancer normally found in children ages 5-7. Only 10-150 new cases of DIPG are seen in the U.S. annually. Prior to diagnosis, Ella started to experience recurring headaches. Her parents immediately took her to see her pediatrician, who diagnosed her with allergies due to other symptoms that were present; Ella was placed on an allergy medication. Over time, she didn’t feel any better and even became disoriented, lacked some muscle coordination and had trouble with her balance at times. Afterwards, a Cat scan revealed that Ella had a tumor within her brain stem. Consequently, the primary treatment for DIPG is radiation. Ella was treated for a

while at Memorial Hospital. Her parents did extensive research on cancer treatment centers all over the country. They were most attracted to what they learned about St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Thereafter, the family flew to Memphis, where Ella was admitted to the hospital for six weeks. There, she received experimental oral chemotherapy along with radiation.

Ella’s mom appreciates St. Jude, stating, “We just prayed about it and felt like we were supposed to go, and it was an amazing experience there too. It’s like a cocoon environment where they just meet all your needs. I’m very glad we chose that facility; it’s really amazing.”

Ella and her family have held on to a great deal of faith and hope throughout this situation. Kristine is extremely grateful for all the kindness and support that so many people have shown her “Doodle,” the nickname she so lovingly calls Ella. She feels privileged to have such a caring support system in her local area.

“I can’t even imagine an environment that could be more conducive to being in this situation. Our community has been www.Effingham

Magazine.com | February/March 2016 19

unbelievable; our church has been fabulous. All of our needs have been met. It has really been unbelievable how this community has reached out to us,” Kristine declares. Additionally, a Memphis family, who didn’t know the Bothwell’s, but knew of Ella’s condition, took the family into their home for the eight weeks that Ella received treatment at St. Jude. Kristine and Ben are immensely gracious to be shown such kindness by so many people; it has all seemed almost surreal to them. Veritably, they have spoken with parents all over the world who have kids around Ella’s age who are also fighting cancer. They, too, have offered a lot of comfort and support.

Understanding that they could not endure such a trying time alone, Kristine says, “Our faith is what gets us through this. We’ve seen God through the entire journey…how He has provided. God is what gets us through every single day.”

Through it all, Ella couldn’t be more loved. Family, friends, organizations and countless others over the world extend their love and support to her. In fact, she is currently being honored by the St. Baldrick’s Organization, which is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to funding childhood cancer research. Though over 175,000 children are diagnosed with some type of cancer each year, pediatric cancer is severely under-funded, with only 4% of all cancer research funds going towards research for children’s cancer. The St. Baldrick’s Family spearheads numerous functions to raise money, including head-shaving events and a host of other advocacy initiatives. They want to insure that every donation goes toward the best research possible. Families of diagnosed children, medical researchers, oncologists, businesses and other concerned supporters all around the world team up with the organization to help. Ella will be publicly honored for St. Baldrick’s Day on March 19. The event will take place at the Savannah City Market, where it has been held for the past five years. A host of activities are planned, and all donations will benefit childhood cancer research.

Ella is the inspiration for “Team Ella,” a group of dedicated advocates striving to raise as much money on her behalf as possible.

The team will be there to support Ella for St. Baldrick’s Day. Ella has one huge admirer that’s looking forward to attending, her art teacher, Morgan Webb, who plans to shave her head on Ella’s behalf.

Morgan states, “We’ll see how many people we can get on the team to honor her. I’m glad we can honor her and more people

20 February/March 2016 | www.Effingham Magazine.Com

can learn about her and pray for her.”

Ella actually has limited edition pieces of art that she made that will be auctioned off at a second event that her family will attend later that same day in Savannah--Sisters on a Journey-- another charity committed to raising funds for childhood cancer research; Kristine will host a table for the event.

It’s no surprise that Ella chose to go to Walt Disney World for her Make a Wish trip. The family went last July and had a boatload of fun. Ella really enjoyed herself at Magic Kingdom and rode all the rides. The park had a room set up for her so that she could rest periodically. It was agreed, however, that mom and dad needed more rest than Ella and her 8-year-old brother Conner.

Ella’s family is able to draw from her courage, which is so often shown in her strength and character. Her parents are proud that she is such a kind little girl. She doesn’t take the kindness and support shown to her for granted.

Kristine remarks, “She’ll sit down and write like a bazillion thank you notes. She just has such a gracious spirit about her.

She’s very thankful…very sweet spirit.”

What’s more, Ella has a great relationship with both of her parents. However, Kristine admits that Ella is really more of a daddy’s girl.

“Her and her daddy have a special relationship. They have a similar quiet side; they can sit there at the table and do artwork for hours and not speak and just be engaged with each other.”

Anyone who talks to Ella can see that she’s an amazing little girl. She loves life and also likes to be a little silly at times, especially when she does the occasional snorting…yes, Ella snorts and is quite tickled by it. There are a couple of other things that Ella enjoys doing in her spare time. She really likes to collect stuffed animals. In fact, she has a few hundred of them. She does have a favorite one—her giant carebear, and there’s a good reason that it’s so dear to her.

“He gave me sweet dreams,” she says.

Ella’s ultimate hobby, though, is doing arts and crafts. She loves to paint and draw and is really good at it. The little artist even designed the t-shirts that Team Ella will wear for St. Baldrick’s Day. She is quite talented, and her art teacher, Morgan, helps her to build on her skills. She has been her teacher since August and gives her lessons every Tuesday.

“It has been awesome. She has taught me a lot more than I’ve

taught her. I love Tuesdays; we have a fun time,” Morgan states.

Unsurprising to most, Ella also wants to be an art teacher when she grows up. However, art is one thing, but chores—something totally different. In a light and funny moment, Ella was asked if she missed doing little chores around the house. Her mom joked and said that she may soon be able to be her dog, KoKo’s, pooper scooper. In a priceless, Kodak moment with raised eyebrows and a huge oh-no look on her face, Ella did not at all concur.

Ella enjoys spending time with her brother Conner, who also loves her to pieces. She was anxious to show the pieces of beaded artwork that he made for her when they last did arts and crafts together. He made her a Rudolph-the-Red-Nosed-Reindeer. Conner also made Ella a little girl Minion and made a tiny Minion bow for its head. He wanted it to look like Ella, since he knows that she likes to wear hair bows.

Ella talked about a fun trip that the family took to Stone Mountain over the Christmas holidays. The park had a “Snow Mountain” theme, where fake snow was made for the sliding tubes and other attractions. Ella’s dad held on to her as they slid through the tube, but Ella really enjoyed slipping and sliding away from him most of all.

She says, “I really liked that part.”

Ella also thinks that her dog KoKo and cat Gracie are pretty cool. She mentions that KoKo jumps on her bed before she goes to sleep at night and gives her a goodnight kiss.

Ella enjoys a lot of things in life, but she did speak of one that’s pretty intolerable—her dad’s snoring. Her dad slept in her room to watch over her for a while after her diagnosis. Well, though dad always wants to be there for his baby girl, mom had to replace him as Ella’s roommate. That helped out a lot, but Ella still notices a bit of melodious sounds throughout the night.

“I can hear daddy snoring from my room,” she humorously says.

One of Ella’s favorite people in the world is surely her grandma Maureen, who she and Conner call Me-Me. Ever since they were much younger, their parents would let the two of them take little vacations to her house, which their grandma calls Camp Me-Me when they visit. The kids have a great time with activities, crafts and whatever else Me-Me comes up with.

Nonetheless, Kristine laughs and says, “A lot of things happen at Me-Me’s that doesn’t happen at home. What goes on at MeMe’s stays at Me-Me’s.”

Ella admires the fact that her grandma has a charity to help raise money for underprivileged children in Africa. Ella was even anxious to help Me-Me with a bake sale to raise money for it shortly after she came back home from St. Jude.

Ella remembers, “Me and Conner wanted to eat everything; everything was so yummy.”

Ella seems comfortable talking about DIPG and her treatment, and she’s appreciative of all the kindness, help and support that she gets. Nevertheless, she is still an honest kid.

She candidly states, “The only thing I like about oncology is the lollipops.”

Apparently, she has gotten a whole lot of them at the hospital and doctor’s office over the course of her treatment.

Ella is a courageous little girl who is truly remarkable. She is not content with letting DIPG define her in the least. There’s a ton of love that Ella has to give and a lot more life she has to live.

Ella is blessed to have a phenomenal support system, including a loving family who continues to draw on their faith in God and what He is able to do. “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 1:13, Holy Bible).

To join or support Team Ella, please visit: www.stbaldricks.org/teams/mypage/103329/2016 www.Effingham

Magazine.com | February/March 201621

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22 February/March 2016 | www.Effingham Magazine.Com

E

ffingham Health System Chief Executive Officer Norma Jean Morgan celebrated her 10th year as head of Effingham Health System in 2015, so we asked her to give us her thoughts on where the system is, and where it’s going.

Effingham Magazine: From your perspective what kind of year was it for Effingham Health System in 2015?

Norma Jean Morgan: 2015 started off fabulously for our organization when we received the results of the Georgia Southern University Economic Health Study that substantiated that we not only met, but exceeded the forecasted economic impact projections made in 2012.

Our year continued with the promotion of breast health in the community. In April, physicians, nurses and our friend, Pat Kennedy, announced fabulous news that Effingham can now offer low-dose 3D mammography. New equipment offers a higher resolution yielding a more precise radiologist report to share with women and their physicians. In October we sponsored the annual Lunch, Laugh and Learn.

Dr. Toni Sylvester, herself a breast cancer survivor, and daughter of a survivor, told the crowd that gynecologists are firm on advice for breast cancer screening.

In May, we had a grand opening of our Rehab Center. Space refurnished from the old emergency room has been modernized to offer physical, occupational and speech therapy. A new lymphedema program in the therapy department has served as a great resource to patients who have been traveling to Savannah to be managed for swelling of extremities affected by lymph node damage.

Seven months later, in December, we reopened Dr. Mark Mudano’s orthopedic practice into the hospital main building. We transformed the old operating room of 1969 into beautiful renewed space for exam rooms and, a physician’s office. Now orthopedic patients and rehab patients enter the same door marked Rehabilitation and Specialty Care. Co-location of therapy and orthopedic services allows for improved patient-centered care.

Effingham Health System CEO Norma Jean Morgan “Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Going” story by jeff whitten

photos by luke smith

EM: What did Effingham Health System do well? What could it do better?

NJM: We have done well by continuing to move forward to rehab old vacated space created by the modernization to upgrade usable revenue generating space, i.e., Rehab Center and Dr. Mudano’s office. We could do better by continuing to promote the outstanding clinical and technical services and physicians that are available to Effingham citizens on the hospital campus. Even though I feel we do an adequate job of promoting community outreach, I know we still have new www.Effingham

Magazine.com | February/March 2016 23

and well-established residents who do not know that there is an award-winning hospital and nursing home in Springfield awaiting to serve them.

EM: What have been the most important changes to EHS? NJM: Bringing new specialty physicians to our hospital to complement many internal medicine and family practice staff has been a great change. Four physicians of particular interest are - Dr. Alex Wynn/General Surgery, Dr. Mark Bishop/ Neuro-Surgery, Dr. William Degenhart/ Eye Surgery and Dr. Priscilla Ross/Pain Management.

EM: Where does 2016 fit into the scheme of things?

NJM: More innovation to bring modern medicine to our county. We will introduce a mobile PET Scan unit later in February. This service will keep people from having to travel to Savannah when nuclear medicine studies are needed.

EM: There’s been a lot of rehab. What has driven the modernization?

NJM: The enthusiasm of the governing board of trustees, the medical staff, the administration and all of the professional and supportive staff to excel in patient satisfaction and achieve critical quality measures in the healthcare industry.

EM: What lies ahead for the healthcare system in the future?

NJM: We hope to bring more opportunities to identify and manage health needs of cancer patients in 2016.

EM: Where do you see Effingham Health System in terms of health care for local residents?

NJM: We work every day to always be your first choice in hospital and long term care needs. Effingham Health System is participating in a movement to initiate population health management strategies that will include offering an insurance program to Effingham business partners.

Along with our physicians, the hospital will participate with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) sponsored National Rural Accountable Care Organization project. This project will allow many Medicare eligible citizens to receive structured case management. We will work with patients

to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and will encourage our patients to receive health and wellness initiatives offered by Medicare and Medicaid.

Statistics showing how Effingham Health System fared in 2015 compared to 2014: 1. 15% growth in revenue 2015 over 2014 .

2. 10% increase in emergency room visits in 2015 over 2014.

3. 11% increase in out-patient visits in 2015 over 2014.

Honors, awards and recognitions: Here’s a look at some of the honors bestowed upon Effingham Health System and its employees in 2015: 1. Norma Jean Morgan was elected Chair of the Georgia Health Care Association in June 2. Our hospital and nursing home were recognized as top facilities by Georgia Trend Magazine in July 3. Dr. Joseph Ratchford received the Georgia Medical Director Quality Award from the Georgia Medical Directors Association in July 4. Shannon Health was chosen as the 2015 recipient of the C. Edward Helmey Humanitarian Award in August. She

24 February/March 2016 | www.Effingham Magazine.Com

was chosen by her peers as an employee of the system that has gone to extraordinary lengths to assure excellence in patient care.

5. The most significant recognition for our organization was to achieve the National Quality Award from the American Health Care Association (AHCA) as a part of the Baldrige Quality Program.

Effingham Care Center is the only nursing home in Georgia to have received this prestigious award. Mrs. Morgan and Dr. Ratchford were recognized during the AHCA’s 66th Annual Convention and Exposition, October 4-7, 2015 in San Antonio, Texas.

NJM: As you can see from this report and the stats, 2015 was a steady growth year. We continue to rehab and create new usable space vacated by the modernization as promised by our strategic plan of 2012.

Healthcare is changing quickly. Organizations that are planning to thrive and not just survive are examining how they can be a player in population health to not only work to improve a person’s health, but to work to reduce the cost of care.

Dr. Mark Mudano

New Rehabilitation Center at Effingham Health System story by cindy burbage

E

photos by luke smith

ffingham Health Systems is growing to better meet the demands of the residents of Effingham County. In May 2015, EHS added a new Rehabilitative Services Department led by Director Z.T. Howard, a graduate of both the University of Georgia and Armstrong State

University.

Howard said the new facility has state of the art equipment to handle a large variety of therapies and is the only one in the county to treat lymphedema and urinary incontinence in women.

“In fact we are the only facility in the county to offer these therapies,” he said. “We have one therapist, Courteney Rainey, DPT, that has specialized training in Women’s Health.”

Therapists at Effingham Health System are able to treat musculoskeletal conditions, surgical repairs such as joint replace-

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Magazine.com | February/March 2016 25

to encourage the natural muscle activation patterns and used in most professional sports leagues.

Effingham Orthopaedic Services

Rehab Director Z.T. Howard

ments and carpal tunnel, fracture repairs, and ACL, to name a few. They also treat neurologic conditions, including stroke or cerebral vascular accident (CVA), Parkinson’s, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV. The new department also allows Effingham Health Systems rehab therapists

to promote such programs as the Otago Exercise Program, a fall reduction program adopted by the Centers for Disease Control for the elderly. The Rehabilitative Services Department also has partnered with Accelerated Care Plus (ACP), a company specializing in equipment such as the OmniStim, an electrical stimulation device

26 February/March 2016 | www.Effingham Magazine.Com

In December 2015, Effingham Health Systems added Effingham Orthopaedic Services with American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Board certified surgeon Dr. Mark Mudano.

Dr. Mudano has been in practice for more than 25 years and at Effingham Health Systems for four years. He made his way to Georgia by way of Florida, and his first practice, Tampa Bay Orthopaedics, included reconstructive knee surgery and sports medicine. Dr. Mudano was brought to Effingham Health Systems to start a full service orthopaedics practice. He is fellowship trained in Reconstructive Knee Surgery, having completed the training in 1990 under the direction of John Garrett, MD, the founder of Resurgens Orthopaedics in Atlanta.

With the new operating room and clinical practice, Effingham Orthopaedics provides every orthopaedic service currently available except for multi-trauma care and spine surgery.

“We are able to perform top-notch care for the vast majority of the inhabitants of this county and surrounding area with all the current best treatments available for orthopaedic injuries and conditions,” Dr. Mudano said. “This includes all types of knee arthroscopic procedures, ACL reconstruction, meniscal repairs, as well as all shoulder arthroscopic techniques including rotator cuff repair. We perform all hand surgeries, fracture repair procedures, foot and ankle surgeries, in addition to total knee and hip operations.”

With Effingham Health System adding these services to their menu, Effingham residents have no need to travel to receive the exceptional care they deserve. Rehab therapists and Dr. Mudano work closely together to be sure that a patient has a successful outcome.

“Patients should feel comfort in knowing that all our services are growing to accommodate them and we are dedicated to working as a team with them and their physicians to provide the best possible care available,” Howard said.

The new Rehabilitative Services Department is the only full time facility to offer physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy in Effingham. The goal is to serve residents locally and provide them with the best care possible.

Luke Smith

PHOTOGRAPHY LukeSmithPhotography.net (912) 547-9080

Tara Brant:

Kicking the Bucket List story by shannon robinson photos by luke smith and provided by Tara Brant

J

ust off the busy beaten path into Springfield is where you’ll find it. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, or you happen to sneeze, you’re likely to miss it altogether. It’s a relatively long path that winds its way up through the woods, carving out earth and roots en route to its destination. Though the pathway feels like an adventure in itself, it is where the tree-cloaked passage ends that the true journey for one Effingham resident, Tara Brant, began.

Tucked just out of view from those who pass by, Tara spent the days of her youth surrounded by nature. Her home, a charming estate nestled amongst a large pond and farming acreage, served as her playground. Fueled by curiosity and imagination, she spent her childhood outdoors with her brother as her playmate. A self-professed “tomboy,” Tara realized early on that she had an affinity for the tiny inhabitants of creation, and remembers spending her days catching minnows and small insects. Fascinated by the small creatures all about her, it wasn’t long before she had turned what had been her little playhouse into her laboratory.

As she approached her early teens, Tara’s interest in the natural environment grew, as did her hunger for discovery. It was during this inquisitive and impressionable time that she read a book by author Richard Preston called The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story.

Detailing facts and events surrounding the origins of viral hemorrhagic fevers, and concentrating more specifically on Ebolaviruses and Marburgviruses, the nonfiction, best-selling thriller released in 1994 (based on a 1992 article in the New Yorker by the same author) became a game-changer for Tara.

“I knew then, this is what I want to do,” she recalled of her desire to travel abroad, working with tropical diseases in developing countries.

After graduating from Effingham High School, Tara pursued her dreams by furthering her education at the University of Georgia. While earning her undergraduate’s degree in biological sciences, Tara worked in a university lab at UGA rearing Black Flies. The purpose of the re-

search there was to test the efficacy of certain biological control agents on the flies. “So every morning that’s what I would do – go help with the Black Fly colony. It was pretty cool,” she reminisced with a chuckle. She also worked in a UGA lab testing mosquito pools and dead birds for the West Nile Virus.

Though Tara had gained considerable knowledge and experience working in the labs at UGA, it simply wasn’t where she desired to be. Convinced she needed to gain employment with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to realize her goal of working abroad, Tara began diligently seeking ways to secure a position within the organization. Be it luck, fate or answered prayer, the opportunity she’d so desperately sought was closer than she knew.

It was while working in the lab testing for the West Nile Virus that Tara got her big break.

Running that lab was an Entomologist by the name of Elmer Gray, who also happened to be working on the CDCs West Nile task force. Tara expressed her interest in working with the CDC to Gray, and, through networking with other Entomologists at the organization, Gray was able to help Tara make the connection that would ultimately land her a position with the CDC. Tara spent two summers working with the CDC, and decided to return after graduation to accept a full-time position there. Though she found the work there to be nowhere near her dream job, she still hoped that it would lead to an ideal career.

“At the CDC I was just in a lab, and I enjoyed it and I learned a lot, but my goal was to work in developing countries on other diseases,” she explained as she spoke of her days spent rearing mosquitoes, bedbugs and lice for insecticide resistance testing. “Fortunately I liked insects a lot,” Tara joked. So, with high spirits and determination, Tara patiently waited for yet another opportunity to realize her career goals.

Like some divine intervention, and ironic to boot, opportunity once again came from a connection where Tara was working. The irony lies in that it wasn’t a connection at the CDC at all, but instead came from a rather unlikely source - her second job where she was a hostess. Being

Top: Bandaging a patient that had guinea worm disease.

Above: A photo with a donkey used to carry water and gear on a three day trek. The woman is from the Taposa tribe. It was her husband’s donkey.

Bottom: Tara and the team after an impromptu 12km trek through the bush to locate a person rumoured to have guinea worm

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Magazine.com | February/March 2016 29

Cappadocia, Turkey

Cairo, Egypt

Nairobi, Kenya

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Temple of Poseidon Sounio, Greece in the right place at the right time, she overheard a conversation between two co-workers about someone doing work in Kenya and South Sudan. Not believing her ears, she quickly got in on the conversation. Through that co-worker, she was able to make a connection at The Carter Center.

The Carter Center is a nongovernmental, not-for-profit organization that does humanitarian work worldwide. A vast majority of their resources are spent alleviating human suffering brought on by disease. Because the elimination of disease requires prevention efforts in addition to medical aid, The Carter Center hires and places skilled humanitarians at the center of outbreaks and epidemics in an effort to stop them.

In November of 2007, recognizing the opportunity that would allow her to both realize her career goals and her childhood dream of working abroad on neglected diseases, Tara accepted a position with The Carter Center and temporarily relocated to South Sudan for two years. There, as part of the Guinea Worm Disease (GWD) Eradication Program, one of The Carter Center’s longest and largest ongoing projects, Tara lived in a tent without electricity, or any modern conveniences for that matter, and nearly no opportunity for socialization. “You’re very isolated. It’s not very often you see the other expats,” she recalled. “You’re with your driver who is a national staff member, some other national staff and the cook and watchman for your compound who are both from the local community. They’re like your little family, and you become close with them,” she elaborated.

Tara described how The GWD Eradication Program has progressed over the years. Though it is an ancient disease, it will soon join Small Pox by becoming the second human disease in history to be eradicated. When Tara began her humanitarian journey working for The Carter Center, South Sudan was plagued by the most cases of GWD (an estimated 6,000 afflicted people in 2007).

Today the provisional total for those afflicted in South Sudan is only five. Further, there are only an estimated 22 cases worldwide.

During her time spent in South Sudan, which totaled 4 ½ years (2 years in 2007 and 2 ½ years in 2011), as well as time she spent in Ethiopia, Tara was able to take a holiday every 10 weeks.

Since she was paid in American currency, which was basically useless while living in a developing country in East Africa, Tara was able to save and use the majority of her money for travel.

30 February/March 2016 | www.Effingham Magazine.Com

Though she thoroughly enjoyed being able to travel extensively - visiting places like Zanzibar, Turkey, Greece and Egypt -- she still felt as though she were missing out on having a normal life, not to mention being involved in the lives of the people she cared about. “You’re just kind of in a bubble there, because everything is happening with everybody elsewhere, and you’re just… there,” she said, remembering the emotional exhaustion of the time. It was as she neared the point of being completely burned out that she finally decided to make a change in her career.

While searching out new employment in hopes of a more normal lifestyle, Tara returned to school to earn her master’s degree.

She held out hope for a career that would allow her to continue working with her interest in neglected tropical diseases, but that was also based in a developed country. At the end of April of 2015, Tara found just that. She now works for the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in the United Kingdom, which is the oldest school totally dedicated to tropical medicine. “I do still get to travel, but I have a life now - which is what I wanted, “ She expressed optimistically while speaking of her new path in life, “I know I’m leaving, but that probably in a month, I’m coming back to hot water and my own bed.”

With her new position at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, which focuses on strengthening health systems in developing countries, she’s already done some traveling. She’s worked a bit in Northern Uganda, and recently she revisited South Sudan for six week before returning home to Effingham. “I should be going to India soon,” Tara said with a smile, as it is one place she’s never seen. When asked who she felt had been her biggest advocate throughout, she fondly said, “My mom [Myra French] is by far the one who pushed me to go out and see the world and be who I am.” And what she has seen and done is nothing short of epic. From cage diving with Great White Sharks off the coast of South Africa to climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Tara Brant certainly isn’t leaving much for her bucket list. The scuba diving, well-traveled yoga enthusiast is living a life she truly loves and is enjoying every minute of what she’s worked so hard to accomplish. Her story is truly one of inspiration, and it encourages – nearly begs – those who’ve heard or read it to stop saying “some day,” kick the bucket list and go make life happen.

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Magazine.com | February/March 2016 31

Lisa Scarbrough Founder of Coastal Pet Rescue

L

story by katie vandenhouten

isa Scarbrough never set out to start a nonprofit organization right out of college, but that’s exactly how Coastal Pet Rescue came to be. Now, thirteen years later, Coastal Pet Rescue is still saving the lives of animals throughout the Coastal Empire.

Scarbrough has had an affinity for animals since she was a small child. Growing up on Tybee, she and her father started TNR (trap, neuter, release) of feral cats that were dumped at her parents’ marina. Her family pets were all rescued animals, and Scarbrough has kept that passion for saving animals and controlling the pet population.

“I just wanted to do something to help a problem that we had in the community,” she says. “And I have a really great love for animals. I’ve had it my entire life, and I just thought I could make a difference. I had absolutely no idea that it was going to become what it became.”

When she graduated with an Associate’s Degree from Andrew College and a Bachelor of General Studies from Georgia Southern University, Scarbrough dreamed of working for National Geographic as a photojournalist. She never thought she would one day be recognized for her work saving animals herself.

Coastal Pet Rescue was a website she started to highlight available pets of other rescue groups with whom Scarbrough had connections. She quickly became more and more involved in the rescues and adoptions, but she was soon spending thousands of dollars of her own money finding homes for animals.

So, she applied for her 501(c)3 nonprofit status, and it was awarded on February 5th, 2003-- Scarbrough’s 24th birthday. It was official; she had started her very own nonprofit organization at the age of 24, and Coastal Pet Rescue has been making a difference in the lives of humans and animals ever since.

Most of the rescued animals are from animal control in Effingham, Chatham and Bryan Counties, and a lot of effort goes into each rescue. Every single animal at Coastal Pet Rescue has been vetted. They have their routine vaccinations, they are dewormed, spayed or neutered, and they are microchipped. Even if the animal needs orthopedic surgery, they get it done in order to keep the pet healthy and prepare the pet for adoption.

And despite all the time and expense to get the pets healthy for the adoption process, Coastal Pet Rescue charges the same flat fee: $150 for dogs and $40 for cats--no matter what expenses were incurred by the organization.

“We have a flat rate adoption fee. We don’t assign that any one dog’s value is greater than another,” explains Scarbrough. “We’re obviously not here for the money. I lose too much each year on what I spend personally. Nobody gets paid. It’s all intrinsic benefits.”

Scarbrough simply cannot understand why anyone would ever buy a puppy or kitten from a breeder. She truly believes that all

photos by luke smith

pets have equal value. “I just don’t understand adding more to the population,” she says. “I don’t think that the animals sitting at animal control are any less valuable than a purebred puppy.”

She is thrilled that many areas are now banning the sale of pets in pet stores. She applauds stores like PetSmart because they don’t get their animals from breeders and choose rescued cats and dogs instead.

“If people keep turning out more animals, there’s going to be more of them that we’re going to end up having to save,” adds Scarbrough. “And if you keep adding to the population, there are just not enough homes for every single animal that is sitting in an animal shelter today.”

In fact, she says that is the most difficult aspect of her work at Coastal Pet Rescue. It’s not the paperwork, the grant writing or the difficult task of managing limited resources; it’s going to the animal shelter knowing she will never be able to save them all.

“I can’t take every single one. I have to take the ones I know we can save,” she says. “There’s a whole lot that I’m having to leave behind, and that’s a very large emotional toll. There are some that just haunt me.”

With all of the stress and hard work that it takes to keep the organization running, it seems hard to believe that Scarbrough could be doing it all voluntarily in her spare time. In addition to managing Coastal Pet Rescue, she works full time as the Vice President of Community Relations at Moon River Studios, is raising her five year old son, Ian, and recently graduated with a Master’s degree in Public Relations with a 4.0.

Recognizing Scarbrough’s hard work and accomplishments, Golden Key Honor Society recently selected her for the International Student Laureate Program. She will be going to Australia for two weeks this May to participate in the prestigious event.

She was also recognized by Georgia Trend Magazine, who named her one of 2015’s 40 under 40. The honor is given to forty of the best and brightest Georgians under the age of forty who have achieved success or made a significant impact in their respective professions.

“The majority of the people who get that award are in business; they’re executives; they’re doing all these phenomenal things and breaking barriers in the business world,” Scarbrough says about the honor. “I do it because it’s the right thing, and that award from Georgia Trend Magazine--that meant a lot to me last year. It meant that someone actually took what I did very seriously, and that meant a lot to me.”

2015 was certainly a successful year for Scarbrough and Coastal Pet Rescue. The organization rescued more than 500 animals last year, and they plan to increase those numbers for 2016. For the past two years, they have doubled the number of rescues from the year before. And Scarbrough credits the volunteers for achieving that level of success. www.Effingham

Magazine.com | February/March 2016 33

“I’m not a psychologist. I can only tell you what I’ve observed, and there’s just something about animals that just makes everything better. There is some calming effect that they give you.”

There are more than 100 volunteers who contribute to Coastal Pet Rescue. From offering administrative support to feeding and socializing the animals, volunteers make it all possible.

“We do a lot with so little, and I’m so proud of what our volunteers do,” Scarbrough says. “I really can’t say enough about the volunteers that we have. If they hadn’t been around, Coastal Pet Rescue would not have lived.”

She also credits Marjorie Young, Stacy Jennings, Diana Morrison, Jimmy Woo and Bunny Ware for making Coastal Pet Rescue what it is today. Scarbrough is truly grateful for everyone who has helped her dream of saving animals come true.

But Coastal Pet Rescue could always use more help from the community. Sometimes it’s as simple as transporting an animal from the vet to a foster home, donating puppy food or offering to walk or socialize the animals. No task is too small to make a big difference.

Coastal Pet Rescue certainly made a big difference to one Coastal Empire veteran this year, which was especially meaningful to Scarbrough and the volunteers: “We had a disabled veteran last year,” she recalls. “He had some PTSD and they were looking for an animal that would be a suitable companion for him, and when we shared the story, the volunteers came together and sponsored his adoption fee.”

34 February/March 2016 | www.Effingham Magazine.Com

There is no doubt that the volunteers are making a difference in the lives of animals as well as people in the community. When asked about a pet’s effect on health, Scarbrough simply says, “I’m not a psychologist. I can only tell you what I’ve observed, and there’s just something about animals that just makes everything better. There is some calming effect that they give you.”

Scarbrough says her goal this year is to step up grant writing so that she can acquire the funds needed to keep growing their number of rescues. Though their costs have gone up, she says that Coastal Pet Rescue has no plans on raising their adoption fees to offset their costs.

“We can’t really ask people to pay more, because they’re probably having their own issues with funds, and we need to make sure these animals have good homes,” she explains.

All in all, Lisa Scarbrough has impacted the lives of countless pets and humans alike with Coastal Pet Rescue, and she hopes to continue for years to come. “This has been my baby,” she says.

“I’ve pretty much dedicated my entire life to doing this rescue.”

And that dedication couldn’t be more appreciated.

To view a list of available pets for adoption, to volunteer or to make a donation, visit www.coastalpetrescue.org or www.facebook/CoastalPetRescue.

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Magazine.com | February/March 2016 35

Cindy Grovenstein:

Making a Difference and Living the Dream

T

story by cindy burbage

he nursing field is not everyone’s calling and certainly only the tough, yet tenderhearted, should apply. Lifelong Effingham citizen, Cindy Grovenstein, has over thirty seven years of experience as a nurse.

Cindy graduated from Georgia Baptist College of Nursing in Atlanta in the summer of 1979. Just before graduation, she was focused on being a nurse in the operating room; one night changed her direction. One of her clinical rotations had her tend to a baby whose Mom had been diagnosed with a condition that required the newborn separate from the mother after birth for a short period. During one the feedings, she was asked if she wanted to accompany the transport team to North Carolina to assist in a patient transfer. It was right then and there Cindy decided to explore the branch of neonatal intensive care nursing; and newborn health became her new passion. The nurturing caregiver kept a watchful eye on newborns in intensive care for eighteen years before taking another path in the complex world of nursing.

While she admired her aunt for being in public health, it wasn’t until Cindy became a mother that she realized following in her family’s footsteps would allow her to spend more time with her son and husband. Although working with mostly adults was a big leap from tiny newborns, Cindy lovingly expressed, “When my son turned five years old, I needed something more family friendly. I needed to be able to attend his soccer and baseball games.” Her career in public health began in Jacksonville, FL, but it wasn’t until she finished her term in the Bulloch County public health that she returned to her roots in Effingham County where she began to work for the public health system.

The Coastal Health District-Effingham County Health Department, offers an array of services for the community. Until 2007, they offered primary health care, today they focus more on preventative health care. The services range from immunizations to family planning. “We do a lot of TB testing for those entering the medical field and high school students that enrolled in the Career Academy. And actually for them to work in the hospitals, they are required to have a two step test. We do have some cases where someone has tested positive and that takes a lot of interviewing.

We are required by the state of Georgia to take care of those folks.

The medications are provided by the State of Georgia TB Department. And we treat them as an infection, which means they have just been exposed and the germ is there. We do have incidents where they have been exposed as a child and contract the disease as an adult, we treat them also. We have a big protocol on how all of that happens,” the registered nurse revealed.

Effingham Public Health also works closely with the Board of Education when it comes to immunizations, including Influenza shots. They work in partnership to schedule and complete School Base Flu Clinic to ensure Effingham County students are vaccinated against influenza. The state of Georgia developed the school based concept after the H1N1 scare in 2008. The Georgia state immunization program provides the vaccines for children who are

36 February/March 2016 | www.Effingham Magazine.Com

photos by luke smith uninsured or underinsured, the Coastal Health District purchases vaccines for those with insurance. While working with Marsha Cornell, RN, lead school nurse, health department staff and nursing students from area colleges, the health department vaccinated 2,349 vaccines students.

Family planning that is offered also, was designed to help women space out their pregnancies. “So if they are aren’t ready to start a family, we have several options for them. We have some newer options that have become available through public health.

They are long acting, but reversible contraception and have made a difference for a lot of women.

The Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention Program designed for women 40-64 years old that do not have health insurance, but need a mammogram. The patients were referred out to Savannah hospitals, but with the new addition of the 3-D mammogram machine at Effingham Health System, patients have no need to travel for state of the art examines. The new mammography detects breast cancer at a higher rate than the original 2-D machine.

With 3-D capabilities, many cancers are detected earlier and it decreases the risks of false positives. The new technology addition also gives a more precise look at abnormalities that may be found during a routine mammogram. This program is funded by the state, so there is no cost to the uninsured patients. “This is definitely a means of preventative health care, because there are a lot of women who have never had a mammogram that are way over 40 years old. Many don’t know that is program is available,” Cindy explains. The state of Georgia offers a women’s Medicaid program for the female patients that are diagnosed with breast cancer or cervical cancer. The arrangements are designed to pay for the biopsies, surgeries, treatment and other procedures for the cancer diagnosis. When Grovenstein worked in the Bulloch County public health system, she recalled five patients that were diagnosed with breast cancer, and through this program, the patients’ medical regimen were completely covered as if they were insured.

Their biggest program is the WIC (Women, Infant and Children) Program. This is for pregnant women and children up to five years of age. “This is designed for the expectant mother to eat healthy, so she will have a healthy pregnancy, a healthy baby and a healthy outcome,” Cindy disclosed. The main focus of this preventative care is to promote good nutritious eating habits that will continue over the years and hopefully put an end to childhood obesity epidemic. The facility sees approximately 14,000 women per year that qualify for WIC. The on the go caregiver also reaches further into her community to serve the residents. She is on the board of several different groups. The first group is called Effingham Victim Witness program, they assist people who are trying to leave a domestic violence situation. “They help those that are in the violent situation and want to leave. It may be a gas card, help with their electric bill or even assisting them to file a temporary restraining order,” she

www.Effingham

Magazine.com | December/January 2015-16 37

explained.

Family Connection is a group of community members that range from United Way, Effingham County Sheriff’s Department, Effingham County, Pastors, Parent University, the Board of Education, and many other organizations.

The goal of this group is that all youth in Effingham County will grow up in strong and healthy families. Over the past two years they have teamed with the high schools for a Teen Maze. During this different scenarios are proposed to the adolescents. It may be a car accident from texting and driving, an arrest for underage drinking or a poverty wheel. The next Teen Maze will be in March at the Effingham County High School.

Cindy is part of a wonderful team. She gratefully expresses, “having a cohesive group of co-workers, allows me to comfortably serve in the community while the operations of the Health Department are carried out.”

Earning her Bachelor’s Degree from AASU in 2013, Cindy Grovenstein wears many hats in her Effingham community. She is here to serve her fellow neighbors and to make sure their needs are met. When asked what keeps her going, she answered quickly, “It’s a great feeling knowing that you have helped someone and sometimes we are the only person that may see these people.” Although her life is full reaching out to the general public and extending that helping hand, she manages to spend quality time with her husband of 30 years, Mike and her 25 year old son, Caleb. She is involved with her church and loves to read, and follows her Georgia Bulldogs from game to game during football season. Cindy Grovenstein is truly an asset for Effingham County.

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Tips From Your

HEALTH AND WELLNESS Professionals

TIPS FROM YOUR HOSPICE MEDICAL DIRECTOR • Why are so many people afraid of hospice?

Because they think it means they are giving up. That they are going to die. The really interesting thing is that a 2010 New England Journal of Medicine study shows that hospice and palliative care actually extends life. At Hospice Savannah we’ve always known patients have a better quality of life once they get our help, but now it has been clinically proven that people can live longer with this kind of quality care.

• What if my doctor recommends another hospice?

There are about a dozen hospices in our area now, but the choice is always up to the patient. If you want Hospice Savannah’s care you may have to insist!

• Why Hospice Savannah?

Many people think Hospice Savannah is Hospice House on Eisenhower Drive.

Hospice Savannah is much more than that! The majority of patients are cared for at home which includes nursing home and assisted living facilities. However, Hospice Savannah is the only hospice in the area with a dedicated Hospice House. It is only available to Hospice Savannah patients.

This allows the full continuum of care Homecare, Hospice House when symptoms and care cannot be met at home, respite care and now long term residential care.

Hospice Savannah Medical Director, Julia Johnson, MD, FAAHPM

Hospice Savannah, Inc. Administrative offices 1674 Chatham Parkway Savannah, 31405 912.355.2289 HospiceSavannahHelps.org 40 February/March 2016 | www.Effingham Magazine.Com

• Does it make a difference that Hospice Savannah is not-for-profit?

Yes!! As a result of this earned status, we don’t have to financially support an expensive corporate structure, pay interest or dividends to investors and shareholders or pay income taxes. As a result, we have more financial resources to direct to the highest level of patient care possible and the acknowledgement as the “Gold Standard” in hospice care. It allows us to offer additional programs not part of a typical hospice program, such as bereavement support for all ages and our new Edel Caregiver Institute that provides hands-on education and support to caregivers. Isn’t this what you want for your loved one?

• What if I don’t think its time for hospice?

Let us come talk to you without any obligation as you may benefit from another program: Our Caregiver Institute helps family caregivers (visit www.EdelCaregiverInstitute.org) and our Steward Center for Palliative Care helps manage life-limiting illnesses (call 912.354.8014).

TIPS FROM YOUR PHARMACIST • What should I do if I have a bad reaction to my medication?

If you have a serious reaction to a medication, stop taking the medication immediately. Take Benadryl and call the doctor. If there are any signs of difficulty breathing or thickening of the tongue, go straight to the Emergency Room.

• What should I do if my medication looks different from last time and there is no note telling me that it has changed?

If you receive a medication that looks different, please don’t hesitate to call the pharmacy. If you cannot reach your pharmacist, you can look up the pill on pill finder (Drugs. Com). When you call the pharmacy, please be able to identify the imprint, shape, and color of the medication. You can also call Georgia Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

• Why do I have to take all of my antibiotics if I feel better after a few days?

Always take all of your antibiotic to prevent resistance. If you do not finish your antibiotic, the bacteria can build up resistance. When you get sick again with the same problem, the antibiotic that treated it the first time will not work.

The doctor will have to choose a different medication to treat the problem

Amy Jacobs Owner/Pharmacist

• Is it always okay to break pills or tablets in half?

Never break pills in half unless instructed by your pharmacist or doctor. A lot of medications are extended release which means the medication is delivered gradually over several hours. If you half that medication, you will mess up how the medication is released in the body, and you may not get a therapeutic outcome.

In other words, you may get too much or not enough of the medication to provide the result that the medication was intended to provide.

• Is it okay to use another person’s medication if I have the same health condition?

Never take another person’s medication even if they tell you their doctor gave it to them for the same symptoms you are experiencing. You could have a major allergic reaction or a severe drug interaction.

Also, you always want to have a prescription for all of your medications in case you are subject to a drug screen.

Medicap Pharmacy 1 Hidden Creek Drive Guyton, Georgia 31312 (912) 772-9100 Hours: Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 9-1:30 www.Effingham

Magazine.com | February/March 2016 41

TIPS FROM YOUR NEUROSURGEON • What type of patients and conditions does a neurosurgeon treat? Neurological surgery specializes in surgical and nonsurgical treatment of conditions that affect the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. This would include all types of spinal conditions that affect not only the nerves but also the surrounding bones and intervertebral disks.

A neurosurgeon is frequently the specialist that treats brain and spine conditions when all forms of other treatment have failed.

• My doctor has told me that I need surgery on my spine. When can surgery help with my spinal condition? Surgery on the spine is very effective to relieve compression of a nerve root.

Surgery has significant advantages over other treatments of you pain is a result of pressure on nerves.

In many instances, surgery can remove or relieve nerve pressure using minimally invasive microscopic techniques. Surgery can also be extremely useful in treating facet pain and instability pain that has been unrelieved with non-surgical treatment.

• What is deep brain stimulation and what patient problems can it help? Deep brain stimulation is a method of treatment that can be godsend to patients with Parkinson’s disease and tremor. Through a small hole, the neurosurgeon can place electrodes that modify the way signals are conducted through the brain which results in significant improvements in patients with movement disorders.

Recent studies have shown deep brain stimulation to also be useful treating patients with obsessive compulsive disease, major depression obesity and other behavioral disorders.

Randolph C. Bishop, M.D.

Effingham Health System Physician Center 459 Hwy 119 South Springfield, GA 31329

1 Jackson Blvd Savannah, GA 31405 912-355-1010 x 2324

42 February/March 2016 | www.Effingham Magazine.Com

• I have seen commercials advertising lasers in the treatment of back pain. How does this work? Neurosurgeons frequently will use a laser as a cutting tool in many varying circumstances. The neurosurgeon uses lasers in the spine to cut away offending structures or to render structures numb.

The laser can be directed towards the small facet joints of the back and allow the neurosurgeon to use to ablate the small nerves going to the facet joints which results in pain improvement. The neurosurgeon can also use the laser to remove disc material that may be putting pressure on a nerve root.

• Are there any new therapies being developed in neurosurgery? An exciting new therapy being developed by neurosurgeons for use in the brain and spine involves the introduction of specially obtained stem cells into a brain or spine pathology. It is the hope that these specially derived stem cells will allow regeneration of the intervertebral disc, re-formation of the neuro transmitter producing cells, and potentially reverse the effects of chronic neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Parkinson’s and other conditions. Local patients are being enrolled in studies to look at the safety and efficacy of this novel therapy.

TIPS FROM YOUR ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON • What is ORTHOPAEDICS, ( Orthopaedic Surgery) and what does it involve?

Orthopaedics is the branch of medicine (a specialty) that is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of problems that affect the musculoskeletal system. Basically, bones and joints, but that’s not all as we treat torn ligaments(sprains) and torn tendons, deal with nerve injuries (carpal tunnel surgery), treat all hand conditions and injuries, as well as replace worn out joints from arthritis.

• How do we maintain healthy bones?

The human body was designed very specifically for one thing : MOTION. So, bones and joints are actually stimulated by weight bearing activities like walking, jogging, cycling, and putting the body through regular work-outs of various intensity like weight-lifting, circuit training, jumping rope, and martial arts exercises, even yoga.

Mark Mudano, MD

• Who should see a “specialist,” such as an orthopaedic surgeon?

Any patient that has a musculoskeletal complaint that affects the extremities. Now, all orthopaedic surgeons are trained also in diagnosing and treating the problems of the spine (neck, thoracic, and lumbar spine), but a much smaller number of orthopaedic surgeons are trained in operating on the spine to fix problems such as herniated discs, lumbar spine fractures, and scoliosis and these people have a “sub-specialty” in spine surgery.

• How much improvement can I expect from my knee surgery?

Total Knee Replacement is a very common procedure now in the U.S. It has a success rate that is between 94- 96 % across the country; however, nowadays , we are performing this surgery on much younger patients than in the past and there are more issues lately with possible complications.

Nevertheless, in the right patient, this surgical procure has the capability of restoring a much improved quality of life for any patient that suffers from constant joint pain especially in the knee and hip.

• Generally how long does the surgery take to perform?

The surgery is 1- 2 hours to complete and usually requires a 2 or 3 day hospitalization. Soon we will do these surgeries as an outpatient procedure.

Effingham Orthopaedic Services 459 Hwy 21 South Springfield, GA 31329 (912) 754-0185 www.Effingham

Magazine.com | February/March 2016 43

TIPS FROM YOUR LOCAL RADIOLOGISTS

East Georgia Radiology (912) 486-1339 egradiology.com George P. Piros, M.D. Khoa D. Nguyen, M.D. Colin A. Dodds, M.D. Janine M. Dodds, M.D. Benjamin D. Cahan, M.D. Kha C. Nguyen, M.D., Ph. D. • What is the big deal with 3D Mammography and what exactly is it?

We are excited to offer 3D mammography (breast tomosynthesis) at both Effingham Hospital and Effingham Imaging Center locations.

Breast tomosynthesis produces a three-dimensional view of the breast tissue that helps radiologists identify and characterize individual breast structures without the confusion of overlapping tissue. We believe breast tomosynthesis is especially valuable for women receiving a baseline screening and those who have dense breast tissue and/ or women with a personal history of breast cancer. Breast cancer screening with tomosynthesis when combined with a conventional 2D mammography has a 40% higher invasive cancer detection rate than conventional 2D mammography alone.

The tomosynthesis screening experience is similar to a traditional mammogram.

During a tomosynthesis exam, multiple, low-dose images of the breast are acquired at different angles. These images are then used to produce a series of one-millimeter thick slices that can be viewed as a 3D reconstruction of the breast.

• What are the guidelines for pediatric imaging? Should I be concerned about the radiation dosages for my child?

In 2014, the American College of Radiology and Image Gently (a program to decrease radiation in children) developed pediatric CT protocols. East Georgia Radiology has partnered with Effingham Health systems

and exclusively utilize these protocols, and are proactive in keeping up-to-date with any changes that are made. For further information, please see the ACR website, Image Gently and the American Association of physicists in medicine (AAPM).

As to whether to you should be concerned with radiation dosing for your children, the answer is yes, you should be concerned with your pediatric dosing. Radiation side effects are significantly increased in children compared to adults. The cells and organs are much more sensitive and therefore it is extremely important to keep radiation dose to minimum. Ct is a modality that has particularly high radiation.

• What is the difference between a CT and MRI? A CT Scan (or CAT Scan) is best suited for viewing bone injuries, diagnosing lung and chest problems, and detecting cancers.

An MRI is suited for examining soft tissue in ligament and tendon injuries, spinal cord injuries, brain tumors, etc. CT scans are widely used in emergency rooms because the scan takes fewer than 5 minutes. An MRI, on the other hand, can take up to 30 minutes.

An MRI typically costs more than a CT scan. One advantage of an MRI is that it does not use radiation while CAT scans do.

This radiation is harmful if there is repeated exposure.

44 February/March 2016 | www.Effingham Magazine.Com

• Do I need a written order from my doctor to have a radiology procedure? Can I choose where I want to have my procedure done?

Deciding who provides your medical care is one of the most personal and important decisions you’ll make. Sometimes that decision is out of your hands, but when it comes to imaging services, you have the right to choose the facility that provides those services.

Most procedures are only performed under doctor’s orders, so a written referral from your physician is usually required.

Except for self-referred patients who seek a screening mammogram, federal and state laws prohibit radiologists and their practices from performing and interpreting tests unless they have a valid order from a physician or other authorized practitioner.

• Do your facilities offer genetic testing for breast cancer? Will insurance cover the testing? How can I find out more information?

Yes, BRCA testing screens for both breast and ovarian cancers, and testing is available at Effingham Hospital and Effingham Imaging Center on Goshen Road. Testing is not necessary for everyone, but you may be a candidate if you have a family history of cancer, belong to an at-risk population, or have a personal history of cancer. After your assessment, if certain criteria is met, 97% of health insurance policies will cover the testing, and most people pay nothing out of pocket. . For more information, visit www. mysupport360.com

TIPS FROM YOUR VETERINARIAN • What types of allergy issues are prominent to the area?

We see a variety of skin allergy cases on a daily basis at my office. These range from environmental allergies which are caused by the specific plants that are actively growing during that time of the year, by flea sensitivity which may increase in severity as the flea infestation gets worse or food allergy which can occur anytime throughout the year.

• What should I look for before selecting my pet’s food?

Any medical issues such as gastro-intestinal sensitivity or skin allergies must be considered when deciding on a food. A food with a limited protein (meat) source that has a grain-free (no corn, wheat or soy) carbohydrate source such as brown rice, green pea or potato might be a good option for you.

Also, be sure to look at the list of ingredients on the back. Considering that the first 3 ingredients in the list will be the primary components found in the food and that we advise that one of these be a meat source should help you make an informed decision.

Lastly, food availability must be considered.

If you are very conscious of the volume you have on-hand and have to order it by mail, this will not be a problem. However, if this is not the case, you should choose a food that can be purchased from a local source.

Dr. Mike Bailey

• What shampoo is best for my pet?

I always recommend that clients use a detergent free, moisturizing shampoo to prevent excess drying by not stripping off the natural oils from the skin. Also, it allows for the shampoo to be used as often as necessary, and if special circumstances require the need for skin treatment, the shampoo is yet another way to make sure the skin can be treated. Examples of this are things to treat and prevent yeast or bacterial infections.

• Why should I give heartworm prevention?

Heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitoes. The immature worms find their way to the heart and grow into adults over a 6 month period in untreated dogs. Because of this, heartworm prevention needs to be given every 30 days throughout their entire life beginning when they are puppies. There are several forms of heartworm prevention: tablet, topical and injectable forms as well as combination products where this is combined with flea and tick control.

• What can I do to treat for a flea infestation?

Controlling fleas must be looked at in 3 steps. The first is to make sure the pet is on a dependable form of flea control that is best

for their particular situation. We can help you make that decision. Second, the inside environment must be treated with a product every 2 weeks for 3 treatments. This is best done by using a safe effective spray over the entire floor followed by a thorough vacuuming. Care should also be directed towards any furniture that is frequented by the pet. The third step is to apply an insecticide granule to a zone of the yard immediately outside of the entry points to the house to decrease the likelihood that fleas will make their way back into the house.

We are glad to help you decide which products would be best for addressing each of these steps.

Effingham Animal Hospital 119 S. Columbia Ave. Hwy 21 & 10th Street Rincon, Ga 31326 (912) 826-5251 www.effinghamanimalhospital.com

www.Effingham

Magazine.com | DFebruary/March 2016 45

TIPS FROM YOUR COUNSELOR • What is your specialty?

Counseling individuals and couples struggling with substance abuse, eating disorders/food addiction, depression, trauma, grief and daily life stressors.

• Do you have any other services available for your food addiction patients?

Yes, we are starting a food addiction recovery group. We will be meeting once a week, and the classes begin in February.

This specialized group is for anyone who believes they have an unhealthy relationship with food and want to redefine the boundaries and change.

• What services do you provide for substance abuse?

We provide one-on-one counseling for those who have alcohol and/or drug problems. In addition, we offer alcohol and drug assessments, substance abuse groups, as well as clinical evaluations for DUI offenders.

• What are your hours?

We are open Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm. In order to accommodate the needs of our clients, we also offer night and weekend appointments.

Sherry Harvath

Master of Arts Degree Addiction and Recovery

• How long have you been in business?

We recently celebrated our 10 year anniversary and we have proudly served more than 2800 individuals.

• What other services do you provide?

Rincon Recovery Resources also offers couples/marriage counseling, Impulse Control (Theft Class) and Anger Management classes.

Rincon Recovery Resources 613 Towne Park Drive W. Suite 103 Rincon, GA 31326 (912) 826-0918 www.rinconrecovery.com 46 February/March 2016 | www.Effingham Magazine.Com

• What is your ultimate goal for your clients?

We want our clients to be the best that they can be. We offer hope and provide direction to those who wish to improve their quality of life.

TIPS FROM YOUR ORAL SURGEON

• What services do you provide?

I am a specialist in oral surgery and prosthodontics. At Oral and Facial Surgery Group, we can remove teeth and wisdom teeth, place dental implants, remove oral pathology, treat TMJ and other oral surgery related services. In addition, we can help patients restore their oral function using my training in prosthodontics (crowns, bridges, dentures). Oral surgery training allows me to sedate patients using IV medications. I’ve had extensive experience in treating medically compromised patients, or patients who suffer from dental fear/anxiety.

• What health issue are you most concerned about?

The importance of teeth/gums to one’s

overall health and wellbeing. As more and more people are living into their 90’s and 100’s, our teeth need to be able to provide us a lifetime of function, comfort, esthetics, speech and health.

• What advice would you give patients?

Don’t assume that there aren’t any options regarding your dental situation. Treatment can be planned over a period of time in order to allow patients to reach their full oral health potential.

at dental implants as a wise and practical choice in order to achieve improved, long term function.

• What would you like your patients to know about you?

I am focused on the patient. I am here to listen to a patient’s concerns, give them the available options regarding their treatment, and recommend an option based on their needs. Ultimately the patient should feel empowered to choose what is right for them.

• What is a top trend in your field right now?

Looking at one’s oral health and planning for a lifetime. More people are looking

Oral and Facial Surgery Group 506 W Hwy 80 Pooler, Ga 31322 (912) 330-9229 www.Effingham

in Pooler

Magazine.com | February/March 2016 47

TIPS FROM YOUR DENTIST • Brush 2-3 times per day the right way: You can brush 10 times a day, but if you don’t brush thoroughly you may be wasting your time. Brush for at least 2 minutes each time and make sure you are covering all areas of your mouth!

• Replace your toothbrush every 3 months: You use your toothbrush multiple times a day to clean bacteria from your mouth. Just trust on this one – it needs to be replaced at least once every 3 months.

Dr. Ronald A. Tosto

• Don’t sip on soda or eat sweets throughout the day: The consistent presence of sugar on your teeth can do some serious damage to your pearly whites. If you drink soda or eat candy make sure to brush afterwards or at least rinse your mouth out with water.

• Floss at least once a day: You saw this one coming!

Think about it: You miss cleaning 35% of the surface of your teeth if you just brush and don’t floss. Once you get into the habit flossing becomes much less of a nuisance.

Visit our new location in Beaufort!

• See your dentist twice a year for hygiene visits: These visits are very important to your overall oral health.

Having the tartar and calculus professionally removed from your teeth as well as having a complete dental exam ensures that there are no undetected problems in your mouth and helps prevent future problems from occurring.

Now Accepting New Patients Welcome, Dr. Mark Squicquero!

Howard Family Dental 201 Business Park Dr #101 Rincon, GA 31326 (912) 826-2273

Family. Friendly. Neighbors. www.HowardFamilyDental.com 35 Robert Smalls Parkway, Suite 103 · Beaufort, SC 29906

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48 February/March 2016 | www.Effingham Magazine.Com

• Have no fear! Sedation dentistry is dentistry done with a calming aid. This can be an oral pill or IV conscious sedation. With sedation dentistry, a patient is not put to sleep, but rather put in a calming state that feels like sleep.

TIPS FROM YOUR URGENT CARE PHYSICIAN • What services do you offer at Rincon Urgent Care? We offer treatment for acute illnesses, minor surgeries and procedures, including x-ray and basic laboratory services. Some medications are also available on-site.

• Do you accept any type of insurance? We are in-network with most insurances but offer affordable self pay prices.

• Do you offer treatment for worker’s compensation patients? We do offer treatment for work related injuries, as well as pre-employment physicals and drug testing.

• In addition to regular urgent care, do you offer any wellness programs, such as weight loss or nutritional advice? We offer a comprehensive weight loss program that includes medical assessment, medication and B-12 shot.

• What are your urgent care hours? Our hours are Monday through Friday 9-7 and Saturday and Sunday 9-3. No appointments are necessary.

Rincon Medical Center Urgent Care 119 Chimney Road Rincon, GA 31326 (912) 295-5560 www.rinconmedicalcenter.com www.Effingham

Magazine.com | February/March 2016 49

TIPS FROM EFFINGHAM’S GI SPECIALIST • What is a Colonoscopy? Colonoscopy is a procedure that allows us to closely look at the inside of the entire colon and rectum. A thin, hollow, lighted tube with a tiny video camera on the end is gently eased inside the colon and sends pictures to a TV screen. Small amounts of air are puffed into the colon to keep it open allowing us to see clearly. The exam itself takes about 30 minutes and patients are given medicine to help them relax and sleep during the procedure.

• What is a polyp? Polyps are precancerous growths on the lining of the colon.

There are two major types of polyps, adenomas and hyperplastic. Hyperplastic polyps have a very low likelihood of progressing into cancer. However adenomas polyps over time can grow and eventually become colon cancer. Polyps are discovered in 20-30% of patients that have a screening colonoscopy. Our goal is to find polyps, remove them and prevent the development of cancer.

• At what age should I have a colonoscopy?

We typically start colon cancer screening at the age of 50, however in some populations we start at a younger age, such as people with a family history of colon cancer in a first-degree relative. Some of the newer guidelines recommend screening the African American population starting at age 45.

• Should I have a colonoscopy even though I’m not having any issues? Yes. This exam should ideally be performed prior to the development of symptoms. These include a change in bowel habits, bleeding, weight loss, pain or anemia. If you wait for symptoms to develop the likelihood of finding a cancer is higher, but the chance of cure decreases markedly.

Dr. Travis F. Wiggins, M.D. Effingham Hospital 459 Hwy 119 South Springfield, GA 31329 (912) 354-9447 www.gastrosav.com 50 February/March 2016 | www.Effingham Magazine.Com

• Why must I drink a laxative before my colonoscopy? Emptying the contents of the colon is the first requirement for a successful colonoscopy. If the bowel prep isn’t up to par, polyps can be missed or the whole process may need to be repeated or rescheduled. Although we have not yet found that magic prep that will clean out your colon, the preparation for the exam has improved over the years. The day before the procedure we will ask you to stay on a liquid diet. Typically, the bowel prep is 2 liters as opposed to 4, and they are split over two days rather than being consumed all at once. Not only is it easier for the patient it provides a better quality cleansing, allowing for better visualization of the colon.

Let’s Do Business...

IN EFFINGHAM www.Effingham

Magazine.com | December/January 2015-16 51

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56 December/January 2015-16 | www.Effingham Magazine.Com

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effingham REAL ESTATE

This Home is Offered By: Julie Hales (912) 657-4120 jhales346@windstream.net

5805 Highway 21 South Rincon, Ga. 912-826-0927 888-826-0928 912-826-5828 (fax) www.rinconcoldwellbanker.com www.Effingham

Magazine.com | December/January 2015-16 57

A Leap of Faith Stacie Jo Taylor teams up with Movement Mortgage, aim is to bring a new culture to mortgage lending in Effingham and surrounding Counties.

A

story by jeff whitten

wall-hanging displayed prominently at Movement Mortgage’s new Rincon office may take you by surprise. It isn’t abstract art, it’s not a photograph or watercolor painting. Instead, it’s Movement Mortgage’s mission statement in a single ragged right column of red words in all caps: “We exist to love & value people by leading a movement of change in industries, corporate cultures, & communities.”

Love. Value. People.

Stacie Jo Taylor, Movement Mortgage’s branch manager who is a devoted wife, mother, Effingham County resident and a longtime loan officer, chose the mission statement herself to hang in the branch lobby because the words resonated, those promises of “love,” “value,” “people,” and “culture.” And though it’s not in Movement Mortgage’s mission statement, the word “faith.”

Faith.

Opening a new branch office is always taking a risk and a leap of faith. In this case, the leap and the faith are both shared by Stacie, her team, and Movement Mortgage. Stacie believes Movement Mortgage might even be the first national mortgage lender to locate in Rincon, GA. Stacie has the golden touch and a warm smile and her dedicated customers trust her which has resulted in her building a solid career based on their word of mouth and through the respect of

58 February/March 2016 | www.Effingham Magazine.Com

photos by luke smith her peers. Her hard work and dedication resulted in her being named one of the Top 40 under 40 most influential mortgage professionals in the nation by National Mortgage Professionals Magazine, the biggest trade magazine in the industry, in December. Yet it’s just the latest honor for a woman who began as a loan officer in Pooler, GA over 14 years ago as the real-estate boom hit full stride in Coastal Georgia. Her shelf is full of such awards from such groups as the Mortgage Bankers Association of Savannah, Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia, and Homebuilders of Savannah where she won many consecutive awards for ranking in the top originators for volume and units.

Movement Mortgage, a direct lender, was created at the bottom of the most recent real estate market crash. The founder, Casey Crawford, who is a soft-spoken, unassuming former NFL tight end, who once played in a Super Bowl, actually began Movement Mortgage by Googling how to start a mortgage bank.

He found what he was looking for. In seven years Movement Mortgage has grown into an $8-billion mortgage lender with 3,000 employees and a growing reputation for a 7-day loan process aimed at ensuring “the experience of obtaining a mortgage is as smooth and stress free as possible.” Crawford has taken a leap of faith with Stacie in Effingham and promises to give back to the community.

n o i s Vi Love. Faith. Family. Compassion.

You get the feeling Stacie never meets a stranger, and in a sense, she rarely does. Not in business, where Taylor prides herself on never having to use leads. She builds relationships with realtors and clients, and word gets out. And what are relationships but friendships by another name, anyway?

“I do my job the best I can for everyone, and they consistently demonstrate their confidence in me by referring their famCassie Hill ily and friends to me”, Stacie said.

But for now there’s work to be done getting Movement Mortgage’s branch office in Rincon up and running. Stacie isn’t alone in the venture.

Longtime co-worker Cassie Hill, an Effingham County High School alumnae, is on board as assistant and is working toward becoming a junior loan officer. It’s almost like having two Stacie Taylors in the office, Stacie said.

All that aside, there’s a rea-

By 2025, we will serve one out of every ten homebuyers in the United States. We will accomplish this by being the mortgage bank of choice for the real estate agent in every market we serve. www.movement.com Stacie Taylor SENIOR LOAN OFFICER DIRECT: (912) 667-7775 FAX: (912) 228-5766 www.movement.com/stacie.taylor NMLS: 411398 135 Goshen Road Ext Suite 112 Rincon, GA 31326

www.Effingham

Magazine.com | February/March 2016 59

son why anyone does anything. Stacie chose to open the branch in Effingham where local clients could physically come and talk with her.

“I wanted to get away from all the online, fax, email, text and phone relationships. I wanted to create a warm, comfortable atmosphere to be able to sit down with clients and to listen” Stacie said. “I’ve been in Pooler and other areas throughout my whole career and sometimes I think it hindered my one-on-one contact with my clients. I’d even meet them on the side of the road in Rincon because that was convenient to them, so it’s nice having a true office for us to meet in. I did this for my clients as well as my Realtors. I always do everything in this business for them.”

The nuts and bolts: Stacie is also licensed in eight states. She says it is mainly because she’s served military clients and veterans who often wind up stationed somewhere else. “My veterans,” she calls them, just as it’s “my clients,” and “my Realtors.” She also chose to get licensed in these other states when her past clients or friends have called on her with the need for her services there. And this she says is the best compliment received when they call back not because she’s a local lender yet because she’s now considered “their lender for life”.

Stacie has a variety of clients that include new customers, old friends, first-time buyers and refinancers that keep her very busy.

“I just closed three of many loans in my first month with Movement Mortgage within 13 business days, from start to finish” Stacie said. We have a standard process, and Movement Mortgage really does stand behind that 7-day promise.”

Movement is able to move fast because it’s a direct Ginnie and Fannie Mae lender and doesn’t have the overlays from the larger

banks. “If a file makes sense, we’re going to give it a chance. If the VA or FHA allows it, we’re definitely going to review it. We’ve opened up a lot of options and opportunities for homebuyers who thought they never had a chance and gave up.”

“Our work is not defined by what we extract,” says the company website. “It is defined by what we give.”

Leap of Faith? Maybe it’s not such a leap after all.

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60 February/March 2016 | www.Effingham Magazine.Com

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COLDWELL BANKER INTERCOASTAL REALTY

AGENT OF THE YEAR SUE ANDERSON

W

ith over 30 years in the industry, Sue Anderson has earned both local and national recognition as one of the top Real Estate agents in her field. And once again, has been awarded Agent of the Year at Coldwell Banker Intercoastal Realty for 2015. An award she has earned for several consecutive years.

Currently, Sue ranks #1 in the state with total units among all Coldwell Banker agents in the state of Georgia. She has received the Coldwell Banker’s International President’s Premier Award.

Sue’s 2015 numbers that were submitted for residential sales were 108 closed transactions sides with a sales volume of $20,362,931. This is an accomplishment that very few agents can claim. “She’s an amazing Realtor and person” says Carmen Cribbs, Broker for Coldwell Banker Intercoastal Realty. “She is one of the most modest and kind people that you will ever meet. She is committed to her customers and clients and wants to provide the highest quality of service to them, and does it all without an assistant or team. I am very proud to be associated with her.”

Sue contributes her years of success and longevity to integrity, old fashioned hard work and strong negotiating skills. She will tell you that selling real estate is more than just getting listings and buyers; it is about helping people find their dream home and making it a smooth and pleasant transaction. Her career in real estate centers on providing quality service to her clients.

Specializing in Southeast Georgia, Sue markets both resale and new construction. Sue’s clients remain loyal with referrals being a big part of her business. She also has a passion for decorating which enables her to assist sellers with getting their homes in “show condition” for buyers.

Sue has a daughter, Danielle, who is in her third year of

medical school at Medical College of Georgia and will be married in April. In Sue’s downtime, she enjoys going to estate sales, and spending time at her home away from home, St. Simons island.

If you are looking for an agent, and want one of the best, call Sue Anderson at 912-657-5300. Her detail to professionalism and her commitment to service is sure to make Sue the agent you are looking for. www.Effingham

Magazine.com | February/March 2016 61

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62 December/January 2015-16 | www.Effingham Magazine.Com

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