Dr. Mathew Alexander
We passionately aim to raise the standard of care in Corpus Christi. Our goal is to offer an elevated level of service comparable to the world’s leading cancer centers by improving the quality of life of our patients right here in Corpus Christi.
Minimally invasive brain Minimally invasive spine Dr. Melissa Macias
Carpal tunnel Ulnar nerve Total disc replacement Deep brain stimulation (DBS)
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All-Star Neurology Specializing in: • Spine • Cranial • Peripheral Nerve • Surgical Plan Modalities
1227 3rd. Street, Corpus Christi, TX
www.southtexasbrainandspinecenter.com
361-883-4324
STROKE CERTIFIED | BRAIN INJURY CERTIFIED STROKE CERTIFIED | BRAIN INJURY CERTIFIED
At Corpus Christi Rehabilitation Hospital, we provide At Corpus Christi Rehabilitation Hospital, we provide comprehensive inpatient rehabilitative to people services to people comprehensive inpatientservices rehabilitative recovering from disabilities by injuries or illnesses. recovering fromcaused disabilities caused by injuries or illnesses. We help our patients regain their abilities so they can help our patients regain their abilities so they can return We home at their highest level of independence. return home at their highest level of independence.
CCRH.ERNESTHEALTH.COM
5726 Esplanade Drive • Corpus Christi, TX 78414
361.906.3700
361.906.3797
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CCRH.ERNESTHEALTH.COM 5726 Esplanade Drive • Corpus Christi, TX 78414
361.906.3700
361.906.3797
Follow Us
6002 S. Staples St. Corpus Christi, TX TreaTing all eye Care needs!
LASIK/PRK Cataract Eyelids Glaucoma Retina Diabetes Dry Eye What you need!
Highly experienced, specialty trained, dedicated to you treating all of your eye care needs!
Schedule your eye care to be seen same day, next day, or as you request
Call 361.334.2625 or schedule online www.TexasEye.care
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CONTENTS MAY/JUNE 2020
16 COVER STORY DR. KATHRYN SOWARDÂ By focusing on her patients' strengths, this clinical psychologist elevates and empowers patients to become the best version of themselves.
22 PROFILE 361 WELLNESS Led by Dr. John Lusins and Carrie Sessions, the team at this neurowellness clinic focus on providing hope and healing for their patients.
FEATURE 10 Community Comfort
PATIENT 12 Holistic Health 14 At the Ready
HEALTH & WELLNESS
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28 From Drained to Sustained 30 Success Story 32 You're Worth It
PHILANTHROPY SPOTLIGHT 34 Faces & Places of the Coastal Bend
COVER AND TABLE OF CONTENTS PHOTO BY: MICHAEL GIORDANO
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MEET THE STAFF COASTAL BEND MAGAZINE
ADRIAN GARZA PUBLISHER adrian@inspirecoastalbendmag.com 361.548.1044
MAY/JUNE 2020 PUBLISHER Adrian Garza PUBLISHER & OPERATIONS Holly Lewis EDITOR Erin O’Brien
HOLLY LEWIS PUBLISHER & OPERATIONS holly@inspirecoastalbendmag.com 479.935.0868
ERIN O'BRIEN EDITOR erin.editorial@gmail.com
DESIGN DIRECTOR Elisa Giordano SOCIAL MEDIA Morgan Bartel CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Steven Alford Phillip J. Cronkhite Jr. Amanda Cutbirth Angelica Flores Oscar Limas Kathleen Naderer Lisa Wright PHOTOGRAPHY Michael Giordano
ELISA GIORDANO DESIGN DIRECTOR elisa@inspirecoastalbendmag.com 210.716.5320
www.inspirecoastalbendmag.com For advertising information or editorial comments, please call 479-935-0868 or email holly@inspirecoastalbendmag.com.
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Copyright 2020 © Inspire Coastal Bend Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction without the expressed written permission of the publisher is prohibited.
Home Health
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Serving San Anotnio to the Rio Grande Valley
Toll Free 1.800.874.5112 Legacy Home Health Agency, Inc. 5277 Old Brownsville Rd Ste. 205 Corpus Christi, TX 78405
361-855-0848 www.legacyhhc.com @LegacyHomeHealth I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M
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Become a member to live healthier lives
CIRCLE OF RED and build lifelong friendships
Because of the devotion and support of our sisterhood of women nationwide we have saved the lives of almost 1,000,000 women… grandmothers, mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, nieces, aunts, are all here today because of women like us. To whom much is given, much is expected.
–GLENDA KANE
The AHA supports critical cardiovascular research, which includes the development of new drugs, devices and CPR methods, among others. Your investment in Circle of Red supports the ground-breaking cardiovascular research in women. –HUGO BERLANGA
For memberships and information call Marcy Rodriguez at 361.445.3191 marcy.rodriguez@heart.org 8
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Circle of Red is graciously sponsored by Texas Vein & Vascular/TVV MediSpa.
With 1 in 3 women dying of heart disease, Circle of Red is the key to reversing these statistics. Together, let’s be relentless and help our friends and loved ones live longer healthier lives by joining us. –TOM CARLISLE
Each day 300 women survive, enabling them to spend time with loved ones and more than 2 million women have learned of their personal risk of developing heart disease and stroke. Circle of Red is vital to living healthier lifestyles and being with our loved ones. –LAURIE MINTZ
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FEATURE
Community Comfort
Over the next few weeks, the task force will build a website that will launch by the end of the month. We will release updated information regarding COVID-19 and the services we have available for those seeking mental health support. We will also move forward on a program that sets up peer support with the emergency rooms.
New task force helps people cope with the new “norm.”
The city continues to do a great job working with the Nueces County Health District, the county judge and local organizations to reach those in need. There is a statewide COVID-19 mental health support line that runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week: 833-986-1919.
By: Amanda Cutbirth
Getting sufficient sleep may help you manage stress and anxiety during this time. Medical experts, Drs. John Lusins and Mitchell Engle, will join the task force in educating the importance of pain management and coping with anxiety and depression.
There are more than 600,000 confirmed cases of COVD-19 in the United States and more than two million globally. The number of cases continues to rise, extending stay-at-home orders with no end in sight. The virus has turned everything upside-down, leaving people jobless, shutting down schools and businesses, making
it mandatory to wear a mask when going to essential businesses and leaving people isolated. This has become the new “norm.” Adjusting to this new lifestyle might cause anxiety, stress and depression, which may lead to an increase in drugs and alcohol. This is the perfect opportunity for the task force to step in and offer support and resources.
• Physical activity such as walking, riding a bicycle or taking an online fitness class • Getting sufficient sleep • Reducing your caffeine intake • Calling and reconnecting with friends and family • Using meditation or mindfulness apps (I suggest Headspace) • Engaging in hobbies (e.g., reading, working on a puzzle, writing) that can distract you I’m certain that the task force will bring what the community needs. Let’s come together to bring comfort during a difficult time.
For more information about the Coastal Bend Medical Alliance, please contact Amanda Cutbirth, president, at amandacutbirth@aol.com.
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Here are a few tips to help manage stress and anxiety during this time:
AAdi Home Health & Hospice Services AAdi Home Health and Hospice is a full service home health and hospice agency. We provide quality nursing services and outstanding support services. The staff at AAdi has the experience, dedication and compassion needed to provide care in a home environment without sacrificing quality or safety.
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PATIENT
Holistic Health The benefits of community-based palliative care By: Oscar Limas
A palliative care team is comprised of a physician, registered nurses, a medical social worker and a chaplain who have specialty training in the delivery of palliative care. Members of the team may also include the patient’s family, friends and non-professional caregivers. The World Health Organization’s definition of palliative care is, “an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with a life-threatening illness, through the prevention of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.” Outside of the medical community, palliative is frequently confused with hospice care. Although there are some similarities, and they are often used concomitantly, hospice is geared toward end-of-life care after a patient and/or family has decided to not seek any further aggressive or curative measures.
On the other hand, palliative care may be introduced at any stage of a chronic disease, which causes discomfort, and the patient’s age has no bearing on the implementation of this service. Examples of chronic diseases for which palliative care may be used include, but are not limited to: • • • • • • •
Cancer Congestive heart failure Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Kidney failure Genetic disorders Dementia Stroke
These types of services have been shown to improve both quality and duration of life. Palliative care may be implemented in a hospital setting, in a nursing home setting or in private homes. AAdi provides palliative care services directly to patients living at home, also known as a community setting. In the comfort of his or her residence, a patient may receive home health services, which include skilled nursing, home health aides or physical/occupational/ speech therapy. The addition of palliative care services will not interfere with the patient’s current routine or level of care he or she is receiving in the home, but rather, involves an added set of professionals focusing on maintaining the patient’s comfort level. Palliative care services are typically requested by a primary care physician, a specialist or family members. Once an order is obtained for the evaluation, the palliative care physician conducts an assessment. If criteria has been met, the registered nurse will complete the admission process. The palliative care team will formulate a plan of care, which will address immediate needs, as well as potential future needs, ensuring the patient and family are comfortable. We here at AAdi are privileged to be able to provide palliative care services, as well as home health services, psychiatric skilled nursing and hospice services to our community.
Oscar Limas, R.N., is the director of program operations at AAdi Home Health & Hospice. He may be reached at olimas@aadihh.com. For more information on AAdi Home Health & Hospice services, please call 361-452-3384.
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alliative care is a specialty service focused on the holistic care of a patient and his or her family by managing the symptoms of a chronic, serious and/ or debilitating disease process requiring special attention. The ultimate goal of palliative care is to improve the patient’s quality of life. This goal is achieved by treating physical symptoms such as pain or shortness of breath, but this may also include needs that are psychosocial and spiritual in nature.
WE WILL PUT YOU BACK IN THE GAME OF LIFE
TREATMENTS AND PROGRAMS FOR: Musculoskeletal Injuries Pregnancy (Pre/Post Natal Care) Diabetes Fall Prevention Neuropathy Cardiovascular Therapy Osteoarthritis Vertigo (Dizziness) Osteoporosis Athletic Rehab (Sport Specific) Thoracic-Outlet Syndrome Orthotic Evaluation/Fabriation Pre-Op/Post-Operative Therapy
ALL 6 LOCATIONS OFFER CAREFULLY DESIGNED AND SUPERVISED EXERCISE PROGRAMS IN STATE OF THE ART GYMS AND LARGE INDOOR HEATED POOLS:
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CORPUS CHRISTI
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CALALLEN
3 4 5 6
5026 Deepwood Cir. • 361.854.2278 4040 Five Points Rd. • 361.241.7399
ALICE
1302 E. 5th St. • 361.664.9675
PORTLAND
114 Lang Rd. • 361.643.8243
ARANSAS PASS
2150 W. Wheeler Ave. • 361.758.5199
ROCKPORT
1811 Broadway (a.k.a. Fulton Beach Rd.) 361.729.8777
www.HumpalPhysicalTherapy.com www.Facebook.com/HumpalPT I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M
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PATIENT
At the Ready Humpal Physical Therapy continues to provide essential health care to the Coastal Bend community. By: Phillip J. Cronkhite Jr.
n this new time period that we, as humans and health care providers, find ourselves in, it is important that we continue to take care of ourselves, in both body and mind. Here at Humpal Physical Therapy, as an essential health care provider, we remain open at all six locations in the Coastal Bend to help our community in these endeavors.
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Physical therapy can help improve cardiovascular endurance.
We have always maintained well-cleaned clinics, but now we have ramped up the cleaning and disinfecting of the clinics. We have also implemented new screening procedures of patients and caregivers. We care about the health and safety of our patients and our employees. Physical therapy, in general, is intended to help restore patients to their prior level of function. But also, physical therapy can help improve cardiovascular endurance. It helps improve overall well-being. By doing so, it should help keep people healthier and help them battle diseases, including the COVID-19 virus. We want our patients and our community to be safe in these trying times, and we would like to see you attend your essential physical therapy appointments, just as you would attend your essential doctors’ appointments.
We want the community, and our patients, to know that we are here for you. We remain open and stand at the ready to continue to help you get healthier. Remember: Choose More Movement, Choose Better Heath, Choose Physical Therapy. Humpal knows!
Phillip J. Cronkhite Jr., P.T., is the clinic director (Alice) for Humpal Physical Therapy. For more information, visit www.humpalphysicaltherapy.com.
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But fear not! If you are unable to attend a visit, Medicare has given permission for you to receive what is known as an e-visit. Your physical therapist can talk to you by phone about your current plan of care and exercise program, and answer any questions you may have. We can even provide a new and updated home exercise program that can help you continue to improve at home if you are unable to come in.
14330 SPID | North Padre Island, TX 78418 361-949-2266 Open: Tuesday-Saturday 10-6 PM 1812 State Hwy 361 | Suite A | Port Aransas, TX 78373 361-749-2266 Open: Monday-Saturday 10-6 PM, Sunday 12-5 PM 615 Business Hwy 35 | South Rockport, TX 78382 361-729-2266 Open: Tuesday-Saturday 10-6 PM NEW LOCATION 5017 Saratoga | Corpus Christi, TX 78413 361-692-2177 Open: Tuesday -Saturday 10-6 PM
CUSTOM DESIGNED FURNITURE, ACCESSORIES & INTERIOR DESIGN
www.myco a s t a l h o m e tx . c o m
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// COVER STORY
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THINK POSITIVE Dr. Kathryn Soward: building strength in others By: Steven Alford Photos by: Michael Giordano
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Life is about connecting and emphasizing what’s important.”
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FOR MOST OF HER LIFE,
clinical psychologist Dr. Kathryn Soward has felt a passion for helping others. As a young girl, she would listen to adult conversations at family gatherings in Corpus Christi and try to unpack their problems and find solutions. “I always knew that I was designed to try to understand people,” Soward says. “I was always curious about relationships – why people made certain decisions and choices in their lives.” That curiosity led to a degree in psychology, earning her undergraduate at Texas A&M University in College Station, and a graduate degree at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Soon, she ventured to Santa Barbara, Calif., to finish her studies at the prestigious Fielding Graduate University. At the heart of Soward’s method of patient care is a deep-rooted dedication for helping others to be the best versions of themselves. “Relationships are what’s most important to me. It’s why we’re here,” Soward says. “I’ll push people where I think they should go, but in a gentle, loving way.” In graduate school, Soward devoted her dissertation to the study of resilience and positive psychology, focusing on people’s strengths instead of their weaknesses. It’s the opposite approach of the standard medical disease model, which searches for what is wrong with a patient instead of what is right. Soward’s approach draws on people’s strengths in an effort to harness their positive qualities – elevating others through difficult situations so they can ultimately strengthen themselves.
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Soward has taken her passion for helping others beyond the walls of her Corpus Christi practice, having finished her first book, “The One Thing That Changed Everything.” It’s a joint effort with other successful women due out this summer, which shares the key moments in their lives when their career trajectory took off. It’s a story of empowerment while overcoming obstacles to achieve success. The book is just the first step in a budding literary career, as Soward is now working on her second book, “The Road Map to Resilience,” a strength-based system she has carefully curated to help people create a better life. Meanwhile, this spring, as the country found itself in an unprecedented shutdown due to the coronavirus, Soward pivoted her practice to find a way to continue to connect with her patients. This search led to “walk and talk” sessions,
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as she meets up for counseling sessions while walking through parks and along the bayfront with her patients. “It’s been incredible,” Soward says. “There’s been a benefit, and one of the best things I’ve done for my practice. Patients love it.” Soward has also moved therapy sessions online to find ways to continue to connect with her patients during the coronavirus. Counseling sessions resumed via virtual conferencing software, connecting doctor and patient during a time of lockdown. Whether walking trails with her patients or video conferencing on Zoom, during the unprecedented social shift brought on by COVID-19, the mission of Soward’s practice has remained the same. When Soward opened the doors to her Corpus Christi offices 15 years ago, she made a promise to put patients first and stray from the standard industry practice of placing volume ahead of personal attention. “One thing I decided: I would just do it the way I wanted to do it,” she says. “A long time ago, I resolved I wasn’t going to get on the conveyor belt of churning out tons of sessions.” Her practice focuses heavily on therapy and counseling for children, teens and adults. Soward also performs testing for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
I always knew that I was designed to try to understand people.”
(ADHD) and learning disabilities, while another major component of her practice includes serving as a psychologist for the City of Corpus Christi. Soward counsels a range of emergency responders, including police officers, firefighters, 911 dispatchers, SWAT, CSI and hostage negotiators. This arm of her practice has become a major component of her patient load, especially during the coronavirus pandemic, as first responders work on the frontlines of delivering care. “I’m just passionate about people who are first responders; they work and live with their purpose of helping people every day,” Soward shares. “I try to give them a space where they can increase their coping skills for handling stress while decreasing their fears during these challenging times.” According to Soward, many of the same coping mechanisms she counsels for first responders can be used by anyone to get through daily life in the face of the coronavirus. The first step is to stare at the issue head-on and accept why we, as a society, must make fundamental changes to our social practices to protect others from contracting the deadly virus. “One thing is not to just gloss over it or act as if we have to stay positive and smile and get through it,” she advises. “You have to own it and name it. If someone lost their job, that’s scary and upsetting; you have to talk about it.” In a lonely world, when we are shut in at home, glued to our televisions and awaiting positive news to come out of the coronavirus pandemic, Soward says daily connections are key. “Our connections and our relationships are everything to human existence,” she says. “While we are social distancing, we are running a risk of increased anxiety, depression, obesity. That affects longevity if you are embedded in isolation and loneliness.” A few ways to stay positive and connected during a social distancing stretch
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Soward became passionate about positive psychology in graduate school, and eventually based her Corpus Christi practice around the strength-based model. “It’s about not asking, ‘Why is this happening to me?’ or ‘What is the reason this is happening?’” Soward shares. “It’s helping us learn through situations – to end up as a better version of ourselves by the experiences we go through.”
might include writing down your feelings in a journal or blog, participating in therapy sessions online and, most importantly, staying connected to friends and loved ones. Soward advises joining a Facebook group for cocktail hour or sharing recipes or gardening tips; joining your friends in a video space to laugh and share; enjoying a coffee date with a friend on FaceTime or Skype; and having a quality conversation every day. It’s easy to sink into a daily routine of watching movies, playing video games or scrolling through social media endlessly, Soward shares. To stay positive during the shutdown, it’s crucial to have a routine and stick with it. “It’s easy to lean on those things too much,” she says. “We have to set limits on ourselves and recognize when we are tired or stressed. It’s important to maintain relationships and get outside for fresh air and exercise.” Soward herself is a mother of three children ages 16, 18 and 21. During the coronavirus shutdown, she regularly takes her children to a tennis court to play a round – a great sport for social distancing, she adds. Whatever activities you enjoy, it’s important to stick with them and know when to turn off the TV and connect with others, Soward shares. As the coronavirus continues to hang like a specter over the daily lives of millions of Americans, Soward is hopeful society will come out of the experience stronger in the end. She hopes it will make people realize what they enjoy most about daily life. “I think it’s going to create a huge appreciation for what’s most important in lives and really emphasize relationships and leaning in with love,” Soward says. “Life is really about connecting and emphasizing what’s important and taking away some of the materialism.” Looking ahead at her practice, Soward envisions growing the online patient care component further as the world becomes
more accustomed to virtual conferencing and working from home. She is currently working on a new podcast, along with a program of online counseling courses, enabling her practice to reach a range of patients beyond just Corpus Christi, creating therapy solutions for people across the globe. Soward believes people will pull through this year’s downturn stronger and more resilient than ever with a better understanding of what is truly important in life.
Through therapy, meditation and quiet reflection, we can better ourselves and find a strength inside we never knew we possessed, she says. “I’m excited about what could happen. This could bring new exciting possibilities. That’s what keeps me thinking positively.”
For appointments or further information, call 361-814-1900 or visit www.kathrynsoward.com.
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// PROFILE
Healing the Body and Mind The 361 Wellness team brings breakthroughs in mental health treatments to South Texas. By: Kathleen Naderer
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361 Wellness is the first and only neuro-wellness clinic in the Coastal Bend. Located at 6625 Wooldridge Road in Suite 301, the complex in front of the Bayview Behavioral Hospital, 361 Wellness opened its doors in November 2019. John Lusins, M.D., and Carrie Sessions, MSN, FNP-C, combine their extensive knowledge and expertise to fight on the frontlines in the battle for better mental health care. “Everything we do is to promote wellness and mental health,” Sessions said. The main mission of 361 Wellness is to provide another resource to the often inundated South Texas medical community. Both Lusins and Sessions have encountered patients who are struggling to find hope and healing, feeling either caught in a revolving door of medicine or lost in the deluge of patients waiting for access to mental health care professionals. Sessions emphasized a message of hope for those afraid they’ve exhausted their resources. She explained that 361 Wellness services are accessible to all and provide an effective alternative to those who are not responding well to traditional allopathic medicine. At Lusins and Sessions’ clinic, patients can find a variety of unique and cutting-edge services not available elsewhere, including Kalypso Ketamine IV Infusions, NAD+IV Therapy and Vitamin IV Infusions and Injections. Sessions praised Lusins innovation for recognizing early on that ketamine would be a game changer in treatment-resistant care. The two had long talked about creating a neuro-wellness clinic, and Lusins research into ketamine helped their dream become a reality.
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“This [ketamine treatment] is not just a drug or quick fix,” Session said. “It has the potential to be the biggest breakthrough in mental health since the first serotonin reuptake inhibitor [Prozac].” Sessions now runs the ketamine program, working closely with patients who come seeking relief from chronic pain, depression and anxiety, fibromyalgia, migraines, PTSD and more. She’s witnessed firsthand how this groundbreaking treatment can turn people’s lives around for the better. One person in particular stood out to her during 361 Wellness’ first Drops of Hope campaign. Drops of Hope is a nonprofit that offers free Kalypso Ketamine IV treatments to those in need. The first recipient was a combat vet suffering from severe treatment-resistant PTSD after several tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Sessions recalled how desperate and concerned his family was, since he was borderline suicidal on a regular basis. “Within six treatments, he was a whole different person,” she said. “He was able to live his life again.” Another promising new treatment is NAD+IV Therapy. During a NAD session, a naturally occurring coenzyme of niacin is given over a period of four to six hours. This regenerates DNA, helping curb mental and physical declines, as well as managing withdrawals from alcohol and detoxing the body. Like medispas, 361 Wellness also offers injections and IV infusions that can be tailored to improve aesthetics. Unlike
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medispas, however, the neuro-wellness clinic’s primary focus remains mental health even when treating appearance. According to Sessions, mental and physical health are often linked together. For instance, she has noticed that patients seeking aesthetic treatment such as weight loss injections feel better not only physically, but mentally. “This can lead to a person having better self-esteem and feeling more self-empowered,” she said. “We address the psychological component to weight loss, like eating without guilt, and lifestyle adjustments, like increased exercise, which can act as a natural antidepressant.” Other injections and IV infusions provide vitamins that can help prevent illnesses, boost immune systems and provide supplementation that people often don’t realize they need. Sessions explained that, due to many modern diets, people may be unknowingly suffering from a vitamin deficiency. Sometimes the symptoms of these deficiencies are mistaken for other diseases. “One example is a B12 deficiency,” she said. “It can mimic a lot of mental health disorders, like depression and insomnia, or even physical disorders, like fibromyalgia.” But what if you take a daily vitamin? According to Sessions, between absorption through the stomach and possible interference from other medication, many of these over-the-counter vitamins end up having little to no effect. However, when patients receive an injection or IV, the vitamins are directly absorbed by red blood cells, meaning the body receives 100 percent of the vitamin and the patient notices an immediate difference. Most importantly, Sessions wants people to remember: “Be your own health and wellness advocate. Look up everything you’re putting in your body, because if you give your body what it needs, it will heal itself.”
For more information about 361 Wellness, visit 361wellness.com or contact their office at 361-986-3691. If you are interested in supporting Drops of Hope, 361 Wellness will be hosting a fundraiser this summer at the Country Club so they can offer this treatment to more people in our community. Call 361-443-8843 for more information about how you can help.
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
From Drained to Sustained
The benefits of respite care services for caregivers By: Angelica Flores
allowing them to regenerate their body, mind and spirit, and get back in the game. It can be used as an opportunity to go to medical appointments or have medical testing done, allowing the caregiver to care for themselves. If the primary caregiver gets sick or burns out, who will take care of the patient?” While respite care seems like a clearcut solution for worn-out caregivers, it is often difficult for caregivers to accept help without feeling guilty or selfish for asking for assistance. By choosing to utilize respite care, caregivers not only help themselves – they help their loved ones receiving care, as well. Consider an empty pitcher. Now imagine trying to share what is in the pitcher with somebody else. You try to pour into a cup from an empty pitcher and – you guessed it – nothing comes out. How can you fill a cup if there is nothing left in the pitcher to give?
For caregivers of loved ones needing assistance, these feelings of burnout are all too familiar. As Drs. Richard Schulz and Paula R. Sherwood discuss in their article titled, “Physical and Mental Effects of Family Caregiving,” it is not only the dayin and day-out tasks of caregiving that are taxing and tiring. It is also “the onset and progression of [our loved one’s] chronic illness and physical disability” that causes additional concern and chronic stress.
Many caregivers often feel the load of their loved one’s care weighing solely on their shoulders because they do not believe they have anyone else to help them provide care. However, did you know that there are services available to provide relief for caregivers while also ensuring that their loved ones are being cared for properly? These services are known as respite care. “Respite” is defined as a temporary break, so respite care can be understood as care aimed at providing relief for the typical caregiver. As Denise Danley, director of nursing for Legacy Home Health Agency, explains, “Respite care is an excellent opportunity for fatigued caregivers to rest,
For more information visit www.legacyhhc.com.
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At Legacy Home Health, we offer respite care for caregivers and “vow to deliver the highest level of compassionate, competent and cost-effective health care” for you and your loved ones. If you or someone you know could benefit from respite care, please give us a call so that we can assist you in starting services with us today. Let Legacy help you go from drained to sustained!
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We have all had feelings of exhaustion and overwhelming stress at some point in our lives. It seems like our list of responsibilities is never-ending and the work keeps piling up. We feel drained and unlike our usual selves.
In many of our nation’s households, our caregivers represent the pitchers and their loved ones represent the cups waiting to be filled. Without replenishing the pitchers, we cannot fill the cups. Similarly, without replenishing our caregivers with the necessary periods of rest and recovery in order to sustain their overall health and vitality through respite care, we cannot expect them to provide the best care for their loved ones on a daily basis.
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IV Infusions and Injections Wellness Services • iVitamin Injections • iVitamin Nutrition and Hydration • Medically Managed Weight-loss • Kalypso Ketamine IV Infusions
BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY!
361-986-3691 www.361Wellness.com 6625 Wooldridge Rd., Ste. 301, Corpus Christi
PROVIDERS: John O. Lusins III, MD Carrie Sessions, MSN, FNP-C
Managed Services by
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
Success Story How one woman overcame her dislike of technology to start training online By: Lisa Wright
“I am open to new things – I am not an old fogey,” Helen says, emphatically resisting the myth that people “of a certain age” are afraid of digital communications or anything related to new ways of learning. “I just don’t like the phone, and I don’t have a computer. I have lots of stuff to do. I take care of my animals. I work in the garden…” Shortly after gyms and fitness studios had to close amid the coronavirus crisis, Helen’s coach called to ask how he could help her make the online transition.
is a win-win solution – same coach, same group, new and creative exercises using minimal equipment and more! Now? Helen is grateful and excited. “I do like what we’re doing right now with the live classes,” she says. “It’s crucial. I would not exercise at all if it’s just me by myself. We have a great group of people ... We play music, and still whine if it’s hard.” She also gets in a safe and effective workout that’s good for her physically, mentally and socially, says Helen, who is retired and lives alone. Via the computer, Helen’s coach can see her and everyone else in the group training session. He tailors the workouts for each of them. Helen, for example, can’t do some floor exercises because of a chronic back issue, so J.C. gives her other movements to perform.
She resisted. He persisted. “She was adamant that she could not go online, and this was too much to ask,” says her coach, J.C. “I prodded her several times that I could help her.” Finally, Helen submitted to his coaching – which took a couple of calls and tried both their patience. “We just said we’ll keep pecking away at this until we get it done,” Helen recalls. Eventually, Helen learned how to use her smart phone to participate in workouts via Zoom, a simple video conferencing tool that many fitness businesses are using. Streaming workouts into clients’ homes
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Helen even enjoys gathering everyday household items (cans of vegetables, a bleach bottle, even toilet paper) for workout props. “It makes it more fun,” she says. “I like improvising. It excites my brain.” The bottom line for Helen? She knows how important exercise is, and she’s committed to staying healthy and fit, regardless of the challenges. “It’s what I need to do for my body – it’s for me. It’s my job,” Helen says. “It’s more important now to be active, take care of myself and de-stress. An exercise session helps me with this.” Coach J.C. is proud of Helen’s achievement. “She got pumped up to do something that she never thought she’d be able to tackle,” he says.
“I like improvising. It excites my brain.” Helen’s advice to anyone else reluctant to take the time to learn how to train online? “Just buckle up and do it,” Helen says. “If somebody like me can do it, anybody can.” At Your Personal Best, this global disruption became an opportunity to “give back” to our community and build relationships. It is easy once you get the hang of it, and my team will go the extra mile to get you what you need, answer questions, etc. Whether or not we are back in our studio when you read this, we will continue to stream our workouts live two to three times per day, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, adjusting to the demand. Try it yourself! Get 14 days of unlimited live, virtual group training classes you can do from anywhere!
PHOTOS COURTESY OF LISA WRIGHT
Helen Harris, 74, has no computer, and she hates her smart phone, using it as little as possible. But she refuses to let her dislike of technology prevent her from staying in shape via online training sessions.
CAROLINA PRADERIO M.D., P.L.L.C. Gynecology & Women’s Health
For more information, visit http://www.landpage.co/14-day-trialypbtrainingstudio. You may also contact Lisa Wright, F.A.S., at Your Personal Best Training Studio. Call 361-857-5087 or visit www.ypbtrainingstudio.com. Wright’s full “How Do We Ensure Functional Longevity” presentation is now available to watch online: https://youtu.be/Alnz1SaXv5M.
Meet Lisa Lisa Grace Wright, C.F.T., F.A.S., is the CEO of L.G.W. Fitness Inc., a published author, a functional aging specialist and a business coach for the Functional Aging Institute. Through strategic planning and marketing consulting, she helps fitness business owners, from small studios to big-box gyms, create a compelling and effective business plan to inspire an aging population to take action toward their health. Over the last 20-plus years, Wright has built her brand, Your Personal Best, in Corpus Christi, Texas. She has expanded her influence across the country, equipping others like herself who want to change lives and promote aging actively.
Providing Personal and Comprehensive Care Woman to Woman • Board Certified OB/GYN • Specializing in Menopause • Bio-identical Hormone Pellet Therapy (BHRT) • Performing minimally invasive gynecological surgeries & procedures • Medically Supervised Weight Loss
Corpus Christi Spohn South 5920 Saratoga Blvd., Suite 110
361-991-9356
www.DrPraderio.com Accepting New Patients I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
You’re Worth It
The Corpus Christi Institute of Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery offers at-home facial bundles for skincare while social distancing. Special to Inspire Coastal Bend it. There are so many benefits to facials! According to a study published in the journal, “Biomedical Research,” facial massage activates your sympathetic nervous system. This reduces your anxiety levels and uplifts your mood! Facials work to cleanse and detoxify your skin, stimulate facial blood circulation, prevent aging and rejuvenate your skin, and they have so many other benefits!
A letter to our patients: We want to assure you that we take the health and well-being of our community, patients and associates very seriously. Like you, we’re closely monitoring this evolving situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are very grateful for the understanding our patients have shown with this unique situation.
Now, let’s talk facials! Nothing can match the feeling you get when you glide your fingers over your face and feel that soft and silky skin. Most of you follow a daily skincare routine at home. But once in a while, it’s good to let the professionals take care of your skin. Unfortunately, right now, your skin is missing out on something that’s good for
In addition, any individual items from imageskincare.com/collections/skincare can be requested, as well as items from our line, GLOW. We’ve included a stepby-step guide to taking care of your skin at home. It’s time to say, “I’m worth it,” to your skin. So, get yourself scheduled for your very own at-home facial. We miss seeing you all in our office, but we are still available via phone to answer any skin-specific questions you may have and for product and gift card purchases. You can also find us on our social channels for updates. We ask that you do not hesitate to contact our office with any questions that may arise. We are all in this together.
For more information, visit www.corpusplasticsurgery.com.
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF CORPUS CHRISTI INSTITUTE OF COSMETIC AND PLASTIC SURGERY
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have developed at-home facial bundles to treat your skin, even while social distancing and staying at home. Whether you are looking for treatments for sensitive skin, clearing your skin, anti-aging or treatments that will make your skin GLOW, we have product bundles that can be directly shipped to your home or taken out to your vehicle at our facility.
STMHA
Kalypso Ketamine Infusions for Chronic Pain, Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, & other conditions
Managed Services by
South Texas Mental Health Associates Board Certified Psychiatrists Managed Services by
See you soon, we’ll be ready when you are We invite you to experience our downtown venue. Our historic charm and exceptional service will perfectly compliment your special occasion. Whether you’re booking a surprise engagement, wedding and reception, a shower, rehearsal dinner, or even bridal portraits; we have the best amenities available. The Bay Jewel is the perfect fit for your big day and we will customize any full-service package for you.
CLICK HERE FOR YOUR VIRTUAL TOUR
361.881.8624 Contact Us for Current Specials 624 N. Mesquite Street, Corpus Christi, TX 78401 info@thebayjewel.com thebayjewel.com
Megan Talley MD
John Lusins MD
Exclusive Corpus Christi Psychiatric Practice
Compassionate, Caring, Comprehensive Psychiatry 6625 Wooldridge Rd., Suite 101, Corpus Christi 361-356-6441 www.stmha.com I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M
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PHILANTHROPY SPOTLIGHT
Richard Castaneda and Vicki Maixner
FACE S & P LAC E S OF T H E COA S TA L BEN D Mash Bash
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PRESENTING UNDERWRITER
DR. ANN MARIE NAVAR
Ann Marie Torres and Rose Marie Sandoval-Damron
Sherry Bowers Executive Director and Darryl Bowers
Kathy Haynes, Louella Wallace, Rev. Gloria Lear
David Garza, Jennifer Janecek, Victoria Hardin
Dr. Michael Mintz, Dr. John & Lynette Navar, RN, and Laurie Mintz
Joseph Mattingly, Dr. Cindy Hemesath, Dr. Ann Marie Navar, Natalie Mattingly and Cinco
Myra and Carlos Haney, Enlightened Imaging
Veronica Lopez, Marge DeWitt, Ariana Appleby, and Sherry Wachtel
Sherry Bowers, Andy Crocker, Mr. Eugene Bouligny
Kaylee Walker, Bubba Bashaw, Simplified Commercial Lending, Letty Hicks
Becca Ramos Taylor, Becky Mays, Holly Lewis
Conni and Jay Wise
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PHOTOS BY DEBBIE NOBLE
Mission of Mercy hosted their fifth annual MASH BASH event at the Ortiz Center on Friday, March 6, co-chaired by Sherry Bowers and Andy Crocker. Presented by Dr. Ann Marie Navar, guests enjoyed a fun medical-themed event, along with a barbecue dinner by the Corpus Christi Mustangs, custom-built and unique games such as Mini Mine Field Golf, Syringe Darts, Grenade Toss and a life-size game of Operation, silent and live auctions and music by multi-platinum country artist Tracy Byrd. Guests dressed in camo, in scrubs and as their favorite M*A*S*H characters. MASH BASH raises funds to provide free medical care, prescription assistance, vision care, behavioral health counseling, cooking classes and more to people who are uninsured in the Coastal Bend. To learn more about Mission of Mercy and MASH BASH, call 361-883-5500 or visit amissionofmercy.org/Texas.
WE GO WHERE YOU GO!
STEM CELL THERAPY Call for appointment or consultation:
361-851-0545
Offering State-of-the-Art cellular therapies including autologous platelet rich plasma and autologous stem cells to help your body heal itself.
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