Thrive Oklahoma Magazine

Publisher / CEO Angela C. Slovak, Ph.D. Creative Director Barbara Kardokus Creative Design Staff Krystal Harlow Editorial Manager Jan Collymore Staff Writer Paul Fairchild Lindsay Welchel

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Contributing Authors Stan Marker

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Robert Unsell, MD

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On the Cover: Meet Steven Perry, graduate of Bishop McGuinness High School and star athlete from Notre Dame. Perry finds his way back to Oklahoma via the newest professional sports team in town, ENERGY-FC. Find out what it takes to perform at this level and welcome him out on the field during our special VIP night offer. Sign up to WIN tickets + VIP treatment when ENERGY-FC meets up with the Los Angeles Galaxy II for the second time this season, August 16, at Pribil Stadium. Cover photo by Steve Christy Scan the QR codes found in this issue, or at any metro Academy location or youth soccer stadium location. Contest ends August 8 at midnight. Click : thriveokwellness.com/energyfc/

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Copyright Š 2014 by Thrive Oklahoma, Health and Well Being and Green Apple Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved.

Reproduction without the expressed written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Thrive Oklahoma Magazine assumes no responsibility for the content of articles or advertisements, in that the views expressed therein may not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or any magazine employee or contributor. Content in this publication should not replace the advice or your physician. This publication and all its contents are copyrighted.

Through the years, while working on ThriveOK - trying to make it relevant to the major cities in Oklahoma and the unique communities we serve - I realized that health and wellness is not a one-size-fits-all formula. Since we’ve been keeping this publication widely available and FREE, I hope that by now folks realize, there’s no one magical thing you should be doing – it’s a series of activities and choices that all add up to a healthier YOU. Personally, if an activity is easy and convenient, I tend to participate more. Our goal with ThriveOK is to present you with convenient, local options that help move you toward a happier and healthier life. Our fitness and nutrition pages are packed with information from knowledgeable individuals that have a strong desire to help others achieve their goals.

Summer can offer up its own set of challenges for achieving goals and convenience can go right out the window along with a regular schedule. When kids are out of school and vacations are at the forefront of our minds – who has time to work out? Not to mention the heat and humidity that we see this time of year.

But, summer is also one of my favorite seasons. Even as a child growing up in southern California, summertime meant a chance to go camping, ride horses, visit the beach and make new friends. Now, I still love being outdoors in the sun, exploring and finding new things to do with my rapidly growing kids. This year we planned many short trips that are more stay-cation than vacation. So far, we’ve visited Tulsa, Tuttle, Clinton, Stillwater, and even went Rose rock hunting near Lake Stanley Draper.

To help kick summer into high gear, we‘ve asked several community leaders to partner with us for a VIP Summer Sweepstakes package. In order to celebrate summer, we are giving away an Energy FC game night package complete with limo service and steak dinner at Mickey Mantle’s in Bricktown. Look for the online link throughout this summer issue to find out how to enter!

In this issue, we’ve got everything from ayurvedic summer skin tips (page 42) to recent research findings on why career firefighters are more than 40% more at risk for a widowmaker heart attack (page 18). Learn more about the marketing buzzwords that may be fooling you out of purchasing the healthiest groceries possible (page 16) and tips for parents sending kids off to college this year. The number one worry may not be what school they’re getting accepted to, but how to pay for four years of college.

If your kids aren’t off to college just yet, you might be interested in the many changes happening in the OKC Public Schools when the kids return this August. The new OKCPS superintendent Robert Neu and his staff are brining about some major changes for this struggling district (page 34).

Please be sure to join me and the OKC Health and Wellness Group, Ltd. board members July 17 at the 6100 N. May Avenue Barnes & Noble location for a book signing, interview and reading with Stan Hupfeld, former President and CEO of INTEGRIS Health. Stan has a unique view of healthcare after spending forty years in the business of managing several large hospitals. His book, Political Malpractice is a quick, unbiased read about what we could do to fix our broken healthcare system. Stan uses his daughter Kelly, on a shopping spree, as a recurring theme throughout the book for a realistic view of what happens when you go see a doctor.

Be well and have a great Summer!

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Features

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36

Features

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24 Professional Soccer in OKC: Meet Steven Perry of Energy FC 26 Cryo Performance Therapy 28 Migraine Pain Solutions special guest author Robert Unsell, M.D. 34 Meet the New Super: Neu

Community Corner

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10 Green Urban Spaces 18 Adrenaline Rush: Heart of A Fireman 30 One Step Closer to Olympic Dreams

22 42 20

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Living Well

Mind / Body Connection

12 Remember the Dirty Dozen

During Summer

20 Horsing Around At Sunset

14 Gatekeepers of the Belly Fat

22 Sooner State Adaptive Sports Association

featuring Colin Cutter

16 What’s In A Label

Recipes

17 Naturally Improve Metabolism

36 Chill Out This Summer

32 True Size & Shape Fitness:

Shoulders and Chest Routine

In Literature

42 Best Summer Skin Care Tips

from Canebrake Spa 44 Paying for College by FOCUS FCU

38 Deadly Choices

Destinations

40 Coolin’ Out in Clinton Thrive Oklahoma

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Community Corner

by Jessica Sanchez Take a tour around inner city OKC. If you look carefully you’ll notice an abundance of green spaces nestled within the bustling urban setting of the Downtown Metro area. It takes a real community effort to make these spaces available for public use. Land developers want to build and residents want to be able to run their dogs off leash. Compromise and collaboration have come together for a breath of fresh air and exciting new inner city attractions to come.

Will Rogers Park

One of the city’s oldest park properties, Will Rogers Park at Portland and NW 36, is a beautiful gem in central Oklahoma City. It’s a shining example of successful private and public partnerships. Oklahoma City Community Foundation, OKC Parks and OKC Beautiful have all collaborated on recent park renovations. The historic rose gardens are located on the northern aspect of Will Rogers Park. * Volunteering: The Will Rogers Gardens is pleased to have the ongoing support of countless volunteers who assist with plant maintenance, events and other special projects. Individuals and groups wishing to volunteer are welcome to call 297-1392 to find out what projects are available.

Midtown Dog Park and Gardens Part of the massive Core to Shore build out for downtown’s renaissance project includes open spaces for local residents and their pets. In order to elevate Oklahoma City to a toptier urban environment on a national scale, there has to be great outdoor access, within the urban setting.

Mickey Clagg, a Midtown land owner of over 600,000 square feet of unused space, has generously allowed for temporary use of land along Park Avenue for a dog park and organic community garden. Both sites can be relocated elsewhere as the area continues to grow. Clagg also has plans for a new bowling alley at Park Avenue just off Hudson, justly named, the Dust Bowl. Designs for the Dust Bowl include a roof-top German Beer Garden. Clagg’s Downtown Renaissance includes plans for the Plaza Court, Ambassador Hotel renovations, 20 additional residential units and 150 new apartments.

The Cage, is downtown’s free public basketball court located at

Reno and Hudson. It offers friendly pick up games, one-on-one and 10

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perhaps the occasional NBA player visit during the day. While on Sunday nights, beginning August 18, OKC’s downtown basketball league starts the Cage series contests. Avery Stevenson brought the Red Bull King of the Rock Cage tournaments to OKC last year and plans to run them again this year, August through September. The Cage offers a high quality $20,000 temporary use basketball court open for use 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

For more information, to join a team, or for sponsorship opportunities, visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/thecageokc, follow us on Twitter, @thecageokc or contact Avery Stevenson Jr. at astevenson1212@yahoo.com or 405-698CAGE.

The H & 8th street festival

is quickly becoming known as the largest food truck festival in America. Thousands of locals turn out on the last Friday of the month for this block party. This festival is quickly expanding beyond the H & 8th block area! Big Truck Tacos, Moto Chef and more and cooking up fab food stuffs for this event.

Hunter Wheat, CEO of OKCentric, LLC has plans for Bleu Garten, to become a permanent food truck park space at NW 10th Street and Harvey. The Bleu Garten community corner will offer sunrise yoga, spin classes and other wellness activities. There will be covered seating and a fire pit for game-day entertainment with anywhere from 2-6 local food trucks on site at any given time.

Downtown Trails Increased walk-ability throughout the Metro has been a major area of emphasis with the help of MAPS. These collective projects will help elevate Oklahoma City to one of the top spots for “Best Cities” in America once everything is completed.

The Sky Bridge connects pedestrian traffic to 40 acres on the north and 30 acres to the south of I40. Development of the Manuel Perez Memorial Promenade walkway along SW 14th and Harvey, not only encourages foot traffic, but the bike lanes offer cyclists a slight change of pace. This area is just north of the Oklahoma River and when complete will be near wetland gardens and multi-use areas.

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Living Well

by Paul Fairchild Fortunately, Oklahomans enjoy plenty of access to pesticide-free produce. The Oklahoma Food Co-op, located at Oklahoma City’s Farmer’s Market, offers healthy, organic alternatives to the chemically saturated fruit and vegetables found in grocery stores.

“The Oklahoma Co-op’s mission is to help grow a local food system that’s based on transparency, community and relationships.

We provide tasty, nutritious foods that are safe to eat,” says its president, Bob Waldrop.

If it were published instead of downloaded, Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) annual Shopper’s Guide to Pesticide In Produce would be a top ten New York Times Bestseller. It sees millions of downloads every year and this year is no different. People, it turns out, really do want to know what’s in their food. The guide’s lists -- the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen -- help shoppers steer clear of pesticides in the produce aisle.

“When given a choice, more consumers are choosing organic fruits and vegetables or using EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to find an easy affordable way to avoid toxic chemicals,” said EWG Senior Analyst Sonya Lunder. “They want to eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables without eating too many pesticides. And they want to support local farms and agriculture that is better for the environment.”

Apples once again landed the top spot

in the Dirty Dozen -- the 15 produce items with the most pesticide residue when they hit grocery stores. Pesticides -sometimes as many as 15 different ones -- were found on 99 percent of tested apples.

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This is the ninth year running that the nonprofit advocacy group has taken a good, hard look at 48 common fruits and vegetables. EWG doesn’t conduct the tests itself. It collates data gathered from over 68,000 samples tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. And it’s gotten pretty good at it.

Cherry Tomatoes also made

the Dirty Dozen this year. But plenty of Oklahoman farmers grow tomatoes and their wares are available at the local co-ops. The average tomato is doused with imidacloprin, a neurotoxin that, while not fatal, causes dizziness, apathy and hampers motor skills.

The Journal of Food Engineering (yes, there is such a thing) published a report last year demonstrating the removal of pesticides from cherry tomatoes.

But that kind of requires a lab – plus a lot of time and effort.

It’s far easier to hit the Farmers’ Market.

Cucumber

Another vegetable swimming in pesticides is the Cucumber: A significant number of store-bought cucumbers are grown in cocktails of o-Phenylphenol, methamidophos and oxamyl. Again, not fatal and they usually show up in small amounts. But get enough of any of them and you’ll be in bed staring at the ceiling for a couple of days.

The other items in the Dirty Dozen, include celery, grapes, nectarines, peaches, snap peas, spinach, strawberries and sweet bell peppers.

Pesticides show up so regularly on vegetables and fruits these days that smart chefs are cooking and serving organic.

Diners can count on several restaurants in Oklahoma City to serve fresh, locally grown, organic fruits and vegetables.

Two items tested so poorly that EWG left them out of the Dirty Dozen. All produce in the Dirty Dozen is consumable -- it’s just safer if it’s organic. Summer squashes and leafy

greens, however, fared so badly that they might as well be federally labeled “Damn Unsafe.”

Both regularly showed high loads of organophosphates and organochlorines. Even in low doses, these chemicals have been linked to reduced brain development in children, cancer, neurological disease such as Parkinson’s, birth defects, respiratory illness and weakened immune systems.

The most important thing consumers can do to protect themselves from pesticides is simple: thoroughly wash fruit and vegetables before eating them.

If shoppers can’t find or afford organic produce, they should take their chances with pesticides. Avoiding them is less important than a regular, balanced intake of fruits and vegetables. But finding organic produce shouldn’t be too hard for residents of Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Whole Foods Market, now with three locations, offers a spectacular selection of organic fruits and vegetables, non-GMO and some locally sourced as well. Sprout’s Farmers Market, with four locations, has a wide variety of organic fruits and veggies and offers double savings if you shop on Wednesdays. Akin’s Natural Food Market, with five Oklahoma stores has a comparably smaller produce selection and skews a bit pricier. For more options, see ThriveOKWellness.com for markets serving organic foods near you.

“The health benefits of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables outweigh the risks of pesticide exposure,” the EWG writes in the Shopper’s Guide. The guide can help you reduce exposure as much as possible -- especially if you pick produce from the supplementary Clean 15, “but eating conventionally-grown produce is far better than not eating fruits and vegetables at all.”

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Living Well

by Michael Briscoe, DC Why do you want to lose weight? Is it because you want to feel better or have more energy? Maybe it’s because you’re tired of how you look in the mirror. All of these are good reasons, but a very common answer to this question is, “I want to lose weight so I can be healthy.”

The idea of losing weight to get healthy is putting the proverbial cart before the horse. We must get healthy first in order to give our bodies the ability to lose the unwanted weight. To fully comprehend this statement we must first understand the purpose of fat, which goes well beyond a means of just keeping us warm.

Fat or adipose tissue as it is technically called, is an accumulation of cells (adipocytes), which are glandular in nature. Ultimately, this vital tissue produces and responds to hormone signals. Adipose tissue is an endocrine organ, which has a specialized function in storing energy for survival purposes.

For example, if a person is exercising more than their adrenal glands can tolerate and other syndromes exist like leaky gut or flora imbalances, immune system stressors, inflammation, blood sugar imbalances and poor sleep habits among other things, coupled with accumulated toxins in the body - then overall health is going to be on a downward spiral.

As overall health declines, the body perceives that mere survival is threatened. For many people, the more their survival is threatened the more their bodies tend to hold on to fat to ensure survival. Whether it’s 15 pounds or 350 pounds of excess fat, the body tries to insulate itself from threats.

The accumulation of fat and the inability to lose weight is merely a symptom. Weight loss tends to be the focus with many popular 14

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programs. Alternately, the focus needs to shift toward correcting the underlying health issues, which ultimately brings the person into a healthy state prior to weight-loss.

This is the reason why the antiquated formula for losing weight by decreasing caloric intake while increasing caloric output doesn’t always work.

Look around your gym - there are bound to be frustrated people working hard and being dedicated, but they still aren’t getting the desired results.

It’s not about burning calories as much as it’s about supporting proper body chemistry and physiology to support burning fat.

If a person struggles to lose weight it’s because their body is stuck in a fat storing mode instead of thriving in a fat burning mode. What determines which mode you’re in? Hormones are the gatekeepers.

Here are a few examples of how hormones influence fat storage: Leptin is known as the “satiety hormone” and is produced by

fat cells in direct proportion to the amount of fat a person has.

Leptin levels increase as a person’s body fat increases. It helps regulate our metabolism and is responsible for telling our brain we’re full.

At healthy levels it is a friendly signal that triggers fat burning.

But when levels are chronically high a person develops leptin resistance and this hormone becomes our enemy. When this occurs leptin has the opposite effect on the body. It causes fat storage and doesn’t trigger satiety.

Ghrelin is produced in the stomach and is considered the “hun-

ger hormone”. When the stomach is empty, ghrelin is secreted to stimulate the appetite. Like leptin, ghrelin can become a “Gremlin”.

Like leptin, fat cells affect production and is in direct proportion to the amount of body fat present. High levels of ghrelin cause hunger pangs, which can lead to more food cravings and more fat storage.

Adiponectin is also secreted from fat cells. This hormone helps

regulate glucose levels and fatty acid breakdown. Opposite to leptin and ghrelin, adiponectin is produced inversely to the amount of body fat stored. Levels decrease as a person’s body fat increases. A low level of adiponectin decreases the body’s ability to burn fat and increases the risk of insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome. If left uncorrected over time, the infamous midsection weight gain or beerbelly develops and Type II diabetes ensues.

Other fat storing hormones which influence fat storage over fat burning are insulin, cortisol, and estrogen. Hormones that trigger fat burning include testosterone, growth hormone, epinephrine, glucagon, thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), and insulin-like growth factor (IGF).

The key is to get our fat burning hormones to be more influential.

This is done by increasing lean muscle mass and decreasing fat storage over time. Depending on which mode your body is in determines which hormones will be more influential. The lifestyle choices we make play a big role in determining which hormones dominate. Do you want the ones that naturally trigger fat burning or fat storage?

With this information, you can finally tell yourself, I don’t want to lose weight to be healthy - I want to get healthy first and be in balance, so I can finally lose the weight!

Doctor Briscoe’s primary focus is addressing the root cause of the patient’s problem and treating the person, not just the condition, by using Chiropractic techniques combined with diet, herbal and nutritional supplements, detoxification, myofascial release techniques, kinesiology muscle testing based on the patient’s unique case history and lab test results.

He takes to heart the true meaning of the word doctor, which is teacher and he loves creating awareness and inspiring others to become the greatest version of themselves. Dr. Briscoe strives to fulfill what he feels he has been called to do by Christ which is, “Heal my nation”. .

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Living Well

Reading food labels is second nature for health-conscious grocery shoppers.

But sometimes the labels aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.

“Whole Wheat” is fairly obvious, for instance, but what shoppers might be surprised to find out is what “AllNatural,” “Fat-Free,” or “Organic” mean. Sometimes, it’s not what shoppers think. In some cases, those labels can be downright misleading.

All-Natural Many foods labeled “all-natural” are anything but. The FDA won’t call a producer out for using this label as long as the product contains no artificial flavors, added colors or synthetic substances.

That’s fine as far as it goes, but look closely at the rest of the label because the “all-natural” food you’re holding might contain “natural” flavors produced in a lab, too much sugar, chemical additives and preservatives.

Some chemicals in these “all-natural” products have been linked to weakened immune systems, liver problems, arthritis and--wait for it--excessive facial hair. And also cancer.

Gluten-Free Like “Whole Wheat,” this label accurately describes the contents. Gluten-free foods are becoming more widely available. “Gluten-free” logos are showing up on everything from cereals boxes and yogurt containers to salad dressing bottles and more. The gluten-free food industry netted $6.3 billion in 2011.

Gluten causes inflammation in the body and can block absorption of essential nutrients. However, watch out for excessive sugar and preservatives in gluten-free products.

They can also cause inflammation in the body.

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Low-Fat & Fat-Free These may be the most misleading labels of all. Healthy eaters should be suspicious of these labels. These foods are often highly processed and full of sugar. Eating “low-fat” foods won’t give anybody a low-fat body. Steering clear of these foods can make for better sleep and skin improvements. And that’s just for starters. Healthy fats are essential--and they’re not found in significant quantities in “low-fat” or “fat-free” items. The following foods are ridiculously healthy but, according to the FDA, can’t carry “low-fat” or “fat-free” labels: avocados, olive oil, coconut oil, ghee and red palm fruit oil. The healthy fats in these foods stabilize blood sugar levels, support brain health and keep us satiated and energized.

Organic Ditching synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes (GMOs) and toxic fertilizers sounds pretty good, but many products carrying the “organic” label could contain unhealthy ingredients. Your favorite organic cereal might contain refined organic white flour and tons of sugar.

Consumer advocates continue to push for clear, unambiguous, honest labels from the major food companies. The lack of transparency in labeling isn’t supported by existing laws. Your best bet: look past the health claims on the front of the package and look hard at the ingredients on the back.

by Kate Collins, MA, RD/LD In the last issue of ThriveOK, we demonstrated ways to increase metabolism in five easy tips. This time we are digging deeper and it’s prudent at this point to list what NOT to do. As mentioned before, there are non-modifiable factors that affect metabolism: Your age and gender. However; there are many modifiable lifestyle choices that will either increase or slow your natural metabolic rate. Here are three key tips.

1. Don’t starve yourself.

The proverbial “1200 calories a day to lose weight” doesn’t work for everyone.

If you eat too few calories, your body perceives it’s in starvation mode and will store fat. In fact, lowering daily caloric in-take beyond your minimum levels will SLOW down your metabolism. There are very few healthy people who can maintain a very low calorie diet. Instead, try to focus on a sensible eating plan.

Achieve balance by eating the suggested servings of fruits and vegetables each day and consuming 20-30g of protein daily may prove to be the most effective way to increase your metabolism.

2. Say no to dieting fads.

Although most of us can spot a fad diet, we keep on trying them.

Why? Because initially most people do lose weight. Unfortunately, studies show that individuals who lose weight on a fad diet typically gain back all the weight, and then some. How do you know the diet you’ve heard of is a fad?

Fad diets often possess the following characteristics: • Promise a quick fix; guarantee results (30 days or your money back!)

• Claim weight loss possible without exercise or by eating as much as you like of certain foods • Eliminate entire food groups (e.g. no carbs)

• Provide lists of “good” and “bad” foods (grapefruit and cabbage anyone?)

vegetables. Processed foods tend to be high in calories and fat with factory additives that serve zero benefit.

Examples of processed foods are: • Meals that are available in a drive-through

• Items that must be microwaved before eating

• Food not in its natural form (for example potato chips and french fries are not actually potatoes) We are missing out on vital nutrients like vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidants! While, fruits and vegetables are low in calories, protein and fat, they have a wealth of important nutrients our bodies need. Below is a list of unprocessed foods that are a great addition to any eating plan. These are high in fiber, vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K, fatty acids, folate and many other phytonutrients. These foods provide more immune boosters, cancer fighters, and anti-inflammatory properties than any food out of a factory box.

• Broccoli, Kale, Beets, Carrots, Peppers, Cabbage, Spinach, Tomatoes • Blueberries, Bananas, Oranges, Strawberries, Mangoes • Barley, Legumes, Nuts and Seeds

• Seafood like Salmon, Tuna, Mackerel and Halibut • Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) • Garlic, Onions, Mushrooms

And the list goes on. Try to follow a healthy eating plan.

Eat regularly, ditch fad diets and increase the amount of raw natural foods. These choices can help increase metabolism, while decreasing your risk for many preventable diseases.

• Require or recommend purchase of “special” food products

• Require purchase of diet supplements or medicine that may be dangerous or worthless (think phen-phen and hormone injections!).

3. Eat more raw natural foods This is not a push for another fad “raw” diet. This is a push for less processed foods! As mentioned before in last month’s issue of ThriveOK Health, Americans are not eating enough fruits and Thrive Oklahoma

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Community Corner

Adrenaline RUSH: Heart of A

by Brooke Cayot

Fighting fire is a dangerous job and it’s not just the smoke and flames that make it deadly.

Stress coupled with heart disease is the leading cause of on-duty fatalities among our nation’s firefighters. Nearly half (43.7 percent) of all firefighters who die on the job experience sudden cardiac death.

Those national statistics hold true here in Oklahoma as well.

But there’s a pilot heart study designed, initiated and funded

by INTEGRIS Heart Hospital to help save firefighter lives. In conjunction with the Oklahoma Council on Firefighter Training, INTEGRIS Heart Hospital is tasked with investigating this alarming trend. George Chrysant, M.D., chief scientific officer and principal investigator on this study says, “The adrenaline rush these guys get when they’re sound asleep at the station and receive an emergency call at 2:30 in the morning can be very damaging.”

This original, award-winning research study was developed to further evaluate an efficient way to screen firefighters for cardiovascular disease. The study screened 100 firefighters from 20 different Oklahoma communities. Ninety-five of the participants were male, five were female. Eighty-seven were career firefighters, while 13 were with volunteer fire departments. All of the participants were at least 40 years old.

As part of the screening process, all participants received a calcium score on a 320-slice CT machine, as shown on page 19. Their calcium score determines the level of calcification, or hard plaque, within the cardiac arteries. Participants who showed any calcification from the CT scan immediately received a coronary computed tomography angiogram. This procedure detects soft plaques within the heart arteries. The total time for both studies was less than 30 minutes with immediate results on the calcium score, and angiogram results within 48 hours.

When asked about the patient outcomes, “Recommendations for next steps were provided to each firefighter based on their individual results. We ended up with five heart catheterizations performed, one stent placed, one person with quadruple bypass surgery and one person with a pacemaker,” says Dr. Chrysant.. “Many of the participants were placed on medical management with recommended lifestyle modifications to aid in prevention of disease,” added Dr. Chrysant.

Thirty-day, six month and one-year follow-up visits were scheduled to monitor status. At the conclusion of the study, all participants except one had shown marked improvement.

That patient suffered a heart attack 15 months after the initial screening.

Rex McGee and Ronnie Fielder have both been career firefighters with the Midwest City Fire Department. They admit, the meals served family-style at the fire house are nowhere near healthy. Red meat, gravy and heavy sauces were the common fare.

“I felt fine and thought I was in great shape,” says Ronnie Fielder with the Midwest City Fire Department. “Dr.

Fireman Chrysant suggested that I undergo a stress test and I had every intention of doing so; I just should have done it right away. I wish I had heeded the warning.” Fielder survived what is known as “the widow maker” heart attack caused by a complete blockage of his left anterior descending artery.

The blockage was in the exact location indicated by the angiogram. Fielder feels as if he was given a second chance.

Rex McGee, also from the Midwest City Fire Department, had a 100 percent blockage in his right coronary artery and a 90 percent blockage in his left anterior coronary artery, in addition to two other areas of concern. He underwent quadruple bypass surgery and was released from the hospital after three short days.

Ronnie Fielder and Rex McGee pose in front of the CT machine at INTEGRIS Health feeling happy to be alive.

McGee credits the study for saving his life. “Had I not participated in the study, I would never have known I had a problem and would have been working that next week in a triple fatality apartment fire. I am certain the stress of that event would have killed me, and I would have become another Firefighter Sudden Cardiac Death statistic.”

The pilot program has helped raise greater awareness about the risks of cardiac events among firefighters. “The hope is that the effort will be on-going and such screenings will eventually be available to every firefighter in the state,” says Dr. Chrysant. “The ultimate goal would be to extend the model nationwide, so that it could benefit firefighters across the country as well.”

National access could very well one day become a reality.

The Congressional Fire Services Institute and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation recently presented INTEGRIS Heart Hospital and the Oklahoma Council on Firefighter Training with the 2014 Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Fire Service Safety Leadership Award. Named after retiredSenator Paul S. Sarbanes of Maryland, a strong advocate for our nation’s fire and emergency service personnel during his 36-year career in Congress, the award recognizes organizations for their outstanding contributions to firefighter health and safety.

The award was presented at the 26th annual National Fire and Emergency Services dinner held this past spring, in Washington, D.C.

Rex McGee receives a heart scan in a Toshiba Aquilion ONE 320-slice CT machine at INTEGRIS Baptist Hospital]

INTEGRIS Health is Oklahoma’s largest health system with hospitals, rehabilitation centers, physician clinics, mental health facilities, independent living centers and home health agencies located throughout much of the state. For more information, visit www.integrisok.com or http://www.fireengineering.com/topics/awards.htm

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Mind | Body Connection

by Paul Fairchild

Horsing Around Raven, Tank, Blondie, Choice and Sugar weren’t interviewed for their unusual positions as therapists, but they did train for the job. They aren’t paid, but they do receive free room and board in exchange for highly specialized services. If they filed taxes, their employer would be listed as Sunset Therapeutic Riding Center.

These horses enjoy their work: making the lives of developmentally and cognitively disabled children better. They report to Beth Taylor, Sunset’s administrative director.

The question: what is it about putting these kids on horses that helps them overcome obstacles imposed on them by genetics or misfortune?

Taylor is full of answers to that question. And that’s a good thing, a solid prerequisite for the administrative director of a therapeutic riding program. As she rattles off answers and explanations, it becomes clear that she’s invested a lot of thought in the topic and by extension, Sunset’s mission.

“It’s not just the horse riding that helps. It’s the connection formed between the rider and horse. From a therapeutic standpoint, there are a lot of things that a child will do on a horse or for a horse or to a horse that you can’t get from them in a typical therapeutic setting. Take speech therapy. They can sit at a table and repeat sounds over and over again or give the horse a command. They are a lot more willing to do that. It’s fun.

It’s engaging. You get a lot more from them that way,” says Taylor.

Tucked into the scenic prairie landscape of Yukon’s Burris Ranch, the center’s sparse facilities seem an unlikely headquarters for a program that gives so much to so many kids. And the rustic atmosphere fights a bit with the center’s forward-thinking mission. Sunset’s just now approaching the end of its fourth year in operation and with 157 clients – up from last year’s 43 – it has maxed out its capacity. Taylor’s actively searching for more land, along with the funds to develop it.

Sunset’s clientele suffers from a wide variety of disabilities: cerebral palsy, Spina Bifuda, Downs’ Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy, ADHD, Autism Spectrum disorders and others.

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Regardless of disabilities, the riders repeatedly demonstrate that they all know how to smile.

Wayne Jackson was born with hydrops fetalis and a sensory processing disorder. At birth doctors gave him less than a ten percent chance of living only a few hours, let alone months and years. He might survive, they thought, but he won’t develop.

Wayne proved them wrong.

With a sensory processing disorder, noise at any level can be deafening. At a year and a half, Wayne wasn’t talking. For him, everyday noise was sensory overload.

He was unable to develop language skills.

“He started in January at Sunset and he’s really taken off. Now he’s speaking in sentences. He’s identifying animals, colors, counting to fifteen. It’s incredible,” says his mother, Laura.

There are physical benefits, as well, not to mention the sheer joy of being outside, moving around and interacting with a horse.

“The gait of a horse is as close as you can get to simulating human walking.

For children with physical disabilities, when they’re riding, they’re getting the sensation and feeling of walking. Imagine what that’s like for a child who’s in a wheelchair,” says Taylor.

Horseback riding requires strength and balance, two qualities especially dear to physically disabled children. Improved

At Sunset strength and balance for these children leads to a sense of security, comfort and ease that allows them to focus on, and enjoy, overcoming challenges.

“The movement of the horse is magic to some of these kids. They gain so much therapeutically on the physical side of it. It’s different from being in physical therapy where you have to isolate movements individually to get those kinds of benefits,” says Taylor.

Taylor and her staff develop lesson plans and activities targeted specifically to each child’s therapeutic needs.

Focused activities allow riders to work on multiple goals at once.

Horse therapy is safe, even for the least experienced riders. Back riders that join kids in the saddle, provide extra support and balance for newbies. Side walkers and a horse handler accompany each rider as they move toward independent riding. Specially made saddles and other equipment are available to help riders with that transition.

“We go from a child who may need a back rider, to working kids into the adaptive saddle, to children like Cora, my daughter, who has progressed to being able to ride independently. We don’t ever set limits on what they can achieve,” says Taylor.

Sunset also serves at-risk kids. It partners with Yukon Public Schools, which enrolls students from its alternative education classes. Like other riders, they work through an educational curriculum that incorporates everything from nutrition and life sciences to time management and equine-related job skills.

At-risk kids may be the ones who need the most help. They’re primarily students who have been unsuccessful in traditional school settings. They’re the students most likely to drop out before graduating from high school. continued on page 31

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Saturday, September 13

Boathouse District Register at www.hoofnitrun.com Thrive Oklahoma

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Mind | Body Connection

Sooner State Adaptive Sports Association:

by Lindsay Whelchel It was years ago at the National Junior Disability Championships in Albuquerque. Dana Cutter and her son Colin, age six or seven at the time, were making their way toward the track where Colin, who is in a wheelchair, would compete. They got to the top of a hill, and when they looked down upon the track they saw that the crowd that gathered below consisted of approximately 150 other kids, all in wheelchairs.

Suddenly, Colin felt at home.

“He just got this look on his face like, ‘well there everybody is,” Dana Cutter says of her son’s reaction. “It was just this whole world that it was like ‘this is where I’m supposed to be, this is where I fit.”

And it is this feeling Colin had of fellowship and inclusion that has inspired Cutter to help organize a new non-profit organization in Oklahoma City, Sooner State Adaptive Sports, which seeks to facilitate and promote healthy lifestyles through recreational or competitive sports for young people with physical limitations.

Colin was born in Africa 22 years ago while his parents were living in Zimbabwe. Things became frightening for Cutter when she realized something was wrong.

Colin had Spina Bifida, meaning he was born with a hole in his spinal column.

“It was kind of scary, because they didn’t have a lot of information to tell us what was happening, but we managed to get him back to the United States and got him taken care of, and he has just been nothing but a blessing in our lives,” Cutter says and adds, “he’s crazy independent, and he started doing wheelchair sports when he was 4 years old.”

Colin used his independence and drive to master many different sports. He is a three-time member of Junior Team U.S.A., has competed nationally and internationally and is a gold medal winner; winning in the Czech Republic for javelin.

“It’s not a world you ever thought you’d be a part of. It kind of slaps you in the face, and then you reel there for a little while, and then you figure out what’s going on, and you work the problem- if you want to call it a problem, and it’s just been a real blessing,” Cutter says of being a part of Colin’s perseverance and athletic adventures.

“We’ve met people and gone and done things you never thought he would get to do.”

Colin became champion in many sports; from track, to swimming, to table tennis.

He got a scholarship to play wheelchair basketball at the University of Missouri, is 22 years old now and taking a break from school to focus on making the Paralympic Team in field.

He throws three implements, the shot put, javelin and discus.

At the end of last year Cutter, as Vice President of the board, alongside others, began Sooner State Adaptive Sports Association.

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with Colin Cutter The organization is beginning with wheelchair basketball but hopes to expand opportunities for many events offered to encourage a healthy lifestyle and a team environment, Cutter explained. They will initially offer these for children and young adults in wheelchairs or with other physical limitations.

Their geographic area of focus will be the south metro and southern Oklahoma.

Already, athletes at the University of Oklahoma have stepped up to help and participate in the organization’s kick-off fundraiser, a banquet and silent auction held this spring.

Heisman trophy winner Jason White was in attendance alongside OU football players Trevor Knight, Ty Darlington and basketball player, Ryan Spangler, just to name a few. Cutter says they hope to have a second fundraiser involving the athletes in the fall.

The organization has also started hosting weekly basketball practices at the Yellow Rose Theater in Moore.

The word is spreading and attendance is growing, explains Neva Ford, President of the Board for the organization. The benefits are strong, Ford emphasizes.

“I honestly think it’s being able to socialize, the interaction with kids alike. We had some younger ones, then a couple middle ones, then some older kids, so it was neat,” Ford says of their recent practice night. “You could see the little kids looking up at the teenagers going ‘oh wow I can do this,’ and so I think it’s beneficial for the interaction and building the confidence of kids and promoting good health.”

There is one person who agrees with this sentiment, and that’s Colin Cutter.

Always the adventurous type, Colin explains that his drive led him to try many sports throughout his life, but at the same time, the sports helped build his character, as he had to overcome obstacles.

“I think it does a lot for a kid’s psyche, especially at a young age,” Colin says, citing people he has known also in wheelchairs who haven’t been able to be involved in sports. “You have somebody grow up in a wheelchair, and they don’t really have the same athletic or physical opportunities as someone else, or they don’t know those opportunities are even out there. They grow up, and sort of from my experience, tend to have a lot more of a chance of developing senses of self-pity or getting really wrapped up in their disability,” he says.

Sports have become such a large part of who Colin is as a person.

“I feel like sports create an outlet for people with disabilities to be able to not only show everybody else they can still do stuff but also show themselves. I think that’s one thing that most disabled athletes won’t admit is that they also kind of needed to show themselves.”

And Sooner State Adaptive Sports Association is making sure they can do just that.

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Feature

Professional Soccer in OKC with Steven Perry

by Paul Fairchild The story of professional soccer in America is a story of survival.

Over the decades, fans have watched teams and leagues come and go. Soccer seems always to be on the edge of a cliff in the U.S. But the owners of the Energy FC, Oklahoma City’s newest professional sports team, are banking that soccer is here to stay.

Players like Steven Perry, Energy FC’s star midfielder, are banking on it, too.

The key to success, of course, is fans. And the best fans play the sports they follow. Oklahoma City soccer lovers are packing Pribil Stadium for Energy FC’s home games. It’s a very good sign, one that makes Perry optimistic about the team’s ability to not just survive, but thrive.

“I think there’s a soccer culture here. There are so many youth soccer players, with more every year. It’d be hard to say there’s not a soccer culture here. I’d bet a lot of money that there are more youth soccer players in Oklahoma City than for any other sport,” said Perry.

Average MLS attendance in 2013 was 19,000 fans per game.

There’s no doubt that the upcoming World Cup will ignite an epidemic of soccer fever that will spill over into the MLS and the USL Pro, the Energy’s semi-pro league. The Energy sold out its season opener, with almost 4,000 fans packing Bishop McGuinness’ Pribil Stadium. Owner Bob Funk, Jr. thinks these are vital signs of an important trend.

“Oklahoma City is in a true period of renaissance right now.

We believe that soccer is an integral part of the sports community at large. As our city becomes more global, so do the citizen’s interests. Soccer follows that trend,” he said in a recent fan chat.

Like his team, Perry’s looking beyond mere survival for the opportunity to thrive. After playing for Notre Dame and getting drafted into the MLS by the New England Revolution in 2011, Perry’s soccer career was almost cut short by a difficult to diagnose injury: Compartment Syndrome.

The condition occurs in the lower leg with overuse or highimpact exertion. If the fascia – the skin of the muscle – is too tight, the swollen muscle cuts off blood flow to the foot. It’s a 24

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spectacularly painful condition. It’s certainly nothing a professional soccer player wants to learn about firsthand.

“What we’ve seen with most people is that the pain usually makes them stop. You’ll have some athletes, though, that don’t recognize the severity of the problem and try to train through it. If left unchecked, it can cause permanent damage to the muscle and that has longterm implications,” says McBride Orthopedic Hospital’s Dr. Matt Dumigan.

It’s usually distance runners that get up close and personal looks at compartment syndrome. It strikes out of the blue.

Fifteen or twenty minutes into a run or a workout, lower leg muscles swell and the pain gets intense. Because it’s not a well-known issue, athletes usually attribute the cramping and pain to other causes before they settle on compartment syndrome. Time, money and effort get spent on the wrong remedies while the problem grows.

Like others, Perry played through it until the pain became too much. Until seeing an orthopedic surgeon, Perry grabbed at causes ranging from playing in the heat to turf to a slow recovery from a recent bout with mononucleosis.

“The pain in my lower legs kept getting worse and worse.

It got to the point where it would only take 15 minutes for my feet to fall asleep during practice. I played through it.

But in a game against Orlando, I was subbed in at the 60th minute. Twenty minutes in, my feet were killing me. It was a lot of pain. I pushed through but after the game I just fell over and ripped my shoes off, trying to get the feeling back in my feet. That’s when I realized I was going to need

surgery to fix this,” said Perry.

It ended up being an uncomplicated procedure. The cuts were simple: from the skin to the fascia, and then a portion of the fascia itself. With the extra space created by dividing the fascia, the muscles had room to breathe and respond normally to a hard workout. The recovery time was shorter than Perry initially anticipated, only two months.

Perry has high expectations for his team, both on and off the field, but he’s got his eyes on the right ball.

“First off, we need to win games.

We need to win games and we need to put an entertaining product on the field,” he said.

It’s a good start and an appropriate goal from the player that set the Oklahoma record for goals scored during a single season while at Bishop McGuinness.

It’s also worthy of a team that wants to be the first step in bringing an MLS team to Oklahoma City.

Energy FC’s taking the path used by the Orlando City Soccer Club, a USL Pro team that will be joining the MLS as an expansion team in 2015. The conditions for moving up to the MLS include a stadium that can hold in excess of 20,000 fans. The Energy FC’s owners are looking at venues around town with an eye toward building a soccer-specific stadium that fits the bill.

Perry’s got his eye on the future, as well. With compartment syndrome out of the way, he’s looking to make it back to the

MLS. He wants fans to come along for the ride. Today, his focus is improvement of his game, not coming back from an injury.

“If you’re not improving, you’re going backwards. I’m always trying to improve my game. I’m playing in a position that I’ve never played in before. I’m looking for the right balance of attack and defense in the outside mid position,” he said.

That balance is important. With important offensive and defensive roles, midfielders see play on both sides of the field. Which means being on both sides of the field, a physically grueling demand even for athletes in the best shape. continued on page 27

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Feature

by Lindsay Whelchel Yours truly is abnormally averse to the cold, so when I find myself in a giant tubular compartment about to be blasted with sub-zero temperatures, naturally, I’m a little nervous.

I’m also curious. This new (to the U.S. anyway) whole-body therapy option is called Cryotherapy. It involves a cryosauna that blasts freezing temperatures at your body for two to three minutes in an effort to provide pain management, metabolic boosts and other health benefits.

The process itself actually sounds worse than it is, come to find out. Indeed, I was cold, but the time passed quickly and I came out of the machine with a burst of energy flooding back into my body.

That’s the first expected reaction, according to David Shimanek, of Cryo Performance Therapy located in Norman.

“I was exposed to this a lot in the Dallas Fort Worth area, because that’s kind of ground zero for North America for this type of session,” Shimanek says of the therapy that has become associated with sports medicine here in the U.S. but was invented in 1978 by a rheumatologist in Japan.

Since then the methods have evolved and become popular in Europe, especially Germany, before crossing the pond, Shimanek says.

“Here in the U.S. who made this famous are athletes. NBA players are the fastest adopters of this for the recovery aspect. Runners will use it pre-performance for a boost,” he says.

The Norman location, with CEO, Dr. Gary Ratliff, aims to expand that client base for anyone needing pain management or who has other health issues.

“Everyday people tell us before they walk out that door, ‘I feel better.’ We had a lady who had hip surgery come in on crutches, and she came walking out of that room holding her crutches, and she said ‘am I supposed to feel this good,’ and I said ‘yeah but get back on your crutches,” Shimanek laughs.

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The process is described as the cold affecting the body in a variety of ways.

“The cold stimulates the brain to go into a protective mode.

That’s when you get the vascular restriction to pull the blood to the core to protect the body. As that happens the blood circulates through all of your internal organs. It becomes rich in nutrients, enzymes and of course oxygen. It also will remove lactic acid out of sore muscles,” Shimanek explains. Your metabolism is boosted, and then there’s the endorphin rush. “As you step out the temperature change with your skin and the nervous system releases that blood back, you have that rejuvenating feeling, because you have all that rich fresh blood flowing, as well as the endorphins,” he says, as he assures this method is much more comfortable than traditional ice baths that athletes used.

“A lot of people are familiar with their foot in a bucket of ice, but being dry, it’s much more comfortable, plus we’re treating the whole body so it’s a lot more effective.”

Shimanek is also quick to explain the efforts of cryotherapy aren’t meant to replace physical therapy or other medical practices. “We augment what a physical therapist or chiropractors do, we don’t replace what they do,” he says.

And don’t worry if you go in for a treatment, they give you socks and gloves.

Professional Soccer in OKC with Steven Perry Continued from page 25

For Perry, staying in shape starts with nutrition. He burns a lot of calories on the field, but he watches his diet to make sure he’s burning the right calories. He eats a lot of carbs and protein and makes sure he gets enough “good fats.”

His only indulgence, he says, is the occasional bowl of ice cream.

“I make sure I stay hydrated. I have smoothies. If my nutrition’s right, then I don’t have to worry about anything but my performance. If my nutrition’s wrong, I know my performance is going to suffer,” said Perry.

During the season, the team practices everyday except days after games. That gives Perry and his team most of the workouts they need. But he and his teammates do hit the gym a couple of times a week. They’re not maxing out during those workouts. The objective is to keep muscles strong and activated, particularly during gaps in games and practice. If his lungs need a workout, Perry goes for a run.

“I think the true soccer culture comes from people my age and younger. That’s where soccer really started to grow. We were really into the last couple of World Cups. It was the twenty- and thirty-somethings that saw soccer as an exciting game to play and watch. I think in twenty years, there’s going to be soccer culture everywhere in Oklahoma. I think it’s going to be everywhere in America,” said Perry.

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Feature

by Robert Unsell, MD It’s estimated that there are 50 million Americans who suffer from episodic and chronic migraine and cluster headaches. This leads to 150 million workdays lost every year, costing America over $10 Billon in direct costs, annually. On top of that, atypical facial pain, pain from failed dental procedures, and trigeminal neuralgia result in untold additional suffering nationally and worldwide.

Sadly, treatment options for migraine patients have not kept pace with treatment advancements in other areas of medicine.

Conventional pain management strategies are largely ineffective and contraindicated to a significant number of sufferers.

The leading prescription drugs may only provide marginal relief with significant costs and/or side effects, which can adversely impact quality of life. Many patients I see tell me that either the medicine doesn’t work, it makes them feel weird, or they can’t get enough of it.

Medical science has attempted to reset the chaotic signal impulses conducted through the Sphenopalatine Ganglion (SPG) for over 100 years. SPG/V2 neuralgia has been linked to painful conditions such as episodic and chronic migraine, trigeminal neuralgia, upper plate dental pain and atypical facial neuropathies.

There is now a new effective way to “reboot” the Sphenopalatine Circuit. It’s a relatively simple, painless, and quick procedure.

When the Sphenopalatine Circuit is treated with a common local anesthetic, like a 2% Lidocaine solution, normal autonomic function is restored. The procedure allows for emersion of the nasal ganglion and the maxillary branches

of the V2 or trigeminal ganglia, providing central desensitization of hyperactive pain pathways.

This simple new device, called a SphenoCath, is a specially designed tube-like device that allows doctors to deliver a local anesthetic directly to the SPG/V2 nerve areas.

There have been several thousands of patients treated using this technique.

The success rate with SphenoCath is 98 percent. Success means complete relief of the migraine-type symptoms. This treatment does not eliminate the underlying cause of the pain, but it does eliminate the symptoms for about two months.

With repeat treatments the duration may increase to an average of about four months.

This is a simple safe procedure that can be performed without sedation in the office. (see figure above) Once the patient is in the office, a complete history and exam are performed. If it’s determined that the symptoms are mediated by the SPG pathway, then the procedure may be offered with a detailed explanation of how it’s done and why it works so well.

There are two ways this procedure can be done. Most preferable is the tactile method done in the office and doesn’t require x-ray guidance. The other method of delivery is by using an X-ray guided technique for catheter placement. This method is reserved for patients who don’t get complete pain relief with continued on page 45

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Community Corner

by Sherry Burnett According to Michelle Sechser, hard work really does pay off. It was Sechser’s hard work in the sport of rowing that brought the Folsom, California native to Oklahoma a decade ago, and why she continues to make her home here in pursuit of her Olympic dreams.

“I started rowing as a high school freshman to keep up the sibling rivalry I had with my sister who took up the sport two years earlier,” said Sechser, who had never played a team sport or pursued athletics of any kind prior to joining crew.

“The more I watched my sister become increasingly successful, the more anxious I was to try my hand at the sport. I started rowing as a high school freshman. I put my head down and worked hard every chance I had and by senior year was selected for a junior national team camp and offered a full-tuition scholarship at a Division I rowing program at the University of Tulsa.”

Labor Omnia Vincit Sechser finds it fitting that the state motto, labor omnia vincit or labor conquers all, ties in so closely with her own work ethic.

“I was not blessed with a tall frame of the long, muscular limbs of most athletes, but I was raised with the indomitable will to work hard,” said Sechser who stands 5’6” tall and weighs in at a lean 127 lbs.

“Because of my rowing success in high school, I was able to attend TU on a full-tuition scholarship. That led to a Graduate Assistant coaching position with the TU team while completing my MBA. Once I began training full time at the OKC National High Performance Center, I earned spots to train and compete in Italy, Korea, Bulgaria, and Mexico. And this summer I’ll be racing in France and the Netherlands. Rowing has taken me all over the world.”

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Chasing the dream Sechser admits her goal of being part of the fastest lightweight double rowing boat in the world, the only Olympic event for her weight class, is “both terrifying and exhilarating.”

“I always keep my goal close to my heart, and it keeps me working hard through the 30 hours a week we train. I focus on the small improvements; they keep me craving more and more,” she said.

Now that Sechser and her boat mate Devery Karz have earned a spot to compete for team USA, they’ll aim their focus on the 2016 Games in Rio. Michelle Secher, racing at the 2013 World Rowing Championships in Chungju, South Korea, has her sites set on competing at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo by USRowing.

“Rowing requires an incredible combination of team work and focusing on self-improvement. It has taught me so much about myself. It also turned me into an incredible athlete. And, it’s inspired me to pursue a collegiate athletic director position when I retire from the sport. I’m very grateful to the OKC Boathouse Foundation and the other sponsors who support our program and make it possible for me to be here,” says Sechser.

While Sechser knows not everyone aspires to be a competitive rower, she believes the secret to her success can be applied by anyone to any situation.

“It may take some time but the hard work you put in will reap huge rewards. Keeping a positive attitude and recognizing the small improvements along the way will keep your momentum going.”

Sechser knows first-hand what a challenge it can be at the beginning of any undertaking, when during her first rowing practice in high school she couldn’t complete the one-mile warm-up run.

“What if I had quit rowing freshman year in high school because the one-mile warm up run was too hard? I know I can never, never, never give up on my dream.”

Learn more about the sport of rowing and opportunities to get involved at boathousedistrict.org.

Horse Therapy

Continued from page 21 “I think this organization is absolutely amazing. You can see their hearts in what they’re doing. They work so hard and they’re so caring and loving with these kids. I’m really proud to be a part of it,” says Laura.

Beth is Sunset TRC’s Administrative Director.

She has a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology, holds her certification as an Early Intervention Specialist and is a sign language interpreter. She has 15 years of experience working with children with special needs in Tishomingo, Piedmont, Edmond, Moore and Oklahoma City. Beth serves as a Board member for Aspiring Attitudes, an organization which provides individualized dance programs for children with visual and/or physical impairments. Beth’s husband, Kevin, is a Physical Therapist and serves as a volunteer at Sunset TRC. They have four children together.

They have been part of Sunset TRC since its inception, along with their daughter Cora Beth who attends and benefits from Sunset TRC’s classes.

This year, Sunset TRC is a beneficiary of Mark Harmon’s popular Celebrity Weekend. The benefit, hosted on the weekend of June 27th, features Celebrity Bowling Night at Shawnee’s Fire Lake Bowling Center and the annual celebrity baseball game on Saturday at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City.

The center’s annual Hoof’n It 10K, a sanctioned race, takes place at Oklahoma City’s Boathouse District on September 13. Registration is available at www.hoofnitrun.com.

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Living Well

by Bailey and Jeremy Minihan, owners of Size&Shape Fitness

Candace Harrison

The importance of training chest and shoulders for men is undeniable. They are the first two things we notice when looking at a man, whether we are aware of it or not. A strong chest and shapely set of shoulders imply strength and accentuate an individuals masculinity.

As for the ladies, the reasoning may be different, but the importance remains the same. Women need to have chest and shoulder strength for several reasons, both functional and health related.

Women with poor upper body strength will have decreased ability to function without injury, especially when lifting objects. One great example is the ability to place luggage in the overhead bins on an airplane, or simply the ability to lift and hold your child in your arms.

The aesthetics of having strength and shapeliness often translates into more confidence and a better self-image. It also enhances the overall hourglass silhouette in women or that V-taper so desirable in men. Sculpted, defined shoulders will make the waist appear smaller.

The following exercises are highly recommended by the experts at Size and Shape Fitness of OKC for both men and women regardless of body type.

1. Incline dumbbell chest press 2. Cable crossovers 3. Barbell bench press (not shown) 4. Hammer Strength chest press 5. Dumbbell shoulder press 6. Seated Up & Outs 7. Upright row shoulder press combo Using free weights allows for better control and use of stabilizer muscles that ultimately give that refined chiseled look.

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Nate Asch

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Feature

by Angela Slovak, Ph.D. Several changes and improvements will greet Oklahoma Public School students when they return in August. There’s a new sheriff in town, and he’s bringing a posse with him. With the repeal of Common Core, schools will also be seeing a return to the pre-1910 curriculum.

Neu and his wife, Kelly, have six children: Cassie, 17; Josie, 16; Emmie, 14; Gracie, 12; Addie, 10 and Wyatt, 8. Kelly is a former educator and highly successful high school volleyball coach. She and the children are skilled saddle-seat equestrians and the family operates a training and stable operation that’s home to its ten horses.

New superintendent Rob Neu takes the reins on July 1, hoping to turn around a struggling district. He hails from Federal Way Public Schools District, home to a minoritymajority student body in Seattle, Washington.

Neu got to know the district at a student-run event at U.S. Grant High School, one of the district’s highest performers with a student body of 1,640. He participated in the first OKCPS Progress Report.

The 52-year-old manager has 25 years of experience in education with a proven track record of developing programs that support the educational needs of the whole child. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Eastern Michigan University, a Master’s Degree in Secondary School Administration from Central Michigan University and an Education Specialist Degree from Oakland University.

“The Board of Education has given me a great opportunity to improve the learning environment and achieve great success for the students in Oklahoma City,” he said.

Neu served with the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals and was a finalist for the 1998 Michigan Assistant Principal of the Year Award. He was named Basketball Coach of the Year in 2000.

City officials hope Neu will duplicate the success he saw with Federal Way schools. During his four-year tenure, he boosted SAT participation from 25 to 94 percent. His alternative suspension and expulsion policy reduced expulsions by 65 percent. He also implemented an academic acceleration program that identified high performing students, increasing enrollment in Advanced Placement courses across the district by 200 percent.

His work is cut out for him. The largest district in the state, Oklahoma City serves 46,000 students with 5,000 employees.

“The energy, excitement and community support in Oklahoma City is incredible,” he said. “I’m impressed with the passage of the MAPS sales tax to rebuild downtown and renovate the schools. This is an amazing opportunity for me and my family to join a positive, forward-thinking community that’s invested heavily in its children.”

Super Neu’s contract becomes effective July 1, with an annual renewal for an initial three years. Neu’s salary is $240,000 with an annual $10,000 car allowance and $25,000 in annuities.

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“Mr. Neu is focused on educating the whole child and creating innovative ways that make school and education relevant for students. We look forward to him joining our District and focusing on the need for increased rigor and improve education for all our students,” said Lynne Hardin, OKCPS Board of Education Chairperson.

Although Neu’s impressed with the MAPS tax dollars that will fund infrastructure improvements, he still feels the biggest challenge will be resource allocations and the establishment of new policies that facilitate student excellence.

“Technology in the schools will attract great teachers and will give them the tools needed for learning in the classrooms,” he said.

He also wants to see more collaborative efforts for information sharing and parent engagement.

“Parent involvement is also critical to making this work for students and it’s time to take this school district to the next level,” he noted.

As the district continues to further academic improvement, Neu’s staffing up to meet its goals. He brought in Aurora Lora to serve as District Associate Superintendent of Student Achievement and Accountability. Outside of Neu, she’s the first of several new hires charged with designing and leading initiatives that will advance student performance.

A Harvard graduate, Lora’s familiar with Oklahoma’s educational needs, having served as an administrator with the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Her new duties include development, implementation and supervision of the district’s curriculum; train-

ing and evaluating staff; and monitoring student achievement and school effectiveness. She’ll be working closely with Dr. Wilbur House, the district’s Executive Director of Elementary Curriculum, to improve academic results. Her annual salary is $175,000. Cynthia Koss left her post as Chief Academic Officer at Deer Creek Public Schools to become the District’s Executive Director of Secondary Curriculum. A former Edmond middle and high school principal, she also served seven years as Oklahoma’s Assistant State Superintendent. In that role, she focused on standards and curriculum. Her annual salary is $96,000.

“I applaud the district’s Human Resources team in its extensive and thorough search for candidates who possess the experience and vision to move our students forward academically,” said Neu. “Significant improvement must include a committed support staff and strong educators, and the District has hired the best of the best. I am looking forward to hitting the ground running and working with this outstanding team.”

New Director of Elementary Education and Reform, Alan Schinnerer, served as a principal for third, fourth and fifth grade students with Blanchard Public Schools. He’ll oversee 14 elementary school sites and work with Pat Watson Hunt, Executive Director of Elementary Education, to improve reading skills and overall academic achievement.

Clearly, OKCPS is putting its money where its mouth is.

New staff is good. And a lot of money’s being set aside for that. Additional spending needs to be earmarked for nutrition. Of the cafeterias in the district, more than 85 percent are equipped to sustain healthy choice menu items for kids.

The U.S.D.A. recently unveiled $25 million of grants available to schools that need to improve their kitchens. The agency wants to help public schools meet federal standards of nutrition for school breakfasts and lunches. It wants to see meals with more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean protein and low-fat dairy, while reducing sodium and fat. Healthy kids don’t just grow better--they learn better.

New associate directors are already in place to support elementary and secondary schools.

Desirae Witmer joined the team in May as Associate Director of Secondary Education and will work closely with middle schools under the direction of Tamie Sanders, Executive Director of Secondary Education. Witmer previously served as the principal at Edmond’s Summit Middle School

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Recipes

Lindsey’s Tropical Summer Fruit Salad co-owner at Nourished

Let me introduce to you my favorite fruits of summer — plums, nectarines, peaches, and apricots. One smell of these beauties and I’m at the roadside fruit stand a few miles away from my mom’s house and daydreaming of honey, sunshine, and long, hot summer days.

Ingredients: Fresh apricots, plums, peaches and nectarines. (Add or omit any of these fruits. I enjoy apricots the most, so I added more of them.)

1-2 fresh mint sprigs, chopped 2 tsp. local honey Cinnamon (generous pinch) Clove (just a dash) Coconut, dried (optional) Insructions: Cacao nibs (optional) In a small bowl, mix together the honey, cinnamon and clove — set aside to allow the flavors to hang out while you prepare the remaining items.

Cut fruit into the size and shape of your preference. The smaller the pieces, the more the honey glaze flavor will show up Combine fruit and chopped mint. Drizzle half of the honey glaze over mixture and toss to coat. Chill if preferred. Prior to serving, drizzle the remaining glaze, top with coconut and/or cacao nibs Note: Larger chunks of fruit will accent the tart, acidic flavors

Healthy Digestion Tips: If you have any digestive issues, increasing tart and acidic flavors can be beneficial and improve digestion. This encourages more salivary enzyme production. #1 Get Moving: Healthy muscle tone around the abdomen is required for proper digestion. Increasing exercise can boost digestion, even if very little is changed in the overall diet. #2 Chew Up: Chewing your food is where digestion begins. Thoroughly chewing food breaks it up, which makes the entire digestive process less taxing on the body and more complete. This means more energy for you and better nutrient absorption. Chewing also allows food to mix more thoroughly with saliva, which contains enzymes that aid in digestion. #3 Boost stomach acid: Adequate amounts of stomach acid are essential for the proper breakdown of our foods’ macronutrients — especially protein. Belching, gas, unusual fullness, heartburn, headaches and fatigue can all be the effects of low stomach acid.

Add freshly-squeezed lemon juice to your water every morning or add one tablespoon of raw fermented apple cider vinegar to your morning water. Both of these practices gently boost stomach acid and help to improve digestion.

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Lindsey Riddle studied through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and continues to further her education in functional nutrition. With an emphasis on digestive health, Lindsey uses her experience and knowledge to help others navigate through their health challenges by means of food and lifestyle shifts.

Tropical Chicken Tacos Servings: 4 (serving = 2 tacos) Ingredients: 2 tsp. cocnut oil 2 lbs. chicken breast, cubed 1 cup onions, diced 1 tsp. oregano 1 tsp. cumin 1/2 tsp. chili powder 1/2 tsp. salt 8 oz black beans, drained (or beans of your choice) 8 corn tortillas 1 cup cilantro, chopped 1 cup Salsa of your choice (mango salsa shown)

Cool Blueberry Pie Ingredients: Crust 1/4 cup dates, pitted, soaked 1/2 cup walnuts 1/4 cup almonds

1 mango, diced fresh cherry tomatoes (optional)

Fruit Filling 2-3 medium bananas 1 lb. blueberries (fresh or frozen) 1/2 cup dates, pitted

Instructions: Heat the coconut oil in a skillet over medium heat.

Directions:

1 avocado, sliced 1/4 cup purple cabbage sliced

Add chicken and stir until thoroughly cooked.

Push chicken to one side of pan.

Add onions and saute for 2 to 4 minutes.

Stir in oregano, cumin, chili powder, and salt.

Combine onions and seasonings with cooked chicken.

Drain beans and heat in a separate skillet.

In separate skillet, heat ½ tsp. olive oil.

Heat each tortilla 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until the tortilla becomes light.

Plate the hot tortillas. Fill each tortilla with a spoonful of chicken mixture.

In a small food processor, blend the walnuts, dates and almonds well. Press the mixture into the bottom and sides of a pie plate, forming the crust.

Slice the bananas into 1/4� rounds, leaving 1/4-1/2 of one banana for the creamy filling. Cover the bottom of the pie shell with a layer of banana pieces.

In a food processor, blend one cup of the blueberries with the remaining piece of banana and dates. Mix in the remaining blueberries (whole). Pour this over the sliced bananas in the pie shell.

Garnish with walnuts or berry juice. Chill and serve.

Add a small amount of beans, and then top with cilantro, salsa, and 2-3 slices of avocado.

For an extra punch of flavor, add sliced cabbage or feta cheese.

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In Literature

by Paul Fairchild For most of the 20th century, the virus was the villain. Polio, measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria. It used to be an impressive rogue’s gallery. They once accounted for hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and deaths annually in the U.S. The last of the rogues fell off the Most Wanted list in 2000, when the surgeon general announced in 2000 that measles could no longer be found in the U.S. It was an unprecedented public health victory. But the victory would not endure. The rogues are returning, aided and abetted by a tenacious anti-vaccine movement.

Vaccinologist Paul Offit deftly explores the history of the anti-vaccine movement (dubbed “anti-vaxxers” by the media) and its stubborn, graceless refusal to accept defeat in Deadly Choices: How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Threatens Us All (Basic Books, $16.99). Anti-vaxxers wouldn’t be interesting if the stakes weren’t high, and Offit lays them out in stark and vivid detail. Deadly Choices is the gripping story of how the world’s most ambitious public health program, once a national source of pride, is slowly unraveling amid unjustified fear, pernicious misinformation and shady conspiracy theories that merit a place in Fox Mulder’s files.

Health officials were taken by surprise last year by a measles outbreak near San Diego. Since then, it’s cropped up in 17 other states. The CDC reports 288 cases in the U.S. this year alone. Offit moves quickly, establishing the blame early in the book. It sits, he says, squarely at the feet of parents that choose not to vaccinate their kids according to the CDC’s childhood vaccination schedule. He’s not alone in his opinion.

Assistant Surgeon General Dr. Anne Shuchat did the same recently in congressional testimony.

“The current increase in measles cases is being driven by unvaccinated people, primarily U.S. residents, who got measles in other countries, brought the virus back to the United States and spread it to others in communities where many people are not vaccinated,” she noted in a recent statement.

Measles and other potent bugs don’t respect international borders. The Red River certainly poses no challenge for them.

Episodes like this are the reason that Offit wrote the book.

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Measles found a foothold in Newark, Texas, because it found a lot of people who chose not to get vaccinated. Offit unsparingly holds the unvaccinated person fully responsible for the next person’s infection.

No vaccine is 100 percent effective.

But nobody needs to bust out the scientific method to know that vaccines lower the chance of infection to nearly zero.

Throughout most of the twentieth century, America watched with pride as its vaccines clobbered virus after virus. Smallpox, polio and other diseases that left trails of dead kids in their wakes lost their oomph.

Today, says Offit, “Children are suffering and dying because some parents are more frightened by vaccines than by the diseases they prevent.”

If one person’s vaccination holds up, the next person’s vaccination doesn’t have to work at all. Herd immunity, as its called, is critical for the protection of those who can’t be vaccinated for health or reasons of belief. Vaccinologists typically put the threshold for herd immunity at 80 percent.

Eight out of ten individuals need to be vaccinated to stop disease from going epidemic. In the U.S., only nine out of ten children are vaccinated completely according to the Center for Disease Control’s recommended childhood vaccination schedule.

Offit meticulously addresses every concern a parent might have about vaccination. He tackles safety and he really tackles religious objections. He addresses the folly of waiting to vaccinate. He takes on vaccine alternatives. As for the rest, it’s misinformation - He obliterates it thoroughly and sites study after study.

In the end, Offit’s sober evaluation of the damage done to national vaccination programs by anti-vaxxers leads him to the conclusion that the only way to move forward is to rebuild America’s trust in the system. That, he rightly contends, represents a major sea of change.

“If we are to get past the constant barrage of misinformation based on mistrust, we have to set aside our cynicism about those who test, license, recommend, produce, and promote vaccines. Only then will we survive this detour—a detour that has caused far too many children to suffer needlessly.”

Meet the New Super: Neu Continued from page 35

“We know that there is still a significant unmet need for kitchen equipment in schools, and outdated equipment can make it more difficult to prepare healthy meals,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “With these grants, schools will be able to get the tools they need to make the healthy choice the easy choice for America’s youngsters.”

The U.S.D.A. will distribute the grants to states in shares proportionate to their student bodies. In turn, states will competitively award the funds to school districts, giving priority to high-need schools where 50 percent or more of the enrolled students are eligible for free or reduced price meals.

The National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Funds allocated for Oklahoma totaled $527,566 in 2013.

OKCPS recently voted to begin handling all aspects of food service internally. Equipment to do so is desperately needed in many schools. The recent vote will save the district somewhere in the neighborhood of $700,000 dollars in the first year alone.

Board member Laura Massenat chairs the district’s Food Services Task Force. It’s comprised of 16 members, including local nonprofit organizations, PTA representatives and local retail leaders.

“Elimination of processed entrees, dressings and high salt seasonings are the main goals,” said Massenat. “We want to see cooking in every school within three years and kitchen upgrades are currently in the works with funding coming from bond money. The goal is to have meals prepared on site and access to salad bars,” continues Massenat.

Massenat believes a self-op model of food service will foster an environment for better customer service, improved kitchen staff morale and more interaction between staff and students.

She wants kitchen staff to be a part of the nutrition solution and actively promote healthy eating to the children they serve.

From changes in staff to changes in the kitchen, Oklahoma City Public Schools is sending a strong message. The status quo isn’t good enough, and it’s never business as usual for Oklahoma City schools.

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Destinations

by Stan Marker Clinton, Oklahoma, may be small, but it has a lot to offer. The town is only about four square miles.

Clinton is part of Custer County, a little over an hour west of Oklahoma City. It’s obvious when you get there. This little town can attract some big time attention. Visible from I-40 is Oklahoma’s first indoor water park. In addition, there’s the stunning history of Route 66. And now this little town can boast about its literary honors awarded this year to five talented Clinton-based poets.

Walt Shumacher is the proud owner of the 28,000-square-foot indoor Water Zoo fun park. Shumacher’s a long-standing businessman in Custer County. “This park is a long time dream of mine and I’ve been here 25 years,” says Shumacher. Although he loves running Clinton’s biggest attraction and two adjacent hotels, Shumacher likes to reminisce about his days in law enforcement – he spent 35 years as a police officer. Several nights each week Shumacher rides the town in his patrol car as a reserve police officer. He’s a very busy guy.

These women are touring several cities this summer for readings and book signings. Co-author, Clynell Reinschmiedt describes the book as, “A collection of Oklahoma’s past, its towns and geography.” Reinschmiedt goes on to say, “As a group they are able to describe a wider variety of communities they cover.”

This poetry group often works together in community spaces with lots of table space. Currently, they enjoy meeting at the White Dog Hill Café, located between Clinton and Weatherford on Old Route 66. So, next time you’re looking for an interesting place to visit, try Clinton.

While in Clinton, the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum is definitely worth a stop. The museum’s galleries and façade have been redesigned making it easier for visitors to have a chronological journey through Oklahoma’s past. The focus is of course on the images of our nation’s Mother Road, the most revered highway in America. Relive the dust bowl experience as thousands crept along the highway to avoid drought and starvation on their way to California, the “land of promise.”

This little town’s top honor this year has to go out to the five poets known as the Custer County Truck Stop Poets who collectively won Poetry Book of the Year. This honor was bestowed upon them from the Oklahoma Center for the Book, which is a state affiliate of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. Custer County is still home to Yvonne Carpenter, Nancy Goodwin and Clinton minister Carol Waters. Catherine McCraw lives in the neighboring town of Weatherford and Clynell Reinschmiedt who recently moved to Deer Creek, all contributed to the award-winning collection titled, “Red Dirt Roads: Sketches of Western Oklahoma,” now in its second printing.

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The Water Zoo features a 600-gallon tipping bucket, inside-out slides, fully enclosed bowl slide, a Lazy and Crazy River, wave pool and a glass retractable roof. Weekend movies can be caught on the big screen that looms over the wave pool.

About the Authors: Yvonne Carpenter’s poetry has appeared in literary journals and published in two volumes, To Capture Fine Spirits (Haystack Publishing) and Barbed Wire and Paper Dolls (Village Press). She and her husband raise cattle and wheat on a Custer County farm.

Nancy Goodwin has served as an editor of Shakespeare Magazine, the curriculum editor of the Folger Shakespeare Library’s Shakespeare Set Fire, and a curriculum designer for Hallmark Channel. Having lived in Western Oklahoma for only 50 years, she’s considered a newcomer.

Catherine McCraw is a speech-language pathologist in Western Oklahoma. Her poems have appeared in over 15 publications. In 2005, she was awarded the Baskerville Publisher’s Prize from descant magazine. She was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2005. Her poems have appeared in Fifty descant Years, the literary journal of TCU anthology and the Atlanta Review anthology, from which she received tow International Merit Awards.

Clynell Reinschmiedt has enjoyed a long teaching career in Oklahoma, teaching every grade from kindergarten through grade 12, as well as graduate and postgraduate courses in English and Library Science at OU and UCO. Carol Waters is a transplanted Oklahoman, having lived in the state since 1996.

She calls Cordell home now. She’s a Presbyterian pastor and serves a small church in Clinton. She considers poetry writing a spiritual discipline.

The mission of the Oklahoma Center for the Book is to promote the work of Oklahoma authors, to promote the literary heritage of the state, and to encourage reading for pleasure by Oklahomans of all ages.

Front row, (L-R). Cathy McCraw, Yvonne Carpenter, Clynell Reinschmeidt.

Back row, Nancy Goodwin, Carol Waters. Photo kindly provided by Clynell Reinschmeidt

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Living Well

Oklahomans can utilize Ayurvedic principles for optimal skin health The Canebrake, a destination hotel and spa in Wagoner, Oklahoma, is recommending Oklahomans protect their skin from the harsh Oklahoma wind and summer sun. Sun damage can lead to skin cancer, which is the most common form of cancer in the United States.

More than 3.5 million skin cancers in more than 2 million people are diagnosed annually, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

“Your skin serves to not only protect you against trauma and defend your internal organs, but it also serves to regulate body temperature and protect us from microbes and the elements,” said Holly Kirk, spa director at The Canebrake. “The better you take care of your skin, the better it’ll take care of you.”

Skip harsh skin treatments. Avoid microdermabrasion,

glycolic peels and any other harsh re-surfacing treatments during the summer. These treatments make the skin more photosensitive, therefore more prone to a summertime burn and more easily damaged.

Use oils to protect skin. Massage the body with oils that

are high in essential fatty acids and antioxidants. These oils will ravage the free radicals and ultraviolet rays that the skin accumulates. Coconut oil in particular is a favorite in the summertime due to its cooling nature.

Take special care of sunburns. Sunburn is one of the most common problems people face during the summer season. To heal a sunburn, use a mixture of turmeric, which has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, and organic yogurt. The yogurt is good for regaining the acid and alkaline balance of the skin and acts as a cooling agent to immediately soothe burnt skin. Be careful, though, as turmeric can stain clothing and other surfaces.

Use cucumbers for health. Cucumbers are an effective

reducer of heat and inflammation that contain antioxidants to help fend off wrinkles, boost collagen and elastin and protects cells from ultraviolet radiation. Either consumed or applied topically, cucumbers help to keep the skin cool, hydrated and healthy.

Avoid prime-time sun exposure. The sun is the strongest

from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. so try, as much as possible, to avoid sun exposure during this time. According to Ayurvedic principles, this is when the pitta dosha is most active, which represents 42

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fire and water, so the day starts to heat up as the sun becomes stronger and reaches its peak.

“Your skin is a reflection of your internal health,” Kirk said.

“A healthy person’s skin glows with a radiance that comes with optimal health.”

The Canebrake offers a number of spa treatments based on the philosophy of Ayurveda and is the only Ayurvedic spa and resort in the Southwest. Originating in India, the word Ayurveda translates to the “science of life.” Ayurveda is comprised of five elements and three doshas, each creating a unique doshic make-up for every individual.

About The Canebrake The Canebrake is a 250-acre family ranch that has been transformed into a destination hotel and spa in Wagoner. Oklahoma’s finest ecofriendly luxury resort, The Canebrake offers an Ayurvedic spa, yoga studio, an award-winning restaurant and more. As the first gold-level ECO-certified restaurant and lodging facility in Oklahoma, The Canebrake focuses on sustainability down to the tiniest detail. Each element of its rooms and suites, restaurant, boutique, spa, yoga barn and conference facilities is designed to offer the ultimate in comfort and benefit the environment. For more information or to book your stay, visit www.thecanebrake.com or call (918) 485-1810.

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Living Well

Brought to you by Focus Federal Credit Union It’s college application season. While students are worrying about college essays and rejection letters, many parents are stressed about how they will pay for college once their son or daughter is actually accepted.

If this is your family’s situation, you’re not alone. Nearly 84% of teens polled say their parents haven’t saved enough to pay for even their first year of college. In fact, the average American family has saved less than $20,000 by the time their child turns 18. With tuition costs rising 6% a year, it’s hard to save for college while paying for things like the mortgage, day care, home repairs and your own student loans.

The annual cost of a four-year private college is currently $38,589 and represents a 14% increase over five years. A four-year public university now costs about $17,131 annually. Even if your child chooses the public school route, the rising costs of education are frightening.

A recent survey by Sallie Mae study concluded that when parents were asked how they felt about saving for college they were twice as likely to respond “overwhelmed” than “confident.”

tions offer local scholarships. Keep in mind, that nearly half of all college freshman receives some sort of financial aid.

Loans - Student Loans come in two basic varieties: need-

based, which help families who can’t afford college costs; and non-need-based, designed to fill a gap when the family doesn’t have available cash on hand to cover expenses.

Student loans can come from the federal government or from private sources such as a bank or credit union. Federal Stafford, PLUS, Perkins and Private Loans are all options for students and parents. Be sure you and your student understand all of the terms and conditions for every loan before you commit to anything!

Community College - Community college makes sense

for lots of families as they allow you to maximize your savings while saving up for a four-year degree. And community colleges are affordable and close to home. In reality, em-

The good news is that if you haven’t saved the $150,000 it will cost to send Junior to a prestigious school, you still have numerous options to pay for college.

Scholarships and Grants - Grants and scholarships

are money for students that do not have to be paid back.

Your student may be eligible for a Pell Grant. The amount awarded is based on financial need and the cost of your school. Use a free Internet search service to help you locate scholarships your student might qualify for. Use places like fastweb.com, scholarships.com and the Scholly app to track down potential scholarships. Be sure to ask your college about scholarships that are available for incoming students.

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ployers and graduate schools don’t care where you started.

If your teen is considering community college, make sure all of his/her credits will transfer to their preferred four-year school.

GI Bill - If your student is considering a career in the

armed forces, the military service offers a tremendous range of education benefits that can be used while they are on active duty or after they leave the service. Since its start in the 1940s, the GI Bill has helped put millions of veterans through school. The GI Bill entitles military members to

money for education after a certain time in the armed services.

Benefits can also be transferred to a spouse or dependent children.

Work Study - Work Study programs provide part-time jobs

for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need.

Students typically work 16-20 hours per week. Most work study jobs are on-campus, pay at least minimum wage and may be related to your student’s major. Jobs include working in the library, bookstore, the dining hall, or working at college events.

Home Equity Loans - For most of us, our home is our

biggest asset. Why not borrow against the equity in your home to pay for college expenses? Most HELOCs feature low interest rates, no closing costs and no application fees. And often times, the interest you pay is tax deductible. Plus you’ll have 5-10 years to pay back these loans, giving you more flexibility than typical college loans. Check your local credit union for these types of affordable loans.

Bottom line, parents should have a frank discussion with their children about the costs of college and what kind of contributions they expect from their children. Is sending Junior to his/her “dream school” going to bankrupt the family?

Will they be required to get a part-time job or live at home?

Parents need to provide guidance on how much student debt is reasonable, and how their children might be paying for their education for the rest of their lives.

Migraine Pain Remedy Continued from page 28

the first procedure. By using the X-ray technique, we can actually visualize the medicine as it is delivered to the SPG. This is also typically reserved for the patient with abnormal sinus anatomy.

The inner catheter is extended and the local anesthetic is delivered. The procedure is repeated in the other nostril, and the patient remains in place for 10 minutes to maximize mucosal absorption.

Patients may experience a metallic taste from the Lidocaine.

There’s commonly a temporary numbness in the back of the throat. But, patients are advised to drink a lot of water the day of the procedure and not drive. There have been a few reported incidences of dizziness for up to 12 hours. This is a small inconvenience compared to the terrible pain of a migraine.

Dr. Robert Unsell specializes in orthopedic surgery. He currently serves as the Medical Director for the Community Hospital. Call for more information (405)692.3748

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ADVERTORIAL

Back To Basics by Paul Sullivan IDLife Formulator • Pharmacist • Clinical Nutritionist Our approach to health and wellness is to start with the basics. Statistics show we are NOT getting the vitamins and minerals we need from our food, even if we are eating three square meals a day and avoiding “Frankenfoods.”

Modern Food is a Very Poor Source of Nutrients IDNutrition seeks to not only provide those recommended levels (RDAs) of essential vitamins and minerals suggested by the FDA, but in addition, seek to provide that level studied in the medical literature that will optimize health, minimize chronic disease, and promote healthy aging.

The number of minerals lost in the foods that reach our tables in the last 100 years are alarming: Calcium levels down 48% ; Iron levels down 96%; Magnesium levels down 83%; Zinc levels down 38% and the list goes on. Food processing can be another vitamin depletor; blanching, then canning, or freezing destroys up to 60% of Vitamin C, 40% of Vitamin B2 and 30% of Vitamin B1.

IDNutrition Provides the Basics and More: The IDNutrition personalized program addresses these shortfalls and provides primary “foundational” nutrient formulas as the basis for our whole program, with Basic AM (available in your breakfast packet) and Basic PM (available in your dinner packet). These formulas are provided at di erent times of the day due to our dedication to Chrononutrition; giving the right nutrient at the time of day the body absorbs and utilizes it best.

The Basic AM provides those vitamins and minerals that are better able to build energy and vitality to help maximize your body’s metabolism throughout the day.

The Basic PM includes those vitamins and minerals that help the body wind down for a restful night’s sleep while recharging those body systems that are detoxifying the liver and protecting the cardiovascular system preparing for the stress of the next day.

IDNutrition Changes as Science Changes These formulas, while basic and foundational, do change slightly as science changes to take advantage of new studies and new ingredients. Next month we are changing both the Folate source - from Folic Acid to 5-Methylfolate, and B12 source - from Cyanocobalamin to Methylcobalamin or Methyl B12. These changes will supply these critical vitamins in their coenzyme or physiological form to increase absorption signi cantly and circumvent some potential genetic problems that 35% of our population have that often block or reduce absorption. Very few companies in the country, let alone in the direct sales industry, have gone to this expense to make this change in their B12 or Folate source.

The Take Away Message Foundational nutrition expectations from everyday food intake are “Out to Lunch,” so to speak. The Basic AM and Basic PM Formulas provided in your IDNutrition personalized nutrition program are insurance that you are obtaining the vitamins and minerals you need to not only prevent shortfalls in nutrition, but to strengthen your immune system, resist chronic disease, vigorously fight aging and OPTIMIZE your health.

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