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Day 3 Reflection

Hi and thank you for following us on our awesome Mission Trip!  We awoke to a gorgeous, sunny day, with temperatures in the low 70s; the perfect weather to conclude our work time in New Orleans.  Breakfast eaten and lunches made, we're now ready for the morning Prayer Service; today our reflection is about the legacy of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton; the first American born Saint who founded the Catholic School System.  We were reminded to learn to 'meet our grace.'  Sister Monica has blessed us with our reflections each morning, a meditation moment to strengthen us and carry us through our day including sharing of our hopes, our cares and our prayer.  "Let your chief study be to acquaint yourself with God, because there is nothing greater than God, and because it is the only knowledge that can fill the heart with a peace and joy that nothing can disturb." - Our message from Saint Elizabeth.  Steve has to leave today, so we send him off with prayers for safe travels.

Today we divided into 2 crews, similar to yesterday, so we could finish as much as possible.  One group of us went back to Mr. Frank's home.  We asked him what color he would like his front porch painted; he chose gray.  Off to Lowe's we go gathering supplies and paint.  We come back to Mr. Frank's house, and we started getting the porch ready to paint.  Mr. Frank realizes that we are here for awhile today, and he opens his front door; out comes his electric guitar and up goes the volume.  He entertains us with Amazing Grace and This Little Light of Mine.  Next he sings 'God is so Good,' a simple tune we sang with him on Day One of this journey.  Four of us begin rolling and brushing his porch with the gray paint - teaming up to cover the details in his steps and front porch floor.  While we are painting, Mr. Frank entertains and intermittently peeks around his chair to see outside - what activity is happening; his response always is "I am so blessed.  God is so good to me.  He brought you to me."  We completed the porch painting and went to Lowe's for some more River Stone ground cover for his new garden areas.  Ten bags were spread.  That coupled with the painted porch present a very nice view from the street.  As in our other days' experiences, the neighbors came by and thanked us.

The second group went back to Pastor Dylan's home where there was more insulation to place.  Our 'A' insulation team went into formation and completed placing ALL the insulation for this home.  Our worker from Honduras, William, who was with us yesterday, was also there today.  His role is to put up the drywall.  Through Translator Betsy, we offered to assist William with his project for today.  He realized that we were there to assist him, not take any work away from him.  Our team was able to learn more skills today as well as learn more about each other.

Meeting our Grace - we each experienced our own component and together we further finessed seamless team building and communication skills.  Our sense of accomplishment looms large.
Our closing Prayer Service allows each of us to reflect on what we have learned and what we will take with us.  Candles lit, we sing the song 'Light Your Candles' - we are refreshed and ready to light our world!  In the words of Mr. Frank - We are making it look like somebody lives here!
Our time for this work in New Orleans is complete.  We will leave Thursday at 0700ish and travel back to our destinations - Martha to Little Rock, Sister Luke to Nazareth and the rest of us to the Chattanooga area.  Our trip planning started one year ago.  It will soon be concluded......or will it?

Thank you for your time reading our story.  Thank you to Sister Celine, our Chattanooga Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Associate leader, to Sister Luke SCN for being with us and guiding us and "letting us", to Sister Renee, Sister Claire and Sister Monica for their leadership and warm hospitality.  Thank you too to Mr. Earl, Mr. Frank, Pastor Dylan and all the other people we have encountered during this time.

Karen

Day 2 Reflection

Hi Everyone! 
We began this second day of our mission with morning prayer and devotion in the beautiful chapel of the Charity House on Apricot Street.  We prayed and remembered Saint Louise deMarillac; a Saint who was very practical and realistic. She co-founded of the Daughters of Charity – a community of religious women dedicated to serve the poor.  We focused on our purpose here and set out to further this mission.  From her quote, we were reminded by Saint Louise to "Teach me to show great gentleness toward all and to imitate your goodness in welcoming all."  We continue to pray for those hurting from the devastation from the storms in our area and others who are suffering.

With brown bag lunches packed, we head out in three vehicles.  Today is cool and windy; temperatures are in the 60's - much different than yesterday!

We have so much work to get done in our short time remaining here, so today we divided up into 'crews' to be stationed at our two work sites; the home of Mr. Frank in the 7th Ward and the home of Pastor Dylan in 9th Ward. As we headed out, we made a caravan to Lowe's to get some plants for Mr. Frank's front yard.  While gathering supplies, we encountered the sweet sound of a chirp, chirp.  We found a small bird under one of the flatbed carts - he appeared to have tape on his beak.  Jerry picked up the bird and then realized he had swallowed the tape.  Steve and Jerry, with Cindy's oversight, managed to free the tape from our new feathered friend.  We left him in stable condition and hoped he would be able to find his family soon.

Our 7th Ward crew consisted of Steve, Martha, Cindy and Karen. The front of Mr. Frank's home consists of two patches of black dirt, surrounded by concrete from the sidewalk, his porch and his driveway.  He is not able to mow grass anymore so he has had the areas sprayed with weed killer - brown dried strings of what used to be grass remained.  We cleared these areas picking up broken glass, nails, coins and other remnants of the history of that spot.  The soil is rich - like the history that we were learning there.  It was important to choose low maintenance perennial plants that can withstand hot dry weather so he can enjoy the yard without any maintenance - we found 4 unique varieties of flowering plants and shrubs to plant for him.  River rock as ground cover adds a nice touch and makes the garden 'pop' with a newfound glow.  Like our first day, Mr. Frank's neighbors made it a point to come out and see what we were up to - both admiring the pretty view they will have from their homes and thanking us for helping Mr. Frank and their neighborhood.  Mr. Frank peeked out of his door, smiled so all his teeth showed and said "I am so blessed!  Now it looks like somebody lives here."  As Mr. Frank's home and yard was being revitalized, it seemed like he was also.  While we were working in the garden, Mr. Frank's son came by - he ran up to us and thanked us for helping his dad.  Next we sanded the beautiful wrought iron railings that lead to Mr. Frank's front door.  We came up with a creative way to use black spray paint on a windy day.  We had time to chat with Mr. Frank and learn about his life and career, including the prejudice he has experienced over the years. We left there with many offers of food, shrimp boil and invitations to return.  We will be back on our last day, to paint his front porch.

Our 9th Ward crew includes Sister Celine, Sister Luke, Betsy, Lisa, Deb, Jerry, Jackie and Pam.  Pastor Dylan met us at his home site and is very surprised with what we have accomplished there.  He has had to restock insulation material two times - this group has a system down to near perfection for hanging insulation!  And we still need a little bit more to complete this project tomorrow.  Pastor Dylan has re-born energy and is overwhelmingly grateful for the work that we have done in two days.  Pastor Dylan hired a young couple from Honduras to help with the hanging of drywall; since they knew no English, our faithful interpreter Betsy was called upon to communicate with these hardworking, dedicated folks.  It was amazing to see how everyone worked smoothly together, without barriers.  We had time to spend with our leader and mission trip organizer, Sister Luke.  She's very interested in our SCNA Faith Group, how we started together and our backgrounds.

Today we were able to 'be in the moment' with communication and listening for our thoughts of focus for today.  Like Saint Louise, we were welcomed and we welcomed.

After a delicious meal downtown, we are resting, getting ready for our work day tomorrow.

Karen

Memorial and the greater Chattanooga community have benefited from the gentle, compassionate guidance of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth for more than 50 years. Over the years, several Memorial employees have served as Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Associates. SCN Associates are lay people who make a commitment to make a real difference in the world.  They are men and women of all faiths and backgrounds.

Eight Memorial employees who also serve as Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Associates Lay Mission Volunteers and others are helping victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans this week. You are invited to follow their journey.

Day One Reflection
It's been a hot tiring day, but we don't even notice.  The blessings we have experienced since coming to the House of Charity with the Federation of the Sisters of Charity are unending.  The hospitality provided to us by the Sisters has been awesome.  We are staying in Orleans Parrish in a restored house that was flooded in Hurricane Katrina.  There is a chapel in the house where we had a most reverent blessing for our week.  We are sleeping on air mattresses, this home houses volunteer workers who come to New Orleans to help the hurricane victims.  Our mission challenge is to go out into the world and see the face of God and to be God to those we encounter.  This is the spirit of St. Vincent dePaul.

We packed our brown bag lunches and received our direction for work from Mr. Earl, a retired contractor who organizes volunteer efforts to assist hurricane victims in his Parish.  Today we worked in the seventh ward in the home of Mr. Frank, a retired 90 year old man who served in the Navy.  He is proud of his service and showed us his service picture in his sailor uniform; he and his wife have been married 66 years.  He also told us stories of his experience with the hurricane.  He sings and plays an electric guitar - "This Little Light of Mine" is his favorite.  He serenaded us while we worked.  Mr. Frank has had two contractors come to repair hurricane damage, but they were not legitimate. They took his money and ruined his home.  His two-story home needed a drop ceiling in the kitchen. We accomplished this with the help of Mr. Earl; we learned new skills with this work!  Steve and Pam are now the experts.  The other side of his two-story home contained a lot of debris which we removed.  We found a young girl's jewelry, clothes and shoes - reminders to us that folks had to leave what they had behind to save their lives.  We bagged up the items, covering the sidewalk with garbage from the house and filling the trash can - it happened to be trash pick up day for Mr. Frank; we all stood outside and applauded when we saw the garbage truck come by.  The trash collectors immediately got big ear to ear smiles on their faces and were waving to us as we cheered for them.  We tried to help them put the mound of trash in the truck, and they insisted on doing it themselves.  These young men were happy doing what they do; no matter what they had to pick up.  During the morning, Mr. Earl asked us where were from; we said Chattanooga and he said "oh, my Parish is collecting supplies and money to send to Chattanooga."  What a humbling vision - people still struggling from devastation from Hurricane Katrina, and now they are helping others. Wow.

Several neighbors came by and thanked us for helping Mr. Frank.  A pastor stopped by and asked us if we could also help him.

Sister Luke and Mr. Earl met with Pastor Dylan the pastor who saw us working and stopped; Sister Luke and Sister Monica went to his building site, this one in the ninth ward, the area most devastated by the floods.  Water had been over the roof of his home, where he raised his six daughters.  This home was stripped to the outside walls and new studs were up.  We were asked to install insulation, clean the site and review putting up drywall.  Again, skills we learned during this mission, and we now have many skilled insulation hangers!  The building and site were cleaned by us, and we'll see tomorrow about putting up the drywall and doing some other work.  This pastor lost several family members in Katrina; his father-in-law was found dead in his floating home; three family members drowned when the water overtook their vehicle as they were attempting to evacuate.  Stories of stress and sorrow abound here.

We stopped by a friend's home that Sister Luke has helped rebuild; there we were graciously treated with delicious authentic red beans and rice.  She invited all of us into her home for this meal.

It's surreal to see so many homes in disrepair, yet the people here are so happy and welcoming.  We are relearning perspective and priority in life.  They are teaching us a lot.

As a group we are learning the importance of 'being in the moment' and letting life happen.  We're a group of organizers, delegators and busy people.  Slowing down to listen and learn and let God be God is a lesson for us.
 
Karen, blog storyteller, above left with Sister Celine

Cooking is one of my passions and pleasures, although my time to enjoy it is limited.  As a dietitian with familial risk factors for heart disease, I have an interest in “tweaking” recipes to the healthier side and searching for new menu ideas and options.  Simple and easy to prepare recipes are also important to me due to the limited time I have in the kitchen.

The holidays present a special challenge, as we all have our traditional favorites that are usually laden with excess fat and sugar.  I have my favorites, too!  Over the years, I have made changes to my favorite recipes and “lightened” them up without compromising flavor or quality.  I have also added some new dishes to the “mix.”  It has been quite interesting to discover that other family members and guests at my table have welcomed the new dishes…..so don’t assume things can’t change!  Several guests have actually gone back for “seconds” for foods they stated they did not like!  (I can remember two such incidents, one involving a sweet potato dish and one a spinach dish!)

Through this blog, I have the wonderful opportunity to share three holiday meals with you:  a brunch, a simple supper (for the busy “day before”), and the main holiday meal.  These three menus have been planned to include:  simple and easy recipes, healthier preparation techniques, increased use of vegetables and fruits, decreased use of excessive fats and sugars, use of familiar foods, and the likes and dislikes of most people.

It is with much pleasure that I share this “holiday gift” with you and with much hope that you enjoy some or all of the recipes!  At the same time, may you find motivation and inspiration to prepare healthier dishes and meals for yourself, your family, and your friends!

Brunch:

Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
Whole Wheat Pumpkin Muffins
Spiced Wassail

Dinner:

Cranberry – Pomegranate Fizz
Roast Turkey with Cranberry Chutney
Cornbread Dressing
Low-Fat Gravy
Ginger-Glazed Carrots
Sesame Green Beans
Lime-Glazed Fresh Fruit Salad
Bran Yeast Rolls
Apple-Walnut Cream Tart
Sweet Potato Pie

Casual Supper:

Slow Cooker Beef-Barley Vegetable Soup
Confetti Coleslaw
Whole Grain Crisps
Bananas Foster with Frozen Vanilla Yogurt

Other Recipes:

Recipe for Christmas Joy
Cranberry - Sour Cream Congealed Salad

Patricia Partain
Registered Dietitian

Drawing Your Family (Medical) Tree
For you to develop a complete family medical history, the National Institutes of Health recommends gathering information from three generations, including your children, brothers and sisters, parents, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, and cousins. Click here to download a Family Medical History form to help you get started.

Learn more:

Heart Luck: Family History is Important

Traditional vs Bioequivalent Hormone Replacement in Women
Menopausal symptoms typically start around age 30, and complete menopause usually occurs at approximately age 51. Symptoms tend to get worse as hormone levels drop. Relief is available.

Click here to view Dr. Kent Grotefendt's She presentation.

Grilling outdoors can be a great way to prepare healthy foods -- as long as you use your grill properly. Grilling meats not only adds a delicious smoky flavor, but foods are cooked without adding excessive amounts of unhealthy fats and oils. Using an outdoor grill also helps to keep your kitchen cooler on a hot summer day.

How you use your grill is important, because careless use can be bad for your health. Cooking meat at high temperatures (charring them) causes the formation of chemicals called "polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PCAs)" and "heterocyclic amines (HCAs)" -- both of which are linked to a higher risk of some cancers.  Also, meats usually prepared on the grill include high-fat hamburgers and processed meats (like hot dogs and sausages that contain nitrosamines) which are also linked to cancer risk.

Remembering basic food safety when using your grill, just as you do in your kitchen, is also important for your health. The basic rules for healthy outdoor grilling include:

• keeping your grill clean
• avoiding charring meats
• choosing healthy foods to grill
• cooking meats to the proper temperature.

And remember that grilling doesn’t need to be limited to meats – you can cook your vegetables and even some fruits on your grill as well.  Take a step out of your “grilling box” by trying these healthy grill recipes.  There are low fat marinade recipes, as well as a beef, chicken, salmon, and vegetarian entrée recipe.  And don’t forget to try the dessert recipe, grilled fruit kebabs…yum!

Marinade Recipes

Grilled Beef and Vegetable Kabobs

Grilled Citrus Chicken

Lemon-Grilled Salmon

Low-Fat Grilled Vegetables on Focaccia

Happy grilling!


Patricia Partain
Registered Dietitian

Here are eight sandwich recipes to add some variety and spice to your brown bag lunch.  These recipes also work well for a quick and easy supper.  Just add a fresh fruit salad, some pickle spears or fresh veggies with low fat dressing/dip to round out your meal.

 Recipes:                                     

California Veggie Wrap

Chickpea Sandwich Filling

Grilled Chicken, Aged Cheddar, and Chutney Sandwich

Waldorf Turkey Sandwich

Cheesy Ham and Pineapple Sandwich

Heart Healthy Chicken Salad

Turkey, Mozzarella and Basil Wrap

Smoked Turkey Tortilla Wrap

Patricia Partain

Registered Dietitian

Parents and children can participate in several difference charitable activities during the holidays. These are great ways to demonstrate your concern for those in need and the importance of helping others to your children. Watch area news outlets for information on other volunteer opportunities open to children.

Grateful Gobbler Walk – a Thanksgiving Day Tradition for Many Families.
8:30 a.m. Thanksgiving Day, Coolidge Park. Funds raised go to benefit the Homeless Coalition, which includes the Chattanooga Food Bank and other organizations. Pre-register at www.gratefulgobbler.org or call (423) 752-4807.

Salvation Army Angel Tree
Select an Angel Tag at an area mall or your place of work. Each tag provides the name, age, gender, clothing sizes, and special Christmas needs and wishes of a needy child, senior, or disabled adult. You and your children may purchase gifts and know that you are being “an angel” to that specific person.

Salvation Army Red Kettle
Volunteers are needed to cover three-hour shifts at the kettle location of your choice. Your family can make this a special holiday tradition. If your children sing or play instruments, or simply smile and greet passers-by, they will increase the joy of giving for everyone. To volunteer, call (423) 756-1023, x1102.

Serve Holiday Meals or Daily Meals
Volunteers are needed to help serve Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to the homeless and others in need in our area at the Salvation Army, the Community Kitchen or other Rescue Centers and Shelters.  Call the Salvation Army at 756-1023 or the Community Kitchen (423) 756-4222.

Purchase New Toys for Tots
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program collects new toys to give to needy children in the community.  You and your children can shop for a child and place the toy in one of the many drop-off locations in the city.

Plan a Really Nice Party for Bethany Center
You and your children may be able to help plan a baby shower or the Christmas dinner. They need gift baskets for moms in the hospital.  Call Bethany Christian Services at (423) 622-7360 to see what their current needs are and then have fun getting involved.

Pack a Sack Snack
The Chattanooga Area food Bank uses high school volunteers to pack bags filled with food for needy elementary-aged school children to tide them over the weekends until they can again eat hot meals at school. Call (423) 622-1800.

Help with Pet Socialization
If you and your children like animals, the Humane Educational Society may be able to use a volunteer to spend one-on-one time with shelter animals. Cats and dogs housed in the shelter benefit from exercise and companionship. Call (423) 624-1754.

St. Barnabas Nursing Home
Residents in nursing homes enjoy visits from young people, and there are different ways you might be able to help. At St. Barnabas, for example, they need volunteers to assist with weekly bingo games and parties. For St. Barnabas, call (423) 267-3764.

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), the “recipe” for bone health is simple:

1. get enough calcium and vitamin D and eat a well-balanced diet
2. do weight-bearing and resistance exercises, such as walking, dancing, jogging, using elastic fitness bands, and lifting light weights
3. don’t smoke
4. drink alcohol only in moderation
5. talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about your bone health.

Each day, our bodies lose calcium through skin, nails, hair, sweat, urine and feces.  The human body cannot produce calcium on its own.  That’s why it’s important to try to get enough calcium through the foods we eat.  When the diet does not have enough calcium for our body’s needs, calcium is taken from the bones.

Sources of Calcium and Vitamin D

Food remains the best source of calcium.  Dairy products (milk, yogurt, and cheese) are high in calcium. Broccoli, kale, Chinese cabbage, and almonds contain calcium in smaller amounts.  Calcium-fortified foods and calcium supplements are also helpful for people who are unable to get enough calcium in their diets.

Your body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium.  Your skin makes vitamin D when it is exposed to the sun.  In fact, sunlight is the main source of vitamin D for many people.  But we know that getting too much sun is a risk factor for skin cancer.  Vitamin D is usually added to the milk you buy at the grocery store but not to other milk-based products, like cheese, yogurt and butter.  Liver, fatty fish and egg yolks also contain vitamin D.  If you don’t get enough vitamin D, consider taking a multivitamin or a vitamin D supplement.  Many calcium supplements also contain vitamin D.

Patricia Partain
Registered Dietitian

To the average patient there does not seem to be a difference between the two, and if you work with both nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) they seem to function in the same way.  It’s true that they are very similar; however, there are some key differences.

One of the biggest differences between NPs and PAs is their training.  Nurse Practitioners first receive a bachelors (4 year) degree in nursing, earning them the title of registered nurse.  They then go on to complete either a masters or doctoral degree in nursing (usually two to four additional years of training), and are given the title advanced practice registered nurse, or nurse practitioner.  NPs are trained in a variety of specialties, ranging from family medicine to emergency medicine, depending on the type of program they choose.  This is often differentiated in the letters you see behind their name.  For example, FNP-C means family nurse practitioner- certified and PNP-C means pediatric nurse practitioner-certified.  Because their training is founded around nursing they are taught to look at patients holistically, or at the patient as a whole (including their environment, family, and surroundings).

Physician assistants also first receive a bachelors degree (either BS or BA) before applying to PA school.  The majority of PA programs also award masters degrees although a few are bachelors.  Their programs range from 24-32 months, and are based on the medical school model.  They seem to be more technically trained than NPs, as some programs offer surgical specialties; however, they also practice in internal medicine offices, etc.

Another main difference between the two is that NPs have their own license and can practice independently of a physician in most states.  PAs are licensed in conjunction with a physician, and the physician will delegate certain medical tasks to the PA.

The bottom line is that both NPs and PAs are highly qualified healthcare providers who assess, diagnose, treat, and prescribe for a wide range of patients and illnesses.  

Kelly Price, FNP
Memorial Health Partners

Have you ever found yourself running to the bathroom and just barely making it in time? Or maybe feeling embarrassed when you coughed or sneezed and your bladder leaked? Do you take advantage of every bathroom stop to be sure you don’t lose control?

Join the club! 25 million Americans suffer from urinary incontinence, or loss of bladder control.  Now here’s the $25,000 question:  Have you told your doctor?

Most people have never mentioned these problems to their doctor, which is probably why physicians diagnose only one in eight Americans who have experienced urinary incontinence.   You probably think there isn’t much that can be done, short of having surgery, right?  You believe the problem is not that bad and it’s just a natural part of the aging process, or the byproduct of several pregnancies.  Like most people, you are likely to be managing the symptoms by wearing protective pads, and hoping it does not get worse.

Did you know there are non-surgical treatment options that can be very effective, especially when the problem is not severe?  Physical therapy is one treatment option that can help bladder problems without any side effects.

Physical therapy can include:

• Exercises for your pelvic muscles, hips and abdominals
• Biofeedback – a device that helps you “see” your pelvic floor muscles
• Bladder training – re-teaching your bladder to work correctly 
• Behavioral strategies – changes that you can make in your life to improve symptoms

A specially trained physical therapist can evaluate each patient and design an individualized program to meet your needs. Because most insurance companies cover physical therapy treatment, it is a low cost treatment option that can help you regain control of your bladder.  For more information, call Memorial’s Continence Center at (423) 495-2555.

Michele Webb, PT, DPT
Memorial's Continence Center

French fries are made from potatoes and potatoes are a vegetable, right?  Vegetables are the part of a plant you can eat, like the seeds, roots, stems, and leaves.  Potatoes are, in fact, a root vegetable or tuber.  So yes, technically potatoes are a vegetable….. but nutritionally they are a starch.  And if you have diabetes, you should carefully watch how much sugar and starch you eat.

Starches are part of a larger group of foods known as carbohydrates.  You’ve heard of low carb diets?  For people who want to control their blood sugar, or who want to lose weight, lowering your carb intake is one way to reach your goals.

While carbohydrates provide energy, they also raise your blood sugar!  Many people with diabetes have focused on cutting down on sugar and breads without realizing starchy vegetables raise their blood sugars, as well.  This would include some of our traditional Southern favorites like corn, green peas, pinto beans, lima beans, and black eyed peas.

Don’t let the portion size fool you!  If you compare a 6 oz. plain baked potato (about fist size) with the skin on, it is about 159 calories and 36 grams carbohydrate.  Compared to a 6 oz order of french fries (Large) from major fast food chain is a whopping 530 calories and 67 grams carbohydrate!

Because it looks the same in size, you might think it has the same calories and carbohydrates.  You don’t have to avoid potatoes.  Just be careful how they are prepared and the amount you eat and you will have greater success with your blood sugar and weight control.

Lea Reagan, Diabetes Educator
Memorial’s Diabetes and Nutrition Center

Summer memories for me conjure up pictures of my grandfather’s garden, brimming with over 20 varieties of vegetables and 10 varieties of fruit vines and trees.  We definitely got in our “5-a-day” – fruits and vegetables, that is! 

Summertime also conjures up visions of backyard cookouts, complete with hot dogs and hamburgers.  Why not add a new addition to your grill this year while meeting your “5-a-day” at the same time?  Grilling offers an easy twist for incorporating more vegetables and fruits into your diet.  Charcoal and gas grills enhance the unique flavors of vegetables and fruits by caramelizing the natural sugars.  Add in the smokiness from the grill for some “good eats!”

Fruits and veggies can be roasted directly on the grill, slipped onto a kabob, tossed into a special grilling pan, or wrapped in foil pouches (although you won’t get the smoked flavor).  Most cook better when brushed with high-quality oil or coated with a marinade.  Try one of these marinade ideas:  reduced-fat Italian or other vinaigrette-type dressings, balsamic vinegar glaze with fresh herbs and garlic, honey or maple syrup, “herby” broths, fruit or sweet sauces, oil plus garlic and herbs.

Select veggies and fruits that aren’t high in water content.  Good veggies choices include zucchini and yellow squash, eggplant, beets, asparagus, peppers (all varieties), corn on the cob, cherry and grape tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, cabbage, sweet and new potatoes.  Fruits that work well are fresh pineapple, apples, pears, cantaloupe, bananas and stone fruits, such as peaches, nectarines, and plums.

Remember these tips to assure your grilling success.  Start with a clean, hot grill.  Keep the flame low and the grates oiled to prevent sticking.  Cut foods into ½ to 1-inch chunks (for kabobs or baskets) or ½-inch thick slices for direct grilling.  Group foods with similar cook times to avoid burning.  Use online recipe sites for more ideas and recipes.  ENJOY!

Patricia Partain
Registered Dietitian

I am a pathologist.  Many (or most) of you may not know exactly what I do here at Memorial.  I'm not a forensic pathologist like the death investigators on Quincy or CSI - they're the rock stars of our field.  I'm just a humble hospital pathologist and, although I do perform the occasional autopsy, I spend most of my time peering through the eyepieces of my instrument of choice, an Olympus BX50 microscope.  The internist has his stethoscope, the surgeon her scalpel - I have my microscope.  All sorts of tissues cross my desk in the form of glass microscope slides - small biopsies from every nook of the body as well as larger resections like colectomies and mastectomies. 

My job is to make the correct diagnosis and provide all the information necessary for the patient's physician (or physicians) to plan a course of treatment.  There is a risk in being a pathologist, though, of too much separation from the patient, the problem being that in not actually meeting the person at the other end of the biopsy it can all become too abstract.  To combat this I, as well as my partners here, participate in multiple cancer conferences to participate in the discussion of patient care plans (I was at breast conference this morning at 7 am).  Also, some of us perform certain procedures (like needle aspirations and bone marrows) which gives us a chance to see patients in person (though they may not want to see us when we're holding a needle!). 

Finally, I regularly visit our breast center and meet with patients who have questions about their pathology reports, trying to bring sense to what must seem like runes to them.  Hopefully, these strategies help remind me that every biopsy I see is from a real, live breathing person who needs my help.
 
Sanford C. Sharp, M.D.

Most of my patients ask me, “How much sleep do I really need?” When they place emphasis on the word “really” I know they are trying to survive on less instead enjoying more sleep. Each individual is different. But, when working-age adults get fewer than seven hours of sleep a night, their risk for developing diseases begins to increase.

Sleep is as important to your health as the food you eat and the air you breathe. Chronic lack of sleep can have the following health consequences:

• Sleep deficiency causes an increase in blood pressure, putting you at greater risk for heart disease, stroke and glaucoma
• The immune system may be affected, making you more susceptible to infections and respiratory diseases
• The level of inflammation in your body rises, creating more risk for heart-related conditions as well as cancer and diabetes
• Sleep affects acid reflux, and if you are not getting the sleep you need, you could have more frequent episodes.

You need to make getting a good night’s sleep a top priority. Here are some tips to help you.

• Make sure your bed and bedroom are quiet and comfortable
• Get up and go to bed at the same time every day
• Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol before bed
• Participate in regular exercise but avoid exercising closer than two or three hours before bedtime
• If you are still awake after more than 30 minutes in bed, get up and do something relaxing until you feel sleepy

After trying these tips, if you are still sleepy during the day or have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, you may benefit from a sleep evaluation. Treatments are available to help you get the sleep you need. Call (423) 495-REST (7378) for more information.  Visit Your Health Resources on this website and search “sleep” to learn more.

Vincent Viscomi, M.D., FCCP, DAASM
Director, Memorial Regional Sleep Center

You gotta’ have faith; a leap of faith; it takes faith.  The word “faith” is woven into our modern vernacular in many positive ways.  But do you ever think about it in the context of health care?  We do.  When you’re sick, you go to a doctor you may have never met before; receive a diagnosis that you tell all your friends about; are perhaps prescribed a drug you’ve never heard of; and go home to follow the doctor’s orders to a “T”.  Now THAT takes faith.

But do you ever wonder how the doctor knows the difference between a virus and bacteria?  We do.  We think it has something to do with the color of the runny stuff from your nose.  But, if you’ve ever looked at the Holy Grail of desk references for prescription drugs, the Physician’s Deck Reference, its thick enough for Danny DeVito to stand on so that his height rivals Michael Jordon.  So, how DO they know which drug is best?  We’re gonna’ find out.

That’s why we created the inspire blog.  If you’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.  Want to know how high a fever has to be before you call the doctor?  Write us.  If you’re sitting around with friends wondering how doctors, who get called out in the middle of the night, can go from a dead sleep to performing precise life-saving surgery, read the blog.  We want to create a dialogue with you about all things health.

The blog is scheduled to be updated at least once a week.  It will feature postings from docs, nurses, and many others who operate behind the scenes in the round-the-clock world of a hospital.  But most importantly, we’ll bring you the latest health news to help you and your family live better, make smart health care choices and improve in body, mind and spirit.  Let’s renew, refresh and embrace health together.

Lisa McCluskey, MBA
Vice President, Marketing Communications