Sheesh. Was that a long winter or what? Time to get out and celebrate — and here are some fun ideas. The Mad Hatter Tea Party, an Enchanted Spring Party with Mermaids and Unicorns and family pet photos with the bunny are all in store at Woodland Mall — and the fun starts this weekend. Shoppers will also find the latest spring fashion trends to freshen their wardrobes. Read more here.
Expande tus horizontes
Mark your calendar for April 4-5 — and get down to Wealthy Theatre for Grand Rapids Latin American Film Festival (GRLAFF). This year, GRLAFF will showcase eight feature-length films from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay and the Dominican Republic, plus Una mujer fantástica (A Fantastic Woman), a 2018 Oscar-winning film from Chile. More info here. En español aqui.
Give the kids a break
Rock climbing, art, bounce houses, swimming, and fitness are just a few of the family–friendly activity options available at The Salvation Army Kroc Center during Spring Break 2019. More here.
Fun fact:
1904
The first year scientific literature described fainting goats.
The world premiere of Sheets of Sand, based on Northville native Natalie Lomske’s winning screenplay, hits the big screen Monday, April 29th at the State Theatre in Traverse City. The story centers on a young woman with mild Cerebral Palsy and her emerging self-confidence in a world of prejudice and judgment.
Lomske’s script was jury-selected by 19 film professionals from a field of 34 entries in ProjectCinemaMI.org‘s competition. She received $500 and the opportunity to have her script crafted into a short film by Brauer Productions, Inc. Project Cinema MI created the competition to offer writers the chance to share their work and compete in this unique project.
During production, six professional film department heads mentored nine interns from the TBA Career Tech Center, NMC Audio Technology Department and other enthusiastic individuals. Interns learned the physical, mental, creative and social skills required to produce a dramatic film.
In addition to the film, there will be a screening of a short behind-the-scenes video created by UpNorth TV. A lively Q & A will follow with the producers.
When: Monday, April 29, 2019, 6-7pm
Where: State Theatre, Traverse City
Tickets are $5
All proceeds will be divided between:
Disability Network Northern Michigan
PCMI for future projects.
The State Theatre
ProjectCinemaMI.org is non-profit community filmmaking project that focuses on a hands-on experience that teaches the filmmaking process to all ages and skill levels. The goal is to promote cultural/art enrichment and professional development through an active learning environment run by professional filmmakers and is made possible from generous contributions from supportive Traverse City individuals and businesses.
Gut health has become a prominent focus in 21st-century health care.
The human body has more bacteria cells than human cells, and recent clinical research links an imbalance of bacteria in the gut microbiome (“good” vs “bad” bacteria) to almost every chronic disease—including obesity, diabetes, autoimmunity, depression, cancer, heart disease, fibromyalgia and asthma.
Research also reveals that people with lower amounts of “good” intestinal bacteria had increased fat tissue, insulin resistance, high cholesterol and general inflammation when compared with individuals who have a healthy gut microbiome.
In addition to the ecosystem inside the gut, the intestinal wall itself houses nearly 70 percent of the body’s immune system.
The lining of our intestinal wall is only one cell layer thick, and therefore very susceptible to damage. If that barrier breaks down, due to infection, medication, food allergens or toxins, the body’s immune system is compromised, which can also lead to chronic disease.
The gut also contains more neurotransmitters than the brain, and the two organs are highly connected.
If messages are altered for any reason in any direction—from the brain to the gut or the gut to the brain—you’ll experience health concerns.
At STR!VE, we talk with members about the link between gut health and chronic disease, and use evidence-based lifestyle management strategies as the first and primary method for prevention and treatment.
Lifestyle factors that can damage your gut microbiome
Processed foods and a nutrient-poor diet
Chronic stress
Overuse of medications such as steroids, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics and acid blockers
Actions you can take to improve your gut microbiome
Replace processed foods, sugars and refined carbohydrates with fiber-rich whole foods
Aim for 75 percent of your plate to be plant-based foods and vegetables
Eat fermented foods that contain good amounts of probiotics such as miso, kimchi, sauerkraut and tempeh
Consider a 30-day elimination diet to pinpoint trigger foods
Maybe you’re looking for a break from scrolling through tiny images and social media posts on your smartphone screen. Maybe you watched Roma on Netflix and have some lingering questions.
We’re more connected to the world than ever, but we consume foreign media in isolation; what’s missing is context. Enter the Grand Rapids Latin American Film Festival (GRLAFF) — ‘Cinema Without Borders’
Winner of the 2018 Grandy for Outstanding Art Event (Judge’s Choice), GRLAFF is returning for its ninth season to provide opportunities for dialogue across cultures and to enrich the social fabric of our community. GRAFF offers the West Michigan community a platform in which to engage with some of the most recent, award-winning films from Latin America — through striking imagery and long-form storytelling on the big screen, and also face-to-face interactions with film directors, local speakers, and fellow Festival attendees.
“I’m excited to see how audiences will respond to what we have planned for 2019,” said Mayra Fortes, a Grand Valley State University professor and co-chair of the GRLAFF Organizing Committee.
“Every year, more and more people from the community attend the Festival, and the organizers love to hear how much they enjoy the event — from the films themselves to the discussions and the food,” Fortes added.
This year, GRLAFF will showcase eight feature-length films from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay and the Dominican Republic, plus Una mujer fantástica (A Fantastic Woman), a 2018 Oscar-winning film from Chile.
Friday evening, festival-goers can interact with Nelson Carlo de los Santos Arias, a director from the Dominican Republic, after the showing of his film Cocote. Cocote is the story of Alberto, a kind-hearted gardener who returns home to attend his father’s funeral, but quickly faces a dilemma when he realizes that he’s been summoned by his family to avenge his father’s murder.
On Saturday evening, audience members will meet Daresha Kyi, the co-director of Chavela. The award-winning documentary, a co-production between the United States and Mexico, is a portrait of the beloved Costa Rican singer Chavela Vargas, whose interpretations of Mexican ranchera songs endeared her to audiences, even as her unconventional life challenged societal norms.
Panel discussions will follow several of the features, and local experts will weigh in on some of the themes brought to light in the films. GRLAFF 2019 will also revive a tradition — screening a selection of award-winning short films from Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, and Venezuela on Saturday at noon in the main auditorium.
Latin American-style refreshments prepared by local restaurants will be available both days, and festival-goes can mingle with directors, speakers, and fellow audience members in the lobby.
The Festival is free and includes kids’ programming — an animated film from Colombia, El libro de Lila (Lila’s Book), on Saturday morning in the main auditorium and a series of live puppet shows both afternoons in the Koning Micro-Cinema.
What: Grand Rapids Latin American Film Festival
When: April 5-7, 2019
Where: Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506
Admission: Free to the public; donations are appreciated (grlaff.org/donate)
Visit the Festival website and follow the Festival on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for updates, using the handle @GRLAFF and the hashtag #GRLAFF2019.
WKTV Managing Editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma with (from left) actor Breighanna Minnema, actor Heather Cregg, choreographer Torrey Thomas and director Bruce Tinker. (WKTV)
In our first Local Entertaining podcast, WKTV Managing Editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma sits down with Grand Rapids Civic Theatre Director Bruce Tinker, Choreographer Torrey Thomas, and actors Heather Cregg and Breighanna Minnema to discuss the recent production of “Mamma Mia!.”
Check out the podcast by clicking here or going to “Podcasts” on our home page.
In this podcast, the group talks about everything from auditioning to performing.
Tinker discusses about how Grand Rapids Civic Theatre is often looking at scripts five years out and in the case of “Mamma Mia!” had been considering it for almost 20 years. The company had a highly successful three-week run, adding two more shows to the schedule just to accommodate demand. Tinker noted they could have probably continued running the show for awhile.
To see a recorded video of the podcast, head to The Whole Picture Podcasts on Facebook or click here.
Make sure to stay tune with Locally Entertaining as we explore the West Michigan arts scene. If you have an idea for the podcast, contact Joanne Bailey-Boorsma at joanne@wktv.org.
Injuries are scary for everyone, but for seniors especially, recovery can seem impossible. After a life-altering event such as a bad fall, stroke, or serious illness, it’s not uncommon for the elderly to assume that they’ll never regain the same level of function that they had before the injury. But ignoring a problem never makes it go away, and failing to devote adequate time and effort to recovering after an injury can severely damage a senior’s chances of regaining their maximum functional potential. Inpatient injury rehabilitation can help seniors get back on track, both physically and emotionally, for the life they want to lead.
24-Hour Care
When recovering from an injury, changes can happen at any moment, and it’s important to have support when they do. While outpatient care can allow patients to recover in the comfort of their own home, the lack of 24-hour support can be the difference between a timely and late response to a change in condition. With inpatient injury rehabilitation, seniors have access to a qualified team of care providers, including nurses, doctors, and therapists, at all times, ensuring that care takes place exactly when it’s needed.
In addition, around-the-clock monitoring means that seniors undergoing injury rehabilitation can rest easy knowing there will be someone on hand to help with medication administration, wound dressing, and activities of daily living like using the bathroom, even in the middle of the night.
Tailored Treatments and Therapies
Whether recovering from fall-related injury such as a fractured or broken bone, or from an illness, stroke, or other serious condition, inpatient rehabilitation programs are fully equipped to offer individualized treatment for every patient. Inpatient rehabilitation centers almost always have 24-hour skilled nursing, as well as access to licensed physicians, therapists, social workers, and other staff to provide the best care for their patients. This means treatments can be tailored to each injury, and more importantly, each person.
For example, after a hip fracture, an injury rehabilitation patient may need physical therapy to regain a full range of motion and strength training to learn how to easily maneuver with a walker. Or, after a stroke, treatment may include occupational therapy to create and learn strategies for daily activities of independent or assisted living and speech-language pathology to improve or regain communication skills.
Emotional Support
Injuries and recovery can be isolating, and coming to terms with a life-changing event can wreak havoc on anyone’s emotional state. It’s important for family and friends to support recovering seniors, but it can be hugely beneficial to bring in professional emotional support to help the patient rehabilitate both mind and body. Unlike friends and family, some of whom have never had to navigate the recovery process, therapists and professional caregivers are well-versed in the emotional difficulty that injuries can create, and have helped many patients understand and improve their mental states. This experience can not only help rehabilitation be more effective and quick, but also help the patient feel more calm and assured.
Inpatient rehabilitation is an important tool for getting the most out of life after an injury. With an attention to holistic, individualized care, injury rehabilitation services are dedicated to getting patients back to their highest possible level of function and independent living. With the right care, seniors can rebound from injuries and other life altering events to continue living life to the fullest.
People with autism, dementia, PTSD and similar conditions often experience sensitivities or challenges with sensory regulation. A big barrier for these folks is sensitivity to overstimulation and noise — the norm for environments at public spaces like the Grand Rapids Public Museum and John Ball Zoo.
What to do?
Well, thanks to passage of the Kent County millage in November 2016, funding was made available for the Grand Rapids Public Museum and John Ball Zoo to help highly sensitive individuals enjoy their experiences. The duo partnered with KultureCity — a nonprofit based in Birmingham, Alabama — to make their organizations, including all of the programs and events hosted, sensory-inclusive. The goal: to promote an accommodating and positive experience for all guests with a sensory issue.
To obtain sensory-inclusive certification, JBZ and GRPM employees underwent training by leading medical professionals on how to recognize guests with sensory needs and how to handle a sensory overload situation. Sensory bags, equipped with noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, verbal cue cards and weighted lap pads will be available to guests beginning in early April at the GRPM and in May at John Ball Zoo.
Families can prepare for visits to JBZ or the GRPM by downloading the free KultureCity App where one can view what sensory inclusive features are available and where they can be accessed. Also on the app is the Social Story which will provide a preview of what to expect while visiting.
“Having the opportunity to collaborate with KultureCity and the Museum to offer sensory kits to our guests embodies the Zoo’s value of diversity within the culture, talents, and experiences of our communities,” said Peter D’Arienzo, CEO of John Ball Zoo.
“We strive to be a place where all people feel welcome,” said Dale Robertson, President and CEO of the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
The panelists from Tea Time with Tanya visit with some of the guests. (Meochia Nochi Thompson)
By Meochia Nochi Thompson WKTV Community Contributor
Tea Time with Tanya kicked off it’s first hospitality and service panel discussion, featuring top professionals from food, hotel and hospitality services in the Grand Rapids area.
The event was moderated by Douglas Kelley of Evolve Solutions, a web design, marketing, social media and development firm. Panelists included Joe Howard, Co-Owner of Junk King, a nationwide franchise that empties unwanted storage from businesses and homes to donate to those who might find treasure in it. Also on the panel was Jeffrey Burns, Operations Manager for AC Hotel Grand Rapids, Downtown. Burns shared how he worked his way up from laundry to his current positions and how that helped him better understand customer service and teamwork.
Another panelist was Lewis Williams, owner of 40 Acres Restaurant and Café, also the newly awarded Fastest Growing Business and the GR New Business of the Year. Rounding out the panel was Evan Groendyk, retail for Ferris Coffee & Nut Co., and Tanya Lewis, president of TMS Consulting Group and host of the event also set on the panel to discuss ‘bringing business back to the basics of wowing guests.”
Panelists answered several questions pertinent to servicing customers. One pertained to accommodating customers when no clear policy is in place.
Left Joe Howard from Junk King and right, Jeffery Burns from Right, Jeffery Burns from AC Hotel Grand Rapids, Downtown. Both were part of the Tea Time for Tanya panel. (Meochia Nochi Thompson)
“Keeping a customer out values the cost of losing a customer,” said Lewis of 40 Acres.He gave an example of his “no reservations policy.” Restaurant guests were mistakenly given one by a new employee. Lewis prepared for situations like this in advance by purposely opening in an area with plenty of surrounding business. This insight allowed him to walk his patrons to a neighboring bar and pay for drinks for the party of 15 until space became available to accommodate them.
Others mentioned useful information like admitting mistakes, going above and beyond, apologizing and being real, even offering personal services that may not be available, like hand delivering goods when there is no delivery.
Another issue addressed was deciphering which information to give customers. Everyone agreed that it is important to take all the blame, apologize on behalf of the team and immediately make it right.
Burns, with AC Hotel Grand Rapids, Downtown, stressed the importance of honesty and not upsetting the guest by always leading with a yes.
“If you don’t have something, don’t just say no we don’t have that food,” said Burns who shared his experience about a customer requesting an item not on the menu. “Just say, let me see what we can offer you. The last thing you want to do is tick them off.”
The group talked about creating positive work environments by investing in and empowering your team; working on projects together, incorporating everyone’s input if possible and being transparent with staff.
The Tea Time with Tanya panel discusses a variety of points in customer service. (Meochia Nochi Thompson)
“Learn what you do not want to be,” Lewis said. “Teach everyone around you so you won’t have to do it by yourself. Delegate and empower.”
“Lead by example,” was Joe Howard’s simply summary to keeping a positive team enviroment.
“The dishwasher is the most important person,” Williams said. “You give him a problem and you may not have a job.”
Final advice from the panelist included:
Acknowledge your customer. Greet them coming in and thank them going out. Empower your team to make on the spot, bold customer decisions. – Evan Groendyk
The guest experience is always important…Be fully engaged. Lead by example. – Lewis Williams
Under promise, over deliver. – Joe Howard
All employees need to be on the same page on how to treat the customer. – Tanya Lewis
Vendors, guests attending the event included Magic 104.9FM, Blessed Pen Ink Publishing, Green Frog Photo, Debbie Turner Bell, Appetizing, Rising Grinds Café, Leadership Advancement Café, Key to Your Needs Professional Janitorial Services and The Asher Collection.
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
In late October 2018, Dr. Jen received a call from a couple up in Howard City who were desperate to help this poor kitty who had hobbled into their garage with a severely injured foot. Unable to find anyone to assist them over the weekend, they set up shelter for him and tried tending to his left rear foot—it was swollen to three times normal size.
Dr. Jen took the 18-month-old (born around May of 2017) into her care on the 30th with not a day to spare. It appears that something was tied or wrapped around his foot over bones of the tarsus (above the ankle) and since there is no fat to cushion anything that constricts, the binding ate through his flesh and tendons, exposing bone in its traumatic path.
Poor kitty!
By the time this beautiful boy arrived, Dr. Jen was concerned that his foot was damaged beyond repair and that amputation would be in his future. Luckily, when she debrided the wounds the tissue bled; that means a healthy blood flow would hopefully allow for adequate healing over time. Since the metatarsal bones were exposed in several places, Dr. Jen embarked on rounds of creative bandaging, heavy-duty antibiotics and, of course, narcotics and anti-inflammatories to control the swelling and pain.
Note regal bearing
If that weren’t enough, this big-footed fella tested positive for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus). It took about a month for his injuries to heal, leaving only the slightest scar behind, which in itself is utterly amazing.
Yeti walks without a limp and appears to have no residual pain or numbness—he is actually quite athletic and graceful. He can best be described as one of our most chill and relaxed residents —we often find him snoozing all day long in one of our cozy cat cubbies. When people come to find him (as they often do), he gently rolls over and asks for belly rubs, which have become his meaning for existence.
This young man has slowly become what we call a ‘big fish in a small pond’, as he is likely to chase away other kitties when they attempt to steal the spotlight from him. Since he may have the propensity to nip to ward off furry space invaders, we feel it would be best if Yeti became the only cat in his household, but we think he wouldn’t mind a dog as long as the canine was a bit on the lazy side like Yeti.
Dr. Jen is quite enamored by this guy—heck we all are —and by spending time with him at the clinic during phases of his recovery, she can attest to the fact that whoever takes him home and makes him one of their own is going to have one of the most affectionate, adorable feline companions on their hands. He is certainly a people pleaser and would love to find himself in a home where he could be the center of attention.
More about Yeti:
Domestic Short Hair
Adult
Male
Medium
Black
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Spayed
Prefers a home without other cats
Good in a home with children
Want to adopt Yeti? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!
Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To
take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids
area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming,
no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be
found.
By Mike Klompstra, SMG Van Andel Arena & DeVos Place
Adam Sandler will be traveling across North America with his 100% Fresher tour this summer starting June 1st in Chicago, Illinois, before making a stop in Grand Rapids at SMG-managed Van Andel Arena at 8pm on Thursday, June 6, 2019.
Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, March 29 at 10am and will be available at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place® box offices and online at Ticketmaster.com. A purchase limit of eight (8) tickets will apply to every order. See Ticketmaster.com for all current pricing and availability.
A successful actor, writer, producer, and musician, Sandler has been performing for live audiences on a sold-out tour over the last couple of years across the U.S. and Canada. 100% Fresh was released on Netflix on October 23, 2018, and marked Sandler’s first comedy special in twenty years. In conjunction with Netflix, Warner Bros. Records released the audio companion to Sandler’s critically acclaimed Netflix special, 100% Fresh: A Netflix Original Comedy Special, on all streaming services and CD on March 22nd. Sandler’s comedy albums on Warner Bros. Records have gone multi-platinum and have collectively sold more than six million copies to date.
Beyond his beloved standup, Sandler’s films have grossed over $3 billion worldwide. His newest film Murder Mystery will stream on Netflix June 14th, with an all-star international cast including Jennifer Aniston and Luke Evans. Sandler will also star in the Safdie Brothers’ Uncut Gems out later this year.
Es difícil evitar el tema de las fronteras, ya que está en las noticias, las redes sociales y las mentes y bocas del público. A veces parecería que las divisiones sociales son grietas que se hacen cada vez más profundas, y los puentes brillan por su ausencia. Si al leer esto usted está asintiendo con la cabeza, le invitamos a marcar en su calendario las fechas del próximo Festival de Cine Latinoamericano de Grand Rapids (GRLAFF, por sus siglas en inglés), que tendrá lugar del 5 al 7 de abril del 2019.
Ganador del Premio Grandy 2018 al mejor evento artístico del año, el GRLAFF anuncia su novena temporada con un nuevo lema: “Cine Sin Fronteras”. Los organizadores eligieron esta frase porque refleja el deseo de propiciar el diálogo entre culturas y enriquecer el tejido social de la comunidad. Con esto en mente, el GRLAFF le presenta a la comunidad del Oeste de Michigan la oportunidad de vivir una experiencia inolvidable, no solo a través de imágenes impresionantes e historias singulares proyectadas en la pantalla gigante, sino también mediante la interacción personal con directores de películas, panelistas locales y otros miembros del público que asiste al Festival.
Durante el primer fin de semana de abril, el Festival inundará el Wealthy Theatre en Grand Rapids con figuras, sonidos y sabores de América Latina. “Estoy ansiosa por ver cómo responde el público a lo que tenemos planeado para 2019”, dice Mayra Fortes, profesora de Grand Valley State University y co-presidenta del Comité Organizador del GRLAFF. “Cada año, más personas de la comunidad asisten al Festival, y a los organizadores nos encanta escuchar cuánto disfrutaron el evento – desde las propias películas hasta los diálogos y la comida”. En el auditorio principal del teatro, a lo largo de tres días el Festival presentará ocho largometrajes, elegidos con mucho cuidado, de Brasil, Colombia, Ecuador, México, Paraguay y la República Dominicana, además del filme chileno Una mujer fantástica, que ganó el Oscar a la mejor película extranjera en el 2018.
Varios de los filmes este año serán seguidos por paneles con expertos locales sobre los temas puestos de relieve en las películas. El GRLAFF 2019 también revivirá una tradición de temporadas anteriores al presentar una selección de cortometrajes galardonados de Argentina, México, Chile, Colombia y Venezuela, el sábado a mediodía en el auditorio principal. Cada día habrá una oportunidad de probar bocadillos latinoamericanos preparados por restaurantes locales y de dialogar con directores, panelistas y otros miembros del público en el área de recepción del teatro.
No se pierda la oportunidad de conocer al director dominicano Nelson Carlo de los Santos Arias, quien presentará su película Cocote el viernes por la tarde. Cocote cuenta la historia de Alberto, un jardinero evangélico que regresa a su pueblo natal para asistir al entierro de su padre, pero que dentro de poco cae en cuenta de que éste fue asesinado y su familia lo ha llamado para vengar su muerte. El sábado por la tarde, el Festival contará con la presencia de Daresha Kyi, co-directora de Chavela. El documental, una coproducción entre Estados Unidos y México, es un retrato de la cantante costarricense Chavela Vargas, querida primero en México y más tarde en todo el mundo por su interpretación de rancheras tradicionales, a pesar de que su estilo de vida y su apariencia no encajaban con las normas sociales del día.
Estas oportunidades especiales de dialogar con directores visitantes son una de las cosas que más valoran los miembros de la comunidad que año tras año asisten al GRLAFF. “El Festival es importante porque es muy raro que veamos películas hechas por y para latinoamericanos”, dice Erika Carolina VanDyke, Coordinadora de Comunicaciones del Latino Community Coalition, una coalición de organizaciones basada en Grand Rapids. El año pasado, VanDyke asistió a la presentación de la película colombiana Jericó, y disfrutó de la sesión de preguntas y respuestas con la directora, Catalina Mesa. “El poder escuchar a la señorita Mesa, una paisana mía, y conocerla después, fue una experiencia que no olvidaré. Su película y su presencia hicieron que Colombia se sintiera un poco más cerca de Grand Rapids”, añade.
Si busca entretener a sus chiquillos y ofrecerles una conexión con la cultura latinoamericana, pues ¿por qué no traerlos al GRLAFF 2019? La asistencia al estreno de eventos para niños en el 2018 superó las expectativas de los organizadores, y un asistente al Festival comentó que “la programación para niños fue genial”. A petición del público, el Festival ha ampliado su programación para familias y la ofrecerá tanto el sábado como el domingo. Se presentará una película colombiana de dibujos animados, El libro de Lila, el sábado por la mañana en el auditorio principal, y un espectáculo de títeres en vivo, ambos días por la tarde en el micro-cine.
Como es de costumbre, el Festival es gratuito para toda la comunidad, gracias a la generosidad de los socios y patrocinadores de GRLAFF, y a las donaciones de parte del público. Los interesados pueden hacer su donación en persona durante el Festival, o por internet en grlaff.org/donate. La cantidad sugerida es de $5.00.
¿Qué? Festival de Cine Latinoamericano de Grand Rapids
¿Cuándo? 5-7 de abril de 2019
¿Dónde? Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506
Asegúrese de visitar el sitio web del Festival para planear su visita y de seguir al Festival en Twitter, Facebook y Instagram para mantenerse al día con las novedades, siempre con el nombre de usuario @GRLAFF y el hashtag #GRLAFF2019.
She had been living with breathlessness for years. She even worked as a hospice nurse caring for patients who had stage 4 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
And still, Michelle Pekel found herself taken aback earlier this year when a doctor diagnosed her with COPD.
“Hearing the letters ‘COPD’ is a wakeup call—a call that I continually ignored for 35 years,” said Pekel, 50, of Fremont, Michigan.
An umbrella term for a group of lung diseases, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, COPD is a progressive disease in which the blocked airways make it increasingly difficult to breathe.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 15 million people have COPD, although this number may be as high as 25 million because another 10 million people don’t know they have it.
Pekel found herself in that latter category of Americans.
“I’ve smoked a pack a day for 35 years and the symptoms didn’t seem like symptoms to me, as this was my everyday life,” Pekel said. “I always had a shortness of breath, chest tightness and constant coughing. … Although abnormal for a non-smoker, (it) was something that I came to terms with and became my norm.”
Not everyone who has these symptoms has COPD, and not everyone who has COPD has these symptoms, said Sally Wagoner, RN, a tobacco treatment specialist with Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial.
Over time, the symptoms can add up and get in the way of simple tasks. They can make everyday activities like cooking, climbing stairs or carrying a suitcase seem like a challenge.
Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat
As a hospice nurse who knows what stage 4 COPD looks like, Pekel wanted to avoid this fate.
“I have two children and I knew that I needed to quit for me to be in their lives,” she said. “My father died at the age of 59 from a massive heart attack and my mother died at 64 with cancer—and both were smokers.”
By her own account, Pekel had been a committed smoker, burning through a pack of cigarettes a day.
She smoked in the mornings, in the evenings, in the hours in between and even throughout her two pregnancies.
“I can’t imagine what I was polluting my children with,” Pekel said. “My daughter begged me to quit, but I didn’t hear her. Now all I can say is, don’t wait until it’s too late, until you get cancer, a stroke or a heart attack. So many diseases, all because of cigarettes.”
Wake-up call
Not until her own COPD diagnosis—and a little nudge from her pulmonologist at Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial—did Pekel decide she needed to take control.
She registered for the smoking cessation program that Wagoner leads.
“Quitting tobacco is the single most important thing you can do for your health,” Wagoner said. “The Quit for Good program at Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial encompasses all the tools and knowledge you need to be successful in one-on-one, group sessions or family quit programs.”
The program includes weekly meetings that can be adjusted to fit a person’s schedule.
“The weekly meetings are really needed to see higher success,” Wagoner said. “And we recommend eight sessions, which ensures accountability and continued success.”
Pekel said she has smoked her last cigarette.
And while she’s taking her newfound smoke-free lifestyle one day at a time, she credits the special program at Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial for giving her the resources and strength to kick cigarettes for good.
“Without the class, I don’t think that I would have been successful,” she said. “The plan was a huge piece of the puzzle, and my quitting this time was successful—and it wasn’t before.
“I’ve never gone this long before without a cigarette, after 35 years of smoking, never,” she said. “I am amazed at my progress and can see and feel the change. My daughter is 14 and used to complain how her clothes smelled of smoke, and second-hand smoke is real. Now my house smells better, my car, my clothes. It’s a nice bonus to have.”
The journey didn’t come easy.
Registering for the class turned out to be the easy part.
“I had to mentally prepare myself to go to the first session,” Pekel said. “I was very anxious for my first class. I have tried to quit countless times over the years and I would make it two weeks and would be back to smoking again. Nothing seemed to work for me.”
Wagoner helped Pekel begin her journey as a non-smoker by first explaining the effects of smoking and describing the 4,000 chemicals that reside in cigarette smoke—dangerous toxins like ammonia, carbon monoxide, arsenic and formaldehyde.
“You see the commercials and you hear about this all the time, but this was an eye-opener for me,” Pekel said. “I didn’t realize I was smoking such harsh chemicals and toxins and for so long. I couldn’t believe what I was willingly doing to my body. Then it made me also realize the effects that I was having on others around me.”
Pekel said she still had doubts she could quit after that first session in January.
Wagoner was encouraging and enthusiastic, but Pekel doubted she could win the mental war with herself.
Among all U.S. adults who smoked in 2015, about 7 in 10 reported they wanted to quit completely, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Wagoner’s early suggestion—taper off gradually to quit cigarettes—proved more difficult than expected because she couldn’t smoke just two cigarettes a day, Pekel said.
She eventually chose a nicotine replacement. Wagoner worked with physicians to find a replacement method that would work for Pekel.
“I was 15 years old when I first started smoking, and like a lot of smokers I’m anxious about what life would be like without cigarettes,” Pekel said. “Sally didn’t push me, but she did show me how you can live life without cigarettes, how to make a plan for quitting, what to do when I crave a cigarette.”
Easy does it
When the craving for cigarettes sneaks up on her, Pekel said she gets busy.
Photo by Taylor Ballek
She does something with her hands and focuses on an activity such as cleaning the cabinets, cupboards and closets. Her house is now constantly clean and much better-smelling without the cigarette smoke, she said.
“When someone is trying to quit tobacco, old routines and triggers can derail any progress,” Wagoner said. “So what we did was analyze Michelle’s routines, so we could break those up to avoid downfalls.
“For her, mornings were the worst times,” Wagoner said. “And she couldn’t give up her coffee, so we had her have her morning coffee at the kitchen table instead of in front of the TV or computer.”
Pekel said changing the routine meant cigarettes were no longer associated with those old habits.
“After meals was another huge trigger for me,” Pekel said. “And I’m happy to say that after 36 days, that trigger was no longer there. If I can do it after 35 years, anyone can do it.”
Another positive activity Pekel incorporated into her life was exercise.
Before she walked into Wagoner’s quit tobacco program, Pekel had never stepped foot inside Tamarac, the wellness facility west of downtown Fremont that houses an outpatient rehabilitation center, a skincare center and spa, a pool, a café and support programs like tobacco cessation and diabetes education.
There’s also a 12,500-square-foot gym with personal trainers and fitness trainers, as well as more than three dozen fitness classes.
“Now I’m working out at least three times a week,” Pekel said with a laugh. “Tamarac has so many resources, opportunities and support for people like me who want to turn over a new leaf and take our health back. Pound and Zumba are my go-to programs, and I go there three times a week.
“The first class after I quit smoking, I was short of breath within seconds,” she said. “And now after 30 days, I’ve noticed an improvement in my breathing and stamina in the class.”
Time and money
Getting healthy wasn’t the only benefit.
Pekel also saw a financial dividend from quitting cigarettes. Because she no longer smoked, she wasn’t spending $6 per pack, per day. That added up to $42 a week, or almost $170 a month.
The extra money was nice, Pekel said, although nothing beats waking up in the morning and being able to breathe deeply without any shortness of breath.
It’s a miraculous feeling to go through the day with more energy.
“It feels so good to have more energy and a better quality of life,” Pekel said. “The exercise is really helping me stay active and busy. I can enjoy my kids and my pets keep me active.
Photo by Taylor Ballek
Said Pekel: “Being diagnosed with COPD was a real wake-up call that made me think about the consequences if I continued down this path. What would happen to my children and my pets if I would die? It’s a reality that you need to come to terms with. Who would take care of my children? Provide for them? Love them as I do? Smoking isn’t worth it.”
Despite the progress she’s made, Pekel is also a realist.
She knows that after smoking for 35 years, she’ll never regain full function of her lungs.
“I’m 50 years old, but I know that by quitting I can slow the progression of COPD,” she said. “Don’t wait until you get sick. Stop polluting your lungs, pick up the phone and register for a tobacco quit class.
“Don’t get into the mindset that you have smoked too long, that you can’t quit,” she said. “You can and you will—and I’m proof of that.”
From Grand Rapids to Sundance. A young man finds his passion in digital storymaking. In the process, Shane McSauby discovers his Native American roots and a drive to empower others.
“I don’t really go out partying, but I’m definitely a social butterfly.”
~ Eliza Doolittle
Well, hello, gorgeous!
Excuse us? We’re dressing!
The fluttering you hear at Meijer Gardens this time of year? It isn’t your heart beating with excitement — it’s the butterflies! There’s still time to get a good dose of gorgeous — the winged ones are on display until April 30 during the 24th Annual Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition. More here.
They call me MISTER Robot
Big things have small beginnings
Hope you’ve cleared your calendar for this weekend. About 40 teams will compete at the FIRST Robotics event this Friday and Saturday. This includes host team East Kentwood’s Red Storm, Wyoming High School’s Demons, Potter House’s Tactical Hams, and the community team Code Red the Stray Dogs. Fun stuff! Go here for further details.
Ready for Act II
And so begins a new chapter in Gina Mancha’s life
Gina Mancha was displaced from a long career in automotive manufacturing and needed to find a new career. As a dislocated worker, Gina was eligible for services through Michigan Works!. Read her success story here.
Fun fact:
Goblin sharks might be the closest we’ll ever get to a real alien
From Kentwood’s Spring Break Club to the butterflies at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, there are plenty of things for area residents to do during next week’s spring break.
Below, I pulled together just some of the possibilities that could keep you and your family busier than if you had headed out.
Local students have fun during the Kentwood Spring Break Club which is offers April 1-5. (Supplied)
In Kentwood
The City of Kentwood will be offering its Spring Break Club April 1 – 5. The club will featured a week full of fun with gym games, arts and crafts, nature walks, gardening and much more. Students can participate the whole week or just for certain days. Registration is required, so make sure to visit the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE, or call 616-656-5270.
“We are going to have kids six- to 12-years-olds here,” said Spencer McKellar, recreation program coordinator for the City of Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department. We will do a number of different programs, active games in the gym. Maybe some nature walks if the weather cooperates, working in our kitchen and a number of other things.”
In Wyoming
Depending on weather, many of the area parks will be open. Wyoming’s Pinery Park is the only park in the city where the restrooms are open year around. The park features a paved walking trail, a playground and recently updated fitness equipment.
The Annual Gem and Mineral Show will take place at Rogers Place April 4 – 7. (WKTV)
The Indian Mounds Rock & Mineral Club will be hosting its annual show April 4-6 at Rogers Plaza, 972 28th St. SW. The show is free and features a number of demonstrations, exhibits, rock and mineral identification and vendors. The event is from 9:30 a.m. – 9 p.m .Thursday and Friday and 9:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday.
Head to Camp
Get close to the animals at the John Ball Zoo which will be hosting its spring break day camps April 1-4. Slumber near the chimpanzees at the zoo’s spring break overnight on April 5. Registration is required for both events, so call 616-336-4300.
Blandford Nature Center‘s spring break camps are currently sold out but there is the Kitchen Dyeing Class April 6. This workshop will cover safety/clean up procedures and how to prepare materials for dyeing. Each participant will leave with enough dyed fiber samples to fill in a small dye journal. The program is for 13 and older with cost being $40/members and $45/non-members. Registration is required, so visit blandfordnaturecenter.org.
Dinosaurs and TOYS! will be the theme of the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s spring break activities. (Supplied)
Dinosaurs, oh my!!
The Grand Rapids Public Museum will have extended hours to 7 p.m. April 1 – 7. Activities will be dinosaur- and toy-inspired, celebrating the museum’s current exhibits “TOYS!” and “Expedition: Dinosaur.” Participates will be able to make their own dinosaur, sock monkey, headbands, dinosaur fossils and more. Join the GRPM on Saturday, March 30 and Saturday, April 6 for a special dinosaur science in the Saturday Curiosity Labs. Play over-sized games including Chess and Connect Four.
Spring break activities are included with general admission/ For more, visit grpm.org.
“A Decade at the Center: Recent gifts and Acquisitions” is at the Grand Rapids Art Museum. (Supplied)
It’s Free
Or head over to the Grand Rapids Art Museum, which, for spring break, is free for all youth ages 17 and under. Admission includes free entry to the museum’s current exhibitions which include “A Decade at the Center: Recent Gifts and Acquisitions” and “A Legacy of Love: Selections from the Mable Perkins Collection.” The museum also has extended its drop-in studio hours for the week. The drop-in studio will be from 1 to 4 p.m. March 30, April 2 and 6. For more information, visit artmuseumgr.org.
Blue Colombia butterfly, (Supplied)
Butterfly Effect
When the butterflies take over the Fredrick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, you know its spring. The Fred & Dorothy Pitcher Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition will be open with Gardens hosting extended hours during spring break. Outdoor children’s activities will be taking place at the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden such as a giant butterfly puzzle, butterfly-themed puppet show, the butterfly maze and story time. Activities vary daily, so check the Information center for what is happening or visit meijergardens.org.
Movie Night
The popular Flick’s Family Film Fest runs through April 11. Films are free to children 12 and under and $5 for anyone 13 and older. For the week of spring break, the Fest will feature Warner’s “Smallfoot” and the 2019 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” Check with local theaters for showtimes.
A Monster and Peas
The Grand Rapids Ballet will present another kid-friendly ballet for the entire family by bringing to life the beloved children’s book “The Monster Who Ate My Peas.” The performances features the apprentices and trainees of the Grand Rapids Ballet and choreographed by the Grand Rapids Ballet School Junior Company Director Attila Mosolygo. Showtimes are 11 a.m. April 1-5. Tickets are $7 and available through grballet.com.
Booking It
The Kent District Library is always a source for spring break fun and KDL has the week “booked” with activities for all ages. Author and puppeteer Kevin Kammeraad along with Wimee and friends will be presenting a show on wordplay, puppet, music and movement. Kammeraad and company stop at the KDL Wyoming branch April 5. Other KDL programs include an Escape Room, Coding Camp for Kids, Family Movie, and a Disney Movie Marathon. For a complete list of spring break activities, visit kdl.org.
Crash, the river rascal, is ready for his favorite team to return to Fifth Third Park. Whitecaps season opener is April 6. (Supplied)
Play Ball!
Have a third through sixth grader looking to improve their throwing arm? Grand Valley State University will be hosting its Little Throws clinic April 1 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Registration is required. Contact Coach Denard at denards@gvsu.edu for more information.
Speaking of baseball, the Detroit Tigers opener is April 4 against the Kansas City Royals and our own beloved Whitecaps’ opening day is April 6. The Whitecaps will face off against the South Bend Cubs. For the full schedule, visit the Whitecaps website.
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) is coming off a 2018 year which saw a record 3.2 million passengers, and the Airport expects to see the high volume trend continue through its busiest time of the year – Spring Break.
Due to additional passenger volume beginning this month and continuing through April, parking lot demands will be greater, and airport facilities are expected to be busy. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects longer security lines and urges passengers to arrive at the Airport at least two hours prior to departure time.
In order to expedite the security screening process, passengers should carefully consider the contents of their checked luggage and carry-on bags. The TSA recommends wearing shoes that are easy to remove, having identification and boarding passes ready to present at security checkpoints, removing all items from pockets, avoiding bedazzled and jeweled clothing, limiting heavy jewelry, and ending all cell phone conversations prior to screening. In addition, removing heavy food items such as cheese and fudge, along with granular and powdered items like sugar, from your carry-on bag, will also greatly speed up security screening.
“With a record-setting 2018 and over three million passengers served last year, we are busier than ever and that means it is crucial for our travelers to arrive early because our passenger numbers continue to grow,” said GFIA Interim President & CEO Brian Picardat. “Our TSA screening will be staffed with more officers to accommodate the extra traffic, but passengers can do their part by simply arriving early to allow adequate time for screening and some fun as well.”
Passengers traveling through GFIA on select Spring Break travel dates will be treated to the annual Passenger Appreciation Days, compliments of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority Board. This bon-voyage celebration will take place from Thursday, March 28th through Saturday, March 30th each day from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. in the Airport’s Grand Hall Meet & Greet area. Passenger Appreciation Days events include free refreshments, food, giveaways, prize drawings, contests, and more!
“We are excited to bring back our Passenger Appreciation Days – a tradition at the Ford Airport for 17 years,” said GFIA Board Chair Dan Koorndyk. “This is one way we can thank our community for supporting our airport, and our passengers will have some fun before heading out on their vacations.”
For passengers wanting to partake in the Passenger Appreciation Days festivities, the Airport encourages them to allow even more travel time.
The TSA also encourages passengers to utilize the 3-1-1 rule with liquids, gels and aerosols. Put all liquids in containers with a 3.4 ounce maximum capacity, and place them in a clear, plastic one- quart zip-top bag.
Additional 3-1-1 Information:
Deodorant: Stick deodorant is not limited to 3.4 ounces or less, but gel or spray deodorant is.
Suntan & Sun Block Lotion: Lotions fall under the 3-1-1 procedures mentioned above. As well as the aerosol spray lotions. Sunblock sticks do not fall under this rule.
Makeup: Any liquid makeup cosmetics such as eyeliner, nail polish, liquid foundation, etc. should be placed in the baggie. That goes for perfume as well. Powder makeup is fine.
Beverages: Wine, liquor, beer, and all of your other favorite beverages are permitted in your checked baggage. You can also bring beverages packaged in 3.4 ounces or less bottles in your carry-on bags in the 3-1-1 baggie.
Sporting Goods: Golf clubs, tennis rackets, baseball bats (including the mini slugger bats), cricket bats, lacrosse sticks, bows and arrows, hockey sticks, scuba knives, spear guns, etc. are all prohibited from being carried onto the plane. However, you can have them checked as luggage.
Questions about TSA procedures and upcoming travel can be addressed to the TSA Contact Center at 1-866-289-9673 or @AskTSA or Twitter.
The Baby Boomer generation officially arrived on the doorstep of retirement age back in 2011, and an estimated 10,000 people are now retiring daily. But while 65 is understood to be the age of retirement, many aging adults are choosing to delay retirement living. Given the unclear nature of retirement age, many people are struggling with the question of when to make the leap. Here are five factors to consider when deciding when to retire:
1. Your Health
Taking a hard, honest look at your health can be difficult, but knowing exactly what is happening with your body and mind should be a priority when considering retirement. If you’re hale and hearty, working for a few more years could mean more savings for a long and enjoyable retirement, but if your health is less than ideal, it may be worth it to retire earlier than later in order to get started on all the experiences you’ve put off until you had the time. In addition, keep in mind the health of your spouse, friends, and family members: you may not want to work through their healthy years, regardless of how much longer you’re able to.
2. Your Finances
While some experts are questioning the four percent rule, and it may not apply to some people’s specific situations, it still offers a basic guideline for how to plan your finances for retirement. The four percent rule states that in your first year of retirement, you should budget 4% of your savings for your annual spend; for every subsequent year, budget 4% with inflation factored in. You should also include any investments into your calculations, and keep a sharp eye on the markets – investment returns can be critical during the first ten years of retirement.
3. Healthcare Costs
$275,000: that’s Fidelity’s estimate for how much a retired couple will spend on healthcare over the course of their retirement. While that number may be shocking, it’s also a very real part of the costs of retirement, and something you need to plan for. Ensuring that you have the insurance and the savings to deal with general health care as well as any health issues that may arise is crucial to choosing a time to retire.
4. Social Security Benefits
Another factor to consider is the possibility of social security benefits. If you were born after 1943, you can expect an eight percent increase in benefits for each year you work after 65; if you choose to retire earlier, benefits are reduced. Increases cease at age 70, so waiting to claim benefits until then would yield maximum benefits. But be strategic: depending on other factors retiring at 70 could be unrealistic or even impossible.
5. Your Family
While the decision of when to retire is highly personal, you should also factor in the important relationships in your life. Be sure to have clear and honest discussions with your spouse or significant other as to what you want your retirement to look like. Retirement living can take the shape of traveling or relaxing, being with family or spending time on personal goals, and if you and your spouse have different visions of retirement, you may want more time for planning.
Your health, personal finances, investments, and relationships all factor into when you retire, and the truth is that there’s no longer a single age at which people can expect to retire. Talk with your family, doctors, and financial advisors on what time works best for you.
The importance of staying active as we grow older is well documented. Not only can frequent exercise help keep muscles strong, it can also improve balance, overall health, and mood. But did you know that it’s just as important to stay socially active as you age? Staying socially engaged has been shown to improve mental wellness in all seniors and slow cognitive degeneration in seniors with dementia; and living in a retirement community is one of the best ways for seniors to stay connected.
How Seniors Can Become Socially Isolated
Even for people who hate their jobs, the workplace offers a space for daily social interaction. After retirement, daily socialization becomes much harder simply because it’s no longer required. While some retirees feel motivated to go out and be social, others find themselves limiting social interaction to visits from friends and family, which can eventually lead to isolation.
A major factor in a senior’s risk of social isolation is their living situation. According to a report by the Administration on Aging, 20% of men and 35% of women aged 65+ live alone, with percentages increasing with age. While seniors living at home will often have informal or formal caretakers, such as adult children or a home care service, they may still feel lonely or disconnected. Distance from social activities and gathering spaces may be a limiting factor, as can health conditions, access to transportation, and more.
Social Living in a Retirement Community
Unlike living at home, an assisted living or retirement community gives seniors daily opportunities to meet and talk with many different people, form new connections and friendships, and partake in social activities. Here are some unique ways retirement communities help residents stay social:
Communal dining options: Sharing a meal together is a great way to connect, and assisted living facilities usually offer their residents the option to dine communally at least once a day. Good food and great company is a time-honored recipe for cherished relationships.
Engaging activities: From discussion groups to board games to trail outings, retirement community residents can come together over shared – or newfound – interests. Forming friendships with like-minded peers can help the mind stay sharp.
Next-door neighbors: While the phrase “next-door neighbors” is usually used to describe the people living in the house adjacent to one’s own, it can be used quite literally in the case of an assisted living community. Most retirement communities offer private or semi-private apartments to their residents, who can form close relationships with those around them without needing to go very far at all.
For those seniors for whom closeness to family is essential, choosing assisted living near home can mean the best of both worlds. Serving as caretakers for elderly parents can put stress on adult children and their relationships, so moving to a community that facilitates independent living can actually help seniors grow closer to their families.
Staying social can be difficult for aging adults, and social isolation is a very real and dangerous hazard. Retirement communities can help seniors stay engaged in a way that works for them, keeping them healthy for years to come.
Ruth Hourani swept hair from the floor at Profile Salon on a recent Monday, locks of brown, gray, red—each strand a story.
Hourani, a volunteer at Profile Salon’s Beautiful You program, knows that story of picking up the pieces all too well. The cancer story.
Just a short time ago, Hourani sat in those salon chairs.
Once a month, the Grand Rapids, Michigan, salon treats cancer patients to complimentary manicures, pedicures, massages and hair services.
Hourani said she gained so much from the fellowship and pampering at Beautiful You that she wanted to give back. She now volunteers there.
But it’s been a long and frightening journey from then until now.
In March 2016, Hourani underwent a routine mammogram. She went in confident. After all, she performed regular breast exams.
Photo courtesy Ruth Hourani
But when she overheard the receptionist attempting to schedule a biopsy after the mammogram, she knew.
“They had me scheduled for an ultrasound then switched it to a biopsy,” Hourani said. “Right then I thought, ‘Uh-oh, this isn’t going to be good.’”
That was on a Friday. The following Monday, March 14, her phone rang. Results. Results she did not want to hear. She suffered from an aggressive cancer.
“My husband (Thom) put the phone on speaker because I knew I wouldn’t retain much,” Hourani said. “It was like the floor dropped right out of my world.”
“I went from a biopsy to being told to get ready for surgery within a week,” she said.
She had a lumpectomy on her left side on March 31. Doctors also removed two lymph nodes. They were clean, but due to the type of cancer, HER2, she had to undergo six chemo treatments, six weeks of radiation and a full year of preventative treatment called Herceptan.
She tried to keep life as normal as possible for her husband and two sons, Anthony, 21, and Thom, 18.
“My youngest son was a senior in high school and I wanted to make sure his last year was fun for him and it wasn’t all about Mom being sick,” she said. “When I look back, I don’t know how I did it. I was exhausted.”
Hourani threw up a denial defense at first—about the cancer diagnosis, about everything happening in her once-normal life.
“I lost my hair,” she said. “Two weeks from the first treatment they tell you you start losing it and they were dead on.”
Feeling beautiful again
Hourani enjoys sporting a sharp hair style. A friend of hers told her about the Beautiful You program.
“I was hesitant at first because I was so much in denial about what I was going through,” Hourani said. “I went there on one of their off days and had them shave my head. Your hair doesn’t fall out a piece at a time. It falls out in handfuls. If I had to do it over again I would shave my head right away. It was more traumatic to see it fall out.”
“They took me into a special room so I wouldn’t be out in public (for the head shaving),” Hourani said. “I felt very secluded and alone because it is a lonely journey. Unless you’re going through it, no one can understand how you’re feeling or really be there for you.”
Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat
Despite her hesitancy, when she started attending monthly Beautiful You sessions, she gained camaraderie, comfort and compassion.
“I thought I needed something to look forward to,” Hourani said. “I needed to be with people who were OK seeing me without hair. Friendships change throughout this type of journey because most people don’t know how to handle seeing you sick. Most people are used to seeing me very strong. I’m happy hiding my emotions. People had a hard time seeing me otherwise.”
When she walked into the salon, she felt sisterhood.
“Everyone is loving and caring,” she said. “You’re catered to—little things you wish other people would do, they did. If your body hurts, you can get a massage. If your head hurts, and your scalp is sensitive to everything, to have your head massaged just means the world to you.”
Sharing the beauty
She sat with like-minded sisters in salon chairs, bald sisters, sisters who shared emotional and physical pain, sisters who somehow understood the juggernaut in her journey.
She so much wanted to get from Point A to Point B, to slay the fears, to dry the tears. Her salon sisters understood that, too.
“I got to know a lot of the people,” she said. “I didn’t leave there without crying, because you could. You don’t feel beautiful when you’re going through cancer. You’re bloated from treatments and hormones. You gain a lot of weight. You just don’t feel at all attractive to anybody.”
Beautiful You offers wigs for those who wish to wear one. They offer sweet treats and coffees and fresh fruit.
Volunteers make purses and scarves and necklaces for the cancer clients.
“You come home with something so you feel like you were given a gift,” Hourani said.
Now, Hourani is repaying that gift. On her first day of volunteering, she brought in fabric purses that a friend of hers made. Hourani wants to start crocheting again so she can make items for the group, too.
But most of all, she wants to impart her gift of knowledge, of being a cancer survivor, of reaching back to a sister who is at Point A, and helping them to recognize there is indeed a real-life Point B somewhere in the not too distant future.
She wants to help them believe. To trust. To know.
“I’m hoping to be an advocate, to talk to the women about what they can expect,” Hourani said. “I hope that I can make people feel as good as I felt, and feel as beautiful as I felt when I was there.”
Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat
Hourani hugged the receptionists behind the desk, and talked with cancer patients getting pampered.
She wants to be a guiding hand, through her words.
“I would stay after my appointments just to talk to people and be upbeat with them knowing that it just stinks what you’re going through,” she said. “People will ask what you need and you don’t even know what to tell them. It’s almost as if these women just knew. When you walk in there, they know what you need—a massage, pedicure, manicure…They’ve got to see some pretty ugly feet without toenails (they fall out during chemo), but none of them look shocked.”
Hourani wants to reassure, just as other Beautiful You volunteers reassured her.
“They tell you you look beautiful,” she said. “Your family can tell you the same thing, but it comes differently from women who have been through it. They say, ‘We don’t care how you look. We want you to feel awesome today.’”
She misses the pampering, but now she tries to help others feel awesome.
“When you’re going through cancer, you feel as if you are dying, but you don’t want to feel that way,” she said. “It’s sad so many people have been touched by it. If I can help somebody else understand what they are going through after what I have been through, that right there is a blessing.”
Pam Westers, owner of Profile Salon, launched Beautiful You by Profile four years ago. The program started with less than 10 women three years ago and now pampers 60 to 80 cancer patients every Beautiful You Monday.
“It makes their whole month,” Westers said. “They look forward to this appointment because all their other appointments are hospitals and doctors. They love the relationships they make here. It’s almost like a support group when they’re here. It revitalizes them for the whole month.”
A sure sign of that summer is just around the corner? When Bell’s Oberon returns to the stores, restaurants, and bars.
That official return date is Monday, March 25.
Bars, restaurants, retail locations, and fans will celebrate Oberon’s return with midnight tappings, release parties, pub crawls and other special events throughout the week.
“I think we’re all ready to put winter away and say hello to warmer weather with an annual tradition: raising that first Oberon of the season,” said Bell’s Brewery Founder and President Larry Bell.
“We’ll see if Mother Nature agrees, but we already have spring training (baseball) and between the two, that’s a good start,” he said.
One of Bell’s most popular beers, Oberon (5.8% ABV) is an American Wheat Ale fermented with Bell’s signature house ale yeast, mixing a spicy hop character with mildly fruity aromas. The addition of wheat malt lends a smooth mouthfeel. A classic summer beer, Oberon is only brewed with water, malted wheat, and barley, hops and yeast. In Michigan, it is available seasonally beginning in late March through August.
Oberon will be available on draft, in six-packs (12 oz. bottles and cans), twelve-packs (12 oz. cans and bottles) and four-packs (16 oz. cans). Six-packs of 12 oz. cans are new this year for those who live in states where Oberon is not available year around, such as Michigan. (Arizona and Florida are year-round distribution states.) Oberon mini-kegs will ship in May.
Bell’s fans on Untapped can check-in to there first Oberon of 2019 to claim a special commemorative release badge starting on March 25 through April 1. Everyone is invited to share photos of their first pints and how they are celebrating on social media by using the hashtags #OberonDay and #bellsbeer and by tagging Bell’s (@bellsbrewery on Twitter and Instragram.)
For those who need a little help getting out of work, class or other responsibilities on Oberon Day, a brand new Oberon Day Excuse Generator is now live. Fans can send pre-made “official” Oberon Day excuse notes to their bosses or others at http://bellsbeer.com/excues/. There is also a special Oberon frame you can add to your Facebook profile picture.
Bell’s pub, the Eccentric Café in downtown Kalamazoo, will open at 9 a.m. on March 25 (this celebration is 21 and up all day). There will be live entertainment, food specials, special tappings, games and prizes. Sold out, free Oberon Day tours will also be held throughout the morning and afternoon with bus trips to Bell’s main brewery in nearby Comstock and back to the Eccentric Café.
Due to popular demand, an additional 8 a.m. tour has been added. Spots on that tour are first-come, first-served, so fans are advised to arrive early at the Café in order to secure a spot on the bus.
For more information about where to enjoy that first sip of summer, check out Oberon recipes, learn about the history of the beer and more, visit bellsbeer.com or join Bell’s at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Untapped.
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
In mid-December 2018, a ‘rescue regular’ came across this stunning black-smoke-and-winter-white tom cat hanging out near one of her feral feeding stations in downtown Grand Rapids. Never one to leave an unneutered male behind, she promptly got him corralled and into CSNIP, then took him home in the hopes of helping him acclimate to indoor living by setting him up in one of her many kitty condos.
Try as she might, the fearful 5-year-old (born in early 2014) just wouldn’t adjust to her gentle touch and soothing voice, and returning him to the not-so-great outdoors was out of the question.
So when she brought him in two months after his rescue for Dr. Jen to evaluate, she agreed to letting us give it a shot at Crash’s, since we have droves of doting volunteers who are pros at working diligently with the most timid of kitties. Maybe with the collective efforts of so many, Burdock would emerge from his cocoon, start to relax and enjoy life a little bit.
A month into his stay with us at Crash’s, he is still a work in progress, just as we expected him to be. Burdock is ever-so-painstakingly slowly starting to feel comfortable at the shelter, but he still terrified and very wary of people. He gets quite nervous when you climb up to the cat walk where he is hiding out, but he will let you pet him if you approach him calmly and quietly. We have caught him out walking around a few times in the middle of the day, but as soon as he sees anyone he is right back up to the cat walk; to try to socialize him we have been carrying him around the shelter with him in our arms.
His metamorphosis is going to require a great deal of patience, but we believe that he does have it in him to come out of the safety of his shell of self-preservation, overcome his fear and evolve into a confident cat. He’s not aggressive in any way, just intimidated by the other cats and his new surroundings, so we will give him all the time in the world and let him set a pace he is comfortable with. We can’t begin to imagine what on earth happened to him before he was rescued, but we have years worth of neglect to make up for, and a slow and steady approach is going to be paramount with Burdock.
We are all going to be by his side, coaxing him every step of the way until one fine day, he realizes the potential he has harbored within himself all along; what a grand day that will be for all of us!
More about Burdock:
Domestic Medium Hair
Adult
Male
Large
Black & White / Tuxedo
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Neutered
Good in a home with other cats
Prefers a home without dogs, children
Want to adopt Burdock? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!
Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To
take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids
area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming,
no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be
found.
A number of billboards have been baffling West Michigan for two weeks, and the advertiser has finally been revealed.
The anxious-looking designs with handwritten words like neglect, abuse, and fear have been posted around the Grand Rapids region, prompting a variety of responses and guesses to what the meaning may be.
However, earlier this week, a new design revealed the message belongs to D.A. Blodgett–St. John’s, a local children advocate agency that offers services like adoption, counseling, foster care, mentoring and more. Grand Rapids creative agency Extra Credit Projects was the creative partner on the project.
From cynics to proponents, speculations of who was behind the boards ranged from megachurches to PETA, to the visual representation of “what it’s like to travel US-131 during rush hour.”
Area residents took to social media to seek answers or express opinions about the mystery messages. Some online users expressed discomfort at the content of the billboards, while others argued that the subject matter was important to address.
It’s that level of engagement that D.A. Blodgett-St. John’s was seeking to evoke in the weeks leading up to April’s “National Child Abuse Prevention Month.”
“There have been a lot of comments online that the billboards have made people uncomfortable,” said Katy Buck, public relations and marketing manager for D.A. Blodgett–St. John’s. “Unfortunately this is the reality for many of the children and families that we serve in our community. Our goal was to evoke in viewers the same feelings that some children face every day—anger, fear, frustration, confusion, angst–and to have the reveal visually express that D.A. Blodgett–St. John’s is a refuge from that.”
D.A. Blodgett – St. John’s provides more than 20 services, impacts 9,000 lives every year, and work tirelessly to ensure all children and families have the love, support, and resources they need to thrive – today and into the future. To learn more about D.A. Blodgett–St. John’s, visit www.dabsj.org.
The billboards that were featured on US 131 were designed to help raise awareness about Child Abuse Prevention Month. (Supplied)
Spring weather is just around the corner, and for those of us located in northern climes, it can’t come soon enough. Though our homes in Michigan and northern Ohio have been teasing us with sunshine, here at Vista Springs, we’ve been making preparations for warm weather. Maybe we’re getting ahead of ourselves, but we’ve prepared a list of some of our favorite senior activities for spring.
1. Enjoy nature. Here in the Midwest, people tend to catch cases of spring fever at the first hint of sunshine. As cold days fade into breezy ones, and the grass begins to turn green, shaking off the winter by going on nature walks is a great way to enjoy spring. Make going outdoors a habit for the truly amazing experience of watching the greenery come to life as the season progresses.
2. Do some spring cleaning. Cleaning isn’t everyone’s idea of a good time, but there’s something uniquely satisfying about airing out your rooms in spring. Do some dusting, change the linens, and give yourself a fresh start once winter is through.
3. Bring out the spring recipes. Springtime is associated with flowers, but there are plenty of foods that evoke the season. March through May bring asparagus spears, artichokes, fennel, watercress, and radishes, and fresh picked veggies are great for the body and spirit. And, of course, Easter celebrations bring brightly colored eggs and brunches made for sharing with family and friends. What are your spring recipes?
4. Take a day trip. Take advantage of the so-called “shoulder season,” between on- and off-peak seasons for popular vacation destinations, by taking a short trip to a nearby city or attraction. You get the advantages of warmer weather without the crowds and high prices. Visit lakes, mountains, big cities, museums, shopping destinations — whatever tickles your fancy.
5. Visit a nursery. When trees begin to bud, it’s a great time to visit a local nursery. Try out your green thumb by choosing some spring perennials for an outdoor garden, start an herb garden in your kitchen for fresh herbs year-round, or choose some potted plants to brighten up your interiors. You’ll be amazed at the fresh, lively atmosphere inherent to nurseries that you can bring home with you.
6. Start bird watching. Everyone knows to keep an eye out for the first robin of spring, and the sound of birdsong in the morning is one of the truest heralds of warmer weather. Invest in a bird feeder and bird seed for easy bird watching, or make your own for a fun creative activity. Learning what types of songbirds are local to your area can help you learn more about the ecosystem as a whole, and watching for rare species brings excitement to each quiet moment.
Are you as excited for spring weather as we are? These fun senior activities will help you get the most out of the season. Whether you enjoy getting outdoors or enjoying a lighter, brighter atmosphere inside, there’s something about spring that brings out a passion for life that deserves to be celebrated.
Despite the well-known dangers of smoking, the sizable benefits of quitting may be overlooked, a new study suggests.
“These findings underscore the benefits of quitting smoking within five years, which is a 38 percent lower risk of a heart attack, stroke or other forms of cardiovascular disease,” said study author Meredith Duncan, from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.
“The bottom line is if you smoke, now is a very good time to quit,” Duncan said in an American Heart Association news release.
Her team also found that it takes more than 15 years from the time you quit until your cardiovascular disease risk returns to the level of those who never smoked—so the sooner you quit, the better.
Cigarette smoking in America is declining and leaving a growing population of former smokers. Earlier studies have hinted that the risk for heart disease lessens within a few years after quitting, but these studies haven’t looked closely at smoking history, including changes in smoking habits.
In this study, Duncan and her colleagues analyzed data on the lifetime smoking histories of nearly 8,700 people who took part in the Framingham Heart Study.
At the beginning of the study, none of the participants suffered from cardiovascular disease. Over 27 years, researchers compared the risk for heart disease among people who never smoked with those who quit.
They found that more than 70 percent of heart disease occurred in current or former smokers who smoked at least 20 pack-years—smoking one pack a day for 20 years.
But smokers who quit within the last five years cut their risk for cardiovascular disease by 38 percent, compared with people who continued to smoke. Moreover, it took 16 years after quitting for the risk of cardiovascular disease to return to the level of never smokers, the researchers found.
The findings were presented at the American Heart Association’s annual meeting, in Chicago. Such research is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Marcel “Fable” Price talks of his challenging youth, a teacher who saw promise in him, and the redemptive power of poetry. As Poet Laureate of Grand Rapids, Michigan, he uses his platform to empower area youth, call out public policies that marginalize brown and black people, and advocate for mental health services.
“Children are not only innocent and curious but also optimistic and joyful and essentially happy. They are, in short, everything adults wish they could be.”
― AuthorCarolyn Haywood
Shazam! That kid is awesome!
Have a great kid in your life? Then join Camp Fire West Michigan in celebrating him or her this Thursday as part of the Absolutely Incredible Kid Day. What do you have to do? Just send that awesome kid a note or letter to let them know just how amazing you think they are.
This week is National Poison Prevention Week. (Public Domain)
On the Safe Side
Over half of the 2.4 million cases of poisonings reported to poison control centers each year involve children less than 5 years of age. This week is National Poison Prevention Week with the Kent County Health Department providing a list of drop-off sites county residents can take a variety of hazardous materials to, including medications and sharps. Both the Kentwood and Wyoming Police Departments are drop-off locations for SafeMeds. The health department has a clinic in Kentwood that is a SafeSharps drop-off site. For more, visit www.MIsafehomes.org.
Richard “Richie” Hitchcock went missing Dec. 22, 1990.
Remembering Richie
It has been 28 years since Richard “Richie” Hitchcock was last seen by family or friends. His family, who live in Allegan, hope to one day learn what happened to the young man. To help, they are hosting a fundraiser Saturday, March 23, to add more money to an existing reward in locating Hitchcock. The dinner event, which is from 1-5 p.m. takes place at Allegan Eagles (#2315) 110 Chestnut St., Allegan. To learn more about how the family has become advocates for all missing persons, click here.
Fun fact:
212
Nope, we are not talking about the area code for New York City. (Good guess, though.) As of Aug. 18, 2018, there have been 212 spacewalks devoted to assembly and maintenance of the International Space Station totaling 1,327 hours and 17 minutes. The 213th one will be this Friday with WKTV Government Channel 26 featuring the walk via the NASA channel. Coverage starts at 6:30 a.m. with the walk at 8:05 a.m.
Scents and smells have a powerful effect on our minds. The smell of freshly mown grass might take you back to childhood summers, or cookies in the oven might remind you of the holidays. Our sense of smell is closely linked with the parts of the brain that are responsible for memory, emotion, and more, and it is this connection that aromatherapy targets to promote holistic wellness. The practice of aromatherapy dates back at least 6,000 years to ancient civilizations such as Egypt, China, and Greece. Today, aromatherapy is used to promote wellness for a number of conditions, such as anxiety, pain, and sleeplessness.
Aromatherapy uses aromatic substances known as essential oils, which are derived from plants like flowers, grasses, fruits, and tree bark and are highly concentrated, and applying undiluted oils directly to the skin can cause irritation, allergic reaction, or increased sensitivity. Always consult with a healthcare professional before using essential oils and exercise caution when applying them.
Here are five of our favorite essential oils:
1. Lavender
Lavender essential oil is a holistic jackpot of benefits. For those just starting their aromatherapy journey, this is a great option. Lavender essential oil has long been recognized for its ability to soothe and relax, which is why it’s a perfect sleep aid for seniors suffering from insomnia. It also uses an easy application processes. Simply have 1-3 drops applied to clothing, bed linens or a cotton ball at bedside. Additionally, lavender essential oil also has pain relieving properties. When mixed with an unscented lotion or plain massage oil and applied to the skin, it relaxes and soothes your muscles.
2. Rosemary
Rosemary essential oil improves concentration. It’s often used to awaken the brain, resulting in improved alertness and overall function. In fact, numerous studies show participants exposed to rosemary aromatherapy performed better on cognitive tests. Other benefits of rosemary essential oil are it reduces sleepiness, keeping you alert but relaxed. A great way to experience rosemary essential oil is by placing one to three drops on clothing, linens or at your bedside on a cotton ball.
3. Geranium
If you are encountering anxious or fearful emotions that you can’t shake, try using geranium essential oil. Geranium essential oil is commonly used for its ability to stabilize moods and calm anxiety. Many have described its aroma as a floral scent similar to roses. Try using one to three drops put on your bed linens or clothing for a calming effect throughout the day.
4. Bergamot
Bergamot is a plant that produces a type of citrus fruit, and therefore yields a a citrus-like fragrance with distinctive spicy and floral notes. If you are dealing with unwanted weight loss or a lack of desire to eat, bergamot essential oil therapy could help by stimulating your appetite. When using bergamot essential oil, it’s important to remember that it reacts strongly with sunlight and can cause severe sunburn. Exercise caution, apply only one to three drops to clothing or linens, and never apply directly to the skin.
5. Lemon
If you find yourself hitting the mid-morning wall, try lemon aromatherapy. It’s a great way to combat the feeling of lethargy. With its bright citrus scent, lemon essential oils create a revitalizing and uplifting effect on your mind and body. It’ a wonderful alternative to strong stimulants such as coffee or medications. To experience the full benefits, place it on textiles like clothing or cushions and let the scent lift your energy levels whenever you need a boost.
Remember, essential oils are very powerful both in their effects and their concentration. Putting them directly on the skin without proper dilution is not recommended and may cause a severe reaction. Your best option to prevent any ill effects is to consult with trained healthcare professionals or aromatherapists before using any essential oils, and apply them only according to their recommendations.
When it comes to holistic care options for seniors, consider essential oil aromatherapy. Our essential oils program at Vista Springs is designed to help our community members live a full of life experience. To learn more about Vista Springs’ holistic, energetic approach to assisted living, download our free eBook here.
The Black Keys have confirmed their extensive, thirty-one-date arena tour of North America — and the “Let’s Rock” Tour will hit Grand Rapids at SMG-managed Van Andel Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019, at 7pm. Special guests Modest Mouse will provide support on all dates, and Jessy Wilson will also open the Grand Rapids show.
Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, March 22 at 10am. Tickets will be available at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place® box offices and online at Ticketmaster.com. A purchase limit of eight (8) tickets will apply to every order.
Citi is the official presale credit card of The Black Keys — “Let’s Rock” Tour. As such, Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase presale tickets beginning Tuesday, March 19 at 11am local time until Thursday, March 21 at 10pm local time through Citi’s Private Pass program. For complete presale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com/.
Fans on Van Andel Arena’s email list will also have access to a presale beginning Thursday, March 21. To gain access, sign up to the arena’s email list here by Wednesday, March 20 at 3pm local time.
Formed in Akron, Ohio in 2001, The Black Keys have released eight studio albums: their debut The Big Come Up (2002), followed by Thickfreakness (2003) and Rubber Factory (2004), along with their releases on Nonesuch Records, Magic Potion (2006), Attack & Release (2008), Brothers (2010), El Camino (2011), and, most recently, Turn Blue (2014). The band has won six Grammy Awards and headlined festivals including Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Governors Ball.
In 2013, after a five-year battle, Emmy Rickert lost her Aunt Jodi to breast cancer.
Two weeks later, at age 24, Rickert began fighting the same battle.
Rickert was still grieving the loss of her mom, who died of a brain aneurysm just two years prior. Seven months before her mom passed away, Emmy’s dad endured a heart transplant.
Two weeks after Aunt Jodi died, while Emmy worked as a legislative aide for a state senator in Lansing, Michigan, she felt a bruised area on her chest.
“I felt deeper and felt a lump,” Emmy said. “I was an active 24-year-old who exercised regularly. I wondered if I pulled a muscle or dropped something on it.”
Rickert visited her OB-GYN in Lansing.
“She said, ‘You’re 24, it’s probably nothing,” Rickert said. “’Let’s check back in a month.’”
Still tender from the loss of her aunt, she wanted to be sure. She pushed.
“I really credit my aunt with my life,” Rickert said. “I tell people to be their own health advocate, I really had to push my OB to get it checked further. I didn’t feel comfortable having just lost my aunt.”
Rickert talked her doctor into ordering an ultrasound.
“I remember going in thinking ‘whatever journey I’m about to start, help me to be strong enough for it,’” Rickert said. “I just didn’t have a good feeling about it.”
Cancer at 24
Shortly after the Friday morning ultrasound began, the technician stepped out and brought the radiologist in. He immediately ordered a core biopsy.
On Monday, while at her desk at work, she got the results.
“The radiologist called me and told me I had breast cancer,” Rickert said. “He seemed quite shaken. He said, ‘I’ve never had to call a 24-year-old to tell them they have breast cancer.”
I remembered back to when I was a child. Whenever I was sick and had to take medicine, (my mom would) say, ‘Alright, I’m sending the soldiers in to kill the bad guys.’ Every time I watched the chemo flow into my body, I thought of my mom and felt her there. I thought, ‘We’re sending the good guys in to kill the bad guys.’
Emmy Rickert Breast cancer survivor
The words rang in her ears. Just like in the movies. But this wasn’t fantasy. Instead, earth-shattering reality.
Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat
“My ears started ringing after I heard the word ‘cancer,’” she said. “I didn’t hear anything after. My world was spinning at that point. I didn’t understand why this was happening. I hadn’t prepared myself for those words ‘you have cancer.’ I don’t know if anyone can prepare themselves for that.”
Rickert’s mind whirled. She feared not only for her life, but she feared how she would tell her family about the diagnosis. They had already lost so much. So fast.
Right then, right there, she vowed to have the most optimistic and positive attitude possible.
“Having seen my family go through so much, I knew that was the answer,” she said.
Sharing the diagnosis with family
Rickert picked up her younger sister from Central Michigan University. They drove to their family home in Hersey, Michigan, near Reed City.
“I told them, ‘Listen, this is what’s going on,’” Rickert said. “I don’t know the specifics yet, but I’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer. I’m going to fight it and I’m not scared. I don’t want you to be, either.”
She soon learned the specifics. They weren’t comforting.
She had triple negative breast cancer, the most aggressive form of breast cancer. She needed surgery right away.
Because her young age and triple negative diagnosis threw up red flags, she underwent a mastectomy on her left breast.
“They came out and told me it had grown an entire centimeter in the two weeks from the ultrasound to surgery,” Rickert said. “But it had not spread to my lymph nodes yet. They said if I had waited even a matter of weeks, it would be a different story.”
Further testing revealed Rickert carries the BRCA2 gene mutation.
Following surgery, Rickert wanted to go home. Home to Hersey. Home to family. Home to friends.
Knowing there was a new Spectrum Health cancer center in Reed City—the Susan P. Wheatlake Regional Cancer Center, one of six Spectrum Health cancer centers, she teamed up with a Spectrum Health oncologist to fight the foe.
She always wanted to be a mom
But the recommended chemotherapy carried a risk she wasn’t willing to take—infertility.
“The No. 1 fear for me was not losing my hair or being sick during chemo, or even death,” she said. “It was not being a mother. Being a mother has always been my dream.”
She went to a fertility specialist in Grand Rapids, and froze her eggs before commencing chemotherapy.
That decision helped instill a deep resolve. Commitment deepened. She would win this fight. She had to win this fight. For her unborn children.
“That gave me so much hope,” Rickert said. “It gave me the gumption and will to say, ‘I’m going to be a mother now no matter what the fertility outcome is after chemo. That means I need to survive this because I’m going to be a mom.’ I went into it with a suit of armor, with hope and peace.”
Courtesy Emmy Rickert
Only after her eggs were frozen and safely tucked away did she begin chemotherapy. She felt fear as she watched the liquid drip into her veins.
But she also felt a presence. A presence she missed so very much. Her mom.
“Along this whole journey, I could really feel my mom there,” Rickert said. “I remembered back to when I was a child. Whenever I was sick and had to take medicine, she’d say, ‘Alright, I’m sending the soldiers in to kill the bad guys.’ Every time I watched the chemo flow into my body, I thought of my mom and felt her there. I thought, ‘We’re sending the good guys in to kill the bad guys.’ I think that outlook really made a difference for me.”
Unfortunately, chemotherapy made her sick. Very sick. Aunt Jodi did well through chemotherapy. Not so for her niece.
“I was in bed for weeks at a time,” Rickert said. “My dad and little sister would help me to the bathroom. But I was glad it was kicking my butt because I thought it might be kicking cancer’s butt as well.”
‘So much gratitude’
She’s grateful she made the decision to return home.
“Being close to my family and having that support system, being in my hometown and being at Spectrum also made a difference for me,” she said. “I had so many people rooting for me and lifting me up daily. There wasn’t time to feel down. I constantly was uplifted by my doctors and my townspeople, my family and friends.”
After she recovered from chemotherapy, Rickert decided she didn’t want to ever live through the same nightmare. She proactively had her right breast removed.
A year later, she married.
She and her husband, Kelly, conceived naturally. Their daughter, Grace, entered their lives on May 15, 2015.
“I can’t even begin to describe the joy we felt,” Rickert said. “I started to enjoy living. I felt so much gratitude that I survived. Seeing that miracle reminded me even more how precious and fragile life was.”
Having survived her own battle, she turned her energy outward.
“I started to do as many speaking engagements as I could, trying to help as many people diagnosed, or battling cancer, as I could,” she said. “I had gone through this for a reason, and that was to be a bright light for anyone going through this. I felt so driven to let people know there is life after cancer.”
And for the Rickert family, yet another life. Their son, Huck, was born in 2016.
Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat
The children were her light at the end of the tunnel, rainbows at the end of her storm. She calls them her little rainbow children.
But she knows storms can return. That’s why she’s not taking a single moment for granted. None of them.
“I know my cancer could return or something else could happen,” Rickert said. “Life is so precious, miraculous and fragile. I’m constantly being in the moment with my family. I’m helping others see that there is life past cancer and there is beauty in the battle because it makes you so much more aware of the fragility of life and the beauty of life.”
“Her courage and optimism in the face of adversity takes my breath away,” Dr. Smith said. “She is one in a long line of strong women who proudly carry on the legacy of Betty Ford with her candor, willingness to publicly speak of her personal journey, promote screening and early detection and, most of all, help all women take charge of their own destiny.”
Dario Robleto (American, b. 1972), Survival Does Not Lie in the Heavens, 2012. Digital inkjet print mounted on Sintra, a collection of stage lights taken from the album covers of live performances of now deceased Gospel, Blues and Jazz musicians, Triptych, 31 x 31 inches, 46 x 46 inches, and 31 x 31 inches. (Grand Rapids Art Museum)
The Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) is excited to announce the spring return of its bi-annual celebration of art and floral design, Art in Bloom(March 22 – 24, 2019). The one-weekend-only exhibition and competition presents the work of talented floral designers from across West Michigan.
Art in Bloom celebrates the arrival of spring at GRAM by inviting the region’s floral designers to create thought-provoking and elegantly crafted arrangements, all inspired by works in the Museum’s collection. The floral designs emphasize, challenge, and build upon elements and concepts within a selected work of art, creating a dialogue between the two works. The floral designs will be presented alongside the artwork in GRAM’s Level 3 galleries.
“We’re thrilled for the return of Art in Bloom to the Grand Rapids Art Museum,” commented GRAM Communications Manager Elizabeth Payne. “See the first signs of spring at GRAM and experience the Museum’s art collection alongside the creativity and talent of our region’s floral professionals.”
The 2019 Art in Bloom line-up features 17 floral designers and their interpretation of 17 works from the Museum’s collection on view—ranging from Robert Rauschenberg’s Sterling/Whirl toHans Arp’s La Sainte de la Lisiere.
Hector Guimard (French, 1867 – 1942), Balcony Railing, 1909 – 1911. Iron, 35.5 x 64 x 7 inches. (Grand Rapids Art Museum)
A panel comprised of floral and art experts and members of the Grand Rapids creative community will select the Juried Winner, which will be announced at the opening reception of Art in Bloom on Friday, March 22. Visitors can cast a vote for their favorite floral arrangement for the selection of the People’s Choice Award, to be announced on Sunday, March 24 at 2 pm.
The three-day exhibition and competition include a full floral-focused schedule of events throughout the Museum.
Support for Art in Bloom is generously provided by Karl and Patricia Betz, Gregg and Rajene Betz, Kimberly and David Moorhead, Janet Gatherer Boyles and John Boyles, Patricia and Charles Bloom, Reagan Marketing + Design, LLC, West Michigan Master Gardeners Association, and Holland Litho Printing Service.
About the Grand Rapids Art Museum Connecting people through art, creativity, and design. Established in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, the Art Museum is internationally known for its distinguished design and LEED® Gold certified status. Established in 1910 as the Grand Rapids Art Association, GRAM has grown to include more than 5,000 works of art, including American and European 19th and 20th-century painting and sculpture and more than 3,000 works on paper. Embracing the city’s legacy as a leading center of design and manufacturing, GRAM has a growing collection in the area of design and modern craft.
For GRAM’s hours and admission fees, call 616.831.1000 or visit artmuseumgr.org.
Connie Gall, whose fibromyalgia led to her early retirement, has found a new sense of purpose in the adoption and care of older dogs. She’s pictured here with her dog Prince. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
What do actor Morgan Freeman and Irish singer-songwriter Sinead O’Connor have in common with Connie Gall, a retired college financial aid officer?
All three suffer from fibromyalgia, a chronic pain disorder with debilitating effects.
Gall, 59, has lived with fibromyalgia since 1990. Just four months after having back surgery that year, she was in a car accident that gave her severe whiplash.
The whiplash triggered a series of symptoms: migraines, widespread joint and muscle pain, TMJ trouble, restless legs, burning and cold skin sensations, sleep problems, fatigue, tinnitus and polyneuropathy.
Although Gall’s symptoms began 28 years ago, it wasn’t until 2004 that a rheumatologist connected the dots and diagnosed her with fibromyalgia.
Joshua Brinks, NP, is a family nurse practitioner who works in the Spectrum Health Medical Group East Grand Rapids Family Medicine office and specializes in working with fibromyalgia patients. He and Gall, one of his patients, would like to shed some light on fibromyalgia and debunk some of the common myths associated with it.
Myth No. 1: Fibromyalgia isn’t real, it’s all in your head.
Fact—Fibromyalgia is a central nervous system pain processing disorder.
“It’s a chronic pain syndrome,” Brinks said. “We don’t know what causes it and we don’t have a cure. And so for patients to actually have a name (for their disorder) and to know that … it’s not in their head is very comforting or relieving to them.”
Gall agrees. When she finally found a doctor who “could put a name on what was going on with me, it made me feel validated … and it all started to make sense,” she said. “It’s (your) central nervous system playing games with you.”
In the last decade, more and more health care providers have accepted and acknowledged the reality of fibromyalgia, Brinks said.
“That’s a big step,” he said.
The next challenge is getting more people to understand it.
“It’s hard to explain to people it’s something that’s going on in your brain—that it’s your central nervous system that is controlling how you feel pain,” Gall said.
Myth No. 2: Health care providers diagnose fibromyalgia when they can’t find a “real” diagnosis.
Fact—There are defined diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia. If a patient meets these criteria and if other diseases are ruled out, the diagnosis is quite clear.
“I can diagnose it in a single visit,” Brinks said, giving two main diagnostic criteria:
Widespread pain above and below the waist on both sides of the body for three months or longer.
Eleven out of 18 classic tender points—again, above and below the waist on both sides of the body.
“There’s no blood test for it, although sometimes we do a blood test to rule out other things that can mimic it,” Brinks said.
Myth No. 3: If your muscles hurt so much, there must be something wrong with them.
Fact—The problem isn’t in the muscles themselves, but in the way the brain is interpreting signals.
“The fact is,” Brinks said, “they’ve done studies to look at the muscle fibers, they’ve looked at biopsies, pathology studies—they can’t find anything wrong here.”
So if you have fibromyalgia, you need to “retrain your brain into thinking that if (your) husband gives (you) a hug and that causes pain, it’s not actually causing harm to the tissue,” he said.
Myth No. 4: Fibromyalgia is a syndrome that affects only women.
These statistics match the patient demographics Brinks sees in his practice.
Myth No. 5: Fibromyalgia is rare.
Fact—Experts estimate that more than 5 million adults in the United States have it.
“It’s actually one of the most common pain disorders,” Brinks said.
Myth No. 6: Fibromyalgia is hopelessly untreatable.
Fact—Although fibromyalgia has no cure, several treatments can be helpful. Patients respond best if they keep a positive attitude and try various treatments to find what works for them. Brinks mentioned several:
Education
This is where treatment should start for every patient, said Brinks, who spends extra time helping newly diagnosed patients understand what he knows about fibromyalgia.
Gall advises people to find out as much as they can about their illness and its symptoms.
“One of the things that helped me was to really learn about it,” Gall said. “I found reading about it, understanding what all these things are, it made them less scary.”
Maximize sleep
Almost all patients with fibromyalgia experience non-restorative sleep.
“We don’t necessarily know why, but … the quality of their sleep is not good, so they wake up feeling tired,” Brinks said. The result: intensified pain.
Brinks tries to help patients develop good sleep behaviors and patterns. He also looks for underlying sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, and works to treat them.
Low-impact aerobic exercise
Using an elliptical machine, swimming, riding a bike, going for a fast-paced walk—any of these exercises can improve a patient’s sleep and mood, and they can also reduce pain. “Initially it makes your pain a little worse, but then it gets better with time,” Brinks said. Activities like yoga and tai chi can help, too.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Try a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, Brinks suggested. Working with a therapist or pain psychologist, some patients experience improvement through relaxation and breathing techniques or through guided imagery.
Drug therapy
Brinks often starts patients on a low dose of amitriptyline, which can help improve sleep and pain. He might also prescribe drugs that block the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain, which can help improve a patient’s mood and reduce pain. Some patients also find that anticonvulsant medicines help reduce pain.
The medications’ effectiveness can vary from patient to patient. “Sometimes it’s just one drug, sometimes it’s a combination,” Brinks said.
But narcotics are not in the mix: “Research has shown over and over again that narcotics do not help fibromyalgia,” he said.
Address underlying mood disorders
Treating anxiety and depression, which often go hand in hand with fibromyalgia, can ease the burden of living with the disorder.
Well-balanced diet
Gall is a firm believer in eating right.
“I don’t know what shape I’d be in if I didn’t eat so well,” she said. “If you let that slide, it’s like a domino effect.”
Overall, attitude makes a big difference for people with fibromyalgia, she said.
“I love life. I think this is a pretty cool place to be, and if you’re always talking to the people you run into about the latest thing your doctor has told you to do, that means you’re concentrating on your condition,” she said.
“Except for those days when I’m screaming through those stabbing pains or curled up like a ball with a migraine for three days, I’m going to try to do the rest of life with a smile on my face,” she said.
Brinks said people who have good attitudes and a willingness to try new things will experience better outcomes.
Three P’s
One strategy Brinks recommends is the “three P’s” approach:
Prioritize—“If you have a day off work and you have 12 errands you want to run, you need to shorten that list,” Brinks said. “What are the things that are most important?” If you take on too much, the stress can impact your sleep and “all of that is like the perfect storm for fibromyalgia to flare up,” he said.
Plan—Based on your priorities, think about how you should approach your tasks and what’s reasonable to expect of yourself.
Pace yourself—If you have three errands to run, don’t try to do all of them in the first two hours. Space them out, Brinks said. Gall told of a day when she didn’t pace herself as she prepared the house for a family gathering. She ended up in so much pain, she could hardly enjoy the party.
Above all, Brinks said, don’t let pain rule your life. Recognize there will be good days and bad, and remind your brain that your pain is “not life threatening—it’s annoying and frustrating, but it’s not going to cause terminal illness,” he said.
Still, it may bring about major life changes. For Gall, the pain and other symptoms of fibromyalgia became so bad she eventually had to retire early from a job she loved.
Looking to fill the void, she and her husband began adopting older dogs from animal shelters, giving them a safe home in their later years. The sense of purpose this gives her is a tremendous help, Gall said.
After decades with fibromyalgia, she’s found the best strategy is to face it with grit and resolve.
“Even if I have to do life in pain every day, ranging from a pain level 3 to a pain level 10, I don’t get to go back and do it again,” she said, “so I’m going to try to be as good at it as I can.”
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
In late January of 2019, Dr. Jen received an email from concerned cat lovers in Olivet who had befriended a very adorable, outgoing — albeit intact — male who showed up several weeks before. He had taken to hanging out on their back porch, meowing at them through the window, so they put food out for him (and an opossum buddy it seems), and he repaid their kindness by purring, head-butting and rubbing up against the husband and wife.
They took to the Charlotte Facebook pages to see if anyone had lost this orange kitty, but the only replies received were that people had seen him around as he had spent the summer at the Sherwood Forest campgrounds begging for handouts. As the weather turned colder, they made him a house on their porch and set him up with heated dishes, but when it dipped dangerously below zero, they were compelled to take him indoors.
Sadly, once he was let back out, he got into a huge fight with another feral in the area; then only a few days later, a dog attacked him; he wasn’t eating well and was looking rough, so they took him in to their vet for treatment—and discovered he was FIV+. Not having the room or cash flow for a fourth cat, and not wanting to entertain the morbid thought of having him euthanized as recommended, they reached out to us for assistance.
Since he was such a gentle cat who wasn’t phased in the least by the presence of the household kitties, even when being hissed at, they felt he deserved every chance at finding himself an indoor home that could better accommodate him. In the meantime, they boarded him at the vet’s office until they could make the trip over to us (the weather simply wasn’t obliging). On Feb. 4th, we eagerly opened our doors to the 3-1/2 year old (born in the summer of 2015), a striking, sturdy hunk aptly named Sherwood.
As is customary, Dr. Jen always does her own medical work-up when a cat enters into our program at either shelter, so she set to work on treating a multitude of issues: a bilateral ear infection with a deep left pinna laceration; an abraded and infected scrotal sac (ouchie!) that made neutering a bit of a challenge; there were small, scabby chin wounds; his upper right canine tooth had also been fractured but didn’t need extracting, thankfully.
Sherwood is still a bit shy, but he’ll warm up once he has a home of his own
By the next morning, he was feeling lots better and Dr. Jen felt he was ready to head on down to our sanctuary to start living the cushy life at the hands of our volunteers who were ready to spoil him. Initially, this 13-pound fella was quite shy, preferring to spend most of his time in one of our cozy cat cubbies, only venturing out primarily at night when the shelter was quiet and calm. But he is starting to settle in nicely and is exploring more readily. His favorite pastime, besides eating, is chilling on one of our many windowsills watching the birds come to the feeders, though he also is quite fond of being spoken softly to and is very accepting of head scratches.
He isn’t quite sure of being picked up yet, and when he gets to feeling overwhelmed by too much commotion, he will hiss and retreat to one of his safe places. We all collectively feel that he would do well in a home with another cat, though it isn’t mandatory, but that small kids would be too much for him. We also think that in time he will become an avid fan of lap lounging, though now he is perfectly content to hunker down here with us where it is safe, warm and canned food flows freely.
Ultimately, Sherwood sure would love to find himself a home of his own, but he is a happy lil’ indoor camper currently loving this new life of his!
More about Sherwood:
Large
Domestic Short Hair — Orange & White
Adult
Male
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Neutered
Not declawed
Good in a home with other cats
Prefers a home without children
Want to adopt Sherwood? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!
Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To
take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids
area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming,
no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be
found.
Lucia Rios was born with spina bifida but also with a family who urged her to try to do anything she wanted to. That included trying roller-skating on crutches and attending university in an era when the U.S. was still working to become handicap-accessible. She joins colleague Stacey Trowbridge to talk about stigmas, accommodation, and common-sense tips around disability.
Moooove over, Bessie. Cow’s milk has lots of competition.
You can fill your glass with a milk-like beverage made from hemp, coconut, cashews, macadamia nuts, oats, peas, flax, sunflower seeds or quinoa.
And the longtime favorites―soy, rice and almond milks―occupy more and more space on store shelves.
In the past few decades, the growth in milk alternatives has cut into Americans’ dairy milk consumption. Cow’s milk sales have dropped to half the level of the 1980s, according to the Dairy Reporter. Meanwhile, the milk alternatives market is expected to double by 2019.
With more options popping up, picking the right milk to pour on your cereal can be a bit overwhelming for consumers.
Making that choice depends on an individual’s health needs―and taste preference, says Kristi Veltkamp, MS, RD, a dietitian at Spectrum Health Blodgett Hospital.
“If you have allergies, that’s obviously a big driving force,” she says.
For those allergic to cow’s milk, nuts or soy, the growing alternatives market offers some welcome options.
Aside from allergies, nutritional goals should guide your choice, she says.
From the cow
When it comes to nutrition, the old standby rules.
“Cow’s milk by far has the most nutrition in it,” Veltkamp says. “It has protein in it. It has carbohydrates. It has fats. It has a good combination of all three macronutrients. …It’s also a good source of calcium. It has phosphorus and potassium.”
Nutritional guidelines call for whole milk for children from ages 1 to 2. Veltkamp recommends organic milk, free of growth hormones.
Consumers also should consider pastured or grass-fed cow’s milks, she adds, because in consuming an animal product, “you eat what it eats.”
Once children turn 2, they generally can switch to a lower fat milk.
Although adults have long been advised to drink low-fat milk to limit calorie and fat consumption, Veltkamp says recent research casts doubt on that practice. A 2016 study in the journal Circulation, for example, found people who consumed full-fat milk and dairy products had lower diabetes rates.
Sugars and protein
People opt for an alternative to cow’s milk for a variety of reasons―they may be lactose intolerant, allergic to milk or following a plant-based diet.
Typically, the plant-based alternatives are created by blending up the main ingredient with water and straining out the pieces.
“Then, they add a thickener. Otherwise, it would be very watery,” Veltkamp says, “Then they add vitamins. Essentially, it’s flavored water.”
Many plant-based milks “are a nice low-calorie option if you are trying to watch your calories or your carbs,” Veltkamp says.
But stick with an unsweetened version, she advises. The flavored versions of popular drinks, like soy and almond milk, can deliver more sugar and calories than cow’s milk.
And remember to check the nutrition facts. Rice milks typically are relatively high in carbs.
Milk produced by cows does contain lactose, a naturally occurring sugar. But that differs from the sugar added to sweetened milk alternatives.
“It is processed differently in the body,” Veltkamp says.
Most of the alternatives have little protein―just a gram or 2 per serving. For those looking for a higher protein content, soy milk and pea milk are good alternatives. They contain 7 or 8 grams of protein in a cup.
Calcium and cooking
Most of the plant-based milks are calcium fortified and deliver 30 to 50 percent of the recommended daily allowance for adults.
If lactose intolerance poses a problem, consumers can buy lactose-free milk.
“They add an enzyme called lactase, and it breaks down the lactose in milk,” Veltkamp says. “It’s kind of like it’s predigested.”
Despite the thinner consistency, Veltkamp says milk alternatives work well in recipes.
“I use almond milk in any recipe that calls for milk, and I don’t have any issues,” she says.
TEAM 21 group leader Jocelyn Medina gives the afternoon agenda to students in her after-school program, speaking exclusively in Spanish. (Supplied)
By Bridie Bereza School News Network
Jocelyn Medina has been a group leader for the TEAM 21 after-school program at the district’s Early Childhood Center for three years.
Since the beginning of February, her job looks the same as it always has – leading games in the gym, passing out snacks and nurturing young students after dismissal. But it sounds different; Medina, who is bilingual, is leading a group of about 17 first- and second-graders exclusively in Spanish.
“It’s been fun,” she said. “It is a little difficult sometimes, because they’re all at different levels in their Spanish. Some are very fluent and have no problem whatsoever; they can have conversations for days. Some of them can’t, and they get frustrated.”
Jocelyn Medina helps first-grader Karla Farias-Gutierrez, one of around a dozen students who attended TEAM 21’s Spanish-speaking program last week, after dismissal at the Early Childhood Center. (Supplied)
Immersed and Improving
The effort is part of a new program the district has implemented to improve Spanish for “heritage learners:” those students who have been exposed from an early age to Spanish at home and who can understand and speak it to varying degrees.
Carol Lautenbach is assistant superintendent of teaching and learning design for Godfrey-Lee Public Schools. She said that the idea for the program came from research the district did on dual immersion language programs. A district team studied and supported the idea of dual immersion in the classroom, she said, but didn’t think it was sustainable given the number of bilingual teachers available.
With a grant from the Steelcase Foundation and robust support from TEAM 21 leadership, the Spanish-language after-school program was born. Medina and teacher Katie Van Haven helped design the program with Lautenbach. The district held an informational meeting for Spanish-speaking parents of children who attend TEAM 21 after school, and parents of 17 students opted in.
First-grader Edwin Chavez is one of those students.
“I know more English than Spanish,” he said. “I need to learn some knowledge about Spanish because I’m not really used to it. Numbers like 75… I’m not used to saying those things in Spanish.”
Edwin said using Spanish at TEAM 21 already has helped him understand and speak more Spanish at home.
Arielly Sanchez is excited to improve her Spanish skills, and hopes it will help her communicate with friends and family who speak Spanish. (Supplied)
Second-grader Arielly Sanchez, who says she is “in the middle” in terms of her Spanish proficiency, agreed.
“I think it’s kind of good, so I can learn more Spanish for when I go to Mexico,” she said.
Measuring Success
Lautenbach said other desired outcomes of the program are the same as those of the English-language TEAM 21: improved math and reading skills and exposure to new experiences.
“It should be a very interesting way to see if instructing and enriching in Spanish leads to growth in all of the 6Cs of our learner profile,” said Lautenbach, referring to an educational approach adopted by the district that emphasizes collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creative innovation, confidence and content.
Edwin Chavez says that TEAM 21’s Spanish-only after-school program has improved his understanding of the Spanish he hears at home. (Supplied)
Medina, who grew up in a bilingual household and graduated from Lee High School, said she has definitely seen improvement from the first few days of the program, when she noticed some confusion and frustration from certain students.
“Most of them still can’t speak it fluently, but they understand it,” she said. “At the end of the day, I know that they’re learning more and they’re comprehending more, so it’s been exciting to see that growth.”
Brittani Stickler, TEAM 21 site coordinator at the school, said many parents have expressed appreciation for the option. Stickler said she knew of parents who had planned to send their children to visit with family in Mexico to improve their Spanish, and now they may not have to do that.
“They’re hopeful,” Stickler said. “We only started at the beginning of February for this particular program, but we’ll be watching the data to see how everyone does.”
For more articles on area schools, visit the School News Network at schoolnewsnetwork.org.
