West Michigan Therapy Dogs, Inc. (WMTD), a nonprofit organization providing pet-assisted therapy throughout West Michigan, is launching its “Unleash the Love” fundraising campaign on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2. WMTD hopes to raise $5,000 by Jan. 1, 2026.
The campaign aims to support the organization’s rapidly expanding programming and the growing need for trained therapy dog teams across the region.
Bringing comfort and joy
For nearly 25 years, WMTD has brought comfort, connection and healing to individuals facing emotional, physical and psychological challenges. With more than 200 volunteer teams serving over 100 programs and facilities across five counties, WMTD teams visit hospitals, schools, assisted living centers, libraries and community organizations, providing companionship, support and moments of joy for those who need it most.
As demand for pet therapy continues to rise, WMTD is seeking community support to strengthen operational capacity and ensure programs remain accessible and effective.
Therapy dogs bring comfort, connection and healing to individuals facing emotional, physical and psychological challenges (Courtesy, Cindy Bateson/WMTD)
“Each visit our teams make creates an impact that can’t be measured in dollars alone,” said Heather McCormick, Board President of West Michigan Therapy Dogs, Inc. “But the resources required to train, equip and support our growing program are real.
“This campaign helps ensure we can continue bringing love, hope and connection to individuals throughout West Michigan.”
How funds will be used
Funds raised through Unleash the Love will support critical needs, including:
Securing dedicated storage space for wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, AV equipment, and classroom materials used during training and certification.
Offsetting training facility fees to provide volunteers with a consistent, safe space to learn and practice.
Covering essential operational costs that keep WMTD running smoothly as the organization grows.
Purchasing training and certification supplies, including therapy dog vests, badges, evaluation materials, and program resources.
The campaign runs Dec. 2 – Jan. 1, and community members are invited to support WMTD by donating online or by mail.
“With continued support from our community, we can train more teams, reach more people and continue the work that has defined WMTD for nearly 25 years,” said McCormick. “Together, we can truly ‘unleash the love’ this season and beyond.”
How to Donate
Donations can be made online at www.wmtd.org/donate or by mail at West Michigan Therapy Dogs, Inc., P.O. Box 2533, Grand Rapids MI 49501-2533.
More information about WMTD can be found on their website and social media sites (Facebook, Instagram).
Throughout her career, Brittany Rickert has explored nursing jobs in various settings but keeps getting drawn back to hospice. For her, there is little else that offers such a unique and rewarding experience.
“There are landmarks throughout our lives, and death is one of them,” says Rickert, a nurse of 15 years. “It is very special to be allowed into that sacred space with patients and their loved ones, to support them through such a pivotal portion of their life.”
Rickert finds caring for the elderly to be extremely rewarding (Courtesy, Emmanuel Hospice)
As a registered nurse case manager with Emmanuel Hospice, Rickert is in a diverse role that requires her to use both clinical and emotional support skills to walk alongside patients on their end-of-life journey.
She defines her position as the “coordinator of the patient experience altogether,” working alongside an interdisciplinary team to bring supportive services directly to patients, wherever they call home.
“My goal is to make sure each patient’s quality of life is at its best and that patients are getting everything they could possibly want from hospice care to live fully and comfortably,” Rickert says, noting she will involve social workers, spiritual caregivers, music therapists and more, depending on a patient’s goals and needs.
“I want each patient to feel completely cared for and for the family to know they’re in good hands.”
Empowering patients
As Rickert guides patients through their options, she empowers them to make informed decisions about their care. Patients select which services are important to them. Alongside traditional medical care options, Rickert likes to highlight the complementary therapies and services available, including massage therapy, pet visitors, essential oils and more.
“People are often surprised to learn about our additional therapies as not every hospice offers them,” Rickert says. “Patient wishes are another example that can be very meaningful and connect with our goal of making hospice more about living. Just this past month, I have been working on a wish to get a family out to an MSU basketball game for a huge Spartan fan in our care.”
“We’ve got you.”
Another key point Rickert emphasizes with families: The care team is available 24/7 to answer questions and dispatch care as needed.
“Just because I’m not scheduled to come back until next week for a regular visit does not mean I, or another member of the care team, can’t check in sooner,” she says. “I reassure families our light is always on. We’ve got you.”
Direct patient care
Rickert check the vitals of Barbara, an Emmanuel Hospice patient (Courtesy, Emmanuel Hospice)
Rickert enjoys being “out in the field” regularly and providing direct patient care herself. Because hospice is a service, not a place, she is caring for patients wherever they are all throughout much of West Michigan.
That distinction is particularly relevant this time of year as Emmanuel Hospice celebrates National Care at Home Month and the role of hospice in the spectrum of in-home care.
During a typical patient visit, Rickert checks vitals and does a head-to-toe assessment, zeroing in on common symptoms that can occur as the end of life approaches. She manages medications and takes stock of supplies and other equipment to help patients remain comfortable in their home.
Providing emotional support is intertwined with the clinical side of Rickert’s role. As a main point of contact for patients and their loved ones, it is critical she helps them navigate unchartered waters with empathy and respect. Rickert aims to be a reassuring presence to everyone involved.
Holiday gatherings can become more of a reality check than joyful reunions as relatives notice health and safety concerns in aging loved ones for the first time.
“People often rely on phone calls or texts to check on older loved ones throughout the year,” says Paula Lett, Social Services Manager for Care Resources, a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. “But without those regular in-person visits, signs that indicate a need for assistance can go unnoticed for months.”
Holiday wake-up calls
Spending time with loved ones on a regular basis can help family identify opportunities for support sooner (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Throughout much of her career, Lett has been on the frontlines of the post-holiday influx of people seeking senior care. Her colleague, Eric Millar, can also attest to the surge in inquiries.
“It can be a shock to the system for family members who haven’t been around all year to notice their older loved one has been struggling,” Millar says, noting that these holiday wake-up calls underscore the importance of more regular check-ins.
“Don’t wait until the holidays to face these issues,” Millar advocates. “Get into the holiday spirit of visiting loved ones year-round by carving out a couple of hours each month to go into mom or dad’s home. You don’t have to cook or clean. Just spend time together. It will mean more to them than you realize and also help you identify opportunities for support sooner.”
Looking for clues
Whenever visiting an aging loved one, Lett and Millar encourage families to take note of the state of the home. Are there piles of mail or trash? An overflowing kitchen sink or laundry hamper?
Monitoring for changes in physical health, personal hygiene and mood is also important.
“You might notice they’ve lost weight, appear disheveled or are wearing dirty clothes,” Millar explains. “Maybe they’re increasingly forgetful, irritable or confused.”
After identifying such signs, Lett cautions against falling into the assumption that nursing home placement is the only solution, especially when “there is so much help available through programs such as PACE to keep seniors living safely in their own homes.”
Conversation tips
Focus conversation around resources that can give more independence rather than take it away (Courtesy, Adobe Stock)
However, broaching the subject with an aging loved one requires great care. Millar recommends having the person they trust most talk one-on-one, rather than a group intervention. Focus the conversation around resources that can give more independence rather than take it away.
“Seek to understand the specific areas where they could benefit from assistance so they can continue living the life they want to live,” he says. “You can be firm about the fact that you’re going to help, but encourage them to choose where they want the help.”
Lett adds it can help to explain that the goal is to maintain their ability to remain in their own home and in control as much as possible while enhancing their health and safety.
“No one wants to be a burden on anyone else, so it can be difficult to accept help,” Lett explains. “Be sure to treat them as a person, not an object that is a liability to themselves. Reassure them that getting support doesn’t mean they can’t still be self-reliant. There are options to help meet their needs while maintaining their dignity and autonomy.”
Learn more
Lett says families don’t have to “start from scratch” to find resources and build a care plan tailored to their loved one’s needs. For information about services that help older adults stay healthy and live independently in the community, call 800.610.6299 or visit CareResources.org.
The Care Resources team often hears, “Now I don’t have to be so lonely!” when introducing participants, ages 55 years and older, to their very own digital dog or cat.
The digital companion is a care.coach Avatar™ on an easy-to-use tablet that provides 24/7 companionship, video visits, health monitoring, medication reminders and more. Measurable benefits include reductions in emergency room visits, falls, loneliness and depression that lead to improved health outcomes in older adults.
Remote health coaching and monitoring capabilities are valuable, in addition to providing social-emotional outcomes (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Garth Falkins helped Care Resources – a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly, or PACE® – first deploy care.coach during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic to support participants when in-person programs were suspended. Falkins says the remote health coaching and monitoring capabilities continue to be valuable today, in addition to the social-emotional outcomes.
“The device conducts daytime check-ins every few hours, engaging the participant to see if they are doing well, in addition to silent checks during evening hours for any noise or movement that could be cause for concern,” said Falkins, Recreational Therapy Manager at Care Resources.
“There’s a real person behind the avatar, not an artificial intelligence bot, on standby to interact with participants through the device so we can quickly get eyes on them and evaluate the situation.”
A complement to in-person services
At Care Resources, various technology-based devices are used to complement the wide array of in-person services the nonprofit provides to enable older adults to stay safe while living independently in their own homes. Falkins says the digital tools help staff better manage participants’ overall health, while providing caregivers greater reassurance about their loved one living independently.
“Technology is a valuable tool in our toolbox for older adults to promote healthy and independent living,” said Falkins. “At Care Resources, technology such as care.coach has served as an extension of our team, allowing us to continually assess needs and be more proactive, which is showing definite benefits.”
Those benefits include enhanced safety and peace of mind for both participants and their loved ones. With care.coach alone, Care Resources has achieved a nearly 80% reduction in ER visits and a 50% reduction in falls among participants.
Care Resources participant Helene interacts with the interactive game projection system called Tovertafel (Courtesy, Care Resources)
Care Resources also utilizes It’s Never 2 Late, or iN2L, by LifeLoop, which delivers wellness-focused digital content intended to engage older adults. This includes games, travel videos, worship content, music and more.
Care Resources uses iN2L to enhance social activity programming and therapy sessions to help participants have fun while reaching therapeutic goals at one of its two West Michigan day centers.
Yet another technology used by Care Resources is Tovertafel by Tover, an interactive game projection system that uses purposeful play to provide social, physical and cognitive stimulation for seniors living with dementia. Games can be played individually or in a larger group at the day center to promote movement, social interaction and happiness.
“iN2L and Tovertafel enhance our programming and can be utilized for various therapies and educational purposes,” Falkins said. “We’ve seen the technology help participants improve their mobility and hand-eye coordination, among other benefits.”
Additional digital resources
For those not in a program such as Care Resources, Falkins says cell phones, phone apps and smart watches are a few common tools he sees used by older adults and their loved ones for health and safety monitoring and social connection.
Cell phones can also be used to help aging adults (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
One popular product is the GrandPad, a tablet designed to help aging adults enjoy calls, photos, music and games. Falkins has also seen families equip virtual assistants such as Alexa and home monitoring systems to check on loved ones.
A word of caution
While technology can be a great tool for health care professionals and loved ones of older adults, Falkins cautions against entirely relying on it.
“Technology cannot replace the need for human connection and physical touch,” he said. “In-person visits, hugs and meaningful interactions will always be super important.”
Find out more!
For more information about Care Resources, call 800-610-6299 or visit CareResources.org.
For Deb Vazquez, being a volunteer for Emmanuel Hospice is about ensuring patients have “a friend in the end.” It is about providing a friendly face and a caring hand to hold, offering comfort and compassion at the end of life.
Volunteering is about providing a friendly face and a caring hand to hold (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Vazquez began serving as a hospice volunteer earlier in 2025 – along with her husband Tony and their dog Cocoa – as a way to give back. Having experienced parents in hospice, most recently with Tony’s parents in Florida, the couple has seen the benefits of volunteering firsthand.
They found Emmanuel through an online search for hospice in their area and learned the nonprofit is always looking for new volunteers, especially pet visitors. They promptly signed up and completed the volunteer training, Cocoa included.
Vazquez said it has been incredibly rewarding for the whole family.
“The impact of pet visits is amazing,” she said. “Patients absolutely love Cocoa. She’s small enough to sit on people’s laps, and will gaze into their eyes. Patients like to talk or hum to her and pet her. Cocoa just has a great temperament and loves the attention.”
Simple gestures = Profound impact
In addition to visits with Cocoa, Vazquez meets patients one-on-one. In that capacity, she has found the simplest gestures can have a profound impact.
Patients recognize kindness even if they may not be able to talk back to volunteers (Courtesy, Adobe Stock)
“Just holding hands is huge,” said Vazquez. “A couple of patients love when I bring lavender-scented lotion to rub on their hands. It is sweet to see the calm it can bring to them.
“Talking to patients seems to make a difference, too. Even if they are noncommunicative, I’ll get a smile or a hand squeeze back that tells me they know someone is there for them and cares.”
Vazquez is intentional about learning about each person’s life story so she can find ways to personalize visits. Volunteer Coordinator Holly Salas said it is clear Vazquez “cares deeply” about the patients she sees.
“Deb goes above and beyond,” Salas said. “She brings patients treats and flowers, plays music for them and seeks out connection in any way she can. She recently reconnected one of our patients with family members, which was very meaningful to them.”
Childhood foods and marathon gaming
Having an interest in genealogy, Vazquez was eager to help the patient look into his family history and reconnected him with relatives.
“It started with connecting over foods he grew up with living on a farm like I did,“ Vazquez explained. “With permission from his dietitian, I was able to bring him food from his childhood. That brought up a lot of memories and family member names that he hadn’t been able to remember.
“It was just fantastic. You start with talking about something as innocuous as food we enjoyed as kids to find common ground, and then suddenly it’s opening doors to new ways to make someone’s day a little brighter.”
Simple things like food and games can spark long-forgotten memories (Courtesy, Adobe Stock)
Vazquez discovered another patient loves playing games. They now have a three-week game of Monopoly going. That patient also loves playing games with Cocoa.
“The patient will toss dog bones around her room, so Cocoa has to search them out,” Vazquez said. “She gets a real kick out of Cocoa doing this sort of hide and seek.”
Volunteer registration and orientation
To those interested in volunteering with a hospice organization, Vazquez said it is natural to wonder about what it will be like. However, Vazquez assures that any worries will be “far outweighed by the moments of joy you’ll bring.”
To learn more about volunteering with Emmanuel Hospice, email EHvolunteer@EmmanuelHospice.org or call 616-719-0919 and ask for Holly.
An in-person orientation to onboard new volunteers will be offered from 1-4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21 at the nonprofit’s Grand Rapids office.
American Legion Post 154 Roger B. Chaffee is hosting a Mobility Scooter-Wheelchair Competition to commemorate the Legion 154’s new electric handicap doors (Courtesy, American Legion)
American Legion Post 154 Roger B. Chaffee is hosting a Mobility Scooter-Wheelchair Competition to commemorate the Legion’s new electric handicap doors. Beginning at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, participants can expect an afternoon of food and fun.
American Legion Post 154 Mobility Scooter Competition (Courtesy, American Legion)
The event is open to the public and includes prizes for: Best Score on Ballon Obstacle Course, Fastest Time on Scooter Straight Course and Best Overall Trim Package (includes Best Rider Costume, Best Ride Decorations, Best Pit Crew Spirt and Most Unique/Useful Adaptive Aftermarket Equipment). All abilities compete for prizes – including bragging rights and winner trophies.
There will be three independent judges for all competitions. Judges will be announced the day of the event.
Registration as a competitor, pit crew member, attendee, volunteer or vendor can be found here. Competition rules can be found here.
More information about the Mobility Scooter Competition can be found here.
Disability awareness
“Many of our members are veterans or family members who need a bit more assistance than in the past, whether that’s to enter the building, or to carry in a crock-pot for an event like our annual Chili Cook-off,” says Butch Hogan, Post 154 Facilities Manager. “So, upgrading the doors was the right thing to help all, including those with limited mobility.”
American Legion Post 154 Mobility Scooter Competition (Courtesy, American Legion)
The competition event is being held to celebrate both the new Post 154 accessibility and to increase disability awareness.
According to Ken Stockel, Co-chair of the Scooter Competition, “We’re designing the course will all abilities in mind. Although some may compete in a mobility scooter, power wheelchair, or regular wheelchair, we are also having an obstacle competition for able-bodied participants to compete—in a WHEELCHAIR!
“As most servicemen/women learn early in their military training, when you walk in someone else’s ‘boots’ is when you develop empathy – and that’s where disability awareness begins.”
About American Legion Post 154
The American Legion is the largest U.S. veterans organization with more than 1.6 million members who strengthen the nation through programs, services and advocacy for those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, youth and communities.
Post 154 is named after Roger B. Chaffee (Feb. 15, 1935 – Jan. 27, 1967), an officer in the United States Navy, and died with fellow astronauts Gus Grissom and Ed White during a pre-launch test for the Apollo I mission.
For many West Michigan seniors, Care Resources is truly “home away from home” – and this month, they celebrated with a special homecoming dance.
“Dances create an exciting ‘out of the ordinary’ environment where participants can let loose and have fun,” said Care Resources Recreation Therapist Nicole Steed, adding that dances are highly requested by residents.
Recreation Therapist Nicole Steed welcomes dance participants (Courtesy, Care Resources)
“We try to do a dance on a quarterly basis,” Steed continued, naming luaus, discos and seasonal dances as previous day center dance themes. Decorations and costumes make each dance unique. “We typically do a homecoming dance and prom each year to spark nostalgia for school dances.
“It also proves that there is no age limit on the ability to have a good time and have fun.”
A one-stop shop
As a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, also known as PACE, the nonprofit serves as a single resource to keep seniors healthy, independent and at home.
“We are that one-stop shop helping participants not only take care of medical needs but also their social and emotional needs,” said Steed. “It’s a place they can fully feel taken care of, and they have a lot of pride in the program.”
To bolster that pride and celebrate National PACE Month in September, Care Resources hosted a special homecoming dance on Sept. 9 at its Grand Rapids day center.
“Our day center is a place designed to make all participants feel welcome,” said Steed. “We are a community here. By making it a ‘homecoming dance,’ we’re emphasizing to participants that this is their home.”
The Care Resources recreational therapy team had as much fun as the day center visitors (Courtesy, Care Resources)
While having fun, participants also received a host of health benefits from the event.
“This dance is designed to bring our participants a sense of purpose and promote that community feeling here,” Steed added. “It’ll be a great way to move their bodies and get some fitness in while socializing with others. It really encompasses all areas of health and wellness.”
Taking ownership and having fun
To further celebrate PACE Month, the Care Resources recreational therapy team wanted to allow participants to showcase their thoughts and feelings about the day center, as well as take part in the decorating aspect.
Pennant banners created by participants show what Care Resources means to them (Courtesy, Care Resources)
This included pennant banners quoting individual participants’ thoughts on what Care Resources PACE means to them.
“One of my favorites,” said Steed, “stated, ‘I wake up every day to be able to come into the center.’ That really shows how special Care Resources is.”
Completed Care Resources pennant banners (Courtesy, Care Resources)
Participants also created and hung signs around the center, arranged flower displays for the tables and made a streamer wall, which was the main backdrop for our dance.
“This demonstrates how the dance was designed for and by them to celebrate our love for the day center and Care Resources in general,” said Steed.
“All in all, we had an absolute blast! Happy PACE Month!”
Learn more
For more information about Care Resources and the resources they offer, visit CareResources.org.
Cars aren’t just timeless works of art – they are vehicles for lasting memories. Care Resources hosted an antique car show for its participants, ages 55 years and older, to reminisce about and enjoy on Thursday, July 31.
Seniors reminisced about cars they had in their younger years (Courtesy, Care Resources)
Grand Rapids Antique Car Club showcased 12 antique cars in the parking lot of the nonprofit’s Grand Rapids day center. Participants had the opportunity to admire the fleet of automobiles, connect with local car enthusiasts and take a trip down memory lane.
And those memories, said Recreational Therapist Megan Bollo, are what make the program so special.
“This event allowed participants to enjoy the outdoors, get some exercise and reminisce about the “good ‘ole times,” said Bollo. “All of which contribute to their physical and mental well-being.”
The car show also promotes intergenerational socialization (Courtesy, Care Resources)
Bollo went on to say that the event went well, with many smiles and laughs along the way.
“Our participants love interacting with car owners of all ages – it brings out a lot of joy and fond memories.”
One participant who worked on cars as a hobby in the past enjoyed looking at the engines and talking with the owners about the work they had done to restore the vehicles.
Laughter and smiles were in abundance during the car show (Courtesy, Care Resources)
Care Resources
The antique car show was just one of the many programs the Care Resources team organizes to meet the mental, social and physical needs of the older adults it serves as a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly, also known as PACE®. This innovative community-based program, funded by Medicare and Medicaid, promotes healthy and independent living while working to prevent nursing home placement.
According to a statement released by Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), this advisory is due to elevated levels for fine particulate matter (PM-2.5). The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) cites wildfire smoke originating from Canada.
EGLE noted that levels of particle pollution are expected to reach Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG, Orange AQI) through all of Monday, July 14 in southern parts of Michigan.
Sensitive groups are encouraged to take precautions.
The air quality in West Michigan is currently considered unhealthy for sensitive groups (Courtesy, AccuWeather.com)
Air pollution cause
“Wildfire smoke from Canada continues to push into Michigan on Sunday, with additional plumes expected Monday,” said Stephanie Hengesbach, Meteorology Specialist, Air Quality Division, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
Increased fine particulate levels due to smoke were seen Sunday morning across the Upper Peninsula into the northern portion of the Lower Peninsula. The smoke continues to track east and south, expanding across the rest of the state and with additional plumes forecasted to move in on Monday.
Hengesbach said southern locations can expect levels of fine particulate in the USG to Moderate range.
EGLE recommends:
When possible, avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory diseases like asthma.
Monitor for symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in nose, throat, and eyes.
Reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as:
outdoor burning;
use of residential wood burning devices.
Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning with MERV-13 or higher rated filters.
How air quality is measured
Air quality is an important measure identified in SEMCOG plans and programs for creating desirable communities, protecting public health, and maintaining a positive regional image for Southeast Michigan. In partnership with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), SEMCOG is now implementing a two-tiered system of Air Quality Advisories and Air Quality Alerts.
There are six categories, each with a color, to easily gauge the level of health concern in communities (Courtesy, AirNow.gov)
The AQI is a scale from 0 to 500 that indicates air pollution levels. Higher values mean higher pollution and more health risks. When AQI exceeds 100, it is unhealthy, starting with sensitive groups and worsening as it rises.
There are six categories, each with a color, to easily gauge the level of health concern in communities.
Air quality advisories/alerts information:
Air Quality Advisory: Issued when ground-level ozone, particulate matter (PM2.5) or both are expected to reach or exceed the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) threshold. Those considered in the “USG” threshold include people with lung disease (such as asthma), children, older adults, people who are active outdoors (including outdoor workers), people with certain genetic variants, and people with diets limited in certain nutrients should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
This is aimed to provide awareness for poor air quality, encourage people to limit activities that contribute to poor air quality, and to alert those who are especially sensitive to poor air quality.
Air quality advisories and alerts are designed to help those who can be affected by poor air quality (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Air Quality Alert: Issued when Ozone, PM2.5, or both are expected to reach or exceed the Unhealthy threshold or worse. This alert indicates a higher level of concern as everyone, not just sensitive groups, can be affected by poor air quality.
Catherine’s Health Center CEO Megan Erskine (left) shaking hands with Mel Trotter CEO Chris Palusky celebrating the joint partnership to operate a full-service medical clinic at Mel Trotter Ministries (Courtesy, Mel Trotter Ministries)
Mel Trotter Ministries, the largest provider of services to people experiencing homelessness in West Michigan, announced an expansion of its partnership with Catherine’s Health Center. This expansion will result in increased health clinic services for guests staying at Mel Trotter’s shelter at 225 Commerce SW in Grand Rapids.
Catherine’s is now offering full-time medical care at Mel Trotter Ministries. This new partnership will provide 40 hours per week of comprehensive primary care services to guests, with plans to expand access to the broader Heartside community by early 2026.
Mishel Pollard of Catherine’s Health Center standing in the hallway at the full-service medical clinic (Courtesy, Mel Trotter Ministries)
The clinic will serve as a “medical home” for individuals experiencing homelessness, offering walk-in appointments and a full spectrum of services including substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), immunizations, screenings, well-child visits, diagnostic lab services, chronic disease management, and referrals to specialty care.
Additional care
In addition to primary care, Catherine’s will provide:
16 hours per week of dental hygiene services
4 hours per week of psychiatric care
40 hours per week of case management support
The entrance to the full-service clinic at Mel Trotter Ministries (Courtesy, Mel Trotter Ministries)
Bringing integrated services to the community
“We are grateful to Mel Trotter Ministries and their generous partners and donors for laying the foundation for this model of care,” said Megan Erskine, CEO at Catherine’s Health Center. “Their commitment over the past four years…has made it possible for us to expand our place-based care model and bring full-time, integrated services to this community.”
Catherine’s Health Center staff working in the full-service medical clinic. Left to right: Ollie Irwin, Mishel Pollard, Bettie DeChemin (Courtesy, Mel Trotter Ministries)
Catherine’s has spent the last three years delivering healthcare directly to the unhoused in shelters, churches and encampments. The new clinic represents the next evolution of this work, complemented by a mobile medical van that will continue to provide outreach and services across the region.
“We’re extremely pleased to expand our relationship with Catherine’s Health Center so that we can deliver the best possible care to our guests,” said Chris Palusky, CEO at Mel Trotter Ministries.
“When our renovated clinic space opened two years ago, it was our goal to provide services that healed the body and the spirit of those in need of assistance. This new service agreement will help us do that by bringing a more complete spectrum of care for anyone coming to our shelter.”
Tammy Morgan of Catherine’s Health Center working in an exam room at the full-service medical clinic (Courtesy, Mel Trotter Ministries)
The initiative goal is to provide personalized and dignified care to guests while reducing non-urgent emergency department visits and unnecessary hospitalizations. Ultimately, leaders at Mel Trotter Ministries and Catherine’s Health Center believe that improved physical and mental health outcomes will enhance housing opportunities and stability for individuals trapped in the cycle of homelessness.
Stay tuned!
The clinic expects to open its doors to anyone experiencing homelessness starting in October. An open house at the clinic is planned for Oct. 22.
To view Catherine’s Health Center upcoming events, click here.
Trinity Health Grand Rapids is one of only 36 breast centers in the nation with this certification and one of only two in Michigan (Courtesy, Trinity Health Grand Rapids)
Trinity Health Grand Rapids is one of only 36 breast centers in the nation with the certification and is one of only two in Michigan. Trinity Health Breast Center – Lakes Village in Norton Shores was also awarded this distinction.
Highest level of care
This is the highest level of recognition awarded by the NQMBC, a program developed by the National Consortium of Breast Centers. It recognizes a center’s quality performance based on several data-driven criteria, such as timeliness from biopsy to surgery, documentation of margins, genetic testing for patients, and much more.
This certification is the highest level of recognition awarded by the National Consortium of Breast Centers (Courtesy, Trinity Health Grand Rapids)
“It is always rewarding to see our hard work pay off,” said Bess Connors, MD, Medical Director, Trinity Health Grand Rapids Comprehensive Breast Center.
“This award reflects years of efforts to ensure we are providing the highest level of care to breast cancer patients in West Michigan. This distinction demonstrates the commitment of our team to achieving excellence for each patient every day.”
Total care, total confidence
Trinity Health Grand Rapids Comprehensive Breast Center focuses on total breast health, including all-digital mammography, genetic counseling, and the latest treatments.
“Along with Trinity Health Breast Center – Lakes Village, we are the only Michigan breast center to achieve this distinction,” said Dr. Connors.
“We want our patients to be confident in the care they receive, and this is just one way we can demonstrate that care close to home can also be world-class care. These certifications give us annual opportunities to review our work and make sure we continue to excel among breast centers nationally.”
Learn more!
Information about all services offered at Trinity Health Grand Rapids Comprehensive Breast Center can be found here.
Care Resources recently hosted its own “senior prom” for program participants, ages 55 years and older, at its Grand Rapids facility. (WKTV Journal / Jaylah Lewis)
Care Resources recently hosted its own “senior prom” for program participants, ages 55 years and older, at its Grand Rapids facility.
“Cinderella’s Ball” was the culmination of a month of princess-themed recreational programming that included Disney movies and a royal tea party. Attended by approximately 80 seniors, the event featured cupcakes, punch, music – and the crowning of a prom king and queen.
The purpose?
While fun is at the top of the list, Recreational Therapist Sabrina Cusenza says there are great health benefits to activities like “Cinderella’s Ball.”
“Our main goal is to bring joy to our participants and staff, who will also get dressed up and join the fun,” Cusenza says. “But there are functional aspects of programs like this that support participants’ health and well-being.
“Our participants will get physical activity in through the dancing. The socialization is great for emotion well-being. We’ll also incorporate some reminiscing about prom, which has cognitive and mental health benefits.”
Learn more!
A local community-based program of all-inclusive care for the elderly, Care Resources promotes healthy, independent living and helps prevent nursing home placement. Care Resources staff regularly provide entertainment via events and programs that also support participants’ health and well-being.
Learn more about all Care Resources has to offer here.
The first session focuses on grief support and will be held June 16-20. The second session will focus on cancer support and be held June 23-27. Each session will be held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Campers do not have to be a Gilda’s Club member to participate and may join and attend any or all camp dates that fit their schedule.
Catch all the sparkling details here:
Camp Sparkle supports overall emotional health and is open to children from all surrounding communities.
(Courtesy, Gilda’s Club)
The program provides children with a chance to connect and interact with other children who having gone through cancer, have been impacted by a cancer journey of someone in their life, or experienced grief because of the death of a family member or friend.
Camp Sparkle is facilitated by Gilda’s Club professional program staff, is supported by trained volunteers, and will feature activities focusing on emotional well-being.
The camp will host guests from community partners including Grand Rapids Symphony, Josh Dunigan with Drums for All, and Grand Rapids Public Library. During the grief session on June 18, those in attendance will have an opportunity to learn breakdancing with Teknique Street Dance Academy.
Pre-registration is required. Those interested can register online here, email cfaust@gildasclubgr.org, or call 616-453-8300, ext. 117.
First Session: Grief Support
Monday, June 16 – 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wednesday, June 18 – 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Friday, June 20 – 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Second Session: Cancer Support
Monday, June 23 – 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wednesday, June 25 – 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Friday, June 27 – 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Note: Family day activities will be scheduled from 1-3 p.m. on the last day of camp for each session.
Grab a four-legged friend for this popular community event filled with music, food, drinks, and fun – all while supporting a great cause (Courtesy, Hats & Hounds)
Dust off your best hat and grab a four-legged friend for the popular Hats & Hounds popular community event filled with music, food, drinks and fun – all while supporting a great cause.
There will be a chance to win a prize for Best Dressed Hound & Handler – so don your best outfit! (Courtesy, PAWS)
Event details
This evening of fun will take place on Thursday, May 22 at 6 p.m. at Wildwood Family Farms located at 7970 Snow Ave SE, Alto, MI 49302. Guests will enjoy toe-tapping bluegrass music from the Round Creek Trio, indulge in southern-inspired food and beverages, take part in exciting raffles and games, and have the chance to win a prize for the Best Dressed Hound & Handler Contest.
Tickets are just $25 per person and include all food and drinks. In addition to the fun, attendees will meet PAWS clients and learn firsthand about the life-changing impact PAWS assistance dogs have on individuals with disabilities.
Financial support is needed as the need for assistance dogs increases (Courtesy, PAWS)
“It’s exciting to bring this event back for another year. Last year, we were able to raise $15,000 for our mission and this year we’re hoping to raise even more,” said Ashley Diersch, Chief Advancement Officer at PAWS.
“There is a growing need for assistance dogs, and the need for financial support continues to grow as well. With the challenges of inflation and the uncertainty with the economy, we need more help from our community to continue this life-changing work. Every ticket purchase helps!”
Personal pets are welcome, but must be over 16 weeks old, fully vaccinated, leashed and under the control of their owner at all times. If you are unable to attend but still want to support PAWS, donations are welcomed and can be made online.
Health departments and health officials across Michigan and Kent County are transitioning from preparing for the arrival of measles to reacting to the arrival of the disease, which was once officially considered eliminated in the United States in the year 2000.
Measles began its comeback in the United States in February and early March in the Southwest United States, specifically New Mexico and West Texas.
884 cases across the United States, 9 in Michigan
Since then, cases of measles have been spreading across the nation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the latest numbers have shown an increase of cases with 30 states in the U.S. reporting cases. According to the CDC, a total of 884 cases are confirmed across the nation as of April 24. In the state of Michigan, as of April 24, there have been nine confirmed cases of measles according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). A total of four outbreak cases of the measles has been reported by the MDHHS with the outbreak located in Montcalm County in West Central Michigan. Locally, the first case of measles was reported in Kent County on April 1. The measles case in Kent County was the first reported in Kent County since 2013.
Along with measles, the state of Michigan has also seen an uptick in cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough. In 2024 Michigan reported 2,081 cases of pertussis, a 19-fold increase from 2023 and the third consecutive annual rise. So far in 2025, the state has already reported nearly 700 pertussis cases, including 112 in infants under age 2, the age group most at risk for severe complications.
“Measles is a highly contagious disease that continues to circulate both in the U.S. and globally,” said Dr. Adam London, Health Officer at the Kent County Health Department. “This case is a reminder of how quickly measles can spread and the importance of vaccination. We urge residents to check their immunization status, especially if planning to travel internationally or into areas with active measles outbreaks.”
On April 24, healthcare officials from around the state of Michigan convened for a conference call to address the state of measles in Michigan and discussed ways to address the issue and keep the public up to date on the situation.
One of the main points of emphasis by the panel, that included Michigan Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive for the State of Michigan, was the need for vaccinations.
“These numbers are alarming, and this resurgence is preventable,” Dr. Bagdasarian said. “Diseases like measles and pertussis are highly contagious and potentially deadly, especially for infants and young children. We have safe, effective vaccines that protect against these illnesses – vaccines that have been available for decades. Let’s use all the tools at our disposal to protect our most vulnerable.”
(Courtesy, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, MDHHS)
Vaccine rates have been falling in recent years and that has enabled diseases like the measles and pertussis to mount a comeback.
According to the MDHHS, vaccination rates for young children in Michigan have declined over the past decade. As of March 2025, only 71.5% of Michigan children ages 19 to 35 months had received four or more DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) doses. MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine coverage for this age group was 79.4%. Only 68.4% of young children in Michigan have received all the vaccines recommended to protect them from 14 serious diseases by the time they’re 2-years old. Pertussis (whooping cough) often begins with mild cold-like symptoms, but progresses to severe coughing fits that can last for weeks. More than half of infants who get pertussis need to be hospitalized, and complications can include pneumonia, brain damage and death.
“Vaccination is not simply a personal choice, it is a public health responsibility that protects the entire community, particularly those at highest risk for serious health consequences,” said Dr. Rachel Klamo, a family physician and president of the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians. “We encounter vaccine-preventable illnesses daily and are seeing cases of once-rare diseases, such as measles, the consequences of which can be life-long and devastating. For physicians, this is heartbreaking because it is preventable.”
“Up-to-date vaccines are key in protecting children against measles”
Up-to-date vaccines are key in protecting children against measles which is easily spread. According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, measles is a disease caused by a virus. It is one of the world’s most contagious diseases. The MDHHS website also states that 90% of persons without immunity to measles will become ill after exposure to the virus. It also states that measles can live for up to two hours in an airspace after an infected person leaves an area.
The MMR vaccine, recommended starting at age 1, offers long-lasting protection against measles. Michigan’s recent outbreak was linked to a large, ongoing outbreak in Ontario, Canada.
(Image Courtesy, pxhere.com)
“Parents deserve accurate, science-based information about vaccines,” said Veronica Valentine McNally, president of the Franny Strong Foundation and founder of the I Vaccinate campaign. “When families are informed, they choose to protect their children. That’s why we created IVaccinate.org—to empower Michigan parents with the facts they need to make confident decisions.”
The I Vaccinate campaign is a nationally recognized joint initiative of the Franny Strong Foundation and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, supported by the CDC and every major health and medical organization in the state.”
Parents especially need to know that the DTaP vaccine is recommended at 2, 4 and 6 months, followed by boosters at 15-18 months and 4-to-6 years to protect against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. The MMR vaccine is recommended at 12-to-15 months and again at 4-to-6 years. The vaccines are available through pediatricians, most pharmacies and local health departments. Children eligible for the Vaccines for Children program can receive vaccines at no cost from enrolled providers.
“With vaccine-preventable diseases making a comeback in our state and across the country, this is not the time to let our guard down,” said Dr. Bagdasarian. “This is a good time to call your health care provider and make sure your family is up to date on vaccines.”
In 2005, Wyoming native Carol Jennings suffered an ischemic stroke that paralyzed her right side and rendered speech nearly impossible (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Carol Jennings says angels live at Mary Free Bed (Courtesy photo)
In July 2005, Wyoming native Carol Jennings suffered an ischemic stroke that paralyzed her right side and rendered speech nearly impossible.
Twenty years later, 82-year-old Jennings is living a full life, and she says it is largely due to the care she received at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital (MFB) in Grand Rapids.
“Mary Free Bed, they have angels that live there,” says Jennings. “The therapists work very hard, and they were just wonderful.”
The journey to recovery, however, was not easy – or short.
A long road home
Jennings and her husband Chuck were far from home when she suffered the stroke. On their way home from Boston, MA, the couple stayed overnight at a hotel in Syracuse, NY. Jennings had a headache that night and took medication to help her sleep.
The next morning, they were packing for the trip back to Michigan when Jennings realized something was not right.
“I was going to drive, and I had gone out to the car and fixed the seat, went back in and stroked,” says Jennings. “I don’t remember a thing after that.”
Jennings does not remember much about the day of her stroke (Courtesy photo)
At St. Joesph’s Health Hospital, Jennings received a clot buster injection to help break up the clot on the left side of her brain. The next thing Jennings remembers is opening her eyes to find a nurse leaning over her, asking if she felt better.
“I couldn’t answer her,” Jennings recounts in a book called The Promised Piece. “I could think, but couldn’t say anything.
“I had so many questions, and my lips and my heart were separated by miles. I couldn’t coordinate my thinking or my hearing, and now my eyes were tearing up and my voice was absent. I was instantly experiencing total grief.”
Jennings underwent treatment at St. Joseph’s for 11 days.
Restoring hope and freedom
Mary Free Bed is the nation’s most comprehensive rehabilitation provider and one of the largest not-for-profit, independent rehabilitation hospital systems in the country, states the MFB website.
MBF’s roots date back to 1891, when a small group of women wanted to help people who could not afford health care. Today, MFB works to restore hope and freedom through specialized physical medicine and rehabilitation programs and services.
Jennings was flown to MFB in Michigan where she underwent treatment for another 19 days.
(Courtesy photo)
Tough love
Jennings’ entire right side was paralyzed. She choked when swallowing ice chips, liquids and soft foods, making eating and drinking nearly impossible.
Her weakened right hand became the helping hand instead of the dominant. Jennings had to relearn how to perform numerous tasks, such as eating and writing, using her left hand.
Through everything, Jennings’ husband and her lifelong friend, Marilyn Emery, remained by her side. They provided love and support as Jennings worked toward regaining a normal life.
Jennings’ occupational therapist (Kristi) and speech therapist (Marie) also played a vital role in her recovery and provided Jennings with hope. She remains close with both women today.
“They work so hard, even if you stumble and don’t want to do [things],” says Jennings. “They keep you going. They are just so patient; they really are angels.”
Forever changed
After undergoing years of speech therapy for aphasia, Jennings now puts voice to her thoughts and questions. However, that voice now carries a different pitch, and she is often mistaken for having an accent.
Carol Jennings (right) shares about the challenges and recovery of her stroke (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
When Jennings gave a speech and asked to see the recording, Emery hesitated, knowing the pitch and tone of Jennings’ voice was lower than before the stroke.
“I didn’t know if she should listen to it, but she wanted to use it as a tool for her voice pitch,” says Emery. “She cried when she listened to her speech and said, ‘Did I really sound like that?’”
In order to be discharged from the therapy program, Jennings had to go out to lunch with Chuck and her therapist, order from the menu, and pay for the meal herself. She also had to pass a driving test. Jennings flunked the test the first time because her leg wasn’t strong enough to hit the brake pedal.
But she refused to give up.
“She’s a fighter”
Jennings attended therapy seven days a week, a daunting and difficult schedule.
Tasks that previously took no effort or thought now put Jennings’ sanity and patience to the test.
Jennings got her wish and once again danced with her husband Art (Courtesy, MFB)
As Chuck drove Jennings to therapy appointments, he read street signs and billboards, then encouraged Jennings to repeat them.
“I didn’t realize that I had to put my tongue a certain way when I said certain words,” says Jennings, adding that it was one more thing to relearn.
“It came back. Everything will come back, but it takes so long. I learned patience.”
When asked by the MFB marketing department to name the one thing Jennings wanted to do again, her reply was instant: “Dance with my husband.”
In time, Jennings once again danced in Chuck’s arms, their picture gracing local billboards and television screens as a testament to MFB’s rehabilitation skills. But much of that healing and strength came from Jennings herself.
“She’s a fighter,” said Emery. “She is a marvelous witness of what can happen.”
Faith, family and friendship
A large part of Jennings’ healing, she said, also came from her relationship with God.
“My mind never shut down, but I couldn’t talk much. All of a sudden, I said, ‘You know, Lord, if you want me to live, what do you want me to do? I can’t do anything.’”
(Courtesy photo)
Jennings would talk with God daily as she struggled in therapy.
“Just going there helped me to realize that God had to be working for me because some days I couldn’t work for myself,” said Jennings. “I would go, but He would give me the strength.
“My relationship [with Him] grew and grew. And He got me better. Better to do what? To help write a book.”
When planning the book, Emery asked Jennings what came to mind when she said God. Jennings replied: Center.
“I thought, God will be the center of our book,” says Emery. “That He pulled her through, and she needed Him. We were there because she survived.”
Working on the book with Emery forced Jennings to utilize her mind and gave her purpose. “I felt the power of friendship,” says Jennings. “They were pulling for me, and I thought: I’m not going to let them down.”
“There is power in friendship.”
Jennings and Emery view each other as sisters (Courtesy, Deborah Reed)
“Carol told me that the book and all of her friendships gave her purpose,” says Emery. “You remember those people who were there for you. You never forget it.
“We’re sisters. Not of blood, but we’re sisters.”
The friends and family that banded around Jennings during her recovery, Emery continues, is a testament to the impact Jennings makes on others’ lives.
“She’s somebody you don’t forget,” says Emery.
Moving forward – with ink
Jennings’ tattoo reminds her that she is a survivor (Courtesy, Jennings)
Five years after her stroke, Jennings returned to Syracuse to meet those at St. Joseph’s who helped her. Being able to thank her “angels” in person gave Jennings a sense of thankfulness and appreciation.
A tattoo with the date of her stroke now encircles Jennings’ right ankle.
“The inking is a reminder that I am a survivor,” says Jennings. “I never wanted to forget what I went through.”
Though not always easy, Jennings continues trying new things – and spending time with friends.
Read more about the lifelong bond between Carol Jennings and Marilyn Emery here.
More information about the book, The Power of Friendship, can be found here and here.
It is important to talk with loved ones about your health care wishes and designate someone to make decisions on your behalf when you are no longer able to do so (Courtesy, Emmanuel Hospice)
Who will make decisions about your health in the event you are not able to make them yourself?
That is the question at the heart of National Healthcare Decisions Day. Every April, this annual initiative emphasizes the importance of talking with loved ones about your health care wishes, formally documenting those wishes and designating someone to make decisions on your behalf when you are no longer able to do so.
This process, known as advance care planning, is something Britt Fischer regularly discusses with patients and families in her role as a social worker with Emmanuel Hospice. In Fischer’s experience, many people wait until retirement or until they have a serious incident or diagnosis, but the conversation should happen sooner.
“Working for a hospice provider really opened my eyes,” Fischer says. “Every day is not guaranteed, so it is never too soon to get these plans in place.”
Many people wait to plan until retirement or until they have a serious incident or diagnosis, but the conversation should happen sooner (Courtesy, Adobe Stock)
Health, decision and rights
Advance care planning can be intimidating to talk about because of the stigma around end-of-life discussions in our society, but Fischer likes to say, “it is less about death and dying, and more about your health, your decisions and your rights.”
“Everyone has the right to know who is going to be making decisions for them,” she says. “Everyone should be able to feel confident that person is going to make decisions that are in line with their wishes – not anyone else’s.”
To help broach the topic with loved ones, Fischer recommends four conversations starters:
I recently learned about advance care planning. Have you discussed your wishes for future medical decisions with any loved ones?
Do you know who would be your health care proxy or durable power of attorney for health care if you couldn’t make decisions for yourself?
Do you know if you have an advance directive in place? If not, can I help you with one?
What do you think are the most important decisions to make ahead of time regarding your health?
Clarification and documentation
Fischer recognizes advance care planning can also be confusing because there are a lot of different terms that are used – many of which mean the same thing.
“We want to see a durable power of attorney designated specifically for health care,” Fischer clarifies. “This is sometimes referred to as a health care proxy or patient advocate, but what it comes down to is whether you have in writing who will be responsible for making decisions for different medical events. We recommend listing additional people as backups in case the first-named person is unable to serve when the time comes.”
Filling out an advance directive form will serve as a legal guide for designating a decision maker and documenting your wishes (Courtesy, Adobe Stock)
Filling out an advance directive form will serve as a legal guide for designating that decision maker and documenting your wishes. It is recommended to review and update your advance directive anytime one of the “3 Ds” happen – death, divorce or diagnosis.
“There are many advance directive forms available online,” Fischer says. “CaringInfo.org is a great resource to find an appropriate one for your state. You’ll also need two people who are not related to you to witness. Often neighbors or friends can help with that part. Notarization is not necessary.”
In the state of Michigan, living wills are not legally binding. Only a durable power of attorney for health care can ensure your wishes are honored.
Fischer also recommends filling out a Michigan funeral representative form, which designates someone to make decisions about funeral arrangements and cremation.
“I’ve found it’s best to be clear and concise about what you want to happen at the end of life,” Fischer says. “This ensures your wishes are honored, rather than leaving your loved ones to guess or debate during an already difficult time.”
While it’s no secret physical activity is one of the most important ways to maintain good health, fitting in regular movement is easier said than done, especially as we age.
To make exercise more accessible, “exercise snacking” is growing in popularity for older adults. The idea is to incorporate small bursts of activity into your everyday routine.
‘A little bit a lot’
These “snacks” of activity can involve movement that already occurs in your daily life – things like getting up and down from a chair multiple times or doing weight shifts while washing dishes.
Increasing every day movements can produce healthy results (Courtesy photo)
“This is what I like to call the ‘little bit a lot’ approach,” says Peter Vander Weide, a physical therapist at Care Resources in Grand Rapids who has been a clinical specialist in geriatric physical therapy for 20 years. “You’re more likely to do it because you don’t consider it a formal exercise program. Rather, you’re just doing a little more activity than you normally do each day. It’s a mental shift.”
There’s also the convenience of not needing any special equipment and being able to exercise snack anywhere spontaneously throughout your day. As it turns out, a “little bit a lot” adds up. According to the National Council on Aging, recent research has shown exercise snacks can lead to “significant health gains.”
A phenomenal impact
From his decades supporting older adults, Vander Weide can’t emphasize enough the need to stay active.
Regular physical activity generates both physical and mental health benefits (Courtesy photo)
“As we get older, our connective tissue becomes inflexible and we gradually lose muscle with aging, which is called Sarcopenia,” he says. “Some sources say people can experience 50% muscle loss by 80 years old.”
But the benefits of achieving regular physical activity are plentiful, Vander Weide notes.
“Regular physical activity will help you maintain maximum strength and improve circulation, digestion, respiratory function and flexibility while reducing joint pain,” he says. “Then there’s the impact on mental health. Exercise increases levels of serotonin and helps the body release endorphins that are better than eating a piece of chocolate. These decrease pain, depression and anxiety.
“Bottom line: Exercise is phenomenal for aging individuals – and for all of us, really.”
Simply moving
Vander Weide acknowledges it takes effort to exercise, and that alone can be a barrier. He says this concept of snacking works better because it’s not asking you to run a marathon, it’s inspiring you to find simple ways to do more a little bit at a time.
“You just simply have to move,” he urges.
Examples of suggested exercise snacks include:
Lean into the counters in your home to stretch your calf muscles out.
Grab on to your kitchen sink and do weight shifts side to side and then front to back.
Do a few sit-to-stands from a chair.
Side-step from one room to another and back.
Speed up your pace as you walk through a hallway in your home.
March in place while looking for something in the fridge or pantry.
Moving with intention
Lastly, Vander Weide cautions to do these movements with intentionality. He believes one of the most important concepts to understand in aging is that the body compensates to failure.
Moving with intention is vital to maintaining normal function (Courtesy photo)
As your muscles get weaker or your body alters function due to pain, the brain will figure out how to compensate to accomplish the task. This may work for a while, but it often leads to further dysfunction. If proper form is used during exercise snacks, your body will regain or maintain “normal” function.
For more information on physical therapy and group exercise classes provided by Care Resources for adults 55 years and older, call 800-610-6299 or visit CareResources.org.
TREASURE, a lovable Golden Retriever, joined the Casula family as Nolan’s SDA companion last year. The service dog quickly became Nolan’s new best friend, helping him navigate the world and offering comfort and support.
In recognition of Autism Awareness Week (March 24-28) and Autism Awareness Day (April 2), PAWS shined a spotlight on the impact of SDAs like TREASURE and the ongoing efforts to meet the rapidly increasing demand for these dogs.
PAWS provides custom-trained assistance dogs that empower individuals living with disabilities to lead fuller, more independent lives (Courtesy, PAWS)
The impact of SDAs
PAWS provides custom-trained assistance dogs that empower individuals living with disabilities to lead fuller, more independent lives. One category of assistance dogs is SDAs.
These dogs play a crucial role for children on the spectrum by enhancing social interactions, expanding verbal and nonverbal communication, teaching life skills, increasing interest in activities, and reducing stress within the family – something the Casula family can attest to.
Nolan’s parents, Vanessa and Derek Casula, shared, “The impact that TREASURE has had on our family has been nothing but positive. What once were challenges are no longer the case.
“We no longer have to dread bedtime, we no longer have to dread simplistic things such as showering or brushing teeth. I don’t have to try to convince him to read a story because now he willingly does so to his best friend TREASURE.”
An increasing demand
(Courtesy, pxhere.com)
However, the demand for these life-changing dogs continues to grow. PAWS currently receives four applications for every one spot available for SDAs. In 2025, PAWS did not offer applications for this category of assistance dog due to the already extensive waiting list.
For PAWS, meeting this increasing demand requires strategic growth and additional support from the community.
Renovating PAWS’ national headquarters based in Wayland, MI, is one of vital changes being made to expand the mission work and ability to reach more people like the Casula family. The updated facilities will enable PAWS to continue delivering world-class service, increase the number of dogs in training, and therefore, the number applicants the organization can serve.
A need for foster puppy raising volunteers
With a goal to double the placements of assistance dogs by 2030, PAWS also needs to increase the number of volunteers in the Foster Puppy Raising program.
Volunteer Foster Puppy Raisers provide a loving home and basic obedience training for future assistance dogs before they are ready to begin formal training. Before TREASURE met her forever person, Nolan, she lived with Bonnie Sposato, a volunteer Foster Puppy Raiser for PAWS.
There are currently over 150 volunteers that are a part of the Foster Puppy Raising program at PAWS, but this number will need to grow (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
“It honestly gives me goosebumps in the best way to think about the changes and the impact that miss TREASURE is going to have on a child’s life,” said Sposato. “Her new person loves her, and she loves him so much. It is the best feeling ever.”
There are currently over 150 volunteers that are a part of the Foster Puppy Raising program at PAWS, but this number will need to grow over the next year to help serve more people with disabilities. To reach more people like Nolan and his family, PAWS is asking the community to consider becoming a raiser, co-raiser, or a starter/finisher home.
“Providing assistance dogs for the people who need them begins with our volunteers,” said Michele Suchovsky, CEO of PAWS. “By providing the dog with a loving home in the early stages of life, our volunteers are helping us make an incredible impact for people like the Casula family.
“TREASURE helps Nolan feel safe, understood, and supported. She is providing peace of mind to Vanessa and Derek, helping them navigate the challenges of autism with greater ease.”
An encouraging word
(Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Nolan provided his thoughts on the importance of helping more children like him receive their SDA, encouraging people to donate to PAWS and volunteer: “Because of donations from people like you, I have my best friend TREASURE. Your donation will also allow for other kids like me to have a best friend too!”
More information about PAWS, ways to donate, and how to join the volunteer program can be found at: pawswithacause.org.
The Care Resources team planned a fun snow day for its participants, kicking off with the thrill and nostalgia of a snowball fight (Courtesy, Care Resources)
100 fake snowballs were launched inside Care Resource’s newest location in Lowell (11730 Fulton St. E) on Jan. 13 during a full day of winter-themed activities.
100 fake snowballs flew through the air during a good-natured snowball “fight” (Courtesy, Care Resources)
With Recreation Therapist Lorelei Smits at the helm, the Care Resources team planned a fun snow day for its participants, ages 55 and older. The day kicked off with the thrill and nostalgia of a snowball fight, with nine staff and nine participants joining in the lighthearted fun.
Smiles and laughter were in abundance during the snowball fight (Courtesy, Care Resources)
“Our indoor snowball fight was a success,” said Smits. “We heard many participants say ‘that was so fun,’ and they appreciated the creativity of the event. Everyone – staff and participants – were smiling and laughing the entire time.”
Smits went on to say that the indoor snowball fight led to sharing memories of Michigan winters (especially the blizzard of ’78) and other winter trivia and fun facts.
After the snowball fight, staff posed behind cardboard cut-outs for participants to throw snowballs at.
There is “snow” place like Care Resources!” (Courtesy, Care Resources)
“Participants had a good time throwing snowballs at staff!” said Smits.
Other activities included winter trivia, crafts and hot chocolate.
Improving health through fun
The snow day was a creative way to improve health through fun activities (Courtesy, Care Resources)
Designed to create a time of fun, connection and a change of pace to the normal routine, Smits had a few additional goals in mind as well.
The snow day activities incorporated functional elements supporting participants’ health and wellness goals, such as exercise to strengthen upper extremities and improve arm movement and coordination.
Socialization and memory recall helps support cognition and emotional wellbeing.
“It was a creative and fun way to incorporate exercise, reminiscing and socialization,” said Smits. “Our Lowell building just opened up on Jan. 2, and this activity helped our participants and staff build connections.”
Learn more about Care Resources and the care and events they offer here.
Drs. Kosovec and Greenberg used an innovative new procedure that enables surgeons to provide care that is both effective and timely for complex aneurysm repair (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
A West Michigan patient is on the road to recovery after two Trinity Health Grand Rapids surgeons successfully repaired a complex aortic aneurysm using a groundbreaking new procedure available at just a few sites in Michigan.
On November 18, Michelle Kosovec, MD, Section Chief, Vascular Surgery, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, and Joshua Greenberg, MD, Medical Director, Endovascular Services, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, completed a thoracoabdominal branch endoprosthesis repair of a complex aortic aneurysm.
The patient, a 61-year-old man, was discharged from the hospital a few days later and is doing well.
Complex surgical repair
Picture of a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (Courtesy, UF Health)
The aorta is the largest artery in the body, and carries blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body.
A thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm is a bulging in the aorta that extends from the chest to the abdomen. Over time an aneurysm may grow, further weakening the wall of the aorta, or it can burst completely causing rupture, which is bleeding inside the body.
Surgery to repair the aneurysm significantly reduces the risk of an aneurysm rupture, which can be fatal.
However, this is often one of the most difficult aortic aneurysms to treat because there are important blood vessels that supply critical organs in this location, all of which are stented individually while relining the inside of the aorta to provide a seal.
The current standard of open surgical repair is complex and associated with a high rate of mortality and morbidity.
“For these extensive aneurysms – those that span the chest and belly – we’re now able to treat them with this much more advanced device that supplies blood to the aorta, abdominal branch vessels and lower limbs,” said Dr. Kosovec. “For patients, it’s a much less invasive treatment option with potentially lower rates of surgical complications, blood loss and death, as well as shorter hospital stays, and a quicker recovery compared to open surgical repair.
“This is the biggest innovation in the last 10 years and our Grand Rapids team is one of just a few sites in the state that’s able to offer it.”
Gadberry works to ensure veterans are recognized for their service (Courtesy, Hospice of Michigan)
Wyoming resident Ryan Gadberry served four years (2013-2017) in the U.S. Marines. While no longer on active-duty, the local veteran continues serving by bringing comfort and recognition to hospice veterans during their end-of-life journey.
Already serving as Property Manager for Hospice of Michigan, Gadberry stepped in to help when he heard Hospice of Michigan needed veteran volunteers.
For the past eight months, Gadberry has used his military experiences to make a meaningful impact.
“I am more than happy to give back,” said Gadberry. “It’s very heartwarming; it makes you feel like you’re doing something really important.”
Camaraderie and compassion
Hospice of Michigan strives to deliver the holistic, loving care veterans deserve. Veteran volunteers make a difference in the lives of others by sitting and visiting with fellow veteran patients.
Gadberry said there is a specific connection between veterans due to shared military training and history.
Wyoming veterans gather at an annual local breakfast (Courtesy, City of Wyoming)
“You can meet a total stranger and, once you find out they are a fellow service person, there is an immediate connection,” said Gadberry. “You’re no longer a stranger.”
That connection has been frequently proven, but one instance made a lasting impact on Hospice of Michigan Volunteer Program Manager, Lauren Becker-Barkman.
A lifelong Marine within hours of the end of his life journey was restless, repeatedly reaching and calling out.
“There was no peace in this man’s world at this time,” said Becker-Barkman. “He’s uncomfortable, he’s restless.”
Veterans can make a difference in each other’s lives (Courtesy photo)
The hospice team asked a veteran volunteer to sit with the veteran in hopes of making a difference in his end-of-life journey.
“By the time [the volunteer] left,” said Becker-Barkman, “he was comfortable, he was at peace. He wasn’t calling out, he wasn’t reaching out.”
The veteran passed within a few hours – and what was said during that time together remains unknown.
“We don’t know what was said or what passed between these two veterans, but whatever it was allowed this man to find peace and to be able to go on peacefully,” said Becker-Barkman. “That’s the kind of connection you can’t make up. The impact is immeasurable.”
Gadberry personally cultivates that special connection with hospice veterans through empathy and understanding.
A desire to serve
Gadberry is thankful for his time in the Marines (Courtesy, Hospice of Michigan)
A first-generation serviceman in his family, Gadberry always knew he wanted to be a Marine.
“Even when I was a kid, that was the plan. Finish high school, join the Marines. That’s what I did.”
Gadberry served as an intelligence analyst, working with several overseas ops – and has no regrets.
“I love that I did it; it definitely turned me into the man I am today.”
And that man gets a visible bounce in his step when meeting fellow veterans.
An unexpected impact
“He gets a little pep in his step knowing that he’s going to meet a veteran,” said Becker-Barkman, adding that Gadberry is also asked to read poems or talk about the impact of veteran connections often. “He’s incredibly humble about being a veteran himself…so to know that he’s also getting some recognition and that he’s continuing to make an impact, it’s really cool.”
A local woman raises her voice in song at a vet pinning ceremony (Courtesy, Hospice of Michigan)
Gadberry said that volunteering has impacted him in ways he didn’t expect – especially the pinning ceremonies.
“What surprised me was the impact it has on the families,” said Gadberry. “It’s overwhelming to see. It’s important to make that veteran feel remembered and seen, but they’re on their end-of-life journey, they’re going to be gone soon. But that ceremony, and those memories, are going to be passed on and kept with the family members for many years to come.”
Though many veterans are recognized for their service through their communities, American Legion or VFW, there are just as many who never see recognition of any kind. Gadberry said giving that recognition to veterans during the last steps of their end-of-life journey is memorable for all involved.
“Every ceremony, every event is completely different,” said Gadberry. “Every time I do it, I take away something different and I learn a little bit more.”
Becker-Barkman said her time with Hospice of Michigan has also been life-changing.
“I’ve learned so much about end-of-life care and what that entails for us as human beings,” said Becker-Barkman. “I get to be surrounded by so many brilliant, loving, giving people that it’s changed my entire outlook on everything.
“It’s magical to be surrounded by people who are so willing to show up for people they don’t know at what can be the hardest time in their life; it’s rejuvenating.”
The value of serving in new ways
Hospice of Michigan is continually in need of compassionate veteran volunteers to provide that much needed support and camaraderie to hospice veterans. Regardless of how they served, the bond between veterans opens a door of trust and communication through mutual understanding.
“Veterans share a unique bond,” said Kathy Lietaert, Hospice of Michigan Statewide Volunteer Program Manager, in supplied material. “Through our veterans hospice program, every act of service by volunteer veterans brings comfort, connection and compassion to hospice veterans who need it most at the end of life.”
Volunteers can make a life-changing impact with a minimal time commitment (Courtesy photo)
Becker-Barkman said they are always looking for more volunteer support, in Grand Rapids and throughout the state – and their volunteering schedule is flexible.
“You could [visit] one patient a month, visit once a week, or whatever fits your schedule,” said Becker-Barkman. “We don’t have any rigid guidelines. We want volunteers to be able to fit this into their lives in a way that’s meaningful and not overwhelming for them.”
Volunteer orientations are hosted on an as-needed basis so prospective volunteers can learn in their own time. Training or previous volunteer experience is not needed. All veterans willing to donate their time and companionship to hospice care patients are welcome.
Gadberry believes that veterans will step in to help once they are aware of the need.
“I was more than happy to help out,” said Gadberry. “I think that will be the case for other veterans out there. If they hear that another veteran needs some form of help, they will always step up.”
Learn more!
Prospective volunteers can contact Lauren Becker-Barkman at 616-250-9110 or lbecker-barkman@hom.org.
Learn more about Hospice of Michigan and submit an online volunteer application here.
With Halloween days away, the tiniest patients at the Trinity Health Grand Rapids Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are ready to celebrate! Their Halloween costumes were all hand-made by NICU nurses to fit these tiny patients without disrupting their care and monitoring.
Though the babies are not able to go outside to trick-or-treat, dressing up in the costumes allowed families to experience a childhood milestone.
(Courtesy, Trinity Health)
(Courtesy, Trinity Health)
(Courtesy, Trinity Health)
(Courtesy, Trinity Health)
(Courtesy, Trinity Health)
(Courtesy, Trinity Health)
(Courtesy, Trinity Health)
(Courtesy, Trinity Health)
About Trinity Health NICU
Trinity Health Grand Rapids NICU is a licensed 15-bed, Levell III NICU, that cares for 200 to 300 newborns on the unit every year. We have successfully cared for babies born at 22 weeks gestation and weighing as little as 11 ounces.
To learn more about Trinity Health Grand Rapids NICU services, visit their website.
The event begins at 11 a.m. with a ceremony beginning at 12 p.m. Registration is FREE!
Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a rare motor speech disorder that makes it difficult for an individual to speak. Treatment includes intense speech therapy and sometimes other therapies to help individuals reach their highest communication ability. However, there is no cure.
Raising awareness is one of the most tangible ways communities at large can help children with apraxia thrive. Increased collective awareness means that children will be diagnosed faster, resulting in better, earlier intervention.
Celebrating apraxia stars
The Walk for Apraxia is the largest community event that celebrates the hard work of our apraxia stars, children diagnosed with CAS. The day includes family-friendly activities, a ceremony and a short, inclusive group walk to raise awareness.
Neil Kilby, father of an Apraxia Star, says, “Apraxia Stars need a team behind them. That team includes both parents, family members, SLP’s and organizations like Apraxia Kids.”
(Courtesy, Apraxia Kids)
Participating in the Walk for Apraxia helps show Apraxia Stars that there is a team of supporters surrounding them in their community. Invite friends and family to this community event to meet local Apraxia Stars and show support for all of their hard work!
Funds raised through the 2024 Walk for Apraxia benefit Apraxia Kids, the leading nonprofit that works to strengthen the support systems in the lives of children with CAS. Apraxia Kids educates both families and speech-language professionals so that children with CAS can reach their highest communication potential through accurate diagnosis and appropriate, timely treatment.
Event registration
For more information on how to join the Walk for Apraxia, click here.
U.S. health officials now consider COVID-19 an endemic disease which essentially means that COVID is here to stay in fairly predictable ways (Courtesy, KCHD)
Cases are rising across the United States and many people have experienced the uptick over the past few weeks. They’ve either tested positive themselves or know someone else who has.
Health officials consider COVID-19 here to stay (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
“COVID-19 is one of those viruses that behaves differently than other respiratory viruses like flu and RSV. COVID-19 infections are driven more by human behavior and immunity than weather patterns or seasons,” said Andrew Jameson, MD, an infectious disease specialist with Trinity Health Medical Group in Grand Rapids. “We’re going to have to learn to live with it.”
According to Dr. Jameson, a reason why COVID-19 cases are starting to rise: the virus has evolved to be a very good spreader, allowing it to infect people even if they have several layers of protection from past infection, vaccine, or booster. People become susceptible to an infection again not all that long after their most recent infection or booster shot.
“Despite immunity to new infection waning, most of the recent cases that result in hospitalization are in people who did not get the most up to date vaccine” said Dr. Jameson. “We do find, however, that protection with the vaccine against severe illness does hold up over time for most people.”
Are there new COVID-19 variants this year?
Since the original Omicron variants emerged back in 2021, the virus has continued to evolve and mutate – this is what viruses do.
Currently, the CDC is monitoring a trio of variants — called KP.3, KP.2, and LB.1 — that are on the upswing.
What are the symptoms now, and have they changed?
Many COVID-19 symptoms have stayed the same since 2020: fever, sore throat, coughing.
Many COVID symptoms have remained the same since its inception – however, there are some variants (Courtesy photo)
Other symptoms have shifted: it used to be common for people to lose their sense of taste and smell when they got sick, but that now seems to happen less frequently.
If you’ve been infected before, it’s important to understand that symptoms can vary from one infection to the next. It may actually feel like an entirely different illness. Or, you may experience the same symptoms, but in a different order.
COVID-19 symptoms include:
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
New loss of taste or smell
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
“No two COVID infections behave exactly the same,” said Dr. Jameson. “In general, the more immunity a person builds up – from infections or vaccinations – the symptoms of another infection tend to be milder. But there’s no guarantee.”
How long do test kits last?
If you’re not feeling well and have trouble finding new at-home tests to purchase at your local pharmacy, you may wonder if you can use older test kits you may have.
The FDA says that tests should not be used beyond their expiration date.
“Medical” pieces of a COVID-19 home test kit (Chicago.gov)
I may have COVID. What should I do?
The CDC recommends treating COVID-19 just like other respiratory viruses such as flu and RSV:
Stay home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick) if you have symptoms that aren’t better explained by another cause.
CDC guidelines say people should isolate for five days from their first symptoms, after which they can be around other people if they’ve been fever-free for 24 hours and wear masks inside.
Treatment may help lower your risk of severe illness.
For people whose immunity is impaired by disease or transplantation, there is a new treatment available: a monoclonal antibody called pemivibart (sold as Pemgarda) provides a similar level of protection as vaccines do for everyone else. However, it is expensive and given by infusion.
When should I get a COVID-19 booster shot?
The COVID-19 vaccination can help protect against the virus (U.S. Government)
Vaccines and boosters continue to be the go-to protections against severe illness from the virus.
“For those who are at high risk for severe illness – the very elderly, the elderly with comorbidities, and those who are immunocompromised – go ahead and get a booster vaccine now. The vaccines are still active against some of the circulating variants,” Jameson said.
“By the time the new vaccine comes out in a few months or so, you’ll be eligible to get another shot toward the late fall.
“For those whose risks are a bit lower, you can wait until the fall boosters come out.”
If you have any questions about COVID-19 as it relates to your health, or when it’s best for you to get a booster vaccine, talk to your doctor.
Alzheimer’s is still a mystery to those in the medical field (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Few diagnoses are more frightening than hearing that one has Alzheimer’s or another disease that causes dementia.
The Alzheimer’s Association estimates about one in nine Americans over 65 have Alzheimer’s disease. This number is expected to more than double in 25 years.
“Alzheimer’s is a complicated disease,” said Kevin Foley, MD, FACP, AGSF, Medical Director of the Trinity Health Medical Group Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Program at Trinity Health Hauenstein Neurosciences – Grand Rapids Campus. “Even though it was discovered more than 100 years ago, we have yet to really understand what causes it, whether genes, environmental triggers, or something else.
“The formation of amyloid plaques in the brain is a hallmark of the disease, and the process can begin up to 10 years before a person shows any symptoms.”
While advances in treating cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, have been made in recent years, nothing seemed to have worked as well for treating Alzheimer’s.
Hope for slowing cognitive decline
Lecanemab can slow the progression of mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia (Adobe Stock Photos)
In 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved aducanumab, an amyloid-beta-attacking monoclonal antibody—a lab-made version of an antibody found in the human immune system.
Aducanumab was the first drug ever approved for slowing cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients. But trial data showed – at best – hints of a possible, small average slowing in cognitive decline.
In 2023, the FDA approved lecanemab (Leqembi®) using the Accelerated Approval Pathway (AAP). Under the AAP, the FDA may approve drugs for serious conditions where there is an unmet medical need and a drug is shown to have an effect on a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict a clinical benefit to patients. In this case, the surrogate endpoint is removal of amyloid.
“Lecanemab can slow the progression of mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease by eliminating amyloid protein from the brain,” said Dr. Foley. “It is classified as a ‘disease modifying’ drug, and the evidence so far shows a modest effect on slowing memory decline by several months.”
This treatment may be effective for patients in the early stage of the disease when symptoms, such as difficulty remembering names and completing tasks, are still manageable without much daily support.
Procedure and cost details
Dr. Foley and his team have two patients currently undergoing lecanemab infusions. More patients are going through the screening and approval process to see if they are a candidate for the treatment.
Trinity Health Grand Rapids (Courtesy, UMHW)
If a patient is approved, lecanemab is given as IV infusion every two weeks for 18 months. Brain MRIs will be done along the way to monitor for side effects. Patients also must be re-certified at six months to continue the treatment.
Health insurance plans will cover some of the expenses associated with the screening and treatment. There is no cost for the recertification at six months. An annual estimate for all non-covered expenses associated with screening and treatment is $6,000 – $7,000. The actual amounts covered are insurance company specific, so actual out of pocket costs could be less than this estimate.
Hope for the future
“For patients with Alzheimer’s, the hope of staying at the same level longer and slowing how fast it progresses, so they can keep doing what they enjoy, is important,” said Dr. Foley. “While this is not a ‘cure’ for disease, further studies may lead to an even more successful treatment.”
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day provides a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.
Residents can safely and anonymously bring expired, used prescriptions or over the counter medications to this free event for proper disposal.
Unused prescription drugs often find their way into the wrong hands, creating dangerous and often tragic situations.
The DEA encourages the public to clean out their medicine cabinets and remove unneeded medications from their homes. This can help prevent medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting.
Cherry Health recently installed new Narcan vending machines at two of its Grand Rapids locations. These Narcan vending machines provide expanded 24-hour access to free opioid overdose reversal kits.
Opioid overdose is a leading cause of accidental deaths and has led to a decrease in life expectancy nationwide. Naloxone/Narcan is a nasal spray drug that restores breathing by blocking opioids’ effects on the brain. It has no potential for abuse.
24-hour access to Narcan could potentially save lives (Courtesy, Cherry Health)
“Narcan is a life-saving medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose,” said Cherry Health Chief Behavioral Health Officer Bob Smith. “With the support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, we are able to expand Narcan access throughout West Michigan and potentially save more lives by providing safe and effective overdose reversal medication in the communities we serve 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
Jeff Connolly, Senior Vice President and President of West Michigan and Upper Peninsula BCBS of Michigan recognizes that there is a stigma often associated with substance abuse disorders. “People may be reluctant to seek treatment due to the potential judgment or disapproval of those around them. That’s why programs such as these are critical in equipping people with the life-saving tools they need while navigating a long-term treatment option.
“We’re proud to be part of this live-saving initiative and shifting the stigma toward more positive recovery solutions.”
Four locations: Narcan vending machines
Cherry Health now has four Narcan vending machines in West Michigan. All locations are listed below:
TRIGGER WARNING: This article contains sensitive information about depression and suicide that may be distressing or traumatic for some individuals.
Jessica Gregory (Courtesy, Julie Gregory)
At approximately 3 a.m. on March 10, 2015, 28-year-old Jessica Diane Gregory silently ended the internal pain she fought to free herself from most of her life.
Jessica’s mother, Wyoming resident Julie Gregory, prefers to focus on Jessica and her struggles versus the act of suicide when talking about her daughter’s death.
“I lost my daughter to depression, bullying and bipolar disorder,” said Gregory when talking with WKTV Journal.
Mental illness does not discriminate
Jessica had a family who loved her, was in the top 20 in her high school class of 2004, participated in sideline cheer and the competitive cheer team, ran track and had amazing friends.
Despite all of these things, Jessica was hounded by a darkness that led to physically harming herself and a suicide attempt in high school. Jessica’s internal struggle eventually spiraled into a loss of all hope.
Excerpts from Jessica’s journal and various other writings reveal the internal pain she battled daily:
Several pages of Jessica’s journal contained detailed plans of how she could end her life.
“I’m not ashamed or scared to talk about suicide or how my daughter ended her pain,” said Gregory. “We need to end the stigma surrounding suicide and mental illness. Redefine the way people talk about suicide and the way we think about suicide, and look at it as an effect of an illness.
“Why is it that the brain is the only organ in your body that will get judged for being ill?”
Gregory went on to say that those who die by suicide have lost a battle with a disease.
“They couldn’t hold on any longer,” said Gregory. “I feel it’s our job to help them hold on. Mental illness is treatable.”
‘I’m sorry, Mom. I love you.’
The last time Gregory saw her daughter alive was like a hundred others. There was nothing to indicate Jessica planned to end her life that night.
After having dinner with her family, Jessica and Gregory finished a jigsaw puzzle and began another.
Gregory had no idea Jessica purchased a handgun nine hours earlier.
Jessica’s journal and last letter to her mother (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
At approximately 10:30 p.m., Jessica helped her mother put the puzzle table away and went home to her apartment.
After writing one last letter to her mother in pink marker – her favorite color – Jessica silently ended the pain she battled daily.
Before you ask…educate yourself
Gregory said one of the hardest questions people ask her is: “How did she do it?” Gregory’s palms turned toward the ceiling, shrugging in disbelief and saying, “Does it matter?”
An entry from Jessica’s journal (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
What matters to Gregory is that her daughter is gone forever.
Another question Greogry repeatedly faces is, “Why didn’t you get her help?”
“We did get her help,” Gregory said vehemently. “She did go to the doctor, she was on meds, she went to therapy. She had a psychiatrist, she had a counselor, she had all these people. She had a team of people.
“You can put a mask on and show people what you want them to see,” Gregory continued. “It’s not always easy to see.”
“Even when parents, and people in general, have noticed a lot of signs, it is also possible to miss signs,” said Agnew.
Jessica with her cat, Desi (Courtesy, Julie Gregory)
When Gregory went back and looked at specific dates in Jessica’s journal, she was stunned at how well Jessica hid her true emotions.
After one particular journal entry that conveyed Jessica’s wish to die, Gregory looked back at Facebook pictures, realizing it was the same day the family attended a birthday party. All pictures from that day portrayed Jessica as happy.
Gregory thought to herself, “She was happy. That was the mask she wore. And she was thinking all day about how she could die?”
Selfishness vs. Mentally Ill
Entry from Jessica’s journal (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Gregory shares her daughter’s struggle because she wants others to understand that the thought process of a mentally ill person is not normal.
“I am simply showing people how the mind of my mentally ill daughter was thinking,” said Gregory. “She wasn’t looking to hurt anyone. She was ending her pain and what she thought was a life that couldn’t get better.”
Suicide is not selfish, Greogry continued. “Suicide is a desperate way to end pain, physical or mental. It is a hopelessness that things will never get better. It is a feeling that family or friends will be better off without them.
Entry from Jessica’s journal (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
“Those who are suffering don’t want to end their lives, they want to end their pain.”
Gregory also hopes to end usage of the term “committed suicide.”
“In 1964, it was a law that it was illegal to commit suicide – but they didn’t know anything about it,” said Gregory. “Now that we know more, we can talk more about it and we don’t have to use those ‘committed’ words.”
“We say ‘died by suicide,’” Gregory continued. “Instead of focusing on the act, we focus on the person and what was going on.”
Picking up the Pieces
Gregory and her family faced a lot of “firsts” as they learned to maneuver life without Jessica. Gregory credits their faith in God and having each other to lean on as the key to their survival.
Julie Gregory is dedicated to helping others navigate the pain she endures daily (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
The grieving mother’s main focus after losing Jessica was making sure her son, younger than Jes by 14 years, was okay. That everyone around her was okay.
And that included other people who found themselves enduring the loss of a loved one.
“I had hundreds of people send me messages,” said Gregory, adding that she welcomes those messages. “People can come to me.”
Gregory is a vocal advocate for the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan’s be nice. program. She encourages schools and organizations to take part in the program, take action, and save lives.
However, for Gregory, personal comfort and healing comes in the form of helping those enduring the aftermath of loss. She does this through the i understand love heals program.
“For me, helping people pick themselves up after – it just hit home.”
Grieving and healing
“I didn’t have time to grieve, and I still won’t take that time to feel sorry [for myself], because I need to be 100% to help all these other people,” said Gregory.
While Gregory admits that is not the healthiest approach, she has no plans to stop being that voice for Jessica and a source of hope for those grieving.
Jessica’s last words are tattooed on Gregory’s forearm (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
“Just to know that I’ve helped others is healing to me, and so I don’t know any other way to grieve,” Gregory said. “I grieve sitting at that big table and having new people come to the group that literally just lost their family member two weeks ago.
“And I feel their pain, and I will grieve for that family and those lost, and for Jessica.”
A voice for Jessica
Gregory proclaims herself to be an open book, refusing to hide that her daughter ended her own life.
Instead, two years after Jessica’s death, Gregory chose to open both her own life and Jessica’s to scrutiny and possible ridicule in the hopes that even one person would see – and choose – hope.
Jessica with family and friends (Courtesy, Julie Gregory)
Picking Up the Pieces is a blog that unveils Jessica’s journey, her internal pain, bullying she experienced at her job, and the aftermath Gregory endures daily since finding Jessica in her apartment nine years ago.
Gregory does not hold back, laying bare the pain and darkness – and emphasizing the glimmer of hope she knows is always present, even if not always noticed.
Though Gregory has been pushed out of her comfort zone countless times over the last several years, she embraces each challenge so she can share Jessica’s story and be that voice for her daughter.
“If I reach just one person, letting them know they aren’t alone, it is worth sharing,” said Gregory. “Or, maybe someone reading these pages who doesn’t have a mental illness will be enlightened by what is in someone’s mind that does.”
#ThereIsAlwaysHope
Jessica applied for a new job before she took her life. A job at a hospital where she could help others and could carry out her personal life mission. Multiple interviews and a job shadow followed.
A Picking Up the Pieces blog entry (Courtesy, Julie Gregory)
The darkness Jessica fought against, however, overwhelmed her before she heard their decision.
“The day after Jessica’s suicide, there was a message left on her cell phone voicemail,” said Gregory. “It was a message from the hospital she had applied at.
“She received that call one day late…”
Julie and Jessica both have a tattoo symbolizing a mother and daughter and their love for each other (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
The timing of that voicemail is something Gregory encourages all who struggle to contemplate.
“There is always hope,” said Gregory. “No matter how bad today can be, things will get better. You can’t leave today, because tomorrow everything could change.
“Life is all hills and valleys, and for every valley that you’re in, those hills are going to be amazing.”
Monica Ruiz, in a personal place of mental health recovery for the past few years, echoes that message.
“I do believe that all suffering is temporary,” said Ruiz, adding that there will be moments of relief even in the lowest times. “So please hold on. There is help. It gets better.”
A radical resolve
Gregory’s resolve to eradicate stigma and live with hope is evident in each word of Picking Up the Pieces.
“I am determined to be more than just a survivor,” said Gregory on her blog. “I am determined to find the silver lining, I am determined to see my glass as half full, I am determined to keep talking about mental illness and the side effects that ‘Pain’ can cause some people.
“I am determined to help change the definition of suicide.”
Eradicating stigma
“The stigma needs to be lifted about mental struggles,” said Gregory. “We need to talk about it, out in the open, and not treat it like a dirty secret – those days are past. We need to continue this conversation.”
Help stomp out stigma surrounding mental illness by joining the free annual be nice.Stomp Out Stigma 5K Walk event in May each year.
The be nice. program and action plan (notice, invite, challenge, empower) educates students, staff, and community members about mental illnesses and encourages them to exchange stereotypes for understanding, compassion and acceptance.
Resources
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. It is a free, 24/7 service that offers confidential support, information and local resources.
February is National Heart Month, and American Medical Response (AMR) is providing tips to help you know the risks and signs of a heart attack and what to do if you witness these signs.
“Heart attacks can be sudden, but most start slowly with mild pain and discomfort,” stated John Robben, AMR Regional Director for Western Michigan. “Often, people who are having a heart attack aren’t sure what’s wrong and therefore delay seeking help.”
(Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Warning signs of a heart attack
Robben says to look out for these signs of a heart attack:
Chest Pain–Most heart attacks cause discomfort or pain in the center of the chest that can last for several minutes. The pain may go away and then return. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Discomfort in Other Areas of the Upper Body– This can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of Breath– May occur with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs –Other symptoms might include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
Warning Signs can be Different for Women – The most common symptom for both women and men is chest discomfort, but one can have a heart attack and not experience chest pain or pressure. Women are more likely to have symptoms such as back pain, jaw pain, shortness of breath, indigestion and nausea or vomiting.
(Courtesy, American Medical Response)
What to do
If you or someone you are with has chest discomfort, especially with one or more of the signs of a heart attack, call 911 immediately.
Calling 911 is the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment. Emergency medical services can begin treatment when they arrive. EMTs and paramedics are also trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped.
If a person’s heart stops before the ambulance arrives, you should begin CPR and send someone to find an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
Be Prepared: It only takes a few minutes to learn compression-only CPR. Call Guardian Flight to find out where you can learn this life-saving skill.
For more information on heart attacks, visit heart.org.
Respiratory viruses are on the rise in Michigan and in Kent County.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitors flu activity across the U.S. and now categorizes Michigan’s flu activity level as high. Local hospitals are seeing an increase in upper respiratory illnesses including influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and COVID.
(Courtesy, Kent County Health Department)
The rise in the three illnesses has many of us feeling the symptoms which may include runny nose, congestion, and coughing. But how can you tell if what you have is a common cold or something more severe?
COVID has changed
For people who are up to date on vaccination the symptoms are much less severe and can easily be confused with a cold. At first, one of the telltale signs of COVID was the loss of taste and smell. Health officials say that isn’t happening as much anymore because of the level of immunity people have acquired from having the illness, getting vaccinated, or both.
If it is COVID, you may have stomach issues like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The flu and RSV do not usually have these symptoms. If you are having gastrointestinal issues with your other symptoms, you should consider a COVID test.
Symptoms for respiratory illnesses can vary (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
RSV symptoms
RSV can be fairly mild, but for people over 65 and children the illness can become very severe. Medical professionals say RSV patients will typically have wheezing or symptoms that look like asthma flare ups. RSV symptoms usually in stages over the course of 4 to 6 days.
Flu symptoms
The flu generally comes all at once. Sudden onset of symptoms like fever, cough, fatigue, body aches and a sore throat can seem to strike out of the blue. COVID, colds and RSV do not do behave that way, instead a person may have new symptoms for several days when they have become infected with those illnesses.
This chart can help you interpret your symptoms:
Respiratory Illness Symptoms (Courtesy, KCHD)
I have some of these symptoms, now what?
When you are feeling symptoms, medical professionals say that getting tested for COVID should be the first thing on the list. If that is negative, it is wise to get a flu test. After a positive flu test, you may be prescribed antiviral drugs like Tamiflu that can dramatically shorten the number of days you suffer.
When to seek medical attention
You should seek medical attention immediately if you are experiencing severe flu symptoms like difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, dizziness, seizures or severe weakness or muscle pain.
Vaccine resources
Fortunately vaccines exist for COVID, RSV and influenza and there is still time to protect yourself if you have not received yours yet. Other simple steps you can take to protect yourself and others include staying home if you are sick and washing your hands correctly and often.
Call KCHD today to make your vaccine appointment at 616-632-7200.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is working to educate parents and caregivers on safe sleep practices and products (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
By Rachel Rickman
WKTV Contributing Writer
Most infant fatalities are preventable is safe sleep practices and products are used (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Parents and caregivers spend a great deal of time and money ensuring their baby’s safety and comfort. However, an adult’s concept of “comfort” can unintentionally become deadly to a baby.
Many of these deaths are preventable, and the CPSC is combating the issue from multiple fronts.
Nychelle Fleming, CPSC Communications Specialist, and Pam Rucker Springs, CPSC Office of Communication Director, are at the forefront of public education regarding the issue of safe sleep practices for babies.
Getting back to the basics
The purpose of the CPSC is to create transparency and accountability for consumers when it comes to the products they buy and use.
“There are so many products out there with fancy names, but we need to get back to the basics,” said Fleming. “Products that are intended for sleep according to federal regulations.”
The CPSC oversees 15,000 categories of products, working with manufacturers and retailers to let consumers know when there is a problem with a product.
“Almost everything in your home that you don’t eat or drink we have regulations to manage,” Rucker Springs said. “We’re the people that will let you know: ‘Hey, there’s a problem with this product and you need to contact the manufacturer.’”
Concerning data: baby sleep environments
Recent CPSC data shows that 100 of the 160 annual nursery product-related deaths were associated with the presence of extra bedding being added to bassinets or play yards.
The incline of a carseat can cause restricted airflow and suffocation (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
“It’s important to start with a product that’s intended for sleep,” said Fleming. “Your crib, your bassinet, your play yard, with just the fitted sheet, and only placing the baby on their back in accordance with the American Pediatrics recommendation.”
When it comes to a baby’s “comfort,” it is important to be aware that safety comes first.
“We want our babies to be comfortable like we’re comfortable, with lots of fluffy pillows and warm comforters, but that can be the worst thing you can do for baby,” said Rucker Springs.
Fleming added, “What can be appropriate for an adult can actually be deadly for babies who don’t developmentally have the ability to lift their head and nose away from soft bedding that can conform to their nose and mouth – or even incline products which cause them to go chin to chest. Again, that flat surface is the best for baby to sleep.”
Incline products produce risks because a baby can tilt chin to chest, causing a lack of airflow and suffocation.
“Even if your baby falls asleep in another product like a baby swing or car seat carrier, we tell you to transfer the baby as soon as possible to that crib, bassinet, or play yard: a firm flat surface,” Fleming said.
Ethnicity and infant deaths
Recent statistics regarding infant deaths due to unsafe sleep products and practices show Black families experiencing a higher number of deaths than other ethnicities. Rucker Springs connects those statistics to upbringing and cultural practices within communities.
The CPSC is working to raise awareness in all communities (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
“It has to do with the practices we all grew up with,” Rucker Springs said. “There are things we grow up with that are inherently unsafe for babies. But that’s what we’re (the CPSC) here to do: educate people as to why it may not be the best thing for your baby.”
Fleming added, “We’re trying to raise awareness where we’re seeing communities who are disproportionately affected. 160 deaths annually, and about 29% were African American children. We want to make sure everyone knows how to create a safe space for baby.”
When asked about information access within Black communities, Fleming said, “The commission has worked with the American Pediatric association for years, and the ‘Back to Sleep Campaign’ has been in effect for over 30 years, but we’ve found that African American families are still not necessarily getting that message—even the simple message of placing your baby on their back to sleep.”
“What our organization is trying to do is educate people at the community level and through trusted voices,” Rucker Springs said.
Information overload: How to keep up
When it comes to learning more about the commission and staying up to date on the latest safety recommendations and recalls, consumers can go to CPSC and CPSC Safe Sleep.
However, with an average of 300 recalls per year, Fleming says it is hard for consumers to keep up.
Signing up for alerts and following social media can help you stay informed (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
“We want consumers to sign up directly for recalls so they can learn about recalls directly through email notification,” said Fleming.
Go to CPSC Recalls and Safer Products to sign up for recall notices or report a problem with a consumer product.
Robust social media sites and outreach to other organizations are also a priority for the CPSC.
“Download the app, and (follow) our social media,” said Fleming. “We heavily use our social media – Facebook, Twitter (now called X), and Instagram – to get you information.”
“We’re reaching out to other trusted (community) platforms and channels, like churches, where a lot of folks get their messages,” said Rucker Springs, adding that they also have a neighborhood safety network where various product information is sent out via posters.
“Posters that parents can download and share with their schools, community groups, churches, and other community centers,” said Rucker Springs.
The difference between life and death
As a parent, the safety and comfort of your baby are everything. Having the most up-to-date information on safe sleep routines and products can literally make the difference between life and death.
Detailed information on recommended safety practices and product recalls can be found at CPSC.
Rachel Rickman is a freelance writer, editor, and former university English Instructor with a BA, MA, and MFA focused on writing. She grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, but currently resides in Rosarito, Mexico with her husband and son.
Much of her work focuses on “narrative recipes”—personal essays with recipe/cooking ideas.
Over 20 million children in the U.S. face barriers to receiving quality health care (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
By Lauren Konsdorf
WKTV Contributor
The 19th century proverb, “An apple a day keeps the dentist away,” is easier said than done for some families. Over 20 million children in the United States face barriers to getting quality health care, with cost and transportation being two of these barriers.
Meeting families where they are
School is back in session, and this means more contact with other children and daily germs. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Nationwide Children’s Hospital provides school-based health programs, one of the programs tackling the most common chronic condition among children, tooth decay.
Tooth decay is the most chronic condition among children (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
“It is a great partnership, and we are grateful for the services provided to our families,” Wyoming High School Principal Josh Baumbach said.
The Wyoming Public School district benefits from dental clinics which include preventative care appointments and performing most restorative procedures. Partnering with Cherry Street Health Center, Wyoming families have the ability to request dental services for their children.
Shauna Bayer, Associate Director of School-Based Programs at Cherry Health, said the programs participated in 857 exams last year in the Wyoming school district, 55 of which had urgent needs. Bayer also said the program treats every child the same whether they are insured or not. It provides families with care that they might not have access to.
“It makes it worthwhile to come to work every day,” said Bayer.
School-based dental clinics have helped over 1,000 children
Since July 2021, the school-based dental clinics have treated more than 1,000 children and have completed more than 7,000 procedures.
School-base dental programs help families access important healthcare (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Mary Kay Irwin, Senior Director of School Health Services for Nationwide Children’s, wants to improve health outcomes for all children.
“We know that children can reach their full potential in the classroom when they are healthy, live in a safe and stable environment, and have access to the resources they need,” Irwin said.
The dental program creates outcomes for children and families that need access to important healthcare.
Irwin said working together and meeting families where they are is key to helping children access important care that they would not otherwise receive.
School-based dental services help with eliminating barriers that exist in receiving adequate healthcare for school children, creating a more resourceful environment and a future of children enjoying a five-letter facial expression – a smile.
Lauren is a senior at Central Michigan University and is studying Broadcast and Cinematic Arts with double minors in Journalism and Communications. She is a radio host for a specialty show on 101.1 The Beat, and is Promotions Video Editor for WCMU Public Media. She hopes to become a lifestyle reporter or host after college.
Self-Care Day, offered by The Healing Nest of Western Michigan, is intended to help cancer patients find rejuvenation of both mind and body (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
deborah@wktv.org
Self-Care Day will offer alternative therapies by trained and certified volunteers (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
A day of renewal and pampering for women receiving cancer treatment will take place at Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids on Friday, Oct.13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Offered by The Healing Nest of Western Michigan and with collaboration with Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids, the free Self-Care Day event will include a variety of self-care opportunities. Massages, Healing Touch, Reiki, yoga, and meditation will be available options.
Attendees are welcome to join one or all of the relaxing offerings.
Benefits of self-care
Founded by Reiki Master Laurel Williamson, The Healing Nest is a group of volunteers with specialized training and certification in the above listed alternative therapies.
“People just need a lot of love when [they are] struggling with [cancer],” said Williamson. “You’re vulnerable, you’re scared, you don’t feel good, and you’re worried about the next test or the test results. It’s a constant strain mentally and emotionally. The things we are offering just help take you out of that space and into a place of relaxation, peace, and less anxiety.”
A partnership that was meant to be
Laurel Williamson hopes to continue offering self-care events in West Michigan (Courtesy, Laurel Williamson)
Williamson had grown up watching actress and comedian Gilda Radner with her mother and sisters and knew she had died from cancer.
“I’d heard of the organization that Gene Wilder put together in her honor and memory, and my son-in-law mentioned that I give them a call,” said Williamson.
Needing a place that would allow her to host The Healing Nest event, Williamson visited the renovated farmhouse accommodating Gilda’s Clubhouse (1806 Bridge St. NW, Grand Rapids).
“It’s an incredible place,” said Williamson. “It was taken down to the studs and [they] invited the community in and asked them if they would write their prayers and intentions on the studs before they put the drywall over. It’s just full of prayers and intentions for healing.
“You can feel the love in the building, you can feel the love on the grounds, and you know their doors are open for anyone affected by cancer in any possible way,” Williamson continued. “Their doors are open to anyone experiencing grief. I’m honored that they would like to work with us.”
Gilda’s Club provides a variety of free opportunities for local cancer patients (Courtesy Photo)
Director of Program Operations of Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids, Lindsay Jousma, said the Club’s desire is to provide a multitude of free service opportunities for local cancer patients.
“Cancer can take a toll on one’s emotional and physical wellbeing,” said Jousma. “By partnering with Laurel and the volunteers at The Healing Nest of Western Michigan for Self-Care Day, we hope to give women living with cancer a special day to care for themselves and their emotional wellbeing.”
How to help someone who is struggling
Williamson said that simply giving a cancer patient a ride to the event is helpful.
“If they were feeling sick from the effects of the chemotherapy…it [takes] a lot for them just to get up and put lipstick on that day,” said Williamson.
She continued to say that help and encouragement can become a matter of “just holding space for them with this pure intention of nothing more than love and helping them.”
Slowing down mental chatter, unwinding the nervous system
Self Care Day is intended to provide relaxing, peaceful effects of slowing down mental chatter, breathing deeply, and allowing the nervous system to unwind.
Reiki, one of the event offerings, is intended to help slow mental chatter (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
“Yoga and meditation and Reiki and healing touch all kind of go about it in the same way,” said Williamson of the event’s offerings. “And that is to bring all of the mental chatter to a place of stillness. It’s slowing everything down so that person can be inside their body for a moment, feel their heart beat, and concentrate.
“As a volunteer at The Healing Nest of Mid-Michigan, I saw how its healing resources can rejuvenate a person’s mental outlook,” Williamson continued. “That’s the idea of The Healing Nest, to bring people in and allow them to take that deep breath, sigh, and just be. Now, local women living with cancer have a peaceful place where they can visit and receive free services that target their mind, body and spirit.”
Looking ahead
The Healing Nest is looking for local volunteers (Courtesy Photo)
It is Williamson’s intention to host self-care events regularly. Many of her volunteers, however, travel from the east side of the state to help put on the events.
Because of this, Williamson said they will begin by offering self-care days quarterly.
“I would love to offer it much more often, so I am open to local volunteers,” said Williamson, explaining that volunteers would need to be licensed or certified in their field.
Register for Self-Care Day services
Slots for services are still available for Self-Care Day. Interested participants can register by contacting The Healing Nest by phone: 248-762-2883, or email: laurel@healingnestwest.com.
