HealthJournal

NORTH MISSISSIPPI

SPRING 2010

THE SEEDS OF HEALTH

Gardening can provide exercise and good nutrition
2 | NORTH MISSISSIPPI HEALTH JOURNAL
What’s inside?

The
seeds
of
health
Get out in the
garden ... it’s great
for exercise, and
nutrition is just a
season away.
pg. 16

Column: Prenatal care Smile: Good habits build Regional health

First Aid: The scoop on resources, Page 29
vital to healthy term, Page 6 building the best kit, Page 12 strong healthy teeth, Page 20

pgs.
Escape Hospice: At home
the pain and away, Page 24
Clean the slate Exercise can
Acne doesn’t have ease arthritis
to take over your life pg. 14

Yes, adults too Take time to talk

pg. 8 A lifetime of vaccines Therapy comes in many forms
pg. 10 pg. 24

The Northeast Mississippi Health Journal is a publication of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, a Journal Publishing Company product. The contents of the Northeast Mississippi Health Journal are copyrighted and may not be reproduced
without publisher’s consent. The Northeast Mississippi Health Journal may not be held liable for failure to publish an ad or for typographical errors. Subscribers: To obtain additional copies of Northeast Mississippi Health Journal, call (662)
842-2611 or 1-800-270-2613 on Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advertisers: To place an ad in upcoming editions of the Northeast Mississippi Health Journal, please call (662) 842-2611, (662) 678-1611 or 1-800-270-2614. PHOTOS:
About the cover: The garden can offer a bounty of nutritious food and the energy it takes to reap those fruits and vegetables can keep extra pounds at bay. Special thanks to the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center in Verona,Assistant
Research Professor Valtcho D. Jeliazkov and Thomas Horgan for assistance with the seedlings. CREDITS: Cover – Nature’s bounty, C. Todd Sherman, Daily Journal; pg. 8 – In the shadows, Thomas Wells, Daily Journal; pg. 10, Vaccine, The Associated
Press; pg. 12 – First Aid, Thomas Wells, Daily Journal; pg. 14 – Out for a walk, stock.xchng; pg. 16 – A plateful, C. Todd Sherman, Daily Journal; pg. 17 – The garden, Morguefile.com; pg. 18 – The fruits, stock.xchng; pg. 19 - Haybale garden, cour-
testy; pg. 20 – At the dentist, Thomas Wells, Daily Journal; pg. 24 – Deep in thought, stock.xchng; pg. 25 – Pills, stock.xchng; pg. 26 – Family portrait, Deste Lee, Daily Journal; pg. 27, Portrait, C. Todd Sherman, Daily Journal.

NORTH MISSISSIPPI HEALTH JOURNAL | 3

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NORTH MISSISSIPPI HEALTH JOURNAL | 5

 DR. ERIC FROHN
Prenatal care vital for healthy pregnancy
A
healthy pregnancy
actually begins
before a woman is
even pregnant.
Someone who is contem-
plating pregnancy should
be taking prenatal vitamins
with folic acid for several
months before she
becomes pregnant in order
to prevent certain birth
defects. After a women
finds out she is pregnant, it
is imperative that she begin
receiving routine prenatal
care.
Early in pregnancy, pre-
natal care involves several
things. First, an ultrasound
needs to be performed to
verify that the pregnancy is
normal and to determine
how many weeks pregnant
a woman actually is. The
earlier an ultrasound is per-
formed, the more accurate
it is for dating purposes.
6 | NORTH MISSISSIPPI HEALTH JOURNAL
Certain lab tests need to
be performed that are rou-
tine with all pregnancies.
There may be additional
tests needed based on a
patient’s personal history
or family history. A
woman’s past medical his-
tory and previous pregnan-
cy history need to be
reviewed to see if there are
any special circumstances
that need to be addressed.
A woman’s baseline weight
needs to be recorded in
order to see how much
weight she gains during
pregnancy.
During pregnancy, a
woman needs to do several
things to make sure she
continues to have a healthy
pregnancy. First and fore-
most, she needs to make
sure she goes to all of her
routine prenatal visits. At
each visit her weight and
blood pressure will be
assessed to make sure they
are normal for her preg-
nancy. After a certain
point, the baby’s heartbeat
will be verified at each visit
as well. Several other tests
may be performed as well
to screen for certain birth
defects. At some point in
the pregnancy, a diabetic
screening test will be per-
formed.
A woman must also be
aware of how much weight
she gains during pregnan-
cy. The amount she should
gain depends on how
much she weighs at the
beginning of pregnancy
and she should review this
with her physician.
Ultrasounds later in
pregnancy will help the
physician assess that all of
the baby’s anatomy is nor-
mal and that the baby is
growing as it should.
Each pregnancy is
unique. The guidelines
mentioned above are only
basic needs for each preg-
nancy. A pregnant woman
should work with her
physician to make sure that
she is monitored for any
changes that may arise
during her pregnancy. Also,
she should not be afraid to
ask questions or to tell her
provider about concerns or
problems that need to be
addressed. Working with
your provider and making
sure you get routine prena-
tal care will help to keep
these problems to a mini-
mum and will help you
have a healthy pregnancy.
Dr. Eric Frohn is an obstetrician-gyne-
cologist in New Albany. He is a member
of the American Academy of Obstetrics
and Gynecology.
 Comprehensive Women’s Healthcare
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NORTH MISSISSIPPI HEALTH JOURNAL | 7
 The
ABCs
Mild to moderate
White heads: An acne
lesion that forms when
oil and skin cells block
the opening of a hair fol-
licle.

Black heads: A non-

inflammatory acne lesion
that is filled with excess
oil and dead skin cells.
Unlike whiteheads, the
surface of the skin
remains open.

Papule: An inflammatory
lesion that resembles a
small, red bump on the
skin.

Pustule: An inflammato-
ry lesion that resembles
a whitehead with a ring
of redness around it.
Acne pustules that heal
without progressing to
cystic form usually leave
no scars.

Severe
Nodulocystic acne: A
severe form of acne that
is characterized by
numerous deep,
inflamed bumps – nod-
ules – and large, pus-
filled lesions that resem-
ble boils – cysts. The
nodules tend to be ten-
der when touched and
feel firm. The severe
inflammation can cause
the acne to become very
red or even purple.
Scarring often results
when the acne heals.
Source: American
Academy
of Dermatology
Coming
Acne happens, but it doesn’t have to take over
By Michaela Gibson Morris and salicylic acid – no matter have at 16,” Houin said. acne can use regular cosmet-
Daily Journal the cost – and they work for If over-the-counter med- ics. Now most makeup is
most people. ications aren’t cutting it or a labeled noncomedogenic – not

A
cne can’t be entirely
avoided, but it
doesn’t have to be
tragic.
“If you go back 30 or 40
years, you didn’t have much,”
said Oxford dermatologist Dr.
Philip Loria. “We can general-
ly cure ‘pizza face’ now.”
The same hormones that
cause physical maturation
also send the oil-producing
glands located around hair
follicles into overdrive. The
interaction between the oil
and a bacterium causes acne.
“Between 70 and 90 per-
cent of people will have acne
at some time in their lives,”
Loria said. “Most people will
grow out of it in their early
20s” although some lucky
folks will have it through their
adult lives.
The tools for combating
mild acne are as close as the
drug store.
“For mild acne, the over-
the-counter stuff does a fan-
tastic job,” said Tupelo der-
matologist Dr. Jeff Houin.
The main ingredients in
over-the-counter acne prepa-
rations are benzoyl peroxide
“You don’t need to spend a
lot of money,” Loria said.
Avoid expensive systems
with lots of steps. Keep it sim-
ple, the Northeast Mississippi
dermatologists suggest.
People with acne should
look for a gentle, foaming or
lathering facial soap, and
avoid gritty, granular scrubs
that can aggravate their skin.
“Buff Puff is essentially
sand paper,” Loria said.
Popping zits is not helpful
and can be harmful.
“Don’t pick out the skin,”
Houin said. “You can make it
worse.”
In most cases, it will just
delay the healing process and
increase the chance of scar-
ring. In a worst case scenario,
picking and popping can
cause an abscess to form,
creating a deep-seated infec-
tion, Houin said.
Generally, the over-the-
counter preparations should
work with a few weeks of
steady use. In some cases,
they can stop working as the
type of acne shifts.
“The acne you have at 14
may not be the acne you
person develops severe
nodular-cystic acne that can
scar, dermatologists have a
lot of tools to help treat more
severe acne.
They have stronger con-
centrations of salicylic acid
and benzoyl peroxide that
can be used by themselves or
in combination with antibi-
otics, Houin said.
Oral antibiotics also are
helpful for controlling the
bacterium that causes acne.
Isotretinoin, which most
people know as Accutane,
works very well on severe
nodular-cystic acne that can
lead to scarring, Houin said.
Beautiful you
Some of the things people
use on their hair and face can
aggravate acne.
Particular hair products
can clog pores and make
acne worse around the hair
line. If someone has break
outs around the sideburn
and forehead areas, they may
need to dial back on mousse,
gel, spritz or other hair care
products, Loria said.
In most cases, people with
likely to cause acne lesions.
“Most are going to be fine,”
Houin said. But people
should use common sense
and change up their makeup
if they notice break outs.
Loria recommends his
acne patients avoid pressed
powder products, but liquid
makeup, loose powder and
mineral makeup generally
don’t cause problems.
For people who have prob-
lems with regular makeup,
dermatologists generally can
recommend some specialty
lines of cosmetics to address
those problems.
People with acne also need
to protect their skin from the
sun. Although sun exposure
can appear to dry up acne, it
really just masks the underly-
ing problem.
Houin suggests people
with acne look for light,
facial moisturizers that have
sunscreen built in for every-
day use.
For outdoor activities, Loria
suggests his patients use
PreSun, which is an alcohol-
based sunscreen that won’t
make acne any worse.

The These old tales just aren’t true.

■ Acne is caused by dirty skin:
Although you can get some clogged
pores because of not washing your
■ Chocolate and greasy foods
cause acne: At best, food has a very
minor impact on the severity of acne.
Rosacea, which can hit people in their
the-counter remedies rely on specif-
ic concentrations of benzoyl perox-
ide or salicylic acid, and both are
effective for most people. Getting

myths
face, true acne is caused by an inter-
action of oil and bacteria.
■ A good scrub is what you need:
Overwashing irritates acne. Stick with
mild foaming face washes. Avoid gritty
scrubs.
20s and 30s and is sometimes mistak-
en for acne, however, it can be aggra-
vated by spicy foods.
■ You have to spend a lot of
money to get rid of acne: Whether
they are cheap or expensive, over-
stronger concentrations requires a
prescription.
■ Sun bathing clears up acne:
While acne appears to get better after
getting some sun, it doesn’t clear up
the underlying problem.

NORTH MISSISSIPPI HEALTH JOURNAL | 9

NOT JUST FOR KIDS
GROWN-UPS CAN BENEFIT FROM VACCINES, TOO.
■ The Mississippi Department of
Health requires infants and toddlers
entering daycare and older kids
entering kindergarten have a whole
series of shots.
But just because older kids and
adults generally aren’t required to get
shots the same way as small children
doesn’t mean they shouldn’t.
The Centers for Disease Control rec-
ommends vaccines for older children
and young adults that can keep them
and those around them healthy. These
are the recommendations for people in
specific age groups who are otherwise
healthy and have no contraindications,
such as people with severe egg allergies
should not receive a influenza vaccine.
Those with specific health condi-
tions, careers or travel plans may have
additional recommendations that
should be discussed with your health
care provider.

EVERYBODY
Annual flu shot - Because the flu
often changes every year, a new formula-
tion of the flu vaccine is the best bet for
keeping influenza at bay. It’s most
strongly recommended for people with
existing health conditions and those over
50, but it’s a good idea for everybody.

TWEENS AND TEENS

(Age 9 and up)
HPV vaccine: Given in three doses,
this vaccine protects against the
strains of the human papillomavirus
most likely to cause cervical cancer.
Now also recommended for males as
well as females, to prevent genital
warts. It is most effective for both
males and females before exposure to
HPV through sexual contact. An annual flu
vaccine is just
(Age 10 and up) one of the shots
Tdap - This combination booster recommended
gives kids another shot of protection
against tetanus, diphtheria and pertus-
for older kids
sis. The protection against pertussis – and grown ups.
which is also called whooping cough –
is especially important for protecting
infants, who are particularly vulnerable
to the disease.

10 | NORTH MISSISSIPPI HEALTH JOURNAL

 (Age 11 and up)
Meningoccocal conjugate vaccine:
Protects against meningitis. This vac-
cine may be required for students living
in dorms, who are at higher risk for the
disease. Can be administered to
younger children who are at high risk
for meningitis.
(All ages)
Catch up on any missing childhood
immunizations.
YOUNG ADULTS
(Age 19-26)
Tdap/Td - If you haven’t had a Tdap
previously, you should get it now, espe-
cially to protect infants from pertussis.
Others should receive a tetanus and
diphtheria booster every 10 years.
HPV - Although the vaccine against
human papillomavirus is most effective
in those who have not been previously
exposed to the virus that can cause
cervical cancer, it is recommended for
women up to age 26.
Varicella - If you haven’t had the
chickenpox, it’s a good idea to roll up
your sleeve for this shot. Chickenpox is
no fun for grownups. Given in two shots.
MMR - This shot is recommended
for adults who do not have laboratory-
evidence of measles, mumps or rubel-
la, documentation they were diagnosed
with those diseases or previously
received the MMR. The rubella compo-
nent is especially important for women
of childbearing age because of the risk
to an unborn baby. A second dose may
be required in certain circumstances.
ADULTS
(Age 27-49)
Tdap/Td - If you haven’t had a
Tdap previously, you should get it now,
especially to protect infants from per-
tussis. Others should receive a tetanus
and diphtheria booster every 10 years.
HPV - Although the vaccine against
human papillomavirus is most effective
in those who have not been previously
exposed to the virus that can cause
cervical cancer, it is recommended for
women up to age 26.
Varicella - If you haven’t had the
chickenpox, it’s a good idea to roll up
your sleeve for this shot. Chickenpox is
no fun for grownups. Given in two shots.
ADULTS
(Age 50-59)
Influenza - After 50, you are consid-
ered at higher risk for complications
for influenza so public health officials
strongly recommend an annual flu
shot.
Varicella - If you haven’t had the
chickenpox, it’s a good idea to roll up
your sleeve for this shot. Chickenpox is
no fun for grownups. Given in two
shots.
Tdap/Td - If you haven’t had a
Tdap previously, you should get it
now, especially to protect infants
from pertussis. Others should receive
a tetanus and diphtheria booster
every 10 years.
ADULTS
(Age 60-64)
Herpes zoster - The chickenpox
virus can remain in your body for years
and can re-emerge later as shingles,
causing a painful skin rash. The Herpes
zoster vaccine is recommended after
50 even for folks who have already had
a episode of shingles.
Tdap/Td - If you haven’t had a Tdap
previously, you should get it now, espe-
cially to protect infants from pertussis.
Others should receive a tetanus and
diphtheria booster every 10 years.
Influenza - Public health officials
really, really want folks in this age
group to get a flu shot because of the
risk of complications.
Varicella - If you haven’t had the
chickenpox, it’s a good idea to roll up
your sleeve for this shot. Chickenpox is
no fun for grownups. Given in two
shots. Let Our Family
ADULTS Take Care of Yours.
(Age 65+)
Pneumonia vaccine: Protects
against the germs that cause commu- PLANTERSVILLE
FAMILY CLINIC
nity-acquired pneumonia. Generally
one shot, although those vaccinated
against pneumonia as younger adults
may need a booster. DEBRA HILL, FNP
Td - Get a tetanus booster every 10
years.
Influenza - Public health officials Provider For Healthlink,
really, really, really want folks in this Medicaid, Medicare &
Commercial Insurances
age group to get a flu shot.
Varicella - If you haven’t had the
chickenpox, it’s a good idea to roll up 2464 MAIN STREET
your sleeve for this shot. Chickenpox is PLANTERSVILLE
no fun for grownups. Given in two
shots.
842-4877
Herpes zoster - The chickenpox
virus can remain in your body for years APPOINTMENTS
and can re-emerge later as shingles, OR WALK-INS
causing a painful skin rash. The Herpes HOURS:
zoster vaccine is recommended after MONDAY - FRIDAY
8:00AM - 5:00PM
©JPC-10
50 even for folks who have already had
a episode of shingles.
NORTH MISSISSIPPI HEALTH JOURNAL | 11
 HOW
TO BUILD
A BETTER
FIRST-AID
KIT
 • Absorbent • Antiseptic wipe packets - • Scissors - for cutting • A breathing barrier

PROTECTION
CLEAN

compress dressings Clean the germs off an injury. bandages, tape or (with one-way valve) for CPR
• Adhesive bandages, • Antibiotic ointment packets clothes. • Nonlatex gloves
STOP THE BLEEDING

assorted sizes - Can prevent infection. • A blanket - Can pre- (size: large)
• Triangular bandages vent hypotherma. Red • Hydrocortisone ointment
HARDWARE

• Sterile gauze pads, Cross recommends a packets (about 1 gram each)

different sizes • Roller bandages - Can space blanket which is
GENERAL

hold bandages in place waterproof, windproof

■ All of these sup- or support sprained joints. and packs tightly. • Packets of aspirin –
plies address cuts • An instant cold compress - • Oral thermometer One aspirin at the onset of

and gashes from
small boo-boos to
large gashes that
won’t stop bleeding.
Great for reducing swelling
or cooling the overheated.
HEART
(non-mercury/nonglass) a heart attack can reduce
• Tweezers the chance of death about
• First aid instruction 25 percent.
booklet
SOURCE: AMERICAN RED CROSS

BURNS HEAT ILLNESS CUTS STINGS AND BITES

■ The first aid priority is to cool the
skin. Cool water and cold, wet rags are
the best ally for fighting burns.
Don’t use thick creams like
Vaseline; they just trap the heat, send-
ing it deeper into the skin.
Aloe is OK to use to relieve the sting
of burns, if the skin is intact.All other
household items, such as butter, mus-
tard and ketchup are better saved for
the picnic. Under no circumstances
should butter, ketchup, mustard or other
household items be used for burns.
Call 911
• For third degree burns or second
degree burns over a significant portion
of the body.
Seek medical attention
• For burns to children under 5 or
adults over 60 unless clearly minor.
■ Heat and humidity set people up
for heat illnesses if they don’t take
precautions. Because folks spend so
much time in air conditioning, they
can be more vulnerable than they
think.
Hydration is the key to preventing
heat illness.
When folks start to get overheat-
ed, they should take it seriously. The
first thing to do when heat illness
strikes is to start cooling them
down.
Use cold rags, a hose and air con-
ditioning to cool from the outside.
Stick with water or sports drinks to
cool from the inside. Avoid caffeine or
alcohol.
Call 911
• If the person has an altered men-
tal status or has stopped sweating.
■ Most of the time, bleeding will
clean out the wound, but using soap
and water or hydrogen peroxide are
good choices, too.
Apply direct pressure to control
the bleeding, apply triple antibiotic
cream and cover with bandage or
gauze.
Call 911
• If there’s pulsing bleeding – which
suggest an artery has been cut.
• If there is significant blood loss.
Get medical help
• If the edges of the wound won’t
fall neatly together, you’ll need stitches.
• If the bleeding doesn’t stop after
45 minutes of direct pressure.
• If the wound begins to show signs
of infection – throbbing pain, becom-
ing red and inflamed.
NORTH MISSISSIPPI HEALTH JOURNAL | 13
■ Nothing can take a bite out of
summer fun like the sting of insects or
the itch of poison ivy.
For bugs, the first aid is straight for-
ward. If there’s a stinger, pull it out.
Wash the bite with soap and water and
apply a cream or lotion for pain control.
For poison ivy, soap and water are
best to limit the damage. It gets rid of
the oil that delivers the rash. Drying
lotions like calamine control the itch.
See a doctor for prescription
steroid creams if the rash doesn’t get
better in three to four days.
Call 911
• If someone has a severe allergic
reaction that is threatening his ability
to breathe. Call for help even if an epi
pen is available because of a previous
severe allergy; it buys the person
about 10 minutes to get medical help.
KEEPING THE PAIN AWAY
Arthritis can be debilitating, but it doesn’t have to be
■ Arthritis can be debilitating, but it does-
n’t have to be.
The Daily Journal’s Michaela Gibson
Morris talked with physical therapist Jill
Bauer of North Mississippi Medical Center’s
Outpatient Rehabilitation Therapy and gath-
ered these tips for taking on arthritis.
Under a doctor’s direction, gentle movement
can be some of the best medicine for arthritis.
“It will get worse if you do not move it,”
Bauer said.
However, she said, people do need to
leave some old exercise mantras behind.
“No pain, no gain doesn’t apply.”

ANATOMY LESSON
• In a healthy joint, the junction between
the bones is cushioned by cartilage. The syn-
ovial membrane lubricates the joint as the
bones move.
• As people age or suffer trauma to their
joints, the cartilage degenerates and can
cause osteoarthritis.Almost everybody has it by
a certain age, but it doesn’t always cause pain.

HELP IS AVAILABLE
• With a doctor’s orders, physical thera-
pists and occupational therapists can help
improve range of motion and work on
regaining function. Occupational therapists
can also help with adaptive equipment.

CAUTION
• Before starting any exercise program,
check with a health care professional.
• People with arthritis should aim to exer-
cise in the mid-range of the joint. Don’t push
it to the full extension.
• If it hurts, stop. If it keeps hurting, see
your doctor.
• If you have osteoporosis and
osteoarthritis, avoid bending, twisting and
rotating to prevent compression fractures.

A POUND OF PREVENTION
• Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity can
take a heavy toll especially on hips and knees.
• Have an exercise program that incorpo-
rates flexibility, strength and aerobic exercises.
• Swimming, walking and biking are some
of the best exercises for people with arthritis
because they are gentle, generally safe and
the intensity can be gradually increased.
14 | NORTH MISSISSIPPI HEALTH JOURNAL
TRY THESE RANGE OF MOTION EXERCISES: Women’s
■ For all exercises, start with five to 10 gentle, slow repetitions and stop
immediately if you experience pain.
Health
Specialists
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 Setting your plate with nutri- Counting calories?
tious fare from your own gar- ■ Turn the page for a list of
den gives you a powerful punch ways to burn fat while working

Good health
of vitamins and minerals. in your garden this season.

IN BLOOM
Reap a healthy harvest of physical activity
and great nutrition in your garden
By Michaela Gibson Morris “It’s good for the soul, too,”
Daily Journal Stebbins said.
The amount of physical activ-

G
ardening is one of the
most popular hobbies
around.
But it can also be
the base of a lifelong exercise
and nutrition plan.
“There’s a lot of physical activ-
ity in gardening,” said Tracy
Stebbins, director of the North
Mississippi Medical Center-West
Point Wellness Center.
The garden can provide just
what the average American diet
is missing, said Leanne Davis, a
registered dietitian with North
Mississippi Medical Center-
Tupelo.
“We’re usually lacking fruits
and vegetables in our diets,”
Davis said.
As any gardener will tell you,
there’s something refreshing
about sunshine, open air and
texture of the earth under your
hands.
ity in gardening depends on
how you do it. But any garden-
ing is better than watching TV.
“Get off the couch and get
outside in the garden and you’ll
be burning more calories,”
Stebbins said. “It’s a good step
down the road to better fitness.”
People will spend a lot more
time in the garden than they
ever would at a gym.
“Your mind is occupied and
you’re enjoying the activity,”
Stebbins said.
Inherently there’s a lot of
bending and stretching as peo-
ple plant and weed, Stebbins
said. That really works the lower The work it takes to plant and cultivate a garden can improve strength
back and gluts. Watering the gar- and flexibility as well as burn off calories.
den can strengthen your arms.
Cardiovascular exercise that
benefits the heart comes from
using big muscles continuous-
ly, ideally for 20 to 30 minutes
at a time. >

NORTH MISSISSIPPI HEALTH JOURNAL | 17

 Tilling by hand, hoeing,
pushing a wheel barrow can get
the heart pumping, Stebbins
said. Mowing the lawn with a
push mower can be great car-
diovascular exercise.
However, just like people
with New Year’s resolutions,
gardeners need to make sure
they don’t overdo it early in the
season, especially if they’ve
been sedentary.
“We tend to go crazy that first
pretty day,” Stebbins said.
To increase the calorie burn
and head off soreness, try mak-
ing several trips to get supplies,
so you get up and walk and
change positions, Stebbins said.
“Plant three plants and then
get up and walk back to the
shed and get the others as
opposed to planting six in a
row,” she said. “You need to
take breaks because we’re not
used to holding those positions
for long periods.”
Make sure you drink plenty
of water, especially as the
weather heats up.
If you get sore, try ice on the
sore spots for the first 24 hours
Feel the burn
■ Here’s a breakdown of calories
that can be burned in 30 minutes of
common lawn and gardening activi-
ties. Based on a 180-pound person.
Activity Calories
Turn a compost pile . . . . . . . 250
Mow with push mower . . . . . . 240
Garden with power tools . . . . 240
for the best results, Stebbins
said.
Fresh fruits and vegetables
are loaded with vitamins and
minerals, and because they
came right out of your back-
yard, they don’t have to sit
around, Davis said.
“The flavor is better,” the
fresher the produce is, Davis
said.
You also have full control
over fertilizers and pest treat-
ments that you just have to
trust or guess at when you’re
not the farmer.
Growing your own fruits and
vegetables is very economical.
A few tomato plants will pro-
Dig, Spade & Till . . . . . . . . . . 200
Trim scrubs (manual tools) . . 180
Weed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Plant seedlings . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Rake & bag leaves . . . . . . . . 160
Ride power mover . . . . . . . . . 100
Water lawn, garden . . . . . . . . . 60
SOURCE: NATIONAL GARDENING
MAGAZINE/STACY WALTERS, REGISTERED
KINESIOTHERAPIST, MASTER GARDENER
duce plenty for your family and
you’ll likely end up giving some
away.
As you plan your garden,
think about the rainbow for
both attractiveness and good
nutrition.
“The more color you eat
every day, the more vitamins,”
Davis said.
Gardening can also increase
youngsters’ appetites for the
stuff that’s good for them.
“When kids help in the gar-
den, they tend to eat more
fruits and vegetables,” Davis
said. “It can encourage the
whole family to eat healthier.”
To reap the biggest nutrition-
al benefits from your garden
harvest, it’s important to handle
them with care.
“The quicker you pick them
and eat them, the more vita-
mins and minerals they have,”
Davis said.
In cooking fresh veggies, you
should also move fast to hold
on to as much nutrition as pos-
sible. Steaming, baking or
roasting or grilling are the best
bet for your homegrown har-
vest. Think tender crisp.
“Once you get them in the
house, don’t cook them down
to mush,” Davis said.
Of course, you don’t want to
undo all the hard work you’ve
put in by drowning those fresh
vegetables in butter or bacon
grease. Opt for extra virgin olive
oil or other monounsaturated
oils in small amounts.
“You want to watch the
amount of added fat,” Davis
said.
Along with fruits and veg-
etables, try planting fresh
herbs to help flavor your har-
vest without adding lots of
calories or sodium.

A colorful garden and dinner plate aren’t just pretty. The rainbow of fruits and vegetables provides
different nutrients and minerals. Here’s a break down from the National Gardening Association by color: f lycop the
and flav has been link n

Grapes, plant – is
sumptio ancer prevent ion.

linked t

ich
omach g, prostate
it

have b thocyanins w ne
and red

tion of nked to the

to the c ced inflammat

tomato s,

trawbe lon,
waterm es,

– is as red grapefru
and egg

Red

presen ciated with

ries

e
h
Cherrie

.
Purple ries,

cancer
e
r
o antho nd con-
onoids,
n

raspber
u

lun
o
is nd ash, ots, e

li
e
sq Car ang

so
s

n
nd
cyanins

sen ed lon us
a

e
Or

Yelloewrs,
pre ink e citr

and an
a
u r

c wi s –

and st
die tan oid e be e
bo ubs min oten e of th th

preven
lun sth s a ce s. and ta-

Pepp d
io

Gr
ed

Spinac een corn an like

a

ole ct du m hi r
of an , em nst ote se
ch tara ; re hyse onc ou
Blu plum the sug ervic r.

greens collard legumes – nked

ste s; a ce a a tis,

h
an ed to tudie lon, canc

g c ma gai s pr The

,
l
lin d s nt c state

ca cer p br ct
eb s ant ges al a
Bluries, g like re cyani they d
d

rol nd th nd
k

and t , broccoli orange, is li and

er – ho t

els er k
r
a

lev low e ris

e rape d, is ns,
n

is link omatillos –
pre p

oids
to limin tene and
ve ro

ed to
l

lutein ro
sa
glucos ponins and , beta-ca iated health
s c e

.
s
o

s o c
help p inolates. Th the a ages. Another is
s
r e v a n t trient
mainta eserve eye se ad
a

in sig o w ” phytonu linked

health heart ht, “ye ll h is
in, whic nd prevent-
n

, a
activit and increas nd skin zea x a nt h
y e vision a n,
gens a to detoxify enzyme to healthy ors in the colo nds.
nd pre carcin tu m gla
vent c o ing state
ancer. - and pro
breast

18 | NORTH MISSISSIPPI HEALTH JOURNAL

Hay bales put gardening within reach
By Michaela Gibson Morris 10 days before planting time.
Daily Journal First, keep the bales very
wet for three days. Then apply

F
or folks who want to
garden, but can’t
stoop or get down to
the ground, hay bale
gardening offers an accessi-
ble medium.
“It’s really good for people
in wheelchairs to be able to
pick vegetables,” said
Melinda Lamon, occupation-
al therapist at North
Mississippi Medical Center
Outpatient Rehabilitation
Center in Tupelo. It’s also a
good alternative for people
who have gone through joint
replacement surgery.
A U-shape configuration of
square bales worked well for
the rehab center during the
three years they used the gar-
dens as an activity for their
patients. The end bales
should be staked to keep
them from falling apart as the
growing season progresses.
Lamon also suggests staking
the bales used for squash for
In past years, former NMMC Outpatient Rehab patients like Jean Bell, left,
helped therapists grow gardens in hay bales as part of their therapy.
stability.
“We’ve grown tomatoes,
cucumber, squash, eggplants,
bell peppers and flowers,”
Lamon said.
She counsels caution with
gourds.
“The gourds will take over,”
Lamon said.
People with physical limi-
tations may need help posi-
tioning the hay bales and
adding the potting soil, but
otherwise can generally man-
age the garden themselves.
Here are the directions for
hay bale gardening from the
Mississippi State University
Extension Service:
In order for hay bales to be
productive, they will need spe-
cial treatment beginning about
five ounces – 10 tablespoons –
of ammonium nitrate fertiliz-
er, followed by a couple more
days of watering.
On the seventh day, apply
2.5 ounces – five tablespoons
– of ammonium nitrate, fol-
lowed by watering for anoth-
er two days.
On the 10th day, apply 12
ounces (1 cup) of 13-13-13
(N-P-K) fertilizer and lightly
water the fertilizer into the
hay bale.
On the 11th day, apply a
three-inch layer of top soil or
potting mix to serve as a bed
for the plants or seed. Then,
simply plant your vegetables,
keep them watered and
watch them grow. For toma-
toes, just pull open the bales
and bury the tomatoes up to
the first set of leaves. Other
vegetables, like peppers,
squash, cucumbers and mel-
ons will all grow well using
this technique.

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NORTH MISSISSIPPI HEALTH JOURNAL | 19

SMILE UNDER
CONSTRUCTION
Pearly whites
require good
habits, regular
checkups
By Michaela Gibson Morris
Daily Journal

J ust like your car needs

regular maintenance to
run smoothly, your teeth
and mouth need an
expert look under the hood.
“Everybody wants straight
white teeth that look good
and work well,” said Tupelo
dentist Dr. John Kenney.
Regular checkups can keep
your smile strong, or help
you and your dentist map a
strategy to get there.
A regular visit includes a
check of old fillings and other
restoration work, a profession-
al cleaning and an oral cancer
screening, said Tupelo dentist
Dr. Richard Caron. X-rays usu-
ally need to be done once a
year to check for changes that
aren’t visible to the eye.
Even people who take very
good care of their teeth need
that professional cleaning.
“They can get hardened
plaque off,” Caron said. There
are some tools that allow peo-
ple to scrape tartar off at
home, but professional
hygienists have a better view

Just like the rest of your body, your

teeth need regular tune ups to work
their best and last for years. Tupelo
dentist Dr. John Kenney says every
six months is a good rule of thumb,
but the interval should be cus-
tomized to the individual.
and training to do it safely and
completely. Left alone long
term, those deposits can cause
gum disease, Caron said.
Every six months is a good
general guideline, but it does-
n’t have to be one size fits all.
“If a person has no gum
disease and very few cavities,
that person can get by com-
ing less often,” Kenney said.
Folks with lots of repairs,
crowns or root canals may
need shorter intervals.
“They may need to come
more often,” Kenney said.
“Man-made materials are
more likely to fail than the
original.”
So why do some people
have trouble with their chop-
pers and other folks sail in
and out of the dentist office?
Good dental hygiene habits
play a significant role, but it
also goes deeper than that.
“Some people’s immune
systems are better at fighting
off attacks by the germs that
cause cavities and gum dis-
ease,” Kenney said.
Some of it is healthy
lifestyle; good nutrition and
exercise boost the immune
Oral health starts early Good dental care
■ Baby teeth matter. Pediatric den-
tist Dr. Trice Sumner offers these tips
for getting kids on the road to good
oral health from the beginning.
• Brush baby’s/child’s teeth as
soon as they come into the mouth,
twice a day, every day.
• Do not let baby/child take a
bottle or sippy cup to bed if they
have teeth.
• The first visit to a dentist
should come around age 1.
• Regular dental visits let den-
tists find problems early or help
prevent them in the first place. It
also allows the child to become
more comfortable.
• Be aware of water fluoridation.
If your water supply is not optimally
fluoridated, then talk to your pedi-
atric dentist about the options.
• Parents should assist or super-
vise brushing until kids can consis-
tently do a good job on their own,
usually between 8 and 10.
system. But it also is influ-
enced by your genes.
“Gum disease can run in
families,” Caron said.
■ Just because you’ve been to the
dentist for a checkup doesn’t excuse
you from good daily dental care.
“The overall benefit doesn’t last
that long if you don’t take care of
your mouth,” said Tupelo dentist Dr.
Richard Caron.
• Brush twice a day every day with
a fluoride toothpaste. Spin brushes
from simple drug store brands to
high-end brands like Sonic Care are
very effective and can make up for
lack of manual dexterity.
• Get between teeth at least
once every 24 hours. “The best way
to disturb those germs is flossing,”
said Tupelo dentist Dr. John
Kenney, but there are other tools
that can help, too.
• Chew some sugar-free gum
after meals. It stimulates the sali-
vary glands to rinse the mouth,
making it less receptive to the cavi-
ty-causing germs. But it doesn’t
take the place of brushing.
But even folks who have
never had a problem still
have to be vigilant, especially
as they age. Metabolic
Gregg A. Willis, M.D.
Malinda Ingram, C.N.P.
All Providers Board Certified
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NORTH MISSISSIPPI HEALTH JOURNAL | 21
changes that come with
aging may take the edge off a
strong immune system.
“What you did to keep your
mouth clean as a teen and in
your 20s may not be enough
in your 40s and 50s.
Your dental health can
affect other parts of your
body. There is a correlation
between gum and heart dis-
eases. One doesn’t cause the
other, but there is a connec-
tion.
“It’s seems to be more of a
lifestyle issue,” Caron said.
The people who are more
likely to floss are more likely
to do other things to take
care of their overall health
through exercise and good
nutrition.
However, the germs in your
mouth can cause havoc in
your heart, and that’s why a
dental check is often advo-
cated before certain kinds of
surgery.
“If you were to have a cut
in your mouth, the germs in
your mouth could get into
the blood stream and go to
the heart valve,” Caron said.
“They can cause problems.”
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 WHEN THE WOUND
A range of pros offer mental health, counseling services
By Michaela Gibson Morris
Daily Journal
F
or heart disease,
there’s the cardiolo-
gist. For shredded
knees, there are
orthopedic surgeons. For can-
cer, oncologists.
For mental health issues,
there’s a range of psychiatrists,
psychologists, therapists and
counselors who can help you
navigate the rocky terrain.
People shouldn’t be afraid to
ask for professional assistance
in dealing with life’s issues.
“It just means you need help,
which makes you pretty nor-
mal,” said Melissa Ratliff
Knight, who is a licensed clini-
cal social worker, who sees
clients for therapy in Tupelo.
Professionals have different
credentials and different
scopes of practice, but many
areas overlap. A pastoral coun-
selor, a licensed clinical social
worker, a clinical psychologist
24 | NORTH MISSISSIPPI HEALTH JOURNAL
and a psychiatrist can all be
warm, confidential listeners to
help people walk through the
troubles in their lives.
“A lot of folks can do your
taxes that aren’t CPAs,” said
Bob Corban, director of the
North Mississippi Medical
Center Behavioral Health
Center in Tupelo. “But they
can’t help you with long-range,
complicated estate planning.”
A psychiatrist is a medical
doctor who can prescribe. A
clinical psychologist with a
doctorate is trained to perform
psychological testing as well as
psychotherapy. Master’s level
social workers and therapists
offer talk therapy and can diag-
nose mental health problems.
Pastoral counselors draw
from faith- and Bible-based
perspectives as they help peo-
ple negotiate life’s difficulties.
They do not diagnose illness.
All of these professionals
should be bound by ethical
codes of their accrediting
ANGST DESPAIR ANXIETY FRUSTRATION
HELP GUIDANCE
MENTAL
PSYCHIATRIST THERAPIST PILLS
ISN’T
PHYSICAL
MEDICATION
PSYCHOTHERAPY
organizations and confidential-
ly requirements.
Because there is overlap in
between what different kinds of
professionals do, it’s up to the
individual and families to find
the right fit for themselves.
“You should ask them the
same questions you’d ask of
any professional,” Corban said.
It’s important to make sure
the counselor has proper cre-
dentials in his or her field and
they have experience dealing
with your particular problem.
Ethical professionals will refer
you to other resources if your
problem is beyond their scope
or area of expertise.
Beyond credentials, it’s
important to consider intangi-
bles like how comfortable you
feel with the professional.
“It’s important to find a ther-
apist you like and connect
with,” Knight said.
The more complex the issue,
the more likely it is an individ-
ual may need a team of mental
CONFUSION
PRESCRIPTION
HEALTH
MIND
health professionals on their
side. Depending on your prob-
lem, you might see a psychia-
trist for medication manage-
ment, a clinical psychologist for
testing, a licensed professional
counselor or licensed clinical
social worker to talk out issues
and work on coping strategies,
and your pastor to work
through spiritual issues.
The clinical psychologist
who tests a child for Attention
Deficit Disorder may or may
not be the best person to help
develop coping and discipline
strategies, Corban said.
Personal religious faith does-
n’t have to be a component of a
mental health therapy.
“You can get help for depres-
sion from a doctor, a counselor
or psychologist even if they
have a different spirituality,”
Corban said.
However, many people feel
more comfortable starting with
a minister or pastoral coun-
selor. Pastoral counselors, like

Mike Maercale of Hope Family
Ministries in Tupelo, pull from
the Bible, faith traditions and
life experience to walk with
people through life’s problems.
“Pastoral counseling looks at
the situation and the person
from a holistic perspective in
the context of their life, choic-
es, family, church and work,”
said Maercle, who, along with
other members of his staff,
holds accreditation from
national and international
organizations. “We’re working
out of a biblical framework.”
When a person has broader
physical or mental health
issues, Maercle refers to other
professionals, but often keeps
working with them in a spiritu-
al context.
“I’m a licensed, ordained
minister,” said Maercle, who
also holds a doctorate in pas-
toral counseling. “I don’t diag-
nose, but I can come along
side them and help them see
their options and hopefully,
help them find a less destruc-
tive path.”
Confidentiality is a key com-
THE DOCTORS
• MD Psychiatrists – medical doctors
who have completed four-year resi-
dency in psychiatry after medical
school. The only mental health profes-
sionals who can prescribe medica-
tions. May or may not offer psy-
chotherapy.
MASTER’S LEVEL PROFESSIONALS
• LCSW Licensed Clinical Social
Worker – has completed a master’s
degree, as well as state licensure, and
has completed clinical training. Able
to offer therapy in a solo practice.
Can diagnose and treat mental health
conditions.
• LMSW Licensed Master’s Social
Questions to ask
before hiring anyone
■ It’s the same things you’d ask
about any professional you are hir-
ing for a service.
• What are your credentials? Are
you licensed or certified?
• What ethical standards are you
ponent of professional coun-
seling from both mental health
professionals and pastoral
counselors.
Like medical doctors and
nurses, counselors are bound
by the same confidentiality
requirements. Although they
are required to report if a per-
son is a danger to themselves
or others or instances of ongo-
ing abuse, everything else
should be held confidential,
including your status as a
patient.
That can be very reassuring
to people unpacking difficult
issues.
“Who better to tell your
secrets to than someone who
• Ph.D. clinical psychologists –
have doctoral level training that pre-
pares them to do psychotherapy and
psychological assessment.
Depending on their area of expert-
ise, these professionals may focus
primarily on testing and may or may
Worker – has completed a master’s
degree and state licensure, but needs
to provide therapy under the direction
of another mental health provider.
Can diagnose and treat.
• LPC – Licensed Professional
Counselor – has completed a mas-
ter’s level degree and clinical experi-
OTHER COUNSELORS
• Pastoral counselors – Although some
in this category will also have dual
mental health certification, most pas-
toral counselors have primarily religious
training through seminaries or theologi-
cal institutes. Many are ordained minis-
held to?
• What is your educational back-
ground?
• What do you specialize in?
• Do you work with many people
with problems like mine?
• Do you work with many people
my age?
• How do you set treatment goals?
is legally and ethically bound
to keep them,” Knight said.
It is up to the patient if they
want to share with others that
they are seeing a counselor.
There are also ethical
boundaries on personal rela-
tionships designed to keep
social distance between
patient and provider.
Especially in a small town,
it’s unlikely a counselor or
therapist will be able to avoid
every acquaintance.
Friends, who visit in each
others’ homes, probably
shouldn’t have a professional
relationship, Corban said.
People who share a church or
their children are on the same
NORTH MISSISSIPPI HEALTH JOURNAL | 25
not offer psychotherapy sessions.
• Other professionals may have
Ph.D. in other areas and have a dif-
ferent scope of practice than a clini-
cal psychologist. Clarify what their
degree is in.
ence. Can diagnose.
• LMFT – Licensed Marriage and
Family Therapist. Although other
kinds of therapists are also trained to
work on marriage and family issues,
therapists with the designation have
focused training in this area. Can
diagnose and treat.
ters. There are national and internation-
al associations that offer accreditation
as a pastoral counselor or Biblical
counselor. They cannot diagnose men-
tal illness. They often do not charge for
services, relying on donations.
Little League team are proba-
bly OK if they are both com-
fortable. Members of the same
Sunday School class may want
to consider other options.
Even if the issues people
are unpacking during coun-
seling are difficult, they
should have a level of trust
and comfort with their thera-
pist or counselor.
“There’s a difference
between feeling uncomfort-
able about what you have to
share or being anxious about
the process versus the person
making you uncomfortable,”
Knight said.
If that comfort level isn’t
there, it’s acceptable to move
on and try someone else. But
make sure it doesn’t become a
pattern.
“If you see a series of three
sessions and then you move
on,” Knight said, “you may
need to ask yourself, ‘What is it
about me that’s not allowing
me to move forward?’”
Contact Michaela Gibson Morris at (662)
678-1599 or michaela.morris@djournal.com.
 Butch and Tricia Cockrell of Tupelo
said goodbye to Tricia’s father Tom
Fields in February with the help of
Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo.

THE LONG GOODBYE

Hospice gives families space, time to bid farewell
By Michaela Gibson Morris Sanctuary Hospice House in we can do to make life better,” holistic approach to the
Daily Journal Tupelo. Thompson said. patient and their family.

N
o one wants to die,
but death comes to
us all.
Hospice care
offers those with a terminal
diagnosis a way to pass from
this life to the next with dig-
nity and peace, surrounded
by those they love.
“Once acute care, curative
measures are no longer work-
ing, it’s time to explore comfort
measures,” said Linda
Gholston, executive director of
The focus for hospice care is
to keep the person very com-
fortable and pain-free so they
live their last days as fully as
possible. Of course there are
tears, but there’s usually lots of
smiles and laughter, too, said
Dana Thompson, account
executive for the Gentiva
Hospice office in Tupelo, for-
merly Gilbert’s. But with hos-
pice, patients can be surround-
ed by their family, friends, pets
and familiar things.
“We come in and see what
To be eligible for hospice, a
person must have a diagnosis
from a physician that they are
expected to live less than six
months.
“It doesn’t mean that every
patient put on hospice will die
in 180 days or that they have
180 days,” Gholston said.
It isn’t necessary for patients
to be homebound to receive
hospice services, Thompson
said.
More than medical care pain
management, hospice takes a
“So much of hospice is not
medical, it’s spiritual and emo-
tional,” Thompson said.
A social worker is available
to help families manage obli-
gations and connect with com-
munity resources. A chaplain is
available as frequently as
patients would like visits.
Volunteers help with comfort
measures such as cards, meals
and brief respite times for care-
givers.
“By and large, the patients
are at total peace. They let us

26 | NORTH MISSISSIPPI HEALTH JOURNAL

know they are no longer afraid
to die,” Gholston said. “Often,
here the family needs more
ministering.”
Gholston has seen family
relationships restored, such as
brothers who hadn’t spoken in
years, standing beside their
dying mother’s bed and laugh-
ing over old times.
Although curative meas-
ures have been discontinued
for hospice patients, they can
still see their doctor,
Thompson said. In some
cases, patients have received
physical therapy services so
they could better enjoy the
time they had left.
Hospice is by design very
flexible in providing the sup-
port and care for the patient
and the family.
“There wasn’t a formula to
how to help people leave this
world,” said Butch Cockrell,
whose father-in-law Tom
Fields died at Sanctuary in
February. “Each person was
treated uniquely based on
their needs.”
Options
In Northeast Mississippi,
people have the option to
receive hospice care at home
or in two in-patient hospice
facilities.
Terminally ill home hospice
patients must have a full time
caregiver, usually a family
member, but hospice nurses
and staff support them with
medical care and other assis-
tance.
Inpatient hospice is avail-
able to those who don’t have
an able caregiver available to
be with them all day or they
need more intensive nursing
care than they can feasibly
receive at home.
The two hospice facilities in
Lee County – Sanctuary
Hospice and Community
Hospice – also both offer
respite care for home hospice
patients whose caregivers need
to be away from home for a
few days.
Being at home or a home-
like setting gives hospice
patients more flexibility than
traditional hospital care, where
visitors and space may be lim-
ited.
One patient who had many
circles of friends made
arrangements to host a coffee
in Sanctuary’s large living
room for 20 friends.
“People came from
Memphis, Jackson, Mississippi
State and Birmingham,”
Gholston said. “It was the most
beautiful thing.”
Lana Glascow of Amory and her family leaned on Gentiva Home Hospice to
fulfill her mother Julia Hall’s last wishes in February.
Goodbye to Tom
Tom Fields of Tupelo wasn’t
a stereotypical hospice patient,
who had come to the end of a
long, valiant fight against can-
cer or heart disease.
“Literally, Daddy was just
wearing out,” said his daugh-
ter, Tricia Cockrell of Tupelo.
A bout of pneumonia put
Fields in the hospital.
Although he recovered from
the pneumonia, he had lost
the ability to consistently
swallow food.
The Cockrells faced a
quandary. They knew Fields
didn’t wish any extraordinary
measures, such as feeding
tube, but they knew he needed
round-the-clock skilled nurs-
ing care during his last days.
The staff at IMA-Tupelo sug-
gested the family consider
Sanctuary Hospice House.
“We went in not knowing if it
would be days or months,”
Suzanne Cockrell said. “We
were there for two weeks and
three days.”
At age 91, Fields had a full
life. He had served in World
War II, came home and found-
ed Joyner-Fields
Manufacturing in Sherman,
raised a family and was active
at First Presbyterian Church.
In the last few years of his
life, he lived in the guest house
behind his daughter and son-
in-law’s Tupelo home.
As he declined, the Cockrells
had the support of full-time
Advanced
directives
■ No one lasts forever.
That’s why every adult
needs to consider end-of-
life care decisions, discuss
them with their families
and fill out the appropriate
paperwork.
Advanced directives
include individual instruc-
tions and a document
called a health care power
of attorney, that designates
who you would like to make
decisions if you are not
able to.
It’s a tough topic, but
adults need to write down
their wishes about end-of-
life care and what kind of
measures they want or
don’t want.
It’s important to desig-
nate those you wish to
make decisions if you are
no longer able and talk to
them and the rest of your
family about your wishes. If
your family isn’t aware of
your advanced health care
directives, it makes them
much more difficult to be
carried out.
It’s impossible to antici-
pate every situation, but
some general guidance can
make things go more
smoothly about how you
want to be cared for.
North Mississippi
Medical Center has an
advanced care directives
booklet available on line
that contains basic informa-
tion and forms that people
need that is available at
www.nmhs.net/hipaa.php.
Help for kids
■ Gentiva offers Camp
Braveheart for local children
who have gone through a cri-
sis in the past year.
The day camp offered over
two days is free and open to
children ages 5 to 15.
Next camp: July at the
Whitten Center in Fulton; call
(662) 844-2417 for more
information.
>
“ We would all sit and visit with him. I don’t like hospitals. They
make me feel squeamish. But I didn’t have those feelings there.”

caregiver team at home. But

after the pneumonia, Fields
needed more than they could
Corrie Cockrell, Tom Fields’ granddaughter, reflecting on the facilities at Sanctuary Hospice House

give him at home.
Sanctuary has a very
home-like atmosphere; any
clinical equipment is tucked
away or covered. It was very
soothing to Fields and his
family.
“It was as close to home as
possible,” Tricia Cockrell said.
“If he wanted a milkshake at
3 in the morning, he could
have one,” added her hus-
band Butch Cockrell.
Both of Cockrell’s children
were able to travel home and
visit with Fields before he
passed.
“We would all sit and visit
with him,” said Fields’ grand-
daughter Corrie Cockrell. “I
don’t like hospitals. They
make me feel squeamish. But
I didn’t have those feelings
there.”
Swallowing and breathing
became more difficult for
Fields, and the nurses were
able to keep the family in the
loop as the end got closer.
“It was so peaceful,” Butch
Cockrell said. “He took his last
breath and slipped away.”
Although the decisions were
difficult, Tricia Cockrell said,
with Sanctuary’s help, they
were able to do their best by
her father.
“I feel his wishes were fol-
lowed really well,” Tricia
Cockrell said. “They helped
me work through that.”
Goodbye to Julia
When Julia Hall of Amory
was diagnosed with advanced,
aggressive lung cancer in
January, she was knew exactly
how she wanted to spend her
last days, said her daughter
Lana Glascow.
“She was at peace; she only
got upset if I got upset,”
Glascow said. “She firmly did
not want to be in the hospital.”
After working most her of
her life in a pants factory,
Hall, 60, had found a second
career as a licensed practical
nurse. She worked for a year
on the North Mississippi
Medical Center oncology
floor before finding her
niche at Amory Manor
Nursing Home.
“She like to take care of
older folks,” and loved listen-
ing to their stories, Glascow
said.
In January, the doctors told
Hall she had between one and
six months to live. If she
elected to seek treatment, she
had a 35 percent chance of
gaining another six months of
life. Hall decided she didn’t
like those odds, Glascow said.
“We talked about what she
wanted,” Glascow said. “She
had worked on the cancer
floor so she knew what could
be coming.”
Reba Colburn, the sister of
Hall’s late husband, became
her primary caregiver.
Glascow, Hall’s mother,
Frances Presley, and other
family members supported
Coburn, helping afternoons
and evenings.
Gentiva Hospice provided
invaluable support.
Initially the family was wor-
ried about the pain and frailty
that usually is associated with
terminal cancer, but Hall
remained relatively healthy.
“She wasn’t in pain,”
Glascow said. “She was never
sick.”
The hospice nurses and
chaplain Bro. Ryan French
routinely checked in on Hall.
A volunteer would write cards
to Hall every few days.
“Reba said Mama really
loved getting those cards,”
Glascow said.
Hall was able to visit with
family, particularly her
grandchildren Katelyn and
Quinton, more comfortably
than would have been possi-
ble if she had been in and
out of the hospital.
Hospice provided peace
of mind for Glascow
who teaches at Hatley
Elementary. While her col-
leagues were very under-
standing about her situation,
it was important to Glascow
to stay in the classroom if
possible.
“It helped me to know if
my aunt needed anything
she could call hospice,”
Glascow said.
On Feb. 9, after getting up
and eating breakfast, Hall
took a nap and peacefully
slipped into a coma.
“The hardest thing was not
to call” for paramedics,
Glascow said. “That’s not
what she wanted.”
The family, hospice nurse
and chaplain all gathered at
Coburn’s house to maintain
a vigil.
“They stayed the entire
time,” Glascow said of the
hospice nurse and chaplain.
“They kept the family
informed about what was
happening and what was
going to happen next.”
That night, Hall peacefully
slipped away with those she
loved able to be around her.
“There’s no way we would
have been able to all be in a
hospital room together,”
Glascow said.

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28 | NORTH MISSISSIPPI HEALTH JOURNAL

 SUPPORT GROUPS
ACTS – Alcohol Chemical Treatment
Series – is a self-help, recovery pro-
gram. It meets at 6 p.m. Tuesdays at
Cedar Grove United Pentecostal Church
in Tupelo. Free. Call 844-9637.
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of
men and women working to solve their
common problem of alcoholism. There
are no dues or fees.
• Tupelo: 31 meetings are offered. Call
844-0374 or visit www.inter-
group.org/aa/tupelo.
• There are also meetings in Aberdeen,
Ackerman, Amory, Belmont, Booneville,
Bruce, Calhoun City, Corinth, Fulton,
Holly Springs, Houlka, Houston, New
Albany, Oxford, Pontotoc, Starkville and
West Point. Call (800) 344-2666.
• For a listing of addiction support
groups around Northeast Mississippi,
call the National Council on Alcohol and
Drug Dependency at 841-0403 or
check www.msncadd.net.
Al-Anon is a fellowship of friends and rel-
atives of alcoholics. The group has
meetings at several locations through-
out Tupelo:
• Tupelo Serenity Group, 8 p.m.
Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays at
613 Pegram Drive. Call (662) 610-
5950;
• Presbyterian Church, 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Call (662) 844-0374 or (800) 344-
2666.
• Peace Seekers Al-Anon Family Group
meets at noon Wednesday and Friday at
Calvary Baptist Church. Call (662) 401-
8094 or (800) 344-2666.
• Solution Seekers Adult Children of
Alcoholics meets at noon Mondays at
Calvary Baptist Church fellowship hall.
Call Nancy P. at (847) 902-6267.
Alzheimer’s support groups for family
members and friends of those with the
disease meet in:
• West Point: meets quarterly at
NMMC-West Point. Call Brenda Johnson
at (662) 495-2339 or (800) 843-3375.
• Tupelo: 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of
each month at the Cedars Health
Center Activity Room. Call Terri at (662)
844-1441.
An Amputee Support Group meets at
noon the first Thursday of each month
at Longtown Medical Park, Tupelo. Call
377-7225 or (800) 843-3375.
Arthritis Support Group will meet at
9:15 a.m. the second Monday of the
month at Oktibbeha County Hospital
Wellness Connection, in Starkville. Call
323-9355.
The Autism Support Group meets month-
ly at the Lee County Library in Tupelo.
Call Melissa Caldwell at 832-2039 or
Cheryl Bailey at 315-3388.
AWAKE, a support group for people with
sleep apnea and their families, meets
quarterly at NMMC. Call (800) 843-
3375.
Bariatric Support Group meets at 6 p.m.
the first Tuesday of each month in the
Magnolia Auditorium at Baptist
Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi,
Oxford. Call Becky Wilson at 513-9671.
Bereavement Support Group meets each
month at Darlington Oaks on Skeet
Drive in Verona. Call Community
Hospice at 566-4011.
Better Breathers, a support group for
those living with chronic lung disease,
meets at 1 p.m. the third Wednesday of
the month at the Magnolia Regional
Medical Center Harper Road Complex in
Corinth. Call Candice Whitaker at 279-
0801.
Cancer Outreach of North Mississippi
will meet at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of
the month at CREATE in Tupelo. Assisted
by the University of Texas M.D. Anderson
Cancer Center. Call Patsy Gregory at
(662) 401-0715.
Cancer Survivor 101 support group for
newly diagnosed patients actively
undergoing treatment will meet at 2
p.m. the second Thursday of the month.
Call Cindy Edwards at 377-4049 or
(800) 843-3375.
Celebrate Recovery is a Bible-based
group open to those struggling with
addiction, anger issues, grief, guilt,
shame, financial loss, abuse, eating dis-
orders or compulsive behaviors.
• West Jackson Street Baptist Church,
Tupelo, meets at 7 p.m. Fridays in
Building B. Contact Neil Naron at (662)
891-1773 or Susan Naron at (662)
871-3872.
• Lee Acres Church of Christ on
Lawndale Drive, Tupelo meets at 6 p.m.
Tuesdays. Childcare available. Call the
church at (662) 844-3111 or Joey Grist
at (662) 321-0059.
Chronic Wound Support Group meets
quarterly in the Diabetes Treatment
Classroom NMMC’s East Tower. Call
NMMC Advanced Wound Care Clinic at
377-2395 or 377-2354 or (800) 843-
3375.
The Compassionate Friends, a support
group for families who have suffered the
death of a child of any age. Parents,
step-parents, grandparents and siblings
are invited to attend the meetings in:
• Booneville: 6 p.m. the second
Thursday of each month at Baptist
Memorial Hospital-Booneville. Contact
Joe Young at 538-2422
• Tupelo: 6:30 p.m. the fourth Thursday
of the month at NMMC Wellness Center.
Call Kristi Bennett at 322-7794 or 377-
5748 or Jamie Seale at 842-3174.
• West Point: 6:30 p.m. at NMMC-
West Point. Call Michele Rowe at 495-
2337.
Diabetes support groups meet in:
• Booneville : 6 p.m. the third Thursday
of the month at the George E. Allen
continued on next page
Library. Call Kitti Parman at 377-2500
or (800) 843-3375.
• New Albany: 6 p.m. the fourth
Monday of every other month at educa-
tion building at Baptist Memorial
Hospital-Union County in New Albany.
Call Mary Foley at (662) 538-2199.
• Oxford: Noon the second Thursday of
the month in the Magnolia Auditorium
at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North
Mississippi. Lunch available for $3. Call
232-8113.
• Starkville: 5:30 p.m. the second
Tuesday of the month at Oktibbeha
County Hospital educational facility. Call
Nicky Yeatman at 615-2668.
• Tupelo: 11 a.m. the second Thursday
of the month at the NMMC Wellness
Center in Tupelo. Sponsored by the
NMMC Diabetes Treatment Center. Call
377-2500 or (800) 843-3375.
The Disability Support Group meets at 6
p.m. the second Tuesday of each month
at LIFE office, Cliff Gookin Boulevard,
Tupelo. People with all kinds of physical
and mental disabilities are welcome.
Call Michael Sullivan at 844-6633.
Divorce Support Group meets at 6:30
p.m. the third Tuesday of the month for
people working to heal after divorce,
separation or broken engagement at
the St. James Catholic Life Center in
Tupelo. A support group for teen chil-
dren of divorce – 13 and up – meets at
the same time. Call Lynn Weeks at
(662) 842-3437.
Domestic Violence support groups meet
in Tupelo:
• 6 p.m. every Thursday. Child care is
provided. Call (800) 527-7233 for loca-
tion.
• 3:30 p.m. the fourth Thursday of the
month at the Lee County Family
Resource Center. Child care available.
Call 844-0013.
Epilepsy Support Group meets at 6:30
p.m. the first Monday of most months
at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in
Tupelo.Call Cristina Curry at 610-8866
or Kasey McFate at 587-5319. Free
child care available.
Fibromyalgia support group meets at
6:30 p.m. on the fourth Monday of the
month at the Women First Resource
Center. Call 842-5725.
Gamblers Anonymous, a 12-step recovery
support group for people with a gam-
bling problem, meets at 6 p.m. every
Monday at Lee Acres Church of Christ
on Lawndale Drive in Tupelo. Call 316-
2219.
Gray Matters Support Group for anyone
diagnosed with a brain tumor and their
caregivers meets at 6 p.m. the last
Tuesday of the month at the NMMC
Cancer Center in Tupelo. Call Cindy
Edwards at (662) 377-4049 or (800)
843-3375.
NORTH MISSISSIPPI HEALTH JOURNAL | 29
Grief support groups meet in:
• New Albany: 2 p.m. the second
Wednesday of each month at the First
United Methodist Church. Call the Rev.
Danny Rushing, Asera Care Hospice, at
840-3434 or the Rev. Joe Young, BMH-
Union County, at 538-2422.
• Oxford: 6 p.m. the second Tuesday
and at noon the fourth Wednesday of
the month at Azalea Gardens in Oxford.
Sponsored by North Mississippi Hospice
of Oxford. Call Olevia Partlow at 234-
0140.
I Can Cope cancer support group meets
at noon the second Friday of the month
at Bridgepoint on South Gloster Street.
Guest speakers. Lunch provided for can-
cer survivors and caregivers. Sponsored
by the American Cancer Society. Call
coordinator Donna Kingsley at (662)
213-8478.
La Leche League of Lee County offers
breastfeeding support to moms. The
group meets at 11 a.m. the first
Monday of the month at All Saints
Episcopal Church. All pregnant and
breastfeeding mothers are invited to
attend. Young children welcome. Call
Toni Hill at 255-8283 or e-mail
leecountylalecheleague@yahoo.com.
Lupus Support Group meet in:
• Starville: 10 a.m. the second Tuesday
of the month at First United Methodist
Church. Call Gene Farrar at 324-3368.
• Tupelo: 6 p.m. the third Thursday of
the month at Link Centre, conference
room A, suite 112. Sponsored by the
Lupus Foundation of America. Contact
Michelle Harris at 640-2407 or 256-
2604.
Man-to-Man, a prostate cancer support
group, meets at 6 p.m. the first Tuesday
of the month in the NMMC East Tower
education center, Room 21, Tupelo. Call
377-3985 or (800) 843-3375.
Mended Hearts, a support group for peo-
ple who have had heart-bypass surgery,
heart disease or other physical ailments
of the heart, meet in:
• Corinth: 6 p.m. the second Monday
of the month in the basement confer-
ence center at Magnolia Regional
Health Center in Corinth. Contact Wayne
Taylor at 663-0116 or Barbara Williams
at 293-1086.
• Oxford: Noon the the second
Wednesday of the month at Baptist
Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in
Oxford. Call Riley McMinn at 232-8166.
• Tupelo: 6 p.m. the last Thursday of
each month at Room 21 of the NMMC
East Tower Education Center. Dinner
available for $11; RSVP required for
dinner. Call Bill or June Harrison at 844-
8723 to register.
Mental Health Family support group will
meet at 10 a.m. the second and fourth
Saturday of the month at North
Mississippi RC on Highway 7 in Oxford.
 SUPPORT GROUPS / RESOURCES
The group is designed for family mem-
bers of people with serious mental ill-
ness. Call (800) 357-0388 or visit
www.nami.org.
Mississippi Chapter of Parents of Blind
Children will meet at 2 p.m. the last
Saturday of the month at the Harden
House office on North Gloster Street in
Tupelo. Contact Pat Sartain at 871-
8262.
Mississippi Council of the Blind of
North Mississippi meets at 10 a.m.
the first Saturday of the month at the
REACH Center for the Blind on Pegram
Boulevard, Tupelo. The organization is
open to the blind or visually impaired,
and sighted people. Call Tammy
Cantrell at 620-7677.
Multiple Sclerosis support groups meet
in:
• Corinth: 11:30 a.m. the third
Wednesday of the month at the MSU
Extension Office behind Crossroads
Arena. Contact Joy Forsyth 462-7325 or
joycforsyth@frontiernet.net.
• Oxford: 6:30 p.m. the fourth Thursday
of the month in the Magnolia
Auditorium at Baptist Memorial
Hospital-North Mississippi in Oxford.
Call Robert Allen, 234-3515.
• Tupelo: 6:30 p.m. the second
Thursday of each month at NMMC
Wellness Center. Call Marge Carson at
963-7068, Allison Holloway at 231-
5829 or (800) 843-3375.
NAMI Connection, a weekly recovery
group for people living with mental ill-
ness, meets Sundays at 3:30 p.m. at
Baptist Memorial Hospital-North
Mississippi in Oxford. Call (800) 357-
0388 or visit www.nami.org.
Narcotics Anonymous, a community-
based association of recovering drug
addicts, meets in Amory, Booneville,
Corinth, Ecru, Oxford, Ripley, Tupelo,
West Point and Starkville. Call 841-
9998 or toll-free (866) 841-9998 for
more information.
Nar-Anon, a support group for friends
and family members of people addict-
ed to drugs, meets at 6:30 p.m.
Tuesdays at St. James Catholic Life
Center on North Gloster Street. Call
322-1631 and leave a message for
more information.
The North MS Pediatric Cancer Support
Group (PECANS) meets at 6 p.m. the
second and fourth Tuesdays of the
month. Call Teresa Farris at 791-1228
for meeting location.
Northeast Mississippi Down Syndrome
Society offers support and information
for families of children with Down
Syndrome. Meets quarterly. Call 871-
2387 or 869-3211, e-mail
nemdss@bellsouth.net or visit
www.nemdss.org.
Ostomy Support Group meets at 6 p.m.
30 | NORTH MISSISSIPPI HEALTH JOURNAL
the third Tuesday of the month in the
NMMC East Tower Education Center.
Call 377-2395 or (800) 843-3375.
Overeaters Anonymous meets at noon
Wednesdays at St. Luke Methodist
Church in Tupelo. Contact (662) 255-
1063 or visit www.oa.org.
Parkinson’s Disease support groups
meet in:
• Oxford: 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday
of the month at Magnolia Auditorium at
Baptist Memorial Hospital-North
Mississippi. For more information, call
Harry Sneed at 234-3232.
• Tupelo: 3 p.m. the first Sunday of the
month at NMMC Wellness Center. Open
to people with Parkinson’s and their
families. Call Ginger Gore or Amanda
Allen at 377-3729 or (800) 843-3375.
Rachel’s Vineyard Ministries offers sup-
port for those healing after abortion.
For more information, please visit
www.rachelsvineyard.org or contact
Barb Baumann at (662) 231-1983,
barblyn28@gmail.com or (877) 467-
3463, www.rachelsvineyard.org.
Second Chance Transplant Awareness
Group meets at 6:30 p.m. on the third
Thursday of the month, except for June,
at McAlister’s Deli, Tupelo. Call
Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency,
Tupelo office (662) 841-1960.
A Sexual Assault Support Group meets
at 11 a.m. every Wednesday. Call (800)
527-7233 for location.
Sisters Network, Tupelo chapter of the
African-American breast cancer sur-
vivor’s support group, meets at 6:30
p.m. the first Monday of the month at
the Link Centre in Tupelo. Call Edna
Ware at 842-3440.
Stroke support groups meet in:
• Tupelo at 5 p.m. the third Tuesday of
the month in NMMC East Tower Room
21. Call Stacy Scruggs at (662) 377-
4058
• Starkville at 10 a.m. the third
Wednesday of the month in the OCH
Healthplex multi-purpose room. Call
Nikki Yoakley at (662) 615-3030.
T.A.A.P. (Teen Addiction Awareness
Program) is a free 10-week program
offered by the National Council on
Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
building, 200 N. Spring St., Tupelo. Call
NCADD at 841-0403 or www.ncadd
.net.
TOPS, a weight loss support group, has
three chapters meeting in Northeast
Mississippi. Fees are $24 for annual
membership; $12 for spouses and
teens. Call (800) 932-8677 or
www.tops.org. Meetings in:
• Tupelo, 5:30 p.m. Thursdays at
Salvation Army Building at 527
Carnation St. Call Nita at 891-8651.
• Aberdeen: 5 p.m. Tuesdays at
Southside Baptist Church on Meridian
Street. Call Janet Luker, 369-6836 or
369-1878, Grace Guin, 369-4431 or
Pat Harris, 327-7152.
Tupelo Lost Chords Club meets at noon
the fourth Thursday of the month at the
Longtown Medical Park conference
room, Tupelo. Open to all laryngec-
tomees, spouses of laryngectomees
and interested professionals. Call Lisa
Renfroe at 377-3248.
Weight Loss Support Group will meet at
6 p.m. the first Thursday of the month
at NMMC Wellness Center in Tupelo.
The group provides education and
emotional support for those consider-
ing or have gone through bariatric sur-
gery. Contact registered nurse Cherri
Cox at 377-7546 or (866) 908-9465.
Women with Cancer Support Groups are
sponsored by Women First Resource
Center. Groups meet in:
• Amory: Noon the second Tuesday of
the month at River Birch. Call 325-
0721.
• Pontotoc: 6:30 p.m. the first Monday
of the month at the Chamber of
Commerce. Call 489-4701.
• Tupelo: 6:30 p.m. the second
Monday of each month at Women First
Resource Center. Call 842-5725.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
American Red Cross offers CPR/AED/First
Aid classes at its Westside Dr. office in
Tupelo. Call 842-6101.
Mental health interviews by a licensed
counselor are offered through North
Mississippi Medical Center Behavioral
Health Center by appointment Monday-
Friday at the Eason Boulevard center.
Call (800) 843-3375.
National Council on Alcoholism and
Drug Dependency provides free confi-
dential information, assessments and
treatment referrals for people with
addiction. Maintains list of area sup-
port group meetings. Call (662) 841-
0403.
Nurse Link, a free information service
provided by NMMC, connects callers
with a registered nurse from 7 a.m. to
midnight. Call (800) 882-6274.
Women First Resource Center, 215 N.
Gloster, Suite D, Tupelo, hosts groups
and offers assistance for women on a
range of issues. Call (662) 842-5725.
PREGNANCY/PARENTING
Hospitals with maternity services offer a
number of classes about pregnancy,
newborn care, breastfeeding and
preparing siblings and grandparents.
• Baptist Memorial-North
Mississippi, Oxford – (662) 513-1602
• Baptist Memorial-Union County,
New Albany – (662) 538-2397
• NMMC Women’s Hospital,
Tupelo – (662) 377-4956
• Oktibbeha County Hospital,
Starkville – Call (662) 615-336
Family Resource Center of Northeast
Mississippi offers parenting classes,
marriage education, parenting during
divorce and Parents as Teachers pro-
grams. Call (662) 844-0013.
FREE CLINICS
Antone Tannehill Good Samaritan Free
Clinic provides health care to working
or temporarily unemployed Lee County
residents who cannot afford insurance
but are not eligible for government pro-
grams. Call (662) 844-3733.
CATCH Kids clinics are open to all chil-
dren under 18. The organization offers
four evening community-based clinics
each week in North Tupelo, Haven Acres
neighborhood, Pontotoc and Okolona.
Call (662) 377-2194.
Immunization Clinic provides free child-
hood immunizations at 5 p.m. to 6:30
p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the
Good Samaritan Free Clinic in Tupelo.
Families whose insurance does not
cover immunizations are eligible; they
do not have to meet other clinic eligi-
bility requirements. Limited number of
children can be seen. Call (662) 844-
3733.
Oxford Medical Ministries provides free
health care to workers living in Lafayette
and Yalobusha counties who can’t afford
or don’t have access to health insur-
ance, but make too much for public
assistance. Call (662) 234-1374.
Tree of Life/Arbol de la Vida Free Clinic
holds a free clinic the third Saturday of
the month at 670 Crossover Road in
Tupelo. Open to anyone without public
or private health insurance. Call Joe
Bailey at (662) 842-8788.
HEALTHY EDUCATION
Diabetes Treatment Center offers dia-
betes self-management program twice
a month. Call (662) 377-2500.
Tobacco Cessation Classes are available
free through area hospitals
• Baptist Memorial Hospital
Oxford – (662) 513-1506
• NMMC
Tupelo – (800) 843-3375
HealthWorks! Children Health
Education Center is open 8:30 a.m. to
4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10
a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The center is
located at the corner of Robert E. Lee
Drive and Industrial Road in Tupelo.
General admission is $4. Call (662)
377-5437 or visit www.healthwork-
skids.or

• HIP Hoppers: 10 a.m. Wednesday
from June 2 to Sept. 15. Preschool
children and their grown ups are invit-
ed to come and play the HealthWorks!
way with interactive story time with
puppet play and family fitness fun.
Cost: admission.
APRIL 1
Singer Songwriter Showcase benefiting
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
will be 5 p.m. April 1 at the Main Street
Grill in Tupelo. A dozen bands will per-
form at the acoustic showcase. Silent
auction, raffle and more. Admission will
be by donation. Call 662) 844-6454 or
visit www.tupelomusicshowcase.com
APRIL 3
Relay for Life Gospel Concert will be 6
p.m. April 3 at the Saltillo Community
Center. Artists include Heavens
Highway, Saving Grace, Foyer Boyz, The
David Holloway Family and Scott
Russell Hurt. Cost is $5; benefits the
American Cancer Society. Doors open
at 5 p.m. For more information, visit
hebronumc.com.
APRIL 10
Walk MS benefiting the National
Multiple Sclerosis Society will be April
10 at Veterans Park in Tupelo. Contact
Angie Jackson at
angiejackson@nmms.org or (601)
856-5831.
APRIL 16-18
T’ai Chi Chih workshop will be April 16-
18 at the NMMC Wellness Center in
Tupelo. Instructor will be Carmen L.
Brocklehurst of Albuquerque, N.M.,
who is an internationally recognized
instructor. T’ai Chi Chih is made up of
20 gentle movements and is often
called a moving meditation. Sessions
will run 1 to 5 p.m. April 16, 9 a.m. to
5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to noon
Sunday. Cost is $75 and includes din-
ner on April 16 and lunch on April 17.
Contact Ron Richardson at (662) 844-
6473 or ron_richardson@comcast.net.
APRIL 18
Great Strides Walk benefiting the Cystic
Fibrosis Foundation will be 1:30 p.m.
April 18 at Lamar Park in Oxford.
Contact Mississippi Chapter at (601)
981-3100.
APRIL 20
A Woman’s Place Lunchtime Learning
will be at noon April 20 at First
Baptist Church fellowship hall in
Tupelo. Lunch costs $5; preregistra-
tion is required by April 14. Call (662)
377-4099.
APRIL 25 & MAY 1
Camp Bluebird, a camp for adult cancer
survivors, will be April 23-25 at
Tombigbee State Park. Cost is $40;
scholarships available. Call (662)
377-4049 or visit
www.nmhs.net/campbluebird. Fall
camp is set for Sept. 24-25.
APRIL 23-25
Walk for Babies benefiting the March of
Dimes will be held at 2 p.m. April 25
in the Grove on the University of
Mississippi campus in Oxford and 10
a.m. May 1 in Veterans Park in Tupelo.
Call (662) 844-6901 for more infor-
mation.
MAY 1
Asthma Super Saturday will be 9:30
a.m. to 11:30 a.m. May 1 at NMMC
Women’s Hospital in Tupelo. For chil-
dren with asthma and their parents.
Call (800) 843-3375.
Walk for Diabetes will be at 8 a.m. May
1 at Ballard Park in Tupelo. The 5K
walk will benefit the Diabetes
Foundation of Mississippi. Call (662)
232-2777 or visit
www.msdiabetes.org.
MAY 15
Hope Steps Forward 5K run/walk to raise
awareness for primary brain tumors will
start at 8 a.m. May 15 at the Brewer
Community Center in Lee County. Entry
fee is $20 and includes a T-shirt.
Benefits the NMMC Cancer Patient
Assistance Fund. Forms available at
Brewer Grocery, Tupelo Neurology and
Trails and Treads in Tupelo. Call Elise at
844-7021.
MAY 17
Take a Swing at Cancer benefit golf
tournament will be May 17 at Old
Waverly Golf Club. Four person scram-
ble with 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
shotgun starts. Lunch at 11 a.m. for
all players. Cost is $250 per player.
Benefits the NMMC Cancer Center
patient assistance fun. Call (662)
377-3613 or email
sablaylock@nmhs.net.
MAY 18
Spririt of Women Awards will be at
noon May 18 at First Baptist Church
fellowship hall in Tupelo. Lunch costs
$5; preregistration is required by May
12. Call (662) 377-4099.
MAY 1
Rebel Classic Golf Tournament will be
at 10 a.m. May 21 at Country Club of
Oxford. Lunch and beverages provid-
ed. Call 232-2777 or e-mail megfra-
zier@msdiabetes.org.
MAY 22
Make It a Habit Club will be 10 to 11
a.m. May 22 at HealthWorks!
Children’s Health Education Center in
Tupelo. Each month the club will focus
on healthy living and physical activity.
Each month, there will be topic time,
snack talk and fitness fun. Parents
can participate or hang out on the
Funtastic Floor. In May, the theme will
be Mother, May I? Cost is $4 per per-
son admission to center; members
free. Call (662) 377-5437.
Tie Dye 5K Cross Country Invitational
will be 8:30 a.m. May 22 at the Tupelo
Cross Country Trail in Ballard
Park/Sportsplex, Tupelo. Cost is $20.
sponsored by Healthworks! Call (662)
377-5437.
JUNE AND JULY
HealthWorks! Summer Camps will be
offered in June and July at the
HealthWorks! Children’s Health
Education Center in Tupelo. The half-
day camps will be generally be offered
Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays
from 9 to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. All the
camps will include a crafty project,
healthy snack and physical challenge.
JUNE 12
Lee County Relay for Life will be June
11 at Tupelo High School football sta-
dium. Benefits the American Cancer
Society. Call Donna Kingsley at (662)
213-8478 or Michelle Mauldin at
(662) 279-4236 or visit www.relayfor-
life.org/leems.
JUNE 15
A Woman’s Place Lunchtime Learning
will be at noon June 15 at First
Baptist Church fellowship hall in
Tupelo. Lunch costs $5; preregistra-
tion is required by June 9. Call (662)
377-4099.
JUNE 26
Make It a Habit Club will be 10 to 11
a.m. June 26 at HealthWorks!
Children’s Health Education Center in
Tupelo. Each month, there will be
topic time, snack talk and fitness fun.
Open to families with children kinder-
garten and up. Parents can participate
or hang out on the Funtastic Floor. In
June, the theme will be Daddy, I Dare
You! Cost is $4 per person admission
to center; members free. Call (662)
377-5437.
JULY 24
Make It a Habit Club will be 10 to 11
a.m. July 24 at HealthWorks!
Children’s Health Education Center in
Tupelo. Each month, there will be
topic time, snack talk and fitness fun.
NORTH MISSISSIPPI HEALTH JOURNAL | 31
CALENDAR
Open to families with children kinder-
garten and up. Parents can participate
or hang out on the Funtastic Floor. In
July, the theme will be Happy
HealthWorks! Hoopla. Cost is $4 per
person admission to center; members
free. Call (662) 377-5437.
AUG. 7
Asthma Super Saturday will be 9:30
a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 7 at NMMC
Women’s Hospital in Tupelo. For chil-
dren with asthma and their parents.
Call (800) 843-3375.
AUG. 14
Weston Reed Cardiovascular
Conference will 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug.
14 at BancorpSouth Arena. Free
CPR/AED training and free heart
health screenings. Registration
required for training classes. Call
(662) 841-5819 or register online at
www.westonreedcc.org.
AUG. 28
Make It a Habit Club will be 10 to 11
a.m. Aug. 28 at HealthWorks!
Children’s Health Education Center in
Tupelo. Each month, there will be
topic time, snack talk and fitness
fun. Open to families with children
kindergarten and up. Parents can
participate or hang out on the
Funtastic Floor. In August, the theme
will be Bring a Friend, Make a Friend.
Cost is $4 per person admission to
center; members free. Call (662)
377-5437.
SEPT. 25
Make It A Habit Club will be 10 to 11
a.m. Sept. 25 at HealthWorks!
Children’s Health Education Center in
Tupelo. Each month, there will be
topic time, snack talk and fitness fun.
Open to families with children kinder-
garten and up. Parents can participate
or hang out on the Funtastic Floor. In
September, the theme will be Stress
Less. Cost is $4 per person admission
to center; members free. Call (662)
377-5437.
OCT. 2
Great Strides Walk benefiting Cystic
Fibrosis Foundation will be at 9 a.m.
Oct. 2 in Ballard Park in Tupelo.
Contact the Mississippi Chapter at
(601) 981-3100.
OCT. 5
Spirit of Women Girls Night Out will be
Oct 5 at the Summit in Tupelo. The fun
and informative event will include a
Coldwater Creek fashion show, breast
cancer survivor recognition and breast
cancer speaker. Call (800) 843-3375.