News Center newsletter

by Steven Mazzafield, Speech-Language Pathologist, Veterans Memorial Hospital

Diabetes is a disease that causes high levels of glucose or “sugar” in your blood. When you have high levels of blood sugar over a long period of time, it can be harmful to the brain in several ways.

First, it raises your risk of heart disease and stroke. It damages blood vessels that feed the brain, which leads to cognitive decline. High levels of blood sugar affect how brain cells communicate with one another. Lastly, it causes inflammation, which damages brain cells, leading to dementia.

Having high blood sugar can also damage nerve cells outside of the brain resulting in numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, which is called neuropathy. There is also a strong association between diabetes and developing depression, which can affect management of blood sugar levels.

A generous donation of $5,000 was recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation from the Waukon Feed Ranch in support of the new Waukon Medical Clinic. Pictured above, left to right, at the Feed Ranch Agronomy Building are Brad Herman, Judy Herman, Brian Herman, Kim Winters, Ron Winters and Michael Coyle, CEO of Veterans Memorial Hospital.

Nightingale Pharmacy will be hosting a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine clinic for ages 12 and older Wednesday, June 9 from 4-7 p.m. at the Waukon High School (cafeteria entrance) located at 1059 Third Avenue NW in Waukon. Anyone under age 18 will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Advance registration for an appointment is available at https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/NightingaleDrugWaukon@nightin.... Walk-ins are also welcome.

Hartig Drug, 21 West Main Street, Waukon has vaccine available for ages 12 and older. Parental/ Guardian consent is required. Advance registration is available on their website at www.hartigdrug.com or call 563-568-6315 to schedule an appointment. Hartig currently has Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccine available.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, June 17 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room, located on the lower level of the hospital. Masks will be required to be worn.

This diabetes class is open to everyone who has diabetes or who has a friend or loved one with diabetes. For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, call  Angie Mettille, RN at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.

The Caregiver Support Group meetings that were held monthly at Veterans Memorial Hospital continue to be held through conference calls during COVID-19. Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) is offering weekly Caregiver Support Group conference calls every Monday from 10-11 a.m.

To join a call, just dial 1-800-264-8432 and then enter the participant code 961847# to be connected to the support group conference call, joining other caregivers.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will hold a Prepared Childbirth Education class (formerly called Lamaze) Saturday, June 26 from 8-11 a.m. in the Large Conference Room at the hospital.

The Prepared Childbirth Education classes at Veterans Memorial Hospital are now offered in one half-day session. Tours of the OB Department are available with these sessions as well. These Prepared Childbirth Education classes are available for a small fee per session and will be offered every three months at Veterans Memorial Hospital. Following the June 26 class, the next class is scheduled for September 25.

Pre-registration is necessary, as seats are limited. To register, email childbirth@vmhospital.com or contact Jayne McCormick, RN, Nursing and OB Manager at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

Melissa and Benjamin Seibert of Honolulu, HI announce the birth of their daughter, Violet Magdalene Seibert, born September 2, 2020 in Kailua, HI. She weighed 8 lbs. 10 ozs. and measured 22-1/2 inches in length at the time of her birth. She joins siblings, Attica (13), Walter (11), Biniyam (10), Estifanos (10), Madeline (9), Henry (8), Evelyn (6) and Beatrix (3).

Grandparents are Debbie Honn and Tom Waters of Waukon, Rhonda Seibert of Decorah and Howard Seibert of Harpers Ferry. Great-grandparents are Richard and Edith Bloxham of Waukon, Roger and Shari Honn of Cedar Rapids, the late Floyd and Florence Waters of New Albin and the late John and Norma Seibert of Waukon.
 

Jason Collins and Jenna Rosendahl of Waukon announce the birth of their daughter, Lilly Marie Collins, born May 27, 2021 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She weighed 8 lbs. 11 ozs. and measured 20-3/4 inches in length at the time of her birth.

Grandparents are John and Von Collins of Waukon, Jill and Darryl Sharon of Caledonia, MN and Tony Rosendahl, also of Caledonia. Oliver Roderick of Waukon is a great-grandparent.

Brandon and Lauren Kerian of Waukon announce the birth of their daughter, Ellie Jo Kerian, born June 1, 2021 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She weighed 8 lbs. 5 ozs. and measured 21 inches in length at the time of her birth. She joins a sister, Leah (18 months).

Grandparents are Jim and Deb Obermann and Kevin and Kelly Kerian, all of Cresco.

Happy Pride Month

Jesus commanded his followers: ‘Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.’

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA). Formed in 1988 with the merger of three smaller Lutheran organizations, the ELCA is based in Chicago and encompasses nearly 10,000 congregations and more than 3.8 million members across the country. Since 1991, the ELCA has passed repeated resolutions to welcome, include, and advocate for the equity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual/aromantic (LGBTQIA+) Lutherans in all aspects of the life of their Church, congregations, and community.