Health

The 2019 Christmas Fantasy theme is “Through the Eyes of a Child” and the event will be held Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, November 15,16,17 and 18 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. Decorators are asked to begin thinking about this year’s event. Many decorators are needed to decorate full-size trees, miniature trees, doors, tables, centerpieces, gift baskets, as well as quilted and crafted items, at the Christmas Fantasy.

Christmas tree decorators decorate an artificial tree for display during the Fantasy and are able to take their items back home with them after the event. Many other decorated, crafted or quilted items are offered for silent auction and may also include gift baskets.

This event is planned and sponsored by the Veterans Memorial Hospital Health Care Foundation. Anyone interested in being a part of the 2019 Christmas Fantasy should call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

The “Get Your Walk On In Waukon” annual family fun walk and 5K was held Saturday, August 17 in conjunction with the Waukon Corn Days celebration. The event offered not only a 5K route but also a shorter walking route of 1.5 miles. The near 100 participants took advantage of both of these options.

This year the event sported a costume contest that was open to all adults and youth entering the event. Some of these creative costumes are pictured at right, including the prizewinning top two costumes/teams.

Logan Houg of Waukon was the first to cross the finish line. All those participating in Saturday’s event received complimentary hospital goodies bags. Free diabetes/blood sugar tests and massages were also offered to all participants.

It has been calculated that, on average, every two seconds someone needs blood. The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Thursday, September 5 from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church located in south Waukon. Blood drives are held once a month in Waukon, to allow for more donors to give. The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.

Blood centers across the United States see a decrease in blood donations during the busy summer months.  During the summer, people become more active, have busier schedules, spend more time outdoors and take vacations.

While donations decline, hospitals see an increase in the need for blood. More driving can mean more automobile accidents.  A person who has suffered severe injuries from an automobile accident can need up to 50 units of blood.

The next Caregiver Support Group meeting will be held Monday, September 16, at 1:30 p.m. in the Meditation Room in the front entrance of Veterans Memorial Hospital.  When a person is diagnosed with a chronic illness, a lot of focus and attention is put on how to keep that person as independent and as healthy as possible. When a person loses some of their abilities to care for themselves the burden of care is often assumed by the spouse, a child (or children), or sometimes friends and neighbors. While everyone who becomes a caregiver handles the added responsibility with different skill sets, attitudes and understanding levels, there is no question that there is a very real strain associated with care giving.

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Charles Berns by Ray and Mary Ann Burke, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Joel and Teresa Sommer, Alex and Teresa Schaegers, Dave and Sandy Lyons, Dave and Rita Newton, Jane Dietrich, Ernie and Donnalee Osland, Orrin and Nan Grangaard and Mary Schulte.

Memorials were also received in memory of Gladys Heitman by Patsy Kerndt, in memory of Roger Espe by Jackie Westby, and in memory of Donny Vine by Jim and Jill Kiesau.

Memorials and donations are greatly appreciated by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation. The Foundation is a 501C3 organization. All donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. Memorials and donations can be sent to the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA  52172.
 

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, September 19 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.

This diabetes class is open to everyone who has diabetes or 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 local Grief Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Tuesday, September 10 at 5 p.m. in the Education Conference Room. This informal meeting is open to anyone suffering from any type of loss whether it be death, divorce, illness or some other grief.
Feel free to attend and bring a friend. This grief support meets the second Tuesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.

Veterans Memorial Hospital has many patients that utilize the skilled care or swing bed option of care following a surgery, illness or accident.  This level of care, following a three day or more acute stay in the hospital, allows the patient to have medications given, pain controlled, and most importantly, the patient qualifies for more rehabilitation than if they are discharged directly to their home.

Patients who have surgery or hospitalization at Veterans Memorial Hospital or any other health care facility may qualify to return to VMH for the advantages of skilled care. But in many cases, patients need to learn to ask their provider to be considered for skilled care.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Ruth Hanson by Lesa Moose, in memory of Gene Shogren by Dave and Laurie Martin, in memory of Lorna Kolsrud by Dave and Laurie Martin, in memory of Marty Melcher by Roger, Karen and Lisa Melcher families and in memory of Steve Wild by Randy and Karen Loeb, Patsy Kerndt and Dan and Traci Byrnes.

Memorials were also received in memory of Carol Miene by Cyril and Shirley Larkin, Darlena Herman, Ernie and Donnalee Osland,  Rick and Cathy Larson, John and Sheryl Prestemon, Mavis Berns, Bill and Beth Shafer, Alice Schlacke, Joan Bieber, and Brad and Erin Berns.

In addition, memorials were received by Jim and Linda Ryan, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Patsy Kerndt and Jim and Jill Kiesau in memory of Matt Regan.

The next Waukon Community Blood Drive will take place Thursday, September 5 from Noon to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Everyone who registers to donate blood goes through four simple steps during the donation process:  registration, donor history and mini-physical, blood donation and snacks. Below are a few tips for ensuring a successful donation:

- Get a good night’s sleep before blood donation.
- Eat a good meal before donating blood. Do not donate on an empty stomach.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Bring a photo ID or Blood Donor ID Card to the appointment.
- Those who are 16 or 17 years old and have never donated blood with LifeServe Blood Center should get a signed Parental/Guardian Permission Form. For more information or to schedule to donate call 800-287-4903.