Health

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Lyle Westby by Marv and Marge Strike, Patsy Kerndt, Dave and Brenda Dougherty, Cyril and Shirley Larkin, Jerry and Linda Siegrist, Bernard Welsh, Walmart and Family and Friends of Lyle Westby.

Memorials were also received in memory of Maurice Hahn by Marv and Marge Strike, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Ken and Gloria Krambeer and Tom and Lynn Thomson; in memory of Elmer Alderdyce by Dave and Laurie Martin and Dan and Mary Ann Otting; and in memory of Jane Hausman by Marian Smedsrud and Dave and Laurie Martin.

Additional memorials were also received for Keith and Jean Mason by John and Lorna Kerndt, Jerry and Linda Siegrist, Dan and Mary Ann Otting, Dave and Laurie Martin, and Pat Pettingill; and for Willis “Buster” Mathis by Dave and Laurie Martin, Bob and Linda Thompson, Mae Jean Bakke, Peter Bieber, and Angie Schulte.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon has welcomed Ophthalmologist Dr. Cindy Calderon to its medical specialty staff. She visits Waukon twice per month to meet with patients at Gundersen Clinic as well as perform cataract surgery at Veterans Memorial Hospital once per month.

“We are so happy to have Dr. Calderon join our team,” states Suzette Mahoney, BSN, RN, Veterans Memorial Hospital Surgery Supervisor. “Being able to offer this kind of service is really important to the patient population Veterans Memorial serves.”

Dr. Calderon is a fellowship-trained retinal specialist and the newest member of Gundersen Eye Institute, La Crosse. “I found the practice environment at Gundersen to be very attractive - a place where I could work within a modern, larger clinic system, treat a variety of patients with up-to-date technology and discuss interesting cases with other ophthalmology subspecialists, with the added benefit of living in a smaller town,” says Dr. Calderon.

For those who may not know how much blood is needed by certain patients, here are some facts from the LifeServe Blood Center.

• Cancer patients can use up to eight units of blood a month.
• Bone Marrow Transplant patients can use up to two units a day.
• Cardiovascular Surgery patient can use between two and 25 units.
• Liver Transplant patients can use up to 100 units.
• Auto/Trauma Accident patients can use from five to 100 units.
• Premature infants can use up to one to four units.
• Burn victims case use up to 20 units of platelets.
• Heart surgery patients can use up to three to eight units of red cells and one to 10 units of platelets.
• Organ transplant patients can use 10-30 units of blood.

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Thursday, July 7 from 12:30-5 p.m. The blood drive will be held at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. 

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Oliver “Ollie” Emerson by Scott and Karen Ness, Alice Schlacke, Marlys Leiran, Joan Bieber, Russ and Mary Jo Meyer, Larry and Carolyn Homewood, Gladwin and Darlene Anderson, Chuck and Ranae Gipp, Lesa Moose, Orrin and Nan Grangaard, Brad and Erin Berns and friends and family of Oliver Emerson.

Donations were also received in memory of Roland “Rollie” Grotegut by Mae Jean Bakke, Alice Schlacker and Nyles and Ruby Herman.

In addition, memorials were received in memory of Marlys Jacobs by Dave and Laurie Martin, Al and Deb Tweedy, Norb and Nola Palmer, Kay Carter, Merrill Jacobs, Patsy Kerndt and Sigurd and Bard Ness.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Troy Thompson by Dave and Laurie Martin, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Bill and Libby Withers, Larry and Nancy Klocke, John and Sheryl Prestemon, Dean “Beanzy” Schellhammer, Barry and Lisa Fruechte, Curtis and Betty Gilbertson, Ken and Gloria Krambeer, Lois Evans, George and Jean Huffey, Bob and Jeanine Mathis, Gladwin and Darlene Anderson, Jerry and Linda Siegrist, Orrin and Nan Grangaard, Jane Dietrich, JC and Natalie Kelly, Rudolph and Marian Hesla, Norb and Nola Palmer and family and friends of Troy Thompson.

Most in the Midwest enjoy taking advantage of the warm summer temperatures to grill a meal or two a week outside. From traditional favorites such as hotdogs to side dishes and even desserts, grilling is a great way to add flavor to all types of foods.

But, according to Brigitte Weymiller, RD, Gundersen Health System registered dietitian, before the big cookout, it is important to use the same safety measures taken when cooking outside as indoors. “Clean your grill by scrubbing it with hot, soapy water. When you’re ready to cook, allow the grill to heat up sufficiently to eliminate potential bacteria problems,” Weymiller explains. “Make sure you have the right tools. Relying on color alone does not ensure the doneness of meat, poultry and fish. A food thermometer can ensure food has been cooked to a safe internal temperature.”

The 23rd annual Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation Golf Tournament was held on Monday, June 20 at the Waukon Golf and Country Club. Twenty-seven teams of three participated in this tournament. Each team enjoyed 18 holes of golf plus lunch and dinner prepared by Rich Schulte, Marge and Bud Strike, and the Foundation Directors.

The Foundation gives credit for the success of this tournament to the many local businesses that provide great prizes so everyone participating wins. Plus many businesses serving this area contribute as hole sponsors to the tournament making it an enjoyable, community-wide event.

by Sheryl Darling Mooney, RN, Veterans Memorial
Hospital Community and Home Care

It’s great to get out and enjoy the outdoors here in Allamakee County and Clayton counties, but remember to be vigilant about checking yourself and others with you for ticks. Examine your skin as best you can and use a handheld mirror, if available. Fine-toothed combs can also be used in helping to check your scalp. “ I’d Like to Check You for Ticks” isn’t just the catchy title to a country song, but a good idea to have someone else check the areas you can’t easily see.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon will again be holding its regular Weekend Clinic over the Fourth of July holiday. A special Weekend Clinic will be held Monday, July 4 from 1 to 5 p.m. for all non-emergencies.

Weekend Clinics are held every Saturday and Sunday at Veterans Memorial Hospital, all year-round, from 1-5 p.m. each day for non-emergencies. Non-emergencies are considered ailments that could be seen by a physician in a clinic and do not require an emergency room visit, such as minor injuries, sore throats and/or earaches that cannot wait until regular clinic business hours. These Weekend Clinics save families the cost of regular emergency room fees on the weekends when the other local clinics are closed.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Beth Otting by Tom and Sandy Fink, Marv and Marge Strike, and Dan and Mary Ann Otting; in memory of Rose Irlbeck by Dave and Laurie Martin; and in memory of Helen Plein by Fred and Geralyn Smith, Craig and Barb Lensing and Lois Evans.

Memorials were also received in memory of Troy Thompson by Dave and Laurie Martin, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Bill and Libby Withers, Larry and Nancy Klocke, John and Sheryl Prestemon, Dean “Beanzy” Shellhammer, Barry and Lisa Fruechte, Curtis and Betty Gilbertson, Ken and Gloria Krambeer, Lois Evans, George and Jean Huffey, Bob and Jeanine Mathis, Gladwin and Darlene Anderson, Jerry and Linda Siegrist, Orrin and Nan Grangaard, Jane Dietrich, JC and Natalie Kelly, Rudolph and Marian Hesla, Norb and Nola Palmer, and family and friends of Troy Thompson.