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In its only meet of this past week, the Kee boys track team finished fourth in what is also its only home meet of this season Thursday, April 20. The Hawks recorded one event win and claimed three runner-up finishes to pace their way to 55 team points.

The Hawks were next scheduled to compete in the Clayton Ridge Invitational Tuesday, April 25 before traveling to MFL/MarMac Monday, May 1. The Kee boys will return to Clayton Ridge May 4 for the Upper Iowa Conference Meet.

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The Occupational Therapy Department at Veterans Memorial Hospital has had a pelvic floor rehabilitation program for over 11 years.  Staff member Melissa Clarke, Occupational Therapist, has been providing this treatment and has seen very positive results.

More people than one may think are impacted by bladder and bowel dysfunction. On average, 25-30% of adults 25-55 years old have experienced bowel or bladder problems. An average of 35-40% of individuals over 65 who live in the community have bladder and bowel problems, and 10-15% of children 8-16 years old have nighttime wetting. The good news is 61% of people using the Beyond Kegels program were dry in three-and-a-half weeks.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital’s “Family Wellness Fair” will be held Wednesday, May 10, from 3:30-6 p.m.  Free health testing, exhibits and interactive activities will all be providing a complete evening of entertainment and education for families of all ages. All those attending the fair are asked to enter through the Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic entrance, then proceed through the various booths and displays throughout the hospital (such as those pictured in the submitted photo above), traveling over to the Gundersen Clinic and exiting the event at the main hospital entrance. Parking will be available at both the clinic and hospital main entrance parking lots.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Laboratory continues to provide community wellness testing at a low upfront cost, offering this service to help accommodate individuals that may forgo important tests due to the cost of high health insurance premiums and deductibles. Individuals can select from a menu of wellness tests during select hours. While these tests do not take the place of regular medical care, they are a tool for patients to monitor their own health and wellness.

Anyone can call the Lab to set up an appointment. Appointments are available between the hours of 7 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday-Friday. A physician’s order is not required for these tests. Results are then mailed to the individual within five business days.

The following blood tests are offered at a low, individual, out-of-pocket rate:  Cholesterol, Blood Sugar/Diabetes, Thyroid, Kidney Function, Uric Acid, Hemoglobin, Calcium, Liver Function, Vitamin D, Prostate Health, Potassium and Sodium.

by Dr. Kristina Thompson, Podiatrist

April is National Volunteer Month. The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital is one of three volunteer branches of the hospital, along with the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation and the hospital greeters, which all continually support the services offered by Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH). The Auxiliary recently made a sizable donation to the VMH Surgery Department for its new sterilizer. Pictured in the above photo, left to right, are Laura Wiltgen, RN; Jessica Jones, RN, Surgery Manager; Jackie Welch, RN; Lillian Larson and Mary Fink of the Auxiliary; and Brooke Weighner, RN, with the new surgery sterilizer equipment. The Auxiliary is a volunteer fundraising branch of Veterans Memorial Hospital that meets once a month. For more information on how to join the Auxiliary, call 563-568-3411. Submitted photo.
 

Local residents can make a difference by making a life-saving blood donation at the next Waukon Community Blood Drive. The next scheduled blood drive will take place Thursday, May 4 from 12 Noon to 5 p.m. at Waukon High School.

Donating blood is safe, simple and it saves lives.  Blood donors have a unique opportunity to contribute to their community by making a life-saving blood donation. 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.

The local Grief Support Group will be holding its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon Tuesday, May 9 at 5 p.m. in the Meditation Healing Center, located just inside the main entrance of the hospital.

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 group meets the second Tuesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
 

Numerous students completed the recent Veterans Memorial Hospital Babysitting classes held Friday, April 7 at the hospital in Waukon. The classes were instructed by Corinne Cook, RN, and consisted of teaching the qualities of being a good babysitter, including basic child care, accident prevention, fire prevention and first aid. These new babysitters also learned CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and the Heimlich Maneuver in the case of a choking child.

The students who completed the Veterans Memorial Hospital Babysitting classes included Izabella Kos, Finn Rounds, Thomas Wilkes, Connor Buhl, Ellsy Koenig, Mallory Howe, Madison Howe, Maxwell Moore, Sophia Welch, Arabella Jensen, Harper Horns, Lail Curtin, Teron Curtin, Emily Reinhardt, Emery Wadsworth, Addison Wagner, Genevieve McCormick, Hannah Weigle, Evangeline Kelley, Theodore Wilkes, Olivia Muse and Laney Hanson.
 

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Roger Pladsen by Gordon and Darlene Kaeser, Jim and Jill Kiesau, Marlys Leiran, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick McMillan, Ernie and Donnalee Osland, Dave and Gail Prestemon, Eric and Stephanie Palmer, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, and Mary Fink.

Memorials were also received in memory of Bruce Jones by Marlys Leiran, Ernie and Donnalee Osland, Bryan Schulte, Kent and Rhonda Stock and Chuck and Lois Votsmier.

Additionally, memorials were also received in memory of Gary Lane by Mary Ann Hager, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, and Les and JoAnn Winters; in memory of Joyce Kuhse by Patsy Kerndt and Sigurd and Barb Ness; in memory of Sharron Kubitz by Mary Ann Hager; in memory of Janet Bechtel by Boyd and Constance Colby, Brian and Jean Krambeer and Mary Ann Hager; and in memory of the Everett Bollman family by Scott and Kim Bollman.