Health

Veterans Memorial Hospital will be sponsoring its 26th annual 5K Cardiac Classic Run/Walk Saturday, August 4, in conjunction with the Waukon Corn Days celebration. This year, the event again welcomes a shorter 1.5-mile walking route with an optional 5K (3.1-mile route) to offer distances that will please everyone of any age or ability that wishes to participate.

The event will begin and end at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon at 8 a.m., with registration beginning at 7 a.m.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital is devoted to providing the hospital, patients and visitors with many services. The Auxiliary’s annual membership drive is on now, with Auxiliary membership dues just $5 for active members and $12 for inactive members.

Pictured above, left to right, are Auxiliary members Lillian Larson, Janet Palmer, Maralyn Welsh and Elaine Eadie with a variety of pillow cases that have been made and donated by the Auxiliary to the hospital. Auxiliary members have sewn a large number of these pillow cases to be given to young patients to choose from when they are admitted into the hospital. They then get to take the pillow case home with them following their hospital stay. 

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Monday, August 6 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.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be hosting this blood drive.

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.

Summer can be the perfect time for a family road trip - no school, nice weather and plenty of places to visit. But what if your child is prone to car sickness, a common type of motion sickness? Does this mean you have to stay home?

“Car sickness occurs when the brain receives mismatching information from the ears, eyes and nerves in the extremities,” says Sara Winters, physician assistant at Mayo Clinic Health System - Franciscan Healthcare in Waukon. “The results of this sensation are upset stomach, fatigue, and of course, vomiting.” In children ages two to 12, this experience is fairly common.

Although the reasons for why children are so prone are still unexplained, Winters offers some suggestions that may help you keep your child from getting car sick on your next trip:

Exercise lowers blood sugar. That’s the topic theme for this month’s local Fresh Conversations health and wellness program.

From dancing to housework to an evening stroll, activity helps keep people healthy. This is especially true for persons with diabetes. Exercise helps sugars (or carbohydrates) move more easily in and out of blood vessels and muscles. This keeps blood sugar levels from getting too high and makes one feel more vibrant and energetic.

Activities of all types can keep us fit and well. For example, dancing has been shown to improve endurance, balance and memory as well as heart health. So, turn on some favorite tunes and dance like no one is watching.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Shirleen “Sam” Rosendahl by Carol Moe, in memory of James Connor by Dennis and Sherri Lyons and Dan and Traci Byrnes, and in memory of Daniel Klees by Janice Shogren.

Memorials were also received in memory of Joe Jenkins by Dr. Arlen and Karlene Wonderlich, Don and Donelle Sherman, Mae Jean Bakke, Ray and Mary Ann Burke, Mary Fink and the family and friends of Joe Jenkins.

In addition, a grant fund was received by the Allamakee Community Foundation for new “Annies” for CPR training in the Veterans Memorial Hospital service area.

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 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA  52172.
 

The local Grief Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Tuesday, August 14 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 group now meets the second Tuesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
 

Veterans Memorial Hospital will be sponsoring their 26th annual 5K Cardiac Classic Run/Walk Saturday, August 4, in conjunction with the Waukon Corn Days celebration. This year, the event again welcomes a shorter walking route with an optional 5K to offer distances that will please everyone of any age or ability that wishes to participate.

The event will begin and end at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon at 8 a.m. with registration beginning at 7 a.m.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital is devoted to providing the hospital and its patients and visitors with many services. Their annual membership drive is on now.  Auxiliary membership dues are just $5 for active members and $12 for inactive members. Pictured are some members of the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital knitting baby hats for the infants born at the hospital.  Some of these hats are also available in the Auxiliary gift case for purchase as gifts for newborns. The Auxiliary meets monthly the second Monday of each month, at 1 p.m., in the ICN Conference Room at Veterans Memorial Hospital. They also hold a monthly Euchre Marathon tournament the third Thursday of each month at the Senior Citizens Room at the Waukon Wellness Center. For more information on how to join the Veterans Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, call Nona Sawyer at 563-568-3105. Submitted photo.
 

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Thomas Howe by Delora and Monte Dundee, Joyce Kuhse and Gayle Larkin.

Memorials were also received in memory of John Herman by Lillian Larson, in memory of Pastor Lynn Groe by Dr. Arlen and Karlene Wonderlich, in memory of Ralph and Joann Welch by Bill and Sue Blagsvedt, and in memory of Mitch Einck by Bill and Sue Blagsvedt.

In addition, a donation was received in honor of Wayne and Nona Sawyer’s 60th Wedding Anniversary by Dennis and Sandy Deal.

A donation to the Foundation was also received by Skip and Heidi Loebig.

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 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA  52172.