Health

The local Grief Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Wednesday, June 14 at 2 p.m. 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 Wednesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
 

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, June 15 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 has a friend or loved one with diabetes. For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, call Teresa Myers, RN, C.D.E., Diabetes Educator, or Angie Mettille, RN at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

The next LifeServe Blood Center Blood Drive will be held Monday, June 12 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Blood drives are held once per month. The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.

The LifeServe Blood Center is seeking donors to ensure a safe and plentiful blood supply in Iowa. Because there is no substitute for human blood, the need for donors is continuous.

Over half of the United States population is eligible to donate blood, yet less than four percent donate on a regular basis. A single donation of blood can be used to save up to three lives and help in treatment of cancer patients, accident victims, hemophiliacs and surgery patients. The LifeServe Blood Center is committed to serving the needs of Iowans by saving lives through volunteer blood donation.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon will begin the next Prepared Childbirth Education classes (formerly called Lamaze) Monday, July 10. That class will continue for two more consecutive Monday evenings, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Large Conference Room.

The Prepared Childbirth Education classes at Veterans Memorial Hospital are offered in three sessions that allow the expectant parents to choose which topics they wish to learn more on. They may choose to attend one, two or all three sessions. Session 1 covers labor, delivery and the postpartum period following delivery; Session 2 includes relaxation, breathing and pain management; and Session 3 covers infant care. Tours of the OB Department are available with each session as well.

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

It’s great to get out and enjoy the outdoors here in Allamakee 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 hand held 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.

There are ways to help decrease the likelihood of a tick bite or attachment:

- Treat dogs and cats for ticks
- Wear insect repellant containing the ingredient DEET (not recommended for children under two months of age)
- Wear permethrin-treated clothing
- Check yourself for ticks after being outdoors, especially after being out in the woods
- Shower soon after coming indoors.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon for all individuals of the community interested Thursday, June 15. Men and women are welcome to attend, even if not an Auxiliary member. The Euchre marathons are held the third Thursday of each month at the Senior Citizens Room at the Waukon Wellness Center.

The Auxiliary’s Euchre Marathons begin at 11:30 a.m. with dinner, if chosen. Call Northland Agency on Aging at 877-838-8077 to eat dinner. Card playing will follow at 12:30 p.m. until approximately 2:30 p.m.  Anyone wishing to stay and play cards following the Senior Citizens meal is more than welcome to do so.  The cost is $3 per person with all proceeds going towards the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital. Prizes will be awarded.

Anyone interested in attending, but preferring to play Bridge is also welcome to join in. It is asked that they come with their own table of four players, however.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Hazel Rissman by Les and Ada Marie Kerndt, Marv and Marge Strike, Frank and Patty Goltz, Geralyn and Fred Smith, Rick and Cathy Larson, Orrin and Nan Grangaard, Bob and Marilyn Bulman, Bob and Linda Thompson, Chuck and Marcy  Fritz, Mike and Teresa Myers, Steve and Maureen Thode, Gordy and Darlene Kaeser, Nyles and Ruby Herman, John and Sheryl Prestemon, Betty White, Jerry and Linda Siegrist, Meg Schaller,  Dan and Sue Schlitter, Gary and Carol Bahr, Marian Smedsrud, Cyril and Shirley Larkin, Marlys Leiran, Lois Evans, Joel and Teresa Sommer, Laura Duvel, Jane Dietrich, Gayle Larkin, Mae Jean Bakke, Leotia Flage, Marcella Selberg, Mary Fink, Joan Bieber, and family and friends of Hazel Rissman.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital recently awarded Jacob Dougherty of Waukon a $500 college scholarship as he furthers his education in paramedic studies at Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) in Peosta. He is the son of Dave and Brenda Dougherty and is a 2017 graduate of Waukon High School. He has already achieved his Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) license and is an active EMT on the hospital’s service. Pictured awarding Dougherty the scholarship are many members of the hospital’s Auxiliary including: Left to right - Front row: Jane Butler, Connie Gallagher, Judy Ferguson, Donnalee Osland, Carolyn Thomson and Bev Larson-Needham. Back row: Ann Roed (Auxiliary Secretary), Linda Siegrist, Ann Rademaker, Shirley Steffenson, Jacob Dougherty, Nona Sawyer (Auxiliary President), Lillian Larson (Auxiliary Treasurer), Kay Sewick, Janet Palmer (Gift Case Coordinator) and Maralyn Welsh. Submitted photo.
 

Community blood drive scheduled for June 12 in Waukon

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Monday, June 12 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 are 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 Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation’s 24th Annual Benefit Golf Tournament will be held Monday, June 19 at the Waukon Golf and Country Club beginning with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m.

Teams of three will play 18 holes of golf. Breakfast rolls, lunch, dinner and prizes for everyone will all be provided for the donation of $75.

This is the 24th annual golf tournament the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation has sponsored. All those interested are asked to pre-register their team by calling the Waukon Golf and Country Club at 563-568-9939. There are a few spots remaining for teams to join.

The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation is a volunteer board that raises funds to help promote health care in the area communities served by Veterans Memorial Hospital.