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The historic run that has made the 2023-2024 Kee boys basketball season the best in program history was brought to an unfortunate close this past week, with the Hawks ending up on each end of a pair of three-point thrillers in the furthest postseason push ever by a Kee boys basketball team. The bucket Hawks began the week by laying claim to their first-ever district championship after pulling out a 59-56 overtime thriller in the Class 1A District 12 title game played against fellow Upper Iowa Conference squad South Winneshiek Tuesday, February 20 at Waukon High School.

Chest pain is a common presenting complaint in any emergency room, including the emergency room at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH). There is always the possibility of heart disease in every complaint of chest pain or upper abdominal pain, and it must be taken very seriously.

The common signs and symptoms of an acute myocardial infarction, commonly called a heart attack, are:
1. Chest pain (crushing, squeezing or heaviness).
2. Sudden onset of weakness, nausea, fainting and sweating without an obvious cause.
3. Pain that radiates to the shoulders, neck or arms.

These symptoms occur when the blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, often by a blood clot. This happens because coronary arteries that supply the heart with blood slowly become clogged from a build-up of cells, fat and cholesterol called plaque.

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Rehabilitation is now able to offer more in-home occupational therapy care, thanks to the addition of Amy Evanson, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. Amy works closely with the hospital’s Community and Home Care Department patients, providing patients assistance with the day-to-day tasks of living at home following an illness, injury or surgery, helping them regain function and independence.

Currently, Amy travels to Village Creek to visit Judy Shogren three times per week, following her recent nursing home stay. Amy takes time to work with Judy on her routine in-home duties to build her function and independence.

“I don’t know what I’d do without this service, now that I have it,” states Judy. “I’m so glad to be able to be back in my home.”

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Monday, March 4, from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.

by Brandy Strub, Dietitian, Veterans Memorial Hospital

As most of you know, February is American Heart Health Month. But are you aware that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 382-541 per 100,000 people (age 35+) from Allamakee County died from heart disease from 2018-2020. That’s higher than the state average of 310-368 per 100,000 and the national average of 319.5 per 100,000!

In order not to be a statistic and to prevent dying from heart disease, it is recommended that you keep your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugars within a healthy range. What’s considered a healthy range? It’s not necessarily the same for everyone, so work with your health care professionals to see what is right for you. Eating healthy, getting active, lowering stress and not smoking is also recommended.

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Speech-Language Pathologist Steven Mazzafield offers a Stroke Support Group for individuals who have experienced a stroke, as well as caregivers and family members affected by stroke.

Monthly meetings are held the first Thursday of every month at 2 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital. The next Stroke Support Group meeting will be held Thursday, March 7 at 2 p.m. This month the meeting will be held in the Large Conference Room.

The Stroke Support Group provides opportunities to share tips, tricks, or trials among participants, offer support for caregivers, and provide an opportunity for socialization.

While strokes can happen at any age, risk of stroke is greatest as people get older with the majority of strokes occurring after the age of 70. Risk factors for stroke include obesity, sedentary lifestyle, binge drinking, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon will sponsor the next Babysitting Seminar Friday, March 29, from 9 a.m. to Noon. The class will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.

Intended participants are individuals 10 years of age and older who are responsible for their own care after school until their parents come home from work, and individuals who care for other children in or outside of their own home. Girls and boys are all welcome and encouraged to attend.

Topics to be covered include fire and personal safety, accident prevention and emergency actions, nutritious snacks and basic care of children.

Ernie and Donna (Hager) Lubahn of Waukon are celebrating their 73rd wedding anniversary. The couple married February 18, 1951 at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon.

In honor of the occasion, cards and well wishes may be sent to them at 208 5th Avenue NW, Waukon, IA 52172.

Carol Schaefer of Lansing will be celebrating her 90th birthday March 12. In honor of the milestone occasion, cards and well wishes may be sent to her at P.O. Box 305, Lansing, IA 52151.

Leeta and Scott Votsmier of Waukon announce the birth of their son, Mick James Votsmier, born December 19, 2023 at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, WI. He weighed 8 lbs. and measured 21 inches in length at the time of his birth. He joins siblings, Henley (4) and Mace (2).

Grandparents are Dan and Jane Sivesind and Chuck and Lois Votsmier, all of Waukon. Great-grandparents are Frank and Carol Sivesind of Waukon.