Having a Happy New Year

It's New Years Eve and we make resolutions about everything in our life with which we are dissatisfied. To name the most common, we resolve to get our finances in order, our homes and jobs running more smoothly, and our relationships bettered.

But honestly if we don't improve our health, we can't devote the energy to fix any of the other issues. What to do? Well, we all know the right answer is to eat less and choose foods wisely, take vitamins and supplements, and exercise.

I am going to focus on exercise today because as we grow older it becomes not only a challenge but also a chore. When I was young, I had to run up and down three flights of stairs in my home to attend to my babies. It didn't phase me. I could dance for hours and not be tired, and I could lose 10 pounds without breaking a sweat. Oh for those days, but I'm almost 62 and none of that is true any more. Just trying to find the time and energy to go to the gym is a monumental problem.

Now I know intellectually that as soon as I commit to regular exercise, my energy level is ramped up, pain subsides, and I feel much, much better. The benefits of exercise, especially for the aging, (and who among us does that not apply to?) are extraordinary.

The ailments that accompany aging (including high blood pressure, arthritis, rheumatism and incontinence) can impact the intensity of physical activity but are the very reasons for staying fit, limber and active, so I have resolved to exercise five days a week for at least 45 minutes.

There are several forms of exercise that can be modified in intensity. Walking, jogging, swimming and yoga are all excellent for maintaining bone, joint and muscle strength and flexibility, reducing blood pressure and stress levels, and combating pain. I swim in the summer, work out at Curves through the winter, but this year, I am going to add yoga.

Recent research has shown that yoga reduces blood pressure, lowers pulse rate, improves artery elasticity, increases the heart's stroke volume and regulates heart rhythm. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the US, causing 1.5 million heart attacks each year. Yoga benefits the heart and overall health. It would certainly seem that yoga is a good idea for all of us especially for those just beginning an exercise regimen.

Originated in India and now considered a science, yoga has been practiced for over 5,000 years. What differentiates yoga from other exercise routines is its basic principal: that there’s a direct connection between the body, mind and spirit. The theory is that good health is dependent on the positive interrelationship of these three forces, and that balance between them must be achieved.

Yoga’s unique method for maintaining this balance is to combine physical movement with proper breathing and meditation techniques. The exercises are intended to increase flexibility, improve posture and put pressure on the glandular systems to increase efficiency. Deep breathing oxygenates the blood and induces a feeling of well-being. Meditation reduces stress and heart-harmful emotions like anxiety, hostility and hopelessness. Visit www.abc-of-yoga.com for information and products.

See your physician for a thorough examination. Discuss your level of physical fitness and appropriate exercise routines, including duration and frequency. Ask whether yoga will work for your exercise of choice or as an addition to another program. Modern medicine has certainly recognized its physiological, psychological and biochemical benefits.

Christmas Angels

Each Christmas the school at which I teach involves itself in a Teen Angel program. Individuals and groups commit to raising 75.00 each for teens who would not otherwise have any gifts. I have my students contribute some of the money, but only after they hear the gift requests made by those teens.

This year, one of the two teens we were to shop for asked for underwear and a coat, as he had neither. This was shocking to my students, most of whom expect and often get a car when they turn 16. Needless to say most have not experienced deprivation.

The revelation that one of their peers had so little was momumental to them. One of my studemts was so moved, she took on the responsibility of shopping. She considered it a challenge to buy as much as possible with the teen's 75.00 allotment. She scoured the mall and the discount stores until she had stretched every single penny. She beamed with excitement as she showed the students all she had bought for our teen, and they beamed back.

What my students had done would have not changed the teen's world, only one of his days, but perhaps that was not the most important consideration. My students had been changed--at least a little. Just a little more grateful for all they had and just a little more concerned about others--a great first lesson for them and reminder lesson for the rest of us.

Merry Christmas to you all!

Say No to Bullying

Illtreatment in high school is rampant and dramtically destructive to the person on the receiving end. Kids are REALLY awful to each other both verbally and now electronically, but bullying is not limited to youngsters. Many teachers are two-faced and speak ill of students and colleagues behind their backs, and parents and even administrators often treat teachers with disdain and disrespect.

The AAUW (American Association University Women) addresses this important topic in the article below.

"Bullying and sexual harassment have, unfortunately, made big headlines in recent months. After several tragic suicides, new initiatives aimed at preventing bullying and harassment, and AAUW's ground-breaking report on sexual harassment in school, the public and the media are finally paying attention to the critical issue of bullying. Now is the time to pass strong, meaningful anti-bullying and harassment legislation.

Take action: Ask your senators to cosponsor the Student Non-Discrimination Act (S. 555)!

All students deserve a safe and nurturing environment in which to pursue their educational goals. Yet currently, there is no federal law that explicitly protects students on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA) would do just that. SNDA, which is modeled after other civil rights laws such as Title IX, would protect students from various forms of bullying and harassment, such as sex stereotyping and bullying based on their actual or perceived gender identity, and would give students the ability to enforce protection from discrimination and harassment. AAUW believes it is past time for such a law."

One eighth grader just recently shot and killed another eighth grader because he was thought to be gay. At what part of this scenario should we be most appalled? That 13 year olds are this violent; that 13 year olds are so ugly to each other at such a young age; that 13 year olds are sexually active; that 13 year olds are so removed from the innocence of youth.

The problem is insidious and pervasive. Parents, you are producing mean-spirited, caddy children who are hard, insulting and disrespectful, and the schools are at a loss as to what to do. The schools can't change character and they can't instill values. That's your job, but until parents take back the mantle of raising well their children, the legislature must pass laws that can at least insure some protection. PLEASE contact your representative about this critical legislation.

The Grandkids Are Coming

The grandchildren are coming for a visit. It's a time for excitement and planning for the most amazing and memorable time ever. Here are some ideas.

Children of all ages love exploration, and you needn’t go far. Rummage in your attic or garage for memorabilia, old clothes, hats and jewelry to dress in for tea parties or story time about the family. Serve up photo albums and scrapbooks with punch and cookies and you have an event to remember.

Explore nearby parks and begin collections. Identifying and displaying rocks, leaves, flowers and even bugs is educational and fascinating for even the youngest scientist. Don’t forget a picnic basket filled with snacks and drinks, a kite if it’s windy, fishing poles if there’s a creek and a wagon for those who get tired.

Investigate your neighborhood library. Apply for library cards (Having one makes children feel so grown up), and sign up for story or show time (sometimes conducted by costumed storytellers). Check out stacks of books and the library’s free videos and cassettes.

Search the countryside for working farms that let children milk cows or feed chickens, roadside markets that allow picking fruit or vegetables, and zoos that encourage petting the animals.

Hunt through and kitchen-test recipes. Then “write” a family cookbook. Pepper it with family anecdotes and decorate it with photos of the kids cooking and their drawings of the experience.

For more activity suggestions and information about entertaining grandchildren, visit www.cyberparent.com. Also read Vicki Lansky’s books 101 Ways to Make Your Child Feel Special, 101 Ways to Tell Your Child “I Love You”, 101 Ways to be a Special Dad and 101 Ways to be a Special Mom.

Adopting a Grandparent

Dear Linda:

I’m a freshman in college who was looking for a volunteer opportunity. My adviser suggested adopting-a-grandparent. I met an elderly woman with no family in my own neighborhood, and though I know I have helped my adopted grandmother, I’ve learned more from her than I can say. This special experience has turned out to be such a gift in my life, and I want others to consider doing the same.

A Grateful Teen

Dear Grateful Teen:

It’s so heartening to hear a young person recognize the value of relationships with older people. Seniors are able to impart valuable wisdom gained from a lifetime of joy and heartache, can teach lessons learned in their work and family environments, and can share their friendship and love—capabilities that don’t diminish with age.

Harvard University research reveals that seniors who participate in social activities, spend time with friends and family, play cards and games, and exercise will live an average of 2.5 years longer than those who are more isolated. Being cared about by even one other person spares that senior from feeling alone and vulnerable.

Adopting-a-grandparent unites the generations. It offers young people an opportunity to receive precious gifts from seniors, and it offers seniors someone to visit and listen, help and serve, and love and comfort them—all critical for physical and emotional well-being.

A very successful Adopt-A-Grandparent (AAGP) program was founded by Linda Lanstraat in Atlanta, Georgia in 1978. In this organization, there are three types of volunteers who give at least two hours a week—a friend who visits the senior at home, an on-call driver who takes seniors to functions and appointments, and an AAGP Board Member who raises awareness and funds.

Wendy Y. Butts, Executive Director, can be contacted at wendy@adoptagrandparent.org to discuss how to form a program locally and to order the newsletter. Call 404.624.5299 or visit http://www.adoptagrandparent.org.

Whether you are honoring the older generation in your family or the older generation in your life, remember them with your time, respect and love.

Depression Amid the Frivolity

During this blessed Christmas season, most of us are excited and maybe just a little frantic with preparations for family gatherings, parties and celebrations of all sorts. Sometimes in the midst of our business we forget that for many this is a sad time, a time even when depression is a huge problem. Being alone, loss of loved ones, and ill health all contribute to the problem, and a real problem it is.

Depression is a serious medical illness that must be diagnosed and treated by trained professionals. If left untreated, depression, which can last months or even years, can cause unnecessary suffering for the person and their family members, worsen other diseases, lead to disability or premature death, and result in suicide (Those over 65-years-old account for more than 25% of the nation’s suicides).

Being depressed is not a normal part of aging, and it’s impossible “to just snap out of it”. Unlike sadness, which does not impact engaging in regular activities, depression interferes with the ability to function. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, other symptoms are: sadness that lasts more than two weeks, unexplained physical pain or gastrointestinal problems, excessive worry about finances and health, difficulty with sleeping and concentrating, weight changes, no interest in personal hygiene and appearance, and withdrawal from regular, social activities.

Like other illnesses, there are various types and levels of depression. Published in Cognitive Therapy and Research, a recent study determined that late-onset depression (in people over 60) can damage the brain’s executive functions (planning and control), and can spiral into excessive rumination (uncontrolled thought patterns that are repetitive, negative and destructive). Symptoms include inattention, a decline in the working memory, rigid thinking, and no inhibition.

Depression is sometimes difficult to diagnose among the ageing. Rather than be considered weak or crazy, an older person usually describes physical pain to the physician rather than feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, loss of interest or prolonged grief. When properly diagnosed and treated, however, more than 80% of those suffering from depression recover fully and return to normal, productive lives.

Be aware of how the older people in your life are handling the holidays. Are they having as much enjoyment as you? Are they positive and looking forward? Are they hopeful? If not, perhaps you will need to pursue diagnosis and treatment. At least, begin with a conversation about how they feel and what you can do to make this Christmas season special for them.

Flying in Peace

I just got back from an amazing trip to Minnesota. I adore everything about traveling except the flying. I'm not at all afraid and I never get sick, but with the exception of flying business-class abroad, there is absolutely nothing about flying that is fun.

At best, the quarters are close, cold and uncomfortable. The worst has included being plastered between two men who hadn't bathed for what smelled like a year, tolerating a reclined seat that allowed a strange man's head to be practically laying in my lap, and having to listen to a screaming baby for five hours straight while the father read his book and the mother did a crossword puzzle.

Why do parents travel with babies? They are exposing them to countless germs, extreme ear pain from the change in pressure and altitude variance, and a disruption of their schedule.

Some airlines are considering putting families at the back of the plane in a group and I say hurrah! I realize that a little distance might not create complete silence but it beats having a miserable child crying in your ear or a mom rocking the row as she jiggles and jostles in vain.

Is it discrimination? In any other circumstance, if someone was causing disruption to the peace and distress to others, they would be asked to leave or be removed from the premises. Now, I adore babies and I empathize with those who must travel with little ones, but the parents must also be sensitive to the commotion they are causing.

And what's the down side to the parents if they are all put together in one section. I see none. They will be surrounded by others who can empathize and even help. Oh yes, it might be a bit noisy, but there are repercussions for all our choices.

Kidney Health in Kids

I didn’t know youngsters struggled with kidney stones until one of my students had to miss school because the pain from one was so great. As it turns out, the incidence of kidney stones is rising sharply among children (an 11 fold increase).

There are a number of reasons for why both adults and children develop this painful condition and most of it has to diet, which means it is also preventable. Factors that put us at risk is not drinking enough fluid and ingesting too much of what dehydrates us, so avoid drinking too much caffeine, eating too much salt (should take in no more than 3000 mg. per day) and protein, and eating too much oxalate found in chocolate, peanuts, spinach, tea and black pepper.

The biggest cause of kidney stones is not drinking enough decaffeinated liquid. Doctors recommend that we drink enough to make more than a half a gallon of urine. “The Institute of Medicine reported that U.S. women who appeared to be adequately hydrated consumed the equivalent of about 91 ounces of fluids each day, and men about 125 ounces -- far more than the 64 ounces in eight glasses of water --but stated that beverages other than water and the fluid in solid foods also counted toward the total. Even a slice of white bread is more than 30% water.

Doctors believe that if we wait until we’re thirsty to drink that we are already dehydrated. It is imperative to drink water constantly throughout the day especially if the weather is hot or physical activity is high, which, of course is the reason that children are prone, that and the fact that too many children live on a steady diet of colas, energy drinks and sweets. How do these bad choices impact our kidneys? Well let’s look at what the kidneys do as described by American Urological Association Foundation.

“What do the kidneys do?

Your kidneys are bean-shaped organs, each about the size of your fist. They are located near the middle of your back, just below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine. The kidneys are sophisticated trash collectors. Every day, your kidneys process about 200 quarts of blood to sift out about 2 quarts of waste products and extra water. The wastes and extra water become urine, which flows to your bladder through tubes called ureters. Your bladder stores urine until you go to the bathroom.

The wastes in your blood come from the normal breakdown of active muscle and from the food you eat. Your body uses the food for energy and self-repair. After your body has taken what it needs from the food, wastes are sent to the blood. If your kidneys did not remove these wastes, they would build up in the blood and damage your body.

In addition to removing wastes, your kidneys help control blood pressure. They also help make red blood cells and keep your bones strong.

What is a kidney stone?

A kidney stone is a solid piece of material that forms in a kidney out of substances in the urine.

A stone may stay in the kidney or break loose and travel down the urinary tract. A small stone may pass all the way out of the body without causing too much pain.

A larger stone may get stuck in a ureter, the bladder, or the urethra. A problem stone can block the flow of urine and cause great pain.
Most kidney stones pass out of the body without help from a doctor. But sometimes a stone will not pass. It may even get larger. You should call a doctor if you have any of the following signs:

• extreme pain in your back or side that will not go away
• blood in your urine
• fever and chills
• vomiting
• urine that smells bad or looks cloudy
• a burning feeling when you urinate

Are all kidney stones alike?

No. Doctors have found four major types of kidney stones.
• The most common type of stone contains calcium. Calcium is a normal part of a healthy diet.
• Though calcium is a normal part of a healthy diet, that which is not used by the bones and muscles goes to the kidneys. In most people, the kidneys flush out the extra calcium with the rest of the urine. People who have calcium stones keep the calcium in their kidneys.
• The calcium that stays behind joins with other waste products to form a stone. The most common combination is called calcium oxalate.
• A struvite stone may form after an infection in the urinary system. These stones contain the mineral magnesium and the waste product ammonia.
• A uric acid stone may form when the urine contains too much acid. If you tend to form uric acid stones, you may need to cut back on the amount of meat you eat.
• Cystine stones are rare. Cystine is one of the building blocks that make up muscles, nerves, and other parts of the body. Cystine can build up in the urine to form a stone. The disease that causes cystine stones runs in families.

What can my doctor do about a problem stone?

If you have a stone that will not pass by itself, your doctor may need to take steps to get rid of it. In the past, the only way to remove a problem stone was through surgery.

Now, doctors have new ways to remove problem stones. The following sections describe a few of these methods.

Shock Waves

Your doctor can use a machine to send shock waves directly to the kidney stone. The shock waves break a large stone into small stones that will pass through your urinary system with your urine. The full name for this method is extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. Doctors often call it ESWL for short. Lithotripsy is a Greek word that means stone crushing.

Two types of shock wave machines exist. With one machine, you sit in a tub of water. With most newer machines, you lie on a table. A health technician will use ultrasound or x-ray images to direct the sound waves to the stone.

Tunnel Surgery

In tunnel surgery, the doctor makes a small cut into the patient's back and makes a narrow tunnel through the skin to the stone inside the kidney. With a special instrument that goes through the tunnel, the doctor can find the stone and remove it. The technical name for this method is percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Ureteroscope

A ureteroscope looks like a long wire. The doctor inserts it into the patient's urethra, passes it up through the bladder, and directs it to the ureter where the stone is located. The ureteroscope has a camera that allows the doctor to see the stone. A cage is used to catch the stone and pull it out, or the doctor may destroy it with a device inserted through the ureteroscope.
Ask your doctor which method is right for you.

How will my doctor find out what kind of stone I have?

The best way for your doctor to find out what kind of stone you have is to test the stone itself. If you know that you are passing a stone, try to catch it in a strainer.

Your doctor may ask for a urine sample or take blood to find out what caused your stone. You may need to collect your urine for a 24-hour period. These tests will help your doctor find ways for you to avoid stones in the future.

Why do I need to know the kind of stone?

The therapy your doctor gives you depends on the type of stone you have. For example, a medicine that helps prevent calcium stones will not work if you have a struvite stone. The diet changes that help prevent uric acid stones may not work to prevent calcium stones. Therefore, careful analysis of the stone will help guide your treatment.

Points to Remember

•Most stones will pass out of the body without a doctor's help.
•See your doctor if you have severe pain in your back or side that will not go away.
•See your doctor if you have blood in your urine-urine will appear pink.
•When you pass a stone, try to catch it in a strainer to show your doctor.
•Drink lots of water to prevent more kidney stones from forming.
•Talk with your doctor about other ways to avoid more stones.

For More Information, contact:

American Urological Association Foundation
1000 Corporate Boulevard, Suite 410
Linthicum, MD 21090
Phone: 1-866-RING-AUA (746-4282)
Email: patienteducation@auafoundation.org
Internet: www.auafoundation.org
www.UrologyHealth.org

Colon Cleansing--really a good thing?

My colonoscopy went well. The procedure was completely painless. The anesthesiologist administered a lovely drug that resulted in my not even remembering being wheeled into the operating room much less being probed in such a delicate area.

So why does everyone dread having a colonoscopy? It’s because of the necessary preparation the day before the procedure. Having a squeaky clean colon is necessary for the scope to do its job, and that means spending the day in the bathroom after having drunk several disgusting liquids. Well, drinking yukky fluids wasn’t my only horror before the procedure.

The doctor’s office called and said he was sick and would not be able to do the procedure. Well, I had already drunk the first of two laxatives required and had already spent quite a lot of time in the bathroom, and in anticipation of all this I had also taken off several days of work.

Now, I know doctors are human, and I also know that they get sick, but I am quite sure I screamed bloody murder when the nurse told me. She immediately suggested that one of his colleagues do the procedure, and I immediately accepted. I had had no recommendation from a friend about the second doctor as I had with the first, and I wouldn’t have time to research if he’d ever killed anyone on the table. I just knew I couldn’t go through the preparation process again anytime soon, and I hadn’t even done the second go round of laxatives yet.

Well, the second doctor was fine though he did not come in after to discuss the results. The nurse did that. I thought it should have been the doctor. She told me everything was fine, and I did not have to another colonoscopy for 10 years. She did say that I had a couple of “non-bleeding diverticula”.

The prescription for them NOT turning into a problem is a high-fiber diet, something that will be easy to subscribe to as I love vegetables, but I found a few other suggestions on the list that I had not considered high fiber but are. I thought I’d share the ones that surprised me:

• Kidney beans 13 grams of fiber
• Baked beans 6 grams
• Raspberries 8 grams
• Papaya .8 grams
• Almonds 1.1 grams
• Bean sprouts 1.5 grams
• Canned corn 2.9 grams

Add those to the others you know including whole grain foods (bran cereals and multi-grain breads), root vegetables (carrots, turnips and potatoes), cabbage and dark, leafy greens, fresh fruits with their skin, and dried fruits (prunes, raisons and apricots), and you have the prescription for a large, soft, bulky stool that passes through the bowel easily and quickly, and the way to avoid digestive tract disorders.

Shortcutting an Education

I have students who take so many dual credit (for both high school and college credit earned on a high school campus) and online classes that they often begin college with their first year already completed. Now, I’m not sure whether that’s a good thing or not.

For the parents, it is a good thing because their children could complete college in far less time than four years, and that could be quite a savings. I keep saying could because it is still up to the student to complete the subsequent on-campus classes successfully and in a timely manner.

I have seen students start college way ahead of the game, then crash and burn during their first semester of on-campus classes. They are either having way too much fun or they are taking higher level classes for which they are not prepared, able or willing.

There is an epidemic going on in America right now. College sophomores are failing out in droves. In my day, Freshman English was the class in which they weeded out the kids who really did not belong. Today, colleges are struggling financially, so they open their doors to just about anyone. Then they water down the freshman classes in hopes of keeping students in school and paying, but when they advance to “real” college classes, they just can’t or won’t do the necessary work.

I still have high school students who don’t believe that they could have more than a 1,000 pages a week to read. Many are still banking on getting degreed by use of Spark Notes or Cliff Notes (what we older folks called them). What a shock these lazy and work adverse students are in for.

The problem of ill prepared students who don’t really want to do college level work and don’t really want to work hard at a job either does not bode well for our country. Every generation looks to the one that follows to not only carry on, but also to lead us to a higher level—a better standard of living and greater quality of life. I doubt the ability of this generation to do so. There is far too much self-centeredness and far too little competence and drive. Even the brightest among them will cheat to achieve rather than work.

In order for America to be great again, we must have an informed, educated and competent group leading us on. Will this generation that doesn’t read a newspaper, that doesn’t study history or civics, that cannot communicate above an eighth grade level be ready for the task? I think not.

And what is the older generation’s contribution to the problem? We are the ones who have coddled our children, excused their behavior, and enabled the decline. America is in trouble, and we are all to blame.

Gettin' Off the Sofa

I hate to exercise now. I hate the “must-do” of it. I hate the sweat that’s necessary for a really good workout. And I hate most not being able to do with my body what was once effortless.

I remember leading exercise classes during college, hiking through the woods for hours, and dancing non-stop for an entire weekend, and I never thought once that any of it was a drag. Now, exercise is just one more chore, and I hate that most of all.

I love the end results though, and I’m not even talking about maintaining weight, which is the obvious benefit. I definitely have more energy, tighter and more defined muscles, and NO aches and pains. Whenever I stop exercising, I almost immediately feel worse physically. YUK! You’d think all those reasons would be more than enough to motivate one to exercise every waking moment, but no.

Well, I found a few more reasons to do so, and these are even more compelling.

1. According to a study done with adults over 55, exercising at least three times a week at moderate or high intensity can reduce the odds of mental decline like dementia by 46%.
2. Lifting weights twice a week can boost bone density and decrease falls by 40% reports a study of women age 65 and older.
3. Women who walk at a brisk rate at age 60 and up are 200% more likely to be disease free at age 70.

If all these reasons aren’t enough, I don’t know what else we need to hear. My dilemma is that I have been able to do 45 minutes in my own pool every day. I love that—no travel, no competition for machines, no sweat and a tan to boot, but it’s too cold now, so I don’t have any choice but to do weight bearing exercises.

Here are some tips to for getting motivated and for making it fun:

1. Get a friend to go with you to the local high school track to walk. It’s close by; you don’t have to dress for or pay for the gym. The flat surface is easier on the joints. You can walk faster than through the neighborhood, and the time will fly if you’re doing it with someone else.
2. Exercise in front of a mirror. Besides seeing clearly what needs improvement, you can also see your muscles in action as you work them.
3. Work hard on the “show-off” muscles. Your biceps and shoulders will tone in just two weeks and there is nothing more exciting than seeing growing muscle definition.
4. Studies show that people exercise longer if they are doing it to music. Choose songs with strong beats and empowering words.
5. Cut your work in half by exercising several muscle groups at once. For example, lunge as you do triceps curls and squat between head presses.

They say that the key to being motivated is to focus on “how” to exercise rather than the “why” to exercise,, but these why’s are really compelling, so everyone, let’s get up off the sofa, once and for all.

Colon Testing

Well, I’m 61 and have waited 11 years too long to bite the bullet and get my first colonoscopy (koh-luh-NAH-skuh-pee) done. 50 is the recommended age for the first one and, generally, every ten years thereafter for the purpose of removing colonic polyps before they become cancerous. How often one should really undergo a colonoscopy depends on the abnormalities found at previous colonoscopies.

Individuals with a previous history of polyps or colon cancer and certain individuals with a family history of some types of non-colonic cancers or colonic problems that may be associated with colon cancer (such as ulcerative colitis and colonic polyps) may be advised to have periodic colonoscopies because their risks are greater for polyps or colon cancer.

Also a colonoscopy may be done to investigate the cause of blood in the stool, abdominal pain, diarrhea, a change in bowel habit, or an abnormality found on colonic X-rays or a computerized tomographic (CT) scan. Colonoscopy enables the physician to see inflamed tissue, abnormal growths, ulcers, and bleeding.


What is colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is a 30-60 minute procedure that allows the physician(usually a gastroenterologist) to examine the inside of the entire large intestine, from the lowest part, the rectum, all the way up through the colon to the lower end of the small intestine.

The colonoscope is a four foot long, flexible tube about the thickness of a finger with a camera and a source of light at its tip. The tip of the colonoscope is inserted into the anus and then is advanced slowly, under visual control, into the rectum and through the colon usually as far as the cecum. The scope transmits an image of the inside of the colon, so the physician can carefully examine the lining of the colon. The scope bends, so the physician can move it around the curves of the colon. The patient may be asked to change position occasionally to help the physician move the scope. The scope also blows air into your colon, which inflates the colon and helps the physician see better.

How does the procedure go?

The patient lies on the left side on the examining table. Some pain medication and a mild sedative is given to keep the patient comfortable and to help with relaxation during the exam. If anything abnormal is seen, like a polyp or inflamed tissue, the physician can remove all or part of it using tiny instruments passed through the scope. That tissue (biopsy) is then sent to a lab for testing.

If there is bleeding in the colon, the physician can pass a laser, heater probe, or electrical probe, or can inject special medicines through the scope and use it to stop the bleeding.

Bleeding and puncture of the colon are possible complications of colonoscopy. However, such complications are uncommon.

The sedative and pain medicine should keep the patient from feeling much discomfort during the exam, but it is necessary to stay 2-3 hours afterwards until that medication wears off. Also, it is necessary to be driven to and from the procedure.

What bowel preparation is needed for colonoscopy?

If the procedure is to be complete and accurate, the colon must be completely cleaned, and there are several colonoscopy preparations. Patients are given detailed instructions about the cleansing preparation. In my case, the doctor's nurse showed an explanatory video one evening for all who were about to have the procedure done. She explained in detail afterwards all that had to be done and why.

The colon must be completely empty for the colonoscopy to be thorough and safe. To prepare for the procedure, the patient should follow a liquid diet for 1 to 3 days beforehand. A liquid diet means fat-free bouillon or broth, strained fruit juice, water, plain coffee, plain tea, or diet soda. Gelatin or popsicles in any color but red may also be eaten. Red dye of any sort may appear like blood during the test.

The patient must also take one of several types of laxatives before the procedure. In general, this consists of drinking a large volume of a special cleansing solution or several days of laxatives or enemas prior to the examination. These instructions should be followed exactly as prescribed or the procedure may be unsatisfactory, and may have to be repeated, or a less accurate alternative test may be performed in its place.

I have the procedure in a couple of weeks. I'm not looking forward to the liquid diet or the preparation process for cleansing the colon, or the scope for that matter. Clearly, I don't want to do this. I know I'm not afraid. Good heavens, I gave birth naturally to two babies over nine pounds. It just all seems so yukky.

But intellectually, I know it's necessary, so onward. I'll let you know if the yuk factor turns out to be such a big deal.

A Teacher’s Trials

What's new in the world of education? Cut, Cut, Cut!

Cut teachers from staff. Then cut the conference periods, salaries and benefits of the rest.

And the irony….the administration and school district expect the teachers to do even more with and for students despite all these cuts.

Despite having less time to plan and grade and less money for resources, teachers are expected to do more paperwork, to be responsible for the test scores of students, and to get to know each one personally. Is the absurdity not obvious? They cram 15 more bodies in classrooms with too few desks and expect the teacher, to juggle teaching 35 talkative, often disruptive and disrespectful kids with placating their feelings and badgering them to do better.

We had a training session that was called “CARES”. The focus was on what more the teacher could do to make the student feel valued and motivated and be successful. Now in elementary school, a reminder of these goals might be good, but this was on the high school level. At what point do we expect the students to care about their own education and to do what is expected of them for their own good.

I have a colleague who now teaches almost 225 students. They are not the honors kids or the self-motivated. They are in fact the opposite. They are out of control, not interested in education, and belligerent, and this is in one of the only good schools left in what was once a stellar district. Imagine how that scenario would play out in a really tough school.

The students, whether they have earned it or not, demand to be treated like adults. I say high school is the time to CUT the strings. Expect them to behave like adults and give them adult consequences when they don’t measure up. Decide which ones value their education and have earned the privilege of going to college and prepare them for that eventuality. Send the others to technical training schools and teach them a skill that will make them employable and keep them off the welfare rolls.

Then take care of the teachers. People don’t choose this career for the money. They choose it because they want to make a difference in the lives of their students and because they want to pass on their knowledge to the next generation.

Who do you imagine will take on this mantle if the job becomes impossible to do? It is already an incredibly demanding job to teach in today's society. It cannot become more dangerous or difficult. A shortage of teachers is already expected. I suggest that there will be an epidemic need for teachers in five years.

Compared to most of the other school systems throughout the world, America’s is now considered only mediocre. Where will we be when the last of the good teachers get out and there is no one to replace them?

Simplify, simplify, simplify!

It’s my philosophy that we spend the first half of our life buying and gathering as many “things” as we possibly can and the second half trying to get rid of them all. The problem is that often nobody wants what we have valued for so long.

Gone are the days when children appreciate the heirlooms handed down from one generation to another. We baby boomers couldn’t wait to inherit and cherish the treasures our parents and grandparents once owned. The younger generation wants what’s new and stylish and is for the most part not interested in our grandmother’s silver tea service or our mom’s antique chest of drawers.

So what to do if you have a house full of “treasure” that you had hoped to pass on?

Well, one alternative is to hold onto everything and let your heirs deal with it after you’re dead. They can decide then what they want, and you won’t be hurt if they want to get rid of it all. The drawback of this course of action is that in the meanwhile, your house is more of a cluttered storage unit than a home.

I actually know some people who want desperately to sell a bigger home than they need, but won’t because of the stuff they feel the need to pass on to their kids. This is lunacy. Ask your kids if they want anything and, if they do, give it to them now.

Artist and designer, William Morris, once said, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”

I believe that should be our barometer for deciding what we still really want, purging what we don’t need or use, and creating order from chaos.

Begin small. Start with your jewelry. Several of my friends have made a killing by selling their platinum, sterling silver and especially gold jewelry. The value is determined by weight, so it doesn’t matter if it’s broken or missing parts. Is anyone really going to wear again your charm bracelet or class ring from high school?

Tackle your closets, one at a time so the job does not feel so overwhelming. If you haven’t worn something for over a year, it’s likely you won’t again. Consider resale shops for gently worn clothes and accessories. Make sure the clothes are clean and on hangers. Be sure they have size tags.

Then onto cabinets….I am a firm believer in using all my good china, crystal and silverware, but if you don’t and no one wants them, have an estate sale, which yields more than a “garage” sale, sell to an antique mall if they’re heirlooms, or consider ebay. Take close-up photos so patterns are obvious and attach history of anything that has one.

The last and often most terrifying battleground is often the garage. If you don’t mind spending hours preparing for and conducting a garage sale, that might be the way to go, but remember that people come to those prepared to low ball. A friend just recently had one and said she felt violated because people wanted to give her very little for that which still had at least sentimental value.

If you’ve really decided to get rid of things (And make sure you have decided so you won’t feel any seller’s remorse), then refrain from sentimentality and look at the big picture--both profit and pleasure that comes with being clutter free and well organized. What you have left after the sale can be donated and considered a tax write-off. Call on a charity that will send out a truck and load for you.

After you have ridded yourself of the extraneous, you will be shocked at the elation you’re going to feel. Order offers a very special kind of peace and a tremendous amount of beauty.

Philosopher Lao Tzu said, “Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”

I agree.

Fall Finally

Thank the Lord. It finally rained and nature responded. The cleansing water washed everything green and gorgeous. Dusty trees shine now and thirsty flowers plumped with color and vibrancy.

It wasn't nature only that blossomed. After almost 42 consecutive days of 100-degree heat in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and a drought they are comparing to the 1930s Dust Bowl, people too are celebrating. It was lovely to hear rain drops again. Even the thunder was exciting.

The rain actually cooled things down enough that I was reminded that September generally ushers in autumn. Well, I don't care that it is still in the low 90's. Believe it or not, it feels like a cold front has graced our area.

In an effort to honor autumn, I pulled out all my fall decorations. I put up wreaths decorated with pumpkins and chrysanthemums, changed table centerpieces to those that are lush with yellows, golds and deep orange, and I scented the house with vanilla and cinnamon.

Last, but certainly not least, I started cooking again. I don't know about you, but when it's hot, I lose interest in preparing big meals. Now, I still like eating, but I gravitate to salads and cold chicken. With the "chill in the air", I felt compelled to put on pots of homemade soup and thick chili. But nothing is as fabulous as a fall apple...in almost any form, so I baked pies.

Here is a fabulous recipe for what I call Candy Apple Pie.

Ingredients

6 cups thinly sliced and peeled apples (8 Granny Smith)
2 tbs lemon juice
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1-1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tb. butter

Topping


1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tb. whipping cream
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Toss apples with lemon juice. In another bowl, mix dry ingredients and then add to apples and toss.
3. Line a 9 inch pie plate with the bottom crust pastry. Add the filling and dot with butter. Place the top crust, trim, seal and flute the edges. Cut slits in the top and bake for 40-50 minutes until golden brown.
4. Meanwhile, make the topping. Melt the butter in a saucepan and add brown sugar, vanilla and cream. Bring to a boil (five minutes) and remove from heat. Mix in pecans. Pour over top crust of the baked pie and bake again for three or four minutes.

Enjoy the pie and the cooler temperatures. Happy Fall!

Catching Cancer

I think that cancer is perhaps the most terrifying diagnosis. It is a virulent disease that destroys our healthy cells and spreads quickly, particularly when left undiagnosed and untreated.

I lost my aunt to ovarian cancer. Only 14 years older than I, she was more like a big sister and I adored her. Her loss was awful to me and to all our family members, particularly to her mom, who never really recovered from losing one of her children.

In my aunt’s case, she went misdiagnosed for almost two years. When she was finally diagnosed properly, it was too late for any protocol to work, including several experimental procedures my aunt tried for the benefit of others when we found that nothing was going to work.

The last three years of her life were awful. Every month she endured terrible treatments that caused her to be violently ill for two weeks. The week prior to the treatments she struggled with depression that came with psychologically preparing for the pain of the treatments and the resulting nausea and vomiting. She had only one week a month for any rest at all.

She had been a strikingly beautiful woman, but with the weight and hair loss, she had, of course, become gaunt and colorless. She hated looking in the mirror, but until the end, she tried to stay strong for her family. She’d be the one to redirect the conversation or even tell a joke if any of us would get emotional or tear up.

When she and I had our last serious and, for me, most memorable conversation before her death (and she took time to have one of those with each of us), she told me that she was finally at peace with it all, that she was in fact ready for the end. She said her only regret was that she would not be there for her two daughters when they married and had children. She hated the thought of not being around to help her family. She was a remarkable woman and her loss was awful and unnecessary.

Diagnosing cancer in its earliest stages is the key to treatment and recovery. Please watch for the following symptoms and see a doctor immediately. If you are not comfortable with their diagnosis or their suggestions for testing, seek a second opinion. Doctors can be and often are wrong.

Common Symptoms and Signs of Cancer

•Change in mole or new skin lesions - A mole with irregular shapes or borders, uneven distribution of color or new growth in a mole larger than 1/4 inch, a change in texture, itching, oozing or bleeding.
•Abnormal discharge from any external opening in your body including your nose, eyes, ears, mouth, vagina, anus, sweat glands, and nipples.
•Unilateral pain and swelling in one knee or shoulder but not the other.
•Tumor / bulge / bump / lump anywhere
•Increasing lymph gland - Swollen lymph nodes may be felt in your neck, groin, and armpit, under your jaw and chin, behind your ears or on the back of your head.
•Obstinate fatigue, lethargy - Feeling tired most of the time and your energy does not seem to come back. Don't be too quick to blame your busy schedule. And no you are not a "wimp" if you are worried about fatigue.
•Neurologic deficit - A decrease in brain, spinal cord, muscle, or nerve function such as an inability to speak, numbness or tingling, loss of balance, weakness, visual changes, abnormal reflexes, incessant headache and intractable vomiting.

Source: Archie Bleyer, MD
Medical Director, Clinical Research, St. Charles Regional Cancer Center, Bend, Oregon Clinical Research Professor, Oregon Health and Science University, Professor of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Director, Aflac/CureSearch Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Research


15 Cancer Symptoms Women Ignore
written by Kathleen Doheny and reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

No. 1: Unexplained Weight Loss
Many women would be delighted to lose weight without trying. But unexplained weight loss -- say 10 pounds in a month without an increase in exercise or a decrease in food intake -- should be checked out. Expect your doctor to run tests to check the thyroid and perhaps order a CT scan of different organs. The doctor needs to rule out the possibilities, one by one.

No. 2: Bloating
Bloating is so common that many women just live with it. But it could point to ovarian cancer. Other symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal pain or pelvic pain, feeling full quickly -- even when you haven't eaten much -- and urinary problems, such as having an urgent need to go to the bathroom. If the bloating occurs almost every day and persists for more than a few weeks, you should consult your physician. Expect your doctor to take a careful history and order a CT scan and blood tests, among others.

No. 3: Breast Changes
Most women know their breasts well, even if they don't do regular
self-exams, and know to be on the lookout for lumps. But that's not the only breast symptom that could point to cancer. Redness and thickening of the skin on the breast, which could indicate a very rare but aggressive form of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, also needs to be examined. If you have a rash that persists over weeks, you have to get it evaluated. Likewise, if the look of a nipple changes, or if you notice discharge (and aren’t breastfeeding), see your doctor. If it's outgoing normally and turns in, that's not a good sign. If your nipples are inverted chronically, no big deal. It's the change in appearance that could be a worrisome symptom. If you have breast changes, expect your doctor to take a careful history, examine the breast, and order tests such as a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, and perhaps a biopsy.

No. 4: Between-Period Bleeding or Other Unusual Bleeding
Premenopausal women tend to ignore between-period bleeding. They also tend to ignore bleeding from the GI tract, mistakenly thinking it is from their period. But between-period bleeding, especially if you are typically regular, bears checking out. So does bleeding after menopause, as it could be a symptom of endometrial cancer. GI bleeding could be a symptom of colorectal cancer. Your doctor will take a careful history and, depending on the timing of the bleeding and other symptoms, probably order an ultrasound or biopsy.

No. 5: Skin Changes
Most of us know to look for any changes in moles -- a well-known sign of skin cancer. But we should also watch for changes in skin pigmentation. If you suddenly develop bleeding on your skin or excessive scaling, that should be checked, too. It's difficult to say how long is too long to observe skin changes before you go to the doctor, but most experts say not longer than several weeks.

No. 6: Difficulty Swallowing
If you have difficulty swallowing, you may have already changed your diet so chewing isn't so difficult, perhaps turning to soups or liquid foods such as protein shakes. But that difficulty could be a sign of a GI cancer, such as in the esophagus. Expect your doctor to take a careful history and order tests such as a chest X-ray or exams of the GI tract.

No. 7: Blood in the Wrong Place
If you notice blood in your urine or your stool, don’t assume it's from a hemorrhoid. It could be colon cancer. Expect your doctor to ask questions and perhaps order testing such as a colonoscopy, an exam of the colon to look for cancer. Seeing blood in the toilet bowl may actually be from the vagina if a woman is menstruating. But if not, it should be checked to rule out bladder or kidney cancer. Coughing up blood should be evaluated, too. One occasion of blood in the wrong place may not point to anything, but if it happens more than once, go see your doctor.

No. 8: Gnawing Abdominal Pain and Depression
Any woman who's got a pain in the abdomen and is feeling depressed needs a checkup. Some researchers have found a link between depression and pancreatic cancer, but it's a poorly understood connection.

No. 9: Indigestion
Women who have been pregnant may remember the indigestion that occurred as they gained weight. But indigestion for no apparent reason may be a red flag. It could be an early clue to cancer of the esophagus, stomach, or throat. Expect your doctor to take a careful history and ask questions about the indigestion before deciding which tests to order, if any.

No. 10: Mouth Changes
Smokers should be especially alert for any white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue. Both can point to a precancerous condition called leukoplakia that can progress to oral cancer. Ask your dentist or doctor to take a look and decide what should be done next.

No. 11: Pain
As people age, they seem to complain more of various aches and pains, but pain, as vague as it may be, can also be an early symptom of some cancers, although most pain complaints are not from cancer. Pain that persists and is unexplained needs to be checked out. Expect your physician to take a careful history, and based on that information decide what further testing, if any, is needed.

No. 12: Changes in the Lymph Nodes
If you notice a lump or swelling in the lymph nodes under your armpit or in your neck -- or anywhere else -- it could be worrisome. If you have a lymph node that gets progressively larger, and it's [been] longer than a month, see a doctor. Your doctor will examine you and figure out any associated issues (such as infection) that could explain the lymph node enlargement. If there are none, your doctor will typically order a biopsy.

No. 13: Fever
If you have a fever that isn't explained by influenza or other infection, it could point to cancer. Fevers more often occur after cancer has spread from its original site, but it can also point to early blood cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma. Other cancer symptoms can include jaundice, or a change in the color of your stool. Expect your doctor to conduct a careful physical exam and take a medical history, and then order tests such as a chest X-ray, CT scan, MRI, or other tests, depending on the findings.

No. 14: Fatigue
Fatigue is another vague symptom that could point to cancer -- as well as a host of other problems. It can set in after the cancer has grown, but it may also occur early in certain cancers, such as leukemia or with some colon or stomach cancers.

No. 15: Persistent Cough
Coughs are expected with colds, the flu, allergies, and sometimes are a side effect of medications. But a very prolonged cough -- defined as lasting more than three or four weeks -- should not be ignored. You would expect your doctor to take a careful history, examine your throat, check out your lung functioning and perhaps order X-rays, especially if you are a smoker.

An Open Book

I love to read, but my fading eyesight makes it a struggle now. I am nostalgic for the days when I didn’t have to worry about how lit the room was or where my glasses or magnifier were hiding.

I fondly remember when I read one lovely book after another with only a flashlight under my covers long after my mother called lights out. I was young then with fresh eyes and an insatiable appetite for the written word, beautiful storytelling, and memorable phrasing that created dramatic images.

I have also sadly noticed that I don’t remember the books I read now for as long as I did when I was young. I remember the classics, the historical fiction, and the romances of my youth like yesterday. Their plot and characters are still very much alive for me. I can even quote lines from my favorites. I fear I would have reread a book several times before being able to do so now.

However, I have recently read three great books that I want to recommend. Each has made a tremendous impact on me as they are all extremely informative, compelling and well written.

The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, is set in Jackson, Mississippi in 1962. Stockett’s unique story about the black maids who raised white children in the South depicts the horror of racism, the sadness of loss, the loneliness that outcasts feel, and the triumph of courage in the face of evil.

Stockett is a gifted storyteller who paints the perfect picture. Her palette ranges from atrocity to accomplishment and hardship to heroics. It is one of those magical books that draws you in, makes you weep, and lifts you up. I still have trouble believing that the book was rejected 60 times before some smart agent swept it up and gave it to the world. See the movie too, but not until you read the book. Then do both again for the details you may have missed the first time around.

The second book is A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg. A quick read that you will not be able to put down, this coming of age book is peppered throughout with both comical and poignant stories. Recipes for delicious dishes that also served as a character in each story closed each chapter.

Wizenberg’s conversational style draws the reader in, and, despite her age, she has written a story to which even the oldest among us can relate. Daddy’s girls will empathize with her tragic loss, and we are all taken back to our first relationship, our first rejection and our first joy of true love found. Her descriptions of the food she prepares will compel you rush to the grocery store for the ingredients.

Her enjoyable book stems from her award winning food blog. It comes as no surprise that both have resulted in a second book deal. That is really good because I promise you will want a second helping of her prose.

The third book I have loved was written by a good friend, but I am not at all prejudiced. Lael Morgan’s sterling reputation as non-fiction writer (The Good Time Girls of the Alaska-Yukon Gold Rush is just one of her many books.) and book publisher (Two Old Women) needs no help from me. Recently inducted into Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame for her work as reporter, author and historian, Lael weaves her tales of old in a way that begs reading and ensures learning.

Her latest book, Wanton West: Madams, Money, Murder and the Wild Women of Montana’s Frontier is a rich and rousing chronicle of the old west from the “gold rush to the election of the first woman to the US Congress”.

A superb researcher and writer, Lael fills her book with extraordinary detail and lively language. She brings this era in America’s history to life, and she evokes sympathy even for her characters of ill-repute. Her wanton women are strong and courageous and the first in our history to fight for a woman’s equality and her right to work and succeed with or without a man by her side.

You will find Lael’s book about Montana’s frontier riveting. Be prepared for a wild ride.

Tackling COPD

I have had several friends now struggle with coughing incessantly. They have both been diagnosed with COPD often confused with emphysema but not quite the same.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) refers to two lung diseases—chronic bronchitis and emphysema (often co-existing), and is the fourth leading cause of death in America. Obstructing airflow, COPD is usually but not always caused by cigarette smoke (80-90% of COPD deaths), or inhaling chemicals, dust or pollution for a long time.

According to the National Institute of Health, “The airways branch out like an upside-down tree. At the end of each branch are small, balloon-like air sacs. Healthy airways and sacs are clear and open, elastic and springy. In COPD patients, they lose their shape and become floppy. The airway walls become thick and inflamed (swollen), and the walls between the sacs are destroyed. The airway cells produce more mucus, become clogged, and cause a continual cough.

Chronic bronchitis is the inflammation and scarring of the bronchial tube lining, and emphysema causes permanent holes in the lung tissue. Shortness of breath and coughing is the result. Symptoms can begin as early as 32-40 years of age but are often left untreated, resulting in incurable respiratory problems and even heart failure.

COPD limits physical movement, affects involvement in family and social activities, impacts the ability to do household chores and even work. Patients may eventually rely on mechanical respiratory assistance—supplemental oxygen and even ventilators.

Though there’s no cure, there is treatment. Medications don’t modify long-term decline, but can provide relief. Bronchodilator medications (inhaled as aerosol sprays or taken orally) relax and open air way passages. Oxygen therapy, antibiotics and steroids are used in acute cases, as steroids, in particular, can cause serious side effects long-term. Lung transplantation is more common now, but those with severe emphysema are at higher risk of death from the procedure.

COPD patients should be vaccinated for pneumonia and influenza. They should quit smoking, avoid pollutants, and increase exercise under a physician’s supervision. Visit www.lungusa.org.

Teaching Woes

School is beginning and with it comes both the excitement and trepidation of working with new students. They can single-handedly make the year productive and pleasurable or a real nightmare. Needless to say, I am hoping for the first scenario.

So much of the success of a student is dependent on attitude. There are many wonderful students who are self-motivated, hardworking and interested in learning and working, and it is a thrill to encourage and enlighten them.

Too many of the others, however, are not driven to succeed at all, have no real interest in learning or working hard, and have, in fact, an attitude that will destine them to failure. They have the desire to make lots of money and they insist that they are entitled to a good life, but they don’t want to do the work necessary. They think somehow that success is just going to happen because they want it.

As evidenced by testing, students today generally know less. They don’t read much anymore and so they can’t write or communicate well. They don’t pay attention in class, and they don’t do their homework because not only do they think it unimportant but an impingement on the free time, to which they also feel entitled. I once had a student tell me that she couldn’t complete an assignment for a significant grade because she had cheerleading practice and that was more important to her. I asked her if she thought writing well or cheering well would pay her bills in the future. She looked at me with confusion. She had no interest in looking that far ahead.

This is the sound-byte generation. Students are accustomed to immediate and constant entertainment, doled out in snippets and teasers on a myriad of screens. The result is a short attention span and an unwillingness to invest time and energy to achieve long-term goals. There is also a lack of respect for authority and a lack of caring about consequences. Couple all this with education not being our main priority anymore and you can see why we are in trouble.

This is a particularly tough year for teachers in my district. They have not been given even a cost of living raise and often have to spend their own money for school supplies. They had one of their two conference periods taken away, resulting in doing even more work at home on their free time, and they have been told that they are going to be accountable with their jobs for the success of their students.

The district theme song is to achieve differential teaching in the classroom. This means that teachers are to assess what each student in each of their seven classes is capable of and to create a program specific to that individual. Sounds good in theory doesn’t it, but what is the reality? Our staff has been significantly reduced in number and classes average 35 students. Now, given what I have said about the majority of students with regard to skill level, knowledge and attitude, how do you imagine that objective being achieved?

I’m nearing the end of my teaching career. I have loved it and been gratified to have impacted the lives of my students, but I worry daily about where education in America is going. Teachers cannot teach manners, morals and life skills in addition to subject matter, and yet we are expected to, and for little pay, lots of abuse and even some danger.

They say there is going to be an epidemic need for teachers soon because good teachers are getting out and students are not choosing it as a career path. It is not difficult to understand why.

Fighting Alzheimer's

What I like least about going to the doctors at my age is that their answer to every problem now is "how we can manage the situation." When I was young, afflictions were resolvable. Not so much as I have grown older. But I am grateful because for the most part, I'm healthy and haven't been afflicted by too many issues...yet.

The one illness that scares me most is losing my mind. My dad suffered briefly with dementia near the end of his 92 years. It was frustrating for him and terribly sad to watch, and that was only sporadic dementia. We had a family friend who suffered for 10 long years with Alzheimer's in an institution because she remembered no one in her family, nothing about her past, and she was either terrified of everything or catatonic most of the time. She had to be cared for by professionals and death was actually considered a happy consequence.

I can't imagine anyone wanting to leave this world that way, and we can prevent it. Gary Small, M.D. and director of the UCLA Center on Aging, said, "The idea that Alzheimer's is entirely genetic and unpreventable is perhaps the greatest misconception about the disease."

"Researchers now know that Alzheimer’s, like heart disease and cancer, develops over decades and can be influenced by lifestyle factors including cholesterol, blood pressure, obesity, depression, education, nutrition, sleep and mental, physical and social activity."

In Jean Carper's newest book "100 Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer's and Age-Related Memory Loss" (Little, Brown; $19.99), she reveals the simple things that you can do every day that might cut your odds of losing your mind to Alzheimer's.

Here are 10 of the strategies that she includes that I found fascinating and easy to do.

"1. Have coffee.
In an amazing flip-flop, coffee is the new brain tonic. A large European study showed that drinking three to five cups of coffee a day in midlife cut Alzheimer's risk 65% in late life. University of South Florida researcher Gary Arendash credits caffeine: He says it reduces dementia-causing amyloid in animal brains. Others credit coffee's antioxidants. So drink up, Arendash advises, unless your doctor says you shouldn't.

2. Floss.
Oddly, the health of your teeth and gums can help predict dementia. University of Southern California research found that having periodontal disease before age 35 quadrupled the odds of dementia years later. Older people with tooth and gum disease score lower on memory and cognition tests, other studies show. Experts speculate that inflammation in diseased mouths migrates to the brain.

3. Be a “Googler”.
Doing an online search can stimulate your aging brain even more than reading a book, says UCLA's Gary Small, who used brain MRIs to prove it. The biggest surprise: Novice Internet surfers, ages 55 to 78, activated key memory and learning centers in the brain after only a week of Web surfing for an hour a day.

4. Grow new brain cells.
Impossible, scientists used to say. Now it's believed that thousands of brain cells are born daily. The trick is to keep the newborns alive. What works: aerobic exercise (such as a brisk 30-minute walk every day), strenuous mental activity, eating salmon and other fatty fish, and avoiding obesity, chronic stress, sleep deprivation, heavy drinking and vitamin B deficiency.

5. Drink apple juice.
Apple juice can push production of the "memory chemical" acetylcholine; that's the way the popular Alzheimer's drug Aricept works, says Thomas Shea, Ph.D., of the University of Massachusetts . He was surprised that old mice given apple juice did better on learning and memory tests than mice that received water. A dose for humans: 16 ounces, or two to three apples a day.

6. Protect your head.
Blows to the head, even mild ones early in life, increase odds of dementia years later. Pro football players have 19 times the typical rate of memory-related diseases. Alzheimer's is four times more common in elderly who suffer a head injury, Columbia University finds. Accidental falls doubled an older person's odds of dementia five years later in another study. Wear seat belts and helmets, fall-proof your house, and don't take risks.

7. Meditate.
Brain scans show that people who meditate regularly have less cognitive decline and brain shrinkage - a classic sign of Alzheimer's - as they age. Andrew Newberg of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine says yoga meditation of 12 minutes a day for two months improved blood flow and cognitive functioning in seniors with memory problems.

8. Take D.
A "severe deficiency" of vitamin D boosts older Americans' risk of cognitive impairment 394%, an alarming study by England 's University of Exeter finds. And most Americans lack vitamin D. Experts recommend a daily dose of 800 IU to 2,000 IU of vitamin D3.

9. Fill your brain.
It < http://brain.it/ http://brain.it/ > 's called "cognitive reserve." A rich accumulation of life experiences - education, marriage, socializing, a stimulating job, language skills, having a purpose in life, physical activity and mentally demanding leisure activities - makes your brain better able to tolerate plaques and tangles. You can even have significant Alzheimer's pathology and no symptoms of dementia if you have high cognitive reserve, says David Bennett, M.D., of Chicago 's Rush University Medical Center .

10. Avoid infection.
Astonishing new evidence ties Alzheimer's to cold sores, gastric ulcers, Lyme disease, pneumonia and the flu. Ruth Itzhaki, Ph.D., of the University of Manchester in England estimates the cold-sore herpes simplex virus is incriminated in 60% of Alzheimer's cases. The theory: Infections trigger excessive beta amyloid "gunk" that kills brain cells. Proof is still lacking, but why not avoid common infections and take appropriate vaccines, antibiotics and antiviral agents?

A great way to keep your aging memory sharp and avoid Alzheimer's is to drink the right stuff.

a. Tops: Juice.
A glass of any fruit or vegetable juice three times a week slashed Alzheimer's odds 76% in Vanderbilt University research. Especially protective:blueberry, grape and apple juice, say other studies.

b. Tea:
Only a cup of black or green tea a week cut rates of cognitive decline in older people by 37%, reports the Alzheimer's Association. Only brewed tea works. Skip bottled tea, which is devoid of antioxidants.

c. Caffeine beverages.
Surprisingly, caffeine fights memory loss and Alzheimer's, suggest dozens of studies. Best sources: coffee (one Alzheimer's researcher drinks five cups a day), tea and chocolate. Beware caffeine if you are pregnant, have high blood pressure, insomnia or anxiety.

d. Red wine:
If you drink alcohol, a little red wine is most apt to benefit your aging brain. It's high in antioxidants. Limit it to one daily glass for women, two for men. Excessive alcohol, notably binge drinking, brings on Alzheimer's.

e. Try to avoid: Sugary soft drinks,
especially those sweetened with high fructose corn syrup. They make lab animals dumb. Water with high copper content also can up your odds of Alzheimer's. Use a water filter that removes excess minerals.

5 Ways to Save Your Kids from Alzheimer's Now:

Alzheimer's isn't just a disease that starts in old age. What happens to your child's brain seems to have a dramatic impact on his or her likelihood of Alzheimer's many decades later.

Here are five things you can do now to help save your child from Alzheimer's and memory loss later in life, according to the latest research.

1. Prevent head blows.
Insist your child wear a helmet during biking, skating, skiing, baseball, football, hockey, and all contact sports. A major blow as well as tiny repetitive unnoticed concussions can cause damage, leading to memory loss and Alzheimer's years later.

2. Encourage language skills.
A teenage girl who is a superior writer is eight times more likely to escape Alzheimer's in late life than a teen with poor linguistic skills. Teaching young children to be fluent in two or more languages makes them less vulnerable to Alzheimer's.

3. Insist your child go to college: Education is a powerful Alzheimer's deterrent.
The more years of formal schooling, the lower the odds. Most Alzheimer's prone: teenage drop outs. For each year of education, your risk of dementia drops 11%, says a recent University of Cambridge study.

4. Provide stimulation.
Keep your child's brain busy with physical, mental and social activities and novel experiences. All these contribute to a bigger, better functioning brain with more so-called 'cognitive reserve.' High cognitive reserve protects against memory decline and Alzheimer's.

5. Spare the junk food: Lab animals raised on berries, spinach and high omega-3 fish have great memories in old age.
Those overfed sugar, especially high fructose in soft drinks, saturated fat and trans fats become overweight and diabetic, with smaller brains and impaired memories as they age, a prelude to Alzheimer's."

Beating the Bullies

Last night, I had dinner with a group of friends. Four of the eight or 50% reported that they had been the object of intimidation, threats and bullying in the workplace.

One has been with her employer for three years and each of her evaluations had been stellar until this year. He dropped her in 20 categories not because her performance had changed at all but because he was building a case so he could terminate her higher paying position.

She refused to take it laying down though and politely confronted her employer about the evaluation. She went to the conversation armed with reasons why each demotion was incorrect. Ultimately, he changed ever category back to exemplary, told her that she did not have to attach her rebuttals to her original evaluation, and that their discussion should stay between the two of them. He was clearly going to have to concoct another reason besides incompetence, because despite the fact that she is doing an excellent job, he still terminated her.

My friend has been smart though. Besides making sure her evaluation and ultimately her professional reputation was accurate, she also recorded the conversation, so she has his comment about keeping their conversation hush/hush on tape. By the way, it turns out that it is legal to tape a conversation without your announcing that you're doing so. She has a case now to take to the human resource department, but it is going to be a battle to keep her position as a counselor to children and program director.

A second friend is a teacher. She works with blind children and though the need for those types of teachers is still great, she was also terminated. Because of budget cuts, services to these children are being scaled back or eliminated altogether. Her principal told her that her contract was not going to be renewed but that it had nothing to do with her job performance. To add insult to injury, he told her that he wanted her to resign rather than have it be recorded as a reduction in force, and that if she did, he would make sure she got a good recommendation. He went on to say that if she did not resign, that she would not get a recommendation letter and that her termination would result in not being hired by others. He gave her by the end of the work day to decide.

It turns out that school districts don't want to look bad to their parents and the press. They don't want their records to show the real number of terminations. It is a public relations problem that they want to avoid, so they are intimidating teachers into resigning instead.

My friend chose not to resign. Instead, she wrote a letter saying that she preferred that the truth of her termination be recorded and that she hoped that because he said that it had nothing to do with her performance that he would in deed give her a recommendation letter that she had clearly earned.

The last two stories had to do with abuse from other colleagues. The one that is particularly horrific has been ongoing for over five years. It included public chastisement, public humiliation and private intimidation and threats of job loss unless my friend towed the line. Well my friend, who teaches handicapped children, finally had it and exposed not only the problem but the hierarchy protecting this teacher who usurped authority, terrified her team, and broke every rule of professional conduct that exists.

It turns out that my friend, who really risked everything by making the decision to go public, has not only exposed a collusion and cover-up in her own district, but has exposed the growing problem of bullying and intimidation in the workplace. Her efforts have resulted in both statewide and now national attention to the problem.

It is extraordinary to imagine that in this day of greater enlightenment not to mention work place laws that this kind of thing goes on, but it does and far more often than we like to think.

The lesson is clear but it takes courage. As each of my friends did, we must counter intimidation when it occurs. We must stand up to the bullies, and we must demand our rights. Otherwise, the bullies win and we are doomed to a life of fear.

Many Happy Returns

My youngest child turned 30 today. Six days later, my eldest child will turn 33, and though the present is clearly momentous, I can’t stop the flashbacks to the past.

I remember their births feeling like the first miracles of my life. I can still recall their even breathing and sweet breath as they lay sleeping on my chest, the warmth of their skin against mine, and the magic of their first smile.

Yes, I had given them life, but they had given me life, too, and purpose. I was a mother, entrusted with their care and their growth and their success as human beings. The task was tremendous and terrifying and joyful and overwhelming, and all together the most important work of my life.

The first time they called me Mommy felt like fireworks and Christmas Day combined. I remember the first time they squeezed my hand, hugged my neck, and cried on my shoulder. I remember when their tears became mine; when their milestones became more important than mine; when their achievements caused more pride than my own. I remember their walking without my aid for the first time, finally allowing me to let go of the back of their two wheeler, watching them walk into their classroom alone, and all the crying after the good-byes—my tears not theirs.

Then there was all the praying for them during tryouts, recitals, performances and games. I hated their disappointments even though I knew intellectually that they contributed to their resilience and determination. I hated their failures even though it was I who taught them that they would learn more from them than their successes. I hated their sadness even though I knew joy was right around the corner.

And joyful it was for me, watching them excel in school, on the athletic field, and on stages of all sorts. To this day, I have never enjoyed a theater production more than ones in which my daughter sang and danced in various lead rolls. Just thinking about when others asked for her autograph still gives me chills.

I still feel pride about my son playing football, not because he excelled in the game and was being pursued by Division I Universities but because of the perseverance with which he sought that goal and the hurdles he overcame—worry about not growing tall enough (He’s 6’4 now.), lifting weights that weighed more than he did to get strong enough, and running more laps than seemed humanly possible.

It wasn’t just that my children were so successful at all they were involved in, but they had grown into successful people—considerate, respectful, and caring about other people. It was a thrill when others would tell me how amazing and accomplished my children were. It was confirmation that I wasn’t just prejudiced about my own children, but that I had really done a great job as a mother, and nothing was more important to me.

But it wasn’t the opinion of others that was most important. It was what my children thought. My most precious belongings are still the thank you notes and letters of gratitude they wrote even through college. They are still what can lift my spirits and bring tears of joy.

I consider it a gift to have stayed home to raise my children. I was able to instill my values, my expectations, and my work ethic. I was able to experience the everyday joy and the unexpected magic. I was also able to love without reserve and without condition.

They are adults now, carving their own way and letting go of parental control has been the hardest challenge in my life. I can no longer direct or protect, and that may be the toughest part of parenting yet, but I have to continue to trust that what I instilled when they were young will continue to play out in the choices they make as adults.

Surgery Savvy

I've just had a surgical procedure, and though I knew it was critical to ask the right questions before and after the surgery, I wasn't as clear about my rights as a patient, and, though we don't always think so, we do have rights and, ultimately, we are in charge. We can both refuse and direct treatment.

That being said, we must remember that the patient is the lay person in the place. We need to trust our surgeon, after having asked all the questions we can about the procedure, complications and his track record.

We need to interview our anesthesiologist and be sure he knows about all our allergies and ailments. In my case, a neck spasm that I had been struggling with muddied the waters. It hadn't occurred to me at all. My very good intake nurse hit upon the problem and insisted I tell him because it could impact the tube going down my throat after I was out.

The most important component to a pleasant recovery is definitely your staff of nurses, who I really believe run the hospital anyway. I experienced both heaven and hell in post-op and during the night. When I was in the most pain, one nurse tried to "explain", fairly sarcastically, why it was painful, instead of just giving me more pain meds.

I almost lost it and then made it clear that I wanted another nurse to watch over me, and the one who ultimately sat at the end of my bed throughout the rest of post-op was a much better caregiver. She was attentive, thoughtful, and quick to resolve problems.

Nighttime at a hospital is crazy. If sleep is really a critical component to getting better, you won't have a prayer until you're released. I'm quite sure I was awakened four times each night. It certainly seemed like I was getting more attention from midnight until 5:00 a.m. than I did all day, and at least one of my nurses was as cranky as I was about having to function on any level during that time slot.

So what are your rights? This is what Methodist Health System suggests.

"You have the right:

-to be informed about the care you will receive.
-to get information about your care in your language.
-to make decisions about your care, including refusing care.
-to know the names of the caregivers who treat you.
-to safe care.
-to have your pain treated.
-to know when something goes wrong with your care, an honest explanation and an apology in a reasonable amount of time.
-to get an up-to-date list of all your current medicines.
-to know what kind of security the hospital has and whether they will keep information about your case private.
-to be listened to.
-to be treated with courtesy and respect."

Be sure you know beforehand if there are any procedures that cannot be done at that facility and if you can get a copy of your medical records and test results. Visit the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality at www.ahrq.gov for their "Twenty Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors".

Find out who you speak with if a problem arises and how the facility handles complaints. If you are still not satisfied, file a complaint with the licensing authority at www.jointcommission.org.

Anticipate all you can. An ounce of prevention is definitely better than a pound of cure. Then listen to your head and heart. If you’re not comfortable about anything, assert yourself. You are you own best advocate.

Hot Under the Collar

I've just had the pleasure of three weeks in Switzerland and New England where the temperatures didn't rise above 75. It was heaven. I've gotten home to Texas and temperatures range between 102-105. To say it is hot is an understatement. It feels far more like the opposite destination of heaven.

I guess I've not acclimated yet because as I was trying to do some gardening, I felt a little overwhelmed even though I was doing it in the morning and thought I had hydrated enough before. When I started to research about what might be happening, I found some interesting information about the difference between heat stress and heat stroke. I thought I'd pass it on.


The Risk of Heat Stress

Your risk of heat stress depends on many things. These include:

•Your physical condition

•The weather (temperature, humidity)

•How much clothing you have on

•How fast you must move or how much weight you must lift

•If you are near a fan or there is a breeze

•If you are in the sun.

Too much heat can make you tired, hurt your job performance, and increase your chance of injury. You can get skin rash. You can also get:

•Dehydration. When your body loses water, you can’t cool off fast enough. You feel thirsty and weak.
•Cramps. You can get muscle cramps from the heat even after you leave work.
•Heat exhaustion. You feel tired, nauseous, headachy, and giddy (dizzy and silly). Your skin is damp and looks muddy or flushed. You may faint.
•Heat stroke. You may have hot dry skin and a high temperature. Or you may feel confused. You may have convulsions or become unconscious. Heat stroke can kill you unless you get emergency medical help.

Judy Hedding in her article "How To Recognize, Treat and Avoid Heat Stroke" suggests the following.

1.If someone's body temperature reaches 105 degrees, they could have heat stroke.
2.If a person has heat stroke, the person probably isn't sweating much.
3.With heat stroke, the skin will be hot and red.
4.The person may be dizzy or nauseous.
5.If a person has heat stroke, his/her pulse may be rapid.
6.Immediately call a doctor.
7.Get the person out of the sun.
8.Take off the person's outer clothing.
9.Apply cool water or apply cold packs to the person's body to lower the temperature.
10.If the person is conscious, provide small sips of salt water.
11.Do not give any drugs, alcohol or caffeine to the person.
12.To prevent heat stroke, wear light, loose fitting clothes and a hat in the sun.
13.Drink a lot of water (even if you don't feel thirsty) to prevent heat stroke.
14.To prevent heat stroke, take in a little more salt than usual with meals. This helps retain water.
15.If you are out in the heat walking, hiking or playing sports, make sure you carry a phone with you. Never hike or play golf alone during the heat of the summer.

Tips:
1.Understand the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The first aid is different for each.
2.Do not ever leave a child or a pet in your car in the spring or summer. Not even for a minute. Not even with the windows open.
3.Every year children and pets die in cars.

My suggestion for when it is over 100 degrees is to make a tall glass of iced tea, put your feet up and pass the time in an airconditioned room. Whatever work you have outside can wait until the temperature drops a bit.

Stay cool. Your life may depend on it.

Finding America the Beautiful

I spent days at the start of my summer vacation in what I thought was the most beautiful place on earth, and most certainly Switzerland is absolutely gorgeous, but in trying to complete my bucket list, I am presently traveling with a friend and writing colleague in Vermont and New Hampshire, the only states in the East I’d never toured before, and I actually may have found heaven on Earth, and it is in our own backyard—so to speak.

The green mountains of Vermont are truly magnificent. Carpeted with massive trees in every shade of green I’ve ever seen, they shelter rolling corn fields, are home to the Morgan, one of the earliest horse breeds developed in the Unites States, and support an American populace that proudly displays flags from 1776 all along Main Street.

Each of the small towns throughout our New England journey has oozed with pristine beauty and unequaled charm, the kind of charm, in fact, that you can only find in America.

In one town, the after-dinner attraction was a Marine Band that entertained the whole town from the gazebo in the town square. Listeners were curled up on picnic blankets or lounging in lawn chairs. Some of the youngsters were draped over the Veteran’s monument and brass canon that decorated the square or were gazing up wide-eyed from the grass that encircled the gazebo’s base. Old and young alike were enthralled by the young men in uniform who played their patriotic songs.

In another town, there was an outdoor recital and all the townspeople were in attendance not because the dancers were famous but because being featured were the tiny daughters, in tap shoes and tutus, of families who’d lived there for generations. Their ancestors, many generations of them, had carved their roads into the mountain sides, dug the gray stone from dangerous quarries for the homes and churches that still stood tall, and they had withstood the tough winters to bring in the harvest of farms still owned by these great, great grandchildren. These little girls were the town’s tiny daughters and that meant coming out in support, whether they were in your blood line or not.

We saw townspeople attending outdoor fish fries, walking the streets around at sunset with ice cream cones and candied apples, and docking boats after a day on crystal lakes and sparkling rivers.

They chatted on verandas that wrapped around their quaint Victorian homes painted in pastels and festooned with flowers of every sort—baby’s breath, huge holly hocks, yellow jonquil, and pink lilies. A cacophony of color, there was a profuse garden at every turn, whether of man’s design or nature’s.

It was a Norman Rockwell painting very much alive and well. Bubbling brooks and rushing falls graced every town, and the covered bridges carried you back to the days of America’s true pioneers.

My favorite was on the way to the historic home of our greatest American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Carved into the arch of the bridge dating back to the 1800’s was the stern warning of being fined if one did not walk instead of ride their horse across.

America the beautiful is indeed that. Whether in the mountains of Vermont or on the emerald beaches of Florida or amid the red rocks in Arizona, there is no more versatile or gorgeous a place. Magnificent nature aside, though, the American people are just as beautiful—still strong, still resilient, still fighting to hold onto what has always made us so very special.

Surgery Ready?

Are you about to have surgery? If so, preparation is key to a successful recovery. You should be armed with the right questions to ask before they cut you open, and you should prepare your home and family for convalescence. Here's what's critical.

1. Educate yourself about your procedure. I know that sounds obvious, but we have become so immune to the disclaimers by doctors and hospitals that if we really took that list seriously, none of us would ever have surgery. Be sure about what the negative consequences really are and consider how you will resolve those problems should you fall into the percentage of unlucky people who do not recover well.

2. Take a friend or relative to the doctor's visit. Often we're too uncomfortable to be definitive about what we want or too embarrassed to ask necessary questions. Your advocate should not have the concerns that stop us from asking for pertinent information or expressing our concerns.

3. Prior to surgery, ask if you should stop smoking, drinking and taking various medications. For example, sometimes a surgeon won't operate on a patient if they have been on steroids within a certain period of time because they impede healing. Ask also about herbal replacements you take or something as simple like aspirin, which can cause bleeding. Notify your surgeon about any changes in your health between your pre-op appointment and going into the hospital. Fever, rashes or even a cold could impact success.

4. Cook and freeze food that would be easy to heat and serve. You really don't know what your energy level is going to be. Put away loose rugs, fix unstable steps and put in bars if that facilitates safety in the shower. Arrange any services and equipment you might have to use--oxygen tank, wheel chair, bed rails, and home health care.

5. Ask what you can expect for after surgery; when you can resume activities; what the danger signs for a problem will be; if you will need a ride.

6. Take only what you must to the hospital--no jewelry, money, or medications. You risk loss, and they will dispense the medicine you need. Do take a list of medicine that you use and your insurance card, and make friends with the nurses. They really run the hospital. The better they know you, the more attentive and helpful they will be. Also, fewer mistakes are made when people know something about you and your condition beyond the chart.

7. When you're in the hospital, notice what your medicine looks like and when it is given. Dispensing medicine incorrectly is the most common mistake made in a hospital, so ask about changes and remind the staff if you've missed a dosage. Also, watch to see if your caregivers wash their hands, the single most important way not to spread germs, and if they use gloves. Be sure they hand you the call button. You want to have that within reach at all times.

8. Be sure to check your wrist band for errors and make sure it lists your allergies. Despite the fact that a morphine allergy was repeatedly included in my dad's chart, he was given it at multiple hospitals.

Check, check, and check again--everything and everyone! If you are physically and mentally able, you should be your own best advocate, and please don't be shy. You won't see these people again, but you may have to live with a mistake forever.

If you are not able to be your best advocate, ask someone to watch over you. Their presence in the hospital and their energy on your behalf will make all the difference.