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One U.S. veteran and his life of service

Navy hero William D. Brinson honored by cornerstone SALUTES! Little did William D. Brinson know upon graduating St. Bernard High School in Alabama that he would live through war and into his senior years only to fight cancer. After his departure from his ordained seminary education, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1953, and…
Q & A on fertility problems for him

Dr. Sijo J. Parekattil talks diagnosis and treatment For a couple trying to conceive, the realization that there may be a physical problem preventing conception can be devastating. Infertility affects approximately 6.1 million individuals throughout the United States. However, the diagnosis doesn’t mean impossible and for couples in Polk County, help is, literally, right around…
Behind the wheel of a Fiat 500

Fine craftsmanship meets award winning safety features The Fiat was first manufactured in Italia in 1899 and introduced into America 27 years ago. Now, it has made a come back in America as the Fiat 500. The Fiat 500 was manufactured in Europe in 2007 and over 500,000 of the 500s have been sold since.…

The “Ripe” Time for Cataract Surgery

Whenever I tell a patient that he or she has cataracts they immediately ask if they need to have surgery. We start thinking about cataract surgery whenever the patient’s quality of life is affected. Common complaints include, “I can’t read road signs,” or “I can’t read the writing on TV,” or “I can’t read small…
A Cautionary Tale for Frequent Biting, Grinding, or Clenching

Biting and chewing your food. It’s something we do every day and without thinking. That’s why when most people have biting issues— where they bite the inside tissue of their mouth— they usually don’t think beyond the few minutes of pain and discomfort it causes. However, frequent biting (as well as grinding and clenching) can…
Oral Cancer Awareness Month

The month of April is considered National Oral Cancer Awareness Month. The American Cancer Society’s most recent estimates for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers in the United States for 2019 show that about 53,000 people will be diagnosed with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer and an estimated 10,860 will die of these cancers. Lip and…