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Waiting on a Miracle Young Mother Remains Hopeful Through Battle WIth Chondrosarcoma by MARY TOOTHMAN Cliche or no, the truth is that the lovely Jessica Burton had it all — a loving husband who’s a partner in every sense of the word, work she loved as a registered nurse, and two little girls who fill…
Education Empowers

Prevention Program Helps Those at Risk of Type 2 Diabetes by TERESA SCHIFFER Diabetes is a public health problem that many Americans struggle with. According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 30 million Americans have diabetes, or 9.4 percent of the population. About 7.2 million of those individuals have not even been diagnosed. It…
Pop Quiz: Test Your Knowledge About the Flu Shot

It’s that time of the year when the flu starts to rear its ugly head, and it’s time to get a flu shot to keep the virus at bay. The typical flu season starts around October and can last into May. You may have a lot of questions concerning the flu vaccination, especially if you’ve…

Editor’s Dose: Tips for minimizing back-to-school stress

IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, then come early July you were already thinking about preparations for the new school year. Parents and children in the community this year are getting ready extra early because Polk County public schools moved up their calendar by one week — day one of school is August 15.
Making the choice to breastfeed

THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH in Polk County (DOH-Polk) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) recognize August as Breastfeeding Awareness Month. This is a wonderful time of year to promote breastfeeding as a vital health activity and discuss the health benefits breastfeeding provides. Although every woman has their own…
Editor’s Dose: Keeping kids’ bodies and minds active this summer

WHEN I FIRST had the twins, my mom would say, “Have a schedule for them, or they’ll have a schedule for you.” Basically, she was cautioning that I’d better keep those little minds and bodies active, or chaos would inevitably ensue. Being a mother of eight children, I think she was speaking from personal experience.…