Category Archives: Child health

Code18 Interactive Launches New Websites for Balmex and Balmex Adult

New York, NY, 2021-Jan-20 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — New York digital agency Code18 Interactive gives two health and wellness brands—Balmex Complete Protection and Balmex AdultAdvantage—custom websites that will provide peace of mind and relief for everyone from baby to grandpa. Both sites are fully responsive and built on the WordPress platform.

Code18 Interactive, a boutique digital agency based in New York City, announces the launch of new health and wellness websites for Balmex Complete Protectin and Balmex AdultAdvantage. Both are fully custom and fully responsive WordPress websites – https://balmex.com helps elevate and refresh a legacy brand while providing helpful diaper rash solutions and peace of mind for new parents, and https://balmexadult.com showcases over-the-counter relief for adults who experience skin irritation and chafing caused by incontinence or light bladder leakage. Both sites also feature e-commerce capabilities powered by WooCommerce, enabling the brands to offer Direct-to-Consumer sales for the first time.

The Balmex Complete Protection and Balmex AdultAdvantage brands are both part of the Randob Labs portfolio. Randob Labs is a private, family-held company that specializes in revitalizing and maintaining heritage brands on the OTC healthcare space. “Collaborating and working with Randob Labs has been an exciting adventure. Both Balmex and Balmex Adult provide big relief from common, irritating issues,” says Code18 Interactive founder Steve Pilon. “And providing relief and solutions to everyday problems is exactly what Randob Labs is all about. We’re thrilled to be a part of this process.”

As a well-established presence in the baby aisle, Balmex Complete Protection offers pediatrician-recommended diaper rash cream and multi-purpose healing ointment to help protect, soothe and heal baby’s delicate skin. “Many health and wellness websites only talk about what their product can do for consumers. However, Balmex is all about providing fast relief and reliable, proven solutions. Therefore, the website needed to clearly explain the causes of diaper rash and skin irritation, as well as provide simple steps parents can take to help prevent diaper rash in the first place,” says Pilon. “The brand’s willingness to go the extra mile for new parents is just one of the many reasons parents have been trusting Balmex for over 50 years.”

Clinically proven Balmex AdultAdvantage offers the same key benefits—a cream that protects, soothes and heals irritated and chafed skin—as its 50-year-old sibling brand. Available as a standalone skin relief cream or as part of an innovative on-the-go, 3-in-1 kit, Balmex AdultAdvantage helps older adults live life more comfortably. “For many older adults incontinence or bladder leakage controls their life, and unfortunately, many people just accept this fate,” says Pilon. “With the Balmex Adult website we really focused on awareness—awareness of this fantastic product, awareness of the benefits, and mostly, awareness that you can take back control of your life with Balmex AdultAdvantage.”

Code18 Interactive is a New York WordPress Agency that caters primarily to national consumer and media brands. The agency specializes in the design and development of enterprise-level WordPress and Magento 2 websites. They have the pleasure of working with many wonderful brands, including: GoGo squeeZ, Boursin Cheese, Public Radio International, The Laughing Cow, Grove Atlantic Publishing, C.O. Bigelow and many others.

For more information, please visit http://www.code18.com

Media contact:

Steve Pilon
Code18 Interactive
175 Varick Street, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10014 USA

Phone: 404-585-2725
https://code18.com

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Palette Life Sciences unveils 4 international sites for its Deflux online presence

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. / STOCKHOLM, 27-Oct-2020 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — Palette Life Sciences, a fully integrated global life sciences company dedicated to improving patient outcomes, today introduced valuable new online resources for healthcare providers in France, Germany, Italy and Spain. By expanding its Deflux online presence to international audiences, Palette Life Sciences demonstrates its commitment to supporting the global paediatric community.

Deflux.fr is a French-language resource for healthcare providers in France. Deflux.com/de is a German-language site serving practitioners in Germany. Deflux.com/es and Deflux.it are English-language sites serving physicians in Spain and Italy respectively. These new sites offer best-in-class online resources, important information and education about VUR, including symptoms, causes, risk factors and treatment options, such as Deflux®. All of the European sites provide physicians with access to the global Deflux Learning Center, a leading education platform that features information and training for paediatric urologists and their peers who treat VUR. The Deflux Learning Center includes clinical articles, educational videos, webinars, brochures, downloadable tools and The PedSpace podcast series, created for and presented by paediatric urology healthcare professionals.

The Deflux Learning Center for each respective country also provides downloadable educational materials for parents and caregivers managing children with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR).

“My personal long-term experience with Deflux has proven its effectiveness and safety in reducing VUR and preventing UTI recurrence in patients who fail medical management, thus avoiding use of long-term antibiotics. It is my hope that the new website initiative, which includes helpful resources for physicians, will help raise awareness of this treatment option in patients with primary VUR, troubled by recurrent febrile UTIs,” said Dr. Marie-Klaire Farrugia, Consultant Paediatric Urologist and Service Lead for Paediatric Surgery at Chelsea & Westminster and Imperial College Hospitals.

“We are excited to offer these new online resources to the healthcare community in France, Germany, Italy and Spain,” said Rich Low, Head of Marketing at Palette Life Sciences. “We are confident they will benefit the global paediatric urology ecosystem and serve as valuable resources by providing critical information and access to educational resources through the Deflux Learning Center.”

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Palette Life Sciences unveils an online resource aimed at paediatric urologists, parents and caregivers in the UK dealing with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR)

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF., U.S.A. / STOCKHOLM SWEDEN, 4-Aug-2020 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — Palette Life Sciences, a fully integrated global life sciences company dedicated to improving patient outcomes, today announced the launch of Deflux.com/UK as part of its global expansion. Deflux.com/UK is a best-in-class online resource developed specifically for healthcare practitioners in the United Kingdom, as well as parents and caregivers managing children with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). VUR, sometimes referred to as urinary or bladder reflux, is a serious paediatric urinary condition in which urine flows from the bladder through one or both ureters toward the kidneys.

Deflux.com/UK features important information about VUR, including symptoms, causes, risk factors and treatment options, such as Deflux®. Comprised of hyaluronic acid (HA) and dextranomer polysaccharides to form a gel, Deflux is a minimally invasive biocomopatible treatment for VUR. Endoscopic treatment with Deflux takes about 15 minutes in a day procedure setting, and generally allows the child to go back to normal activities the next day.

Deflux.com/UK also provides physicians with access to the Deflux Learning Center, a leading global education platform that features information and training for paediatric urologists and their peers who treat VUR as well as other paediatric urology conditions. The Deflux Learning Center includes clinical articles, educational videos and webinars, brochures, downloadable tools and The PedSpace podcast series, created for and presented by paediatric urology healthcare professionals.

“Deflux is an effective, minimally-invasive treatment option that many caregivers simply aren’t aware of,” said Dr. Marie-Klaire Farrugia, Consultant Paediatric Urologist and Clinical Director for Paediatric Surgery at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. “My personal long-term experience with Deflux has proven its effectiveness and safety in reducing VUR and preventing UTI recurrence, thus avoiding use of long-term antibiotics. It is my hope that the new website initiative, which includes helpful resources for both physicians and caregivers, will help raise awareness and utilisation of this treatment option.”

“The entire Palette commercial team is excited to launch Deflux.com/UK, which we believe will help elevate the standard of care for VUR patients in the UK,” said Rich Low, Head of Marketing, Palette Life Sciences. “Deflux.com/UK will serve as a truly valuable resource for caregivers, providing critical information to paediatric urology healthcare professionals through the Deflux Learning Center, and to caregivers, connecting them to highly-trained specialists who provide high quality care.”

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Palette Life Sciences expands distribution network across Europe

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN / SANTA BARBARA, CALIF., USA, 15-Jun-2020 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — Palette Life Sciences, a fully integrated global life sciences company dedicated to improving patient outcomes, today announced global distribution expansion for two of Palette’s products, Deflux and Solesta. The expansion provides commercial access to more than 20 countries through five distributors around the globe, while adding direct sales in four additional countries: Cyprus, Greece, Hungary and Portugal.

KEBOMED, a leading European distributor of medical devices and equipment, will distribute the products in France, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland. Stratarium Sarl, will commercialize the products in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Switzerland leveraging their urology focused subsidiary, RA DistributionCJ Medical, a UK-based distributor of innovative technologies specializing in surgical and medical devices, will distribute the products in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Grifols, one of the leading companies in the production and sale of plasma-derived medicines and a top distributor of a broad range of products within their country will cover Spain, and GP Dermal, a specialist with deep ties across urology and pediatric call points will serve as the distributor in Italy and Malta.

“This enhanced distribution network allows Palette to ensure our customer and patient needs are adequately met across Europe,” said James Leech, Head of Corporate Development at Palette Life Sciences. “We have selected strong partners with deep experience and relationships in the urology and pediatric setting who will help us serve the product and education needs of physicians and hospitals. Palette and its network of partners are making significant investments within local markets to improve physician access to Palette resources, best management and treatment practices, and renewed product training.”

For more information or to place an order, please contact a Palette Life Sciences representative at eusales@palettelifesciences.com. Contact information for product orders or inquires by distributor are as follows:

KEBOMED: ordre@kebomed.dk
Stratarium Sarl: deflux-solesta@stratarium.com
CJ Medical: office@cjmedical.com
Grifols: jose.sagales@grifols.com
GP Dermal: luigi.galandini@gpdermal.com

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Sway Medical’s app for sports concussion exam received European CE Mark as Medical Device

sway-concussiontest-is-a-validated-ios-app-based-concussion-management-system

TULSA, OK, 08-Sep-2016 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — Sway Medical is a US medical device company who’s software turns an iPhone or iPad into a mobile medical device that provides immediate medical grade, objective concussion measurement to medical professionals.

Sway Medical LLC (Sway) would like to announce its official availability in all European Union Countries. Sway was issued its CE Mark after being marketed in the United States and Canada for two years. This is significant because European sports organizations ranging from youth through pro level now have an affordable and convenient sideline assessment tool supporting concussion related medical decision making. Medical professionals and trained coaches can obtain a concussion assessment via an Apple mobile device (iPhone or iPad) and the Sway Balance™ System web-portal. Acute objective measurements are obtained by performing a 1.5 minute balance and reaction time test protocol. Licensed athletic trainers, physical therapists and athletic therapists are able to join physicians in acutely managing the underserved market of youth sports, ages six and older.

Concussion injuries are very common in sports, often going un-reported or ignored until the obvious symptoms have incapacitated the athlete or draws the attention of a parent or coach. Second Impact Syndrome (SIS) is a serious medical condition with published mortality rates of up to 50%. SIS occurs when an athlete returns to play while still recovering from an initial concussion injury. During this time, the brain is highly susceptible to additional injury and complications. The Sway Balance™ System is able to accurately assess and track the acute and chronic outcome related to an athlete’s balance, motion reaction time and concussion symptoms. The Sway Balance™ System provides a graphical representation comparing suspicious injury event tests against a pre-injury “normative” or baseline score. The comparison of event tests against an established baseline is a common measurement for traumatic brain injury diagnosis and recovery tracking.

The Sway Balance™ System is available for purchase by licensed medical professionals involved in school, occupational or sports medicine through www.swaymedical.com. Additional protocols are available to assess an individual’s “Fall Risk” or “Functional Status”.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Virtual Pediatrics, “Immediate Medical Care, Virtually Anywhere” — Online Pediatric Healthcare Consults for Your Sick or Injured Child — To Launch This Month

Virtual Pediatrics (www.virtualpediatrics.com), a national pediatric telemedicine service dedicated specifically to children, provides immediate medical care to those sick or injured, without them having to leave the comfort of their home. Certified family and pediatric health care providers, through online webcam consultation, provide personalized treatment plans, including e-prescriptions if needed. Virtual Pediatrics is set to launch in 10 states (AZ, CA, FL, GA, IL, NJ, NY, NC, TX & VA) this month.

Virtual Pediatrics Providers

Virtual Pediatrics dedicated and compassionate providers, who are board certified, licensed and credentialed to practice in their respective state, remain on standby for consultation from the hours of 8am to 12am, seven days a week.

Why Wait?

Children no longer need to wait a day or two to see their family doctor, nor will they have to wait in a crowded office or ER waiting room with other sick patients for minor ailments. By receiving an immediate telemedicine consultation and treatment, kids won’t miss additional days of school, parents won’t have to call out from work and worry about additional lost wages, and most importantly, sick or injured children can start getting better sooner.

Save Money

The cost of a Virtual Pediatrics consultation is less than many walk-in clinic fees and insurance co-pays, especially those expensive ER copays parents often pay after hours, when their doctor’s office is closed.

What and Where Do Virtual Pediatrics Providers Treat?

Virtual Pediatrics can treat your child anywhere – home, daycare, or on vacation. This month, Virtual Pediatrics will launch in 10 states (Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia). Each month, additional states will be added until Virtual Pediatrics providers are able to care for children in all 50 states. Illnesses or ailments that can be treated through online consultations include, but are not limited to:

Abrasions, Allergies, Bites & Stings, Body Aches, Bronchitis, Bruises, Burns, Colic, Cough, Croup, Dehydration, Diarrhea, Ear Ache, Fever, Flu, Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease, Headaches, Hives, Itchy Eyes, Lice, Medication Refills, Minor Head Injuries, Nasal Congestion, Nausea, Pink Eye, Rashes, Reflux, Respiratory Infections, Seasonal Allergies, Sinus Infections, Skin Infections, Sore Throat, Sprains & Strains, Travel Medications, Urinary Tract Infections (Only for Older Kids), Vomiting

How Does It Work?

Parents can go to www.virtualpediatrics.com and click “start visit”, after which they will be directed to the registration page of our partner company, MeMD. Once the secure patient account is created, parents complete a brief medical history form for their child and submit payment, at which point they are directed to a patient care coordinator who will arrange the consultation between patient and healthcare provider. Upon completion of the webcam consultation, a Virtual Pediatrics provider will provide an individual treatment plan for the child’s ailment and, if needed, e-prescribe any medication to a local pharmacy that the family selected during the registration process. After the visit is concluded, parents can login to the patient account and print their child’s medical record as well as discharge instructions for their specific condition.

Leading Edge of Pediatric Healthcare

Virtual Pediatrics is working toward becoming the national leader in pediatric telemedicine, while providing excellent medical care to children and families in need. In this era of social media and advanced video technology, the practice of medicine is constantly evolving, and Virtual Pediatrics is at the frontier of this rapidly developing area of pediatric healthcare.

Contact Details: www.virtualpediatrics.com
doc@virtualpediatrics.com

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Night Time Pediatrics Group That Focuses On Free Care For Medicaid Families Opens It’s Third Clinic In Dallas Metroplex

Pediamed will open in a new location in Dallas Texas. Pediamed Children’s Night Clinics provide the opportunity for Medicaid families to bring their children in for FREE acute care and not have to take time off from work. In addition, the clinics will help the state as a whole, by reducing the traffic of non-urgent visits to the emergency room.

With the growing concern of misuse of the emergency room Pediamed Pediatric Night Clinics has opened it’s 3rd location in the Dallas Metroplex area. The clinic will be located at 3535 Buckner, Suite 100, Dallas TX and will be open 6pm to 10pm 7 days a week Monday- Friday 6pm to 10pm and Sat-Sun 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Pediamed focuses on serving the Medicaid population. Most Medicaid visits are free. Medicaid families are often forced to use the emergency room for common ailments, such as coughs and colds. They are forced to visit the emergency department because of the shortage of Medicaid providers in lower income areas of Dallas. The Parent can not afford to take the time off from work so the Parent exercises the emergency room as their only Medicaid option.

“Our goals are to ensure that sick children are tended to quickly in a comfortable environment,” says Guillermo Acosta, CEO of Pedi360. “We also want parents to stop the overuse of the emergency room and save it for real emergencies.”

In North Texas, Pediamed has entered into a contractual relationship with Parkland Community Health Plan in providing acute care to their Medicaid and CHIP members, representing close to 200,000 enrolled members within Dallas County.

“We project that Pediamed will be providing care for over 70,000 patient visits per year by the end of 2014,” Don McCoy, Pedi360 COO stated. “We are confident this after hours care alternative will help reduce non-emergent visits to the hospital emergency room and lower the cost of the Texas Medicaid program.”

For more information visit pediatricnightclinic.com.

CURRENT LOCATIONS/OPENING DATE:

Dallas Locations

3535 Buckner, Suite 100, Dallas TX- Opening April 10

9209 Elam Rd, Suite 100, Dallas, TX 75127

410 North Shiloh Rd, Suite 100, Garland, TX 75042

 

El Paso Locations

1570 Lomaland Dr, Suite B, El Paso, TX 79935

12350 Montwood Dr, Suite 200, El Paso, TX 79928

9740 Dyer Suite 112, El Paso TX 79924

2931 George Dieter Suite F, El Paso TX 79936

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“Heart Within a Heart” – Surgery Cures 12 Year Old With Rare Congenital Heart Disease

A 12 year old Indian boy successfully underwent open heart surgery for an extremely rare variant of Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection (TAPVC) at Sri Muthukumaran Medical College and Research Institute, Mangadu, Chennai.

Prabhakaran, a ‘blue baby’ born with a heart birth defect seen in only 1 out of every 500,000 births, had 2 “hearts” inside his chest, one within the other. This complexcongenital heart disease is so rare that it merited selection out of 430+ submissions to be presented at the recently concluded international conference of the Indian Association of Cardiothoracic Surgery (IACTS) at Mumbai in February 2013.

In an intricate open heart operation that lasted 5 hours, the cardiothoracic surgical team including Dr.S.Sivasubramanian, Dr.S.Visvakumar and Dr.Meenakshisundaram successfully repaired the defect.

Unable to afford the high cost of treatment, Prabhakaran’s widowed mother searched desperately for assistance with her son’s surgery. His operation was sponsored by theDr.Mani Children Heart Foundation, a Chennai-based NGO which has funded 100 heart surgeries for under-privileged children with congenital heart disease since its inception in 2003.

In the defect, a rare intracardiac sub-type of TAPVC, all 4 veins returning oxygen-rich blood from the lungs drained into a common chamber (the “pulmonary confluence”) – forming a mini-heart behind the regular heart.

This mini-heart then pumped blood into the atrium through a hole in the heart called an Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), making him a cyanotic ‘blue baby’. Prabhakaran’s surgery was carried out on 16th October 2012. A week later he was discharged from hospital, his lips and fingernails now pink and healthy.

The department of cardiothoracic surgery and cardiology at Sri Muthukumaran Medical College and Research Institute, Mangadu, Chennai has successfully carried out more than 75 operations on patients with valve, coronary and congenital heart diseases in the short period since its inception.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is rare, with an estimated incidence of 7 to 8 in 1,000 live births. Surgery is often risky and expensive, yet serious complications can arise if treatment is delayed.

For more information about congenital heart defects (CHD), visit the Dr.Mani Children Heart Foundation website at http://www.CHDinfo.com

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User Friendly Home Study Now Available For Paediatric First Aid Training

Train Aid has created a brand new home study scheme to be used on their monthly open paediatric first aid courses. The twelve hour courses are usually run over two Saturdays each month at the Selhurst Children’s Centre in South London and the Highgate Road Chapel north of the river. Most of the candidates work full time through the week in childcare roles, and therefore to ease the strain the idea to have one day’s home study was born. This means that candidates only now need to attend the second Saturday, and have as much time as they require too complete the home study work packs.

Work packs are easy to understand, which enable users to research theoretical topics, and then test themselves on them. Puzzles, pictures and multiple choice exams combine to test if a candidate has grasped a particular topic. The packs are then brought along to the practical day of the course where the instructor can make sure everything is in place, and field any questions. Paediatric first aid training coordinator Heather Bennett who designed the pack was on hand to say a little more:

“The concept behind the work packs was to replace the lectures usually held on day one of the training. For example of you take the sample topic of ‘First Aid Kits’, The learner now reads up on the topic instead of having a lecture, and can then test themselves through a puzzle. The material is still learnt in the same way, but there is no need to travel to a training centre”.

The main benefit to the new system is that learners can complete the first day of the course in their own time, and within the comfort of their own home . However this can be extended to anywhere, which means people can fill out their work packs on the commute to work or even on a lunch break. Another benefit is that the second day on the paediatric first aid courses solely focuses on learning hands on practical skills.

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World Asthma Day 2012: San Francisco Childcare Centers Eliminate Exposure to Bleach Cleaning Products

Bleach is a strong irritant, frequently linked to newly-acquired asthma. A recent decision by Compass Children’s Center in San Francisco to use exclusively “bleach-free” cleaning products resulted in visibly less asthmatic symptoms in both children and childcare workers.

According to the U.S. Department of Health – National Institutes of Health (NIH), asthma affects more than 25 million people in the United States and over 230 million people worldwide. As asthma typically begins in early childhood, the NIH is committed to reducing environmental risk factors in children in order to prevent asthma before it begins.

On the forefront of asthma prevention, the San Francisco Asthma Task Force in a 2011 report on Bleach Exposure in Child Care Settings , discovered a high correlation between bleach exposure and work-related new-onset asthma cases as well as the exacerbation of pre-existing asthma conditions. As a result they set about field-testing various sanitizers and initially recommended a number of bleach-free disinfectant and sanitizer alternatives.

Food Contact Sanitizer Recommended

In late April 2012 the task force issued an interim update to the 2011 report with the discovery of an accelerated hydrogen peroxide sanitizer, SaniDate Ready-to-Use (RTU) Hard Surface Sanitizer. This sanitizer can be used directly on food-contact surfaces and as a fruit & vegetable wash, requiring only 1 minute contact time to eliminate over 99.9% of bacteria and human health pathogens.

SaniDate RTU was also recently approved by San Francisco Department of Public Health and various city ministries have begun roll out of the product as it’s recommended bleach-alternative sanitizer for food-contact surface.

The following video features the story of Compass Children’s Center in San Francisco and the lives of children in poverty that are being affected for the positive by reducing and preventing asthma through their transition to a bleach-free environment.

SaniDate Ready-to-Use Hard Surface Sanitizer is available for retail or volume purchase through EnviroSelects LLC.

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Ribbon Cutting & Launch of Breathmobile® in Alameda

On Friday, January 20, 2012, the Prescott-Joseph Center for Community Enhancement, Inc. (PJCCE), in partnership with the Alameda Boys & Girls Club and Alameda Head Start will host a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Alameda Boys & Girls Club, 1900 3rd Street in Alameda as it launches services of the PJCCE Breathmobile®, a 33ft pediatric mobile asthma clinic, in the City of Alameda. The press conference and ceremony will start at 10:00am and will include members of the Alameda School Board, City elected officials, Alameda Head Start representatives, Alameda County representatives, and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Light refreshments will be provided.

Event: Breathmobile ® Press Conference & Ribbon Cutting
Friday, January 20, 2012
10:00am – 10:30am
Alameda Boys & Girls Club
1900 3rd Street, Alameda

Asthma rates for children in the City of Alameda, and particularly at Alameda Point are high in the 0-5 age group. Many families do not have insurance to access regular asthma health care,” says Washington Burns, MD, Executive Director of the Breathmobile. “We are happy to be partnering with the Alameda Head Start and Alameda Boys and Girls Club.” Dr. Burns was contacted in 2011 by Daniel Javes of Alameda Head Start, after Javes concerned about asthma rates in Head Start children, had heard about the work the Breathmobile was doing at schools in Oakland. Javes contacted Dr. Burns and said that the Boys and Girls Club would be a perfect site in Alameda to see children with asthma. Javes suggested he should contact George Phillips, Executive Director of the Alameda Boys & Girls Club, which he did. “The Breathmobile fits right in with our other health care initiatives like our dental clinic.” says George Phillips, the Club’s Executive Director, “It allows us to offer convenient access to services they might not otherwise use and will help us realize our goal of instilling healthy lifestyle habits in the children of our community.”

The Breathmobile®, the first of its kind in Northern California is owned and operated by PJCCE and is a 33 ft. Winnebago RV outfitted with the latest equipment to function as a pediatric mobile asthma clinic. Inside the van, there are an intake station, a small waiting space, a testing area for vital signs including Oximetry, allergen skin testing and spirometry, and an exam room. On board are two computer systems, the first has a health risk assessment system for asthma, and a screening module for pre-diabetes, and the other system is a state of the art electronic medical records system called “AsmaTrax.” Asthma and allergy specialists on-board include Pediatric Allergists, Registered Nurses, and Respiratory Therapists. A video system is also on board to play educational videos and CDs. Services are provided in English and Spanish, and are available at no cost to children and families. The Breathmobile® will also provide services at the Matheson Head Start in Alameda Point.

The Breathmobile’s® mission is to reduce the effects of asthma among economically challenged families by providing a sustainable, accessible asthma management program that will focus on regular preventive care, thereby shifting families away from acute episodic and emergency care.

There are other Breathmobiles® operating throughout the US, including Los Angeles, Orange County, Chicago, Baltimore, University of Alabama, and Phoenix, Arizona. All of these units form a national collaborative organization linked by a computer system located at USC to study and improve the effective treatment and management of asthma. Collaborative studies of Breathmobile® units in Chicago, Baltimore, Los Angeles and Orange counties in Southern California show a dramatic 73% reduction in Emergency Room visits and hospitalizations of asthma children being served by their Breathmobiles®. In its two years of operation, the PJC Breathmobile® has shown significant decrease in emergency room visits from 122 to 2, asthmarelated hospitalizations from 63 to 1, and school absences from 351 days to 17.

“There are so many diseases that we cannot control, but asthma is a controllable disease,“ says Dr. Burns, “By having the Breathmobile®, we can drastically reduce emergency room visits, hospitalizations, school absenteeism, reduce medical costs, and decrease morbidity and mortality of asthma by teaching patients how to control their children’s asthma. We are also increasing children’s academic performance.”

Founded in 1995, the Prescott Joseph Center for Community Enhancement, Inc. works to enhance the wellbeing of individuals and families in the West Oakland community through a broad range of wellness, education and cultural programs, and resources delivered in a safe, welcoming, respectful environment. Prescott Joseph Center partners with organizations and agencies to deliver services and referrals within the community. Located in the Prescott district, also called the Lower Bottom,” of West Oakland it is a center for community services, education, culture and development. Prescott Joseph Center for Community Enhancement has a three-fold mission to: promote the individual self-esteem of citizens in the community through education, skill training and cultural programs, thus supporting healthy families and economic self-sufficiency; promote the on-going renewal of community spirit among West Oakland residents and to organize and promote community activities that facilitate economic, social and cultural development within West Oakland community.

For more information, about the Breathmobile ® of Northern California, please contact Washington Burns, Executive Director at 510-290-1476 or e-mail:drburns@prescottjoseph.org. You may also visit the Breathmobile® website at:www.breathmobile-nca.org.

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Sports Stars Get Behind The Co-Operative’s Commitment To Governments Pledge To Get Kids Active

The Co-operative Group today launched a pledge to back the Government’s Public Health ‘Responsibility Deal’ to encourage more people to become more physically active. The Co-operative, which is already committed to inspiring young people to lead an active lifestyle, launched a pledge with its partner Activate Sport – the UK’s leading sports and activity camps for children – committing, by 2012, to:

• reach 20,000 through sports camps;
• double the number of camps to 500 across the UK.

To launch the pledge, golfer Lee Westwood and dancer Brendan Cole, whose specialist Academies are supported by The Co-operative, teamed up to give youngsters lessons in dance and golf, as well as swapping some professional tips with each other on the course at Rye Hill Golf Club, Banbury.

Other sporting stars backing the pledge include former England cricketer Andrew Flintoff, tennis star Annabel Croft, Welsh rugby player Shane Williams, England’s Rugby World Cup winner Matt Dawson and GB Hockey player and Olympic hopeful Crista Cullen – all of whom will be working with The Co-operative to achieve this pledge through their specialist Academies.

Simon Burns, Minister of State for Health and Co-Chair of the Responsibility Deal Physical Activity Network welcomed the new individual pledge on behalf of The Co-operative and Activate Sport.

He said: “This pledge on behalf of The Co-operative and Activate Sport is a great example of a major retailer working in partnership to promote a range of sport and physical activity opportunities for children and young people. This is particularly important for those children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds who often face a range of barriers to participate regularly in sport and physical activity. Through the Public Health Responsibility Deal, I am particularly pleased to see The Co-operative and Activate Sport pledging to reach 20,000 children and young people in 2012 – an increase of 25 per cent and hugely important in the year in which London will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The potential long-term benefits are huge and extend well beyond health to improved self-confidence and better social interaction.”

Fred Turok, Co-Chair of the Responsibility Deal, Physical Activity Network, said, “I am delighted that The Co-operative has moved so quickly in setting the standard for business by making a core commitment to the health of the nation, giving opportunities to young people to increase their physical activity levels through their partnership with Activate Sport. It is crucial that we improve the nation’s health through physical activity and embed exercise into the DNA of business and the community. I urge other businesses to follow this example and begin to think about their own commitments and role in improving the health of the nation.”

Lee Westwood commented, “I’m passionate about seeing as many young people active and outside as possible, and through my Academy, I’m happy to be part of this pledge to help create these opportunities. To achieve this though, sport needs to be made accessible so increasing the number of camps, is a positive step towards changing the lifestyle of people in the UK. I will also be helping The Activate Sport Foundation and The Co-operative take golf into state schools across the UK, in a task to opening up the game to everyone.”

Brendan Cole, who has set up his own Dance Academy, has also committed to The Co-operative’s pledge to get people active. He said, “Dance can really help build a child’s confidence whilst getting them healthy and active; it’s a great way to work off some energy, particularly for those who aren’t into traditional sports. It’s also not just for girls – boys can get so much out of it too. I’m delighted to be able to help with the pledge to get more people active and I hope I can help inspire people through dance.”

Peter Marks, Group Chief Executive of The Co-operative Group, commented: “The Co-operative recognises the role it has to play in promoting public health, and we are committed to working in partnership with the Government through the Public Health Responsibility Deal. The pledge we are making in partnership with Activate Sport is part of our broader commitment to the Responsibility Deal, and will encourage young people to lead a more active and healthy lifestyle. The pledge is also part of our wider commitment to inspiring young people – locally and globally – with thousands of initiatives encouraging young people to help change the world around them.”

For further information on The Co-operative and Activate Sport pledge go to http://responsibilitydeal.dh.gov.uk/2011/03/10/co-operative-group-the/

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Sales Of Second-Hand Child Car Seats Raises Safety Fears

Cash strapped parents could be putting their children’s safety at risk by buying second hand infant car seats, industry experts have warned.

New figures show that purchases of pre-owned child travel seats are rising, as families struggle to cope with today’s difficult economic conditions.

Car accessories retailer Halfords reports that 7% of its customers admit they have recently bought second hand car seats for their children, a rise of 2% compared to figures from its 2009 customer survey.

This is despite the fact that it can be virtually impossible to tell how old a second hand child seat is, if it has been involved in an accident, or even how to fit it, as most are rarely sold with the original fitting instructions or safety manuals.

“A lot of wear-and-tear on a pre-owned child car seat may not be visible to the untrained eye and buckles and straps that look fine at first glance may actually be so damaged that they could fail during an accident,” warned Halfords Child Travel Expert Samantha Preece.

“We know from our own research that 51% of parents do not know how to check if their child seat is correctly fitted, so it is a big worry that some people may buy a second hand car seat that doesn’t even come with instructions.”

Statistics on car accidents involving children are stark: every year 30 children between the ages of 0 to 11 years are killed, 400 seriously injured and over 7,000 slightly injured while travelling in cars 1. A correctly fitted car seat can help prevent some of these injuries.

Robert Anslow, managing director of the Baby Products Association, explained: “Generally a car seat will be used numerous times each day for many years and the BPA can’t stress enough the importance of buying new from a retailer who can provide expert product advice and the correct fitting instructions, which in the event of an accident, could save their child’s life.”

Samantha Preece added: “Some child seats will last for around 12 years, so given the added protection to the child and the peace of mind for the parent, a new child seat, correctly fitted, is an investment worth making.”

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Hospitals Sponsor a Mommy Blog for the Merrimack Valley

Lowell General Hospital and Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center are sponsoring The Merrimack Valley Moms Blog Contest from May 3, 2010 to May 24, 2010. All area mothers are invited to enter. The contest will culminate with four moms winning $250 each and being selected as featured mommy bloggers for the Merrimack Valley Region.

Hospitals Sponsor a Mommy Blog for the Merrimack Valley

“Moms today value exchanging ideas. Whether it’s the newest kid-friendly restaurant, a book review, or advice on work-life balance, they love to share with other mothers. We want to help with that. Through the Merrimack Valley Moms Blog we hope to connect local moms with one another and facilitate the sharing of information that they value,” says Michelle Davis, Lowell General Hospital’s Director of Marketing Operations and Community Development.

To enter the contest, visit Lowell General Hospital’s Facebook page and become a fan by clicking the Like button. Upload a video or post a short essay on why you’d be a great mommy blogger. If your post is persuasive- whether it’s funny, touching or engaging, you could be one of four area moms selected for a $250 prize and the opportunity to become a Merrimack Valley Moms featured blogger. To enter go to http://www.facebook.com/LowellGeneralHosp.

Each featured blogger will write at least one post a month. The topics will vary greatly, depending on the personalities of the bloggers and their range of daily experiences in the community. Some of their blog posts will come in the form of video posts. The bloggers will meet in person every other month at ‘blogger brunches’ to share ideas and brainstorm upcoming topics.

The Merrimack Valley Moms Blog will provide a forum to share views, experiences and tips with area moms. Of course, dads are welcome to read the blog as well! To visit the fledgling Merrimack Valley Moms blog, go to http://www.mvmoms.com.

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Texting Teen Moms Proves To Be A Convenient Source For Support Bloomington-Based Teen Parenting Group Sees Benefits Of Texting New Teen Moms

Nearly half (47%) of US teens say they can text with their eyes closed. That’s how vital texting has become in their lives.

Texting Teen Moms Proves To Be A Convenient Source For Support Bloomington-Based Teen Parenting Group Sees Benefits Of Texting New Teen Moms

This trend sparked the new text4baby campaign, a free health education program from the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition that sends pregnancy tips directly to expectant mothers’ cell phones. The new service will send weekly text messages, timed to the mother’s due date or their baby’s birth date.

The messages, written by government and nonprofit health experts, deal with nutrition, immunization and birth defect prevention, among other topics. To sign up, mothers-to-be can just text “BABY” to 511411.

While the national text4baby campaign is new, Bloomington Hospital has already seen the benefits of texting to communicate with new moms. Bloomington Hospital’s Gina Forrest began integrating texting into her Teen Parenting Group in 2008. Forrest sends tips and reminders directly to her teen mom’s cell phones through text messages.

“I communicate with the mothers through texting because that is the easiest and fastest way to do so. Texting has helped me build a relationship with them. They know that they can text me and I will answer,” says Forrest

For Natalie Wineinger, one of the teen moms in Forrest’s group, having texting as a communication option has been really beneficial.

“As a teen mom, I don’t really have time to pick up the phone. Texting is much more convenient for me,” says Wineinger.

Monroe Smart Start Birth to Five Coalition, a local group dedicated to coordinating existing resources to help children in their earliest years, also sees benefits in using texting to communicate with expectant and new moms. Lois Hutter-Pishgahi, director of Monroe Smart Start, is happy to see this new communication method being used nationally and on a local level because of its effectiveness in sharing information about pregnancy and early parenting with young parents.“We believe it makes sense to utilize existing services rather reinventing them. We realized that this is a very effective way of sharing information about pregnancy and early parenting,” says Hutter-Pishgahi.

Because four out of every five teens have a mobile device, Forrest and Hutter-Pishgahi know texting is an effective means of reaching teens like the ones in the Teen Parenting Group.

Forrest texts the mothers to send them reminders about upcoming appointments or meetings. This keeps them updated and less likely to miss appointments. Members of the Teen Parenting Group agree that texting is a convenient way for them to receive information.

“If I don’t know the date for my next appointment, I just text Gina and she can look it up for me. It’s as simple as that,” says Wineinger.

Text messaging represents an enormous yet unused channel for delivering vital health information to those who need it most. Over five billions text messages are sent daily, with texting use higher among women of childbearing age.

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FDA Blunder and Cover-up Kills Millions

The World Health Organization (WHO) has just recommended that drinking water contain 25-50 mg of magnesium (Mg) per liter to prevent deaths from heart attack and stroke. MgWater.com/download American bottled water averages <5 mg of magnesium per liter, while bottled water in the rest of the world averages about 20 mg of magnesium per liter.

FDA Blunder and Cover-up Kills Millions

The FDA and DOJ caused the Mg-deficient-water problem by destroying the American mineral water industry in the 1930’s, in the mistaken belief that pure water was good, and that mineral water was just impure water.

Epidemiological studies indicate that millions of Americans have died due to the FDA’s and DOJ’s destruction of the American mineral water industry. See:
http://www.mgwater.com/anderson.shtml
http://www.mgwater.com/lancet.shtml
http://www.mgwater.com/finland.shtml
http://www.mgwater.com/singh.shtml

For decades, the evidence has been overwhelming that Americans are very deficient in Mg, as evidenced by the 23% shortfall from the RDI, yet the FDA and DOJ have covered up their blunder, getting a Federal lawsuit dismissed before the evidence could be shown, and keeping silent about the millions of deaths indicated by over 50 epidemiological studies from nine countries.

Now, it is up to the FDA and DOJ to end this travesty, requiring the Mg content of bottled or canned beverages to be put in labels’ nutrition panels, and requiring that all bottled or canned beverages contain at least 25 mg of Mg per liter.

Foods no longer contain as much magnesium as they did a century ago, due to increased food processing and possible soil depletion. Consumers have generally rejected magnesium-rich whole grain foods like brown rice and brown bread, in favor of magnesium-stripped white rice and white bread. Bottled beverages are the most practical way of delivering magnesium to consumers.

Recent studies clearly confirm that water-borne Mg is far, far better in preventing cardiovascular pathologies than food-borne Mg. For more information, go to the Magnesium Online Library at www.MgWater.com.

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The National Alliance on Mental Illness Launches Social Networking Site for Young Adults

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has launched StrengthofUs.org, a new online community where young adults living with mental health concerns can provide mutual support in navigating unique challenges and opportunities during the critical transition years from ages 18 to 25.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness Launches Social Networking Site for Young Adults

Developed by young adults, StrengthofUs.org is a user-driven social networking community where members can connect with peers, share personal stories, creativity and helpful resources by writing and responding to blog entries, engaging in discussion groups and sharing videos, photos and other news.

The site offers resources on issues important to young adults, including:

• Healthy relationships
• Family and friends
• Campus life
• Independent living
• Finances
• Employment
• Housing
• Mental health issues

“Young adulthood is an exciting challenge, but also a confusing and stressful time for anyone,” said Michael Fitzpatrick, NAMI executive director. “Life can throw things at you fast.”

“Mental illness affects everyone. StrengthofUs.org is intended not just for young adults who have a mental illness, but for anyone entering adulthood that has a friend, parent or other family member facing a mental health problem.”

“Most of all, StrengthofUs.org is an interactive, fun space where young adults can share experiences and other information to empower each other, build relationships and offer peer support.”

StrengthofUs.org is about helping and inspiring each other,” said Alex M. White, age 23, a member of the advisory group of young adults who helped develop the Web site. “I would not be alive today if it had not been for the love, care and support I received from family, friends and loved ones.”.

About NAMI
NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. NAMI has over 1100 state and local affiliates that engage in research, education, support and advocacy.

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4th Annual Parental Alienation Awareness Day

Nearly everyone knows a couple who has divorced and used a child against the other parent. But not many people know there’s a name for such behavior–and fewer still know it is a particularly damaging form of child abuse.

The 4th Annual Parental Alienation Awareness Day on April 25, 2009 is set as a day for families around the Globe to help raise awareness about this rampant global issue. Many countries, states, provinces, and cities have already proclaimed April 25 to be Parental Alienation Awareness Day, and many educational and family events are set to take place in cities in North America, Europe, South America, Australia, and New Zealand. 

Parental Alienation is defined as a set of behaviors exhibited by a parent or an adult the child trusts, that puts the child in a very damaging loyalty bind between the people they love. These behaviors can be as mild as the occasional badmouthing of a parent, but in extreme cases may lead to parental Abductions and even Parental Homicide.

Research shows that children exposed to Parental Alienation may suffer a lifetime of low self esteem, and depression as well as substance abuse, anxiety, and difficulty trusting anyone or forming lasting relationships.

“A pattern of alienation usually begins without any malicious or conscious intent to harm the relationship between the other parent and the children,” explained Sarvy Emo, Founder of Parental Alienation Awareness Day. “Parents are often unaware of how subtle behaviors and comments can put children in a loyalty bind that is not only harmful to their emotional and mental health, but may affect their relationship with the targeted parent.”

“… the hurt, the anger, the shame and the pain would never go away. I could numb it and put it in the back of my mind but it never went away. It comes out in how I am as a mother, a spouse, a friend. In the decisions I’ve made, in almost everything I do.” Says an adult who experienced Parental Alienation as a child.

Parental Alienation Awareness Organization urges family members, and the people that surround a child’s life to watch for the children perceiving one parent as causing the other parent’s financial problems, showing a sudden negative change in attitude around one parent or being uncharacteristically belligerent around a parent or other authority figure.

To learn more about PA and Parental Alienation Awareness Day, visit paawarenessday.com

To learn more about Parental Alienation and Hostile Aggressive Parenting, visit www.paawareness.org

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More Parents Travelling For Child Surgery

Traveling out of state or country for medical treatment, commonly referred to as medical tourism, is now catching on with parents seeking specialized surgeries for their children. 

In the last few years, parents f r o m around the world have flocked to the United States for specialized pediatric surgeries. And American parents have sought help in countries with nationalized healthcare or more affordable surgeries, such as India. But as with all surgical procedures and practices, experts are advising caution. 

Dr. Armen Ketchedjian, author of the book Will It Hurt? A Parent’s Practical Guide to Children’s Surgery, says that any parent looking for the best care for their child should place quality first, and that any decision made about surgery should be done with the advice and counsel of the child’s pediatrician. 

“Selecting a surgeon for a child can be a difficult process for parents,” says Dr. Ketch, as the author is known to his patients. “It’s a frightening thing to be told that your child needs surgery, and parents are sometimes slow to trust doctors to operate. So caution is a natural and advisable strategy.”

Hospitals like Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, have adapted to the trend and deal with families f r o m around the world—200 f r o m Italy alone—who travel there to take advantage of the hospital’s specialized surgeries to restore vision in premature babies. 

For American parents, the journey often leads them to areas with American-trained doctors working for lower wages. “Unfortunately, the healthcare companies sometimes insist on very strict criteria for approving a surgery,” says Dr. Ketch. “It has changed the way pediatric surgeons practice medicine.”

Dr. Ketch hopes that his book will contribute to better parent education about pediatric surgery in general and recommends that parents who are considering traveling to see specialists keep the following guidelines in mind:

* Look for a surgeon who has training in the kind of surgery your child needs

* Find out in advance what type of facility your child will have to be in for the procedure

* If you have a choice between a medical center that specializes in pediatrics and one that does not, choose the one that specializes in pediatrics

* Look for a surgeon who has extensive experience

These tips and more are part of Dr. Ketch’s efforts to give parents some insight into the world of pediatric surgery. He says hopes that more parents will take advantage of resources like his to learn about their options before making a final decision about where to take their child for surgery. 

Will It Hurt? helps educate parents about pediatric surgery. It is an easy-to-read resource that will give parents, children and families the help and reassurance they need to make surgical experiences as stress-free as possible.

Listed in The Guide to America’s Top Anesthesiologists by the Consumer Research Council of America, Dr. Ketch trained at Cornell Medical Center, with a fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and a pain management elective at Boston Children’s Hospital. He has also worked to help develop new techniques in ambulatory anesthesia, taught medical students and residents, and cared for more than 10,000 patients.

Dr. Ketch is also the author of the children’s book Golden Apples (winner of the 2008 Reviewer’s Choice Award), a beautifully illustrated book that aims to help educate children about the dangers of drug abuse. 

For more information, contact the author directly at support@dr.ketch.com.

WARREN ENTERPRISES, LLC and author Dr. Armen G. Ketchedjian chose Arbor Books, Inc. (www.ArborBooks.com) to design and promote Will It Hurt? A Parent’s Practical Guide to Children’s Surgery. Arbor Books is an internationally renowned, full-service book design, ghostwriting and marketing firm. 

(Will It Hurt? A Parent’s Practical Guide to Children’s Surgery by Dr. Ketch; ISBN: 0-9815373-0-8; $14.95; 172 pages; 5½” x 8 ½”; softcover with illustrations; WARREN ENTERPRISES, LLC).

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There Are Pearls In The Pain of Every Experience

Former Child Bride/Teenage Wife/Mother Realizes the American Dream: You Can Make It if You Try. Dr. Trevicia Williams’ stirring bounce back book, There Are Pearls In The Pain of Every Experience: Spiritual Truths about Life’s Experiences (ISBN: 0-9743519-0-3), cuts to the chase about her life as an African American teenager in an arranged marriage to a man of European descent in the United States. It’s about currents of faith, hard decisions and perseverance and ways to bounce back from near life shattering experiences.

Trends in the United States show Mississippi as the state with the highest rate of teenage pregnancies. However, Houston (Texas), the fourth most populous city in the U.S. is probably the last place one would expect to find a 13 year old African American girl facing discussions about an arranged marriage, and, at 14 years of age in an arranged marriage to a man of German descent 12 years her senior. That’s exactly where Dr. Trevicia Williams’ arranged marriage happened, and, at the age of 15 she became pregnant and gave birth to her daughter just before her sixteenth birthday.

How she survived an incredible start is in There Are Pearls In the Pain of Every Experience: Spiritual Truths about Life’s Experiences. It’s about being caught between childhood and forced adulthood, and having to make some very difficult choices: Taking high roads out of some very low places. Dr. Williams takes readers on a subtle journey between having to create a support system, being a child herself while being a responsible parent to her child. It’s about faith and adversity and Dr. Williams’ use of inner strengths. “I’m amazed when I hear the life stories of young women auditioning for shows like True Beauty and American Idol. Success requires an awareness of inner strengths and greatness, and, it is during the moment of decision that the course of life is determined, or, at the very least, the next experience” says Dr. Trevicia Williams.

About the Author
Dr. Trevicia Williams is a psychologist, trainer and speaker with over a decade of academic studies in human behavior. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston-Downtown, Master’s degree from the University of Houston-Clear Lake and Doctorate degree from Walden University. Dr. Williams’ passion for helping women optimize their potentials takes her into community based organizations speaking to girls and women about overcoming adversities. It also inspires her to travel across the U.S. with motivational, inspirational and educational conferences. Dr. Williams is a woman of titanium faith: Although Lakewood Church of Houston, Texas, Pastor Joel Osteen, is the church that she still calls her “home church,” she also enjoys worship at Northland Church, where Dr. Joel Hunter is the Senior Pastor, community in Orlando/Longwood, Florida.

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