Community
The St. Joe's
Experience
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Dear Debra
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end your questions to deardebra@renmedia.us
or look for an anonymous question submission form
on Debra's online column at www.thejewishnews.com .
Debra Darvick
Dear Debra,
My husband and I will be visiting my
For Exceptional Stroke Care,
Visit St. Joe's
A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of
the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called
a "brain attack" and is considered a medical
emergency. When you or a loved one has a
stroke, call 911 and get to an emergency room
immediately.
If blood flow is cut off for longer than a few
seconds, the brain cannot get blood and oxygen,
Ramesh Madhavan,
and can result in a stroke. A stroke can take two
MD, DM 1
forms: a clot or a bleed in the brain and if not
treated quickly, you can suffer brain damage or
death.
There is hope if you receive timely, specialized
treatment. For the best, technologically
advanced stroke treatment, come to the leader in stroke care—St. Joseph Mercy Oakland
(SJMO). As the home base of the Michigan Stroke Network (MSN), SJMO has top stroke
specialists—vascular and interventional neurologists, a neuro intensivist, neurosurgical and
neuroendovascular specialists, neuroscience nurses and other clinicians—to treat your stroke
and restore your quality of life.
St. Joe's stroke specialists use the latest treatments to resolve a stroke. In some cases, a
clot-busting drug can dissolve the stroke. In more severe cases, an interventional procedure is
performed using the latest technology, such as stent retrievers, to remove the clot and restore
blood flow to the brain.
In 2004, SJMO, a member of the Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, became Michigan's
first certified primary stroke center. This laid the foundation for the MSN, which was launched
in October 2006 by Trinity Health and SJMO. The MSN provides technologically advanced
stroke care not only at St. Joe's, but also to more than 30 partner hospitals throughout
Michigan via telemedicine, using two-way, audio-visual robotics to provide remote clinical
health care. The MSN works in partnership with the Wayne State University Physicians Group
to provide access to stroke care, ongoing clinical trials and stroke research across Michigan.
"To prevent a stroke, follow a healthy diet, reduce your sodium intake, keep your cholesterol
and blood pressure down, exercise and don't smoke," says Ramesh Madhavan, MD, DM, an
SJMO vascular neurologist and Medical Director of Telemedicine.
Dr. Madhavan also advises for protection from a stroke, know your risk factors and the signs
and symptoms of stroke. Visit www.michiganstrokenetwork.com to learn more.
Be aware of the the acronym FAST to remember the signs of a stroke:
F: Face numbness or tingling
A: Arm weakness or paralysis
S:Speech abnormality
T:Time is critical
"By knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke, you can help save a loved one," says
Dr. Madhavan.
By Jack Weiner,
President and CEO
St. Joseph Mercy
Oakland
in-laws soon with our new baby. They
are throwing a party in our daughter's
honor. lam nervous about how I will be
able to keep all the guests from touch-
ing her.
I don't want to appear mean, but I
can't stand the thought of hordes of visi-
tors trying to hold her and reach for her.
I know they mean well and are excited
for us, but how can I protect our baby
from all that touching without seeming
rude or unappreciative?
— Tiger Mom
— Where's the Bachelorettiquette?
Dear Tiger Mom,
I understand your anxiety about
being the center of some pretty
intense attention. Just remember that
everyone who reaches out to touch
your baby is overcome with excite-
ment and memories of their own days
as a new parent. Plain and simple,
babies are magic; the spell they cast
turns ordinary people into boundary
breakers, well-meaning, but boundary
breakers all the same.
On party day, designate a place as
baby central, maybe in your in-laws'
den or living room. Set up a Pack'n
Play or lay your daughter on her favor-
ite blanket on a section of a couch or
deep chair. The idea is to make her ac-
cessible to looks and cooing, but not
to reaching out and touching.Take
turns with your husband receiving
your guests.
By staying beside your daughter,
you can say simply and warmly to
anyone who looks like they might
pounce,"Please, no touching' They
will get the message. And should you
encounter someone who doesn't, re-
peat your no-touching request firmly
and perhaps take the baby to another
room for a brief nap or a feeding.
Above all, take a deep breath
and enjoy all the attention and love
during your stay. Before you know it,
your little daughter will be running
circles around you. Next time you visit
your in-laws, you just might welcome
someone taking her off your hands
for a few minutes so you can grab
a bagel or slice of quiche and share
some grown-up conversation.
Dear Debra,
I've just returned from another budget-
blowing bachelorette weekend. When
I RSVP'd, I asked the hostesses what the
shared costs would be. The party was in
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another state so there were flight and
hotel costs as well. The hostesses never
responded to me. Some of the other
guests were just as shocked as I was at
the cost of the dinner and gift we were
expected to contribute. The bride was
not a Bridezilla in any way. I don't think
she would have wanted us to go to such
an expense.
There are more friends in our group
who are engaged or about to be. I want
to celebrate with and contribute to the
events. But what can I do so that I don't
end up broke before the last bride walks
down the aisle?
Dear Where's the
Bachelorettiquette,
(Nice turn of phrase by the way.)
As with everything from baby birth-
day parties, bar mitzvahs and sweet
16s, wedding hooplah is approaching
Roman proportions. Instead of burn-
ing silently while the hostesses fiddle
with the plans, speak up!
Before you RSVP, ask the hostesses
what they estimate the shared costs
will be. Be straight up; let them know
that you cannot RSVP without a clear
picture of the costs involved. If the
plans seem to be drifting toward
Rome, offer to research some budget-
friendly options.
Because all of you are going to be
trading roles — hostesses, guests,
bride — there should be sensitiv-
ity to everyone's financial realities. If
not, and if you really cannot afford to
attend, tell the bride as soon as you
can. Plan to do something special
together before the wedding. Bottom
line, what matters most is being there
for your friend throughout the years.
One party won't, or shouldn't, make or
break a good friendship.
You might be surprised that others
in your group are just as concerned as
you are. Before the next bash, perhaps
all of you can discuss reasonable
parameters so everyone can attend
and still be able to meet their financial
responsibilities.
And look at it this way. Learning to
speak up now and set boundaries is
good practice for when you all have
babies and you are confronted with
party guests who want to touch and
hold your newborn. (See above from
Tiger Mom.)
Debra Darvick shares her unique take on life, books
and more at debradarvick.com.