After a stroke, help is available

HONESDALE, PA — Phil Dux, 62, survived a hemorrhagic stroke in 2013, even after a week in a medically induced coma. But the Hawley resident found recovery very bleak at first. He had limited movement on one side of his body. He couldn’t return to work. Life wasn’t the same. Dux admitted to depression and anger at the time.
“I wanted some assurance life was worth living,” he said recently.
His wife, Therese, and the Stroke Support group at the Wayne Memorial–Good Shepherd Inpatient Rehabilitation Center answered his prayers.
“Support and encouraging people make all the difference,” Dux said. “It’s about physical recovery, but also mental, emotional and cognitive ability.”
Wayne Memorial Hospital is a certified primary stroke center with a stroke alert team trained to evaluate a potential stroke patient. Responding to warning signs right away can make a drastic difference in your outcome.
Which is why thinking F.A.S.T. is important. That translates to Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty and Time to call 911.
Wayne Memorial also offers a fast turnaround for a CT scan of a potential stroke patient’s brain and round-the-clock access to a board-certified neurologist via teleconferencing, a spokesperson said. For ischemic strokes, the emergency department can also administer the only FDA-approved clot-busting drug, tPA (tissue plasminogen activator).
Survivors like Dux say, however, that there needs to be more for post-stroke care. “It’s a brain injury,” he said, “not everyone recovers in the same way or returns to the way they were pre-stroke.”
His wife pressed for every type of rehabilitation therapy she could find, and together they discovered the Wayne Memorial-Good Shepherd Stroke Support Group.
“My story of survival began at Wayne Memorial,” said Dux, whose initial care called for a transfer to another facility. “And I want to share my experience of strength and hope to benefit others.”
He calls the positive stimulation of the support group a valuable asset in recovery.
The stroke support group meets monthly at the hospital. Facilitator Janene Dubois said it’s an opportunity for learning, socializing and sharing encouragement with other survivors and caregivers. Find out more at www.wmh.org.

Bridge Back to Life launches mobile treatment unitWrigh

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — Bridge Back to Life, which treats people with substance use disorders, will officially unveil its new mobile treatment unit.
The organization provides psychosocial evaluations, individual and group counseling for mental health and substance use disorders, psychiatric assessments and medication management, medication assisted treatment and much more.
For more information or for help, call Bridge Back to Life at 845/367-4673.

Blood drive at Browndale fire station

BROWNDALE, PA — The Browndale Fire Station will serve as a Red Cross blood donation center from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, June 17. The station is located at 620 Marion St.
To make an appointment to donate blood, call 800/733-2767 or go online to www.redcrossblood.org. A few walk-in appointments are available.

Free tickets to NAMICon

NATIONWIDE — The National Alliance on Mental Illness is offering free registration for its national conference, NAMICon, for anyone aged 16 to 29.
Learn more about the conference at https://events.nami.org/namicon2022.
To register, visit https://bit.ly/3NQC52z.

King David’s story retold in Amish country

HONESDALE, PA — Take a trip to Lancaster, PA, and watch a performance of “David,” courtesy of the Wayne County Area Agency on Aging.
The day trip takes place on Thursday, August 11.
“David” is a retelling of a story of the Biblical king, and it’s produced by Sight & Sound Theatre.
Early in the morning, the bus will collect theatre-goers from three different sites in the county and head down to Lancaster; the show begins at 11 a.m.
After the show, participants will get a Pennsylvania Dutch lunch at the Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant at about 2 p.m., will stop at a local farmers market and then head home around 4:30 p.m. The bus will get back to Wayne County in the evening.
The cost is $140 per person, and there are no refunds. The price includes the show, lunch, transportation and a tip for the driver.
To learn more and to sign up, call Marie at 570/253-5540 or Debbie at 570/630-2385.

Garnet Health–Catskills recognized for COVID-19 response

HARRIS, NY — Garnet Health–Catskills was recently recognized by the Liberty, NY Rotary for its performance during the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospital CEO Jonathan Schiller accepted the Hummingbird Award at the club’s seventh annual Hummingbird Award and Paul Harris Fellow recognition lunch in Monticello.
The Hummingbird Award recognizes individuals doing their part to make the community, region and world a better place.
Proceeds from the luncheon benefited Liberty Rotary’s clean water program in Haiti, which provides healthy, clean, potable water to thousands of men, women and children in and around Cap Haitien.

Wright Center debuts North Pocono practice

SCRANTON, PA — A recent open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony launched the Wright Center for Community Health’s new practice in Covington Township.
The practice, which began serving patients on April 25, is located at 260 Daleville Hwy., Ste. 103, in the North Pocono 502 plaza. It is open four days a week—Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday—from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The practice will treat patients of all ages. It includes exam rooms and a separate treatment area designated for caring for individuals coping with COVID-19 and other illnesses. It also treats patients regardless of whether they have insurance.
To learn more about the Wright Center, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570/591-5150.

Hearing aids for kids

ALBANY, NY — Let’s Amplify NY advocates asked state legislators to make hearing aids accessible for children with hearing loss.
Hearing aids are not covered by many insurance plans, and paying for them adds financial distress to families across New York, the organization said.
“Current insurance companies in New York State are not required to reimburse plan holders for the cost of medically-prescribed hearing aids,” a news release stated. “The cost of hearing aids runs between $3,000 and $5,000 and [the aids] must be replaced every two years in order to keep up with changing technology.”
“We have paid approximately $35,000 for hearing aids for our two children, because we do not receive any reimbursement from our health insurance policy, despite paying thousands of dollars in insurance premiums each year,” said Rosemary Queenan, a parent of two children who are hard of hearing.
Let’s AMPLIFY NY called on the state legislature to mandate insurance companies to reimburse families for the cost of childhood hearing aids.
“My patients often struggle to fund their much-needed hearing aids… and multiple sets may be required in a child’s early and formative lifetime,” said Jason Mouzakes, M.D., a pediatric otolaryngologist. He has found that only about 10 percent of families with children at high risk for hearing loss follow up on diagnosis and management, “in large part because of financial concerns.”