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Updated November 24, 2007 |
Adopt a Sidelined Saint this year
We have several Sidelined Saints up for adoption for the 12 Days of Christmas this year. If you like to share the Christmas Spirit with one of our shut-ins, please stop by the table set up in the Great Hall for more information or contact Sharon Oliver at 353-2362 or 376-5400.
Couple don't just sit on the sidelines
Visiting with our older FPC members is a labor of love for Richard and Kay Hamburger, longtime members of the Congregational Care Visitors Team. “ There's a lot if interesting history there," said Richard, and Kay agreed.
“ I really enjoy hearing about our members in earlier
days." That must be the case, because the Hamburgers have six sidelined
saints 
between
them, and when they are visiting and see someone else from FPC, they
are likely to stop by to check on that person, too.
“ Older people have a lot to share," they say. While visiting one if his saints, Richard learned that she had joined FPC in 1947 and had taught Sunday school here for 20 years. With the change in staff, that record had been lost. Richard remembers that when his mother was sick, one of her nephews visited every Sunday, and that meant a lot to him and his mom. Now, he's doing the same for others.
Kay and Richard have been visiting FPC saints for about 20 years. They started visiting at Olsen Manor after someone at FPC asked them if they'd like to be visitors. Kay visited two women, and Richard visited one of the men. They've been involved with the program ever since.
Richard grew up on a farm in Weatherford, Okla., until his family moved to Clinton in 1957. He attended the German Congregational Church, which was close to his home. He graduated from Oklahoma State Tech in 1960 and moved to Amarillo to take a job at Pantex as a draftsman. He joined FPC in 1962.
Kay, who grew up as a Baptist in Clovis, moved to Amarillo because she had friends here. She worked in the office at Pioneer Natural Gas. The couple met at Polk Street Methodist Church where they participated in the singles' program. After their marriage in 1969, Kay joined FPC. Both have assumed various offices and roles in the church.
They sang in the choir for 30 years, and Kay has taught the 2-year-old Sunday school class for 32 years.Their daughter, Kelly, and her family are active at FPC, and their daughter, Kimberly, and her husband live in St.Peters, Mo., where they just had their first child, Luke Anthony Herm, on Dec. 16. He is the Hamburgers third grandchild.
Member urges others to play part in congregational care
Long time Congregational Care volunteer, Elena Byers, wishes
more people knew about the work of this special committee.
Elena has served as both a Sidelined Saints visitor and as a chairperson for
two of the divisions. In this capacity, she has checked on many of our sidelined
members and kept the church aware of their needs.
This dedication comes from a real love for people and a desire to serve others and her Lord. Elena feels that many FPC members would enjoy being part of the Congregational Care Visitation team and encourages those interested to contact Mary Rogers-Ellsworth or Jean Edwards, or herself. As a chairperson, she often checks on several members monthly if the assigned visitor is unavailable.
Elena spent her early years in Mississippi but was encouraged to move to Amarillo by her sister. She and her daughter, Paula, joined FPC in 1955, and she has been an active and involved member ever since. Shortly after moving to Amarillo, she met and married Wayne Byers.
In addition to her work with Congregational Care, Elena is active in Presbyterian Women, Missions and NUFFs. She was one of the original founders of the Rainbow Room. While she no longer plays golf, she remains an active member of the Ladies Golf Association where she holds a life membership and the longest tenure of any of the members.
She also participates in water aerobics three days a week and enjoys time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her daughter lives in Amarillo, and her stepson, Tom, lives in the Dallas area.
Sticks and stones
Osteoporosis causes fragile bones that are more likely to break
Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. These broken bones occur typically in hip, spine and wrist.
The
spine is made up of a series of small bones called vertebrae. Vertebral
fractures can result in a loss of height and stooped posture. Hip fractures
may limit an individual's mobility and can lead to a loss of independence.
Women over age 60 are especially at risk for osteoporosis, but because
osteoporosis is a progressive disease, bone loss can begin much earlier.
At age 30, bone begins to break down faster than it is formed. And while
osteoporosis is typically thought of as a woman's disease, it strikes
men as well. The risk factors are similar for both men and women and
include the following: over age 50, family history, small or thin build,
insufficient calcium and vitamin D (which aids in the absorption of calcium),
lack of exercise, smoking, and excessive use of alcohol and caffeine.
The symptoms of osteoporosis can be very subtle, such as neck or lower back pain, loss of height and stooped posture. Often, people are unaware of having the disease until they suffer a bone fracture, the greatest danger of the disease. Hip fracture, which accounts for about 15 percent of osteoporosis-related fractures, leads to death in one out of five patients due to complications such as blood clots and pneumonia.
Diet is one way to slow bone loss and should include calcium-rich foods such a dairy products, leafy green vegetables, nuts and seafood. (Americans eat one-and-a-half to two times more than the recommended amounts of protein; excess protein limits the body's ability to retain calcium, which may cause problems over time.) Vitamin D production decreases in the elderly, in people who are house bound, and during the winter.
These individuals may require Vitamin D supplementation to ensure a
daily intake of 400-800 IU daily. Exercise can also be helpful in building
and maintaining strong bones. Exercise that forces you to work against
gravity — so called weight bearing exercises such as walking — are
beneficial. Try to practice good posture and to make your environment
fall proof.
Bone-mass measurement is a simple, painless test that uses small amounts of radiation to determine the density or thickness of the bone in the hip, spine and wrist. Speaking with your doctor about osteoporosis will help you better understand your own risk for the disease as well as available prevention or treatment options.
— Care Ministry
Beware of drug interactions
The more medication a person takes, the greater the likelihood that the drugs will interact in a way that causes problems.
One
drug may make another less effective, or two drugs together may cause
an unwanted side effect. Older people are especially at risk for drug
interactions because they take more medication than younger people. Moreover,
older people are more prone to side effects from medication.
As a person ages, the liver and kidneys become less efficient, so the body is not able to metabolize drugs as well.
These days, people also have to worry about the interaction between drugs and herbal remedies. Herbal products are not regulated by the same government standards as a prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
As a result, they can vary in potency and purity from one jar to the next. And because doctors and pharmacists have little reliable information on how herbal remedies are metabolized or eliminated from the body, they are not always able to predict how these remedies will interact with other drugs.
Here are some rules everyone should follow:
- Make sure your doctor is aware of everything you are taking — prescription drugs, over the counter medicines, herbal remedies, vitamins and supplements.
- Keep an updated list of all those things and bring it when you visit the doctor.
- Use one pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions; the computer can keep track and check for potential interactions.
- Ask your pharmacist about potential interactions with over-the-counter drugs you may be buying.
- Heed warnings about whether or not to take a drug with certain foods. Drugs can be affected by what we eat and drink.
- Ask your pharmacist when is the best time to take your medication. For example, the risk of heart attack and stroke is greater in the morning, so blood pressure medication should be at its peak. To get that result you might be better off taking those pills at night; most antihypertensive you take in the morning won't fully kick in until afternoon.
If an antibiotic is prescribed, take it all. If you do not, the surviving bacteria may multiply and become stronger.
Gum disease can lead to other problems
Recent studies have revealed that periodontal disease, often referred to as gum disease, may contribute to heart disease and stroke, and it may be harmful to people with diabetes and lung disease.
When bacterial plaque builds up on your teeth, you're at risk for periodontal disease.
The bacteria associated with periodontal disease can travel into your
bloodstream and to other parts of your body jeopardizing your health.
Once in the blood's circulatory system, the bacteria may cause an inflammatory
response that causes an increase in the production of clotting factors.
People with periodontal disease may be two to four times as likely to suffer from heart disease and stroke caused by a blood clot as those without gum disease.
The word “periodontal" means “around the tooth," which includes the gums and bone that supports the teeth.
Periodontal disease is caused by plaque, a colorless film of bacteria that sticks to teeth. If it is not removed daily, plaque can build up.
Bacterial toxins start to destroy the tissues and bone around the teeth. The gums detach from the teeth forming pockets.
As pockets become deeper they provide a larger space for bacteria to
live. The collection of bacteria causes further loss of bone and tissue.
If this condition is not treated, the bone that holds the teeth in place can
be destroyed, resulting in the loosening and loss of teeth.
While some symptoms such as swollen, bleeding gums and chronic bad breath are obvious; you can have periodontal disease and not realize it. That is why regular checkups are important.
Prevention includes daily removal of plaque through brushing and flossing, and seeing your dentist twice a year. Use of irrigating devices (i.e. WaterPik) and an interdental stimulator may help.
Periodontal disease is preventable, controllable and treatable. So take care of your heart by taking care of your teeth.