Camp Odayin 2023: Summer Camp (and more!) for Heart Warriors

What better way to celebrate spring – start planning summer camps! Nothing makes me happier in the cold winter months than to plan our time during the warm summer sun. With two in college, there is only one teen left at home to plan summer adventures. Top of his request list – Camp Odayin.

WHAT IS CAMP ODAYIN?

I really think my accolades from the Camp Odayin 2019 post I wrote sums up Camp Odayin the best. As a parent who has handed off their child as a newborn to a surgical heart team, the stress level was about the same when deciding if signing him up for a four night sleep-away camp (without access to technology!) would be good for them. Turns out it was one of the best decisions we made.

Read more
February is Heart Month

Google hard enough, and you can find a “celebration” for each and every day of the year. National Peanut Butter Day (Jan. 24th). National Food Day (Oct. 24th). National Submarine Day (Apr. 11th). Of course, there are National Month proclamations. National Caregivers Month (November). Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October). One of our favorites is in February – Heart Month. While everyone knows that February 14th is St. Valentines’ Day, but did you also know it is Congenital Heart Defect Day? Keep reading to find out why February is an important month to focus on all things heart related.

Read more
Shingles. On. My. Ear.

You read that right. Shingles – that painful rash and blisters that’ll turn crusty can pop up right on your ear. Your EAR. I have worked in the hospital setting for fifteen years, seen numerous cases of shingles almost everywhere, but never just the ear. Now, after dealing with the aftermath of this for a month and finally feeling like there is a light at the end of the tunnel, I want to make sure everyone realizes what the wrath of shingles can do, how to recognize it and even how to prevent it.

Read more
Number One Birth Defect: Congenital Heart Defect

That title may sound shocking. The truth is that nearly 1 in 100 babies born each day have a congenital heart defect (CHD). Some go unnoticed. Others become apparently within a few days or month of birth. Then there are those that (thankfully) are noticed before birth and require surgery within days of arriving in the world. This week, February 7th – 14th, we are going to highlight on our social media pages areas of all things CHD, but today want to share with your a bit of our heart journey.

Read more
Coaching Success by Nurse Practitioners

What could coaching with our Nurse Practitioners mean for you? Your family? See what 1:1 personalized coaching can do for you and your healthcare questions. What can you expect? Follow our Instagram and Twitter, get a glimpse on what our customized services can do for you. Keep reading this post to get a sneak peak on the topics in store!

Read more
Crochet Blankets Challenge

Many people have picked up new hobbies over this pandemic. My new hobby was trying a new crochet stitch called “corner to corner”. After a weekend of watching some YouTube videos, I found I really enjoyed the stitch and thought I would make a “themed” blanket for one of my sons. I found some free patterns online, and make the first “square”, a cloud from the Mario Brothers video game. So proud of my work, I showed my youngest son. His reply?

Read more
COVID-19 Continued Diligence & Vaccines

For most of us, the 2020 pandemic has been a long eight months. It may feel longer. Others, it has barely affected everyday routines. Whatever your case may be, we all must work together. Our continued diligence in taking the measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 can make a difference. By doing some simple tasks we can make everyday activities safer, reduce virus spread, and protect those most vulnerable. Even with the vaccines approved, this is far from over.

Read more