For 11 years running, Celebrate The Season has brought families and the community together. This year, it returns once again to bring warmth and the fun of the holiday season to the Lowcountry. And while you’re making memories, seeing the lights, and shopping with local vendors, you’ll also be helping your neighbors in need.
You’ve probably been told to ‘live your life’ and ‘be in the moment,’ so it’s no surprise that you might not want to think about the what-ifs. What if you are in an accident or become too sick to make decisions about your own healthcare? Will your family know what you want — or don’t want — done to keep you alive?
You’ve been playing a little too much pickleball or bowling, holding babies or toddlers too long or carrying heavy groceries into the house. Now you have some aches and pains in your shoulder and it’s hard to sleep at night. A part of your shoulder called your rotator cuff might be to blame and, no, this injury doesn’t just happen to professional athletes.
As a hardworking entrepreneur, Fran Hanebrink’s goal is to make people happy and be a part of this amazing Summerville community!
Your body is a machine that gets put through its paces each and every day and your joints take the brunt of the workload. Thanks to hours of walking, carrying packages and babies, running, playing sports and standing, you might find that your joints — such as your knees, hips or neck – hurt and feel a little stiff. This could be osteoarthritis.
Summerville-based Realtor Jana Bantz doesn’t need to tell you that Charleston’s historic real estate market is off-the-charts hot. Open your email, glance at your phone, turn on the TV. The headlines are everywhere.
ProMotion Chiropractic and Therapeutics – a mobile chiropractic clinic – is offering a new approach to chiropractic care. Although mobile chiropractic is not a new concept, there are currently no other self-contained mobile clinics in the Charleston area. Historically, in-home doctor visits accounted for nearly 40% of patient care until the 1970s, but from the 1980s through today, patients have found themselves fighting traffic, waiting for appointments and missing work to get to the doctor. Seeing an opportunity to address this vacancy, Greg implemented a fully mobile practice in order to allay current anxiety surrounding doctor visits and to address the changing infrastructure in the area.
It seems to make sense that if you eat less food, you’ll lose weight. But that’s not necessarily the case, according to Dr. John B. Cleek, an obesity medicine specialist with Roper St. Francis Physician Partners.
If you missed the opportunity to obtain affordable health insurance late last year, you now have another chance to protect yourself and your family members from the financial disaster that can accompany serious medical issues. President Joe Biden recently signed an executive order that established a special enrollment period for coverage under the Affordable Care Act. You can go to the trouble of signing up on your own, or you can enlist the help of a qualified insurance agent – which won’t cost you a thing.
Job loss, remote learning, financial strain, stress and fear of you or your family members getting sick are just some of the concerns weighing down everyone during these trying times.
Choosing a Realtor involves evaluating their local experience, knowledge of the market and professional approach as the top reasons why you should choose them to represent your interests when you buy or sell a home. Possibly a more important aspect of a Realtor is the relationships full-time professional Realtors nurture with their clients.
Nobody wants to think about a medical emergency happening to them or their loved ones, but the fact is that illnesses and accidents can happen. If they do, your health – or the health of your loved one – shouldn’t wait. Be prepared by knowing now when you should get to the emergency room, what the medical staff can do for you and when the ER may not be the best place for your symptoms.
In its tenth year, Celebrate The Season was primed to fly past the $1-million mark in funds raised to support Berkeley County-area charitable organizations. With a plan developed specifically to keep volunteers and attendees safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the show will indeed go on, highlighted by the Holiday Lights Driving Tour, a mile-long beacon of brilliance that is expected to attract 30,000 visitors.
Since opening its doors in 2019, Lowcountry Community Hospice House has been proud to serve the Tri-County area. In its first year, the hospice house has served more than 350 patients with the highest level of care in its spacious facility that’s decorated to feel as welcoming, serene, and home-like as possible.
During the year 1988, the Berkeley County Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse introduced the prevention concept. It became apparent if Prevention was to be accepted, it needed the input and support of Berkeley County citizens. The first countywide Prevention Board was established in 1989 with approximately 12 individuals representing various agencies and communities.
When she visited the Summerville area, Sarah Beem saw the potential of its growth and wanted to be a part of it. Beem is originally from Greenville. She previously worked in property management and the equine show circuit for eight years, which she left to pursue starting her business. While living in Greenville she saw what happened to the city when BMW was established; Greenville became one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.
When someone gets emotional, it’s said that they have a lump in their throat. While that kind of lump is harmless, you may have a reason for concern if you actually see or feel a lump. The symptoms of something more serious are not always obvious. They can mimic other diseases. But if you have a lingering sore throat, a sinus infection that won’t go away, neck pain, voice changes, breathing difficulties, coughing or trouble swallowing, all of these symptoms can be indicators of thyroid cancer.
Lowcountry Orthopaedics is a pioneer in performing same-day joint replacement surgery utilizing the most advanced robotic-arm assisted surgical technology. The first independent practice in the Lowcountry to develop this program in an outpatient surgery center setting, the Robotic Joint Replacement Program at Lowcountry Orthopaedics Outpatient Surgery Center allows patients to have total joint replacement surgery and return home the same day! Patients benefit by eliminating the need for hospital admission and can rehabilitate at home.
Through the hormone it produces, the thyroid influences almost all of the important processes in your body, including breathing, heart rate, digestion and temperature. These systems fluctuate depending on the amount of thyroid hormone being secreted. Problems occur if the thyroid makes too much or too little hormone. When functioning improperly, the thyroid can cause a range of problems, including drastic changes to your weight, energy, digestion or mood.
When you think of jewelry in the Lowcountry, the name synonymous with beautiful diamonds at the best prices is Colucci’s Jewelers, serving the Charleston-Summerville area since 1959. For Summer Colucci, who entered the business in 2007, it has been a love affair with the beauty of gems, the emotions they evoke in customers, and the man who brought her into the business.
When the COVID-19 pandemic began to impact the United States, Fetter Health Care Network answered the call in the Lowcountry. With many uncertainties such as testing supplies, personal protective equipment or reimbursement rates, Fetter knew they needed to step up and serve their community. Since March 2020, Fetter has served over 13,600 patients across Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester and Berkeley counties. Fetter currently leads the model for COVID-19 mobile test clinics amongst Federally Qualified Community Health Center (FQHC) in the state. “We understand the importance and need to reach vulnerable populations,” Fetter Chief Executive Officer Aretha Jones-Powers explained. “We are a safety net provider and we are here to serve all communities in our service areas.”
As pediatricians, we want to see children get back to daily routines and rituals that they thrive upon. This includes getting back to school. It is important to keep a few considerations in mind to provide the safest environment possible for our precious little ones.
Women newly diagnosed with breast cancer are faced with a myriad of decisions to make about their care. Treatment plans vary for each woman, depending greatly on stage, grade, type, pathology results, genetics, and more. A woman’s oncologist will remain a part of their long-range treatment plan long after the initial surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy is over. On average, women consider 2-3 oncologists before determining with whom to embark on their breast cancer journey.
Are you considering working out to drop a couple pounds from staying home? Maybe you’re just looking to get in better shape? No matter what your reason for starting a new exercise routine, don’t take one step without making sure you have the right footwear.
Are you dealing with a crick in your neck that seems to linger forever? Do you wake up with shoulder discomfort that lasts throughout the day and sometimes disrupts your sleep in the middle of the night? You’re not alone. Millions of Americans suffer from these common issues, but there are ways to ease your pain.
Becoming a caregiver for a loved one is a role few are truly prepared for. It’s typically thrust upon people, who can quickly become overwhelmed. That was Peg Lahmeyer’s situation in 1990 when her father passed away, and she and her family became caregivers to her mother who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. She had to quit her job, even with a toddler and a two teenagers at home.
There are a number of reasons your joints — especially your knees and hips — could be hurting. The pain could be a result of osteoarthritis, an old injury flaring up, too much high-impact activity, or simple wear and tear that occurs over time. If you’ve tried everything to ease your pain, it might be time to consider a joint replacement.
It seems to make sense that if you eat less food, you’ll lose weight. But that’s not necessarily the case, according to Dr. John B. Cleek, an internal medicine specialist with Roper St. Francis Physician Partners. Dr. Cleek points out that genetics are responsible for 50 to 70 percent of a person’s weight, but other factors contribute to what your bathroom scale tells you each morning. For example, if you don’t get enough sleep, your metabolism decreases and your appetite increases.
Parenting is an incredibly difficult job. Children don’t come with instruction manuals and there is no apprenticeship or high school class teaching us how to do it. Moreover, two-thirds of South Carolina adults report having experienced an adverse event as a child.
Santee Cooper is offering Lowcountry residents three distinct ways to enjoy the holiday season and help those in need – and at the same time display the power of renewable energy sources.
One of the best parts of living in the Lowcountry is enjoying the great outdoors — but that can also mean all kinds of nasty bites, stings, and other injuries from insects and ocean dwellers.
Do you ever wonder what a day at The ARK looks like or what social respite means? Respite programs give family caregivers a much-needed break from the stress of round-the-clock caregiving. Our program is a social model program (it is not medical) that keeps loved ones with memory issues connected to their community through fellowship, meaningful activities and lots of fun that enhances their independence and self-esteem.
Charleston’s summers are no joke. The high temperatures combined with the high humidity can be potentially dangerous if you don’t pay attention to your body. Whether mowing the grass, playing at the beach or even working in the blistering sun, it’s important to know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
While everyone knows colonoscopies are not exactly the most pleasant procedure, getting screened for colon cancer is incredibly important — and can potentially save your life. “Many of the symptoms are silent, so many people will not have any major symptoms whatsoever,” says Dr. Jorge Lagares-Garcia of Roper St. Francis Healthcare. “Pain can be a late symptom of very advanced colorectal cancer.”
Menopause is a natural, normal process, but for some women it can feel quite mysterious — because it’s something so few people discuss.
“I frequently hear, ‘Why doesn’t anyone talk about this?’ All of a sudden women can’t sleep, and they have no idea what’s going on,” says Dr. Elaine Eustis, with Roper St. Francis Physician Partners OB/GYN. “They see two or three doctors before they get to me. It’s surprising to me that more women don’t talk about this.”
“Runners take your mark”. It has evolved every year for nearly two decades, but to Peg Lahmeyer, the scene never gets old. Listening to the horn and watching the mass of runners surge from the starting line remains emotional for the executive director of The ARK of South Carolina. Because each of the competitors is there to support the organization’s mission of helping local families dealing with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Although they don’t speak the same language, animals are excellent communicators. As pet owners, we just have to learn how to listen. However, even the most attentive person can overlook early signs of illness, especially because they may often be mistaken for normal signs of aging.
The handsome brick house off West 5th North Street belonged to former Summerville Mayor Berlin Myers, and with its airy sunroom and bright backyard retains much of the warmth of the home it once was. These days, no one lives there permanently. But it’s still a home to those dealing with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia who find hope and support within.
Not unlike children, pets are members of your family and as a pet owner, it is your responsibility to participate and partner in your pet’s care. But you don’t have to do it alone.
If you’ve ever had kidney stones, you know that they’re painful. Kidney stones are small, hard mineral deposits that can form in the urine.
When it comes to maintaining health and protecting yourself and your family against diseases, vaccinations play an essential role.
The healthcare community is experiencing a shift toward value-based care with a focus on improving patient outcomes and experience. This includes prenatal care and birth outcomes.
This year, the flu is hitting later than usual, so even though winter may be fleeing, the flu is not. For many people, flu symptoms can appear seemingly out of nowhere, so it’s important to understand the symptoms.
“The ARK has been more than a Godsend,” says Ed Moock as he sat at a table in the dining room there. He had just brought his wife, Vickie, to spend the day at The ARK which means it’s his morning to regroup. At first, he thought she was having mini-strokes, but then the diagnosis came. She had Alzheimer’s.
If you’ve ever had chicken pox, you could be at risk of developing shingles sometime in your life — so it’s important to understand the signs, symptoms and treatment options.
Everyone knows losing weight—and keeping it off long-term—can be challenging, especially for obese individuals who need to lose significant amounts of weight. For many people, bariatric surgery can be a great option that doesn’t just help you lose weight but helps you maintain lifelong health and a better quality of life. “Bariatric surgery is becoming the gold standard for the treatment of people with morbid obesity and the medical problems related to it,” says Dr. Bryan Thomas, who specializes in bariatric and general surgery at Roper St. Francis Healthcare. “The goal is for you to reach a healthy weight and then maintain that weight for the rest of your life.”
The old saying goes, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but that isn’t exactly true. Dogs are capable of learning at any age; however, enrolling your puppy in an obedience training program early on will yield better results and help you build a strong relationship based on trust.
Your hearing is like vacation time: if you don’t use it, you lose it! Once any part of your ability to hear slips away, if it is left untreated then there is a chance it is gone forever. Audiologists call this process auditory deprivation.
The holiday season is a great time to reflect on the bounty of our lives. And when it comes to making the warm, fuzzy feeling last as long as possible, giving back to the community is the way to make it happen. The Dorchester County Habitat for Humanity is gearing up for another year of The Angel Tree Program, a special way to ensure neighbors in our area have hope for a home. According to Resource Development and Marketing Director Moriah Hollander, donations to Dorchester Habitat throughout this holiday season are a gift that keeps on giving.
Are you experiencing night sweats, hot flashes, increased anxiety or irritability? These may be signs of menopause—the natural biological process in which the menstrual cycle stops.
Every year we’re faced with the challenge of the holiday and winter season: the dreaded extra pounds we are liable to pack on with an extra cookie here and an extra holiday drink there. If you are trying not to gain weight through the holidays or just trying to maintain a healthy balance, consider these tips.
The holidays are a time of joy and celebration, of gratitude and introspection. They are also a time when the pain of losing loved ones intensifies. During the holidays, it is important for families to find a way to honor and remember their family members and close friends who have passed away, according to Parks Funeral Home in Summerville.
Santee Cooper’s Celebrate the Season, the monthlong charitable holiday festival, is back with all the splendor and cheer guests have come to expect. Presented by Berkeley Electric Cooperative, the colorful Holiday Lights Driving Tour and accompanying Weekend Holiday Fairs are affordable, wholesome fun for the entire family.
When Ernie Blaylock and his wife Silvia moved back to Dorchester to care for his mom, it was the fulfillment of a vow.
“We promised Dad we would take care of them and the property when the time came.”
That time arrived two years ago when Silvia and Ernie relocated from Oklahoma to Dorchester to care for his mother, Augustine Blaylock, and oversee the property that is his family’s legacy.
It’s imperative for women to make sure they’re maintaining good breast health. While women can’t control their genetics or a family history of breast cancer, what they CAN control is seeking proper medical treatment and screenings. If you are age 40 or older, you should be seeing a healthcare provider for routine screening mammograms, says Dr. Susanne Bradford, an OB/GYN with Roper St. Francis Physician Partners.
As much as you’d like to, taking your beloved pet with you everywhere you go isn’t always possible. Whether it’s for an out-of-town business trip or family vacation, a safe and reliable pet boarding facility may be the best option for your pet’s wellbeing and your piece of mind. Some of the same things you would look for in a veterinary clinic will still hold true when searching for a kennel, but there are also some others to consider.
“When words are inadequate, we turn to ritual.” Since the earliest days of humanity, across civilizations and cultures, humans have honored their dead with some kind of ritual. The ritual persists into modernity, and for good reason: funerals serve a very important purpose, according to Parks Funeral Home, a third-generation business in Summerville. Consider all the reasons […]
This year, an estimated 110,070 women in the United States will be diagnosed with a gynecological cancer – the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells originating in the female reproductive organs. There are five types of gynecological cancer, including cervical and ovarian.
Most people assume eating healthy and exercising will result in dramatic weight loss. And while a balanced diet and physical activity are important elements for a healthy lifestyle, they aren’t always enough to help seriously overweight people achieve weight loss goals.
The changing season always inspires us to change up things in our lives and in our homes. Now that the weather is cooling off just a bit, it can make us think about shopping for cozy new items that reflect our tastes. The good news is, there’s a way to breathe fresh air into your household decor without breaking the bank – and while feeling great about giving back to your own community.
From pills to implants and everything in between, there are a wide variety of birth control options available. However, most methods are temporary – meaning you can start or discontinue use at any time. For women who know they do not want to have children or are confident they are finished having children, permanent birth control may be the solution.
Sponsored by: Roper St. Francis HealthcareCharleston’s summers are no joke. The high temperatures combined with the high humidity can be potentially dangerous if you don’t pay attention to your body. Whether mowing the grass, playing at the beach or even working in the blistering sun, it’s important to know the signs of heat exhaustion and […]
The same amount of consideration that goes into choosing a pediatrician for your child should go into finding the right veterinary clinic for your pet.
You know that refreshed, happy feeling you get when you rearrange the living room furniture? We do too – and it’s even better when you spruce up your entire home with a few new-to-you pieces.
If you don’t know the difference between a bank and a credit union, you’re in good company. Many Americans do business with banks unaware that they could be repeating the benefits of credit union membership.
It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that a vast majority of seniors say they’d like to stay in their own homes for as long as possible. In fact, surveys have found that is what 90 percent of seniors want.
When it comes to helping people understand the role of a palliative care doctor, Dr. Beth Wolf describes it as simply as she can: the palliative care team provides an extra layer of support while a patient is going through a significant illness.
Once upon a time in 1993, a passionate group of local volunteers felt called to take on the important task of helping their neighbors. That group eventually became the Dorchester Habitat for Humanity, and their mission still rings true in 2018 –“Putting God’s Love Into Action by Bringing People Together Building Homes and Hope.”
Searching for the best care options for an aging loved one might seem like a daunting decision, but it doesn’t have to be. According to the Population Reference Bureau, the number of Americans ages 65 and older is projected to more than double to over 98 million by 2060. Thankfully, so has the wide range of in-home care options for taking care of seniors.
There is probably nothing more life-changing than losing a loved one and the grief that accompanies it. Grief can shake us to our core – physically, emotionally and even cognitively.
Having trouble hearing? You’re not alone. In fact, 48 million Americans are in the same situation, and the numbers are only growing as Baby Boomers age and noise continues to negatively impact younger generations.
Parents to-be do a lot of planning for their new baby. They pick out the safest crib and car seat, decorate the nursery and take classes on breastfeeding and infant CPR. But many parents wish they’d done a little more pre-conception planning because there are plenty of questions that need answered before the baby bump.
Even when a loved one’s death is not unexpected, the actual event is shocking and sad. At a time of grief and vulnerability, bereaved relatives are required to make a whirlwind of decisions about the funeral and associated issues. For many, the task is overwhelming and can compound their grief.
As parents or elderly family members age, it may seem like there’s been a role reversal – the people who kept you away from danger as a kid and guided you through life may suddenly be the ones in need of care.
Winter is almost over! Even those of us who appreciate winter for its better characteristics (like the excuse to eat comfort food or cozy up next to the fire) are secretly ready to get everything cleaned out and organized. Between Christmas, snow days and tax paperwork, the task can feel overwhelming – but it doesn’t have to!
Parents know that every child is different. Kids have a wide range of educational and personal development needs, and so schools must prepared meet those diverse requirements in order to foster successful students.
We’ve all heard about the great work Habitat for Humanity does for communities around the world. But how much do you actually know about the organization?
For example, did you know that there’s a Habitat affiliate right here in Dorchester County? Since 1993, Dorchester Habitat for Humanity has been “Building Homes and Hope” with the help of an inspiring community of volunteers. Here are a few other facts and fictions you should know about our local Habitat for Humanity chapter.
Our auditory system is integral to how different parts of the body communicate with one another. So when hearing is damaged, it can signify health issues elsewhere in the body, explains Dr. Hollie Bahen at Hearing Care of Summerville. “That is one major reason hearing loss should never be dismissed,” she adds.
Open any medicine cabinet in this country and you’re likely to find one or two unused prescriptions. We’re given a drug for a tooth extraction, but need to use only one or two pills. Or we have minor surgery but use only half the medication.
What happens to all these leftovers? Some are flushed down the toilet. Others are thrown in the trash. Many continue to accumulate in the medicine cabinet.
Losing a loved one any time of year is devastating, but the holidays can be especially tough as the days become shorter and colder and everyone around the bereaved celebrates and counts their blessings. And while nothing can make the pain go away, family and friends showing they care can lighten the burden a little. […]
It’s time to get festive again for the holidays, and Santee Cooper’s Celebrate the Season, presented by Berkeley Electric Cooperative, is the perfect occasion to do just that. Located in Moncks Corner and serving everyone in Berkeley County and beyond, this annual holiday festival goes on throughout the entire month of December and involves must-sees for the entire family.
Christmas carols are playing from every station on the radio. Everywhere you go, you hear Salvation Army bells ringing. And you find yourself mentally cataloging your cousins so that no one is left off your shopping list.
It’s time to review your health insurance. Open enrollment for the health insurance marketplace begins Nov. 1, so it’s the perfect time to update any information and review your policy to ensure it’s still the best fit for your health care needs and budget.
Health insurance has been at the forefront of many debates, discussions and decisions since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2010.