- Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhen Kimberly LaBrier went in for a biopsy following a mammogram, she knew her radiologist suspected breast cancer. As she sat up on the exam table, she noticed a tiny gold cross glowing through a night light. “In that moment, a complete sense of calm washed over me. It was undeniable,” said LaBrier, who owns the lifestyle brand Kimberly James Jewelry. “That moment became the inspiration for my Trinity Cross necklace.” A few days after the biopsy, LaBrier was diagnosed with cancer. “Before I knew it, I had a double mastectomy scheduled, chemotherapy planned and was told I would be taking an estrogen suppressant for at least five years,” she said. Her husband and three children, ages 18, 16 and 13, supported her throughout her journey. “They carried me through breast cancer in ways I can’t fully put into words,” LaBrier said. “Charlie [her son] would pray with me every single night and ask God to help his mom’s hair not fall out. Those moments will stay with me forever. Their love, their faith, their strength, that is what got me through.” In addition to her family’s support, LaBrier found hope in her cancer care team. She was treated by Dr. Young Lee, medical director of breast medical oncology at Luminis Health. “What meant the most to me was that Dr. Lee listened,” LaBrier said. “I never felt dismissed. I felt heard, respected and supported in making informed decisions about my care.” LaBrier said she found it reassuring that Lee encourages integrative oncology. “That perspective made it easier for me to have open conversations about nutrition, fasting and supportive therapies,” she said. LaBrier has completed chemotherapy and is taking an estrogen suppressant. “What I wish more people understood is that even when someone finishes treatment, it doesn’t mean they are done,” she said. “Many survivors continue medication for years, and many of the medications have terrible side effects. The journey doesn’t just end.” Today, LaBrier continues to run her business while balancing life as a wife and mother. “Cancer changed me,” she said. “It stripped away what didn’t matter. It deepened my faith. It strengthened my family. It gave new meaning to my work and my jewelry.” To learn more about breast cancer care at Luminis Health, visit Luminis.Health/Breast.0
- Orthopedics, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogYou’ve trained hard, stayed consistent and pushed through every mile. Now it’s time to make it count. Dr. Max Coale, foot and ankle orthopedic surgery specialist, shares his top tips to help runners feel their best before, during, and after race day. Pre-Race Checklist Fuel up smart. Carbohydrates are essential for energy. Eat a balanced breakfast but stick to what you know — race day isn’t the time to try something new. Drink water in the days leading up and the morning of. Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water in the days leading up to your race and on the morning of. Consider adding electrolytes to maintain balance and prevent cramps. Stretching. Proper stretching and warmups before the race can help you avoid injury and feel your best. Take 5–10 minutes to warm up with dynamic stretches like ankle circles, calf raises, and leg swings. Stay calm and listen to your body. Keep your thoughts positive and focus on the excitement of race day. But don’t ignore pain — mild discomfort can be an early sign of overuse or a developing injury. Post-Race Checklist Cool down. Keep walking for 5–10 minutes after you run to gradually lower your heart rate. Try some light stretches, focusing on calves and hamstrings. Prioritize recovery. Your body needs rest to repair. Avoid high-impact exercise for 1–2 days post-race and consider active recovery like swimming, yoga or cycling. Use RICE when needed. If you notice swelling or tenderness in your foot or ankle, follow the RICE method: rest, ice, compression and elevation. Follow up. Ongoing pain after running isn’t normal. Luminis Health is here to help you get answers and get back to what you love. Authors Schedule an appointment with foot and ankle orthopedic surgery specialist, Dr. Max Coale.0
- News & Press Releases, Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3Blog“No one should have to go through what we did,” says Clay Bockting, Arnold resident. Read on to hear his story. I was 50 years old when I had my second heart attack. The first time it felt like I had a cannonball on my chest. This time, I thought it was indigestion, but given my history, I called an ambulance. They took me to AAMC and everything looked normal. I called my fiancé, Sandra, and told her she could come pick me up, that I’d be ready to go soon. Then everything changed. It felt like a wave came over me, and all of a sudden there was a team prepping me to go to the heart catheterization lab. As I was being hooked up, I texted Sandra: “I’ve gotten worse. I love you.” The next thing I remember is waking up. Sandra and the doctor were there. The doctor told me I was stabilized, and a helicopter would be taking me to Washington because I needed open heart surgery. It was only at this minute that we learned AAMC doesn’t perform heart surgery. It was unnerving, especially given what happened next. There wasn’t availability for me yet in Washington, so I had to remain under constant surveillance for three hours. If my condition had gotten worse, I probably wouldn’t have made it. Thankfully, I did make it to the hospital, where doctors performed a six-way heart bypass surgery on me. During recovery, the trip from Annapolis to Washington was hectic for Sandra and my family. It greatly added to the stress of the situation. I felt guilty putting her through all the pain and anxiety. We feel lucky, knowing things could have ended very differently. No one should have to go through what we did. After cardiac rehab at AAMC, I’m doing great. I quit smoking, see my doctor regularly, and enjoy spending quality time with Sandra, my kids and grandkids.0
- Men's Health, Orthopedics, Women's Health, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogChristopher Bell first injured his knee playing tennis nine years ago. Seven years and two surgeries later, he was still in pain, and his options were narrowing. Fortunately, a new study at the AAMC Research Institute brought state-of-the art treatment to the Annapolis resident that no one else in the region could offer him. After his injury, one of the bones in Christopher’s knee had developed what doctors called small potholes. They caused enough pain that he could no longer play tennis. Microfracture surgery, which involves drilling into the pot holes to encourage scar tissue growth provided nearly two years of relief. But when the pain returned, his only other option was a partial knee replacement. “I went to three other doctors,” Christopher said, “including the orthopedic doctor for the Baltimore Ravens, and it was either quit playing tennis or have a partial knee replacement.” That’s when Thomas Harries, M.D., at Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center offered him another option. Through the AAMC Research Institute, Dr. Harries was participating in a national study of a new procedure called HemiCap joint resurfacing. It’s an outpatient procedure that has been used in Europe for four years, and is now being evaluated for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in the U.S. “A hemi cap is a small metal implant that restores the joint surface and keeps the joint from deteriorating further,” said Dr. Harries. “It’s like filling a pothole in the road. If you don’t fill it, it’s just going to get worse and worse.” The metal implants provide a permanent solution to this kind of chronic knee pain and preserve the healthy portion of the knee. Dr. Harries said 30 or 40 other institutions participated in the study, and after two years of patient follow up, the procedure is in review by the FDA. “It’s not available to the general public yet,” Dr. Harries said. “For me, being involved in the research end means an opportunity to gain more knowledge of these cutting edge procedures and the different products out there. It benefits your patients to have a physician who is keeping up with the modern technology and involved in developing it.” Christopher is walking proof of those benefits. His knee feels great, and he plays tennis every Thursday night. “It was absolutely surprising that I was able to be part of the study and have this cutting edge procedure at Anne Arundel Medical Center right here in Annapolis.”0
- Plastic Surgery & Skin CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWe all age, but you can take steps to keep your skin youthful. Transitioning your skin care regimen is only half the battle. As we age we lose volume in the skin around the upper lip and over the cheekbones and often gain volume around our neck, which can make us look older. Injectable remedies can help. Treatments should only be performed by licensed health care professionals. Here are some of the latest anti-aging trends: Injectable fillers can improve the appearance of nasolabial folds (lines that run down the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth) and marionette lines (lines run from the corners of the lips downward towards the jawline). Today’s commonly used fillers use a natural substance to plump up sunken areas and make the shadows in deep lines disappear. Juvèderm is the world’s top-selling filler and is used to fill lines, cheeks, vertical lip lines and lips. For example, Juvèderm Voluma XC can help add volume to your cheeks to lift and contour the area, lasting as long as two years. The procedures are done in office, and results are instant. Botox remains the best treatment for crow’s feet and the frown lines that appear between the eyebrows. Many physicians also use this to relax the lines that run across the forehead. By relaxing the muscles just below the skin’s surface, the lines smooth out and give you a more youthful look. Remember, there are also lifestyle habits you can adjust for healthy skin: Drink lots of water. While we hear this often when it comes to healthy skin, it is not cliché. Drinking water is good for your skin and overall health. An adequate amount of water daily keeps your body’s systems running properly and that includes your skin. A lack of hydration can make your skin dry, tight and flaky. Dry skin has less resilience, which makes it more prone to wrinkling. Protect your skin from the sun. Even in winter when skies are overcast, UVA and UVB radiation can damage your skin. And a significant amount of sun exposure can occur even when you’re not outside. Up to 60 percent of UVA radiation linked to premature aging (UVA) can penetrate glass. Sitting by a window for extended periods of time throughout the day, whether it is in a car or a building, can increase harmful sun exposure. Apply broad spectrum sunscreen (SPF 50) every day. Avoid smoking. The nicotine in cigarettes and the smoke itself is very harmful. Smoking not only deprives the skin of oxygen but damages collagen, which is a protein that holds your skin together. Smoking speeds up the development of wrinkles and leaves skin dry and discolored. But the best way to ensure youthful-looking skin is to prevent skin damage when you’re young. Melanoma, one of the more worrisome skin cancers, has been linked to sunburns before the age of 18. And there seems to be a connection between severe sun exposure as a child and damage to the weathered-appearing skin as an adult. Patients who have the worst skin as adults in terms of aesthetics and possible development of skin cancer had their worst sunburn before age 18. Learn more about Luminis Health Plastic Surgery’s cosmetic services.0
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