- Women's Health, Pediatrics, Uncategorized, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAdalyn Marie Shockley came into this world weighing 1 pound, 6.9 ounces and measuring 12.6 inches long. She took her first breath at 6:14pm on April 27, 2015, following an emergency C-section at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Immediately after delivery, she was transferred to AAMC’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit–Teddy’s Place. Photographer Leah Adkins captured specialmoments from the Shockleys’ early days in the NICU and wrote about her experience taking the photos on her blog. Addy, as her parents Meisha and Adrian Shockley call their itty-bitty miracle, was born at 27 weeks gestation. “Her skin was translucent—too sensitive to even touch,” Meisha recalls. An Unexpected Journey Today, Adalyn is home, although she continues to routinely see a series of pediatric specialists on the AAMC campus—including her cardiologist, pulmonologist, endocrinologist, and infants and toddlers therapist—to ensure continued healthy development. “Even though it’s a two-hour drive from my front door in Salisbury to AAMC in Annapolis, I am adamant that Adalyn stay with the same doctors who saved her life,” Meisha says. In fact, because of the 88-mile distance and Meisha’s history of a healthy, full-term pregnancy with her first daughter, the Shockleys never intended to deliver at AAMC. But as Meisha’s second pregnancy approached its third trimester, she developed a migraine that wouldn’t budge. She was diagnosed with preeclampsia, a dangerous pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure, which increases risk of maternal stroke and restricts blood flow to the placenta. Meisha’s preeclampsia was acute and required immediate 24/7 bed rest in a hospital with a Level III NICU, since the chances for a premature delivery were high and the baby would need skilled neonatal care. “No hospital close to home could provide the care we needed to protect our baby’s life,” Meisha says. “That’s when we decided to take our unexpected journey to AAMC.” LEARN MORE: Read about the Journey Bead necklace program at the AAMC-NICU-Teddy’s Place. Care Extraordinaire Meisha was admitted to AAMC at 25 weeks gestation to control her blood pressure and keep Adalyn inside her body for as long as possible. “The nurses went above and beyond their job description to help calm my fears,” Meisha says, which included celebrating every extra day that Adalyn stayed put. “I don’t know how I would have made it without the doctors’ and nurses’ constant reassurance,” Meisha says. “But at the same time, they never sugarcoated anything. Every question was answered as if it were the most important question in the world.” After three weeks at AAMC, it was time to deliver. The day before Meisha’s scheduled C-section, she received a full rundown of what to expect and spent time with the NICU staff. “They explained that my baby would be on a ventilator, and she wouldn’t look like my four-year-old daughter when she was born. Still though, the discussion was so personable and compassionate, I went into surgery feeling confident,” Meisha recalls. It took one full week before Addy could be held, which Meisha describes as “the longest week of my life.” When Addy was ready to leave her incubator for short periods of time, staff taught Meisha and Adrian kangaroo care, where parents hold their baby against their bare chests. As each day passed—and Addy grew stronger—Meisha and Adrian became more involved in their daughter’s care. “I feel the most important thing we can do is engage parents as soon as possible and help them feel comfortable taking care of their own child,” explains Suzanne Rindfleisch, DO, medical director of AAMC’s NICU–Teddy’s Place. “I’m very proud of our medical management and outstanding results, but our role is only the beginning of a baby’s story. So many studies tell us that the biggest indicator of a good outcome for a baby is going home to a family that’s prepared to engage with their baby and not treat this person as some fragile being.” Homeward Bound Three months after Adalyn’s birth, it was time to head home. The Shockleys left the hospital with more than a thriving baby daughter. They also brought home a positive and confident attitude, instilled in them by the staff. “Every moment at AAMC was filled with another celebration,” Meisha says. “Taking Addy off the ventilator and out of the incubator, getting her dressed, feeding her…those were milestones that we celebrated. Now that we’re home, we’re still celebrating. When we see our daughter making strides—one gram at a time—we’re so excited.” Learn more about our birth services and classes. Contributor Suzanne Rindfleisch, DO, is medical director of AAMC’s NICU-Teddy’s Place.
- Cancer Care, Women's Health, Uncategorized, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3Blog“As far as I know, there is no breast cancer in my family history,” says Annapolis resident Aileen Carlucci. But in the summer of 2008, she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 49 after a routine mammogram. Aileen’s early-stage cancer was treated successfully with surgery and radiation at The Breast Center at Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute. She completed her final radiation treatment on November 1st, 2008—the 18th birthday of her daughter, Christina—and has been cancer-free for more than five years, which means she is at low risk for her cancer to return. “Fast-forward a few years, and you begin to forget,” says Aileen. “One day you wake up, and it’s not the first thing you think about, that, my God, I had breast cancer.” But earlier this year, her friend Cynthia lost a battle with stage IV breast cancer. Before she passed away, Cynthia talked to Aileen about genetic testing. “She made me promise that I would inquire about genetic testing at my next oncology appointment.” Uncovering Hidden Risk In March, Aileen met with Ashley Allenby, a certified genetic counselor at the DeCesaris Cancer Institute. “We met in a comfortable room and sat on the couch,” says Aileen. “Ashley and I went through my family history, and I was surprised to learn that I did have risk factors for breast cancer.” “People are referred for genetic counseling if they have certain red flags that mean they could have a genetic mutation that predisposes them to developing cancer,” says Ashley. “In Aileen’s case, she had been diagnosed with breast cancer before 50, which is one of the clues that we look for. She also reported Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry on her father’s side.” About 1 in 500 people have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene that is mutated. This frequency is even higher in individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish (Central or Eastern European) ancestry, with 1 in 40 people carrying a mutation. People with a BRCA mutation have a higher risk for breast, ovarian and other cancers. Experts estimate women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation have a 45 to 84 percent lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. In the general U.S. population, 12 percent of women develop breast cancer over their lifetimes. Moreover, women with either of these mutations have up to a 44 percent chance of developing ovarian cancer, compared to the general population’s risk of around 1.5 percent. Questions to ask your blood relatives • Who has had cancer in our family? • What types of cancer? • At what ages were they diagnosed? • What ethnicity are my parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents? • Has anybody in our family had genetic testing, and what were the results? Empowering Information “Ashley gave me an enormous amount of information,” says Aileen. She learned what the results of a genetic test would mean for her risk for other cancers, as well as the implications for her siblings and her children. After the counseling session, she had her blood drawn. Four weeks later, Ashley called with the results: Aileen carries a BRCA2 mutation. “In a way I felt vindicated,” says Aileen. “Now I know why I got breast cancer, and it was nothing that I did. It’s a family heritage. My biggest concern is my children.” Her daughter and son each have a 50 percent chance of inheriting the BRCA2 mutation from her. This is of special concern for Christina, who is now 24, as experts recommend that women with a BRCA mutation begin enhanced breast cancer screening around age 25. These women may also want to consider preventive surgery or other methods to reduce their cancer risk. Aileen accompanied Christina to her own genetic counseling and testing session in July. Christina was relieved to find out she does not carry the BRAC2 mutation. “The goal, if we find a genetic mutation, is to reduce the risk for cancer or aid in early detection,” says Ashley. “I think it’s powerful information to have these genetic test results to be able to be informed and make proactive decisions.” Four Ways to Help a Friend with Breast Cancer You may wonder what the right things to do for a friend with breast cancer are. Read more to find out a few tips. Giving Back Even before she was diagnosed, Aileen and her husband, Bob, were involved with Bosom Buddies Charities, which raises money to support early detection and treatment of breast cancer in Queen Anne’s County. On January 9, she will be the honoree at the 2016 Bosom Buddies Ball at the Westin Hotel in Annapolis. Since 2007, the charity has donated more than $900,000 to support breast cancer care and treatment at AAMC. “When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was in such a great place,” says Aileen. “It was because of the hospital and the encouragement they gave me, my friends in Bosom Buddies, and my family. I know how lucky I am. And I think early detection truly saves lives.” Contributor Ashley Allenby is a certified genetic counselor at the DeCesaris Cancer Institute. Make an appointment for genetic counseling at 443-481-5864.
- Community, News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center Sustainability Coordinator Charlotte Wallace, RN, recently participated in a roundtable discussion with President Barack Obama on the public health impacts of climate change. Charlotte, representing the group Alliance of Nurses for a Healthy Environment, spoke about a subject that has consumed her since her days as a bedside pediatric nurse: childhood asthma. Recent studies show children in Baltimore have an asthma rate that’s twice the national average. Climate change can lead to longer allergy seasons and more smog, further increasing the incidence of asthma. By sharing her experiences with President Obama, the Surgeon General, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, and other members of the roundtable, Charlotte hopes more people and businesses will think about how their daily activities affect air quality and the health of children.
- Cancer Care, Men's Health, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogExcerpts from our Living Well with Cancer podcast interview with Karen Scott, executive director of Anne Arundel Diagnostics Imaging. Listen to the entire interview here. Once you’ve had an image taken or a diagnostic test, who reads those images? All imaging studies are ready by board-certified imaging specialists, which is very important. At Anne Arundel Diagnostics, we also have radiologists that sub-specialize in areas such as women’s imaging, which includes the mammography studies and breast procedures. We have doctors that sub-specialize in muscular-skeletal studies for orthopedic reads. And, neuroreads, which are read by neuroradiologists who specialize in brain imaging. Should the patient ask for a copy of the results or the image after they leave? They can ask for that. However, if the facility has an electronic record, you typically don’t need a copy because your provider can view the images online. They can see the results online and then we also have what’s called MyChart for patients. Patients can sign up for MyChart to view their records and can also get their results via an email. What would those results look like in MyChart? In MyChart it would be the actual written report that your physician is seeing. Read the transcript of the interview or listen to the recording.
- Men's Health, Women's Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogOur children are our most precious gift, so let’s be sure to give them every health advantage good nutrition can provide. As parents we are role models in all the behaviors we exhibit, making what we eat, how we plan and how we prepare our meals vital to our children’s health. We need to teach kids about healthful foods and make sure they get regular daily exercise, but remember our actions speak louder than words. More than a third of children and teens are overweight or obese, according to recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics. Childhood obesity can lead to elevated risks of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and other health issues, and the reality is it can usually be prevented. Here are tips to keep your kids healthy: Plan Shop smart and get your children involved in selecting the food that will be available at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Go to the grocery store with a list, and stick to the list. Be adventurous and pick a new fruit or vegetable every week, or prepare a familiar one in a new way. Cook Excuses aside, we have more control over what is in our food and how it is cooked if we prepare it ourselves. For instance, use plain yogurt when you are accustomed to using mayo or—to reduce fat—try a tablespoon of any juice in place of a tablespoon of oil in a recipe. Ask for help from your children with age-appropriate tasks. Plus, teach them about the food, such as orange vegetables have a lot of beta-carotene, which helps our vision, or greens provide calcium, which helps us grow tall. The goal is to encourage them to try new foods they helped to prepare. Set the Example by Eating Right Breakfast is a critical meal, so make sure no one in the family skips it. In the evening sit down as a family to enjoy dinner and conversation about everyone’s day. Research indicates families who eat together have a stronger bond, and children have higher self-confidence and perform better in school. Use “My Plate” to Guide Portions When serving meals, start by filling half the plate with fruits and vegetables. Make sure the grains are whole grains, which deliver 3 grams of fiber or more per serving. For beverages, choose water over sugary drinks, and opt for fat-free or low-fat milk. Keep portion sizes in check by eating protein about the size of a deck of cards at lunch and dinner, plus a half cup of pasta/rice or small sweet or white potato. All snacks are fruits and vegetables. Get Moving Regular physical activity strengthens muscle and bones and is a great way to spend time together. Family hikes, bike rides or a walk to the playground are all activities that provide an opportunity for children to have parents’ undivided attention while still engaging in physical activity. As parents, we are highly influential over the habits our children form early, and they can last a lifetime. Take steps to lead kids down a path of good nutrition. For additional tips and kid-friendly fruit and vegetable options, visit www.choosemyplate.gov. Author By Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford, nutritionists and registered dietitians at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach them call 443-481-5555.
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