Mid-Shore Life

Training for new Talbot Hospice Volunteers which addresses a variety of end-of-life issues, will take place on March 11, 12 and 15^th, 2010. This comprehensive 18-hour training session meets on three days from 8:30 p.m. to 4:00 pm.

Numerous volunteer opportunities exist with THF including companion care, direct patient care, cooking, gardening, music, delivering supplies and administrative assistance.  There is no charge for Talbot Hospice services and trained volunteers truly are the backbone of the organization.  There are currently over 319 dedicated volunteers!

The rewards for being a hospice volunteer are immeasurable. Please call Susan Piggott, Volunteer Coordinator at 410-822-6681 or email her at spiggott@talbothospice.org for more information.

February 2010 Event/Screenings

Blood Pressure Screenings

Every Monday through Thursday, except holidays, 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm, Diagnostic and Imaging Center, 10 Martin Court, Easton. FREE. Sponsored by the Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. No appointment needed.

Every Tuesday and Friday, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, Dorchester General Hospital, main lobby, 300 Byrn Street, Cambridge. FREE. Sponsored by the Dorchester General Hospital Auxiliary. No appointment needed.

Breast Cancer Screenings

Day and evening appointments available at Shore Regional Breast Center, Memorial Hospital, 219 S. Washington Street, Easton. Open to uninsured or underinsured women, aged 20-39 and over 64, who meet income guidelines. Call 410-820-9400 to schedule an appointment.

Support Groups         

Cancer Support Groups  

Mid-Shore Pro Bono is urging homeowners to ask for help early if they are having trouble meeting their mortgage obligations. The nonprofit legal assistance agency reported that more than 800 foreclosures were filed in its five-county service area in 2009. It currently is working with about 75 homeowners in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties.

Coping and Caring, a four-week program for people with breast cancer and a loved one of their choice, is being offered in March by Shore Regional Cancer Center and the Wellness Community-Delmarva. The group will meet on Wednesday, March 3, 10, 17 and 24 from      6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Shore Regional Cancer Center, 509 Idlewild Avenues in Easton. The program is free and open to couples who are spouses, friends and others who are in a care giving relationship.

 “Recent research indicates that women with breast cancer medically benefit from having strong social support,” says Pam Black, LCSW-C, OSW-C, oncology social worker for Shore Regional Cancer Center. “This series of four classes allows people with breast cancer and any loved one they choose to learn a model of communication and problem-solving skills that can be used to address almost any problem.”

 The Coping and Caring program leaders will use the COPE model. “COPE stands for the four key ideas incorporated in the program:  creativity, optimism, planning and expert information,” explains Black. “Couples will learn skills to help them cope with many issues ranging from how to best communicate with a physician to symptom management and how to work out problems with family members that arise during breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery.”

On Wednesday, February 17, the diabetes educators from the Joslin Diabetes Center Affiliate at Shore Health System are hosting a presentation about nerve damage associated with diabetes, commonly referred to as diabetic neuropathy. The guest speaker is pain specialist Jennifer Marks, DO, who will discuss the causes and treatments available for diabetic neuropathy.

The session will be held from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the Joslin Diabetes Center at Memorial Hospital, 219 S. Washington Street in Easton. The program is free and open to individuals who have been diagnosed with diabetes and the family and friends who support them.

Board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, Dr. Marks practices pain management at Shore Comprehensive Pain Care at Memorial Hospital.

For more information about the Joslin Diabetes Center presentation and to register, call 410-822-1000, ext. 5185 or 5186. 

Imagine that you are having a heart attack or that your child has a broken arm. How quickly would you want to receive medical attention?

That’s what Mareen Waterman asks his friends and neighbors when they want to know why he needs their help to raise money for the Queen Anne’s Emergency Center.

“For many patients who are seen in an emergency room, it’s not a life or death situation,” Waterman says. “But for a number of people, a few minutes will make the difference between living or dying because of a medical emergency.”

Waterman, who lives in Queenstown, heads the community fundraising effort for the Queen Anne’s Emergency Center scheduled to open in Grasonville later this year. He and his wife, Marian, donated $25,000 and are encouraging their friends and neighbors to support the cause.

Give your love something different this year! Sign up now to have a talented barbershop quartet (from the Bay Country Chorus) deliver a long-stemmed rose and a romantic serenade (two songs)!

The romantic treat is available Friday, February 12 & Saturday, February 13 for only $45! Limited Sunday spots are still available for a higher fee. Contact Ed Wadley for details or to purchase, 410-770-9672 or email him.

Bay Country Chorus website.

Denton pastor Billy Johnson had just arrived in Haiti when the earthquake struck. For days his family and friends anquished over his survival. Thankfully, he's back on the Mid Shore - but not for long. He is leading an emergency relief effort to get food and supplies to a small town outside of Port au Prince, where help has NOT arrived. Join me as we show our community and our children what love, faith and determination can do! Here is his story:

I was there. by Billy Johnson          

Approximately 3 miles from the epicenter of the 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti last week. I was working with local churches and preachers through Christianville, a mission located between Gressier and Leogone.

Worldwide support for Haiti is pouring into the airport at Port au Prince. Everyone is noticing. And for that I am thankful.

But, as with any effort, there are hitches. Most of the support is getting bottle-necked in Port au Prince, and not reaching many of the outlying areas, including Christianville.

What I am trying to do is get some food DIRECTLY to Christianville for them to distribute to the local Haitians through the area churches. This is a 2 step process:

We secure an airplane. This is the HUGE expense. We are currently working with Sky Limo out of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, who can send a load of 3,000 pounds. But it will cost approximately $5,000.

Second, we buy bulk beans and rice. This is what the missionaries at Christianville requested. The cost is still not confirmed, but we are guessing another $1,000.

This will be flown into the airport at Port au Prince, where representatives from Christianville will be waiting to take materials back to the mission. From there they will distribute the food through the Haitian preachers.

As of this moment, all funds are being processed through Discovery Christian Church in Easton, MD.(10441 Hiners Lane, Easton, MD 21601, Memo Line: Christianville) We are working on online giving options and a dedicated account. If this seems thrown together quickly, it is! But time is a luxury the people of the Gressier/Leogone area do not have.

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Find Billy Johnson on Facebook to follow his efforts: http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#/billyjohnsonlive?ref=nf As of 10am today (Thursday) he had already raised almost $3000. Please join in a LOCAL relief effort!!

Mid-shore Mom, Kendra Sanders, turns her grief into gratitude as she establishes a foundation to support local special needs children.

About Jason's Heart

Jason's Heart is a foundation set up in loving memory of our son Jason Philip Sanders. Our goal is to help provide funding and support for Special Needs Children. Jason was unable to walk, talk, eat or even sit up during his 7 years of life. In spite of these limitations, Jason was able to create an instant bond with countless people. This bond helped people who may have felt intimidated by the severely disabled. Jason made everybody feel comfortable and they reached out to him. Jason was an incredible gift. Not only to our family, but to the entire community. Jason is a constant reminder that no matter how frail, how weak or how “not normal”, every life has value. His smile was genuine, his laugh was contagious and his heart was pure. Anyone who has been fortunate enough to know him, came away a better person. Jason has the ability to touch hearts and change perceptions without saying a single word. We could never have given him as much as he has given us.

We would like for Jason's spirit to live on. Your purchase will help support Camp Lazy Days, a summer camp for disabled children, like Jason. This camp provides opportunities for recreation, growth and development, that they might not otherwise have. Our goal is simple. We want every child, regardless of their handicap or ability to pay, to have a chance to experience camp. These are Jason’s friends and we feel certain that he would be excited, knowing that nobody was left out.

Jeff and Kendra Sanders and Family
In Memory of Jason Philip Sanders
June 26, 2002 – October 18, 2009

These hearts were designed specifically for the Jason's Heart Foundation. This will be a limited edition run of 200 pieces. They are signed and numbered. We will release them as they are completed and ready to ship. Each one will be unique... the jump rings are sterling silver, the ribbons are custom hand died silk by Julie Mitchell, the slider bead that makes them adjustable is also hand made to match and they come packaged with great care. Absolutely every thing was done to honor the life of a special soul and I am grateful to do work with such purpose.

The first run of Jason's Hearts is ready. VERY VERY limited quantities at this point, with a total of only 200 available in 2010. If they are sold out, please send an email to kendra1966@yahoo.com with "Jason's Heart" in the subject line and you will receive an email as new batches become available.

To order click link below:
http://www.brentgraber.com/catalog.php?category=22

Brent Graber is known world wide for his boro glass artistry, he is the author and creator of tutorial DVD's as well as a nationally known instructor.