People, Places & Events

Diabetes day camp for children scheduled
Special to The Monitor
TYLER–Trinity Clinic Endocrinology is offering a free children’s Diabetes Day Camp from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 18, at The University of Texas at Tyler Herrington Patriot Center. The camp is open to diabetic children ages 6 to 16 with pre-registration required.
The Diabetes Day Camp will include interactive workshops and activities on nutrition, body image and taking responsibility for diabetes management.
The program will offer instruction by the staff of Trinity Clinic Endocrinology. Space is limited.
Early registration is encouraged.
“We have moved our annual camp from Mother Frances Hospital to a larger facility to accommodate more children,” an endocrinologist with Trinity Clinic Dr. Brian Robinson, DO said..
“Many children with diabetes feel like they are the only child that has it. The camp is designed to bring these kids together in a fun, learning environment,” he added.
The Camp is designed for parents and their diabetic children.
Education sessions will be held in the morning and one session in the afternoon - parents have separate education sessions.
Parents are invited for breakfast and lunch with the children having the afternoon events for themselves.
Sporting events, which will be conducted in conjunction with the UT Tyler Cross Country, Volleyball and Women’s Soccer teams, include softball, kickball, volleyball, disc golf, swimming and hiking. A movie will also be shown.
“We are very appreciative to everyone at UT Tyler and the Patriot Center for their participation and assistance in facilitating this program for the kids,” Trinity clinic endocrinologist Meg Reitmeyer MD said.
According to the American Diabetes Association, for those under age 20 in the United States, about one in 400 to 600 have Type 1 Diabetes.
A much smaller percentage of young people have Type 2 Diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes develops when the body’s immune system destroys pancreatic beta cells, the only cells in the body that make the hormone insulin that regulates blood glucose.
People with Type 1 Diabetes must have insulin delivered by injection or a pump.
This form of diabetes usually strikes children and young adults, although disease onset can occur at any age.
Type 1 Diabetes accounts for 5 to 10 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes accounts for about 90 to 95 percent of all diagnosed cases.
Type 2 Diabetes is associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose metabolism, physical inactivity, and race/ethnicity.
“Obesity is one of the largest risk factors for diabetes,” Trinity Clinic Endocrinologist Luis Casas MD said.
“Parents should set a good example of diet and exercise. Once a child learns their eating habits, it is very difficult for them to change as an adult.
“Many children are on their way to Type 2 diabetes by their early teens. It is important to know your family history regarding diabetes and to do all you can to prevent it,” he added.
The Trinity Mother Frances Health System Foundation, Trinity Clinic Endocrinology and the UT Tyler Patriot Center make the Diabetes College possible.
Trinity Clinic Endocrinology, located at 910 E. Houston, Suite 250, includes Meg Reitmeyer, MD, Brian Robinson, DO, Sylvia Kariampuzha, MD, Luis Casas, MD and Luis Arce, MD.
For more information on the program or to register, call (903) 510-1173.
For more information on services provided through Trinity Mother Frances Health System, visit www.tmfhs.org.
 

Keeping promises to America’s heroes
By Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison
Special to The Monitor
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Abraham Lincoln best described our everlasting commitment to our soldiers when, on behalf of a grateful nation, he pledged, “to care for him who shall have borne the battle.”
Today, caring for the health of those who have fought to defend freedom continues to be one of the federal government’s most enduring responsibilities.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates America’s largest health care system, consisting of nearly 700 medical centers, clinics and residential facilities.
Texas is home to several of these facilities. But we must expand the VA’s reach to meet the needs of Texas’ growing population of veterans, already one of the largest in the country, as well as address the changing needs of our newest veterans from the Global War on Terror.
And there is also much we can do to improve care at the national level.
We must emphasize research in areas such as mental health and modern prosthesis technology, and encourage the study of poorly understood conditions, such as Gulf War Syndrome and traumatic brain injury.
The Waco VA hospital, one of our state’s premier facilities, is a national leader in psychiatric care and research.
Despite its stellar reputation, federal budget cuts threatened to close the hospital in 2003.
As Chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee in the U.S. Senate, I invited the VA Secretary to visit Waco with me and observe first-hand the exceptional care and research at Waco’s VA hospital.
Seeing that the VA was prepared to close a mental health facility convinced me that we were going in exactly the wrong direction.
We should be increasing, not decreasing, our commitment to mental health.
So in 2005, I helped author legislation that designated the Waco veterans’ facility and two facilities in other states Centers of Excellence for mental health research, expanding the scope of treatment to include areas such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and substance abuse.
As a result of these efforts and tireless community support, the VA has decided to keep this renowned facility open to serve thousands of veterans throughout the central United States.
The Big Spring VA Medical Center was also kept open to serve veterans across West Texas, and inpatient care and other services there were expanded.
Other challenges remain. In Houston, after recent reports of extensive and, I believe, unacceptable delays in processing the disability claims of thousands of area veterans, the VA sent a management team to the local office to end this backlog.
And we must do more.
South Texas veterans, for example, are forced to endure 500-mile, six-hour roundtrip treks to the San Antonio VA hospital for even basic procedures and routine check-ups.
Last year, I personally asked VA Secretary Jim Nicholson to conduct a study of veterans’ needs in South Texas, and to determine the best way to deliver the quality care they deserve.
Our nation’s veterans answered the call to serve, and we must honor our promise to care for their needs after they leave the battlefield.
I will continue to work in the Senate on behalf of America’s heroes, in recognition of the sacrifices they have made to safeguard liberty at home and throughout the world.

Library launches pledge campaign to meet budget
Monitor Staff Reports
SEVEN POINTS–The Library at Cedar Creek Lake is seeking sustainable income through monthly pledges of financial support.
The pledge campaign kicks off in August and hopes to near its budgetary goal by Sept. 30, according to incoming board president John Dees.
Monthly commitments of $100 are sought from sustaining supporters.
If 100 sustaining supporters pledge $100/month, the Library will meet its financial obligations of $120,000 for the year, Dees explained.
“However, we’d be very happy for others to make pledges in any amount higher or lower,” Dees told The Monitor.
Pledge cards are available at the Library front desk and those wanting to contribute but have more time than money will also have opportunity to volunteer their time as well.
“We don’t want to leave anyone out who would want to support the Library in any way,” Dees said.
Monthly pledges will be collected through automated bank drafts.
“This is the least expensive way to collect from those willing to donate on a regular basis,” Dees explained.
The Library has also asked the West Cedar Creek Municipal Utility District (water provider) to assist in collecting monies along with the water bill, as a possible second way supporters may contribute on a monthly schedule.
The WCCMUD board of directors are looking into the ramifications of being a depository for library donations.
The Library will sponsor various functions throughout the year for its sustaining sponsors without charge, such as lectures on investing, elder law, author visits and other topics and events as a show of appreciation for their support and to encourage on-going involvement.
If this campaign succeeds, it will:
• put The Library on a sound financial footing for the first time in its history.
• get The Library Board out of the fund-raising business and permit it to focus on operational issues
• permit the Best Friends to focus on special events.
Currently, The Library is supported by an annual check from Henderson County for $25,000.
The Economic Development Corporation of Seven Points covers the expenses for utilities, maintenance and provides the building.
The Library contributes $400 a month toward those expenses.
Five years from now, the Library may buy the building for $1. With that comes the utility and maintenance expenses. Utilities run about $3,000 a month, Dees said.
Library Board fund-raising events this year raised $14,000 for operational expenses.
Municipalities, Gun Barrel City and Tool have contributed only token amounts in the past and nothing this year. Kemp has never contributed anything.
To maintain its accreditation, the library is required to spend $2.85 per resident in its distribution area on new books, services, computer access, etc.
Though open for 10 years, the library has failed to create a sustainable source of revenue, Dees said.
The Library Board, the Best Friends and the Endowment Board have worked extremely hard at many fund-raisers over the years, but have a long way to go to produce a reliable income stream, Dees said.
So far, the Endowment Fund contributed about $7,000 for the Library this year.
The alternatives to a successful pledge campaign are dire, Dees said.
“The Library now has about 90 days of operational funds. No additional funding is on the horizon.
“If sustainable support isn’t found immediately, The Library will be forced to close.
“Everyone has worked too hard to make the Library a success to let it fail now. This situation is not the fault of anyone or any group, but a result of no reliable source of continuing revenues.
“This is an opportunity to give The Library a sound financial foundation, but in order for it to succeed, it must have broad and strong support from everyone,” Dees said.