Dear editor,

During my years with a Muscular Dystrophy Association sponsor, ERA Real Estate, I had several opportunities to meet children suffering from this terror. 

Once, I used the fact that my son had been shot in the eye with a BB gun, but recovered fully, noting that children with MD never recover.

Click here to donate

At the end of my talk, I met a mother with two children suffering from Duchenne and myotonic muscular dystrophy. I started to apologize for stating a fact she was all too aware of — she stopped me and said, “You can say anything that raises money for MDA.” 

Next, her younger son, using his older brother as an example, explained how his body would one day suffer to the same degree as his brother. 

The mother told me her older son had broken an expensive leg support just after it was fitted. He was just attempting to play. Upon contacting MDA, the amazed mother heard, “We will just replace it!”

Dining with a National Poster Child and his family, I had an up close and personal opportunity to witness the courage required to meet this daily. 

MDA is truly a worthy cause.

What's your view? Write a letter to the editor or tweet us.

News Bulletin Editor Thomas Boni is raising funds for muscular dystrophy research and treatments in the greater Tallahassee area.

●Go to http://bit.ly/2067hzY.

●Click 'Donate to Me.' You will see a list of options, ranging from $30 to $1,480, and exactly how your contribution will be used.

HOW TO HELP:

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LETTER: Muscular dystrophy 'truly a worthy cause'

CRESTVIEW — Relay For Life's April 22 and 23 American Cancer Society fundraiser will take place at Crestview High School.

“We’re hoping to expand our presence in Crestview this year,” co-event chairwoman Melanie Fullerton said.

After years at Spanish Trail Park, the overnight event moved to Shoal River Middle School, but “it was off the beaten path,” Fullerton said.

During the Jan. 25 City Council meeting, city staffers agreed to help publicize the event by inserting announcements in water bills and advising volunteers on permissible places to display roadside signs.

Fullerton also asked Mayor David Cadle to issue a proclamation asking residents and business to “paint the town purple" with streetlight ribbons along Main Street.

City Council President Shannon Hayes suggested Fullerton’s group focus some of its promotional efforts on Crestview’s black residents.

He said he felt there should be more cancer education in the black community.

“We have several (black people) on our leadership committee,” Fullerton said.

Learn more about the event, and sign up, here>>

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Relay for Life moves to Crestview High School

FORT WALTON BEACH — A program director at Bridgeway Center, Inc. has received a promotion.

Donna Morgan, former Outpatient Services program director, is now vice president  of Outpatient and In-Home Services. She was also appointed to the BCI Executive Leadership Team.

Morgan began working for BCI — which serves Crestview and surrounding areas — in July 2003 as an adult case manager. Since then she has been the Independent Living Program project coordinator; Independent Living Program project supervisor for the Community Services Program; Community Care program manager; and Community Care assistant program director.

Visit www.BridgewayCenter.org or call 833-7500 for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Bridgeway promotes program director to vice president

PENSACOLA — Lakeview Center, Inc. received a three-year accreditation from Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities International, the leading accreditation agency for rehabilitation and mental health facilities.

The three-day audit was performed in November 2015 by 11 surveyors. A three-year accreditation is the auditing agency’s highest achievement.

“We are very pleased with the survey results and also comments from the auditors who said that we have some of the best programs they’ve seen and they were very impressed by our team,” said Gary Bembry, Lakeview Center president and CEO. “They said it is evident our staff really cares about the people we serve and makes quality a priority.”

Accreditation signals that the service provider is committed to continually improving services, encouraging feedback, and serving the community.

An affiliate of Baptist Health Care, Lakeview Center is a network of behavioral health, vocational and child protective services that serves Northwest Florida residents. To learn more, go online to eLakeviewCenter.org.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Northwest Florida health and protective services network achieves accreditation

CRESTVIEW — Life Line Screening is providing affordable, non-invasive, painless health screenings.

Hosted by Crestview First United Methodist Church, the screenings are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 4 at the church Crossroads Center, 550 8th Ave., Crestview.

Services include scans for blocked arteries, a leading cause of stroke; abdominal aortic aneurysms, which can lead to a ruptured aorta; hardening of the arteries in the legs, a strong predictor of heart disease; atrial fibrillation — irregular heart beat — which is closely tied to stroke risk; and bone density screening, used to assess the risk of osteoporosis.

Attendees can register for the wellness package, which includes 4 vascular tests and osteoporosis screening from $149 ($139 with our member discount). 

All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete.

To register and receive a $10 discount off any package priced above $129, call 1-888-653-6441 or visit www.lifelinescreening.com/community-partners.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview church schedules health screenings

CRESTVIEW — Children in Crisis has extra support for its programs benefiting at-risk children. Barnes HealthCare Services of Crestview donated $205 to the nonprofit organization.

The business, a division of Barnes Drug Stores of Valdosta, raised the funds through its employee donation program.

The CIC Neighborhood in Fort Walton Beach provides emergency shelter for children removed from an unsafe environment on short notice, and offers housing to help with foster home shortage. 

Learn more at www.childrenincrisisfl.org or call 864-4242.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview healthcare provider supports Children in Crisis

CRESTVIEW — TOPS, or Take Off Pounds Sensibly, has released a message as it seeks new members.

The group stated in a media release:

"We are a weight-loss support group. Strong enough to support you. Concerned enough to care for you.

"Lively enough to stimulate you. Sensitive enough to love you.

"Sharp enough to challenge you. Large enough to help you.

"Small enough to need you. Involved enough to serve you.

"Thoughtful enough to remember you. Open enough to encompass you.

"Committed enough to want you. Join us."

The group meets 8 a.m. or 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays at First United Methodist Church, 599 Eighth Ave.   

Call Mary, 683-1899, or see TOPS.org for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview weight loss group seeks new members

FORT WALTON BEACH — Covenant Alzheimer’s Care, in conjunction with Superior Residences of Niceville, will host a free two-part series on Dementia Caregiver Education.

Part I, "Understanding Dementia and Becoming a Caregiver," is set for 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 30. Part II, "Resource Review and Caring for the Caregiver," is 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 27. Both trainings will be held at Superior Residences of Niceville.

The nonprofit will host its Virtual Dementia Tour after the trainings. The tour, created by Second Wind Dreams, is a simulated experience that allows participants to understand the physical and mental challenges of those with dementia.

Registration is required; call 202-0809.

Covenant Alzheimer's Care is part of Covenant Care, a nonprofit that serves Northwest Florida and South Alabama.

The logo for the new organization — formerly Covenant Hospice and Covenant Alzheimer's Services — features a promise knot, symbolizing the strength of Covenant’s commitment to those it serves.

In addition to its existing end-of-life care and Alzheimer’s caregiver support groups, Covenant Care provides inpatient palliative care, home-based and outpatient palliative care, memory care and private duty in-home nursing services in many areas.

The organization's Care Navigation Center will assist individuals with varying needs to navigate the healthcare system.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Dementia caregiver series scheduled

CRESTVIEW — Cold weather shelters will be open Monday through Wednesday, Jan. 11-13 from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., when temperature is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, at the following Crestview churches.

•Mondays: First Presbyterian Church

•Tuesdays and Wednesdays: Community of Christ

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview cold weather shelters open

PENSACOLA — The 15th Annual Best Clinical Practice Symposium is set.

Designed for internists, family practitioners, geriatricians, nurses, nursing-home administrators, social workers and allied-healthcare professionals, it focuses on adult patient care.

Registration and breakfast are at 7:15 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 16 at the Sacred Heart Hospital's Conference Center on Ninth Avenue in Pensacola.

Subjects presented include antibiotic stewardship, population health management, palliative care, benefits of early diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy, enhanced recovery after surgery, benign proctologic disorders, and movement disorders.

The event is jointly sponsored by The Medical Educational Council of Pensacola, Sacred Heart Senior Services and Sacred Heart Health System.

The symposium's faculty includes:

●Dr. Issa Ephtimios, Sacred Heart infectious disease specialist

●Dr. Jennifer Dulin, Sacred Heart palliative care specialist

●Dr. T. Joseph Dennie, Jr., an orthopedic surgeon on the Sacred Heart Medical Staff

●Dr. Charles Wolff, Sacred Heart neurosurgeon

●Dr. John Myers, ophthalmologist, Retina Specialty Institute, and a member of the Sacred Heart Medical Staff

●Dr. Joseph E. Bornstein, colorectal surgeon, Providence Surgical Specialties, Mobile, Ala.

●Dr. Jordan B. Asher, chief clinical officer/chief innovation officer, MissionPoint Health Partners, Nashville, Tenn.

To register, or for more information on cost and education credits, call 850-477-4956 or visit MECOP at www.mecop.org.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Registration under way for Northwest Florida adult clinical care symposium