FORT WALTON BEACH — Look Good Feel Better's next session is 1-3 p.m. Sept. 8 at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, Classroom B, third floor, 1000 Mar-Walt Drive, Fort Walton Beach.

A session also is planned 5-7 p.m. Sept. 15 at Sacred Heart Hospital of the Emerald Coast, Olson’s Women’s Diagnostic Center, 7800 U.S. Highway 98 W., Miramar Beach.

Advance registration is required to provide cosmetics that match your skin tone.

This group program is open to all women with cancer who receive chemotherapy, radiation or other treatments.

Call the American Cancer Society, 1-800-227-2345, for details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Next Look Good, Feel Better programs are Sept. 8, 15

CRESTVIEW — A local personal trainer wants to help people, particularly Okaloosa County School District staffers, unwind from the work day.

“(Yoga) helps calm the mind,” personal trainer and Crestview resident JT Boss said. "It's a big stress reliever."

School staffers can participate in an hour of yoga on Thursday in the Crestview Public Library's conference room. 

Participants will learn how to relax, stretch and breathe, Boss said.

After serving in the U.S. Air Force for 28 years, Boss has focused on personal training with Crestview Strengthworks, his mobile business.

Boss said he got the idea for afterschool Crestview yoga sessions from a yoga studio that offers a similar service to Niceville High School teachers.

Although the event is scheduled to benefit area teachers and school staff, Boss said the event is open to everyone.

Boss said he hopes the yoga session will be the first of many after-school gatherings.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: Yoga class

WHEN:4 to 5 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: Conference room at the Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive

COST: $5

NOTE: Bring a yoga mat

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'IT'S A BIG STRESS RELIEVER' After-school yoga class comes to Crestview library

The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County is celebrating increasing participation in breastfeeding.

In Okaloosa County, the current rate of WIC infants ever breastfed has reached 75.8 percent, an increase of 3.8 percent in the past year. 

Statewide, according to the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Breastfeeding Report Card, 77 percent of Florida women have tried breastfeeding compared to the national average of 79 percent. 

Women who choose to breastfeed usually have a timeframe in mind — but whether it’s for one week, one month or one year, the act of breastfeeding contributes to the health of the child and the community," a health department spokesperson stated. "Research shows that babies who receive only breast milk for the first six months of life are less likely to develop a wide range of chronic and acute diseases, including ear infections, diarrheal diseases, asthma, obesity, and respiratory illnesses.

"Mothers also benefit from breastfeeding with a decreased risk for breast and ovarian cancers."

In addition, breastfeeding acts as a baby’s first immunization, and healthier mothers and babies mean there are fewer doctor visits, even beyond the first year of life, the department stated.

Contact the Crestview WIC office, 689-7858, or visit HealthyOkaloosa.com for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa County Health Department celebrates breastfeeding

CRESTVIEW — A cyberattack on two physician practices owned by North Okaloosa Medical Center has been "eradicated," according to parent company Community Health Systems.

Community Health is working with federal law enforcement authorities in their investigation and will support prosecution of those responsible for the attack, the company said in a statement.

The cyberattack, which possibly took place in April or June, took information on more than 4 million patients from Community Health Systems’ computer network, according to the company. Limited personal identification data belonging to some patients seen at North Okaloosa Physician Group and Gateway Medical Clinic during the past five years was compromised during the attack.

Transferred information excludes any medical or credit card information, but includes names, addresses, birthdates, telephone numbers and social security numbers.

“Right now, our clinics are the only ones that we know of that the patients are affected,” said Rachel Neighbors, NOMC's marketing director. “No one from the hospital side (had their data stolen).”

Neighbors said the clinics will notify all patients affected and offer them free identify theft protection.

“Anybody who’s affected, no matter what the scope, we’ll help them get all those things resolved,” Neighbors said.

Tomi Galin, Community Health Systems' senior vice president of marketing, confirmed that Santa Rosa Medical Center was one of the facilities targeted by the cyberattack, but did not clarify how many local patients were affected. Community Health Systems will notify those patients by letter and also offer them free identity theft protection, she said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Community Health Systems offering free identity theft protection following cyberattack

CRESTVIEW — After a week's stay at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Emily Holcomb is excited to bring Jacob, her newborn son, home.   

Her joy follows a brief scare.

DIAGNOSIS: HIRSCHSPRUNG'S DISEASE

Her second child's July 28 birth came with an unexpected turn. Thirty-six hours after delivery, Emily and a nurse noticed that Jacob — weighing in at 9 pounds, 1.5 ounces — had no bowel movements and refused to eat.

Doctors diagnosed him with Hirschsprung’s disease, which prevents bowel movements from passing through a child’s intestines due to missing nerve cells in the lower colon.

Medical specialists performed a procedure to allow Jacob to pass stool through a colostomy bag.

Now, "the worst is behind us,” Emily, who has been staying at the Ronald McDonald house, said.

 In the next three to four months, Jacob will undergo a corrective procedure, allowing him to pass stool naturally, she said.

 In the meantime, Emily will provide Jacob with constant care, and she will be unable to work.

'I'M SO BLESSED'

Friends, family and even strangers have shown support by donating to a Gofundme.com account. Within nine days, donations exceeded a $3,000 goal.

“Most of these people who have donated, I don’t even know who they are,” Emily said. “I’m so blessed.”

Justin Lindsey, a Crestview Realtor, has chipped in by pledging to share an upcoming commission — up to $5,500 — with the family.

Lindsey, who works for Premier Property Group in Destin, attends the same church as Emily’s family. After learning about the situation, Justin — who is expecting his second child with wife Melissa — decided to help.

As soon as Lindsey’s next client enters a contract allowing him to sell their home, Lindsey will write the family a check.

“I want to get them the money as soon as possible,” Lindsey said.

 Giving back, he said, is his motto.

“You get what you give in this universe,” he said.

WANT TO HELP? 

Receive updates on Jacob Holcomb's condition or to make donations.

Looking for a home? Learn about a Crestview Realtor who has pledged his next commission for Jacob's medical bills.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Community supports single mother after son's diagnosis with abdomen disorder