30.09.2022 Views

Fall Health and Wellness 2022

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Chris<br />

Sikes<br />

is living out<br />

her mission<br />

to give back<br />

a special publication of<br />

Houston Home<br />

The Journal<br />

TAKE ONE!


Your Choice for<br />

Comprehensive<br />

Breast Care<br />

Houston <strong>Health</strong>care is invested in<br />

state-of-the-art technologies <strong>and</strong> skillfully<br />

trained, friendly staff to provide excellent<br />

breast care.<br />

With a comprehensive approach to<br />

breast care, our patients enjoy:<br />

• New state-of-the-art technology<br />

in mammography <strong>and</strong> ultrasound<br />

• Personal consultations with<br />

radiologists<br />

• A dedicated patient navigator to<br />

coordinate care<br />

• 24-hour turn-around time of<br />

screening reports<br />

Houston <strong>Health</strong>care Offers True Breast 3D Mammography<br />

A combination of 2D traditional mammography <strong>and</strong><br />

3D mammography increases the odds of early detection of<br />

breast cancer with a clearer image of the breast.<br />

Houston Medical Center | Pavilion Diagnostic Center | Perry Hospital<br />

An Accredited Breast Center of Excellence


Jeffrey Easom, DO; Jonathan Harris, MD; William Wiley, MD<br />

Scott Malone, MD; Derrick Phillips, MD; David Wiley, MD; Daxes Banit, MD<br />

3051 Watson Boulevard<br />

Warner Robins, GA 31093


<strong>Health</strong> &<br />

<strong>Wellness</strong><br />

<strong>2022</strong><br />

22<br />

NOW WHAT?<br />

Your pregnancy is over <strong>and</strong><br />

the baby is born, yet the<br />

journey has just<br />

begun.<br />

8<br />

CHRIS SIKES<br />

With 20 years in public<br />

health, Chris Sikes is living<br />

out her mission to give back.<br />

16<br />

THE NEEDS<br />

OF TEENS<br />

Bridging the gap between<br />

adolescence to adulthood,<br />

teens have specific needs.<br />

26<br />

MAKING<br />

PRETTY PLATES<br />

Premium nutrition is the<br />

key to growing strong<br />

<strong>and</strong> healthy children.<br />

4


G<br />

•<br />

•<br />

•<br />

•<br />

•<br />

•<br />

PUBLISHER<br />

Cheri Adams<br />

cadams@hhjnews.com<br />

ADVERTISING<br />

Lori Kovarovic, Advertising Manager<br />

lorik@hhjnews.com<br />

Nathan Mathis<br />

nmathis@hhjnews.com<br />

published by<br />

HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL<br />

A division of the Dublin Courier<br />

Herald Publishing Company<br />

1210 Washington Street<br />

P.O. Box 1910<br />

Perry, GA 31069<br />

478-987-1823<br />

www.hhjonline.com<br />

CREATIVE<br />

Kayley Trischan<br />

Angela Barentine<br />

PHOTOGRAPHY<br />

Cover Photo • Kasey Enckler<br />

WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHY<br />

Will Oliver • Managing Editor<br />

woliver@hhjnews.com<br />

Brieanna Romero<br />

bromero@hhjnews.com<br />

Tyler Meister<br />

tylerm@hhjnews.com<br />

•<br />

•<br />

•<br />

•<br />

•<br />

•<br />

•<br />

•<br />

6


GLORIFYING GOD THROUGH QUALITY AND COMPASSIONATE CARE<br />

Jacob’s House<br />

Supportive short term care<br />

• State-of-the-art Rehabilitation Facilities<br />

• Private Rooms with Private Baths<br />

• Private Dining Rooms<br />

• Orthopedic Recovery & Strengthening<br />

• Cardiac Recovery<br />

• Post Stroke/Nuerological Recovery<br />

@ChurchHomeLifespring<br />

ChurchHomeLifespring.com<br />

Church Home<br />

A legacy of nursing home care<br />

• <strong>Health</strong> Monitoring <strong>and</strong> Medication Management<br />

• Physical, Occupational, Speech, <strong>and</strong> Restorative Therapies<br />

• Nutrition Monitoring <strong>and</strong> Management<br />

• Activities/Social Programming<br />

Grace Garden<br />

Meaningful memory care<br />

• Projected Opening late Summer 2023<br />

• Early to Middle Stage Dementia Care<br />

• Evidence-based design for a homelike feel<br />

• Enabling independence <strong>and</strong> well-being of those living with dementia<br />

Schedule a Personalized Tour! 478.987.1239<br />

2470 US Highway 41 North<br />

Fort Valley, GA 31030 6 miles north of Perry on US Hwy 41 near GA 96


8


STORY BY WILL OLIVER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KASEY ENCKLER<br />

‘There are no two days that are exactly alike’<br />

Nurse Manager Chris Sikes<br />

speaks on 20 years in public health<br />

WWhen Chris Sikes was in high school,<br />

she was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma. While<br />

receiving her chemotherapy treatments at Egleston<br />

Children’s Hospital in Atlanta, she became<br />

close with some of the nurses on staff<br />

there.<br />

“Those nurses really poured<br />

their heart <strong>and</strong> soul into helping<br />

me get better <strong>and</strong> helping<br />

my family,” Sikes said. “And<br />

also, the outpouring of support<br />

that I got through<br />

my school, through my<br />

friends, through just<br />

r<strong>and</strong>om people in the<br />

county, really made me<br />

appreciate everything<br />

that I have, <strong>and</strong> I just really<br />

wanted to find a way<br />

to give that back. So, giving<br />

back through service<br />

was the best way that I could<br />

think of.”<br />

“I<br />

can’t<br />

imagine<br />

doing anything<br />

other than this; I<br />

absolutely adore public<br />

health, <strong>and</strong> that is the<br />

only thing that I can<br />

ever see myself<br />

doing.”<br />

Sikes has lived in the county since<br />

she was five years old, so she said it made<br />

sense for her to serve the community she has<br />

grown to love the most. She said in her family<br />

there was a kind of tradition of nursing,<br />

as she remembered learning from <strong>and</strong> seeing<br />

pictures of her gr<strong>and</strong>mother during her<br />

days a Navy nurse in the 1920s.<br />

Graduating from nursing<br />

school from what is now Georgia<br />

College <strong>and</strong> State University<br />

in 1995, she worked with<br />

Houston <strong>Health</strong>care for a<br />

couple of years. She ended<br />

up wanting to pursue<br />

something where she could<br />

have longer-term relationships<br />

with patients <strong>and</strong><br />

combine aspects of teaching<br />

with nursing, eventually<br />

l<strong>and</strong>ing on what has become<br />

her current field of public<br />

health.<br />

Sikes has worked in public<br />

health for two decades <strong>and</strong> currently<br />

serves as the nurse manager responsible<br />

for clinical services at the Houston County<br />

<strong>Health</strong> Department. She has served in her<br />

current role for 13 years.<br />

“I found my way to public health, <strong>and</strong><br />

I’ve been here for 20 years,” Sikes said. “I<br />

can’t imagine doing anything other than this;<br />

I absolutely adore public health, <strong>and</strong> that<br />

is the only thing that I can ever see myself<br />

doing.”<br />

9


She said happy <strong>and</strong> high moments<br />

happen daily for her, adding that one of her<br />

favorite themes that comes along with the job<br />

involves making a patient’s day better.<br />

“The theme that I love the best is to<br />

see a patient that maybe comes in <strong>and</strong> is in<br />

a bad spot — <strong>and</strong> sometimes they are — or<br />

maybe they just don’t feel like they have any<br />

answers or don’t know which way to go,”<br />

she said. “They’re able to leave here with a<br />

great, big smile on their face, <strong>and</strong> they have<br />

resources, or they have gotten the help that<br />

they need.”<br />

Another responsibility of the health<br />

department includes sheltering hurricane<br />

evacuees.<br />

“One of my favorite memories is at<br />

the end of a hurricane response, helping<br />

everybody get loaded back up on their buses<br />

— knowing that we were sending them back,<br />

their homes had been checked <strong>and</strong> watching<br />

about five buses pull out, waving goodbye,”<br />

she added. “That was always something that I<br />

will think about.”<br />

She elaborated on her role as nurse<br />

manager, saying it is her job<br />

to take information from<br />

higher-ups from the district<br />

<strong>and</strong> state <strong>and</strong> localize them<br />

for area public health entities.<br />

She is also in charge of<br />

addressing the health needs<br />

of the community by maintaining<br />

relevant partnerships<br />

with local law enforcement,<br />

local hospitals <strong>and</strong> Robins<br />

Air Force Base among other<br />

organizations.<br />

Sikes listed out some<br />

aspects of the clinic she was<br />

proud of, saying the efforts<br />

to make them happen was<br />

a team effort through <strong>and</strong><br />

through.<br />

One of the largest tasks<br />

for public health personnel is<br />

immunizing children against<br />

vaccine-preventable diseases,<br />

she said. This can involve auditing<br />

immunization records<br />

for daycares as well as public<br />

<strong>and</strong> private schools in the<br />

county.<br />

These efforts also<br />

involve vaccinating schoolchildren<br />

who want the shot<br />

during flu season.<br />

10


11


12<br />

Children are also welcomed to come to the<br />

health department clinic for wellness physicals <strong>and</strong><br />

reproductive health education.<br />

A monkeypox vaccine clinic is available on<br />

Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to noon for pre-registered patients<br />

that have risk factors for developing the viral<br />

disease.<br />

A dental health clinic is available as well as a<br />

mental health clinic in partnership with Mercer University<br />

to provide free family therapy. A nurse practitioner<br />

works part time for treating mild to moderate<br />

mental illnesses.<br />

A prenatal clinic is available at a low cost for<br />

women with insurance complications. First-time<br />

pregnant moms can take advantage of free home visiting<br />

services up until the baby is two years old.<br />

During the p<strong>and</strong>emic, the health department<br />

utilized a mobile testing option as well as carside<br />

dental assistance to provide antibiotics <strong>and</strong> keep cases<br />

of dental abscesses out of the hospital emergency<br />

room until adequate service was available.<br />

Looking for a career in public health? Sikes<br />

said, “there are no two days that are exactly alike.”<br />

“What they can expect is<br />

to form relationships with some<br />

patients that may last years — you<br />

may see generations of families<br />

or help generations of families,”<br />

Sikes explained. “In addition to<br />

diversity, they should expect a<br />

really great education through<br />

training.<br />

“I think public health is<br />

one of those places that provide<br />

a lot of training, <strong>and</strong> it’s really<br />

high quality <strong>and</strong> it’s really diverse<br />

training. They should expect to<br />

see duties <strong>and</strong> jobs that they may<br />

not have always thought of as a<br />

nursing position. So, it is definitely<br />

a career to get them to step out<br />

of their comfort zone, but they<br />

will be enriched by a lot of different<br />

experiences.”<br />

She elaborated on how the Houston<br />

County <strong>Health</strong> Department sets itself apart from<br />

other similar organizations.<br />

“In my heart, I believe that what sets us<br />

aside is that somehow the stars have aligned <strong>and</strong><br />

every single person who works in this building, I<br />

have never worked with a better team of people<br />

who are 100% dedicated when they are here <strong>and</strong><br />

even outside of work, they are 100% dedicated to<br />

doing what they do,” she said.<br />

The people who work at the department<br />

also live nearby, so they have a vested interest in<br />

the community, Sikes added.<br />

The staff working with Sikes includes<br />

registered nurses, nurse practitioners, a relevant<br />

part-time role, health educators, administrative<br />

staff, a full-time dentist, a full-time dental hygienist<br />

<strong>and</strong> a dental assistant.<br />

Sikes said she loves to travel as well as<br />

work in the yard during her free time. Her husb<strong>and</strong>,<br />

Jody, is a teacher at Thomson Middle<br />

School. They have two sons, Adam <strong>and</strong> Brian.<br />

The Sikes also have two dogs, Jedi <strong>and</strong> Leia.<br />

to<br />

F<br />

k<br />

m<br />

w<br />

c<br />

b<br />

p<br />

a


Board<br />

Certified in<br />

Nephrology<br />

Hypertension <strong>and</strong> Kidney Associates is a single-specialty Nephrology practice dedicated<br />

to serving patients in the Heart of Middle GA at 4 locations; Warner Robins, Hawkinsville,<br />

Fort Valley <strong>and</strong> Perry. Our mission is to provide the highest quality care for patients with<br />

kidney disease in a courteous, professional <strong>and</strong> timely manner.<br />

Kidney disease often has no symptoms, <strong>and</strong> could go undetected until very advanced. The<br />

most common causes are diabetes <strong>and</strong> high blood pressure (hypertension). Testing is the only<br />

way to know how well your kidneys are working. If detected early <strong>and</strong> treated, kidney disease<br />

could often be slowed down or even prevented.<br />

At Hypertension <strong>and</strong> Kidney Associates, our Board Certified Nephrologists are st<strong>and</strong>ing<br />

by with years of experience in managing various aspects of Kidney Disease. Let us be your<br />

partners in actively managing your kidney disease, <strong>and</strong> help preserve your kidney function to<br />

achieve your goal of a healthy life. We also offer Tele<strong>Health</strong> as per your insurance.<br />

We Offer<br />

TELEHEALTH<br />

(478)-333-3612<br />

M. ASLAM, MD I. BARAKAT, MD D. ADHIKARI, MD<br />

www.htnkidney.com<br />

SPECIALISTS IN<br />

MANAGEMENT OF:<br />

• High Blood Pressure<br />

Hypertension<br />

• Electrolyte Disorders<br />

• Chronic Kidney Disease<br />

• Diabetes Related<br />

Kidney Disease<br />

• Kidney Stones<br />

• Dialysis Care<br />

• Kidney Transplant Care<br />

• Diet / Nutritional Guidance to<br />

help slow the progression of<br />

Kidney Damage<br />

Offices in Warner Robins, Perry, Fort Valley & Hawkinsville | 105 Tommy Stalnaker Dr. Ste 1, Warner Robins, 31088


Providing Service to Families for 20 Years<br />

PERRY<br />

FA M I L Y P R ACT I C E<br />

Specializing in Family Medicine<br />

Perry Drug Company<br />

Your local independent pharmacy.<br />

1036 Macon Rd, Perry • www.perrydrugcompany.com<br />

Jody Velie, MD<br />

CLEAR SKIN IS POSSIBLE<br />

with SKINfinity Studio’s Acne Bootcamp<br />

Achive your skin goals with Face Reality Acne<br />

Specialist, Owner & Licensed Esthetician<br />

Kim Stuckey<br />

D<br />

Ally Lancaster, FNP-C<br />

Tausha Rhoades, AGACNP<br />

Sarah Harris, FNP-C<br />

Madison Odom, PA-C<br />

We accept Medicare & most Medicare<br />

Advantage Plans as well as<br />

most commercial insurance<br />

Same day appointments for established patients<br />

On-Site lab with fast turnaround<br />

Patient Portal for easy access to<br />

provider & scheduling<br />

We have Chronic Care Management &<br />

Remote Monitoring available for patients<br />

with multiple conditions<br />

Follow us on Facebook & Instagram!<br />

Make An Appointment Today!<br />

478-988-1515<br />

1016 Keith Dr, Perry & 1025 Keith Drive<br />

www.perryfamilypractice.com<br />

HOW DOES IT WORK?<br />

The boot camp kicks off with an in-depth<br />

skin assessment by Kim, where she’ll go over<br />

your skin goals <strong>and</strong> curate a regimen that’s<br />

specifically tailored to you <strong>and</strong> your skin.<br />

• Bi-monthly Acne Treatments<br />

(usually for 8-12 weeks)<br />

• Correct home-care products<br />

(initial cost is usually $150-$200)<br />

• Lifestyle<br />

• Diet<br />

Let me help you get SKIN Fit!<br />

Call 478-955-6099 to set up a consultation.<br />

For more information visit skinfinitystudio.com


Houston Primary Care<br />

Dinkara Shetty, MD<br />

Preethi Mereddy, MD Adetokunbo Awojulu, MD John Sam’s, MD<br />

Deborah Blessinger, PA Linda Vanosdol, FNP Delana Bongiovanni, NP<br />

Your Caring, Professional <strong>Health</strong>care Team<br />

Since 2000, Dr. Dinakara Shetty <strong>and</strong> his team at Houston Primary Care have provided exceptional, personalized<br />

healthcare services. With offices in Warner Robins <strong>and</strong> Byron, GA, our goal is to help adults across the area<br />

achieve optimal health.<br />

Our team consists of doctors, physician assistants, <strong>and</strong> nurse practitioners who are trained professionals you can<br />

trust to provide you with exceptional care. We strive to educate our patients, empowering them to take an active role<br />

in their health, while working to prevent conditions, diseases, <strong>and</strong> illnesses <strong>and</strong> effectively treat those that do arise.<br />

• In House Labs<br />

• Covid Testing<br />

• Covid Treatment<br />

• Covid Preventative Care<br />

• Echocardiograms<br />

24hr/7<br />

• Papsmears<br />

• Ekgs<br />

• X-rays<br />

• Ultrasounds<br />

SAME DAY APPOINTMENTS<br />

New Patients<br />

Welcome<br />

Most Insurance Accepted<br />

Active Medical Staff<br />

Houston Medical Center<br />

TELEHEALTH<br />

Online Doctor’s Visits<br />

SCHEDULE PHONE AND VIDEO APPOINTMENTS<br />

John Saunders, Jr.,<br />

AGAC NP<br />

WARNER ROBINS<br />

478-328-7674<br />

1719 Russell Pkwy.<br />

McNeal Center Building<br />

BYRON<br />

478-956-3477<br />

218 N. Hwy. 49<br />

MyHoustonPrimaryCare.com


The Needs<br />

.............<br />

NNo ifs, <strong>and</strong>s or buts, being a teenager is difficult. These recent prepubescents have<br />

a lot going on, venturing into newfound knowledge about themselves, navigating expectations<br />

that may be placed onto them <strong>and</strong> balancing their current worldview with things<br />

they have learned in the past <strong>and</strong> the things they know are coming in the future. In all this<br />

newness, the changes to their body, alterations to social expectations <strong>and</strong> shifts in self-image<br />

— sometimes they need a little help. The Journal spoke with County Nurse Manager<br />

Chris Sikes to get some pointers.<br />

“Children that age are becoming more aware of their bodies, they have a better<br />

underst<strong>and</strong>ing of how their bodies work from their childhood experience,” Sikes said.<br />

“They’re learning more in school, they’re learning more about their bodies — they’re finding<br />

out that their bodies are doing these things, <strong>and</strong> they’re going through periods of rapid<br />

growth <strong>and</strong> development during that time — physical, social <strong>and</strong> emotional growth at the<br />

same time. They’re becoming more aware of themselves as a human in all of those<br />

areas. You have to keep in mind all three of those things — mind,<br />

body <strong>and</strong> spirit — when addressing teen health<br />

because all of those things<br />

play a role.”<br />

16<br />

STORY BY TYLER MEISTER....................


..............<br />

Of Teens<br />

Starting with physical changes, Sikes tells us the physical changes that an adolescent<br />

goes through are mostly obvious: their bones <strong>and</strong> muscles are exp<strong>and</strong>ing, their organ systems<br />

grow, their facial structure changes. Teens begin growing hair in new places, <strong>and</strong> they<br />

begin experiencing “sexual maturation.”<br />

With all these changes comes a stress that many children might have never faced:<br />

as their body grows <strong>and</strong> changes, their self-image may change too. They are no longer the<br />

soft-faced, small child they were — they shot up three feet, their features have sharpened to<br />

show a chin <strong>and</strong> cheek bones, <strong>and</strong> sometimes they have not quite grown into their limbs.<br />

This is just one of the aspects that can play into a teen’s mental health. As teens grow older,<br />

they gain br<strong>and</strong> new experiences — autonomy, hormone changes, social pressures, facing<br />

the future, staying ahead in school — all things that add to the pile <strong>and</strong> can create stress.<br />

The br<strong>and</strong>-new social aspect of being a teen can compound this. You are talking to more<br />

people, making deeper connections with friends, potentially even getting into romantic<br />

relationships for the first time. Meanwhile you are taking on more<br />

responsibility at home, getting a job <strong>and</strong> ordering your<br />

own pizza. Quite suddenly, the world has<br />

opened up.<br />

...............PHOTOGRAPHY BY TYLER MEISTER<br />

17


These three<br />

aspects — physical,<br />

emotional <strong>and</strong> social wellbeing<br />

- are all interconnected,<br />

<strong>and</strong> all of them require care.<br />

The Houston County Department<br />

of Public <strong>Health</strong> (DPH)<br />

provides a number of services specific<br />

to teens, some of them even free or<br />

anonymous in some cases.<br />

Three<br />

aspects: physical,<br />

emotional <strong>and</strong> social well-being...<br />

are all interconnected, <strong>and</strong><br />

all of them require care.<br />

Specific to women’s health, the health department provides physical assessments <strong>and</strong> contraceptives as<br />

well as hygiene products <strong>and</strong> woman may need.<br />

DPH provides full body <strong>and</strong> sports physicals as well as STD testing. They also speak with teens about<br />

sexual risk <strong>and</strong> reproductive factors <strong>and</strong> can visit schools upon request. They also provide birth control, condoms,<br />

pregnancy testing <strong>and</strong> counseling.<br />

In collaboration with Mercer University, the health department also offers free family counseling via one of<br />

their students.<br />

DPH also provides dental care, immunizations <strong>and</strong> a litany of other services available to teens.<br />

Finally, for any teen looking to ask health professionals questions specific to their bodies, advice on<br />

dating, relationships or “risky” behaviors, the Department of Public <strong>Health</strong> offers a free, anonymous text line<br />

for teens. The free text line number is: (478) 957-7858.<br />

“We do everything we can when a teen comes here to respect their privacy, <strong>and</strong> to protect their<br />

privacy,” Sikes said. “We make teens a priority - if a teen needs us, we will do everything<br />

in our power to get them in <strong>and</strong> get them seen at a time that is convenient, that doesn’t<br />

require them to miss school or anything like that. We will make their visits a priority<br />

on holidays <strong>and</strong> after school, so they can reach us when they need to.”<br />

18


19


Teresa Vickers, N.P.


Call Us At 478-336-1980 To Schedule An Appointment<br />

Dr. Truitt S. Boatright<br />

Board Certified in Pediatrics<br />

WellCheck<br />

Visits<br />

Sports <strong>and</strong> School<br />

Physicals<br />

Same Day Sick<br />

Appointments<br />

Hours:<br />

Mon. - Fri.<br />

9am-5pm<br />

Dr. Kim Coker<br />

Board Certified in Pediatrics<br />

104 Bluff Chase, Bonaire, GA, 31005


So, you’ve had<br />

a baby...<br />

Pediatrician Kimberly Coker<br />

breaks down the ins & outs of<br />

infancy development by using<br />

developmental surveillance.<br />

22


NOW WHAT?<br />

NOW WHAT?<br />

NOW WHAT?<br />

It is a moment new parents spend<br />

nine months of their lives preparing for.<br />

Their baby has arrived, <strong>and</strong> after they take<br />

them home, they will grow <strong>and</strong> develop as<br />

time goes on.<br />

What should new parents look out<br />

for? Dr. Kimberly Coker, a pediatrician for<br />

Primary Pediatrics in Bonaire, broke it down.<br />

She explained that as time goes on,<br />

parents should look out for developmental<br />

delays in infancy. She further explained<br />

that pediatricians also look out for delays in<br />

motor development <strong>and</strong> social development<br />

during check-ups as well.<br />

“In each one of those we do developmental<br />

surveillance,” she explained. “We<br />

ask questions on what is developmentally<br />

accurate for that age.”<br />

What does the typical timeline look<br />

like? Coker explained that also.<br />

Keep in mind as a child grows<br />

<strong>and</strong> develops, consulting<br />

with a pediatrician will assist<br />

parents in figuring out if their<br />

children are hitting milestones<br />

in a timely manner.<br />

At two months, babies will be<br />

checked for “head lag,” meaning that their<br />

head should not be slumped over when<br />

st<strong>and</strong>ing upright.<br />

At four months, babies should be<br />

able to smile when somebody smiles at them<br />

<strong>and</strong> be able to make eye contact. Also, at four<br />

months, parents are encouraged to place babies<br />

on their stomachs to help them become<br />

stronger in holding up their heads.<br />

At six months, there should be no<br />

more head lag <strong>and</strong> babies should be able to<br />

roll over <strong>and</strong> make efforts to sit up <strong>and</strong> crawl.<br />

Socially, they should be able to smile <strong>and</strong><br />

babble.<br />

At nine months, babies should be<br />

able to walk a few steps while holding onto<br />

furniture <strong>and</strong> continuing to babble.<br />

At 12 months, they should be able<br />

to take steps <strong>and</strong> talk directly to parents<br />

by saying things like “ma-ma” or “da-da.”<br />

They should also be able to transition out of<br />

breastfeeding.<br />

At each checkup, pediatricians will<br />

also track a baby’s growth by measuring their<br />

height, weight <strong>and</strong> head circumference.<br />

STORY BY BRIEANNA ROMERO | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIEANNA ROMERO<br />

23


24


“If they jump up too high or fall off the growth<br />

curve, then it could be signs of a hormonal problem, or<br />

they’re not taking in enough calories, things like that,”<br />

Coker said. “We also plot their head circumference <strong>and</strong><br />

that gives us an idea of how their brain is growing. So,<br />

if their head suddenly grows dramatically compared to<br />

the last visit, it could be a problem with the brain, or if<br />

it stops growing over a couple of visits, that could be a<br />

sign the brain is not growing.”<br />

Dr. Coker explained that developmental delays<br />

could indicate disorders such as autism, but also<br />

assured parents that isolated delays may not be wholly<br />

indicative of autism. A pediatrician can help parents<br />

determine development with their child’s personal<br />

situation.<br />

“As they get older, frequently children with<br />

autism will have some sort of developmental delay,” she<br />

explained. “Often, it’s like, they’re not talking; they’re<br />

not saying any words. We’re getting to 18 months, <strong>and</strong><br />

they won’t say ‘ma-ma, da-da’ or anything.”<br />

She also explained that children with autism<br />

might not point to objects as well. She said that checking<br />

in on milestones helps to catch delays early, <strong>and</strong> if a<br />

child is diagnosed with something like autism, doctors<br />

can intervene earlier <strong>and</strong> refine the diagnosis as time<br />

goes on.<br />

“Basically, we get them plugged in with different<br />

therapies, so it helps them,” Coker said. “And<br />

the earlier they start with the therapies, the better the<br />

outcome is. They’re able to cope with the world a lot<br />

better.”<br />

To assist in development, Coker advised parents<br />

to talk <strong>and</strong> interact with their baby by speaking,<br />

singing <strong>and</strong> reading to them.<br />

“From infancy on, even if they can’t talk, or<br />

you don’t think they can underst<strong>and</strong> you, just having<br />

that human interaction will go a long way towards<br />

furthering their development,” Coker said.<br />

She also encouraged parents to download a<br />

milestone tracker app that can track their child’s development<br />

<strong>and</strong> bring up concerns to their pediatrician.<br />

A full list of developmental milestones can be<br />

found on the American Academy of Pediatrics’ website:<br />

healthychildren.org/english/ages-stages/baby/Pages/<br />

default.aspx<br />

25


Making P<br />

PLAT<br />

Children grow, <strong>and</strong> they do it<br />

fast. One day, they are so small you<br />

can carry them with one h<strong>and</strong> alone,<br />

<strong>and</strong> the next — 12 years later — it is<br />

likely they could be as tall as you. But<br />

that is what they are supposed to do,<br />

right?<br />

As adults, we go to work, we<br />

create a safe environment, we cultivate<br />

a space where our children can<br />

live <strong>and</strong> play — <strong>and</strong> just as importantly<br />

— grow to be adults themselves,<br />

thus embracing the cycle.<br />

26<br />

STORY BY<br />

TYLER MEISTER


Pretty<br />

TES<br />

But for a kid to do that, they<br />

need fuel: the premium stuff, not just<br />

unleaded. While teachers work to<br />

make sure their intellect grows with<br />

English <strong>and</strong> Mathematics, parents<br />

work to ensure their children grow<br />

to be moral, independent individuals.<br />

They also need food.<br />

As many a parent has said,<br />

good food makes kids grow big<br />

<strong>and</strong> strong. Fruits, veggies <strong>and</strong> lean<br />

meats. They are all a part of the plate<br />

that provides the needed nutrition.<br />

PHOTOGRAPHY BY<br />

TYLER MEISTER<br />

27


We spoke with the Houston County<br />

Board of Education’s very own Director of<br />

School Nutrition Meredith Potter for the details.<br />

Potter is a registered dietician <strong>and</strong> is entering<br />

her 14th year of school nutrition. She said she<br />

has found her home in what she does.<br />

“A healthy diet for kids of any age just<br />

requires balance,” Potter said. “Certainly, that’s<br />

difficult sometimes, to get kids to eat different<br />

foods.<br />

“Introducing food that may not be as<br />

common to the kids, along with food they’re<br />

comfortable with, can increase the chance they’ll<br />

try something new. Also, we’ve found that when<br />

other kids choose something in the lunch line,<br />

their friends are more likely to try something<br />

new, too. Sometimes it’s easier for kids to select<br />

new <strong>and</strong> different foods at school than it may be<br />

at home, because they have their friends around<br />

them who may be trying it.”<br />

Difficulty aside, Potter cites the USDA’s<br />

MyPlate, calling it “the model for anyone’s diet.”<br />

It includes grains, dairy, proteins, fruits <strong>and</strong><br />

vegetables.<br />

“Lean meats — chicken, ham — along<br />

with the fresh green beans we have today, <strong>and</strong> a<br />

side of fruit, paired with milk <strong>and</strong> a whole grain<br />

roll,” Potter said. “That would be an example of<br />

something that would be a great option for kids.”<br />

Children, <strong>and</strong> even adults for that matter,<br />

aiming for a balance among these food groups<br />

will find themselves eating a healthier diet. For<br />

many children, two of their three meals during a<br />

school year come from the school itself.<br />

Potter said they are on the job to serve<br />

30,000 meals a day, <strong>and</strong> all of them are made to<br />

provide health <strong>and</strong> nutrition to the children in<br />

their care, offering hot meals, salads <strong>and</strong> a variety<br />

of fruits <strong>and</strong> veggies.<br />

28


“Our main job as school nutrition,<br />

<strong>and</strong> as a part of the educational system, is to<br />

support students,” Potter said. “Our main job<br />

is to make sure breakfast <strong>and</strong> lunch are an<br />

exciting <strong>and</strong> enjoyable time of the day. We<br />

want to make sure when kids report to school<br />

in the morning <strong>and</strong> during the day, they have<br />

the nutrition they need to be ready to learn.”<br />

Incorporating a healthy balance of<br />

these foods is not always easy. Aside from<br />

the time <strong>and</strong> money it takes to prepare some<br />

things, there is the added challenge that maybe<br />

a child does not want to try a specific food,<br />

or maybe they did try it but did not enjoy it.<br />

Potter suggests getting creative, finding new<br />

recipes via Google or Pinterest <strong>and</strong> maybe<br />

preparing the food differently next time<br />

around.<br />

“I think that it’s important to know,<br />

if [you] try a different fruit or vegetable <strong>and</strong><br />

the child is not receptive to it the first time,<br />

don’t give up, try again,” Potter said. “It’s also<br />

a good point to try preparing it in a different<br />

way. If you try carrots <strong>and</strong> the child doesn’t<br />

love them, maybe cooked carrots would be a<br />

different option. Some kids are more geared<br />

to like the fresh vegetables, <strong>and</strong> others are<br />

geared to like the cooked <strong>and</strong> prepared vegetables.”<br />

Maintaining a healthy balance can be<br />

difficult — but it’s not impossible. For more<br />

information on what foods to look out for,<br />

how to set balance, <strong>and</strong> even next steps, visit<br />

www.myplate.gov, or download the MyPlate<br />

app via your app store.<br />

29


MIDDLE GEORGIA PRIMARY CARE, P.C.<br />

Complete Adult &<br />

Geriatric <strong>Health</strong> Care<br />

A. SOUNDAPPAN, M.D.<br />

Board Certifi ed Internal Medicine<br />

NEW PATIENTS<br />

WELCOME<br />

SAME DAY<br />

APPOINTMENTS<br />

WALK INS WELCOME<br />

• Diabetes • High Blood Pressure<br />

• Heart & Lung Disease<br />

• Colonoscopy & Endoscopy • Arthritis<br />

• Osteoporosis • Cancer Screening<br />

SPECIALIZING IN:<br />

• Complete Physicals • Men’s <strong>Health</strong><br />

• School Physicals/<br />

Pre-Employment Physicals<br />

• Stress Testing/Holter Monitoring<br />

1115 Morningside Dr., Perry<br />

478-988-3060<br />

AETNA, BC/BS, CIGNA, SECURE HEALTH, UNITED HEALTHCARE<br />

MEDICARE, MOST INSURANCE PLANS ACCEPTED<br />

MiddleGeorgiaHeart<br />

THE LEADER<br />

IN CARDIOLOGY CARE<br />

At Middle Georgia Heart, we underst<strong>and</strong> how scary cardiovascular issues can be. However,<br />

you can rest easy knowing that you’re in the care of the most experienced heart specialists<br />

in the region. Our team has over 100 years of combined experience.<br />

Our team is led by Dr. Knopf, one of the most experienced <strong>and</strong> knowledgeable cardiologists<br />

in the Southeast.<br />

SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY<br />

IN OUR WARNER ROBINS OFFICE<br />

478-254-2644<br />

NEW LOCATION<br />

1654 Watson Blvd,<br />

Warner Robins, GA<br />

MIDGAHEART.COM

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!