Video Recap: Day of Dance 2012

Feb. 12, 2012: Franciscan Alliance's first Day of Dance event, as part of our new Spirit of Women campaign. More than 700 attendees of all ages took part in a myriad events, including dance instruction and performances, health screenings, cooking demonstrations and a vendors bazaar - all meant to stress health during February, which is American Heart Month.

Enjoy!

Next Mallwalkers Event - Body Vive - Feb. 22

Join us Wednesday, February 22, for the FranciscanFit monthly Mallwalkers program at the Westfield Southlake Mall (JC Penney Court), 2109 Southlake Mall, Merrillville.

Topic: Body Vive

Blood Pressure Screenings will be available from 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.

From 9 a.m. - 10 a.m., instructors from Omni Health & Fitness present "Body Vive" - a low-impact, whole body cardio workout. All ages are welcome.

For more information, contact the Franciscan Alliance Health Resource Center at (800) 931-3322.

Franciscan Focus for iPhone, iPad and Android Users - Download Today!

Last week we announced the launch of our Franciscan Focus magazine app for the iPhone and iPad.

Now we are pleased to offer a free app for Android users!

Click on the links below to get Franciscan Focus "on the go" - mobile access to news and features about the best and latest services offered at the Franciscan Alliance Northern Indiana hospitals.

 

Valentine's Day Baby Comes Complete with Red Hair, Heart-Shaped Birthmark

The heart-shaped birthmark on Julianna Valencia’s left leg.

Valentine's Day babies may not be unusual, even those born with red hair. But one born with red hair and a distinctive 1-inch, reddish, heart-shaped birth mark on her left leg?

"In 34 years as a nurse, I have never seen anything like it. Neither has anyone else on our staff," said Elaine Gianopolus, a Franciscan St. Margaret Health-Hammond Family Birthing Center nurse, about the case of Julianna Valencia, who came into the world at 7:28 a.m. that day at a length of 19.5 inches and weight of 7 pounds, 12 ounces.

The nurse's feelings were echoed by Suzanne Davidson, a nurse since 1996, who is director of the St. Margaret's medical-surgery unit and of women and children services.

"I've never seen anything like this before; it is very unusual," she said, adding still other members of the medical staff agreed.

Mother Jessica Valencia and daughter Jessalynn, 3,
snuggle with newly arrived Julianna in a room at Franciscan St. Margaret Health-Hammond. 

Mother Jessica Valencia, of Hammond, said, "It is so neat that she was born on Valentine's Day. Just before I saw her, a nurse and my sister-in-law told me,'You're not going to believe it – she has red hair and a heart on her leg.'"

Valencia's mother, Lynn Burns, of Valparaiso, said she was ecstatic about the birth her new granddaughter, adding, "She is just a beautiful baby. We are so happy."

Mother-in-law Bertha Alcantar, of Hammond, called her son Angel's and daughter-in-law's new addition, "a love baby," adding she was conceived during the couple's honeymoon after their wedding May 27.

The couple has another daughter, Jessalynn, age 3, who spent much of her time during a visit the day after the birth snuggling and holding her new sister.

"Spirit of Women" Shines at Day of Dance Program

Franciscan Alliance's first Day of Dance program, as part of its new Spirit of Women campaign, kicked off with a bang at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza on Feb. 12, with more than 700 attendees of all ages taking part in myriad events, including dance, health screenings, including for blood pressure, blood glucose, body fat analysis, bone density, breast exam self-education, heart attack prevention, and foot, stroke and peripheral arterial disease testing.

Also offered were a chef's corner, vendors bazaar and other offerings meant to stress health during February, which is American Heart Month.

Among special guests were Maurice Basile, 90, and wife Helen Funk, 101, of Munster, who shared a special fox trot dance to a song done by Jimmy Durante. The couple have been married 14 years and "just love to dance." They also participate in programs offered in Hammond and in Highland. Both are cancer survivors who believe in living life to the fullest by staying active. They also have taken seven vacation cruises.

For more photos of the event, visit facebook.com/FranciscanNWI.

To become a Spirit of Women member and to register for monthly programs, call (800) 931-3322, or visit FranciscanAlliance.org/SpiritofWomen.

Franciscan Alliance hospitals in Northwest Indiana include, Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Michigan City, Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point, Franciscan St. Margaret Health-Dyer and Hammond and Franciscan Physicians Hospital in Munster.

Women's Heart Disease: Go RED in February

It is February and everyone knows what that means. VALENTINE'S DAY! Flowers, dinners, cards, and little heart candies given to us by our loved ones. However, equally important in the month of February is "GO RED." You can show your Valentine how much you care by keeping your heart healthy.

Women have so much more to do today than they did years ago. The typical women can be a career women, mother, spouse, house keeper, chef, the list goes on. This type of life leads us to poor diets, lack of exercise and loads of stress. It is no wonder that more women die of heart disease than all cancers combined. In fact, more women than men die of heart attacks. Women are wonderful at taking care of others, but take little time to take care of themselves. As much as 80% of cardiac events in women could be prevented with making the right choices involving the heart by diet, exercise, smoking, screening, and knowing the warning signs of a heart attack.

We as women need to remember to take time for ourselves. The best thing a women can do for her family is to be heart healthy. Now is the time to take time for your heart.

Please call 911, if you are experiencing chest pain, light-headedness, shortness of breath, unusual fatigue or dizziness.

Watch "Just a Little Heart Attack" - a three minute video from the American Heart Association which educates women about the reality of heart disease and encourages them to put their health first.



Happy GO RED and VALENTINES DAY!!!

Karen and Renne

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Submitted by Karen Callahan, RN, and Renne Pfister, RN, Chest Pain Center Coordinators at Franciscan St. Margaret Health. 

The Chest Pain Centers at both St. Margaret Health's Hammond and Dyer campuses were the first accredited centers in Northwest Indiana and only two of 27 in the state. Accreditation by the Society of Chest Pain Centers means that you can be confident that our Emergency and Cardiac departments have the right specialists, processes and equipment in place to provide the highest level of care for patients experiencing chest pain. Learn more +

February "Spirit of Women" Seminar - Lowering Blood Pressure and Cholesterol

Please join us for our monthly Spirit of Women presentation in February:

“A Little DASH Will Do You”
DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is a dietary plan developed by the National Institute of Health to aid in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels without the need for medication.

Thursday, February 23, 2012
6 p.m.
Franciscan St. Margaret Health - Dyer
24 Joliet St., Dyer
Reginald Board Room
Presented by: Catherine Held, Registered Dietitian

For more information or to register, please call (800) 931-3322.

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Watch for dates for our March seminar: “Avoid a Brainwreck (Concussions)."

For more information about these events call (800) 931-3322.

To sign up for Spirit of Women, visit our webpage or fill out our online form on Facebook!