Prepare for a Quick Get-away With Your Most Prized Possession – Your Health.

When Hurricane Irene was predicted to hit the east coast, it created a flurry of activity. Residents were either bracing themselves for the impact or high tailing it out of there and away from its path. Those who chose to stay, stocked up on toilet paper, water, milk and bread while those who chose to leave, packed up their most precious personal belongings and left for drier ground. Fortunately, we had a warning and therefore, time to prepare. But what about the times when we are not warned; when something unforeseen happens and we only have mere moments to “gather and go”. Would we stop to gather our most important possessions and if so, what would they be? Would they be our photos, important papers, smart phones and computers? Or would they be the possessions beyond what we traditionally think of as “precious?”  Do we consider our health and the health of our loved ones as possessions to secure in times of disaster or even unpredictable travel away from home?

The Value of Advocacy: A story of friendship and support.

Kim's Story

Kim has been my best friend since the third grade. “Lifers” as we like to say. I am a nurse and she is a quality analyst for a talent management company – 2 different worlds. When she or her family has a medical question, I am their “go to” person. Recently, she had a bout with an ear infection that resulted in hearing loss and extreme episodes of dizziness. Kim tends to be a private person and rarely calls for simple issues, so when she called to complain about her ear and dizzy spells, I knew it was a big deal. After asking her a few questions, I got the sense that her primary physician wasn’t managing her care properly. I suggested she ask to see an ear specialist and then gave her the name of a reputable one I knew personally.