World Prematurity Day (November 17, 2011)

Editor's note:

"Preemies" have a special place in my heart because that's how my life started -- one (1) month premature and weighing in at a whopping four (4) pounds. I was one of the fortunate ones because I survived those early days and went on to thrive and become a healthy adult.

***

In humans, "pre-term birth" refers to the birth of a baby at less than the thirty-seven (37) weeks gestational age. Currently the cause for pre-term birth - at least in many cases - remains unknown. Research has shown that many factors appear to be associated with the development of pre-term birth -- making its reduction a difficult proposition.

"Premature birth", commonly used as a synonym for pre-term birth, refers to the birth of a baby before its organs have matured enough to allow normal post-natal survival, growth, and development. Generally, premature infants are at a greater risk for both short-term and long-term complications including disabilities and impediments in growth and mental development. While great progress has been made in the care of premature infants, but not in reducing the prevalence of pre-term birth.

Most children, even if they are born pre-term, tend to adjust very well during childhood and adolescence. As improvements in the survival rate has improved, the focus of interventions directed at the newborn has shifted to reducing long-term disabilities -- particularly those related to brain injury. It should be noted, however, that some of the complications associated with pre-term birth may not become evident until years after birth.  Some of these include: cerebral palsy, mental retardation, disorders in psychological development, problems with vision and/or hearing, and epilepsy. Even with all that has been learned, additional long-term studies are necessary to get a better picture regarding the sequalae associated with pre-term birth.

Mayor Reed just can't win

As you know, if you've been following the news, Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta has been "home" for the Occupy: Atlanta protesters as they attempted to figure out exactly what to protest.(That seemed to change day-to-day and, occasionally hour-to-hour.)  While Mayor Kasim Reed was trying to deal with the protesters,  he's been dealing with a second group of "protesters" in the form of residents and business owners who demanded that he oust the Occupy: Atlanta protesters. Just one problem: he couldn't legally do that. The one law that would have allowed him to put them out had been rendered void when he signed an Executive Order allowing them to stay in the park during the over night hours. Fast forward to yesterday - Monday, October 24th - when Mayor Reed stated that he was going to rescind the previous Executive Order due to an illegal concert held over the weekend. Now, get this, Operation Push is demanding the Mayor's ouster because of what the term "too strong of a police presence". 

Mr. Mayor, may I make a suggestion? While you're putting the Occupy: Atlanta protesters, kick out Operation Push too!

Occupy Atlanta | Rainbow PUSH leader calls for ouster of Mayor Reed | ajc.com

-- Walter 

September is hydrocephalus awareness month

As you can see I have had hydrocephalus most of my life -- having developed it shortly after birth. I will make no qualms about it, I am a walking miracle because I have survived well-past the two-year mark predicted by the doctor and have went on to become a healthy, productive adult who loves to help others. Unfortunately not all those affected by Hydrocephalus are as unfortunate as I was and suffer from a myriad of health issues including heart problems, lack of bladder control (incontinence), loss of coordination, trouble walking and/or slow or restricted movement just to name a few. To increase awareness of this condition, September is Hydrocephalus Awareness Month and survivors such as myself, as well as  parents of children born with the condition are using all means at their disposal including blogs and social media sites such as Facebook to get it out before the public. Here's an example:

Facebook hydrocephalus group

Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for Hydrocephalus Awareness Month, but the effort shouldn't be limited to just one month because hydrocephalus is probably one of the least know - and least publicized - conditions known to medical science. For example, when I was born in 1963, there was somewhere between a half-page to one page devoted to the topic in most medical books. The sad fact is that in forty-seven (47) years that has changed some -- but not near as much as it should considering that statistics now show that over 1,000,000 children have been born with hydrocephalus. There have been wonderful strides in the treatment of "hydro" with items such as the programmable shunt (pictured at left) , , , now we just need to do a better job of raising awareness. To that end, I'm going to do my part later this month when I participate in the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Fund (PHF) "Walk for the Cure". It will take place on Saturday, September 17, 2011 beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Atlanta Beach, 2300 Highway 138, SE, Jonesboro, Georgia 30236.


Website for the PHF "Walk for the Cure"

Until next time . . .

Eagle owner, patrons say APD firings don't go far enough | ajc.com

I'm writing this blog because the headline (and associated article) below causes me mixed feelings. While I'm glad that the Atlanta Police Department (APD) did the right thing regarding the botched raid at the Eagle club in Atlanta, I can't help but think the owners of the club are now trying to "settle the score". I say that because officers have been terminated, suspended, and they (the Eagle) were awarded a settlement against the City. What more can be done?

-- WL

Eagle owner, patrons say APD firings don't go far enough | ajc.com

I like to write (and read) . . .

If you take a look at my blog roll, you can tell I love to read not only what I write, but what others write as well. Some of the blogs I follow are written by the "somewhat famous" (such as newscasters and the like), but most are written by "Joe Blow" who, like me, has found a blog is easy way to speak your mind. I think, by and far, my favorite blogger is Don McClellan, a retired anchor/report for WSB television in Atlanta, Georgia. Although I've yet to have the pleasure to meet him in person, I already feel as if I know him from reading his blogs and talking back and forth in my responses to what he writes.

You might be wondering what the picture of a man working late at night has to do with my blogging. Simple . . . I've found that some of my best blogs (or ideas for an article) come in the early morning . . . usually around three or four o'clock in the morning. Mind you, I might not finish the blog - or article - at that early hour (as a matter of fact, I usually don't) but I will get up and at least get it in draft form. That way, I can come back to it later in the morning, and pick-up from the point where I stopped. It also affords me the opportunity to bounce the idea around in my head and improve upon it.

Until next time . . .

How could this happen?

A couple of weeks ago when this story first came out, I sat absolutely dumb-founded as I read it! Having been around the fire service for 25+ years, I've learned that it seems to draw enough negative publicity - most of which is unwarranted and untrue - without allowing something like this to sully its reputation. I can only hope that the "powers that be" in Fairfield County do the right thing and give this fellow his walking papers.

-- WL

****

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, SC - A Fairfield County volunteer fireman is in jail charged with sexually assaulting a legally blind fire victim over the weekend. The fireman is also a registered sex offender.
Eight hours after Fairfield County's community fire department put out a fence fire Saturday, Ralph Marthers delivered the fire report to the victim.

"I laid the report on the table," said the victim. "He proceeded to put his hand down my shirt and pinched my left breast. I slapped his hand away, then he proceeded to put his hand up my gown, from the bottom and I slapped his hand away again."

Fairfield County Chief Deputy Keith Lewis said Marthers knew the victim.

"I looked over and he had his private parts in his hand... and I told him no and I used a few choice words and told him he better get out of my house before I shoot him."

Marthers, 51, joined the county fire department more than 25 years ago. In 1997, a jury convicted him of committing or attempting to commit a lewd act on a child under the age of 16. Marthers was placed on the state's sex offender registry, but stayed on the force.

Community Volunteer Fire Chief Greg Gerber says he never received a complaint about Marthers. "He is a good guy," said Gerber. "He was always first here at the fire station. You asked him to do anything, he would absolutely do it for you."

Gerber suspended Marthers from the department after his arrest Monday.

WIS asked Gerber if he was aware Marthers was on the sex offender registry. "Were you guys aware that he was on the sex offender registry and that he had a conviction and placed on that in 1997?" asked Jody Barr. "I don't know if I want to comment on that," said Gerber.

Marther's conviction came about a decade after he joined the force. "Could a firefighter join the force while being on the sex offender registry, with a felony conviction?" asked Barr. "No, you can't have a felony conviction on a sexual charge," Gerber responded. "Any reason this one slipped through the cracks... just not aware of it?" asked Barr. "Well, he's been a long time fireman, we had no problems from Ralph and we didn't see a need and we didn't notice anything," said Gerber.

"I kind of feel he [Chief Gerber] is responsible, because had he not given him the chance, this wouldn't have happened to me," said the victim. "I don't feel that he should have been in the position to come into someone's home and him already a registered sex offender."

Marthers is being held without bail in the Fairfield County Detention Center.

Get rid of 'em!

Civilian review board finds

Ecclesisastes 3:1 states "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under Heaven," and, in my humble opinion, the Atlanta (GA) citizen's review board has reached the end of its useful season.

Perhaps a little background into the Citizen Review Board (CRB) was formed in 1996 to "to afford citizens the opportunity for additional review and oversight of complaints against City public safety officers." Unfortunately, again in my humble opinion, the CRB appears to be on a mission to undermine the authority of APD officers and, in some cases, seemingly go on witch hunts singling out certain officers. Perhaps no where is this more true than with the Executive Director of the CRB, Christina Bemud.   Repeatedly in articles in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Ms. Bemud has berated the members of the APD and even gone so far as saying they need to "be re-educated in the Constitution". Frankly, I think it's Ms. Bemud who needs to be re-educated

Until next time . . .

"It makes me look like a scumbag"

In my opinion, Fire Department of New York (FDNY) Firefighter Robert Kelley (pictured above) shouldn't feel like a scumbag because he didn't do anything wrong. On the other hand, the law firm of Worby Groner Edelman & Napoli Bern should feel like the lowest kind of scum for depicting Kelley as being at Ground Zero and allowing the firm that produces their advertising to basically "photo shop" a picture of him.

As I thought about writing this blog, I considered several different ways to go with it . . . but the one that really struck me was to discuss how the "digital age" has opened up a whole new can of ethical worms for photographers. Although it - digital photography - allows photographers much more creativity and "forgiveness" for errors, it also lends itself to situations such as this where images are altered. As a long-time photographer, I have a problem with this because it gives those of us who try to go by the rules a bad name. With that in mind, I'd like to present some thoughts on how to protect your photographs (and your good name) in this digital age:

Guard your memory card!

If you make a photo and you're worried about it being erased or altered, remove the memory card that it's stored and and put it in a secure place -- preferably a safety depost box. I've heard of incidents where unscrupulous individuals downloaded an image from a memory card, atlered it, and then put the altered image back on the memory card.

 Consider using a watermark

If you utilize an on-line photo storage site - such as Webshots or Flickr - consider utilizing a watermark on your photographs. Although this might not stop someone who is determined to alter a digital image, it will allow you to identify your work and say that's not how the original image looked.

Consider using a caption with your work

Although this suggestion is far from fool-proof, consider submitting a caption sheet with your photographs. My experience is that if a caption is well written, most editors will include it with your photograph and it will raise some questions if the photograph and the caption differ.

In conclusion, I have to take exception with a comment made by a spokesman for Barker/DZP. She said: "It was fully legal to use and manipulate the image in any way the agency and its clients chose." She is correct that it's legal to use the image . . . but never have I seen in a release that you give them permission to manipute the image. Me thinks she should confer with her client!

What is Down Syndrome?

What is Down Syndrome?

Down syndrome or Down's Syndrome, trisomy 21 (primarily in the United Kingdom) is a chromosomal condition caused by the presence of all (or part) of an extra 21st chromosome (pictured at right). It is named for John Langdon Down, the British physician who first described the syndrome in 1866. It was later identified as chromosome 21 trisomy by Jerome Lejeune in 1959.

As noted above, Down syndrome is a chromosomal condition characterized by the presence of an extra copy of genetic material on the 21st chromosome, either in whole (trisomy 21) or part (such as due to translocations). The exact effect and extent of the extra copy vary greatly among people, depending on genetic history, and pure chance. The incidence of Down syndrome is estimated at 1 per 733 births, although it is statistically more common with older parents (both mother and father) due to increased mutagenic exposures upon some older parents' reproductive cells. Down syndrome occurs in all human populations and analogous effects have been found in other species such as chimpanzees and mice.

Often Down syndrome is associated with some impairment of cognitive ability and physical growth, and a particular set of facial characteristics. Many children with Down syndrome who received family support, enrichment therapies, and tutoring have been known to graduate from high school and college, and enjoy employment in the work force. On average, the IQ of a child with Down syndrome is around 50, compared to normal children with an IQ of 100. It should be noted that a small number have a severe to high degree of intellectual disability.



Chris Burke

 Many of the common physical features associated with Down syndrome may also appear in people with standard sets of chromosomes including microgenia (an abnormally small chin), unusually round face, macroglossia (protruding or oversized tongue), an almond shape to the eyes caused by an epicanthic fold of the eyelid, upslanting palpebral fissures (the separation between the upper and lower eyelids), shorter limbs, a single transverse palmar crease (a single instead of a double crease across one or both palms, poor muscle tone, and a larger than normal space between the big and second toes. Health concerns for persons with Down syndrome include a higher risk for congenital heart defects, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), recurrent ear infections, obstructive sleep apnea, and thyroid dysfunction.

 

It has been proven that early childhood intervention, screening for common problems, medical treatment (where indicated), a conductive family environment, and vocational training can improve the overall development of children with Down syndrome. Additionally, education and proper care will also improve their quality of life, despite genetic limitations.

 

 

Until next time . . .

My new look . . . .

As I blogged about last week, my friend Rob Nowakowski and his colleagues from the Barrow County Fire Department have gotten together to raise money for the St. Baldrick's Foundation and are going to have their heads shaved coming up this Thursday. Well, the more he talked about it, the more I started thinking about it and thinking "why not?" So, this Thursday, I'll be joining my brothers and having my head shaved too! I've had more than one person ask me why I would choose to do something so "radical". I tell them that I don't see it as radical . . . I see it as a neat way to raise funds for a worthy cause and, at the same time, to show support for kids who didn't have a choice . . .their hair lost to cancer and/or the resulting treatments.

I hope you'll agree with me that it's a worthy cause and that you'll join me in supporting this worthy cause:

https://www.stbaldricks.org/donate/

Will you help? Please?

Please support my husband, Rob Nowakowski, at www.stbaldricks.org and help him raise money for kids who are or have had to fight cancer. Rob will be shaving his head on MARCH 17, 2011 AT LOCOS IN WINDER, GA. If you have questions please message me and I will help you walk through the donation page!

-- from Karen's facebook page



Rob and Karen Nowakowski

Rob and Karen Nowakowski share a common passion and that's protecting life and property -- they are both firefighters. But, that passion doesn't end when their shift(s) end, as evidenced by the message above that Karen posted on her Facebook page. On Thursday, March 17, 2011, Rob will shave his head to benefit stbalricks.org. Unfortunately shaving his head in and off itself doesn't fight cancer (that's to show support for the kids who have lost their hair), fighting it requires donations for research, etc. I hope that, after reading this, you'll be moved to head to the stbaldrick's site (pun intended) and donate how ever much you can to this worthy cause!

Directions to Locos:

http://www.bing.com/maps/?rtp=~pos.33.992077_-83.721265_35%20N%20Broad%20St%2c%20Winder%2c%20GA%2030680_Locos%20Grill%20%26%20Pub_(770)%20867-9401_e_YN209x4598168&mkt=en-us&FORM=LLDP#

Until next time . . .

Now I've heard everything!

Since when did it become necessary to "pack heat" to attend a worship service? Apparently, at least one Georgia pastor and pro-weapons advocate think it is and are upset by a federal judge's decision to uphold the state's law which bans. weapons in churches, mosques and synagogues. Said Ed Stone, former president of GeorgiaCarry.org and member of the Baptist Tabernacle in Thomaston "they (worshippers) should be able to arm themselves 'for the protection of their families and themselves' without fear of arrest and prosecution on a misdemenaor charge." The church's pastor, Jonathan Wilkins, agrees saying he wanted to have a gun for his protection while working in his office at the church. Apparently these arguments didn't sway U.S. District Judge Ashley Royal who wrote his opinion  that "the Thomaston church had not claimed its' members belief requires that any member carry a firearm, into the Tabernacle, whether during worship services or otherwise."

[Link to GeorgiaCarry.org: http://www.georgiacarry.org/]

Instead of agreeing with the judge, church members feel their efforts to practice their faith has been "impermissbly burdened". I'm not sure at all what that means so I'm guessing it means the judge didn't have their permission to burden them with his ruling. Just as confusing to me is a statement written by Mr. Stone in a filing with the Court: "In very large part, my motivation to carry a firearm as a matter of habit derives from one of my Lord's last recorded statements at the Last Supper, that 'whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one' . . . I believe this injunction requires me to obtain, keep, and carry a firearm wherever I happen to be." The verse Mr. Stone is quoting is found in Luke 22:36 and is Jesus' instructions to his disciples when the are on the road about His business . . . not when they are in His house.

Until next time . . .

My service: answering God's call

When you encounter opportunities to serve God, how do you respond? Let me list some of the wrong reactions:


1) I can’t.

2) My schedule is too busy.

3) I don’t know how.

4) I’m just a layperson, not a pastor.

Those knee-jerk reactions slam closed a door before we’ve discovered whether or not the Lord wants us to go through it. You’ve probably never thought of a refusal to serve God as idolatry, but that’s what it is—bowing down to self instead of submitting to Him.

The Lord desires that His servants first be willing to do anything and then seek His specific plan for them. He uniquely gifts followers to serve according to His will. But when we’ve already decided what we can’t do, won’t do, or are ill-equipped to do, then we’re acting by our own will. That isn’t going to work.

You may serve the Lord as a godly parent, as a factory worker who shares the gospel with coworkers, or as a friend who listens to those who are hurting. There is no restriction on what God can do with a willing helper. The strength of His Spirit overcomes human limitations. Don’t have enough courage? God can fix that. Don’t have the right skills? God can fix that.

Laying down our excuses is the wisest thing we can do to serve the Lord. Trust that He will empower you to do whatever He calls you to do—and will see to it that you are properly equipped and trained (Eph. 2:10; 2 Tim. 2:20; 3:16-17). All He asks of you is that you say yes.

Copyright 2010 In Touch Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved. www.intouch.org. In Touch grants permission to print for personal use only.

*Before reading any further, stop and let the message above soak in*

I learned early in my Christian life to never give God any of the excuses listed at the beginning of the message because he will show you otherwise. Something else that I learned early on was the gift he had bestowed upon me and that was service to others . . . something that I've done willingly as a firefighter, EMT, and now as a Disaster Assessment Specialist for the Red Cross. Along the way - when I wasn't busy with something else - I've also found time to serve others as a Sunday School teacher and an Amateur Radio operator. Was it easy? No, but then, nothing worth doing ever is! Did I ever consider myself ill equipped for the job? Yes, and that's when I prayed and then went on about God's business.

The point I'm trying to make is, next time God asks you to do something, remember Phillipians 4:13 which says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," and answer with an enthusiastic "Yes Lord, send me!"

Until next time . . .