Pursuit of the Heart TAKE A LOOK INSIDE ONE MOTHER’S INSPIRING JOURNEY FOR HER DAUGHTER’S HEART
At Humana, we believe great things are ahead of you when your health is ready for them. Part of getting ready At Humana, we believe great things are ahead of you means choosing the right Medicare plan and we would like when your health is ready for them. Part of getting ready to thank you for letting us help you find the right Humana means choosing the right Medicare plan and we would like Medicare Plan! to thank you for letting us help you find the right Humana Medicare Plan! about your current Medicare plan or options Any questions for 2018, please call a licensed Humana sales agent today. Any questions about your current Medicare plan or options for 2018, please calleven a licensed Humana sales agent today. You can get your Medicare questions
You can also call now to reserve a spot at a neighborhood You can also call now to reserve meeting to learn more: a spot at a neighborhood meeting to learn more: Ochsner Medical Center 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 2 Ochsner Medical Center 100 Medical Center Blvd 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 2 Slidell 100 Medical Center Blvd Slidell Ochsner Health Center
answered right here in Greater New Orleans. You can even get your Medicare questions 747 Veterans Memorial Blvd answered right here in Greater New Orleans. Metairie, LA 70005 747 Veterans Memorial Blvd 504-667-4367 Metairie, LA 70005(TTY: 711)
9:00 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 18 Ochsner Health Center 1000 Ochsner Blvd 9:00 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 18 Covington 1000 Ochsner Blvd Covington Humana’s Neighborhood
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 504-667-4367 (TTY: 711)
Location Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. Humana’s Neighborhood & Thursdays at 2:00 p.m. Location Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. All Wednesdays and Thursdays & Thursdays at 2:00 p.m. in October All Wednesdays and Thursdays 747 Veterans Mem. Blvd in October Metairie 747 Veterans Mem. Blvd Metairie
¿En español? Llame gratis al 504-400-9721 Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ¿En español? Llame gratis al 504-400-9721
*Members can expect their prescription fills to be delivered in 7–10 days. For the status of orders please call Humana Pharmacy at 1-800-379-0092 (TTY: 711), Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 11 p.m., *Members can 8expect to be delivered in 7–10 For the status of orders and Saturday, a.m. –their 6:30 prescription p.m., Easternfills time. Other pharmacies aredays. available in our network. please callonly Humana Pharmacy at 1-800-379-0092 (TTY: 711), Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 11or p.m., **Available through Humana’s mail-order pharmacy; always consult with your doctor medical and Saturday, 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Eastern time. Other pharmacies are available in our network. provider before taking over-the-counter medications. ** Available through Humana’s mail-order pharmacy; alwayswith consult with your doctor Enrollment or medical Humana is aonly Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, PFFS organization a Medicare contract. before taking over-the-counter medications. inprovider any Humana plan depends on contract renewal. This information is not a complete description of Humana a Medicare Advantage PPO, PFFS organization with a Medicare contract. may Enrollment benefits. is Contact the plan for moreHMO, information. Limitations, copayments and restrictions apply. in any Humana plan depends oncost contract This information a complete of Benefits, premium and member sharerenewal. may change on January 1isofnot each year. Youdescription must continue benefits. Contact the plan more information. to pay your Medicare Part Bfor premium. ApplicableLimitations, to Humanacopayments Gold Plus ® and restrictions may apply. Benefits, member costbeshare maywith change on January of each year. For Youaccommodation must continue A licensedpremium Humanaand sales agent will present information and1 applications. ® to people pay your Medicare B premium. Applicable to1-855-791-4080 Humana Gold Plus of with specialPart needs at sales meetings, call (TTY: 711), 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., seven A licensed Humana sales advertising agent will be present with applications. and For accommodation days a week. Newspaper supplement to information New Orleansand Times-Picayune St. Charles of people withHumana special needs at sales meetings, (“Humana”) call 1-855-791-4080 (TTY: 711), 8on a.m. 8 p.m., Herald-Guide. Inc. and its subsidiaries do not discriminate the– basis ofseven race, days week. Newspaper supplement to New Orleans Times-Picayune and St.See Charles color,anational origin, age,advertising disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion. our website Herald-Guide. HumanaEnglish: Inc. andATTENTION: its subsidiaries (“Humana”) do not discriminate onassistance the basis of race, for more information. If you do not speak English, language services, color, origin, age, disability, sex,1-855-791-4080 sexual orientation, identity,(Spanish) or religion. See our website free ofnational charge, are available to you. Call (TTY:gender 711). Español : ATENCIÓN: Si for more information. ATTENTION: If you do notde speak English, languageLlame assistance habla español, tiene a English: su disposición servicios gratuitos asistencia lingüística. al services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 1-855-791-4080 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish) : ATENCIÓN: Si 1-855-843-8527 (TTY: 711). 繁體中文(Chinese): 注意：如果 使用繁體中文， 可以免費獲得語言援助 habla español, 1-855-791-4080 tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 服務。請致電 (TTY: 711). 1-855-843-8527 (TTY: 711). 繁體中文(Chinese): 注意：如果 使用繁體中文， 可以免費獲得語言援助 Y0040_GHHHXDLEN18 ACCEPTED 服務。請致電 1-855-791-4080 (TTY: 711).
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Health & Wealth
Last issue’s theme explored “purpose” in every sense of the word. Our cover story was titled “Victory for Vicknair”, and it took an up-close and personal look at the life of a young woman who battled the odds. Brittany Vicknair’s story of triumph was told in order to instill purpose within the lives of all those reading. She overcame the pain of being an amputee by embracing her new life in a positive manner. Currently, she is a thriving business owner in the New Orleans region, and she uses her trials of the past to inspire the future of others. According to our team, stories of strength like these embody the true meaning of gaining wealth through health.
Since we launched the Lifestyles Health and Wealth publication, so many wonderful occurrences have taken place within the lives of those involved with our health and wealth adventure. The first issue was released in July of 2018, and we have already established a positive reputation in the print and digital world. Our publication has been physically placed throughout the north and south shores of Louisiana within prestigious establishments geared to our partners’ specific demographics. The magazine has also been read by thousands across the nation via Issue.com. The Lifestyles Health and Wealth website was also launched and provides readers online access to our informative articles, upcoming events, and much more. We made our broadcasting presence known by airing the first ever “Lifestyles Health and Wealth Tips” on WGNO ABC26, and we have also connected with hundreds of thousands on our social media platforms. This is only the beginning of Lifestyles Health and Wealth’s blazing trail, and we are so excited that you came along for the climb by picking up this copy!
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We also explored informative health facts in articles about the benefits of exercise, early detection of illnesses, and how to be financially ready for the sudden events of life which take as all by surprise. Our latest issue gave a voice to our young adults in our youth column, and we provided a spiritually stimulating article geared for those who want to uncover the purpose of life. Each writer provides the reader with a treasured piece of knowledge to ponder in order to achieve a balanced, healthy lifestyle. In this issue, you will find even more heartfelt and captivating stories meant to inspire you so that you can inspire others. Many monumental events are on the horizon for Lifestyles Health and Wealth within the upcoming months. We will be traveling across our great state promoting various businesses, artists, organizations and much more. It is our goal to create a culture of healthy living in Louisiana so that we can make a positive change for all those we reach. Whether it be a steady race, elaborate gala, or online seminar, Lifestyles Health and Wealth wants to invite you to be a part of our quest! With your help, we can create a healthier and wealthier Louisiana. 3
contents
was not as serious, but it required attention with some routine check-ups,” e’s murmur prompted me to ask the doctor about Claire’s heart when I was have asked, I may have never found out until she was born, and it would have told Chloe about her baby sister’s condition, it did not take her very long to trol. At such a young age, she had possessed such a strong faith that God was
CONTENTS
zan’s family made an instrumental decision to move to Houston, Texas in order possible. “While my husband was back and forth due to his work, I had my mom y career, but my community was such a blessing. I had so much support from e strangers,” said Brazan. “Everyone was praying for our Claire.” rst moments of life as a whirl-wind. She had her first open heart surgery at eight re followed just a few months afterwards. When describing Claire’s medical t phrase of “ticking-time-bomb”; however, Brazan continued to advocate heart surgery, it was clear to Claire’s doctors that the next step in her health t transplant. All options were discussed, and medical teams from both Texas laire and her family for this detailed and emotionally grueling process. “Right went into congestive heart failure. Time was running low, and we needed to get uld receive her heart. It was a long process, but we finally had a break through.” March 5, 2015. e’s health journey is still unpredictable, but that doesn’t keep this mother within each day present with her little girl. “She has severe gastric motility al conditions like Turner’s Syndrome and Autism, so each day presents different hough it may seem like she does not know me as her mother to the fullest mes to connect.” Brazan explains that music is how her and baby Claire unwind th challenges. “Music and song is our way to connect, and it soothes her,” she times of pain like the sound of her mother’s voice.” nty and heartache, Trista Brazan has found purpose within the heartache. These tions has revealed in her a passion beyond reason and has birthed writing t from above. “My relationship with God is strong because of Claire, and I am Her entire life is about blessing people. Through her journey, I found who I am
Claire Chronicles”, is currently in the production process with Harper Collins be released Christmas of this year, and she is anticipating Claire’s story to uses her social media platforms and blog, “Chaotic Harmony”, to inspire others heartache. Brazan now travels across southeast, Louisiana uplifting others and while encouraging them to embrace their current situations. “I want people y are and that your outlook on life can change when you put all of your trust in
Spotlight COVER STORY W E A LT H
COVER STORY
Victory for Vicknair
Purpose of the Heart
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A LIFE-CHANGING CHALLENGE FOR BRITTANY VICKNAIR INSPIRES PURPOSE + LEADS TO NEWLY FOUND GOALS FOR SUCCESS. READ MORE ON PAGE 14
Win the Day
55 LIFESTYLES + H E A LT H
Planning Ahead V O I C E O F O U R for a Healthy Lifestyle Vaping & Peer Pressure
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WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW TO PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR FUTURE – TIPS FOR HEALTH, FITNESS, BUSINESS, LIFESTYLE, AND SPIRITUALITY.
Make Your Move
YOUTH
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FORMING A COMMUNITY
Learn About Our Partnership with WGNO! We are teaming up with WGNO to bring your story to the New Orleans community. Find out how you can be part of this exciting opportunity and if you are in the area, tune in to WGNO 12noon-5pm weekdays and 12noon-7pm weekends for more Lifestyle Health and Wealth Tips.
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Health & Wealth
We’re Moving On Up! Purchasing With a Purpose It’s both exciting and stressful negotiating a real estate purchase contract. Once it’s signed by the sellers, buyers can relax a bit, but ZMD Realty llc can’t. There are still more negotiations, document deliveries, inspections, title details and mortgage tasks to be accomplished to reach a successful closing and walk away with the keys to your new real estate property. There are more than 50 specific due dates and tasks on our average transaction checklist, but an overview of a few includes: Post contract delivery of documents to the title company and ordering of a title binder or commitment. Deposit of earnest money and delivery of receipt to the buyer client. Helping our buyers to order inspections and coordinating them and providing access to assure they’re completed on time. Coordinating timely delivery of any documents objecting to disclosures, inspection results, or title binder issues discovered. Coordinating appraisal and appraiser access. Working with mortgage company and coordinating delivery of documents they require. Assisting our buyers with any negotiations related to contingencies, inspections or documents. Constant monitoring of status of all processes at the title company.
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KAREN T. CANTRELLE ZMD Realty 700 GAUSE BLVD, SUITE 101B Slidell, La 70458 Office: 985-288-4363 Fax: 985-259-8848 Cell: 504-723-8715 www.zmdrealty.com
There are a number of companies and people involved in a real estate transaction, including attorneys, surveyors, appraiser, title company, mortgage broker, lender, loan underwriter, both agents, and possibly others. Each has specific duties and requirements, and each is concentrating on doing a good job for you. However, their focus is narrow, targeted on their specific niche in the deal. As your buyer agent, we’re your “go-to” resource to bring it all together. We’re here to coordinate the activities of all of these companies and people for you. We’re constantly monitoring those 50+ document delivery items and the work done by these people. Daily we check the progress against contractual deadlines and act on our project requirements. A lot of this activity goes on behind the scenes, and you’re not even bothered. Some of it requires that we contact you and request documents or actions. Please understand that our overriding goal is a smooth transaction, and getting you through meeting all deadlines is one of our jobs. We’ll only bother you when necessary, telling you what we need and when, and moving you through to a successful closing. There is a lot more, but those are the highlights, and many sub–tasks are related to each of them. ZMD Realty llc is obsessed with proper follow–up and detailed coordination of every step of the closing process for our buyer clients. It’s critical that we make all deadlines and keep the transaction on track to avoid defaulting on any terms of the contract. We’ll keep your real estate transaction on track, and you’ll have the time and advice you need to assure you’ve covered all of the bases prior to closing.
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MEET THE TEAM
This team of innovative professionals seek to bring purpose through this publication by creating informative and entertaining content that engages our community. Contact them today for more information on how to tell your story.
Chrissy Cifuentes Production Director & Writer Chrissy@lifestyleshealthandwealth.com
Chris Williams Graphic Designer & Film Production Divinemediaarts.com
Risa Elstrott Graphic Designer Divinemediaarts.com
Stacy Marks Photographer Stacymarks.com
Savanah Hernandez Hair Designer D’novo Salon
Gina Stewart Makeup Artist
Follow Lifestyles Health and Wealth Magazine on social media! Dawn Folse Layout Designer
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Cara Herrin Web Designer PushdesignGroup.com
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PLANNING FOR A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Lifestyles Health and Wealth Magazine is not just any ordinary magazine. It is a print and digital publication designed for people throughout our communities to share their stories and ignite passion in the hearts of readers. The Lifestyles Health and Wealth team has a vision to create passion for better living throughout our state and great nation. Although the magazine is a locally distributed publication, our digital elements have the capacity to reach thousands world-wide. Our team seeks to provide medical knowledge and extensive health experiences within our publications so that readers will be inspired to get healthy and spread the wealth. According to our publication, being healthy is living wealthy, and our articles are geared to educate, inspire, and motivate readers to join our pursuit for better living. Louisiana culture is filled with exciting times, great people and food that is second to none. Our rich cuisine is part of what makes us so special; however, too much of our delicious delicacies could create severe health problems. Generations upon generations of Louisiana residents maintain their family traditions around their dinner tables. These hearty meals are fine in moderation, but many do not realize that diseases such as diabetes and congestive heart failure are just a few of the many disheartening consequences that follow poor dietary choices. Lifestyles Health and Wealth seeks to keep our Louisiana culture alive while educating all ages about the dangers of obesity and the lack of physical activity. Our mission is to create balance so that our readers can enjoy their traditions while improving their health. Columnists and partners present a variety of ways you can achieve this balanced way of living, and it all starts with opening up our magazine. Articles geared to our more seasoned readers give insight
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on the challenges of growing older in today’s society. Stories that inspire early detection of medical conditions are told to encourage readers to get routine check-ups, visit with health care providers, and get the proper financial assistance needed to maintain a desirable lifestyle. Our publication also offers wisdom to the young adults within our community. We are passionate about educating our next generation about breaking bad habits and getting active. It is time for our teens to be ignited with a passion to stay healthy and to work hard so that our communities can thrive under their leadership. They are the future of our state, and Lifestyles Health and Wealth seeks to give them a voice within our publication. Balanced living is crucial to maintaining not only physical health, but also mental health. The saying “you are what you eat” can be applied to how one feels physically as well as mentally. Foods high in sugars and fats can cause your mind to be clouded, which can distract you from simple daily tasks. The Lifestyles team challenges you to channel your stress into energy. Transfer the anxiety into fuel to exercise instead of becoming stagnant. Take a walk in City Park, run on the levee, or ride bikes throughout the city. These are a variety of ways you can improve your mental and physical health; however, there are so many more tactics and strategies left to uncover throughout our future publications, lifestyle blogs, and broadcast videos. Our pursuit for healthy living starts with you. If you have an urge to share your health wisdom, medical experiences, or financial tips with our readers, please contact us today. Together we can educate our readers, encourage positive health habits, and change Louisiana for the better. 7
Publication Louisiana is an exciting place filled with beautiful sights, outstanding entertainment, and delicious food. However, many tend to forget that the true heart and soul behind this fascinating region is its people. Our people embody personality and breathe life into every situation. Whether it is eating crawfish with family, running on the levee with friends, or dancing at festivals with complete strangers, the citizens of this great state know how to celebrate their community. This is the reason why the new publications of “Lifestyles Heath and Wealth” choose to empower, uplift, and celebrate you – the reader. “Lifestyles Health and Wealth” is a publication with purpose. Its purpose is to bring an immense passion for healthy living into the heart of each reader. It seeks to give a bold voice to leaders, educators, and advocates throughout the region so that our city can maintain a firm foundation in all things health and wealth. The “Lifestyles Health and Wealth” team strives to provide creative content that promotes all aspects of balanced living. When one thinks of healthy living, he tends to imagine eating correctly and exercising regularly; however, “Lifestyles Health and Wealth” realizes that maintaining a rich and meaningful life is much more than just salads and lunges. It is about creating a stress-free environment that is free from all of the crippling worries that come to kill, steal, and destroy relationships, businesses, and faith. That is why the
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by Chrissy Cifuentes
structure of this magazine focuses on embracing the mind, body, and spirit. With articles focused on government, education, media, business, family, spirituality, and entertainment, this publication reaches every individual in all areas of life. In a world of negativity, division, and hostility, “Lifestyles Health and Wealth” magazine will give its readers the ability to sit back, relax and enjoy educational content that will nourish the soul. “Lifestyles Health and Wealth” is not just a magazine, but also it is a community meant to foster personal growth and fuel passion. After reading stories, readers are encouraged to get involved with their communities, ignite their active lifestyles, and communicate their thoughts with the Lifestyles team. Lifestyles Health and Wealth wants to hear your stories, visions, and ideas for a brighter New Orleans. Our readers are encouraged to visit our website, engage in our social media outlets and attend our events which will be held throughout the year. For more information on how to get involved with this publication and to partner, please email us at justice@lifestyleshealthandwealth.com.
with Purpose Health & Wealth
ATTORNEY AT LAW ATTORNEY AT LAW
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St. Tammany Council on Aging (COAST) EVERY MOMENT COUNTS WINNERS Six St. Tammany Parish seniors were recognized for ongoing contributions to their communities when the St. Tammany Council on Aging (COAST) presented its inaugural Every Moment Counts awards at its 50th Anniversary Gala on August 11, 2018 by Executive Director Julie Agan.
(L-R) Becky Gilly, Fredrich Anthony, accepting for his father, Houston Anthony; Elizabeth Dupuy, Gene Bellisario, Julie Agan, John Carver, Ella Mae Selmon
(L-R) COAST Director of Finance John Stovall, April Stovall, Neely Estrade, Matt Estrade
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Mandeville Mayor Donald Villere with Every Moment Counts recipient Becky Gilly.
Recipients: Elizabeth Dupuy, Houston Anthony, Gene Bellisario, John Carver, Ella Mae Selmon and Becky Gilly.
COAST Activity Coordinator Sharon Snowdy with Every Moment Counts recipient Councilman Gene Bellisario
Barbie and Terry Maderson
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PLANNING FOR A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
7 Questions You Need to Ask Your Doctor Before You Get Dental Implants In today’s society, dental implants have become the best option to replace a missing tooth or multiple teeth. If you are thinking of getting a dental implant or several, you need to know what questions to ask your doctor before the procedure. After all, would you want a heart surgeon to perform open heart surgery on you or a loved one if he or she was inexperienced? Here are a set of seven questions that you would need to ask your doctor before receiving your dental implants.
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Doctor, how many implants a month do you place ? If he or she replies three to four implants a month, that is not a lot. Just as you want an airline pilot to have thousands of hours of flight time experience, it is beneficial to have an implant doctor that does many implants. In our office, we sometimes will place five to seven implants in a day. Experience counts in both heart surgery and in implant placement.
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Do I have enough bone for an implant? This is information is very important, as insufficient bone around an implant can lead to implant failure. An analysis of how much height and width of bone for the implant site is critical to ensure success. If your doctor does not make sure you have enough bone, the longterm success of the implant can be compromised. So, if you don’t have enough bone, what is the remedy? A bone graft is a procedure that can be done to established proper bone mass. Both vertical and horizontal bone grafting can be completed. Again, this is a procedure where experience and technique are critical. Typically, in our office we do bone grafting on about 60% of our cases, both vertically and horizontally.
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Doctor, do you have a cone beam x-ray unit in your office? Cone beam technology is a 3D radiograph of the implant site and allows the doctor to map out the bone anatomy of your implant site. Pinpoint locations of nerves, sinus cavities, width, and height of the implant site is possible. Cone beam units are a very expensive item, and most doctors do not have one. We have had a cone beam unit in our office for many years now, and we always get a cone beam image before we do an implant. It gives us the most accurate and concise image possible to map out the implant placement. To find out the remaining 7 questions, visit neworleansdentalimplants.com and view the special video. And for a money saving coupon, visit freereportdentalimplants.com.
Glenn Schmidt, DDS, MS Family Dentistry & Implants
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EXPERIENCE THE CULTURE OF THE LAND
Events in the Community OCTOBER
World Championship Gumbo Cook-off
West Louisiana Forestry Festival
Bouligny Plaza New Iberia, Louisiana October 13-14, 2018
Leesville, Louisiana October 3-7, 2018 Gretna Heritage Festival
Gretna, Louisiana October 5-7, 2018
SEPTEMBER Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival
Riverbank Downtown • Natchitoches, Louisiana September 14-15, 2018 Wolf Creek Festival
Sikes, Louisiana September 15, 2018 Annual Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival
Downtown • New Iberia, Louisiana September 27-30, 2018 Alligator Festival
Westbank Bridge Park • Luling, Louisiana September 27-30, 2018 Annual Red River Revel Arts Festival
Festival Plaza, River Front • Shreveport, Louisiana TBA • September - October, 2018 Mamou Cajun Music Festival
Mamou, Louisiana TBA • September, 2018 Bogalusa Blues & Heritage Festival
Bogalusa, Louisiana TBA • September, 2018
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Louisiana Cotton Festival
Ville Platte, Louisiana October 9-14, 2018
Enrich your culture by venturing out to some of these events happening in our state throughout September and October.
Louisiana Cattle Festival & Fair
Abbeville, Louisiana October 11-14, 2018 Festival Acadiens Et Creoles
Lafayette, Louisiana October 11-14, 2018 Annual Zwolle Tamale Fiesta
Zwolle, Louisiana October 12-13, 2018
International Rice Festival
Crowley, Louisiana October 18-21, 2018 Andouille Festival
St. John Community Center Thomas F. Daley Park LaPlace, Louisiana October 19-21, 2018 Harvest Festival
Downtown New Roads, Louisiana October 19-21, 2018 State Fair of Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana October 25 - November 11, 2018 French Food Festival
Larose, Louisiana October 26-28, 2018
Louisiana Gumbo Festival of Chackbay
Wooden Boat Festival
Thibodaux, Louisiana October 12-14, 2018
Madisonville, Louisiana TBA • October, 2018
Bridge City Gumbo Festival
French Food Festival
Bridge City, Louisiana October 12-14, 2018
Larose, Louisiana TBA • October, 2018
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PURSUIT HEART OF THE
I
By Chrissy Cifuentes
n recent years, she has found this statement to be unshakably true. “If you were to have met me in 2013, you would have thought that I had everything perfectly in line,” said Trista Brazan. “My husband Kenny and I had our careers in place, a healthy little girl, and one on the way.” Brazan described her past self as a strict, organized planner. She had a thriving career as the executive director of a major non-profit, and she planned to continue her position in order to inspire others in her field. “When I was pregnant for my second child, I had no idea how much it would impact my life,” stated Brazan. “You can only plan so much, but then God steps in.” On the first of May in 2014, lives were forever changed when baby Claire Brazan was born. Along with Claire came a new outlook on life and a powerful inner strength within the Brazan family. As soon as she took her first breath, bright-eyed baby Claire had to fight for her life. She was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome or HLHS. This rare disease is caused when the left side of the heart is underdeveloped and does not work properly. “The right side of the heart is not meant to pump blood to the entire body. It is only supposed to pump to the lungs,” said Brazan. “I only had a few moments with my baby girl in my arms after she was born. After a few minutes, she was taken by the nurses to start lifesaving medications.” Brazan shared that she had no signs of Claire’s heart defect while pregnant. “I thought that everything was normal. Fortunately, we found out earlier about Claire’s disorder so we had time to digest the news,” she said. “It was not until a precautionary check-up that the doctors discovered Claire’s rare heart condition. I was 23 weeks pregnant and traveled with my mom and oldest daughter to the doctor’s office just to make sure everything was all right with the baby,” she said. “We were supposed to make a day out of it, but I was truly not prepared for what I was about to hear.” That very day, Brazan was informed that Claire’s life would be extremely challenging starting with her first breath. Doctors stated that Claire would be born alive; however, she would require several heroic open-heart surgeries to stay alive. “I was in shock,” said Brazan. “But, I knew I had to remain strong for my family, especially my little girl Chloe.”
“Her entire life is about blessing people. Through her journey, I found who I am supposed to be.” 14
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According to Brazan, her oldest daughter Chloe played an intricate part in strengthening her faith and uncovering Claire’s condition. “When Chloe was a baby, the doctors discovered she had a heart murmur. Unlike Claire’s condition, Chloe’s murmur was not as serious, but it required attention with some routine checkups,” said Brazan. “Thinking about Chloe’s murmur prompted me to ask the doctor about Claire’s heart when I was 20 weeks pregnant. If I would not have asked, I may have never found out until she was born, and it would have been too late,” she said. “When I told Chloe about her baby sister’s condition, it did not take her very long to tell me that God had it under control. At such a young age, she had possessed such a strong faith that God was going to make it all right.” At 36 weeks pregnant, Brazan’s family made an instrumental decision to move to Houston, Texas in order to give baby Claire the best care possible. “While my husband was back and forth due to his work, I had my mom there with me. I worked remotely and eventually had to give up my career, but my community was such a blessing. I had so much support from family, friends, and even complete strangers,” said Brazan. “Everyone was praying for our Claire.” Brazan describes Claire’s first moments of life as a whirl-wind. She had her first open heart surgery at one week old, and her second procedure followed just a few months afterwards. When describing Claire’s medical state, doctors used the unpleasant phrase of “ticking-time-bomb”; however, Brazan continued to advocate for her daughter. After the second heart surgery, it was clear to Claire’s doctors that the next step in her health journey would be receiving a heart transplant. All options were discussed, and medical teams from both Texas and Louisiana started preparing Claire and her family for this detailed and emotionally grueling process. “Right before Christmas of 2014, Claire went into end-stage heart failure. Time was running low, and we needed to get everything in order so that she could receive her heart. It was a long process, but we finally had a breakthrough.” Claire received her new heart on March 5, 2015. According to Brazan, Claire’s health journey is still unpredictable, but that doesn’t keep this mother from finding purpose and passion within each day present with her little girl. “She has severe gastric motility disorder along with developmental conditions like Turner’s Syndrome and Autism, so each day presents different challenges,” said Brazan. “Even though it may seem like she does not know me as her mother to the fullest potential, we have our precious times to connect.” Brazan explains that music is how her and baby Claire unwind after a long day of strenuous health challenges. “Music and song are our ways to connect, and it soothes her,” she shared. “Nothing can relax her in times of pain like the sound of her mother’s voice.” Through all of the uncertainty and heartache, Trista Brazan has found purpose within the heartache. These past four years of trials and tribulations have revealed in her a passion beyond reason and has birthed writing talents that she believes is straight from above. “My relationship with God is strong because of Claire, and I am so grateful for her,” said Brazan. “Her entire life is about blessing people. Through her journey, I found who I am supposed to be.” Trista Brazan’s book, “The Claire Chronicles”, is currently in the production process with Harper Collins Christian Publishing. It is slated to be released in Fall 2018 and she is anticipating Claire’s story to impact the lives of many. She also uses her social media platforms and blog, “In Chaotic Harmony”, to inspire others going through similar situations of heartache. Brazan now travels across southeast Louisiana uplifting others and informing them about her journey while encouraging them to embrace their current situations. “I want people to know just how blessed they truly are and that your outlook on life can change when you put all of your trust in God.”Health & Wealth
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PURPOSE THEN PROFIT
Win the Day By Coach Mike
One of the primary principles of being an effective leader is understanding how to win the day. As a leader, we often go through the day haphazardly. We allow the difficulties of the day to just happen to us, and we react to issues as they occur. I call this firemen leadership.
1.) Make yourself available. Many
Whether it’s on the job or at home, we often show up to a problem or opportunity with a gallon of water in order to extinguish the crisis. However, we do not realize the water is actually gas. Instead of solving the problem, we intensify it and fuel the fire. It’s time to stop being reactive like the fireman. It’s important that you know what to look for and stay in a proactive mindset in order to win the day!
of safe and open dialog. If your team fears your wrath when they come to you, they will never open up and problems will stay hidden.
Let’s define the word proactive. Proactive means creating or controlling a situation by causing something to happen rather than responding to it after it has happened. It’s not easy to stay in a proactive mindset. Mastering this behavior takes a skilled leader. Here are a few steps you should practice in order to put out the fires of the day.
problems can be solved by making yourself available to your team. I know leaders that run and hide every time a problem arises, and that causes tension.
2.) Make it safe. Leaders must cultivate a culture
3.) Take the time.
Being proactive will take an investment of time to consider your options, weigh alternatives, and make the necessary decisions.
4.) Anticipate the problem. This step may be the most important part of being proactive. One must learn from past mistakes and seek new ways to solve repeating issues.
Training your team to think and be proactive should be your first line of defense. Knowing how to extinguish the fire can simply be understanding the steps to take before the fire starts. Your team is watching you, especially during a crisis. Encourage your team members to be disciplined by approaching issues and opportunities proactively. This investment into your team will pay a big dividend. Leave the fires to the real firemen, follow these procedures, and successfully win the day. 16
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The Art of Peer Pressure in
VOICE OF OUR YOUTH PURSUIT OF PURPOSE
Vaping
By Josiah Leydecker, an 11th grade student If you aren’t living under a rock in 2018, it’s likely you’ve either heard of or even encountered the immensely popular trend of vaping. It’s truly everywhere in our society today. Anyone over the age of eighteen can go to their local gas station and buy a single-use or reusable vape for less than twenty dollars. Within this contemporary and unique hobby is a covert and profound affair hidden behind the opaque marketing ploys of the mega-corporations that sell these products. Before we dive into the roots of the vaping controversy, let’s take a step back and understand what exactly this new trend is all about. Vaping is essentially inhaling vapor from a vaporizer or electronic cigarette. A vaporizer is built of different parts that turn e-liquid (e-juice) into a vapor that can be inhaled. The most common and almost universal marketing slogan put forth by large vape corporations is that vaping is a safe alternative to smoking. What they don’t include in their advertisements is that almost every e-liquid used in vapes contains the same exact substance found in cigarettes: nicotine. This makes vaping a secret gateway activity to an eventual smoking addiction. Like smoking, vaping comes with many psychological and physical consequences. It ultimately ends up affecting every aspect of your life. I have been asked before by both friends and strangers my age if I have a vape on my person on multiple occasions. All of them were seeking to “get their fix.” This is one example of how nicotine in vapes is affecting my generation. The addiction becomes a subconscious and fundamental aspect of their life. Underage vaping is a serious issue because of the massive amounts of participants and their lack of knowledge about the physical and psychological
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consequences that come with vaping.The majority of kids who engage in vaping do it with the mindset that it doesn’t have consequences because of the significant amount of people who actually vape. Another factor that ties into the vaping epidemic with teens is our still-developing brains. The area of most teens’ brains responsible for reasoning and rational thought doesn’t fully develop until around the age of twenty-five. This results in a lack of attentiveness to risk throughout the entirety of one’s teen-hood.
So, what can be done about this social predicament from a parent’s perspective? We know that the corporations responsible for selling these products will continue to do so because of the guarantee of profit. Instead, honest and direct conversations with your children are imperative to aiding in the discouragement of vaping altogether. With more life experience and wisdom, a parent’s perspective could make all the difference that’s needed. 17
PLANNING FOR A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Innovative Ways of Treating Musculoskeletal Pain IN TODAY’S SOCIETY, health is more than just maintaining good blood pressure control and obtaining healthy lab results at our annual exam. We are no longer just concerned about extending our lives, but also about improving the quality of our lives. Fortunately, today’s innovative musculoskeletal treatments allow us to participate in the activities we enjoy for a longer period of our lives. With less pain, we are able to stay active and productive longer. At Ochsner Medical Center– North Shore and Slidell Memorial Hospital, we are providing the most current treatments available in the nation, which are possible with the use of ultrasound guidance. We are able to provide minimally invasive treatments with the latest technology to obtain the most desired results. For example, it is now very often possible to avoid invasive surgery, and with a small incision the width of your pinky, perform percutaneous tenotomy to remedy tendon pain of the knees, hips, shoulders, ankles and feet. These areas are common sources of pain that often go undiagnosed. Percutaneous tenotomy allows most individuals to return to their desired activities in much less time than traditional surgical intervention. Other procedures are offered and geared towards decreasing pain of nerve origin without the use of potentially harmful cortisone injections. A simple hydrodissection in the office (washing around the nerve with water and numbing medicine) can relieve pain in many patients who are not able to get other types of injections, such as patients with
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certain joint replacements. Also available are Regenerative Medicine treatments, such as PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) that utilizes your body’s own cells to heal musculoskeletal injuries. A Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physician is able to diagnose the source of musculoskeletal pain and treat the underlying condition in innovative, conservative and effective ways utilizing the latest technology. These services are available to you right here in Slidell. HealthTalk makes available the diverse group of healthcare experts at SMH and Ochsner to bring the community enthusiasm, knowledge and care that
extends beyond the physical walls of the hospitals. The free presentations vary in length from 20 - 60 minutes. To arrange a speaker for your next meeting, just call SMH Community Outreach at (985) 280-8529 three to four weeks before your event.
Natalia Jolliff, D.O. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Ochsner Health System (985) 639-3777
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Money Talk:
PURPOSE THEN PROFIT
Financial Jargon Demystified by Mark B Kingsbery, FIC With plenty of technical jargon, new financial products that are tailored to your specific situation, and an evolving financial services industry, it can be hard to keep up with all the financial terms out there. At Thrivent Financial, we realize finances may not be everyone’s favorite topic, so we’ve compiled a short list of some of the most common finance terms – translated into plain English. INVESTING WORDS Asset: Something you own that has value. In the case of personal finances, something that has either a monetary or an exchange value, such as cash, shares of stock or a fund, or the home you own. Capital gain: The profit from selling an asset for more money than you originally paid for it. If you sell it for less, you have a capital loss. Since capital gains and losses can affect how much you pay in taxes, these two terms may be important to discuss with your tax advisor come tax season. Compounding: The act of taking interest earned on an investment and putting it back into the investment to earn still more interest Dividend: When talking about a publicly traded company, dividends refer to the portion of a company’s profits paid out to shareholders. Profits can also go back into the company. When talking about a mutual fund, dividends are generally made up of the dividends received from the stocks held by the fund or the interest received for the bond holdings of the fund. Diversified portfolio: An investment strategy that spreads your assets over a variety of stocks, bonds and other investments. This is fancier way of saying “don’t-put-all-your-eggs-in-onebasket.” Dollar cost averaging: Investing smaller, fixed amounts at regular intervals, like $100 per month. Load: A fee charged by certain mutual funds. These fees can be charged when you purchase a fund (front-end load) or when you sell a fund (back-end load). Retirement plan distribution: A payout of funds from a retirement plan. These funds can come from a company-sponsored 401(k) plan or an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Retirement plan roll over: Transferring funds from one retirement plan account (e.g. 401(k), IRA, etc.) to another retirement plan account. The funds are not subject to tax or penalties and continue tax deferred growth.
INSURANCE WORDS Cash surrender value: The amount of money you would receive if you decided to cancel your permanent life insurance contract before it becomes payable upon death or maturity. Cash value: The money you can access from tapping into the accumulated value of a permanent life insurance contract. Elimination period: The amount of time you’ll have to wait until insurance benefits are paid. In general, the shorter the elimination period, the more expensive the contract is and vice versa. Exclusion ratio: A ratio applied to each annuity payment to: 1.) find the portion of the payment that is subject to income tax and; 2.) the portion which is considered to be an income tax-free return of your investment in the annuity contract. Living withdrawal benefit: As applied to an annuity contract, a living withdrawal benefit usually guarantees the annuity payments and/or guarantees a minimum income over a specified period to the annuitant and/or beneficiary of the contract. Rider: Special coverage added to insurance contracts and annuity products to cover additional items or provide extra benefits. With life insurance, one popular rider is a “waiver of premium,” allowing you to keep your coverage without paying if you become ill or disabled. Preferred risk: Insurance companies reward positive decisions and lifestyle choices by offering reduced insurance rates. Or if a doctor’s checkup shows a clean bill of health, it can help to lower your health or life insurance premiums. Special risk: If your lifestyle or circumstances suggest that the odds are better than average that you’ll collect on your insurance, you’ll be deemed “special risk” and pay a higher price for the coverage. Standard risk: When you buy any type of insurance, the standard price you pay for that insurance will depend on your age, health, lifestyle and other factors affecting the odds that you’ll collect on that insurance.
Financial terms aren’t always easy to understand. That’s why it’s important to select a financial representative who speaks in a language you can understand. You should never be afraid to ask for clarification about a term you don’t recognize or understand. This article first appeared in Thrivent Magazine. To read articles from previous Thrivent issues on a variety of these topics, go to www.Thrivent.com/magazine/links
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PLANNING FOR A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Russell LaRochelle lost his mother because of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, and it’s been on his mind for years. by J.B. Hunt “Until we heard about this screening, I didn’t know he had been carrying this in his heart all this time,” said his wife Patricia. “I figured it ran in the family,” he said. Patricia and Russell both are at ease now, after taking advantage of a free screening and learning that neither of them have an abdominal aortic aneurysm. An aortic aneurysm is a ballooning of the aorta which is the artery that carries blood to the lower part of the body. This type of aneurysm rupture is a significant cause of sudden death in men 60 and older in the United States. Risk factors for AAA include a history of smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and hardening of the arteries. Although these aneurysms can cause sudden death, there is a lifesaving step that anyone can take in order to prevent the occurrence from happening. The AAAneurysm Outreach and the University Medical Center of New Orleans are collaborating to provide free aneurysm screenings from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018 at 2000 Canal Street. Testing will be provided for abdominal aortic aneurysms and thoracic aortic aneurysms. Both of these can be deadly, yet have no symptoms. According to William Risher, a vascular surgeon at University
Medical Center, it is extremely easy to get tested. “These screenings are very simple and noninvasive- no needles or radiation. It only takes a few minutes and is painless,” said Risher. “We will be able to determine whether or not an aneurysm is present. If the aneurysm is found early, it can be treated to prevent rupturing.” Individuals must meet eligibility requirements for the screening. Individuals 60 and older who have at least two cardiovascular risk factors and men age 55 and older with a family history of abdominal or thoracic aortic aneurysm and at least one additional cardiovascular risk factor are eligible for the screening once every five years. Advance registration and an 8-hour fast are required. Call (888) 871-3801 for an appointment.
Founded in 1999 in Louisiana, AAAneurysm Outreach is the nation’s only non-profit that provides education, free health screenings and awareness of abdominal aortic aneurysms, and provides comprehensive outreach for at-risk individuals –-typically smokers, men and women over the age of 60, those with hypertension and people with a family history of the condition.
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arts + culture
A Jewel of STRENGTH By Chrissy Cifuentes My jewelry business, Peacock Prisms, has given me the amazing honor of meeting some extremely beautiful women. Every customer I meet quickly turns into an inspiration, and I am thankful that my creations bring so many strong ladies together to learn from each other. One of my customers and dearest friends, Cyndi McGregor, came into my life when I first started my line, and I knew instantly that she would have a huge impact on my life. When I first saw Cyndi walk into the coffee shop where I sell my jewelry, she sported a spunky, short haircut with pink highlights. I welcomed her to the shop and quickly exclaimed that I loved her color. She smiled as I complimented her sassy, new do and said, “I am a breast cancer survivor, and my pink hair is a sign of victory! I am embracing that it is growing back.” From then on, I knew that this lady would mark my life for the better, and she continues to touch many with her story of purpose through her pain. On October 22, 2014, Cyndi was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. After the initial shock of being told the horrible news, Cyndi decided to fight with all of the energy she could muster. Being a proud mother, she knew that the battle would be intense but that her family needed her
for their future. “I knew that I had to remain positive and not dwell on it,” said Cyndi. “I saw my mom survive breast cancer, and I knew I could beat it too.” In December of 2014, Cyndi had a double mastectomy. She underwent 28 units of radiation and leaned on her family and friends for support in those trialing times. According to Cyndi, her mom, cousin, sister and friends were some of the many reasons she is healthy today. “The hardest part was telling my family,” she said. “My son Thomas would care for me and bring me water and a blanket when I was going through some hard times. That memory always makes me smile.” Not only did Cyndi have to fight fiercely against her sickness, but she also had to rise above intense plastic surgery complications which landed her back into the hospital numerous times. During those painful moments, she turned to creating positive social media posts that uplifted others who may have been experiencing similar moments of sadness. “I wanted to let others know that they shouldn’t give up. Take that negative thing and turn it into positive!” She used her platform on social media to encourage others to pray and seek God in times of despair. Currently, Cyndi is over four years cancer-free. She still remains a strong example and firm foundation for her family, friends, and community. No matter the storms that come her way, she is quick to rise up and beat the odds. Her positive outlook on life makes her a shining example of strength not only during Breast Cancer awareness month, but also during confusing days throughout the year. With a spring in her step, a smile on her face, and that same shade of pink in her hair, Cyndi keeps on spreading the faith in order to inspire others. “I
will always fight until the end,” said Cyndi. “Everyone needs to live life to the fullest.” 22
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LIFESTYLE PURSUIT
BUYING OR
SELLING “Why should we use a real estate agent?” This is the number one question a real estate agent gets asked when a client is either buying or selling a home. There is so much information readily available, and the client often wonders why they can’t buy or sell a home on the internet or by themselves. These avenues are available; however, some customers succeed and some fail. It takes a lot of time, effort, and knowledge for the customer to buy or sell a home effectively. Here are several reasons why one should consider hiring a real estate agent. First, real estate agents have the education and experience necessary to get the job done. The agent has the expertise to help you with forms, reports, disclosures, and other technical documents through the transaction. This knowledge can help prevent costly mistakes. Finding the right agent is the trick. During that process, interview several agents in order to find the individual that makes you the most comfortable. Agents bring everyone together. Good agents will work collectively with the mortgage lender, title company, and many others to assist with the intense process of buying or selling a home. They also make property showings and visits easier along with assuring that the customer is not inundated with pointless phone calls. With various online real estate listing sites, one can find up-to-date home listings on his own and at any time. However, what he may not know is that the agents have access to even more updated and accurate listings. If you have a desire for a particular
Real Estate Real Estate Agent Diplomacy vs. Online Lifestyle Pursuit
byByJulie Hingle Julie Hingle
Why use the word “diplomacy” in real estate? Think of it this way, when two countries have an issue, a third party helps negotiate a deal. It’s the same in real estate. As efficient real estate agents, it is our job to help facilitate a peaceful deal between the seller and buyer. It is also our job to make sure that everyone understands what is to transpire during that transaction from the beginning to the closing. Picture a scene a buyer and seller areaccess face neighborhood, your where local agent is going to have to face screaming expectations. In order to find to exciting and informative information. Also, the common ground, the real estate agent steps in and agent can give you comparable sales, demographics, and separates the two bickering people, while separately much more positive feedback. discovering their wants and needs. At that time, the agent When comes to negotiating, theand agent helps the willitindividually let the buyer seller know what the home is worth via comparative market analysis. customer determine which offer is best. In today’s At the market, end of you the day, the agent hopefully be housing can expect lots will of competition, able to negotiate a fair deal for both parties andan bring bidding wars, and all-cash sales. Why not have agent peace to an uncomfortable situation. who is on your side? Not only do agents bring comfortable communication to Finally, estate numerous hatshelps both thereal buyer andagents seller,wear but also the agent during the buying or selling process. They really do the seller organize their selling experience. A good earn their commission working countless hours an agent gets their homebyready to sell by creating and making surefirst the customer satisfied. The agent extraordinary impressionis which increases the their to prospective is resale aware of that thishome is likely the biggestbuyers. financial and Outstanding agents can educate and assist buyers emotional decision of your life. It is a decision thatby finding lenders, movers, locksmiths and more. We are should not be taken lightly, and it requires dedicated agents that take time with our clients to ensure that the agents to complete the task with ease. buying process is stress free and enjoyable for all. If you would like more information on what is for sale in a certain area or what a particular home is worth, give me a call today. And remember, when looking for an agent to buy or sell, the real estate business is about relationships not transactions. Julie Hingle, Realtor, RE/MAX Elite 2617 N. Causeway Blvd. Mandeville, LA 70471
Licensed in Louisiana
Cell: (985) 630-9571 Direct: (985) 231-1128 www.hinglesales.com
Each RE/MAX office is independently owned and operated.
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Faith, Hope, and Fashion by Chrissy Cifuentes Patients all across the world walk into hospitals looking for answers and life-changing remedies for their illnesses. No matter how different these individuals are, they all have one thing in common. Each person holds their breath and prays not to hear the dreaded phrase, “You have cancer.” For wife and mother Wendi Abney, this statement took her by utter surprise. “I was in shock and numb for a while. You never think it is going to be you,” said Abney. “But, once I started coming out of the initial shock, I was determined to beat it.” In August of 2013, Abney was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her mother suffered with the disease as well, and she was familiar with just how difficult the process would be to in order to conquer this dreadful illness. According to Abney, her husband and two daughters played a vital part of her positive attitude during her healing process. She mentioned that her family, friends, and the supportive staff at Slidell Memorial Hospital Regional Cancer Center kept her strengthened for the future. “Instead of me taking care of them, the roles switches. They helped me through it all. That is what family does,” stated Abney. “I attribute getting well to lots of prayers, my family, and an incredible support team.” After months of an intense battle, Abney received her last treatment in April of 2014. While pondering on the many struggles she faced during that time, Abney knew she wanted to make a difference for the patients who were still facing the evils of chemotherapy and radiation. “At the time of my recovery, my youngest daughter was doing runway modeling. While watching her model, I had the idea of using fashion in order to make a difference for the cancer patients at Slidell Memorial Hospital,” said Abney. “It didn’t take long for me to get this vision. A year later we had the first ever Faith, Hope and Fashion event.” While prepping for her dream to become a reality, Abney met with Laurie Panzeca of the Slidell Memorial Hospital Foundation. The pair quickly came to a decision on a life changing event, and the first Faith, Hope, and Fashion runway show took place in October of 2016. “We knew that we wanted to make a difference for the patients and honor the survivors. It is community driven, and we want everything to be local.” Faith, Hope, and Fashion is an organization focused on raising money for patients at Slidell Memorial Hospital’s Regional Cancer Center. Proceeds from the event go to creating “Comfort Care Bags” which are given to patients undergoing extensive chemotherapy and radiation treatment. The bags include water bottles, lotions, neck pillows, journals, and many more items to bring relief to each patient. These bags were inspired by Abney’s cancer journey, and she works tirelessly to provide every person with a care package to lead them through the trialing experience of treatment. “When I was in treatment, I would bring my bag to help me get through those three hours. Last year, we made over 800 “Comfort Care Bags” for patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation,” said Abney.
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Not only are the Faith, Hope, and Fashion events fun for current cancer patients and survivors, but it is also fun for the whole community. Prior to the events, models sign up to be a part of elaborate show. “We have models who are currently fighting cancer, and we also have survivors. Local clothing stores provide outfits for our models, and they have a fun time strutting their stuff on the runway,” Abney remarked. “The night gets emotional for the final runway walk. Sometimes family members walk hand in hand because cancer has impacted them both. I had the chance to walk with my mother, and it was an amazing experience.”
Some of the many stores that provide clothing for this cause includes Luxe 83, Boutique Bella Luca, Buckle, Varsity Sports, Torrid, Francesca’s, Versona, and Dress Barn. Models have the opportunity to get fitted weeks before to ensure the perfect fit. Community members watch in awe as their loved ones are honored during this heartfelt moment. The annual event is held at Slidell Airport in a private hangar. The nontraditional venue is transformed into a perfect party atmosphere complete with a fashion runway, vendors, food stations, and bars for every liking. In addition to watching the show, attendees have the opportunity to enjoy good food and fellowship. “Our emcee is Fox 8’s very own Kim Holden. We also have the Slidell Fire Chief and St. Tammy Parish Sheriff bar-tending. It is fun watching them banter and see who can raise the most tips,” stated Abney. “It is all in good fun, and of course, all of the money goes straight to the “Comfort Care Bags.” After attending a Faith, Hope, and Fashion show, it is undeniable that Wendi Abney is passionate about her cause. For the past three years, she has dedicated her time and efforts for her local community, and many have taken notice. According to Abney, this show has become more than a fundraiser. “People look forward to it every year. It is much more than an event to raise money, it is a support group,” said Abney. When asked why she will continue this non-profit for years to come, Abney stated, “Initially I started this for the patients and making the bags, but I will keep going because I love seeing how happy the models are when they have a chance to walk the runway. The bonds and friendships that have been made are amazing, and that is just as important as the “Comfort Care Bags.”
www.facebook.com/faithhopefashion
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PURPOSE THEN PROFIT
One Celebrity Trend You Want to Avoid Sadly, America has lost yet another icon. On August 16, 2018, Aretha Franklin passed away at age 76. Franklin died at her home in Detroit surrounded by her family and friends. In her hit song Respect, Franklin sang the famous phrase, “I’m about to give you all my money.” Not withstanding that generous promise, sources estimate that at the time of her death, Franklin may have been worth as much as 80 million dollars. According to documents filed by Franklin’s four sons with the Oakland County Probate Court in Michigan, the “Queen of Soul” died without a will. Franklin’s niece also filed papers requesting that she be appointed as the estate’s administrator. Of course, Franklin isn’t the first, nor will she be the last person to neglect planning for their estate. According to a 2015 Harris Poll, 64% of American adults do not have a will. The simple fact is that many of those without a will say they simply don’t need one.
by Eric Schorr
Under Louisiana’s intestacy laws, your separate property passes to your descendants in equal shares by roots. If you have children, your separate property goes to your children, equally. If you had children who predeceased you, then your deceased child’s share is inherited by his children, and if they are deceased, by their children, and so on. If you have no descendants, then your assets are inherited by your siblings (and then their descendants), but subject to the usufruct in favor of your parents. Many people are surprised to learn that your surviving spouse only inherits your separate property if you leave no surviving descendants, no surviving parents, no siblings, and no descendants of siblings. Community property is treated differently than separate property, because upon your death, it belongs half to your estate and half to your surviving spouse.
Unfortunately, many people have a poor understanding of what happens if they die “intestate” – the term for dying without a will. Putting a plan in place helps ensure that upon your death, your wishes are carried out and that family squabbles don’t evolve into destroyed relationships. In other words, it’s not always all about you – it’s also about your family. Generally, if you die intestate, the laws of the state where you lived determine how and to whom your property passes. Louisiana is one of nine community property states, and how your assets are distributed to your heirs depends on whether those assets are your “separate property” or “community property.” By and large, a married couple’s community property includes property acquired during the marriage with earnings of either spouse – salaries, for instance; property acquired with other community property, and income derived from separate property. Separate property includes property that you owned prior to the marriage, and property that you receive through a donation or as an inheritance.
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If you die with no descendants, then your spouse is entitled to your share of community property. However, if you are survived by descendants, your descendants inherit your community property subject to your spouse’s usufruct. The surviving spouse’s usufruct lasts until the spouse either dies or remarries.
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The word “usufruct” is derived from the Latin words usus “to use” and fructus “fruits,” i.e., profits. The usufruct is the right to use and enjoy property, but it is not equivalent to full ownership because, among other limitations, the person having a legal usufruct does not have the right to sell or alienate property without the consent of the “naked owners’ which are the people who accede to the property when the usufruct terminates.
Of course, the disposition of your assets is not the only issue that the state or the court gets to decide if you die without a will. The court will also get to make the decision as to who will raise your minor children. If there is Bringing Your Dreams disagreement among the family members you leave behind, Ideas Toa statutory Life pecking litigation can ensue.And While the state has order of who will be considered to serve as the children’s “tutor,” it is ultimately up to the judge. So, if you have minor children, and you think you are better able than a court to choose who will raise them after you pass on, then it is important to state so in a will.
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Although simply having the use of property might seem like a good idea, often it creates difficulties for a surviving spouse. For example, if an aging spouse wants to sell the family home to move to a smaller home or condominium, the decedent’s children, who may have an emotional attachment to the home, can block the sale of the house thus leaving the surviving spouse with no alternative but to continue to live in and maintain a house that no longer suits 504.258.4151 her lifestyle.
www.divinemediaarts.com
Dying intestate can cause unintended consequences, and it can lead to resentment among heirs and even litigation. So, before you let the state decide who will inherit your assets, make sure you know what the state has in mind.
Stop by the office: 400 Poydras Street Suite 2550 New Orleans, LA 70130 Give us a call: T: (504) 582-1540 divinemediaarts@gmail.comF: (504) 582-1555 or visit our website for more info: www.nolaestateplan.com
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SPIRITUALITY: KNOWING YOUR PURPOSE
Here Come the Yellow School Buses by Gina Piazza For nine months out of the year, bright yellow school buses are everywhere in sight. Faithfully, like the mailman, they are there to drop off and pick up our precious cargo. No matter the age of our children, these vehicles take our children safely to-and-fro from home to school and back again.
My thoughts became unlimited as I prayed that God would reveal Himself to the children. I prayed they would experience His glorious light and receive it into their hearts, minds, and souls. Think about the possibilities. God says, “I can use it if you will only imagine it.”
As I was pondering thoughts of the kickoff to a new school year and new adventures for our children, a stirring began within me to pray for all of those who will be transported on these yellow buses which are affectionately known as the “bluebird” buses. This loving nickname made me reflect on a beloved song my grandmother used to sing to me. This song was also sung by the famous actress Judy Garland. One of the most famous lines of the song states, “Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly.”
Be mindful of this fact and remember it as you go out to run errands or as you are driving in your car. Ask God to give you your purpose and to show you a new revelation. Watch for His answers which can come through a thought, feeling, creative idea, or a picture in your mind. I promise it will invigorate and revolutionize your prayer life, and it will put you right smack in the middle of His will for your life. Don’t get stuck in the mundane same old routine. Ask and seek to uncover what He sees. You will be praying naturally in the supernatural!
My mind drifted for a moment, and my heart began to soar at the potential of what was being shown to me. Bluebirds flying over the rainbow reminded me of God’s covenant with us and our children. I immediately begin to pray that our children would awaken to God and all that He has for them. I asked that spiritual earbuds would be plugged into their ears and that they would hear the voice of the Lord clearly. As they hold their cell phones in their hands, may the Lord allow them to see the reflection of the light of God. It is time for our children to FaceTime with the Lord! 28
Remember, we should say what He says, “LET THERE BE LIGHT.” We should exclaim that powerful phrase in every circumstance, because we know He is an unlimited God. Cheers to a new year for parents, sons, and daughters all around the world! Have a blessed year and “let there be light” and love in all that you accomplish.
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Make Your Move into the Perfect Storm of Fitness
CONTINUITY OF HEALTHY LIVING
The Collins English Dictionary states, “A perfect storm is an unusual combination of events or things that produce an unusually bad or powerful result.” The key word in this definition is “powerful”. The “perfect storm” of fitness is the combination of these three things: nutrition, cardiovascular exercise, and strength training. Any one of these three things can improve your fitness life; but when you apply all three, a particularly POWERFUL result happens – a “Perfect Storm of Fitness”.
Nutrition is 75% of the equation of a healthy lifestyle. This fact means that you
can do all the cardiovascular and strength training you want and still override the benefits of these trainings with bad nutrition! Our body is an amazing machine, and it requires carbohydrates, proteins, and fats to operate at its maximum capacity. There is a myriad of opinions about the “best diet,” and I have found in my career that eating three small nutritional meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and having two to three small nutritional snacks per day provides the body the best use of the food you eat. Please speak with your doctor or someone knowledgeable about nutrition to determine what’s best for you.
Cardiovascular training is moving your body through various aerobic exercises
such as walking, running, swimming, biking, and much more. Cardiovascular training raises your heart rate, burns calories, pumps blood to the muscles, and lubricants to the joints. The American Heart Association suggests these minimum requirements: 150 minutes per week (five days x :30 of moderate aerobic activity) or 75 minutes per week (three days x :25 of vigorous aerobic activity).
Strength training is using various resistance tools to increase muscle mass, such as
bands, free weights, machines, cables, or your own body weight. This is most often the part of the “perfect storm” that people neglect in their fitness life. Women may be afraid of bulking up, or “seasoned souls” don’t think they need to build muscle. Nothing could be further from the truth. Strength training is critically important for our body’s physical health. Our muscles are what hold up our skeletal structure which provides a variety of benefits. Our bodies are made up of fat, protein, and water. Muscle (protein) doesn’t weigh more than fat; it takes up less room which gives the illusion that a person is smaller. So, the number on the scale is not the end all of the matter. What that weight is made up of is what matters. Toni Ziegler is a Cooper Institute Certified Personal Trainer. She trains at Cross Gates Family Fitness, 1311 Gause Boulevard in Slidell, LA 70458 She is the founder of Your Temple Fitness. Feel free to email her at: toniall4him@yahoo.com
Health & Wealth
Two facts to consider are that a pound of muscle burns 50 more calories per day than fat and it raises your metabolism, and the caloric burn from a strength training session can continue for 15 to 17 hours after your strength training workout ends! The American Heart Association suggests a minimum of 45 minutes per day two days per week of moderate to high-intensity muscle training. Now that you’ve been educated, you have been given the POWER to Make Your Move into the Perfect Storm of Fitness. Don’t wait, get started today! 29
CONTINUITY OF HEALTHY LIVING
LUPUS:
TRIGGERED BY THE UNKNOWN Linda Staedtler was in terrible pain when I encountered her in the hospital during one of my daily rounds as a nutritionist-dietitian. Linda was a middle-aged woman who was complaining about severe back pain and a swollen tongue. Watching her in excruciating pain, I decided to sit with her to give her comfort. While sitting there, I thought it would soothe her to give her company and to just listen to her anguish. I simply wrapped my arms around her to give her as much comfort as I could; however, I couldn’t take that pain away. Unfortunately, Linda was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or SLE. Ridiculous as it may seem, Lupus is caused by an unknown reason. It is a widespread and lifelong autoimmune disease which causes the immune system to attack the body’s own tissue and organs. Lupus attacks the joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, brain, blood, or skin. It’s quite odd, and for an unknown reason, the immune system attacks the body’s own tissue and organs- especially the kidneys. According to kaleidoscopefightinglupus.org, Lupus can cause a wide variety of devastating symptoms. It can affect nearly every organ in the body with no predictability. Symptoms depend on which part of the body is affected by the disease. In order to manage the complexities her disease, I suggested that Linda should maintain a healthy weight with a BMI less than 30. Obesity is highly inflammatory condition, and inflammation is a triggering factor in auto immune diseases.
INFLAMMATION-SOOTHING ROLL-ON INGREDIENTS • 5 drops caraway essential oil • 5 drops peppermint essential oil • 2 drops lavender essential oil • Fractionated coconut oil or the carrier oil of your choice, as needed 30
By Ana Park, RD LDN, M.A.
Eating whole plant foods and omega-3 fatty acids are ideal. Also, fiber rich food such as fresh fruits and vegetables would be beneficial. In addition, probiotics can help increase immune health. There is nothing like a good foundation of a healthy diet and lifestyle that can be compared to any other remedies. Despite uncertain data, it is worth considering to examine vitamin D blood levels. Supplementation is suggested to correct this deficiency. Iron levels in the blood may also be considered. This test determines the blood cell protein that contains iron in the blood. If the iron level is low, it indicates that the body’s iron level may be deficient. It is suggested that using helpful certifiied pure therapeudic grade essential oils as part of an antiinflammatory natural regimen can alleviate the triggers of inflammation. Listed below are some of the oils that are suggested to calm the effects of Lupus. To seek advice from a dietitian or for more information, please write an email to healingrxd@gmail.com.
INSTRUCTIONS 1. Drop the essential oils into a 10 ml glass roller bottle. 2. Fill the remaining space in the bottle with fractionated coconut oil. 3. Massage over your abdomen and the bottoms of your feet twice daily for 2 weeks and monitor results with health care provider.
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Pursuit of the Heart
P U B LI C AT I ON & ME DI A FI RM
VISION: Our t e a m i s comm itted to provide in formation regard in g l i vi n g a w e llba la nce d life s t yle through hea lt h a n d w e a lth whil e enha n ci n g bus i n e sses and s erv ice s by br i nging to light th e va l ue o f marke ting a nd ed uca t i o n .
PURPOSE: Our p ur po s e i s t o create a min ds e t a n d conce pt of vision dr i ve n by l eadership a nd value - a dde d s ervice s to t he con s um e r & co m munity.
FOUNDATION: Our fo un da t io n was built wit h a Vi s i o n & Purpose t o rea ch t h e comm unity a nd co n s um e rs through media. Life Ex perience Succes s St o r i e s will he l p lift up o t h e rs a n d motivate t hem t o s ucce e d t hrough a ba la nce d life s t yle .
TAKE A LOOK INSIDE ONE MOTHER’S INSPIRING JOURNEY FOR HER DAUGHTER’S HEART
WHY CONSIDER LIFESTYLES HEALTH & WEALTH: • The Lifesty les Health & Wealth • Our voices L ead the te am seeks to Insp ire Pur p ose in readers and p ar tner ing Affil iates in the community.
Community through Ed u cati on and Ad vocacy. We give the stage to all p ar tner ing Affiliates to sp eak out thei r Purp ose on Health & Wealth.
• We
focus our Affiliates’ marke ting b ud get into a marke ting camp aign. Our goal is to increase p rofitab ility, awareness and p rov id e p roven re turn of investment through G oogl e statistical analysis.
TARGET MARKET:
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offer a large target aud ience to meet your s p ec i f i c d emograp hic.
All d emograp hics sp anning L ouisiana .
We are broad ening the d emograp hics for Lifestyles Health & Wealth by expanding our med ia reach throughout the state. We b elieve everyone in the community, b oth young and old , is thirsty for knowled ge on how to l ive the b est version of a health & wealth lifesty le. Ed ucation i s key to continuity of care in all sectors of life. We utiliz e d ifferent forms of m edia to target our read ers through:
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med ia p osting and bl og ging
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& Web Prod uction–Design to Execution
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M-Life 45%
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Owner & Publisher: Nicole Justice 4631 S. Carrollton Ave., New Orleans, LA 70119 Phone: (985) 951-0214 Email: justice@lifestyleshealthandwealth.com Website: lifestyleshealthandwealth.com
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We give a special thanks to Louisiana Children’s Museum for allowing us to capture our cover story moments.
Sensory Friendly Sundays The Louisiana Children’s Museum has partnered with LSU Health Sciences Center’s Occupational Therapy Department for their new Sensory Friendly Sundays. This new, exciting program is geared for children with disabilities or sensory processing differences. Specialized activites were created in order for children and their families to explore the museum on a whole new level. It provides a comfortable and accepting setting for the children to experience all that the museum has to offer! All Sensory Friendly Sundays are from 10:30am to 12pm. For more information about how to attend a Sensory Friendly Sunday, email a reservation request to akirk@lcm.org. Admission is free and all are encouraged learn, play and interact with the Louisiana Children’s Museum. 420 Julia St. // www.lcm.org // www.facebook.com/LouisianaChildrensMuseum // (504) 523-1357