By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor
A pair of Dexter girls attended a very exciting conference over the weekend.
Ashley and Emily Long, the identical twin daughters of Charlie and Amanda Long, are heading into their junior year at DHS. Seventeen years ago, before the twins were born, they were diagnosed with Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS). Over the weekend, the girls attended The TTTS Foundation Parent and Awareness Conference, held July 27-29 in Cleveland, Ohio.
TTTS is a rare diagnosis, with (on average) less than two cases per 1,000 births according to a 2003 study by the Centers for Disease Control. The disease only affects multiple pregnancies where two or more fetuses share a single placenta. Due to the shared placenta, the identical twin fetuses can develop shared blood vessels; depending on the number, type and direction of the interconnecting blood vessels, blood can be transferred disproportionately from one twin (the “donor”) to the other (the “recipient”).
The transfusion causes the “donor” twin to have decreased blood volume, which stunts the growth of the “donor” fetus. The increased blood flow to the “recipient” twin causes the “recipient” fetus to develop more rapidly, but it can also cause undue strain to the heart, and lead to heart failure.
In early pregnancy (before 26 weeks), TTTS can cause both fetuses to die, or lead to severe disabilities. If TTTS develops after 26 weeks, the babies can usually be delivered alive and have a greater chance of survival without disability.
The Long family’s journey with the disease began in 1995, while Amanda was pregnant with the couple’s second and third children. Dr. Julian E. De Lia performed Long’s procedure; the Long twins were involved in the fourth procedure involving the anterior placenta.
“I was diagnosed at 23 weeks,” Amanda said. “It was a Wednesday, and on Sunday [Charlie and I] were in Milwaukee, Wis., for surgery. The girls were so severe we didn’t have time to think. They made it to 37 weeks; Emily was six pounds, 10 ounces, and Ashley was seven pounds, three ounces. Emily didn’t have any [amniotic] fluid around her. Dr. De Lia told me I would have miscarried within the week.”
“The girls have no long-term disabilities,” she noted. “I was told to count on disabilities since it was such a severe case. What they didn't understand is that God had a hand in this. Out of all of the parents I spoke with, my girls were the only ones that never spent time in the NICU. After this weekend and seeing first hand how blessed my girls were, I know it is my duty to help educate!”The Conference featured speakers from the forefront of the TTTS field, including Dr. De Lia, as well as a fundraising walk through downtown Cleveland. Amanda said the walk was a moving experience, but noted that rectifying the lack of awareness for this disease is a critical step that needs to be taken.
“This walk was so moving. I can't even begin to describe it,” she said. “What bothers me the most is the lack of information out there about TTTS. 17 years after my girls had their surgery, women are still being told there is no hope. Doctors are giving them false information. I would have thought by now our situation would be the "norm". We lose more babies to TTTS than SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) each year and people still don't know what [TTTS] is.”
The family returned home from a great weekend in Ohio; Emily, during the trip home, wrote the following poem:
Top: Ashley and Emily pose with Dr. Julian De Lia, the doctor that performed a life-saving procedure on the twins before they were born.
Middle: Ashley and Emily show off the signs they carried during the Official TTTS Awareness Walk for the Babies.
Bottom: Survivors and parents finish the Official TTTS Awareness Walk on Sunday. (Photos submitted by Amanda Long)
By M. Queiser
ngmo.pao@us.army.mil
FARMINGTON, Mo. – Two area guardsman will be among the group deploying to Afghanistan with the 1138th Engineer Company, of Farmington. The unit is nearly 93 Soldiers strong.
The unit – which draws soldiers from the 1140th Engineer Battalion in Cape Girardeau – is part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and will be conducting route clearance missions.
Soldiers spent 29 days training at Camp Crowder and Camp Clark for pre-mobilization training that allowed them to learn necessary skills for deployment. Training conducted there included weapons qualifications, route clearance operations and tactics, battle drills and warrior tasks.
Spc. Dillon Rickman, of Dexter has been with the Missouri Army National Guard for seven years.
"Serving in the military is a family tradition", said Rickman. He’s looking forward to continuing that tradition on his first deployment.
“I’ve always liked the military life,” said Rickman. “I wanted to continue my family’s tradition and make them proud.”
Rickman is a 2006 graduate of Bloomfield High School. He is supported in his military career by his wife, Jordan; his son Colton, 2; his mother Anita Duba, of Dexter; and his father Wayne, of Eldorado Springs, Mo.
Spc. Jeffery Vaughn, of Essex, is another member of the 1138th Engineer Company.
Vaughn, who has been with the Missouri Army National Guard for four years and is a combat engineer, said this is his first deployment and that he knows he can rely on the support of the unit for himself and his family.
“I joined to better myself,” said Vaughn. “I wanted to do something to take care of my wife and family.”
Vaughn is a 1990 graduate of Richland High School and is an automotive support manager at Wal-Mart in Sikeston, MO. He is supported in his military career by his wife, Paula; his children Derrick, 22, Brittany, 21 and Megan, 21; his mother Linda Clolinger, of Brownwood, Mo.; and his father Jerry Ray Vaughn, of Dexter.
While deployed, the company will fall under the command and control of the 120th Engineer Battalion, Oklahoma National Guard. The Soldiers are scheduled to return in the spring of 2013.
Currently, Soldiers are finalizing appropriate training for deployment at Fort Bliss, Texas, including squad and platoon battle drills and tasks while being in vehicles and environments similar to that in which they will encounter while deployed. After mobilization training, the Soldiers will deploy to Afghanistan in mid-August.
For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please visit www.moguard.com and our social media sites: www.facebook.com/Missouri.National.Guard www.twitter.com/Missouri_NG www.youtube.com/MoNationalGuard www.myspace.com/missouri_ng www.flickr.com/photos/missouriguard www.blog.moguard.com
Above, CAR members (from left to right) Steven Green (Branson) , Kay Stevenson, Kendra Stevenson, Tyler Stevenson (Dexter), Miles Coleman, Laurie Coleman, Hays Coleman (Poplar Bluff) and Mary Bess Green (Branson) stop for a photo during the formal dinner party. (Photo submitted by Kay Stevenson)
Zach Hedrick, SMT Writer
Life sometimes seems to be filled with uphill battles that people endure. Many times, you endure them yourself or at the very least, know of others that are enduring struggles.
Such is the case with Brett Dorton as he discovered a college friend's son was recently diagnosed with anaplastic ependymoma, a type of malignant tumor mostly found in young patients. This struck a nerve in Brett and inspired him to action for his friend and their family.
Keith Ingram Dismuke, II (Ingram) is approaching four years old, and is battling anaplastic ependymoma. In April of 2012, this family was unexpectedly tossed into a storm of life. Ingram's dad, Craig, recounts that gripping day on the Team Ingram blogsite known as Ingram the Conqueror.
Ingram got the nickname from his dad because he loved to conquer towers of blocks. His nickname now takes on a whole new meaning in his battle of anaplastic ependymoma. Captured by the significance of this life changing event, Brett renewed his passion for St. Jude's and the contribution they make to young lives.
"Several years ago I ran the St. Jude Half-Marathon in Memphis," commented Dorton. "I was inspired by the St. Jude Heroes that were running the race in an effort to raise money for the hospital and the children that are being treated there."
Dorton was moved to a point that he increased his training and entered the Chicago Marathon the following year as a St. Jude Hero. He noted that "running that race for St. Jude's was an unforgettable experience."
With his running shoes placed in his closet, Brett felt that a 3 month break would be appropriate to regain his strength and recover from the grueling marathon training schedule. That was 3 years ago and finding his way back to the running trail has not been easy. The combination of his own family and his demanding work schedule at First Commercial Bank, Brett has searched for the inspiration to get back to a training schedule.
"In April, I found out that my college friend, Craig Dismuke, had received the news about Ingram's illness." noted Dorton. "It gave me purpose to train, to run and to raise funds for St. Judes."
Ingram's tumor in his brain was successfully removed in surgery, and now Ingram Dismuke is a patient at St. Jude in Memphis. Team Ingram has set a goal of raising $100,000 for St. Jude's this year. You will find additional information on here for Team Ingram.
Ingram's sister, Madison Dismuke provides an incredible overview of the reasons why St. Jude's is worthy of support.
Brett has taken a portion of the Team Ingram goal to assist the Dismuke Family. It's a passion and an inspiration that needs the help of our community. Please visit Brett's St. Jude Hero Site to make your donation today.
"Cancer is the Great Equalizer. It does not care if you are male or female, old or young, or American or Chinese. Cancer doesn't care how wealthy you are or what type of health insurance you have," noted Brett.The financial burden that is connected to these times is overwhelming. Thanks to donors like you, no family ever pays St. Jude for the life saving treatments that are performed on their child. Donations to St. Jude continue to improve the treatment of childhood cancer and other deadly diseases through its groundbreaking research.
Inspired sacrifice and caring are keys that continue to make St. Jude's the incredible resource it is, not only to the Ingram Family but to other families in our area.
Consider what your role will be to help St. Jude's this year. You may choose to participate in the St. Jude's Marathon by joining Brett and others to run or walk the half Marathon in Memphis. You may simply plan to attend to show your support, to catch your own inspiration, and encourage others that are participating. You may simply wish to make a donation in support of Brett and other participants (Brett's St. Jude Hero Site). However, do something to encourage this great work.
The staff at the ShowMe Times offers it's prayers, appreciation and encouragement over all areas of the St. Jude's Research Hospital.
Age Spots – by Ruth Dockins
No matter what kind of program or service the government comes up with there are people who are immediately ready to take advantage of the program as well as anyone who participates in the program. The following article was emailed to me from Missouri’s SMP Program. The program that is designed to teach us how to detect fraud, report fraud, and avoid becoming a victim of fraud.
The following is an approved press release regarding a FTC Consumer Alert for a scam.
It’s enough to make you sick. No sooner had the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the Affordable Care Act than scam artists began working the phones. Claiming to be from the government, they’re saying that under the Affordable Care Act, they need to verify some information. For example, they might have the routing number of the person’s bank, and then use that information to get the person to reveal the entire account number. Other times, they have asked for credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, Medicare ID, or other personal information.
The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, cautions you not to give out personal or financial information in response to unsolicited phone calls, emails, or knocks on your door. Scam artists want your information to commit identity theft, charge your existing credit cards, debit your checking account, open new credit card, checking, or savings accounts, write fraudulent checks, or take out loans in your name.
If you get a call from someone who claims to be from the government and who asks for your personal information, hang up. It’s a scam. The government and legitimate organizations with which you do business have the information they need and will not ask you for it.
Then, file a complaint at ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP. If you think your identity’s been stolen, visit ftc.gov/idtheft or call 1-877-ID-THEFT. You also can file a complaint with your state Attorney General.
For more information about the federal health care law, visit HealthCare.gov.
The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace andto provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Watch a new video, How to File a Complaint, at ftc.gov/video to learn more. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
Produced in cooperation with the Office of the Washington State Attorney General
