March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness month, and is a subject close to me, as I have lost two aunts to this disease. It is such a horrible illness to go through, and yet, in so many cases, preventable. With a number of ways to screen for colorectal cancer, we should be seeing a decrease in the number of cases or deaths.

I will be quite honest, as a nurse and a patient, I can say it is no lie when you hear someone say that the colonoscopy 'prep' is the worst part. But, it is temporary. There are preparations now that aren't nearly so bad as early preps. Talk with your doctor about which one is best for you. But by all means, please talk to your doctor about getting a colon screening if you are 50 or over, or earlier if you have a close relative with colorectal polyps or cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease or other genetic syndromes. Truly, most people have no recollection of the colonoscopy procedure due to the medications administered.

Colorectal cancer is non-discriminatory; it affects men and women, especially age 50 and over. In fact, it is the cancer with the second highest mortality rate in the United States! But it is sneaky… many colorectal cancers can start from a polyp that develops into cancer over time. There may be no symptoms in the early stages, be it from an early colorectal cancer or from the precancerous polyps. But with the screenings, these polyps can be removed before they cause problems. Though these symptoms may be caused by other illnesses, some things to watch for are unexplained weight loss, blood in/on stool with bowel movement, persistent abdominal aches, pains or cramps.

The type of testing or screening and frequency of testing varies, and insurance coverage varies as well. There may be assistance available to those who are not able to afford the screening.

What I can tell you with all certainty is that I would much rather go through a little discomfort with the preparation and get past the feeling of embarrassment of the procedure than the devastation of people's lives and that of their families from this terrible disease, especially since, in most cases, colorectal cancer is so preventable. So please, I can't ask you enough to talk with your doctor about screening options. For more information on colorectal screening, visit www.cdc.gov/screenforlife

A Heartwarming Wesley Nurse Story

One day I was notified by my pastor, Pastor Leggett of Bastrop United Methodist Church, that a member of the congregation with a passion for helping the homeless donated a large sum to a fund intended to help the ministry team with outreach. In the interest of connecting the donor to the proper needs, I contacted the president of Mission U-Too, Jonah Beyer, to inquire about needs in the community. A low-income, Spanish-speaking family of six, with four children ranging in ages from six to 14 years old, had lost their home to a fire the week before Christmas. Jonah had been praying for them, as his organization lacked the funds needed to assist. Can you see a little wink from God here? Jonah told me that tires for a donated RV and a language barrier stood between this family and a temporary home, as they waited for their home to be rebuilt.

For me, there was no question of what I would do. I contacted local tire shops to price the tires and petitioned for the funds by email through Pastor Leggett. Pastor Leggett then approved the use of funds with the donor. The donor was actually present when the fire occurred and although he did not know the family, he was personally touched by their situation. The same day, the church treasurer arrived and wrote a check to a small community tire shop with the best price. With much joy, I called the family and explained what needed to occur to have the tires mounted on the RV and that the church had covered all costs. Later that day, the family was able to move their RV to family property and start moving gifts and supplies donated by other churches into their home. The family was also offered instructions on where to go temporarily to bathe and eat free of cost.

This situation inspired the First United Methodist Church Board of Trustees to begin the process of converting an unused outbuilding into a place of temporary refuge – so families experiencing homelessness can wash their clothes and relax in a setting that is safe and hope-filled. Volunteers will staff the site and minister to these families, and this Wesley Nurse plans on providing church health magazines for those who visit.

Del Rio First United Methodist Church welcomes new Wesley Nurse

Dorothy VogtDel Rio, Texas – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. has been proud to partner with Del Rio First United Methodist Church to host the Wesley Nurse Program where Dorothy “Dotty” Vogt, RN has faithfully served as a Wesley Nurse for 10 years. Dotty’s devotion to the community, especially the families who often seek much needed assistance through the ministries offered by First United Methodist Church, is paralleled only to her commitment to the mission, vision and values of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. We thank Dotty for her service, and wish her a fond farewell as she takes on life’s next adventure.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries is pleased to welcome Martha “Marti” Faulkner, RN, who will continue serving the community as the new Wesley Nurse at First United Methodist Church. Marti has been a nurse for 16 years and has experience in hospital administration, emergency room nursing, labor and delivery nursing, community nursing, and hospice care – where she discovered an appreciation for holistic care. Marti exudes an outgoing, giving nature and has a passion for working with the underserved. Previously, she founded a homeless ministry with her daughter in her home state of New Mexico.

Marti Faulkner

Marti stated, “It was a God thing, the way this job came about,” after Wesley Nurse District Manager Beverlee Williams came in contact with Marti’s daughter who made the connection for she and Marti. She felt it was a perfect fit.

What Marti is looking forward to the most as a Wesley Nurse is teamwork – working closely with the church and health committee. “I’m excited to have a spiritual team by my side to do such important work in the community,” she said.

We welcome Marti to the Methodist Healthcare Ministries family.

Marti's office is located at the First United Methodist Church (100 Spring Street). Normal office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed daily between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. for lunch). Hours are subject to change due to Wesley Nurse program responsibilities and community outreach. For additional information, call (830) 775-1541 or visit www.MHM.org.  

Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ Wesley Nurse program is a faith-based, holistic health and wellness program committed to serving the least served through education, health promotion and collaboration with individual and community in achieving improved wellness through self-empowerment. Learn more at www.mhm.org.

 

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Jaime Wesoloski

President & Chief Executive Officer

Jaime Wesolowski is the President and Chief Executive Officer at Methodist Healthcare Ministries. A healthcare executive with three decades of leadership experience, Jaime is responsible for the overall governance and direction of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. Jaime earned his Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration from Xavier University, and his Bachelor’s of Science from Indiana University in Healthcare Administration. As a cancer survivor, Jaime is a staunch supporter of the American Cancer Society. He serves as Chair of the American Cancer Society’s South Texas Area board of directors and he was appointed as Chair to the recently created South Region Advisory Cabinet, covering eight states from Arizona through Alabama. Jaime believes his personal experience as a cancer survivor has given him more defined insight and compassion to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients and their families.