What is a good parting gift for someone who has spent 40 years teaching school?  Many might say a watch to mark the retiree’s remaining time, or a book to read to pass this time.  Douglas Elementary fourth-grade teacher Tom Rhodes knew exactly what he wanted.  He wanted his pupils to read–to read words by the million.
“They had individual goals, and I gave them all of the credit,” Rhodes said.  “These are the most awesome readers I have ever had, and I had the good fortune to be their teacher.  There is nothing in life they cannot accomplish.  I couldn’t be happier.  They busted the goal.”
These young scholars flew right past the objective, in fact–by reading exactly 6,079,472 words by the time Douglas worked his last day as a teacher.  He spent 35 of his 40 years in public education as a teacher in the Tyler Independent School District, mentoring young minds at Camp Tyler, Hogg Middle School Generic pills whithout prescription and at Douglas after teaching his first five years in Houston and buying online viagra Denton.
Despite the fulfillment he has received from his teaching career, he is looking forward to his retirement.  It will give him more time to read to his little grandson.

The Center for Disease Control reports that diabetes has become one of the most common chronic health problems for American children and adolescents.  Approximately 151,000 patients under age 20 have the disease.

Traditionally when the illness has afflicted children it has been Type One, or juvenile onset diabetes.  Yet over the past 20 years there has been a steadily increasing incidence of Type Two (adult onset) Diabetes among American children and adolescents.  Studies in Europe have also revealed a growing frequency of Type One Diabetes in young children.

East generic cialis canadian Texas phentermine without prescription Medical Center (ETMC) sponsored a camp for more than 40 diabetes at-risk children.  Called the East Texas Medical Center Growing Together Day Camp the event provided children with hiking, fishing, swimming, archery, rope courses, arts and crafts and, especially, diabetes education.  The campers ranged from age 6 to 15 and already suffer from both Type One or Type Two diabetes, or are overweight, and other campers who are at risk because of genetic factors.

Thirteen-year-old Taylor Betts is from Lindale, and attended because she became diabetic following an illness.  The camp taught her that having the disease is not a cause for shame, and that talking about it can help.  She found the camp an empowering experience and taught her she can do the same things as a non-diabetic child.  Siblings Nathan and Terianna Mbariket, and Laura Floyd, meanwhile, attended because of their families’ history of diabetes.

One of the most fascinating campers was Illissa Vandergriff from Chandler, who developed diabetes at the tender age of 23 months.  She learned the importance of exercise.  Armed with this new realization she aims to start participating in scholastic sports programs.  She discussed how she has become comfortable with and adept at using her second insulin pump.  She got her first one at age six.  She explained how the pump administers small amounts of insulin without her having to take injections.  Outgoing and confident she spoke of how eager she is to commence serious athletics and exercise because this will help regulate her insulin naturally.

“I do not feel embarrassed,” she said.  “I just want people around me to know that I have a pump and what it does so if I need help they will be able to render it fast.”

Although she has not yet decided on a career, she is certain of one thing:

“I will do something where I can give advice to people about diabetes,” she said.  “I am going to be someone who helps others.”

Camp Director Anjani Upponi is an instructor for the ETMC Diabetes University.  She said the camp helps children learn about diabetes if they can enjoy themselves during the education process.  She described children as being more accepting of unwanted facts than are adults.  When it is time to take their blood sugar they simply do it, although this may change when they are older.

“They see themselves as being in charge, and it won’t be cool to wear a diabetic pump,” she said.

Still, she is very positive about what faces diabetic patients.

“We know more now.  We have more choices.  We have made great advances,” she said.  “We have more physiological experience, and we encourage updates in education.”

She herself has a family history of diabetes, and she daily fights to avoid contracting the disease with exercise and good nutrition.

“Exercise is absolutely crucial,” she said.  “Exercise is the sole way to make sure the body wakes up…wakes up the insulin that opens the door to the body.”

She also spelled out the four pillars of diabetic management–food, medication, exercise and emotional health.

“Exercise is a type of medicine,” she said.  “Just get up and do something.  Just get moving.”

She described how the whole world is partaking of “easy food.”  Easy food is fast food, not  cooking your own good nutritious food -  this leads to obesity.

“Exercise and nutrition must become one of the core courses right from elementary school if the world is to survive the disease onslaught that comes with easy food,” she said.  “No matter what you do, eat right and lose weight.  Period.”

For further information on ETMC and its diabetic camp or diabetes education please call (903) 596-3763.