Health briefs: Donations welcome to help Genoa man facing liver transplant

        Donations are being accepted to help with medical expenses for Mark Valentine, 64, of Genoa, who has recently been added to the recipient list for a liver transplant.
        Valentine grew up in Genoa and graduated from Genoa High School in 1977. He has been employed for many years at Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center, where he works in the Dietary Department.
        A widow and dedicated father to his daughter, Megan, who is a senior at GHS, Valentine was diagnosed with Alpha-1, an extremely rare genetic condition that can cause damage to the lungs and liver. He has been undergoing medical tests and procedures for the past two years to prepare for and be accepted onto the liver transplant recipient list. He is being treated at the University of Michigan.
        Valentine’s childhood friends, Joyce Harrison and Coral Long, have established a fund at GenoaBank to help him with medical and living expenses during his treatment, transplant surgery and recovery.
        Donations to the “Support Mark Valentine Fund” may be made at any GenoaBank branch location. For other donation options or questions, call Long at 419-377-7165.
 
Eastern YMCA programs
        “Healthy Weight and Your Child” course will begin April 15, from 5:30-7 p.m., Eastern YMCA, 2960 Pickle Rd. The eight-week nutrition and activity course is for children with a BMI in the 95th percentile. Children and their parent/caregiver will attend together. The program cost is $25.
        A six-week Diabetes Management Program will be offered beginning Tuesday, April 23 at 6 p.m. The weekly, one-hour group is open to anyone age 18 and older diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
        A trained facilitator will lead the group. Topics to be covered include monitoring blood sugar, managing food, benefits and effects of exercise on diabetes, medications and more. The program cost is $25.
        Call 419-725-7844 to register for programs.
 
Dementia caregivers support group meeting
        The Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio Chapter will host a dementia caregivers support group meeting Thursday, April 11, from 1-2 p.m. at the Oregon Senior Center, 4350 Navarre Ave., Oregon.
        The support group meets monthly on the second Thursday at the same time.
        Monthly support groups are offered at various locations throughout Northwest Ohio. For more information and to locate a support group, visit bit.ly/NWOSupport.
        Caregiver support groups provide a caring place to discuss the challenges of caregiving. Group members share experiences, tips and information, and offer support in a setting facilitated by trained volunteers. The groups offer a place to exchange practical information on challenges surrounding Alzheimer’s disease, as well as possible solutions and coping mechanisms. They also offer information about community resources, including free services and programs from the Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio Chapter.
        There are 236,200 Ohioans 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the  Alzheimer’s Association 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. A total of 414,000 Ohio caregivers provide 624 million hours of unpaid care each year, valued at $11.4 billion.
        Those concerned about themselves or a loved one can contact the Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio Chapter at 419-537-1999 to schedule a care consultation and be connected to free local resources.
 
LightSound lights way for inclusive eclipse experience
        The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) have joined forces to introduce LightSound technology at Ohio state parks and wildlife areas, enhancing accessibility for Ohioans who are blind or have low vision during the April 8 solar eclipse.
        Developed in 2017, the LightSound device offers a unique way for individuals who are blind or have low vision to experience a solar eclipse through sound. Utilizing sonification, the device converts light intensity data into audible tones, allowing users to perceive changes as the moon eclipses the sun.
        “We’re hard at work to make sure everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the total solar eclipse in Ohio’s beautiful, natural spaces.” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said. “We’re excited to partner with OOD to make this once-in-a-lifetime event even more accessible.”
        “As an agency dedicated to empowering Ohioans with disabilities, OOD is proud to embrace innovative technology like LightSound,” said Kevin L. Miller, OOD director. “By leveraging such advancements, we promote a more accessible Ohio.”
        The Harvard University Astronomy Lab has provided LightSound devices that will be deployed at several locations including East Harbor State Park, Maumee Bay State Park, Magee Marsh Wildlife Area and Visitor Center and Kelleys Island State Park, among others.
        These devices will be connected to speakers, allowing groups to experience the eclipse together.
        In addition to LightSound, OOD and DNR are promoting the Eclipse Soundscapes app, available free on Android and iPhone devices. This multimedia experience, designed inclusively for individuals who are blind or have low vision, offers educational resources and interactive features to engage users during eclipses. Through its “Eclipse Center” and “Rumple Map” functionalities, the app empowers users to explore upcoming eclipses and experience them through sound and touch.
        For more information about the LightSound devices and other plans for the total solar eclipse, visit the ODNR Eclipse webpage at ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/see-the-sights/solar-eclipse-2024.
         
Healthy Kids Day
        Eastern Community YMCA will present a Healthy Kids Day, Project:Wellness on Tuesday, April 30 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Y, 2960 Pickle Rd., Oregon.
        In partnership with Oregon City Schools, the event will focus on youth wellness, including mental and physical health, safety and nutrition.
        The event will include giant inflatables, games, prizes, interactive crafts, local resources and more.
 
MS support Group, monthly lab screening
        A Multiple Sclerosis Support Group meets in the Magruder Conference Center, 615 Fulton St., Port Clinton, on the second Tuesday each month at 6 p.m. The next meeting will be April 9. For more information, call 419-607-6021.
        Magruder’s next monthly community lab screening will be held Thursday, April 11, between 8 and 11:30 a.m. at the Magruder Community Clinic, 730 Jefferson St., Port Clinton.
        The main lab test includes a CBC, CMP and lipid profile, which includes liver and kidney function, fasting blood sugar, cholesterol, HDL/LDL, triglycerides and a complete blood count (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood) for $50.
        Add-on testing is available, including:
        • Lipid profile: $20
        • Hemoglobin A1C: $20
        • PSA (prostate specific antigen): $30
        • TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone): $25
        • Vitamin D: $35
        This lab screening is held on the second Thursday each month. Appointments are required and may be made by calling 419-301-4304. Participants are asked to fast for 12 hours prior to their appointment time but can have water. No insurance is accepted – payment may be made by cash, check or credit card (no American Express).
 
‘Ask the Expert’ to focus on minority health
        Mercy Health continues efforts to make health and wellness topics more accessible through a virtual monthly “Ask the Expert” series.
        The one-hour sessions are offered on the third Thursday of every month from 12:30-1:30 p.m. via Zoom. The series will continue April 18, focusing on Minority Health. Cheyenne Nawrot, minority health program coordinator for the Lucas County Health Department, will speak about minority health and wellness and the services that the health department offers.
        To join, participants can call 646-931-3860 or Zoom meeting ID: 975 5220 8436. There is no need to pre-register.
 
Mobile mammogram van
        Mercy Health’s mobile mammography unit has visits scheduled throughout the region in April.
        Customized for patient convenience, the unit delivers mammograms to women age 40 and older. It is equipped with 3D technology and offers patients the option of self-compression, meaning she will have the ability to control the compression once she is in position.
        Scheduled stops include:
        • Wednesday, April 10, Old West End Community Health, 2244 Collingwood Blvd., Toledo.
        • Tuesday, April 16, Adient Interior, 7560 Arbor Drive, Northwood.
        • Wednesday, April 17, Mercy Health – Maumee Primary Care, 1657 Holland Road.
        • Thursday, April 18, Mercy Health – Perrysburg Primary Care, 1103 Village Square.
        • Monday, April 22, Mercy Health – Perrysburg Primary Care, 1103 Village Square.
        • Wednesday, April 24, Mercy Health – Perrysburg Lighthouse Way Family Medicine, 7045 Lighthouse Way.
        • Friday, April 26. Mercy Health – St. Luke’s Campus. 5757 Monclova Rd., Maumee.
        To view the full list of dates and locations, visit mercy.com/toledomobilemamm.
        While mammogram screenings may be covered by insurance, for best coverage, patients should verify if Mercy Health – St. Charles Hospital is an in-network provider with their insurance carrier. Financial assistance programs are available for patients who are uninsured or underinsured (have high deductibles. Call 1-800-929-6626 for more information.
        Mobile mammogram screenings are by appointment only. Call 833-MAMM- VAN to schedule.
        Certified radiologists read all mammograms and because a second look can mean a second chance, all mammograms are double-checked with a computer-aided detection system that detects more breast cancer than mammography alone. The patient and her physician receive a copy of the results.
 
‘Walking Through Grief’
        Hospice of Northwest Ohio invites community members to attend an interactive support group aimed at helping adults adjust to the loss of any loved one.
        “Walking through Grief” will be held the first and third Friday of each month May through October from 10-11 a.m. at the Perrysburg Hospice Center, 30000 East River Rd.
        The walking route will include the Hospice grounds and path to the W.W. Knight Nature Preserve, a distance of less than one mile.
        Attendees will have the opportunity to express and receive support, adapt to life-changing events, discover healthy coping skills and gain support in understanding grief.
        The sessions are free and open to anyone in the community whether or not they have had a prior relationship with Hospice of Northwest Ohio, however, advance registration is required. Attendees should wear comfortable shoes.
        For more information or to register, contact the Hospice Bereavement Department at 419-661-4001.
        To learn more about grief and loss or Hospice of Northwest Ohio, visit hospicenwo.org or follow on social media.
 
National ‘Match Day’
        For thousands of medical students around the country, March 15 is the most anticipated day of the year – when they celebrate learning where they will spend their years in medical residency.
        Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center Graduate Medical Education (GME) program matched 67 incoming physician residents across 13 programs as part of the annual National Resident Matching Program Match Day. After months of rotations, exams, completing applications, and interviews with sought-after residency programs, these medical students will continue their training in Toledo in the St. Vincent GME program.
        New this year to Mercy Health is the additional of six residents as part of the former St. Luke’s Family Medicine Residency program, which joined the Mercy Health GME program in 2023.
        “This is always an exciting day when we proudly welcome outstanding new training physicians to the Toledo area,” said Dr. Randall Schlievert, vice president for Academic Affairs, Mercy Health – Toledo. “Mercy Health’s Graduation Medical Education program has a long history of cultivating the next generation of world-class physicians. It is an important commitment Mercy Health makes to our community and patients as we continue to provide high-quality and mission-oriented care to all those in need.”
        Started in 1896, the Mercy Health – St. Vincent Graduate Medical Education program has a proven record of building the medical field within the community as about 25 percent of the trained residents remain to care for patients within the region. Mercy Health offers accredited residency programs in Cardiovascular Disease; Hospice and Palliative Care; Family Medicine; Emergency Medicine; Pediatrics; Ob-Gyn; Neurology; Transitional Year; Orthopedics; General Surgery; Endovascular neurology; Internal Medicine and Podiatry.
        “We look forward to having such a talented and accomplished group of young physicians join our training programs,” said Dr. James Tita, chief clinical officer, Mercy Health - Toledo. “Mercy Health remains strongly committed to training and developing the healthcare workforce of tomorrow.”
        To learn more about all Mercy Health – Toledo’s residency programs, visit mercy.com/residency.