Swisher Healthcare November 2017

NOVEMBER 2017

3941 FM 2181, Corinth, Texas 76210 940-202-1218 www.nerveandlaser.com

It’s Turkey Time! WILL YOU JOIN US FOR TURKEY DAY, 2017?

Everyone has their favorite holiday — the one they love to go all-out on. For many people, that holiday is Christmas or Halloween, or maybe even Valentine’s Day. I spend the year looking forward to Thanksgiving. There’s nothing I love more than getting together with my family. Every year, we drive down to Houston to spend Thanksgiving with my parents and siblings for a full day of food and family. The fact that my birthday is on November 27 definitely adds to my enjoyment of the season. Thanksgiving always falls around — and some years on — my birthday, and that seems to make the holiday all the more special. I love to go all-in for Thanksgiving, and that includes sharing the spirit of giving and gratitude with my team and patients at the office. For the last seven years, our annual Turkey Day has been a much- anticipated tradition. On this day in November, every patient who comes in for treatment walks out with a free turkey. My patients put so much trust in me. They allow me to help them through a difficult time in their lives as they struggle to overcome severe pain. When my favorite holiday comes around, I want to thank each and every one of them for their trust in the form of a turkey dinner. Last year, we gave away an incredible 120 turkeys. This year, I think we’re going to blow that number out of the water. I’ve had patients talking about this event since September, and many people have volunteered to help us out on that day. I definitely appreciate the extra hands because boy, does it get crazy! Turkey Day starts bright and early as I head to the grocery store with two or three SUVs full of coolers, all waiting to be loaded up with frozen turkeys. There’s a great energy in the office, and everyone is excited to open the doors and get started. It’s a busy day, but we all have the best time. It’s cool to know that, in a way, we get to be a part of our patients’ Thanksgivings through their turkey. I imagine some of their families will be surprised to hear they got the turkey from their doctor!

“I love to go all-in for Thanksgiving, and that includes sharing the spirit of giving and gratitude with my team and patients at the office.”

Some patients have said to me, “I don’t need a turkey, but can I bring mine to a friend who needs it?” Of course! We get what we give in life, and I am happy to help make sure Thanksgiving dinner makes it to as many tables as possible. Once Turkey Day is over at the office, we donate all the leftover birds to a soup kitchen or some other charitable organization to help feed the hungry.

There’s a lot to love about a holiday that’s all about family, fun, and food. On Thanksgiving, we stop and appreciate all we have in this life, and all the people who make each day wonderful. I look forward to celebrating my favorite holiday, and I’ll see everyone on Turkey Day!

–Dr. Bao Tha i

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The Secre t t o I ncred i b l e-Look i ng L E A F CRA F TS

Testimonial Before you go out hunting for the perfect leaves, grab a few newspapers. After you’ve gathered up all your favorite leaves, place them in a single layer on a newspaper page. When choosing your leaves, make sure they are still fresh and flat. Leaves that are already dried or curling cannot be preserved well enough to use as decorations. If your leaves are damp, gently dry them off before putting them on the newspaper. Make sure none of the leaves touch each other. Set a few more pages of newspaper on top and add enough weight to keep them flat. Heavy books are ideal for this. Move the newspaper somewhere it can sit undisturbed and leave your leaves alone for at least two weeks.. It’s fall, and your Pinterest boards are full of fall crafts. You find yourself daydreaming about candles glowing in leaf-adorned jars, leafy wreaths on the front door, and a garland of leaves lending a touch of whimsy to the dining room. Colorful fall leaves are the secret to a home that’s perfectly decorated for the season, but how do experienced crafters find leaves that last? If you just grab a handful from your backyard, in a few weeks, your painstaking project has dried up and you’re stuck vacuuming leaf bits out of your carpet. It’s time to step up your crafting game and learn the trick to preserving leaves for years to come.

Just letting your leaves dry flat isn’t enough for decorations that last. The true secret to leaf preservation is an all-in-one glue, sealer, and finish such as Mod Podge. This is a popular tool for decoupage projects, and it belongs in every craft closet. Once your leaves are dry, gently coat one side of each leaf in a layer of Mod Podge. Place your leaves on a sheet of wax paper and wait for them to dry. This should take less than an hour. When the Mod Podge is dry, turn the leaves over and coat the other side. Repeat with a second coat on each side. Mod Podge brings the bright colors back to your leaves and makes them more flexible. They’ll look like they just fell off the tree! These leaves will last for years, and you are free to craft to your heart’s content.

“When I began to suffer from terrible pain in my lower back, the doctor’s first response was to schedule a surgery. They said surgery was the only solution to my pain, but I didn’t believe that. I began to look for something else out there, and I miraculously came across Dr. Thai. “I went to his office, and after we talked about the problems I was having, he said he was pretty sure he could help me. After we started the treatment, I saw a tremendous improvement. I can never thank or compliment him enough for how he’s helped me. Dr. Thai is a very kind man who takes the time to do a lot of background work and preparation. The knowledge he’s gained truly helped me and many other patients. “His staff is also wonderful. They’re all so friendly and kind. After a few visits, you start to come in and feel like you’re a part of the family. I can’t say enough how much I appreciate Dr. Thai and his staff for guiding me through the treatment and helping me get my

life back.” – Tony

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How Your D i e t I n f l uences Nerve Pa i n WHAT’S ON THE MENU?

They say you are what you eat, but if that was the case, we’d have turkeys and pumpkin pies walking around after Thanksgiving. It would be more accurate to say that we are what our food is made of. Vitamins and minerals are essential for our bodies to function, and if you’re not eating right, you’ll see the damage. This is especially true for people who suffer from nerve pain. Certain vitamins and amino acids play a huge role in maintaining your nerves and are necessary to help repair nerve damage. If you want to keep your nerve pain from getting worse, here are three things you need to have in your diet. Vitamin B12 The myelin sheath, a protective coating of fat around nerves, is built and sustained by vitamin B12. Without the myelin sheath, nerves have no defenses and can be damaged or destroyed. Research published by the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy established a link between vitamin B12 deficiency and neuropathy. Increase your B12 intake with fresh fish, yogurt, or fortified cereals. Vitamin C We tend to reach for vitamin C when fighting off a cold, but this vitamin can also help combat nerve damage. Vitamin C is

essential for key biochemical reactions throughout the body and for repairing tissue and collagen. Get a vitamin C boost by eating colorful fruits and vegetables like kale, strawberries, Brussels sprouts, and, of course, oranges. Water While water isn’t packed with incredible vitamins or minerals, proper hydration helps your muscles and organs function with ease. When you don’t drink enough water, blood thickens, muscles spasm, and the resulting inflammation can worsen your nerve pain. Increase your H 2 O intake by keeping a water bottle at your work space during the day or replacing a sugary soda with a glass of water at meal times. There are supplements you can take to get an extra dose of many vitamins, but the best way to ensure you’re getting the necessary nutrients is to get them through your food. Keep an eye on the food you put on your plate and get the nutrients you need to fight nerve damage.

BRUSS E L S SP ROUTS W I T H S AU S AG E

SUDOKU

Recipe courtesy of InTheKitchenWithKath.com.

Looking for an easy, delicious Thanksgiving side dish? This gem requires only a few ingredients.

INGREDIENTS

• •

• • •

2 tablespoons olive oil 3 1/3 ounces fresh, hot Italian sausage

1 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts

1/2 cup water Salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. Trim sprouts and cut in half. 2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, 3–5 minutes. 3. Add sprouts to skillet. Add ½ cup water. Add salt and pepper. Cover and cook 10 minutes or until just tender. Check them periodically and add a bit more water, if necessary. 4. When sprouts are just about done, remove cover and raise heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring just once or twice, for a couple more minutes. The liquid should evaporate, and the sprouts should start to brown. 5. Add more salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot or warm. Serves 4.

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3941 FM 2181 Corinth, Texas 76210 940-202-1218 www.nerveandlaser.com

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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When’s Turkey Day?

The Secret to Incredible-Looking Leaf Crafts Testimonial Will Thanksgiving Dinner Worsen Your Nerve Damage? Brussels Sprouts With Sausage

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Otis: Unlikely Hurricane Hero

OTIS: UNLIKELY HURRICANE HERO

In late August, the nation was put to the test after Hurricane Harvey struck Texas. Journalists, professional and otherwise, brought back stories and images of the destruction in Harvey’s aftermath. Among those stories was one about a dog named Otis. Otis, a German shepherd mix, belongs to a 5-year-old boy in Sinton, Texas. “He’s a special dog,” said Salvador Segovia, the grandfather of Otis’ owner. “He’s been instrumental in helping my grandson following numerous hospital visits for seizures and asthma.” Apparently, Otis is a local celebrity due to his affable nature. He can saunter down to the Dairy Queen and score a free hamburger. Salvador says he’s also the only dog allowed to lie down in front of the county court house. When Harvey struck, dogs, cats, and people sprang into survival mode. For Otis, that meant gathering resources. The morning after the storm, a woman snapped a picture of a damp Otis trotting down the street. In his mouth, he toted an entire bag of dog food, and not a small one.

The woman posted the picture to Facebook. “This dog is walking around Sinton, Texas, carrying a [sic] entire bag of dog food with him. LOL #refugee,” the caption read. The image resonated with people and quickly went viral, being shared over 50,000 times. The people of the Lone Star State have long prided themselves on their pluck and resilience. “Must be a Texas dog cause [sic] he can survive without help,” one commenter wrote online. Another site called him “the hero Texas needed.” Otis’ canine resilience was both humorous and inspirational. The most powerful images in a crisis aren’t of Air Force One or of celebrities donating millions. They’re of ordinary people — and pets — striving, surviving, and making their way back home, just like Otis.

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