Graham health fair saves another life
by David Rupkalvis
(Posted 7/27/2010 04:31 pm)
editor@grahamleader.com
Carolyn Hunnewell owes her life to the Graham Community Health Fair.
When the health fair was held in 2009, Hunnewell wasn’t feeling well and was going to skip the yearly event. But thanks to the prodding of her husband, she agreed to go. At the fair, she had her blood drawn. Despite not feeling well, Hunnewell didn’t expect a major surprise from the results.
When Hunnewell received her results in the mail, she received the “shock of her life.”
“Among other numbers, the report showed that my glucose had skyrocketed to 265,” Hunnewell wrote in a letter to Graham Regional Medical Center. “With those figures, I was well past warning and into a danger zone. I immediately called Dr. Pete Brown’s office for an appointment.”
Brown had some surprising news — Hunnewell had diabetes.
Further tests revealed, Hunnewell had lived with diabetes for months if not longer. Due to the disease, there was a potential she had damage to her kidneys and liver.
After getting over the shock, Hunnewell made changes to her life. She went on a strict diet, began to take medication and began exercising.
The result has been a new — and better life — for Hunnewell.
“It has been nearly a year since the last health fair,” Hunnewell wrote. “With my prescription and utilizing what I’ve learned at class, I’ve lost more than 35 pounds. My blood pressure dropped considerably, I have more energy and feel great. I am literally a new person compared to who I was last year.”
Hunnewell was not the only person to be shocked when they received their results from bloodwork done at the health fair.
Jane McNatt, the organizer of the event, said 1,320 people had blood work done at the fair. Hunnewell was one of 21 people who had glucose levels between 151 and 299. Four people had glucose between 300 and 400 and three people had glucose between 400 and 700. In all, 295 people had glucose levels that measured above 105, meaning they could be at risk for diabetes.
The results were similar in the tests for cholesterol and triglycerides. In the cholesterol testing, 419 people had results considered high, including 14 in danger range. In the triglyceride tests, 383 people had high results, including 30 in danger zones.
In the PSA tests given to men, 18 people tested had results that showed they might be in danger of having prostate cancer.
The free blood tests will again be the highlight at the health fair as volunteers from Graham Regional Medical Center and elsewhere expect to draw blood from well more than 1,000 people.
McNatt said she expected that 2010 would be the year the hospital would have to charge for the tests, but thanks to many sponsors, the work remains free.
“This is a wonderful thing,” she said. “I am blessed to have this many people help and give money. Every year I think I’m going to have to charge, and I never have to.”
The Graham Community Health Fair will run from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 14, at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center. Blood will be drawn from 7 until 10 a.m.
McNatt said with more than 1,000 people having blood drawn in three hours, there can be some waits.
But she said if everyone is patient, everyone will be taken care of.
“It will help if everyone will bring one of those self address stamps,” she said. “That will save a lot of time.”
McNatt said the lab workers at the hospital will spend Aug. 14 working overtime. Every employee will be at the hospital to do the tests. She said most of the results will be done in 24 hours. Women can expect to have their results in the mail within a number of days. Men will be delayed a little longer to wait for the PSA results.
The PSA tests are once again being paid for by Echo Productions. McNatt said without Echo Productions, the tests could never be done free.
While the blood work is the biggest draw for the health fair, it is just the beginning of what people can expect to see if they attend.
“I am totally full,” McNatt said. “We are the largest health fair in this area. I think we are the largest because, even in this economy, I have donors giving me the money to do it free.”
Some of the favorites returning in 2010 include hearing tests by Graham Hearing Aid Center and free immunizations by Young County Home Health.
There are also a number of new participants joining the health fair.
Walmart will be offering free vision screening, which McNatt said will bring vision screening back to the health fair for the first time in several years.
Other first-time participants include Foster’s Home Family Care discussing foster care, Geared Up Fitness discussing fitness, Pam’s Health and Nutrition discussing supplements, Prescription Health Resources discussing medication, Texas Lions Camp discussing the camp for the disabled, Texas Agrilife Extension office discussing county services, Thrive Physical Therapy, United Supermarket pharmacy and the Young County Republican Women discussing the importance of voting.
AT A GLANCE
* What: Graham Community Health Fair
* When: 7-11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 14
* Where: First Baptist Church Family Life Center
* You Should Know: Blood will be taken from 7-10 a.m.
by David Rupkalvis
(Posted 7/27/2010 04:31 pm)
editor@grahamleader.com
Carolyn Hunnewell owes her life to the Graham Community Health Fair.
When the health fair was held in 2009, Hunnewell wasn’t feeling well and was going to skip the yearly event. But thanks to the prodding of her husband, she agreed to go. At the fair, she had her blood drawn. Despite not feeling well, Hunnewell didn’t expect a major surprise from the results.
When Hunnewell received her results in the mail, she received the “shock of her life.”
“Among other numbers, the report showed that my glucose had skyrocketed to 265,” Hunnewell wrote in a letter to Graham Regional Medical Center. “With those figures, I was well past warning and into a danger zone. I immediately called Dr. Pete Brown’s office for an appointment.”
Brown had some surprising news — Hunnewell had diabetes.
Further tests revealed, Hunnewell had lived with diabetes for months if not longer. Due to the disease, there was a potential she had damage to her kidneys and liver.
After getting over the shock, Hunnewell made changes to her life. She went on a strict diet, began to take medication and began exercising.
The result has been a new — and better life — for Hunnewell.
“It has been nearly a year since the last health fair,” Hunnewell wrote. “With my prescription and utilizing what I’ve learned at class, I’ve lost more than 35 pounds. My blood pressure dropped considerably, I have more energy and feel great. I am literally a new person compared to who I was last year.”
Hunnewell was not the only person to be shocked when they received their results from bloodwork done at the health fair.
Jane McNatt, the organizer of the event, said 1,320 people had blood work done at the fair. Hunnewell was one of 21 people who had glucose levels between 151 and 299. Four people had glucose between 300 and 400 and three people had glucose between 400 and 700. In all, 295 people had glucose levels that measured above 105, meaning they could be at risk for diabetes.
The results were similar in the tests for cholesterol and triglycerides. In the cholesterol testing, 419 people had results considered high, including 14 in danger range. In the triglyceride tests, 383 people had high results, including 30 in danger zones.
In the PSA tests given to men, 18 people tested had results that showed they might be in danger of having prostate cancer.
The free blood tests will again be the highlight at the health fair as volunteers from Graham Regional Medical Center and elsewhere expect to draw blood from well more than 1,000 people.
McNatt said she expected that 2010 would be the year the hospital would have to charge for the tests, but thanks to many sponsors, the work remains free.
“This is a wonderful thing,” she said. “I am blessed to have this many people help and give money. Every year I think I’m going to have to charge, and I never have to.”
The Graham Community Health Fair will run from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 14, at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center. Blood will be drawn from 7 until 10 a.m.
McNatt said with more than 1,000 people having blood drawn in three hours, there can be some waits.
But she said if everyone is patient, everyone will be taken care of.
“It will help if everyone will bring one of those self address stamps,” she said. “That will save a lot of time.”
McNatt said the lab workers at the hospital will spend Aug. 14 working overtime. Every employee will be at the hospital to do the tests. She said most of the results will be done in 24 hours. Women can expect to have their results in the mail within a number of days. Men will be delayed a little longer to wait for the PSA results.
The PSA tests are once again being paid for by Echo Productions. McNatt said without Echo Productions, the tests could never be done free.
While the blood work is the biggest draw for the health fair, it is just the beginning of what people can expect to see if they attend.
“I am totally full,” McNatt said. “We are the largest health fair in this area. I think we are the largest because, even in this economy, I have donors giving me the money to do it free.”
Some of the favorites returning in 2010 include hearing tests by Graham Hearing Aid Center and free immunizations by Young County Home Health.
There are also a number of new participants joining the health fair.
Walmart will be offering free vision screening, which McNatt said will bring vision screening back to the health fair for the first time in several years.
Other first-time participants include Foster’s Home Family Care discussing foster care, Geared Up Fitness discussing fitness, Pam’s Health and Nutrition discussing supplements, Prescription Health Resources discussing medication, Texas Lions Camp discussing the camp for the disabled, Texas Agrilife Extension office discussing county services, Thrive Physical Therapy, United Supermarket pharmacy and the Young County Republican Women discussing the importance of voting.
AT A GLANCE
* What: Graham Community Health Fair
* When: 7-11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 14
* Where: First Baptist Church Family Life Center
* You Should Know: Blood will be taken from 7-10 a.m.
