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eParisExtra
Bailey authors pose with books they wrote and illustrated after being honored at Texas A&M University Commerce. Pictured in the front row, left to right, is Parker Freeman, Parker Dollins, Emma Stewart, and Jacey Lilley; back row, Seth Jones, Rebekah LaCaze, Cydney Holbrook, Abbie Fischer, Madelyn Clark, and sponsor Shelly Bivens
After writing and illustrating books for the Bill Martin Jr. “Authors of Class” writing competition, Bailey Intermediate School students were awarded 2nd place for each of their two books.
Parker Dollins, Parker Freeman, Emma Stewart, Jacey Lilley, and Madelyn Clark wrote and illustrated “In the Deep Blue Ocean.” Abbie Fisher, Cydney Holbrook, Rebekah LaCaze, and Seth Jones wrote and illustrated “Where is Simon?”
The young authors were invited to the Bill Martin Jr. Symposium Award Ceremony at Texas A&M Commerce on Friday, May 6. They received certificates in front of an audience of Texas A&M Commerce board members, teachers, and students pursuing their degrees in education.
Cancer: What can we do about it?
By Chris Prakash, MD
Am I at risk for cancer? We all have wondered at one time or another. The answer is yes. Cancer affects Americans of all ages, races and gender. According to Texas Cancer Registry, cancer is the leading cause of death for Texans age 85 and younger. The American Cancer Society reports that about 1 in 3 American women and 1 in 2 men will eventually develop cancer.
Most cancer deaths are caused by human behaviors such as smoking, physical inactivity, and poor dietary choices. While our lifestyle choices, along with our family histories, may contribute to increased risk, people with no family history and overall good health are still at risk.
The most common cancer in the United States is skin cancer, which can be found early through careful skin examinations. Close behind are breast, colon, and prostate cancers. The good news is that these too are detectable early enough to dramatically improve rates of survival.
The key to surviving cancer, and going on to live long, healthy lives, is early detection.
The following is a basic screening guideline based on ACS recommendations:
*People at high risk for some cancers may need earlier or more frequent screenings.
It is very easy to take control of our own health and reduce our cancer risk, provided we do the following:
Submit a question for the column
Dr Chris Prakash is a contributing columnist for eParis Extra!’s Live Healthy column and a medical oncologist at Texas Oncology Paris. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Oncology, and Hematology. He lives in Paris, TX with his wife and two children. He can be reached at 903.785.0031 or Sucharu.prakash@usoncology.com.
Thanks Jen Melvin for the submitted photos!
Bailey Intermediate National Elementary Honor Society collected 300 children books and an array of toys to donate to CASA for KIDS. The donation will be used at the center for children who are facing difficult times due to abuse or neglect.
Making the presentation to Executive Director Sharon Eubanks (center) are, left to right, Bailey NEHS Sponsor Jenny Dority, Abbi Jolley, Paige Waldroup, Amber White, Eubanks, Coy McGhee, Mandy Freeman, Bailey NEHS Sponsor Drethia Parsons, and Hunter Jones (kneeling).
Ceremonies marking the 10th anniversary of the Lamar County Nurse of the Year were held Friday at Paris Junior College. The event is sponsored by the Paris Regional Medical Center, Paris Junior College and Chapman’s Florist. It is held each year during National Nurses Week. The theme this year is “Nurses Trusted to Care.”
Deborah Larson Bell, RN, MSN, C-APN, was the keynote speaker. Bell is a Family Nurse Practitioner at the Diagnostic Clinic in Longview. In her talk, “Changing the World,” Bell is the founder of Refuge International, a non-profit volunteer group that works to better healthcare and establish safe water in Guatemala. With assistance from the Franconia Mission of the Mennonite Church and the Rotary District of East Texas, Refuge International has been able to obtain 4 million doses of medicine to treat the Guatemalan children for parasitic worms. Working with Scottish Rite Hospital and Good Shepherd Medical Center of Longview, children who have need of orthopedic surgery have been brought to the U.S. and received surgery and treatment.
Bell told those in attendance that eight teams of medical personnel, including nursing students, travel to Guatemala each year to deliver supplies and needed healthcare. “All humanity is of equal worth,” she said. “God can use you if you are up and moving; don’t be satisfied with the status quo; feel empowered and be the change that you seek,” she stated.
Marsha Putnam, PJC Director of Health Occupations, introduced PJC President, Dr. Pamela Anglin, who presented the plaque to Arzella Pratt, RN, as the 2011 Lamar County Nurse of the Year. Pratt is a staff nurse in the ICU at Paris Regional Medical Center. She is a graduate of the PJC nursing program and has been a critical care nurse in the Paris community for 36 years. She began her nursing career in 1988. PRMC Chief Nursing Officer Connie Murchison said of Pratt, “Arzella is quietly efficient, even in critical situations.” Her co- workers said “Arzella is strong, confident in her skills, dedicated to her patients and their families, has a heart full of gold and loves God; she is always willing and able to help, and she takes special care of her patients as well as her co-workers.”
Pratt is married to Rev. F.T. Pratt, and they have three children and five grandchildren. Following the announcement and presentation of a plaque to Pratt, she was given a large bouquet of flowers, compliments of Chapman’s Florist. Joining her in celebrating were her husband; her mother, Willie Mae Mason; brother, Elz Moore; sisters Ola Moore and Nacy Leeks; and her grandson, SaMarcus Pratt.
The award was established in 2002 to honor and recognize the rank-and- file nurses in the community who do their very best every day to meet the health care needs of the community.
Previous recipients of the award include Dara Munn, 2002; Theresa Emerson, 2003; Myra McNabb, 2004; Catalina Tabangcora, 2005; Brigida Rian, 2006; Vonda Wallace, 2007; Judy Reese, 2008; Erica Farmer Westbrooks, 2009; and Debra Margraves, 2010. They were recognized during the ceremonies.
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