December 2020
HELPING FAMILIES ACROSS ALABAMA
Lane was hoping to get Libby’s Friends started earlier this year, but COVID-19 delayed the process. Throughout January and February, Lane was pushing hard, hoping to have things fully operational by the first of March, but the pandemic made that impossible. After a few months, Libby’s Friends got up and running in June. On Aug. 3, everything was finalized, and Libby’s Friends became fully operational. Four months later, the organization is running strong. “I worked for a small lab. It was a very good company for my family and me, but I never received any gratification. Now, in the four months that I’ve run Libby’s Friends, I’ve had a greater sense of impact than I ever had working for someone else. And it’s not just the fact that we’re helping families either. We’re spreading the mission of Libby’s Friends and increasing awareness. We’re making decisions and doing things that impact the greater good of the world and our community. What we do touches me in a way that I didn’t think it would in a short period of time.” Hare Wynn is proud not just to have helped Libby and her family but also to be a part of this organization. Jamie Moncus serves as the board chairman of Libby’s Friends, and the firm made a $10,000 donation to support the cause. If you also want to support this organization or learn more about Libby’s Friends, visit the website at LibbysFriends.org.
equipment regularly,” Lane says. “And I remember thinking these were all great because it helped her, but I was also watching all these medical bills that kept coming and the therapy bills that we’d have to pay out of pocket. Now, we have that covered because Libby has her own trust, but I kept thinking that not many families have that option. I started to consider how we could try to help families who are in those early times where everything is new with all the equipment, medical meetings, and the therapy sessions.” During a visit to Libby’s initial therapist, Lane asked the therapist whether it would be helpful to have something long lasting in place that would help families during this difficult time. What she said gave Lane the encouragement and motivation he needed to start this new journey: “If you can do this, you will be an angel to so many families and so many people. It will never not be needed.” This is what led Lane to create Libby’s Friends, a nonprofit organization with a mission to ease the financial burden of those living with a disability. Throughout Alabama, there are a few organizations that help fund medical equipment and devices, “but most of them have two limitations that we don’t have,” Lane says. “They have an age limit, which is usually 18, and a dollar limit, which is typically $500. We didn’t want any of these limitations to keep families from getting the equipment or services they need to support their special needs children.
I n 2014, Kathryn and Lane Hagan had a insulin that was 100 times the normal dose. This led to a massive brain injury and changed her and her family for the rest of their lives. For the next two years, Kathryn and Lane were in litigation, represented by Leon Ashford and Jamie Moncus of Hare Wynn. The case was settled just before trial, and it helped relieve the stress that was pressing down on the Hagan family. Prior to the settlement of their case, those first two years were challenging for Kathryn and Lane. Kathryn had to step away from work to stay home with Libby, which put more pressure on Lane. When he thinks back to some of the most difficult times in those two years, Lane says one was watching Libby’s treatment expenses increase. beautiful baby girl, Libby. However, their joy quickly turned to despair when, on the 12th day of her life, Libby was given a dose of
“Libby had all these therapist visits. She had therapy sessions and was being fitted for braces/
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Without Sacrificing Your Favorite Foods or Your Waistline Have you ever stood on a scale at the end of the holiday season and wondered how the extra pounds crept on? It’s no secret that a sugar cookie here, a slice of pie there, and a few glasses of eggnog in between can lead to a few pounds gained. When you’re surrounded by Christmas goodies, how can you resist? Luckily, there are a few ways you can protect your waistline this holiday season without completely cutting out your favorite treats.
healthy snack before going out. Before you head out to a party, eat a snack chock-full of complex carbohydrates, proteins, and unsaturated fats. Apple slices with peanut butter work, as well as lean meats and cheeses. If you’re headed to the grocery store, eating a filling snack before you go will make you less likely to impulsively scoop up those sugary cookies and pastries in the bakery. If you drink alcohol, keep in mind that each drink will probably be somewhere between 150–225 calories. A glass of eggnog can have as many as 500 calories. Alcohol decreases your self-control when you’re eating, while also increasing your appetite. Make sure that if you’re drinking, you’re not doing so on an empty stomach. And to decrease the number of high-calorie drinks that you consume, drink a glass of water in between alcoholic beverages. The holidays are a minefield for any healthy diet. But with the right tools, you can ensure that by Jan. 2, your waistline won’t be worse for wear. Drink Responsibly (and Judiciously)
Be Choosy When you see a regular buffet of your favorite holiday treats, don’t immediately start scarfing down everything that looks remotely tasty and sweet. First, scope out the food — without a plate — so you won’t be tempted to start eating without really looking. Then, find the treats that are your absolute favorites and choose one or two of them to eat. You don’t have to give up sweets during the holidays; instead, eat with discretion. Don’t Go Hungry To ensure that you don’t overeat at a party or buy junk food that you don’t need when shopping, eat a
HOLIDAY TRAVEL TIPS How to Stay Safe on the Road
fluid, brake fluid, power steering, antifreeze, and engine oil. Take safety a step further by investing in snow chains or winter tires, which are made to withstand harsh winter weather. Both will help you navigate through icy and snowy conditions easily. Emergency Kit After you’ve ensured your car is in perfect driving condition, your next concern is what to bring with you. Along with your luggage, pack essentials such as an emergency kit. This kit should include first aid items, extra phone chargers, jumper cables, batteries, blankets, and snacks. If you become stranded, an emergency kit can guarantee you have what you need to reach out for help and keep you safe until that help arrives. A Little Extra You’re now well on your way for a safe trip, but there are still a few things you can do. Take sand or cat litter and a shovel with you. If your car gets
stuck in a snowdrift, a shovel will help you dig your vehicle out and the sand or cat litter will help your tires gain traction. To protect yourself even further, look up the numbers of recovery services along your route so that, if you need help, you will know exactly who to contact. If you’re looking for more ways to travel safely this month, visit Exchange.AAA.com, which has many resources that can help you with your trip!
Usually, this is the time of year when family and friends plan on traveling to visit their loved ones. In any other year, air travel would be the main means of transportation, but 2020 is not like any other year. In order to keep themselves and their loved ones as safe as possible, many people are planning to take road trips to visit their families this holiday season. If you’re planning to take to the roads this month, here are a few things to remember to help you travel safely. Car Maintenance One of the most important safety measures you can take before you leave for your road trip is servicing your vehicle. It’s crucial that your car is not just in working condition but that you top off all essential fluids, especially the transmission
December Is Safe Toys and Gifts Awareness Month
For children, toys are more than just a form of entertainment. Many toys allow children to interact with the world around them and learn key motor movements and other important skills. Yet, while toys are vital to children’s development, giving the wrong toy to a child can result in accidental injury. Each year, tens of thousands of children are taken to the emergency room due to toy-related injuries. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2017 alone, emergency department staff treated 251,700 toy-related injuries nationwide. In order to spread awareness of the dangers of toys and protect children, the nonprofit organization Prevent Blindness America named December Safe Toys and Gifts Awareness Month. This month, adults are encouraged to carefully consider which toys they plan on gifting to young children, not just for the holidays but throughout the year. Here are three important considerations.
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Age Range for Toys
Before buying a gift, make sure you know the age of the child and purchase age-appropriate gifts. Typically, a recommended age range is listed on each toy along with warnings and instructions. Read through all the instructions on the box before you purchase the toy and look for toys that have passed a safety inspection and have an American Society for Testing and Materials (ATSM) label.
Ability of the Child
All children are not alike, even if they are the same age. This is why it’s important to consider the abilities of your intended recipient. If a child has a habit of putting things in their mouth, avoid toys with small loose parts or sharp corners. If a child has special needs, you should also pay attention to the sound, texture, and movement of a toy.
If you’re cutting back on calories, skip the eggnog and buttered rum this year and fill up your mug with this delicious mulled cider!
Ingredients
• 2 tsp allspice berries • 1 inch fresh ginger, thinly sliced • 2 tbsp honey • 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 lemon • 1 gallon pure apple cider • 1 large orange, thinly sliced crosswise • 2 tsp whole cloves
Materials Used for the Toy
In older toys, lead paint is more common than today. Even so, avoid toys that do not have “nontoxic” labels and any toys that have been recently recalled. In addition to buying toys that use lead-free paint, adults should also be aware of the symptoms of lead poisoning. In the event that a child shows symptoms of lead poisoning, call the emergency line immediately.
Directions
1. Using a paring knife, shave the lemon peel off in curls. Reserve the curls and save the lemon for use in a different recipe. 2. In a large slow cooker, combine the lemon peel with all other ingredients. Cook on low for 3–4 hours. 3. If desired, use a sieve to strain the spices. Serve and enjoy!
Let’s keep the holidays fun and happy by following these tips!
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How to Eat (Responsibly) During the Holidays Stay Safe on the Road This Holiday Season
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5 Ways to Make Your Holiday Extra Eco-Friendly This Year
5 Ways to Make Your Holiday Extra Eco-Friendly This Year
Change up your gift wrap. Why use wrapping paper every year when you can make your packaging extra interesting, colorful, and creative? Use newspapers, magazines, comics, posters, maps, or even art by your kids to conceal your gifts this year. Rent, borrow, or rethink your tableware. If you’re missing proper tableware for your holiday celebration, don’t despair — some companies will actually let you rent out their dishes for your special evening! You can also borrow tableware from friends and family. But you don’t have to use metal tableware. Try following another culture’s customs and serve your food on local ingredients, like palm leaves, coconuts, or wood.
Sustainability is the gift that keeps on giving, so if you’d like to give a gift to the environment this December, make your holidays anti-plastic! Here are five ways that you can use the latest eco-friendly technology to make sure your Christmas is just as convenient as ever.
Set up recycling bins. Nobody wants to sort through trash on their holiday, especially if you’re hosting all the parties! To avoid dealing with the waste, set up recycling and composting bins before any home holiday festivities. It’ll make your next trip to a local recycling center so much faster because everything will be organized and easier to manage. Use paper containers for leftovers. Give your celebration a restaurant-from-home feel by storing and giving away leftovers in paper containers rather than plastic. Paper will dissolve and leave behind much less chemical residue than plastic. Want to make it look extra posh? Stamp the exterior with the family initials!
Localize as much as possible.
If you can buy ingredients like fresh meat or vegetables from local farms, you won’t use as much plastic packaging and you’ll support small businesses at the same time! Never buy one-use plastics if you don’t have to. For every holiday tradition, ask yourself: Can I reduce, reuse, or recycle any components to this? We hope you have a happy, eco-friendly holiday!
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