... continued from Cover
Nurse Amy Dempsey and her husband, Whitney, both work at the Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge. Amy delivers babies, and Whitney provides hospice care. On their 26th wedding anniversary this January, each was scheduled to get their second shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, but there was a twist! Amy was volunteering to administer shots at the hospital. Serendipitously, her husband was her first patient! He joked that getting poked was a great anniversary gift. 9 News captured the moment on film, and it warmed my heart to see the couple high-five afterward. What a sweet moment between heroes!
Similarly, in California, nursing students stepped into their miracle-worker shoes early to help distribute the COVID-19 vaccines this January. According to the Los Angeles Times, a team of students from Cal State Long Beach volunteered their time to give shots, despite the crushing nursing school workload. When the call for volunteers went out, it was under the banner “HealthCare Heroes Needed” and the students came through immediately. “It wasn’t even a question of do I want to,” student nurse Naomi Muñiz told the Times. “If they need help and I can help, I’m going to go in.” Nurses like Amy and Naomi are still fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s not all high-fives and student solidarity out there. Many nurses are struggling with burnout because of the long hours and high pressure of treating patients while trying to protect themselves. Hopefully, this pandemic will end soon, but until it does, try to show some love to the nurses in our community. If you get a vaccine this month, thank the person who gives it to you! You can also make a donation or drop off a care package on the stoop of a health care worker you know. Even an encouraging text message on May 12 could make a world of difference.
Happy National Nurses Day!
May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. As a parent, you probably know exercise is important for your children’s physical development. It helps build healthy bones, muscles, and joints and reduces the risk of developing diabetes and other diseases later in life. But did you know that physical activity also has many mental and behavioral health benefits? It’s been shown to improve children’s cognitive skills and concentration, boost their self-esteem, and reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. One of the best ways to encourage healthy behaviors in your children is by modeling them yourself. Studies have found that more than 80% of adolescents and adults are not getting enough aerobic activity, showing that children often follow in their parents’ footsteps and that exercising together can benefit everyone. You may be thinking it’s hard enough just to get yourself to the gym, but Stephen Virgilio, author of “Active Start for Healthy Kids,” encourages parents not to limit themselves to traditional forms of exercise. Instead, think of exercise more broadly as “leading an active lifestyle.” And remember that exercise can be fun and a great way to get in more family time. 5 Easy Ways to Get Everyone Moving Get Fit With Your Family
Here are five easy ways to incorporate more movement into your family’s day. 1. Create a walking ritual. Start walking around the neighborhood before or after dinner each night. Aim for a 20-minute stroll. 2. Have a dance party. Clear some space in the living room, make a playlist with everyone’s favorite tunes, and boogie down for as long as you have the energy. 3. Turn chores into games. Dirt has invaded from outer space and must be eliminated. Set the scene with your kids, grab your tools, and get to work removing the enemy while having fun. 4. Incorporate simple exercises into screen time. Start by making up fun names for exercises like situps or jumping jacks. Then, challenge each other to see who can do the most during your favorite show’s commercial breaks. 5. Get fit in the great outdoors. Cleaning up the yard, planting and maintaining a garden, or just running around outside are all great ways to get in more movement.
Referrals are Our Best Compliment!
2 • www.RobinetteLaw.com
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker