The Prairie House Museum location on 176th Street will be the site of a special Easter egg hunt for disabled kids. The Spanaway Lions Club features this event at the Prairie House Museum, 812 176th St E, Tacoma, WA 98445.
The hunt begins at 10 a.m. Registration is at 9:30 a.m. Be sure to get there before that time or you may miss out on the eggs.
By Marianne Lincoln
Three years ago, April 2020, I was helping a friend move out of her home into assisted living. I had lots of boxes, because I had just moved myself the summer before. She really needed the help because of lung cancer and COPD. There was no one to warn me about the termites in her deck. The board I stepped on looked perfectly fine from the top. That is, until that two by four snapped in the center and my left toes were on the ground. Of course, everyone had gone home and I was alone at the time. Did I mention my leg was wider than the opening? I had my phone and tried to call the neighbor, who did not answer. 911 was the next option, but I managed by then to get my left leg out of the depths below the deck. Lots of bruising, but no broken bones. I went home, raised it up, and applied lots of ice.
The doctors had nothing to recommend at the time except ice, time, some pain med and watch for any signs of a blood clot. No one directly addressed the limping. It hurt. It was hard to put weight on it. Finally in April 2021, I convinced someone to do an MRI, yet the doctor never followed up. Later that year, I approached a different orthopedic doctor and a knee replacement was recommended. There was just one catch, I had also just been diagnosed with stage IIIa ovarian cancer. The knee would have to wait.
All of 2022 was about treating the cancer, the going bald, being exhausted, nauseous and finally finishing treatment with a diagnoses of NED – no evidence of disease. By Christmas, I had a soft coat of fur on my head again. I went from long straight blonde hair to curly gray hair. Now I look like my mother.
Somewhere in this period, my 2nd husband broke his neck in a motorcycle accident, my sister’s boyfriend had a stroke, my niece was diagnosed with cancer and I caught COVID also. 2022 was not an easy year.
As 2023 began, I trotted off to the orthopedic again and was told my BMI was too high for Washington State’s surgical standards. 15 pounds and 3 months later, I squeaked through the approval and on June 29, I got my left knee replaced. True to form, it couldn’t be that easy. My allergy to fluoride started me on a rough ride through anesthesia. The nurses sent me home in spite of being unable to stop me from regularly accessing what they call the “party bags.”
After 2 weeks, and a bunch of Zofran, my nausea subsided, but another problem crept up. Apparently, someone should have warned me to stop taking that other preventative med I had for cancer. As it turns out, its purpose is to kill fast growing cells, that includes red and white blood cells and platelets, which my recently remodeled leg needed for repairing itself. Suspecting there was a reason I was winded from walking a mere 10 feet, I went into the lab for a blood test Friday afternoon, July 21.
Just after 6 pm, my doctor called me on the phone. I wasn’t surprised. I had read the results that just came in on MyChart. His words, “Go to the emergency room, take another blood test and make sure that was not an anomaly. If not, get a transfusion. One more thing, whatever you do, don’t fall down.”
My little Pacman cancer drug had eaten up all my platelets since surgery. 3 is not a good number for platelets, really. It should be 150 to 450. My fingerstick for a blood sugar test at the emergency room could not stop bleeding. What a disaster. I was given a platelet transfusion and sent home Saturday morning when I tested high enough for them to know I would not bleed to death in 2 days. I was back for more platelets by Thursday.
Finally, this week I am starting to turn it all around. My platelets have learned to reproduce and are in the normal range. My white cells are low normal, but my red blood cells just skidded under the radar, never getting low enough to be boosted. So, I am recovering slower than expected from knee surgery because getting enough oxygen to exercise is difficult if there are not enough red blood cells to transport it around my body. This week, the reds only rose slightly. I am rooting for the red team, they have work to do. No, I still will not eat liver. But the iron supplement I never before needed is now at the table.
I am progressing fine with the knee in physical therapy, although due to the blood thing, they have been going easier on me and checking my oxygen saturation a lot. I have been staying home and missing a lot of summer events I would normally attend. That is really frustrating me.
If you have an important story, send it to me. I can still work at the computer, but I also sleep a lot. There has been far more healing to do than I ever expected. Thank you to my neighbor who got frustrated that I let the dandelions go to seed and mowed many of them for me today. (Not all, just what was near his place; he is not young either.) I would have, but I just couldn’t do it. I have called in some friends for assistance. I am getting better, just slower than expected.
So there has not been a lot on the Post recently, but there is more to come. Expect much more in the next few days as I am finally able to keep from falling asleep on the keyboard. I am really looking forward to running up a flight of stairs again. Most new houses are 2 story. I need to show a few. Post-op exam today was good.
I have never seen my fingernails so pale. Good grief!
P.S. platelets are peach colored.
Washington State Department of Health, August 18, 2023
OLYMPIA – Listeria bacteria found in all milkshake flavors sold at Frugals restaurant at 10727 Pacific Ave. S., Tacoma, WA are associated with a foodborne listeriosis outbreak linked to six hospitalizations and three deaths. Investigators found Listeria in the ice cream machines, which were not cleaned correctly. No other Frugals restaurants are believed to be affected. The restaurant stopped using its ice cream machines Aug. 8, but Listeria can sicken people up to 70 days later.
Most people who eat food contaminated with Listeria will not get seriously sick, but people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, and those with weakened immune systems should call their health care provider if they ate a Frugals’ Tacoma milkshake between May 29 and Aug. 7, 2023 and have Listeria symptoms (listed below). Listeria can be treated with antibiotics.
Genetic fingerprinting of bacteria in the milkshakes shows it’s the same strain of Listeria that hospitalized six people between Feb. 27 and July 22 (five people in Pierce County and one person in Thurston County). All six people had conditions that made their immune systems less able to fight disease. Three of the six people hospitalized died. Two people who were hospitalized, but did not die, said they ate Frugals’ Tacoma milkshakes before getting sick.
Listeria symptoms:
More Listeria information is available on the Washington State Department of Health’s Listeriosis webpage and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Listeria website.
[Editor Note: Looking for an item in my records, I found my receipt for a burger and chocolate milkshake at Frugals from 6-23-23. Now I am curious about how ill I got after my 6-29-23 surgery.]
Pierce County Human Services Aging and Disability Resources (ADR) invites the community to attend a public meeting to comment on the Draft 2024-2027 Area Plan, including the 2024 proposed budget.
A survey was conducted this spring, providing feedback from hundreds of residents on the future of programs and services for the aging and disability communities in Pierce County. The Draft 2024-2027 Area Plan was created based on these survey results and input from various stakeholders. The Draft Area Plan is available for review online at www.PierceCountyWa.gov/ADR.
The Area Plan budget allocates program funding for several community-based long-term services that help support older adults and adults with disabilities to continue living safely at home.
The public will have an opportunity to comment on the Draft Area Plan and the proposed 2024 budget on Tuesday, Sept. 19, from 10 – 11 a.m. at the Tacoma Mall Office Building, 4301 S. Pine St. Suite 446 in Tacoma, or by joining virtually using the information below:
Join via Zoom: https://bit.ly/draftareaplan
Passcode: 783754
Webinar ID: 986 6452 7610
Join via Phone: 253-215-8782
Whether in person or via Zoom, the meeting is fully accessible. To request a paper copy of the Draft Area Plan, the services of a signer or translator, or for other special accommodations, please contact Mickie Brown by email or phone at 253-878-0041.
The public may also submit written comments by Sept. 22 via email or mail to:
Connie Kline, Social Services Supervisor – Aging and Disability Resources
Pierce County Human Services
4301 S. Pine St. Suite 446, Tacoma, WA 98409
To learn more about Aging and Disability Resources, contact the Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 253-798-4600.
Blue Zones Project Parkland Spanaway Kickoff at LeMay at Marymount
Join us for this exciting and informative dinner evening! Hear about how the Blue Zones Project is set to transform our communities’ health.
Date and time
Starts on Saturday, September 9 · 4:30pm PDT
Location
LeMay Collections at Marymount
325 152nd Street East Tacoma, WA 98445
[The event has sold out. Follow Blue Zones for future events.]
Join us for a community-wide celebration to launch the Blue Zones Project in Parkland-Spanaway, held at the spacious LeMay at Marymount. This is a FREE public event designed to foster a healthier lifestyle in our community.
Get ready for an evening of engaging activities and a chance to mingle with your neighbors. We’re serving up a delicious, free dinner and there’ll be plenty of opportunities to walk away with fun prizes.
Learn how you can contribute to transforming Parkland-Spanaway into a community where making healthy choices is easy and accessible for everyone! You’ll discover how Blue Zones Project principles like Move Naturally, Eat Wisely, and finding your Purpose can lead to a longer, more satisfying life.
We’re proud to say that Blue Zones Project has collaborated with Pierce County, MultiCare, and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health to bring this exciting event to the communities of Parkland and Spanaway.
Espanol
¡Únete a nosotros en la celebración comunitaria para lanzar el Proyecto Blue Zones en Parkland-Spanaway, que se llevará a cabo en el amplio LeMay at Marymount. Este es un evento público GRATUITO diseñado para fomentar un estilo de vida más saludable en nuestra comunidad.
Prepárate para una tarde llena de actividades atractivas y la oportunidad de socializar con tus vecinos. Estaremos sirviendo una deliciosa cena gratis y habrá muchas oportunidades para llevarte un regalo.
¡Aprende cómo puedes contribuir a transformar Parkland-Spanaway en una comunidad donde tomar decisiones saludables sea simple y accesible para todos! Descubrirás cómo los principios del Proyecto Blue Zones como Moverse Naturalmente, Comer Sabiamente y encontrar tu Propósito pueden conducir a una vida más larga y satisfactoria.
Nos enorgullece decir que Blue Zones Project ha colaborado con el condado de Pierce, MultiCare y Virginia Mason Franciscan Health para llevar este emocionante evento a las comunidades de Parkland y Spanaway.
By Marianne Lincoln
Pierce County has committed money to making Parkland and Spanaway a wellness experiment. The event on Saturday, September 9 at the Marymount Events Center was to celebrate their project being operational. With Executive Director Tono Sablan at the helm of the project, and a full compliment of staff on board, the group is ready with marketing materials and idea to bring to the community to make it happier and live longer. Blue Zones of Parkland Spanaway is off and running.
Blue Zones began with a National Geographic study of place in the world where centenarians are most common. They studies lifestyles and food consumption and found a combination of factors in those populations that helped contain stress, provided good nutrition and a positive environment. On September 6, Netflix even released a documentary called Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones. If you do not have Netflix, the group plans to have a private showing, October 13, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at PLU’s Eastvold Auditorium, Seating is limited, so you must R.S.V.P.
After time milling though booths set up to explain various parts of the project, guests were directed to get cards stamped and placed in a bucket for a drawing later in the evening. Dinner was a vegan lasagna with salad, roll and vegetables and a chocolate cupcake for dessert.
Speakers included the Executive Director, Tono Sablan, the Pierce County Executive, Bruce Dammeier, Councilman Marty Campbell, CEO of Multicare, William Robertson, a representative from Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kim Moore, and a visitor from the National Blue Zones Project, Dan Buettner, Jr., Blue Zones Executive Vice President.
From the Project book, “80% of a person’s lifespan is determined by lifestyle choices and environmental factors. According to the Danish Twins Study, only 20% is genetic,” The project emphasizes physical activity, eating wisely, surrounding yourself with people who make you happy and support healthy behaviors, and having downtime to be calm.
The Blue Zones Project has a Facebook page as well.
For fun, I will finish with a photo of myself and Julie Collison from the photo booth at the event. I hope they can bring it to other events!
The Blue Zones Project of Parkland Spanaway is offering a showing of the Netflix docuseries to the public on October 13, 2023 at PLU’s Karen Hille Phillips Center (aka Eastvold Auditorium), 6 p.m. The film is titled, Live to 100, Secrets of the Blue Zones.
The film is currently available on Netflix as a series in 4 segments. Since not everyone has access to Netflix, the Blue Zones group decided to offer it to the community. You do need to RSVP at this link so there are enough seats for everyone.
This is an in-person event where Blue Zones is screening the Netflix docuseries. The film explores the secrets of longevity and happiness from the world’s longest-lived cultures. It includes captivating stories and interesting insights that we hope will inspire you to live a healthier and more fulfilling life. And you will get to enjoy healthy snacks and meet amazing community members in the process.
When: October 13th, 2023, at 6:00PM
Cost: Free screening with complimentary refreshments
Where: Karen Hille Phillips Center ( Formerly Eastvold Auditorium)
12180 Park Ave. S, Parkland, WA, 98447 – Pacific Lutheran University
UPDATE: Some photos from the evening.
TPCHD — On Feb. 2, 2024, we lifted the toxic algae caution advisory for Spanaway Lake. The water is safe for people and pets.
Always use caution when you’re in the water. When you see algae, don’t swim, wade, waterski, or fish. Keep in mind as wind direction changes, the algae could move elsewhere in the lake. When in doubt, stay out!
Find our list of current surface water advisories at www.tpchd.org/advisories.
Toxic algae, also known as cyanobacteria, occur naturally in lakes. They can produce toxins that make people, pets, and animals sick. Read our brochure to learn more about toxic algae.
Toxic algae can form a scum layer and look like green pea soup. They can also look streaky, be dispersed in the water column, or form clumps. Algae can have different colors, most often green but also brown, red, and blueish. Wind and weather conditions can change the amount and location of algae.
See your medical provider if you may have been in water with toxic algae and have any of these symptoms. Small children are at most risk since they have small bodies and are likely to ingest water.
Skin in contact with toxic algae can become irritated or break out in a rash. This is different from Swimmer’s Itch.
Pets are at great risk. They have small bodies and are more likely to ingest larger amounts of toxic algae. They may drink water with toxic algae and lick their fur. Take your pet to the vet when it shows any of these symptoms.
You can get sick within minutes to hours of exposure. Rinse off anyone or any pets exposed to toxic algae immediately. Look for signs of illness and seek medical treatment if symptoms occur. For exposed pets, keep them from licking their fur to groom.
Avoid eating fish from areas with visible algae. Always clean fish well and discard guts.
When in doubt stay out!
Toxic algae need light, the right temperature, and nutrients. You can help to reduce nutrients and prevent toxic algae:
Get involved with our Algae Watch Volunteer Group. Email ltuttle@tpchd.org to sign up.
Learn more at www.tpchd.org/toxicalgae. Find our current surface water advisories at www.tpchd.org/advisories.
Today, February 6, 2024, Pacific Lutheran University announced a partnership with Washington State University’s Elson S. Floyd College of Medicaine, and MultiCare. They plan to address health care provider shortages in Pierce County and other areas beyond. Here is the announcement:
Today marks an exciting day for PLU’s future, and I want you to be among the first to hear about it.
This afternoon, PLU announced the creation of a new health education and care district in Parkland, Washington. This district will be powered by the Partnership for Health Innovation, a collaborative initiative between PLU, MultiCare, and Washington State University’s Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine that will address critical health care inequities and provider shortages in Pierce County and beyond.
As you are likely aware, PLU has a long-standing commitment to service and care for our local community, state and globe. With strengths in nursing, natural sciences and health-related fields with the integration of the liberal arts, PLU is increasingly sought out by partners like MultiCare and WSU. This partnership will open additional doors to Lutes by expanding opportunities for innovative student education and growth.
I invite you to learn more, including specific plans announced today that will strengthen our PLU campus and our communities: www.plu.edu/health-innovation.
To brighter futures for all,
Allan Belton
PLU President
And more from the PLU website:
“The three institutions identified Parkland-Spanaway and the surrounding area as a micro-region in urgent need of additional health care resources and established the Partnership for Health Innovation.
MultiCare Health System and Pacific Lutheran University announced plans to build a new outpatient care medical center on the PLU campus. The new facility, called MultiCare Medical Center at Pacific Lutheran University, is part of MultiCare’s ongoing effort to improve health care access in the South Sound. The center will provide Central Pierce County communities with efficient, convenient, and high-quality services.
This new facility will offer urgently needed outpatient care. As PLU’s focus groups and outreach identified access to health care as a top priority from the Parkland community, MultiCare will continue the partnership’s commitment to community listening, holding a series of focus groups with neighbors, school districts, and local organizations to help shape the services provided.
Based on the initial feedback from the community, the preferred location for the medical center would be the southeastern portion of the former golf course near South Yakima Avenue. The construction of the medical center will begin no later than 2027, with an opening date planned for the following year.”
March 23, 2024: Volunteer with Blue Zones Project Parkland-Spanaway, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, Sprinker Recreation Center, 14824 C Street South, Tacoma, WA 98444. Come join us to volunteer with Blue Zones Project Parkland-Spanaway and make a positive impact through the Green Blocks Tree Share!
March 29, 2024: Bread Making 101 with Blue Zones Project Parkland-Spanaway, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, 12115 Park Avenue South, Tacoma, WA 98444. Come join us for a fun and informative bread making workshop with Blue Zones Project Parkland-Spanaway!
April 2, 2024: What is Blue Zones Project Parkland-Spanaway All About? 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Spanaway Lake High School, 1305 168th Street East, Spanaway, WA 98387. Join us at Spanaway Lake High to learn all about the Blue Zones Project and the changes coming to our community!
April 5, 2024: Cooking Demo @ Spanaway Lake High with Blue Zones Project Parkland-Spanaway, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Spanaway Lake High School, 1305 168th Street East, Spanaway, WA 98387. Come learn how to cook healthy dishes with Blue Zones Project Parkland-Spanaway at Spanaway Lake High School!
Register for these events at this link… Blue Zones Project | Upcoming Events
