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A wedding is a big day for the wedding couple, but it’s also special for loved ones. A patient at Renown, Ken, got to take part in his daughter’s special day as her wedding plans changed to accommodate his medical condition. Grab some tissues and read how Renown’s team of compassionate caregivers and chaplains planned a wedding in Fianna’s Healing Garden. Ken was hospitalized at Renown Regional Medical Center where he was battling a lung problem – which was unrelated to COVID-19 – and his condition worsened rapidly on Wednesday, Aug. 12. His family made the decision to transition him to palliative care, which helps patients near the end of their lives remain comfortable, while supporting their dignity and quality of life.  Ken’s medical condition altered wedding plans for his daughter, Chandra, and her fiancé, Tyler, who were planning to tie the knot later in 2020. Chandra wanted her father there, but knew he could not leave the hospital. That’s why Chandra’s sister, Heather, approached Ken’s care team with a request to have a small wedding ceremony at the hospital.  Planning the Wedding A member of Ken’s care team, Amy Heston, registered nurse (RN), began planning how the wedding could be held outdoors in Fianna's Healing Garden in the E. L. Wiegand Pavilion, which was donated by the E. L. Wiegand Foundation.   In 24 hours, Amy planned a wedding ceremony with the help of her colleague, Breyanna Aufiero, RN; the Renown Spiritual Care team; and nursing leaders on the coronary intensive care unit (ICU). Together, they decorated the aisle in the garden with flowers and battery-operated candles. They also made a sign for Ken’s hospital bed, which read, “Father of the Bride,” and crafted a bow tie for him to wear for the special occasion.  With visitor restrictions in place at the hospital due to coronavirus (COVID-19), having the wedding outside in the Healing Garden allowed for more members of Ken’s family to attend including his wife, Charlotte, and his dog, Bella.   Every step in planning the wedding required thoughtful and thorough care coordination so Ken could participate. His breathing was supported by oxygen and special arrangements were made to transport the oxygen tanks he needed to take part in his daughter’s wedding. Amy worked with respiratory technician, Kasey Benfield, and critical care technician, Ruben Duckworth, to ensure Ken’s oxygen needs were met using portable machines.  Celebrating Love and Life Together Ken’s team of caregivers bathed him and shaved his face so he could look and feel his best for the ceremony. They put on his bow tie, covered his bed in decorations and his favorite blue, flannel blanket, and wheeled his bed outside for the ceremony.  Renown associate chaplains Terri Domitrovich and Susan Palwick coordinated music and performed the ceremony for Chandra and Tyler on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020. The bride and groom shared their first dance in the garden and Ken’s care team provided water and treats to give the family a full wedding experience.   Shortly after the ceremony, Ken passed away. This wedding provided Ken and his family meaningful memories for their big life-changing moments as they celebrated and said goodbye.  “Seeing Ken surrounded by family he never would have gotten to see again while in the hospital, watching him get to share a father-daughter dance with Chandra on her wedding day, and having him tell me that this day meant more to them than we would ever know were some of the most moving moments I’ve witnessed as a nurse,” Amy said. “I am so thankful for the team we have here. I know that this beautiful day wouldn’t have happened without the help of every single person who gave their time, money, creativity and passion to make it a day to remember.”

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As many people search for diets to try to achieve weight loss resolutions, Kim Colegrove, Renown Dietary Educator, has all you need to know about one of the trendiest diets – intermittent fasting. What is intermittent fasting? Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that switches between periods of fasting with no food or very restricted caloric intake, and periods of unrestricted eating. The diet has come into popularity as a way to help people lose weight without restricting what they eat, just when they eat. How does it work? The rationale behind intermittent fasting is that the pattern of eating promotes weight loss due to hormonal changes – namely, the decrease in insulin levels – as well as effects on your gut and overall decreased energy consumption. There are various schedules, including alternate-day fasting and time-restricted feeding. For example, one popular method involves restricting your eating period to eight hours per day and then fasting for the remaining 16 hours. Another requires fasting for 24 hours once or twice per week. What should people consider before they try intermittent fasting? Some people have found success in losing weight with intermittent fasting. However, it’s important to note that it’s not a diet that necessarily promotes sustainable habits and lifestyle changes. There’s also not enough research conducted that shows its lasting impact on health, weight, or metabolic improvement. For most, an intermittent fasting diet is just that – a diet. A person will likely lose weight because they consume fewer calories, but keeping the pounds off is an aspect of healthy weight loss that requires a permanent lifestyle change. Who should NOT try intermittent fasting? Intermittent fasting is not for everyone and it can pose a health risk to women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, people with diabetes, and children and adolescents in an active growth stage. Also, it would not be appropriate for those with a history of eating disorders, as well as people with certain health conditions that require them to eat every few hours. You should always talk to your doctor before beginning a restrictive diet such as this, especially if you have a chronic health condition or are taking certain medications.

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Gone are the days of soggy PB&Js on white bread: Today’s school lunch is your chance to create a healthy, colorful midday meal! Here are a few simple tips, a week of lunch ideas and a shopping list to help you pack a lunch that won’t be offered up for trade during tomorrow’s lunch hour. While school lunches are getting healthier, packing and taking a lunch to school will ensure that your child is getting a healthy, well-balanced meal. Making lunches should be a team effort. Your kids can help pack their lunches by spreading on condiments or putting food in containers. To save time in the morning, pack lunches the night before. The following are a few suggested items you can use to ensure your child is eating a tasty but nutritious lunch: Main dishes Lunch meat and lowfat cheese roll ups English muffin pizzas Sandwich wraps – meat, cheese and veggies in a whole grain tortilla Pita pockets stuffed with grilled chicken and vegetables Soup Chef salad with spinach, veggies, cheese, lunch meat and dressing Tuna or chicken salad on a mini bagel Snacks and sides Fresh or dried fruit Natural apple sauce Baked tortilla chips and salsa Veggie sticks and hummus Cheese slices or string cheese with whole grain crackers Homemade trail mix with nuts, seeds and raisins Pudding Homemade fruit roll ups Popcorn (add different toppings such as salt, garlic, cinnamon, sugar or cayenne pepper) Drinks Water If you child doesn’t like plain water, try adding a few slices of fresh fruit (strawberries, lime, lemon) for more flavor. School Lunch Menu: Day-By-Day We’ve put together a week’s worth of colorful, fun and healthy school lunch ideas your kids will love. And we’ve also created a shopping list to help you easily locate all the ingredients on your weekend shopping trip. Monday: Turkey BLTA Roll-ups Roll-up Ingredients Turkey, cold cuts Bacon Avocado Tomatoes Side Dish Choices Blueberries Cucumbers Carrot sticks Tuesday: Bacon & Cucumber Sandwich Sandwich Ingredients Whole wheat English muffin Cucumber Bacon Side Dish Choices Apples slices Strawberries Vanilla yogurt mixed with sprinkled cinnamon Wednesday: DIY Lunchables Lunchables Ingredients Crackers Turkey, cold cuts Cheese Side Dish Choices Blueberries Carrots Cucumber Thursday: Veggie Grilled Cheese Veggie Grilled Cheese Ingredients English muffin Cheese Tomato Spinach leaves Avocado Side Dish Choices Apples slices Strawberries Vanilla yogurt mixed with sprinkled cinnamon Tomatoes Friday: DIY Pizzas DIY Pizza Ingredients 2 toasted English muffins Pizza sauce Cheese Turkey pepperoni Side Dish Choices Celery Black olives Shopping List (under 20 items) Cold section: Dairy 1 large container of vanilla yogurt 1 package of your favorite cheese  Cold section: Deli meats 1 package of turkey pepperoni 1 package bacon 1 package turkey cold cuts Inside aisles Whole wheat English muffins 1 can of whole black olives 1 jar of pizza sauce 1 box of whole wheat or multigrain crackers  Produce department 1 cucumber 1 stalk of celery 2 apples 1 container of strawberries 1 avocado 2 tomatoes 1 bunch of spinach leaves 1 container of blueberries 2 carrots  For more healthy school lunch box options, visit our Kids Health & Nutrition board on Pinterest.

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