Our Wellness Strategy is to Eat Well, Move Well, Rest Well, and Be Well. We offer multiple wellness classes each week, for FREE, to give patients the opportunity to improve their nutrition, mobility, sleep quality, stress management, and overall well-being. These are inviting classes for beginners and those new to working out, with limited mobility or balance, or who face health-related challenges.
Join us at the Wellness Center! Click here for a full list of classes!
Letter writing. Well that’s a crazy thought. What about tweeting!? Or maybe just emailing? Maybe a little TikTok messaging?
I know, I know. It’s old school. But sometimes old school is cool. Remember record players? They made a short and unnecessary return. My daughter played hers for at least two weeks. We even got her the Michael Jackson Thriller vinyl. I digress.
Letter writing. Not a long letter – just a little note. Put it in an envelope and mail it off with a stamp. I just read 2 John and 3 John. One is 13 verses and the other is 15 verses. Both end very similarly. This makes me laugh and it makes my heart happy.
“Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.”
After eleven verses, John says, “man I am exhausted – I don’t want to write anymore – so, I’m putting my paper and pen down and hope to see you soon.”
2 John was a short note. It was written to the elect lady and her children. The note had a basic theme: love one another. Then John mails it out.
3 John was to Gaius and ends almost the same way. “I had much to write you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink.” This is not a microphone drop. It is a pen drop. Letter over. Again his message was short – hospitality to others.
It is interesting to note that 2 John is the shortest book in the Bible by verses and 3 John is the shortest by word count. John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, wrote the two shortest books of the Bible to friends of his who at that time he could not see.
Do you think Gaius looked at that letter and said – “What? That lazy old man! He only wrote me a few words!” Or do you think he went running around the house showing everyone what John said. “Look everybody. Look what John wrote – He wants us to be kind and hospitable to others! Let’s do it! And he cannot see us right now, but he wants to! John loves us!”
Maybe during this time when we cannot see people that we really want to see, we write them a letter. Just a short letter and tell them something simple like I love you or be strong and courageous, or don’t lose hope, or do not be afraid, or love one another. Then say, I had more to write, but I am saving it for the time we can sit down once again at a coffee house and be face to face.
Imagine, all of us waiting for the mailman to show up and celebrating the few words you sent me and I sent you. I promise if you send me a letter I will read it to everybody and celebrate your kindness in thinking of me! By the way, I need a little encouragement right now and I am sure you do as well.
I actually had a lot more to tell you about this, but I am putting down my keyboard until I can see you again.
Dr. Scarborough’s writings from March 17,2020 that ring true still today.
Emotions are everywhere at my house. Life is changing right in front of us. I have a child mourning the loss of soccer season, prom, friends and school. I have another so excited to be out of school, she is not sure what to do. A friend of my daughter’s friend flying off to a national park in the west and we have another friend who has filled up his car with gas and bunkered down. We bought some extra meat to freeze and cans to have around the house in case it got bad. Then realized we spent all our money, so now we need to eat what we bought in case of an emergency.
I even heard they started playing the old REM song on the radio again, “It’s the end of the world as we know it.” Well if this is the end, then we better go out holding on to as much toilet paper as possible.
Over the last week, I have checked every news source a thousand times. There is a case here, and one over there. CDC, WHO, and the President have all spoken and given advice. For the sake of our physical health, we do not meet in groups larger than ten, only pick up food to go, socially distance ourselves from others and the list goes on. I have even read a few articles about how to survive in isolation: binge watch a few shows, pull out Monopoly to play with the family, and sing opera out your window.
But what about our own soul care?
Yesterday I was reading in First Peter and came across a verse that started like this, “the end of all things is at hand…” Huh? I was intrigued. I don’t think this is the end of the world, but in the midst of this viral outbreak I felt this might be significant. I often like to read the words in a different translation called The Message and I think it is a good word to remember:
1 Peter 4: 7-11 Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and He’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!
Peter goes into bullet point mode. The end is at hand, everything is about to be wrapped up, so…
In doing these things, Peter says, God will be glorified.
But the more I read the passage (please go back and read it again), my bullet points are lacking. There is a certain passion and urgency my bullet points missed. Let’s try again:
Do you see Peter’s passion in this? He says that the end is near, so love, pray, be kind to all – be all in. Do this today, and do it for others. Go! Be quick about it! And God will get the credit as the one Mighty in everything!
I met with a friend the other day who encouraged me. He said that in the midst of this crisis, it is a moment in time where Christ can shine. “What can we do?”
What can we do? I think Peter had great advice and I think as a doctor I will pass it on to you.
For your soul care my prescription is to gather your family and pray, love each other, serve, be generous, speak God’s words and help others in need – as if your life depended on it (Peter would want me to add this passion to my list). Through this God will be glorified and you will make a difference.
And maybe, just maybe, once this crisis is diverted, and normalcy has returned. Maybe we will not forget what we have learned about praying, loving others, feeding the hungry, and speaking God’s truth. Maybe this crisis is reminding us how to be Christian again.
The chapter ends by encouraging us to entrust our “souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” May we trust and do good now and the next day and the next season so that we can glorify God and be truly human.
Hi MercyMed parents!
Here are some answers to questions you may be asking yourself! If you have further questions regarding the health of yourself or your child, please reach out to any of these resources!
1. Why are schools at risk of closing?
The coronavirus is a respiratory disease caused by a new coronavirus that was first detected in China and which has now been detected in more than 100 locations internationally, including in the United States.
The symptoms from this virus include fever, cough and trouble breathing. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person. This happens by cough/sneeze droplets from an infected person coming into contact with another person (within about 6 feet). Currently there are ZERO cases of coronavirus in Muscogee County.
By avoiding crowds (like school, sporting events, public transit), we can make sure that we don’t cough or sneeze on one another. By doing this, we can decrease the risk of spreading the coronavirus to those who are at the highest risk (adults >60, infants, and those with chronic diseases).
2. What can I do to keep my family safe from the Coronavirus?
3. How do I know if my child or I have the Coronavirus or just a regular cold?
| Illness | Symptoms | Duration | What to do |
| Coronavirus |
AND
|
|
|
| Flu |
|
7-10 days |
|
| Common Cold |
|
3-7 days |
|
| Allergies |
|
All spring! |
|
4. How am I going to keep my kids busy without going crazy??
We strongly recommend a daily routine, such as this example!
7:00 am Wake up! Drink a glass of water with lemon and vitamin C packet, get some exercise- go for a walk around the block or do some jumping jacks and yoga at home!
7:30 am Eat a healthy breakfast such as eggs and toast or oatmeal and fruit!
8:00 am Start your daily school work! If teachers have sent home work, it may take a few hours to complete this work. If teachers have not sent home work, check out this website for some ideas! Take a break every 15-30 minutes depending on your child’s age to do some more jumping jacks, play a game, get a drink of water, or eat a healthy snack like an apple!
12:00 pm Eat a healthy lunch such as PB&J on wheat bread, carrot sticks with ranch, and a piece of fruit! Drink another glass of water!
1:00-4:00 pm Keep those kiddos busy and safe from getting sick! Here are some ideas:
5:00 pm Have your kids help you prep a healthy dinner! Lots of fruits and vegetables will help boost your immune system and keep you safe from illness.
6:00 pm Eat dinner as a family! This is proven to help kids grow up to be great community members.
7:00 pm Bath time! Bathing with soapy water daily decreases risk of infection. Make sure to brush those teeth too!
8:00 pm Read a book and get ready for bed!
8:30 pm Bedtime! An early bedtime is an important way to boost your child’s immune system!
Black Friday comes first, then Cyber Monday, and finally Giving Tuesday.
Giving Tuesday is the day people give online to local non-profits. Here at MercyMed, we want money to be given, but sometimes we want other gifts too – like a laptop.
Allow me to explain. Our story begins on Cyber Monday, 11/26 (2018).
It was late in the morning when a couple of the staff yelled at me as I was walking out of an exam room. Someone was having a seizure in the waiting room. I peeked through the window and saw Dr. Joyce Kim and two other staff members attending to the patient. They had it under control, so I went to the next patient. When I walked out of the room I noticed Joyce was still in the waiting room. The patient was slowly coming out of a seizure and not minimally responsive. Four of our staff were trying to get him into a wheelchair – so I went out to help. After a few minutes we transitioned him to a wheelchair. He was pushed back into an exam room after 20 minutes of chaos out front. We settled back into work, and that is when Joyce realized her laptop computer was gone. This was bad. She takes this with her to every patient appointment to access notes, charts, and more. This was bad.
At once we realized what happened, and even who took the computer: I will refer to him as “Buddy.” In our neighborhood, things that are stolen get moved quickly – mostly for money that would be used for drugs. We also knew most of that occurred next to the local gas station. Our front desk lady took off her high heels and ran to the gas station only to find Buddy leaving in a car. We replayed the video security camera, called his phone, went to his home and called the police. Buddy was gone and so was the computer.
Giving Tuesday, 11/27.
Emails and Facebook posts went out encouraging others to give, but deep down inside all I wanted was for Joyce’s computer to be returned. As Tony (the Office Manager) and I discussed a replacement computer for Joyce, our nurse came in. She told us she had spotted Buddy a half block away. Tony and I jumped in the car and saw him waiting at the bus stop. We tried to do a quick U turn, but the traffic was too heavy and then the local bus passed us. It stopped and he got on and left. “Tony! Follow that bus!”
*Editor’s Note: Do not follow known thieves. This is dangerous.*
We finally caught up and went in to private investigator mode. We did not stay back a safe distance, we were right on the tail of the bus. When the bus stopped we stopped. When the bus started, we started. We did not know when he would get off, but we were ready for a long stakeout. Eventually the bus pulled forward and Buddy was left behind with a backpack in hand.
With Tony’s experience in the military, he was even keeled. My heart was pounding and I was ready for a chase. Tony has this uncanny ability to make people confess of anything they have done or even think about doing. He gets out, and approaches him.
“Sir, were you at MercyMed yesterday?”
“Yes.”
“Did you take a computer?”
“No.”
“Sir, I have cameras all over the waiting room. I have you on video taking the computer and walking out with it. I can give it to the police but I want to ask you again. Did you take the computer?”
Long pause, “Yes.”
“What did you do with the computer?”
“I sold it to a man in a white van outside the gas station.”
“Well” Tony said, “That was Dr Kim’s computer and she needs it back.”
“That’s my doctor!” he responded with strange excitement.
“She needs it back and she needs it back today.”
“OK OK OK “ he responded “I’ll get it back today.”
And he walked off.
This Giving Tuesday we were hoping for donations, and Buddy to do the right thing. The odds were low. He told us he sold it to a man in a white van. He probably already spent the money on drugs, and the man in the van was probably sitting outside a pawn shop right now.
We told the news to the staff back at the office and came up with plan B. We can check with the police and call the pawn shops. Joyce had activated her find computer app so that it would go off once connected to the internet. They cancelled all information someone could find on the computer. We found a spare computer and all went back to work.
Billy informed me that donations were coming in. We celebrated, but Giving Tuesday had a sadness to it. The Lord gives and takes away – could we be content with where the Lord had us today? We had donations, but a lost computer.
Later that afternoon, just before we closed, the waiting room door opened and closed and then opened and closed again. Something was left at the front desk for Joyce. It was her computer – in perfect condition! Our front desk lady went out after him again and this time caught up to him – Joyce came running as well. Buddy apologized to Joyce, and she thanked him for doing the right thing to return it. Tony went outside and shook his hand – thanking him for returning the computer.
“We will see you at your next appointment, Buddy” they said.
All of our emotions were mixed this Giving Tuesday. We were sad he would steal her computer while another patient was seizing. But we were proud that he would make the tough decision to find that computer and I assume buy it back to give it to Joyce. I assume addiction would drive this behavior. Yet in the mess of addiction, we saw hope of a man who desired to do right. I cannot help but hope this decision to do right might be the one thing he needs to bring change in his life. He made the right decision and he realized the joy of doing good.
He gave us the computer back and maybe we gave him a glimpse of what his life can become.
Giving Tuesday worked out okay.
