Blood drive to honor Franklin child with cancer – Daily Journal

The tiny body seemed consumed by tubes and wires and monitors.

Just one day prior, Stephanie and Cody Smith had learned the terrible truth about why their 18-month-old son, Charlie, had been so sick recently. He had neuroblastoma, a cancer that forms on the nerve endings. Scans revealed cancer was on his kidney, lungs, bone and lymph nodes.

To stem the aggressive cancer, his doctors immediately got to work, putting in catheters, taking bone marrow biopsies and preparing for the start of intense chemotherapy. Charlie lay in his hospital bed eating Cheetos Puffs, his favorite food, and sitting with his parents.

"It was hard when we got the news," Stephanie Smith said. "I tried to be calm and collected; I had to be strong for my baby. But its been hard."

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The past two months have come straight out of a nightmare for the Smith family. Since Charlie was diagnosed with Stage IV neuroblastoma in November, each day brings uncertainty.

The Franklin family has spent 49 of the last 60 days at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health. Charlie has gone through rounds of chemotherapy, suffering through fevers, mouth sores, extreme fatigue and nausea that wracked his small body. His treatment will last over the next 18 months, and will include chemotherapy, stem cell transplants, blood transfusions, radiation and immunotherapy.

But despite everything theyve been through, the Smiths remain resolute that Charlie will get better. They have relied on their faith, and an army of supporters who have stepped forward to help them in their worst time, to get them through.

"It was amazing to see so many people come up and love on us. It has taught us to be generous people; weve always thought we were generous people, but when you see the number of people who care for you and pray for you and support you, its really amazing," Stephanie Smith said.

The Smiths have partnered with Versiti Blood Center of Indiana to host a blood drive in Greenwood Saturday. The Cheering for Charlie event will be held from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., to help increase blood supplies for patients such as Charlie who rely on transfusions to survive.

Every two seconds, someone needs life-saving blood, whether theyre bravely battling disease like Charlie, undergoing surgery or are victims of trauma," said Duane Brodt, spokesman for Versiti. "People need people since blood cant be manufactured."

For most of his life, Charlie was a happy-go-lucky toddler. He loved to smile and laugh, beaming joy. Where his 3-year-old brother Henry was more of a wild child, Stephanie Smith said, Charlie seemed to always be in a pleasant, good mood.

His parents described him as their "happy baby."

Thats what made his lethargy, lack of appetite and gradual decline in health so concerning.

"He was learning how to walk over the summer, and started getting sick," Stephanie Smith said. "We just thought it was a virus; we didnt think of the worst."

Charlie developed a low-grade fever, wasnt eating well and was falling asleep unexpectedly while playing with toys. He wasnt acting like himself, Stephanie Smith said.

During a visit to his pediatrician, the doctor found a hard area on Charlies abdomen, and recommended doing some blood tests and taking an X-ray. Those tests only led to more questions he had severe range anemia and elevated levels of platelets in his blood. But the doctor didnt have any conclusive answers as to what was causing it.

Stephanie Smith, a nurse at Franciscan Health, started hearing warning bells in her mind. That, combined with a mothers intuition, convinced her that they needed to take Charlie to Riley Hospital for Children. After 12 hours in the emergency room, and dozens of tests, doctors found a large tumor in Charlies abdomen.

"Sometimes, when kids are diagnosed with cancer, they can go home and be in and out of the hospital for treatment, but Charlie was really sick. The tumor was pushing on his kidney, damaging his kidney, so we had to stay in the hospital," Stephanie Smith said.

The pathology lab at Riley Hospital for Children confirmed the tumor was neuroblastoma. The cancer forms in immature nerve endings, often in the adrenal glands located near the kidneys and is most common in children age 5 and under, according to the American Cancer Society.

But the cancer is very rare; only about 800 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year, according to the American Cancer Society.

Neuroblastomas grow and spread very rapidly, so treatment would have to be aggressive, doctors explained to the family. Charlies oncologist recommended starting with two rounds of focused chemotherapy, followed by the extraction of his red blood cells for stem cell transplants, then another three rounds of chemotherapy.

Two different stem cell transplants would be held about a month apart, and Charlie would start radiation treatment. Immunotherapy, which jolts the immune system into targeting and killing cancer cells, would be the final part of the regimen.

Almost immediately, Charlie started his chemotherapy.

"It grows so quickly, that we had to be aggressive. The beginning was pretty intense," Stephanie Smith said.

The treatment was hard on Charlies young body. He developed mouth sores and didnt want to eat, and his nausea left him miserable. The Smith family essentially relocated to the hospital, staying with him constantly.

But at the same time, their friends and family, as well as complete strangers, stepped up to offer help. A meal train was set up to provide the family with food, and prayers came from all directions.

A GoFundMe page has raised more than $36,000 for the family. A community Facebook page has more than 5,000 members.

"We had a rally of people come around us," Stephanie Smith said. "We couldnt have done it without all of the people who have come together."

Charlie has completed his first four rounds of chemotherapy, and on Jan. 20, he was able to return home with his family to wait for surgery to remove the tumor in his abdomen. That operation is tentatively going to be early to mid February.

In the meantime, the family has been soaking in the opportunity to be together somewhere besides the hospital. They have also been working to plan the blood drive being held on Saturday.

Charlie has relied on blood transfusions throughout his treatment, and a blood drive would be a way to raise awareness of the importance of those transfusions to cancer patients, Stephanie Smith said.

"Charlie received quite a few blood products, especially early on in his treatment. He had 12 transfusions in these 2 1/2 months. For his little body, thats a lot," she said. "Being a nurse, I didnt realize the number of cancer patients who need blood products. Its so important. So this was a way to let people know that."

Stephanie Smiths sister, Shelby Richards, knew people who had organized drives with their friends and helped the family get the Cheering for Charlie drive going.

The drive is a perfect opportunity to remind people that blood donations are vitally important, Brodt said. Versiti Blood Center of Indiana needs to collect at least 560 blood donations every day to support the need at its 80 hospital partners throughout the state, he said.

"So our Cheering for Charlie will truly make a difference and help save lives," Brodt said.

For the Smith family, the drive is a way to give back for all the love theyve been shown.

"Its really cool for us to see how many people have signed up, and also be advocates for other people who need blood, to just get the word out there about how important it is," Stephanie Smith said. "Its encouraging for us to see people come out to support Charlie and kids like him."

If you go

Cheering for Charlie blood drive

What: A blood drive honoring Charlie Smith, an 18-month-old Franklin child diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a cancer of the nerve cells.

When: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

Where: Versiti Blood Center of Indiana, 8739 U.S. 31 S., Indianapolis

Who can donate: Generally, anyone in good health age 16 and up can donate. Make sure you do not have a cold, flu or sore throat at the time of donation.

How to schedule an appointment: Go to Versiti.org/Indiana

Information: Learn more about Charlie on the Cheering for Charlie! Facebook group page.

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Blood drive to honor Franklin child with cancer - Daily Journal

Advancells Group & IFC Concluded their 3-Day Workshop on Regenerative Medicine – MENAFN.COM

(MENAFN - ForPressRelease) 11

New Delhi 23rd January 2020 On Saturday, January 18th, 2020, the Advancells Group & the International Fertility Center together ended their first workshop Sub-Specialty Training in Application of Regenerative Medicine (S.T.A.R. 2020). The three-day workshop had specialized doctors, medical practitioners, learned scientists of Advancells, the leaders in cell manufacturing & processes and IFC, one of India's most prestigious Fertility institute who were joined by candidates with MBBS/BAMS/BHMS/BPharma & Master's degree in Life Sciences.

The key-note speaker of the workshop was Dr. Rita Bakshi, founder and chairperson of International Fertility Centre, the oldest fertility clinic and one of the most renowned IVF clinics in India, one of the organizers of the event. Participants also had a privilege to listen to Dr. Sachin Kadam, CTO, Advancells and gain hands-on experience in the preparation of PRP; Liposuction method; and Bone Marrow aspiration. All these techniques were talked about at length and demonstrated in the form of manual & kit-based models to help the candidates gain exposure.

Dr. Punit Prabha, Head of Clinical Research and Dr. Shradha Singh Gautam, Head of Lab Operations at Advancells successfully set the base of stem cell biology for the participants who were experts in gynecology field, stem cell research and pain specialist. With the help of detailed analysis of 'Application of PRP for Skin rejuvenation'; 'Preparation of Micro-fragmented Adipose Tissue and Nano Fat & SVF (Stromal Vascular Fraction) from Adipose Tissue'; and 'Cell Culturing and Expansion in a Laboratory', applicants understood the application of stem cells in aesthetics, cosmetology, and anti-aging.

Vipul Jain, Founder & CEO of Advancells Group said, 'Educating young scientists about stem cells is important for us. With this workshop we wanted to discuss and share the challenges and lessons we have learned in our journey of curing our customers. We wanted to establish more concrete knowledge base in the presence of subject matter experts and help our attendees in more possible ways. We are hopeful to have successfully achieved what we claimed with this workshop'.

Given the resounding success of the Sub-Specialty Training in Application of Regenerative Medicine (S.T.A.R. 2020), it's hoped that the future events shall offer even greater wisdom to the participants by helping them improve and the lead the community into the age of greater awareness.

Advancells Group Advancells is leading the field of stem cell therapies in India and abroad, with representative offices in Bangladesh and Australia. The company provides arrangements for stem cell banking and protocols for partner doctors and hospitals which they can use for treating the patients using regenerative medicine. With a GMP compliant research and processing center that works on different cell lines from various sources such as Bone Marrow, Adipose Tissue, Dental Pulp, Blood, Cord Tissue etc. Advancells also intends to file a patent for this processing technology soon.

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Advancells Group & IFC Concluded their 3-Day Workshop on Regenerative Medicine - MENAFN.COM

Major name scheduled to be in Houston for WWE Royal Rumble PPV – Wrestling News

There have been denials for weeks from Edge about being cleared for in-ring action. He has also been denying that he has plans to wrestle again.

However, I just confirmed with two sources that Edge is scheduled to be in Houston this Sunday night, the site of the Royal Rumble pay-per-view. The source I spoke to did not know what Edge would be doing on the show but it looks likely that he will be a surprise entrant in the Mens Royal Rumble match.

As previously noted, The Wrestling Observer Newsletters Dave Meltzer was the first to report a few months ago that Edge signed a new multi-year deal with WWE. People I spoke with are under the belief that Edge will be wrestling a limited schedule, similar to Brock Lesnar.

PWInsider reported in October that Edge was in Pittsburgh, PA for WWE-related business. WWE files wrestlers out to Dr. Joseph Maroons office in Pittsburgh when they want them to be evaluated for in-ring clearance.

Edge retired in 2011 due to spinal stenosis and it looked like the door was shut for him to ever get physical in a WWE ring again. However, he was brought in for a surprise appearance at the SummerSlam Kickoff show in August to spear Elias.

On his podcast, Edge said that he feels better than he has in years and believed that he could step in the ring again at least for one more match but he did not believe that WWE doctors would clear him. He went on to say that he believed that stem cell treatments could get his neck healthy again within five years. At this point, it looks like he has been cleared for limited action and whatever he does on Sunday should set up his match for WrestleMania in Tampa.

Click here for all of the latest news and rumors on this years Royal Rumble pay-per-view.

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Major name scheduled to be in Houston for WWE Royal Rumble PPV - Wrestling News

How will technology shape and disrupt our health care this decade? – Times Union

Technology has always been able to revolutionize industry and inspire new possibilities. But in health care, the implications feel much grander. New technologies can be not just life-changing, but literally life-giving.

Progress in the last decade, for example, gave doctors the ability to target disease more precisely than ever before, and to personalize treatment based on an individuals unique genetic profile. Biotechnology, or technology that harnesses the power of living organisms, gave us new therapies to treat cancer and rare diseases, whose sufferers have long felt ignored by health researchers.

Even the less-grand stuff like watches that track your sleep cycles and apps that save you unnecessary trips to the emergency room have exciting implications for the future of health care.

As we turn the page on a new decade, the Times Union asked experts to predict the ways in which technology will help us cross new frontiers in science, health and medicine.

Telemedicine

The use of virtual technology to deliver health care has grown exponentially as providers realize that much of what they do such as triage, examinations, treatment and counseling can be done just as well over a screen.

And while some people prefer to get their care face to face, its just not feasible for everyone. Nor is it cost-effective.

Everyone is looking for more value out of health care, said Keith Algozzine, founder of United Concierge Medicine (UCM), a virtual emergency room service based in Troy. Whether you think the quality isnt what it should be or cost is too high or access or convenience to care isnt ideal, telemedicine can help all of those things.

Employers are flocking to Algozzines UCM service, whose emphasis on triage means people dont wind up at the emergency room for chest pain thats really heartburn or an infection that requires a simple prescription antibiotic.

Getting patients the right care at the right place at the right time tends to save money, said Algozzine, whose company has seen 100 percent year-over-year revenue growth since its founding in 2014.

So where is the next frontier in telemedicine? Algozzine believes theres untapped potential in the world of follow-up care.

Yes, if you need surgery you need to go in and physically see a surgeon, he said. Thats never going to happen virtually. But why do you need to drive back in for routine follow-ups when you can do it using this technology? Follow-up done this way can be done at a fraction of the cost, for a fraction of the time.

Regenerative medicine

If youve ever heard of stem cells, designer cells, or CAR-T therapy, then youve heard of regenerative medicine.

The branch of medicine that involves regrowing, repairing or replacing damaged and diseased organs and cells was worth $28 billion in 2018 and is expected to grow to over $81 billion globally by 2023, experts predict.

Part of the reason is the ongoing success of clinical trials in this area. Stem cell therapy which relies on cells that ultimately develop into blood, bone and brain cells, among other cell types has been effective at treating patients with cancer and blood disorders.

The other reason is its potential to treat a whole host of conditions and diseases.

Essentially what is happening is youre producing tissue at the same rate that it would be produced by the body, at best, said Deepak Vashishth, director of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institutes Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies.

But Vashishth believes scientists can take it one step further.

People are copying or mimicking what nature already does, but what if we could beat nature in some ways and do it faster?

He used the example of a professional football player whos forced out of play by a fractured bone.

Bone will take two to three months to regenerate itself and for a fracture to heal, he said. What if we can make it heal in a month? That would be transformative in terms of health care costs. In regenerative medicine, that concept has not yet been applied.

Smart buildings

The concept of a self-monitoring, self-regulating smart home is not new. In fact, plenty such homes already exist, allowing owners to turn off the coffee pot or adjust the temperature while away at the office or headed out on vacation.

The potential for reduced energy waste has driven a lot of recent growth in the field. But Vashishth believes buildings of the future could be built to monitor and even regulate their occupants health.

Think of an office building where your body temperature is constantly being monitored as you move around. If there is flu going around, it will detect that raised body temperature. It could know before you know.

A less pleasant to think about, but still practical application involves smart toilets. Equipped with sensors and artificial intelligence systems, a toilet could measure your urine flow and test for blood, protein and other indicators that might identify an infection or medical condition early on, he said.

Such toilets are currently in development in some parts of the world.

Your environment need not be passive, either. Aside from monitoring, buildings could be equipped with technology or biomaterials that help regulate your health, as well, Vashishth said.

In 2014, for example, RPI unveiled itsfirst public-scale prototype of a special green wall, featuring large panels of densely packed plants that could improve air quality by enhancing the air filtration that naturally occurs in plants.

Its the kind of interdisciplinary work the intersection of science and architecture that RPI is increasingly known for.

Fundamentally these things could change how we live, Vashishth said. And then the question becomes, once we dont have to care so much about our health, what can we do with our lives?

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How will technology shape and disrupt our health care this decade? - Times Union

LifeCell launches ‘Genome-Scope’ newborn genetic testing to diagnose over 4000 genetic conditions – Yahoo India News

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], Jan 24 (ANI/PRNewswire): LifeCell International, India's premier stem cell bank and diagnostics company, today announced the introduction of 'Genome-Scope' - a premier Genetic Diagnostic Test for newborns which assesses for thousands of early childhood-onset disorders.

Notably, LifeCell offers this service within a turnaround time of just ten days, which is twice as fast compared to the nearest offering - a vital time reduction for those who seek urgent diagnosis such as babies in the NICU.

With over 7,000 rare disorders identified so far, it's vastly difficult for doctors to diagnose the same with traditional diagnostic techniques. A recent study showcased that it takes more than seven physicians and four years to diagnose such rare disorders. Misdiagnosis, hidden symptoms and lack of awareness, are the core reasons for the long diagnostic journey of children with genetic disorders.

With more than 80 per cent of them being genetic in nature, the recent emergence of low-cost genome sequencing it's now possible to detect relevant causative mutations of almost all of these conditions within a single test, thus far exceeding the routine newborn screening tests currently being offered which cover at most 50 conditions.

LifeCell has introduced this test under the brand 'Genome-Scope'. This breakthrough test uses advanced next-gen DNA sequencing technology to assess over 4,000 genes related to early childhood-onset disorders, to provide results with more than 95 per cent accuracy within just ten days.

Thus, it has the potential to not only expedite the diagnostic journey but also, to save lives. While not all conditions detected may have treatment, the parents may seek such information as it may help prepare for the care of the baby and also in future family planning.

Genome-Scope is also available for well-born kids to identify predisposition to genetic conditions that if detected late could cause irreparable harm. It also provides information on how and which medications the child would respond to, thus providing an impetus to the practice of personalised medicine.

Genome-Scope will serve as a particularly important tool for those parents with a family history of a genetic disease or those who have previously lost a child to one. However, there is also data suggesting that 80 per cent of babies with genetic diseases are born to parents with no family history or symptoms implying the importance of this test to all families.

The test is conducted through a simple process on the cord blood obtained from the baby right after birth for the extraction and preservation of umbilical cord blood stem cells. Alternatively, the test could also be done with blood samples obtained from the child after birth through heel prick.

The test results are shared with the physician within 10 business days for their reference. Lifecell's in-house certified genetic counsellors would assist the clients in pre and post-test counselling. The raw data is also stored with LifeCell for future re-analysis in case there are any changes in the clinical status of the baby.

"Genome-Scope is yet another milestone in our journey towards providing healthy diagnostic solutions for every stage of the parenthood journey. With Genome-Scope we hope to assist every parent wanting to ensure timely detection of hidden genetic conditions in their newborn that could otherwise go unnoticed," said Ishaan Khanna, Chief Executive Officer - BioBank and Diagnostics, LifeCell.

"We are also glad that our clients who chose to bank their baby's stem cells with us can now benefit from this service since there is no requirement for a separate sample," said Khanna.

This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire)

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LifeCell launches 'Genome-Scope' newborn genetic testing to diagnose over 4000 genetic conditions - Yahoo India News

Advancells Group, IFC concluded their three-day workshop on Regenerative Medicine – Yahoo India News

New Delhi [India], Jan 23 (ANI/Business Wire India): On Saturday, January 18 2020, the Advancells Group and the International Fertility Center together ended their first workshop - Sub-Specialty Training in Application of Regenerative Medicine (STAR 2020).

The three-day workshop had specialized doctors, medical practitioners, learned scientists of Advancells, the leaders in cell manufacturing and processes and IFC, one of India's most prestigious Fertility institutes who were joined by candidates with MBBS/BAMS/BHMS/BPharma and Master's degree in Life Sciences.

The key-note speaker of the workshop was Dr Rita Bakshi, founder and chairperson of International Fertility Centre, the oldest fertility clinic and one of the most renowned IVF clinics in India, one of the organizers of the event.

Participants also had a privilege to listen to Dr Sachin Kadam, CTO, Advancells and gain hands-on experience in the preparation of PRP; Liposuction method; and Bone Marrow aspiration. All these techniques were talked about at length and demonstrated in the form of manual and kit-based models to help the candidates gain exposure.

Dr Punit Prabha, Head of Clinical Research and Dr Shradha Singh Gautam, Head of Lab Operations at Advancells successfully set the base of stem cell biology for the participants who were experts in gynecology field, stem cell research and pain specialist.

With the help of detailed analysis of 'Application of PRP for Skin rejuvenation'; 'Preparation of Micro-fragmented Adipose Tissue and Nano Fat & SVF (Stromal Vascular Fraction) from Adipose Tissue'; and 'Cell Culturing and Expansion in a Laboratory', applicants understood the application of stem cells in aesthetics, cosmetology, and anti-ageing.

"Educating young scientists about stem cells is important for us. With this workshop, we wanted to discuss and share the challenges and lessons we have learned in our journey of curing our customers," said Vipul Jain, founder and CEO of Advancells Group.

"We wanted to establish a more concrete knowledge base in the presence of subject matter experts and help our attendees in more possible ways. We are hopeful to have successfully achieved what we claimed with this workshop," he added.

Given the resounding success of the Sub-Specialty Training in Application of Regenerative Medicine (STAR 2020), it's hoped that the future events shall offer even greater wisdom to the participants by helping them improve and the lead the community into the age of greater awareness.

This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India)

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Advancells Group, IFC concluded their three-day workshop on Regenerative Medicine - Yahoo India News

New York-based hair restoration company opens new office in New Jersey – amNY

A New York-based entity operating multiple hair restoration surgery centers has expanded into a new office in Paramus, New Jersey.

MAXIM Hair Restoration, which specializes in hair loss treatment via hair transplants, can now provide a more convenient option for their Northern New Jersey clients.

Dr. Hardik Doshi is a highly renowned hair transplant surgeon at the MAXIM Hair Restoration office in Paramus. He is a dual Board Certified, Ivy League-educated and fellowship-trained facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon specializing in all aspects of surgical and non-surgical face and neck rejuvenation including hair transplants.

There is a strong demand for high quality, MEGA Session, affordable hair transplant procedures in Bergen County, Northern New Jersey, Central New Jersey and South Jersey. Our New Jersey clients dont like going into Manhattan for their hair transplant surgery, said Mac Fadra, CEO of MAXIM Hair Restoration. They prefer to have it done in New Jersey. Hair Restoration is all we do and many of our doctors are general and plastic surgeons, not ordinary physicians. They perform the FUT (Follicular Unit Transplant) and FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) hair transplant procedures as well as non-surgical procedures such as PRP. MAXIM also offers non-surgical procedures such as Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP) and Microneedling.

Baldness can be treated with a minor surgical procedure by transferring hair from the back and sides of ones own head and relocating it to the areas that are thinning or balding. The treatment has been proven to be a safe, natural, and highly effective procedure that produces long-term results. The hair transplant surgery itself is performed under local anesthesia and takes only a few hours to complete. As a result, one can return to their day to day within a couple of days following the procedure.

Hair transplant procedures have had more success in resolving the issue of hair loss than any other hair restoration methods such as artificial hair implants, hair pieces, wigs, toupees, shampoos, lotions, topical solutions, and other conventional options for the treatment of hair loss. Whereas Rogaine, Propecia, Biotin, laser hair therapy, and other OTC solutions may play a role in stemming hair loss, hair transplantation remains the only natural and permanent solution.

The future of hair restorationhas exponentially grown thanks to the advances in science and technology such as robotic hair restoration, stem cell therapy, exosomes for hair loss, follicular multiplication and other minimally invasive methods. These alternatives to balding have not only reduced the issue of hair loss, but have also created a platform for easier financial access including zero percent financing and convenience without jeopardizing the quality of the treatments results.

For more information about MAXIM and their procedures, visit http://www.maximhairrestoration.com.

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New York-based hair restoration company opens new office in New Jersey - amNY

Orgel, others push city for help with loss of HealthPlus pool – Auburn Villager

Coach. Husband. Father.

These are words that describe Frank Orgel, an 82-year-old Auburn resident who spends his retirement days with his wife, Sarah, and their dog, Gracie, in their home off Donahue Drive.

Football was Orgels life. From childhood, Orgels passion for the game grew as he continued on to play semi-professional and professional football. After his NFL run, Orgel took his talent to East Carolina University in 1974 for his first coaching position.

From that moment, it began.

Orgel toured Power Five universities as an assistant football coach. He coached at Clemson, South Carolina, Georgia and even stopped in Auburn to work next to Pat Dye from 1981 to 1986. His family was with him every step of the way packing and moving when the call came.

Life was good. That is until it wasnt.

Its now 1996 Orgel is running through the airport to catch a plane and, as he recalls, he suddenly trips.

I just fell in the middle of the airport for no reason at all, he said. That never happened to me before.

That day changed everything.

The falls progressed Orgel was now working as the athletic director in Dougherty County, Georgia. With Sarah by his side, they sought answers what was happening?

For a long while, I was in denial, said Orgel.

We were traveling all around the U.S. Atlanta, Birmingham, Rochester, San Diego asking doctors who just couldnt tell us what was wrong. We went to Mexico five times for stem cell research, trying our luck with exploratory medicine, just to receive the same answers. Sarah added.

In 2007, the answer finally came.

Orgel was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. There is no known cure for the disease that progressively deteriorates motor neurons in the brain. Those afflicted eventually lose all ability of voluntary muscle action.

When we found out it was ALS, Frank just shut down, Sarah said. He had severe depression for years we were living in Albany at the time and it just felt like he was going to lay around, waiting to die.

I was calling his friends and old co-workers to try to get him out the house. They were all telling him to get the help he needed."

Eventually, Frank and Sarah decided attending water therapy at the YMCA, two miles from their Albany home, was the best solution.

I was going three times a week, Orgel said. It was close to my house so I could go as much as I wanted, too.

Yet, another thought was hanging over the Orgels heads and this thought was definite time was ticking. The couple had originally planned to retire in Albany but with Franks diagnosis and the progression of age, Sarah had another plan.

Our daughter and only grandchild live in Auburn, said Sarah. After the diagnosis, Frank was getting older, the disease was progressing and somehow, I looked up and I had gotten older, too.

We were living in a sort of remote location by ourselves and that raised some concerns as well. I thought moving to Auburn with our daughter, her husband and his family to watch our grandbaby grow up might be just what Frank needed."

At first, Frank was apprehensive.

He refused to go, said Sarah. He had gotten a routine down at the YMCA and just began to trust his therapists and here I was trying to move.

But thanks to their Realtor, who is also a family friend, the Orgels decided to come into town and explore the community. Their first stop was East Alabama Medical Centers HealthPlus Fitness Center.

HealthPlus offered a variety of physical therapy and amenities to its clients but there was one that stood out to the Orgels immediately the 85-degree saltwater pool.

As soon as we walked in, its like I saw life come back into Frank, Sarah said. I knew, right then, that we were going to be all right.

HealthPlus sold Auburn to the Orgels and in February of 2012, they decided to make their own cottage on The Plains their permanent home.

Orgel was doing therapy as much as he could. With a few hospital stints in between, the water therapy with physical therapist Allen Graham was proving to be more than just therapeutic.

Every day I cant lift my left hand and leg, Ive lost all ability, he said. But in that pool, I can.

When I come out that pool, I feel life come back to my body.

Therapy wasnt the only great thing the Orgels found at HealthPlus. Over the years, they had made connections with staff and other clients all with the common goal of lifetime wellness. They had convinced the facility to invest in a Quadriciser, a robotic rehabilitation therapy system, to accommodate other patients with disabilities that affected their neuroplasticity and mobility. HealthPlus was a part of the Orgels' daily lives.

Then, on Dec. 16, 2019, they got a letter.

HealthPlus was relocating and there would be no 85-degree saltwater pool at their new facility.

We have secured a storefront facility at the Auburn Mall that has about 4,600 square feet and we plan to reopen there on March 2, 2020, said the letter, written by Laura Grill, president and CEO at EAMC. We feel that this is a more appropriate size.

The downsize, according to EAMC officials, was prompted by a decline in membership dating back to the 2008 economic recession.

HealthPlus will now be utilized as an office park for internal medicine professionals. According to James Buston, Auburn city manager, this will be a significant benefit to residents.

I believe we have 12 primary care physicians that they are bringing into the community, said Buston. They need housing and they (EAMC) have chosen to house them there.

Buston reassured EAMCs claim that aquatic services will now be offered at the Opelika Sportsplex after a number of concerned residents voiced their opinions during the Citizens' Open Forum at the Jan. 7 City Council meeting.

In conjunction, the Opelika Sportsplex has agreed to raise the pool temperature to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

It is my understanding that the temperature will be raised to 85 degrees, said Buston. So EAMC will be taking that part of their services to Opelika.

Buston also claims the city is actively looking into the development of an indoor pool facility as a part of the $40 million Parks, Recreation and Cultural Master Plan that first began in 2018.

We do a citizens survey every two years to see our budget priorities, he said. One of the things we saw and have seen, for a long time, is our population wanting more pools.

We lost one of our pools with the renovation of Drake Middle School so really we only have one pool. A pool is definitely on our priority list."

As for the Orgels and other clients, the pool at the current HealthPlus facility may not be leased by the city of Auburn in the meantime, although the city and EAMC are still in discussions. Clients might, instead, have to make the trek to the Opelika Sportsplex adding an additional 22 minutes to the commute.

Luckily, we have a van and luckily, Im here to take him, said Sarah. But what about those who dont have those means? Some people walked down the hill from the retirement home to the facility while others used public transportation. What about those people?

According to their website, The last day of operations at the current facility will be Jan. 31, 2020. A new storefront location will open at the Auburn Mall on March 2, 2020. The new location will offer cardiovascular equipment, strength equipment and personal training, and the membership fees will be reduced to $26 per month.

As for the Orgels, they will still continue with their course of therapy, even if that means adding time and distance to their daily operations. We will find a way Sarah said.

See the article here:
Orgel, others push city for help with loss of HealthPlus pool - Auburn Villager