Click photo above to open full-size image.
Rotary club member Dr. Michelle Martz last week hosted guest speaker Emma Achale (pictured above) for an eye-opening presentation on Sickle Cell Anemia, a disease of the blood that affects one in 365 Black or African American individuals, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
A native of Cameroon, West Africa, Achale moved to the U.S. at age 14 and was diagnosed with Sickle Cell disease at age 22, when she experienced severe headaches during pregnancy with her first child. “For my pregnancy with my son, I had three blood transfusions,” Achale said. “If there’s nobody to give you that blood, you might not make it,” she added, noting the importance of people donating through blood drives like the one sponsored by the Lewisville Noon club on March 15th at the Cross Timbers YMCA.
Sickle Cell Disease is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders, Achale explained, which causes the cells to become crescent-shape instead of round. The transmutation impedes blood flow, causing debilitating pain. The condition is genetic, and while Achale’s son did not inherit the disease, her daughter does live with the condition. One in 13 African Americans carry the genetic trait for the disease, according to sicklecellanemia.org.
Blood transfusions are the primary form of treatment, Achale explained, adding that bone marrow transplants, gene therapy, pain management through medication or chiropractic care, and hydration or oxygen therapy are other treatment options. The course of treatment depends in large part on the severity of the disease, based on the mutation.
Achale believes it is important to educate others about Sickle Cell Disease to help combat the stigma associated with the condition and also prevent women from aborting babies diagnosed in utero. It is still possible to enjoy a full and fruitful life, Achale said. “I do what I love and I never had any limits because of Sickle Cell,” she noted, especially because blood drives make it possible to get a transfusion when needed.
Rotarian and retired Lewisville police chief Russ Kerbow last week presented a check for $5,000 raised through Lewisville Noon’s flag program to the troop leader from BSA Troop 437 Lewisville. The funds help provide scholarships for the troop’s summer camp, canoeing excursions, orienteering outings, and other activities for Boy Scouts who need financial support to participate in these meaningful events where they learn valuable skills and build lasting relationships. Six members made Eagle Scout this year, Claire noted, and another three are on track to earn the highest Boy Scout rank. The Lewisville Noon Rotary is proud to support this excellent organization and provide a pathway for Boy Scouts to achieve their goals.
LNR club president Eyad Salloum and guest Carmen, billing specialist at Platinum Auto Glass, congratulated school nurse Steffanie Elmer on her vocational service award. Click photo above to open full-size image.
Mill Street Elementary School Nurse Steffanie Elmer last week received Lewisville Noon Rotary's vocational service award for her dedication to the students in her care and the local community.
Originally from Oregon, Elmer became a nurse in 2011 while living in Washington, D.C. She completed a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health first from Brigham Young University and is currently enrolled in the Bachelor’s to Master's in Nursing program at the University of Texas, Arlington. She hopes to become a Nurse Practitioner and fulfill her dream of giving back after a life full of blessings and miracles.
Elmer works full-time as a bilingual nurse at Mill Street Elementary in Lewisville. Although being a health advocate for children and families brings satisfaction as a nurse, nothing brings her more happiness and joy than being with genius husband Zach and their six beautiful, unstoppable children, she says. Lewisville Noon is proud to recognize Steffanie Elmer for her service and commitment to making our community a better place and fostering the success of future generations!
LNR club president Eyad Salloum presented Lewisville Noon's flag to guest presenter Diane Wetherbee of the Flower Mound Foundation.
Lewisville Noon last week welcomed guest speaker Diane Wetherbee, vice chairman of the board of The Flower Mound Foundation, who gave an informative presentation on the historic prairie and valuable ecosystem for which the town of Flower Mound is named.
“The Mound” on 2499/Long Prairie Road is a beautiful natural habitat for plants and pollinators native to North Texas, said Wetherbee, a Texas Master Naturalist and a member of the Native Prairies Association of Texas and the Native Plant Society of Texas. “It’s a living museum, a glimpse of what our area must have looked like when the first European settlers came to the area,” she noted, explaining that the Mound has never been mowed. As such, it boasts highly diverse plants and insects. One acre of prairie can have more than 300 species of flora and fauna, from sunflowers, bluebonnets and basket flowers to Monarch butterflies and bobcats, said Wetherbee, who also is a Certified Citizen Forester and a board member of the Cross Timbers Urban Forestry Council.
Native wildflowers blanket The Mound and are a haven for butterflies and other pollinators. Photo courtesy the Flower Mound Foundation.
In addition, the prairie is a home for grassland birds, Wetherbee said, such as scissortail flycatchers, northern harriers, and various kinds of sparrows. Grassland birds are rapidly declining in number because grasslands are being turned into subdivisions and shopping centers, sadly destroying these vital natural habitats.
“Prairieland is the most endangered ecosystem not only in the U.S. but in the world,” she said. Prairies also protect native animals, like coyotes, field mice, and jackrabbits.
Equally important, the Mound is a community resource that is a beautiful place to hold events, like the annual Easter sunrise service and viewing solar and lunar eclipses. The 12.5-acre property is managed by the nonprofit Flower Mound Foundation, which always appreciates helping hands from local residents. Volunteers strive to protect and preserve the historic virgin prairie, which is surrounded by urbanization. They plant native plants on the Mound, seed the frontage each fall, pick up trash, and eliminate trees, invasive species, and woody plants, among other activities.
Wetherbee encouraged club members and visitors to take a walk around the Mound or plan a picnic in the spring and marvel at the beauty and historic significance of this remarkable prairie. To learn more or find out about volunteer opportunities, visit www.TheFlowerMound.com.