Cheryl Alkon

Diabetes can be especially hard on women. The burden of diabetes on women is unique because the disease can affect both mothers and their unborn children. Diabetes can cause difficulties during pregnancy such as a miscarriage or a baby born with birth defects. Women with diabetes are also more likely to have a heart attack, and at a younger age, than women without diabetes. For women who do not currently have diabetes, pregnancy brings the risk of gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes develops in 2 – 5 percent of all pregnancies but disappears when a pregnancy is over. Women who have had gestational diabetes or have given birth to a baby weighting more than 9 pounds are at an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life. The prevalence of diabetes is at least 2 – 4 times higher among African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, and Asian/Pacific Islander women than among caucasian women. The risk for diabetes also increases with age. Because of the increasing lifespan of women and the rapid growth of minority populations, the number of women in the United States at high risk for diabetes and its complications is increasing. Today we are going to be talking about the book, “Balancing Pregnancy with Pre-Existing Diabetes: Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby”. It is a down to earth guide for diabetic mothers-to-be. The book explains everything from what is diabetes to labor, delivery, and infertility. Unlike existing books written in dry scientific language, this is a unique patient-written guidebook that includes medical facts, first person reports, and interviews from women living with diabetes who share their pregnancy related experiences.  Today we are talking to writer, researcher and editor and someone who has had Type 1 Diabetes for over 30 years, author Cheryl Alkon.

American Cancer Society Amy Kinker & Jamie Winchester

Our guests today are Amy Kinker & Jamie Winchester. Amy works for the ACA and the Relay for Life. Jamie shares her story on how to help support family members who have cancer. Very compelling interview!!

Kim Atchley

It is a very unfortunate fact but for many people we are one day, if we have not already, are going to have to care for an elderly parent. Here is today’s question, “Are you ready? Do you know what you will be up against?” Some have an idea but it is more than just feeding and bathing.  You will need to help a parent with limited mobility, memory, ability, and resources, draw from the wisdom of Scripture, understand the elderly parent’s perspective on giving up control, illness, and aging, effectively organize forms, prescriptions, care, housing, and finances and find personal balance by nurturing their own health, faith, and family. All of this and more can be found in the book we will be discussing today called “WHEN YOUR AGING PARENT NEEDS CARE: PRACTICAL HELP FOR THE SEASON OF LIFE.” The book was co-authored by Candy Arrington and our guest today on Your Life Matters Kim Atchley.

Randy Baird

Our guest was Randy Baird who discusses Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. He is the author of "Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - Alcoholism and Disorder" Randy Baird grew up in a supportive family during the Fifties and Sixties – a time which afforded him boundless opportunities. However, at a young age, it was discovered that he suffered from what today is known as OCD, obsessive compulsive disorder. For him, this disorder manifested itself in the form of constant and severe anxieties. Since little was known of this disorder when he was young, Randy quickly learned how to cope and cover up any signs of his problem. After fifty years battling this monster, along with an ongoing struggle with alcoholism, he has decided to open up and tell of experiences that only his immediate family knew of. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder expresses his finding the meaning of life in spite of the pain and suffering of OCD and alcoholism.

Dr. Michael D. Banov

Here is today’s question: What is the most commonly prescribed class of medicine in this country? I will give you a hint…since 2005 over 190 million prescriptions a year have been written for them? If you do not know, I am talking about anti-depressants. But what do we really know about them, as patients. Are they safe? Do they work? Are they addictive? What are the side effects? Do I really need to be taking them? The book we will be discussing today will cover all of this information. The book is a neutral book, meaning we are not knocking anti-depressants. We are not going to tell you they are evil. Our guest today wants to explain what they are, how they work and how they affect our lives and bodies. The book we will be discussing is called “Taking Antidepressants: Your Comprehensive Guide to Starting, Staying On, and Safely Quitting.” Our guest today has conducted more than 100 clinical research studies is a triple board-certified adult, adolescent, and addiction psychiatrist and is the medical director of Northwest Behavioral Medicine and Northwest Behavioral Research Center in Atlanta, GA. Plus he still sees patients which will give us a very unique look at depression. It is our pleasure to welcome to Your Life Matters Dr. Michael D. Banov.

Shoshana S. Bennett Phd

Pregnancy not all rosy? Life with your new baby isn’t what you expected? You’re not alone. There is no reason to be ashamed or embarrassed—prenatal and postpartum depression & anxiety effects over 500,000 women each year in the United States. One in seven new mothers will experience something more severe than the normal Baby Blues. Our next guest, renowned Dr. Shoshana Bennett or Dr. Shosh, author of the book “Postpartum Depression For Dummies”  will help you become your personal best.

Shelby Beverly

Our guest will be Shelby Beverly whose daughter Olivia suffers from epilepsy. Shelby will gave you a first hand account on how a parent has to struggle to deal with epilepsy, schools and doctors. A compelling interview you need to listen to as you will be surprised to learn about the disease.

Melissa Binstock 

One of the fears that many of us have when we talk about getting old is the amount of medicines we will have to take. You have probably seen the pill bottles at your grandparent’s home. Even I have a pill box for AM & PM for each day of the week. But what if you were young and had to take all of these meds? What if you were only 11 and taking 15 different medications? What if you had already seen 10 different doctors and been diagnosed with six different disorders and had already attended 5 different schools? Sorta changes the picture does it not? That is not supposed to happen during our youth. That is supposed to be a time of development, learning and fun is it not? You are supposed to spend your time in the park playing with your friends…riding your bike…swimming…playing ball…basically having fun. For our guest today the first 19 years of her life has been different. She has spent most of her time in doctor’s offices, and hospitals, treatment centers. Today we are going to talk about a book titled Nourishment: Feeding My Starving Soul When My Mind And Body Betray Me. This is an important book for teens who may be suffering from mental illness, peer acceptance issues, and eating disorders. It is a story of searching for love and acceptance…a story about wanting life….something every teen longs for. Please welcome to Your Life Matters author Melissa Binstock. 

Carol Blasdel
Dec. Co. Memorial Hospital

Our special guest Carol Blasdel of Decatur County Memorial Hospital speaks with us about mammograms and early detection for Breast Cancer.

Marlissa Brown 

If you are a shopper in some of the bigger grocery stores, you probably have seen a new section that offers gluten-free foods. These food promise to help you lose weight, have more energy, even stay healthier. If you are like me you have probably asked that would be great, but it is true? Is this just the new diet fad of the month?

Our next guest is a registered dietician and has the answers for you. She will help us cut through all of the confusion over cutting out gluten. We will talk about her book, “Gluten-Free, Hassle Free: A Simple, Sane Dietician-Approved Program for Eating Your Way Back to Health”.  She is an International speaker, with over twenty five years culinary experience and she has made numerous television appearances which include 5 years on “International Healthy Cooking” for The American Heart Association. She is a member of the Life TV Professional Council. She has a graduate degree in nutrition and a bachelor’s degree in marketing and has also studied at the Culinary Institute of America. It is our honor to have as our guest today, Marlissa Brown

Wayne Brown

I am going to throw a few names at you…Lurch from the Adams Family, Fred Gwynne who you may remember as Herman Munster, Andre the Giant from wrestling, Richard Kiel better known as Jaws from the James Bond Movies, how about possibly even Abraham Lincoln…what do all of these famous people have in common? If you think about their characteristics, you would say they were very tall. And you would be correct. But what you probably do not realize is that they suffered from a disfiguring disease called acromegaly. With the exception of Abe Lincoln, television basically cast these people as freaks of some sort. Many people do some unknowingly cruel things like stare at these people, tell them jokingly you remind me of Lurch, some even laugh and whisper. I know it is ignorance at not knowing about the disease but I am sure if you were suffering from this, there would be days you would find it hard to deal with the illness and its effects on the body without having to deal with the ignorant idiot who is humming the Adams family theme song. Remember we do not make fun of a person in a wheelchair, with Downs Syndrome or other debilitating disease and we need to be aware of our words and actions. So what is acromegaly? Our guest today is going to clue us in so this word becomes a part of our vocabulary. The book he has complied is called, “Alone in My Universe: Struggling with an Orphan Disease in an Unsympathetic World.” Please welcome to Your Life Matters Wayne Brown.  

Stephen Harrod Buhner

This morning’s show will begin to explore a different subject: Lyme disease.  We will be specifically speaking about the book “Healing Lyme” which examines the leading, scientific research on Lyme infection, its tests and treatments, and outlines the most potent herbal medicines and supplements that offer help—either alone or in combination with antibiotics—for preventing and healing the disease. It has been called the essential guide to Lyme infection and its treatment. And our guest today is an Earth poet, award winning author, psycholtherapist and as one person put it” is among the plant geniuses of our time.” We are proud to welcome Stephen Harrod Buhner to our show.

Lydia Burdick

Paul Cardall

The beautiful music clip you heard right before our introduction is called Gracie’s Theme. It was written and recorded by our very special guest today. He is a truly remarkable individual. See our guest today was born, essentially with half a heart. He lived more than 30 years with this heart defect and had numerous procedures and surgeries. Then he was informed that his heart would not beat much longer. He had to have a heart transplant if he was to stay alive. This book gives us an intimate insight into a miraculous journey that convincingly shows that God knows us personally and that we are put here on earth for a reason. The book we are going to discuss today is called “Before My Heart Stops: A Memoir.” As you heard, he is a musician, in fact an award-winning musician and is also a popular speaker. He is a family man, husband and father. He and his wife Lynette also founded  The Paul Cardall Family Foundation which helps others with congenital heart disease and other related congenital disorders. It is our honor to welcome to our show today Paul Cardall.

Abigail Carter

From time to time we talk about the tragic events of 9/11. We have spoken to the 911 Families for a Secure America Foundation a few times about the tragic events. By now everyone has seen the events on some TV show a few times. But it is different for our next guest, author Abigail Carter. Abigail's husband, C. Arron Dack, was probably in Windows on the World, the restaurant atop the World Trade Center, when the planes hit on 9/11. Although she hoped he'd miraculously survived, when he didn't turn up the next day, she began her grieving. It is an honor to have on our show today, Abigail Carter. Now I want listeners to understand that this is not a show on the tragic events of 9/11 but a show on how to deal with grief and begin to move on with your life.

Dr. Dave Clarke

Terrell Clima

Our guest was Terrell Clima. Her compelling and heart-felt story is captured in her book "Don't Pull That Plug". The book talks about her husband's accident and recovery. Compelling story everyone needs to hear! Months after doing her interview we still are amazed by her story!

Beverly Cobain

Dr. Joseph R. Cruse 

If you are one of the over 47 ½  million adult smokers in the United States alone this is the show for you! Chances are you have wanted to—and have even tried to—quit smoking. Eighty percent of adult smokers want to quit completely, according to a survey by Gallup and the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the nicotine in cigarettes is an addictive drug that makes quitting difficult . . . but it is NOT impossible. It's time to try a very different approach to smoking cessation.  This is a "do it yourself, but not by yourself" approach. The involvement of others is extremely helpful to the smoker's commitment and staying power. If a smoker involves family, friends and co-workers in their cessation program they increase their chance for success. Our guest today is Dr. Joseph R. Cruse. He is the founding medical director of the Betty Ford Center. He comes to us with a program that applies addiction recovery techniques and includes the importance of feelings and increased self-worth. If you want to quit smoking, you can laugh and feel good while you are freeing yourself from your addiction. Using powerful and positive affirmations, retraining your brain, and calling in a virtual army of support from others, this program makes smoking cessation a lifechanging and joyous adventure! His valuable book “I Don’t Smoke” A Guidebook to Break Your Addiction To Nicotine” is today’s show subject. 

Claudia Cunningham

When we think of vampires, we think about Dracula, maybe Bela Lugosi, a bat who needs your blood, usually procured by sucking it out of your neck…maybe, what you would call a quick bite before dinner. But not all vampire books are about Transylvania. The book we will be discussing today has to do with vampires and how to face them. But we are not talking about Dracula…but YOUR personal vampires. They are the ones that suck the life out of you! Now, you may be asking who are my personal vampires? Yeah I know that your Uncle Joe acts a little weird after sundown but I am talking about your friends, your loved ones, and your enemies. Sometimes you can see a vampire in a mirror…when we see ourselves. We need to protect ourselves from these people and the things that are so harmful to our lives. Our author today says we can do this without hanging garlic on our doors either. She used to write the advice column, “Ask The Slayer” in Women’s Online Magazine. Please welcome to Your Life Matters, Claudia Cunningham.

Gregory David

Deborah Day, M.A.

Quiet on the set….Lights, Camera, Action! You would probably expect to hear that on a movie set. You can envision a director, sitting in a chair, barking orders to the rest of the crew. But here is today’s question, “Who directs your movie?” The movie I am talking about is your life. Who is in control of your life? Do you just take what life has to give you or do you take charge and make your life more purposeful? You do have the power to change and to grow! And the book today we will be discussing will help you get into that director’s chair and take control of life that is happening around you. Be honest, how many times have you said Why me? Everyone else gets the lucky breaks and I am left to struggle. It is time to stop this and Be Happy Now! And that is the name of the book we will be discussing today, “BE HAPPY NOW! Become the Active Director of Your Life.” Our guest today is an author, and has been working as a clinician in the mental health field for over two decades. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a National Certified Counselor and also our guest today. Please welcome to Your Life Matters Deborah Day.

Jason Deierlein

Our guest is author, speaker and a true inspiration Jason Deierlein. At age 16 popular swimming star Jason was in a horrible car accident and in a coma facing some of life toughest challenges to survive and life a normal life. We bring you Jason & his story about the book "Return From A Comatose Mind".

Melinda Dennis MS,RD, LDN

So what if I told you that there was a disease that out there that 95% of the people with it had no idea they had it? What if I told you that if it remained untreated it could have risks of malnutrition to cancer? Now, even though it affects only 1% of the population (that we know of), I believe we need to open our eyes to this and be made aware of what the disease is, it's symptoms and how it is treated. Today we are going to talk about Celiac Disease. It is one of the most common autoimmune and gastrointestinal diseases. People with celiac disease may have typical gastrointestinal symptoms, but others have seemingly unrelated problems, and diagnosis is delayed or never occurs. If you have unexplained depression, anemia, infertility, bone degeneration, liver disease, or trouble with your balance then you need to listen closely to today's interview and go out and get yourself a copy of the book, " REAL LIFE WITH CELIAC DISEASE: TROUBLESHOOTING & THRIVING GLUTEN FREE." The book is written by Melinda Dennis who  is the Nutrition Coordinator and a founding member of the Celiac Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. It is co-written by Dr. Daniel Leffler who is the Director of Clinical Research and also a founding member of the Celiac Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts. I need to mention also that Melinda was diagnosed with Celiac Disease 20 years ago! 

Makenzie Diekhoff

So what is Your Life Matters? Our valued listeners have learned that it has to do with your life. Your Health. Your well being. We have presented to you authors who have written about their lives, what they have gone through with illness or addictions. Today we are going to do something slightly different. Something that I am sure will touch your hearts. We are going to talk today about Cystic Fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). I said this show would be different and it is. Today we are going to talk to Makenzie Diekhoff. She joins us here today in our studio. Makenzie turns 19 today, December 2. Makenzie has Cystic Fibrosis. But the situation for Makenzie is even more intense. Please welcome to Your Life Matters Makenzie Diekhoff.

Mark Edick

Are You Normal? If you are like me, you may get asked this question a lot. But all kidding aside…What is Normal? Does being normal mean to fit in? I mean, if you fit in you are probably normal…right? Well, that too can depend upon the people you associate with. Now if you do not fit in, are you abnormal? What if you just do not feel in synch with everyone else? You will probably consider yourself odd or different. In fact people will probably think you are a bit unusual. But the question is unusual by what standard? What defines normal. Psychiatrists have made their living determining this for us for many years. But here is something to ponder…at one time during the 60s – 80s partying and doing drugs were considered normal for many. Today it is taboo. So does normal change? Sorta makes it confusing and hard to fit in sometimes. Today we are going to talk about the book, “Becoming Normal: An Ever Changing Perspective.” This book helps us focus on the reality in which we view ourselves and society sees us. The author has asked himself this question for most of his life. He is in long term recovery from addiction. Please welcome to Your Life Matters author Mark Edick.

Our next guest was first diagnosed with ALS in 1993 although his first symptoms occurred in 1990. He was a 60 year old extremely active outdoors man. Like many diseases it progressed slow at first and then speeded up later. So the question I have today is what do you do when your medical doctor tells you that you have a terminal illness and to go home and die because basically there is no cure? Well during his first few years with ALS he had gathered a wealth of information about ALS and developed a program to beat it.  The book was completed towards the end of 2001. The book was written primarily for ALS patients. However, the ideas and suggested treatments are applicable to many health problems particularly neurodegenerative illnesses similar to ALS such as MS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, etc. We are talking about Eric Edney. The first book we will speak about today is “ERIC IS WINNING: BEATING A TERMINAL ILLNESS WITH NUTRITION, AVOIDING TOXINS AND COMMON SENSE.” Along with his wife Glenna they have written a second book “SURVIVING WITHOUT YOUR MD: DO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS EVER CURE?” THIS IS POSSIBLY THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE NON-TECHNICAL AND PRACTICAL BOOK ABOUT HEALTH CARE YOU MAY EVER READ; especially if you have a heart problem, cancer or any neuro-degenerative illness. THIS BOOK COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE, or extend your life for many years without going to any extreme. It contains tons of information about living in a POLLUTED world and how to cope with that. And it is our pleasure to welcome to the show today Glenna and Eric Edney. 

Kat Elton

Jennifer Yane once said “Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what happened. “ You have heard the old joke, that you would not know if you were alive if it was not for the aches and pains every morning. But if you have rheumatoid arthritis it is no joking matter. According to the CDC: An estimated 46 million adults in the United States reported being told by a doctor that they have some form of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, or fibromyalgia. Here is something even scarier: 2.5 million are diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis – that is 1 in 108. That’s about 1% of the population. By 2030, an estimated 67 million Americans ages 18 years or older are projected to have doctor-diagnosed arthritis. People with rheumatoid arthritis experience pain that results in stiffness, swelling, deformity, and loss of function in the joints. The pain zaps your energy. Our guest today knows all about this type of arthritis. She has had it since she was 2 ½ years old. She has written the book “A RESILENT LIFE: LEARNING TO THRIVE, NOT SURVIVE WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS” hoping to give the millions of people with this concrete knowledge and ideas for handling the ups and downs of the disease. She is an author and a health professional. Please welcome to Your Life Matters Show Kat Elton.

Dr. Neil Fiore

According to the American Cancer Society, Nearly 1.5 million Americans have been diagnosed with cancer in 2009 .   Over one-half million have died. Our guest is Dr. Neil Fiore, a licensed psychologist, trainer and author. Dr. Fiore is the former president of The Northern California Society of Clinical Hypnosis, has conducted training at the California School of Professional Psychology, Summit Hospital, Smithsonian Institute, Levi Strauss, UCSF and Stanford and has attended seminars led by Dr. Milton H. Erickson. His book “Coping with the Emotional Impact of Cancer: Become an Active Patient and Take Charge of Your Treatment” offers hope and steps on how to deal with the stress and depression of cancer and its treatment and how to communicate with doctors and family. More important, Dr. Fiore suggests ways to build emotional support systems with physicians, family and friends. He also shows us how personal attitudes can have an enormous impact on the course of recovery.

Dr. Neil Fiore

Our guest this morning is Dr. Neil Fiore.  He is a renowned psychologist, lecturer and bestselling author. You may remember Dr. Fiore was on our show recently speaking about his book “Coping with the Emotional Impact of Cancer”. He has actually written 4 books and has been published in many professional magazines. Today he joins us to speak about his book, “AWAKEN YOUR STRONGEST SELF: BREAK FREE OF STRESS, INNER CONFLICT AND SELF SABOTAGE“. In this revolutionary program he makes it surprisingly easy to change your life, one small step at a time. He's already helped thousands of people with his gentle approach to awakening the mind. Using the latest discoveries of neuroscience, he's developed an effective technique that actually retrains the brain to "turn off" negative thoughts. By teaching your brain to respond differently to everyday things, you can overcome self-destructive habits, reduce dangerous levels of stress, and increase productivity and creativity. It's all part of a gradual but rewarding process--the full awakening of the Strongest Self you were meant to be. 

Vicki Forman and
Kyra Anderson

Editors Kyra Anderson and Vicki Forman, both parents and writers, have crafted an anthology to encourage a sense of connection among parents and transcend divisive autism politics. Readers of their book are invited into the contributors’ lives where they’re sure to find an attitude, a circumstance, an epiphany they can relate to. Within these accounts of fierce love and keen regard for their unique children, lie moments of exceptional clarity and transformation. These pieces are sure to resonate with parents, caregivers, and anyone who’s interested in the world of autism. The name of the book is “GRAVITY PULLS YOU IN: PERSPECTIVES ON PARENTING CHILDREN ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM.”

Catherine Frompovich

Here is today’s question though there are two of them I am going to ask. First: How many of you have or had silver fillings in your teeth? Second: With the world releasing into the atmosphere, water and soil thousand of chemical pollutants as well as chemical sbeing added to almost every type of food do you believe this is having an impact on our health and well being? Regardless of your answer you need to listen closely to today’s interview and purchase the book, “Our Chemical Lives and the Hijacking of our DNA”. The book is written by our guest today who is a natural nutritionist and writing instructor. She is the former editor of The Heathcare Rights Advocate which is a newsletter focusing on the policies of health care. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, her books were used by teachers in elementary schools to teach nutrition, a subject - and lifestyle - that she feels truly is imperative in maintaining one's health from its prenatal stage and throughout life.  At one point in her career during the 1980s, she had a cooking show on cable TV.  Of course, it was devoted to the natural way of preparing food. And it is our pleasure to welcome Catherine Frompovich to our show.

Judith Gaman

Are you ready to take control of your health and wellness? Well you do know that there is no better time to begin. Today we are going to be talking about the book, Stay Young, 10 Proven Steps to Ultimate Health. It will become a personal workbook for achieving total health. By following these 10 easy steps you will be able to increase your health and turn back the clock. Research backed tips are provided by three highly qualified medical professionals, including two Family Practice Physicians. It is an easy to read and easy to follow book and no doubt a must have for anyone who wants to stay young and healthy. Stay Young is also a great tool for companies looking to reduce health care expenses. The book was written by Three authors: Drs. Mark Anderson, Walter Gaman and Judith Gaman. We are proud to have as our guest today Judith Gaman.

Robert Gibbs

Here is a staggering statistic: Each day in the United States, 482 people are diagnosed with a brain tumor. Now that is just in the US alone! For these 482 people, not many treatments exist.  With those available treatments, only 5% of those diagnosed with a Glio-blastoma Multiform will survive more than 5 years.  

Only two new treatments have been approved by the FDA in the past 20 years.  But there is hope is on the horizon:  there are a few promising treatments that exist but are only in the clinical trial stages.  However, some of the treatments are personalized, and require the actual tissue from the patient's brain tumor to be properly stored and preserved, so that it can be used to make those personalized treatments.

Our guest today knows all of this firsthand:  he has survived almost 6 years since his brain tumor diagnosis in 2004, thanks to cutting edge treatments and an experimental brain cancer vaccine he received.  In Clearwater Florida, Robert Gibbs and his wife Barb has founded “Miles For Hope” to fund brain tumor clinical trials and to provide travel assistance to brain tumor patients enrolled in brain tumor clinical trials. It is our honor to welcome to the show today, Robert Gibbs.

Sara Gorman

Right now it’s flu season. You know you have to let it run it’s course. A few days, maybe a week and you will get better if you take care of yourself. But what if it was a chronic illness. One where there is no cure. Changes the whole picture does it not? You will now begin to worry will there ever be a cure? Will I get better and beat this? What if I can’t…how will I live the rest of my life? Will I be sick all the time? These and many questions will destroy you emotionally. What about my relationship? How will I afford the medications and treatments? For our guest today she was diagnosed with systemic lupus at the age of 26. She fought many of those questions for almost 4 years. That is when she decided to begin living life instead of fighting it. She made it her top priority to start living well…even despite the lupus. The book we will be discussing today tackles this subject head on. It details the steps she took to reach that goal. The book is titled, “Despite Lupus: How To Live Well With A Chronic Illness”. She is a native Hoosier from Indiana, a graduate of Notre Dame who now resides in Virginia with her husband, daughters and her pug dog. Please welcome to Your Life Matters, Sara Gorman.

Carol Harper

Our guest today, author of the book, “Of Face Value” Carol Harper was on her way to work when she was hit head-on by a drunk driver.  In the 100 mph impact, Carol's face was ripped apart from the skull and her bones were crushed to powder.  The doctors didn't think Carol would make it through the night due to a severe brain injury. It is a miracle that she survived. There is no doubt that Carol Harper is one of the fortunate ones.  Most victims of drunk drivers don't survive.  She turned her tragedy into a triumph by telling her story to educate, inspire, and save lives.  She joins us today on Your Life Matters to share her story with our listeners.

Joanne Harvey, MSW

Recently more and more I have heard about people being transferred over to hospice. Most of us know that usually means the end to someone’s life is near. It is a more comforting place for families to go to spend their final days with their loved ones outside of the strict medical atmosphere of a hospital. My respect has always gone out to the men and women who work at these facilities. They make the families and the person so much at home. They are a support team, trained and committed to enhancing the excellent care you are already receiving. They are going to be the doctors eyes and ears and your advocate. They will also help support your family during this trying time. I whole-heartedly would have to think this has to become difficult on these great people after some time. Facing the inevitable end of life followed usually by the grief and sorrow. Think about if it was YOU that was dying. Could you still face it without fear and live life to the fullest right up to the end? You may say yes, but think about it carefully. Many or most of us would not. But to some it may sound morbid, but you can prepare for it. Today we are going to talk about the book “Dying To Live: Embracing the Journeys” which is a collection of inspiring true life stories about people living with terminal illnesses. Plus it has the tools and resources we need to help ease end of life tribulations. This great book is written by someone with years of experiencing working in hospice arena. Please welcome to Your Life Matters Joanne Harvey. 

Margaret Hawkins

Many of us have an older brother or sister we looked up. Some even have a close friend who was an elder that we wanted to be just like. For our guest today, it was her sister Barb. We are going to take you on a journey about the life of Barb. How she went from being this vivacious high achieving woman to someone who was stricken with a very serious mental illness. The illness was Schizophrenia. 1% of the population will develop schizophrenia during their lifetime. More than 2 million American suffer from this illness in a given year. So what happened to Barb? How did this all come about? What is Schizophrenia? Well today we hope to answer all of those questions for you. The compelling book we will discuss is called, “How We Got Barb Back: The Story of My Sister’s Reawakening After 30 Years of Schizophrenia.” Our guest today is not a psychiatrist, though she just about became one for her sister. Her story, their story is truly amazing. It is our pleasure to welcome to Your Life Matters author Margaret Hawkins.

Barry Hendrickson

Many of us strive to make sure that our hair looks great every day. Many women and even men spend hours fixing and adjusting to get that certain look. Well what if you just had chemotherapy and as many of us know, one of the side-effects of the chemo is hair loss. Some have no problem going out in public with no hair though many people look for an alternative so that they may not feel so self-conscious. Our next guest addresses this problem and has a book to help. Our guest today is Barry Hendrickson. Barry is an internationally renowned wig designer and celebrity-stylist. His book which we will talk about today is called “Looking Like You: a step by step guide to medical hair replacement”. The book offers inspiration, fashion and beauty tips as well as expert advice on how to find the perfect wig for women undergoing chemotherapy.

Dr. Jeff Herten 

Today on our show we are going to talk about alcohol. The sobering effects that alcohol has on our health, on our lives and how things can change in a moment's notice. We see commercials on TV glamorizing drinking and how cool it is. We have seen the commercial for Captain Morgan asking you to assume the pose. Listen, it is a business. I will give them credit as they do tell you at the end of the commercial about the risk of drinking and even driving. But alcohol is ruining many lives, including the lives of teens. 25% of alcoholics are teenagers. 40% of sexually active girls aged 13-14 report that they were drunk the first time they had sex. If you are older and can drive and make the wrong choice you may take the lives of innocent people in another vehicle. Women & children who were not drinking have their lives taken from them because you chose to drink. How many fraternity parties do we hear about someone dying from alcohol poisoning? How about cancer, heart problems, pancreas problems, osteoporosis, insomnia, hepatitis, obesity, diabetes and more? So do you know the effects of alcohol on Your body? Maybe you are a little like our author today. A high functioning alcoholic. You drink everyday but are successful and function normally. His life was almost destroyed by alcohol and it can happen to you in the flash of a second. The book we will talk about today is called "The Sobering Truth: What You Don't Know Can Kill You". It is written by Dr. Jeff Herten who is our guest today. It is our honor to welcome to Your Life Matters Dr. Jeff Herten. 

Brenda J. High

Listeners to our show know we have talked about this subject in the past. The subject is bullying. We have talked about bullying in the workplace, in relationships and in school. Sadly, I do not believe we can talk about it enough until something is done about the problem. How many children are going to die before we do something? How long will children have to suffer before we wake up to a major problem in America. Is it going to take some more national new stories before we start to speak out? Well, today we are going to talk about the book “Bullycide in America – Moms Speak Out About The Bullying/Suicide Connection.” This is not a book about blame or guilt, although it may certainly spark that kind of discussion. This is not a book about getting even or setting the record straight, although it may do that as well.  And, this is not a book for clinicians, although it will offer some scientific data and educational resources. This is a book of real stories about real kids. Kids who took their own lives because they thought it was their only way out of a hopeless situation.  It is about the tragic choices they made in an effort to end the pain - when they believed there was no other solution. It is told by mothers who are willing to share their own personal pain as they watched their children suffer and struggle. It is about their own efforts to advocate for their children while they continue to deal with their own devastating loss and the aftermath of bullycide. Now I have to tell you I did not write that description about the book, it was written by Judy Kuczynski who is the mother of a bullied child, Tina, who died in a car accident in 1998. She is also the President of Bully Police USA. Our guest today is Founder and co-director of Bully Police USA and also is responsible for compiling the stories for the book.

Lea M. Hill

Here is today’s question…do you know what a sylph is? Sylphs are elemental beings of the air (some say they look like fairies) who live and play in the clouds. Their purpose is to deliver messages to humans and other beings.  Want to see a Sylph? Just look up in the sky for thin, wispy sylph-clouds that look like angels or unusual cloud formations.  Sylphs are invisible, but what we see in the sky are the sylph-clouds that they have created for us to admire. Did you know there is a Sylph Society? The society’s website is a site for kids who read or write fantasy stories or create fantasy art. Today we are going to be talking about two books. The first book is called “The Society of Sylphs” and the second book is called “Autism Tomorrow”. “Autism Tomorrow” is a book written for kids that have autistic siblings.  Our guest today is author, master level Reiki practitioner, a Certified Angel Healing Practitioner, and an intuitive medium. Please welcome to Your Life Matters Lea Hill . 

Dr. Leonard Horowitz

Our guest has come full circle over the past 30 years beginning and triumphing in natural healing. A "World Leading Intellectual," once christened "The King David of Natural Healing" for his award-winning books exposing the drug cartel's medical mischief. Dr. Leornard Horowitz is, far and away, healthcare's most riveting speaker He is best known for being a Robin Hood of sorts - stealing trade secrets from global industrialists and drug companies and freely distributing them to common folks for their own protection, physical salvation, and even spiritual evolution.. His persuasive messages have inspired hundreds of thousands of grass roots supporters to take personal responsibility for their own healthcare while declaring freedom and independence from generally accepted medical practices (particularly risky vaccinations.). Millions of people worldwide credit this retired dentist turned public health and emerging diseases expert for glimpses into the politics of medicine, controlled by a global petrochemical-pharmaceutical cartel, that prior to his labors and publications remained largely hidden. His books have inspired screen writers, movie directors, and documentary films. His appearances on network news shows and nationally syndicated radio programs have prompted political movements. His in-depth investigative reports on the anthrax mailings moved America 's media to the source of the serial slayings. His testimony on Capitol Hill regarding mercury-related vaccine toxicity, autism, and officially sanctioned negligence brought the hearing to an abrupt halt. Now he has turned his attention to matters much more pressing for world health and civilization's evolution--The Concert for the Living Water(s), LIVE H2O. Dr. Horowitz believes the planned event holds the greatest hope for purging ailments, ignorance, and animosity from the global village. He says this science-based, mathematical-musical event is all about LOVE.

Sarah Rees Howell

For our guest today, she was a child born in 1948 with Cerebral Palsy. Mainstreaming disabled kids into public schools was not done in those days. Sarah was sent to private boarding schools, where she entered into a terribly harsh environment. As a child, she embraced nature. She became friends with a variety of animals, one in particular, a horse she named Ringo. He remained in her life for 30 years. His devotion and unconditional love helped her learn to help herself and others. It helped her to find her still small voice of truth. The name of the book is Ringo’s Gift and it is our honor to have as our guest today Sarah Howell.

Katie Humphrey 

So here we are. A few weeks ago we finished Thanksgiving. Most of us probably did not need to eat stuffing as we stuffed ourselves very well. Many have to go to a few different homes for Thanksgiving dinner. Jenn & I went to three in one week. Now I sit and think about the fact we are getting ready for Christmas dinner. HO HO HO the festivities. Good times with families, grandchildren and food. Yes another BIG meal. Or in some people’s case a few good meals again. Hollywood will help us envision everyone sitting around the table, maybe eating another Turkey, Ham, Sausages, Lasagna, Meatballs or maybe all of the above. What is interesting is that we basically take for granted the fact that we will be gaining weight during the holidays. Did you know that this time, right between the holidays is notoriously the most dangerous for anyone who is trying to watch their weight? Our guest today says it is possible to get through the holidays without gaining weight. In fact she says you can lose weight this time of the year all while enjoying the season and all of the great food. I am now sure I have almost every woman’s attention. Now are guest today is not crazy or delusional. I joke, but she is a certified personal trainer, wellness coach, motivational speaker and an author of the book “Freedom From PCOS: 3 Proven Steps to Naturally Overcome Polycyctic Ovarian Syndrome and Insulin Resistance.” It is our honor to welcome to Your Life Matters Katie Humphrey. 

Jaydra Hymer

When we think of childhood—visions of children laughing and playing, flying kites, climbing trees, and enjoying their carefree, happy years should fill our minds. Unfortunately, there are many children today whose childhood is filled with frequent failure, stress, frustration, failing grades, forgetting and losing things, difficulty with peers, emotional melt-downs, continually being reminded and/or scolded, and minimal joy in their life. These are the hallmarks of a child with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Our guest Jaydra Hymer, author of the book “Turn Your Child’s ADHD Stress Into Success” is a child and family consultant and educator.  For nearly three decades, she has taught and worked with children and parents at many levels.  From owning and directing a private pre-school and childcare center with an enrollment of over 200 to training early childhood educators and counseling parents, Jaydra has been at the center of the issues and challenges facing children today.

Stephen S. Ilardi Ph.D.

The timing of today's show we are going to do I feel is extremely important. Not that any other time of the year is not important, but we are right smack dab in the middle of the Christmas season. Now listen to this…approximately 25% of Americans will suffer from major depression in some point of their lives. That’s 1 in 4! Kinda staggering if I may say so.  What’s causing this? Why are so many Americans depressed? Well we work long hours, grab a bite to eat anytime or anyplace we can fit it in, and some even live isolated lives. Starting to get the picture here? We are going to be talking today about the amazing book, “THE DEPRESSION CURE: THE 6 STEP PROGRAM TO BEAT DEPRESSION WITHOUT DRUGS.” We have talked about these type of subjects before.  If you want to live your life taking prescription medications when there may be a way to heal yourself naturally, then today’s show is not for you. But if you think about it, with 1 in 4 suffering, you probably know someone if it is not yourself. Winter and the holidays only amplify the problem for people who suffer from depression.  And it's no wonder. In an effort to pull off a perfect holiday, you might find yourself facing a dizzying array of demands — parties, shopping, baking, cleaning and entertaining, just to name a few. HO HO HO. So much for peace and joy, right? Our guest today knows about depression as he has treated hundreds of depressed patients. He is an associate professor of clinical psychology at the University of Kansas and the author of over forty professional articles on mental illness. Please welcome Dr. Stephen S. Ilardi. 

Cheryl Jenkins

Parenting Parents - The inevitable aging and role-reversal process. Many people have been faced with the dilemma of having to care for their own parents. Becoming a parent’s caregiver is morally the right thing to do. Our next guest, author Cheryl Jenkins’s book, “She Just Wanted to Dance Again: My journey to parenting my parent and a simplified guide to becoming a parent’s caregiver.” provides a look into Jenkins' resolve, with a touch of humor, to become her mother's caregiver. Recommendations, many of which have been praised by the medical professionals providing support and care, are provided for others contemplating this journey. It's important to recognize the need to learn from each other and pass on a legacy of the knowledge, skills, and compassion to our children so that when it is their turn to step up to the plate and take care of older generations, they will have a better idea where to start. This book demonstrates how the author confronted adversities that had to be overcome when faced with the reality of parenting a parent. At the end of the day, if one aspires to this challenge, it will also become a passage of healing and everyone will become a better person as a result of whatever level of change transpires. 

Dr. John M. Kennedy

Recent finding: A University of Southern California study that looked at 735 patients for more than 12 years found that chronic stress and anxiety were better predictors of future cardiovascular events (such as a heart attack) than other risk factors. The researchers estimate that those who reduce or stabilize their stress levels are 50% to 60% less likely to have a heart attack than those who experience increasing stress. All of us have known or know about someone who had a massive heart attack, often while being involved in a stressful situation. Yet we continue to race through life without realizing that the stress we confront daily is increasing our own risk of meeting a similar fate. In his new book THE 15-MINUTE HEART CURE: The Natural Way To Release Stress & Heal Your Heart in Just Minutes A Day, our guest today the distinguished cardiologist Dr. John M. Kennedy makes a powerful case for stress reduction as a key to fighting heart disease and then shows us how to do it. The book was also written by Jason Jennings. Based on extensive research and filled with dozens of anecdotes, THE 15-MINUTE HEART CURE takes readers through the science of how the heart works, highlights the four major types of heart disease, and explains the affects of stress. The “heart” of the book, though, is Kennedy’s innovative BREATHE™ technique that helps people relax and requires only fifteen minutes a day to implement.
 

Peggy Kennedy

For as long as she could remember, our next guest bore witness to her mother's mental illness. While growing up in the 1960s, her mother, Barbara, often liked to play games of make-believe and tell the children they were all going to Neverland--just like Peter Pan. But while the children knew it was all pretend, Barbara believed it to be all too true. Our special guest this morning, author Peggy Kennedy’s book: “Approaching Neverland A Memoir of Epic Tragedy & Happily Ever After” recounts Peggy and her family's attempts to deal with their mother's mental illness during a time when it was little understood and even feared. With brutal honesty and surprising humor, Peggy shares the turbulence of growing up under the shadow of Barbara's illness, of being shuffled from one family member to the next, and of visiting her mother in the mental institution. As the years pass, the shadows of Barbara's challenges become a loving legacy in Peggy's quest to achieve happiness and fulfillment in her life. This book is a vivid, haunting portrayal of one woman's struggle to understand how the past fits in with her future, It is beautifully written and will stay with you long after the last page is read.

Sondra Kornblatt

For many people, Insomnia has meant nights of frustration, tossing and turning, being wide awake with no rest in sight. You watch TV, play on Facebook, take sleeping pills (which has increased 60% in 6 years), do laundry, do some housecleaning, everything you can think of since you cannot sleep. Well there is a new program that helps insomniacs mimic the benefits of sleep so they can greet the mornings refreshed. If you are among the 70 million sleep-deprived Americans who do battle every night this is the show you need to listen to. This book will show you how to use your waking night hours to quiet your mind, replenish your creativity, and relax deeply. You'll come to accept your insomnia and discover how to derive enough of the benefits of sleep to be able to get up in the morning feeling refreshed. The name of the book is “Restful Insomnia: How to get the Benefits of Sleep” and it is written by life coach Sondra Kornblatt who joins us today on Your Life Matters!

Dr. Robin Kowalski

You hear the word. It is being used a lot. Sometimes it is used a lot here on this show. But do you really know what it means? The word is Cyber Bullying. It affects millions of children throughout the world each year. With advances in technology, cyber bullying has become more and more prevalent through the use of e-mail, instant messages, chat rooms, and other digital messaging systems -- it also brings with it unique challenges for parents and educators. The book is written by 3 highly trained and experienced Ph.Ds: Robin Kowalski, Susan Limber and Patricia Walton Agatston. We are grateful to have as our guest today one of the authors, Dr. Robin Kowalski.

Dr. Ben Leichtling

Dr. Ben Leichtling

Dr. Ben Leichtling

Imagine that you have a new boyfriend who seems wonderful and you’re looking forward to a romantic Valentine’s Day.  But in your past relationships you were harassed, bullied, controlled and abused.  It is at that point that you finally come to the realization that you have a tendency to pick the wrong guys or even girls.  Do you know what you should look for with this new one and what should you do if you see any warning signs? Our next guest will try to help you with those answers. Please welcome back to Your Life Matters, our very good friend, author and psychotherapist Dr. Ben Leichtling. Ben has written and discussed here on our show his books “How to Stop Bullies in Their Tracks,” “Parenting Bully-Proof Kids” and “Eliminate the High cost of Low Attitudes.”

Terry Leiden

Marty Levin

Our guest will be author Marty Levin whose son Jordan Levin was born three months premature and deaf. He is author of the book, "We Were Relentless" and the also we speak about the program "My Kids First Coach" about childhood obesity.

Mia Lundin

Jim McDonald

Jim McDonald is the Author of, Who Would I Be Without, a powerfully moving and inspirational novel that takes the reader through a courageous journey of self-discovery.

Maria Malin

Before April 19, 2003, our next guest was a normal, suburban “mom chauffer” with a baseball-loving husband, three active kids in 21 weekly activities, and a dog that thankfully loved car rides. On a sunny, spring afternoon, her middle child Steven, was struck and killed by a train down the street from our home. After the loss of a child, life has no “normal. We are speaking with Maria Malin this morning about her book “When You Can’t Say Goodbye, Don’t”.

Edith Marks

So you go to the eye doctor since you know you need to have your vision checked. There are all kinds of tests depending on the optometrist you go to. We all know of that one test when we put our chin up against this machine that looks like it has a microscope aimed at you. The doctors tell you one of the tests they are going to perform is a Glaucoma test. Well here is today’s question…What is glaucoma? Can you go blind from it? Can it be cured? Do I need surgery? How do we treat it? See, unless you actually get glaucoma you probably do not know the answers to this unless you are an MD. Think about being diagnosed with it. Think about your spouse, parent or child being diagnosed with it? You will probably immediately panic and think the worse. In a lot of cases that is a common reaction. But today we are going to set the record straight on glaucoma. The book we will discuss is called “GLAUCOMA: PATIENT TO PATIENT A COPING GUIDE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.” The book is an encyclopedia of information—actually a reference book on glaucoma.   It is designed for those who want to learn more about their glaucoma conditions.  Explained here are some answers to questions that glaucoma patients may not receive from their busy doctors. It is our honor to welcome the author of this great book to Your Life Matters, Edith Marks.

Jennifer L. Martin

So let’s start right off with today’s question, “How would you survive Multiple Sclerosis, Thyroid Cancer, Weight Loss Surgery and Severe Anemia?” Our guest today would answer simply The Power of Inspiration, Faith, Courage & Love. This is a great self-help educational book for not only the patient, but their family, friends, caregivers and also for the people in the process of getting diagnosed of any auto-immune disorder. What started out as keeping a couple of diaries worth of notes became a wealth of information because it is told from the patients’ perspective, not the doctors.  Remember, the doctors tell you what they know based from books and what to expect "before" going through a surgery.  After you read this book, you will see and understand what you could possibly go through "after" the surgery.  You will get the "big picture" about the procedure and you won't be taken by surprise, as that is what happened to our next guest. The book we will discuss today is called “Blue Fingers Brass Knuckles: The Power of Inspiration, Faith, Courage & Love.” The author is a patient advocate and a inspirational & motivational speaker. It is our pleasure to welcome to Your Life Matters Jennifer L. Martin.

Robert Martinez

Let’s start off with today’s question: What if you really wanted to do something. I mean it was your dream. And you were good at it. What if you had a disorder that was trying to stand in the way of your dreams? Would you give up on the dream? Well today we are going to talk about the unique life of Brandon Martinez. Brandon suffers from Tourette Syndrome. We are going to speak to Robert Martinez today. Robert is Brandon’s dad. Robert will talk about his fight for the education of special children, their civil rights and educational privileges, and their personal, emotional, and special needs. Robert will educate us today on Tourette Syndrome. He will also tell us about his fight to help Brandon carve a path to the Major League Draft and into professional baseball. He is the author of the compelling, must read book “Born To Play”.

Lori Mauer
Margaret Mary Hospital

Lori Mauer RN, BSN and Jennifer Catron who is a Nutritionalist both from Margaret Mary Community Hospital in Batesville, Indiana speak with us about Diabetes.

Sandy Muncy

Our guest will be Sandy Muncy who will continue our series on Epilepsy with her story of her daughter's Megan struggle and ultimate loss with her battle from her seizures.

Sharon R. Murphy

Today I want to take our listeners on a tour. In many regions of the country it is cold outside so we can do this from the warmth of your home or office. We are going to take you on a tour of the nursing home industry. Now some listeners may think we have visited this place before. Well we took a quick tour the last few times. What makes this time different? The book we will be discussing today is called “Nursing Home Confidential: The Insider's Guide To Navigating The Nursing Home Industry”. It is a hands-on guide for families who are forced to travel into this arena. It is about what family and friends can do to assure optimal care and quality of life. From choosing the right home to paying for it, from the rights of residents to getting the services and attention desired. As I have said before, it is a very painful, stressful decision to place a loved one in a nursing home. You need to have all of the information prior to going in. And who better to get the info from? Our guest today is a licensed nursing home administrator and a loving daughter whose father was placed in the nursing home in which she worked. She has worked as a licensed nursing home administrator for more than two decades, during which time she has been employed by medium-sized organizations and a large national corporation. In addition to being an Executive Director, she was Regional Vice President overseeing the functions of four nursing homes. Homes administered by her have been honored with awards of excellence. It is our honor to Welcome to our show Sharon R. Murphy. 

Dr. Bradley Nelson

In The Emotion Code, renowned holistic physician and lecturer Dr. Bradley Nelson skillfully lays bare the inner workings of the subconscious mind. He reveals how emotionally-charged events from your past can still be haunting you in the form of “trapped emotions”; emotional energies that literally inhabit your body.

Dr. Nelson explains clearly and concisely how trapped emotions can create pain, malfunction and eventual disease. In addition, trapped emotions can exert a dramatic effect on how you think, the choices that you make, and how successful you will be.

Perhaps the most important discovery that Dr. Nelson has made is that trapped emotional energies will often gather around the heart, creating a “Heart-Wall” that may block you from giving and receiving love freely.

The Emotion Code is a powerful and simple way to rid yourself of unseen baggage. Releasing trapped emotions often results in the sudden disappearance of physical problems, self-sabotage, and recurring relationship difficulties.

Filled with real-world examples from many years of clinical practice, The Emotion Code is a distinct and authoritative new work that is destined to become an instant classic on self-healing.

Mark Osteen

Today we are going to talk about autism. Now the word is becoming something that most people have heard about and maybe have a slight understanding of the meaning. So today’s question is what is autism? Here is something that is very alarming and we need to take note of…According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in every 110 births in US are born with autism. And it is almost 1 in 70 boys. There are currently a few million Americans living with this spectrum disorder. This can cost a family 3-5 million dollars over a lifetime. OK, so what if it was your child that has autism? There are different levels of autism, so what if your child has severe autism? How would you handle this? Could you accept the fact that your child would always seem different to others. Now, I emphasize the word different. See he may act differently and perceive the world differently from most, but he is a feeling, thinking human being with a disability who deserves acceptance and respect. Today we are going to talk about the amazing book, “ONE OF US: A FAMILY’S LIFE WITH AUTISM.” It is written by a proud father, sax player, has BA and MA degrees, an accomplished author, a Ph.D. in English literature and teaches at Loyola University in Maryland. Please welcome Mark Osteen to our show.

Gina Phelps

Christmas time. You have to love Christmas time. Whether young or old we are entranced by the lights, the ornaments, the garland, the smell of a Christmas Tree. Well not everybody. Those with allergies will tell you just because it is winter does not mean their allergies go away. Imagine this…YOU could be allergic to your Christmas Tree! Probably doubly if you have live Christmas wreaths around as well.  Remember you want a memorable Christmas..yes I know being in the ER at Christmas will be a day you will not forget, but I think you want a better memory than that. Today we are going to talk with an allergy specialist and a registered nurse about allergies. She is also the author of a great book entitled “On The Streets: Memoirs of a Chicago Home Health Nurse.” Her stories are fascinating, terrifying, unbelievable and even heartwarming.  Please welcome to Your Life Matters Gina Phelps.

Dr. G. Allen Power

The book we will be discussing today is an essential read for anyone involved in the care of an individual with dementia, including nursing staff, social workers, occupational therapists, medical directors, and administrators in all elder care settings. Family members of individuals with dementia and students breaking into the dementia care field will also benefit from the advice offered. You will learn what it takes to effect real culture change within residential care settings while reducing the administration of psychotropic drugs in the treatment of dementia. Our guest today is a board-certified internist, geriatrician, nursing home practitioner, and Eden Alternative™ Educator. Dr. G. Allen Power brings robust medical experience and a unique perspective to the idea of culture change. His book which we will be discussing is called “Dementia Beyond Drugs: Changing The Culture of Care”.

Stuart Reeves

Our guest is author and health researcher Stuart Reeves. Stuart explains to our audience how an overreaction of the immune system affects our health both short and long term. He is co-author of "Epicor: The Key to a Healthy Immune System"

Juliet Rohde-Brown Ph.D.

Recently I heard a friend of ours go on a rant about someone who had removed him from Facebook. This is a family show so I cannot repeat what was said. The hatred was immense. I usually only hear this from someone talking about their ex. But you have been to family gatherings where people are split into groups because someone is arguing over something. But left to simmer, the hatred burns rapidly and things just get worse. But here is today’s question…Did you know that it could be affecting your health? Harboring hostility can have dangerous effects on your health. And the book we will be discussing today addresses that very subject. The name of the book is called “IMAGINE FORGIVENESS: A GUIDE FOR CREATING A JOYFUL FUTURE.” The book was written by author and clinical psychologist Dr. Juliet Rohde-Brown. And it is our honor to welcome Dr. Juliet Rohde-Brown to Your Life Matters.

Sharon Sakson

We have all heard the saying that dog’s are man’s best friend. Anyone who has or has owned a dog will tell you that dogs have changed our lives for the better. They are great companions. They love to play. They are always happy to see us. But today’s question is simple: Did you know that they could save our lives as well? Now I am not talking about Lassie swimming into the pond to pull Billy out by the shirt collar though that could definitely be included here. I am talking about beloved pets who have supported their owners through periods of ill health and other crises—with miraculous results. This is more along the lines of the seeing eye dogs I think that is the most common dogs to our listeners. But it goes well beyond seeing eye dogs. The book we will be discussing today is called “Paws & Effect: The Healing Power of Dogs.” The book is written by a journalist, writer and television news producer who has been involved with purebred dogs for 30 years. She is a judge of Hound and Working breeds. She's bred champion Whippets and Brussels Griffons and she's written four books about dogs. Please welcome to Your Life Matters Sharon Sakson.

Dr. Elaine Fogel Schneider

With the advent of the Internet, cell phones, emails, text messages, I have asked us before, have we lost that personal touch? Well today that question takes on a whole new meaning. I bet you did not know this but people communicate more through touch. You can actually convey more emotion than words. Did you know that if you withheld touch from a human being it can have long-lasting effects that can even lead to anxiety, depression or death. Are you starting to get the bigger picture. The book we will be discussing today is called “Massaging Your Baby- The Joy of Touchtime” - Effective Techniques for a Healthier, Happier, More Relaxed Child & Parent. And our guest today is an author, a certified TouchTime International Infant Massage Trainer, a certified specialist with children on the Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families, teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing, she is a speaker and also the Founder of TouchTime International LLC. It is our honor to welcome to Your Life Matters Dr. Elaine Fogel Schneider.

Dr. Mache Seibel

Dafi Shlanger

On October 27, 1994, Dafi was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She was only 36 years old, married, and had three children. This is the amazing true story of a woman, a wife, and a mother's incredible journey through this life changing events. In this compelling memoir, Dafi talks candidly about her experience and reveals how she, as a young wife and mother coped, survived and carried.

Lisa Snyder

Four million people have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in this country, yet most live in silent shadows, their stories untold. In Speaking Our Minds, seven diagnosed individuals of various ages and backgrounds express their thoughts and feelings about what it is like to have Alzheimer's disease, to live with it day to day, and to cope with its impact on their lives. Although afflicted with the same disease, each person's experience is unique. Told with honesty and insight, their stories cover personal history, diagnosis, family and social interactions, philosophical and religious perspectives, and the many neurological and psychological dimensions of the disease that permeate their lives.

Nancy Sokolowski

I think one of the top pieces of news that no one wants to ever receive is that they have cancer. It has to be devasting just to get over the initial shock of the diagnosis. Thousands of thoughts start racing through your head. You have so many questions and there is so much information you need to learn it has to be overwhelming for many. Today we are going to talk specifically about Breast Cancer. According to the CDC, in 2007  202,964 women in the United States were diagnosed with breast cancer. 40,598 women in the United States died from breast cancer. That is just in one year folks. About 1 in 8 women in the United States (12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. In 2010, an estimated 207,090 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 54,010 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer. About 1,970 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in men in 2010 as well. We are not trying to scare you. We have to face cancer head on. So if you are diagnosed, what do you do? Our guest today hopes to assist you through this stressful time. The book we will discuss today is titled, “THE BREAST CANCER COMPANION: A GUIDE FOR THE NEWLY DIAGNOSED.” It is co-written by a nurse with over 50 years experience in diverse specialties. She is also the co-founder of Norwalk Hospital's Smilow Family Breast Health Center.  Please welcome to Your Life Matters Nancy Sokolowski.

Tasso Spanos

Many of you may know that former President John F Kennedy once suffered from severe back pain when he was a freshman senator. He was treated by Dr. Janet Travell by finding his trigger points, or "the tender spot in the muscle that sends pain to another place in the body. Trigger Points? What are trigger points? Well let me add Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy to the mix. Myofascial trigger points are an extremely common cause of pain. And today we are going to speak about this, how to relieve this pain and how to do the proper stretches for this pain. Our guest will offer you tips for becoming and staying pain free. We are talking about Pain Specialist Tasso Spanos. Working at the Center For Pain Treatment in Pittsburg, PA they have released a DVD called “Feeling Better” which demonstrates 100 stretches for fixing 100 different pain problems. And it is our pleasure to welcome Tasso Spanos to our show today.

Dr. Alicia Stanton

Because of recent research and the controversy that surrounds the risks of hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women, hormone imbalance has become a hot topic, but few straightforward, comprehensive guides have been written on the issue. Our next guest, Dr. Alicia Stanton is co-author of the book “Hormone Harmony: How to Balance Insulin, Cortisol, Thyroid, Estrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone To Live Your Best Life” fills that gap with an in-depth look at how hormones are deeply connected to nutrition, lifestyle, and supplements. Most importantly, it provides a road map for women seeking to create hormone balance, providing a checklist of symptoms for identifying imbalances. Dr. Alicia Stanton is a specialist in preventative medicine and hormone imbalance, and serves as chief medical officer of BodyLogicMD, a network of physicians specializing in bioidentical hormone therapy. Co-author Vera Tweed, a veteran health writer, has written several books and is a contributing editor for Better Nutrition and other magazines

David Strumfels

Today we will be talking with author David Strumfels and his book “Wondering About”. Wondering About is the personal journey of a mind that has used imagination, curiosity, and wonder to try to make sense of the world, using science as the bedrock of the road taken. The journey is personal in that today’s guest has recently discovered that he suffers from Aspergers’ Syndrome, a form of high functioning autism that makes relating to other human beings extraordinarily difficult. Through the many sufferings of this condition prior his diagnosis, his curiosity and passion to understand have allowed him to keep asking questions, and develop his own mind to where he can share it with others. David J. Strumfels lives and writes with his wife and two amazing (to him, at least) children in Philadelphia, PA. Actually, his wife is amazing too, as she is a Vietnamese “boat person” who grew up in war and Communist conquest of her land, and was fortunate enough to survive the many ordeals she has gone through. Although he has been to Vietnam as a tourist, in 1999, he met his wife at a local community college in 1981.  

Dr. Cheryle Sullivan

Dr. Cheryle Sullivan shares some of her journey with you. After my 2002 Tramatic Brain Injury (TBI) I was continuing to have difficulty dealing with the losses I'd had, both in my own personal functioning abilities and the related loss of my career.  In 2005 I had a near fatal car accident, with resultant injuries that were potentially life-threatening.  As I recovered from these injuries, my father had a near fatal accident and suffered a TBI.  Almost the entire year was wiped out in dealing with these issues.  Just as I was getting my feet under me in 2006,   I found out that my 12 year old Boston Terrier was at risk of dying due to a faulty heart valve and my younger, and I thought much healthier Boston Terrier developed a brain tumor.  Fortunately, it was a type sensitive to radiation treatment and he responded well.  When I asked his veterinarian what might be the consequences of the tumor and treatment in relationship to his cognitive function, I was told "He only has to be a dog<".  This gave me a start, as he would likely be as happy as before, even with cognitive changes, because he didn't expect himself to be more than just a dog.
 

Melissa Tichenor

Melissa Tichenor from Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield talks about the Healthy Indiana Plan.

Dr. Robert M. Tornambe

Here’s today’s question…Do you want to look like a model? When we watch TV or look in magazines we see those gorgeous faces staring back at us. Our next guest has worked with thousands of women and spent countless hours contemplating the nature of beauty—particularly in situations where he was asked to perform a procedure he believed would diminish his patient’s natural good looks. In an attempt to provide as many options as possible, he focused on helping women understand that while surgery has its place, it isn’t the only roadmap to looking and feeling great. The book we will be talking about today is called “The Beauty Quotient Formula: How to Find Your Own Beauty  Quotient to Look Your Best – No Matter What Your Age.” The book is written by DR. ROBERT M. TORNAMBE.  While physical traits do play a role in beauty, Dr. Tornambe shows us that what makes any woman truly attractive is based largely on confidence, charisma, personality, and a solid beauty routine—and that more often than not, going under the knife isn’t necessary. It is our honor to have as our guest today Dr. Robert Tornambe. 

Linda Watson

Mae Ella Wright

It is a very tough decision when families have to put their loved ones in a nursing home. The family thinks long and hard over what would be best for that special one that they love. The decision is usually swayed by the obvious thought that at least they will be taken care of, watched after and given the attention they need that no one in the family can provide. So here is today’s question, “Do you really know what goes on at some facilities?” Now before you tell me Yes, I have checked, I checked references, all of which I HIGHLY recommend you do, you may not see it since you are not there 24/7. There are many incidents of abuse and neglect suffered by elderly individuals, caused by failure of the medical administrative system to uphold principles of fairness, justice, accountability, and standards of moral decency. Now please understand we are to trying to talk you out of assisted living facilities, we want you to be aware of a problem. A problem that has been around for some time, that needs to be dealt with and corrected once and for all. The book we are going to talk about today is called “The Silent Scream”. It was written by a registered nurse for 25 years, who has worked in this arena and is an experienced worker with the elderly. It is our pleasure to welcome to Your Life Matters Mae Ella Wright.

Rae-Lynn Cebul Ziegler

Today’s media coverage of Alzheimer’s disease centers on finding a cure. Painfully little attention goes toward what can be done for the growing number of individuals who currently live with the disease. It is fairly safe to say that a cure will never be developed in their lifetimes. How can we make a difference for them now? Why now wake up someone’s brain with every turn of the page. Our next guest Rae-Lynn Cebul Ziegler has created the book “LET’S LOOK TOGETHER – AN INTERACTIVE PICTURE BOOK FOR PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER’S AND OTHER FORMS OF MEMORY LOSS “ which features images of children. This picture book for adults is to be shared between family or a caregiver and a person with memory loss to encourage meaningful emotional connections and conversations through therapeutic brain stimulation.