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L I F E I N Y O U R C O U N T Y A N D B E Y O N D

WINTER 2017

Here for you todayWhen you choose Mercyhealth, you have access to more specialists, more loca-tions and more convenience than ever before. Now with five hospitals and 80+ primary and specialty care locations throughout southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois, health care is always close to home. From primary care doctors to expertly trained specialists, our 750 physicians are here to help you heal and keep you well. We continually add new technology, services and locations to meet the growing needs of our communities. Our home health, hospice and medical equipment teams provide compassionate, skilled care. And our team at MercyCare Health Plans offers a wide variety of affordable insurance plans so you can get the care you need, when you need it. All of these things come together under one umbrella to give you exceptional health care tailored to your unique needs. A passion for making lives better.

Critical care for all stages of life • Highest level trauma care • Highest level neonatal intensive care (NICU) • New Small Baby Unit • Pediatric intensive care (PICU) • Adult intensive care Highly specialized care for children • Cardiology • Emergency services • Endocrinology • Gastroenterology • Neurology • Radiology • Surgery

Perinatal Center for a 15-county region • Specialized care for women and babies

before, during and after birth Maternal-fetal care • Specialized care for women with

high-risk pregnancies Gynecologic oncology • Specialized care for women with cancer

of the reproductive organs

Our newest addition: Small Baby UnitOver the last few years, Mercyhealth’s NICU team, along with past patients and families, have researched the development of a Small Baby Unit to increase the survival rates among the region’s smallest babies. These infants are born at less than 27 weeks gestation or weighing less than 1,000 grams (2.2 pounds). Staffed by a highly specialized team, our Small Baby Unit is designed with specific lighting and noise reduction features to decrease overstimulation. Specialized incubator equipment creates an environment similar to being tucked away in the mother’s womb.

Growing for you tomorrowOpening in late 2018Located just 20 minutes from Janesville, the Mercyhealth Women’s and Children’s Hospital and Medical Center will provide the most cutting-edge technology and highly trained physicians, nurses and critical care teams tailored to meet the unique needs of our region. Our trauma hospi-tal will care for adults of all ages and feature specialized care for women, children and infants. The following services are now available at Mercyhealth Hospital–Rockton Avenue (Rockford Memorial Hospital). These services will move to the Mercyhealth Women’s and Children’s Hospital and Medical Center when it opens in 2018.

44 A GOOD START Inspire Rock County helps students explore careers 50 COMMUNITY CALENDAR

6 STARTING THEM YOUNG JPAC classes teach basics of music and drama

12 A CLOSE CALL Neck surgery helps police officer avoid permanent injury

18 JUST IN TIME Doctors find esophageal cancer before it spreads

24 A HELPING HAND “The Awesome Mailman” has become a hub for generosity

30 A DIFFERENT KIND OF PAIN RELIEF New mom appreciates nitrous oxide

34 PHOTO ESSAY: POTTER FEST Fans flock to Edgerton for three-day event 38 COMPASSIONATE CARE Endometrial cancer patient appreciates her doctor’s support

34

D E A R R E A D E R : In 2008, General Motors’ Janesville Assembly

Plant stopped producing vehicles, and in

2009, it closed completely. The closing set off

a chain of events that was devastating for

the Rock County economy, and it left local

leaders scrambling to find ways to bring the

county back to its former glory. In the years

since then, it has been heartening to see how hard the city of

Janesville, its surrounding towns and countless community

organizations have been working to both support those who

struggle and continue to provide more jobs. In this issue,

we focus on two particular efforts that have received much

attention:

Rock County 5.0: This group began in December 2009 when

community business leaders decided they needed to respond

to the massive layoffs in the area. A group of professionals

representing the Greater Beloit Economic Development

Corporation, the City of Janesville, Forward Janesville, Rock

County and Alliant Energy wanted to retain and expand

businesses and understand the available work force in Rock

County. Now, in 2017, that group has realized many of its goals

and continues to fund multiple programs, including Inspire

Rock County, which is profiled on page 44.

“The Awesome Mailman”: Tom Hathaway was just a guy with

an idea when he decided to leverage his vast network as a mail

carrier into a fundraiser for the homeless. Now, he has raised

more than $18,000 through his annual event and donations

he receives throughout the year. You can learn more about his

story on page 24.

If you know about other stories of people making a difference,

feel free to drop me a line at [email protected].

Beth Earnest

EDITOR, “GREAT PEOPLE. GREAT STORIES.”

TABLE OF CONTENTS

30

ON THE COVER:

TOM "THE AWESOME MAILMAN"

HATHAWAY COLLECTS DONATIONS

FOR THE HOMELESS YEAR-ROUND.

SEE STORY ON PAGE 24.

Visit us at gpgsmagazine.com

38

44

F E A T UR E S

4 Great People. Great Stories. | Winter 2017 LIFE IN ROCK COUNTY 5

STARTING THEM

YOUNGW alk into Janesville Performing Arts Center (JPAC) on a

Monday or Tuesday, and you’re likely to hear young voices throughout the building. Those are the nights when the

fine arts hub plays host to dozens of children who are interested in theater and music. Over the past few years, JPAC has become an important outlet for children.

JPAC CLASSES TEACH BASICS OF MUSIC & DRAMA

Jim McCulloch, education and outreach

coordinator at JPAC, creates opportunities

for children to learn music and drama at

the facility.


JPAC began offering educational programming in 2014, during a time when the center began closely collaborating with other city leaders to provide more creative opportunities for Rock County residents. Jim McCulloch stepped into the role of education and outreach coordinator in 2015 and began refining what his predecessors already had started. “The leaders at JPAC really wanted to work with schools and youth in the community, both in Janesville and the outlying areas of Rock County,” he says. “Both Parker and Craig high schools in Janesville have outstanding musical theater programs, but we wanted children to have a chance to shine during elementary and middle school, too.”

Before 2014, children who wanted to sing in a choir needed to do so at their school or church. For theater classes, Spotlight on Kids — the local children’s theater company — offered some options. But that organization preferred to focus on mounting full productions

and was happy to let JPAC take over on the educational front. Children now have the option of participating in two- or three-month-long sessions in the fall or spring, and they can choose from even more offerings in the summer.

JPAC’s youth choir is open to children in grades 3 through 12. The group meets on Monday evenings, and for the first part of the 12-week session, the younger singers meet separately from the older children. Near the end, they come together to prepare for the Music and Drama Festival, scheduled at the end of both the fall and spring sessions. But apart from that, there are other opportunities to share their talents, such as singing for Janesville’s holiday tree lighting and at other venues throughout the city. The additional opportunities to perform have been a draw for many of the young performers, including Victoria Courtney, 11, of Janesville. “She loves getting up on a stage and singing for an audience,” says Victoria’s mother, Carleen, who is one of the choir’s co-directors. “All the kids who are involved in this program are

really interested in learning performance skills.”

One might think that the additional choir opportunity would pose a threat to the local high schools’ music programs, but that’s not so, says Adam Miller, music department chairman at Craig High School in Janesville. The choir is a good starting point for elementary- and middle school-aged children who love to sing. “I view the JPAC program as an extension of our curriculum,” he says. “I want students to have a good experience there, because then they will be more apt to join choir in high school.”

It’s an especially appealing option for youngsters who are home-schooled and don’t have the benefit of music class or choir at their school. All three of Cherie Norquay’s home-schooled children have participated in the choir; her 14-year-old was particularly happy that the program expanded this year to include high school students as well as elementary and middle school students.

“The co-directors are really great at

Jim introduces students at the center's

semi-annual Music and Drama Festival.

Participants in one of JPAC's drama

classes meet onstage to get ready for

their big performance.

Students wait for their turn to perform during a drama class..

LIFE IN ROCK COUNTY 9 8 Great People. Great Stories. | Winter 2017

Craig High School's jazz ensemble joined the JPAC students as part of their Music and

Drama Festival.

For more information about JPAC’s youth choir and drama classes, visit janesvillepac.org.

working with children and taking a personal interest in them,” says Cherie, who is a professional musician herself.

“The program has taken another step forward, which is important to me.”

For children in grades 1 and 2, there is a shorter, eight-week class called “Sing Out!” that also meets on Monday nights. It teaches them the basics of musicality so they can be ready for the youth choir.

On the drama side, kids have the option of participating in eight-week sessions on Tuesday evenings that teach them basic movement and miming, vocal techniques and the overall process of putting on a play. “While the classes previously focused on theater games, I have been more focused on production,” says Jim. “I have more of a hands-on

philosophy; I believe it’s better to learn by doing.”

Now in its third year of offering educational programming for children, JPAC is working on expanding its reach. Jim hopes to offer classes year-round

— and not just for smaller sessions every few months — and partner with local schools to bring theater into the classrooms. “We’re pounding the pavement to tell people what we’re doing,” he says.

"ALL THE KIDS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THIS PROGRAM ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN LEARNING PERFORMANCE SKILLS."

— CARLEEN COURTNEY


A CLOSE CALLNECK SURGERY HELPS POLICE

OFFICER AVOID PERMANENT INJURY

Lori Domino is about as tough as they come. After spending 14 years in the U.S. Army Reserves, she has worked as a police officer for the Bloomfield Police Department for the past 19 years. The Elkhorn, WI woman is used

to enduring a great amount of discomfort without complaining — but after ever-increasing pain and numbness in her arm for seven years, she had to face the prospect of cervical spinal fusion. Fortunately, she had Christopher D. Sturm, MD, FAANS, FACS, board certified neurosurgeon at Mercyhealth, on her team. Dr. Sturm has taken her step by step through preparation, surgery, and recovery from surgery, and she is now without pain for the first time in many years.

Christopher D. Sturm, MD, FAANS, FACS,

board certified neurosurgeon at Mercyhealth

Following her neck

surgery, Lori Domino

finally is able to

live a full life again.


Lori and her wife, Jen Schmidt, have appreciated how easily Dr. Sturm communicates with them.

The problems started with tingling and numbness in the pinky and ring finger of her right hand, leading to a sharp pain in her right shoulder. After undergoing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, Lori tried a number of conservative treatments for the pain, including physical therapy, massage therapy and acupuncture. Finally, Rachel T. Gronau, MD, Lori’s family medicine physician with Mercyhealth, told her she thought the problem might be coming from Lori’s neck, not arm, and ran several tests before diagnosing her with spinal cord dysfunction.

Lori saw Randall S. Nemerovski, MD, ABPM, pain management specialist with Mercyhealth, to find relief for her pain. Over a span of two years, she received four injections in her neck. The injections gave her temporary relief, but she still got progressively worse. By 2015, the pain had migrated into her middle finger and elbow, she had weakness in both arms, and she was starting to have difficulty performing her work duties. In June of 2016, the pain had spread into Lori’s neck and her left arm. She underwent another MRI scan and received a referral to see Dr. Sturm.

“The spinal cord is a very important structure that has no way to repair or regenerate itself,” says Dr. Sturm, who met with Lori in July. “If your spine deteriorates enough, you may lose function that will never return. Lori had a combination of problems: She was experiencing compression of her spinal cord at multiple locations. She also had abnormal motion of the vertebral bodies that form the canal

in which the spinal cord resides, and she was having difficulty with simple fine motor tasks, such as writing and fastening buttons. She was in great danger of permanent injury.”

Dr. Sturm scheduled Lori for surgery on August 17. In the meantime, he wanted her to wear a neck brace to prevent further injury to her spine. “Dr. Sturm was very clear about what my situation was,” says Lori. “He walked us through the process of how he would do the surgery and what could and couldn’t happen. I appreciated the fact that he was so honest with us.”

“Generally, a neurosurgeon is so intelligent that you can’t understand what he’s saying," says Jen Schmidt, Lori's wife. "But he explained everything very clearly.”

RELIEF FROM PAINDuring the surgery, Dr. Sturm made an incision in the back of Lori’s neck and removed portions of the bones that comprise the spinal cord canal, a

"DR. STURM IS AN AMAZING DOCTOR. I HAVE TOLD OTHER PEOPLE THAT HE IS THE ONE TO SEE IF YOU EVER NEED A NEUROSURGEON."

— LORI DOMINO

Rachel T. Gronau, MD, family medicine

physician with Mercyhealth


process called a multilevel cervical laminectomy. He also drilled off bone to remove pressure from nerves that were being compressed. Finally, he performed a four-level cervical fusion, fusing together the bones that surround the portions of Lori’s spine that were removed. “The primary purpose of the surgical procedure was to prevent any loss of function,” he says.

It worked: Just hours after surgery, Lori regained feeling in her extremities. She dislikes taking narcotics, so she was quite happy to stop all intravenous pain medication the night after the procedure. She continued to wear the cervical collar for three months

to ensure that her cervical spine remained stable while she was healing.

“Most people felt sorry for me while I had the collar on, but it was the best decision we could have made,” she says.

“Anything had to be better than the pain I had been dealing with for seven years.”

Now, Lori is free of pain. She returned to work in a desk job late last fall, and this month she will resume all her duties as a police officer. “Dr. Sturm is an amazing doctor,” she says. “I have told other people that he is the one to see if you ever need a neurosurgeon.”

“THE SPINAL CORD IS A VERY IMPORTANT STRUCTURE THAT HAS NO WAY TO REPAIR OR REGENERATE ITSELF.”

— DR. STURM

WHEN NECK

PAIN BECOMES

ALARMING

How do you know when it’s time to see a doctor for your neck pain?

According to Dr. Sturm, talk to your primary care physician if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Neck pain along with associated dysfunction in your hands, arms or legs, such as difficulty fastening buttons or writing.

• Pain that travels down one of your arms.

• Neck pain that is becoming progressively worse and significantly impacting your quality of life.

To make an appointment with Dr. Sturm, talk to your primary care provider.

As she has healed, Lori has been able to play more with her dogs at home.


Esophageal cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer. While treatments have vastly improved since the 1960s and 70s, the majority of those who are diagnosed with the disease eventually will succumb to it. When Bill

Heuser found out he had esophageal cancer in 2015, he was understandably quite concerned. But thanks to the quick, thorough, minimally invasive surgery he received at Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center, Bill is now cancer-free and enjoying better health than he has in years.

D O C T O R S F I N D E S O P H A G E A L C A N C E R B E F O R E I T S P R E A D S

JUST TIMEINBill Heuser was fortunate that Mercyhealth

doctors diagnosed his esophageal cancer

early enough to treat him successfully.


John M. Snider, MD, board certified cardiothoracic surgeon with Mercyhealth, and Patricia Garner, MD, board certified general surgeon with

Mercyhealth, use the da Vinci surgical system to remove esophageal cancer in a minimally invasive procedure.

Rodrigo A. Castillo, MD, gastroenterologist at Mercyhealth

Bill first sought treatment for stomach problems and acid reflux in the summer of 2015. Because he also was experiencing anemia (a lack of red blood cells), Rodrigo A. Castillo, MD, gastroenterologist at Mercyhealth, wanted to perform an endoscopy to determine whether he suffered from Barrett’s esophagus. Barrett’s esophagus is a complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) that can lead to cancer. During the endoscopy, Dr. Castillo inserted a small, flexible tube with a light and camera attached to it through Bill’s

mouth and into his esophagus. After the procedure, the doctor performed a biopsy on a tissue sample and discovered there was a malignant tumor on Bill’s esophagus. “Normally, the main symptom for cancer of the esophagus is swallowing difficulty,” says Dr. Castillo. “But in this case, he was experiencing anemia, a secondary symptom. It was important for us to determine the reason for the anemia.”

“I believe in God’s work,” says Bill, “and I’m thankful that he pushed me to get treatment for my stomach issues so they could find this tumor. Dr. Castillo was upset he had to tell me I had cancer, but he was pleased that it was so small it would be much easier to take care of than most cases of esophageal cancer.”

A GROUNDBREAKING SURGERYDr. Castillo referred Bill to John M. Snider, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon

with Mercyhealth. After viewing Bill’s tumor, Dr. Snider and Patricia Garner, MD, general surgeon with Mercyhealth, determined he needed a portion of his esophagus removed, and that he would be a good candidate for surgery using the minimally invasive da Vinci robotic surgical system. “Typically, for this type of surgery, we would make a midline abdominal incision on the patient and then crack his chest open while he is on his side,” says Dr. Garner. “It is a very painful procedure that requires a long recovery. But with the da Vinci surgical system, we could make just a few small incisions and accomplish the same task.”

During the procedure, Dr. Garner made small incisions in Bill’s abdomen, used the robotic system to free Bill’s stomach, and shaped it into the form of a pouch so it could function as an esophagus. She pushed his stomach up into his chest, and then she and Dr. Snider moved Bill onto his side to

Bill's wife, Susan, worked tirelessly

to support him and help him with

his feeding tube after his surgery.


access his esophagus. Dr. Snider made a few additional incisions in Bill’s chest and used the robotic system to free his esophagus and remove the cancerous lower part of the esophagus. Then, the two surgeons worked together to put the remnants of Bill’s esophagus back in his chest and close the incisions.

The surgery was a smashing success: They were able to remove all the cancer. “Esophageal surgery is one of the most complicated procedures that surgeons perform,” says Dr. Garner.

“This was the first time we had the opportunity to treat esophageal cancer in a minimally invasive fashion, and we were excited to extend our skills to this new use.”

“I am totally amazed by what they were able to do,” adds Bill. “The sheer idea that they were able to take this much out of me through tiny holes with robot arms is incredible.”

MOVING FORWARDAfter the surgery, Bill spent three weeks at Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center. "I can't say enough nice things about the nursing staff at Mercyhealth,” he says. “I was pretty

much helpless, but I never felt that my dignity was compromised.” After he returned home, he had to use a feeding tube for a few months while an ulcer in his stomach healed. During that time, he received regular visits from nurses with Mercy Home Health, who helped him and his wife Susan manage the feeding tube. Susan spent two to three hours every day keeping the tube clear.

While it was difficult for Bill to spend most of the summer confined to the hospital and his living room, he appreciates just how fortunate he was. After the surgery, he heard stories of other people who were diagnosed with esophageal cancer and lost their battle with the disease shortly after diagnosis.

“When we realized that Bill had this form of cancer, we were excited because this was a rare case in which

we caught it early,” says Dr. Garner. “Usually, by the time it shows itself, it is a late-stage cancer and we cannot perform surgery. But in this case, we knew that we potentially could cure him, all while using a minimally invasive procedure.”

Bill is now leading a much healthier lifestyle than before, working out regularly with his daughter as his personal trainer at Anytime Fitness.

“I’m in better shape than I used to be,” he says. “I know how incredibly lucky I am.”

Surgeons use robotic arms to manipulate tiny

instruments inside a patient's body.

Bill now works out at Anytime Fitness with his daughter, Becky Heuser, as his personal trainer.

Bill, pictured here with a model railroad

set at the Milton House Museum, is a big

train enthusiast.

To learn more about minimally invasive surgical options at Mercyhealth, call Dr. Garner’s office at (608) 756-6869.


A HELPING

HAND“THE AWESOME

MAILMAN” HAS BECOME A HUB

FOR GENEROSITY

Mailman Tom Hathaway is beloved

by all of the customers on his route.


Top and left: Tom presents donations to ECHO

Associate Director Jessica Locher.

Tom keeps donations stored in a room in his house until he has time to

drop them off at the appropriate agency.

Though Amy Betker’s grandmother has only met Amy’s mail carrier once, she still writes “Hi Tom” on every piece of mail she sends to Amy’s house. To her, Tom Hathaway has become a larger-than-life figure, thanks to his dedication to raising money and collecting donations for the homeless. “Everybody loves him — even people who have only met him once,”

says Amy, who is Tom’s neighbor as well as his customer.

Tom, also known as “The Awesome Mailman,” has become almost a mythic figure in his part of town. While he is best known for the Helping the Homeless Fundraiser he hosts in his backyard every September, he has become the go-to guy for many who want to donate goods or services to the homeless and don’t know where to go.

“It’s just amazing what people will offer,” says Tom. “I’m nobody, and people trust me enough to do this.”

TOM’S BIG IDEAWhen Tom landed a job working for the U.S. Postal Service 17 years ago, he used his job to scout out Janesville’s neighborhoods for the perfect place to raise his family. He fell in love with North Adams Street — its people, its location and its unique features. His next step after buying a house on that street was to wait for an opportunity to take over its postal route. That opportunity came in 2008, and he has been delivering his neighbors’ mail ever since.

Tom’s customers are also his friends and family, so in September 2013, he decided to have a huge party in his backyard and invite all his customers. More than 200 people joined him for brats, burgers, beer and music. He realized that he could leverage his connections to make a big difference in his community. “My route is a very established route, with people who are very generous,” says Tom. “I could tell by their mail that many of them donate to ECHO (Everyone Cooperating to Help Others, a

Janesville charity organization that serves low-income families). We could all work together to help the homeless.”

The following year, he hosted the first annual Helping the Homeless Fundraiser with live music, food, guest speakers and a silent auction. The fundraiser benefitted five different organizations that help the homeless — ECHO, Gifts Men’s Shelter, HealthNet of Rock County, Project 16:49 and House of Mercy Homeless Center. All food vendors agreed to donate 100 percent of their proceeds to be distributed among those organizations, and attendees were encouraged to bring their checkbooks and drop wish-list items off at his house the week before the event.

After three years of hosting his fundraiser, Tom has pulled in more than $18,000 for organizations benefitting the homeless. “We greatly appreciate the support, because we rely on the community for donations,” says Jessica Locher, associate director of ECHO.

DONATION CONNECTIONBefore Tom was the mail carrier in his neighborhood, he covered routes throughout the city of Janesville. During those years, he saw poverty firsthand — people lying under cardboard behind a house, a man who rode his bike with aluminum cans and clothing tied to his handlebars, homeless people congregating on Lions Beach. A few years ago, one of his customers shared with him that

Both kids and adults alike love stopping by Tom's house on Halloween.


“IT'S JUST AMAZING WHAT

PEOPLE OFFER ... I'M NOBODY,

AND PEOPLE TRUST ME

ENOUGH TO DO THIS.”— TOM HATHAWAY

her boyfriend had left her and she was going to be living in her car. He connected her with House of Mercy Homeless Center.. “I don’t counsel anyone,” he says, “but I guide them to people who can help them.”

Tom’s home has become a clearing-house of sorts for those who want to help the homeless. His friends and acquaintances know they can drop off items year-round on the patio table in his backyard, and he’ll take them where they are needed most. “I never know what I might find when I come home,” he says. “Usually I just drop it off at the agencies on my day off. I say ‘no’ to nothing — except furniture and items that are in bad shape.”

But it’s about more than just convenience: To the people on his route, Tom has become a trusted friend. They

greet him with a smile and give him hugs as he walks along his route. And he inspires them to do more: His neighbor Amy Betker wanted to show her three children the importance of helping others, so she asked for his help in finding a place where she could donate baked goods. He told her about ECHO’s holiday dinners at the Rock County 4-H Fairgrounds, where they could always use more food, and she found a recipient for her donations. One day, Tom was doing business at City Hall and a woman walked up to him waving a $20 bill — she wanted him to use it as part of his fundraising efforts. She had been battling cancer herself, but it was important to her to give to others.

Tom’s Facebook page, “Helping the Homeless Fundraiser,” has more than 1,500 “likes.” He uses it to broadcast

community needs, applaud others’ generosity (such as the man who donated 73 turkeys to ECHO last fall), keep his followers informed about what local organizations are doing to help the homeless, and, most importantly, solicit both monetary and in-kind donations.

“People seem to find it easier to give things to me than to take it to organizations themselves,” says Tom. “For some reason, this effort has brought the community together — and I’m gratified to help make it happen.”

For more information about how to help, visit Tom’s Facebook page,

“Helping the Homeless Fundraiser.”


A DIFFERENT KIND OF

PAIN RELIEFNEW MOM APPRECIATES NITROUS OXIDE

When Danielle Rhoades was pregnant with her first child, she had planned to receive

an epidural anesthetic to numb the pain of giving birth — just like many other laboring women. But childbirth never goes exactly as planned. She received medication to induce labor at 7 am, and her daughter was born at 10:12 am. There simply was not enough time for the anesthesiologist to administer the medication before Danielle began pushing. As a result of that experience, she discovered she had a high tolerance for pain. So when she learned she was pregnant again, Danielle decided she wasn’t interested in an epidural — she reasoned that if she was able to handle the pain once, she could do it again.

Patricia A. Nahn, MD, FACOG, obstetrician and

gynecologist at Mercyhealth

Danielle Rhoades' daughter Leona

is a ‟spitfire,ˮ says her mother.


Danielle’s obstetrician and gynecologist at Mercyhealth, Patricia A. Nahn, MD, FACOG, thought she would be a perfect candidate to try a brand-new pain relief method for laboring moms: nitrous oxide. Commonly called “laughing gas,” nitrous oxide is a colorless gas with a sweet odor that can have an anesthetic effect when inhaled. It often is used in dental procedures, but until recently, most hospitals in the United States did not offer it for childbirth.

“We needed to have a very specific type of machine to use it,” says Dr. Nahn, who led the effort to add this state-of-the-art technology to Mercyhealth.

"More and more hospitals across the U.S. are now adopting nitrous oxide as another option for women."

COMPLETE CONTROLBefore nitrous oxide was available, there were two commonly used pain relief methods in childbirth: an epidural and narcotics. An epidural provides complete numbness from the waist down. While it is an effective pain relief method for many women, it also can slow down labor. Used at full strength, it makes pushing difficult because the woman cannot feel the contractions and, therefore, does not know when she should be pushing. Narcotics can

be administered as well, and though the medications do not completely eliminate the pain, they do alter the patient’s mental state and stay in the body for a short period of time.

A laboring mother receives nitrous oxide through a mask that allows her to both inhale and exhale the gas. The gas leaves her body as soon as she exhales. Like narcotics, it does not eliminate pain — it simply relaxes the patient and makes it easier for her to tolerate discomfort. “Everybody knows that if you’re anxious or fearful, anything that hurts is going to hurt more,” says Dr. Nahn. “The nitrous oxide helps relieve that anxiety. The big benefit is that it’s patient-centered. The lady who is in labor knows what she wants, and she is able to control when she uses it.”Danielle chose to have nitrous oxide available because she liked the fact that she was in complete control of

Leona fits right in with the rest of Danielle's children — daughter Quinn, 2; and stepson Keegan, 12.

“THERE AREN'T MANY MEDICATIONS OUT THERE THAT LET YOU HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OVER WHEN YOU WANT THEM.”

— DANIELLE RHOADES

whether she used it or not. “When I was in labor and I got to the point where I was in a lot of pain, I inhaled really hard, and I had relief from the sharp, burning labor pains,” she says.

“I learned how to breathe in and how much I needed.” However, she cautions that the medication does not provide complete pain relief. “It’s not for somebody who cannot tolerate pain. It just takes the edge off.”

Nitrous oxide is especially useful for women who are interested in a natural labor. Because it is inhaled, a laboring woman does not require an IV to use it; she simply needs to pull a mask to her face. It does not affect fetal heart rate monitoring, and it does not alter

the woman’s mental state in between contractions. Once pushing begins, the woman stops breathing the nitrous oxide so she can concentrate on the birthing process.

“We have it available so that women have another choice when they are planning whether they will want pain relief,” says Dr. Nahn. “If they want to use breathing techniques during labor, it helps them focus on that.”

Danielle’s daughter Leona was born on May 25, 2016, and is now a thriving, active baby who loves to go on walks and suck her thumbs and toes. “She’s a spitfire,” says Danielle. “She’s a lot different than her older sister, but she’s

still a good girl.” Danielle says she’s glad she tried the nitrous oxide. “There aren’t many medications out there that let you have complete control over when you want them.”

To learn more about using nitrous oxide during labor at Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center, talk to your obstetrician.

The Rhoades family, from left: Danielle, Leona, Keegan, Andrew and Quinn.


PHOTO ESSAY: POTTER FESTFA N S F L O C K T O E D G E R T O N F O R T H R E E - D A Y E V E N T

In October 2106, the city of Edgerton hosted its first-ever annual Potter Fest — and the event drew tens of thousands of die-hard Harry Potter fans from around

the Midwest. The idea for the event came from Depot Café owner Scott Cramer, who was brainstorming how he could use his property to draw customers to his and others’

businesses. During the festival, downtown businesses transformed into locations from the wildly popular book series and movies, and university teams faced each other in Quidditch, the sport created by author J.K. Rowling in which participants compete against each other on brooms.

Trevor, Abigail, and Alden Tennant from Clinton, IA

are dressed as their favorite characters: Harry Potter,

Hermione Granger, and Dobby, a house elf.

Students from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and

Loyola University in Chicago compete in Quidditch, the sport

author J.K. Rowling invented for the Harry Potter books.

Gwen and Henry Hannes of Madison, WI, ride the zipline at

Zippy’s School of Flight.Tracy Hataj of Edgerton stops to give a smile.

Quinn Johnson of Janesville and Sarah Boettcher and Caleb

Trevino of Milton enjoy the beautiful afternoon.


Siblings Adam and Holly Cunningham of

Peoria, IL are ready for fun.

Ivy Shaver of Chicago, IL; Winona Storms of Oregon, WI; and Nicholas Hoffman and

Ryan Hoffman of Madison, WI are big Harry Potter fans.

There are four-legged Harry Potter

fans, too.

Dana Peterson (dressed as Professor

Minerva McGonagall) and Kathryn

Hendee, both of Rockton, IL, enjoy

some butterbeer.

Molly, Madalyn, and Josie Roland of the Quad Cities are all

smiles at the festival.

Loyola plays Southern Illinois in a game of Quidditch.

Traveling Quidditch team TC

Frost from the Twin Cities

in Minnesota plays against a

team from the University of

Michigan in Ann Arbor.


COMPASSIONATE CARE

As a retired high school biology and physical science teacher, Bev Haas understands more than the average person about health care issues. She asks all the right questions — about isotopes, half-lives

and different types of chemotherapy — and when her bloodwork comes in, she knows the significance of the different numbers. Still, it’s one matter to analyze data — and it’s quite another when the data is all about your own cancer diagnosis.

E N D O M E T R I A L C A N C E R P A T I E N T

A P P R E C I A T E S H E R D O C T O R ' S S U P P O R T

Bev Haas's rescue dog Lady Aruba

has stayed by her side throughout

her treatments.


Bev, 66, of Janesville, first expressed alarm in June 2016 when she noticed vaginal bleeding, even though she was post-menopausal. She saw a gynecologist, who performed a dilation and curettage (D&C), a procedure to remove tissue from the inside of a woman’s uterus. The lab results were conclusive: the tissue was cancerous. The gynecologist referred Bev to Ali Mahdavi, MD, FACOG, gynecologic oncologist with Mercyhealth. A gynecologic oncologist is a physician with expertise in three different areas

— gynecology, surgery, and medical oncology. He can treat and manage the care of women with endometrial (uterine), ovarian, cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancers. Because he

is so specialized, he has extensive knowledge of all the newest and most groundbreaking treatment options for gynecologic cancers. His patients take comfort in the knowledge that they are seeing the area's foremost expert in their specific disease. In Bev’s case, atotal hysterectomy was the first step totreating her cancer.

The tumor encompassed 60 percent of Bev’s uterine wall. It was an aggressive and dangerous cancer, which meant it would require extensive treatment. “Dr. Mahdavi called the pathologist three times to make sure it was the cancer he thought it was, because that was helping him formulate his treatment plan,” says Bev. “I loved that he was

so thorough.”

“I wanted to make sure the pathologist was confident in his diagnosis,” says Dr. Mahdavi, “because if it was truly a high-grade cancer, Bev would require additional treatment. That is a major undertaking for a patient.”

A HARD ROADDr. Mahdavi scheduled Bev’s hysterectomy for August 8 at Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center in Janesville. During the laparoscopic procedure, he made five small incisions and removed her uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, cervix, and lymph nodes in a minimally invasive, robotic-assisted surgery. “Because I

“IF BEV DID NOT UNDERGO ANY TREATMENT BESIDES SURGERY, SHE WOULD BE AT A HIGH RISK FOR THE CANCER COMING BACK ... WE OFFERED HER A TREATMENT REGIMEN THAT IS BASED ON CLINICAL TRIALS.”

— ALI MAHDAVI, MD, FACOG, GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGIST AT MERCYHEALTH


“DR. MADHAVI CALLED THE PATHOLOGIST THREE TIMES TO MAKE SURE IT WAS THE CANCER HE THOUGHT IT WAS ... I LOVED THAT HE WAS SO THOROUGH.”

— BEV HAAS

have such specialized training, I can perform complex surgeries such as radical hysterectomies in which I remove the lymph nodes as well as all the reproductive organs,” says Dr. Mahdavi. “When I am performing other gynecologic surgeries, I also am trained to remove part of the bowel if necessary.”

A biopsy confirmed that Bev’s cancer was Stage 1B, which meant it had not yet spread to her lymph nodes or other organs. However, because it was so aggressive, Dr. Mahdavi felt the best line of treatment was to perform both chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

“If Bev did not undergo any treatment besides surgery, she would be at a high risk for the cancer coming back,” he says. “We offered her a treatment regimen that is based on clinical trials.”

Bev underwent six rounds of chemotherapy at the Mercyhealth Cancer Center in Janesville. The treatments were hard on her, but she appreciated how caring and attentive the staff there were. “This team of caregivers is great,” she says. “They would ask me, ‘Are you uncomfortable? Are you sick? We’ve got pills for that.’” While she didn’t experience much nausea, she did suffer from exhaustion

and neuropathy — numbness and weakness in nerves all over her body.

Cancer treatment was hard on Bev psychologically, too — she’s normally an avid outdoorswoman who enjoys archery, hunting, landscaping, fishing, golfing and traveling. But a cancer diagnosis — and the accompanying fatigue — took the wind out of her sails. She has relied on friends and her two dogs to help her weather the storm during treatments. Dr. Mahdavi, too, has been a big support to her as she struggles to stay focused on the endgame. “He just exudes positivity,” she says. “He wants me to succeed. I’m very fortunate to be with him.”

“As positive as I am in discussing the treatment and outcome,” says Dr. Mahdavi, “I’m also very realistic. In Bev’s case, additional treatment could make a huge difference. I wanted her to understand this treatment is very positive, despite all the side effects that can be associated with it. This could potentially save her life.”

“I want to provide comprehensive and personal care to patients with gynecologic cancer,” Dr. Mahdavi adds. “A cancer diagnosis has a major impact on a patient’s body, as well as on her psychological state. It is very important that I have a close relationship and open communication with the patient.”

Bev values the relationship with both Dr. Mahdavi and his staff. “These people will do anything to help me feel better,” she says.

To make an appointment with Dr. Mahdavi, call (608) 756-6444.

"He just exudes positivity," Bev says of Dr. Mahdavi.

An avid outdoorswoman, Bev loves spending time with her

two dogs — Piper, left,and Lady Aruba.


INSPIRE ROCK COUNTY HELPS STUDENTS EXPLORE CAREERS

A GOOD START

Amy Kenyon has seen firsthand the importance of career counseling in high school. The school-to-career/youth apprenticeship coordinator at Milton High School works with young people on all ends of the spectrum — excellent students, struggling students and everyone in between — who desperately need guidance about what they should

do after graduation. Now that the state of Wisconsin has mandated that students need to have a full-fledged career plan by the time they leave school, she has found that Inspire Rock County is becoming an increasingly useful tool for teenagers who want to figure out who they should be.

Inspire Rock County is a three-year-old program funded by Rock County 5.0 that helps students explore career possibilities and connect with local employers to learn more about their options. The students use CareerCruising.com to learn which professions would be good matches for their interests, ask questions of Rock County business owners and

professionals via message boards, and arrange job shadowing opportunities.

“The number of businesses that are participating in this program is continuing to grow, which is so important for the students,” says Amy.

FINDING THE RIGHT FITAs part of its efforts to comply with state requirements, the School

District of Milton (along with other school districts in Rock County) has implemented a career planning curriculum that starts in 6th grade. At designated times every month, students participate in some aspect of the career planning process during their homeroom. One of the most important steps is the Matchmaker Assessment on CareerCruising.com, on which students

Milton High School junior McHanna Markham works with a preschooler during the school's Careers With Children class.

Amy Kenyon acts as a career

lifeline for students — both

during and after high school.


answer 129 questions to learn which careers would best suit their interests. Then, they choose two of those careers and save them to their online profile for use in further projects.

For student McHanna Markham, now a junior at Milton High School, the Matchmaker Assessment results were no surprise: Among the careers that popped up after she finished answering the questions were “elementary teacher” and “early childhood educator” — both of which are professions that have interested her for years. Last year, she took Careers with Children, a class that teaches students how to care for young children and culminates with an opportunity to work with youngsters in a preschool-like atmosphere. This semester, she is taking a class called Early Childhood Education that matches her up with a local school for an hour each day. “She’s almost like a student

teacher in high school,” says Amy.McHanna worked with Amy to set up a job shadow at a local 4K program, where she observed how teachers work with children and had the opportunity to lead a few projects herself. “It was eye-opening,” says McHanna. “I really enjoyed working with the little ones, sharing my heart with them and seeing them grow every day.”

The Class of 2018 is the first group of students who have to create a career plan before graduation. McHanna says she believes the process is nothing but positive. “In the long term, it sets us on the right path,” she says. “It’s so much better than having to change your career path in the middle of college and end up dropping classes.”

Academic and career planning doesn’t just help students find a career they would like, says Amy — it also helps

McHanna has received several opportunities

through Inspire Rock County and her school to

practice skills in her chosen career.

Amy works with student Alex Carrel

as he browses through options on

CareerCruising.com.


ROCK COUNTY 5.0Rock County 5.0 is a county-wide initiative that strives to accomplish five goals:

1. Retain and expand businesses.

2. Attract new businesses.

3. Focus on small businesses.

4. Position real estate to attract businesses.

5. Analyze and understand the available work force in Rock County.

It has received financial and in-kind support from more than 60 organizations. In Phase I, which took place between 2010 and 2015, more than $750,000 was invested into Rock County 5.0 to support its projects, which include real estate positioning and business attraction and investment.

them determine how they will support themselves after graduation. Students are required to create a budget based on the salary they will be making and provide evidence to show that their plan will be sustainable. “We want them to be realistic with this,” says Amy.

BUILDING TOMORROW’S WORKFORCEInspire Rock County strives to give students the dose of realism that is necessary when planning for their future. Teenagers can talk with adults who work at the jobs in which they are interested to learn exactly what that job entails. “I really believe in this

program,” says Mark Warren, co-owner of American Awards and Promotions and a participant in Inspire Rock County. “It teaches students about reality rather than about some of the things they think they know.”

Since its inception, Inspire Rock County has continued to engage more and more students and their teachers. Message board posts on CareerCruising have doubled since 2014 — the system logged more than 1,300 messages between December 2015 and November 2016. Additionally, nearly 3,000 students have participated in work-based learning

activities such as job shadowing, career fairs and mock interviews. “By providing a platform that informs, educates and connects today’s employers with tomorrow's workforce, Inspire Rock County is facilitating supply and demand match-making opportunities,” says James Otterstein, economic development manager for the Rock County Development Alliance.

“It is contributing toward building tomorrow’s workforce pipeline for the area’s business community.”

In her office, Amy has a framed copy of

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's proclamation

that November should be designated

"Career Development Month."


SAFE SITTERSafe Sitter is a medically accurate child care course developed for 11- to 13-year olds. It teaches the skills needed to safely care for children — infant through school age. Safety issues, child development, rescue breathing and first aid will be discussed. The Safe Sitter class includes instruction regarding Heimlich manuever and rescue breathing on CPR mannequins. Students are encouraged to arrive promptly and to bring a sack lunch. Held on March 11 at the Mercyhealth Care Building, 580 N. Washington St., Janesville, 8 am-3 pm, in the Marketing Conference Room on the 4th floor. Cost: $45.

STRIDE FOR HEALTH MALL WALKING PROGRAMThis program, sponsored by Mercyhealth and the Janesville Mall, is free and open to the public. It is held the second Tuesday of each month, 8:15-9:30 am, at the Janesville Mall Food Court, 2500 Milton Ave. Monthly meetings include a heart-healthy continental breakfast, health screenings, door prize drawings, and an educational health-related presentation.

Participants receive a free t-shirt when they sign up for membership in Stride for Health.

BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP For women diagnosed with any type of breast cancer. Meets the second Thursday of the month, 6:30–8 pm in the Mercyhealth North conference room, Janesville.

GRIEFCARE SUPPORT GROUP Mercyhealth at Home Hospice invites you to share and receive the support of others facing the challenges of grieving the loss of a loved one. Family, friends and children are welcome; the group meets the second Tuesday of the month, 6 pm in the Mercyhealth North conference room, Janesville.

STROKE SURVIVORS’ SUPPORT GROUP Recovering from or living with the effects of a stroke is a challenge worth sharing. At our Stroke Survivors’ Support Group, individuals and loved ones affected by stroke have a safe place to share emotions and personal experiences, seek and give advice

and exchange practical information with others. First Wednesday of every month, 4:30–5:30 pm. Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center, Room 1128A.

CANCER FACTS DISCUSSION GROUP Cancer is a common disease but remains a mystery to many of us. Learn the facts at this free group. Meets the second Wednesday of every other month, 6 pm in the Mercyhealth North community room, Janesville.

CANCER SUPPORT GROUP When you or a loved one faces cancer, it is nice to know you are not alone. This group brings together anyone touched by cancer, at any stage in your journey. Meets the first and third Wednesday of the month, 10–11 am, in the Mercyhealth Michael Berry Building, 2nd floor, Janesville.

WIDOWS’ COFFEE SUPPORT GROUP Are you recently widowed and looking for a group to socialize with and make new friends? This group meets on the last Monday of every month at 10 am at the Citrus Café, 208 S. Main St., Janesville.

4 JOHN MEASNER MAGIC SHOW2 pm Janesville Performing Arts Center408 S. Main St.janesvillepac.org 5 “ROUTE 66,” PART OF THE LIVE ON MAIN STREET SERIES2 pmJanesville Performing Arts Center408 S. Main St.janesvillepac.org 10 DADDY DAUGHTER DANCE SUPPORTING CORNERSTONE OF HOPE (FORMERLY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY)5:30 pmHoliday Inn Express / Janesville Conference Center 3100 Wellington Placecsohwi.com 25 SWING INTO SPRING DANCE SUPPORTING ECHO 7 pmPontiac Convention Center 2809 N. Pontiac Dr., Janesvilleechojanesville.org

31 YOUNG TALENT CABARET 7 pmJanesville Performing Arts Center408 S. Main St.janesvillepac.org

6 YWCA WOMEN OF DISTINCTION AWARDS5:30 pmHoliday Inn Express / Janesville Conference Center 3100 Wellington Placeywcarockcounty.org

23 CROP HUNGER RUN/WALK1 pmCargill United Methodist Church2000 Wesley Ave., Janesvillecrophungerwalk.org

29 HOUSE OF MERCY CHARITY BALL5 pm - midnightJanesville Country Club 2615 Memorial Dr.

MAY 9 KIDS’ MUSIC AND DRAMA SPRING FESTIVAL7 pmJanesville Performing Arts Center408 S. Main St.janesvillepac.org

13 JPAC FAMILY FEST 10 amJanesville Performing Arts Center408 S. Main St.janesvillepac.org 20-21 CIVIL WAR LIVING HISTORY FESTIVAL Milton House Museum and North Goodrich Park18 S. Janesville St., Miltonmiltonhouse.org

JUNE26 MERCYHEALTH DEVELOPMENT GOLF PLAY DATEBeloit Club2327 S. Riverside Dr., Beloit, WImercyhealthsystem.org

MARCH

APRIL

CALENDAR OF E VENTS

31 FAMILY FUN NIGHT BENEFITTING YWCA ROCK COUNTY 5:30 pmEdison Middle School1649 S. Chatham St., Janesvilleywcarockcounty.org

For other support group and community education offerings, visit mercyhealthsystem.org/classes. If you are interested in obtaining a speaker on a specific topic, call (608) 743-2060.

MERCYHEALTH CL A SSES – WINTER 2017


Passion drives everything we do to deliver medical

excellence with compassionate care for the very best

patient experiences. It inspires us to rise above what’s

good and make lives better every day. So go bolder,

shine brighter and live the passion that moves you.

Mercy Health System is now Mercyhealth

Live with a passion that never rests

winter 2071gpgsmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/gpgs_janesville_… · perinatal center for...

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