Latest news with #ArnotHealth
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Arnot Health raises flag to honor local organ donor and promote life-saving legacy
ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) — Arnot Health held a flag raising ceremony Tuesday, April 8 to celebrate and promote organ donation as part of National Donate Life Month. According to Arnot Health Chief Nursing Officer Catherine Luchsinger, April is National Donate Life Month, and the ceremony specifically honored a local organ donor, his family, and the lives saved through selfless acts. 'We have learned through medical science that our organs can go on and continue to be preserved and help other individuals,' said Luchsinger. 'So, it's become very important to give these individuals a second chance at life,' she said. Tick season is here: Local doctor shares how to stay safe from Lyme disease One local family that understands the power of organ donation firsthand helped raise the flag in memory of their son and brother, Billy Lowe. 'The fact that one person can impact so many lives, whether it's a living donor or a passed or deceased donor I just think that the fact they're able to do so much even after they pass is very very, important to us and very cool,' said Billy's sister, Sibby Lowe. Billy died in 2020, but his legacy continues through the lives he helped save as an organ donor. His family described him as athletic, kind, and outgoing — someone whose spirit lives on in others. 'Billy is our older brother he was a very athletic person, very kind person, he was very outgoing which was super awesome,' explained Billy's sister, Anna Lowe. Chemung County Health Department extends STI clinic hours Billy's family also said this month as a whole means a lot to them because Billy played such a big part in organ donation. 'We went through something really hard in 2020 but with organ donation we were able to kind of turn something that was really hard on our family into something positive,' said Sibby. 'So just this whole month in general is really important to us,' she said. For the Lowe family, that positive impact became real when they met a man who received one of Billy's organs and is alive today because of it. 'We actually were able to connect with a man that has one of our brother's organs,' explained Sibby. 'He is super outgoing, he comes to our golf tournaments, he's come to some of our sporting events, we're very close with him,' she said. Measles is highly contagious, experts explain how to stay protected For staff at Arnot Health that have worked firsthand at patient's bedsides, they say organ donation impacts everyone involved. 'It's such an honor for all of us, for these families to come back and recognize not only the patients, but we get to honor the family too for preserving their family member's legacy,' said Luchsinger. Becoming an organ donor is simple and can make a life-saving difference. According to Luchsinger, there are different ways to register to become an organ donor. 'There are multiple ways, one of them is your driver's license so every year that you renew your driver's license you can sign up for organ donation,' exclaimed Luchsinger. 'There's a registry, there's also opportunities when you're in a hospital or at your clinics with regular care,' she said. For everyone involved organ donation is not just a medical procedure — it's a lasting legacy of hope, love and second chances. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Measles is highly contagious, experts explain how to stay protected
ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) — Measles cases are increasing nationwide and health officials in the Southern Tier are urging the public to take precautions. According to local health officials, the highly contagious virus affects both children and adults. Health officials say it's typically spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Even if you don't have direct contact with someone who is sick, the virus can linger in the air for up to two hours, putting anyone nearby at risk. Infectious Disease Specialist, Justin Nistico from Arnot Health said there are symptoms of measles to look out for. 'You start seeing the telltale symptoms of either a fever, cough, runny nose and maybe this typical rash, which is usually a whole-body rash, you may even just see it in spots on the face,' said Dr. Nistico. LECOM and EOP to host free community health fair 'Measles is very contagious, it's assumed that for every one person who has measles if they were to walk into a room with unvaccinated people, that for every one person who is sick with measles, they could infect nine to 10 individuals,' said Sarah Mattison, Chemung County Deputy Public Health Director. Dr. Nistico said a rash is more common in children, and some may also experience muscle aches. He said measles can also lead to severe health complications, including brain swelling, and in some cases, even death, particularly in young children. Health officials stressed that the best way to prevent measles is through vaccination. According to Mattison, the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella is given in a two-dose series and is highly effective. Medication disposal event available to Chemung County residents in April Dr. Nistico added children typically get the first dose around the age of one and there's a booster given at the age of four. 'Children who have been vaccinated with the MMR vaccine rarely ever develop infection with measles, children who also get the vaccine rarely have complications if they are infected with measles,' Nistico said. 'If you don't get vaccinated your risk of getting measles is quite high,' he said. Mattison said anyone born before 1957 is presumed to already have natural immunity from having been exposed to measles during their own childhood. EOP to host program to promote healthy eating in the Southern Tier There has been some discussion about other ways to combat measles, according to Dr. Nistico, including the use of Vitamin A. While it may help malnourished children have better outcomes, Dr. Nistico emphasized that it is not a cure. 'There is a lot of discussion about using Vitamin A, the data behind use of Vitamin A is in children who're malnourished,' said Dr. Nistico. 'Taking Vitamin A tends to give them nourishment and vitamins and also at the same time helps them not have as serious an outcome with measles, but it's not to say it's going to treat or cure measles. A lot of other things that are tried out just don't have any data associated with them, so the most important one is really this MMR or the measles vaccine,' he said. With measles cases on the rise across the nation, local health officials urged people to check their vaccination records and be aware of symptoms. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
