Dr. Mathis Runs for St. Jude!

Photo by Mike Maple, The Commercial Appeal

 On December 4, 2010,  thousands of people ran through downtown Memphis, Midtown, and the St. Jude's campus to raise money for children's cancer research. Our own Dr. Chris Mathis was one of those people! Every year, he participates in the St. Jude Marathon Weekend and this year he achieved a personal record in the half marathon (13.1 miles)!


Dr. Mathis says, "Running and raising funds for St Jude is on my calendar every December. We tend to take for granted having the world's premier children's cancer hospital right in our backyard. St Jude also has added a biking event this year in the late summer which Dr. Frizzell and I plan to do next year. Right, Dr Kip?"


Dr. Mathis stays fit by running, biking, swimming, competing in triathlons, and playing neighborhood kickball. If anyone out there has a New Year's Resolution to get fit this year, consider signing up for a race! It's a great motivator, and it's also a great way to raise money for a cause you believe in. Try starting with a 5K, but in time you may be ready to run a half marathon like Dr. Mathis!


"Training for the half marathon doesn't take too much time from your schedule. Four runs a week will do. Allow three months to get ready. Speed work one day a week, a long run one day a week, and middle distance or cross training the other two. Find a training partner if you can or join Memphis Runners Track Club to get the scoop on group runs around town," advises Dr. Mathis.


What was Dr. Mathis's favorite part of the race? "The best parts of the run are Beale Street with all the screaming supporters and the St Jude campus with patients and their families lining the route. This year I ran with a friend in his second year of med school who was running the full marathon so I couldn't complain about the pace! See you all next year!"

Happy New Year! Resolutions for a Healthy Family

The new year is a time for renewed commitments to yourself. The slate is wiped clean of all of the excesses and mistakes of the last year, and hope and optimism abound. Many of us use the new year as an opportunity to make resolutions - promises to ourselves that we're going to be better people, that 2011 is going to be the best year yet, and that we will finally make those lifestyle changes that can be so difficult. Here are three resolutions you can make with your family for healthier kids and a healthier you!

1. Eat more fruits and veggies!
Aim for at least 5 servings a day. It's fun to keep track and you can even make it a competition to see who can get there first! Eat a variety of colors to get an array of different vitamins and minerals. It's easy to add more fresh fruits and veggies to your diet.

2. Get active together!
There are so many fun ways to get active! You can take the dogs for a walk, go to the park and play catch, play active video games, or just dance around in the living room to your favorite tunes! One of our favorite ways to get active in 2011 is the new Memphis Greenline, that gave us seven miles of biking/walking/jogging bliss in 2010. Get out there and get moving!


Photo art courtesy of the Greater Memphis Greenline

 3. Get some sleep!
This sounds like a no-brainer, but research shows that most parents, and a lot of kids, are sleep-deprived. You will be healthier and happier with a good dose of shut-eye. Healthy sleep habits will help your kids grow into happy, energetic, and healthy adults.Happy new year to all of our patients and their families! Stay healthy, happy, and safe in 2011!

Caring for Kids (and Getting Lost) in the New LeBonheur Children's Hospital!



A beautiful view of downtown Memphis from
atop Le Bonheur (photo by Dr. Frizzell) 

We usually see our patients in our offices at Pediatric Consultants for routine visits. We check your growth and development, give vaccinations, and make sure everything is going okay in your lives. We also see you when you’re not feeling so great. We patch you up and offer our best advice and maybe prescribe some medication to help you feel better again.

Sometimes, our patients get very sick and have to go to the hospital. We hope you never have that experience, but if you do, we’ll take great care of you there, too. And lucky for you, we have one of the country’s best children’s hospitals right here in Memphis!

On December 4th and 5th, Le Bonheur moved into its beautiful new home! Dr. Ann Lankford was caring for patients in the hospital on the weekend of the “big move” and had this to say, “The new Le Bonheur is beautiful! The architecture and the artwork are truly stunning and I found myself gazing around at everything: light fixtures, statues, paintings, not to mention the spectacular view of downtown. All the families seemed very pleased with the moving process and the new rooms are very comfortable. Memphis has gained a new gem!”
 

"Where the Wind Plays" by Yvonne Bobo
(photo courtesy of Le Bonheur)


Art is part of the healing process at Le Bonheur. Creative works of art by renowned regional artists and even local children are everywhere you turn. Dr. Kip Frizzell says, “The building is visually spectacular. It's hard not to get distracted by the beautiful views. I also notice new art work each time I walk a new corridor and some of the pieces were done by my patients. So, that's fun when I recognize the artist name on one of the pieces.”



The first PedFlight! Emergency
crews can reach the ED in less than
a minute thanks to a dedicated elevator
(photo courtesy of Le Bonheur)

While you’re admiring the artwork and gazing at the spectacular views, be careful you don’t get lost! Dr. Frizzell says, “On a recent trip to the radiology department and then to the ED, I had to have an escort to show me the way out. The place is BIG.” And take Dr. Leon Livingston’s advice! “Dr. Scott and I did get lost briefly but found our way back without bread crumbs. Do not use the stairwell as a short cut. They will lock behind you!”