What's Being Talked About

  • Joan Adams says ...

    Healthy Living: Surgeon Performs Robotic First at Coliseum Medical Center

    Portia, please keep us updated as different types of surgeries are performed robotically. All cancer patients are looking for less invasive procedures. My surgery was harder to get over than any chemo I've had so far.

    from Healthy Living: Surgeon Performs Robotic First at Coliseum Medical Center.

  • deborah c. ensley says ...

    Healthy Living: Be a Bone Marrow Donor

    thank you for this opportunity. a phone number, an/or building name would certainly be helpful particularly if you are not a macon resident. looking to see you soon...

    from Healthy Living: Be a Bone Marrow Donor.

  • Sarah says ...

    Healthy Living:Warner Robins Man Challenges Central Georgians to Lose a Ton

    I lost 120 pounds doing Sparkpeople and have kept it off for almost 2 years now. There is so much at their site to help people...even those with medical issues. I'm so proud of Stan for his success!

    from Healthy Living:Warner Robins Man Challenges Central Georgians to Lose a Ton.

  • Tim Price says ...

    Healthy Living:Warner Robins Man Challenges Central Georgians to Lose a Ton

    Stan is the one who guided me in the early stages of my weight loss and fitness campaign. He directed to Spark People and I put the app on my iPhone and began tracking my calories and exercise. He also helped me immensely with my diet and food choices even taking me to the local Kroger to show me what and what not to eat. Go Stan! Press ON! Phil 3:12-14

    from Healthy Living:Warner Robins Man Challenges Central Georgians to Lose a Ton.

  • Crayons says ...

    Healthy Living:Warner Robins Man Challenges Central Georgians to Lose a Ton

    Stan is an inspiration to us all!! I too subscribe to SparkPeople. It has indeed saved my life. The education I've received about nutrition and proper exercise is outstanding! I found out how many calories and what kinds of foods I should be eating. And how many calories I needed to burn to get back to a healthy weight. I can track my nutrition and fitness and make a grocery list using their awesome recipes. That has been one of the main factors to my success. Three years ago I was over weight with high cholesterol and blood sugar. I lost the weight and have kept it off for over 2 years! I did it with proper nutrition and exercise. Not once did I take meds. I have a healthy waist size, I dropped my cholesterol 43 points and my blood sugar is spot on! It can be done! Stan is living proof!!

    from Healthy Living:Warner Robins Man Challenges Central Georgians to Lose a Ton.

Local News

  • Healthy Living: When Alzheimer's Disease Strikes Too Close to Home

    Alzheimer's is a disease that doesn't just affect the patient but affects the family as well. I will introduce you to one Alzheimer’s caregiver hit nine times by the disease Art Silsby is one of the more than 54% of the U.S. population touched in some way by Alzheimer's disease. "It has been kind of devastating. We have nine people in our family that have it... and it is kind of hard to describe how it affects our family, but it is kind of heartbreaking. “ Art is the primary caretaker for his wife Carol. Carol is a retired educator who took pride in caring for her family and her home. Now the roles are reversed. “I am now the cook, the dishwasher, the laundryman. I take care of all the chores that she used to do. All the household chores that she used to do, I now do them. I make sure she gets her medicine and stuff like that. “ Despite the help and support they receive from family friends and the Alzheimer's association, the disease's impact on their family is far reaching. “I think the worst part is that when the time comes. She is not going to recognize me. I think that is going to be the worst part. “ But Art remains hopeful for an Alzheimer's cure. “ We need to get more money in the program for research. We need to have everybody out there. Even if you don't have it, talk to your representatives, your senator, all that. To see if they can find a cure for this disease. “ Art is very active in the race to find because it is a disease that affects everyone. "How do you know it is not in your system? How do you know your husband, your wife, and your children. Everybody should be concerned, just like they are about cancer... or any other disease.”

  • Healthy Living: Living With Adult Autism

    Unlocking the keys to the mystery behind rising autism rates has dominated headlines during autism awareness month. In this Healthy Living Portia Lake will introduce you to a talented award winning musician who describes his journey from autistic child to autistic adult.

  • Healthy Living: Surgeon Performs Robotic First at Coliseum Medical Center

    Dr. Laura Reed sits perched in a chair and deftly peers into a 3-D magnification viewfinder to perform a robotic first in Central Georgia. By precisely manipulating the robotic arms, she is able to use the da Vinci Surgical System as a second set of eyes and hands to assist her in the operating room. While robotic procedures are commonly being used for gynecological and urological procedures, Dr. Reed says this is the first time this technology is being used for thoracic surgery. “Robotic procedures are really an evolution of thoracic surgery,” Dr. Reed remarks. “It started out we were making really gigantic incisions, several inches long, from the spine all the way around all the way to the front of the chest to do our thoracic procedures. Robotics is the next step.” For surgeons, these enhanced capabilities mean better visualization and dexterity. What was once a six inch incision in traditional surgery is now reduced to dime sized incisions using daVinci robotic technology. For patients like Cheryl Matlock, this means a less invasive procedure with less scarring, a shorter hospital stay, less post operative discomfort and a quicker return to normal daily activities. Matlock was the first patient to have lung surgery performed with robotic technology at the Coliseum Medical Center. After a recent diagnosis of Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy, an enlargement of the mediastinal lymph nodes, Dr. Reed was able to perform a lung biopsy and stop the spread of disease in the 57 year old’s body. Dr. Reed was able to do this through just a few incisions between the ribs and without splitting the patient’s breastbone. Dr. Reed viewed the procedure through a high resolution 3D camera inside the patient for magnified dexterity, precision and control. Matlock is ecstatic that this technology is available for other thoracic surgery patients. “Oh it is wonderful. I just feel so thankful that this technology is out there. I was so glad that it was available.” According to Dr. Reed, feedback from patients about the new technology has been overwhelmingly positive. “People have been very apprehensive at the start,” admits Dr. Reed. “It is a new technology and the idea of the robot is a little bit scary to some of them. But patients are very pleased with the results that they have had. “ Weeks after the surgery, Matlock says she recovered from surgery with no problem and has already returned to exercising and her daily routine. Following this surgery’s success, Dr. Reed plans to continue to offer thoracic robotic surgery in the middle Georgia area. Dr. Reed believes the future of robotic surgery is promising: “I think it will continue to advance. The instrumentation is getting better all the time. I think it won't be very long before we find that every procedure that we do can be done through the chest with robotics.” Dr. Reed, who holds the distinction of being the first female cardiothoracic Surgeon to practice in Georgia, is proud to lead the way in using this new technology: “I think this is huge. It is really on the cutting edge of thoracic surgery. Having it here and having it available in Georgia is really a great thing. “

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