Holiday stress is no joke! Here are some quick tips to help manage and cope from Trish Fehr, a licensed clinical professional counselor and certified alcohol and drug counselor with Memorial Behavioral Health–Counseling Associates. Stick to a budget. Over-spending during…
Each day, the Memorial Medical Center cafeteria serves about 5,000 meals to patients, employees and visitors. But Food and Nutrition Services also set aside time to prepare about 75 meals for a different group: the local residents who receive a…
The decision to drink and drive was not a smart way to start 2017 for Taylorville teenager Carter Sinkhorn. Early New Year’s morning, Carter, then 17, crashed his truck into a tree, less than a mile from home. Thanks to…
Since June 2017, most newborns at Memorial Health System hospitals have waited about 24 hours to receive their first bath. But, trust us, that’s a good thing. Three of the four MHS hospitals have maternity units–Memorial Medical Center in Springfield,…
In many ways, Memorial Medical Center was a fitting venue for Emily Kren’s wedding. It was there, 38 years ago, that her parents Jerry and Cindy Biggart first met, while both were employed in the hospital kitchen. Cindy, who still…
Ally Fairfield was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 23 years old, and an army mobilized to fortify her for the difficult journey. Ally’s Army, a group of 30 family members and friends has rallied around the owner of…
Kara Pecoraro woke up panicky from a vivid nightmare. In it, she needed to see a doctor, but no one was willing to take her to one. When she awoke that night in mid-February 2016, the New Berlin mom and…
The back to school season means homework to complete, lunches to make, extracurricular activities to schedule and sometimes–much to the dismay of parents everywhere–head lice to combat. “It’s the dread of all parents,” said Jennifer Snyder, MD, and pediatrician with…
The minute she saw the umbrella, she knew. They had been acquaintances for a long time. Both were from small-town Virden; He was just one year ahead in school. Their kids went to the same daycare. She saw him almost…
College can be an exciting time for students–a fresh start, new friends, redefining yourself–but it also can be a very overwhelming and stressful time, too. With 75 percent of all mental health conditions beginning by the age of 24 and…