Mark Wiegardt isn’t the kind of man to complain much. Owner of Pearl Point Oyster in Netarts, Oregon, and a fourth-generation oysterman, Mark knows something about hard work, integrity and the importance of family. But, like many people, practicing self-care often takes a back seat to the responsibility of being a father, husband, and hard worker. Every once in awhile, we need to slow down some, and check in on our own health – both physically and mentally. Arguably, Mark was reminded of this life-lesson the hard way.
In late 2017, Mark experienced persistent fatigue and weight loss. “I thought, maybe I was just getting old. Working on the bay, in the oyster business is tough work, so you expect to be fatigued…,” Mark trails off as he recounts the events leading up to a discovery that has forever altered his life – and the life of those who care about him.
“I was losing weight, but it was over time so I didn’t really notice it, others did, but I didn’t. Until one day shaving, I saw it in the mirror.” Yet, Mark continued to procrastinate about getting checked out by a doctor.
It was when Mark was visiting friends in southern Oregon, that things finally came to a head. “I had a really good friend that finally convinced me I needed to get checked out, really checked out. I reluctantly caved in.” Mark went to the local hospital and got an endoscopy and colonoscopy. “When I woke up, I’ll never forget it, the nurses wouldn’t look at me. Something was really wrong.” The doctor told Mark they had found a stage 4 cancerous mass in his colon. “I told him to get it out of me.” Following surgery, Mark was going to require a regimen of chemotherapy, but his prognosis was still pretty grim. “You start asking questions, like, ‘are we going to be able to fix this? What’s the probable outcome of all this.”
“They actually gave me four to six months to live.”
Mark began the fight of his life. Although chemotherapy took its toll, he was luckier than some. It would knock him down for a few days after treatment, but Mark was able to work and soon, the weight came back. Looking at Mark then, it was hard to tell he was battling cancer. Still, in 2018, doctors gave him a one in ten chance of surviving a year. Mark sought guidance from his father.
“He says, ‘Mark you gotta make it.’ And I said what do you mean dad? And he said, ‘You gotta make it to give other people hope. And I thought about that, and I said, yeah, I gotta punch through on this, and let people know that you can survive it.”
Mark pauses and consider his words. “But, it’s just a lot easier if you catch it early.”
Today, Mark cherishes every day he has to spend with family and friends, and he still enjoys working out on the mudflats of Netarts Bay. “Listen, it’s sort of like going to get your teeth cleaned. No one likes to go to the dentist to get their teeth cleaned because you always find something wrong. But, believe me, if there’s something wrong in your colon and it’s cancer, you want to catch it.”
Mark wanted to share his story so that it might encourage others who are reluctant to get screened for colorectal cancer. “If you don’t think it’s such a big deal for yourself, do it for your family and your friends. Do it for them. Because I guarantee you, if you get diagnosed with it, you are going to see some people that are going to be pretty darn worried about you.”
If you are aged 50-75, and have not been screened for colorectal cancer, or if you have a family history, please contact your healthcare provider today to learn more about screening options.
For more local health and wellness information, follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
All our lives changed last year with the global pandemic. As members of the community and health care providers, we at the Rinehart Clinic are very concerned with keeping our healthy patients healthy – always, but especially during a pandemic. This includes the children and teens we care for. Unfortunately, the number of Well Child visits across the country have fallen due to concerns parents and caregivers have around the pandemic. These Well Child exams help health care providers monitor children’s health. It is especially important to maintain regularly scheduled appointments and to stay up to date on immunizations despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
During the first two years of life, we give children much needed vaccines that help prevent diseases like measles, mumps, and polio, among others. Both the Centers for Disease Control and the Oregon Health Authority have found vaccine rates across all ages have dropped significantly this year. The World Health Organization has data showing a substantial drop in the number of children completing the vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. For those who don’t know, pertussis is whooping cough. This is the first time in 28 years that the world could see a reduction in this coverage, which puts children at increased risk for outbreaks of these preventable diseases. Whooping cough was already increasing in many communities before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Along with vaccines, Well Child visits are also a time when we screen for important growth and developmental milestones. Well Child visits are a good time to focus on the general wellness of the child, even if the child is healthy. The visits allow the provider to talk about ways to keep your child healthy and prevent future problems. Providers can give guidance on sleep, safety, childhood diseases, and what to expect as your child grows. Each visit includes a complete physical exam that allows the provider to check the child’s growth by measuring height and weight. Physical development is also assessed. Hearing, vision, and developmental screening tests are part of some visits. Parents are typically asked ahead of time to fill out paperwork that can help with the review of a young child’s development. Immunizations are reviewed and updated as needed.
Infancy and early childhood are a time of rapid growth and change. Because of this, children need more frequent exams. Exams are every few months for infants and toddlers to try to catch any developmental issues quickly. After age three, exams are recommended once a year all the way through the teen years.
We know everyone is concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic. Health care centers, like the Rinehart Clinic, have made many changes to keep patients safe during this time.
Paperwork is sent out ahead of time for parents to fill out in order to reduce time waiting at the clinic.
Patients are checking in from the parking lot over the phone so they are not waiting in the clinic with other patients.
The number of visitors who come in with each patient is limited.
Sick patients are separated from healthy patients, and we encourage telehealth (video visits) for all visits that can be done virtually.
Everyone who enters the clinic is required to wear a mask.
Staff are screened routinely for symptoms of COVID-19.
It is important to keep our healthy children and teens healthy while monitoring for any issues that arise. At the Rinehart Clinic, we encourage families to schedule over-due and upcoming visits right away. Well-child visits are very important for ALL kids, especially those 24 months and younger. Our best advice…keep those appointments.
AUTHOR: Leanna Coy, Family Nurse Practitioner at Rinehart Clinic
For more local health and wellness information, follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
We have had such a bizarre year. I have found myself often slipping into thinking that I will get into a routine once things get back to normal – especially during the first lockdown in March. At first like many of us, a quiet week seemed somewhat nice. A chance to catch up with projects that I found myself too busy in the old normal life to tackle. I soon realized that slight depression had set in. We are so fortunate to live on the beautiful Oregon Coast. I felt guilty leaving my computer to get outside but then realized it was necessary for my mental wellbeing. I began going to Oceanside every day for a run and joined the Facebook pages COVID Runners and DairyAir Runners. It was very helpful to see pictures of others getting out, enjoying the fresh air, and keeping track of their runs. It also was fun to share what I was doing. I felt like we were all helping each other out.
Having a group that can help hold you accountable as well as share the difficulties of having a goal and reaching it is so important. As a personal trainer and National Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Coach that has seen and tried so many quick fixes, this connection is the key element. With a group, we can observe our barriers, maybe even get a chuckle out of the silly things that hold us back or share some painful life experiences that start unhealthy habits. A group also helps you revisit your goal so that it does not slip out of being a priority to you. Knowing that people are going to wonder why you did not show up can be the motivation to not blowing off healthy choices. It also gives you a group of people that validate that you are worth making these healthy choices. Sometimes it is hard to change habits surrounded by individuals and cues that try and may want to keep them in place whether intentional or not.
One fortunate thing about all the changes we have seen in the last year is how creative people have become with connecting. For example, the Tillamook YMCA is now offering live virtual classes, a video library of classes, and in-person classes streamed live. Go to tillamookymca.org to learn more. Free to the public classes like Tai Chi, Enhancefitness and Qi Gong are on the Tillamook YMCA YouTube. There is also the “Live Well” National Diabetes Prevention Program delivered virtually online by a live coach and in-person (when COVID-19 restrictions allow). This program is a yearlong program taught by a Lifestyle Coach. I have watched so many Tillamook County residents transform their lives with this program. Here are some quotes from locals: “Preventing diabetes is always better than treating it afterwards.”- Russel Hustwaite, 2020 DPP participant. “It is a great program that holds you accountable in a non-shaming way. If you stay with it, you will have results!”- Joyce Hustwaite, 2020 DPP participant. We have monthly orientations in English at the YMCA the first Thursday of the month at noon. Come in person (when COVID-19 restrictions allow) or join us online at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84599984286 . We also have a Spanish Orientation the first Saturday of the month at 10:15 am in person at the YMCA or on line: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81770604797 . For more information, check out our Facebook page “National Diabetes Prevention Program – Tillamook County” or call/email Kelly Benson and Galena Flores at 503-842-9622 x 111, kbenson@tillamookymca.org.
The YMCA is also working in conjunction with Northwest Senior and Disabilities Services providing the Otago program. The Otago program is an individually customized, home-exercise program designed to improve strength and balance and to prevent falls. Delivered in your home, a trained instructor visits you and provides a set of individually prescribed exercises. The program includes a home-safety check and a medication review. You or someone you know can participate in this program for up to a year with no cost to you or them! For more information call or email Kelly Benson at 503-842-9622 x 111 kbenson@tillamookymca.org.
AUTHOR: Kelly Benson, Sustainable Relationships for Community Health (SRCH) Coordinator
For more local health and wellness information, follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
