A P u b l i c a t i o n o f Wa k e M e d C h i l d r e n’s

S P R I N G 1 0

#2 and youMeet the new peds GI doctor

KEEPING TOYS CLEAN

H E A L T H Y

H A B I T Sr

F A M I L I E S F I R S T w i n t e r 102

It’s no secret – poopis stinky and yucky. But did

you know that your poop can tellyou a lot about what’s going on inside

your body? Whether you’re sick or well?What nutrients you’re not getting? Whether

you need more exercise or you need to lay offthe candy? Has your mom or the doctor everlooked at your poop? If they have, they are smart.By looking at the color, texture, size and shape ofyour poop, they know how to tweak what you eat soyou can stay in tip top health.

Did you know, for example, that paleontologists (scientistswho study dinosaurs and fossils) examine fossilized dinopoo that’s millions of years old to better understand

what dinosaurs ate that long ago?

By looking at your own poo, here’s what youcan learn about your body and your

health...

DID YOU KNOW RABBITSPRODUCE OVER 500 PELLETS

OF POOP DAILY...

3A P U B L I C A T I O N O F W A K E M E D C H I L D R E N ’ S

> Hard, clumpy and dark. You aren’t getting enough liquids todrink or eating enough fiber. Drink, drink, drink (water, notsugary drinks). Eat more veggies, such as broccoli, corn, peasand celery – and eat more oatmeal, beans and whole grainbreads and pastas instead of the white stuff.

A healthy body’s poo will be long, soft, the texture and color ofpeanut butter, and it will come out easily – ideally at least onceevery day. If you have to strain or if it hurts to go to thebathroom, you might be constipated and should drink morewater and eat more fresh fruits, vegetables, and fiber.

> Dark pebbles. Your poo is normally held together with a glue-like substance. If you don’t get enough fiber to eat, your bodycan’t make the glue, and your poo becomes hard and pebbly.Eat more whole grain breads, cereals, pastas, muffins, oatmealand beans.

> Colored poo. What about green or red poo? Did you eatspinach or something with blue food coloring (a cupcake withblue icing, perhaps?) Did you recently take antibiotics?Antibiotics can make your poo green because it kills the goodbacteria along with the bad. Or maybe your poo was red theday after you ate beets. If you haven’t eaten beets and your poois red or has some red in it, you could have strained too hardto force the poo out, and your bottom might be bleeding a bit.If your poo is red or green, always tell your mom or dad.

> Loose watery, stinky, ewwwww poo. This is diarrhea and canbe very uncomfortable, not to mention dangerous if it lasts formore than a couple of days. Your body is telling you it wants toget rid of something bad fast. All kinds of things can give youdiarrhea – you either ate food that was bad, you have a virus, oryou could have accidentally swallowed some lake water with badbacteria in it. Even when you get nervous, your body secretes ahormone that can give you diarrhea. When you have diarrhea,definitely tell a parent, and drink, drink, drink, (or at leastsuck on popsicles) to replace all the lost fluid.

By the way, it is not healthy to hold in your poo for too long. If you are at school, and you need to go, explain to yourteacher that you have to go Number 2 and that it is anemergency. The best thing to do, however, is try to makeyourself go every morning right after you wake up. You cantrain your body to “go” at the same time every day! Try it for amonth.

...WHEREAS SLOTHS ONLY POOP ONCE A WEEK? THEYLIVE IN CECROPIA TREES AND SLEEP 15 HOURS PER DAYAND BURY THEIR DROPPINGS ONLY ONCE A WEEK.

Tips for a Healthy You> Eat more yogurt to put the “good”

bacteria back into your digestive tract.

Good bacteria is a friend to all

components of your digestive tract –

from your mouth, to your stomach, to

your intestines. It can help you keep

from getting sick and feeling sluggish

and uncomfortable.

> Cut back on sugary foods and drinks.

They cause an overgrowth of bad

bacteria and can make you constipated.

> Drink. Drink. Drink. And then drink

some more. (Water, not sugary drinks.)

> Eat more fiber, such as fruits, veggies,

beans, and whole grains.

> Move your body. Running, playing,

dancing, jumping rope or jumping on

the trampoline, hiking, biking,

swimming – anything active will help

keep your intestines in tip top working

condition.

If you are constipated, eat

P foods...

PeachesPearsPlumsPrunesPeas

in children

New specialist treats

4 F A M I L I E S F I R S T s p r i n g 10

Chronic digestive issues can interrupt ourlives. They can cause a host of symptoms,including sleeplessness, fatigue, diarrhea,cramps, chest pain, abdominal pain,bloating, and even depression. There are

several physicians in our area who specialize in treatingadults who have problems with their digestive systems.They are called gastroenterologists.

Now, Wake County has its first pediatricgastroenterologist – a physician who specializes intreating children who have digestive issues. Her name isDr. Leena Kandula, and she is welcoming new patientsat her practice, Triangle Children’s GastroenterologyCenter, in Morrisville.

According to Dr. Kandula, solving digestive disorders inchildren is extremely important. Children are growing,so it’s essential that they properly absorb vitamins andnutrients during each growth stage. Chronic digestiveproblems can impede that growth, which can havelifelong effects.

What are some of the common signs and symptoms of digestive problems in children? Dr.Kandula notes that children who are having digestive system issues often complain of stomach aches. Parentsmay also notice that their child is having troubleswallowing or having irregular bowel movements. These symptoms can be indicators of simple digestiveissues or some that are more complex.

A very dedicated pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr.Kandula uses a variety of techniques and technology todiagnose digestive issues. Sometimes a proper diagnosisrequires the use of endoscopy, a special procedure inwhich Dr. Kandula uses a tiny camera to look at and takepictures of a child’s intestinal tract. “Kids love to seepictures of their insides,” says Dr. Kandula. Theprocedure is performed at the WakeMed RaleighCampus and is completely safe and painless. “Thewonderful staff at WakeMed helps me take care of thechildren’s needs before, during and after endoscopicprocedures,” says Dr. Kandula. “This is a very importantpart of their care and makes it easier for families.”

If you suspect your child is suffering from a chronicgastrointestinal problem, talk to your child’spediatrician, who can refer you to Dr. Kandula. Shewelcomes patients from Wake County and throughoutthe region.

Some digestive problems

Dr. Kandula treats include:• Chronic abdominal pain• Vomiting• Constipation• Gastroesophageal reflux• Celiac disease• Inflammatory bowel disease• Feeding problems• Swallowing difficulties• Poor weight gain and growth

pediatric gastroenterologist

som

eda y

I ’dl i k e

tobe a…

meet Leena Kandula, MD S p e c i a l t y

Pediatrics

P r a c t i c e

Triangle Children’s GastroenterologyCenter

Ye a r s i n P r a c t i c e

Three

E d u c a t i o n

Medical school in India, training inPittsburgh, PA for my specialty.

W h y I c h o s e p e d i a t r i c g a s t r o e n t e r o l o g y

Being able to eat without having belly pain and poop regularly is very important! When children are having trouble, I help find what is causing their problems and try to make them feel better.

F a v o r i t e p a r t o f m y w o r k d a y

I enjoy working with children. When I am able to make thefamilies understand why their children are not feeling well, andable to help them, it makes me very happy. To find out what’swrong, I sometimes use a special camera to get a look at theirintestinal tract. Kids love to see the pictures of their insides.

M y a d v i c e t o k i d s t h i n k i n g a b o u t a c a r e e r i n

p e d i a t r i c g a s t r o e n t e r o l o g y

The intestinal tract is a very important part of your body. Somuch more can be learned through science and technology tohelp us better treat problems, so I encourage all buddingresearchers and doctors to consider this field.

5A P U B L I C A T I O N O F W A K E M E D C H I L D R E N ’ S

PB&J Cream Parfait1 quart non-fat vanilla yogurt½ cup smooth peanut butter1 ½ cup sliced strawberries¼ cup strawberry jam1 cup crispy rice cereal

*To add fiber, substitute a high-fiber cereal like Fiber One orKashi Go Lean for the crispy rice cereal.

Put peanut butter in a mixing bowl, then slowly add yogurt,mixing well until smooth. Set aside. In a separate bowl,combine strawberries and jam, then mix lightly. Place six 10oz. cups on a work surface. Layer as follows:1/3 cup peanut butter/yogurt mixture2 tbsp. strawberry mixture2 tbsp. crispy rice cerealRepeat layer and serve

Orangecicle Parfait1 quart non-fat vanilla yogurt½ cup thawed orange juice concentrate1 ½ cup drained Mandarin oranges1 ½ cup granola or crispy rice cereal

Combine yogurt with orange juice in amixing bowl; set aside. Place six 10 oz.cups on a work surface. Layer as follows:1/3 cup orange/yogurt mixture2 tbsp. Mandarin oranges2 tbsp. cerealRepeat layer and serve

T Y K E

B I T E S iTWO SNACKS GREAT FOR HEALTHY TUMMIES!

Wake Radiology expanded its pediatric radiology serviceslast fall with the opening of the Wake RadiologyPediatric Imaging Center in Raleigh. The new, family-friendly office, located at 4301 Lake Boone Trail, is theonly center of its kind in Raleigh. The PediatricImaging Center is geared toward families of children

ages birth to 18. It has beautiful murals and family rooms where parents can feed orchange their children as well as have a private place to speak with their child’sradiologist. It also has sick- and well-child waiting areas.

Its staff has expertise in the medical imaging ofchildren, from infants to adolescents. Theywork closely with pediatricians to select the rightimaging studies to provide the most accuratediagnosis.

“Our new office is a nice complement to thegrowing pediatric services at WakeMed,” saidDr. Margaret Douglas, director of PediatricImaging at Wake Radiology Diagnostic Imaging.“Just this week, a child came into our office foran ultrasound because his pediatrician wasworried he had appendicitis. He did have it,and we were able to send him right over toWakeMed to be seen by a pediatric surgeon.After the operation, he was admitted to thepediatric floor, where all the care is tailored tothe needs of children.”

In anticipation of the new WakeMed Children’sHospital, Wake Radiology hired three newfellowship-trained pediatric radiologists lastfall. “We now have one available at the WakeMedRaleigh Campus every day from 8 am to 5 pm,and we always have someone on call,” addedDouglas.

For more information, visit their web site atwww.wakerad.com. Appointments and referralscan be made by calling WR Express Schedulingat 919-232-4700.

H O S P I T A L

H I G H L I G H Tz WA K E R A D I O LO GY E X PA N D SP E D I AT R I C I M AG I NG S E RV I C E S

6 F A M I L I E S F I R S T s p r i n g 10

7A P U B L I C A T I O N O F W A K E M E D C H I L D R E N ’ S

K I D S F I R S Ttwinkle times

a r t i c l e s , g a m e s , p u z z l e s a n d a c t i v i t i e s j u s t f o r k i d s !

Hi! I’m Connie Carrot, and I’m taking a trip through

the digestive system. Get ready! It’s going to be

topsy-turvy!

Our trip starts in the mouth. Here, teeth grind me

up. Enzymes in saliva provide moisture that makes

the trip down the esophagus (swallowing) easier.

First, I pass through the sphincter, which is kind of a door to

the stomach. This is where the trip gets bumpy! The stomach

is really muscular, and it is shaped like the letter “J”. It’s full of

gastric juices, too. The muscles in the stomach and the gastric

juices churn, mash and mix me up to break me down for the

rest of the trip. Those gastric juices also keep bad bacteria at

bay, so people don’t get sick.

I have to go through another sphincter to continue my journey,

which takes me out of the stomach and into the small intestine.

Important stuff happens in the small intestine. That’s where, with

the help of the jejunum and the ileum, my nutrients that your

body needs get absorbed. The pancreas and the liver also play

important roles to help the body keep what it needs and get rid

of what it doesn’t.

The pancreas produces insulin, which controls the amount of

sugar that goes into the blood. The liver acts like a big filter. It

breaks down fats, processes proteins and carbohydrates, gets rid

of yucky stuff that your body doesn’t need, and makes glucose.

Glucose gives you short-term energy.

Once the body absorbs the stuff it needs, the stuff it doesn’t

need moves into the large intestine – also called the bowel.

This is when I turn into poop. I stay in the rectum until

I’m ready to end my trip in the toilet.

Make sure to drink plenty of water and eat your fruits and

veggies to keep your digestive system happy!

T O B E Y O U R D I G E S T I V E

S Y S T E M

w h a t i t ’s l i k e . . .

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F A M I L I E S F I R S T s p r i n g 10

K I D S F I R S T

8

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D R . T W I N K L E I S L I S T E N I N G T O H I S T U M M Y R U M B L I N G . Can you circle some healthy food choices Twinkle can make to satisfy his appetite? Get bonus points for

picking the foods that help constipation. Then have fun coloring Dr. Twinkle.

A P U B L I C A T I O N O F W A K E M E D C H I L D R E N ’ S 9

Q U I Z Take this quiz to find out more about

your quizzical digestive system.

1. How many pounds of food do you eat in a year?

a. 1,100 – the weight of a small car

b. 76 – about the size of a 9-year-old boy

c. 500 – about the weight of a treadmill

2. How much water can your stomach hold at one

time?

a. 16 ozs. – about as much as 2 small bottles of water

b. 64 cups – about as much as 4 gallons of milk

c. 15 cups – about as much as 15 small bottles of water

3. Your stomach secretes a substance that helps you

digest your food. What is it?

a. mucus

b. acid

c. blood

4. How long are your intestines?

a. 3 feet long – about as tall as a 4 year old

b. 21 inches long – about as long as 3 sheets of paper

laid side by side

c. 25 feet long – about as long as a large family room

5. Half of all poo is made up of what?

a. bacteria

b. water

c. mud

W O R D S E A R C H Help teddy look for these words relating to your digestive system.

biledigestiveenzymesesophagusfoodintestineliverpooprectumsalivastomachteeth

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A - M A Z E - I N G !

Help the chef move through the maze to find his menu.

U N S C R A M B L E Make learning about digestion easy with this fun word scramble. If you get stuck, see answers at the bottom of the page.

1. lslam sitntenie 2. yocregll 3. dippetes 4. carbaeit 5. mertcu

6. dteharbsracoy 7. valsia 8. suumc 9. naivmtis 10. dlaaeglbdrl

ANSWERS

Quiz: 1. a; 2. c; 3 b; 4. c; 5. a

Unscramble: 1. small intestine; 2. glycerol; 3. peptides;

4. bacteria; 5. rectum; 6. carbohydrates; 7. saliva; 8.

musuc; 9. vitamins; 10. gallbladder

K U D O SY

H E A L T H Y

B I T Sw

Dr. Bernstein Receives Special Honor

Know about Norovirus

F A M I L I E S F I R S T s p r i n g 1010

In his 36 years with Raleigh PediatricAssociates, Dr. Jerry Bernstein hastouched the lives of countless patients.But as a husband, father, grandfather,Foundation supporter and friend, hehas touched many more.

The WakeMed Foundation is pleased toannounce a $1 million gift to theJust For

Kids Kampaign in honor of Dr. Bernstein’sgood works and a close, nurturing friendship between him andhis wife and the benefactors, Wes and Janet Chesson.

Dr. Bernstein’s role in shaping the pediatric health careservices and delivery at WakeMed and throughout Wake Countyhas been and continues to be dramatic. Among hiscontributions was the development of the WakeMed Children’sEmergency Department, which opened as the first of its kindin North Carolina in 1997. He was instrumental in helpingWakeMed administrators understand the need for such aspecialized facility, and, today, the children of Wake Countyhave direct access to specialized pediatric emergency care.WakeMed is the number one provider of children’s emergencyservices in the state.

In addition to his physician leadership roles as president ofWakeMed’s Medical Staff, the Department of Pediatrics and theMedical Executive Committee, Dr. Bernstein was the firstchairman of the WakeMed Foundation Board – a position heheld for nine years.

It’s likely that Dr. Bernstein’s most impactful contribution washelping to spearhead the proposal to build WakeMed Children’sHospital – the first dedicated children’s hospital in WakeCounty. “It is the first WakeMed project that is entirelydependent on funding from the Foundation and thephilanthropic support of the community, but it is such animportant need for our community as it continues to grow,”said Dr. Bernstein.

Wes and Janet Chesson, long-time friends of Dr. Bernsteinand his wife Peg, have generously chosen to pay tribute to theirgood friends and Dr. Bernstein’s great works for the childrenof Wake County with a $1 million pledge to the WakeMedFoundation Just For Kids Kampaign. As a result, the new Children’sHospital Pediatric Intensive Care Unit will be named the JerryC. Bernstein, MD Pediatric Intensive Care Unit – deservedrecognition for a very deserving and dedicated caregiver.

To learn how you can help, visit www.childrencantiwait.org

Norovirus, a gastrointestinal virus, is on the rise in North Carolina. Highly contagious,

this virus can infect someone who ingests only 10 particles of virus. That is smaller

than the head of a pin. It usually takes about 100,000 colonies of bacterium to

quantify an infection.

Norovirus begins suddenly and causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach

cramps. People may also feel tired and experience a low fever, chills, headache and

muscle aches. Commonly referred to as the “cruise-ship” virus, it is contracted in

areas of close contact, like long-term care facilities, schools and restaurants,

especially those with buffets. Norovirus is spread by direct person-to-person contact

or the ingestion of fecally contaminated food or water.

You must be diligent to protect yourself. Strict hand washing with warm water and

soap is the best way to avoid norovirus. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not

effective. Wash your hands frequently, especially after using the restroom and before

eating. It is also important to note that norovirus is not killed with regular household

cleaners. A solution of bleach and water is the best defense.

De-germing toysS A F E K I D S

C O R N E R W

ADVISORY PANEL

Jerry Bernstein, M.D., Raleigh Pediatric Associates, PA

Janice Frohman, R.N., Administrative Director, WakeMed Emergency Services

Melissa Johnson, Ph.D., Pediatric Psychologist, WakeMed Faculty Physicians, Pediatrics/Neonatology

Courtney Mann, M.D., Medical Director, WakeMed Children’s Emergency Department

Elizabeth Rice, R.N., Director, Women's and Children's Services

Debra Z. Laughery, Vice President of Public Relations

Michele Jonczak, Editor

Leesa Brinkley, Design

Published by the WakeMed Public Relations Department. Call 350-8120 with comments or suggestions.

WakeMed Health & Hospitals3000 New Bern Avenue Raleigh, North Carolina 27610

© WakeMed, 2010 Children’s

What’s Your Poo Telling You?By Josh Richman and Anish Sheth, M.D.

Once you become a parent (moms in particular), there’s no

subject more fascinating on which to elaborate during play dates

than your baby’s poop. This brief, hilarious, yet informative, book

explores this topic in detail. From color, texture, length, girth and

odor – you will learn about the overall health of your family and

why Tommy’s poo was purple two days in a row (beets

anyone?).

What’s My Pee Telling Me?By Josh Richman and Anish Sheth, M.D.

If you’ve ever wondered why pee smells odd after you’ve eaten

asparagus, this book has the answer, among many other

answers to health-related questions regarding your digestive

system. Written in the same humorous, yet medically sound style

as What’s Your Poo Telling You?, it can also help you determine

the general health of your insides by noticing the various color,

odor, frequency and feeling of your pee. This book is a quick,

funny, and informative read.

P A R E N TP I C K S p

It’s really hard to get a clear picture of our own overall health, let alone the healthof our kids. The following funny, yet fully fact-based books show how what comesout of us indicates what’s going on inside our bodies.

It’s always a good idea to keep your children’s toys clean, especially if you have babies or toddlers who tend to put their mouths on everything.

Hard Plastic or Wooden Toys – While some people are fine with mixing one gallon of water with¼ cup of household bleach to disinfect toys, others prefer a more gentle alternative. Mix one cupof water with one cup of distilled white vinegar. Put it in a spray bottle and go to work killing thosegerms. Simple Green® all purpose cleaner is a safe, non-toxic way to clean toys and many otheritems for children, such as high chairs, walkers, strollers, trikes, bikes. For maintenance cleaninguse a 1 to 30 ratio (ex: 1 oz Simple Green to 30 oz. water). Spray and wipe or rinse clean. Don’tforget backpacks, lunch boxes, and homework and craft areas. You can even add Simple Green toyour top-loading washing machine for additional stain-busting power, for grass, lipstick or blood.Follow directions on the bottle.

While you’re at it, wipe toy bins, bed rails, high chairs, telephones and door knobs, too. If thereare no electronics, toys can go in the dishwasher.

Stuffed Animals – Most plush toys do just fine in the washing machine. When in doubt, check the tag, but you’ll feel a lot better about tucking Teddy and BoBo in the bed with your child when they are soft and booger free again. If washing is not an option, simply putting stuffedanimals in a hot dryer for five minutes will help kill dust mites and many germs. If BoBo used tobe white, but now he’s sort of dishwater beige, give him a spritz of lemon juice and leave him inthe bright sun for a few hours. This works for all sorts of fabrics. You’ll be amazed at the results.

NonprofitOrganizationU.S. PostageP A I DRaleigh, NCPermit NO. 1307

A P u b l i c a t i o n o f Wa k e M e d C h i l d r e n’s Wa k e M e d 3 0 0 0 N e w B e r n A v e n u e R a l e i g h NC 27 610

A D D R E S S S E R V I C E R E Q U E S T E DFamilies First is a quarterlynewsletter for parents and kids(under age 10) who belong tothe WakeMed Families First Club. If you haven’t already joined, send your name and e-mail address toFamiliesFirst@wakemed.org.

If your family has outgrown the information provided by thisnewsletter or you no longer wishto receive it, please call us at350-STAR.

Grand Opening of the NewWakeMed Children’s HospitalSunday, May 231 to 5 pm

It’s going to be a Sunday to remember!Bring the whole family to enjoy the officialgrand opening of the new WakeMedChildren’s Hospital and Patient Tower on the WakeMed Raleigh Campus, 3000 New Bern Avenue.

The top floor of the tower will houseWakeMed Children’s Hospital – the first ofits kind in Wake County - while the othertwo floors will be dedicated to WakeMedHeart Center patients. Festivities includefood, live music, a special dedicationceremony, arts & crafts, tours of thetower, screenings and children’s activities.

Grand opening festivities are free andopen to the public. Registration is notrequired. To learn more about what’s instore for Sunday, May 23, visitwww.wakemed.org often!

Come celebrate with us!