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Giving It Up for Rheumatoid Arthritis

April 2, 2021 by 0 Comments
Foot Pain from Rheumatoid Arthritis

During this religious season, seems we are all giving up things to uplift our souls.  As a Jew, I don’t eat bread during of Passover. But this is nothing in comparison to what I’ve cast aside to live pain-free as sufferer of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Just two months ago, my ankles, feet, back, hands, and shoulders ached constantly.  Three MRI’s later, I sought remedy through conventional medicine.  My Rheumatologist, a genuinely capable physician, prescribed medication.  Unfortunately, I am extremely sensitive to meds and found myself bedridden in pain.  After tirelessly investigating RA medication side effects, I sought a more holistic approach to reducing inflammation.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that inflames joints throughout the body.  There is no cure but there are lifestyle measures to counteract the inflammation that causes permanent damage:

Diet: Remove large amounts of sugar, trans fats, and gluten. Eat fish, chicken, quality lean beef, high protein grains and nuts, beans, vegetables, and fruits. Eliminate processed foods. Drink lots of water. Stay away from soda and drink green tea.  Flavor dishes with garlic, coconut, ginger, cumin, and other herbs.

Alcohol: Drink no more than one or two glasses of wine per week.

Vitamins and Supplements: I take a multivitamin, Calcium, D3, Turmeric, and Fish Oil.

Exercise and Stretching: Physical therapy was suggested, but since we are in a Covid-19 pandemic, I exercise and stretch a minimum of 4 times per week at home.

Acupuncture: Acupuncture is a great way to reduce pain.  Johns Hopkins is currently studying the effects of acupuncture to stem inflammation with great results found.  This therapy has alleviated my pain more than any other intervention. 

The results of my new lifestyle have been AMAZING.  I can be on my feet for hours without pain, I have lost 10 pounds, and now I can sleep at night.  If you are suffering as I was, why not give it a try.

Real Estate - Uncategorized

Sarah Wacaster – Quality Realtor, Quality Person

February 3, 2021 by 0 Comments
Sarah Wacaster

We all know 1 to 50 realtors because it is fairly easy to get a license.  Having bought and sold many homes in 4 states, I personally know hundreds.  From this experience, I have determined several real estate truth.

  • Regardless of the market (hot or cold), sellers think their property is worth more, buyers want to pay less.
  • Buying a house is an emotional decision; we fall in love even if the home does not meet defined needs.
  • Some realtors are in it for the money and want transactions.
  • Some realtors dabble in real estate.
  • The quality realtor is in it for the customer.

Sarah Wacaster is that quality realtor. Sarah comes from a family of realtors and understands the intricacies of real estate because she grew up in the business.  She never wanted to go into “sales” until she witnessed the customer service aspect lacking. So, Sarah joined the real estate business to offer a consultative approach.  This means Sarah helps her buyer define what must be in the house, what they need to do before they buy, and what they can afford.  She helps sellers understand what updates they need to sell their homes, define when they need to sell, and what can they realistically expect to get for their home.  Sarah does all of this in a gentle, caring way. 

Sarah also cares for her community by being on the Bolton Landing HOA Board and by collecting food and goods for the poor.

Sara Wacaster of Keller Williams covers the tri-county area and can be reached at (843)751-2400 or at [email protected].

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Social Commentary - Uncategorized

Celebrating Passover & Easter Amid COVID-19

April 6, 2020 by 0 Comments
  • Chicken Soup

Preparing nana’s famous chicken soup recipe for Passover or making mom’s glazed ham for Easter helps us share family traditions and loving memories.  As we suffer through the COVID-19 pandemic, connecting with each other is the most essential way to battle our sadness and fortify our strength.

This became apparent to me when my father died last week from the coronavirus.  There was no hand holding, no seeing his body, no memorial service, no closure.  Stormn’ Norman’, as we lovingly called him, was all about family.  So on Friday night, we prayed together and shared our stories and thoughts with family members throughout the country via Zoom. And together we began the healing process.

Norman Robinson in Airforce uniform.

Zoom is just one of many video conferencing applications that allow you to share information and pictures much like FaceTime or Skype. All you need is the application on your phone or laptop computer that has a phone and built-in camera.

As I began to prepare for the Passover meal, I took out our haggadot and kippot.  Images of family members who passed flooded my memory.  Each wine stain on the prayer book or frayed yamaka reminds me of my mother, nana, grandpa and others.  I remember sitting at the kids table and sipping the ultra-sweet Manishewitz wine, hunting for the hidden matzah, and hearing my aunt yell at all of us simultaneously.

Haggadah and Kippot

Passover and Easter are about sharing stories and traditions.  For Passover, we recount the Israelites’ journey from bondage to freedom.  During Easter, we talk about the world’s awakening to Jesus.  It’s fitting that we share the stories of family members and their impact on our lives.  So while we social distance, we can use our phones and tablets to stay connected and incorporate them into our rituals.  Then none of us will be alone.

And if you have many leftover kippot (we have tons) , you can make them into face masks to wear when venturing outside. They are shaped perfectly to fit over your nose and mouth.  Just add shoe laces and tie in back of your head.  In fact, there is a synagogue in Houston, TX whose members are recycling theirs for this purpose!