Health news

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Diabetes support group

BANGOR – Brendan Shea of LifeScan will the guest speaker at the diabetes support group sponsored by St. Joseph Healthcare. The group will meet at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 5, in the Diabetes and Nutrition Center, Building 1, St. Joseph Healthcare Park, 900 Broadway. Shea’s topic will be “Managing Diabetes Around Meals.”

The group is open to those with diabetes and their families. To obtain more information, call 262-1836.

Mother’s Day Tea

BANGOR – The Maine Association of Independent Doulas will hold a Mother’s Day Tea 2-4 p.m. Saturday, May 7, at the Isaac Farrar Mansion, Union Street.

New moms will be pampered with hand and shoulder massages.

Information about community resources will be available and refreshments will be served. Call 945-9804 to get additional information.

Neonatal unit 25th birthday

BANGOR – The Hilda C. Rosen Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Eastern Maine Medical Center will celebrate its 25th anniversary 2-4 p.m. Sunday, May 1, in the hospital’s Mason Auditorium. Neonatal unit graduates from the past 25 years and their parents are invited to attend. The party will include food, games and live entertainment.

As the area’s only Level III nursery, the unit serves northern and eastern Maine. It has cared for more than 5,500 critically ill infants. When the unit opened in 1980, it had only three beds. Today, it serves nearly 500 babies each year in a 23-bed facility.

Cover the Uninsured Week

BANGOR – Cover the Uninsured Week, May 1-8, is a national event to raise public awareness of the plight of nearly 44 million uninsured Americans including 8.5 million children.

The Penquis CAP Covering Kids and Families Campaign has planned these activities:

. Monday, May 2, Visit Hannaford pharmacies for MaineCare info and application.

. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, MaineCare application assistance at Penquis Community Action Program, Bangor.

. 10 a.m.-noon Wednesday, May 4, Covering Kids and Families Working Together for Health Care Access, Richard E. Dyke Center for Family Business, Husson College, Bangor.

. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, May 5, Visit Marden’s in Brewer for MaineCare information and area resources.

. 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, May 6, Visit health fair at Penobscot Community Health Center. Free blood pressure screenings.

Individuals may enter a free raffle for a chance to win: a $25 gift certificate to Marden’s, a $40 gift certificate to Picasso, a $10 gift certificate to Rebecca’s or four passes to the Maine Discovery Museum.

For more information, call Maria Staples at 973-3586.

Personnel

BANGOR – Maine Center for Integrated Rehabilitation announced that occupational therapist Andrea Sornberger has joined the facility’s outpatient rehabilitation team.

Sornberger earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Elmira College in New York in 1999, and a master’s degree in occupational therapy at the University of Southern Maine. As an intern, she provided services for special needs children and evaluated and treated those with brain injuries.

Sornberger’s philosophy is that occupational therapy is not just about gaining or regaining skills for health and independence. She believes it’s about exploring and cultivating interests, and finding satisfaction and peace in accomplishments.

To learn more about the center, call 942-1492.

Benefit yard sale

BANGOR – The Warren Center for Communications and Learning is seeking donations, volunteers and business sponsorships for the third annual yard sale to benefit its Voices to be Heard program. The yard sale will be held 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, May 28, in the Warren Center parking lot, 175 Union St., Bangor.

Donations of clean undamaged goods are needed for the yard sale, Clothing will not be accepted. Items may be dropped off 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. starting Tuesday, May 3, or by appointment Saturday mornings. Call 941-2850 for more information.

Community forums

ORONO – The Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired and its State Rehabilitation Council, in conjunction with the IRIS Network, will sponsor community forums throughout Maine using video-conferencing technology. The purpose is to elicit input and feedback regarding unmet needs of people who are blind or visually impaired.

Local facilitators will be available 3-6 p.m. Wednesday, May 4, at Shibles Hall basement, University of Maine. For more information, call Andrea Bickford at (888) 545-8811.

Women’s health screening

BANGOR – The Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program, a state and federally funded program aimed at early detection of breast and cervical cancer, has announced dates and locations for its no-cost screenings. Screening will take place in Bangor on Monday, May 2, at Penobscot Community Health Center, Mabel Wadsworth Women’s Health Center and Penquis Health Services.

A woman is eligible for the program if she is 50 years or older; has no insurance or insurance with limited coverage or high deductibles; and her income falls within program guidelines. Limited openings for women age 40-49 are available.

Those who qualify may receive annual mammograms, breast exams, Pap tests, pelvic exams and limited diagnostic and follow-up services. If needed, the program may cover:

. Diagnostic mammograms.

. Fine needle aspiration of a breast cyst.

. Breast ultrasound after a mammogram.

. Breast biopsy.

. Culposcopy with or without biopsy.

. Pathology charges for breast and cervical biopsies.

. Anesthesia for breast biopsy.

. Surgical consults for possible breast or cervical cancer.

To make an appointment and to see if they qualify, women may call (800) 350-5180, Press 1. The hearing impaired should call TTY (800) 438-5514.