Health news

Camp Rainbow for kids

Kids just want to have fun and it’s no different for kids with cancer. Through its three New England camp programs, the American Cancer Society offers a place where kids who have cancer can join in dozens of fun activities, meet other kids and families and feel more confident about living with cancer. There is no cost for attend the camps.

American Cancer Society camps combine the traditional softball, swimming and s’mores with a medical staff prepared to meet the special needs of campers who are being treated for cancer. Caring counselors lead activities tailored to different age groups and medical professionals are available 24 hours a day.

The American Cancer Society’s three camp programs are: Camp Rainbow held June 15-21 at Bangor YMCA Camp Jordan in Ellsworth; Camp Rising Sun held the third week of August at YMCA Camp Jewell in Colebrook, Conn.; and Camp Hope held the third week of August at Camp Aldersgate in North Scituate, R.I.

Camp Rainbow has been in operation since 1987 and is a special place where kids with cancer can smile, laugh and play; a place where they are not treated as “different” or “sick”; a place where they can just be happy, fun-loving kids again. Children in treatment for cancer as well as those who are up to 10 years post-treatment are eligible to attend.

When asked what they liked most about Camp Rainbow, many of last summer’s participants said that they like how everyone cares about everyone else and how they were able to share their thoughts with others who have or had cancer. When asked what they like least about camp, the general consensus was, “It wasn’t long enough!”

For information about Camp Rainbow or to request an application for this year’s camp, call the American Cancer Society at 800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

Emergency services

BANGOR – Dr. Charles Pattavina will join the St. Joseph Hospital staff as the new medical director of emergency services on March 3. Before accepting this new position, he worked at the Fallon Clinic, St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester, Mass., where he served as division chief of emergency department consulting.

Pattavina will partner with the current administrative director of emergency services, nurse Judy Street.

“We are enthusiastic about this leadership team’s ability to enhance the patient’s experience in our emergency department by decreasing wait times and standardizing procedures,” said Ron Skarka, vice president of business development for St. Joseph Healthcare. “We expect Dr. Pattavina will become a familiar presence in Bangor and the surrounding area with a leadership role in emergency planning.”

Pattavina received a medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine. He is the former chief of emergency medicine at the Miriam Hospital in Providence, R.I., and the U.S. Naval Hospital in Newport, R.I.

He also has been involved in educating students and residents at Brown University, where he remains a member of the adjunct faculty and has served on a number of key committees. He was director of the American College of Emergency Physicians, based in Dallas, from 1997 to 2003.

‘The Biggest Loser’

ORONO – Matthew McNutt, Maine’s representative to the third season of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” delivered an inspirational talk to an enthusiastic crowd at the University of Maine on Feb. 7 at the Buchanan Alumni House.

Janet Waldron, vice president for administration and finance, and Erin Whitehouse, wellness manger for UM, introduced McNutt.

The wellness program, Healthy U, encourages employees to adopt healthy lifestyles. Whitehouse invited McNutt to speak because she had heard that he was motivational speaker.

In 2006 at age 30, McNutt weighed 366 pounds and had a 52-inch waist. He was having chest pains, knee trouble and struggled to get through the day due to intense sleep apnea. He had tried various diets, but had failed time and time again to lose any weight and keep it off.

McNutt said, “I honestly thought I can’t do it.” Finally, he “broke” and realized he had to do something for the good of his wife and three boys, ages 4, 2 and 2 weeks. He entered “The Biggest Loser” competition thinking it was his only hope to lose pounds.

McNutt was not chosen as a finalist for the program, but came home to Maine and set about losing the weight on his own – without trainers, nutritionists or television cameras. He began walking and counting calories. Within eight weeks he had lost 81 pounds. The pounds kept coming off until McNutt lost a total of 176 pounds. After losing the weight, he has a waist of 36 inches.

McNutt attributed his success to four factors: understanding nutrition and knowing how to count his caloric intake; exercising at least five times a week; having the support of friends; and having a sense of purpose – setting an example for his children and the teens he works with as a Baptist youth pastor.

McNutt said he keeps focused through helping others. He is happy to tell his story and maintains a Web site, www.MatthewMcNutt.com, and blogs about his experience.