Free Spirit

Few people ever consider what it is like to care for someone who has suffered a stroke until they are faced with it. Strokes are more common than you think. It has been estimated that 1 in 4 people in the United States suffers from a stroke, and 1 in 6 die from the disease.  A stroke can affect your self-confidence and self-image, and it can affect the intimacy in your relationship, like communication, mood swings, or anxiety. You may both find it difficult to talk about how you feel, what you want, or what you need, but because you, the caretaker, think you should 'stay strong' for your partner you remain silent but remaining silent can have as much effect on your overall health and well-being as on your spouse. Three women, originally from Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, Maureen A. Ruhl (Renovo, PA), Deb Yeagley, and Dianne Snavely have come together to share their stories in a new book, 'Life After a Stroke: Real Women, Real Stories.' Each woman details how their

Picked up a newspaper today and was surprised to see my article about Renovo Area Outreach on the front page. Read the full story at The Record Online!

Pennsylvania has one of the highest overdose death rates in the country. Renovo, the once quiet, sheltered rural town has also felt the crunch. Renovo is hardly the town it used to be with Opioids, Methamphetamines, and Fentanyl, running rapidly, falling into children’s hands. In recent months, the town has relied heavily on local volunteer fire departments and ambulance crews to assist them in emergency situations. These incidents have placed volunteer rescue workers’ lives in jeopardy, reinforcing that a community cannot rely on volunteers alone, police protection is a necessity. Between the increasing drug presence, violence and lack of police protection Renovo is a breeding ground for destruction leaving many residents wondering about the town’s future. READ FULL ARTICLE! Article Credit: Donna Speaks