How to Prevent the Cycle of Seasonal Allergies
Fall 2010
“Twenty to thirty percent of the general population has some allergy problems,” says Douglas K. Schreiber, M.D. of Copperfield Allergy & Asthma. “And there’s a lot of bad information and home remedies out there.” The number takes into account food, seasonal, and topical allergies. And though over-the-counter medications help people cope, he advised caution in self-diagnosis and treatment. Continue reading “Coping with Autumn Allergies”
Flagstaff Business News–Ghost-written by Gail G. Collins for Omar Wani, MD, interventional cardialogist
Relatives enjoy gathering around the grill in the summer for birthdays, holidays or just to stay connected. This connection follows us, especially when it comes to our health. Like our blue eyes, our parents and grandparents can pass on the likelihood for disease. These include birth defects, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, stroke, or cardiovascular problems as well as more sensitive issues like mental illness and learning disabilities. But discovering our family health histories allows us to take action and watch for signs of trouble. Continue reading “Learn Your Family’s Heart History”
Let’s Write Contest Winner: This is the story of a story and why it came to be.
Written by: Gail Gallifant Collins
It’s the story of a quiet, fatherless girl growing up in Germany during World War II. She was bombed twice and walked for three weeks with her mother, following the rail lines to locate relatives and shelter. Some harrowing things happened to her before and after that, but she prefers to remember the kindnesses people showed to her.
It took the girl a long time to tell me any of this though. She is old, and I am growing old. When finally she shared it with me, she said, “It wasn’t a beautiful life.” Continue reading “Novel Beginnings”
Northern Arizona Healthcare produced colorful, informative newsletters for various facilities in the region to educate the community.
Gail contracted consistently to Flagstaff Medical Center’s Public Relations, writing the bulk of stories for Health at Heart as well as press releases, Flagstaff Business News articles and Arizona Daily Sun features.
Thinking of Ways to Improve Mental Well-Being
June 2010
Mary suffered from insomnia for years. The challenges of balancing a high-powered job and a blended family created stress in the important areas of her life. She met her fiftieth birthday sleep-deprived and depressed. After repeated efforts by her primary care doctor failed, Mary (who asked her full name not be used) sought integrated help at the Center for Creative Change. Continue reading “A User’s Manual for the Brain”
Cy-Fair Fathers Speak from the Heart
Summer 2010
Fathers are natural providers and would supply any material thing 
necessary for their child, but a great dad understands the real exchange happens all year long and doesn’t cost a thing. That gift is time spent together as a family with benefits that last throughout a child’s life. Continue reading “The Importance of BEING DAD”
Ways to Find a Fortunate Life
March 2010
The Collins family appears lucky. It can claim three multi-million dollar lottery winners through its relatives. One of the family wins, a Catholic brother-in-law, stopped to pray on his way home from work and used the posted hymn numbers from a service as his picks. One might say, “God is good,” but psychology experts stress the power of positive thinking and gathering good to you as well. Continue reading “Living Lucky”
Cy-Fair Couples Find Romance in the Skies
Spring 2010
Story & Photography by Gail G. Collins
Holding a compass in one hand, Doug Watson releases a purple helium balloon with the other, noting the currents at various altitudes as it floats away. As Chief Pilot and owner of Air Texas Balloon Adventures, he will use this information to steer his craft – a hot air balloon – and plot the direction of an upcoming trip. “The whole idea is to get us airborne in a safe manner,” he says. He then unrolls a map to check angles. “When flying in an urban area, we look for places to land in an hour’s time, so the crew can pick us up,” he says, noting the crew as myself, Watson’s wife, Kathryn, and Dixie Turner. We will chase the balloon, and welcome Watson and his passengers back to Earth upon landing. Continue reading “Sky High Fun”
Ways to Keep the Most Vital of Organs Healthy
February 2010
Jazz musician Joel DiBartolo has kept high-profile company by playing for 18 years on the Johnny Carson show and by suffering from the same heart condition as Regis Philbin and David Letterman. Out of the blue in 1995, a heart attack struck DiBartolo in Prescott. They called it a ‘widow maker’ for its drastic and lasting effect. Except the jazz pro lived.
No follow-up care was offered, and he resumed his musical life, teaching and performing. Thirteen years later, DiBartolo felt disturbingly short of breath and headed to Flagstaff Medical Center. A diagnostic exam revealed blockages so great he was admitted for surgery. Continue reading “The Heart: A User’s Guide”
As printed in Loren’s Divine Intervention Travelers’ Tales
When I was a child in 1967, Marty Robbins wrote A Spanish Lullaby whose lyrics embrace a father’s tender words of comfort to his child. “…dream while the angels watch over you. I will hold your hand. And when you wake with the morning, I’ll still be here.” One night in Spain, I awoke to the truth that I am still a child, holding fast. Continue reading “A Spanish Lullaby”
