The Battle Began When the Tours Were Over

The Battle Began When the Tours Were Over

Called the “Signature Wound” of the war, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) caused by explosions has become one of the most prevalent combat wounds suffered by soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. While severe TBI can leave a person incapacitated, even a mild TBI (mTBI), often known as a concussion, can lead to debilitating symptoms including headaches, balance control, hearing problems, lack of self-control, mood changes, ringing in the ears, problems sleeping and memory loss.

Situations in Afghanistan and Iraq, where troops are likely to face multiple deployments and repeated ambushes by roadside bombs or improvised explosive devices (IEDs), are especially conducive to suffering a TBI or mild TBI. Additionally, according to recent studies, traumatic brain injuries sustained during deployments appear to increase the risk of troops experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Unfortunately, for many soldiers returning home from service, the battle begins when the tours are over.

Jeremy was deployed to Iraq in 2003 and was stationed at the Abu Ghraib Prison / Central Detention on the western edge of Baghdad. His unit was heavily attacked with mortars five nights a week on a consistent basis while he was stationed there. During that period, he and many other members of his unit began to experience migraine headaches, nausea and dizziness from the exposures as well as the hazardous environment around them.

Following that initial tour of duty, Jeremy deployed to Iraq for a second tour at the end of 2004, this time stationed in Tikrit. His unit immediately began providing convoy security to transport equipment, material and personnel all across the country. They ran over 200 missions and were exposed to numerous ambushes, RPG attacks and IED explosions. The constant headaches, loss of sleep, hearing and vision problems only worsened and increased in severity and frequency.

Sadly, stories like Jeremy’s are far too common for soldiers returning from service. Just how many troops are affected is difficult to know. Sections of the government have released numbers ranging from 50,000 (Department of Defense) to 115,000 (the Pentagon), while the Brain Injury Association of America estimates the number at 360,000 and RAND corporation has suggested it could be as high as 400,000.

Unfortunately, it may be impossible to arrive at an exact number. Many soldiers are reluctant to be diagnosed for TBI. Many service members have said they refused to seek treatment for psychological illnesses because they were afraid that their unit leaders would treat them differently or cause their peers to lose confidence in their abilities. Others feared that admitting they suffered from a TBI would harm their future careers after they got out of the service. Because many are unwilling to ask for help, they resort to alternatives to cope with the disorder, such as alcohol abuse, physical violence and even suicide.

According to Stop Soldier Suicide, every single day over 22 veterans and active duty soldiers take their own lives. Burdened with the stigma associated with mental health issues and the military “shame” surrounding TBI and PTSD, they instead turn to suicide as their only option to relieve their suffering.

Thankfully, that’s not how Jeremy’s story ended. He recognized that the issues he was facing were very serious and it caused him to seek out help. He discovered Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and Sara’s Garden through Stop Soldier Suicide and the Wounded Warrior Project. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Ohio Charities learned of Jeremy’s story and stepped in to help fund his needed round of HBOT treatments.

Jeremy was excited to try a different form of treatment. All of the prescription drugs he had been taking were completely ineffective. Years after his discharge from the service, he was still unable to function and perform normally. For years he had been living a life with constant headaches, from minor to completely debilitating. As excited as Jeremy was to begin HBOT, he was equally as skeptical. He had serious doubts that sitting in a chamber breathing oxygen could help rescue him from this life of nonstop pain.

Jeremy was amazed at the immediate relief he began experiencing from the treatments as his headaches began to subside. After only one week in the chamber Jeremy was seeing recognizable improvements in a number of areas as his energy level and appetite were both increasing. The pain in his shoulder and lower back began to subside and he began sleeping 3-4 hours per night, which he had not been able to do in over 10 years.

By the end of his round of treatments, Jeremy was migraine free! In fact, he had not experienced a severe migraine from the moment he started treatments. His sleep patterns continued to improve to the point where he was now experiencing 5-6 hours of uninterrupted and restful sleep every night. The pain in his shoulder and lower back had improved to the point that he was able to begin working out and exercising again and allowed him to begin spending more time playing with his kids. Most importantly, Jeremy was able to reduce, and in some cases, eliminate his need for pain medications.

Thanks to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at Sara’s Garden, Jeremy rejoices that his life has been restored. He has stated that he is forever grateful to compassionate and caring staff at Sara’s Garden. He firmly believes that every soldier could benefit from HBOT and is passionate that it should be easily accessible and available to veterans returning home from service. No matter what you’ve been told, there is hope… for this and many other conditions. HBOT is treatment without drugs… without surgery… without pain.

Ready, Set… PLAY! It’s Time to Build a Playground.

Ready, Set… PLAY! It’s Time to Build a Playground.

Believe it or not, the time has finally come to begin construction on our playground!

Beginning next month, Sara’s Garden will break ground on Northwest Ohio’s first handicap accessible, inclusive playground. This playground will address the needs of typically developing children, as well as children with neurological, intellectual and physical disabilities. Our goal is to design and create a truly inclusive playground that accommodates all children and challenges each of them at their own developmental levels. This playground is designed to go far beyond ADA compliance. It will be a space that encourages children of all abilities to play with one another. It will have a variety of equipment and activities to enable children with disabilities to experience movement, play and independence along with their typically developing peers.

The initial estimate for this project came in at well over $400,000. Thankfully, through equipment discounts and community support through in-kind labor and product donations, Sara’s Garden has been able to bring the cost of the project down to $387,000. The funding raised will be used to pay for site excavation, surface drainage and preparation, fully accessible playground equipment, concrete work for sidewalks and a basketball court, and the rubberized handicap accessible playground surface.

We now need your help to bring the project to completion. The construction of the playground will be a community build project. What that means is that once the site has been cleared and all the holes for the equipment have been dug, we will need teams of volunteers to sign up to work in June to help us put the playground equipment together and help us spread stone which will serve as the base for the playground surface.

Below is the tentative schedule for needed volunteers for the upcoming playground build:

Saturday, June 13th – Community Playground Build

  • Two 4 hour volunteer shifts
    • 1st Shift: 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
    • 2nd Shift: 12:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
  • 30 volunteers needed per shift
  • Lunch provided to both shifts at noon

Sunday, June 14th – Community Playground Build

  • Two 4 hour volunteer shifts
    • 1st Shift: 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
    • 2nd Shift: 12:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
  • 30 volunteers needed per shift
  • Lunch provided to both shifts at noon

Tuesday, June 16th – Friday, June 19th – Surface Base Prep

  • One 3 hour volunteer shift each evening
    • 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
  • 5-10 volunteers needed each evening

If you are interested in volunteering by yourself or with a group, please contact Matt or Paul at 419.335.7272 as soon as possible.

We are so grateful for the support we have received for this project from area individuals, businesses and organizations. This playground would not have been possible without your generosity and partnership.

Habitat for Humanity Housing Partnership

Habitat for Humanity Housing Partnership

We are thrilled to announce that we will be partnering with Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County, Ohio on an upcoming housing project!

Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County has repurchased an existing Habitat home to “recycle”. The previous Habitat partner family was blessed with an opportunity to move forward in her life, thanks in part to her Habitat experience. Although Habitat’s existing partner families are not ready to be homeowners yet, Habitat felt led to repurchase this home and recycle it as a community service project. We are so excited that Habitat has decided to partner with Sara’s Garden on this project. We will be able to provide this home as short term living quarters for our clients and families who travel here for services. This is an exciting opportunity to combine our efforts and thus further both missions to help more families in need.

Coming up in the near future, there will be opportunities for volunteer groups to come clean, paint and lay new flooring in order to get the home ready for families to stay.

Below is a schedule of events for the upcoming Sara’s Garden home recycle project:

Friday, April 24th & Saturday, April 25th – Painting & Trim Work

  • Two 4 hour volunteer shifts
    • 1st Shift: 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
    • 2nd Shift: 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
  • 15-20 volunteers needed per shift
  • Snacks and lunch provided

Friday, May 1st & Saturday, May 2nd – Flooring

  • Two 4 hour volunteer shifts
    • 1st Shift: 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
    • 2nd Shift: 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
  • 10-15 volunteers needed per shift
  • Snacks and lunch provided

Friday, May 8th & Saturday, May 9th – Punch List and Cleanup

  • Two 4 hour volunteer shifts
    • 1st Shift: 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
    • 2nd Shift: 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
  • 10-15 volunteers needed per shift
  • Snacks and lunch provided

Friday, May 15th & Saturday, May 16th – IF NEEDED

  • Volunteers and shifts will be determined at a later date if needed
  • Snacks and lunch provided

Sunday, May 31st – House Dedication

You are more than welcome to work the entire day if you want. If you are interested in volunteering by yourself or with a group, please contact Matt or Paul at 419.335.7272 as soon as possible.

Since Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County, Ohio was established in 2007, they have put 10 families in safe, affordable housing. Habitat for Humanity is continually grateful for contributions they receive from the United Way, churches, businesses and individuals in order to complete these vital projects. Although this is a recycle project and not a new build, funding is still necessary to complete the project’s updates.

Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County wants to put faith into action, completing this recycle project by June 1st so that they can begin a new construction project this fall. Habitat’s new Home Repair Ministry is beginning this month and they want to serve a second family with a new construction next year. The need for Habitat’s ministry is ever-growing.

We are asking for many things besides volunteers – prayer, monetary donations for building materials, hospitality (meals for the job site), and for you to spread the word. How much funding is needed? Habitat estimates that it will cost approximately $7,000 to complete this Recycle project for Sara’s Garden. Building the new home that they hope to start in the fall is much more expensive. It costs $50 to build one square foot of a Habitat home so they need $67,500 to complete that project. Please prayerfully discern how you may serve this ministry. You can join their Square Foot Club to help them reach their goal of recycling 1, repairing 1-3, and building 2 new homes by year-end 2016.

Habitat for Humanity is a local ministry, serving the needs of neighbors in our county. For more information or to schedule a representative to visit your organization, contact the Habitat office at 419-335-7000 and ask for Heidi Kern, the executive director. Please prayerfully consider how you can provide safe, affordable housing by volunteering or making a donation to their mission. Gifts may be designated to specific projects, including the Sara’s Garden recycle. Thank you for what you are considering. Habitat supports and connects individuals and groups in their desire to use their spiritual gifts to glorify God.

2015 “Drive Fore Hope” Charity Golf Scramble

2015 “Drive Fore Hope” Charity Golf Scramble

Sara’s Garden would like to invite you to participate in the 2015 “Drive Fore Hope” Charity Golf Scramble. We have put together a fun-filled day at Ironwood Golf Course in Wauseon, Ohio and hope to see you there!

Event Date:Friday, May 29, 2015
Event Location:Ironwood Golf Course, Wauseon, Ohio
Event Format:4-Player Team Scramble
Event Cost:$75 per Player ($300 per Team)

If you would like to download a flyer for this year’s event to print, post and promote click on one of the links below:

  • “Drive Fore Hope” Promotional Flyer – DOWNLOAD

All proceeds from this event are being donated to Sara’s Garden’s onsite family housing project. Sara’s Garden is a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is the only facility in the United States to offer Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Conductive Education, Autism Intervention and Sensory Integration services.

Registration Includes:

  • Scramble format (4-player teams)
  • Green and cart fees
  • Range balls
  • Goodie bag
  • Contests and prizes
  • Awards for top teams
  • Lunch Buffet
Time
Schedule of Events
7:00 a.m.
Registration
Range Open
8:00 a.m.
Shotgun Scramble
1:00 p.m.
Lunch Buffet
2:00 p.m.
Awards
Partnership Opportunities:

Platinum Title Partner – $1,100

  • Includes one foursome, event promotion, platinum title partner signage and program recognition.
  • This level of sponsorship will provide 10 hours of HBOT treatments or 31 hours of intervention services.

Gold Event Partner – $900

  • Includes one foursome, gold event partner activity signage and program recognition.
  • This level of sponsorship will provide 8 hours of HBOT treatments or 25 hours of intervention services.

Silver Contest Partner – $500

  • Includes one foursome, silver contest partner signage and program recognition.
  • This level of sponsorship will provide 4.5 hours of HBOT treatments or 14 hours of intervention services.

Bronze Meal Partner – $360

  • Includes bronze meal partner signage and program recognition.
  • This level of sponsorship will provide 3 hours of HBOT treatments or 10 hours of intervention services.

O2 Tee Partner – $110

  • Includes O2 tee partner signage and program recognition.
  • This level of sponsorship will provide 1 hour of HBOT treatments or 3 hours of intervention services.

For additional information regarding partnership opportunities or team registration for the Sara’s Garden “Drive Fore Hope” Charity Golf Scramble please call 419.335.SARA.

Please join us for a great day of golf filled with fun, great food, auction items, skill contests and fabulous prizes. Take a day off work for a great cause and meet some of the amazing people you are golfing to help!

Happy National Conductive Education Day!

Happy National Conductive Education Day!

There are millions of children and adults across North America with motor disorders who could be learning how to become more mobile, independent and self-confident with a dynamic learning system called Conductive Education (CE).

Today, February 19, 2015, we join together with the member organizations of The Association for Conductive Education in North America (ACENA) to advocate the power and purpose of Conductive Education.

Developed more than sixty years ago in Hungary by Dr. Andras Peto, Conductive Education maximizes the independence and mobility of children and adults with motor disabilities, including stroke survivors, and those with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, acquired brain injuries, Parkinson’s disease and spina bifida. CE operates from a core belief in neuroplasticity – the lifelong ability of the brain to reorganize neural pathways based on new experiences – and on the premise that no matter how severe the disability, people can learn and improve when they are motivated. Conductive Education helps individuals learn their way to independence. CE is a widely accepted practice with proven success across the globe, and is integrated into the community rehabilitation and educational systems in Hungary, Israel, Germany and Great Britain.

Conductive Education methodology has a transformative effect on mobility and independence. Using a holistic and intensive approach that combines medical knowledge with educational methods, clients can gain control over their bodies – and accomplish tasks that the families may have never thought possible.

Conductive Education has the potential to make a significant, life-changing impact on the mobility and independence of close to 9 million people in the United States and Canada. Millions more will also indirectly benefit – spouses, parents and caregivers – by having loved ones become more independent, motivated and self-sufficient. With increased mobility, strength, problem-solving skills, confidence, and self-esteem, not only will the client’s quality of life be improved, but so will the entire family.

To find out if Conductive Education is right for you or a loved one, or for more information about Sara’s Garden, please contact Matt Rychener, Executive Director at (419) 335-7272 or via email at mattr@sarasgarden.org.

Final Score: HBOT – 1, Antibiotics – 0

Final Score: HBOT – 1, Antibiotics – 0

Hearing the words “Your cancer has returned.” can be very alarming. Finding out that the only recommended course of action is the removal of your entire colon is downright terrifying.

In 2008, a routine colonoscopy revealed a large tumor in Matt’s ascending colon. During surgery to remove the tumor it was discovered that it had breeched the wall of the colon and was sticking to the small intestine. The surgeon was able to successfully perform resections of both the colon and small intestine, removing over a foot of each.

Following six months of chemotherapy, Matt was placed on a preventative checkup program consisting of quarterly blood work and annual CT scans and colonoscopies. For five years, reports came back successful and life went on as usual. In early 2014, Matt’s oncologist noted that his cancer markers appeared to be going up after reviewing his latest blood work. A CT scan was ordered and showed thickening in the walls of the cecum.

A followup colonoscopy found that a small tumor the size of a dime had started to form in his ascending colon. Knowing Matt’s family history with cancer, his doctor recommended that he see a colorectal specialist. After reviewing the medical history of Matt and his family, the specialist was convinced that Matt had Lynch syndrome.

Lynch syndrome is an inherited, genetic condition that gives a person an increased lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer and other related cancers. Several genes have been identified that are linked to Lynch syndrome. They include MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, and EPCAM. These genes are involved in the repair of mistakes that occur when DNA is copied in preparation for cell division (a process called DNA replication). Mutations in any of these genes prevent the proper repair of DNA replication mistakes. As the abnormal cells continue to divide, the accumulated mistakes can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and possibly cancer.

Genetic testing confirmed that Matt did indeed have Lynch syndrome due to a mutation of the MSH2 gene. According to the specialist, the recommended protocol for someone with Lynch syndrome is to remove the entire colon at the first sign of colon cancer and that Matt’s colon should never have been re-sectioned and left in before.

Surgery to remove Matt’s colon was performed in May 2014. After spending a week in the hospital, Matt returned home to continue his recovery. Unfortunately, the recovery did not go as planned. He began experiencing constant fever, severe dehydration and a complete loss of appetite. Less than a week after returning home, Matt was standing at his bathroom counter brushing his teeth when he felt his feet getting wet. Looking down, he saw fluid pouring out of the incision in his abdomen. Doctors instructed him to put a dressing on the incision to try and stem the flow of fluid. Days passed, and the incision continued to discharge fluid. Matt’s dressings had to be changed multiple times throughout the day as the fluid would soak through and spill out onto his clothes. The more he moved, the worse it got. Before long, more holes had opened up in Matt’s abdomen and his incision was dangerously close to tearing completely open.

Matt was finally readmitted to the hospital as surgeons and infectious disease specialists scrambled for answers. Matt went through countless tests and received many different antibiotics in hopes of determining what was causing this infection and buildup of fluid.

After a week in the hospital, the infection was still present and the fluid was still coming out of the open wounds in the incision. However, since Matt’s temperature had come down and he was once again able to eat food, he was released from the hospital to continue his recovery at home. Matt was sent home with a wound vac attached to his abdomen and a PICC line inserted in his arm. He was to continue receiving daily IV antibiotics in hopes of fighting this infection.

Unfortunately, the infection did not go away. His weekly blood work showed that the infection levels remained unchanged throughout the course of the summer. Matt had no energy. After attempting to work only partial days, Matt would return home and fall asleep, often unable to even spend time playing with his son. Doctors again changed the antibiotics to no avail. There was a growing conflict between the surgeon and the infectious disease doctor as to what the correct course of action should be.

In August, Matt asked his infectious disease doctor if Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy would benefit him in treating his infection. She responded emphatically that, no, it would not help. She said that the infection was far too shallow and that HBOT would not do anything to affect it.

After dealing with this problem for over 2 ½ months Matt and his family had enough. On Monday, August 11th, Matt had his usual blood draw to determine his current infection levels. He started Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments the very next day. Every week for the next three weeks, Matt’s blood work showed that his infection levels cut in half each and every time. By the end of his third week of treatments all of the pertinent markers in Matt’s infection levels were back in their normal ranges.

Matt’s doctors were astonished at how quickly Matt’s infection levels had come down and that the open wounds had stopped hemorrhaging fluid. Matt was able to discontinue the use of the wound vac and have his PICC line removed. He no longer needed the daily IV antibiotics or wound dressings. Matt continued to receive HBOT treatments over the next three weeks to aide in the healing and closing of the holes that the infectious fluid had opened in his incision.

In just three short weeks, HBOT had done what an entire summer of antibiotics couldn’t. HBOT was able to overcome the infection that had controlled Matt’s life and assisted in expediting his healing process. Thanks to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at Sara’s Garden, Matt once again had his life back, and family had their husband and father back. He now had the energy and absence of pain that allows him to enjoy spending time playing with his son! No matter what you’ve been told, there is hope… for this and many other conditions. HBOT is treatment without drugs… without surgery… without pain.

Buy a Brick. Rock the Walk!

Buy a Brick. Rock the Walk!

Construction of our brand new handicap accessible playground at New Horizons Academy is right around the corner. We plan on breaking ground on the project as soon as school lets out this spring. Now you can participate in a very unique way. One of the playground’s features will be a beautiful, brick paver walkway surrounding the playground with picnic tables and benches for families to enjoy.

Purchase your own “brick” and help lead the way! Your message etched into your own brick space will leave a legacy that you or your family can visit for years to come!

For a tax-deductible donation, we will personalize your limited edition section of the walkway. This program offers you the chance to honor family, friends, mentors, sports teams, clubs, organizations or businesses by purchasing a personalized brick paver. The options may be endless, but the bricks are not. Reserve yours today.

“Buy a Brick” Donor Levels

  • $50.00 – 4″ x 8″ engraved brick space with 1-3 lines of text.
  • $75.00 – 8″ x 8″ engraved brick space with 1-6 lines of text.
  • $100.00 – 12″ x 12″ engraved brick space with 1-8 lines of text.

Inscriptions will be UPPERCASE lettering and will be centered on the brick. You can have up to 20 characters per line engraved, including spaces, periods, commas, quotations, etc.

You can also customize your brick with decorative clip art and logo graphics for only $15.00 more. We can also engrave your own clip art or logo for the same price. Simply upload a black & white high resolution logo where specified when you place your order.

You may suggest placement of the graphics on our order sheet under the comments section. Sometimes however it is not possible to accommodate the suggested placement in the layout. In these cases the final design will be left up to our engravers.

Make a lasting memory while supporting the playground project and investing in student’s lives, one step at a time. Help support the students at New Horizons Academy and countless families from across Northwest Ohio that will benefit from this inclusive, handicap accessible playground.

If you would like additional information or need help placing your order, please call or email Matt Rychener at 419-335-7272 ext. 1001.

Why Essential Oils are Essential (Part 2)

Why Essential Oils are Essential (Part 2)

What are Pure, Therapeutic-Grade Essential Oils? As we mentioned in last month’s newsletter, essential oils are the volatile liquids that are distilled from plants (including their respective parts such as seeds, bark, leaves, stems, roots, flowers, fruit, etc.). One of the factors that determines the purity and therapeutic value of an oil is its chemical constituents.

These constituents can be affected by a vast number of variables including: the part(s) of the plant from which the oil was produced, soil condition, fertilizer (organic or chemical), geographical region, climate, altitude, harvest season and methods, and distillation process.

 As we begin to understand the power of essential oils in the realm of personal, holistic health care, we recognize the absolute necessity for obtaining the purest therapeutic-grade essential oils possible. Chemists can replicate some of the known individual constituents, but they have yet to successfully recreate complete essential oils in the laboratory.

What Benefits do Pure, Therapeutic-Grade Essential Oils Provide? Essential oils embody the regenerating, oxygenating and immune-system strengthening properties of plants. Essential oils are so small in molecular size that they can quickly penetrate the skin. They are lipid-soluble and are capable of penetrating cell walls, even if they have hardened because of oxygen deficiency. In fact, essential oils can affect every cell of the body within 20 minutes and then be metabolized like other nutrients.

Essential oils contain oxygen molecules that help to transport nutrients to the starving human cells. Because a nutritional deficiency is an oxygen deficiency, disease begins when the cells lack the oxygen for proper nutrient assimilation. By providing the needed oxygen, essential oils also work to stimulate the immune system. They can play a vital role in supporting, affecting, and maintaining overall wellness.

Essential oils are aromatic. When diffused, they provide air purification by:

  • Removing metallic particles and toxins from the air;
  • Increasing atmospheric oxygen;
  • Increasing ozone and negative ions in the area, which inhibits bacterial growth;
  • Destroying odors from mold, cigarettes and animals; and
  • Filling the air with a fresh, aromatic scent.

Essential oils have a biochemical frequency that is several times greater than the frequency of herbs, food and even the human body. Clinical research has shown that essential oils can quickly raise the frequency of the human body, restoring it to its normal, healthy level. Be sure to check back next quarter as we discuss frequency and how it pertains to essential oils.

Want More Information? If you would like more information on the science behind essential oils, the many different ways they can benefit, or would like information on where to purchase essential oils please don’t hesitate to contact Val at 419.335.7272 or via email at valn@sarasgarden.org.

We are holding an introductory class to essential oils called “Living with Essential Oils” this coming Saturday, January 24th. Click on the button below for more detailed information on the class an instructions on how to register.

Introductory Class to Essential Oils

Introductory Class to Essential Oils

Living with Essential Oils

Are you new to essential oils and curious to know more about how you can use them to increase your family’s health and well-being, naturally?

On Saturday, January 24, Sara’s Garden will be hosting a FREE introductory class on essential oils. This free educational class will address the myriad uses of essential oils for better living. You will learn what they are, why they work, how to use them, and different ways they can help.

Please RSVP by Wednesday, January 21 to secure your seat in this valuable class. If you had already RSVP’d for the class that had been cancelled you do not need to RSVP again for this date.

If you can no longer attend, please let us know so we can remove your name from the list of attendees.

Event Date: Saturday, January 24, 2015
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Cost: Absolutely FREE!
Location: The Hope Center at Sara’s Garden
North East Entrance
220 Lawrence Ave., Wauseon, OH 43567
Deadline to RSVP: Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Course Overview
The following is a list of topics that we plan on covering in this class:

  • Introduction to Aromatherapy/Essential Oils
  • Essential Oil Safety
  • Essential Oil Constituents
  • How Essential Oils are Made
  • History of Essential Oils
  • Everyday Uses for Essential Oils
  • Aromatherapy First Aid
  • Relaxing with Essential Oils
  • Disinfecting with Essential Oils
  • Essential Oil Cleaning Products

Please contact Val at 419.335.7272 to RSVP for this class in person.

2014 Casino Night Gala Photos

2014 Casino Night Gala Photos

Thank you so much to everyone who came out and attended or volunteered at the first annual Casino Night Gala to benefit Sara’s Garden! All proceeds from this event were donated to benefit Sara’s Garden’s handicap accessible playground project!

We can’t begin to express our thanks adequately enough to the team at Don’s Automotive Group for their generosity in hosting this event for us. We are so thankful for the hard work and sacrifice that they have provided and consider ourselves blessed to have such an amazing partner working with us to provide much needed facilities to the children and families we serve. What an absolutely amazing evening! We can’t wait for next year.

Below are photos from the event. Click on a thumbnail to see a larger version of the photo. All photos have a resolution of 800 x 600 pixels. To obtain full-size high resolution versions of the images (5472 × 3648 pixels) that can be enlarged and printed, see instructions below.

Volunteers: We are so grateful for your willing participation and involvement in supporting this event. Thank you so much for all of your time and hard work!

Attendees: Thank you for taking time out of your weekend to spend it with us at Casino Night. We hope you all enjoyed the event and look forward to seeing you again next year.

Partners: Thank you so much for your partnership and financial support of this event. Because of your support we were able to provide fantastic prizes and giveaways.

We are so grateful for everyone that took part in our Casino Night Gala and are so proud to be a part of such caring and supportive communities.