The names of the clients in this article have been changed to protect their privacy.
At the Felician Wellness Center in Centralia, IL, exercise and wellness coordinator Jacy Keef sees many clients who struggle with obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
Unfortunately, in a city like Centralia, where nearly 20% of the population lives in poverty, limited access to affordable healthy food and fitness programs is common. These factors lead to obesity which puts people at higher risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke and certain types of cancer. According to the CDC, 31.6% of adults in Illinois self-identified as obese, and the leading cause of death in the state is heart disease.
In response to this threat to the health of the community, Sr. Mary Clarette Stryzewski, president of Hopebound Ministries, a branch of Felician Services, Inc. (FSI), collaborated with SSM Health’s Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon, IL, and St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia, IL, to create the Felician Wellness Center. The partnership sought to help people reverse chronic illness, end reliance on medications and improve their overall quality of life.
Two of the Felician Wellness Center’s clients, Amy and Mary, were struggling. At 235 pounds, Amy had congestive heart failure, was on oxygen full-time and used a walker. Mary suffered from autoimmune disease and experienced debilitating neck, back and shoulder pain. For Amy, Mary and so many others like them, the road back to health seemed far too long; they felt like giving up before they had even begun. Thanks to the NExT (Nutrition, Exercise and Training) program, they don’t need to travel the road alone.
NExT, a first-of-its-kind program in southern Illinois, was introduced by Felician Wellness in 2010. Led by Keef and her team, the program joins people on their journey back to health, one step at a time, offering education, exercise and individualized training and support.
Each NExT session meets twice weekly for six weeks and incorporates guest speakers such as physicians, dietitians and mental health professionals, to speak on topics like blood sugar control, healthy eating, anti-inflammatory diets, portion control and ideas for keeping active at home.
Participants are also given a free body-composition scan, which measures weight, BMI, muscle mass, hydration, metabolism and fat. These scans are used to track a person’s progress in more tangible ways than just weight. “Some people might get discouraged if the number on the scale doesn’t go down,” said Keef, “but then they see that they’ve turned fat into muscle mass and they recognize their progress.”
With the help of the NExT program, Amy lost 55 pounds; she is walking on her own and no longer requires oxygen. Mary lost 12 pounds in six weeks and has greatly improved mobility and energy. “Seeing people lose weight, get off medications, and reverse heart disease and diabetes is the best part of my job,” said Keef. “The program gives them hope for the future.”
Anyone over the age of 13 can participate, regardless of physical fitness, disabilities or other health challenges. Though there is a $30 fee for each six-week session, the Felician Sisters of North America offer 50% and 100% scholarships. “The sisters didn’t want cost to be a deterrent,” said Keef. “God bless them.”
Seeing the success of NExT, Dr. Todd Beadle, vice president of special projects and senior ministry advisor for FSI, who also has a background in education, wanted to do more to serve school-aged children. “The problems of childhood obesity and diabetes are growing, but when schools have to make budget cuts, the physical education and arts programs are the first to go,” said Dr. Beadle. With this in mind, he met with physical education instructors and superintendents
in southern Illinois to collaborate on what would become LEAN (Learning, Exercise and Nutrition), a program that provides school districts with funds to cover salaries for physical education teachers, equipment, professional development, individual and group sports programs and testing to track progress.
LEAN is now in place in five school districts in southern Illinois and two Felician-sponsored ministries: St. Joseph Academy in Milwaukee, WI, and Mooncrest Neighborhood Programs in Moon Township, PA. “Last year, we served 972 students,” reported Dr. Beadle. “90% of them met or exceeded their fitness goals (flexibility, physical strength, muscular endurance and cardiovascular endurance). These are wonderful programs with great results for the money being spent.”
The impact of these programs on the community is undeniable, and as Felician Wellness continues to expand their programs and their reach, they expect to see more positive results as they seek to empower people to take control of their personal wellness.
