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  • A Recipe for Success: Heart-healthy Dishes to Reduce Stroke Risk
Article Category: Highlights

A Recipe for Success: Heart-healthy Dishes to Reduce Stroke Risk

Published on May 28, 2024

Last updated 01:01 PM May 28, 2024

A friendly image of stroke

If you’ve had a stroke, you don’t have to replace flavorful cuisine with bland foods on your journey to recovery.

There are easy, delicious meal options that follow American Heart Association nutrition guidelines for lowering your risk of another stroke. More fiber, whole grains, fruit, vegetables and lean protein, with less trans fat, saturated fat, sodium and sugar are key to supporting your recovery efforts. Rehabilitation care teams and dietitians at Wellstar recommend keeping meals and snacks interesting with variety and new recipes like these.

Coconut Truffles satisfy your sweet tooth without any added sugar.

Ingredients:

12 medjool dates, pitted
2 tablespoons water
4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
½ cup puffed brown rice
½ cup shredded unsweetened dried coconut

Directions:

  1. Using a blender or food processor, puree dates and water until a sticky paste forms.
  2. Add cocoa powder and pulse until a solid dough forms.
  3. Stir in puffed brown rice.
  4. Using a small scoop, form mixture into 14 tablespoon size balls.
  5. Roll each ball in the shredded coconut for a light coating.
  6. Refrigerate for one hour.
  7. Enjoy! 

Southwestern-Style Breakfast Casserole is a great way to start your morning.

Ingredients:

6 slices hearty whole-grain bread, cut into cubes
1 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and liquid squeezed out
1 7-ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained and chopped (or 1 red bell pepper, roasted and chopped)
1 ½ cups (6 ounces) Mexican-style cheese
3 cups non-fat milk
8 ounces egg substitute
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon salt

Directions:

  1. Coat a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. Layer the bread in the bottom of the baking dish.
  3. Sprinkle evenly with the spinach, red peppers and cheese into baking dish.
  4. Combine the non-fat milk, egg substitute, garlic powder, cumin, black pepper and salt, then pour into baking dish.
  5. Cover and refrigerate at least four hours or overnight.
  6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  7. Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
  8. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

For more heart-healthy recipes, visit American Heart Association Recipes.

To learn more about how you can partner with Wellstar rehabilitation care teams to reduce your risk of another stroke, visit https://www.wellstar.org/medical-services/treatments-procedures/rehabilitation-services/neuro-rehabilitation..

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Cobb Medical Center Kennestone Regional Medical Center Douglas Medical Center
West Georgia Medical Center Paulding Medical Center
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Illustration of baseball with ribbon and bats. Text reads "Strike out cancer"

Highlights

Commemorate Cancer Survivors Day with Wellstar

Wellstar supports people with cancer throughout their journeys, from early screenings to diagnosis to treatment. But our encouragement and dedication to delivering world-class, compassionate care doesn’t end in remission.

Across our system, Wellstar honors the bravery and strength of survivors every day, rejoicing in each milestone. This National Cancer Survivors Day, June 1, 2025, we are proud to pay tribute to the people who have conquered cancer and offer hope to those still fighting. This year’s Cancer Survivors Day theme—Strike Out Cancer—exemplifies our commitment to being a steadfast source of encouragement for cancer survivors and fighters across Georgia.

“On Cancer Survivors Day, we reflect on our patients’ journeys and cherish victories over cancer. We also offer compassion and support for people currently fighting cancer, so they and their loved ones know they’re not alone,” said Wellstar Director of Oncology Professional Practices Melissa Higdon.

Several Wellstar facilities will host events—and you can be a part of the celebration!

 

Northwest Georgia Oncology Centers in Cartersville
June 5, 2025
10 AM to 3 PM
100 Market Place Blvd., Cartersville
Contact Mary Ellen Smither at [email protected] or (678) 858-1146.

Wellstar Cobb Medical Center
May 30, 2025
12 to 2 PM     
4040 Hospital West Drive, Austell
Behind the building in the garden and parking lot area
Contact Ashley Dapremont at [email protected] or (470) 732-4523.

Wellstar Douglas Medical Center
June 7, 2025
11 AM to 2 PM
8954 Hospital Drive, Douglasville
Surgical services lobby
Contact Diane Harris at [email protected] or (470) 644-5411.

Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center
June 7, 2025
11 AM to 2 PM
320 Kennestone Hospital Blvd., Marietta
First floor
Required RSVP, contact Nancy Page at [email protected] or (470) 793-7470.

Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center
June 1, 2025
2 to 4 PM
3000 Hospital Blvd., Roswell
Main lobby in hospital
Contact Sarah Bentley at [email protected] or (770) 751-2556.

Wellstar Paulding Medical Center
June 1, 2025
144 Bill Carruth Parkway, Hiram
Second floor auditorium
Contact Kellie Mitchell at [email protected] or (470) 644-8106.

Wellstar Spalding Medical Center
May 28, 2025
12 to 2 PM
Drive-thru event
608 South 8th St., Griffin
Women’s Center
Contact Sherry Connell at [email protected] or (470) 935-5526.

Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center
June 6, 2025
10 AM to 12 PM
111 Medical Drive, LaGrange
Enoch Callaway Cancer Center
Contact Stephanie Hand at [email protected].

Learn more about cancer care at Wellstar.

Keep reading
A friendly image of Douglas

Highlights

Wellstar Douglas Medical Center Receives 2025 Georgia Oglethorpe Award

For the first time, Wellstar Douglas Medical Center has earned the prestigious Georgia Oglethorpe Award, the highest level of recognition for organizational performance excellence in the state.

Each year, the Sterling Council presents the award to organizations and businesses that demonstrate performance excellence in their management and operations. Wellstar Douglas is the first business in Douglas County to receive the award.

Founded in 1974, the hospital recently celebrated its 50th year in the community. The non-profit 108-bed community hospital in Douglasville delivers an extensive array of inpatient and outpatient services, including interventional cardiology, maternity care with a level II neonatal intensive care unit, hyperbaric wound care, rehabilitation therapy and robotic surgery, including total joint orthopedics.

Wellstar Douglas President Heath King said hospital leaders use tiered safety huddles, visual management boards, department-based huddles and "A3 Thinking," a problem-solving and decision-making methodology that helps teams identify the root causes of problems and develop solutions that promote a high-reliability organization.

"These leadership methods have created a strong system of two-way communication that links our hospital's senior-most leaders with frontline team members," King said. "We're thrilled that the Sterling Council recognizes our approach for achieving industry-leading financial, quality, marketplace, consumer engagement and workforce results."

Keep reading
Stephen, a Wellstar Kennestone Level I Trauma Center patient, pictured with his daughter, Hannah.

PeopleCare

StephenCare

Stephen Nowlin became unexpectedly paralyzed one day when preparing for a Fourth of July celebration with friends. A flight EMS team was called to transport him when the flight nurse on call, Hannah Carr, recognized the address of the accident—her childhood home. She flew her father to Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center, a Level I Trauma Center, where he could have the fastest, most comprehensive trauma response—and a chance at full recovery.

When routine yard work went wrong

Preparing for his annual Fourth of July party, Stephen mowed his 13-acre property in Waco, Georgia. The routine chore took a terrifying turn when his mower flipped. Trapped underneath, he realized he was paralyzed. His friend soon discovered him lying there and called 911. 

Meanwhile, Stephen’s daughter, Hannah, was working that day as a flight nurse for a local air ambulance company. When the call came in about a 60-year-old man in a tractor accident, paralyzed, at her parents' address, she instantly knew who it was. Hannah and her air ambulance service partner were on their way. 

In good hands: first responders act fast

The local fire department and EMS arrived quickly, carefully removing the mower without moving Stephen. They transported him to a nearby landing zone where Hannah and her flight partner waited. As Stephen was loaded onto the helicopter, he told his daughter, “I just hope they can fix me.”

Hannah and her partner did a thorough, head-to-toe assessment for life-threatening injuries.

“I knew I was in good hands,” Stephen said. “She's going to take care of me better than anybody else would.”

On the flight to Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center, a Level I Trauma Center, Hannah communicated with the hospital ahead of arrival. In emergency situations, it’s important the team is assembled and ready to perform care as fast as possible. Because of their collaboration, not a minute was wasted.

Keep reading
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