In 1954, Sharlene Jacobson was the first open heart surgery patient at Texas Children’s Hospital. So today it’s no surprise that she has a huge heart for helping people and animals. “I believe what I do extends people’s lives,” says Sharlene, “because it’s all about helping both humans and pets live all natural, healthy lives with less dependency on medication.”

There’s no denying the beauty, miraculousness, and strength of a woman’s body. Strength that is arguably unparalleled. But even great strength can take its toll. Local Vascular Surgeon, Ulises Baltazar, says, “Unfortunately, women in general are predisposed to varicose veins. Statistics tell us that up to 50% of American women may be affected at some point in their lives. That’s four times as many women than men! And if you are one of those women, a whole host of factors--many just natural aspects of womanhood—can lead to their appearance.”

On May 5th, people all over the United States raise a margarita in honor of Cinco De Mayo, the celebration of Mexican culture and heritage. But here in Fort Bend County, we can have the whole enchilada. At Soto’s Kitchen you’ll find the flavors and aromas of Old Mexico with a personal twist!

That’s what Teresa C. Reading, RN and TMS coordinator for the Offices of William H. Reading, MD, Recovery, Psychiatric and TMS Services truly believes and has devoted her career to achieving. “Everyone feels anxious or depressed at times. Losing a loved one, getting fired, divorced, and other difficult situations can lead even the strongest person to feel sad, lonely, or scared. These feelings are normal...they are merely reactions to life’s stresses. But if you experience these feelings nearly daily for no apparent reason and it’s making it difficult to carry on with normal, everyday functioning...you may suffer from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).”

Sugar Land has a robust and fascinating history, full of cowboy lore and cattle drives. One of its most revealing stories is about a tribe of Native Americans called the Karankawa who came to Houston area long before it was settled, looked around, and then dismissed it as “too hot and malarial.” Anyone who has made it through one of Sugar Land’s notorious “dog breath” summers can attest to the triple digit heat index. And no one can blame the Karankawa for migrating to Galveston instead. After all, they didn’t have Brian Jackson of Jackson Air & Heat to make summer something to look forward to rather than something to dread. Especially this summer, when zero percent financing and rebates from Trane and CenterPoint Energy make this the perfect time to get perfectly comfortable!

Anyone with her ear to the ground has heard about Fort Bend success story and salon owner Chi and her talent for designing salons that draw clients from all around the greater Houston area. With twenty-five years in the business, Chi is the darling of every woman who values cleanliness, great prices, beautiful surroundings, and the very latest in lash and nail trends. “I try to create the kind of space that I enjoy going to,” Chi explains. “I love sensuous fabrics and sparkling waterfalls. I feel it is so important to have an oasis away from the hustle-bustle of our daily lives.”

“It was a Friday night and when I went to sit on the couch, I twisted wrong,” says Karen Linhart. “I really thought I broke my neck...it hurt so bad! I had already been living with a lingering, dull pain for quite some time, but this was unbelievable agony. And it didn’t get better. I waited a few days before deciding I had to take action!”

It’s a cozy dinner at grandma’s...she’s in the kitchen grinding her spices “the Mexican way,”...in a Molcajete, with a mortar and pestle, while she flips up perfectly brown freckled flour tortillas from the griddle and chops up the fresh roasted tomatoes for the salsa.

There are three key elements to beautiful skin. One is radiance. Good health should shine through it like a window. Two, it must be blemish-free and dewy--not oily, just moist enough to glow. And three, it must be as firm and elastic and young-looking as possible. A tall order, you say? Dr. Lance Campbell, Pharm. D., R.Ph. of Campbell’s Compounding Pharmacy and fellow pharmacist Lisa might have some pretty powerful medical magic up their sleeves.

“We had an above-ground pool for years,” says Joy Tilton, “and Barry and I really enjoyed it. Nothing beat relaxing in the water after work...but we always dreamed of getting an in-ground pool. When that above-ground pool needed more work than we were willing to spend money on, we lived without for a few years...until finally we took the plunge!”