The Sentinel

SJO's Osterbur double-double key in conference win over PBL

PAXTON - Junior Kayla Osterbur scored 13 first-half points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead St. Joseph-Ogden to a 39-25 conference road win over Paxton-Buckley-Loda on Monday. The Spartans improved to 5-4 in the Illini Prairie and 11-16 overall, closing the season with back-to-back wins.

Kayla Osterbur looks for an open teammate during SJO's Country Financial Shootout game in December. The junior has grown into the role of the Spartans' top performer.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Trailing 10-8 after the first quarter, Osterbur scored 10 points in the second quarter to give SJO a 23-16 halftime lead.

The Spartans held PBL to nine points in the second half, with senior Katie Ericksen contributing nine of her 11 points during this stretch. Addison Brooks and Hayden Dahl hit three-pointers in the third quarter to help secure the win.

For the Panthers (4-26, 2-7), Tanner Graham led with 10 points, all scored in the first half. Sophomore Kylie Rust came off the bench to add six points, while Aubrey Busboom contributed with a field goal and two free throws. Addison Lavender rounded out the scoring with a basket in the fourth quarter, totaling two points.

St. Joseph-Ogden will begin their postseason on Monday, February 17, at home against the winner of Saturday's quarterfinal between St. Thomas More and the #6 seed, Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin. SJO earned the #3 seed in the regional.

Blood disorder impacts hundreds, especially women of color

by Terri Dee
Indiana News Service

Sickle cell disease causes normally healthy, round, and flexible blood cells to become 'C' or sickle-shaped and stick to small blood-vessel walls.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report the life-shortening blood disease sickle cell anemia affects about 100,000 Americans, mostly people of color.

And many individuals with the illness do not get the important screenings and treatments.

Healthy red blood cells.

Illustration: allinonemovie/Pixabay

Sickle cell disease causes normally healthy, round, and flexible blood cells to become 'C' or sickle-shaped and stick to small blood-vessel walls.

This blockage prevents blood and oxygen flow to the arms, legs, and internal organs. Around 1,700 Hoosiers, mostly women of color, are impacted by the disorder.

Lisa Hoffman, grants and team manager with Innovative Hematology, said she would like to see better public awareness about the inherited disease.

"I would like to think it's not an issue about race, but 87% of the people in Indiana that have sickle cell are Black or African American," said Hoffman. "There are other diseases that affect predominantly white folks, and those diseases seem to get a bit more attention."

Patient education is essential for addressing sickle cell anemia complications. The blockages cause repeated episodes of severe pain, organ damage, infections, or sometimes a stroke.

Innovative Hematology indicates that 52% of sickle cell anemia patients in Indiana are female, and 48% are male.

One barrier to care is insufficient or no insurance coverage, which affects disease management. Another is a lack of medical providers with knowledge of detecting the illness. This can lead to a misdiagnosis or prescribing an ineffective treatment plan.

Hoffman said family members in dual roles as caregivers often do not get needed support. And other factors can present additional burdens for a patient.

"If you're a single mom and you have sickle cell disease and you are having a pain crisis and really should go to the hospital," said Hoffman, "you face a lot of barriers - such as, who's going to watch my child? How am I going to get there?"

The Indiana Statehouse hosted 174 attendees for Sickle Cell Advocacy Day last week, to raise the voices of those in the community who are affected by the painful disorder.

Hoffman said she wants legislators to extend health care services beyond age 21 for individuals with this specific condition.

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