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6B – Daily News – Monday, December 6, 2010 Vitality & health Many drinks and foods commonly served as appetizers or main courses during the holi- days can lead to preg- nancy problems. Take our quiz on the dangers. 1. Alcohol, of course, is not recommended for pregnant women. Which of the following holiday treats does not contain hidden alcohol? a) rum balls b) eggnog c) spiced rum d) cranberry relish 2. Why are soft cheeses, such as brie, feta and Camembert, a concern for pregnant women? a) Digestion is hin- dered by an adverse reaction with the placen- tal lining of the uterus. b) Unpasteurized milk can contain the bacteria listeria monocy- togenes. c) The high saturated fat content of the cheese can lead to early-onset obesity for the fetus. d) Consumption leads the pregnant woman to crave pickles to go with the cheese. 3. What are among the effects on a develop- ing baby of the bacteria called listeria monocyto- genes? a) miscarriage b) uterine infection c) premature labor d) all of the above 4. Hot dogs can also be breeding grounds for listeria monocytogenes. What do the experts say to do to better ensure a hot dog is safe to eat? a) Reheat until steam- ing hot b) Heat, then chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes c) Grind up and heat as a pâte d) Toss it in the garbage disposal CHICAGO (MCT) — If laughter is the best med- icine, Cathy Risberg was wheeling a traveling phar- macy through the hallways of Park Ridge's Advocate Lutheran General Chil- dren's Hospital one recent morning. Wearing a set of bob- bing antennae, the retired teacher pushed a "Humor Cart" laden with toys, col- oring books and jokey doo- dads. She stopped first at the room of Bill Haverty, a 5- year-old from Island Lake, Ill., who'd been hospital- ized with mysterious back pain. She plied him with a few things from the cart — including a rubber duck, a bottle of bubbles and a dancing hamster — before going to the closer: a truly awful joke. "Why did the boy throw the butter out the window?" Risberg asked. "I don't know," Bill said. "So he could see a but- terfly." Bill smiled and gave a small giggle. Mission accomplished, Risberg moved to the next room. So it goes with the Humor Cart, a decade-old program at Lutheran Gen- eral hospital designed to lighten the spirits of young patients. One of several humor-based projects in Chicago-area hospitals, it aims to use fun to prompt serious health improve- ments. "Laughter releases endorphins, and that helps us feel better and heal," said Melodie Merrick, clin- MCT photo Cathy Risberg, a volunteer at Lutheran General, steps into a patient's room while the humor cart waits in the hallway in the children's ward, at Lutheran General. ical manager of pediatrics at Lutheran General. "It decreases anxiety and can mean less pain medicine. It takes a kid away from a fear of the hospital, and that's important to building a trusting relationship." Risberg, who said she learned the value of humor in her teaching days, start- ed volunteering with the Humor Cart four years ago. Because children come to the hospital with all sort of maladies, from broken legs to swollen tonsils to cancer, Risberg quickly learned how to take the tempera- ture of a room and work in delicate circumstances. Usually, though, every- one is happy to see the Humor Cart arrive. Mason Davito, 7, of Morton Grove, Ill., who suffers from complex partial seizures, gave a sly smile when Risberg came into the room bearing a yo-yo, a pair of giant sunglasses and another joke. "Why did the football coach go to the bank?" she asked. "Because he wanted to steal money," Mason said. "Well, um, that's a pos- sibility," Risberg said. "He wanted to get his quarter back." Mason's mother, Melis- sa Davito, gave a little laugh. She said she appre- ciated the cart as much as her son did, knowing the importance of staying upbeat. "You really don't have a choice," she said. "If you're not, he's not." The hospital's comic campaign has extended to Oakton Community Col- lege in Des Plaines, Ill., where a band of students has formed the Dr. Clown Club. Established a year ago, the club sends volunteers to wheel the Humor Cart around Lutheran General. fitness Quiz: Pregnancy problems Humor Cart brings funny distraction to sick kids One of them, aspiring teacher Jen Rhine, 20, of Park Ridge, Ill., said the children can be a tough crowd. She recalled one lit- tle boy who adamantly rebuffed her attempts to cheer him up, shaking his head "no" every time she suggested an activity. "By the end ... he was pushing his (adjustable) bed up and down, playing games with us," she said. "He really opened up." Some of the students said their adventures in therapeutic comedy had paid unexpected dividends. "The stuff you learn, you can apply it to your life," said Anna Okowins- ki, 19, of Park Ridge. "I like making people happy. It's not just the club. It's more like a hobby." Back at the hospital, Risberg arrived at the room of Grayson Cacal, 2, of Chicago. He was diag- nosed with leukemia in July, and ever since has shuttled between home and hospital. He was amused by the clown nose Risberg offered him, though he had more fun throwing it than putting in on. His mother, Sara Cacal, who put on her own nose, said the cart's visit was the high point of the day. "He heard the wheels and knew it was coming," she said. "He knew he was getting something special. It's just a little treat. It's that element of forgetting where we are." That, Risberg said later, was the point. "I have friends who say, 'I could never do this,' but this place is filled with the promise of tomorrow," she said. "Most of (the chil- dren) can smile, and those who can't, I make sure I'm smiling at them." Customer Service Representative to help schools obtain money. Work with Principals, PTA’s, Coaches, Music, and Childcares! We train! $17.99-$ 20.00/hr.avg. Call 765-377-4501 ANSWERS: 1: d; 2: b; 3: d; 4: a