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NEWTON GENZ: Nolan Stanfield works in community, preps for college
Stanfield
Nolan Stanfield - photo by Special Photo

Newton High School student Nolan Stanfield was nominated as one of Newton’s Gen Z leaders of Tomorrow, primarily because of his hard work both inside and outside of school.

Currently a junior at Newton, Stanfield is involved in an assortment of volunteer organizations and events in Covington and the Newton County area.

“[Working] in the community [through volunteering] will always help all that goes on in the community,” Stanfield said. “My family has a history of participating in community service.”

In the community, Stanfield has worked with the Newton County Ministers Union as well as participating in walks against breast cancer and lupus.

Stanfield’s work does not stop when he steps onto campus at Newton, as he is involved in a variety of groups, causes and programs at Newton.

He is part of the No Opioids campaign, RamBassadors, Beta Club, National Honors Society, Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (MCJROTC), the Academy of Liberal Arts (ALANHS), and he plays on Newton’s football and soccer teams.

Stanfield did extensive work for the No Opioids campaign at Newton, helping to shoot public service announcements, raise awareness and make the logo for the campaign. His leadership helped draw other students in.

Inside these programs, Stanfield also assists with multiple community service efforts as well as helping at Georgia Tech football games to raise money and awareness.

Stanfield expressed how being in these programs benefits him and others by offering new experiences that he had yet to have beforehand.

“[Being in these groups] helps me see the world more than I usually would if I was not part of these programs,” Stanfield said. “They open more doors for me.”

Stanfield credits ALANHS for helping setting him up for life after high school as he plans to attend college, and study Aerospace Engineering.

“ALANHS helps set me up for college,” he said. “From there, I am looking into Morehouse, Georgia Tech, the United States Naval Academy, and MIT.”

Oxford woman shares experience battling colon cancer
Leni Longino
Leni Longino - photo by Contributed Photo

Leni Longino never missed work as a customer service representative. That is until searing abdominal pain prompted her to go to the emergency room at Piedmont Newton Hospital one Friday last August.

She had had a few signs something was wrong in the months leading up to the ER visit. For example, her energy was so low that she would sometimes have to use her lunch break for a nap. But hearing the diagnosis at age 46 of colon cancer that had metastasized to her liver still shocked Longino.

“When I was in the emergency room with my friend, who had come to sit with me, I just looked at her and said, ‘Well, that’s a game changer!’” The face of the typical colon cancer patient is changing. According to the American Cancer Society, the rate of people being diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer under age 50 went up almost 2.5% per year between 2012 and 2021. Current guidance from the organization is for people at average risk for colon cancer to start regular screenings at age 45. But people with colorectal cancer in their family or people with a personal history of certain bowel-related conditions may want to start screening earlier.

“Screening guidelines from professional medical organizations are not as clear-cut for people with risk factors for colorectal cancer,” said gastroenterologist Michael Cheng, M.D., with Piedmont Physicians Gastroenterology Newton. “They are best interpreted for any individual by their doctor.”

Longino regrets that her first colonoscopy with Dr. Cheng was when she came to the ER. She said she does have a family history of cancer.

“No one wants to have a colonoscopy, but it’s really not that bad,” she said. “It’s worth it in the long run to not be sick.”

Her younger sisters took her advice and got colonoscopies, which confirmed they do not have cancer.

Longino just finished her 11th round of chemotherapy. She is winding down on infusions and will soon only need the chemotherapy given through a take-home pump. She has come to enjoy the team of nurses at Piedmont Newton.

“The infusion nurses are fantastic. That whole group over there is just a joy,” she said. “I’m so happy to not have to do that [sit for infusions], but I’m going to miss them!”

Radiation is up next. Once that is complete, Piedmont Clinic physician Evan Feldman, M.D., will perform surgery at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital to remove the mass in Longino’s colon.

Longino credits her positive attitude for getting to this point. One thing she is positive about: the access she has had to quality cancer care close to home. Piedmont Newton is just a five-minute drive from where she lives in Oxford, Ga.

“I have to go to Atlanta occasionally. I can’t imagine having to do that every time. It would be a nightmare,” she said.

Longino’s treatment progress is evident to her from the positive difference in how she feels after an infusion. There were times early on when she needed a wheelchair to leave Piedmont Newton. “Now I just be-bop out of there like ‘See you on Thursday,’” she said.

Her oncologist, Shanker Polsani, M.D., with Piedmont Physicians Medical Oncology Newton, seems pleased too.

“[Dr. Polsani] doesn’t sugar coat things,” Longino explained. “I can tell that he’s excited by my progress, and that helps me feel optimistic.”

On Saturday, April 26, Piedmont Newton is holding a benefit concert to support oncology services and programs at the hospital for patients like Leni Longino. Everyone is welcome and tickets can be purchased at give.piedmont.org/newtonconcert.