Brookside Health & Wellness

I will be in Morgantown for various medical appointments this week. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday AND Friday. I will be offering telemedicine visits around these appointments.

The physical office location will be open by appointment only. Please call with questions 301-334-5610.

Staff will be working remotely- answering phones and checking messages etc. Please leave a detailed message and we will return your call. Please utilize the rx refill line. Please allow 72 hours for refills to be completed.

Thank you for your continued support and encouragement- I really appreciate each and every one of you. Please continue to send good vibes our way- and keep my family and I in your thoughts and prayers. Never under estimate the power and the ministry of your presence. You have been such a blessing. ♥️

Kind Regards,
Rachel Friend-Lantz, CRNP

Wonderful news! LabCorp’s Oakland draw station/ office has officially opened! It is located at 8000 Thayer Center Oakland, MD 21550. I had labs drawn here today- wait time was minimal, self check in was a breeze (even scanned your insurance cards), and the staff was very friendly. This is a wonderful asset to our community. ♥️

Please help spread the word!

Because Mother’s Day isn’t always a “happy” day- I wish you a BEAUTIFUL Mother’s Day. ♥️🌺

Beautiful flowers for Nurses Week- thank you Kimberly Rodeheaver you are so thoughtful & sweet!🥰♥️ 🌺

The office will be closed Monday 5/6/2024- Monday 5/13/2024 as I (Rachel) continue to recover from heart surgery. No appointments will be available during this time. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Please call the office at (301)334-5610 if you have questions/concerns. I ask that you please leave a detailed voicemail/message. Messages will be checked periodically and we will return your call within 72 hours if needed.

Medication Refill Requests: Please utilize our prescription refill line- (call 301-334-5610 Option #2)- you may also contact your pharmacy to initiate refill request.

**Please do not send refill requests through Facebook messenger/ text message. They will not be fulfilled. **

*Please allow me (Rachel) 72 hours for refill requests to be completed.*

If you have an urgent medical need, please report to your nearest Emergency Department or Urgent Care Center.

I want to say “THANK YOU” for your continued encouragement & support. I have been blessed beyond measure. Please continue to keep me in your thoughts/ prayers as I continue to recover from surgery & the stroke.

I am looking forward to seeing you all soon! I appreciate all of you- thank you for the opportunity to participate in your care.

With Love & Gratitude,
Rachel Friend-Lantz, CRNP

The office will be closed Monday 5/6/2024- Monday 5/13/2024 as I (Rachel) continue to recover from heart surgery. No appointments will be available during this time. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Please call the office at (301)334-5610 if you have questions/concerns. I ask that you please leave a detailed voicemail/message. Messages will be checked periodically and we will return your call within 72 hours if needed.

Medication Refill Requests: Please utilize our prescription refill line- (call 301-334-5610 Option #2)- you may also contact your pharmacy to initiate refill request.

**Please do not send refill requests through Facebook messenger/ text message. They will not be fulfilled. **

*Please allow Rachel 72 hours for refill requests to be completed.*

If you have an urgent medical need, please report to your nearest Emergency Department or Urgent Care Center.

I want to say “THANK YOU” for your continued encouragement & support. I have been blessed beyond measure. Please continue to keep me in your thoughts/ prayers as I continue to recover from surgery & the stroke.

I am looking forward to seeing you all soon! I appreciate all of you- thank you for the opportunity to participate in your care.

With Love & Gratitude,
Rachel Friend-Lantz, CRNP

May is Stroke Awareness Month ♥️

At just 38 years old, I found myself sitting in a neurologist’s office being told that I had suffered a right cerebellar ischemic stroke which had been caused by a clot. - A stroke? With no previous warning signs? That was quite unbelievable.

Sure, I have suffered with what they called “complex neurological migraines” since the age of 11, I can still remember my first attack in fifth grade. I would experience a variety of neurological symptoms when these headaches occur. Right arm numbness/ weakness, right facial drooping, tingling, slurred speech, right vision loss, dizziness, etc. Each of these migraines presented with varying neurological symptoms like those of a stroke. I can remember making multiple trips to the ER to rule out a stroke. Other times, the neurological symptoms would dissipate or resolve quickly, and the headache would worsen.

The neurologist reviewed years of brain MRI and CT imaging with me- which showed evidence of multiple small ischemic strokes over the years. So, at only 38 years old, I have suffered not only ONE- But “multiple small ischemic strokes to multiple areas of my brain.” So, these weren’t just “migraine headaches” … WOW. That hit me hard!

I recently had surgery to fix the cause of my stroke- a hole in my heart. Which is literally called “broken heart syndrome”. Finding out why I had my stroke was important to me and after several tests/investigations it was discovered I had a PFO (Patent Foramen Ovale). This is a hole in the heart which can trigger strokes and is often the cause for younger people (usually under the age of 60).

I had closure surgery on April 29, 2024, almost 4 months after finding out about my most recent stroke. I tried my best to be a diligent and compliant patient- taking the soonest available appointment. Rescheduling my own patients etc. I tried to do whatever my specialists asked of me.

I had a 37-millimeter device implanted in my heart which closes the hole that allowed the clot which caused my stroke to travel. I now know I’m not at risk of a future ischemic stroke and it’s comforting to know the same thing can’t happen again.

I have been recovering well from my surgery and I am looking to the future. It has been a tumultuous year. One of survival and recovery. But this year it feels is like it is about moving forward and that every day doesn’t feel like climbing a mountain. I pray that some sort of normality soon returns. I am ready to have my spark back.

I am excited to have energy again- I get exhausted and short of breath from just having a conversation, I gasp for air and become short of breath walking from one exam room to another, I find it an impossible feat to walk up a flight of stairs. Everything has been a challenge. I am excited and hopeful that I soon feel like myself again. I sure have missed her! I miss my life. miss my kids and being present in their life. I miss my practice. I miss my patients! I miss being part of my community.

I am beyond grateful for the prompt, professional medical care that I have received at West Virginia University Ruby Memorial Hospital. Their Neurology Department, The Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, WVU’s infamous Heart & Vascular Institute and their talented team of Structural Cardiologists/ Surgeons worked together and ultimately saved my life. I will be forever grateful. We are blessed to have access to providers who are experts in their fields, and their state of the art facilities.

If I haven’t “seemed like myself” lately- I hope this helps you better understand “why”. Please know that I am very sorry. I appreciate those that have shared this journey with me- and those few true MVP’s that have “stayed” by my side despite all of this… you know who you are. I truly appreciate your thoughtful support and encouragement as my family and I have all had to learn how to navigate this difficult situation. ♥️

In this loveliest and happiest of seasons, may you find many reasons to celebrate. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas & Happy New Year

Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection.” – Winston Churchill🎄♥️

Don’t forget to book your sports physical for winter sports! It’s right around the corner! Call 301.334.5610 to schedule!

It’s cold and flu season!

Brookside Health and Wellness is offering same day appointments with Randi Bennett for all your needs. In office and tele-health appointments available daily. Call 301.334.5610 for appointments.

Happiest of birthdays to our very own, Randi Bennett, CRNP❤️ We love you very much and appreciate all you do!

WELCOME RANDI BENNETT, CRNP! 🩺

Brookside Health & Wellness is delighted to announce the addition of Randi Bennett, CRNP, to the esteemed team.

At Brookside, Randi will collaborate closely with Rachel Friend-Lantz and the medical staff to offer a wide range of healthcare services, including preventive care, wellness exams, chronic disease management, and acute care treatments.

Randi Bennett obtained her Master of Science, Family Nurse Practitioner degree from Frostburg State University and has since acquired a wealth of practical experience working in various healthcare settings including clinical rotations with Brookside.

Read More: https://brooksidehealthandwellness.com/providers/

Our office phones are temporarily down, please leave a message and we will return your
call as soon as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience!