Deena Centofanti
Deena Centofanti is an Emmy award winning anchor/reporter who specializes in health reporting and anchors "The Nine".
Here is how she describes her entire life in a few paragraphs.
Where are you from?
Why is that simple question so complicated?
I spent my early childhood in a Norman Rockwell-like town; Hudson, Ohio.
I remember ice cream socials, a town square with a gazebo, and the exciting controversy that came when McDonald's wanted to build on the outskirts of the village.
In 8th grade we moved to a suburb of Cincinnati- moving at that time, did conjure up all the angst of a John Hughes movie.
I have a brother with special needs and throughout my teens I felt like I was walking a tightrope, trying to balance being a proud sister while quietly blending into the crowd.
After high school I was thrilled to attend Miami (of Ohio) University where I studied broadcast journalism. My mother Marsha is full of compassion and my dad Joe is a great story teller, I was hoping to tap into both those skills and make a difference by telling other people's stories.
In 1990 it was a humble start to my tv career at WSYX in Columbus, Ohio. I was making $5 an hour, doing any job they gave me. This is where I became very close friends with a production director, Keith.
As I moved on to slightly higher paying jobs, Keith did too. At times there were many miles between us, but we always felt like a team. Finally in 1996, we got married- and that was just the beginning of many blessings.
In 1997, I landed the opportunity of a lifetime, the chance to work in Detroit at Fox 2 news. Initially my work life here was really challenging; getting to know a new city, new people, figuring out how to generate sources and stories. As my work life was hard, my personal life was rewarding.
In 1999 I became a mom- and that little boy introduced me to a new level of love.
I stayed up late researching everything I could after how to raise a healthy, happy child. That's when I got the opportunity to be the health reporter.
I didn't take it lightly at the time, and this is still a job I consider to be an honor and a challenge.
As my work life blossomed so did my family. I gave birth to a daughter in 2002 and then another baby girl in 2005. My three children keep me fulfilled beyond words-as they often keep me humble as well.
In my more than 2 decades at Fox 2 I have met so many incredible people, they share personal stories of hardship, tragedy, bad fortune… to help the rest of us learn and grown. I've cried with women facing advanced breast cancer, I've stood with parents who, with pride and tears, watch their disabled children ride a custom bike for the first time, and I've felt the despair of a family suddenly facing a devastating loss that no one saw coming.
Whether it's joy or pain, when we're willing to learn about each other’s experiences and share our stories, you start to realize were all more alike than we are different.
As I reflect, I am so thankful for 2 things; our Fox 2 viewers and my Fox 2 family, both have given me years of support, wisdom, laughter and love .
So when you ask 'where are you from'? I'd say, right here.
The latest from Deena Centofanti
New U-M poll details anxiety over cost of living, health care for older Americans
This concern over multiple kinds of health costs was similar across all older results in the poll regardless of gender, race or where someone lived.
New sepsis detection method using AI could lessen its deadly risk
Sepsis is the body's overreaction to an infection. It can happen to anyone and when it's severe, a lack of blood flow can quickly lead to fatal organ failure.
Re-usable water bottles could be bacteria breeding grounds if not cleaned regularly
This applies whether it’s stainless steel, glass, or plastic. Doctor Sumego says all reusable water bottles need to be regularly washed to avoid the buildup of bacteria and mold.
Popular weight loss medication can also help those with cardiovascular disease
The director of preventive cardiology at the University of Michigan, says the medications are a promising option for many patients.
Blood pressure - why you need to know your numbers, and how to get a heart check for free
"Most patients don't feel anything," she said. "The times when we start to feel a headache or chest pain or shortness of breath with high blood pressure, we're in trouble."
Healthy Heart Project on April 27 provides free screenings and doctor consultations
"This gives you a look into the future - years into the future, not one or two weeks, but decades," he said. "So it is really important to get these screenings done. It's very valuable."
Spring cleaning, house chores - and how not to get hurt doing them
You look at the yard. It's messy. The garage. It's messy. You might wonder, 'Can my body handle all this work?' Well, let's talk to the doctor about that.
End of year stress is weighing on students everywhere - how you can help your kids cope
Students of all ages are feeling it. And the question is, how do you know if they are feeling too much stress - and what can you do about it?
The science behind our nightmares - a doctor explains
Doctor Tiani says while you can’t always control if you have a nightmare, there are some things you can do to potentially help.
Solar eclipse 2024: How to tell if you have a retinal burn from looking up
"You don't feel pain, inside the eye doesn't have any pain sensors," he said. "You end up getting essentially a blind spot, or a blurry spot."