(EXPANDED VERSION) Issue 11 - CAREGIVER Magazine - Providing Options and Support

CAREGIVER PROVIDING OPTIONS AND SUPPORT

Issue 11

The UNMASKING

of

AMERICA TEARS

OF A NATION

FEARS

OF A NATION BONUS CONTENT

Available at CaregiverOklahoma.com

FREE COPY

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CONTENT Are You At Risk?

08

ASK Lisa

10

Taking Symptoms Seriously

Be Careful What You Wish For!

VA Medical Center 12 On A Service Mission

34 Battling Anxiety Through The Chaos

35 Keepin’ It Real With Will America’s Favorite Cowboy

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36 Community Heartbeat

Living With Purpose

Inter-Agency Crisis Response

14

Never Forgotten

38 Remember When?

A Life Of Service

Spring Meant “Refreshed”

16

Kem King Cain

40 Learn Herbal Alternatives Building Immunity By Growing Basil

CAREGIVER Magazine 18 To Your Devices - FREE!

42 Cannacian’s Corner Is It Time To Grow Your Own?

The Toughest of Topics 20 Jess’s Story

Better With Age 24 A Time For Renewal

Unmasking America 26 Tears and Fears of A Nation

Starfish in the Short Run 28 Choose to Make a Small Difference

Lessons From History: 30 The Untold Story of Anne Frank

No Empty Holster 32 Facing Down Your Fears

46 Our Natural Rights Are We Even Aware?

49 Raised Bed Gardening Get Out Your Green Thumb

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52 Well, Shut My Mouth Where Do We Go From Here?

56 On The Lighter Side

Finding Peace In Troubled Times

62 Financial Fitness

Check Those Stimulus Checks!

65 Reflections

We Do Not Consent!

73 Playing It Safe Mask In A Minute

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On the Cover:

The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of hope, opportunity and freedom to the World. Lady Liberty represents America’s acceptance of all people fleeing oppression, seeking a better life through American ideals of freedom. She stands tall and welcoming to all who want to work hard, all who wish to strive to prosper through freewill and personal responsibility. She clutches the Constitution of the United States of America close to her heart, reminding those seeking a new life that our democracy is based on rights and privileges given to all humans from God above, not man; our founding fathers understanding both the heart of God and man brought forth the Constitution as a proclamation that our governance - established through rule of law - is to ensure and promote a civil society, seeking peace and prosperity for all. Read more on page 22.

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

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Dear Readers, To produce and publish this issue has been a tidal wave containing all of the emotions a human body encompasses. I have been thinking a lot about all of you. I know many of us have never met in person but if you read and appreciate CAREGIVER Magazine, we share experiences and commonalities that make us friends through our core beliefs and the journey we are on caring for others.

This month the magazine has expanded compared to our previous 48 page publications - because I realized there was no possible way to fit everything the editorial staff needed to convey in only 48 pages. This issue is different in a few ways. I am encouraging the writers to utilize our 1st amendment rights as journalists to express some of their views on what is going on around us. Writers that typically stick to aging, caregiver stress and healthcare are also regular people with feelings and emotions and part of who they are is expressed in their written word. We are proudly American and believe in the core principles established in our Constitution given to us by our Creator and proclaimed by our founding fathers that are the foundation of our Democracy. It is what makes us America.

What an interesting time in the world to be alive. Not very often does the whole world get shook on its axis all at once to focus intently on the same thing. There are so many dark and horrible thoughts we are being fed to focus on but what this stutter in time has given us all is a moment of reflection. More than ever we are thankful for our health and safety. More than ever we are thankful for friends and family. More than ever we are thankful for those tornado storm buckets that have a few extra rolls of toilet paper and essentials hidden down in the storm shelter.

More than ever we are thankful for our sense of humor and innate resilience as a Nation in time of crisis.

As we cross the one year mark since the launch of CAREGIVER Magazine, I want to thank you all for making this first year in business incredible. It has been filled with memories and experiences that will stay with me forever. I so appreciate all your support and feedback on how the magazine has positively impacted your life! With complete admiration and gratitude I thank my staff and advertisers - who without their support, none of this would be possible. We started this journey as strangers and now we are friends. May God bless you and your families and may this year be even better than the last, for all of us.

P.O. Box 721673 Oklahoma City, OK 73172

EDITORIAL Editor-In-Chief LASHANYA NASH Managing Editor MICHAEL E. BROWNING Art Director ANGELA BLAKE Writers HARVEY W AUSTIN, MD ANGELA BLAKE MICHAEL E. BROWNING DENISE GLAVAN ROBBIE LAMBERSON LASHANYA NASH SUE NORTHCUTT C V RAMANA, MD JOHN SPIVEY LISA SYDNOR Photographers EMBERLEE NASH JESSIE NEWELL WYNELLE RECORD Community Outreach LISA SYDNOR Social Media Coordinator WYNELLE RECORD Layout WISE MARKETING ADVERTISING Publisher LASHANYA NASH 405.532.6057 l.nash@caregiveroklahoma.com

Business Development MICHAEL E. BROWNING 405.906.5405 m.browning@caregiveroklahoma.com

Account Executive ANGELA BLAKE 985.662.6581 a.blake@caregiveroklahoma.com

Sincerely,

Accounting ANDREA O’HAIR

LaShanya L. Nash Publisher

Digital Copy: CaregiverOklahoma.com

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From The Publisher: I recently read a post on our Facebook page of a gentleman sharing the story of his neighbor who had died of a heart attack. Because he was fearful of possibly catching COVID-19 at the hospital, he did not seek medical attention. The warning signs were there - but his fears (of contracting a potentially deadly disease) were his actual death sentence. I was so struck by how, in times of panic and fear, logic and rational thinking don’t seem to be a valid option.

Concerned that others might be doing the same under stress, I reached out to Dr. C.V. Ramana in Oklahoma City to provide information on the warning signs that everyone needs to take very seriously.

Thank you Dr. Ramana for giving your time and expertise to provide this life saving information. May it help sharpen our awareness of when it is truly time to contact a medical professional. When it is truly life-threatening.

I wanted to share a little of Dr. Ramana’s background with you. He is a vascular and interventional radiologist at Naadi Health with more than 20 years of practice experience. He has expertise in all areas of vascular and interventional radiology, specializing in treatment of peripheral vascular disease and venous insufficiency.

He utilizes the latest technologies and techniques for revascularization and limb salvage. Dr. Ramana has a Ph.D from Yale University and his MD is from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio (where he pursued residency training in Internal Medicine and Diagnostic Radiology; subsequently completing a fellowship in Vascular and Interventional Radiology at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic).

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Taking Symptoms Seriously...

Are You At Risk?

By Dr. C.V. Ramana What Is Atherosclerosis, Coronary Or Peripheral Arterial Disease (CAD, PAD)? There are many synonyms for this disease or abnormality – it refers to the narrowing of arteries that provide blood flow from the heart to the entire body. This is oxygen and nutrient rich blood providing essential sustenance to all areas of the body. The narrowing generally worsens over time, and can progress to complete blockage if there is no intervention.

WHO IS AT RISK FOR IT? Typically, people over the age of 50 (men are more commonly affected than women). Also, people with: • Diabetes • Hypertension • Tobacco use/abuse ` • High cholesterol • Obesity • Sedentary lifestyle • Family history

HOW TO KNOW WHEN (AND HOW) TO SEEK TREATMENT HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE IT, AND WHAT AREAS OF THE BODY ARE AFFECTED? The narrowing of blood vessels or loss of blood flow can affect any part of the body, and can lead to symptoms like this: BRAIN – light headedness, dizziness, blurry or decreased vision, difficulty with speech, weakness of arms or legs – this may be temporary (TIA or transient ischemic attack) or long-term (stroke) HEART – chest pain or arm, neck, jaw paint (angina), shortness of breath (especially with any exertion), abnormal heart rhythm, heart attack KIDNEYS – uncontrollable hypertension, long term can lead to loss of kidney function or even kidney failure – requiring dialysis DIGESTIVE – abdominal pain after eating, blood loss in the intestines, intestinal infarction (or dead gut) SEXUAL – Erectile dysfunction

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LEGS – Numbness, tingling, burning pain in legs, restless legs, pain with walking that is relieved with rest (claudication), pain even at rest, discoloration of feet and legs, hair loss in legs, swelling in legs, wounds in legs or feet that are very slow to heal or do not heal, fungal infections in toenails.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS? If you have stroke symptoms or chest pain, you should call 911 and go immediately to the nearest emergency room by ambulance.

For the other symptoms, you should bring them to the attention of your primary healthcare provider.

WHAT POSSIBLE TESTS WILL THEY DO TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM? • Ultrasound of the carotid arteries • Heart scan (specialized CT to measure calcium in heart arteries) • Blood tests for heart, kidney disease, diabetes • EKG, Echocardiogram • Stress test • Ultrasound of kidney • Ankle brachial index (measurement of blood pressure in wrists and ankles – as an indicator of arterial disease) • Ultrasound of arteries in the legs WHAT CAN BE DONE TO TREAT THESE PROBLEMS? STROKE – should be treated in hospital – may require blood thinners, procedure to remove blood clot from arteries in brain, surgery or stents in carotid arteries HEART – heart catheterization, medication, stents, or bypass surgery LEGS – arteriograms (procedure like heart catheterization but directed at the arteries in the legs) – with removal of plaque in arteries, balloon angioplasty or stents in arteries.

May require blood thinners and other medication as well.

WHICH SPECIALISTS TREAT THESE PROBLEMS? BRAIN – neurologists, neurosurgeons, neurointerventional radiologists CAROTID ARTERIES – vascular surgeons, cardiologists, interventional radiologists HEART – cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons ABDOMEN – gastroenterologists, general surgeons, interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons

KIDNEYS – nephrologists, cardiologists, vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists LEGS – cardiologists, vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists WHAT CAN YOU DO TO REDUCE YOUR RISK FOR DEVELOPING THESE MEDICAL PROBLEMS? • Stop smoking • Manage your diabetes with medications and/or insulin to maintain tight blood control • Blood pressure – monitor regularly and receive regular follow up with your provider, take your prescribed medications regularly • Diet – follow your provider’s recommendations for a healthy diet • Exercise – establish and follow a regular exercise routine • Weight loss – establish a weight loss regimen based on diet and regular exercise with your provider • Discuss taking aspirin (or other blood thinner) on a regular basis with your provider During this difficult time as the world is impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, it is important to stay aware of the signs and symptoms listed above. Our country has been greatly impacted by the novel virus and is treating those impacted with the upmost importance, but there are still many individuals that need treatment for other medical reasons. It is important to continue to protect yourself as our communities begin to reopen and relax restrictions.

If you must go out in public or to appointments - and you think you may be ill - contact your care provider and ask how they would like to proceed. Many providers are now available by phone or offer virtual visits that would allow you to stay home and still receive medical care. In public, continue to wear a mask and wash your hands frequently.

If you have questions about any of the circulatory signs and symptoms listed above, please contact your primary care physician or you may also contact our center, Naadi Health at (405)-608-8884.

Find the services you need in Oklahoma at CaregiverNearYou.com

9

ASK Lisa

By Lisa Sydnor

The staff of CAREGIVER Magazine is committed to connecting those in need with services and programs.

If you have a question, call 405-314-7840 or email l.sydnor@caregiveroklahoma.com Include your name and phone number in the message.

Remember the old adage, “Be careful what you wish for”?

Over the years, there were many times when I wished for more time. Wouldn’t it be great to have the luxury of staying home? No meetings; no commitments; no responsibilities? To have the opportunity to just enjoy some “down” time, to bond with your family and accomplish some of the projects you started? Or, just read a book? That would be such a gift! I mean, I have often lamented my own lack of down time.

accomplished any of the projects on your list? Have you read a book?

Funny how staying home is often seen as a luxury. That is, until “sheltering in place” is mandated (and you are quarantined). That luxury is now viewed as a burden.

How is the down time working out for you? Have you spent more quality time with family members? Have you

Is it easy? Heck, no! But how you chose to greet each day is ultimately up to you.

This quarantine is a prime example of how your choices will make all the difference in your experience.

It is all in your attitude. You decide.

Depression is my worst enemy. At the first signs of depression I take immediate steps to combat the

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symptoms. I stick to a daily routine, stay active and stay busy. I am a people person. I like to talk. I don’t like staying home all the time. Those who know me know I will talk to anyone and everyone. Yes, I’ve had the honor of embarrassing my children; then my grandchildren; now, my great grandchildren, by striking up a conversation with a random stranger. It is who I am; what I do without thought. How can I connect now and in the future?

I am writing letters - which I haven’t done in years.

Someone may even answer!

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING!!

Start each day with a smile and the determination to get through this uncertain time. If you are sheltering in place alone, it can be hard to stay positive. Just remember, this too shall pass. Think of it in terms of days, not weeks.

You can do anything for a day. Have a daily routine and identify projects you want to accomplish. If you are with family/friends: remember, be respectful and kind. Give yourself - and others - the benefit of the doubt when things get grumpy.

Daily routines might include: get fully dressed; call at least two people you have not connected with regularly; exercise; take a walk in the neighborhood; identify a project each day and complete it.

I added a few personal projects to my schedule: re-pot some plants; tend a small garden bed; crochet blankets (already finished two!); clean out drawers/cabinets/ closets; sew; upholster a storage box; organize my “office” space; try a few new recipes; and, complete a college credit course online. It is important for me to spend time outside; fresh air and sunshine have antiviral, immune supporting, and overall healing benefits, so I take walks in the neighborhood.

Home Care Assistance Helps Seniors Stay Safer at Home by Providing a Personally Committed, Professionally Trained and RN-Supervised Caregiver • One-on-one care in your loved one’s home helps limit exposure to Coronavirus.

• Personal care assistance, meal prep, housekeeping, medication reminders and errands make daily life easier.

• Our uniquely holistic Balanced Care MethodTM focuses on higher-level needs of older adults to help them thrive in place.

• Our professional caregivers are screened for virus exposure and follow infection prevention precautions.

Daily routines should probably NOT include: watching non-stop news; staying in bed; lounging around in sweats or pajamas; consuming hours of non-stop TV (or cable or Netflix or YouTube).

We can survive this and come out knowing that we made positive choices – ones that can only improve our mental and physical wellbeing. I hope to see many of you soon and catch up on how you made it through the COVID-19 Quarantine of 2020. One of the surest ways to stay healthy in times of stress is to start with your attitude!

CALL FOR YOUR FREE CONSULTATION TODAY!

405-285-4191 HomeCareAssistanceOklahoma.com

Find the services you need in Oklahoma at CaregiverNearYou.com

11

VA MEDICAL CENTERS

On A Mission

By Lisa Sydnor

What does it look like as all the VA Medical Centers around the country experience an increased need for services?

Have there been increased calls around mental health or domestic violence issues?

The Oklahoma City VA Medical Center continues to increase its capacity for inpatient hospital beds and ICU beds in anticipation of an influx of COVID-19 patients.

We know that the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to increase stress and anxiety, and the OKC VA wants Veterans to know that VA staff is always available to talk to.

“We want to plan for the worst case scenario so that we are fully prepared should we see a surge in coronavirus cases,” said Wade Vlosich, Medical Center Director.

The OKC VA is setting up additional areas in order to increase inpatient capacity. As each unit gets full, they will activate the next unit. “The increase in beds is why we are currently crosstraining staff to ensure we have adequate staffing coverage to run all the units,” said Vlosich.

The facility has also setup negative pressure tents inside the hospital, which are able to treat 20 patients in each tent without the risk of exposure to others.

A pharmacy drive up window was created on the west side of the parking garage near the radiation oncology entrance for urgent medication refills.

Since March, the OKC VA Medical Center has increased its overall inpatient bed capacity from 168 to a surge capacity of more than 300. The facility is not currently experiencing shortages with personal protective equipment and continues to monitor current supplies closely to ensure necessary levels are maintained for the safety of staff and patients.

As local hospitals experience inpatient surges, Veteran patients can be transferred to OKC VA Medical Center in order to free up additional beds for the general population.

For now, the hospital remains dedicated to treating Veteran patients. However, as the situation evolves, VA could be called upon to assist with treating patients from the community.

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Social Work Service Social Workers are available to assist you in a variety of settings to include the primary care clinic, during hospitalization, at Emergency Department visits, in mental health and rehabilitation units, and upon enrollment in specialty medical programs to name a few. They want to assist you, your family members, and Caregivers in resolving housing, finance, mood, relationship, and physical limitation issues in individual, group, or family treatment, whichever suits your needs.

Veterans can call 405-456-3024 (in OKC) or go to socialwork.va.gov/ and get support. More info about all Veteran Health Benefits can be found at va.gov/ healthbenefits/resources/epublications.asp Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program COVID-19 may have us feeling a lack of control over our lives. Many are struggling to manage that lack of control and may take it out on someone they love. If you or someone you know is experiencing or using domestic violence; which includes yelling, talking down to or insulting, threatening, and further emotional, physical or sexual violence, the VA Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program (IPVAP) is here to help.

Please contact Stephanie McCabe, IPVAP Coordinator in OKC at 405-456-5729 (office) or 405-568-9869 (VA Cell) - find the number for the IPVAP Coordinator in your area at: socialwork.va.gov/IPV/Coordinators.asp - or call the 24/7 National Domestic Violence Hotline any time at 800-799-SAFE (7233) for safety planning, community resources and further information.

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Veteran’s Crisis Line If you or a Veteran or Armed Service Member you know are in a crisis, there are specially trained responders ready to help you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. To speak to qualified, caring VA responder, you can: CALL: Dial 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 to talk to someone.

TEXT: Send a text message to 838255 to connect with a VA responder.

CHAT: Start a confidential online chat session at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat Behavioral Health/Mental Health Information Hotline The Oklahoma City VA Health Care System has set up a local hotline, available 24/7, to help answer any questions you might have about the options available for receiving Behavioral Health at this time - without needing to come to the VA in person.

CALL: Dial 405-456-4488 to talk to an OKC VAHCS employee about options for receiving Behavioral Health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CALL: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Hotline The OKC VAHCS has also set up local hotline, available 6am to 8pm, to help answer general questions you may have.

CALL: Dial 405-456-7119 to talk to an OKC VAHCS employee about COVID-19 related questions.

Isolation can be difficult. The OKC VA wants Veterans everywhere to know that there are Social Work Staff available to assess their needs during this stressful time.

“It's important for Veterans to know they are not alone, and we're here for them,” said Michelle Johnston, OKC VA Social Work Chief.

“Concerns about COVID-19 can be stressful for many people. There are clear steps here that Veterans can take to manage stress and to get support.”

What support is in place especially for caregivers?

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Caregiver Support Program (CSP) recognizes that caregivers play a critical role in caring for Veterans every day, and even more so now, in the time of COVID-19. Always remember to care for the caregivers!

Caregiver Support Program Learn how you can protect and support yourself and your Veteran loved one through these challenging times with tips on Caregiving During COVID-19 and Coronavirus FAQs page.

For more information or immediate support call 1-855-260-3274.

Is there an increase in food requests?

We are working with Health and Senior Programming with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma to obtain emergency food kits for Veterans who are working with our VA Social Workers. These food kits are for Veterans who are homebound, high risk, or otherwise unable to access food resources.

Resources for homeless Vets are always available at va.gov/homeless Updated, special resources for those who experience homelessness during pandemic are found at: usich.gov/covid-19

How are Veterans handling the distancing of these "shelter in place" orders?

Get this caregiver tip sheet: Caregiver.

VA.Gov/pdfs/CSPCaregiving-DuringCOVID-19-Tip-Sheet3Apr2020.pdf

this

Find the services you need in Oklahoma at CaregiverNearYou.com

13

Living with Purpose

Several years ago, I had a counselor that I met with weekly.

Over that time, we explored many topics related to my vocation. One day he asked, “Who are your role models?”

And without even thinking, I said, “My parents.”

“Ok, that’s admirable. Who are your female role models?”

“My mother,” I said, just as quickly.

We all have people who influence us. They help us understand life, and therefore, how we view life. My parents did that for me and I’ve always been proud of that. In my last article, I spoke of my recently deceased father and his positive influences on me.

My mother, who died 12 years ago, was his equal in this regard. She was intelligent, hardworking, kind, and very wise.

She continues to shape me to this day.

Many of her earliest lessons were simple, but timeless, and they have served me well in my life.

By Denise Heath

If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. If life throws lemons at you, make lemonade! Listen to what others are saying, before you talk. Always do your best and never give up. Be polite. Forgive.

Never Forgotten

She taught me how to cook and clean. She taught me manners, and integrity. She taught me to appreciate beauty,

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art, and especially God’s gifts of flowers and trees.

She taught me to sing and dance. She taught me how to create and design a beautiful interior in my house.

She even taught me how to stand up straight!

She taught me the importance of love - love makes life worth living. And she taught me how to pray.

In memory of my mother, I want to share a scripture that depicts her very well.

Proverbs 31:10-12, 26-31.

“A good wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.”

May is the month we honor, and remember, our mothers. I missed mine this past Mother’s Day so very much (my heart goes out to anyone who wasn’t able to spend it with their mothers who are still living - due to social distancing policies).

Time changes things.

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Learn more at brightstarcare.com.

Call for your free in-home assessment.

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I give thanks to all mothers for their role in our lives.

Children and mothers never truly part, Bound in the beating of each other’s heart.

Find the services you need in Oklahoma at CaregiverNearYou.com

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A Life OF Service

By Lisa Sydnor

In 1955, joining the military was not the usual path chosen by an 18-year-old woman, particularly, a black woman. But, then, Kem King Cain isn’t at all usual.

Kem has broken many barriers and accomplished much in her life journey. She has experienced support and encouragement in some unexpected places and maintains that the positives always outweighed the negatives. Her journey of service and caregiving spans over seven decades.

Kem was raised in South Bend, IN. In high school, track was her sport; the long jump her specialty.

She worked toward qualifying for the Olympics training program. During her senior year, a training accident ended her dream of becoming a part of the Olympics team.

Upon graduating from high school, she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. According to the Defense Manpower Data Center (www.dmdc.osd.mil), in 1955, there were 2,935,107 enlisted military personnel and black women accounted for less than .032%.

After basic training at Lackland Air Force Base (AFB) in San Antonio, Kem’s first duty assignment, as an administrative secretary, was at F. E. Warren, AFB, Cheyenne, WY. Later, she was assigned to March AFB, Riverside, CA., where she served until she was honorably discharged from the USAF.

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She Believed She Could, So She Did Kem’s professional caregiver career began as an operating room scrub tech at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, MO. Her outstanding work and commitment as a scrub tech lead the doctors to recommend her for nursing school. In 1967, with the support and encouragement of the hospital staff and her family, the 32-year-old mother of five entered nursing school (utilizing VA Preference and American Legion scholarships).

Upon graduation in 1970, Kem returned to St. Luke’s as a Registered Nurse. According to the 1970 census, only 5% of RNs were black, marking this achievement as a groundbreaking milestone. Then in 1975, prompted again by the recommendation of the doctors at St. Luke’s Hospital, Kem went to Milwaukee, WI, to complete a degree program for Nurse Practitioner, specializing in Family Planning.

A Nurse Practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse. Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are trained to access needs, order and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests, diagnose, formulate and prescribe treatment plans. Included in this degree program are disease prevention, coordination of care and promoting wellness. According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, NPs are educated at the graduate level to provide primary, acute, chronic and specialty care for patients of all ages.

Kem and family moved to Oklahoma City in 1978. From 1978 until joining Griffin Memorial Hospital in 1984, she worked with five nurse-staffing agencies. As a private duty nurse, she has cared for two former governors and other Oklahoma dignitaries. Kem has worked in hospice care, geriatrics, home health, private duty, in medical clinics and hospitals.

As a member of the Oklahoma State First Responders team, Kem was called to the Murrah Building on April 19, 1995.

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She was among the first medical professionals on the scene.

Her assignment was to setup triage and coordinate establishing a portable morgue. Upon arrival, it was clear there were few survivors. As she surveyed the devastation, her heart broke and only years of professional training allowed her to perform the duties required. I asked her how she functioned, she said, "I was in shock, there was no time to stop and think. I did what was asked of me and cried. Having been an ER and a surgery nurse, blood and trauma were not new, but such devastation was heartbreaking. The youth pastor of our church was a teacher in the daycare. It was personal. With tears running down my face, I did what was needed. " Until 2008, Annie Mae King (Kem's mother) lived in South Bend, IN. She was active in the community and attended the same church for 68 years. After a phone conversation with Annie Mae, Kem called relatives in South Bend asking for a wellness check. The result was a call saying you need to come home.

Her mother was asking for her brothers, reliving times past and referring to herself in the third person.

caring for mom Kem brought her mother to Oklahoma City, watching her continuous decline in cognitive thinking. Keeping Annie Mae safe was a 24/7 job. At 88 years old, her physical health was good. Kem worried as Annie Mae roamed the house at night.

Ensuring doors were locked and limiting her access to leaving the house was a constant challenge for Kem. Kem once found Annie Mae having a seizure. She was transported to ER. Kem was shocked when the doctor asked when Annie Mae had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. By this point, the tumor was inoperable. On doctor's orders, Annie Mae was admitted to a full-care facility. Kem and herchildren rotated assisting in the daily care of Annie Mae. Eighteen months later, Annie Mae King, age 89, went to her heavenly home.

Kem’s long history of personal achievements and caring for others is an inspiration to those who know her.

Kem has been a caregiver in many different situations.

Her personal caregiving has included her mother, a daughter, a son, an aunt and, most recently, her brother, Joe King. No longer able to physically care for her loved ones or other patients, Kem still monitors medication, doctor appointments, and the emotional and spiritual wellbeing of the patients in her family (and their caregiving teams).

Kem states that, at 84 years of age, the mother of ten (nine boys & one girl), grandmother of forty, great grandmother of ten, great-great grandmother of seven and loving aunt to her many nieces and nephews; she has all she needs. Her skill at tickling the ivories is legendary and she is ever in demand for leading a spirited sing-a-long.

Kem King Cain has blazed trails, pursued her dreams, and lived a life of service; to her country, her family, and the communities in which she has lived. Kem is indeed, not the usual. When asked what keeps her going, she stated: "I do the best I can, for as long as I can, for as many as I can, with the Lord as my strength."

The Next Chapter Knee replacement surgeries in 2013 and 2015, prompted Kem’s decision to retire from nursing in 2017. But her nursing retirement didn't mean that she quit working.

Kem currently serves as the Health Program Manager at Envision Success for Veterans in Norman. She works with veterans to provide support through counseling, education and training as they continue to live productive lives. Various programs are available to assist in reintegration for veterans returning to civilian life, veterans returning from incarceration or facing incarceration, women leaving an abusive relationship or addiction or mental illness.

Envision (or ESV) also offers testing and assistance for achieving a GED. One of Kem’s current projects is the Envision Wellness Fair. The goal of this annual event is to ensure veterans are aware of services available, where to find them and how to access specific assistance. Sounds a lot like what we here at CAREGIVER Magazine try to do in every issue. We are proud to have sponsored the 2020 fair and we’ll look for all you veterans at the next event!

Find the services you need in Oklahoma at CaregiverNearYou.com

17

HOME DELIVERY to Your Devices During these times, many of us find it harder to get around than it was before the quarantine. Some of us haven’t seen the inside of a store for weeks. If you’ve been missing out on CAREGIVER Magazine, or if you just discovered us, you can now get a fresh copy delivered right to any email address you want!

If you’ve never beheld the online, page-flipping feel of a CAREGIVER Magazine digital issue, surf over to CaregiverOklahoma.com next time you have a minute. It’s very visual! It’s also interactive. You can blow it up to full screen size, you can zoom in on pictures and you can even jump directly to videos, websites, advertiser links and offers when reading a digital issue on a digital device. Could be on your

phone, laptop or tablet any time you wish.

When you hover your mouse over an ad or link to contact information in an article, it will light up and if you click, away you’ll go to that information. Pretty neat.

Best of all, you’ll get all the stories and info you’ve grown to love from CAREGIVER Magazine, with ease. This FREE Digital Subscription Offer is for a limited time only.

The good news is, our first 5000 digital subscribers on this promotion will get grandparented in, and NEVER pay for their digital subscription at any time in the future. Ever. Tell your friends and get in while the gettin’s good!

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CAREGIVE September 2019

A Pair of Kings Makes a Full House

BETTER WITH AGE HEALTH & SAFETY FAIR ANTI-VIRAL SUPERF OOD THE TOUGHEST OF TOPICS A Changing Situation

SEE THE SILVER LINING

In Our Nation

S OF LIFE

PROVI

DING O PTIO

R

NS AN D SUP PO

Issue 5

RT

ROCK SOLID

GARY AND SONDRA SHAW SHARE THEIR STORY

Grandpar raising ents grandchildren

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“At what point did you begin to wonder how this was going to be playing out?” I asked.

“They told us that it should be, at most, a couple of days.

On the third day, I began to ask questions about where we stood in this process and we were told that soon, he should begin to exhibit the kind of physical symptoms that would indicate that the end was near.”

The Toughest of Topics

By John Spivey

“On the fourth day, those signs began to appear and I was told that I should call my brother, Mike, who lived almost 4 hours away. From that day on, one of us was always there. But Dad, God love him, continued to hang on.”

Mark Felder, Executive Director of The Oklahoma Golf Association, is one of my oldest friends. His father, Jess, passed away last October - after suffering a stroke - just days from his 90th birthday. Jess Felder was as solid as they come: a devoted husband and father, a man of faith, healthy and active until the last year of his life.

It was in the ER that physicians explained to Mark and his mother, Joy, that Jess would not be coming home again. The massive clots they found in his brain would end his life in days, perhaps hours. He was admitted to Hospice House on October 1st and he defied the doctor’s predictions for nine long days.

Jess’s story is a difficult one but not unique. And I want to be clear from the start that CAREGIVER Magazine is not advocating for medical aid in dying. We do, however, want to explore timely and tough topics like this because, whether you agree with it or not, it is fast becoming one of THE issues of our time.

“The staff at Hospice House were like family to us,” Mark began. “They were angels. They could not have been more loving to Dad, and our family.”

“I learned that hospice isn’t just about the one who is dying. It’s about the whole family. I will always be grateful for the way they looked after us, especially Mom.” What was not immediately clear to the Felders, however, was that at Hospice House, the dying person is not given any food or water. The life expectancy of those admitted is typically never more than a few days, and giving them food and water can cause severe complications.

20

CAREGIVER CAREGIVERMagazine Magazine

“We talked with the staff frequently and on the sixth day, I asked, how long can a person actually go without nourishment? The unfortunate answer was – we don’t know. Some of the nurses would have a couple of days off and when they returned, they would say, wow, you’re still here?”

“We didn’t dispute what was going on, we believed that he was getting exactly what he needed. But until you’ve been through this, you just can’t conceive of what it’s like to sit there helplessly as your father goes without food and water, for nine days no less. And we were told that one woman lasted for 22 days. So by this time, I understood that we were stuck in a place I never could have imagined.” And then, he asked a question.

“Is there anything that can be done to help him along, like more morphine?”

I pressed Mark, “You asked them that?”

“I know how that sounds,” he said, “but it was agonizing.

It was Day Seven. You see, Dad was ready to go.

Months before, he had asked God to come and take him. When he lost his quality of life, when all he could do was go from his bed to his chair and back again, when he realized that he couldn’t even remember that his grandkids had visited just the day before, he told Mom that it was time for God to bring him home.”

“This I know, if Dad was of sound mind but was this sick and disabled, had there been a button on his bed that he could have pushed to end his suffering, he would have. And had he asked me to do it, I would have pushed it for him.”

May 2020 Issue 11

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Doctors don’t send them to Hospice House with the idea that they’re coming home again. My dad would have liked to have been as in control of his death as he was in control of his life.”

Jess died in his sleep on the evening of October 9th, shortly after Mark arrived for his nightly vigil. He kissed him on the forehead and told him that he loved him. Then he whispered, “Dad, it’s okay to go.” Mere minutes later, he did.

y r o t S s ’ s s Je “Of course, we need to give God the opportunity to take a dying person first. But after four or five days, now we need to help them. We’re not trying to hurt them, we’re trying to help them. They’re not coming back.

Mark’s “question” is asked in America every day. Ten states would not have legalized Death With Dignity Statutes if it weren’t. Where does Oklahoma stand with this? In 2016, the state Legislature considered the Oklahoma Death with Dignity Act. However, the bill died in committee without ever receiving a hearing.

Does it surprise you that seven in ten Americans support death with dignity as an end-of-life option for the terminally ill? Most people have come to support this movement because of a difficult personal experience like the Felders’.

In our next issue, you and I will take a look at how these laws work, and what states like Oregon have learned after 20 years of experience with medical aid in dying.

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BETTER WITH AGE

new adventures. A time for stepping out of comfort zones and tackling the things we have kept in the back of our minds for “some other time”. Now is the time!

With Robbie Lamberson

Have you wanted to learn to paint, sail, ride a bike, write a book, or conquer a different language? Each of us has a desire hidden inside of us. As someone inching ever closer to my eightieth year, I can assure you we are allotted just so much time. To waste it is (to me) criminal at best, sinful at the worst.

So dear readers do yourselves a favor and listen to this wise woman. As I remind my great grandchildren, seniors don’t live this long and remain stupid!

HELP AND HOPE GO TOGETHER If you wonder how some people seem to be filled with joyful enthusiasm, follow along with them and chances are that they are filling up some of their daily hours with helping others. It’s a life changing experience when we lend a hand to someone else.

Whether it’s monetary from our pockets, contributing with our valuable time, or giving quiet words of comfort to a hurting friend, or a searching grandchild; these things always turn around so that we receive the gifts of joy and satisfaction that come from sharing a part of ourselves.

A TIME FOR RENEWAL It’s beginning, as it always does, this time of year. You can smell the aroma of the earth starting the process of new birth. I’ve witnessed it countless times and yet it always stirs my heart, making my eyes dart and search with every step.

With coffee in hand, a walk through my garden lends sight of small new beginnings. Tiny heads of different plants swell up through the soil and stir forgotten memories of what I planted there years ago. The excitement of new life continues, thus I never tire of this remarkable change in the earth around me.

It’s also time for a cleaning out of the old to make room for the new, not only in our gardens, yards, and closets, but in our lives as well. This time of renewal brings opportunities for

Funny how that works, the more we do for others the better we feel. Feeling better gives us renewed energy, healthier bodies, and more alert minds. That’s a formula that beats all heck out of some prescription pills we pop into our mouths, isn’t it?

The more we do for others, the more we have to move ourselves. Now there’s a bright idea: keep moving! Staying inert withers our bodies and our minds. I know this for a fact! [I would tell you about my recent experience with sitting in front of the television for several days, while my body healed from a surgery, but listening to people spending their valuable time to get together only to discuss each other’s body ailments is a pet

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24

CAREGIVER Magazine

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Mon, Tues, Fri 9 - 12:30 & 2:30- 5:30 Wednesday 9 -12:30 & 3:30 - 5:30 Thursday • 2:30 -5:30 ...................

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peeve of mine.] Moving on…

I used to think it was what women of a certain age were inclined to do but recently I’ve discovered both genders delight in telling others about their most private ordeals. And as the discussions deepen, there is an odd competition that raises its’ ugly head and well, let’s just say the conversations can become heated. Of course these painful discussions are better than opening the Pandora’s Box of politics. Good grief people, when did we become a society of “My way”, or “No way”?

I prefer pretty flowers and butterflies…

but whether you say man kind, woman kind, or person kind, it doesn’t matter – we are going to celebrate our risen Savior. You can call it “Shelter in Place”, “Quarantine” or “Unauthorized Assembly”, that doesn’t matter either. Whether we are able to congregate together or not, we are going to celebrate our risen Savior. And if you do not know Him, you need to. Because when you do, you will look forward to a renewal that is beyond anything on this earth. Springtime for your soul.

Seriously, did you honestly think I am filled with joy and peace on my own accord?

HELP AROUND THE HOUSE

Maybe not quite that unrealistic, but thinking and discussing topics that are uplifting and unifying do actually make a significant difference in our mind sets. Like Lisa Sydnor notes on Page 10, that choice is ours.

Hopefully we all have a special something or someone who lifts our spirits and brings joy into our lives. Don’t tell my great grandchildren - but the something that also gives me great contentment is a fourteen-year-old, overweight, deaf, with dimming eyesight, pug baby.

As long as we are on the subject of renewal, we just observed - through quarantine - an annual event that represents the most amazing renewal known to mankind.

I know it is not correct to say, “mankind” anymore,

She wiggles gleefully on her short little legs whenever I come into her view and curls up against me during the night (emitting loud snores that have become sweet music to my ears). Now, if you don’t want to hear any more about my Miss Sally, I can tell you about my surgery…

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25

The UNMASKING

of

AMERICA

TEARS

OF A NATION

By LaShanya Nash

By now you know the great personal loss I have experienced losing my Mother, Father and paternal Grandmother in a span of less than three years. I often say that CAREGIVER Magazine is my personal way of coping with all my grief and honoring my loved ones who I miss greatly (on a daily basis). Knowing how hard my own grieving process has been I truly can not imagine the level of grief, emotional pain and anger the families who have lost loved ones during the pandemic of COVID-19 must be feeling.

Grief is a very personal journey and there is no right or wrong way to grieve. But I do fear the families that are in a state of deep sorrow will need help in dealing with their loss. My mother died from misdiagnosed and prolonged Histoplasmosis. In most cases, “histoplasmosis causes mild, flu-like symptoms. Most symptoms go away on their own, in a few weeks.” But Momma’s did not. “If the exposure is heavy, or the patient more vulnerable, symptoms may progress and become more severe. They will experience shortness of breath and could eventually show signs of respiratory failure. If the histoplasmosis spreads throughout the body, patients can suffer from complications. These include enlarged spleen and liver, gastrointestinal bleeding, lip and mouth ulcerations and decreased white and red blood cells leading to bone marrow failure.

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If this all sounds familiar, what Momma had is a zoonotic disease, like COVID-19. Zoonotic diseases are infectious disease caused by a pathogen (an infectious agent, such as a bacterium, virus, parasite or prion) that has jumped from an animal to a human. Typically, the first infected human transmits the infectious agent to at least one other human, who, in turn, infects others. Most strains of influenza that infect humans are human diseases, although many strains of bird flu and swine flu are zoonoses; these viruses occasionally recombine with human strains of the flu and can cause pandemics such as the 1918 Spanish flu, 2009 swine flu or the current COVID-19 pandemic.

To see someone you love so deeply fade out of this world in such a tragic, needlessly horrific way is an experience that leaves your heart and mind never whole again. Momma didn’t need to die like she did - just like so many people currently who are suffering an agonizing death. Their loved ones from all over the world, speaking languages not understood by my ears, but crying mournful, longing tears for their loved ones that immediately melds my heart to theirs and I can’t help but grieve with them. I am transported back to a time and place that is the definition of Hell on Earth. COVID-19 fears have robbed so much from so many.

DispatchHealth Travels DispatchHealth Travels SoSoThe TheFlu Flu Doesn’t Doesn’t

DispatchHealth DispatchHealth Travels Travels DispatchHealth Travels So The So The Flu Doesn’t Flu Doesn’t

As a family, we were able to be there for Momma. IfMaking you suspect you flu symptoms, youflucan call 1.866.FLU.CREW If have you suspect you have symptoms, you the ICU a home away from home for her. Brushing her hair, a team of medical professionals sent to your home for diagnosis and tr can call 1.866.FLU.CREW to have a team of moistening her mouth and wiping her tears while saying our medical professionals sent to your home goodbyes. But these families cannot be there with their loved If you suspect If you you suspect have flu yousymptoms, have flu symptoms, you can call you1.866.FLU.CREW can call 1.866.FLU.CREW to have ones; this disease robbed them of a vital step in closure. They for diagnosis and treatment a team of amedical team ofprofessionals medical professionals sent to your home to your for diagnosis home for diagnosis and treatment. and If you suspect you have flu symptoms, yousent can call 1.866.FLU.CREW to have cannot be a comfort or an advocate. They are left in aAt deep Who’s Risk? a team of medical professionals sent to your home for diagnosis and treatment. state of anxiety, stuck in confusion and despair, praying for the best and preparing for the worst.

So The Flu Doesn’t

Who’s at Risk?

DispatchHealth Travels So The Flu Doesn’t

Who’s At Risk?

Who’s At Risk?

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After their loved one passed away, families were also not allowed to have funerals to memorialize and honor their loved ones. Another valued and necessary step in grieving was denied to them because of this horrible disease.

If you suspect you have flu symptoms, you can call 1.866.FLU.CREW to have a team of medical professionals sent to your home for diagnosis and treatment.

Seniors

Young children

Those diagnosed with chronic illnesses

There are so many unanswered questions concerning Seniors Who’s At Risk?

Young children Those diagnosed with Seniors is able Seniors Young Younginjuries childrenand Those Those with the chronic diagnosed illnesse wit DispatchHealth to provide high-quality carechildren forhigh-quality complex illnesses, including DispatchHealth is able to provide care fordiagnosed complex COVID-19 - some that are so very polarizing and some we flu. Last year alone, DispatchHealth treated thousands of flu cases, with nearly one-fourth of all visits injuries and illnesses, including the flu.

Last year alone, Dispatchbeing flu-related during the 2018 - 2019 season. will most likely never know the answers to but the one thing DispatchHealth is able to isprovide high-quality care complex injuries and illnesses, ini DispatchHealth DispatchHealth able to provide is ablehigh-quality to provide high-quality carefor for complex care for injuries complex and injuries illnesses, and including illnesses, the Health treated thousands of flu cases, with nearly one-fourth of ofone-four all of humanity can agree upon is that those flu. whoLast year flu.

Last year flu. alone, Last year DispatchHealth alone,treated DispatchHealth treated thousands treatedof thousands flu cases, of with fluwith nearly cases,nearly one-fourth with nearly all visi alone, DispatchHealth thousands of flu cases, one-fourt allflu-related visits during the 2018 - 2019 season. being flu-related beingduring thebeing 2018 during -flu-related 2019 the 2018 season.

- 2019 season. have lost someone to COVID-19 are in an agonizing DispatchHealth Also being flu-related during the 2018 - Treats: 2019 season. place of grief.

Seniors Young children Those diagnosed with chronic illnesses + Dizziness / vertigo + IV placement + Nausea + Strains or sprains + IV fluids + Dehydration DispatchHealth is able to provide high-quality care for complex injuries and illnesses, including the

+ Minor fractures + Splinting + Asthma / COPD DispatchHealth Also Treats: Also Treats: If you are grieving and need help with all the emotions DispatchHealth flu. Last year alone, DispatchHealth treated thousands of flu cases, with nearly one-fourth of all visits + Nosebleed + Stitches + And much more being flu-related during the 2018 2019 season.

DispatchHealth Also Treats: surrounding the loss of your loved one please find a local grief + Facial injuries / vertigo + Falls + Dizziness +/ Dizziness vertigo + IV placement + IV placement + Nausea + Nausea support group in your community. If you feel an urgent need + StrainsDispatchHealth or +sprains Strains or + IV fluids + IV fluids + Dehydration + Dehydration cansprains treat nearly everything an emergency room can. + the Dizziness /+ vertigo + IV +placement + Nausea DispatchHealth Also Treats: to speak with someone, you can always reach US Health Minor fractures + Minor fractures Splinting + Splinting + Asthma / +COPD Asthma / CO + Strains or sprains + IV +fluids Dehydration & Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health + Nosebleed Nosebleed Stitches + Stitches + And+much +more And much mo ++ Dizziness / vertigo + IV placement + Nausea ++ Strains or sprains + IV fluids + Falls + Dehydration Care: + Facial Request injuries Facial injuries + Splinting + Falls Services Administration at samhsa.gov or call National + the Minor fractures + Asthma / CO + Minor fractures + Splinting + Asthma / COPD Phone: 1.866.FLU.CREW (1.866.358.2739) Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). + Nosebleed + Stitches + And much more + Nosebleed DispatchHealth Stitches + And much mor Website: DispatchHealth.com/flucrew | Available 7 Days Weekcan. room can.

DispatchHealth can treat nearly can+treat everything nearly an everything emergency anAroom emergency + FacialDispatchHealth injuries + Falls can treat nearly everything + Facial injuries + Falls DispatchHealth accepts most insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid.

Check out The Unmasking of America: Fears of a Nation on DispatchHealth can treat nearly an emergencyroom room can. can. an everything emergency page 58 in the digital edition, online at CaregiverOklahoma.com!

DispatchHealth can treat nearly everything an emergency room can.

Request Care: Request Care:

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Phone: 1.866.FLU.CREW Phone: 1.866.FLU.CREW (1.866.358.2739) (1.866.358.2739) www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-diseasePhone: 1.866.FLU.CREW (1.866.358.2739) Website: DispatchHealth.com/flucrew Website: DispatchHealth.com/flucrew | |Available Available Days A Week 7 Days A Week Website: DispatchHealth.com/flucrew Available|77Days A Week lookup/histoplasmosis/symptoms-diagnosis DispatchHealth accepts most insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid.

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27

Starfish

Short Run in the

By Harvey W. Austin, MD

Bottom line, I am a predicamentalist.

(Pree dick uh ment uh list — It’s got a rhythm to it.)

By this, I mean, in contrast to most people’s belief that we have a worldwide set of problems to be solved, I believe we now live within a worldwide predicament. A predicament, by my definition, has no solution.

It simply is. And our worldwide predicament is a big IS, indeed. This (likely human engineered) flu-like bug is very real and threatens to result in the extermination of many, many humans.

Being an either/or kind of guy, I had assumed that if I, as an individual… or even as part of a group … couldn’t solve some big problem, there was no point to trying.

I would do nothing.

Unconsciously, I assumed I would simply go on living my life in in a slowly diminishing ‘business-as-usual’ kind of way. At the same time, consciously, I would remain joyful, enthusiastic and saying ‘yes’ to whatever showed up.

I would do only what truly pleased me to do.

If it pleased me to write of the predicament, I would do that. And I have.

Chasity Burke, MS, NBCCH, LPC

Call Chasity Today at

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My passion and purpose is to help people heal painlessly from what has been troubling them, often in as little as 1-3 sessions by using Rapid Resolution Therapy. www.rapidresolutiontherapy.com My website is www.rapidreliefcounseling.com

Issue 11

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Also, I have advocated that others do what they love doing. And if it is being an activist, by all means do that. But don’t do it out of a sense of obligation.

And don’t do it out of a sense that it will “make a difference”. I often speak my favorite metaphor, “If you say it is yours to re-arrange the deck chairs of the Titanic … re-arrange the heck out of them!”

It was OK for me to tell others that. But I didn’t always self-apply it. Until I read a long-forgotten piece that abruptly opened up a third possibility.

At the beach, the boy picked up tide-stranded starfish, one by one, and threw each back into the ocean.

His mother says to him, “You know, sweetheart, in the long run, that’s not really going to make any difference”.

“Yeah, Mom, I know … but it makes a big difference to this starfish, in the short run.”

short-run difference: • perhaps relieving a little suffering here, or a worry there • listening to one person in despair • giving ten bucks here, twenty there to support others who support others • perhaps something as small as carrying out the trash without being asked • smoothing her pillow • giving mindful attention This seems like the path of kindness, the path of compassion, doesn’t it? Maybe we could even think of it as the Elder path. Where the wise ones walk day to day, treading lightly.

Starfish-boy has gotten to me. In a sense, I am starfish-boy. The short run does matter while we’re here.

Perhaps you, with me, might also take the path of the Starfish-Thrower?

Ah, a third path: The Path of Short Run. Or, perhaps, the Path of the StarfishThrower. Maybe I will make that gesture!

Like that child, I find myself looking at what is in front of me that might make a

Find the services you need in Oklahoma at CaregiverNearYou.com

29 29

Lessons From History:

The Untold Story of ANNE FRANK

By LaShanya Nash

“In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” ~ Anne Frank An African proverb that pricks my heart every time I hear it is, “When an elder dies a library burns”. With COVID-19 taking the lives of so many elders throughout the world it saddens me greatly to think of how many family stories and traditions have also been casualties of this wretched disease. Stories that so desperately needed to be recorded to pass on to future generations that have now been lost forever.

This made me think of The Diary of A Young Girl as Anne, along with her family, were in hiding from the deadly Nazi regime. She found purpose and an escape from her solitude and fear by writing in her diary. She wrote so much about nature and with only a small window to the

world she documented her time in hiding.

The facts behind how her diary came to be one of the best selling books of all times is the most amazing part of her story. Anne Frank’s name and memory is ever immortalized. Her words gave a voice to the Jewish children and all those who suffered and died unspeakable deaths during the holocaust and helped future generations have a better understanding of both the evil, and goodness, of humanity.

Anne Frank was born in Frankfurt, Germany on June 12th, 1929. At this time, Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party were coming into power, bringing with them the hatred for the Jewish people. Hitler took advantage of the anti-Semitism that was gaining strength in Germany.

The Nazis introduced more and more draconian laws and regulations that made the lives of Jews unbearable.

They restricted the civil and human rights of the Jews in Germany and all “Non-Aryan” groups. Jews could no longer attend public schools and universities, could not go to cinemas, theaters, and sports facilities. In many cities, Jews were forbidden to enter designated “Aryan” zones; they could not shop at non-Jewish stores. The rules meant that more and more places became off-limits to Anne and her family. Since Jews were no longer allowed to run their own businesses, her father lost his company.

Hitler blamed the Jews for all the problems going on in their country. The economy was collapsing.

Unemployment was very high while poverty and despair were rampant. It was a cauldron of emotions and frustration ready to boil into war. Because of the deterioration of the tolerance for Jews in Germany, Anne’s parents, Otto and Edith Frank, decided to move the family to Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Continued on page 50 in the digital edition at www.CaregiverOklahoma.com 30

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31

No Empty HOLSTER

By Sue Northcutt

There are some things you never forget over the course of your life: the birth of your children, when your parent or your child dies, where you were on Sept 11, 2011 - and having a gun pointed at your face. Most people go their entire life without having a gun drawn on them, but I can assure you that when they have, they never forget it.

I am now of what many call a “mature” age, and the events of the gun incident at the time of my nineteen-year-old self still bounce around in my memory banks, popping up often at inopportune times. I can still recall very specific details of the day when I found myself opposite a man intent on robbing the business where I worked.

At the time, I was employed as the cashier/receptionist for a finance company in California that made small to large personal loans to the general public. Although we did not lend out cash, we did have a small amount of cash on hand for those customers that came into the business to make a payment on their outstanding loan in cash. This was before the time of the Internet and online banking, where paying by check or cash was the norm, rather than an anomaly.

Laura, our office manager was from a very small town in North Dakota. I cannot remember the name of the town, but I do remember how excited she was to taste what she deemed to be “real” Mexican food now that she lived in California: Taco Bell. Not only did this small town in North Dakota not have other cuisines to sample, but apparently did not have many fast food restaurants. As a side note, I made it my mission to introduce Laura to real Mexican cuisine as quickly as possible. However, that 32

CAREGIVER Magazine

escapade is a story for another day.

Eddie was a former police officer that had decided to no longer be a part of law enforcement saying it was just “not his thing”.

Instead, he chose to embark upon a career as a loan officer at a small finance company. Eddie would often break out into stories of his life as a police officer, entertaining us on slow days with his fantastical stories of the criminal faction.

The day of the robbery started the same as most of the days we three passed at the finance company. People would call or come by to borrow money, come into our storefront to make a payment or just say hello. Many of our customers were the friendly sorts that would stop and chat a bit if they had the time. The ones that did not chat were either very serious or were poor payers who really did not want to stick around after they made their late payment - lest we ask them to bring their account current.

We kept track of balances due on written ledger sheets as this was before most businesses had computers. These late payers would slip in and out before you could pull their ledger sheet to inquire about the remaining balances.

Laura was on the telephone, Eddie was doing who knows what, and I was updating one of these ledger sheets when the door opened as a male voice whispered, “Don’t scream, just open the drawer and give me the money”.

Looking up, I saw the barrel of a gun.

Issue 11

CaregiverOklahoma.com

“Hey man, how can I help you?” said Eddie from behind me.

I did not turn around, but from the sound of his voice, along with the movement of the firearm in front of me, Eddie was walking towards us. The former police officer back in action I suppose.

“Stay where you are and shut up!” said the gun.

The words may have been spoken by the person holding the firearm; however, from my vantage point, all I saw was a gun with a hand attached to it - and the voice was coming from the gun.

I emptied the cash drawer of all the money, watching it drop into a plain paper bag (held by another floating hand - next to the gun-holding one).

A whimpering voice arose from the back of the room, “um, um, um, ugh, um, um”. I am assuming it was Laura, since the voice sounded female, but at the time I could not be 100% sure. My entire focus was on the advancing weapon, the large, metal threat that now filled my entire field of vision.

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“All of you, move to the back, now!” the gun said, leading us to the back of the office.

Laura was still whimpering, babbling, “um, um, ugh, um, ugh” while Eddie continued trying to talk to the floating gun. I wanted to yell at Eddie to shut up, but the gun did that job for me, “Shut your damn mouth!”

All three of us were pushed toward the tiny bathroom that was just a little bigger than an outhouse. The room had a commode and a sink with little room for anything else – especially three adults. Closing the door was a circus act where Eddie climbed on top of the commode so we could close the door. All this at the insistence of the talking firearm. Once the door was closed, we looked like the snakes in a can joke. In any other situation, I am sure it would have been humorous.

“DO NOT open this door until you have counted OUT LOUD to fifty,” came the voice from the other side of the door.

I started to count. Laura continued to babble with her eyes glazed over, staring into space. Surprising me, Eddie chose that moment to launch into his (former police officer’s) commanding voice.

“Remember everything about this guy – his height, his hair, his facial features; EVERYTHING!” I was pretty sure that loudly telling everyone to “remember this guy” - who two seconds prior was pointing his gun at three people crammed into a 20 cubic foot box - was not a smart idea. Not being a former police officer (and not being as “mature” as Eddie) this tactic was impossibly illogical to

Continued on page 54 in the digital edition at www.CaregiverOklahoma.com

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33

BATTLING ANXIETY Through the Chaos

By Angela Blake

I believe it’s safe to say that in the past few months, most of us have experienced many unplanned changes. The pandemic has caused worry over illness; safety of friends, family, or other loved ones; and job situations as well as many other factors of our daily lives. These unplanned changes may have caused many of you to experience anxiety.

Find activities that relieve stress. The weather is finally getting nicer and you can take advantage of that. Getting outside and getting fresh air can instantly help boost your mood. Other people enjoy reading, watching a movie, listening to music, or playing a game. Sometimes this helps to focus their energy on other outlets and get their mind off what is worrying them.

Anxiety is a very normal reaction to stressful situations. Those who feel anxiety may feel irritable, tired, nervous, or have trouble sleeping. Severe or prolonged anxiety may need medical treatment. The majority of anxiety that people experience can be dealt with in a healthy way and doesn’t need medication.

Lastly, you can utilize technology. There are many wonderful apps that you can get access for free that can help with anxiety.

There are apps that can connect you with multiple resources, tools, and activities to help with anxiety. Some good and free apps that you can download include Calm, Breathe2relax, Simply Yoga, and Mindshift. There are also hundreds of other apps and websites out there that you can utilize.

There are many ways people deal with anxiety. Some people may not have had anxiety in the past or experienced a situation like we have currently been in. Do not be afraid to talk about your feelings. You are not alone in feeling anxious about the effects of the pandemic. Talk with friends or family and express your concerns. Sometimes just talking about things can help relieve some tension and worry that you have. Remember, you are not alone and we are all in this together.

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CAREGIVER Magazine

If you are still struggling with anxiety and having problems completing normal tasks of your daily life, please reach out to your healthcare provider so you can both work together to create a treatment plan that will work best for you. Never be afraid to ask for help!

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“This would be a great time in the world for some man to come along that knew something.”

“We shouldn’t elect a President. We should elect a magician.”

“Let this country get hungry and they are going to eat, no matter what happens to budgets, income taxes or Wall Street. Washington mustn’t forget who rules when it comes to a show down.”

By LaShanya Nash

“A flock of Democrats will replace a mess of Republicans. It won’t mean a thing. They will go in like all the rest of ’em. Go in on promises and come out on alibis. “ “We cuss the lawmakers. But I notice we’re always perfectly willing to share in any of the sums of money that they might distribute.”

My Daddy was a “real cowboy” and we grew up drenched in all things country and western and I’ll tell ya, Will Rogers seemed more like the coolest great uncle I never got to meet than the cowboy superstar he was at the turn of the last century. Many a laugh was shared at the supper table over the relevance of an “old Will Roger-ism”. The laughter sure helped another bowl of beans and cornbread go down with sincere gratitude.

Will Rogers helped America get through the Great Depression and helped my family get through the depression caused by the Savings and Loan Crisis that hit our small town hard in the 1980’s.

Because of his straight shooting, satirical style he will forever be relevant in hard economic times - like we find ourselves in today.

Will Rogers will always be ready to step up and help America laugh through the pain.

I present to you the timeless words of Oklahoma’s Favorite Son”, Mr. Will Rogers: “Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.”

“If stupidity got us in this mess, how come it can’t get us out?”

“All I know is just what I read in the papers, and that’s an alibi for my ignorance.”

“I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.”

“Ain’t it funny how many hundreds of thousands of soldiers we can recruit with nerve? But we can’t find one politician in a million with backbone.”

“The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it in your back pocket.”

“Remember, write to your Congressman. Even if he can’t read, write to him.”

“America is a land of opportunity and don’t ever forget it. We don’t have to worry about anything. No nation in the history of the world was ever sitting as pretty. If we want anything, all we have to do is go and buy it on credit.”

“Never blame a legislative body for not doing something. When they do nothing, they don’t hurt anybody. It’s when they do something is when they get dangerous.”

“Tax relief, farm relief, flood relief, dam relief—none of these have been settled, but they are getting them in shape for consideration at the next session of Congress with the hope that those needing relief will perhaps have conveniently died in the meantime.”

“We’ll hold the distinction of being the only Nation in the history of the world that ever went to the poor house in an automobile.”

“When ignorance gets started, it knows no bounds.”

“Common sense ain’t common” Laughter during tough times truly is the best medicine but the reality of it’s need sure can be a big, hard pill to swallow. If we can all embrace a little more common sense and kindness our day-today life will be so much easier.

Be personally responsible for your own actions and let others do the same. Be thankful we live in a country where we can disagree.

Celebrate that, don’t ridicule it. Extend grace to others because we never know the burden they carry. Take care of your basic needs before you start in on the wants. An extra bag of beans and rice is never a bad thing to have on hand.

Sunshine and nature can help chase away the blues. Laughing at yourself will lighten a heavy soul. I have never watched a squirrel - just being a squirrel - that I don’t know for certain that God is a comedian and created us to enjoy divine laughter. Know what you believe, believe what you know. If you see your neighbor in a bind, offer a helping hand. Hold on to the values that have made you content in life.

And those habits that are a hindrance to feeling good about yourself, work on them. The Lord blesses us with a new day, each sunrise is a great symbol of no matter what yesterday may have been, today is a fresh start and all yours - to make the most of, or you can mess it up like the day before.

That’s your choice too.

Oh! Remember to remind young folks to wash their hands and not cough on people - surely that nugget of common sense is already a habit for the rest of us...

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35

C MMUNITY HEARTBEAT

Oklahoma’s Inter-Agency Response: Crisis Assistance

By Lisa Sydnor Some of you may recall my story of Jacci from AARP’s Senior Community Service Employment Program… First appearing in our second issue last summer, COMMUNITY HEARTBEAT is dedicated to the non-profit organizations and social services agencies (city, county, state and federal) serving Oklahoma. While many are local chapters of a national organization, or are government agencies, their emphasis is on our immediate communities. The goal here is to highlight the impact of the work performed and services provided for caregivers and care receivers.

The stories we are bringing you in this issue highlight how our community is changing and meeting many of the COVID-19 quarantine challenges with innovation, imagination and improvisation. It is a time to shine!

It takes a village to ensure everyone has the essentials. But standing and working together is what Oklahomans do whether it is a catastrophic pandemic, a natural disaster, or a terrorist attack - we step up, we help, we support each other.

My non-profit career spans more than fifty years. I found my passion in serving others and am grateful for the opportunities I have had to help so many people throughout our great state and country. My philosophy in providing services has always been to serve all. Serving others means walking by faith and searching for a solution for every situation. Especially ones like we find ourselves in now.

We are not aware of every non-profit or agency that serves Oklahomans. You can help build our referral list by sending information to l.sydnor@betterwithageok.com or call 405-314-7840. Share your innovative approaches to new challenges! In the subject line note: COMMUNITY HEARTBEAT. Include your website, contact, title, phone number, email address, physical address and mission statement.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of Oklahomans cannot be measured and put down on paper.

The human impact is virtually immeasurable. We are CAREGIVER Magazine

The role of the United Way is to ensure the partner agencies have the resources they need to effectively respond and efficiently provide needed health and human services, especially during a time of crisis. United Way nonprofit partner agencies are serving an unprecedented number of clients due to COVID-19.

United Way of Central Oklahoma has established the COVID-19 Response Fund dedicated to increasing resilience among our most vulnerable individuals and families. This fund supports Partner Agencies of United Way of Central Oklahoma, United Way of Logan County and United Way of Canadian County and as of April 29, has raised $1,285,000. This funding will be used to address the needs of those individuals who are experiencing COVID-19 related hardship primarily due to temporary unemployment, lost income or unexpected expenses related and due to COVID-19.

As of April 29th, United Way has distributed $848,845 in

UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

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talking about lives – not statistics – and every life is precious.

Debby Hampton, President & Chief Executive Officer of the United Way of Central Oklahoma, knows and understands the gravity of this horrific disaster. She called in for the interview from a drive-thru food distribution site of one of the United Way agencies and was concerned that they were running low on protective wear such as gloves and facemasks. So, Debby added locating supplies of personal protection equipment to her list of imperatives. These are things that keep her up at night. It scares her for the hereand-now; but terrifies her for what the future may hold for the majority of Oklahomans. According to a 2019 CBS news report, based on findings from economic advocacy group Prosperity, millions of Americans are just one missed paycheck away from poverty, with 4 of 10 considered “liquid-asset poor,” or without enough reserves to cope with a sudden disruption in income. We are well past the “one” missed paycheck.

Read more about the programs offered in the FREE digital edition at www.CaregiverOklahoma.com Issue 11

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Read what these agencies have to offer in the digital edition at www.CaregiverOklahoma.com

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37

Remember When?

Remember When spring meant a new dress, shoes, hat and gloves to match for Easter Sunday?

Remember When wild flowers were wild and free?

We would drive down the road, stop and hike into a field to pull up Black-Eyed Susans; Lilacs; Hollyhocks; Sunflowers and many others; then, replant them on the fence line or around the house.

Remember When lilacs bloomed and the fragrance was heavenly?

Remember When we hung our clothes on the lines in the backyard? Spring rain made them soft and fragrant! Did you have a bag hanging on the line filled with clothespins? Every Christmas my grandmother made new clothes pin bags for each family.

Remember When the garden plot was readied

for planting? Our garden contained potatoes, tomatoes, green beans, green onions, snap peas, corn, cucumbers, strawberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, celery, etc.

Remember When we canned everything we harvested?

Remember When you got a deep freeze (in the late 50s) and learned how to freeze foods?

Remember When you learned to make pickles?

Bread ‘n’ butter, sweet or dill – I could take out a whole jar!

Remember When your hands, face, lips, teeth and

tongue all turned black from eating blackberries which we picked wild in the country?

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Spring Meant “Refreshed”

By Lisa Sydnor

Remember When going fishing was a pole, some

sinkers, hooks and a jar to hold the worms you dug up on the riverbank? Going fishing was always a funfilled outing. If we were lucky, the day ended with a fish fry at home.

Remember When picnics were a family affair,

consisting of fried chicken, homemade potato salad and cookies – usually in conjunction with fishing?

Remember When it was time for “spring cleaning the

house?” That meant ceiling-to-floor C L E A N I N G. No whining. No shirking.

Remember When we made our own Easter baskets -

using green, shredded “grass” - and filling them with hard-boiled eggs that we colored and decorated ourselves?

Remember When we hid dozens of Easter eggs all

over the yard (or house, if raining!)? The plastic eggs sometimes had pennies or nickels along with small chocolates or hard candy inside.

Remember When smaller kids sat on top of the ice cream freezer to hold it down while the bigger, stronger folks cranked that handle? Vanilla, strawberry or banana was my favorite.

Remember When fresh clover meant laying on your tummy looking for a four-leaf clover?

Remember When we caught lightening bugs and put them in a jar?

Remember When we would spend our days riding

your bike for hours, waving at (and talking to) all your neighbors, then being so exhausted that falling asleep at night was not a problem?

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39

Building Immunity by Growing

BASIL

By Michael Edward Browning

Sweet Basil, Ocimum basilicum, Tulsi or Holy Basil, Ocimum tenuiflorum as well as other Ocimums, like minimum, make up the genus of Basil. Varying widely in terms of color, plant size, leaf looks and whether they can last a winter outdoors, basil is one of the heartiest and healthiest plants to add to your Victory garden this summer.

Cannabis has been at the forefront of terpene research, but we have been studying terpenes, and adding them to all sorts of products, for over a century now, since German chemist Otto Wallach determined the isoprene substructures of terpenes in 1887. Cinnamate, citronellol, Eugenol, geraniol, linalool, pinene and terpineol are some of the terpene-rich essential oils that one can find all across the many species of basil. Research concludes that it is the presence of these heavily scented oils that chiefly assume the medicinal benefits of basil leaves.

A mood enhancer as well as a stress buster, basil contains two important water-soluble flavonoid antioxidants, which are known as orientin and viceninare. These potent pair of antioxidants strengthen our immune systems, protect

cellular structures, DNA and delay the effects of ageing. As fresh cut herbs hit my nostrils, when they come on salad, pizza or topping any other creation, it’s like a little lift hits the spirit. A tiny little aromatic cleansing. Count on basil to give your liver and kidneys a scrub too, antiox-detoxifying.

The more I learn about its’ blessings, the more I want to work into the daily diet routine.

Many varieties of basil, including the sweet and holy types, may in fact combat certain viral infections. One test-tube study found that sweet basil extracts, including compounds like apigenin and ursolic acid, exhibited potent effects against herpes viruses, hepatitis B, and enterovirus. Did you know that acne is a conspiracy between a bacterium and a virus? Apply a paste of mashed, fresh basil leaves, thinned with last issue’s anti-viral coconut oil to watch zits disappear. Every basil type has been shown to increase immunity, which may also help fight viral infections.

Through extensive international research, we now know Basil: • Is Anti-inflammatory • Fights Free Radical Activity • Has Skin pH Benefits • Fights Depression & Insomnia • Aids Diabetes Management • Supports Liver Function • Helps Detoxify the Body • Promotes a Healthy Gut • Heals An Upset Stomach • Assists Proper Digestion • Curbs Headaches • Fortifies the Nervous System • Boasts Antimicrobial Properties • Stimulates Hormone Regulating Neurotransmitters • Is a Powerful Adaptogen (or Anti-stress Agent) • Cuts down Triglyceride and Cholesterol Levels • Reduces Bloating and Water Retention With all the recent supply chain disruption, I’ve heard a cry raised up to “plant your pantry”, so I tried it. Black turtle beans and black-eyed peas sprout amazing easily. But when I’d tapped the dry bean and red pepper seed fertility

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of my cupboard, I had to go visit Bethany Country Store for some stellar basil seed options. You can also propagate endless generations from cuttings off a full-grown plant you see at a lot of stores, but starting from seed allows you to choose annuals or perennials, flavors and colors. Bethany Country Store also has an amazing selection of organic vegetable seed stock, beyond basil.

I’ve got beans and greens, corn and peppers and squashes. If all that sounds a bit laborious, basil is a fantastic place to get your garden started, and is one plant that might be persistent enough to outpace any discouragement. When I woke up to a potful of bare stumps - that had been a nice covering of new basil starts the day before - I figured it was re-seeding time.

Whatever critter it was who visited, had won. But after some rain and a few days of neglect, the tiny forest is back! With a bit of attention and a grain of faith, I see some purple pesto in my summertime future.

This list is far from complete, but gives you an idea the level of diversity available to suit your taste, both your palate and your exterior design palette: Sweet Genovese Napoletano Italian (or Curly) Large Leaf Lettuce Leaf Dark Opal Purple Ruffles Lemon Lime Holy (or Sacred) aka Tulsi Greek Greek Columnar Greek Yevani Spicy Globe Spicy Bush Cinnamon Summerlong Sweet Thai Siam Queen Green Ruffles Ararat Christmas Cardinal African Blue Pesto Perpettuo

Now might be a good time to let basil lead your Victory garden growing, with this ornamental medicine chest, or at least get to know some local farms with fresh basil. Localharvest.org can help you locate options and farmer markets when the food you want isn’t always in stock at the store. CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) weekly box delivery is another way to keep the fresh food flowing all summer - at a set price.

Before we bolt, let’s talk about tops. Trimming your basil plant is key to getting full production and a heaping, months-long harvest. Trim tips early and often to gain girth and clip new flower buds off to forestall the eventual end of season blooms.

When the time arrives, let plenty of flowers go to seed. They are tiny and black and we didn’t even get to the amazing coronary nutrition, minerals and dietary fiber these end-ofseason “extras” pack. They have a nutrition profile similar to chia seeds, so make a great alternative. https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/9-incredible-benefits-of-basilleaves-you-may-not-have-known-1834742 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/basil-seeds https://morningchores.com/types-of-basil/ https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266425 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/basil https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/antiviral-herbs http://Localharvest.org https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt5o1eCyAQ4 http://thevictoryseed.org/

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41

cannacian

annacian's o r n e r

[ka-nish-uh n] noun A phytocannabinoid caregiver having direct contact with - and responsibility for - medical patients; clinicians and counselors who are trained in the human endocannabinoid system and dispensing cannabis therapy.

By Michael Edward Browning

Is it Time to Grow Your Own? Hey all. Anyone else notice how beautiful it is here in God’s country? When a handful of individuals (with opinions and models) convinced the entire planet that grinding to a halt on their authority was a good idea, I went outside to catch my breath. And there in the sky was the sun, shining.

Oklahomans were “fortunate” that independent business license holders operating cannabis dispensaries weren’t lumped in with, say, hair salons (and other small business owners whose livelihoods were not declared “essential”).

OMMA patients have still been able to access medicinal herbs during this stress bomb. What if that weren’t the case?

What if your access to medicinal herbs was up to you?

Could you do it?

Are you up to the task?

I’ll submit that you are.

CAREGIVER Magazine

The very most core concept for the absolute beginner is to get the experiment underway, get your grow started! Every season is a learning season for the home producer. Every day you spend time around your plants is a day of increasing knowledge, increasing communication, increasing growth. It all starts with your intention. Add in awareness of the other four factors and the dance begins.

You

The task itself is scalable. The simple formula outlined in 2018’s “Growing Your Own Medical Cannabis In Soil: 5 Core Concepts of Cultivation Success for the Absolute Beginner” you get to choose how big you go, how big you grow.

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Remember the vigor of weeds. They’re naturals. Some of the tastiest flowers ever to cross my palate were crispy blossoms collected after a scattering of seeds in the dog days of August (onto sandy, parched ground). With a variable degree of attention to five items, everyone is guaranteed a variable degree of success at harvest time, indoors or out. There’s not one concept covered that outweighs the other four, but there is an integral reason to why the book is outlined with You right up front.

Any conditions will produce some results; it’s when we understand how we can improve the conditions for our plants that we learn how to help them thrive. Effectively, we partner with them (and many more microbial associates) in the dance to create the optimal results from the ingredients we are working with.

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Grow big and get started today for well under $100 babies, of (under $50 in most cases). Here are the only five course! items you’ll need to grow two (or more) plants to flower this summer, besides your babies, of course!

• 1 x Bag of Organic Garden Soil • 2 x Fabric Pots [you can always trust Oklahoma’s own Smart Pot™] • 2 x Saucer Reservoirs (Black plastic or “other of your own fashion”) KEEPING WITH A THEME, THERE ARE ONLY FIVE STEPS TO GET YOUR GARDEN UNDERWAY. 1. Place one Fabric Pot on each of the Saucers 2. Fill each Pot with half the bag of Gardening Soil 3. Place your clone (a rooted cutting off of another female cannabis plant) or seed start (baby cannabis plant you germinated in a damp paper towel) gently into the center of the Fabric Pot 4. Add water and light 5. Watch and listen to how they respond – as you activate their environment

Light Solar is my preferred option, #1. Absolute best spectrum for plant growth is the source outside. The Oklahoma weather dynamics on the other hand. Weather protected full sun is as good as it gets – and at just the right price.

When it’s time to upgrade inside, the array is dazzling. LED, HPS, Induction, oh my! Your room and (up front plus ongoing) budget will dictate your selection. Talk with someone you trust, then maybe check their logic at another source before buying.

Water The relative alkalinity or acidity of your water, soil and amendments all factor into the root system’s nutrient uptake ability. Ultimately, pH will become important to you.

Temperatures too (for optimizing). Most common rookie mistake is overwatering. Let the soil surface dry out and get the roots to work for it.

Air Outside, it’s weather and humidity throughout the cycle that is your main concern (drying out the plant or molding the flowers).

Same thing inside, at least one fan is required – at a minimum.

Sometimes venting and AC get involved in larger closed rooms.

Temps essentially in the seventies Fahrenheit is what you’re aiming for, stress occurs in either direction outside that base range.

Soil Start out with a bag of whatever if it’s your first time. The more you grow, the more you’ll know about the Soil Food Web. Suffice to say that beyond salts, minerals and acids there are beneficial bacteria and helper microbes in there to become acquainted with, if you want to.

Soil pH, bottled or bagged nutrients, hydroponics and other topics are deep wells of knowledge and theory to dive into.

Entirely optional. “Bare bones” has amazed me time and again.

This easy, DIY approach helps even the helpless grow a green thumb! It’s got a built-in backup plan so that if you do manage to off one of your upstarts, this setup is “made for two”.

There’s no rule about limiting your populations to one per pot either. Experiment! Use whatever size fabric pots, corresponding saucers and bag or amount of soil that suits you and your budget.

Or, for the ultra low impact, Ruth Stout no-dig approach, toss some seeds in the yard, cover them with an inch or so of dirt and hose them down when it’s hot outside. Couldn’t be easier.

Well, now that you have a basic overview of cannabis cultivation, you can see how very simple (and very complex) it can be! You really get to choose how much detail you wish to apply to your garden. Getting to know the guys from the gals is useful.

Results, of course will vary, but you can almost rest guaranteed that you’ll come out with something usable by harvest time. Even if that’s only a few cups of tea. Disasters do strike, but the plant itself wants to succeed. It grows like a weed!

Isn’t it time for program patients, like you, to exercise their privilege of a personal Victory Garden?

To help get you started in this herb gardening, simply send an email to contests@ CaregiverOklahoma.com to get an eBook version of “Growing Your Own Medical Cannabis In Soil: 5 Core Concepts of Cultivation Success for the Absolute Beginner” emailed back to you. Just please include “Growing” in the subject line.

Find the services you need in Oklahoma at CaregiverNearYou.com

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Digestive Disorders and Pain Cannabis Therapy Q&A

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OPEN Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm

5300 N. Meridian Avenue, Suite 12, OKC Issue 11

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Longterm Care Options in Oklahoma

ASSISTED LIVING

— Brought to you by the Oklahoma Assisted Living Association —

ASSISTED LIVING A home or establishment that may provide assistance with personal care, medications, ambulation, nursing supervision and intermittent or unscheduled nursing care. They cannot provide 24-hour skilled nursing care. Licensed by Oklahoma State Department of Health Mainly Private Pay, LTC Insurance may cover , VA Aid & Attendance, & Tribal Benefits Medicaid Option through DHS (Advantage Waiver)

NURSING HOME A nursing facility that provides 24-hour skilled nursing care and related services for residents who require medical or nursing care.

Nursing Home Care Act - October 1, 1980. Licensed by Oklahoma State Department of Health. Nursing homes provide the highest level of care.

Options for Medicare/Medicaid

ADULT DAY CARE Provides health, recreational, social and supportive services to impaired adults for more than four hours per day. Participants do not stay in the center overnight. Adult Day Care Act - November 1, 1989 Licensed by Oklahoma State Department of Health VA allows respite benefits Medicaid Option through DHS (Advantage Waiver)

VETERANS CARE Created in 2013, this program is for residents who are veterans living in the state veteran’s centers. They are licensed as a nursing facility and can provide 24-hour skilled nursing care and related services for residents who require medical or nursing care . Falls under Nursing Home Care Act - May 29, 2013. Licensed by Oklahoma State Department of Health

CONTINUUM OF CARE Combines the services of a nursing facility with an assisted living center or an adult day care center. It is licensed under the Continuum of Care and Assisted Living Act and must also meet requirements applicable to nursing facilities, assisted living centers and adult day care centers. Licensed by Oklahoma State Department of Health Currently inOklahoma, all Continuum of Care’s only have assisted livings.

Medicaid Option through DHS (Advantage Waiver) for Assisted Living and Adult Day Care.

RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES Provide residential accommodations, food service, and supportive assistance. May also provide assistance with meals, dressing, bathing, other personal needs, and medication administration. Cannot provide medical care such as skilled nursing. Residential Care Act - November 1, 1984 Licensed by Oklahoma State Department of Health A typical residential care resident is younger than other long term care options and only requires assistant with medication administration.

NO Options for Medicare/Medicaid

INDEPENDENT SENIOR LIVING/HOME CARE Apartments, cottages, and single-family homes for seniors 55 & over who do not require assistance with daily activities or 24/7 skilled nursing but may benefit from convenient services, senior-friendly surround-ings, and increased social opportunities. NOT Licensed by Oklahoma State Department of Health. No oversight since they are not licensed. May have “High Acuity” that is receiving Home Health and or Hospice services.

For a list of OKALA Members Visit www.OKALA.org Become a member or for more information call 405-235-5000 45

Our Natural Rights and Freedoms

By Denise Heath

As children, we learn right from wrong, mainly from our parents (then at school and at church). I learned at an early age that I did not like getting into trouble. In fact, I did everything I could to stay out of trouble. So one could say I was a pretty good kid. But I also liked to push the limits as far as I could - and more than once, that got me grounded. It felt like a life sentence, the worst possible punishment my parents could inflict upon me.

I grew up aware of what I could do, and what I couldn’t do. My parents gave me the freedom to speak my mind, as long as I did so respectfully.

They gave me the freedom to go anywhere I wanted - but I had to respect the rules of the house, which included a curfew. They let me be

a kid, act out, and be silly but not inappropriate.

Over time, I learned that our country was founded on similar rules and regulations. We have natural rights and freedoms. And with that, we have limits and boundaries. If we do not follow the laws of the land, we can get into trouble. But very few nations enjoy what we have been given – the right to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

I would like to think that most Americans know and understand their rights but we are seeing that this is no longer true. You can find videos on YouTube all day long of young Americans who cannot name a single Founding Father (let alone comprehend the Bill of Rights). And how could they? Civics has not been taught in our public schools since the 1970’s.

SO FOR THE RECORD, THIS IS A QUICK SUMMARY OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS.

1. Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly,and petition.

2. Right to keep and bear arms in order to maintain a well regulated militia.

3. No quartering of soldiers.

4. Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.

5. Right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination, double jeopardy.

6. Right of accused persons, e.g., right to a speedy and public trial.

7. Right of trial by jury in civil cases.

8. Freedom from excessive bail, cruel and unusual punishments.

9. Other rights of the people.

10. Powers reserved to the states.

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Would you like to read the Bill of Rights?

Visit CaregiverOklahoma.com page 84.

The Bill of Rights outlines ten key Amendments to the United States Constitution, ratified on December 15, 1791, 229 years ago. These rights are meant to protect us from the tyrants of the world, like Hitler, Mao and Stalin. Not only can our younger generations not generally name a Founding Father, most have no idea who the 20th century’s greatest mass murderers are.

Most have heard of Hitler. Adolf Hitler was the leader of the National Socialist Party. National Socialists took over the economy of Germany and its means of production.

Hitler implemented gun control, while proclaiming, “To conquer a nation, first disarm its citizens.” Nazis also nationalized healthcare, banned free speech, and put the state before God. Sound familiar to any of the platforms being pushed during these current times of universal basic income?

This is how history repeats itself. In perhaps his greatest speech, A Time For Choosing, President Ronald Reagan said we are always but one generation away from losing our freedoms. Our experience with America’s COVID-19 response shows that we may be closer to that reality than we ever could have imagined.

“No power was given to Congress to infringe on any one of the natural rights of the people.” ~ Theophilus Parson [Editor’s Note: Younger generations of public officials (AND those who should know better) might be well reminded of U.S Code, Title 18 that addresses the actions of our public officials under the “Color of Law”.

Section 242 of Title 18 makes it a crime for a person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.

For the purpose of Section 242, acts under “color of law” include acts not only done by federal, state, or local officials within the their lawful authority, but also acts done beyond the bounds of that official’s lawful authority, if the acts are done while the official is purporting to or pretending to act in the performance of his/her official duties. Persons acting under color of law within the meaning of this statute include police officers, prisons guards and other law enforcement officials, as well as judges, care providers in public health facilities, and others who are acting as public officials.

This point of law, perhaps fittingly brought up just after main stream media news channels completely ignored the recent proclamation on “Law Day” last May 1st, concludes rather punishingly for those in government who overstep: The offense is punishable by a range of imprisonment up to a life term, or the death penalty, depending upon the circumstances of the crime, and the resulting injury, if any.

How will the courts assess (economically, personally, professionally) the “resulting injury” when relationships, careers, businesses, estates and human lives are lost as a result of their “official” actions?

The court of public opinion is in session. What kind of judgment do you suppose is coming for those “officials” who have deprived us of our lives, liberties and our pursuit of happiness? Let us know what you think at CaregiverOklahoma.com/forums. youtu.be/qXBswFfh6AY A Time For Choosing www.justice.gov/crt/deprivation-rights-under-color-law www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamationlaw-day-u-s-2020/

“On Law Day, we celebrate the distinctive framework of our system of Government, which secures individual liberties and protects against arbitrary exercise of government power so that all citizens have their right and the freedom to pursue their American Dream.”

Find the services you need in Oklahoma at CaregiverNearYou.com

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Get Out Your

Green Thumb

By Angela Blake

Raised bed gardening means growing plants in soil that is higher

than the ground which can really help when your knees just cannot handle kneeling on the ground. They can be as humble or as creative as you like, and you can place them where the sun or shade is best for the plants. The initial cost of getting your raised bed set up will depend on how elaborate you make it, but once in place, raised beds are no more expensive to maintain than traditional gardens.

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Continued from page 30 For 25 months the Franks (Otto, Edith, Margot and Anne), the Van Pels (Hermann, Auguste and son Peter), and Fritz Pfeffer, their friend who was a Dentist, hid in the secret annex until someone told the Nazis where they were. They were all ripped from their little place of hiding and taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp. Anne, her mother and her older sister Margot were later transported to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

After their capture, their friend, Miep Gies, who helped sneak food, supplies and news to them, went to their secret annex to discover Anne’s diary (that was her 13th birthday present) and over 200 loose pieces of paper she had recorded of her experience. She hid them until the concentration camps were liberated. The only survivor was Anne’s father (who, when his camp was liberated, only weighed 52 pounds). Miep Gies returned the diary and papers to Otto Frank upon his return to the Netherlands. Miep and her husband were Otto’s caregivers, helping him regain his strength and will to live in their home.

Once Otto read Anne’s diary, he discovered she wanted to be a writer. So Otto went from publishing house to publishing house. On June 25th 1947, Anne’s diary was published.

No one knew exactly how Anne died; she was buried in a mass grave and that was thought to be the end of the 50

CAREGIVER Magazine

story of Anne Frank. Then in 1997, after celebrating her 100th birthday, a woman by the name of Irma Sonnenberg Menkel told the rest of Anne’s story.

Irma had been taken to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp where she was placed over the barracks where Anne and Margot Frank were assigned. She said that she could not tell the story before because it was “too much” to bear. Her memory fading but even at 100 years old still able to recall the story of her interaction with Anne: “One of the children in my barracks toward the end of the war was Anne Frank, whose diary became famous after her death. I didn’t know her family beforehand, and I don’t recall much about her, but I do remember her as a quiet child. When I heard later that she was 15 when she was in the camps, I was surprised. She seemed younger to me. Pen and paper were hard to find, but I have a memory of her writing a bit.

Typhus was a terrible problem, especially for the children. Of 500 in my barracks, maybe 100 got it, and most of them died.

Many others starved to death. When Anne Frank got sick with typhus, I remember telling her she could stay in the barracks – she didn’t have to go to roll call.

There was so little to eat. In my early days there, we were each given one roll of bread for eight days, and we tore it up, piece by piece. One cup of black coffee a day and one cup of soup. And water. That was all. Later there was even less.

When I asked the commandant for a little bit of gruel for the children’s diet, he would sometimes give me some extra cereal.

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Anne Frank was among those who asked for cereal, but how could I find cereal for her? It was only for the little children, and only a little bit. The children died anyway. A couple of trained nurses were among the inmates, and they reported to me. In the evening, we tried to help the sickest. In the morning, it was part of my job to tell the soldiers how many had died the night before. Then they would throw the bodies on the fire.

I have a dim memory of Anne Frank speaking of her father.

She was a nice, fine person. She would say to me, “Irma, I am very sick.” I said, “No, you are not so sick.” She wanted to be reassured that she wasn’t. When she slipped into a coma, I took her in my arms. She didn’t know that she was dying. She didn’t know that she was so sick. You never know. At BergenBelsen, you did not have feelings anymore. You became paralyzed. In all the years since, I almost never talked about Bergen-Belsen. I couldn’t. It was too much.”

Her recounting almost died with her, but with enormous courage Irma closed the final chapter on the life of Anne Frank. Anne succumbed to Typhus. Almost the entire world knows the story of Anne Frank, but very few know the story of Irma Sonnenberg Menkel.

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

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What could one well placed Advertisement do for yourBusiness?

"I am beyond completely satisfied."

~ George Santayana This time in history is so very challenging for all of us, but talking to our elders and discussing how they survived challenging times - their experience and views on economic hardship, on racism and how they have seen the world change in their lives - can help fill in the gaps of their history and your family’s legacy.

My Grandmothers had fascinating stories of how they fed, clothed and loved their families during the Great Depression and World War ll. I hold dear to my talks with them so very much. Record your family’s story for future generations to cherish and learn from, you’ll be grateful you did.

Randy Lee, Owner of The Health Patch

www.ou.org/holidays/author/irma-sonnenberg-menkel/ www.ou.org/holidays/yom-hashoah/saw-anne-frank-die/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergen-Belsen_ concentration_camp www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/anne-frank-1# encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/antisemiticlegislation-1933-1939 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Diary_of_a_Young_Girl www.annefrank.org/nl/anne-frank/ F i n d t h e s e r v i c e s y o u n e e d i n O k l a h o m a a t C a r e g i v e r N e a r Y o u . c o m

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Where Do We Go From Here?

Like everyone else lately, I’ve had a little time on my hands. I’ve had ample opportunity to reflect on the status of our great nation, and the world. As my son, Cliff, and I shared a meal one evening, I asked him a question.

“How does it feel to live in unprecedented times?”

Which brings me to the dictatorial political elites.

State and local governments all over this country, in an attempt to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, have been trampling on citizen’s rights because of “necessity”. The following are just a few examples: • A county judge in Houston wants to fine people $1000 for not wearing a mask in public, a move the Police Officer’s Union called “draconian”.

He shook his head and said, “I don’t know how to answer that.”

What else could he say? It’s been a little more than one month since “stay at home” restrictions for anything but essentials were put in place here. There’s still so much we don’t know. A year from now, we’ll be able to assess just how necessary this extreme response to a virus has been. But this much I think we can already concede – our country will never be the same. And maybe that’s true for us, individually, as well.

Speaking with others, there were three topics that, invariably, seemed to come up – fear of the unknown, a deeply corrupt and dictatorial political class, and censorship.

Fear is a natural consequence of unprecedented times.

At first, it was exciting in a surreal kind of way. My only previous experience with quarantine was when I was forced to sleep on the couch for reasons that shall remain classified. But as the weeks went by, I began to see the effects this was having on family members who owned small businesses. That initial excitement turned into apprehension, and it chilled me to the bone.

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yes, I’m not just a cynic, I’m a raging cynic.

• Washington State was one vote away from releasing some of its most dangerous inmates from prison, including the Green River Serial Killer, while at the same time, threatening jail for those who didn’t comply with their mandates.

• And Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan, among many other edicts, went so far as to prohibit members of their own family from visiting each other, as well as banning people from mowing their yards. (2) Trey Gowdy, former Congressman, with a frustrated tone of sarcasm said, “If I can imprison you for not wearing a mask, then why can’t I force you to get a flu shot? Can I show up at your house to make sure you’re exercising because I have deemed that the combination of obesity and COVID-19 is bad for you?”

I confess that I’m a cynic where it concerns government.

In his book, Common Sense, Thomas Paine wrote: “Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one...”

Which brings me to censorship. Two ER physicians from Bakersfield, CA, using local data as well as national data, presented a statistical analysis on YouTube, implying that COVID-19 was not reason enough to shut the world down. Two days and five million views later, the video was taken down. Their message was contrary to the narrative being pushed by The World Health Organization, and they asked thoughtful questions about the wisdom of our national lockdown.

In my lifetime, I’ve seen us go from Ronald Reagan to Bernie Sanders; public officials swearing their oath of office on the Bible to doing so on the Quran; from “life begins at conception” to legislators having to create bills to protect infants who survive an abortion; from a reverence for the Constitution to politicians openly defying it. (1) So

Social media giants like Facebook and Twitter routinely censor speech and in almost every case, it is conservative speech. Opinions not endorsed by the big tech leftists are increasingly banned daily. Some very powerful people no longer respect that the free speech clause in the First Amendment was specifically

CAREGIVER Magazine

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CaregiverOklahoma.com

By John Spivey designed to protect speech you disagree with.

Fear, the threat of fascism, and censorship; collectively have the potential to take America down a road of which we want no part. There are four key elements of a police state: • Draconian laws depriving citizens of civil rights.

• A mass media supportive of the state’s messaging and deprivation of rights.

• The use of police.

• Snitches.

We are currently living with all four of these.

I admit that I was skeptical about the pandemic from the start.

Something about this just didn’t feel right. Why would you shut the world down using a model that was flawed from day one?

With what we know now, this pretty well sums up COVID-19 – it is a real disease that sickens some, is fatal to others, mostly the elderly, and does nothing to the vast majority.

It was interesting to learn that HR 748 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (or the CARES Act) was introduced to Congress on January 24, 2019, then left on the table as unfinished business on July 17, 2019 until being revived on March 20, 2020 and passed for COVID-19 stimulus on March 27.

The end of this story will not be written for some time. But with headlines like this beginning to pop up – “Coronavirus Hype Biggest Political Hoax in History” – the final analysis might leave us with more questions than answers.

CAREGIVER Magazine invites you to share your questions and comments with your caregiver community at CaregiverOklahoma.com/forums.

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam addresses controversial abortion comments. CBS News, January 31, 2019 Fox News, Hannity, April 24, 2020 Our Dress Rehearsal for a Police State, Dennis Prager, The Daily Signal, April 28, 2020 The Washington Times, Cheryl K. Chumley, April 28, 2020 congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/748/all-actions The Washington Times, Cheryl K. Chumley, April 28, 20

F i n d t h e s e r v i c e s y o u n e e d i n O k l a h o m a a t C a r e g i v e r N e a r Y o u . c o m

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No Empty HOLSTER

By Sue Northcutt

Continued from page 32

me. Stuffed as we were into that washroom, even small movement was limited, but Eddie’s crotch was in a perfect position directly opposing my fist, which (like that gun) took on a voice of its own and punched him there - hard.

He finally shut up, although I am not sure if he became quiet because I got my message across, or he was just unable now to utter a sound. Either way, the only noises coming then from our cramped space were my counting and Laura’s babbling.

One of the questions the officer asked me later was about what kind of firearm it was. The difference between a handgun and a rifle was about the full extent of my firearm knowledge.

“Um, one of those with a large hole for bullets to exit rapidly?” I said.

It still amazes me the things that the mind holds on to when we’re experiencing times of stress.

Unlike a gun, I could usually describe a person. But when asked, I could not provide any physical description of the thief holding the gun (since my eyes never left the firearm) only that the person holding it smelled

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like oranges. Even today, when I recall that experience, I immediately smell oranges.

Did this experience change me? Absolutely.

While I had endured traumas growing up, this specific event showed me I was stronger than I thought – I could not only survive, but also keep calm in times of chaos.

Threats of the end of the world from perceived wars (to end all wars), pandemics, terrorist threats and other catastrophic chaos results in arming myself with knowledge instead of fear, with a reminder to be cautious - but not to panic.

It is our duty to be levelheaded adults, to guide those younger than us to invest in an arsenal of facts instead of the twisted, scripted information that is often found on social and broadcast media these days. I say let’s arm them, and ourselves, with some level of detached discernment in a surrounding disaster.

Put that in your holster.

Issue 11

CaregiverOklahoma.com

"I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him."

- Abraham Lincoln

On The Lighter Side

consumed every minute of every single day.

Children are no longer involved in so many activities they hardly know anything of a home life that previous generations grew up with. Many parents are becoming less like chauffeurs.

School-age children are becoming aware of family meals shared around a common table. Couples are also learning to spend time getting to know the person they vowed to spend the rest of their lives with. For some, this time is viewed with gratitude. For others, it’s a rocky path that will take time to navigate. Some will make it, some won’t; either way, all relationships will be changed.

With Robbie Lamberson

I have great faith in the people I have come to know. There is fortitude and courage in these individuals that surpass the ordinary; and that’s the reality of it. We are stronger than we could have imagined ourselves to be, capable of surviving the unknown. Part of the reason for this is past experiences. Here in Oklahoma, we have grown accustomed to hardships. We are aware that a time of quiet peace is momentary (a lull between now and what happens next). Yet, with each hardship we grow stronger, more stoic, more capable; of not only surviving but also capable of helping those around us.

FINDING PEACE IN TROUBLED TIMES World catastrophes, thank God, do not appear in every generation. Over the centuries they have come and gone, leaving survivors changed forever. Lessons are learned, and mundane things become precious. An awakening to the people and things that were previously taken for granted becomes the new normal, as cherishing the time we have - and learning to be grateful for all that we have - makes us better human beings.

For the moment, this generation is learning to cope with the COVID-19 catastrophe. As a result, most of us will survive and be changed for the better. We are seeing more clearly: because we have been forced to slow down and find meaning in more than the daily grind of frenetic activity that has

There are two main reasons for our strength and our endurance. The first one is our faith. We place our faith in the Holy, Omniscient (all knowing), Omnipotent (all powerful), Omnipresent (all present) God. Creator of the universe and the heavens, who (we know) loves us! We are His children and as such we have a strong relationship with our Heavenly Father that goes beyond the bounds of Earth.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” ~ Deuteronomy 31:6

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The second is that we believe the prayers we fervently pray will be heard; and will be answered (1 John 5:15). That belief brings a peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). As the world whirls in agony around us, we are assured that we are safe in His love, comforted in our sorrow, and therefore calmed in the storm that rages around us.

God gives us the exact amount of grace and mercy we need to get through today, and tells us not to worry about tomorrow.

Tomorrow we will receive a new portion of His grace and mercy, just enough for what He knows we are to face each day.

There is another reason we will survive, and that is humor.

Yes, humor! Laughter is the best medicine for our sanity and our bodies. It lifts us out of depression, cures our boredom, brings light into the darkness and, when shared with others, makes us deliverers of mercy and love.

Spending more time on Facebook (Like, Follow and especially Share CAREGIVER Magazine with those who you care about), keeping up with friends, I am delighted to see them posting positive, (LOL) laugh out loud jokes and pictures.

Here are a few of the things that have caused me to chuckle;

• When asked how homeschooling was going, a recent stayat-home mom with two young sons replied, “Well, two boys were suspended for fighting today and one teacher was suspended for drinking on the job!”

• “If you see me talking to myself this week, mind your own business, I’m having a parent/teacher conference!”

• “In an unsettling reversal of my teenage years, I’m now yelling at my parents for going out.”

• “Where is your husband?” “He’s out in the garden.” “I didn’t see him out there.” “Dig deeper.”

So, between faith, hope, and humor, we Americans will come through this stronger than ever. It is what we do. This is precisely why we were created by God; to be a shining light on a hill.

Are you dealing with fear and confusion during the chaos of these times? Let God’s Holy word (Psalm 23:4) bring you peace and comfort. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” And listen to Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed; for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Our country has had tragedies, and natural have the true stories from one generation we recovered from Hill and Fort Sumter to from the first World crashes, pandemics, proliferation and look at it, assess it and the mountain – we roll to work!

its share of wars, disasters. We also (often passed orally to the next) of how despair. From Bunker Shiloh and Gettysburg; War to 9/11, economic constant wars, nuclear terrorist attacks; we regardless of how high up our sleeves and get

We always persevere. capitalism, and a faith motivators, we will that is unstoppable!

With freedom, in God as our strongest bring a force to bear

Take comfort in the inherent truth of these four timeless words, “This too shall pass.”

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The UNMASKING

of

AMERICA COVID-19 has crippled the world. With the lack of cooperation from the Chinese government our confusion seems the intended, calculated objective. Initially, when the virus first came to light through the mainstream media it had already been infecting people for what could prove to be longer than 6 weeks, some experts believe as early as November 17th, 2019. Chinese officials knew and did nothing but hide the truth from the world and misguide the World Health Organization - the medical apex which all Governing bodies around the world relied upon to provide sound medical directives in the face of this crisis. As reported

by NPR on February 8th, the headline read “Critics Say China Has Suppressed And Censored Information In Coronavirus Outbreak” Initially, the Wuhan Institute of Virology was the suspected ground zero of the COVID-19 outbreak, but whether through an accidental breakdown of the laboratories safety protocols followed by a campaign of cover-up and deflection of the truth on China’s part. What I have discerned from more than 100 hours of research on this disease. I am confident in my assertion with the information that has been disclosed or uncovered at this present time the COVID-19 pandemic is negligence at best and crimes against humanity at worst.

The Huanan seafood market located in Wuhan was served up to the world by Chinese officials as the “most likely” point of infection, directing viral blame to bats and the pangolin (a creature that looks like a combination of an armadillo and an anteater) as the animals most likely to have been the carrier that the virus jumped from animal to human.

What I then discovered turned out to be more misinformation on China’s part. If the market was the initial location of COVID-19, it would and should have been treated in the same way forensic scientists secure and preserve a crime scene, which is scientific protocol, always! But not in this instance, China closed the market on January 1st and sent a team cloaked in the “interest of public health and safety” into the market. To the dismay of the scientific community and our own State department, through their “thorough cleaning process”, destroyed any evidence confirming the market as the place of origin. This action was void of any common sense and logical reasoning. Why abandon scientific protocol and so hastily rush

FEARS

OF A NATION

By LaShanya Nash

the clean up?

The Wuhan Institute of Virology is not located as close to the Huanan Seafood Market as one might think; it is over 13 miles away, about a 30-minute drive. Looking at the data from the first 41 people hospitalized, with what was originally called “Wuhan unknown Pneumonia”, 13 of which had no connection to the market at all. The “claimed” Patient Zero was admitted to the hospital on November 17th, but the first known cases linked to the market were not until December 15th, the timeline for incubation is retroactive. The real findings do not lead to the market; they led to the lab itself.

With deeper research, it was shocking to find this labyrinth of genetic recombination from animal to human carried out by this lab. That was the primary function of the Wuhan Institute of Virology, according to an article published November 12th, 2015 titled: Engineered bat virus stirs debate over risky research-Lab-made coronavirus related to SARS can infect human cells. “Simon Wain-Hobson, a virologist at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, points out that the researchers have created a novel virus that “grows remarkably well” in human cells. “If the virus escaped, nobody could predict the trajectory,”. That was documented in 2015.

Ai Fen is a Chinese doctor and director of the emergency department of Central Hospital of Wuhan. She was the first medical personnel to disclose the existence of SARS‑CoV‑2 to authorities. Li Wenliang, “widely known as a whistleblower who spoke up about the outbreak in the city of Wuhan, China”, the 34-year-old doctor was initially punished by local authorities. They said he was “spreading rumors” in early January, after he had tried to warn others about the emergence of the novel coronavirus that has now become a global pandemic.”

The actual Patient Zero was presumably a female researcher working at the lab, “the dossier by Five Eyes – an intelligence alliance between the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – says Wuhan Institute of Virology researcher Huang Yan Ling was patient zero of the pandemic.” Her photo has since been removed as part of the program from the lab’s website while the whistleblower himself, Wenliang, fell ill of the disease and died as well. As all this has unfolded over the

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last few months, it spread out into what feels more like a wellscripted movie than a medical crisis gone awry.

Findings released on the 13th of May, 2020, by a team of Australian scientists, “led by Nikolai Petrovsky, Professor of Medicine at Flinders University, has suggested that SARSCoV-2 was likely genetically engineered, that led the virus naturally evolving in an animal subject to be effective at attaching to human cells.

Refuting the thinking the new coronavirus originated from the infamous wet market in Wuhan and jumped to humans naturally, the team favour the theory that coronavirus was optimised for attacking human cells, rather than animal cells and suggested that it was the outbreak was human-made.”

The study observed “a remarkable coincidence or a sign of human intervention” in the creation of the virus. In order to establish species origination of the virus they performed highly sophisticated genetic computerized testing trying to determine which animal was the original host. “The results clearly show that the COVID-19 virus is exquisitely adapted to infect humans, the virus’s ability to bind protein on human cells was far greater than its ability to bind the same protein in bats, which argues against bats being a direct source of the human virus.”

“The team’s computer modeling shows the SARS-CoV-2 virus also bound strongly to cells of pangolins, an exotic ant-eater illegally imported into China.”

“While it has been suggested by some Chinese scientists that the COVID-19 virus might have been transmitted to humans from pangolins, currently available data does not support this idea,” Professor Petrovsky says.

If this study is validated by further (non-politicized) true scientific research and found to be factual, it would scientifically prove COVID-19 was lab created. If these findings are verifiable then they are prosecutable. If this is actually a case of reckless negligence and unsafe lab practices by Chinese scientists, followed by a massive cover-up campaign by the Chinese government itself. The aftermath of destruction is far reaching; the loss of human life, loss of our way of life and loss of economic stability have devastated all of humanity including their own innocent people. The World demands the truth; we deserve honesty and full transparency.

All the scientific information contained within this article was easily researched online from reliable sources. You may be asking yourself, “Why haven’t I heard about so much of this information on major news stations or read it in major newspapers?”

Just like the American Military has elite Special Operations units - for example, the Navy Seals and Army Rangers - China has a very specialized unit of propaganda soldiers. They utilize citizen Internet contractors, pejoratively referred to as the “50 Cent Army”, for the amount paid to post anti-American/ pro-Chinese content and instigate dissension on social media platforms.

This office was first established in 1921, led currently by Huang Kunming, head of the Publicity Department of the 60

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Communist Party of China (whose whole purpose is to confuse and dismay, to redirect and shift blame away from China in all arenas that place China in a negative view to the World). They employ Internet trolls (AKA “50 Cent Party”) on FaceBook, YouTube, Twitter, InstaGram and TikTok, which is a Chineseowned app very popular with younger Americans.

Quite a few of the “dance videos” performed by medical staff across America - when hospitals were being devastated, medically and economically, by the virus - were posted on TikTok. Because the user provides their consent to their use of the app, they are effectively giving permission for China to monitor, review for “Intel” and store the content forever. “All branches of the United States military are banned from using TikTok as well as all TSA employees and the Department of Homeland Security.”

China’s propaganda office also influences the American mainstream media’s narrative. “The companies that own the major news networks, NBC, ABC, and CBS, all do significant business in China. On the print side, top U.S. newspapers like the Washington Post and New York Times have been criticized for running paid China Daily inserts. What they were paid for these inserts is still unknown.” You may ask yourself, “What might the Chinese government do if it were displeased with something that ran on MSNBC?” “Perhaps they’d have a tense conversation with their partners at 30 Rockefeller Plaza about the forthcoming slate of movie releases in China. Or it might be worse, given their decision to cut off all NBA games to retaliate against one team owner.”

At this time in America we are all reeling from COVID-19 and the economic fallout that has occurred. And while I wavered on whether to write this story, I feel like a huge disservice has taken place - by the vast majority of media outlets in America.

I knew when I began looking for information from traditional news sources, they were not seeking the truth, they were seeking ratings over content.

I had to understand what was going on and knew through research I could get some clarity and perspective to evaluate the best course of action for my family and business.

Ethical journalism in this country currently seems hard to find.

Journalists’ and reporters’ careers have always been built on the truth, built on the credibility of themselves and their sources. Built on their ability to be objective and remove their personal beliefs from the narrative. If journalists do not report the facts, then what they write is fiction. And is that not the definition of media propaganda?

Publishers and editors have a moral obligation - to both our readers and the 1st Amendment, which we are protected under - to always seek truth and deliver it in a responsible way. To not purposefully incite disturbing discourse or to be intentionally offensive: never purposefully disrespecting or belittling our reader’s intellect and moral foundation.

It seems we are witnessing daily the degradation of the Constitution and our 1st Amendment rights are under attack.

I am now going to ask your permission to speak to you as a person, as a publisher, and express my opinion, not fact. I am Issue 11

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going to speak directly to you as I wrap up this story. I am taking off my journalist hat at this point and putting on my publisher’s hat.

Each month, we maintain true journalistic integrity, throughout this publication. Each month we stay in our lane of publishing we stick to aging related subject matter, caregiver stress and healthcare topics.

Our personal opinions are to be absent in reporting, we are to present the facts, respecting your intellect, and write in such a way that gives you the un-opinionated information, to make your own decisions for you (and your loved ones in your care).

I am angered by China’s lack of truthfulness and cover-up. I am angered by the World Health Organizations lack of backbone and medical credibility. I am angered by our big media outlets and newspaper giants - for not holding on to their last thread of journalistic integrity. I know I am a small fish in the big pond of publishing but if I don’t stand for truth, integrity and compassion for my readers and their families then we are no better than the spewing fools. The corporate ghouls demeaning your intelligence on TV and printed media; reporting with a politically-charged narrative, overflowing with emotions yet devoid of any factual, investigative journalism.

I encourage you all to read for yourself from unbiased scientific sources in regards to this COVID-19 situation - it is ever changing. Reach out to your personal doctor and follow your doctor’s advice; they know your health conditions and risk level. They have a vested interest in keeping you alive. If you have tied yourself to your T.V. in fear of this disease (that thankfully is showing to have a much lower mortality rate than the original data that was used to shut down the world) and you are anxious with worry, more confused now than educated, step away from the T.V. and put down your newspaper.

The extreme level of fear mongering for ratings by unscrupulous media outlets is disgusting. I am glad we don’t run murder trials in this country with the same level of ethics, expertise and methodology or they would all be dismissed on lack of scientific evidence and conjecture. I encourage you to research for yourself all of the data and resources I cited in this story. When something just doesn’t feel right with a story or news feed, go with your gut instincts and question the narrative, vet the expert and find out if they have any financial or political motivation tied to their message. Always follow the money, that will help you find the truth or potential bias. I know so much of this story sounds outlandish and hard to believe. Research the information and decide for yourself.

May you always be skeptical and verify.

“In the Chinese language, the word “crisis” is composed of two characters, one representing danger and the other, opportunity.”

- John F. Kennedy

www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/08/803766743/critics-say-china-has-suppressed-and-censored-information-in-coronavirus-outbrea www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/wuhans-huanan-seafood-market-may-not-be-ground-zero-of-the-covid19-pandemic/ (Biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) is applicable to clinical, diagnostic, teaching, research, or production facilities where work is performed with agents that may cause serious or potentially lethal disease through inhalation, to the personnel, and may contaminate the environment.)5 and (“ Biosafety level 4 is the highest level of biosafety precautions, and is appropriate for work with agents that could easily be aerosol-transmitted within the laboratory and cause severe to fatal disease in humans for which there are no available vaccines or treatments.”)5 www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/01/wuhan-seafood-market-may-not-be-source-novel-virus-spreading-globally www.globaltimes.cn/content/1189599.shtml www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/coronavirus-may-have-origins-in-chinas-biological-warfarelab-in-wuhan/1717828 www.livescience.com/first-case-coronavirus-found.html metro.co.uk/2020/05/02/spy-dossier-claims-china-lied-about-coronavirus-silenced-whistleblowers-12644009/ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thousand_Talents_Plan medicalxpress.com/news/2020-05-covid-mystery.html arxiv.org/abs/2005.06199 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50_Cent_Party en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Publicity_Department_of_the_Communist_Party_of_China www.businessinsider.com/us-government-agencies-have-banned-tiktok-app-2020-2 www.nature.com/news/engineered-bat-virus-stirs-debate-over-risky-research-1.18787 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ai_Fen www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/03/19/818295972/chinese-authorities-admit-improper-response-to-coronavirus-whistleblower

Find the services you need in Oklahoma at CaregiverNearYou.com

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FINANCIAL FITNESS Scam Alert

April 20, 2020 CMR 06-20

U.S. SECRET SERVICE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY LAUNCH - KNOW YOUR U.S. TREASURY CHECK CAMPAIGN WASHINGTON - The Secret Service in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Treasury is leading the charge to bring awareness to citizens, retailers and financial institutions on how to protect themselves from becoming a victim of easy to detect counterfeit U.S. Treasury Checks. According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), paper U.S. Treasury checks from the $2 trillion dollar Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) will be mailed and issued to millions of Americans beginning late April, 2020. With the implementation of the CARES Act, comes opportunities for criminal activity, like check fraud.

The Secret Service and the U.S. Department of the Treasury want to inform citizens and consumers nationwide on ways to protect themselves during these times. This announcement contains information that consumers and financial institutions can use to identify counterfeit U.S Treasury checks by knowing what to look for and where to look.

Quick Tips / Genuine Security Features:  Treasury Seal – A new seal to the right of the Statue of Liberty.

It should say “Bureau of the Fiscal Service,” and has replaced the old seal that said “Financial Management Service.”  Bleeding Ink – the seal to the right of the Statue of Liberty when moisture is applied to the black ink will “run” and turn red.  Watermark – All U.S. Treasury checks are printed on watermark paper. The watermark reads “U.S. TREASURY,” and is seen from both front and back when held up to a light source.  Ultraviolet Overprinting – A protective ultraviolet (UV) pattern is invisible to the naked eye, consisting of lines of “FMS” bracketed by the FMS seal on the left and the U.S. Seal (eagle) on the right. As of 2013, a new ultraviolet patter was introduced into the check that says “FISCALSERVICE”. Either one of these UV patterns maybe be seen.  Microprinting – is located on the back of the check with the words “USAUSAUSA.”  Economic Impact Payment: The Economic Impact Payment checks will have the following information located on the lower right side of the Statue of Liberty: “Economic Impact Payment President Donald J. Trump” We at the Secret Service and the U.S. Department of the Treasury are working with our law enforcement partners to ensure a unity of effort to disrupt and deter criminal activity that could hinder an effective response to the pandemic, to help vulnerable organizations, and to recover money stolen from Americans. For more information or to report a COVID-19 related scam, please contact your local law enforcement agency, a Secret Service Field Office, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at tips.TIGTA.gov, the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov, the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF), Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

To learn more about the security features that can be found on U.S Treasury Checks please click here or visit at: https://fiscal.treasury.gov/files/reference-guidance/gold-book/check-security-features.pdf

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Economic Impact Payment Specimen: The Economic Impact Payment checks will have the following information located on the lower right side of the Statue of Liberty: ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENT PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.

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"Let us not despair but act. Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past - let us accept our own responsibility for the future."

- John F. Kennedy

C MMUNITY HEARTBEAT

UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

Continued from page 36 emergency funding to 22 partner agencies.

Emergency grant requests will continue to be expeditiously evaluated and funded on an ongoing basis throughout the pandemic.

23 nonprofit partner agencies have requested $1,273,664 in emergency funding.

Requests continue to come in daily for needs including: Assistance with rent, utilities, transportation and basic living costs for clients. Food, personal hygiene, cleaning supplies and other essential items for clients. Technology support to provide mental and medical telehealth to serve clients remotely.

Support for additional street outreach teams to deliver food, supplies and COVID-19 education materials to those experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Financial assistance to foster families and senior caregivers.

Support for agency occupancy costs and staff wages to ensure nonprofits have the capacity to stay open and continue serving vulnerable populations during this time of crisis. (Many of our nonprofits have applied for federal funding from the Small Business Administration and Paycheck Protection Program, but need critical funding now to meet the increased demand for services.)

some changes. Pacesetters Games and Pacesetters Luncheon have been canceled as our board and volunteers feel we must be judicious in gathering in large numbers.

The kickoff has been moved up to August 21st and we are relaxing the blackout criteria. Many of our agencies canceled spring and summer fundraisers and rescheduling is critical. We are addressing these requests are they are received.”

Debby added, “Lisa, you and I have seen Oklahomans come together during times of crisis – major natural disasters – a terrorist attack – economic crashes. I believe we will continue to see that same spirit of community, of caring for our neighbors, of standing strong and offering helping hands to all in need. I believe in Oklahoma. The 20202021 campaign motto says it all, “Come Together,” and we will.”

Times are and will be tough. The prognosis of escalating numbers of domestic violence, child abuse, suicide, and homelessness are alarming. But, Oklahomans are strong, caring and resilient. Most of us walk by faith…and we must continue to do so.

For additional information or to make a donation, call 405-236-8441 or online at unitedwayokc.org.

Excerpts from United Way’s COVID-19 Funding Requests:

When asked about the impact the pandemic will have on planning for the future and particularly, fund-raising Hampton said, “This pandemic is fluid; we are prepared to adjust and adapt our plans as need dictates. We are in the allocation process now for funds from 2019-2020 campaigns. That process will continue and allocations will be distributed to agencies on July 1. We are blessed to have Judy Love, Philanthropic Leader, and Attorney Mike Turpin, two extraordinarily gifted and strong leaders, as our co-chairs of the 2020-2021 campaign.

In preparing for the 2020-2021 campaign we have made

“Many of our clients have lost their jobs or had their hours significantly reduced and not only will not be able to cover their rent, they will need assistance with meeting their basic needs.

Beyond food, it is critical to address their mental health and reinforce permanent connections, which means we are in need of additional resources to facilitate video contact with family, caseworkers and our therapeutic staff.”

“Due to school closings, residents in our youth shelter will not be able to leave our campus; therefore we will have to increase our staffing during the day to provide adequate supervision,

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405-214-8633 F i n d t h e s e r v i c e s y o u n e e d i n O k l a h o m a a t C a r e g i v e r N e a r Y o u . c o m

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care, coordination of activities and assist in home schooling through the end of the school year.”

“Half of the participants in our diversion program for individuals facing incarceration have either lost their job or are working significantly reduced hours, resulting in their inability to care for their families and pay necessary expenses. They are requesting help to avoid losing their homes and further disrupting their stability, which could result in a return to criminal behavior.”

“We are a small agency with limited amount of financial resources. Defraying the sick days and personal leave cost will cause financial difficulties and devastating impact on our remaining budget for the year.”

HAND SANITIZER AVAILABLE

New View is the exclusive statewide distributor for Purell and GoJo hand sanitizer. Michelle Mauk, state sales and business manager for New View, confirmed that face masks are available now and 16 oz flip-top hand sanitizer (#199636-12 16oz bottles 12 per case @ $87.90) will be in stock by May 15th. All non-profits and social services agencies are encouraged to order immediately. Call Michelle at 405-605-7566 or email mmaul@ newviewoklahoma.org or sales@newviewoklahoma.org to place an order.

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Brandy Bailey, Senior Vice President of Home and Community Based Services, was quick to respond when she received the inquiry about responses and needs in the wake of the COVID-19 quarantine. She provided clear insight into the situation with the seniors and others with disabilities.

According to Bailey, “PACE is a Medicare and Medicaid program for older adults and people over age 55 living with disabilities. Valir PACE is fighting hard every day for our participants to keep them healthy and well in their homes and out of hospitals and nursing homes.

This requires a tremendous team which includes: four primary care providers, ten nurses, five therapists, two dietitians, three social workers, one mental health provider, and about 30 home health aides, plus many, many more. This program provides community-based care and services to people who otherwise need nursing home level of care. PACE was created to provide you, your family, caregivers, and professional health care provider’s flexibility to meet your health care needs and to help you continue living in the community. PACE across the nation offers more than 260 centers and serves nearly 50,000 older adults. Valir PACE serves nearly 300 seniors in the Oklahoma City area including Oklahoma, Cleveland, Canadian, McClain and Grady Counties.”

What does it look like, as the organization will certainly experience loss of financial support and an increased need for services? Are contributions down? What is projected financial impact over next 6-9 months?

The need for support for our program and those we serve is greater than ever. The CDC has identified older adults and those who have serious underlying medical conditions to be at highest risk; this describes every participant of the Valir PACE program. Our expense to provide care to our participants has grown exponentially as we mobilize our team into the community, touching base with every patient. We are monitoring their mental and physical health as well as ensuring they have groceries, toiletries, and cleaning supplies. We are delivering everything to them to prevent them from getting out into the community, putting their health at risk. We are providing their health care services but having to do so in a way to reduce their exposure, thus are working on providing tablets to our participants, and allowing them to face-time with their nurse, therapist, or doctor. The financial impact is great as our expenses will continue to rise as we provide personal protection Issue 11

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Erick Kaufman, MD was born and raised in Oklahoma City. He graduated with Honors from the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine in 1992 and went on to serve three years of Ophthalmology Residency at the University of Arkansas, Jones Eye Institute in Little Rock Arkansas. Dr. Kaufman then completed an Internal Medicine residency and board certification in Portland, Oregon. He settled with his family in Springfield, Missouri and enjoyed 13 years of private practice with the prestigious, multi-specialty group of Ferrell Duncan Clinic, which is comprised of 100+ board certified specialists.

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equipment (PPE) to staff and patients, technology to keep our seniors connected, and provide food, and supplies. To continue to support these vulnerable seniors in this way, we need increased donations from the community. We have experienced generosity from local churches sharing canned goods and supplies, and that continues to be a significant need.

Have there been increased calls around mental health or domestic violence issues?

PACE has experienced a dramatic increase in anxiety and depression in our participants. This situation is the perfect storm for them, unfortunately. This population is already very isolated and for many, the PACE center and the PACE staff is the only family they have. Without the ability to come into the center, many are struggling with their mental health. We are providing telehealth-counseling services, and have our team doing calls every day to ensure they know we love them and are looking out for them.

We host daily group counseling sessions over a conference call line and are really looking forward to providing our seniors with tablets so they can video chat with their fellow PACE participants and their care team members like their nurse, therapist, and doctor. But all the creative means of connection, comes at an increased cost to the program and increased community support would be helpful towards ensuring this can be offered sustainably.

Is there an increase in food requests?

Many of our seniors enjoyed hot meals at the PACE program, their church, or delivered from family. With COVID precautions, those resources are unavailable to them now and their food insecurity is a tremendous concern. Valir is producing frozen meals and shelf stable pantry care packages as well and delivering to participants in need, but the need is great.

How are clients handling the isolation?

Many are not handling the isolation well. We are trying our best to bridge the gap through daily phone calls, but the longer this goes on, the more the walls close in on them.

Depression and anxiety is a daily struggle for most of our participants under normal circumstances, you can only imagine how hard things are for them now.

We need community support to provide the extra items needed to keep seniors safe in their homes during this time of COVID precautions. Please consider donating by visiting valirpace.org and under “Contact” click, “Donate Now” or you can arrange to donate food and supplies to the PACE center by calling 405-609-3688.

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A PROGRAM FUNDED IN PART BY THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

The Areawide Aging Agency operates across Canadian, Cleveland, Logan, and Oklahoma counties. It is a leading organization for senior citizens as well as the disabled to contact for help. They provide clients’ access to a Help Line for information or referrals, and a number of services ranging from the Home Delivered Meals to Respite Care and Support.

Services available to seniors 60 and over, as well as to individuals with disabilities or low-income individuals, include: • Congregate and Home Delivered Meals • Evidence Based Health Promotion • Nutrition Education • In-Home Assistance • Outreach • Caregiver Assistance • Respite • Legal Services • Transportation • Grandparents Raising Grandchildren • Long Term Care Ombudsman Blair Schoeb, chief executive officer, shared the shift in agency strategy for the quarantine period. Project staff is focused on staying in touch with their clients through phone calls, text messages and emails. The vast majority of the communication is via phone calls. The calls are basically wellness checks but go beyond that as often a staff person is on a call for longer than 10 minutes. Schoeb stated, “While we often do wellness calls, our goal now is to be that life-line, that connection to the world, that calm voice of caring and concern. Clients need to talk, connect, and express fears and anxiety without judgment. That is primary for now. Online counseling and support groups are available for all programs.”

Schoeb reported that all contractors for distribution of meals or serving at congregate sites have experienced, minimally, a 10% increase in food requests. The agency is preparing for an unprecedented increase in persons moving to the next level of care. The quarantine has brought into stark reality the limitations of many to fully function alone. The inability to fully care for one is frightening.

The meal program has continued to function, including adding many from congregate sites to home delivery.

There is not enough staff to fulfill all requests on a daily basis. In many cases, meals for seven days are delivered weekly. These are either packaged or frozen meals. AAA received $580,000 from the federal government and the Department of Human Services to expand the number of Issue 11

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seniors receiving home delivered meals.

Significant funding for the AAA comes through the Older Americans Act which became law in 1966. Schoeb shared, “The federal government has allocated an additional $1 billion nationwide for COVID-19 response to care for our seniors.” When asked what that share would look like for Oklahoma, he responded, “As we all are aware, the State budget was tight prior to COVIID-19. This pandemic has increased the deficit and the federal funding requires matching funds by the state, as well as by Areawide. The current budget shortfall could put additional funding at risk.”

Aging-in-place is a priority for Areawide Aging Agency. Treating all with dignity and ensuring they can remain safely in their own homes as long as possible continues to be the mission and the goal of the agency. For additional information on programs and services, contact Areawide Aging Agency at areawideaging.org or call 405-942-8500.

The Ombudsman program is always looking for volunteers. For additional information of volunteering, call 405-521-6734.

There are seven LTC Ombudsman Supervisors who monitor the care provided to residents in Logan, Oklahoma, Canadian and Cleveland counties. Each LTC Ombudsman Supervisor is responsible for an average of 22 facilities and approximately 1650 residents. The program has 18 Ombudsman volunteers who give two hours weekly at their assigned facility.

LTC Ombudsman Supervisor, Cynthia McWilliams, along with her counterparts, visits in person and via phone with the residents of long term care facilities in her assigned territory. During the quarantine, it has been phone calls only. Cynthia shared that she has received many calls from residents and staff sharing good news; good deeds and good wishes. Concerns reported have been minor and quickly resolved.

Isolation is a dreaded factor for many and as the quarantine goes on it is more difficult to combat. The Ombudsmen are working with clients, administrators and families to combat the loneliness.

Many facilities have gone above and beyond to ensure residents get attention they need. Some administrators have added door-to-door tours of facility every day to their list of duties. The added value is personal connection and another layer of commitment to quality care.

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Cynthia McWilliams offers the following compilation of recommendations gleaned from briefings by the CDC, Oklahoma Department of Human Services, KOCO and KFOR on ways to help safeguard yourself and those around you:

Drink lots of hot liquids - coffees, soups, teas, even warm water. In addition take a sip of warm water every 20 minutes because this keeps your mouth moist and washes any of the virus that’s entered your mouth into your stomach where your gastric juices will neutralize it before it can get to the lungs.

Gargle with an antiseptic and warm water like vinegar or salt or lemon every day if possible.

The virus attaches itself to hair and clothes. Detergent or soap kills it but you must take a bath or shower when you get in from the outdoors. Avoid sitting down in your home and go straight to the shower. If you cannot wash your clothes daily, hang them in sunlight which also helps to neutralize the virus.

Wash metallic surfaces very carefully because the virus can stay viable on these surfaces for up to 9 days. Take note and be vigilant about touching hand rails, door knobs, etc. and keep these clean at home as well.

Don’t smoke.

Wash your hands every 20 minutes with any soap that foams and do this for 20 seconds.

Eat fruits and vegetables. Try to elevate your zinc levels.

Animals do not spread the virus to people. It’s a person to person transmission.

Try to avoid getting the common flu as this already weakens your system.

Avoid eating and drinking only cold drinks and food items.

If you feel any discomfort in your throat attack it immediately. The virus enters the system through the throat but will sit in the throat for 3-4 days before it passes into your lungs.

Experts suggest doing this simple exercise every morning could help detect infection: breathe in deeply; hold your breath for 10 seconds. If this can be done without coughing or difficulty, there is likely no fibrosis in the lungs and the absence of infection. This virus is characterized by obstructing respiratory pathways with thick mucus that solidifies and blocks the airways Issue 11

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“Laws made by common consent must not be trampled on by individuals.�

- George Washington

and lungs.

Established in 1907, Sunbeam is Oklahoma’s longestserving social service agency. Each year, Sunbeam helps more than 10,500 Central Oklahomans with lifechanging services through its robust Early Childhood Education program, long-standing Foster Care program, compassionate Counseling program, and multifaceted Senior Services program. For more information visit: sunbeamfamilyservices.org or call 405-528-7721.

Are general contributions down?

While contributions are down, we know Oklahomans are so generous in their support! To make a donation to help Sunbeam providing essential services to our community, visit SunbeamFamilyServices.org or call 405-609-2311.

How are the grandparents handling home schooling and no respite?

Recently, Sunbeam Family Services launched

video support groups to provide assistance to caregivers and grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. “Grandfamilies are facing unique challenges during this time,” said Talena Ford, caregiver fundamentals program manager. “Support groups provide an opportunity to share experiences and resources, and have socialization. This is a great time to try a support group from the comfort of your own home. Grandparents may join anonymously and, while sharing is encouraged, it is not required to attend.”

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Groups are held Wednesdays and Fridays in May at 1 p.m. via Zoom. Through the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program, Sunbeam supports grandparents who are raising grandchildren without the presence of parents in the home. Participants are empowered through support groups and resources like school supply assistance. To participate in this program, grandparents must live in Oklahoma, Cleveland, Canadian or Logan County.

“I am not sure how we would make it through this difficult process without the support, direction and love we receive from Sunbeam’s staff,” said Victoria, a grandmother who participates in the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren support group. “They treat us as if we are not only grandparents raising our grandchildren,

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If maintaining independence is key - you can continue to thrive and socialize with an amazing group of senior adults.

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Assisted Living and Memory Care

Arbor House is about personal freedom and choices.

We pride ourselves in providing high quality service in a comfortable, secure environment.

Arbor House of Norman (405) 292-9200 4501 W Main St, Norman, OK 73072 72

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Reminisce Center of Norman (405) 310-2499 151 48th Ave SW Norman, OK 73072

Arbor House Midwest City (405) 455-3900 9240 E. Reno Ave. Midwest City, OK 73130 Issue 11

Arbor House of Mustang (405) 376-2872 850 N. Clearsprings Rd. Mustang, OK 73064 CaregiverOklahoma.com

but family. And when you’re caring for a beautiful grandchild, times are hard.”

During this time grandparents are struggling with yet another change in their roles. They have gone from being grandma to caregiver and now they are the teacher, principal, and IT department. During the online support groups, they are expressing frustration, intimidation, and incompetence. Grandparents were struggling to find resources prior to quarantine. There have been many programs that now have money to serve the GRG’s including respite.

Lifespan Respite program has relaxed criteria due to COVID-19 and it is easier than ever to receive a respite voucher. This is a much-needed help to caregivers. For information on the Lifespan Respite Voucher Program and Systems of Care Mental Health Program contact Robyn Boswell at Robyn-boswell@ouhsc.edu or 405-271-5700 ext. 47801 or http://soonersuccess.ouhsc.edu,

Is there an increase in food requests?

There has been an increase in how to access food and requests for food distribution site locations as well.

How are senior companions handling the isolation?

Cathy Snowberger, senior companion supervisor said,

“They (senior companions) are talking with family, friends, their clients and each other. Leigh and I have also been in contact with each one frequently to talk with them. Some are getting outside in their yards or going for walks. A lot of them are completing cleaning projects around their homes or gardening. At least one companion is making masks to give away. “ The Seniors are going for more walks and developing more hobbies.

Have you experienced an increase in caregiver concerns?

We have caregivers that are able to have therapy online & order groceries online. Recently the online Caregiver Support group spent time sharing how to place a WalMart-mart curbside order.

Caregiver Support Groups will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays in May at 1 p.m. Caregiver support groups are for all caregivers to share information, insight, advice and encouragement. Support Groups are an opportunity to learn from caregivers who face similar challenges and allow caregivers to talk about experiences.

For more information about Sunbeam’s Senior Services, call 405-609-8939, or email tford@sunbeamfamilyservices.org, or visit sunbeamfamilyservices.org.

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Sunbeam’s Senior Caregivers is indispensable for us, we whose days and nights are crammed with responsibilities for another life. Without providing group meetings, keeping therapists and others around us who understand and speak our own “language”, I sometimes think we would lie down and die. I’m not alone in believing this. We all know it’s the caregiver who often drops first -- of exhaustion and a lack of care for self.

Expected to be the backbone, we get lost in the shuffle and forget who we are.

In so many ways, Sunbeam lifts us and cradles us and reminds us again and again that caregivers not only matter, but that we are still awake and alive and vital to this world. It gives us invaluable group meetings -- time and space to say what we need to, road maps for finding the way to the forgotten centers of ourselves. Frequent seminars provide answers to our endless questions -- will there ever be time for me? How long can I bear up under this job? How do I handle the legal, physical and emotional demands?

Thank you, Sunbeam Family Services, for this lifeline. Without you, I’d be lost. Wish I could tell the whole world about you. ~ Carolyn Wall

Sooner Success has modified the Lifespan Respite Voucher Program to accommodate more families affected by the COVID-19 quarantine. We are now offering $400 every 90 days and allowing the respite provider to live in the home with the caregiver and care receiver. It cannot be the primary caregiver, must be over 18, and have a social security card. We are also paying for virtual adult day services/programs. These guidelines are offered through June 30th.

SURF TO WWW.OKDHS.ORG OR CALL: Oklahoma City – (800) 522-1064 Tulsa – (800) 522-1075 Paul’s Valley – (800) 522-1086

HeartLine 211 is just that – it is the heart of, and a direct line to, critical information on social services available in Oklahoma. Many things in life can leave a person in crisis: aftermath of a storm, loss of a job, abuse at home, mental health struggles, and bills higher than earnings. We provide resources and support to get you back on your feet.

In order to handle the COVID-19 calls HeartLine had to quickly ramp up our business to accommodate the 74

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pandemic response needs. We hired and trained an additional eight temporary staff and volunteers to assist with the COVID-19 Hotline call volume. Since then, about 98% of our team is working remotely. Quickly finding and acquiring remote capability equipment and technology needs necessary for our computer cloud-based phone system and access to our extensive database was challenging. Just the sheer logistics of getting staff set up at home was taxing, but we managed it. To comply with social distancing guidelines, we had to rework the call center office space for the remaining few staff members in the agency with concern for the health and safety of our team being the priority.

Margi Preston, executive director of HeartLine 2-11 stated, “We realize the enormous scale and impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on our state and we are grateful to our partner agencies, state and local government, and United Way of Central Oklahoma for the trust and confidence in the ability for HeartLine 2-11, to bring help, hope and information to thousands of Oklahomans during this difficult time. To give you an idea of the changes in the enormous amount of calls we have fielded since taking on the COVID-19 Hotline: in March 2019, our 2-1-1 line answered 5,035 calls. In the month of March 2020, we answered 12,323 calls.

The governor’s COVID-19 task force has announced drive through mobile testing; 2-1-1 is available to give information for resources and referrals.”

HeartLine 211 is funded by state, federal, and local government contracts, United Way, foundation grants, private donors, and fundraising. This additional work load is supported by state funding, and emergency funding from foundations and private donors.

Are you – or is someone you love – struggling with thoughts of suicide? Call us at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number to get help at any hour. CALL 800-273-8255 NOW. When a young person (24 or younger) is in crisis behavioral or emotional, physical or social, at home or at school - we can help 24/7. It all starts with one free call (833) 885-CARE. HEARTLINE’S MISSION IS SIMPLE: TO CONNECT OKLAHOMANS TO HELP, HOPE AND INFORMATION 24 HOURS A DAY. Issue 11

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CaregiverOklahoma.com/CBD

RSVP’S PROVIDE-A-RIDE In 1994, Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) started Provide-a-Ride, a service providing low-income seniors free transportation to medical appointments. RSVP volunteer drivers, age 55 and older, utilize their own vehicles, make their own schedules, and select the geographic areas they want to serve, receive free supplemental accident and liability insurance, and mileage reimbursement. Provide-a-Ride participants must be 60 and older and schedule rides in advance.

This program is a major bonus for seniors’ aging-inplace. It offers more opportunity for participants to maintain their independence and self-sufficiency and the ability to manage medical appointments. Add to all those benefits, friendships with the drivers and you have a viable, vibrant program. For the drivers, performing a much needed and valued service for someone gives more purpose to life.

Beth Patterson has been the executive director of RSVP for 37 years. During her tenure she established and funded a rainy day fund for just such a time as this. Therefore, the organization is financially stable in the short-term.

Contributions are down, as expected. Patterson said, “The application for the Federal Payroll Protection Plan was approved; however, finding a bank that will accept the application has been frustrating. I contacted the Oklahoma Center for Non-Profits for help in locating a financial institution. We are hopeful an institution will soon accept and fund the application.”

When asked about services and how everyone was dealing with the quarantine, Beth shared, “For the safety of our volunteer drivers and the clients, Provide-A-Ride has suspended services until further notice. We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation with a possible resumption of services on June 1. We are hearing that volunteers and clients are fearful and lonely, yet they are faithful, hopeful and trying to stay busy with indoor projects.”

RSVP is a part of the Corporation for National Service and a United Way of Central Oklahoma partner agency. To learn more about becoming a Provide-A-Ride participant or a local volunteer with RSVP, call 405-605-3106, email beth.patterson@rsvpokc.org or check out the website (www.rsvpokc.org) and Facebook (www.facebook. com/rsvpokc).

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AARP FOUNDATION is part of SCSEP. - Senior Community Service Employment Program which is the nation’s oldest program to assist low-income, unemployed individual’s aged 55+ find work and is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor. The AARP FOUNDATION SCSEP program offers paid on-the-job training in public agencies or nonprofit organizations. Participants are offered the opportunity to take part in additional training provided by the program and host agencies.

Eligible trainees are matched with local nonprofits and public agencies to increase skills and build self-confidence while earning a very modest income.

Eugina Walker, Project Director of AARP FOUNDATION SCSEP in Oklahoma City, usually has a staff of ten to assist in office work, training, answering the phones; but since closing the offices for the quarantine, she has worked alone from her home office. Walker is holding virtual training sessions three times a day; three days a week and contacts AARP trainees weekly.

Walker stated, “Some participants are getting anxious and beginning to feel the effects of the isolation. I want to assure them, regularly that this is temporary. At this time no one is suffering from food shortage. As Oklahoma begins opening up businesses, our corporate office will evaluate the risks and begin the process of opening. At this time, I do not have a target date.”

For information on the SCSEP program in Oklahoma City area call 405-439-3745.

Lynn Haynes, executive director of Meals-on-Wheels of Norman, shared how the COVIID-19 quarantine has impacted the agency. In an average month, the agency provides 5500 meals and receives 15-20 new applications. In April, 75 applications were received and 7000 meals delivered. The volunteers ordinarily take meals into the home and chat for a few minutes with each client. Now, food is left on the doorstep and the volunteer knocks to alert recipient then departs. Current volunteers began experiencing fatigue necessitating recruitment and training of new volunteers.

As a partner with Meals-on-Wheels Norman, Norman Regional Hospital prepares meals specific to dietary needs of the clients for a deeply discounted rate. Meals-onIssue 11

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Wheels Norman does not receive state or federal funding which allows more flexibility in who qualifies. This is a fee-for-service program with meal cost ranging from $.89 to $6.88. Only 9% of those served pay the top fee; the majority of clients is free or pay minimal rate.

Meals-on-Wheels Norman is funded in part by United Way of Norman, several grants, Norman Regional Hospital, community donors and an annual golf tournament. The golf tournament has been rescheduled for October. Mitchell’s Jewelry in Norman recently concluded a non-perishable food drive to restock the agency food pantry. A new partnership with the Regional Food Bank has developed since the COVID-19 quarantine. The agency has received food distributions in April and May and will receive one in June. At that time, continued need will be re-evaluated.

For additional information on applying for services or to volunteer, call 405-321-7272 or go to mealsonwheelsnorman.com.

NICOA – NATIONAL INDIAN COUNCIL ON AGING – is a federally funded program, serving the low-income job seeking population 55 and over. Arnetta Yancey, SCSEP Central Region Program Manager, NICOA stated: “The program offers paid on-the-job training, job search assistance, help in writing a resume and tips on improving interviewing skills. This is a three (3) year training program funded by Senior Community Services Employment Program (SCSEP) and is the only federal program for low-income U.S. citizens, age 55 and over. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor under the authority of the Older Americans Act of 1965. The program is free to participants and host agencies.”

NICOA participants work for public agencies or nonprofit organizations providing much needed staff in the workplace. Positions are 20 hours per week at minimum wage. NICOA staff focuses on matching job seekers with agencies offering job training in their field of interest.

Since March 14th, NICOA staff has worked from home and maintained on-going contact with NICOA workers. Yancey

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stated, “The workers are doing a great job balancing their tasks and time. Currently, there is no concern about mental health. We speak with the workers weekly and at this time none are expressing concerns about eviction or lack of food.

By encouraging everyone to remain in contact via phone calls with staff and their counterparts, feelings of being isolated are not a major concern. We are grateful that our workers are adapting and handling the quarantine as well as can be expected.”

Staff trainings and meetings are done weekly via Zoom. Because many of the participants do not have access to a computer or the internet, we have not done virtual training with them.

Currently, NICOA plans to return to the office on May 18, 2020. At this time, office hours will be shortened with much work still being accomplished from home. The key to the success of the staff and their workers during this quarantine is their ability to be open to change and embrace whatever strategy is appropriate on a daily basis.

Sue Carlton, director of NICOA regional office, said, “NICOA is primarily funded by governmental resources and we are unsure of the impact on funding, now in the trillions of dollars, will have on the level of funding needed to sustain the organization. However, we are optimistic and hopeful that this will not impinge on the sustainability of the organization.”

For additional information contact NICOA in Oklahoma City at 405-254-3642 or online at www.nicoa.org.

We laughed, cried and WALKED TOGETHER. May one day we REJOICE TOGETHER in the Cure that ENDED Alzheimer’s.

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PlayingIt Playing ItSafe Safe Knowledge is

Power

The Simplest Face Mask

By Harvey W. Austin, MD, Retired Surgeon

Surgical masks rapidly became scarce for us surgeons who were responding to Haiti’s 2010 earthquake. Local women rapidly created reusable masks.

Simplest Face Mask Instructions:

I have modified their pattern for simplicity, creating a double-layer cloth mask that is washable and reusable. It does not require a sewing machine.

Making one takes a minute or so.

Each mask requires piece of 12” x 12” cloth (handkerchiefs, sheets, pillowcases, etc.), four rubber bands and one piece of scotch tape.

They are not attractive, in fact, poor cousins to the beautiful ones that can be made on a sewing machine. Yet they work… and a team of five could create a few hundred masks per hour. Additional thickness may be used.

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1. Fold the 12” cloth in half.

2. Gather-fold one short edge into a half-inch bunch.

3. Add a skinny rubber band with most of it protruding inside.

4. Secure the cloth bunch and rubber band with another band, wrapped round and round.

5. Same for the other short edge.

To wear, hang the rubber bands around your ears. Secure the top edge to your nose with a 2-3” piece of tape.

Daily Maintenance: hand-wash, removing rubber bands. Dry. Re-assemble. Re-use.

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"Great Response from a Well Targeted Publication!"

"Highly Recommend!"

"CAREGIVER Magazine has proven to be the most effective publication I have found in the Oklahoma Senior focused market.

I haven’t found any media this effective in reaching my target market - which is Seniors exploring care options for loved ones. Job well done! My budget is limited so I have to choose wisely when spending on print advertising. CAREGIVER is helping me reach more Seniors and their families. An excellent investment to help me build my business."

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We (The People) DO NOT Consent

By Michael Edward Browning Cherokee, Hawai’ians, Hopi, Mayans, Iroquois and Maori (and our republic’s founding fathers) have in common the use of “The People” to describe themselves, their tribe. Blackfoot never called themselves “Blackfoot”. The Shoshone are likely responsible for the name that goes into the history books, but long before that label, Blackfoot referred to their population as “The People” (also “the Real People”). Our own Constitution lists our citizenry in this way. The People. As in “power to the...”.

That power is being tested now as our very first amendment in the Bill of Rights is being taken over by tech conglomerates who rule popular access to the online world. On all the platforms: video, bulletin and photo oriented portals to our friends, family and information, some sources are getting buried. Deplatformed they call it. First the video service started running “Authorized Source” banners below videos by channels who questioned things, like Global Warming or the official COVID-19 story, pointing them to the superior authority of Wikipedia, lest the viewer be swayed from the official narrative regarding the “Solved Sciences”. This, of course, oxymoronically ignoring the definition of “science” itself, which fundamentally includes continued exploration.

Back in the 1990s, I was just getting started in publishing as a journalist for a “fanzine” called City Heat: Seattle’s Music Magazine. One of the city’s special veteran offerings is the band Heart (who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame a few years back). Steve Fossen was the original bass player, who barreled out the bottom end of hits like “Barracuda” and “Crazy On You” for the band. In 1990, he was headed to number one again with the song “More Than Words Can Say (I Need You Now)” as part of “supergroup” Alias.

He said during our nation’s descent into the Gulf War and Desert Storm, “I was reading in City Heat about censorship and I totally agree, I think these people have to get out of other people’s lives.

If they want censorship for their family in their life, that’s fine, but don’t censor other people’s lives and what they want to see and want to do and want to hear….I’ve even heard President [H. W.] Bush say this, that, “Without the freedom of choice, you don’t have freedom.” I mean freedom is the freedom of choice. If they are going to tell us that we’re the most free nation on earth, then we ought to be, and they shouldn’t limit freedom, limit choices.”

The U.S. currently enjoys a press freedom ranking of 45th this year out of 180 countries worldwide. Norway is number one followed by Finland, Denmark, Sweden & The Netherlands. Just six companies own and control the great bulk of what you (are allowed to) see and hear when it comes to “traditional media”.

Compound this concentration conundrum with the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal 82

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year 2013 (Public Law 112-239) which dissolved domestic propaganda protections we citizens had previously held under the Smith-Mundt Act of 1948. Basically our tax dollars can now be used to produce “programs” for consumption abroad, on channels that are also available here at home. Seven years in, what are the chances those efforts are up and running?

We were a voluntarily assembling society with the notion that we can employ critical thinking to allow the greatest freedoms possible to our countrymen. Many of us still believe this is not only possible, but the only proper way to ensure we also are given range to pursue our happiness and fulfillment, regardless of religion, race or anything else used to categorize and segregate. Lest we forget, the “divide and conquer” tactic has been in play, at every conceivable division, for a long time now.

So is now the time to switch up the playbook and stand together?

Stand with your neighbors.

Nations around the world have allowed their admiration of America’s free speech policies to run further with some of our best ideas. But we all know better than to count Americans out. At this point, even our covered mouths can still be heard, but for how long?

Alert from Amazon KDP Content Review Hello, We’re contacting you regarding the following book(s):

May 20 , 2020

My Perso n C O V I D - 1 al Lockdow 9 8 4 DIAR n Y

A Version of Events for You to Compos e & Docume nt

My Personal COVID-19 Lockdown Diary: A Version of Events for You to Compose & Document by Michael Edward Browning (AUTHOR) (ID: PRI-PBAQ0YSPA4A) Due to the rapidly changing nature of information around the COVID-19 virus, we are referring customers to official sources for health information about the virus. As a result we are not offering your book for sale.

Amazon reserves the right to determine what content we offer according to our content guidelines.

You can find our content guidelines on the KDP website: https://kdp.amazon.com/help/topic/G200672390 1.1 Content Guidelines These guidelines apply to book content, including title, cover art, and product description. Illegal or infringing content Issue 11

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We take violations of laws and proprietary rights very seriously.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your content doesn’t violate laws or copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, or other rights. Just because content is freely available does not mean you are free to copy and sell it.

Public domain and other non-exclusive content Poor customer experience Books for sale on Amazon should provide a positive customer experience. We reserve the right to determine whether content provides a poor customer experience and remove that content from sale. See the Guide to Kindle Content Quality for examples of content that’s typically disappointing to customers.

Other prohibited content As a bookseller, we provide our customers with access to a variety of viewpoints, including books that some customers may find objectionable. That said, we reserve the right not to sell certain content, such as pornography or other inappropriate material.

So, a mostly blank journal (with a COVID-19 referencing title) was shot down by the biggest bookseller in the world - with no clear policy infringement. The censors of public opinion have decided. On the other hand, Issuu.com has no issue with publishing the e-journal, so you can pick it up for under a buck at CaregiverOklahoma.com/diary.

It’s a perfect companion paired with a dollar store blank journal. There are a couple dozen writing prompts to get your thoughts on this situation started, to pour out on the pages you supply. In the mean time, I’m still trying to find a Print On Demand option outside Amazon/Kindle Direct Publishing for people to get the physical notebook as intended and designed.

It remains to be seen what affect the new Executive Order on Preventing Online Censorship will have on our web conversations leading up to this election season, but it sure seems like a strong reminder of our Constitution’s very first Amendment.

“Congressmen Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) introduced “The Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012” (H.R. 5736) … during discussions for the NDAA 2013. This updates the Smith-Mundt act of 1948 and Foreign Relations Authorization Act of 1987, allowing for domestic propaganda by the Government.” youtube.com/watch?v=pjhrGPFaQoQ Alias – More Than Words Can Say https://rsf.org/en/ranking_table https://www.businessinsider.com/ndaa-legalizes-propaganda-2012-5 https://www.mic.com/articles/22069/ndaa-the-civil-liberties-we-regiving-up-for-this-controversial-defense-bill http://www.smithmundt.com/about/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-orderpreventing-online-censorship/ F i n d t h e s e r v i c e s y o u n e e d i n O k l a h o m a a t C a r e g i v e r N e a r Y o u . c o m

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The U.S. Bill of Rights The Preamble to The Bill of Rights

Congress of the United States begun and held at the City of New-York, on Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.

THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.

RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.

ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.

Note: The following text is a transcription of the first ten amendments to the Constitution in their original form. These amendments were ratified December 15, 1791, and form what is known as the “Bill of Rights.�

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Amendment VII

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES:

Note: The following text is a transcription of the Constitution as it was inscribed by Jacob Shallus on parchment (the document on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum.) The spelling and punctuation reflect the original.

Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.

A Transcription

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

ARTICLE. I. SECTION. 1.

All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.

SECTION. 2.

The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.

SECTION. 3.

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every

Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole 86

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second Year; and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.

No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.

The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.

The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.

The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation.

When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.

Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law. SECTION. 4.

The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives,

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shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall

by Law appoint a different Day. SECTION. 5.

Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.

Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.

Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.

Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.

SECTION. 6.

The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.

No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.

SECTION. 7.

All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.

Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that

House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law. Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.

SECTION. 8.

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;

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“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” ― Thomas Jefferson

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States; To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures; To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States; To establish Post Offices and post Roads; To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries; To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed

by Congress; To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may,

by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;— And To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

SECTION. 9.

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations; To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.

To provide and maintain a Navy;

The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the

No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.

No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.

No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made

by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

SECTION. 10.

No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.

No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it’s inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress.

No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.

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ARTICLE. II. SECTION. 1.

The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.

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neither be encreased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.

The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States.

SECTION. 2.

No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.

The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately chuse by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like

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Manner chuse the President. But in chusing the President, the Votes shall be taken by States, the Representation from each State having one Vote; A quorum for this Purpose shall consist of a Member or Members from two thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the States shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot the Vice President.

In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.

The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:—”I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the

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“Of the liberty of conscience in matters of religious faith, of speech and of the press; of the trial by jury of the vicinage in civil and criminal cases; of the benefit of the writ of habeas corpus; of the right to keep and bear arms...If these rights are well defined, and secured against encroachment, it is impossible that government should ever degenerate into tyranny.�

- James Monroe

SECTION. 2.

President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;—to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;—to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;—to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party;— to Controversies between two or more States;— between a State and Citizens of another State,—between Citizens of different States,—between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.

SECTION. 3.

He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.

In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make.

SECTION. 4.

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.

ARTICLE III. SECTION. 1.

The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.

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SECTION. 3.

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

ARTICLE. IV. SECTION. 1.

Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.

SECTION. 2.

The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.

A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime.

No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due.

SECTION. 3.

New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or

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“Those that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.�

- Benjamin Franklin

Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.

The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.

SECTION. 4.

The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened), against domestic Violence.

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

Article. VII. The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.

ARTICLE. V. The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.

ARTICLE. VI.

The Word, “the,” being interlined between the seventh and eighth Lines of the first Page, The Word “Thirty” being partly written on an Erazure in the fifteenth Line of the first Page, The Words “is tried” being interlined between the thirty second and thirty third Lines of the first Page and the Word “the” being interlined between the forty third and forty fourth Lines of the second Page.

Attest William Jackson Secretary done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independance of the United States of America the Twelfth In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names,

All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.

G°. Washington President and deputy from Virginia

Delaware Geo: Read Gunning Bedford jun John Dickinson Richard Bassett Jaco: Broom

Maryland James McHenry Dan of St Thos. Jenifer Danl. Carroll

Virginia

Georgia

New York

John Blair James Madison Jr.

William Few Abr Baldwin

Alexander Hamilton

North Carolina

New Hampshire

Wm. Blount Richd. Dobbs Spaight Hu Williamson

John Langdon Nicholas Gilman

South Carolina J. Rutledge Charles Cotesworth Pinckney Charles Pinckney Pierce Butler

Massachusetts Nathaniel Gorham Rufus King Connecticut Wm. Saml. Johnson Roger Sherman

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New Jersey Wil: Livingston David Brearley Wm. Paterson Jona: Dayton

Pennsylvania B Franklin Thomas Mifflin Robt. Morris Geo. Clymer Thos. FitzSimons Jared Ingersoll James Wilson Gouv Morris CaregiverOklahoma.com

"THE NEW COLOSSUS" Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our seawashed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles.

From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame."Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips.

"Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"Â - Emma Lazarus

God Bless America

CAREGIVER Magazine Celebrating the Families who make our country a Shining light on a Hill for the World to see, Coast to Coast, Sea to Shining Sea. CAREGIVER Magazine sharing our traditional message of hope, love and caring from the Heartland of America to the hearts of Americans.