Edmond Outlook - June 2011

Empty Nest

The Hands of Faith

Globally Minded

Canvas for Creativity

Double Hand Transplant Recipient

UCO Students Study Abroad

13431 N Broadway EXT, STE 104 Oklahoma City, OK 73114

www.edmondoutlook.com

1

2

w ww www.edmondoutlook.com w.ed e mo ondoutlook. k co com m

www.edmondoutlook.com www.ed dmondou utl tlook.com

3

4

www.edmondoutlook.com

PUBLISHER Dave Miller EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING MANAGER Krystal Harlow ART DIRECTOR Joshua Hatfield EDITOR Erica Smith ADVERTISING SALES Laura Beam Lauren Wheat PRODUCTION DESIGNER Chad Phillips PHOTOGRAPHY Marshall Hawkins www. Sundance Photography OKC.com

6 departments

features

6

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT The Dead Inside

22

WORLD CHAMPIONS OF CHEER Orson Sykes, Coach of Twist & Shout

8

LETTERS FROM LOUISE A Million Prayers for a Miracle

24

SUMMER CAMPS & ACTIVITIES A Guide to Summer Fun

10

SPORTS Natural Born Bodybuilders

25

UCO GLOBAL ECONOMY Students Study Abroad

12

BEST OF EDMOND OU Medical Center & Coffee Creek Golf Course

26

THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS Chris & Cindy Beall's Story

28

15

DINING GUIDE A Taste of Edmond

THE HANDS OF FAITH Double Hand Transplant Recipient

32

EDMOND OUTLOOK SHOPPING GUIDE

16

MAN FAVE'S Dining with Dad

space 18 HOME Empty Nest: Canvas for Creativity 33

MY EDMOND OUTLOOK Sam Brown – 11 yr. old actor starring in Lyric Theatre's "Oliver!"

Follow Us On Twitter

WRITERS Heide Brandes Melanie Phillips Clemens Rachel Dattolo Radina Gigova Louise Tucker Jones Lindsay Whelchel Nathan Winfrey DISTRIBUTION The Edmond Outlook is delivered FREE by direct mail to 50,000 Edmond homes and businesses.

EDMOND OUTLOOK 13431 N. Broadway Ext., Suite 104 Oklahoma City, OK 73114 Office: 405-341-5599 Fax: 405-341-2020 www.edmondoutlook.com info@edmondoutlook.com To advertise, please call 405-341-5599

(Volume 7, Number 6) Edmond Outlook is a publication of Back40 Design, Inc. © 2011 Back40 Design, Inc.

t w itter.com/EdmondOut look

Become a Fan on Facebook facebook.com/EdmondOutlook

Visit Our Website w w w.edmondoutlook.com

Articles and advertisements in Edmond Outlook do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine or Back40 Design. Back40 Design does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. The acceptance of advertising by Edmond Outlook does not constitute endorsement of the products, services or information.

We do not knowingly present any product or service that is fraudulent or misleading in nature. Edmond Outlook assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials.

www.edmondoutlook.com

5

A rts & Entertainment

by Nathan Winfrey

B

illed as a supernatural musical with zombies, “The Dead Inside” is the latest starring role for Edmond native Dustin Fasching. The feature-length, genre-bending crowd-pleaser is currently making the festival circuit, screening all over the U.S. and snowballing awards wherever it rolls.

An Edmond Memorial High School graduate, Fasching moved to Hollywood with his comedy troupe “One Hit Wonder” in 1999. They had a following in Oklahoma City and, after impressing the audience at an Austin, Texas, improv festival, they caught the attention of some important people. “Industry professionals wooed us out to L.A. with promises of fame and fortune that never really came true,” Fasching says.

“One Hit Wonder” performed at the Aspen Comedy Arts Festival in Colorado and had a radio show for a year. It was mostly online and it even enjoyed FM play in some cities, like Spokane, Washington. “It was a paid gig, so it was real enough for us,” he says. However, the troupe soon fell apart.

These days, most of Fasching’s auditions are for commercials. He’s appeared in spots for various companies. His imdb.com page lists a handful of acting roles, like “The Breakdance Kid,” which he says was just something to put under his belt.

6

www.edmondoutlook.com

“‘The Dead Inside’ is the first film that I’ve ever been proud to be part of,” Fasching says. He plays Wes, a burnt-out photographer whose wife, zombie-novella writer Fi (Sarah Lassez), begins acting strange. Her behavior turns terrifying and the film sheds its levity for darker tones.

Dustin Fasching

in production makeup with co-star Sarah Lassez

“It has a very independent feel,” Fasching says.

The film uses only two actors in multiple roles and nearly the entire hour-and-a-half runtime takes place in one location: an apartment. “It’s very artistic and theatrical. It’s shot by a firsttime cinematographer,” Fasching says of Shannon Hourigan. “The art direction is very good. She dressed the set the way it is to keep the audience members interested even though we never leave the apartment.” That apartment was the home of Hourigan and the film’s writer and director, Travis Betz.

“The project found me, kind of,” Fasching says. He and Betz work together at Messina Baker Entertainment Corp., a company that manages comedians, actors and other performers, and Betz asked Fasching if he would like to star in his movie.

“The Dead Inside” is hard for many to classify.

“It draws inspiration from several classic films like ‘Night of the Living Dead’ and ‘Eraserhead,’ although nothing directly inspired this film other than the basic spirit and feel,” he says. The film grabs elements from different types of movies and juggles comedic and dramatic elements, not to mention the fact that the cast regularly breaks into song. “This was just totally out of the mind of Travis,” Fasching says. “It’s pretty original.”

A subplot of the film, kind of a story-withina-story, calls for Fasching and Lassez to double as zombies. Those scenes were the only ones filmed outside the apartment.

One of the challenges of the part was deciphering the tone to bring to the acting. The zombies are in love with each other, and they talk (and sing) and act much like living humans.

There was humor in the role, and there were questions about how broad or realistic to portray the characters. “We ended up playing it fairly real and dry,” Fasching says. “We didn’t want to take it over the top. We just played it honestly.”

Ever since the film’s standing-room only, sold-out Hollywood premiere, Fasching has been traveling to support it on as many of its festival stops as possible. “(It’s won) three awards from various festivals, and I’m hoping to tag a few more on,” he says.

The tour will bring “The Dead Inside” to the metro when it hits the deadCENTER Film Festival in Oklahoma City. The festival will be June 8-12 and will feature more than 100 films. “We were pleased to find out that we were one of the staff favorites,” Fasching says.

For more information on the festival, visit www.deadcenterfilm.org. To view a trailer, visit www.thedeadinside.com.

www.edmondoutlook.com

7

L etters from Louise

A

M ILLION P RAYERS for a

Miracle

by Louise Tucker Jones

I

’m veering from my regular column this month to make a request of my readers.

Please pray for my husband. On Thursday, May 12, Carl was diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas. We are stunned beyond belief.

Shocked. Devastated.

“He thanked God for the many years of love we have shared as I laid my head on his chest and cried.”

How does such a destructive disease harbor itself in the body? The shortness of breath, weakness and other symptoms earned him a trip to the Heart Hospital where a cath was performed, but the heart was not the problem and only weakened him further before receiving the cancer diagnosis. Now he struggles to walk from one end of our house to the other and hasn’t even started chemotherapy yet. We see an oncologist on Monday, May 16 to find out how this disease will be treated.

Perhaps some of you identify with our dilemma. Maybe you have a loved one going through a similar situation. I’m so sorry for your pain and suffering. I want to help my husband and I do all I can, but I can’t perform

8

www.edmondoutlook.com

a miracle, which is what he needs. However, I know a God who can perform miracles so I pray. I’m asking for a miracle of health and healing for my husband. I pray for it with every breath that I take. When I’m cooking, cleaning, walking, eating, driving, talking, listening, sleeping, I’m also praying. Even as I type this column, I pray.

I am in constant communication with Jesus, reminding him that he did miracles of healing rth and the Bible says when he walked on this earth he is the same yesterday,, today and tomorrow, so I pray, plead and beg for one of those real live miracles for my husband, this man I have leaned on for support in every lifee o situation. The one who n has always held me when d I’ve cried ten thousand ul tears over life’s painful circumstances—deaths of n, our children, depression, disease, despair and so ms. many shattered dreams.

I want him to hold me en another twenty years. Even nd ten years or five would find me thankful. The truth is ute that every day, every minute is a blessing.

So now, we hold on to each other as we face this diagnosis and treatment. Carl is still the stronger one. Last night, he held me and prayed a blessing over me—for God to protect me, to give me an extra measure of strength. He thanked God for the many years of love we have shared as I laid my head on his chest and cried. Forgive me for getting so sentimental but I need this man like a flower needs water. We have been in love since we were 18 years old. I don’t know how to survive without him. Our sons need him—he’s Dad to one and Daddy to the other.

They need his love, guidance, wisdom and even his humor.

My world has turned upside down, fallen totally off its axis as we travel this journey, and nothing will ever be right without my life partner beside me. So I am asking you to join me in praying a “million prayers for a miracle” for my husband. One day you may ask someone to do the same for you. I hope the answer will be yes!

about the author Louise Tucker Jones is an award-winning author and inspirational speaker.

Author and co-author of four books, her work has been featured in numerous publications. Mother of four and grandmother of four, Louise resides in Edmond with her husband, Carl and son, Jay. Contact her at: LouiseTJ@cox.net or www.LouiseTuckerJones.com. ww

Fro m lef t to rig ht,

ron Lou ise , her son s Aa hus ba nd Ca rl and Jay , and her

www.edmondoutlook.com

9

by Nathan Winfrey

F

ew have the discipline to become professional bodybuilders, and even fewer are willing to do it without the shortcuts provided by steroids. But that’s the goal of natural bodybuilders like Shane Butler, who train strenuously and sacrifice greatly to achieve their body’s full natural potential.

Many athletes get into bodybuilding from their experience in other sports. “As they train hard for a sport such as wrestling, football, baseball or track, they develop a physique worthy of bringing to the stage,” Butler says. Some people get into the sport from physical therapy as they rebuild and recover from an injury.

“To win, you have to look well-proportioned, leaner than the rest of your peers and hard as nails.”

Butler has been competing and lifting since seventh grade. He is a member of the International Fitness and Physique Association and competes all over the country. “Competing on stage makes you feel alive! Your senses are heightened, and it's exciting.

It's the reward for all the hard work,” said Butler.

“Physique competition is all about the appearance of

10

www.edmondoutlook.com

the body,” Butler says. “It does not matter how much I can bench press, just how much it looks like I can bench press.”

The first category in competition is symmetry, which means being equally developed top-to-bottom and side-to-side. The second is muscularity, which refers to the size of the muscles and how well-defined they are. The object is to bring as much muscle and as little fat and water to the stage as possible. The final category is presentation, which is about posing and stage presence. In symmetry and muscularity, you are judged against your class, from first to last.

In presentation, you are given a score of 1 to 4. The scores are added and the lower the score, the better.

“To win, you have to look well-proportioned, leaner than the rest of your peers and hard as nails,” he says. “Most of us do not wish to intimidate anyone.

As drug-free bodybuilders, we wish to inspire athletes to take their bodies to the limit without using steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs that may be harmful.” Those types of drugs can cause health troubles ranging from kidney and liver problems to hormone imbalances.

Not only is bodybuilding more difficult without steroids, but there are also limitations. “You’re not going to grow as big,” he says. And daily workout sessions must be shorter. “For a drug-free bodybuilder, about an hour, hour-and-a-half is all you can take.” Steroid-users may bulk up more and be able to spend more time in the gym, but Butler says it’s

not worth it. “They’re all going to pay for it down the road, most likely,” he says.

Diet also is an important part of training. “We treat our diets like science experiments,” Butler says.

He measures and/or weighs everything he consumes.

He tries to eat 1.75 grams of protein and 1 gram of carbohydrates per pound of lean body mass and diets like this for more than 16 weeks before competing.

“It is strict and takes tons of discipline,” Butler says.

The food he misses most? Pizza. “The leaner I get, the more I dream about pizza and just ruining the whole diet,” Butler says.

“For most physique athletes, training is very timeconsuming,” he says. Bodybuilders lift weights five to six days a week for 45-90 minutes a day, year-round.

The cardio routine is dependent on body type, but the average bodybuilder starts 12 to 16 weeks before the competition in 30-minute sessions three to five days a week. They increase the time and frequency to two 45-minute sessions a day, five to seven days a week. “As competitors, we train very hard,” said Butler. “Before training, we sometimes get anxious, or even noxious thinking about what we are about to put ourselves through. After training I feel a sense of accomplishment, just like completing a project.”

A workout session is a stimulant for the muscles.

When you work a muscle beyond what it’s used to, it forms micro-tears. When you sleep, the muscle heals, but it rebuilds in a way that it can adapt to the type of strain that caused the damage. Thus, the healed

Ab

Abbey Reidle

from NANBF

Shane Butler

with his wife Jamie

muscle is bigger and stronger than it was before the workout. Taking a season off from competing also can be a good way to add muscle. Butler is doing that this year. He’s not missing any training, just not dieting down or doing near the amount of cardio.

Celebrating the efforts of natural bodybuilders, the Natural Mr. and Mrs. Central Oklahoma competition is set for August 13 at UCO in the Nigh University Center. The morning show will start at 10 a.m. and the night show will begin at 6 p.m.

The competition will include bodybuilding, figure (a category of physique competition for women), bikini and Xtreme Fit categories. For women, a figure competitor should not be as muscular as a bodybuilder. There is more emphasis on overall shape and elegance.

“Our goal is to be the best we can be,” Butler says.

“Most of us view it like this: Our bodies are a gift from God and maintaining our bodies in the best condition is our gift back to God.” For more information, visit www.nanbf.org.

www.edmondoutlook.com

11

Best of Edmond

Exceeding the Needs

by Melanie Phillips Clemens

U

ntil 1947, Edmond residents had to travel the dirt roads to Oklahoma City for medical attention. Fortunately, a group of physicians and businessmen saw the need and opened what is now known as OU Medical Center Edmond. The hospital, originally housed on the top floor of the Broncho Theater on Broadway, is now at 2nd and Bryant. While “The Sound of Music” no longer plays in the background, their services remain “second to none” and are bringing in patients from all over the state.

“Our wound care specialist, Dr. Gregory Morgan, M.D. trained with the doctor who first began using hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of chronic wounds,” said Leslie Buford, communications director for the Edmond campus. Shane Hull, D.O., pulmonary disease specialist, uses an endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) to view regions of the lung and chest area.

Unlike traditional lung biopsies, the EBUS is less invasive and faster results mean quicker treatment.

“Our first patient to undergo the ultrasound with

12

www.edmondoutlook.com

Dr. Hull had sought treatment in multiple ER’s for five years with the same diagnosis. They kept prescribing medication for asthma and pneumonia but our ultrasound showed something different so we put her on a medication program that helped.

Before she came to us, she couldn’t walk down stairs, and now she can travel across the country to visit her daughter.”

Expectant mothers can look forward to the new labor/delivery unit scheduled to open in September.

“We’ll have alternative laboring options such as tubs for women who don’t want to take drugs during labor.

Also, moms will be in the same room throughout labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum. Mom and baby will stay together with the same nurse taking care of both. Another first in the OKC metro is our MRI machine which is the latest, most innovative on the market. It’s faster, the images are clearer, it can accommodate patients up to 450 pounds and has an iPod dock for patients who’d rather listen to their own music,” said Buford.

Leslie Buford,

OU Medical Center Edmond

With facility updates and advanced technology, OU Medical Center Edmond is equipped to handle the changing needs of the community without compromising the quality care their patients have come to expect. “We’re licensed for 94 beds, staffed with 150 active doctors and over 250 nurses. We want people to feel that they’re taken care of,” said Buford. “Since we’re a smaller hospital, some think we’re not as advanced as bigger hospitals, which is simply not true. We have the same technology and an amazing staff. We’re the best secret in the metro.”

On the Upswing

by Melanie Phillips Clemens

C

offee Creek Golf Club is normally open seven days a week, from sunup to sundown. This summer, however, the club is taking a break. Coffee Creek is closing on July 18, with reopening scheduled for Labor Day weekend. “We’ll be re-turfing 20 greens, totaling about 130,000 square feet,” explains Andy McCormick. “This is the most important thing we’ve done since buying and remodeling River Oaks in 1999.”

McCormick is referring to the addition of a new type of grass, called Champion Ultra Dwarf. Having been on the market since 1996, its temperament was unproven – a risky investment when faced with Oklahoma’s extreme weather conditions. For four years, the grass has undergone a trial run – with encouraging results. “We’re following a few who took a risk early and converted,” said McCormick.

“Champion has made it through Oklahoma winters when it was 20 degrees below. We’ve visited places around Shawnee and Lake Texoma. The reviews were tremendous; giving Coffee Creek the ability

to offer improved grass conditions throughout the summer.”

Coffee Creek Golf Club opened its doors in 1991 with local golfers in mind. Millennium Golf Properties, owner of both Coffee Creek and River Oaks courses, recruited McCormick to be its director of golf in February 1992. “At the time, golf was exploding as a sport, and we wanted to tie that into Edmond. There were private clubs, but very few courses that were open to the public,” said McCormick.

“We had tremendous success all through the ‘90s.

By 1996, we were doing 45,000 rounds each year.

Unfortunately, those numbers have declined. We’ve known for years that golfers choose courses based on the quality of the greens, and that’s been an issue for us,” said McCormick. “The grass we had just wasn’t as good as we wanted it to be – but now we’ve found a way to address those concerns and bring our greens up to par.”

Compared to the grass previously used by Coffee Creek, Champion is simple. It can be mowed a tenth

Scott Smelser & Andy McCormick, Coffee Creek Golf Course

of an inch and has a density that resists ball marks – providing golfers with a quality green on which to play. “It’s exciting to make this kind of commitment, to take that step forward. Just like any business, you’ve got to continue looking for ways to improve,” said McCormick. “We’re very excited to see Edmond’s response, and to continue our relationship with the community.”

Coffee Creek Golf Club is located at 4000 N. Kelly Ave. For more information, call 405-340-4653 or visit www.coffeecreekgolfclub.com.

www.edmondoutlook.com

13

14

www.edmondoutlook.com

Dining Guide

A Taste of Edmond

by Melanie Phillips Clemens

S

ummertime has many Oklahomans looking forward to backyard barbecues or weekends at the lake. However, for Edmond residents, the highlight of summer may well be LibertyFest’s A Taste of Edmond. This year’s annual event is 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 26 at downtown’s Festival Market Place.

It began 20 years ago as a fundraiser to support LibertyFest, to ensure the festival’s success for years to come. The first Taste of Edmond played host to more than 500 participants as they honored Edmond’s own Desert Storm troops from the Fox Battery. Each year brings an increase in community participation as testimonies hail it as “a wonderful family event.” “Parents, children, grandparents and grandchildren all come together and have a good time. It’s great for families. It‘s a non-alcohol event and seating is available,” said June Cartwright, spokesperson.

Bringing together more than 30 restaurants with selections from Mexican, Italian and Asian as well as delicacies and comfort foods, the event is billed as “an evening of pure delight.” While A Taste of Edmond gives local restaurants an opportunity to display their menu offerings, it gives the community

an opportunity to try a variety of food in one location for one price. For a $10 donation in advance or $15 on the day of the event, an armband allows participants to indulge in an all-you-can-eat dining experience that can’t be beat, especially when children 10 and younger eat free.

Restaurants volunteering their time and food include: Bravo, Charleston’s, Chili’s, Chipotle, Daylight Donuts, Earl’s Rib Palace, Fish City, Hobby’s Hoagies, Jimmy John’s, Interurban Restaurant, Let’s Do Greek, Longhorn Steakhouse, McAlister's Deli, Othello’s, OU Medical Center Edmond, Panda Express, POP’s, Steve’s Ribs and Ted’s.

“A Taste of Edmond is where everybody wins … the people eating the food and the people bringing the food,” said Kim Griffin, event chairwoman. “These funds go to provide a bigger and better Fourth of July festival in Edmond. Please join us for an evening to remember at Edmond’s largest block party and food fest.”

No animals are allowed and no refunds or rain dates will be offered.

For more information or for locations to get a wristband in advance, go to the Liberty Fest's website at www.libertyfest.org.

www.edmondoutlook.com

15

D ining Guide

MAN

FAVE'S

by Krystal Harlow

Daylight Donuts “Kids, this is the holiest on Danforth

night of the year, tomorrow is Father's Day, and that makes tonight, Father's Day Eve” — Homer Simpson

16

www.edmondoutlook.com

Surprise dad with donuts from Daylight Donuts on Danforth! This family-owned, brand new location next to Hobby Lobby has a hip, fun atmosphere. And all donuts are hand-cut, hand-dipped in-house each morning with 100% Daylight ingredients. With over 50 flavors to choose from, everyone’s sure to find their favorite. Be sure and check out the new Thunder and Bedlam donuts, or for a hearty addition pick up some tasty, hot out of the oven sausage or ham and cheese rolls. Keep your PJ’s on with their convenient drive up window, located at 730 W. Danforth. Open Tuesday – Sunday 5 a.m. to noon.

Chili Dog E xpress There’s nothing more manly than grilling up some 100% all-beef American hot dogs and watching the game with the guys. But skip the mess and head to Chili Dog Express! Top your dogs with generous helpings of homemade relish, mustard, jalapenos, piping hot chili and pepper jack cheese. Or try something new and order yours with bacon, crispy fried onions, melted cheese and tangy barbecue sauce. Kick back and relax at Chili Dog Express, open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 321 E. 2nd Street just west of UCO. Find them on Facebook for events and specials.

Earl's Rib Palace

Mr. Sushi

ET's Barbecue

Feast like a king at this palace, where more than a decade of award-winning barbecue is standard fare.

Earl's famous spare ribs are dry-rubbed and hickorysmoked, making every bite a tender and tasty delight.

A meat-lover's paradise, this menu boasts slowsmoked brisket, pulled pork, turkey, chicken, hot links and more. Enjoy your favorite along with fried okra or seasoned curly fries, plus an ice cold beer.

Stop by 2121 S. Broadway in Edmond or their brand new location at 5508 W. Memorial. Mon. - Thurs.

11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Sun. 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. www.earlsribpalace.com

Mr. Sushi knows how to treat your favorite guy to the ultimate lunch or dinner! For years, this cozy hot spot has delighted guests with a choice selection of sushi and sashimi made fresh to order at great prices. Feast on Nigiri sushi in crab, tuna, salmon and other varieties or try the Volcano Roll with crabstick, cucumber and avocado topped with a baked seafood mix and spicy trio sauce. Flavored milk teas, slushes and smoothies offer a sweet finish to a fantastic meal. Stop by 214 S. Santa Fe Mon.Sat. 11 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. or call 285-7310 for take-out or catering. Visit www.mrsushiok.com.

ET’s Barbecue is the ultimate dining destination for your meat-lover. Bike Nights are back every other Thursday with live music, $1.25 ice-cold beer and $3 chopped brisket sandwiches from 7 to 10 p.m.

On Fridays and Saturdays, enjoy fried catfish along with your choice of sides such as baked beans, handcut fries, potato salad or fried okra. ET’s also offers family packs, meat by the pound and catering for all your summer activities by calling 330-4343. On July 4th enjoy $5 off a full rack of mouthwatering ribs.

Located at 121 E. Waterloo. Open Mon. – Thurs.

11 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Fri. – Sat. 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

www.edmondoutlook.com

17

H ome

T

he time when babies grow up and leave the nest is bittersweet for many parents.

A lot of them feel that the emptiness in their heart is compounded even more by the empty rooms the children leave behind.

Several Edmond empty-nesters say you can fill that emptiness in part by turning the new space into an enjoyable and useful feature. Plus, remodeling can be a fun and exciting experience, yielding great results.

“Once you know what you are trying to achieve, the result can be spectacular.”

by Radina Gigova

18

www.edmondoutlook.com

“Think about something you’ve always wanted and never had the luxury of having, whether it’s a reading room where you can just go in and close the door or a music room where you can listen to your favorite music,” said Shelley Gibbs, owner of Shelley Gibbs Interiors and an Edmond mom.When their son moved to college, Gibbs and her husband decided to leave his bedroom almost intact. “Our son does come home and we didn’t want to make him feel like we were rushing him out of the house,” she said. Gibbs

just took down some of the posters and trophies to make it look a little more presentable.

The one thing they did change right away was the game room, a favorite hangout spot of her son and his friends. “It was a little sloppy because of the teenage guys,” Gibbs said. So she cleaned it up, bought a new sectional, changed the pictures on the wall and added new fur pillows. The next time her son was home, he was far from unhappy with the change.“He walked in, turned to me and said, ‘Mom, you hurt my feelings.

You wait till I leave to get all this neat stuff.’”

However, that was not the reaction of Kathy Loeber’s son when he saw his old room’s new look.

Loeber often babysits, so she added a crib, a Winnie the Pooh-themed changing table, a high chair and a lot of toys. “He wasn’t totally thrilled, like ‘Um, what happened to my room?’ ”Loeber said. “But now he is 29 and realizes that we didn’t need to save his room forever.”

Loeber turned the room of her older son into a personal office and retreat. She picked a more rustic cabin-like theme with rough wood frames, shelves decorated with rocks and pinecones, a quilt instead of a bed spread and a muted color for the walls. “We lived in Calgary, Alberta in Canada for three years,” she explained. “All of that reminds me of being there.

We used to camp when the kids were smaller.”

Examples of Converted Bedrooms a gameroom (left) and a guest room (above)

There are many options to consider when it comes to transforming an extra room: a home office where you can work undisturbed, a stylish game room or a home theater, a gym, a sewing room, a “snoring room” or just an additional bedroom. Before you start your project, a consultation with a designer is a good idea. “Often people go to (home improvement stores) but they are not coordinating it all together

and end up with mishmash,” said Bobbie Morehouse of Bobbie Morehouse Interiors in Edmond. “They end up spending more time and more money than if they let a decorator do it.”

Once you know what you are trying to achieve, the result can be spectacular. When Pam Humphreys

Continued on page 20

Licensed by O.B.P.V.S. www.plattcolleges.edu www.edmondoutlook.com

19

Continued from page 19 decided her son’s bedroom would be a study and prayer room, she started going to estate sales.

Humphreys found a little tea cart, a few white linen towels she hung on the side, an exquisite set of white teapot and cups and a tea cookie biscuit jar.

Humphreys also added candles and real English breakfast tea. “It’s all matching,” she said.

Humphreys picked a sofa cover and a throw in the pink-beige-green palette, and her husband painted the walls light green. “When people enter the room, they say ‘this room feels so peaceful,’” said Humphreys.

After the renovation, they hosted several tea parties, but the person who uses it the most is Humphreys’ husband. “He comes in here every morning for his quiet time,” she said.

A nest doesn’t have to feel so empty when there is the excitement and anticipation of its potential.

Children aren’t forgotten just because a room is transformed. Get creative and turn that space into something the whole family can be proud of.

For more ideas or remodeling advice, you can call Shelley Gibbs Interiors at 341-9290 and Bobbie Morehouse Interiors at 623-3448.

Pam Humphreys

20

www.edmondoutlook.com

in her converted study and prayer room

12 months

no interest!

products thru June (wac)

www.edmondoutlook.com

21

by Radina Gigova

V d 1 W o rll he 201 d in g tth

l h o ld Sykes O r s o n s h ip tr o p h y Champ

22

io n

www.edmondoutlook.com

isit Twist and Shout Training Center in Edmond and you’ll likely find owner and coach Orson Sykes on his feet and speaking at the top of his lungs.

H He’s nothing if not enthusiastic. He likes to coach eevery student individually, forming winners and ccheerleading champions. At the cheer gym, Sykes eexpects the same hard work from the team that he p puts into teaching. “I love what I do; I love teaching yyoung people,” Sykes says. “I love to help them find w who they are and help them reach their goals. That is tthe most rewarding thing.” Those goals were reached ffar beyond expectations this spring.

In April, the Twist and Shout All-Star team eearned the gold medal in the Large Limited Coed D Division at the USASF World Championship in O Orlando, Florida. Earning the gold medal at an international event featuring 10,000 athletes from

380 teams representing 45 countries is akin to winning “the Super Bowl of cheerleading – it gets no bigger than this,” says Sykes. “It’s an honor itself to earn a medal, but now to win the whole thing? It was a surreal feeling. Last year, we won the bronze medal. In 2009 and 2008, we won the silver medal, but this is the first time to win the entire event.” With a winning team comes dedicated coaches, and Sykes was awarded Coach of the Year. “To win that title was humbling,” he said, “because it’s not something you can nominate yourself for. Other coaches and industry people nominate you.”

Sykes didn’t start out in the cheer world. From 1989 to 1993, he was a gymnast at the University of Oklahoma. The cheer squad needed tumblers in order to compete at a higher level, and Sykes was among the few males asked to join. “Honestly, I saw a lot of cute girls and said, ‘OK.’ I didn’t think we’d

Tw ist & Sh ou t Alls tar Te am

Wo rld Cha mpi ons hip

at the USA SF

win; I just wanted to hang out with the girls. But lo and behold, we won.” In 1993, Sykes helped the OU Cheer Team win the National Cheerleading Association National Championships. “After that, I fell in love with cheer, so I got a job in a local cheer gym,” he says. “I liked to teach kids how to tumble.”

He made an impact on his students, and after five years, a local businessman offered to financially back Sykes so he could open his own cheer gym. “I coached his daughter, and I guess he saw something in me,” Sykes says. Although he

didn’t have a lot of cheer experience, Sykes studied ed ut videos of competitions and learned how to put ed together award-winning choreographies. He learned m to become much more than just a coach to his team rn … he became a mentor. “I want these kids to learn nt, that whatever they decide to do or decide they want, they’ve got to work hard and be committed to it,” Sykes says.

Tara Beall, of Edmond, a five-year member of the team, said Sykes “knows what to say to get us to do what we need to do. I think the most important thing I’ve learned from him is that no matter how hard

things get, you’ve got to keep trying. If you don’t give up, you will eventually succeed.”

Twist and Shout trains youths from age 4 and older in tumbling and cheerleading. Gyms are located in Edmond, Midwest City and Tulsa. For more information, visit www.shouterspirit.com.

YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE GOING MOBILE SHOULDN'T YOUR WEBSITE BE GOING MOBILE TOO?

www.back40design.com 478-4080

EASY TO USE

NOT SO MUCH www.edmondoutlook.com

23

24

www.edmondoutlook.com

G LOBALLY M INDED UCO Students Study Abroad

I

n March, University of Central Oklahoma’s first nine global competency students were awarded their certificate in a graduation ceremony for a program that launched four years ago.

The UCO Centre for Global Competency (GCG) brings international students to UCO by marketing it overseas and taking care of admission and immigration paperwork, as well as supporting international student activity. The Centre also sends UCO students to study abroad and promotes global experiences for students within city limits.

“Upon completion of the program, students receive a certificate testifying that they can handle cultural and global situations related to their jobs,” says Dennis Dunham, executive director for International Services at UCO. Dunham, a former Peace Corps member who has visited more than 80 countries, developed the program.

Completing the program requires participation in international experiences in the local community, study of a foreign language, having a global experience (preferably a semester of study abroad), setting academic goals with an international focus, and telling the CGC about their transformative experience.

To send UCO students overseas and bring foreign students to UCO, Dunham establishes relationships with universities all over the world. He then strives to get a student (and sometimes faculty) exchange program running. UCO currently has more than 200 Chinese students, a significant increase from the approximate 20 it had three or four years ago. A relationship with the Saudi embassy brought more than 150 students to UCO. “We now have students from over 100 countries,” says Dunham. “We’re proud of that. It brings in wonderful culture.” UCO students also travel and study abroad through the CGC, to places like France, China and Africa.

by Rachel Dattolo

One of UCO’s attractions to foreign students, said Dunham, is its affordability—not often seen in a college of its size and advancement. Additionally, the student-to-teacher ratio is excellent, so foreign students know they will get the attention they need.

“There is no other university in America that offers over 112 undergraduate degrees, over 54 graduate degrees, a beautiful and centralized campus in one of the top 15 safest cities in the heart of America, class sizes averaging 25 students, and costs less than $18,000 a year for everything: tuition, housing, food, insurance, books and miscellaneous items,” boasts the UCO homepage.

Plus, “Edmond is just about as friendly as it gets,” says Dunham.

To build the program’s framework, Dunham invited several local industry leaders to UCO for an allday symposium with students, faculty and corporate leaders. Leaders discussed what they would like to see in college graduates applying for global employment assignments. Dunham found that they didn’t want students who simply majored in global competence, but globally competent graduates who majored in a field related to the work they apply for.

“This is cultural enrichment, to be sure, but it’s economic advancement as well.”

Nancy Pham and Thomas Lewis two of the UCO students awarded scholarships to study abroad According to Dunham, one of every four Americans who are sent abroad for various job assignments are sent back. “Cultural differences” cause an inability to work successfully with the locals. “These are Fortune 500 companies we are talking about,” says Dunham. “(Creating globally competent graduates) is not just about fun. This is cultural enrichment, to be sure, but it’s economic advancement as well.”

While extensive experience in a foreign language and culture is sure to benefit job candidates in assignments abroad, the benefits of a well-rounded globally competent individual go beyond just working abroad. Graduates who experience some type of global competency course, Dunham says, are shown to be more flexible, be better team players, have a good sense of humor and be more creative.

“These are the global leaders of Oklahoma,” said Dunham.

According to Dunham, only three other universities currently offer a global competency or similar course. “Ours is unique because a transformation is required,” says Dunham. “We don’t want our students to have just an experience, but an adventure. Because with an adventure, you’re transformed.”

Students taking the program can expect to complete it in about 18 months. The certification is open to all full-time UCO students, though they are not required to complete the certification to participate in its programs.

For more information, visit UCO's website at http://www.broncho2.uco.edu/cgc.

www.edmondoutlook.com

25

by Radina Gigova

C

indy Beall has a strong and happy family but getting to this point wasn’t easy. It was a journey that required a lot of patience, growth and overwhelming love.

Beall and her husband Chris were married for nine years and had a 3-year-old son when they moved to Edmond from Tennessee nine years ago.

Chris got a job as a worship pastor at a local church and the family was looking forward to their new life at the new place. “Up until that point we had our issues; we didn’t have the perfect marriage, but not an awful marriage, either. I thought we were OK,” she said.

26

www.edmondoutlook.com

Nothing was out of the ordinary until the day her husband confessed his big, dark secret. Beall was still unpacking boxes when he approached her. He told her he was addicted to pornography, had been unfaithful and that a baby was going to be born from one of the affairs. “I went from just total excitement and contentment to despair and devastation within literally 60 seconds,” Beall said. “It was just awful.

I didn’t know what to do. I thought this can’t be happening, this is a dream.”

It was the first of many dreadful days to come.

Beall knew the day after wouldn’t be any better.

The evening before his confession, Chris had a

staff meeting at church and the lead pastor talked about integrity. Beall said that was the last drop that triggered him to make the confession to her and to the church staff. Beall felt she was trapped in misery.

She decided to visit her mother in Texas and figure out what to do with her life.

Beall’s mother convinced her to talk to another pastor and that was a big turning point. “I remember he finally just said, ‘Cindy, I understand what you have gone through in your heart, and people would understand if you chose to leave your marriage, but you are not a fool to stay and be a part of the redemptive work in a man’s life.’ That sentence right there is really what grabbed ahold of me,” she said.

Beall knew ultimately that forgiveness is not only a command, but those who don’t follow it live in a prison of bitterness. She didn’t want to live that way and decided to save her marriage.

Beall remembered hearing her husband crying on the phone when she told him she was coming home.

“He was scared I wasn’t going to come back,” she said.

“He was just a man who was fully aware that he did not deserve that, and he was so thankful for it.”

The next three months were the hardest, but with the help of friends and counselors the couple could feel the healing begin. “It’s easy to say the words ‘I forgive you,’ but you remember what happened and the pain comes back and just floods you,” Beall said.

“That’s where you have to learn forgiveness. You have to remember ‘I forgave them and I know it hurts.’ ” The relationship was already at a different level-one of respect, honesty and complete disclosure. It was stronger than ever. “I never regretted marrying him,” she said. “I never doubted he loved me. I knew that in his heart it wasn’t that he wanted another woman; he was just a sick individual who needed help.”

After confessing to the church, Chris lost his job as a worship pastor. He started working at a local store while undergoing extensive counseling with members of the church. About 18 months later Chris and Cindy felt they had truly dug into healing and grown as a couple, and Chris was rehired by the church. Cindy serves with him, leading the women’s

ministries. They are using their testimony to counsel other couples who are facing difficulties in their relationships. When there is a marriage in crisis, Beall said, both spouses have to be willing to do whatever it takes to make it work.

“Chris and I, we see a lot of couples where one of them is willing and the other is not,” she said.

“It's probably just not going to make it when that happens. You both have to be in it.”

Even though she considered herself a good wife, Beall still had to look inside her heart and see what she could Ch ris & Ci nd y Be have done differently. all tog eth er at the ir ho me She says the best advice she was ever given was during that period.

Her mentor asked her what she was going to do if nothing changed, if things didn’t get better. “That phrase made me realize that I can’t change anything but me,” she said. “I can change how I respond to a situation.”

Today, Beall and her husband have three sons, one of them from his extramarital affair. The boy lives with his mother but visits often. “We all want what’s best for him,” Beall said. “I love him, I call him my boy.” Beall has written a book about her experiences called “Healing Your Marriage When Trust is Broken.” The book will be available in August and she hopes it will bring insight to many couples. She also has a blog that offers advice and encouragement.

“Healing is a lifelong journey,” Beall said. “People who won’t forgive, I think they forget that they need forgiveness, too.”

For more information about the blog and the book, visit http://cindybeall.com.

www.edmondoutlook.com

27

Hands of Faith DOUBLE HAND TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT

A

s I arrived to meet former chiropractor Dr. Richard Edwards, he opened the door for me and greeted me with a handshake.

While it may not be an impressive feat for most, this was impressive, because it came from the nation’s first man to receive a double hand transplant.

Just eight months ago, Edwards underwent an 18-hour surgery at the Jewish Hospital Hand Care Center in Louisville, Kentucky, and received two new hands in an unprecedented double hand transplant surgery.

“I don’t believe God would have allowed me to get this far if it weren’t going to be successful.”

The ordeal began on a dry day in February, in 2006. Edwards had just left work and was headed to his cabin for a weekend of hunting. In a Suburban pulling a trailer—both of which were packed with gasoline and propane supplies for the trip—Edwards turned off the road into some brush. When he headed back for the road, he realized his trailer was jackknifed and he was stuck.

After that, he only remembers bits and pieces.

As he contemplated leaving the trailer behind and coming back for it in the morning, he looked over his shoulder to see the dry brush around him explode into flames. Later, they found out the dry brush must

28

www.edmondoutlook.com

have been set off by the heat from the underside or muffler of his vehicle. There had been a statewide burn ban for 7 months, and the brush went up in the blink of an eye.

Before he could reach to unlock his door, the electrical system in the vehicle had already burnt. As he tried to open the door, all of the windows exploded into pieces.

That was the last thing Edwards remembers. He doesn’t know how he got out of the vehicle, or how he made it through the fire, but in his next waking moments, he was on the road to his cabin, willing himself to continue walking. He and his wife are sure that angels miraculously pulled him from the fire.

Don’t stop. Keep going, he told himself as he made his way to the cabin, even though he wanted to lie down and give up.

In the 10 years he and his friends held the hunting cabin lease, his friends had never been at the cabin so early in the year. This night, miraculously, they were.

His friends discovered Edwards and called 911, and a helicopter was sent to fly him to the Integris Burn Center. He had already lapsed into a coma.

Second and third-degree burns covered more than a third of his body. They didn’t think he’d make it. He did.

He grins at me from under a full head of bushy light gray hair. They thought he would lose much of his face, that he might be blind, that he would lose all his hair. He didn’t.

After being in a coma for 10 days and recovering at the Integris Burn Center for two months, Edwards’ quick recovery astounded doctors and nurses. “You’re in your 50s, and you’re healing like you’re a 16-yearold,” they told him.

by Rachel Dattolo Skin grafts from his legs were used to repair the damage to his face, back and eyelids, which were the most severely burned. What he did lose was virtually both of his hands. Burned beyond recognition, his hands lost seven fingers, and the remaining three were useless.

After a year, Edwards began searching for the best hand surgeon he could find to try to reconstruct his damaged hands. But after five surgeries on just his right hand over the span of a year, it was still deformed and dysfunctional. In despair, Edwards and his wife, Cindy, sought a second opinion from a hand specialist at the Jewish Hospital Hand Care Center in Louisville.

While the specialist agreed there was nothing more surgery could do, an idea sparked in Cindy’s mind, and her question stopped him in his tracks.

“Didn’t I hear that this hospital performed a hand transplant?” she asked.

Enter Dr. Warren Breidenbach.

The head of the Hand Care Center’s hand transplanting program and leading expert on hand transplanting, Breidenbach was notified immediately.

He agreed to evaluate whether Edwards could be a candidate for a double hand transplant.

Usually, hand transplants are reserved for those who have had an amputation. And a double hand transplant had never been done in the United States before. The risk involved meant if the transplant didn’t work, Edwards would be left with no hands, since what hands he had left after the fire would have to be removed to make way for the new hands.

Doctors also warned him that transplant recipients have a shortened lifespan, a lower white blood cell count and are extremely vulnerable to

Dr. Edwards

at a press conference following his recovery

infection. But to the Edwards couple, the chance of having functioning hands again was worth the risk.“ I don’t believe God would have allowed me to get this far,” he says, “if it weren’t going to be successful.”

After many months of extensive testing, Edwards finally was approved to be placed on the donor list.

By this time, it had been several years since the fire.

Then, on August 24, 2010, at 7:30 p.m., he got the call: “We have a pair of hands for you.”

The couple immediately flew to Louisville, where Edwards was whisked off into surgery. The 18-hour surgery was conducted by a team of 30 doctors, and was the first surgery in America to ever be tweeted live.

Two days after coming out of surgery, Edwards was able to move all 10 fingers, a feat which astonished the surgeons. “This is not supposed to happen,” said Breidenbach. Usually, it takes months for a hand transplant recipient to even move a finger.

Continued on page 30

www.edmondoutlook.com

29

Continued from page 29 One advantage Edwards had was the existence of his two hands, even though badly damaged. To complete the transplant, doctors whittled away what was left of his hands, and left the nerves exposed. They then wired his existing nerves into the new donor hands, saving months of nerve regrowth that takes place in other hand transplant recipients.

Four months later, the couple was back home in Edmond.

“I can feel right down to the tip of my fingers,” Edwards says proudly. “Every day I find new things I can do that I couldn’t do before.”

To help retrain his hands and develop further dexterity, Edwards goes to physical therapy for an hour and a half twice a week. He moves, stretches and exercises his hands and plays with toys. “I play with toddler toys,” he laughs.

Many things remain out of reach to Edwards now, such as buttoning clothes, or cutting up food. But the hope is that, in time, many of these skills will be acquired as he learns to use his new hands.

As he talks, he gestures with his hands, or pauses to scratch his face. “I can feel my wife’s skin again,” he says, holding her hand. She adds, “We couldn’t hold hands before.”

30

www.edmondoutlook.com

Two Surgical Teams

performed the double hand-transplant simultaneously

Around their house, there are dozens of trophy mounts displayed as testaments to Edwards’ hunting skills before the fateful fire. The animals he killed in his worldwide travels and brought home range from the average deer, to the occasional fox, hyena, moose and musk ox. Even a bear towers in a corner.

While he probably won’t be able to hunt, again his hopes are high for what he will be able to accomplish with his new hands. In the meantime, his wife is

there to take care of him, as she has every day since the fire. “She’s been there every step of the way,” says Edwards.

The couple met in Nebraska and moved to Edmond almost 30 years ago. The former chiropractor said his practice, the Edwards Clinic Chiropractic, is still alive and well at a different location on 33rd Street in Edmond.

Photos courtesy of Jewish Hospital; Kleinert, Kutz and Associates Hand Care Center; and University of Louisville.

www.edmondoutlook.com

31

32

www.edmondoutlook.com

by Krystal Harlow Name: Sam Brown, 11 year old actor, Starring in the Lyric Theatre’s upcoming production of "Oliver!"

What makes you unique to Edmond?

Not sure if I’m unique to Edmond or not. I think I’m like a lot of kids who have taken advantage of the great drama, music, art, and sports programs that Edmond offers.

How did you catch the acting bug?

I’ve been watching my older brother, Mitchell, in plays since I was three years old. I wanted to do that too.

Are you nervous to be performing live on the Civic Center stage?

Not yet. I’m sure when I look out and see the audience watching me, for a change, I might get a couple of butterflies, but I’ll be okay.

How strenuous are the rehearsals?

They’re longer than I’ve ever had. eight hours a day, six days a week, sometimes ‘til midnight or later. But I can’t wait. I know I’ll learn a lot.

What is your favorite part of performing?

I like everything… but the best part is taking the stage and doing a live show. It is really exciting. I play football too and you get the same feeling from performing as winning a big game.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in acting?

Shakespeare. I played Puck in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” last spring.

It was fun to speak in iambic pentameter (I think that’s what you call it,) but also challenging.

What’s your favorite part of the production Oliver?

“Food Glorious Food” and “Consider Yourself” are my favorite songs, and there are a lot of people on stage for those songs so it is really fun.

Where do you go to school?

I went to Washington Irving all my life, until this year when I went to Wilson Arts Integration School. I like school. I try to get all A’s and my favorite subject (besides Drama, Choir and Gym) is Math.

What message would you like to give to other kids out there who are interested in performing arts?

Go for it. It is so much fun. And don’t worry about being good enough for anyone other than yourself. Do your best and have a great time doing it.

10% off

www.edmondoutlook.com

33

34

www.edmondoutlook.com