Issue #9 - Winter 2025

WINTER 2025

EMBRACING OUR

Age

(270) 816-0118

www.EmbracingTheAged.com PUBLISHER/FOUNDER Jennifer Gish

GRAVES COUNTY

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ODELL WALKER

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View from the Ground Up

EDITOR/WRITER Carol Ullerich CONTRIBUTING WRITER Richard Abraham ART DIRECTOR Amanda Newman ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR Julie Harris

DR. GOYAL On the Cover

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Senior Spotlight

PUBLIC RELATIONS Kristi Crockett ACCOUNTING

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senior spotlight: Odell Walker

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on the cover Dr. Lalchand Goyal

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Don't Take The Bait: Smishing Scams

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Waymaker's Widows' Ministry Follow-Up

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my health: Make Time for Recovery

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Tails and Tales

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The 2024 Trail of Trees and White Christmas Ball

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View From the Ground Up in Graves County

Tiffinie Hix

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care directory: Lavender Pages for Seniors

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Embracing Our Age | Winter 2025

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT

ODELL WALKER:

FARMER, EDUCATOR, HISTORIAN & A BIT OF FISHING By: Carol Ullerich

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his issue’s Senior Spotlight is Odell Walker, a resident of River’s Bend Retirement Community in Kuttawa, Kentucky. Now 95, he was born on the family farm on the Kuttawa-Dycusburg Road five months before Black Tuesday—October 29, 1929—the day the stock market crashed sending America into the decade-long Great Depression. He associates the time with “crisis, suffering, disaster, and hunger.”

Wanda, his high school sweetheart. Wanda and Odell were together 68 years and visited all fifty states. Wanda passed away from Alzheimer’s in 2019.

A common supper was a helping of beans, cornbread, and a glass of milk. Odell felt he was better off than most. Living on a farm, his family grew half of what it ate; city dwellers lacked such luxury. Odell doesn’t believe he ever missed a meal but admits some were “skimpy.”

He asked his mom why she named him Odell. She responded, “I thought it sounded better than Tom, Dick or Harry.”

Odell’s mom, dad, and Wanda, were the biggest influences in his life.

Wanda was a tremendous “counselor and consultant and fully supported all my ventures,” occasionally making “kind” suggestions. She was a great mom to their two children. There are also four grandkids and seven great grandkids.

He and Wanda had a good life together. With pride he says, “Wanda dressed like a queen.”

One needed cash to buy clothes. Being one of six boys, Odell wore hand-me-downs until they were threadbare and ragged. His brothers were Davis, Doyle, William Olive, and twins, Ray and Roy. He began working as a young kid doing “simple” jobs. One of Odell’s farm jobs was planting corn with a one-row corn planter pulled by a horse.

Odell usually began the day helping his mother tend the garden followed by working in the field. At the end of a long day, he went home, sat awhile on the porch, ate supper, washed his feet (he was often barefoot), and went to bed.

As a child he recalls going to Eddyville with his folks on Saturday. In those days, Saturday was known as “town day.” If you spent .50 cents in a store, the shopkeeper gave you a raffle ticket. If you were present when your ticket was drawn, you received ten silver dollars. If there was no winner, the prize increased to twenty silver dollars, and then thirty, then forty, and then back to ten. Merchants cooperated. It wasn’t a huge drawing card; it was mostly for locals.

He attended a one-room schoolhouse at Hebron. Traveling by road it was about two miles from his parents’ place; walking through fields shaved off a mile. He enjoyed childhood. His teachers were fair to good—only one was a “washout.”

Odell graduated eighth grade in 1944. He then began riding a horse to the old Kuttawa High School. In 1946-47, the three county school districts consolidated into Lyon County. He was a member of the first graduating class—one of 44 students, and President of the Future Farmers of America.

In 1948 he enrolled at David Lipscomb College in Nashville, majoring in history and working part-time on campus. In 1951, Odell married

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Embracing Our Age | Winter 2025

After earning his college degree, Odell and Wanda returned to a farm they owned in Lyon County. In 1953, he started a three-year stint teaching Junior High in old Eddyville and driving the school bus.

In the fall of 1956, he became principal of the Fredonia School System. He was also elected Mayor of Fredonia. He also became a charter member of the Lions Club. After a meeting, bank president Virgil Coleman stopped him to chat. Coleman said, “We need a water system. We’ve failed twice. Would you try to obtain a municipal water system?” Odell thought that was beyond his pay grade but was willing to try.

He began by calling Yearwood and Johnson Architects in Nashville to explore creation of a municipal water system. The company sent an engineer to Fredonia; after initial exploration it was predicted it would cost about $500,000. National Savings & Loan of Atlanta agreed to finance the project with a 40-year note.

Next dilemma. How to get needed water to Fredonia? The federal government had just built a water filtration system for Eddyville producing two or three times the amount of water Eddyville was using.

Fredonia asked Eddyville to share its excess water. Eddyville agreed and a pipeline was installed between the two communities making

project one of his top achievements. Desegregation was another challenge; it was resolved without outside help.

In 1984, Odell finally retired after thirty years in public education.

He’d held most available positions: teacher, school principal, assistant school superintendent, and then twelve years as superintendent of Lyon County schools. That’s when he and Wanda began traveling— from Niagara Falls, New York, to Yosemite National Park, California.

The couple were antique collectors and participated in Kentucky’s Bicentennial celebration in 1992. Members of the Church of Christ, they clearly shared a passion for history.

More life milestones: In 1984, the same year he retired from the Lyon County School System, the Lyon County Fiscal Court named him Lyon County Historian. A perfect role for him with his vast knowledge of Eddyville and Lyon County history. He’s a fount of knowledge about the exploits of Matthew Lyon for whom Lyon County is named.

I asked whether his family descended from David Walker, a Virginian and Eddyville’s founder. Odell said he has traced his family to 1723 in Goochland County, Virginia. So far, he’s found no connection between his part of the Walker family and Eddyville’s namesake, but he doesn’t rule it out. for a smooth transition. It was seen as a great accomplishment and appreciated by the Fredonia community.

During this time, Wanda worked as a secretary for the Caldwell County Schools, then the Eddyville newspaper, and ultimately retired from Hopkinsville Community College. Odell and Wanda had a comfortable life.

About a year later, the Chairman of the Lyon County Board of Education visited Odell and asked him to become superintendent.

Odell was shocked, saying he’d have to discuss it with Wanda. Odell quotes Wanda as saying, “if the school board thinks you can do the job, so do I.” He accepted the position.

Odell may not have known what was in store, but he moved ahead. He quickly learned the high school was overcrowded; portable classroom buildings were acquired. Then it was suggested a tax referendum be placed on the ballot to fund construction of a new high school. It passed. About forty acres of land was purchased, and the new campus opened in the fall of 1972.

Odell also began volunteering. He joined the Historical Society and became a life member. Sadly, many valuable documents were destroyed and historical items lost in the 1960’s when families were forced to relocate to allow formation of the Land Between the Lakes Recreation Area. Having studied history as an undergrad, Odell learned well the research skills taught by his professors and has used those skills to benefit his community.

He met journalist Bobbie Foust, recent recipient of the 2024 Al Smith Award for Public Service through Community Journalism by a Kentuckian. Years ago, she read some of Odell’s writing and asked him to pen a weekly history column for the newspaper. He agreed. Some of that work was also featured in The Kentucky Explorer, a publication now owned by Kentucky Monthly.

In 1992 he was named Citizen of the Year during Eddyville Founder’s Day. In 1994, he published Profiles of the Past, his first book, recalling several newspaper articles he had written. He’s also answered more

There was another major building project on the horizon. The community wanted a vocational school. Because of Lyon County’s small size, this was deemed impossible—it was believed Eddyville simply wasn’t large enough to support a vocational school. But Odell realized kids begin thinking about their future around their junior year of high school.

Maybe a vocational school wasn’t far-fetched after all.

Rather than giving up, Odell learned “the lingo” required to draft a stellar proposal.

He sought input from teachers. He also handpicked a twelve-member team to answer questions about the proposal in Frankfort.

The state granted the request and funded the proposal. Odell considers this completed www.EmbracingTheAged.com

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than two hundred letters from folks researching their own local family history—all without charge.

And, in a unique turn of events, he was invited to speak to the Vermont Historical Society in Vermont. His topic? Vermont’s native son, Matthew Lyon, for whom Lyon County, Kentucky, is named. Lyon was one of Ethan Allen’s Green Mountain Boys, responsible for capturing British Fort Ticonderoga in May 1775. Lyon arrived in Eddyville in 1779, bought half the town David Walker plotted and then convinced Vermont relatives and neighbors to travel to and settle in Eddyville.

At 95, Odell is beginning to slow— some. He woodworked for a time but no more. He still belongs to Rotary, Lions and Kiwanis International— having served as President of two of the three organizations. He’s had four major surgeries. He used to hunt and fish—jug fishing at night on the lower Cumberland River was a particular favorite hobby. And he occasionally reviews his life while plotting his next grand adventure. 

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Embracing Our Age | Winter 2025

IF YOU’RE AN EXPERIENCED JUG FISHERMAN, REMINISCE WITH THIS ACCOUNT FROM ODELL: My brother, Davis Walker, and I owned a small farm on the Cumberland River at Dycusburg, Kentucky, which gave us open access to the river. We’d gather anything that would float, mostly half gallon and gallon milk jugs. We’d tie ten to twelve feet of fishing line to a jug and a medium size fishhook on the other end. We’d bait the hook with earthworms, small fish and various kinds of meat.

About an hour before sundown, with everything on track, we motored about two miles upriver and began randomly throwing jugs into the water. The jugs floated and scattered according to the river current. We checked them often with the light we carried with us in the boat—the light was a must.

When we saw a jug “bobbing,” we knew we’d caught a fish—mostly catfish—from “fiddlers” (small ones) to large ones. We could guess the weight of the fish by how deep it pulled the jug into the water. From night to night our catch varied from a few fish to a tubful. Our biggest haul—a 67-pound flathead catfish—worthy of bragging rights.

The scenery was beautiful. We floated past the lights of Dycusburg. A few miles further was Patty’s Bluff with a great distance of 40- to 50-foot-high limestone rocks. The river was deep at this point, and we never failed to catch fish.

When the movie, “How the West Was Won” was filmed, several shots were taken around Patty’s Bluff. Near the end of our fishing expedition we’d float by a large limestone quarry, ending the night, or most of it, where the Cumberland empties into the Ohio River at Smithland.

How to Play:

Find 4 four-word groups, each having a link

For Example:

Lettuces: Romaine, Bibb, Arugula, Iceberg Tomatoes: Celebrity, Brandywine, Early Girl, Juliet

CRISP AIR

PASSPORT

ALOE

FROST

VASELINE

PATH

DRIZZLE

SALVE

SNOW

EARMUFFS

KEY

MIST

SPIT

COLD COMPRESS

SAD

LATCH

Puzzle #1 • Answers on page 50 www.EmbracingTheAged.com

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“WORK TO HELP PEOPLE, NOT TO MAKE MONEY” By: Carol Ullerich

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he theme of the January 2025 issue of Embracing Our Age is Faces of RECOVERY. The cover features Dr. Lalchand Goyal (red helmet) tandem hang gliding. A native of Jalna, India, he was once afraid of heights. Hang gliding is now one of several adventure sports he enjoys since beating cancer. He’s a semi-retired cardiologist practicing in Union City, Tennessee. His story is one of courage, change and celebration. Turning 75 in February, Goyal is the only one of his eight siblings to live beyond age 72. Two of his brothers had open heart surgery at age 50. His parents died a decade apart—both at age 72.

In December 2022, after a life of eating everything, Goyal was diagnosed with prostate cancer—the only member of his family to contract the pernicious disease. After a few weeks of weighing options with consultants, he began radiation therapy to shrink the tumor—surgery was not an option. He also received an injection to lower his testosterone to zero.

Initially weakened by cancer treatment and unable to move, he gained weight, ballooning from 160 to 195 pounds and losing all strength. An avid golfer, he’d been a ping pong champ in college; and at age 60 ran three half-marathons. Suddenly, at age 72, he could not walk 100 steps or finish two holes of golf. Then, combining semaglutide, exercise and an anti-inflammatory diet, he lost 55 pounds, going from 195 to 140 pounds in ten months.

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Embracing Our Age | Winter 2025

He's in the gym daily building muscle—either in town or in his home. Gone are the days of eating everything. Now he keeps his body healthy by consuming only fruit, veggies, fish, and protein.

Relying on information from the Mayo and Cleveland Clinics and other credible sources, he’s convinced processed foods cause inflammation. He believes these things for sure: processed food, red meat and soft drinks are unhealthy. He consumes only fresh and/or frozen veggies—nothing canned—and no preserved juice. After taking medication 40 years to treat hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes, his heart is now clean and his diabetes well-controlled without meds. He believes American food choices—especially processed food—are deadly.

Before treatment, Goyal’s PSA level was above 50; it is now 0.04. Once above 300, his testosterone level is now between 3 and 4. Radiation complete, he’ll have his last testosteronelowering injection in June. Regular bloodwork confirms he is doing well.

In 2023 he was declared cancer-free. With candor, he admits the grueling treatment nearly did him in. While against his religion, he considered not living. His children talked him out of it. Their best weapon, bringing grandkids to visit.

Goyal describes himself “as an ordinary person who has achieved extraordinary things by the grace of God, strong ethics, hard

work and determination.” He credits his dad, “an average businessman,” with teaching him much of what he knows. But it was his mom, “a housewife who never learned to read or write,” who impacted him most. When he was just five years old, she told him, “Become a doctor— not for money—but to help people.” According to Goyal, her words “changed my life.”

BY THE NUMBERS:

Goyal emphasizes these goals which he says only 4% of the world’s population achieve: 1. Normal body weight with BMI between 18 & 25

Goyal finished ten years of high school, and at age seventeen entered a two-year pre-med program, followed by five and a half years of medical school—all in India— formally launching his path to becoming a doctor. Goyal earned a “MBBS” degree in India in 1972—the equivalent of an American “MD.” He then began a three-year practice in internal medicine. He was the only “qualified” doctor serving an Indian community of 300,000. He never second-guessed his career choice.

2. Normal BP of 120/80

He commonly worked 80-90 hours a week. It was possible in India because there was no paperwork to do. There were no patient records; the transition to accountability did not begin until the 1990’s. He said, “mortality and poverty remain high in India, and everything depends on ‘money,’ but that too is changing. There are now more specialists and those in charge have adopted worldwide practices."

8. 6-7 hours good sleep nightly

Goyal said he had no realistic chance of getting a cardiology Fellowship in India after finishing medical school. From 1967 until the 1980’s there were only two openings annually for all of India. In time, the number of openings increased to one or two per state. When I asked why he chose to focus on the heart, he explained the Indian diet is high in triglycerides and fat. Few Indians exercise and those that do exercise do so infrequently. Most are sedentary and obese. As a result, heart disease began early—around age 30-35.

With such limited options in India, he dreamed of coming to the US to study cardiology. In 1973, he could have pursued that dream, but only by traveling to Malaysia to take an exam. Lacking money to travel, he waited.

Knowing Goyal’s strong desire to come to the US, friends pooled money to pay for Goyal, his wife Pramila, and their two young daughters, to come to America in June 1981— money he has since repaid. Pramila’s

3. LDL below 55 4. HgA1c below 6 5. No smoking 6. Exercise 5-6 days a week 7. Hydrate—150 lb person—75 oz water daily

9. Consume five colors of fruits & veg daily

INDULGE in these Anti-inflammatory Foods: • • • • • • •

blueberries salmon turmeric spinach kale walnuts avocado

• • • • • • •

broccoli green tea chia seeds flaxseed ginger garlic olive oil

• sweet potatoes • tomatoes • oranges • cherries • pineapple • strawberries

AVOID these items: • • • • • •

potato chips fast food white bread white rice crackers biscuits

• fries • fried chicken • mozzarella sticks • soda • sweet tea

• • • •

sports drinks bacon ham hot dogs

AVOID these leading inflammatory foods: • Red Meat: steak, hamburgers • Processed Meat: bologna, bacon, sausage, lunchmeat • Commercial Baked Goods: snack cakes, pies, cookies, brownies

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brother, Govind Agrawal, a chemical engineer living in the Chicago area since 1969 and working for drug companies Abbott and Glaxo Smith Kline (now GSK), sponsored Goyal and his family, enabling all four to enter the US on a family-sponsored green card.

Dental, received the American Institute of Architects’ Honor Award for Design Excellence, and the ADA Dental Office Design of the Year Award for Innovative Approach. Her husband is past President of the Interventional Radiologic Society (2022-2024).

Once on American soil, Goyal “passed his qualifying exam to get residency.” The family stayed three months with Agrawal before securing an apartment. Goyal worked one year as a nursing home lab technician and orderly. The family eagerly awaited July 1, 1982, when Goyal would begin a residency at Mt. Sinai Hospital (affiliated with Rush Presbyterian University and Chicago Medical School).

Vikram is a Hospitalist treating obesity. As a high school student in Evansville, Indiana, he was the only non-white in a class of one hundred students. Prior to being named Class Valedictorian, he was elected Class President, defeating a popular girl he had dated.

He married another classmate who earned a degree in Hospital Administration and is Vice President of a hospital in the Milwaukee area.

Pramila is an important part of this story. Her goal was to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree and marry a doctor. Marriage was her means to an end. In the early 80’s there was great demand for doctors in the US; they were easily granted visas. Marrying a doctor enabled Pramila to achieve her own goal of coming to the US. Goyal’s youngest child, a son named Vikram, was born in the US in December 1986. The couple’s three children were each born five years apart.

Vikram graduated from Champagne-Urbana with all possible awards before entering Loyola’s Stritch School of Medicine where he was the first freshman named to the Selection Board choosing all incoming students. Halfway through a two-year term as a Hospitalist, in 2022 he was named the Best Program Director of the Year. Goyal had no answer when I asked how medicine became the family business saying only, “I don’t know; genetics maybe.”

According to Goyal, “being chosen as a resident by Mt. Sinai was life-changing.” It was followed by a 3-year general residency, and then a 2-year cardiology Fellowship. July 1, 1987, while a first-year Fellow at Mt. Sinai, Goyal became a “teaching associate” and was named Best Student Teacher of the Year.

Goyal mentored all three children, believing he must lead by example. He’s also keenly aware children emulate parents. For 35 years he taught his kids about fruits and veggies, even sending them photos of his plate.

Goyal’s two daughters are both dentists—the oldest, Meenal Goel— practices in the Chicago area where she treats sleep apnea patients, most of whom are unable to use CPAP. She is part-owner of the Australian company manufacturing the devices she uses.

He admits one vice—he began smoking in 1968—it was legal and not frowned upon. He’s uncertain why he started smoking, but recalls one of his teachers smoking in class. Goyal followed suit, thinking it might attract girls. Five years later that teacher developed pancreatic cancer. Goyal used hypnosis to kick the cigarette habit in 1983.

His second daughter—Mona Patel—is also a dentist; her husband is a professor of radiology at the University of Wisconsin (Milwaukee). Mona has an eye for design. Her office, Bayshore

Goyal beams with pride extolling his children’s accomplishments; and those of his grandkids. His granddaughter,Simrin, now sixteen, entered the 2023 National History Day Contest with a classmate.

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inside his private hospital; they then shared expenses and income. Construction in India cost about $150,000; it would have cost ten times that amount in the US. The first lab was so successful, Goyal built a second, receiving help from two other local cardiologists. It was the start of good things. Goyal said, “God is good. I wanted one cath lab; now there are five more for a total of six.” With a broad smile he acknowledged achieving his mom’s goal of helping people—in his hometown.

India’s population is about 1.42 billion—the highest in the world—home to one-sixth of all people on earth. By comparison, the US population is less than 346 million. India has triple the amount of people, but only two-thirds America’s land mass.

Cath Lab in India. Goyal, front left.

Out of nearly half a million students from all fifty states; Washington, D.C.; US territories; and international schools, Simrin and her partner won the Outstanding Affiliate Award for their Junior Group Exhibit titled, “HeLa Cells—A Scientific Miracle, But Ethical Mistake.” Goyal calls Simrin the “brain” of the family, but don’t challenge granddaughter Sonora, she became a Black Belt at age ten.

When Goyal left Mt. Sinai in 1989, he embarked on 21 years of private practice in Madisonville and Henderson, Kentucky, and Evansville, Indiana. He was part of two cardiology practices, the Heart Group and the OhioValley Heart Group, specializing in interventional cardiology. During this time his family hosted high school exchange students from Italy and around Europe—each student staying one month in the Goyal home. One of Goyal’s daughters spent time in Italy with the family of an exchange student. A Rotarian, in 1997 Governor Brereton Jones named Goyal a Kentucky Colonel.

Then Goyal’s mom’s words kicked in: “work to help people, not to make money.” In 2010, Goyal began looking for a program to allow him to devote time to helping people. He began with a twoyear stay at Sara Bush Lincoln Hospital in Mattoon, Illinois, where he launched a stent program. Mattoon had only one cardiologist.

His next stop was Bradford, Pennsylvania, which had an old, non-functioning cath lab. Goyal started a new lab attracting two cardiologists. For two years he combined Bradford’s new services with those in nearby Olean, New York.

The average Indian cab driver/minimum day worker may earn $500 a month. India’s leading industry is Bollywood, a highenergy technicolor version of Hollywood. Sixty percent of India’s population is between 20 and 50 years of age with a growing middle class. The equivalent of a $100,000 US education costs about $25,000 in India. With pride, Goyal says, “the British created good schools.”

Indian patients usually pay before being treated. An American patient usually pays $100,000 to $200,000 to treat a heart attack. In contrast, the average Indian patient expects to pay just $2,500 for the same surgery.

When COVID hit in 2020, Goyal sold his equipment and returned to the US that November. Goyal and Pramila stayed with Meenal in Chicago. With his three kids well-established, Goyal retired mid2022.

Retirement was short-lived. Within a year he was restless. He spent time in Daytona, occasionally meeting his children for visits.

He received emails from headhunters seeking to place doctors in medical practices. He finally accepted an offer with the Stern Medical Group in Union City, Tennessee. He works two weeks, followed by two weeks off. He feels healthy and strong. He chose not to join a larger group—believing it would be money-driven.

He explained, “I’m needed in a small town. I’m contributing. The whole town knows me.”

Goyal also knows the value of education—especially for Indian girls who are easy prey when uneducated. Goyal strongly objected when his father forbade Goyal’s three youngest sisters from attending school; his dad eventually relented. Goyal’s oldest sister

Then he focused on Gibson City, Illinois, a town of about 4,000 residents where the hospital received maximum government and insurance money. It was too small to justify a cath lab so heart angiography was performed by cat scan. Level III training for coronary CTA was completed in mid-June, 2016—creating an alternative as good as a cath lab.

In May 2017, Goyal returned to his hometown in India with plans to build a heart cath lab. Jalna and nearby villages had a population of half a million people. Before Goyal went to Jalna, one hospital had an old cath lab and had recently hired a cardiologist to prepare for Goyal’s arrival.

Most Indian physicians build their own private hospital with 25 to 100 beds. A friend of Goyal’s allowed him to build a heart cath lab

Girls studying in orphanage.

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finished high school and one year of college before marrying. Two other sisters started school but married before graduating.

Goyal’s disagreement with his dad over girls attending school may have led him to launch another project—this one suggested and promoted by Pramila and her brother Agrawal. After securing three to four acres of land near Pramila’s hometown, Goyal helped his family build a small orphanage where sixty-five girls with mild to moderate mental deficiencies live and attend school. Construction, and now operation, are overseen by Agrawal who is primarily responsible for its success. Plans are underway to enroll thirty-five more girls in the next phase.

The facility, which opened in 2019, is modeled on a small orphanage near Pramila’s childhood home. It was run on a small budget by a childless retired couple who had been primary school teachers. Goyal’s children donated in the beginning; now they contribute when Agrawal requests funds. Goyal said private schools in India are costly, but equal to US schools.

Cancer eliminated Goyal’s fear of death and opened his eyes to adventure sports. In the last year he’s conquered horseback riding, tandem skydiving and tandem hang gliding, plus alligator and deer hunting, with a special lust for big-game hunting. He has deer and alligator trophies; he’s looking for someone to travel with him to Alaska to hunt black bear and mountain lion. At one point he wanted an elephant trophy, but his children talked him out of that—the elephant is sacred in India. During downtime, Goyal shares his unique journey and accomplishments with hopes of inspiring others and helping more people.

He readily shares this advice for longevity: Eliminate processed food to reverse early cell death; Exercise; Get good, quality sleep; Maintain a good social network to minimize stress; Stay hydrated; Eat only anti-inflammatory foods; and Remain positive.

Goyal’s typical breakfast: turmeric/ginger smoothie paired with egg white omelet with spinach and onions; blueberries; and two slices of fresh avocado.

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On a recent cruise, Goyal lost one pound. Breakfast each morning was a made-to-order omelet with fruit. He brought his own blender and gathered fresh ingredients from the ship’s fruit bar to make smoothies.

Goyal consumes five different types and colors of fruits and vegetables daily. He believes that gives him all the food he needs. Post-cancer treatment supports his premise as his health and strength have returned.

Pramila lost forty pounds by walking and reducing her food intake. Both Goyal and Pramila use semaglutide. Each of their children takes cholesterol medication; all exercise. If needed, he’d recommend semaglutide to his children.

I asked Goyal whether his children follow his eating plan. He said “they kind of do, but their busy lives get in the way. They all exercise daily and try to follow a similar diet to mine—as much as possible.”

He believes Americans are ill because of a bad diet. One patient boldly told him, “Every morning I have a biscuit, two eggs, two strips of bacon, and butter. Each afternoon I have a hamburger.

That’s protein, carbs, and fat—that’s the main food groups, right?”

To be clear, since 2011, myplate.gov, a resource from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has identified four main food groups: fruits, grains, vegetables, and protein foods, plus dairy. Set goals and find tips on making eating an adventure at myplate.gov.

Goyal’s overarching message is “good health comes from consuming good food and making the effort to be healthy.” He estimates 80% of the food consumed in America is cheap and deadly due to ignorance and false marketing. He realizes that’s not the message people want to hear, but it’s simple and born of personal experience. He says, “I ate processed food. I made that choice. I succumbed to false marketing and didn’t question claims made in ads. Over time, I reversed my poor eating habits. I corrected my health myself so I’m practicing what I preach.”

The most common health issues Goyal sees in his practice are overweight patients who are also diabetic with high blood pressure and high lipids. He advocates burning more calories daily than consumed. He says, “As a physician, my job is to educate: prevention works.” He knows he can’t change the world, “but maybe I can reach a few people and make a positive difference.”

He knows pills and injections don’t give total health. Significant effort is required, but patients don’t have to do it alone—you do your part; your doctor will do his/her part. As a team, no one can stop your success.

Goyal turns 75 in February. He is not a paid spokesman for Ozempic but has personally taken the drug for a year with good results. He considers semaglutide—brand names Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro—to be “miracle drugs” with research moving forward at great speed. For an overweight patient, he sees no reason to wait. He acknowledges there are side effects such as upset stomach which is reversed by ceasing the drug. He also recognizes about 1% of those using semaglutide may develop Gastroparesis (food and liquid remaining in stomach for long periods due to ineffective neuromuscular contractions) if drug not halted quickly enough. After taking Insulin for 35 years, which he notes has its own side effects, Goyal no longer takes Insulin or Metformin.  DISCLAIMER: This article contains Dr. Goyal’s personal experiences and opinions. Neither Embracing the Aged Foundation, nor Embracing Our Age magazine endorse products or procedures mentioned in this article. Consult your personal physician before starting or stopping any medication.

FRESH TURMERIC GINGER SMOOTHIE RECIPE Goyal drinks this every morning

¼ Tablespoon Black pepper Juice of half a fresh-squeezed Lemon 1/3 teaspoon fresh Turmeric (find near fresh ginger) Raw Carrots to your taste 4 teaspoons fresh Ginger Blend using cold-press juicer.

Tea and green tea are good alternatives to the morning smoothie.

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DR. GOYAL'S FAMILY

DR. MEENA GOEL, DDS

DR. GAURI “MONA” PATEL, DDS

AvidDentalLindenhurst.com Lindenhurst, IL 847-265-6444

Bayshore Dental, BayshoreDDS.com Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin 414-332-6010

After graduating from Northwestern University Dental School in 2000, Dr. Meena Goel, Dr. Goyal’s oldest daughter, entered private practice in the Chicagoland area. For more than two decades she has focused on TMD, Orthodontics, Sleep Disorders and Airway Management as a Diplomate of the American Association of Dental Sleep Medicine and International Association of Orthodontics. She also serves as a clinical instructor for the Mini Residency Program offered by Rondeau Seminars focusing on CPAP devices and exploring oral appliances for the more than 800,000 individuals for whom a CPAP device is not an option.

Gauri “Mona” Patel, a Chicago native and Dr. Goyal’s youngest daughter, is a General Dentist and Owner of Bayshore Dental in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. With more than fifteen years of clinical practice, she is driven to ensure patients have positive dental experiences with predictable, successful results in comfortable surroundings. Good communication, trust, education and oral health awareness are cornerstones of Bayshore Dental where three dentists serve 5,000 patients.

Dr. Goel’s private practice concentrates on airway centric orthodontics and improving airways with oral appliance therapy.

Avid Dental Sleep Medicine is solely dedicated to providing Oral Appliance Therapy to patients across the country through Teledentistry. As founding partner of the national company, iHeart Sleep, Dr. Goel has treated patients with snoring and sleep apnea issues in more than thirty states.

In addition to her dental practice, Dr. Patel is keenly aware of architecture and design. She worked with Johnsen Schmaling Architects to design, build and open a state-of-the-art, alldigital dental office that is ergonomically comfortable for both patients and practitioners. In 2017, the practice received the National Healthcare Design Award from the American Institute of Architects and the Academy of Architects for Health.

When not seeing patients, she enjoys traveling, especially exploring new foods with her two daughters, family and friends.

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Dr. Patel is a mentor at Marquette University School of Dentistry.

ARTHI D. SUSAI

DR. VIKRAM GOYAL

arthi.susai@froedtert.com 630-715-3404

vgoyal86@gmail.com, ApogeePhysicians.com 270-748-2903

Arthi Susai is Dr. Goyal’s daughter-in-law and wife of Dr. Vikram Goyal. Majoring in Community Health with a Business minor, she graduated from the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign in 2009 with High Honors, the same year Vikram earned his Bachelor’s Degree at the same campus. During the Fall Semester of 2008, Arthi interned at the Carle Foundation Hospital and went on to attend the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, earning a Master’s of Health Services Administration in 2011.

Vikram Goyal, Dr. Goyal’s only son, graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (graduated top-third of class).

In 2013 he earned a medical degree from Loyola University Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, Illinois. He followed that with three years of post-graduate training at Loyola University Medical Center where in 2016 he was named Resident of the Year before spending another year as Chief Resident in the Department of Internal Medicine.

Arthi has held a variety of senior health care administrative positions. In May 2024 she was named Vice President of Ambulatory Specialty Care Services at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, an academic and community-based multi-specialty health system with more than 1,200 physicians and 500 advanced practice providers in the Milwaukee area.

Arthi oversees ambulatory clinics and procedural operations at the academic campus and six multi-specialty community locations in southeast Wisconsin. Day-to-day responsibilities include collaborating with top-tier medical officers to maximize operational efficiencies, promote a service-oriented culture, enhance employee engagement, and advance innovation and digital health solutions.

Prior to joining Froedtert, from November 2017 to November 2020—during the COVID Pandemic—Arthi was Administrative Director of Medical College Physicians with a total annual portfolio of $45-$60M. Prior to that, she was with Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center where in November 2017 she managed the solid organ transplant service line for Kidney, Living Donor Kidney, Pancreas, and Liver programs, plus Hepatology, Nephrology and Transplant Surgery.

In 2023 he was board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is a full-time hospitalist with Apogee Physicians, serving as Program Director at Watertown Regional Medical Center in Watertown, Wisconsin, overseeing all operational aspects of the hospitalist program; supervising the CDI program requiring review of hospital-wide documentation of patient records; and is the hospital’s Director of Pulmonary Services (overseeing six respiratory therapists). In January, 2024, he completed a two-year term as Watertown’s Chief of Staff.

In March 2024, he joined Weight in Gold Wellness where he practices obesity medicine and maintains a metabolic health practice. Vikram is a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine.

Vikram explained the Weight in Gold Wellness approach to treating obesity is to “treat it as a chronic, complex disease, providing compassionate, non-stigmatizing care to every patient. A team of board-certified obesity medicine experts offers comprehensive, personalized treatment plans tailored to each individual’s needs, including medications, access to health coaches, nutritionists, and movement specialists with a goal of empowering patients with support, knowledge, and resources needed to achieve sustainable health and wellness. The goal is to help people of all sizes live healthier, happier lives without judgment or shame.” www.EmbracingTheAged.com

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TO ADVERTISE

with Embracing Our Age Magazine, visit

DR. PARAG J. PATEL, MD, MS, FSIR paragpatelmd@gmail.com mcw.edu 847-530-1079

Dr. Parag J. Patel, is the husband of Mona Patel and Dr. Goyal’s son-in-law. Parag concluded a two-year term as President of the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) in June, 2024. He’s a practicing MD, an interventional radiologist (IR), and a Professor of Radiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin (Milwaukee).

He currently practices in the Froedtert Center for Advanced Care and its Cancer Center.

Parag began his medical training at Loyola’s Stritch School of Medicine, earning his medical degree in 2002. He then embarked on a yearlong internship (2002-3) at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, followed by a four-year residency in diagnostic radiology (2003-7) and ultimately a yearlong fellowship in Vascular & Interventional Radiology (2007-8) at Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute in Miami, Florida.

When Parag entered medical school he knew nothing about IR, but quickly realized it was the wave of his future. During his surgery clerkship, a patient developed a postoperative bleed. He assumed the patient would return to the operating room, but no, the bleed was successfully stopped using new technology. That experience opened his eyes “to the value of angiography and the opportunities it provided—I was hooked. It was a light bulb moment for me. IR was the future. Innovative, elegant, minimally invasive, and, in my mind, the future of medicine. I was all in.”

Parag credits his parents with instilling in him a strong work ethic and appreciation of fellow workers. His parents gave up much to enable he and his brother to immigrate to the US. He recognizes he is who he is today because of his parents and lists numerous mentors who guided his path to IR.

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www.embracingtheaged.com

or contact Julie at (270) 559-9099 or julieharris949@gmail.com.

DON’T TAKE THE BAIT! By: Carol Ullerich If you receive a text that sorta looks like it’s from the US Post Office, take a really close look before doing anything, especially if you’re asked to activate a link. DON’T DO IT! If you follow the directions, you’ll confirm validity of your email address and allow the text’s sender to access more details about you. If the sender is “USP,” rather than USPS, it’s probably fake and a scam. Don’t become a victim!

Think about it—could it even apply to you? If you haven’t recently made an online purchase and you aren’t expecting a delivery those are clues an entity is trying to “smish” you.

Don’t help them!

The term “smishing” combines the terms “SMS” and “phishing.” www.Forbes.com. Smishing is a cybercrime using “deceptive text messages to manipulate victims into divulging sensitive personal information such as bank account details, credit card numbers and login credentials[,]” with a familiar goal of “trick(ing) individuals into revealing private information that can be used for identity theft, financial theft or other fraudulent activities.” Id. Here’s a bogus text with three common errors circled in blue. Extra space between final word and punctuation; missing punctuation; signed by “The US Postal Team” rather than the official name, “United States Postal Service” or “USPS.”

How to Play:

Find 4 four-word groups, each having a link

For Example:

Lettuces: Romaine, Bibb, Arugula, Iceberg Tomatoes: Celebrity, Brandywine, Early Girl, Juliet

127 YARD SALE

CUPID

PAPERY

SLICKER

DRIZA-BONE

TRENCH

HEARTS

SXSW FILMS

SCALY

SMOOTH

ROSES

MARDI GRAS

ST. PATTY

BIRDS

MACINTOSH

PEELING

Puzzle #2 • Answers on page 50

To learn more about smishing and this particular scam, search the term “usps scam.”

www.EmbracingTheAged.com

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WAYMAKER’S WIDOWS’ MINISTRY A FOLLOW-UP By: Carol Ullerich

I

n the October 2024 issue of Embracing Our Age, I profiled the Waymaker’s Widows’ Ministry1 launched by Paducah’s Lone Oak First Baptist Church (LOFBC) in mid-August. Here’s an update.

According to Bob Martin—the congregation’s Minister of Pastoral Care and a member of the WayMaker’s Widows’ Ministry Steering Committee—the widow’s ministry is off to a rousing start with a bible study, weekly gatherings in a coffee/tea shop for conversation and support, plus monthly lunches and social activities like daytrips to a Craft Show in Reelfoot, Tennessee, and a bus trip to Grand Rivers to see the Christmas Extravaganza at The Badgett Theater. Through these social events, widows build a support network among themselves, develop friendships, have fun and relax. Most activities occur during daylight, recognizing many widows are uncomfortable driving in darkness or coming home after dark to an empty house.

The Ministry Steering Committee continues to monitor participant needs and encourages recently widowed women to join. While many widows are older, some are young and juggling parenting responsibilities, a career, and maintaining a household singlehandedly.

WayMaker’s challenge is becoming part of each widows support team of family and friends to be another source of encouragement.

This Ministry is not just for members of Lone Oak First Baptist Church; each widow in the community is invited to participate. Pastor Bob apprises the Steering Committee of newly widowed women. The first outreach is expressing sympathy for their loss and providing a booklet called, “What Now?” created by the Kentucky Baptist Convention Ministry to Widows. The timely resource walks the widow through deadline-sensitive business and financial duties triggered by her husband’s death.

Photo by Dean Kauffman

www.EmbracingTheAged.com

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In the following months, four books are mailed to the widow at crucial times in the grieving process to guide her through the first year of grief, healing, and growth. Telephone calls, cards and other expressions of care are supplied by Encouragers and Mentors. Encouragers are LOFBC members—both couples and single women—who attended the summer workshop to hone their Ministry skills. Mentors are widows who have walked the grief journey and now walk alongside and guide new widows. Encouragers and mentors also help with large gatherings and drive buses for social activities. The Ministry has active and inactive deacons and their wives serving in support roles.

Sonny Smith, Deacon’s Chair, is a member of the Ministry’s Steering Committee.

Jan’s neighbor, Kelly, works in the LOFBC office. If Jan’s blinds aren’t open when Kelly leaves for work, she calls and checks on Jan; and a niece checks in with Jan each afternoon. Kelly connected Boyarski with Jan. Smiling, Jan says, Boyarski “has taken me under her wing.”

That’s the way LOFBC works. A member learns of a need and acts. A support network is indispensable.

The Widows’ Ministry ended 2024 with a dinner, a driving tour of the Christmas lights display in Noble Park and in mid-December, a Christmas luncheon attended by forty-two widows and several encouragers. Jennie Boyarski, chair of the WayMaker’s Steering Committee, invited me to attend. The afternoon featured lunch, laughter, song and a time of thanksgiving during this special season.

Marie Hamilton grew up in Fulton. She met her future husband, Don, a boy from Reidland, on a blind date in 1963.

High school sweethearts through 1964, “Donnie and Marie” saw each other often when Don visited his cousin Jerry in Fulton. When Jerry moved to Paducah, the pair drifted apart. Until 1985, that’s when they reconnected.

Widowed for the second time in December 2023, Boyarski told me the day’s goal was to focus on the real reason for the Christmas season— "the birth of our WayMaker—Jesus, the source of our joy and peace which does not depend on our circumstances or situation.” She added, “the real reason for the Christmas Celebration gives us strength to face whatever comes our way— His Promise that He will be with us always!”

Was the day a success? “Yes!” she responded, “Goal Achieved!” I chatted with several widows. Here are some of their stories.

JAN CULP Christmas 2024 was the first holiday some of these widows spent alone. Jan Culp is a prime example. Married forty-four years, she met her future husband, Jerry, at the bank where she worked; he was a customer. A McCracken County native, Jan lived her married life elsewhere and returned to her roots upon her husband’s death in August 2024. He suffered with Parkinson’s Disease for two years—he was diagnosed in 2017—the time that followed was tough. He had been a senior detailer for an architectural firm doing “intricate, tedious work.”

Jan retired from Good Will’s regional administrative office in Nashville.

One of the couple’s two sons lives in Hawaii; the other lives in Metropolis. The toughest part of the holidays for Jan—Jerry’s absence.

Since Jerry’s passing, Jan’s companion is Jenny, a black cat. Jan announced with pride, “she’s the light of my life—probably the love of my life too. She stays by my side and has adjusted well. She lies in my husband’s recliner occasionally and knows when I’m down.” Jan has noticed Jenny is detail-oriented. “Jenny plays with these fuzzy balls; she places them in a row, evenly spaced apart,” and sleeps in Jan’s bed.

Jenny comforts Jan but makes no demands.

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Jan thanked Pastor Bob for sending the first of four books about grief provided to each widow at four critical times. She said it arrived at the right moment and contained just what she needed to read.

DONNIE & MARIE

They were married thirty-three years and have one son who visits Marie every few months. Don worked at USEC, an Instrument Mechanic with a college degree in marketing. Many called Don “MacGyver” (of TV show fame)—“he could fix or devise a fix for almost anything!”

Marie took him to Baptist Hospital December 7, 2020, complaining of respiratory problems. He was initially kept for observation and assured he’d be going home. He was admitted Pearl Harbor Day, never to return home. Don and Marie phoned and texted one another.

Marie wasn’t permitted to visit him. She contracted COVID but recovered. About three days before Christmas, 2020, Don was placed on a ventilator. He ultimately died of COVID New Year’s Day, 2021, when ventilators were in short supply and families were not permitted to enter the hospital—they stood on sidewalks waving at loved ones.

Marie received a 2:00 a.m. phone call saying Don had suffered a major stroke and was being removed from the ventilator. She could come to the hospital immediately to see him, and he would be dead when disconnected from the ventilator. A frightening call to receive— especially when awakened from a sound sleep.

Marie didn’t trust herself to drive at that time of morning after receiving such news. She did, however, have the presence of mind to ask the hospital to keep Don on the ventilator until her sister and brother-inlaw could bring her to the hospital. They abided by her request and she was able to spend time with Don. He was removed from the ventilator after she left. The hospital called later in the day to confirm Don had passed.

Among Marie’s outside church friends, she is the sole widow; several women in her Sunday School class are widows. Since Don’s death she’s realized all the things he did around the house—repairs and

maintenance she never even knew were needed because Don took care of them. She’s concerned about having a flat tire while driving after dark; Don always had a tool for every occasion in the car trunk and knew how to use them! How useful is a trunk of tools to her if she doesn’t know how to use them? The most courageous act she’s done since becoming a widow? All the things she’s doing for the first time— duties she had no experience handling.

As a couple, she and Don frequently went out with other couples.

She may go out with the wife of one of those couples now, but she never goes out with “the couple.” On reflection she said, ”perhaps the husband would feel like a third wheel or would have nothing to say; it’s just a change I’ve noticed.” The headline of the October 2024 article, taken from a book, was, “When a woman marries, two become one.

When a husband dies, the widow becomes one-half.” Marie quoted that sentiment without realizing its source but vouches for its truth.

Another tough thing Marie has identified is regret. She feels she didn’t thank Don enough, or tell him how proud of him she was, and didn’t say, “I love you,” nearly enough. She regrets saying some things but regrets even more the things she could have said, but didn’t say; that she just took what he did for granted.

Marie fears she has taken family for granted. Don’s passing has punctuated the reality death can occur at anytime, anywhere to anyone. Her advice, “Tell your spouse, children, extended family and friends ‘what is in your heart,’ because you can’t predict the last time you’ll see them.”

To those who’ve never suffered the loss of a spouse Marie cautions, “Don’t say you know how it feels—you don’t. When it happens, your whole life, your routine, your finances, it all changes.” She suggests if you want to say something to break an awkward silence, “say something positive about the spouse and add, “call me anytime. I’m always available. And hugs are always welcome!”

In a subsequent text, Marie wondered whether she’d taken Don’s touch for granted. She wrote, “Holding my hand, his arm around my waist, or my shoulders. A hug when he came in from work. When I was cold in church, he would take off his jacket and put it around me. All done in silence, but I always gave him a smile of appreciation. Plus, little things, like driving you to church or the Carson Center and letting you out at the door while he parked the car and walked back. Feeling loved . . . like you really mattered to someone! Small gestures I now miss.”

ANITA & TOM VANCE Anita and Tom Vance sang duets and led a singalong of Christmas Carols and secular, novelty songs like “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.” Anita spoke of her late mother who at age eightytwo remarried after being widowed eleven years. At the close of the singing, Anita reminded the group of the real reason for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ who died for our sins and made it possible for believers to spend eternity with Him in Heaven.

With 2024 in the books, what should widows expect in 2025? More weekly and monthly activities and social gatherings as well as a study of the book, Be Still My Anxious Heart taught by WayMaker’s member Jane Chandler. The study begins Thursday, January 9 at 1 p.m., Room 100 of LOFBC Building D. For info and to register, visit LoneOakFBC.org or call church office at 270-554-1441.

The afternoon of fellowship and celebration closed with Boyarski reading from Sarah Young's book of devotions entitled Jesus Listens, Daily Devotional Prayers of Peace, Joy, and Hope for December 5.

Cherished Jesus, You are the Joy no one can take away from me.” ...

As I spend time delighting myself in You, I receive Joy in full measure!

In Your Joyous Name, Amen”  www.EmbracingTheAged.com

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MY HEALTH

MAKE TIME FOR RECOVERY By: Richard Abraham

A

s 2024 comes to a close, I congratulate those of you who made the commitment to improve your physical fitness. Working out two to three days a week, along with healthy eating habits, will enhance your quality of life.

But what about after a workout?

How should you recover? You might experience soreness in your upper or lower body, maybe both. What should you do when this occurs? There are two types of recovery. They are Passive recovery and Active recovery.

Passive recovery includes massages, hot baths, and ice baths. Also putting ice packs on the sore places for 20 minutes at a time. Active recovery includes stretching, swimming, and walking, and you can combine these two components. Combining them will reduce muscle soreness quicker.

So yes, definitely make time for recovery in your workout plan. Have a Blessed season. 2025 is upon us and I know we cannot wait to Break A Sweat. 

www.EmbracingTheAged.com

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TAILS AND TALES: FEATURING “DIME,” “STORM” & “NEO” By: Carol Ullerich

L

ast October, the West Kentucky Wildlife Management Area (WKWMA) in Kevil, Kentucky, hosted 1,132 dogs, 314 handlers, officials from the American Kennel Club, and assorted dog owners and spectators at the 2024 AKC Master National Retriever Hunt Test (Master National)—the largest such event in North America. Held annually, it rotates among four US time zones showcasing hunting skills by teams of dogs and handlers. 2024 was the first time this test occurred in Western Kentucky.

The Master National usually occurs on private property, but the WKWMA is public land owned/leased by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Financed entirely by hunting and fishing license fees paid by sportsmen and by Federal excise taxes on hunting and fishing equipment, the WKWMA receives no funding from Kentucky’s General Fund, income tax, or sales taxes. The site covers 6,425 acres, is composed of both forest and open-field habitat, and includes many seasonal wetlands and permanent ponds.

The WKWMA annually hosts twelve regional retriever events, and has worked with the Master National (MN) Retriever Club, The Hunting Retriever Club, Inc., and the National Retriever Club to host each organization’s national event since 2022. The WKWMA is the closest outdoor recreation site for Western Kentuckians to participate in pond fishing, biking on gravel roads, and general nature-based experiences.

Fields and wooded areas are managed to provide a diversity of habitats, and the WKWMA provides 25 ponds for fishing, plus retriever training and testing. Clients from Paducah’s Easter Seals Center visit often to fish at the WKWMA’s Disabled Access Fishing Pond. Hunting is permitted with an archery range, wildlife viewing areas, and the Chief Paduke Skeet Range. Primitive camping and horseback riding are allowed in designated areas.

Occurring while Hurricanes Helene and Milton ravaged North Carolina and Florida, participants quickly sent money and provisions to flood victims. Local rains washed out a full day of trials, but all finished on time with ceremonies for each flight doling out bright orange ribbons, pewter plates, and medallions, followed by plenty of photos documenting victors. When all was said and done, 84 more canines joined the prestigious MN Hall of Fame—a milestone added to each dog’s pedigree.

The Master National has grown steadily since retriever trials began with fewer than 100 dogs in 1991. That number surged to 800 entries in 2017. While 2024 was not a record-setting year—that honor is held by Thomasville, Georgia, where 1,240 dogs participated in 2023—reviews for the local meet were positive with high marks for plentiful housing, proximity to shopping and a wide variety of eateries. It’s estimated the twelve-day event generated $15-$20 million dollars. Rural King and Shooter’s Supply offered deals to participants, including sales on dog food. One participant spent $1,000 in a single shopping trip.

On the six trial days, forty Future Farmers of America (FFA)—area high school students—arrived by school bus. They worked the tests in five-person teams across eight flights from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Their job—preparing “wingers” and “calling” ducks. College kids worked weekends. A $3,000 donation was made to each school’s club for its work. Entrants praised the students’ professionalism.

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Eighteen breeds competed, including 1,056 labs and 49 goldens. The oldest entry was 13 years; the youngest 13 months. Most dogs were just under six years; some were from Kentucky. Thirty offspring of one sire entered; five pups from each of three females entered.

I attended the trials in search of a dog with a compelling story of recovery to reflect this issue’s theme. My initial contact was with

Tim Kreher, WKWMA’s manager and biologist in charge. While at Headquarters I met Mia DiBenedetto, Communications and Public Relations Director for the AKC Master National Retriever Club. Her husband, Jack Combs, chairs the AKC Hunt Test Advisory Committee and during the WKWMA meet oversaw all CallBacks—advising all participants whether they performed well enough to run another day, and if so, when and where. Mia and Jack entered a dog in the meet.

event, Jack Combs, Dime’s handler and co-owner with Mia, earned an Amateur Team Excellent Award.

Within minutes of my arrival, I had leads for several stories; more emerged each day. Before arriving I didn’t equate the canines I would meet with professional athletes. I quickly realized, just like pro football players, these dogs are highly-trained athletes who incur common injuries and career-ending ones. Unable to express their pain in words; humans speak for them.

Surrounded by labs and goldens, I was surprised to learn Poodles were the first dogs trained as water retrievers in early 17th Century Germany.

The term “poodle” comes from the word “pudel” or “pudelhund”— German for “water dog.”

I spent the better part of four days on site. It became clear the dog owners and handlers have an immense love of, and respect for, dogs. Their ultimate goal is owning, training and/or handling a dog who achieves Hall of Fame (HOF) status meaning the dog qualified to participate and successfully passed three AKC Master National events—a mark of pride and distinction. “Pass” or “fail,” there are no bad dogs!

To be clear, each of these dogs is a cherished pet. Each is also a significant investment of time, energy and money. And, each has a unique personality, awesome skills, and admiration for the hand that feeds it, as well as its own favorite treat and toy.

One fact stressed multiple times was a retriever event is not a “competition.” Unlike conformation trials where dogs place first, second and third, retrievers do not compete against one another; they strive to meet a written “standard.” To qualify to run in the Master National event, the dog must accrue six passes at AKC hunt tests that year. When a dog passes the Master National Event, it receives two qualifications for the next qualifying year (August 1 through July 31).

There is an exception for Hall of Fame retrievers. Once a dog earns an MNH title, it can enter the event each year, without new passes.

The dog is certainly the star of this show, but it’s far from a solo act. It’s a “team” effort, combining a dog and one or more humans. Some dogs are trained and handled (worked and shown) by the owner; others are schooled by a professional trainer who may also handle the dog during the event. Dog breeders play a valuable role too—puppies with champion bloodlines are a lucrative business.

Because every dog may “pass” each Master National trial, there is much camaraderie among these trainers, handlers and owners. They readily share tips and tricks with one another and invite other dog owners to private training sessions. It’s a collegial, supportive community since everyone can take home a “winner” depending entirely on the dog’s performance during the test. It’s also a family affair. There were plenty of families with babies and young kids.

“Dime’s” owners learned about the sport from friends who train labrador retrievers. “Dime” stands about 15.5” tall. She’s smallish for a Standard Poodle, but elegant with a calm demeanor and lovely steel gray coat.

The first Poodle retrievers were not the fancy sheered Poodles commonly seen today—that began during the reign of Louis XVI— when dogs were coiffed to match the style of 18th Century French nobility. It wasn’t totally frivolous, a well-groomed coat is an asset to a working Poodle. The thick outer coat becomes heavy when wet so the lower half of the body is often shorn to help the dog float. Long hair is kept over its chest and head to retain warmth in cold water.

“Bracelets” of hair around the ankles protect joints from rheumatism and a pompadour or topknot keeps long hair out of the dog’s eyes while swimming. A Short History of Poodle Grooming, pedigree.com.

Jack and Mia invest in Poodles for a practical reason. Jack is highly allergic, but after visiting a game fair in England, they were intrigued by seeing Poodles work and began searching for a Poodle to train, locating a Colorado breeder whose dogs had champion bloodlines.

Having short curly hair rather than fur, Poodles are considered a hypoallergenic breed. They still produce dander, but shedding is minimal and while still possible, allergic reactions are less likely.

Dogster.com; Vetranch.org.

“Dime” was not Jack and Mia’s first Poodle. Her mother, registered name "Bibelot’s Tolka Hands Up MH81," call name “Ten,” also a champion retriever, was the first Poodle to qualify at a MN. “Ten” has a unique recovery story. She underwent cataract surgery on both eyes at age eight. She succumbed to cancer four years later. “Dime’s” daughter, call name “Zehn,” also retrieves and was “Dime’s” traveling companion at the WKWMA. Jack, Mia and Ten were living in Wisconsin. “Ten” was performing well, but her vision began to fail. She could not see where the birds she was to retrieve were landing. When her declining eyesight hindered

“DIME,” ONE OF A KIND Overwhelmingly, most dogs were labrador or golden retrievers, but there was one singleton in the bunch—“Dime”—the only Poodle entered in the WKWMA meet, formal name, “Duxbury My Ten Cents, MH60 MNH SHU.” She began entering the annual MN in 2009, and became the first Poodle to qualify at three AKC MN Retriever Club events (2019, 2021 and 2023), earning the title Master National Hunter (MNH). In Thomasville, Georgia, in 2023, “Dime” was the first Poodle inducted into the AKC Retriever HOF—a first for her breed.

Because of that win, “Dime” never has to qualify again. At the same www.EmbracingTheAged.com

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her performance, it was decided “Ten” would undergo cataract surgery to prolong her career.

The procedure was performed by a veterinarian trained as an ophthalmologist and then board certified.

The procedure for a dog is no different than for a human, but the price tag can be more than triple; the price for “Ten’s” procedure was not regulated

by Medicare. The surgery was successful and extended her retrieving career, but Mia said they probably wouldn’t choose that route again. “Ten” wore a “cone” for eight weeks to prevent rubbing her eyes while on a leash the entire time. Mia admitted it was difficult managing “Ten’s” recovery. Like humans, eye Dime and Mia drops had to be applied on a rigid schedule. “Ten” had an alternate career. Upon completing 400 therapy visits she earned the title, AKC Therapy Dog Distinguished.

Back to “Dime,” she’s not just a pretty face with a talent for retrieving.

Like her mother, “Dime” moonlights as a therapy dog. Every Tuesday at 2:00 p.m., Mia drives “Dime” to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to visit patients.

When I asked Mia whether “Dime’s” retriever training prepared her to make therapy visits, she initially said no, but then agreed there could be a connection because “Dime” must calmly wait “at the line” before being dispatched to retrieve birds.

Each Monday, a nurse surveys patients and makes Tuesday appointments for those requesting a visit with “Dime.” Mia knows she and “Dime” aren’t “curing” anyone, it’s an opportunity to calm patients, brighten someone’s day, and perhaps relieve anxiety or

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fear. Mia said patients love patting “Dime’s” head because of her soft pompadour.

Hospital patients aren’t the only ones benefiting from “Dime’s” visits.

She also attends hospital staff events to provide stress relief to doctors and nurses.

After the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, therapy dogs were lauded as “great listeners.” Lutheran Church Charities in Addison, Illinois, dispatched five specially-trained golden retrievers to Boston, two of them traveling from an assignment in Connecticut where they had been comforting children and parents of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Beginning at six weeks of age, each golden began up to a year of training followed by a year of service before receiving its first assignment. See, “Like furry counselors,” today.com.

“Dime” has been trained in basic obedience, learning to sit quietly at a patient’s bedside. She and Mia belong to the Alliance of Therapy Dogs.

Hospitals often acclimate service animals working in their facilities to wheelchair traffic and train them to ignore noisy falling bedpans.

Chatting with other participants in the MN trials, I learned several owners have pups who are also therapy dogs.

Jack occasionally accompanies Mia and “Dime” during hospital visits. He’s seen “Dime” transform children and adults with her mere presence. In his words, “Seeing ‘Dime’ in the hospital comforting a child or an adult who doesn’t feel well, and the smile the dog brings, is phenomenal.”

“STORM,” SHE NEVER GIVES UP Soon after arriving at Flight C, I met Jim and Judy Windham of Leonard, Texas—part of a large contingent of owners, handlers, and trainers from Texas. A former Marine, Jim, now seventy-nine, has been running dogs twenty years or more. The couple will celebrate 58 years of wedded bliss this January. Jim didn’t recall ever spending their anniversary at a retriever event, but they’ve celebrated plenty of birthdays with dogs at hunt tests.

As a boy in Orange, Texas, Jim hunted squirrels with terriers born under the steps of his family home. His favorite dog, “Speedy,” was a “natural.” Knowing squirrels fancied pecans and pine nuts, Speedy simply followed the squirrels to those trees, leaving the rest of the job for Jim to finish.

Jim’s fascination with retrievers began when he hired an Oklahoma dog trainer to take customers bird hunting on a cold, blustery day.

The trainer’s registered dog was named “Sahara’s Casino Ante Up,” call name, “Ante Up.” During the arranged hunt, “Ante Up” retrieved every bird, impressing Jim—but collecting birds wasn’t her only skill.

The trainer told “Ante Up” to sit while Jim

placed birds around the property. “Ante Up” was then told to retrieve the birds, some of which required swimming across frigid water.

After retrieving all the birds, “Ante Up” returned to the trainer and patiently sat at his feet, shivering in the cold, water dripping from her soaked coat. Not until the trainer said, “Shake,” did she shake her body to remove the water. At that point, Jim announced, “I gotta have one.”

Judy and Jim Windham with Storm

With delight, the trainer said, “Ante Up” is expecting; one of her pups, “Signature’s Lady Outlaw Jessie,” a female yellow lab, became Jim’s first event pup. When “Jessie” was about a year old, it was discovered she had bad hips and was not good breeding stock. She was still a strong retriever, achieving titles of HRCH (Hunting Retriever Champion), AKC Master, and two MN Plates. The third MN plate—necessary for induction into the MN Hall of Fame—eluded her. Jim says, “Jessie was a better dog than I was a handler.”

The Windhams acquired Jessie’s little sister, “J and J’s Lily Pearl,” call name “Pearl,” breeding her to “Downtown Cooter Brown.” She bore “Ollie,” (named for Lt. Col. Oliver North), “Bear,” (the male black lab Judy wanted for whom no better name was suited), “Pink,” and “Red,” the last two named for the color of ribbon assigned to each at birth to distinguish it from littermates. The plan was to keep a single pup from each litter. That plan failed from the start.

“Pearl” tore her Achilles Tendon after winning a master title, but her pups collected more than 20 MN plates. Jim explained, “we kept so many puppies because we couldn’t let them go,” and then confided, “it’s easier to become a Secret Service Agent than get a puppy from my wife.” All their pups were born in a guest bedroom.

Jim, an amateur handler of his own dogs, has earned accolades too. In 2022 he was named Handler of the Year—an award voted on by all AKC handlers—5,000 or more—across the nation. It was a total surprise when Charles Pugh, a good friend and fellow Texan, announced the winner to a small group of friends at a dog test. Because Pugh said the winner’s entire name, it took Jim awhile to realize it was him.

When I asked why he thought he received the honor, he said he didn’t think he did anything special, just volunteered and pitched in like everyone else. On reflection, he said he’s had years of experience, tries to get along with everyone, and opens his training facility to others— never turning anyone down, but not always inviting all to return.

He did recall Jack Morris, a professional handler, leaving a test site one night while Jim was still working. When Morris returned at 7:00 a.m. the next morning, Jim was in the same spot doing the same task. It might have given the impression Jim had spent the night, but he had in fact gone home and returned especially early the next day. www.EmbracingTheAged.com

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Since being out of commission a full year, and overcoming paralysis, she’s failed three tests, but she’s also earned one MN plate and two MN Amateur plates. She will try for Hall of Fame status again and may succeed in Spring 2025. That test will be close to home in Giddings, Texas.

Storm’s odds of entering the HOF improved in December 2024 when she achieved her 50th and 51st passes.

Judy told me Storm was in love with Jim from the start.

According to Judy, when it’s time to relax, Storm jumps in Jim’s recliner and scoots to one edge. Jim then sits on the other side and Storm rests her nose on Jim’s cheek.

Jim ran six dogs in one meet – Storm is second from right.

I was introduced to the Windhams because of their female black lab, “River’s Run Wild Black Cloud MH,” call name “Storm”—sometimes called Stormy. She overcame total paralysis to retrieve again.

December 2015, Storm’s career began at Piney Woods Retriever Club in Pearland, Texas. She entered a Derby field trial1 for dogs under the age of two. She did not pass; overly excited, she left the line early causing a fail. She would go on to participate in sixteen tests around Texas through early 2017. Her first travel test was in Colorado in May of 2017. Again, she did not pass. But she did find success in Minnesota a month later, passing her first MN test.

Tragedy struck at age four, July 30, 2021, during a training session at home. While retrieving a bird, Storm made one “yelp” and was immediately paralyzed. Jim ran into the field, collected her, and headed straight to Blue Pearl Pet Hospital in Lewisville, Texas, a special emergency vet clinic. An embolism had entered Storm’s spine causing paralysis. The surgeon, Dr. Ben Williams, said it was not an injury and surgery would not help. The only option—long, drawn-out therapy which began in two to three days’ time.

Jim built a sling to carry Storm to the bathroom. Judy and Jim “moved” Storm’s legs for her; for six to eight weeks, Storm could not control her hips and legs. In time, Jim exerted more pressure on Storm’s back. In two to three months, she had regained some movement. With daily exercise, she began walking slowly. After six weeks, she was taking daily walks. Eventually, she could walk a straight line.

Storm tackled the barn next. Jim and Judy walked her up and down steps. They worked with a woman from California using harnesses and modifying the same blue, red and yellow elastic bands people use to build strength to rehab Storm. Ten weeks later, the vet said, “try her on her own.” Jim and Judy continued therapy a few more weeks— Jim was especially nervous. Things finally clicked. Storm still has difficulty—she’s much slower to sit than most dogs—but she gets there.

After nine months, the vet said Storm’s brain must find a way to tell her hips to work. Water therapy helped. A “good swimmer, Storm swam a lot—and being in water was an easier rehab regimen—it’s just that her rear wobbles a bit.” According to Jim, “Storm doesn’t stop; she’s never stopped. Retrieving is a game for her.” The vet still keeps tabs on Storm.

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Now ten, Storm ran in the WKWMA trials; she did not receive a CallBack for the last day of trials; her blind retrieve was judged "to be off." Jim suspects Storm has arthritis in her hip. While the lifespan of an event lab depends on many factors, it is usually between ten and fourteen years.

Jim has a deep kennel. He brought “Otis,” a four-yearold male black lab named for Otis Redding to the WKWMA, and “Walt,” an eleven-year-old golden named for USMC General Lewis William “Lew” Walt, Assistant Marine Commandant Infantry Platoon Commander. “Walt” has plenty of hardware—he holds six MN plates and is in both the MN and MN Amateur Halls of Fame. The Windham’s youngest golden is named “Huey,” in honor of the US Marine Corp’s favorite bird—a utility helicopter that carried injured soldiers off the battlefield. The military theme is obvious. Jim was a 1st Lt., Infantry Platoon Commander. Stationed at Camp Pendleton, he provided security for President Richard Nixon while at the Western White House in San Clemente, California.

After a string of black labs, I asked what prompted the switch to goldens. Jim’s quick response, “Judy wanted them.” To Jim, retrievers are pure fun, but he admits breeding rights and titles are nice. He strives for his dogs to succeed—to him, the titles show each dog’s work ethic, ability, eagerness, and devotion.

I asked Jim to name three things he’s learned from training dogs. First, patience. You can’t rush them and, if you skip a step, you’ll lose time backtracking and not get the desired result. Two, dogs give 100% every time they go out. Don’t let them overdo—whether it’s overeating or overexerting in cold/hot weather, they’re still dogs—think for them.

Judy says train a dog like you’re training a five-year-old—practice repetition. Three, what seems intuitive to you may not be so obvious to the dog. You might need to find a different way to teach a dog a new goal. Be creative.

The Windhams have traveled from Maine to Oregon for AKC events.

Jim described a “good dog” as “one who looks you in the eye—they’ve got to do it for you.” He also said littermates don’t usually perform well, but Jim had three that were super performers.

Some participants in this year’s trials came to Western Kentucky a month early to train. Jim and Judy arrived at Kentucky Lake more than two weeks before trials started. Jim admitted, “dogs keep me young!”

I’ve shared two stories of crippling conditions that could have shortened a dog’s career or life. Because retrieving is a team sport, dogs aren’t always the ones needing help; dogs are caregivers too, stimulating human healing. That’s the focus of this third vignette.

Unlike AKC hunt tests where dogs receive a pass or fail for each run, an AKC field trial is a competition awarding ribbons to first, second, third and fourth place winners.

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Embracing Our Age | Winter 2025

“NEO” AND “TIP” Jace Tramontin, 57, lives in Hibbing, Minnesota. He worked in technology for public schools before retiring with 28 years of service.

His wife, Denise, worked in ophthalmology. The couple has two adult sons.

Jace and Denise launched their retriever journey in 2002. Their first dog, a male black lab named “JTs Tip Trouble” call name "Tip," was purchased at a banquet auction. During the bidding, Jace went to the bar where he soon realized he was bidding against Denise, so he stopped. Denise won the auction by $300.

Once home, Denise began training Tip, then handling the dog, eventually becoming a judge. Denise was passionate about retrieving and devoted to the Master National—as a participant and as a worker.

Tip qualified for the Master National in 2008, becoming the couple’s first Master National Hall of Fame dog in 2012. He passed away 3 months later.

This led them to acquire a second male black lab, now going on twelve years of age, named "JTs Double Trouble Alter Ego MNH6 MAH6 QA2," call name "Neo." He became their second dog to enter the Master National Hall of Fame in 2021. He’s now passed the Master National six times; 2016, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and the 2024 WKWMA trials.

dog” during a hunt test. Death can come to anyone at any time.

Fast forward to 2022. Neo participated in the Master National in Oregon with Denise and Jace in tow. Neo passed the trials, and the trio returned home.

The next morning, October 11, 2022, Denise headed to town for a medical appointment. From inside the house, Jace heard a crash. He reached the collision at the end of their driveway before first responders arrived.

Jace entered through the car’s passenger side and removed Denise’s foot from the pedal of her Honda Fit to turn off the car. Denise was dead.

In 2008, their home club, Minnesota Iron Range Retriever Club, was to host the Master National. In 2007, Jace and Denise went to Richmond, Virginia, to observe and learn the ropes. While there, they met national folks and learned expectations for their time in the spotlight.

The accident presented multiple realizations for Jace. Because he was on scene and saw the aftermath, there were no unanswered questions, no “what ifs.” Then, “I can’t change it; I can’t hide from it. The other driver survived; she was a younger driver taking her little sister to school. The other family wanted to reach out immediately. I wasn’t ready.”

Denise helped found a retriever club; Jace served as president of a local club and served as a national officer—including Master National Retriever Club President in 2016. The two always attended national retriever events together—traveling coast-to-coast and touching all fifty states—the epitome of helpmates.

Ten weeks later, on December 27, 2022, Jace’s mom died after a threeyear bout with lung cancer. Jace found his mom in her home while doing a post-Christmas welfare check. Ironically, during his mom’s illness, Jace and Denise discussed what they would do if one of them died.

Jace explained, “Dogs were our vacation, sightseeing as we drove. We traveled in a Dodge Caravan, just us and two dogs. The dogs were quiet. My wife slept through most of the US.”

Nine months to a year later, Jace talked with the other family. “It was time, I was ready. Neither girl had needed care just after the collision, they were in a larger Jeep. It was good to meet and talk with them to bring closure to an unfortunate situation.”

In 2015 or 2016, Jace bought a truck from the estate of a friend who passed away from a heart event while standing “at the line with his

As Jace and I continued chatting, he spoke of the power of dogs and retrievers in particular. “Dogs get you into the sport; the people keep you in the sport. It’s a fun activity; it’s camaraderie. I enjoyed hearing descriptions of my wife’s life from those she encountered working retriever events. They were kind and easy to talk to. Some things even surprised me.”

“Our next big event would have been the 2023 Master Amateur in Texas. Neo had qualified to run. Neo and I competed five to six months after Denise’s death. I told myself, ‘I’ve got to continue. It brought me closer to Denise.’”

Neo is clearly a very good dog, having passed the Master Amateur Invitational six times making him one of only three dogs in the nation to accomplish this feat.

I went in search of one dog with a story; I found several. Recovery comes in all shapes and sizes—occasionally while holding a leash attached to a four-legged companion with a wet nose.

Attending the Master National was a privilege and an opportunity I won’t forget. 

Jace and late wife, Denise www.EmbracingTheAged.com

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THE 2024 TRAIL OF TREES AND WHITE CHRISTMAS BALL,

in support of the Embracing the Aged Foundation, was held on December 5 at The Commonwealth Event Center. It was a glamorous night filled with laughter, silent and live auctions, grab bags, swag, photos, a decadent meal, and seasonal music from Prime Rib. A sold-out crowd learned the Foundation’s mission, and mixed and mingled throughout the evening.

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NeuroRestorative of Paducah Wins “Favorite Christmas Tree” with Stunning White Christmas Design The spirit of the season shined brightly at this year’s White Christmas Ball, where the Embracing the Aged Foundation hosted its highly anticipated tree decorating competition and auction. Out of 11 beautifully crafted entries, one tree captured the hearts of voters — the elegant “White Christmas” tree, a masterpiece of shimmering simplicity and seasonal charm.

This show-stopping tree was designed and decorated by Claire Catlett and Casey Thomas, dedicated staff members of NeuroRestorative of Paducah. Their hard work and artistic vision paid off, earning the coveted title of “Favorite Christmas Tree” as determined by public vote.

The one-day competition on November 8th was a festive flurry of creative energy, with local businesses and organizations pouring their talents into crafting uniquely beautiful trees. Each entry reflected the decorators’ imagination and holiday spirit, transforming the venue into a wonderland of color, texture, and light.

Beyond the celebration of holiday artistry, the event had a greater purpose. Each tree was sold at auction — first through a silent bidding process and then through a live auction during the White Christmas Bowl. Proceeds from the auction benefit the Embracing the Aged Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to supporting seniors with essential daily living needs.

The generosity of NeuroRestorative and other participating businesses was a testament to the community’s compassion and holiday spirit. Their efforts ensure that seniors in the community receive the support they need, making the season a little brighter for all.

Congratulations to NeuroRestorative of Paducah, Claire Catlett, Casey Thomas, and all participants for making this year’s event an inspiring success. Your creativity and generosity will have a lasting impact well beyond the holiday season.

www.EmbracingTheAged.com

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VIEW FROM THE GROUND UP IN GRAVES COUNTY By: Carol Ullerich

T

his article began when I accompanied Paducah’s Open Gate Garden Club on a September field trip to The Gourd Barn in Melber, Kentucky. About 25 years ago, David and Donna Meeks, and their two children, started growing all manner of gourds—seven and a half acres of pumpkins too.

PUMPKINS & GOURDS, OH MY! David and Donna were high school sweethearts. Since age 14 they’ve never parted. Donna was a straight A student and Class Valedictorian.

David credits her with helping him with his studies. Donna was secretary at Paducah’s Broadway Church of Christ. David taught welding at Mayfield Graves County Vocational School for 17 years before becoming the Cooperative Education Coordinator at West Kentucky Community and Technical College where he stayed another 13 years, amassing more than thirty years in education. Both now retired, neither has slowed. David is not shy to say he has enjoyed a good life.

If you’re a West Kentucky native, as a child you may have visited the now-closed Pumpkin Barn with its colorful fields of plump pumpkins, or perhaps as a teacher chaperoning a class of curious kids. For about a decade, it was a favorite Fall weekday field trip for area schools. David retooled an old cotton wagon to transport 100 children and ten adults at a time around the field. Each child went home with a free pumpkin.

On weekends, church groups visited.

The family sold thousands of homegrown pumpkins every year; they sold so many they could not keep up with demand. When they ran out of homegrown pumpkins, David bought additional pumpkins from large growers in surrounding states—that quickly became unsustainable. The Meeks gave pumpkins to children at no cost and charged nothing for visits, rides, and refreshments; it was all free for the pure joy of seeing children explore a working farm.

After about a decade, the family determined it was time to shutter the Pumpkin Barn. The old barn—where dark-fired tobacco was once cured, and then pumpkins were stored and sold—still stands at the edge of the road, surrounded by fenced pastures of cattle and miniature donkeys.

The family still grows and sells pumpkins, but their primary focus is now gourds which have become another big success—attracting

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customers from around the nation and Canada. Initially I thought pumpkins and gourds were the extent of this story. As you’ll soon read, they were just the beginning!

Around 2010, David built a 30’ x 80’ arbor on which he grows about 30 varieties of gourds. The business took off and has grown exponentially, attracting national interest from artists, growers, and buyers. It’s primarily a family project for the adults (David and Donna, their two adult kids and their spouses, plus six grandkids and seven great grandkids—with two more babies expected in the next few months).

Neighbors pitch in too.

1,500 packets of 15 seeds each were prepared and sold in 2023. Donna oversees the mail-order business. “Cannonball” is the best-seller. It’s round and grows to about the size of a softball. Artists buy them for various crafts, but David doesn’t know why that variety is so popular.

In addition to mailorder sales, artists and gourd enthusiasts—some participants in Mayfield’s Gourd Festival—travel vast distances to tiny Melber to purchase gourds. During the garden club’s visit, two artists arrived from Nashville to buy gourd “canvases” to paint. David has been told he has the best gourds with a large supply, many varieties from which to choose, and very reasonable prices.

Diane Daubert of Murray met David at the Mayfield Gourd Festival. He freely shared his knowledge of gourds with her and she now visits the Gourd Barn two or three times a year, returning because David has the best prices and

grows such a wide variety of gourds— “he has every kind of gourd,” and he’s able to suggest the best type of gourd for particular projects.

“Plus, his family is wonderful.”

When we chatted, Diane had just returned from a visit to Ghost Gourds near Mammoth Cave.

She’s tried to grow a few gourds herself, but she has limited space and gourd vines tend to run.

Diane is a mixed media artist with a degree from Murray State. She likes the challenge presented by gourds. “I’m working with something from nature that isn’t flat—it has dimension and personality.” View a portion of her portfolio on Facebook at Diane’s Gourd Art. Janet from Paducah is another frequent customer. She also met David at the Mayfield Gourd Festival. She loves painting gourds— each a one-of-a-kind freehand creation. She visits The Gourd Barn for many reasons— it’s an easy drive; she finds good quality specimens; she knows the Meeks personally; and she likes shopping near home. For her, painting gourds is a trifecta: hobby; therapy; and form of expression.

A grower in Alabama learned about The Gourd Barn from a Facebook ad. He traveled to Melber three times in 2024, making the 300-mile trip to keep his customers happy and because David offers such a wide variety.

David begins harvesting gourd seeds before Thanksgiving. It’s a slow process that could last six weeks or more. He tries to finish before Christmas. It’s not an arduous job—just time-consuming.

After collecting the seed he performs a “float test,” washing all seed in a dishpan filled with cold water. Anything that floats won’t germinate so it’s discarded. David may have so many returning customers because he goes the extra mile to ensure he’s providing a viable product—the best product possible. Plus, he’s an amiable guy. His eyes positively sparkle when he talks about gourds.

About mid-April, he’ll start seeds in 3” peat pots in the greenhouse where they’ll grow until about June first.

When they’ve sprouted three leaves, and the ground is warm, David transplants them into the ground.

A hobby has become a thriving business, but it depends on the vagaries of the weather. 2024’s extreme heat and drought severely diminished yields of some farm crops. David’s longterm investment in drip irrigation saved his pumpkin crop.

Gourds are another story. They’re about 90% water and need about an inch of rain or supplemental water every week. One deep watering of an inch a week promotes deep roots which is the goal. Mulching conserves soil moisture.

While David grows both gourds and pumpkins, they are opposites. Gourds dry like wood, can be carved like wood, last for years, and are rarely grown for food. That dried luffa you use in your shower to exfoliate your skin is a dried gourd. In contrast, most pumpkins are edible, ultimately go flat, and rot. Gourds, pumpkins, melons, squash, and cucumbers are all part of the Cucurbitaceae family. In fact, Cucurbita is Latin for “gourd.” All pumpkins are a type of gourd, but not all gourds are pumpkins.

David usually plants the arbor first. Most gourds are planted about an inch deep; mini gourds are planted only half-an-inch deep. David digs holes with an auger attached to a cordless drill. Initially he used a posthole digger but discovered the auger is easier and quicker.

Spacing depends on the finished size of the gourd. The largest are spaced about six feet apart; smaller ones about three feet apart. That seemed excessive to me until David pointed out a vine can run 40 feet before maturing, growing as much as a foot a day. He’s placed drip tape about a foot above the ground on the arbor posts—in case he needs supplemental water. There are several potential diseases including leaf blight; anthracnose; Cercospora leaf spot; Downy mildew; Powdery mildew; Verticillium wilt and crown rot. Potential pests include squash vine borer and Western striped cucumber beetle. Companion planting with marigolds is an option. plantvillage.psu.edu.

The color of a gourd’s bloom signals its type and purpose. Ornamental gourds have yellow blossoms and open during the day; hardshell gourds have white blossoms and open in late afternoon and at night.

Hardshell gourds have a thick outer rind which dries to a woody shell after months of curing; they are best for woodburning, carving and painting. These include bottle- and birdhouse-types, dippers, baskets and snakes. Hardshell gourds can be used to make vases, baskets, boxes—even musical instruments. Just after dark, David watches orange-eyed moths pollinate these gourds. He sees their eyes reflecting back at him when he casts a low-powered beam of light on the plant.

Apple and martin are two other popular hardshell gourds—their rinds are easier to cut. When you’ve finished your gourd masterpiece, a coat of polyurethane will protect it for years.

Growing gourds allows for creativity. A gourd’s stem may catch an artist’s eye and foretell its use. As David says, “the stem helps sell the gourd.” But the quality of the stem doesn’t impact David’s selling price—that’s determined by variety and size.

Early in the growing process, a gourd’s “neck” is malleable, allowing it to be twisted like a pretzel. But not all twisting is successful—about 90% of gourds with a manipulated neck will die—making the ones that mature rare and more valuable.

Sometimes David wraps string around a gourd’s neck to create a candy cane effect. He’s also encased a baby gourd in a glass jar embossed with a design. It’s tricky, the jar’s design must be INSIDE the jar and those jars are rare. With the right jar, as the gourd grows, the jar’s design grows into the gourd. That’s a one-time shot, the jar must be broken to free the gourd. Other times, to protect the valuable stem, David www.EmbracingTheAged.com

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encases a single gourd in a pair of pantyhose to support the weight of the gourd and suspends it from the arbor made from heavy-duty wire.

He learned the pantyhose trick from a YouTube video. His daughter bought him eighty pairs of pantyhose to keep him supplied for two years. He goes through 40-45 pairs each season. The arbor’s “ceiling” and “walls” are made of 8’ x 20’ wire panels.

Harvesting pumpkins begins mid-September. Picking gourds begins late October—after a killing frost. Deer are a menace—they eat pumpkin blooms. David says fencing a pumpkin patch isn’t practical.

The fence would have to be ten feet tall and probably wouldn’t protect the crop. Rabbits don’t bother the gourds or the pumpkins, but they do dine on David’s vegetable patch!

BREAD OF LIFE (BOL) After teaching me about gourds and touring the field and arbor, David invited me to return the next week. I joined him at the former Lowe’s Funeral Home in Lowes, Kentucky. It’s been converted into meeting, work and warehouse space and deeded to Bread of Life Humanitarian Effort, part of the Ministry of Churches of Christ, in memory of Roy and Dessie Lowe.

Twenty-five Church of Christ congregations in far West Kentucky use the building as base of operations for disaster relief. This part of the BOL ministry specializes in multiple forms of disaster relief, including debris removal and tarping roofs. They also collect items donated by church members (and anyone seeking a place to give) to assemble hygiene, infant, school supply, and first aid kits which are distributed when responding to stricken areas. 130 hygiene kits were delivered to the Merryman House, Community Kitchen, and other relief groups in Paducah on December 23.

The group has learned community needs continue well after initial response to a disaster subsides. Some kits are distributed to women’s shelters and community warming centers; a stash of backpacks filled with school items is maintained for children.

BOL is clearly a passion project for David. Many years ago, he attended an auction of items at a school—the source of sturdy wooden tabletops that were in good shape. He had no idea how they would be used— until it was time to outfit the BOL building. Frames were built, tops attached, and they’ve served their new purpose since about 2005.

CALLING ALL QUILTERS A large room in the BOL building is dedicated to quilting. Six women gather there Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. They’ve never had a male quilter, but men are welcome to join as is anyone interested in quilting, whether to learn or to teach.

I was told anyone who can pick up a needle can learn to quilt. The size of your stitches shouldn’t discourage you; once you “shake out the quilt” you won’t notice the stitch size.

Kay Mabry learned to quilt by watching older women; they bragged on her, and decades later she’s still quilting. The group bought a new quilting machine but continue quilting by hand, not having taken time to learn the new machine’s capabilities. If you’re familiar with quilting machines, share your knowledge and experience with the ladies.

Kay said quilting takes patience, but people appreciate it, and she enjoys it. There was lively conversation around the table during my visit.

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Some of the women taught their grandkids to quilt. For the most part, they’ve noticed young people can’t sit still long enough to be productive—they spend too much time on their phones. The ladies agree quilting is a lost art, but they happily practice it and share their tips with others. Bring your lunch or stop at the Signature Barbeque Store across the street—it’s an old grocery turned into a restaurant serving hot plates, cold cuts and desserts.

During my visit, I met Kay, Janice Nicholson and Joyce Turner. Three other regulars, Debra Caldwell, Becky Thompson and Debra Cates, were absent that day. The ladies normally have two quilts underway at any given time. They do not make quilt tops; they only quilt them. They shared scrapbooks of prior projects.

The cost to quilt a California King is $350, with payment being a donation to BOL to continue its charitable work. Quilting one day a week, it takes the ladies about eight to nine weeks to finish a quilt.

Mabry taught her granddaughter to quilt at age 5. Kay’s neighbor— Martha Beckham—was also a quilter. Until 2005, six to eight women quilted at the Melber Church of Christ; Kay was the youngest. In 2006, Dorothy Hays began quilting at home. She’s known for making log cabin quilts.

Several ready-made quilt tops have been donated to BOL and are available for purchase. You can quilt the top yourself, or pay the ladies to quilt for you with the cost being donated to BOL. If you have a quilt you’d like to donate—either finished or unfinished— the ladies will accept and resell it with proceeds funding BOL projects.

The ladies also accept fabric—especially cotton fabric—thread and sewing implements. They have plenty of sewing machines but accept donated items and resell them to benefit BOL and its activities. Due to COVID and a spate of recent surgeries, the ladies haven’t been as regular in attending Wednesday quilting bees, but plan to resume their weekly schedule in early 2025.

DISASTER RELIEF The local BOL ministry started in 2005 when there were very few such initiatives. The group of men and women has made a difference in more than 30 states, clearing hundreds of homeowner yards. Pictures of relief trips line the walls of BOL headquarters. The group remains in a state of readiness, keeping an inventory for future disasters and distributing kits quarterly.

George Glover of Northside Church of Christ in Mayfield is Executive Director of the Lowe’s BOL ministry. He oversees a 15-member board with members from different congregations within the 25-church area.

A retired woodworking teacher from Mayfield, Glover previously traveled to disaster sites with the recovery team. He no longer participates in weeklong trips, choosing to travel only when he can return home each night.

He misses going with the team and making a difference. He spoke of being on site in Norman, Oklahoma, where he asked a City Planner one night at dinner whether monetary donations would be more helpful than sending a team of workers. The answer surprised him. The Planner said, “These people are in shock. Teams of relief workers are way better than money. When these people see rescue workers appear, and know they’ve traveled a long distance to help them, they know help has arrived. It’s tremendous moral support for the community.”

David is the Ministry’s Operations Director and Assistant Director.

In cooperation with Glover, David contacts the church in the disaster area and organizes the voluntary work crew. He is also in charge of day-to-day activities such as the quarterly schedule to collect items for, and assemble, four types of relief kits. Items are donated by members of area Churches of Christ and others. Monetary donations are accepted too. If insufficient toothpaste or shampoo is collected, donated money is used to purchase needed articles to fill the voids. Items are collected eight months of the year—January, February, April, May, July, August, October and November. Kits are assembled in March, June, September, and December. Direct questions (and mail donations) to Bread of Life Humanitarian Effort, P.O. Box 162, Melber, Kentucky 42069-0162; 270-674-6262; breadoflife@wk.net, or www.lowesbreadoflife.org. A few years ago, BOL received a semitrailer filled with toys. It took three years, but all those toys have now been distributed.

The team’s most recent assignment, October 2024, was in Valdosta, Georgia, where they cut up fallen trees in people’s yards in the wake of Hurricane Helene which hammered North Carolina in September.

About a dozen men and women from West Kentucky were on the ground six days, working at a dozen or more homes. The team travelled in four dually trucks, towing a tractor with a front-end grapple, a wellequipped tool trailer, a skid steer loader and a track hoe. Inside they had hundreds of emergency kits filled with first aid items, hygiene supplies and infant kits. They even had backpacks filled with school supplies.

The packs and kits are needed by those who have lost everything; many lack family, friends and insurance. The team’s first visit to a site is

to provide labor. No one is compensated. Everything is the result of an army of dedicated volunteers.

DEVASTATION AT HOME Lowes is about 13 miles from Mayfield which was struck by a devastating tornado the night of December 10, 2021. A BOL crew arrived in Mayfield at daybreak December 11 and worked in Graves County for a year from daylight to dusk.

BOL is still working in Mayfield where it expanded into construction with the Tiny House project. A Tiny House is designed as temporary housing anchored to the ground like a house trailer rather than a permanently attached building.

Previously, BOL had only cleared debris and tarped roofs. In Mayfield they proposed multiple smaller, temporary buildings—each requiring a two-year government waiver (with an option of extending to three years) from building codes. Ultimately twenty Tiny Houses were built.

Sixteen within Mayfield city limits— serving thirty families between 2021 and 2024, and four units in Graves County where requirements were less demanding. Displaced families lived in the Tiny Houses while awaiting repairs to their homes. One of those homes has now been sent to Mississippi and a second to Missouri. The two remaining county homes are going to a drug rehab facility in Calloway County.

Some of the Tiny Houses were sent to the West Kentucky Youth Camp, a church-sponsored camp. Some went to New Pathways for Children to serve as apartments for young people with a high school diploma.

The student pays minimum rent which goes into escrow and will be returned to the young person when able to move out on his/her own.

BOL also participated in building eight full-size homes for families that lost their home. These homes were built with labor from the Amish and Mennonite communities as a part of their own ministry.

It would seem a quick response is critical, and trucks should roll immediately, but BOL has learned patience is a good thing. It’s necessary to have permits and insurance assessments in place before hitting the road. Churches near the disaster zone become staging areas where relief workers eat and sleep—those with resources to dedicate must be identified and equipped to receive, house and feed traveling relief workers. It could be one or two weeks after the disaster before BOL heads to its assignment.

September 16, 2024, North Carolina was pummeled by Hurricane Helene. Communities around Asheville are still in need, but offers of supplies are sometimes declined because there’s no room to store donations. The Lowes BOL recently sent $25,000 cash to Asheville.

In Weaverville, NC, near Asheville, some who lost their homes were sleeping in tents. While items were being organized for the December assembly of hygiene kits in Lowes, Mark Rogers of Glendale Road Church of Christ in Murray, stopped at BOL HQ. He was returning from delivering hygiene kits, generators, new clothes, and sleepwear www.EmbracingTheAged.com

37

HOW CAN DOL BILLING ASSOCIATES HELP YOUR BUSINESS?

Anne Ellis BSN RN Owner/CEO CFO a.ellis@dolbilling.net Phone: 618-294-6591 Stacy Greer RN Owner/COO s.greer@dolbilling.net Phone: 270-216-2968

38

Embracing Our Age | Winter 2025

to a Weaverville church with just eighteen members. Sharing his experience, he said, “those people have nothing; Tiny Houses aren’t an option because of the electric code.”

MAYFIELD’S STORY The focus of this issue is recovery. It’s hard to think of a better comeback story than the one underway in Mayfield. December10,2024, marked three years since an EF-4 tornado destroyed much of the community and claimed 24 local lives. I spoke with Mayor Kathy O’Nan December 11, 2024, the day after the anniversary.

I asked Mayor O’Nan to describe the weather in the afternoon before the tornado hit that night. She remembered it well. “At 2:00 p.m. it was muggy and humid—it felt like a day at the beach.” She had an afternoon appointment to which she wore no coat, black leggings and a Christmas shirt.

The tornado struck at 9:26 p.m. and nothing was ever the same. She received a call from the police chief saying Mayfield took a direct hit, she thought to herself, “I should put on a better shirt.” When the fire chief couldn’t free fire engines from the station house, she thought she’d walk the four blocks to town. Then she thought, if I fall and no one can reach me things will be worse, so she stayed put. A city police officer reached her home in about twenty minutes. There was one massive generator at the police station lighting downtown. The hospital sent a triage team to the fire station.

The State Transportation Cabinet quickly dispatched a team to begin repairing city streets. The city school bus garage was hit so no city buses were available for emergency transport, but county buses came.

As dawn approached, all was eerily quiet.

Mayor O’Nan stepped outside about 6:15 a.m. She entered the fire station, stood facing a corner, and cried uncontrollably. The day after the tornado was overcast.

In time, a Facebook page developed to retrieve papers and photos strewn across other states. An American flag was on the ground near the fire department. Watching firefighters meticulously fold the flag, Mayor O’Nan assumed it was the flag that had flown over the fire department. She began echoing a story of strength and hope—"one day this flag will again fly over the new fire station.” No one had the Photo submitted by heart to tell her it wasn’t the fire Mayor Kathy O'Nan department’s flag. Assessment of the full extent of the devastation from the Friday night tornado would not truly begin until Monday morning.

The local Fairgrounds became a staging area for services. Mayor O’Nan is “most impressed by the amount of help that arrived in Mayfield from everywhere and the time they stayed. It was two weeks until Christmas Day. These parents should have been home attending school events with their kids and buying Christmas presents for their families; instead, they chose to be in Mayfield searching for bodies and moving debris. Their kindness tells me people are good. When you’ve been through a disaster, you realize what a good thing it is to help.”

In her frequent travels, when people hear she’s from “Mayfield,” people share their connection to the small town. One woman said her husband cooked for people in Mayfield during the cleanup. And that’s not a unique response.

In addition to the Tiny Houses already described, Samaritan’s Purse has developed New Hope Acres, a new subdivision with sixty two-, three-, and four- bedroom homes. Each is built for a first-time homeowner—all these residents previously rented living space. Another

Photo by Joseph Kelly www.EmbracingTheAged.com

39

first—each new home’s bathroom is a secure room in which to take cover during a tornado. The only remaining amenity to install is streetlights.

Mayfield lost seven churches that night. By the end of 2026, O’Nan predicts three of the larger churches will have been rebuilt. One is rebuilding in a new location; two are currently preparing ground.

Only one business, K&N Root Beer on South 9th Street closed; the owner chose to retire.

O’Nan has learned recovery starts with a community’s own people.

She feared the devastation was so complete people would not return, but quickly realized Mayfield is home for those who were displaced.

They immediately began planning to rebuild. I asked to what she attributed that “can do” and “will do” attitude. She said a “big factor was the relentless media coverage. No matter where one traveled in the nation, Mayfield was in and on the news. Mayfield’s population isn’t transient—most of our families have lived here generations; we are a family. And the tragedy at the candle factory was broadcast around the nation and the world. When I travel and say I’m from ‘Mayfield,’ or give my address as ‘Mayfield,’ the response is always, ‘that’s where that tornado hit.’ That will be the first response for a long time.”

O’Nan lives on Broadway, just four blocks from the city center. She and her property fared well. When the severe weather hit Casey and Reelfoot, about 9:15 p.m. that night, she went to her basement where she rode out the tornado which hit Mayfield at 9:26 p.m. The precise times are etched in her memory. She paid attention to the news— until she lost power. She was about half a mile from the candle factory when the tornado hit; it sounded to her like the roar of a jet engine.

She gives continual thanks to WPSD-TV weather forecasters Noah Bergren and Trent Okerson. “They spoke with an urgency that night. Because of them, the people of Mayfield understood what was coming.” She attended a National Weather Service conference afterwards where she asked, “what do you do when you know a tornado is coming and then you hear it?” She told the weathercasters, “I’ve never paid enough attention to what you do.”

As mayor, the city did not provide housing, but Governor Andy Beshear opened state parks to displaced persons. A stressful part for O’Nan has been so many folks believing Mayfield would bounce back immediately, as if the massive tornado was just a minor inconvenience.

Three years on, much of Mayfield remains a blank slate waiting to be transformed. She understands residents are frustrated work hasn’t progressed faster. Residents aren’t alone. She said, “It’s something city employees think about continuously. The first year was devoted to debris removal. The second year was planning. The third year has been construction. People are now beginning to see things come to fruition.”

A command post for disaster management was set up at the CFSB Branch on the 45 Bypass. It operated three months. Teams from New York, Virginia and Northern Kentucky assisted with cleanup.  This article highlights several faces of recovery. My takeaway: whether one is growing gourds and pumpkins; cleaning up after a disaster in one’s own backyard or another state; or rebuilding a town, with pluck and grit, people find ways to use their talents to help those around them move forward. That’s certainly the spirit I encountered in Graves County.

Reach David Meeks at 270-705-3231; learn about gourds at www.thegourdbarn.com.

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Embracing Our Age | Winter 2025

Free Horticulture Programs January 7: Winter Sowing February 4: Evergreen Propagation

This event occurs at Evergreens Greenhouse, Coffeehouse & Wine Bar, 4677 Alben Barkley Drive, Paducah, KY

March 4: Native Plants April 1: Fairy Gardens Unless otherwise noted, programs occur at:

UK McCracken County Extension Service 2025 New Holt Road Paducah, KY 42001

All Meetings 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Must RSVP 270-554-9520

www.EmbracingTheAged.com

41

Home HEALTH MEDICAL BALLARD CO. See surrounding counties.

CALDWELL CO. CALDWELL COUNTY HOSPITAL HOME HEALTH AGENCY

Services are listed by county to show what services are closest to your location. If you do not see an office in your county, then search surrounding counties. Most businesses serve a large area.

HomeCare & Hospice Payor Sources: all payor sources including Medicare, Medicaid and Private Insurances

LIVINGSTON CO.

(270) 365-2011 1310 US-62, Princeton, KY 42445 Medicare & Private Ins

See surrounding counties.

CALLOWAY CO.

MARSHALL CO.

INTREPID USA HEALTHCARE SERVICES

MARSHALL COUNTY HOSPITAL HOME HEALTH

LYON CO. See surrounding counties.

SUPPORTIVE CARE OUTPATIENT (SCOP) Provider visits in the home setting

(270) 415-6100 25 Medical Center Drive, Suite 203 Paducah, KY 42003 SCOP Payor Sources: all payor sources including private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid

TRIGG CO. CARETENDERS HOME HEALTH

(270) 753-1434 1616 Hwy 121 Bypass, Ste C, Murray, KY 42071 Medicare, Veteran’s Benefits, Private Ins, and Medicaid

(270) 527-8084 673 Old Symsonia Rd, Benton, KY 42025 Medicare Replacement Insurance *No Private Insurance

(270) 522-0488 72 Lone Oak Dr, Cadiz, KY 42211 Medicare & Private Ins

CARLISLE CO.

MCCRACKEN CO.

(270) 885-6353 210 Burley Ave # A, Hopkinsville, KY 42240 Medicare & Private Ins

See surrounding counties.

FULTON CO. LIFELINE HEALTH CARE OF FULTON

(270) 472-2294 309 Main St, Fulton, KY 42041 Medicare, Private Ins

GRAVES CO. INTREPID USA HEALTHCARE

(800) 437-2001 1025 Paducah Rd Suite A, Mayfield, KY 42066 Payment Medicare, Veteran’s Benefits, Private Ins.

LIFELINE OF JACKSON PURCHASE HOME HEALTH

(270) 753-5656 1011 Paris Rd #345, Mayfield, KY 42066 Medicare Advantage Plans

MERCY HEALTH HOMECARE & MERCY HEALTH HOSPICE (270) 415-3636 305 Wyatt Drive, Suite B Mayfield, KY 42053

42

BAPTIST HEALTH HOME CARE (270) 575-2990 220 Lone Oak Rd, Paducah, KY 42001 Medicaid, Medicare & Private Ins

BRIGHTMORE HOME CARE OF KENTUCKY UNITED ENERGY WORKERS HEALTHCARE

(270) 709-3145 3565 Lone Oak Rd, Suite 4 Paducah, KY 42001 Type: Medical free Services for EEOICPA and RECA beneficiaries. (Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act and Radiation Exposure Compensation Act)

MERCY HEALTH HOME CARE AND HOSPICE

(270) 415-3600 225 Medical Center Dr # 203, Paducah, KY 42003 HomeCare & Hospice Payor Sources: all payor sources including Medicare, Medicaid and Private Insurance

Embracing Our Age | Winter 2025

LIFELINE HEALTH CARE OF WESTERN KY

MASSAC CO., IL BAPTIST HEALTH HOME CARE METROPOLIS

AMEDISYS HOME HEALTH CARE

(731) 886-1113 1509 E. Reelfoot Ave Union City,TN 38261 Medicare & Most Private Ins.

BAPTIST HOSPICE

(731) 884-8617 1201 Bishop St, Union City,TN 38261 In Baptist Memorial Hospital- Union City 3rd Floor Medicare, Medicaid, & Private Ins

EXTENDICARE HOME HEALTH OF WESTERN TENNESSEE (731) 885-0866 1720 E Reelfoot Ave #203 Union City,TN 38261 Medicare and Private Ins

VOLUNTEER HOME CARE

(731) 886-0305 800 E Reelfoot Ave St. 200, Union City,TN 38261 Medicare and Private Ins

WEAKLEY CO., TN ADORATION HOME HEALTH

(618) 524-3661 1003 East Fifth Street, Metropolis, IL 62960 Medicare and Private Ins

(731) 587-2996 135 Kennedy Dr, Martin,TN 38237 Medicare and Private Ins

MERCY HEALTH HOMECARE & MERCY HEALTH HOSPICE

NHC HOMECARE MILAN

(270) 415-3600 704 East Fifth Street, Metropolis, IL 62960 HomeCare & Hospice Payor Sources: all payor sources including Medicare,Medicaid and Private Insurances

OBION CO., TN ADORATION HOME HEALTH

(731) 885-6622 1625 E Reelfoot Ave, Union City,TN 38261 Medicaid, Medicare and Private Ins

(731) 686-7471 14091 S 1st St, Milan,TN 38358 ** Service Obion and Weakley County

TENNESSEE QUALITY CARE HOME HEALTH (731) 587-0072 115 Neal St Suite E & F, Martin,TN 38237 Medicare and Private Ins

Home CARE NON-MEDICAL BALLARD CO.

HICKMAN CO.

See surrounding counties.

See surrounding counties.

CALDWELL CO.

GRAVES CO.

See surrounding counties.

See surrounding counties.

CALLOWAY CO. A PLACE CALLED HOME (270) 753-5990 1406 N 12th Suite C Murray, KY 42071 Private Pay

BLACK PEARL HOME CARE – MURRAY (270) 557-7418 1712 KY-121, Murray KY 42071 Private Pay

CARLISLE CO. See surrounding counties.

FULTON CO.

LIVINGSTON CO. See surrounding counties.

LYON CO. See surrounding counties.

MARSHALL CO. See surrounding counties.

MCCRACKEN CO. BLACK PEARL HOME CARE PADUCAH (270) 557-7418 2520 New Holt Road, Paducah, KY 42001 Price varies per client Payment LTC policies

CARING PEOPLE SERVICES

(270) 575-4529 1049 Jefferson St, Paducah, KY 42001 Type: non-Medical Private Pay

GOLDEN YEARS HOME CARE (270) 564-3526 2855 Jackson St., Paducah KY 42003

TRIGG CO. See surrounding counties.

MASSAC CO., IL See surrounding counties.

OBION CO., TN

HOME INSTEAD

A PLACE CALLED HOME

(270) 558-0301 3429 Lone Oak Rd #5b, Paducah KY 42001 Private Pay

(731) 407-9051 206 E Reelfoot Ave, Union City,TN 38261 Private Pay

PADUCAH NURSES REGISTRY INC

WEAKLEY CO., TN

(270) 554-7344 60 Lakeview Dr # 1, Paducah, KY 42001 Private Pay

SENIOR SOLUTIONS HOME CARE (731) 203-1660 215 Hawks Rd STE 12, Martin,TN 38237 Private Pay and VA

SENIOR HELPERS (270) 707-2273

See surrounding counties.

657 Lone Oak Rd Suite 2, Paducah, KY Private Pay

Veterans AFFAIRS VA KENTUCKY MAYFIELD VA OUTPATIENT CLINIC

1253 Paris Rd A, Mayfield, KY 42066 (270) 247-2455

MAYFIELD FIELD REP

Carol Livingston Cell (270) 556-0474 Fax (270) 495 -0835 carol.livingston@ky.gov

PADUCAH VA OUTPATIENT CLINIC

2620 Perkins Creek Dr, Paducah, KY 42001 (270) 444-8465

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS-KY ROBERT WORDEN, SERVICE OFFICER

270-444-9808 1133 Murray Ave. Paducah, KY 42002

CAROL LIVINGSTON, SSGT. USAF VETERAN KY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FIELD REPRESENTATIVE II Mayfield CBOC (Mondays & Tuesdays) 1253 Paris Dr STE A Mayfield, KY 42066 Paducah CBOC (Wednesdays & Thursdays) 2620 Perkins Creek Dr Paducah, KY 42001 Cell (270) 556-0474 Fax (270) 495 -0835 carol.livingston@ky.gov

ANDY G BURKART, CPCU, CLU, RICP, RHU, AAI, QRV, LLC ALL VETERANS Cell (920) 912-4556 Paducah, KY All Lines Insurance & Retirement Risk Mgmt Assistance (Pro Bono)

VA ILLINOIS MARION VA MEDICAL CENTER (618) 997-5311 2401 W Main St, Marion, IL 62959

WEAKLY COUNTY TN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FIELD REPRESENTATIVE RON CHEATHAM (731) 364-5727 116 W Main St. - G-04, Dresden,TN 38225

VA TENNESSEE

DYERSBURG VA OUTPATIENT

OBION COUNTY TN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FIELD REPRESENTATIVE WALTER “WALT” W. ASHER

(731) 287-7289 Clinic 1067 Vendall Rd, Dyersburg,TN 38024

(731) 885-2781 622 Depot Street Union City,TN 38261

www.EmbracingTheAged.com

43

Home HEALTH MEDICAL BALLARD CO. See surrounding counties.

CALDWELL CO. CALDWELL COUNTY HOSPITAL HOME HEALTH AGENCY

Services are listed by county to show what services are closest to your location. If you do not see an office in your county, then search surrounding counties. Most businesses serve a large area.

HomeCare & Hospice Payor Sources: all payor sources including Medicare, Medicaid and Private Insurances

LIVINGSTON CO.

(270) 365-2011 1310 US-62, Princeton, KY 42445 Medicare & Private Ins

See surrounding counties.

CALLOWAY CO.

MARSHALL CO.

INTREPID USA HEALTHCARE SERVICES

MARSHALL COUNTY HOSPITAL HOME HEALTH

LYON CO. See surrounding counties.

SUPPORTIVE CARE OUTPATIENT (SCOP) Provider visits in the home setting

(270) 415-6100 25 Medical Center Drive, Suite 203 Paducah, KY 42003 SCOP Payor Sources: all payor sources including private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid

TRIGG CO. CARETENDERS HOME HEALTH

(270) 753-1434 1616 Hwy 121 Bypass, Ste C, Murray, KY 42071 Medicare, Veteran’s Benefits, Private Ins, and Medicaid

(270) 527-8084 673 Old Symsonia Rd, Benton, KY 42025 Medicare Replacement Insurance *No Private Insurance

(270) 522-0488 72 Lone Oak Dr, Cadiz, KY 42211 Medicare & Private Ins

CARLISLE CO.

MCCRACKEN CO.

(270) 885-6353 210 Burley Ave # A, Hopkinsville, KY 42240 Medicare & Private Ins

See surrounding counties.

FULTON CO. LIFELINE HEALTH CARE OF FULTON

(270) 472-2294 309 Main St, Fulton, KY 42041 Medicare, Private Ins

GRAVES CO. INTREPID USA HEALTHCARE

(800) 437-2001 1025 Paducah Rd Suite A, Mayfield, KY 42066 Payment Medicare, Veteran’s Benefits, Private Ins.

LIFELINE OF JACKSON PURCHASE HOME HEALTH

(270) 753-5656 1011 Paris Rd #345, Mayfield, KY 42066 Medicare Advantage Plans

MERCY HEALTH HOMECARE & MERCY HEALTH HOSPICE (270) 415-3636 305 Wyatt Drive, Suite B Mayfield, KY 42053

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BAPTIST HEALTH HOME CARE (270) 575-2990 220 Lone Oak Rd, Paducah, KY 42001 Medicaid, Medicare & Private Ins

BRIGHTMORE HOME CARE OF KENTUCKY UNITED ENERGY WORKERS HEALTHCARE

(270) 709-3145 3565 Lone Oak Rd, Suite 4 Paducah, KY 42001 Type: Medical free Services for EEOICPA and RECA beneficiaries. (Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act and Radiation Exposure Compensation Act)

MERCY HEALTH HOME CARE AND HOSPICE

(270) 415-3600 225 Medical Center Dr # 203, Paducah, KY 42003 HomeCare & Hospice Payor Sources: all payor sources including Medicare, Medicaid and Private Insurance

Embracing Our Age | Winter 2025

LIFELINE HEALTH CARE OF WESTERN KY

MASSAC CO., IL BAPTIST HEALTH HOME CARE METROPOLIS

AMEDISYS HOME HEALTH CARE

(731) 886-1113 1509 E. Reelfoot Ave Union City,TN 38261 Medicare & Most Private Ins.

BAPTIST HOSPICE

(731) 884-8617 1201 Bishop St, Union City,TN 38261 In Baptist Memorial Hospital- Union City 3rd Floor Medicare, Medicaid, & Private Ins

EXTENDICARE HOME HEALTH OF WESTERN TENNESSEE (731) 885-0866 1720 E Reelfoot Ave #203 Union City,TN 38261 Medicare and Private Ins

VOLUNTEER HOME CARE

(731) 886-0305 800 E Reelfoot Ave St. 200, Union City,TN 38261 Medicare and Private Ins

WEAKLEY CO., TN ADORATION HOME HEALTH

(618) 524-3661 1003 East Fifth Street, Metropolis, IL 62960 Medicare and Private Ins

(731) 587-2996 135 Kennedy Dr, Martin,TN 38237 Medicare and Private Ins

MERCY HEALTH HOMECARE & MERCY HEALTH HOSPICE

NHC HOMECARE MILAN

(270) 415-3600 704 East Fifth Street, Metropolis, IL 62960 HomeCare & Hospice Payor Sources: all payor sources including Medicare,Medicaid and Private Insurances

OBION CO., TN ADORATION HOME HEALTH

(731) 885-6622 1625 E Reelfoot Ave, Union City,TN 38261 Medicaid, Medicare and Private Ins

(731) 686-7471 14091 S 1st St, Milan,TN 38358 ** Service Obion and Weakley County

TENNESSEE QUALITY CARE HOME HEALTH (731) 587-0072 115 Neal St Suite E & F, Martin,TN 38237 Medicare and Private Ins

Energy Worker SERVICE PROVIDERS Resource Center and Providers list of businesses that provides services to Department of Labor Energy Workers & White Card Holders:

BRIGHTMORE HOME CARE OF KENTUCKY

RESOURCES ENERGY EMPLOYEES COMPENSATION RESOURCE CENTERS 1-866-534-0599 www.dol.gov/agencies/owcp/energy

270-596-7623 www.brightmorehealth.com

NUCLEAR CARE PARTNERS

HOME HEALTH

270-908-3391 www.nuclearcarepartners.com

GIVING HOME HEALTH CARE

ASSISTED LIVING

270-883-6359 www.givinghomehealthcare.com

GAITHER SUITES ASSISTED LIVING

An established Department of Labor Energy Employee Provider www.gaithersuites.com

PROFESSIONAL CASE MANAGEMENT

270-572-4819 www.procasemanagement.com

MEDICAL SUPPLIES

CNS CARES

MOUNTAIN MEDICAL

740-270-8771 www.cnscare.com/ky

1-877-492-2704 www.mmsdme.com

Nonprofits SERVING SENIORS FAMILY SERVICE SOCIETY INC. 827 Joe Clifton Dr., Paducah, KY 42001 (270) 443-4838

KENTUCKY CARE

1901 Kentucky Ave., Paducah, KY 42003 (270) 575-3247

HEART USA PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE 1530 Lone Oak Rd., Paducah, KY 42003 (270) 538-5828

MADE TO STAY

P.O. Box 7802 Paducah, KY 42001 (270) 331-9288

PADUCAH COMMUNITY KITCHEN

1237 Martin Luther King Jr Dr., Paducah, KY 42001 (270) 575-3400

PADUCAH COOPERATIVE MINISTRY 402 Legion Dr., Paducah, KY 42003 (270) 442-6795

PURCHASE AREA DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT

1002 Medical Center Cir., Mayfield, KY 42066 (270) 247-7171

MARTHA’S VINEYARD

1100 N 12th St., Paducah, KY 42001 (270) 575-0021

WESLEY SENIOR MINISTRIES 1615 Appling Rd., Cordova,TN 38016 (901) 213-1939

For a future story, if you're a SENIOR who plays video games, please email your age and preferred game(s) to: seniorswhogame@gmail.com

www.EmbracingTheAged.com

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Medical SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT Many businesses serve multiple counties. They are listed under the county of their main address. Please call to find out what counties they serve.

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

OXYGEN SUPPLIES

SLEEP SUPPLIES

PHARMACY

HEARING AIDES

WOUND CARE

DIABETIC SUPPLIES

EYEGLASSES

MASTECTOMY PRODUCTS

BALLARD CO.

CALLOWAY CO.

MEDCARE PHARMACY AND HOME MEDICAL

AUDIOLOGY & HEARING CENTER

409 Court St, Wickliffe, KY 42087 (270) 335-3172

SUTTON DRUGS OF LA CENTER 234 Broadway St, La Center, KY 42056 (270) 665-5192

CALDWELL CO. ORR MEDICAL EQUIPMENT 108 E Washington St, Princeton, KY 42445 (270) 365-3903

PRINCETON DRUG

103 W Main St, Princeton, KY 42445 (270) 365-5585

AUDIBEL HEARING CENTER 378 US HWY 62 Princeton, KY 42445 (270) 761-1900

1711 State Route 121 Bypass N Murray, KY 42071 (270) 759-7000

1608 HWY 121 Bypass North, Suite F Murray, KY 42071 (270) 759-8889

STONE-LANG COMPANY 424 Lake St, Fulton, KY 42041 (800) 949-5728

GRAVES CO. AUDIBEL HEARING CENTER

STONE-LANG COMPANY

506 N.12th St. Unit 1 Murray, KY 42071 (270) 761-1900

210 S 12th St, Murray, KY 42071 (270) 753-8055

BELTONE HEARING CARE CENTER

WALTER’S FAMILY PHARMACY

707 S 12th St Unit A, Murray, KY 42071 (270) 753-9558

604 S 12th St, Murray, KY 42071 (270) 753-7688

CARLISLE CO. LEGACY OXYGEN & MEDICAL EQUIPMENT 924 S 12th St, Murray, KY 42071 (270) 753-2001

MIRACLE-EAR HEARING AID CENTER 307 N 4th St, Murray, KY 42071 (270) 713-7137

PHARMACY, INC

370 Industrial Road Murray, KY 42071 (270) 762-0602

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ROTECH OF WESTERN KENTUCKY

Embracing Our Age | Winter 2025

BARDWELL PHARMACY 178 US HWY 51 N Bardwell, KY 42023 (270) 628-5445

FULTON CO. EVANS DRUG COMPANY 214 Lake St, Fulton, KY 42041 (270) 472-2421

EVANS TOTAL CARE 214 Lake St, Fulton, KY 42041 (270) 472-2984

DUNCAN CLINIC PHARMACY

1111 Medical Center Circle, Mayfield, KY 42066, 1st Floor Jackson Purchase Medical Pavilion (270) 247-7000

GIBSONS DISCOUNT PHARMACY 1206 Paris Road, Mayfield KY 42066

KENTUCKYCARE MAYFIELD PHARMACY

Coming Soon 110 Kings Dr., Mayfield, Kentucky 42066 (270) 804-7713

STONE’S HEALTH MART PHARMACY

414 S 9th St, Mayfield, KY 42066 (270) 247-3232 Insurance Medicare Part D

HICKMAN CO.

MARSHALL CO.

CLINTON PHARMACY

AT HOME MEDICAL

119 E Clay St, Clinton, KY 42031 (270) 653-5361

BYASSEE DRUGS

107 E Clay St, Clinton KY 42031 (270) 653-2151

LIVINGSTON CO. CLINIC PHARMACY OF KY 141 Hospital Dr, Salem, KY 42078 (270) 988-3230

837 US 69 Benton, KY 42025 (270) 252-0897

BENTON DISCOUNT PHARMACY 2606 Main St, Benton, KY 42025 (270) 527-1409

119 E Main St, Salem, KY 42078 (270) 988-3226

SMITHLAND DRUGS

203 E Adair St, Smithland, KY 42081 (270) 928-2161

LYON CO. AT PENNYRILE HOME MEDICAL 307 East Main, Eddyville, KY 42038 (270) 885-2500

LYON DRUG STORE

201 Main St, Eddyville KY 42038 (270) 388-2236

MCCONNELL HEALTH MART PHARMACY 86 Cedar St, Kuttawa, KY 42055 (270) 388-7371

MOUNTAIN MEDICAL SUPPLY

BELTONE HEARING CARE CENTER

ORR MEDICAL

4570 Pecan Dr, Paducah, KY 42001 (270) 554-6000

CALVERT CITY PHARMACY 906 5th Ave SE, Calvert City, KY 42029 (270) 395-4350

153 US-68, Benton KY, 42025 (270) 527-1404

711 Jefferson St Paducah, KY 42001 (877) 492-2704

3434 Lovelaceville Rd, Paducah, KY 42001 (270) 554-7311

918 Broadway St, Paducah, KY 42001 (270) 443-4594

PHARMACY INC.

DAVIS DRUGS

DRAFFENVILLE PHARMACY GLENN’S PRESCRIPTION CENTER

AUDIOLOGY & HEARING CENTER

120 Cave Thomas Dr Suite B, Paducah, KY 42001 (270) 908-2577

250 Lone Oak Rd Ste A, Paducah, KY 42001 (270) 443-1442

PURCHASE EAR TECHNOLOGY

LEGACY OXYGEN & MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

2008 Broadway St, Paducah, KY 42001 (270) 558-3996

800 Broadway St, Paducah, KY 42001 (270) 442-7887

REIDLAND PHARMACY J&R PHARMACY OF BENTON 817 Main St, Benton, KY 42025 (270) 527-9374

5433 Reidland Rd, Paducah, KY 42003 (270) 898-7313

LINCARE

1051 Husbands RD, Paducah, KY 42003 (270) 443-0957

RICK’S PHARMACY J&R PHARMACY OF DRAFFENVILLE

34 US HWY 68 E, Benton, KY 42025 (270) 527-3135

MIRACLE-EAR HEARING AID CENTER 805 Main St, Benton, KY 42025 (270) 713-2122

MCCRACKEN CO. AUDIBEL HEARING CENTER 130 Brett Chase Suite B, Paducah, KY 42003 (270) 761-1900

3001 Schneidman Road, Paducah, KY 42003 (270) 443-7200

KENTUCKYCARE PADUCAH PHARMACY 125 S. 20th St., Paducah, KY 42001 (270) 408-1584 Fax: (270) 408-1585

ROTECH OF WESTERN KENTUCKY 1914 Broadway St, Paducah, KY 42001 (270) 442-6311

MEDCARE HOME MEDICAL 2800 Clark St, Paducah, KY 42001 (270) 448-2273

STONE-LANG COMPANY

MIRACLE-EAR HEARING AID CENTER

2620 Broadway St, Paducah, KY 42001 (270) 442-3561

4793 Village Square Dr Ste 140, Paducah, KY 42001 (270) 713-7064

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STRAWBERRY HILLS PHARMACY New Holt Rd # D, Paducah, KY 42001 (270) 444-7070

TRIGG CO.

MASSAC CO.

WEAKLEY CO.

CADIZ PHARMACY

RHODES CENTERS FOR BETTER HEARING

MEDICAL RENTALS

435 Lakota Drive, Cadiz, KY 42211 (270) 522-3441

WEST TOWNE PHARMACY 2755 W Park Dr, Paducah, KY 42001 (270) 443-0909

MAIN STREET PHARMACY 289 Main St, Cadiz, KY 42211 (270) 882-2222

202 E 2nd St, Brookport, IL 62910 (618) 309-7163

OBION CO.

152 Mt Pelia Rd, Martin,TN 38237 731) 587-5876

SUZANNE’S PHARMACY

KIZER PHARMACY

932 University St, Martin,TN 38237 (731) 587-0587

FULTON HOUSING AUTHORITY

VILLA MADONNA

FULTON MANOR SENIOR APARTMENTS

WESTWOOD OF SYMSONIA

1117 S Miles Ave, Union City,TN 38261 (731) 885-2226

Senior APARTMENTS BALLARD CO. BALLARD SENIOR APARTMENTS 307 Lake Dr., Barlow, KY 42024 (270) 334-3115

COLONY HOUSE APARTMENTS (HUD APPROVED HOUSING) South 6th St, Barlow, KY 42024 (270) 334-3148

LIBERTY MANOR APARTMENTS 526 Phillips Drive, Wickliffe, KY (270) 335-3686

CALDWELL CO. PRINCETON COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY

100 Hillview Ct, Princeton, KY 42445 (270) 365-5769

FRANKLIN PLACE APARTMENTS 200 North Franklin St, Princeton, KY 42445 (270) 365-3368

PRINCETON MANOR APARTMENTS

655 Grace Ct, Princeton, KY 42445 (270) 365-5280

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PRINCETON GREENS APARTMENTS

420 Cooper Circle, Princeton, KY 42445 (270) 365-2365

CALLOWAY CO. HOUSING AUTHORITY OF MURRAY 716 Nash Drive, Murray, KY 42071 (270) 753-5000

WESLEY AT MURRAY

440 Utterback Rd, Murray, KY 42071 (270) 753-7735

CARLISLE CO. GARLAND MANOR APARTMENTS (HUD APPROVED)

215 Rd St, Bardwell, KY 42023 (270) 628-3822

FULTON CO. HOUSING AUTHORITY OF HICKMAN

50 Holly Court, Hickman, KY 42050 (270) 236-2888

Embracing Our Age | Winter 2025

201 N. Highland Dr, Fulton, KY 42041 (270) 472-1115

1109 Middle Rd, Fulton, KY 42041 (270) 472-2721

PARKWAY SQUARE APARTMENTS

1001 Airport Rd, Fulton, KY 42041 (270) 472-3020

GRAVES CO. LOCUST RIDGE APARTMENTS

676 Lebanon St , Wingo, KY 42088 (270) 247-6391

MAYFIELD MANOR APARTMENTS

320 East James St , Mayfield, KY 42066 (270) 251-0800

MAYFIELD PLAZA APARTMENTS

405 Babb Drive, Mayfield, KY 42066 (270) 247-7723

85 Father Riney Road, Fancy Farm, KY 42039 (270) 623-6300

60 Westwood Ave, Symsonia, KY 42082 (270) 851-3681

WINGO APARTMENTS 90 Atlantic Ave, Wingo, Kentucky (270) 653-4593

HICKMAN CO. CLINTON HILLS APARTMENTS

205 Ringo Dr, Clinton, KY 42031 (270) 653-6218

HENLEY PARK APARTMENTS

300 Henley Ct, Clinton, KY 42031 (270) 653-2582

LIVINGSTON CO. CUMBERLAND VIEW APARTMENTS 504 Rudd St, Smithland, KY (270) 928-4278

LYON CO. AMBER VILLAGE

Amber Ct, Eddyville, KY 42038 (270) 388-7108

LYON COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY

425 Linden Ave, Eddyville, KY 42038 (270) 388-2049

MARSHALL CO. COX MANOR

1203 5th Ave SE, Calvert City, KY 42029 (270) 395-4126

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BENTON 101 Walnut Court, Benton, KY 42025 (270) 527-3626

LAKELAND WESLEY VILLAGE 1127 Village Road, Benton, KY 42025 (270) 354-8888

MORGAN-TREVATHAN APTS. 1003 Elm St, Benton, KY 42025 (270) 252-0111

WALNUT COURT

101 Walnut Court, Benton, KY 42025 (270) 653-6000

MCCRACKEN CO. DUBLIN MANOR

665 McAuley Dr, Paducah, KY 42003 (270) 441-0026

ELMWOOD COURT

2330 Ohio St, Paducah, KY 42003 (270) 450-4239

IRVIN COBB APARTMENTS 600 Broadway, Paducah, KY 42001 (270) 443-4721

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF PADUCAH

2330 Ohio Street, Paducah, KY 42001 (270) 443-3634

JACKSON HOUSE APARTMENTS W.B. SANDERS RETIREMENT CENTER 301 S 9th St, Paducah, KY 42003 (270) 442-7591

LONE OAK MANOR APARTMENTS

650 College Ave, Paducah, KY 42001 (270) 554-0504

McAULEY MANOR

631 McAuley Drive, Paducah, KY 42003 (270) 415-9166

MERCY MANOR

601 McAuley Drive, Paducah, KY 42003 (270) 415-9166

TRIGG CO. EMMA ROSE SENIOR APARTMENTS

MASSAC CO. MASSAC COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY

1209 E 5th St Apt 5G, Metropolis, IL 62960 (618) 524-8411

OBION CO. SOUTHSIDE MANOR

722 Broadway St, South Fulton,TN 38257 (731) 479-3877

PARK TERRACE VILLAGE

Park Terrace Cir, South Fulton,TN 38257 (731) 479-1321

WEAKLEY CO. WESLEY AT MARTIN

448 Hannings Ln, Martin,TN 38237 (731) 587-6324

149 CS-1089, Cadiz, KY 42211 (270) 512-5690

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PUZZLE #1 TYPES OF PRECIPITATION: Drizzle, Snow, Mist, Spit MEANS OF ENTRY: Latch, Path, Key, Passport BURN TREATMENT: Cold compress, Aloe, Vaseline, Salve JANUARY ITEMS: Crisp air, SAD, Frost, Earmuffs

PUZZLE #2 TREE BARK TYPES: Scaly, Peeling, Smooth, Papery VALENTINE'S DAY SYMBOLS: Hearts, Birds, Roses, Cupid RAINWEAR: Macintosh, Slicker, Trench, Driza-Bone MARCH EVENTS: St. Patty, Mardi Gras, S x SW Films, 127 Yard Sale

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Embracing Our Age | Winter 2025

We believe Support is the bridge to a better Aging Community.

Financial constraints should never hinder seniors from obtaining the essential resources necessary for their daily lives. Through your generous contributions, the Embracing the Aged Foundation has made a meaningful difference in the lives of many seniors.

“Embracing the Aged went far beyond the call of duty. My Autistic son and I were without hot water for months due to not being able to afford a hot water heater. Embracing the Aged Senior Services, came out to my house, got measurements and went to purchase a brand new one and delivered it to us in a timely manner. Thank YOU O LORD for people who care and are concerned about aging. Thank you again, Embracing the Aged Senior Services.”

Embracing the Aged came through when I needed help getting my Service Animal to the Vet. I had no money and no way to get there because I am in a wheelchair, but within one hour, they came through for me. She was late getting her shots, and that meant she couldn't go with me to my Doctor's Appointments. Thank you with my whole heart for making getting Karolina to the Vet Possible. I can never thank you enough. You certainly are Angels.

- Anonymous

- Cheryl Lynn and Karolina Kiebler

“Embracing The Aged Senior Services was able to assist a local resident with transportation to a vital medical appointment. They partnered with a local transportation service and covered the cost for the resident. This was such a blessing and it met one of the primary needs in our local community. Thank you for Embracing The Aged!”

- Janet Ashby

EMBRACING

THE

Aged

Learn more at:

www.EmbracingTheAged.com