My Booth Health Fall 2013

vol: 3 issue: 4

Going the Distance

Youth Sports Establish Healthy Habits For Life Spiritual care: hospital ministry brings faith to the bedside for 30 years

Table Of Contents Page 18

Page 10 Boone Hospital Center’s mission is to improve the health of the people and communities we serve.

Jim Sinek President

Angy Littrell Director

Ben Cornelius Communications and Marketing Manager

Page 30

Page 24

Jacob Luecke Media Relations Manager

Jessica Park Marketing Coordinator Photos By:

Dave Hoffmaster L.G. Patterson Lydia Hunt

5...................................................... A Note From Boone Hospital President Jim Sinek 6.....................................................................................................

myBoone Health Stories

8................................................................................................................ Hospital Headlines Follow us on Facebook, Twitter

10.................................................................................................................

A Victory For Health

Instagram and Pinterest.

15.....................................................................................................................................

Please submit comments

16.....................................................................................................

True Grit

Rooting For The Underdog

or feedback to bcc1170@bjc.org

18.................................................................................................................. Routed To Recovery

or call 573.815.3392

20.................................................................................................................. The Student’s Voice

1600 East Broadway Columbia, MO 65201 573-815-8000

22.............................................................................................................. A New Weight Class

For a free subscription, call 573-815-3392 or visit myBooneHealth.com and click on the subscription link on the right side of the page.

28..................................................................................................................... A Gift For Giving

24.......................................................................................................................

Spiritual Growth

26............................................................................................................. The Deacon’s Blessing 29.................................................................................................................. Respecting Choices 30.................................................................................................................. Building For A Cure BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Fall 2013

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New Boone Hospital Center President Jim Sinek in his Columbia home with his wife, Stephanie, their two children, Quincy and Joe, and the family dog, Salty.

A Note From Jim

It’s Great To Be At Boone Hospital Center

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ello, mid-Missouri. I am Jim Sinek, the new president of Boone Hospital Center. I am very excited to be here. My family and I moved here from Nebraska in early August.

As a newcomer to Columbia and the state of Missouri,

I cannot begin to tell you how welcome you have made us feel. My wife, Stephanie, my daughter Quincy and my son Joe would like to thank you all for the generous, warm and friendly way this community has received us. Already, we feel at home.

For me, it’s exhilarating to be at a place like Boone Hospital. Before I came here, I did my research. What I found was a hospital with some of the best clinical quality and patient safety scores I had ever seen.

It’s safe to say I came here with high expectations. Those expectations have already been exceeded by the staff and physicians I’ve worked Jim Sinek President Boone Hospital Center

alongside during my short time here. This is a great hospital, and it reflects a community that understands the importance of having outstanding health care right here in mid-Missouri.

My family and I look forward to meeting many more of you. You will find us participating in many local youth and high school sporting events. Both of my children are involved in sports, and I have spent many evenings coaching their teams.

As you will read in this issue, youth sports are about so much more than having fun. Research and observations from many people involved with these activities show that youth sports set our young people up for healthy lives. As a father and as a health care leader in this community, that goal is very important to me.

Thank you once again for welcoming us to mid-Missouri. I look forward to serving this community as we work together caring for our patients and promoting wellness for everyone.

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myBoone Health Stories Visit myBooneHealth.com To Read More — And Share Your Own Story

‘I know I left her in the kindest, most capable hands’

By Teresa Kassen, San Diego

I

can’t thank you all enough for the wonderful people you are! You have assembled a remarkable team of the most caring, attentive and patient people!

My mom is a good patient, but she can get feisty if she feels like she is not being taken care of. Clearly, there was none of that. She does not like being in the hospital but you all made it bearable.

Thank you very much for taking such good care of my mom. I had to leave to come back to San Diego before she was released, but I know I left her in the kindest, most capable hands I could have.

Skill, flexibility, compassion and a smile at every turn

By Darren Gabbert, Barnett

M Mom thanks team that cared for her newborn twins

By Bridget Rehagen, Freeburg

I

just want to drop a note to say a big thank you to my labor and delivery nurses, Sue and Calla. When I delivered my twins, those two nurses and countless others made my whole delivery experience bearable and wonderful!

There are so many others who were involved in my care that day 6

Fall 2013 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

who I will never get the opportunity to thank, but I wish I could.

My babies spent time in the NICU, and I left there every day knowing they were in great hands!

Lastly, my story would not be complete without mentioning my wonderful doctor, Dr. Sarah Franken, to whom I also owe the world! Thank you!

y name is Darren Gabbert, and I have an advanced form of muscular dystrophy. Because of the medical expertise and outstanding patient care I received at Boone, I survived three pneumonias in 1993, 1995 and 1997. I had been blessed to be pneumoniafree for over 15 years, until January of this year.

Many, but not all, of the faces had changed but the outstanding care was the same. The doctors are excellent, but the ICU nurses are what make sickness bearable and wellness possible.

Mayo Clinic physicians have often marveled over my Boone Hospital records, and commended the quality of care given to my complicated condition.

I continue to work for the University of Missouri. I was compelled to share this after my most recent experience at Boone.

On Thursday, July 18, at 1 p.m., I had my tracheostomy changed in the Infusion and Treatment Center, had an impromptu pick line removal in Interventional Radiology, and had my g-tube changed in the GI Lab. Each handoff was seamless! My confidence in the Boone Hospital staff was rewarded as I easily got to my 4 p.m. meeting on campus.

Absolutely nothing about my condition is routine, but at Boone it is met with skill, flexibility, compassion and a smile at every turn. Hats off to Boone Hospital and her tradition of excellence.

Share your story myBooneHealth.com

Mother of three to birthplace staff: “Thank you, Boone!”

By Jean Davis, Columbia

A

Baby Tora

“They made each and every one of my birth experiences special”

ll three of my children have been born at Boone Hospital! Our oldest was born in 2010 and our twins were born in October 2012.

The delivery staff and nurses were all exceptional, especially with the birth of our twins. My doctor, Sarah Franken, allowed me to deliver our boys naturally, even with one baby being transverse.

While I was being wheeled to the delivery room, the nurses made me feel comfortable and at ease and held one of my hands throughout the delivery. They even took pictures for my husband and me so we could focus on the delivery.

Dr. Franken was confident she could safely deliver my babies and helped me understand

what was happening at each point during the delivery.

Our babies arrived healthy and happy!

We owe the smoothness of our delivery to everyone that helped deliver our babies.

Thank you, Boone!

By Heather Shay, Boonville

I

have nothing but good things to say about the Boone Family Birthplace! I have had five babies there, and the experience with all five has been amazing.

My oldest son was born there in 2002. He spent a week in the NICU where he received lots of loving care by the best nurses! As hard as it was to leave him there, I knew he was in the best hands. They did an amazing job making sure I felt comfortable and always knew what was going on.

In 2008, we welcomed son No. 2.

In 2010, our first daughter joined our family. In 2011, we were once again blessed with amazing care as we had our third boy. Just 12 weeks ago, on May 30, we welcomed our fifth and final baby. Our little girl gave us a little bit of a scare during labor but, thanks to Dr. Kevin Jones and the amazing nurses, she arrived safely!

I can’t remember all of the nurses’ names we’ve had over the years, but I do know they are all amazing! They made each and every one of my birth experiences special!

Professional, patient and kind — Praise for our Emergency Department Staff

By Bonnie Mutert, Keytesville

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all for the exceptional care I received when I was a patient in your ER on June 27. I was having an allergic reaction to something, and I just want to commend your staff on their professional care and also the patience and kindness they showed to me and my family.

To our ICU nurse: “She was a reassuring voice when I needed it most” By Misty Kornbrust, Kansas City

I

was with my grandfather in the ICU on Friday, July 5, 2013. His night nurse, Loretta, was very kind and considerate to him and me. She answered any questions I had, took time with him and was so patient no matter how many times he tried to climb out of bed or pull his IV out! She was a reassuring voice when I needed it most. Please let her know how grateful I was that she was his nurse for the night!

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Hospital Headlines News From Boone Hospital Center

Boone Hospital Tops Surgery Safety Ranking

L

ooking for the safest hospital for surgery in Missouri? Look no further than Boone Hospital Center, according to a latest rating from trusted national magazine Consumer Reports.

Boone Hospital was one of just two hospitals in the state to earn a solid red dot, the highest score awarded in Consumer Reports’ rating system. According to Consumer Reports, the ratings are based on an analysis of Medicare patient billing claims from 2009 to 2011.

They include 27 categories of scheduled surgeries and various procedure types.

Boone Hospital was also ranked among the five best hospitals in the nation for back surgery safety.

To schedule an appointment with a Boone Hospital surgeon, call 573-815-6400.

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Celebrating Boone’s Home Care and Hospice Staff

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his November, Boone Hospital Center is celebrating the Boone Hospital Home Care and Hospice team, which works each day across mid-Missouri to care for patients in their homes.

Based in Columbia’s Parkade Plaza along I-70, the home care staff provides continuing skilled medical care for patients who have been discharged from the hospital, a nursing facility or directly from a physician office with orders supporting such care. Home care allows patients to leave the hospital sooner and makes it possible for patients to recuperate in the most comfortable setting — their own homes.

The home hospice program helps patients and family members manage end of life care.

Boone Hospital Home Care and Hospice provides support to patients with life-limiting illnesses and their family members through a broad continuum of services. Hospice care is an approach to treating the whole person — body, mind, and soul — with an overall goal of pain management and symptom relief.

We thank the home care and hospice staff for all they do during November, which is National Home Care and Hospice Month.

This year also marks the 15th anniversary of Boone Hospital offering a home care and hospice service.

For more information about this program, visit boone.org/homecare or call 573-875-0555.

Boone Named Among 100 Great Community Hospitals

I

n a June report, national magazine Becker’s Hospital Review assessed hospital rankings and awards to determine 100 Great Community Hospitals, with Boone Hospital Center the only Missouri hospital to make the list. “Whether independent or part of a larger health system, the following hospitals have worked with limited resources to continually provide the quality of care and the experience patients expect,” according to the Becker’s report.

The latest news boone.org

Stewarts Take Preventative Message To The Airways Twin Deliveries Help Set New Birth Record

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wo, four, six, eight …

The Boone Family Birthplace staff was counting in doubles this July as they set a new record for most births in a month.

Ten sets of twins helped push the Boone Baby count to 238 in July. They were born during 228 deliveries.

This shatters the previous record, which was set in August last year — 214 babies and 209 deliveries.

We’d like to thank the incredible staff and physicians of the Boone Family Birthplace. Even during our busiest month ever, we believe every birth is a very special delivery.

For more information about our birthplace, visit boone.org/birthplace.

Race for the Cure

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orm and Virginia Stewart, namesakes of the new Stewart Cancer Center at Boone Hospital, are helping educate the community about preventing cancer through a new series of television public service announcements.

In the announcements, Virginia Stewart shares information about how to stop breast cancer, colon cancer and lung cancer.

She reminds women over age 40 to have an annual mammogram.

She tells everyone 50 and over, or those with a family history of colon cancer, to ask about having a colonoscopy. Virginia also asks people to please not smoke, and for those who do to talk to their doctor about early screening options.

The Stewarts were personally touched by cancer when Norm was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1989.

See the announcements and learn about the Stewart Cancer Center at boone.org/ WorthFightingFor.

T

he Boone Hospital Center family once again supported the fight against breast cancer by sponsoring and participating in the Susan G. Komen Mid-Missouri Race for the Cure. Boone Hospital organized a team of staff members to run in the race. The hospital also sponsored the event’s Survivor Pavilion, which provided special services and comforts for cancer survivors at the race. The race was Oct. 12, starting in Peace Park in downtown Columbia.

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Get active with your family boone.org/active

r o f Across Mid-Missouri, High School Sports Set The Pace For Lifelong Wellness

by jacob luecke Softball and volleyball photos by Lydia Hunt, CPS Athletic Department Football and cheerleading photos by L.G. Patterson

W

hen Patrick Cooper reached high school, he knew he wanted to play a sport — but which one?

He tried out for the Rock Bridge High School soccer and baseball teams. But compared to the other guys on the field, Patrick realized his skills were pretty average. In one area, however, he excelled.

“When it came to doing the cardio workouts, I would just outrun everybody,” he said.

Unfortunately, Patrick’s running skills alone weren’t enough to make either squad.

Undeterred, the freshman redoubled his efforts. Over the next year, he spent countless hours training and getting faster for sophomore tryouts. As he ran, he began to realize that he enjoyed simply running.

“It gave me better emotions when I was running,” he said. “Those endorphins made me feel good. I learned to love to run.”

By the next year’s tryouts, Patrick had found his new sport: cross country.

He made the junior varsity team.

After two races, he was promoted to varsity. Patrick said being involved in high school athletics — he also ran track — helped him make new friends and find a support group of peers.

He enjoyed working with his coaches, who inspired him to improve physically. As he developed, he became leaner with less body fat. In addition, Patrick said sports helped him succeed in the classroom.

Running cleared his mind and helped him focus on schoolwork.

Like many high school athletes, Patrick didn’t abandon what he had learned once he started college at Missouri State University.

He stayed active and continued to exercise. Today, as a junior at Missouri State, Patrick said working out is an essential part of his daily life.

“It’s just a passion I developed in high school,” he said. “It just became a part of me. I can’t imagine not doing it.”

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A Body In Motion

During this fall athletics season, thousands of teenagers in mid-Missouri are establishing positive exercise habits.

A number of studies have shown this can help put students on a path toward better health later in life.

In addition to exercising more, high school students who participate in sports eat better food and make healthier lifestyle choices. Decades after high school, they’re less likely to be obese.

“The old adage is a body in motion has a tendency to stay in motion. A body at rest has a tendency to stay at rest,” said Kenny Seifert, athletics and activities director at Moberly High School. “The kids who come through our program, those are the ones we see who are more active after they graduate.”

Given the many benefits of having active students, school districts across midMissouri have been working to get more kids involved in sports and other programs.

At Moberly, about 300 of the 700 students are involved in activities. In Ashland, Activities Director Patrick Lacy said about half of the students participate.

Now in its third year, Columbia’s Fr. Tolton Catholic High School has close to 80 percent of students participating in activities — one out of every four students at Tolton is a three-sport athlete.

With the addition of Battle High School, Columbia’s public high schools are seeing a surge of new students participating this fall. Activity participation is up 28 percent.

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“Having a third high school means there are 20 more teams,” said Columbia Public Schools Athletic Director Bruce Whitesides. “So there are more opportunities for students to get involved at each of the schools.”

In recent years, Boone Hospital Center has played a role in supporting athletics.

By sponsoring Columbia Public Schools’ athletic programs, Boone Hospital is one of several local organizations that have helped the program grow.

“Partnerships like we have with Boone Hospital have helped take us to another level,” Whitesides said.

Gaining Confidence

Boone Hospital Center’s Todd Kurtz first became interested in exercise while playing football and wrestling at Webster City High School in Iowa.

Today, he’s a physical trainer at the WELLAWARE Fitness Center.

Spending time in the weight room with his teammates in high school helped him choose a career path. It also inspired him to maintain a healthy routine into adulthood.

He’s seen similar patterns in other people.

“You can build a habit by doing exercise as part of an extracurricular activity. Once you have that habit, it’s hard to stop,” he said. “People who have been in sports tend to stick with it longer than other people.

It’s always harder to start something new than it is to continue what you’re already doing.”

In his work at the fitness center, he sees how early exposure to athletic training can make people more comfortable around workout equipment. That can make weights and cardio machines seem less intimidating.

“Everyone is a little self-conscious at the gym, but if you have that experience when you are younger and know what to do,

“When you are en both yo ur mind gaged in some t healthie and your body hing that occu p , r all aro und.” — you’re going t ies o be Kenny S eifert

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Fall 2013

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you’re going to be comfortable in a regular fitness center as an adult,” he said.

At Ashland, Lacy said high school is often the first time students experience a weight room environment. He said many students arrive eager to learn about fitness.

The district’s weight training class is one of the most popular courses offered.

“In their lives after high school, a tremendous amount of people decide to go and join gyms,” he said. “The more you can get them prepared for that, the better.”

Many Benefits

Improving health is just one of many ways youth sports help students succeed in school and later in life. Sports can help students establish supportive social networks that reinforce good behavior.

“Many of our students just like the team atmosphere, bonding with their classmates,” Lacy said. “The camaraderie of being part of a team can make the whole school experience better.”

The role of the coach is also critical.

Coaches provide positive role models

and a minister to impact the students in a positive way.”

The coaches and positive peer groups are reasons why active students tend to have stronger grades, better attendance records, drop out less often and have fewer disciplinary issues.

These students also smoke less and are less likely to use illegal drugs. In addition, sports can help build self-confidence, relieve tension and even create better personal attitudes.

“When you are engaged in something that occupies both your mind and your body, you’re going to be healthier all around,” said Seifert at Moberly. “You’re going to be sharper, more alert and much more motivated.”

The sports program at Tolton Catholic reflects the school’s goal of developing students with a multifaceted approach: heart, mind, body and spirit.

“We really feel our approach sets them up to leave our school and become productive members of society in all those areas,” Masters said. “Physical fitness is a big component of that, and our athletic program is one of the cornerstones.”

Preventing Injury

during a time when young people are sometimes drawn to dangerous activities.

“They’re in a position to talk to these kids about making the right choices every day,” said Whitesides in Columbia. “They are not the parent, but they are definitely strong role models.”

At Tolton Catholic, coaches are seen as ministers who help students develop athletic skills and also serve as positive role models.

“Being a coach is a very pivotal role,” said Tolton Athletic Director Chad Masters. “They have to be able to develop athletes who perform well and, at the same time, they have to be there as a counselor 14

Fall 2013 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

The risk tied to athletics is the potential for injury. Regional athletic and activity directors say they partner with local health providers to have professional trainers onsite to prevent injuries and quickly assess any concerns.

“If I go out and I train and I injure myself, I’m going to have to go out of my way to get medical attention,” Seifert said.

“In the case of our student athletes, that expertise is either already onsite or just a couple minutes away. It’s a benefit our district greatly appreciates.”

Coaches are also cognizant of the fact they are working with athletes whose bodies are still developing. They are careful to balance strength training with aerobic exercises.

The goal is not only making sure the districts field competitive teams, but also to help student athletes learn about health and to make good choices.

“Not every one of our athletes is going to play in Division I,” Whitesides said.

“However, they certainly will take with them these skills and habits that will help them maintain their own wellness.”

Patrick Cooper

Fit For Life

Shortly after arriving at Missouri State, Patrick made new friends who shared his love of exercise.

They introduced him to triathlon races, which involve running, swimming and biking. He was hooked.

This new activity, coupled with the knowledge he gained in high school, helped Patrick avoid the weight gain many college freshmen experience.

“When you get to college, you go into the dining halls and see endless amounts of food in front of you,” he said. “I knew to choose certain things because I knew how they would affect me when I worked out.”

During his sophomore year, he and his new friends earned the backing of the university to form an official triathlon club.

Patrick serves on the club’s executive board; he handles promotion — perfect career experience as he works toward a marketing and advertising degree. The club has about 25 active members.

Over the last few years, he has personally completed eight triathlons and one half Ironman triathlon.

It’s easy to trace back how he got here.

It started at high school tryouts. Today, Patrick said the active lifestyle he learned in high school is something he couldn’t live without.

“I’m going to continue this for as long as possible,” he said.

It’s this kind of transformation that makes youth sports such a powerful experience — it’s about much more than winning games.

“To go out as student athletes and represent themselves, their families and school district is a wonderful thing for the students,” said Seifert in Moberly. “It’s also wonderful for the whole community because it gives them an opportunity to live healthier lives down the road.”

Stewart Cancer Center boone.org/WorthFightingFor

True Grit In Midst Of Cancer Battle, Sharing A Message Of Prevention

I

n late August, Nicolle Blacketer held tight to the football as she stood in the end zone at Faurot Field.

A crowd of 58,000 people roared. Nicolle is battling stage-4 colorectal cancer. The Mizzou Tigers named her the honorary captain of the season’s first game, a 58-14 victory over Murray State.

As she stood and waved to the football fans, Nicolle knew as much about toughness as any of the players on the field. Her battle has much more at stake.

Going in to 2013, Nicolle Blacketer understood this year would be a game changer.

She had been accepted into the pre-med program at Florida State. She planned to move from her home in mid-Missouri and begin classes this summer.

But her life suddenly pivoted in another direction after a call from her doctor in early February.

“Cancer happened,” she said.

She had gone to see her doctor for what she thought was a hemorrhoid — a little blood in her stool and minor constipation prompted the visit.

But her doctor was immediately concerned. Further testing confirmed the worst. Nicolle had stage-4 colorectal cancer. It had already spread to her liver and lungs.

The news was an absolute shock.

“It’s almost not real. It’s like, am I really that sick?”

Nicolle said. “I kept saying, ‘I’m only 33. This happens to people 50 and over.’”

Nicolle soon began chemotherapy. The aftereffects of chemo felt “like getting hit by a semi truck,” Nicolle said.

Her family and friends rallied beside her during these difficult times. Her family held a bake sale that raised $900 for Nicolle. Staff members at Boone Hospital Center, where Nicolle works as a staffing coordinator, made T-shirts in recognition of Nicolle’s cancer fight.

“It’s almost overwhelming how nice and kind people are,” she said.

One thing Nicolle has not lost sight of is her goal of receiving an advanced degree in a health profession.

While she wasn’t able to start her pre-med program, she is currently pursuing her master’s degree in psychology.

But first on her agenda is working with her doctors

and caregivers to defeat her cancer. In August, she had to forgo a surgery to remove her cancer when doctors learned the tumor had grown too large. A new CT scan also showed new cancerous spots on her lungs.

Despite the bad news, Nicolle is undeterred. She hopes a new round of chemotherapy will turn the tide.

“It’s a struggle, and it’s a fight, but I’m more than willing to fight,” Nicolle said. “I’m ready to go; I’m not giving up.”

As game day approached, Nicolle was excited about the opportunity to be honored by the Mizzou Tigers. She realized the recognition would help remind thousands of fans to get screened as early as possible.

Standing on the field, the stadium announcer introduced Nicolle and told her story: “Nicolle has stayed strong during her ongoing treatment. She wants to remind everyone that the key to beating cancer is catching it as early as possible.”

The crowd cheered as she waved to the stands.

The need to detect cancer early is a message Nicolle shares everywhere she goes. She reminds everyone to follow the recommended cancer screenings and, if a concern arises, have it checked out.

“Even if you have those little symptoms, you need to get it checked out,” she said. “I almost didn’t get it checked out. What if I hadn’t?” By Jacob Luecke

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Often overlooked, parsnips are full of nutrients and great flavor.

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Health information boone.org/WELLAWARE

Rooting For The Veggie Underdog

By Kristy Lang, RD, LD, CDE Registered Dietitian and Diabetes Educator

I

’ll be the first to admit that parsnips do not have the best curb appeal out of all the root vegetables.

When roaming through the booths at the farmers market, or perhaps down the produce aisle in the grocery store, you’ll see this vegetable that looks a bit like a carrot that caught a cold. Their creamy white skin and sometimes knobby ends don’t seem to yell “Eat me!” the same way the vivid burgundies of beets or bright oranges of carrots can.

But as mothers always say, you should never judge a book by its cover.

And honestly, do you think the potato got all its fame and fortune because of its soil-colored skin?

Hardly! Its texture, flavor and versatility have made it a staple in our diet for years, and now I challenge you to give the parsnip such a chance.

Similar to the potato, the parsnip is a great source of potassium, but with twice the fiber. Just be careful not to peel away all of those good vitamins, minerals and antioxidants! As in most fruits and veggies, these

nutrients are found in their highest concentration in or just beneath the skin. So instead of peeling, try gently scrubbing them clean with a dish towel or vegetable brush to remove any dirt or particles they carried with them from the farm.

Once you’ve cleaned the parsnips, you can treat them like any other root vegetable. They are a great add-in to roasts and stews in the winter or as crudités with dip in the summer.

Below is a recipe that I believe features them in their greatest glory: roasted. Roasted root vegetables make a heartwarming dish to have in the cooler months, and roasting preserves a lot of the nutrients found in these hearty vegetables.

By including a lot of variety in the vegetables you roast, you can incorporate as many vitamins and minerals into this hearty side dish as you would with a salad in the summer.

I promise, after this recipe, you’ll never misjudge this underestimated vegetable again!

Garlic Roasted Root Vegetables Cook Time: 45 min (plus 20 minutes of prep) • Yields 8 cups (4-6 1.5 cup servings) Ingredients: 1 large butternut squash, remove seeds and cut into 1½” cubes 3 large potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1½” cubes 3 large or 4 medium beets, scrubbed and cut into 1½” cubes 1 medium Vidalia or yellow onion, cut into ½” strips 2 large parsnips, scrubbed and cut into 1½” cubes

1 head garlic cloves, separated and peeled 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1½ teaspoons salt 1½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Optional: Add 1 tablespoon each of dried rosemary and thyme

Directions: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. In a large bowl, toss all the cut vegetables together with the olive oil, salt and pepper (and herbs if desired). Spread out over 2 to 3 baking sheets so that the vegetables are in a single layer and are not overcrowded. Bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown on all sides, tossing vegetables gently about halfway through cooking and as needed to prevent burning.

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More information boone.org/neurology

Routed to recovery

Fast Response Saved Mexico Handyman From Stroke

By Jacob Luecke

D

own in his basement workshop, Russ Haerer holds his latest project.

It’s a dovetail joint for a cabinet drawer. It looks beautiful — but Russ isn’t satisfied.

“It’s a nice tight fit; it’s just not quite long enough on the ends,” he said.

Woodworking is Russ’ hobby. It’s an intricate pastime his hands have mastered over 30 years of practice. In this workshop, his hands have fashioned cabinets, furnishings and even outdoor décor.

But in early July, Russ’ left hand fell limp on his desk, immobile. He was suffering a large, sudden-onset stroke. In the past, such a stroke likely would have meant lifelong paralysis. Russ might never have built in his workshop again.

However, with a fast response, patients today often can leave the hospital days later without physical impairments.

As Russ grips his router, tracing a new pattern on his dovetail jig, he’s thankful for the simple ability to hold on with two hands.

“It sure makes everything easier,” he said.

A Major Stroke

In his day job, Russ works as an electrical engineer in the Columbia office of a global manufacturing company.

On July 2, he and his coworkers were returning to their desks after lunch.

As he walked to his desk, a blood clot silently and painlessly formed in his heart and traveled to his brain.

Unaware of what was happing, Russ, 57, continued chatting with his officemate.

But as he talked, he realized he was badly slurring his words.

His colleague said Russ sounded really tired. But Russ wasn’t tired at all, he felt fine. The only thing unusual was a slight tingling sensation in his mouth.

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“I knew something was going on,” he said. “So I went to get up to go to the bathroom, but I couldn’t stand up.”

The entire left side of his body was numb. He couldn’t move.

“I tried to pick up my left arm, and my hand felt like it had a sandbag on it,” he said.

Russ was displaying the classic symptoms of a major stroke: face drooping on one side, inability to raise one arm and slurred speech.

He also felt no pain. This is common; strokes are often painless. Many people actually delay seeking care during a stroke because nothing hurts. But that decision can be calamitous.

“Stroke treatments are very timedependent,” said neurologist Allyn Sher, MD, medical director of Boone Hospital’s Stroke Center. “For every minute a stroke is left untreated, the average patient loses almost 2 million neurons.”

Fortunately, Russ’ coworkers quickly called for help. Before long, an ambulance crew was taking him to Boone Hospital’s Stroke Center, which has been rated at the gold level by both The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association.

At Boone Hospital, physicians performed a CT scan on Russ’ brain to check for any bleeding — there was none.

Dr. Sher then injected Russ’ arm with medication containing a tissue plasminogen activator, a clot-busting drug commonly called tPA. The drug has done wonders for stroke patients since it was approved in 1996. It’s used regularly by Boone Hospital’s stroke team, which treats roughly one new stroke case every day.

In addition to administering tPA, Boone Hospital’s specialists can also perform the advanced mechanical clot removal techniques needed in some stroke cases.

For Russ, because he arrived at Boone Hospital quickly, the tPA worked like a miracle.

Within 24 hours he could speak clearly.

Soon his motor function was completely restored, and there was no need for physical therapy. He left the hospital four days after his stroke.

Dr. Sher attributes Russ’ success to his colleagues at work who recognized he was having a stroke and quickly called for help.

“If someone comes in very quickly and is able to get the drug, the odds are very high they can leave without a deficit,” he said.

In His Workshop

Back at his home in Mexico, Mo., Russ said he’s now very aware of the stroke warning signs.

He has a long history of atrial fibrillation, abnormal heart rhythms, which put him at greater risk for having a stroke.

If he has a repeat occurrence, as one in four stroke patients do, he knows his ability to continue doing the things he loves depends on getting to the hospital. The faster, the better.

It’s something he’s going to watch closely because he has plenty left to do in his workshop.

Between his wife, three kids and three grandkids, he has a growing waiting list for his beautiful handmade furniture.

“I think I’m about three Christmases behind now,” he said, with router in hand.

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Voice problems? boone.org/therapy

The Student’s Voice

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Therapy Helps Repair Mizzou Senior’s Vocal Cords

inging is a big part of sorority recruitment week at the University of Missouri. Each year, members keep the tradition of performing songs and chants in front of their houses. They proudly — and loudly as possible — belt out tunes to attract the attention of prospective members standing along the sidewalk. Last year, Alpha Phi sister Dana Willsey took part in the fun.

“All the best girls wear the ivy.

All the best go Alpha Phi. All the best girls wear the ivy.

Gotta, gotta go A-Phi!” As the week progressed — through countless hours of singing, talking and socializing — Dana, a junior environmental engineering major, noticed she was losing her voice.

At first, she wasn’t concerned. The same issue happened during her sophomore year. At the time, she rested a bit and her voice came right back.

But this year, even weeks later, her voice never seemed to fully recover.

“It was awful,” Dana said. “Sometimes I wouldn’t speak up in class because of it. I would get nervous if I was asked a question because I didn’t know if my voice was going to squeak or give out. I was very self conscious.”

This lasted through the entire semester. Back home in Kansas City for winter break, she decided to get it checked out.

She went to a local ear, nose and throat specialist who performed a laryngoscopy, placing a scope down her throat to visually examine her vocal cords. The problem was clear — Dana had developed vocal nodules.

Nodules are essentially calluses that develop on the vocal cords, said Stephanie Zink, a Boone Hospital Center speech pathologist. Nodules can be caused by loud singing, yelling, speaking in loud environments and even excessive throat clearing.

They impede the vocal cords from coming together to form the vibrations used to create speech.

“Think of it like trying to close a book with a hard raisin the middle,” Zink said. “It’s like that. The vocal cords just won’t close tight like they would otherwise.”

Dana’s physician referred her to Boone Hospital where she had 10 weekly sessions with Zink.

Dana learned specially designed vocal exercises that sooth the nodules by wrapping them in healthy sections of vocal cord. She was told to practice them as much as possible during the week.

The exercises looked and sounded a little unusual — to get an idea, open your mouth wide, stick out your tongue and make a throaty “E” sound — so Dana found time alone to practice.

But she also had the support of her identical triplet sisters, who would do the exercises with her in the car as they traveled back and forth to visit parents and friends in Kansas City.

Using the treatment plan she learned at Boone Hospital, Dana felt her voice improve. When she went back to her ear, nose and throat doctor, the nodules were gone.

Dana said she was very pleased with the care she received.

“It was great,” she said. “Everyone was very professional and very friendly. I feel like I formed a really good relationship with my therapist. I felt like she really, genuinely cared.”

Vocal nodules are just one example of the multitude of issues Boone Hospital’s six speech pathologists are trained to handle. Their diverse skill set can help people who have a wide variety of ailments beyond speech issues. They also help patients of all ages who have problems eating and drinking.

But because the mechanics of their work are often invisible, people are generally less aware of the kinds of successful treatments speech pathologists can provide.

“Many people don’t realize all that we can do for them,” Zink said. “Speech can be a hard sell, but once people get into it, they feel it’s very beneficial.”

Now in her senior year, Dana is eager to begin interviewing for jobs. Ideally, she wants to stay in Missouri near her family in an engineering job that allows her to work with water.

Thankfully, her voice won’t be an impediment as she works toward that dream.

“When you walk into an interview and meet a potential employer, that’s intimidating enough,” she said. “But it’s much more so if you’re not able to speak and address them in a proper way.”

Dana said she’s thankful she sought help for her speech issues, and she advises others to do the same.

“I think a lot of people with this problem get in a rut and think this is how it’s going to be,” she said. “I want people to know that there is something they can do about it.”

By Jacob Luecke

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Work out with us boone.org/fitness

A New Weight Class Boone Employee Honored For Losing 90 Pounds

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ne night last year, Aaron Buran had a revelation while watching a UFC fight on television.

It was a heavyweight bout featuring the sport’s strongest hulking fighters. Despite their size, Aaron was surprised to discover he was actually larger than all of them. The weight class tops out at 265 pounds — he weighed 266.

“It just hit me one night that I wouldn’t make heavyweight in a UFC fight,” said Aaron, who works as a central services tech at Boone Hospital Center.

He knew it was time for a change.

Buran’s struggles with weight began after reaching adulthood. In high school, he was a talented wrestler who competed in the 130-pound class.

A few years later, he joined the Air Force Reserve. He served at Whiteman Air Force Base where a culture of fitness helped keep him in shape.

But after leaving the Air Force, he stopped working out and started eating fast food.

“That’s when I really started putting on weight,” he said. “You just tend to go and get fast food because it’s so easy.”

Over time, he gradually doubled his high school weight.

Then last year, with support from his wife and coworkers at Boone Hospital, Aaron made a plan to lose the weight.

He used an app on his smartphone called MyFitnessPal to track how many calories he was eating. His wife cooked healthy meals for him almost every day.

Aaron also started exercising again.

“I started just jogging in my neighborhood,” he said. “Once I got one mile, I aimed for two.”

By September, he was ready for his first 5K race. He competed with Boone Hospital’s team during the 2012 Susan G. Komen Mid-Missouri Race for the Cure.

He ran his second 5K on St. Patrick’s Day — in a pouring, frigid rain — and a third this spring.

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Along with his running, Aaron has been spending time at Boone Hospital’s WELLAWARE Fitness Center, where he concentrates on cardio exercises.

He said the messages he gets from the WELLAWARE service inspire him to keep on track.

“Just being at WELLAWARE and getting the emails from WELLAWARE about healthy choices — it really makes you start thinking about the choices you make,” he said.

To date, Aaron has lost about 90 pounds. He said he’s comfortable at the weight he’s reached — 172. On the UFC scale, he’d qualify as middleweight, and he’s just off welterweight status.

In honor of his amazing weight loss, Aaron was given Boone Hospital’s Health Hall of Fame award this year. The annual award recognizes one employee who has made a personal commitment to improving his or her health and inspiring those around them.

Aaron’s boss said it’s been amazing to watch Aaron’s progress.

“Aaron is a colleague, an advocate for safety, a veteran and a daily reminder that we can make positive change in our personal lives if we keep working and don’t give up when it gets hard,” said Brian Whorley, business and supply chain manager. “An achievement like his is an inspiration for all of us.”

Although Aaron appreciates the recognition, the best thing about the weight loss is how he feels.

“It really has changed the things I could do just on a day-to-day basis,” he said. “I just have so much more energy.”

By Jacob Luecke

Learn more boone.org/spirit

After Three Decades Of Service, Hospital Ministry Prepares To Be Reborn

Spiritual Growth I

By Jacob Luecke

n the rush of everyday life, it’s easy to push the biggest questions aside. Why are we here? Am I living my life the right way? What comes after death?

But when a patient arrives at the hospital, these questions rush to the forefront.

“In the hospital, people have suddenly realized they are mortal,” said Boone Hospital Center Chaplain Chuck Barsamian. “On most days, we feel immortal, invincible — like we can live forever. But, in the hospital, we become mortal. That causes patients to ask themselves some very important questions.”

For the last 30 years, Boone Hospital has offered a Spiritual Care service to help people in these situations. As a testament to the importance of this work, Boone Hospital is currently building beautiful new religious amenities for people of all faiths.

The work includes opening a new Christian chapel and an interfaith prayer room.

“It’s going to be wonderful,” said Barbara Weaver, chair emeritus of the Boone Hospital Board of Trustees, which is funding the renovations. “We have so many different religions in our community. It will give them all an opportunity to have a special place where they can feel comfortable as they worship.”

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Both the chapel and prayer room, opening around the New Year, will be located in a quiet space beside the hospital’s Healing Garden.

The prayer room will have religious texts and sacred objects available — such as the Torah, a Buddha statue, an Islamic prayer rug and many other items.

The chapel will be set up to broadcast a live Sunday morning interdenominational Christian service to televisions in the hospital.

Both rooms will be open at all times for patients, visitors, staff and physicians who need a quiet place for prayer and spiritual meditation.

Even with the new rooms available, much of the Spiritual Care work will remain where it always has — at the bedside.

When a patient requests Spiritual Care services, Chaplain Chuck visits his or her room. In their conversation together he might ask them about their personal faith and, if requested, Spiritual Care will work to arrange a visit by their pastor or faith leader.

Sometimes, having your own pastor at your bedside isn’t possible, especially with patients who have traveled long distances to Boone Hospital.

In those cases, Chaplain Chuck will personally work with the patient and help him or her in any way

Left: A rendering shows the design for a new chapel at Boone Hospital.

Below: The hospital is also building a new prayer room including religious items and texts from many faiths.

possible. Although he belongs to the Church of the Nazarene, Chaplain Chuck is trained to serve in a nondenominational fashion. He works to help people find peace with their situation.

“I know there is a profound effect from the kind of care we provide,” he said.

Various studies over the last 25 years show that’s the case. Patients who seek out hospital spiritual care are less depressed. Likewise, patients who say they have a strong spiritual wellbeing report a higher quality of life. In several studies, people have said their faith was the most important factor that helped them cope with an illness.

Caring for a hospital’s spiritual needs is an around-the-clock job. Sometimes, it can mean very long hours. But Chaplain Chuck said the satisfaction and joy he gets from his job more than equals his efforts.

As Spiritual Care prepares to begin a new chapter at Boone Hospital, he feels blessed to be part of this community.

“My cup is overflowing,” he said. “After meeting with a patient and seeing the calm come over them, it is just the sense of, ‘Wow, God used me for that.’

There is so much to this work that is a blessing.”

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The Deacon’s Blessing Experiencing Hospital Ministry From Both Sides

By Jacob Luecke

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ast November, Deacon Gene Kazmierczak was standing in Boone Hospital Center’s Spiritual Care office with two of his fellow chaplains.

The three chaplains were chatting about a new book. Moments like this are a big reason Deacon Gene, a Catholic, loves his work: He gets to share interesting conversation and ideas with leaders of other faiths.

“That’s really a great thing about it, interacting with the other chaplains,” he said. “We truly have a lot in common, spiritually.”

But on this morning, the conversation was cut short. As the chaplains talked, Deacon Gene suddenly felt weak.

“Oh,” said the faint Deacon. “I think I need a…”

And that’s as far as it went.

Two minutes later, he awoke lying on the office floor in a pool of blood. He saw the shoes of chaplains and hospital caregivers quickly moving around his head. “What the heck happened to me?” he thought.

They placed him into a wheelchair and rushed him across the hospital to the Emergency Department.

He would later learn his heart had gone into atrial fibrillation, causing him to temporarily lose blood flow and pass out. The blood on the floor came from a cut on his head from the fall.

He spent four days in the hospital as doctors studied how best to confront his newfound heart problem.

This was a frightening time for Deacon Gene.

“I understand dying,” he said. “But here I had to face my own mortality, and that put a different twist on things.”

During this time, he found comfort in his faith. Chaplain Chuck Barsamian came to Deacon Gene’s room and prayed with him. Fr. Brendan Griffey also came and performed the anointing of the sick with sacramental oil.

And through those actions, “I felt God’s healing touch,” he said.

Wherever he goes, he reminds people that a hospital room can be a sacred place and that God is present at the bedside.

“Caring for a patient involves their body, mind and their spirit,” he said. “Chaplains bring the spiritual aspect to it. The assistance we offer really counts.”

Bringing Comfort

Today, Deacon Gene has long since healed from his fall in the Spiritual Care office.

He said he owes his recovery to skilled clinicians, modern technology and the hand of God. He was discharged from the hospital with a cardiac loop recorder. The device monitors patients’ heart rhythms and records any abnormal activity. The data doctors obtained from the recorder showed Deacon Gene was a candidate for a pacemaker. He had one implanted to regulate any future arrhythmia.

Although the technology fixed his heart, Deacon Gene said God played a role as well.

Just days before collapsing in the Spiritual Care office, the deacon and his wife, Ginger, had traveled across the country to Fort Irwin, in the California desert, to visit their son — they have three children and five grandkids.

What if the deacon’s arrhythmia would have happened while he was driving on the interstate? What if it happened while he and his family were hiking in secluded hills a few days earlier?

Called To Care

Long before he was a deacon, Gene Kazmierczak was a nurse in the Army. He served in that role for 29 years before retiring and getting a job at Boone Hospital.

Here, he worked in a managerial role before realizing direct patient care gave him greater satisfaction. He then returned to the bedside, working for several years as a staff nurse in outpatient recovery and later on the hospital’s skilled nursing unit.

When he was ready to retire, his former pastor asked him if he would become a deacon and serve hospital patients around Columbia. Gene agreed.

“Being a nurse for over 40 years, it seemed like a nice follow-up,” he said. “I’m still going to the bedside. I used to take care of the body; now I take care of the spiritual aspect.”

Although his home parish is St. Thomas More Newman Center in Columbia, Deacon Gene spends three days a week in his hospital ministry.

Each week, he goes down a list of the Catholic patients, visits with them and makes sure their spiritual needs are met. He also relishes the opportunity to pray with patients of other faiths.

“I can’t tell the difference between Catholic tears or Protestant tears,” he said. “There is a lot that we share.”

Each day in the hospital is a reminder of the many stages of life. He blesses newborn babies and their mothers. He prays with patients before they go into surgery. He shares grief with families who have just lost someone they love.

“I used to take care of the body; now I take care of the spiritual aspect.”

“That it happened here in the hospital, it’s just, wow,” he said.

“There was some kind of intervention, and it wasn’t human.”

His experience also helped him understand how much his ministry matters.

In the hospital, there are times when the doctor has left the room and the nurses and staff are serving other patients. In these moments alone, the impossible question surfaces: “Why is this happening to me?”

“That’s the spot where the chaplain comes in,” Deacon Gene said.

Although even a chaplain can’t answer that question, they can provide a listening ear and a reminder of God’s presence. And that can bring immeasurable comfort.

“We give them someone to talk to,” he said. “That’s the most important thing about chaplaincy — listening.”

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Shop online boone.org/giftshop

A Gift For Giving Staff At Boonique Gifts Prides Itself On Personalized Service

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he call came from California. Dee, the gift shop assistant who took the call, talked to a woman whose childhood friend was staying at Boone Hospital Center. The caller’s friend was not going to recover.

Dee knew this had to be a very special gift. The two women had grown up together; now, the friend in California needed to be at her friend’s side in spirit.

“Tell me a memory about the two of you growing up together.”

The caller told Dee that she and her friend would, as children, have fun reciting and acting out nursery rhymes.

Dee immediately thought of an animated, talking Mother Goose doll sold in the shop. She retrieved one of the dolls and held it up to the receiver as its warm voice recited “Humpty Dumpty.”

The caller loved it and purchased the gift over the phone. And Mother Goose was delivered to her friend’s room.

“That customer later called back to tell me that her friend had let her know it was by far the best gift she’d ever received,” Dee says.

Boonique Gifts, a portmanteau of Boone, boutique and unique. The gift shop staff members pride themselves on offering special items, from knickknacks to necklaces, not found in nearby stores.

“We have regular customers who come in from out of town to shop here for presents,” Barb says.

All sales at Boonique Gifts are tax-free and proceeds benefit the Boone Hospital Foundation. In addition to Barb, Wanda and Dee, the gift shop is staffed by a closeknit group of dedicated, upbeat volunteers, some of whom have worked in the hospital gift shop for decades.

“They’re loyal to Boone,” Wanda says.

“This is their hospital. They’re not just here to put in time.”

Some shoppers aren’t looking for gifts but an experience. Visitors waiting on loved ones wander in and browse. Hospital employees on break pop in for a pick-me-up snack.

“Sometimes,” Wanda says, “what people who come in here really want is a listening ear.”

Barb agrees. “I think of our shop as a respite.”

A New Home

Personal Shoppers

Boonique Gifts opened in its new home in the lobby of the hospital’s new patient tower in June 2011. Across from the admissions desk, a curved wall of windows showcases a collection of colorful glass and glazed ceramic, fashionable scarves and handbags, a menagerie of plush animals, and new items being artfully arranged by Wanda, the gift shop’s coordinator.

Wanda also creates seasonal displays in a case just outside the shop. An assortment of black and gold Mizzou Tigers gifts will soon turn to a black and orange assemblage of Halloween ornaments.

“Holiday decorations are some of our best-selling items,” says Barb, manager of Boonique Gifts. “We like to have fun with sales around the holidays. Sometimes we’ll offer a discount for wearing a Halloween costume or singing a Christmas carol.”

In addition to a new location, the gift shop recently received a new name: 28

Fall 2013 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

“We offer a personal shopper approach,” Dee says. “If I know a patient has already received a similar gift, I’ll suggest something different. I’m happy to make recommendations. Flowers aren’t for everybody.”

Boonique Gifts offers custom gift baskets tailored for any patient. Any item in the store, including personal hygiene items and Sudoku puzzles, to name a few, can be included. For those still unable to decide, Boonique gift cards, customizable for any amount, are also available.

The gift shop also takes orders from and delivers items to patient rooms during shop hours on weekdays. Payments can be made over the phone with a credit or debit card or with cash upon delivery.

Dee recalls another customer who called the gift shop: “A lady called me from her room and said, ‘I’m going to be here all day, and I’m bored. Do you have any magazines?’”

Boonique Gifts is located on the first floor near Boone Hospital Center’s Main Entrance. The shop is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Online orders may be placed 24 hours a day at www.boone.org/ giftshop or, for telephone orders, call 573-815-3525.

After learning that the patient loved celebrity magazines, Dee read her the shop’s extensive list of titles.

“Great,” the patient said. “I want them all.

With three young kids at home, I rarely have time to catch up on gossip about the stars.”

“So we bundled up the magazines and ran them all up to her room. She was so happy, you would have thought we’d gone to the moon and back for her.” By Jessica Park

Respecting Choices New Effort Touts Importance Of Advance Directives

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hen planning for the end of life, many people think about the gifts they would like to leave their loved ones. They create wills to divide up their belongings. They plan for savings and assets to be given to family or charitable causes.

However, there is an even bigger gift that most people in midMissouri haven’t even considered — specific instructions for care should they become unable to communicate at the end of life.

Such instructions, contained in a document called an advance directive, can relieve families of the huge burden of having to guess a loved one’s wishes.

“The problem is trying to determine what the patient wanted,” said Dorreen Rardin, Boone Hospital Center’s supportive care coordinator. “So, as a doctor or nurse, you try to get the consensus of various family members. Many times, that is very hard to do.”

Dorreen works with families through this process on a daily basis.

Sometimes, these decisions can lead to family disagreements and even create lasting rifts.

To help solve this problem, Boone Hospital is beginning a new community-wide program encouraging everyone to create an advance directive.

Called Respecting Choices, the program comes from the Gunderson Health System in La Crosse, Wisc. In the La Crosse area, nearly everyone has an advance directive. A survey of cancer patients at Boone Hospital earlier this year found only about onethird had taken this step.

The program will establish a community network of people who have completed the simple training necessary to help others create an advance directive. The network will include hospitals, churches, schools and many other local organizations.

“It’s a discussion that starts with ‘What are the things that make your life worth living?’” said John Bolton, who is volunteering to help establish Respecting Choices in mid-Missouri following his recent retirement from managing Boone Hospital’s inpatient cancer unit. “Based on how people answer that question, that’s how you can begin to talk about what kind of care they would choose for themselves at the end of life.”

For every person, the answer is different. After having an advance directive discussion, some people make it clear that they would not want life-sustaining care if it meant living severely incapacitated.

Others say they would want every treatment possible, no matter what.

Either way, having an advance directive ensures the patient’s wishes are known.

Creating an advance directive requires more than simply writing your wishes down on paper. Once complete, with the help of a trained volunteer, the document should be distributed to local hospitals and physicians to be kept on file.

However, it’s equally important that the advance directive is shared and discussed with family members.

“That’s a critical discussion to have,” Dorreen said. “It’s something they can feel good about, because you are protecting them from having to decide things they might not want to decide.”

At different stages of life, people need to remember to keep their advance directive up-to-date as wishes often change.

“If you make one out when you’re 35, it’s going to different when you’re 88,” John said.

The local Respecting Choices efforts will kick off during a community presentation on Thursday, Nov. 21, at Boone Hospital Center. Everyone is invited to reserve a seat to attend.

“This is truly a gift that you give to your loved ones,” Dorreen said. “With an advance directive your family and caregivers don’t have to spend that time and energy trying to figure out what you want. You’ve told them.” By Jacob Luecke

Respecting Choices: Understanding Advance Directives Free Thursday, Nov. 21 Open to anyone interested in learning more about advance directives.

6 – 10 p.m.

Dinner included.

Registration is required: 573-815-2800 be

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Learn more boone.org/stewart

Building For A Cure Stewart Cancer Center On Target For January Opening

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he new home for cancer care at Boone Hospital Center is coming together very nicely. The Virginia and Norman Stewart Cancer Center will open for patients in early January. The new $7.2 million inpatient unit, funded by the Boone Hospital Board of Trustees, includes 32 state-of-the-art private rooms and will be located on the sixth floor of Boone Hospital’s south tower.

Norm and Virginia Stewart, the namesakes of the new cancer center, toured the construction this summer and got a feel for what will be an impressive new facility for treating cancer.

Best known for a legendary career on Missouri’s basketball sidelines, Norm was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1989. Since then, the Stewarts have been leaders in the fight against cancer. Norm helped found the Coaches vs. Cancer program, which has brought in close to $100 million for the American Cancer Society.

Since joining Boone Hospital’s team, Norm and Virginia have been actively encouraging mid-Missourians to be screened for cancer to help catch it early, when it’s easier to cure. They also want to raise awareness about the breadth of expertise and cancer treatment options available at Boone Hospital.

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