OKC FRIDAY Vol. 56 No. 37 • One Section • 16 pages • February 17, 2023
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Family lived with bated breath as loved one hid from Russians By Eric Oesch Staff Writer
Tim Morales standing in front of a Russian tank. This is set to be the cover of the book he’s writing about his experiences in Ukraine.
For eight months Quail Creek resident Dee Morales lived with bated breath, worried about the well-being of her brother, Tim, caught behind enemy Russian lines and fearing for his life in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson. Now, as her brother has survived the harrowing experience of war, Morales can share what she and her mother, Joyce, experienced from halfway across the globe. Morales, a former KWTV news reporter and freelance field producer for Good Morning America, ESPN and World News Tonight, lived throughout the world as part of a US Air Force family stationed in Holland, England, Italy, Colorado Springs, Co. and eventually Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma. She has called Fridayland home for decades, while her sister, a retired RN, lives in the Yorkshire Moors and brother Tim in Ukraine for the past 19 years. “I’m incredibly close to my siblings,” said Morales. “My brother and I share a love of writing and travel.” Timothy J. Morales, PhD., 56, a former University of Central Oklahoma college professor, lived in Oklahoma City for 20 years from
Tim Morales with his 95-year-old mom, Joyce, a Quail Creek resident.
1983-2003 — except for a three-year stint at Purdue University in Indiana where he lived while working on his Ph.D. He moved to Ukraine after a colleague introduced him to his first wife who was a Ukrainian citizen. The couple had a son who is currently a student at the University of Kyiv. Morales and his second wife have a 10-year-old daughter. Morales ran a successful English school in Ukraine before the Russian invasion one year ago upended the lives of an entire nation. Although he had done nothing wrong, being See UKRAINE, Page 7
Our nonprofits are on the national radar Zoo nominated for award The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden has been nominated for USA Today’s 10 Best 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards in two categories, Best Zoo and Best Zoo Exhibit, Oklahoma Trails. OKC Zoo fans near and far are encouraged to show their support and vote daily for both of the Zoo’s award nominations, Best Zoo and Best Zoo See ZOO, Page 2
Pivot’s on Kelly Clarkson OKC’s Pivot: A Turning Point for Youth was invited to share information about its Tiny Home Community on last Monday’s edition of The Kelly Clarkson Show. See KELLY, Page 2
Chick-fil-A presents grants to Hearts for Hearing, ICS Two Oklahoma nonprofits have been named recipients of grants through the annual Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards program. Hearts for Hearing is being awarded $200,000 and Infant Crisis Services is to receive $50,000. Grants are awarded each year from Chick-fil-A to organizations working to better their communities. Oklahoma City is the only metro area with two recipients this year. Hearts for Hearing teaches babies born deaf to listen and talk by providing the first set of hearing technology to chil-
INTEGRIS: 35 years of transplants INTEGRIS Health consists of one of is celebrating 35 the largest and most years of kidney experienced transtransplantation. plant teams in the Surgeons with the United States. INTEGRIS Health E.N. Scott Nazih Zuhdi Samara, M.D., is the Transplant Institute surgical director of have performed kidney transplant at more than 2,200 kidINTEGRIS Health ney transplants since Baptist Medical the program began. Center. He conductE.N. SCOTT SAMARA, M.D. The INTEGRIS ed the first kidney Health Kidney and transplant at the Pancreas Transplant Center facility and still practices offers superior outcomes for today. He is proud of what the kidney transplants from both living and deceased donors. It See INTEGRIS, Page 3
dren with hearing loss across Oklahoma at no cost to families. Research indicates that ages 0-3 are critical for auditory and language development; therefore, Hearts for Hearing covers all out-of-pocket expenses for families of children with hearing loss aged three and under in addition to the first set of hearing technology. After age three, Hearts for Hearing offers financial assistance for audiology and specialized speech therapy services. The Adult Clinic at Hearts for Hearing provides highquality hearing care to adults
FRIDAY’s
Dog of the Week Chanel is a Bichonmix, rescue dog that has been at the heart of the Senner family for four years. She’s a bit of a diva, likes lots of attention, long walks, treats and toys. Email nominations with a complete description to rose@okcfriday.com. Submissions are used in the order they are received.
and seniors who wish to hear better - or hear again. A portion of proceeds from the adult clinic helps off-set the cost of the services and technology provided to babies and children who receive care at Hearts for Hearing. “This generous gift from Chick-fil-A allows our organization to expand our Newborn Hearing Screen services and grow the number of children receiving their first set of hearing technology and speech therapy See GRANTS, Page 3