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Vol. 53 No. 50 • Two Sections • 14 pages April 24, 2020
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For cancellations and closings See Page 6.
Friend and patient comes to Doc Lowe’s rescue By Vicki Clark Gourley Publisher
- Photos By Vicki Clark Gourley
Jack Coffman, retired OG&E executive is still wearing his shirt as he and Dane Marable build a ramp for Jack’s friend, Dr. Jim Lowe, so he can get out his front door after hip surgery.
COVID survivor: It was scary By Rose Lane Editor Kristen Bohanon had just returned from a spring break trip to Cancun when she started to feel achy. She said she wasn’t miserable — it was more like she was sore from exercising. But it didn’t go away. Kristen said she didn’t want to alarm her family and friends by saying anything. “It was scary as I kept thinking I’d get better and I didn’t,” she said. As her fever hovered around 103-104 degrees and up to 106 degrees, she decided it was time to speak up. “I said, ‘I’m pretty sure I have it.” “It” being COVID-19. Kristen had been talking to doctors repeatedly who advised her not to go to the hospital unless she couldn’t breathe. She had an oxygen meter and was doing fine as it stood at 90 percent. Then, her oxygen level
dipped to 82 percent and she said she knew it was time to go to a clinic. At the clinic, she was tested for COVID-19 and was positive. Kristen was also diagnosed with double pneumonia and sent right to the emergency room. At the hospital, she was given a couple of bags of fluids and sent home with antibiotics. Part of her, she said, wanted to stay in the hospital, but the doctors advised otherwise. “Trust me, you don’t want to be here,” they said. She said the hospital was very quiet and she only saw a few other people. That day, in early April, was the last fever she has had and she has felt continually better ever since. She registered with the Health Department and the Oklahoma Blood Institute as she may be able to donate plasma. “I am happy to do that,” Kristen said.
When dentist Dr. Jim Lowe needed emergency surgery on his hip last week friends rallied to help anyway they could. Discharged from the hospital and unable to put any weight on his leg, Jim’s son, plastic surgeon Dr. James B. Lowe and his friend, Dr. Randy Sukman, carried Jim up the stairs into his bed. All the entrances
into the Lowes’ home on Wilshire have steps. Jim’s wife Linda called all the hospital supply companies. It would take a month for a custom ramp. Jack Coffman, friend and patient, knocked on the Lowes’ door the next day. He would build a custom ramp for the front door and would start on it immediately with the assistance of of his friend, Dean Marable. See RAMP, Page 3
The ramp makes it possible for Dr. Lowe to come out the front door and get to the car in the driveway.
The Way We Were — 20 years ago
- Photo by Gordon Walker
The $2 million Bennett Athletic Center at Casady School was formally dedicated 20 years ago. The 24,000 square foot facility was named for benefactors Clay and Louise Bennett, pictured with Casady legendary coach Virgil Grantham and the Bennetts’ two youngest children, Christy, a Casady 7th grader, and Graham, a 1st grader. The Bennetts got a kick out of Clay’s No. 79 jersey from his playing days at Casady. Graham is holding his dad’s eyewear from days gone by.
FRIDAY’s
Dog of the Week Liv is a sweet 2-year-old pit mix. Liv’s person is Halsey Musselman. Liv loves baths, playing outside/going on walks and meeting other dogs. Here she is, so proud of herself, after going to the groomer. Email Dog of the Week, Baby of the Week and Cat of the Week submissions to rose@okcfriday.com. Submissions are used in the order they are received.
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Downtown OKC to honor three leaders Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership will honor three local business and community leaders for their outstanding contributions to the downtown community at the 34th annual Dean A. McGee Awards on Wednesday, June 3, in the Skirvin Hilton Hotel Grand Ballroom. Cathy O’Connor will receive the Dean A. McGee Award for her lifetime contributions to downtown; the Stanley Draper Award will be presented to Nancy Anthony for her efforts in community excellence; and Donald Beck will receive the Neal Horton Award for revital-
ization of downtown. The 2020 Dean A. McGee Awards is a black-tie event that begins with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by a gourmet dinner at 7:00 p.m. The 2020 event co-chairmen are Devon Energy Chair Emeritus Larry Nichols and Painted Door owner Avis Scaramucci. Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership President Jane Jenkins will present the State of Downtown address, and short videos about each award’s namesake precedes See AWARDS, Page 5