Farmington Presbyterian Manor
DECEMBER 2021
Hope for Christmas Staff member’s childhood accident offers inspiring perspective on living life to the fullest As life enrichment assistant, Lindsay Brown’s goal is to ensure that every resident at Farmington Presbyterian Manor is living their best possible life—a goal she has been striving for in her own life following a tragic accident 17 years ago this month. “When I was 10-years-old, I was sledding in my friend’s neighborhood on a piece of plywood behind a fourwheeler when we made a sharp turn and I rolled off and struck my head on a porch. Unknowingly at the time, I had fractured my skull, which then started a slow, progressing brain bleed. Life Enrichment Assistant Lindsay Brown The hospital told my parents spent 24 days in a coma at the age of 10 after a sledding accident. to keep an eye on me throughout the night, and hours later I started demonstrating more signs of a severe concussion and ended up going into a coma for 24 days,” said Lindsay.
Lindsay – continued on page 3
Editor's note: In a nod to our roots in the Presbyterian Church, Greg Spring, chaplain at Wichita Presbyterian Manor, brings our devotion this month.
People around the world celebrate Christmas with family and friends, parties and gifts, decorations and songs. All of these things are wonderful. However, have we overlooked the baby? We find that the story of Christmas is all about a baby. We discover that the Shepherds in the fields “…hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.” Luke 2:16 The Magi traveled a great distance with significant gifts because of a baby. Even King Herod, though motivated by jealousy, appeared concerned about the baby. He told the wise men “…Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me…” Matthew 2:8 Why would a baby stir such evil actions in Herod? What moved the angels in heaven to rejoice over the birth of a baby? How could a baby bring hope to a sinful world? The emphasis is not only about who the baby would grow-up to be thirty years later. The significant
Hope – continued on page 4
Get the latest on visitation and COVID-19 at our campus at FarmingtonPresbyterianManor.org/covid-19.
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Assignment form makes wishes clear With the end of the year rapidly approaching, it’s a great time to check one more thing off your list — make sure your wishes are respected and your family is protected by completing our Assignment of Amounts Due Resident Form (or reviewing your current Assignment form to make sure it is still correct). If you pass away while a resident of a PMMA® Community, this form will permit you to assign all refunds due to you to the persons specified in your form. Completing the Assignment form is simple, and if you pass away while a resident of the Community, it can save your family significant time, money and frustration when receiving a refund of any amounts due to you from your PMMA Community. In other words, it can simplify the refund process and avoid the time and cost of estate administration. This form works like a “beneficiary designation” in that it is effective upon your passing and permits you to designate who will receive all amounts due to you from your PMMA Community (for example, any refunds of your entrance fee deposit or monthly fees). Your Assignment form is revocable and can be changed at any time, so you are not locked if your circumstances change. Your beneficiaries may include individuals, charities, or others (including a will or trust so that your refund passes pursuant to your estate plan). You may designate the portion of your refund payable to each of them.
Some things to think about: • Who should receive my refund — certain named individuals, charities, or my will or trust? • If I have more than one beneficiary, should they receive equal shares of my refund or should I designate different amounts/percentages among them? • Do I want to designate a successor beneficiary to receive the amount originally allocated to a beneficiary who predeceases me? Absent a valid Assignment form, the payment of your refund may be delayed until an estate is opened or other legal proceedings are completed designating who is legally entitled to request the refund and receive payment. Unfortunately, that happens all-tofrequently and we want to help our residents and their families avoid that unpleasant (and sometimes expensive and time consuming) experience. This is just a summary of how this important document works. We’ll be glad to provide you with the Assignment form to review and complete, and of course we encourage you to get any input you may desire from your family or other advisors. To obtain an Assignment form or talk with someone about an Assignment form, please contact the Marketing Director or Accounting Assistant at your community. u
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Community Matters 573-756-6768 ◆ Fax: 573-756-6014 500 Cayce St. Farmington, MO 63640-2910 FarmingtonPresbyterianManor.org
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | December 2021
is published monthly for residents and friends of Farmington Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: kjameson@PMMA.org Jane Hull, executive director Keely Jameson, marketing director
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
Lindsay – continued from page 1
outlook on life always propels her forward.
While in a coma, Lindsay’s doctors told her parents that if she lived, she would most likely spend the rest of her life in a hospital bed—a prognosis Lindsay’s dad adamantly disagreed with.
“I love to work out and do the best thing for my body to keep myself mobile and keep getting stronger,” said Lindsay. “I’m constantly trying to work toward a better, stronger and more capable me.”
“My dad said, ‘Shut up, that girl is going to walk out of this hospital as your poster child,” said Lindsay.
As for her work at the community, Lindsay says it’s just another of the many blessings in her life.
After finally regaining consciousness, Lindsay then began a lengthy rehabilitation process aimed at helping her regain her motor skills.
“I just love to love people,” said Lindsay. “Being able to do that in a work environment and focus on the quality of life of my residents and bringing happiness and spending that time with the residents is just so rewarding and fulfilling.”
“It was a very slow process,” said Lindsay. “It’s definitely not like the movies when you wake up and you’re ok.” But eventually, all of Lindsay’s hard work paid off, and she ended up proving her dad right. “It may have taken three or four hours, but between using a wheelchair and a walker for assistance, I did walk out of there,” said Lindsay.
Lindsay’s commitment to her work also has a personal component. “I had two family members who were put into a nursing home—not PMMA—and were probably not treated very well, so it feels like I can
pay it forward by treating every resident as a family member of mine.” She applied for the job because of a personal connection, too. “My mom happened to work here in high school in the same department and same position. She loved it, and it was one of her ideas for me to apply for it because she loved it so much,” said Lindsay. And while she has only been at Farmington Presbyterian Manor for less than a year, Lindsay’s positive energy and compassion for others has become well known throughout the community. “She always has a smile on her face and a positive attitude that’s contagious. She has a kind and empathetic heart that shows through in her daily work,” said Keely Jameson, sales and marketing director at Farmington Presbyterian Manor. u
Now, thanks to her responsibilities at the community, Lindsay’s smart watch tracks her walking four and a half miles a day around the campus before heading off to her second job at a local fitness center. And, after all of that, Lindsay still finds the time—and energy—to work out on her own. It’s still not easy, the effects of her accident still inhibit her movement, but Lindsay’s motivation and overall
Today, Lindsay Brown uses her traumatic experience and road to recovery as inspiration to encourage Presbyterian Manor residents to live life to the fullest. Farmington Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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Hope – continued from page 1 point concerns the identity of the baby at His birth. This baby was Emmanuel, God with us, the Prince of Peace, God in the flesh. Joseph learned from the beginning, why this baby was born in such a miraculous event. The Angel communicated that Joseph “…give (the baby) the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 Today, over 2,000 years later, people are still talking about the baby named Jesus. Some in worship, some in faith, some in disgust and some in only a seasonal greeting for the holiday. This baby is the cure for what ails this sinful world today. Jesus is the only thing that makes this holiday Christmas. The sin in the hearts of all humanity brings despair to the world. The message of the baby gives each of us the way to find forgiveness for our sin, something that we cannot do on our own. This truly is the greatest Christmas gift. With no doubt this baby gives each of us the opportunity for hope this Christmas season. u
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | December 2021