Dixon Living - Spring 2024

A young Dixon man with an eye for detail is driven to succeed

Yoga instructor enjoys being in the home stretch

It’s a gift that keeps on giving for a local couple: The gift of life

Golf course’s new owner has found his Lost love

Putting a

over their heads

Granny Rose Animal Shelter knows that when it comes to finding a loving companion for older cats and dogs, home is where the heart of gold is.

What’s a husband to do when his wife needs a kidney and he has one to give, but it’s not a match? If it’ll help save his wife’s life, he donates it to someone he’s never met.

A longtime local golf course has a new owner, and he’s inviting people to fall in love with it the same way he did.

Rocky, seen here March 28

in the pet shelter’s Seniors-for-Seniors

over 60. The Chihuahua

ometimes, you don’t need to teach an old dog new tricks, you just need to find it a new home — same thing goes for cats; that’s why a local pet shelter is giving their canine and feline friends a new leash on life by making it easier for people and pets in their golden years to connect.

Granny Rose Animal Shelter’s Seniors-for-Seniors program helps people 60 and older adopt a dog or cat 6 years or older by waiving adoption fees — $200 for a dog, $100 for a cat — that can make it harder for seniors on a fixed income to bring a pet into their home.

Helping older animals help older people, and vice-versa, has been a focus for Granny Rose for the past several years; the program began eight years ago but it really took off last year, with nearly five times the number of senior-based adoptions than in previous years. Much of that had to do with executive director Shannon Eastman making it her pet project when she joined the no-kill shelter’s staff in February 2023.

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

with Granny Rose assistant director Phoebe Letourneau, is one of the dogs

adoption program, which pairs older cats and dogs with people

would be happy to find a home with a pet owner with some love to give.

ADOPTION cont’d from page 9

Last year, the program paired 26 pets with seniors, a number Eastman expects to increase again this year.

While most adoptions from the shelter are for younger animals, adopting an older dog or cat can fit better with a senior’s lifestyle. Puppies and kittens are cute, but the lovable little furballs are full of energy and can require more attention, especially as they grow. Older pets tend to more laid back and less demanding.

“They usually match each other’s energy level,” Eastman said. “Pets have a good need of looking for their forever companion. Senior dogs and cats benefit from having a senior adopt them because they’re home all day.

They give them more one-on-one attention and help live out their best years together.”

More mature pets also don’t have to go through the basic training techniques such as sit-and-stay, potty training and chewing control, Eastman said. They’re more calm and are just looking for a place to call home, a lap to lay on and a face to lick.

“By the time they get them, they’re just ready to curl up on the couch with them, and just be that little friend that they pet, can talk to, and go on car rides with,” Eastman said. “All of that hard training is done.”

At the end of March, the shelter had two senior dogs, Rocky, 13, and Maya,12; and one senior cat, Minnie, 14. Pets come to the shelter for various reasons, and some under very challenging circumstances. Maya had lived about 90 percent of her life in a small dog crate before she arrived at the shelter, and had a wound on one leg that needed healed. Eastman and her staff help animals like Maya heal and become healthy enough for adoption.

“She’s won our hearts,” Eastman said. “She’s been one of our favorites here. She gets along with all of her dogs and has a great temperament.”

ADOPTION cont’d to page 12

Pitty mix Maya gets a snack from Granny Rose director Shannon Eastman on March 28 at the pet shelter. Granny Rose’s Seniors-for-Seniors pet adoption program has been around for several years, but when Eastman came on as director last year, she made it a focus to use the program to get more people and pets together.

T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

ALEX

Like others at Granny Rose, assistant director Phoebe Letourneau, loves to interact with all the animals, but especially enjoys connecting with the older ones, watching them on their journey from Granny Rose resident to adoptee. She enjoys knowing that once they become adopted, they’re free to live their best life again, as well as hearing that their new owners have a fur-ever friend in their life.

“The animals that are seniors here go through a lot, and for them to be with someone that’s just a little more calm and can bond together, I think that’s the biggest thing, for someone to have a companion,” Letourneau said. “Animals help a lot with mental health. They help in so many ways. It makes seniors able to get a dog or a cat at no price for them. It’s awesome for them to have an animal that is also a senior, and they can live out their last years together.” ADOPTION

ADOPTION cont’d to page 13

This pet bed at Granny Rose is nice and comfy, but Minnie, one of the senior cats at the shelter, would like to find a home of her own with a local senior.

ADOPTION cont’d from page 12

Even when the senior pets’ time at the shelter is over, they’re not forgotten. Eastland and her staff occasionally hear from pet owners how their new best friend is doing, even long after the adoption process.

One local senior couple who adopted a dog came back a couple of weeks later to adopt a cat. “Now that cat and dog are seeing all of the United States and are living their best life,” Eastman said. “We love that.”

Letourneau recently enjoyed hearing about Dakota, an amputee dog that was recently adopted through the program. Letourneau was amazed at Dakota’s mental and physical growth since being in the care of her new owner.

“It’s really nice to hear from them,” Letourneau said. “We did a lot with helping to socialize them and make them the way they are. For Dakota, to see how different she was after she left here, it’s just nice to think about how much all of us helped with that. When she got here, she was so scared of everything, and she’s now a completely different dog. She’s opened up so much.”

Eastman and her staff volunteer to care for animals at the shelter. Operation costs come from adoption fees, donations and fundraisers such as craft shows; it receives no funding from the state or county. The shelter also boasts a pet pantry where people in Lee, Ogle and Whiteside counties can get assistance with pet food.

More people are finding new pets through the Seniors-for-Seniors program, and that’s a trend Eastman wants to see continue.

“It was something that really intrigued me right away here,” Eastman said. “Traditionally, senior pets are hard to adopt, because everyone wants a young animal. You don’t see this at many other shelters, so I really enjoy this. There is a need.” n

Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.

More info

Granny Rose Animal Shelter, 613 River Lane in Dixon, is open from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Find it on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok, email office@grannyrose.org or call 815-288-7387 to learn more about the shelter's Seniors-forSeniors program, or for more information about its services.

STRE TCH

By CODY CUTTER Sauk Valley Media

ne yoga session a day would be enough of a workout for most people.

But four a day? Now that’s a stretch.

Such is life for Dixon’s Brandan Lumzy, a yoga instructor who’s more than happy to go to the yoga mat for his students, leading classes for both young and old in Dixon, Sterling and Rock Falls throughout the week, sometimes as many as four a day.

Lumzy has practiced yoga for nearly 10 years, and has taught for three, and seeing people come away from class better than when they come in never fails to amaze him.

“I love it,” Lumzy said. “Every class is completely different. You don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s a little of everything.”

It’s also a way for him to do his part to make a healthier community, and not just for the young and yoga-savvy.

Some of the people in his class are into their 90s, but that hasn’t stopped them from working out. He teaches a basic class, another with a more fluent Vinyasa flow, and chair yoga, which has attracted area seniors to enjoy the benefits of yoga and those benefits go beyond just the physical.

On top of keeping the body limber and in shape, yoga can also help improve sleep habits, increase energy, reduce stress, help people relax, and increase focus and clarity, which can help people deal better with difficult tasks and situations, Lumzy said.

The first part of the class is setting the mood, which is where the right kind of background music can help, its soothing sounds helping students loosen up.

LUMZY cont’d to page 16

Brandan Lumzy limbers up for a yoga session at Centerstage Dance Studio in Dixon.

Brandan Lumzy conducts a chair yoga session at the Lee County Council on Aging in July 2023. The class is one of several that Lumzy leads throughout the Sauk Valley.

In order for his students to get the most out of their experience, they begin by blocking out distractions and focusing on the session (“It no longer serves us here,” he’ll say. “It’ll be there once we’re done”). Throughout the class, he’ll guide students with reminders to breath through the nose instead of the mouth, as air flows better that way while engaging in movements. The focus is entirely on the students until the class is over and it’s time to take a bow, which is where the final well-wishing of “namaste” (Sanskrit for “bowing to you) comes in.

Even though Lumzy teaches classes with varying levels of difficulty, he makes sure to communicate movements and instructions with his students using the same method — “nice and smooth with lots of flow,” he said — avoiding clunky words that could disrupt concentration.

“I always queue as if there’s a beginner in my class,” Lumzy said. “Everybody knows that. I could be descriptive, and I could pick that up, but I always queue nice and slow.” LUMZY cont’d from page 15 LUMZY cont’d to page 17

Chair yoga is becoming popular as an alternative method of practicing the ancient systems of physical, mental and spiritual practices, especially with seniors, who may find traditional yoga to be a challenge. Rather than standing or sitting on a yoga mat on the floor, chair yoga is done while seated, focusing more on comfort and balance while still providing the benefits of yoga.

Exercises are done both seated, with a grip on a chair, or free standing next to the chair.

Toward the end of each chair class, students roll their feet across small lacrosse balls, aiding the fascia tissue — healthy fascia is more flexible, while tighter fascia can inhibit movement.

Chairs without arm rests are best, making it easier for people to keep their palms facing outward at the sides while concentrating on the class and offering greater mobility.

“You get to slow down,” Lumzy said. “You’re seated and you really get to think about the movement, rather than other forms of yoga where you’re standing and worrying about where you’re going. You’re right there and focused in the moment. It’s more interesting and more creative because sometimes you have to adapt the poses to the people in front of you.”

Regardless of what type of class he teaches, the movements he guides students through are aimed an achieving similar results: putting people in a better state of mind and body.

“There have been times where some people have come in who have things going on [in life]; there are times where you can look at somebody and you can tell that they’re stressed, or that they may be having a bad day or anything like that,” Lumzy said. “At the end of the class, I can see a smile on their face and see them be more relaxed.”

It’s like putting a spring in their step, both figuratively and literally.

“I’ve had people come and tell me that their balance has improved,” he said. “I’ve had people tell me that it was easier shoveling snow this year, or sleeping better, or being more relaxed.”

For those who may be a little unsure about trying yoga, Lumzy says they needn’t worry. He’ll be there to help them every step and stretch of the way. He’s seen many students who’ve been nervous at first, only to see them loosen up and learn to enjoy making yoga part of their life.

“There have been some people who have come in and were kind of closed-minded toward the practice,” he said, “but then they just keep coming and coming and coming, and become more open as a person and like being part of a group.”

Lumzy’s journey to yoga began as he started a family with his wife, Stephanie. “When we had our child, I couldn’t get to the gym like I had used to,” he said, but yoga gave him a way that he could stay at home and still work out. Online lessons got him hooked and he eventually decided to bring lessons to his hometown. The next step on his way to becoming a yoga instructor was to take teacher certification classes.

Brandan Lumzy has found the benefits of yoga to be such an important part of his life that he’s teaching it to others, leading classes at six different locations. “I love it,” Lumzy said. “Every class is completely different. You don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s a little of everything.”

“I tried yoga at my house through YouTube, and it was kind of putting it into a practice and a habit. I’d practice, practice, practice it daily, and the next thing I knew it came to a point where I could take yoga teacher training, and I did it.”

Not long after he graduated from his first teacher training session, Lumzy learned that a local instructor was getting out of teaching the classes at St. Paul Lutheran Church. He was persuaded to take over and that started him on a journey that today takes him to six different locations in three cities.

Yoga instruction is part of his day four or five days a week, depending on an every-other-Saturday class, and he has an especially busy day on Thursdays, when he teaches four classes in a span from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Lumzy teaches basic yoga classes, described in yoga circles as an “all levels flow” setup, at 5:15 p.m. Mondays at CGH Medical Center; 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Centerstage Dance Studio in Dixon; and 8 a.m. Wednesday and either 7:30 or 9 a.m. Saturday (depending on the week) at 7:24 Fitness on the Rock in Rock Falls.

Vinyasa flow yoga, the more faster-paced version, is taught at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Centerstage, and 4:30 p.m. Thursday at 7:24.

Chair yoga classes are taught at 11 a.m. Monday and 1 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at the Lee County Council on Aging’s Senior Center in Dixon; 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Paul Church in Dixon; and 5 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of the month at Home of Hope Cancer Wellness Center in Dixon. Private lessons also are available upon request (see the info box on the facing page for Lumzy’s contact information).

Beyond its benefits to the mind and body, Lumzy has found that students enjoy the sense of fellowship the classes provide. Linda Hellmich of Dixon has done yoga for around 15 years, and found it to be a huge benefit for promoting well-being into her mid-60s. She enjoys sharing her experiences with friends and has even recruited some of them to come with her to the traditional yoga classes.

•

•

LUMZY cont’d to page 19

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM

“I’ve been doing it a lot, and he’s been my favorite instructor,” Hellmich said. “He creates a community in the group that’s comfortable and safe. The yoga is focused on stretching and bringing energy back into the body. For my age group, the stretching, making your joints move and making your tissues elongate is what we need.”

For Natalie Andrews and Judy Schwarz, both of Dixon, chair yoga classes have made a big difference in their lives.

Andrews started attending the classes at the Senior Center right around the time Lumzy started teaching it there, and has found that her persistence has paid off.

“It’s relaxing,” Andrews said. “I’m learning how to meditate and to take some time for myself. This is my ‘me time’ where I can block everything out, and the positive piece that I get out of it is having better joints and body movement with exercise that is relaxing versus being strenuous. That’s why I come back, because I feel good.” Schwarz, who attends chair yoga classes at St. Paul, said she’s been amazed at how relaxed the classes have made her feel: “My youngest daughter did yoga, and I had never heard of it. In my first class here, I was just amazed. Now I know why she did it. It’s so relaxing, and I’ve improved in my ability and stretching,” she said.

Lumzy’s commitment to helping people become healthier isn’t limited to yoga. He also hosts free workout classes for seniors at Lee County Council on Aging, including sessions on its fleet of recumbent exercise bicycles; call LCCOA at 815-2889236 to set up an appointment.

Positivity and growth are part of Lumzy’s mantra in life, and he ends each of his classes reminding people why they’re an important part of helping people reach their goals in life. “As always, I send nothing but positivity and growth to you for the rest of your day. Namaste.” n

Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com

There’s no place like om

...

Contact Brandan Lumzy at lumzyyoga@gmail.com or call 815-440-5293 for a schedule of classes in Dixon, Sterling or Rock Falls.

or some people, slow and steady wins the race, but not for Kaden Mulligan.

He buries the needle.

Kaden’s one of those people who knows how to get the most out of his day. You won’t find “boredom” in his vocabulary, or “failure,” but he’s got a lot to say about determination, discipline, and details.

He’s also got a lot to do, and being a juggler is toward the top of a list that also includes college student, racecar driver, recreation supervisor, and entrepreneur. Not bad for someone who can still see the teen years in his rear view mirror — but Kaden’s not looking back. The 20-year-old from Dixon is keeping his eyes on the road ahead, focused on the future and doing what it takes to make it successful.

That’s a lot of things to keep in the air, but Kaden’s managed to not drop the ball. That doesn’t mean it’s always been easy though.

“I think I’m finding it more difficult as more and more new things keep coming,” he said. “I thought I was going to have an easier school schedule this year, but it didn’t work out that way.”

It’s a good thing Kaden had a good pit crew growing up to help him get a good start in life: a family that taught him the value of hard work and the discipline to get things done, and these days his girlfriend is part of that crew too. Those lessons and that support

DRIVEN cont’d to page 22

With so much on his plate today, you wouldn’t think Kaden Mulligan has time to focus on tomorrow, but he still manages to keep an eye on his future. “I’ve always wanted to have my own business,” he said. “I don’t know if the detailing is what I’m going to do for the rest of my life, but I do want to see it become as big as I can get it.”

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM

DRIVEN cont’d from page 21

There’s an associate degree in the arts to earn at Sauk Valley Community College, and preparation for continuing his education at Northern Illinois University’s College of Business. There’s an ambition to rack up some wins racing his 1990 Ford Mustang on the regional drag strips. There are young kids to watch and mentor at the Dixon Park District.

On top of it all, there’s a business to run.

Mulligan is the man in the driver’s seat at D-1 Interior Detailing. Scrubbing upholstery, cleaning carpet, washing windshields, vanquishing dull vinyl, Kaden likes to keep it clean behind the wheel — another lesson he picked up from family, his father K.J. and Uncle Mark.

DRIVEN cont’d to page 24

He’s got a fast car ...

When Kaden’s not busting dust, he’s doing his best to leave ‘em in the dust, behind the wheel of his 1990 Ford Mustang, at drag strips in Byron and Cordova.

“My dad has always been super proactive about keeping his stuff clean and making sure he always has the nicest stuff, as nice as he can,” Mulligan said. “Thanks to those two, whenever I see a speck of something, it just drives me nuts until it’s gone. For what it’s worth, if I’m going to be asking people for their money, they wouldn’t want to see anything on their car, either.”

As spring arrives, business picks up speed, which is also right around the time final exams at college come into the picture — it can be hard to focus on school, run the business and get the word out about it on its Facebook page, he said — but that’s where that determination kicks in.

Getting more work? Then it’s full steam ahead: Find a way to get the job done in less time. He recently added a new Wagner SprayTech power steamer that’s helped do just that.

The business has kept him busy the two years he’s been at it in earnest, detailing vehicles big and small. It started as a demonstration business during Mulligan’s time in the Whiteside Area Career Center’s Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (CEO) class as a Dixon High School upperclassman. The program teaches high-schoolers to basics of running a business, part of which is done by having students start their own business.

Navigating his way through the CEO program experience was a challenge, but after he exhibited his business at the CEO trade show at Northland Mall in Sterling, it gave him the confidence to make it more permanent.

“At the time I was pretty nervous about it because I really didn’t think I was going to be able to do anything with it at the trade show, but I ended up doing well and had the business set up the whole year,” Mulligan said. “That was really exciting for me.”

While running a business comes with responsibilities, it also has its rewards, and those rewards not only help Kaden pay for college but help him follow in the family footsteps on the drag strip. A third-generation racer, Mulligan competes with his Mustang, running under the same number his grandfather Patrick Mulligan had, in super pro drag races at Byron Dragway near Rockford and Cordova Dragway near the Quad Cities. He competed in three events last year, two in Byron and one in Cordova, and while the prize money didn’t make him rich, crossing the finish line brought him something worth more than anything money could buy.

“Even though I didn’t win anything, other than a couple of hundred bucks, I think the best part of racing this year was getting to see my Grandpa be so proud of me,” Mulligan said. “That was real rewarding.”

Kaden’s dad shares in that pride, seeing how his son’s hard work and determination help him keep the scales tipped in his favor as he balances a busy schedule.

“It’s kind of been bred into him,” K.J. said. “It’s nonstop work, and work is kind of like a rewarding factor for us as a family. I’ve always felt, and have been driven, that the harder you work, the more benefits you can get out of life. No one’s going to give it to you. You got to work for it.”

With a college transition ahead, final exams, a new racing season and a busy business to run, the challenges and hard work continue for Kaden during a pivotal time in his life. There are tasks to accomplish, dreams to build, money to make and lessons to learn, but Kaden’s committed to keeping his pedal to the metal, and though he doesn’t know where the finish line will be yet, he knows he’ll get there.

“I’ve always wanted to have my own business,” Kaden said. “I don’t know if the detailing is what I’m going to do for the rest of my life, but I do want to see it become as big as I can get it.” n Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.

8TH ANNUAL

Let him shine

Find D-1 Interior Detailing on Facebook for pricing or more information, or email

mulligankaden@gmail.com or call 815-440-7107 to arrange a project.

BY CODY CUTTER SAUK VALLEY MEDIA

Julie and Scott Helfrich aren’t unlike other couples who’ve been together as long as they have. In 40-plus years of marriage, they’ve been at each others’ side — building a life, raising a family, making friends, traveling — but last year, they did something not a lot of couples can say they’ve done.

They saved lives together.

The Helfrichs did it when they underwent operations as part of a program that gives people a gift that really does keep on giving: the gift of life.

In short, Julie needed a kidney and Scott had one to give. There was just one problem: Scott’s wasn’t a match with his wife. Undeterred, the couple kept searching for a solution. That’s when they found out about the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s kidney exchange program, which pairs compatible living donors with recipients in need of a new kidney, which can help expedite the transplant process. Instead of being on a list and waiting for compatible organs from a deceased donor to become available, people in need of a kidney can be matched with a living donor in a few different ways.

In the Helfrichs’ case, they were candidates for the paired kidney exchange, in which a donor doesn’t match the intended recipient, but can still donate a kidney to someone else who needs one; and the intended recipient gets a kidney from another living donor after the university places them on the National Kidney Registry.

It turned out to be the perfect solution for the Helfrichs. Julie was given a new lease on life, and Scott was able to do the same for someone else.

Giving up a kidney and undergoing surgery to help a stranger isn’t something everyone is willing to do, but Scott was happy to step up if it meant helping his partner in life.

“It’s a great program because I don’t have to be a match [to her] when it’s hard to get a match,” Scott, 64, said. “I can give a kidney, and she can get one, and two or three families are helped out, and it’s a lot quicker for people.”

Scott’s sacrifice wasn’t lost on Julie, 68. “He knew he wasn’t going to be a match, but he decided to go through the process,” Julie said. “He’s my hero.”

Scott applied to be in the exchange program in early 2023, and was approved in June. Then

came the process to find compatible matches, which wound up lasting five months.

“One of the benefits of a living donor is that the acceptance of the kidney is much higher,” Julie said. “The chances that the body will accept the kidney is much more likely if it’s from a living donor.”

“We were told that it would take six months, but it took five,” Scott said. “A few days before Thanksgiving, she got a call, and then I got a call at the same time. They told her that they had a match for her, and they told me that they had someone for me to give their kidney to.”

After three weeks of planning, which included sheltering in place to prevent being exposed to illnesses and viruses, Scott had his surgery Dec. 12 to remove his kidney, and Julie had hers on Dec. 13 to get her replacement.

nnn

This wasn’t the first time the Julie and Scott had faced a health challenge together. Julie survived breast cancer more than 30 years ago. About 6 years ago, she developed a tumor on one of her kidneys that necessitated its removal. Three years later, the other kidney started to go bad and doctors determined a transplant was needed.

At first the couple, who tends to be more on the private side, shared their ordeal with only close family members. But as time went on and the situation became more serious, the couple opened up to more people, in hopes of getting the word out and finding a donor. During an online Zoom get-together with her siblings, she was persuaded to go public.

“That was a hard decision for me,” Julie said. “I have six sisters and three brothers, and we Zoom every Sunday morning. One morning, they said: ‘It’s time. You have to tell people.’”

Though that decision wasn’t easy, it resulted in an outpouring of love and concern. The Helfrichs would find out later that friends and family were tested as potential donor candidates. Even though they weren’t able to donate to Julie, she said many of them became more aware of the health of their own kidneys, and one friend even became an organ donor herself, and like Scott, donated a kidney.

“It worked out that, because of her run to help Julie, she was able to help someone else out,” Scott said.

Once the couple finally went through the surgery, the family was able to breathe a collective sigh of relief. They even gave Julie’s new kidney a name, “Kevin,” named for her favorite character in “The Minions” film series.

“We were both in recovery at the same time,” Julie said. “It’s just amazing about all of the help and support we got. When I got back to the room, I could see the look of relief on my four daughters who were in there waiting for me. There was a lot of joy and relief.”

These days, the couple are adjusting to life after a transplant, which means anti-rejection meds and weekly testing for Julie. Scott doesn’t have to change his diet with one kidney, but still be mindful that he has just one.

“That’s our new normal, but that’s fine,” he said. “That hasn’t stopped us from traveling.” By February, the Helfrichs were back enjoying vacations like they had wanted to: without worry.

When they became donor candidates, the couple had to adjust their lives. When they took a vacation, they would try to plan trips around Madison and southern Wisconsin, where they would be close to the hospital should they get the call that a kidney has been found. When they did venture farther from home, they would go through emergency scenarios ahead of time — just in case.

With their surgeries behind them — and not having to build their schedules around waiting for a call from the hospital — the Helfrichs can return to a more normal life, and that means getting back to traveling more freely. The couple recently celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary with a hike at Slide Rock National Park in Sedona, Arizona.

Image by kjpargeter on Freepik

Scott and Julie Helfrich enjoy spending time with family, which includes four daughters, four son-in-laws, eleven grandkids and their Shih-tzu Cooper. Pictured, in no particular order are Scott and Julie, Barb and Ty McKenna, Katherine and James Leslie, Rachel and Nicholas Tobin, Whitney and Kris Blayney; and grandkids Mason, Marcus, Morgan, James, Brady, Owen, Weston, Jack, Georgia, Harper and Vivian.

“We were still taking trips, but were always thinking about if something happened, how quickly we could get to an airport and all of that, thinking that it could happen,” Scott said.

Recently, they visited family in Florida for two weeks, and enjoyed playing pickleball, kayaking and riding bicycles. It was all a welcome change from the waiting and worrying that had become part of their lives for so long, especially for Julie, who’s committed herself to being more physically active than she was in recent years.

“I would like my activity level to be a little higher, but I’m working on that,” Julie said. “Anti-rejection meds are a challenge, but I’m just working through it. Some of the meds I’m on will get reduced or eliminated eventually, but we’re back to being normal again.”

Julie learned early in life to be proactive when it came to her health. She was diagnosed with breast cancer 32 years ago after pushing to have a mammogram when she was 36, at a time when the medical profession wasn’t as proactive about recommending women that age get the test.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

“I talked them into it because I had two paternal aunts who already had breast cancer,” Julie said, and her insistence paid off. “They found breast cancer in my first mammogram. It all happened because I just asked. I felt that it needed to be done. Not that I wanted to find things wrong.”

nnn

Being in the kidney program has been a learning experience for both Julie and Scott, which has allowed them to offer words of advice to others who may find themselves in the same situation. They know firsthand how overwhelming it is to have to be ready for major surgery on a moment’s notice, but the couple stayed strong, committed to getting through their ordeal together.

Organ transplants can be a daunting process, full of ups and downs. Not only must donors be found, but they must be compatible. The list is long and the wait can be too, and sometimes the search is a race against time. According to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, more than 100,000 people are on the waiting list for an organ donation — and even when a donor is found, the costs can be monumental: an estimated $350,000 for a pancreas to nearly $1.4 million for a heart transplant, according to the National Foundation of Transplants, with out-of-pocket costs for the patient ranging from $69,000 to $276,000. Recent statistics from the HRSA also say that kidneys are the number one organ when it comes to both the number of people on the waiting list — nearly 89,000 — and the number of transplant surgeries — just under 16,000.

IN ILLINOIS ...

Illinois residents can register to become an organ donor by going to https://apps.ilsos.gov/ organdonorregister/, calling 1-800-210-2106, or visiting their nearest DMV office.

LEARN MORE

Go to uwhealth.org/treatments/ living-kidney-donation to learn about the kidney donation and transplant program at the University of Wisconsin — Madison.

Payton himself promoted organ donations before eventually passing away of liver cancer in 1999, and his family continues to be active in its promotion.

According to the Illinois Secretary of State’s office, Illinois has one of the largest organ and tissue donor registries in the nation, averaging around 20,000 sign-ups per month across DMV facilities with around 6.5 million current registrants. Approximately 300 Illinois residents die each year waiting for a transplant and some 4,000 people remain on the waiting list at any given time.

During the process, the couple took to heart some advice from her nephrologist: “Always answer your phone, always meet your appointment, be ready, be in constant contact with the necessary people,” Julie said.

When the calls eventually came from the university in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, the Helfrichs readied themselves for the operation and put their trust in the surgeons.

“The transplant center at the University of Wisconsin – Madison has been awesome,” Scott said. “They did a great job taking care of her, taking care of me, and with all of our doctor visits and responding to us. That’s been very, very positive, and we can definitely recommend them. A great program and great people there.”

“For people thinking about donating, you get treated very well as a donor,” Julie said. “You don’t miss too much.”

“I’ve read where for some people, that’s their life: backpacked, mentally ready, and I’ve read where people have turned that down because it’s too tiring,” Julie said. “For someone who needs one, just don’t give up. There are a lot of resources out there. Stay healthy. Be ready. It can be real taxing just to even mentally work through it.”

There’s also the financial burden of a major surgery, though help is available. Donors going through the parting process can be reimbursed for a portion of certain expenses, which helped relieve some of the concern for the Helfrichs; and groups like the National Foundation for Transplants raise money to help transplant patients.

Awareness of organ donation picked up in Illinois in 1992 through the establishment of a donor registry through the Secretary of State’s office. Efforts to continue promotion increased about 25 years ago through Chicago Bears football legend Walter Payton’s story of his need for a liver transplant.

Though Julie and Scott don’t know who the donor kidney came from, nor who received Scott’s, due to medical privacy laws, they were able to find out that Julie’s donor is someone in their mid-50s who lives about three hours away from Madison, while Scott’s kidney went to a man in Wisconsin.

The Helfrichs celebrated their 44th anniversary in March with a weeklong trip to Arizona, seeing places in Sedona and Phoenix, and taking in Chicago White Sox spring training baseball games. Julie retired a few years ago from Borg Warner and Donaldson Co. in town, and Scott will retire this year from Coilcraft, an electronics company in Oregon. Retirement — the way they wanted it to be — also gives them an opportunity to spend more time with their 11 grandchildren.

Their surgeries behind them, the Helfrichs aren’t wasting any time making plans to enjoy their time together and appreciate the gift they’ve been given.

“We did what we had to do in the last couple of years, and it all worked out in the end,” Scott said.

“I’m truly thankful,” Julie said. “It was a miracle.” n Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.

One of the slogans that Lost Nation Golf Course has used on its scorecards to attract golfers over the years was to invite them to “get lost in the game.”

But as it faced an uncertain future at the end of last year, something else could have been lost: the course itself, and fans of Lost Nation didn’t want to see that happen.

Dan Whalen was one of those people, and that’s why he decided to do something about it. He bought the course.

Whalen didn’t want to see Lost Nation become another fallen domino in the golf course industry, so after its longtime owners decided to sell last year, Whalen stepped up to keep the course along Ogle County’s southern edge and near the Rock River open. He assumed ownership Feb. 2 and he’s set his sights on making the course even better than before.

One of the first changes that he’s made: being a hands-on owner. Whalen tries to make it to the course every day to help out where needed, whether it’s in the pro shop, clubhouse or in the maintenance yard — and if there’s an issue, golfers won’t have to wait for someone from out of town to show up: He lives just a few drive shots away.

LOST NATION cont’d to page 34

Lost Nation Golf Course’s new owner is no stranger to the longtime local golf course.

Dan Whalen took over at the course on Feb. 2, but before that he’d been a regular there. Once he started golfing there, it didn’t take long to get hooked: “I fell in love with the course,” he said.

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@ SHAWMEDIA.COM

Whalen, who grew up in Oregon, has golfed regularly at Lost Nation for a few years, and has come to love its layout, beauty and camaraderie among fellow golfers.

“I love coming over, and I fell in love with the course,” Whalen said. “I like the layout. I like that it’s challenging, but still on the easier side and you won’t lose a ton of golf balls. The people out here have been awesome, and I’ve made a lot of new friends over the past four years. That was one of the reasons why I decided to move forward with pursuing the purchase.”

The 18-hole, par 71 course (par 72 for the shorter tees) is tucked away from busy highways and has several natural features not seen at other courses, due to its location near woodlands and the river. The nearly-170-acre course drains well after rain and snow as it sits on sand-based soil, similar to the nearby Nachusa Grasslands. Unlike courses on regular soil, the quick drainage allows the course to be ready for play earlier in the year, and it takes less time to rebound from the rain.

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM

Eddie Roller lines up a putt on No. 8 at Lost Nation Golf Course during a round with friends in mid-March.

NATION cont’d to page 35

As a result of its favorable terrain, Lost Nation welcomed its first golfers on Feb. 18, in 50-degree weather, and improvements to the course and facilities are being made as the season progresses. The removal of dead trees and pesky crabgrass has been a top priority for early spring, and that will follow with the planting of wildflowers and installation of birdhouses.

The course already attracts all sorts of animals due to its nature-friendly surroundings.

“There wasn’t much invested over the years, so bringing everything back up to where it should be is a high priority,” Whalen said. “Its enhancing the beauty that you see when you’re here, with the hills and the nature, and with the deer that come over from Lost Lake, as well as turkeys, turkey vultures and bald eagles.” One of the ways Whalen is trying to attract more golfers is by making a slight change to Lost Nation’s name. When it opened in 1964, it was called Lost Nation Country Club, and later became Lost Nation Golf Club. Today, Whalen has decided that the only clubs he wants people to find are on the course, not its signs, which is why he swapped the “Club” in its name for “Course.” LOST

The course has been open to the public since 1971, but Whalen hopes the name change will get more golfers on the greens. “Club’ kind of made some people feel like they weren’t welcome or invited,” said Whalen, who bought Lost Nation from the Peacocks, a Chicago-area family who had owned it since 1982. “Now that it’s ‘Course,’ I’m hoping that everyone feels more invited.”

CODYCUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWM EDIA .COM

He’s in the driver’s seat now ... Robert Peacock Jr. handed over the keys to Lost Nation Golf Course to new owner Dan Whalen in early February. The Peacock family had owned the course for 42 years.

Whalen has already gotten to work making the course feel more inviting. Outside, Lost Nation’s clubhouse and pro shop both will get an upgrade, with new windows, new siding, and some fresh paint; a change from the current maroon. Inside, the clubhouse will get new carpeting and TVs, but Whalen wants to keep the hardwood walls in place. All of the changes have a common goal: Make people feel welcome.

“It’s not just important in golf, it’s important in any business or industry,” Whalen said. “When you drive up to a facility that’s not well-maintained, it’s like: ‘Do they care about what they’re doing? Do they care about the facility and the community around them?’ If you can improve how it looks so that when people walk up, they feel that it’s more inviting and it’s a place where they want to hang out, that makes a big difference.”

YOUR JOURNEY, OUR MISSION

Join the Movement

Pay It Forward with LOTS!

Every ride with Lee-Ogle Transportation System isn’t just about getting from point A to B; it’s a step toward fostering a community where care, accessibility, and support are extended to all.

We are more than just transit. Our commitment is to inclusivity and caring for those who choose to ride with us. By choosing LOTS for yourself or a loved one, you’re ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to travel with ease and dignity. Together, let’s keep our community moving forward.

Ride with LOTS – where every journey strengthens our community bonds.

LOST NATION cont’d from page 37

The clubhouse also has a restaurant and bar, and Whalen and his staff of about 10 full-time and seasonal workers are working to breathe new life into them. The restaurant hasn’t been open on a consistent basis since the coronavirus pandemic’s height nearly four years ago, but Whalen wants to have it open year-round, hoping to reach that goal by this coming winter. Former favorites at the restaurant included Friday and Saturday dinner specials, and weekend breakfast and brunch specials, and Whalen wants to make those part of the restaurant’s resurrection.

Other visions Whalen has in mind include horseshoes pits, special event “play days” during holidays, partnering with the nearby East of Yellowstone resort for lodging package deals, involvement with charitable organizations, and fielding a women’s team for the prestigious Lincoln Highway tournament. Whalen plans to hire more people as things pick up at the clubhouse.

“We’re trying to make the improvements that make sense right now, and kind of build upon that as we go,” Whalen said. “Then we hope that more people can show up and realize that it can be an awesome place like so many others already realize, and increase memberships and the number of people coming out here to eat.”

Together We Inspire Wellness

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM

Justin Didier putts on No. 8 at Lost Nation Golf Course during a round in mid-March. He’s happy the course has found a new owner in Dan Whalen. “We’re glad someone bought it and it’s not going anywhere,” he said.

Single and family memberships are available, with senior citizen discounts, both with or without usage of a cart — which is another improvement at the course: there’s a new fleet of them this year. As far as league play goes, there is a men’s foursome circuit on Monday, and two-person leagues for women on Tuesday and men on Wednesday.

With shorter-than-usual par 5s and longer-than-typical par 3s, there’s not a whole lot of yardage differences between holes.

“It’s good for all skill levels,” Whalen said. “If you’re not that good, you can still come out here and have a good time and won’t lose a ton of golf balls. If you think you’re a really good golfer, it’s still pretty challenging; sometimes you may get frustrated because you think you should have scored better.”

Whalen also struck a deal with Timber Creek Golf Course in Dixon on a greens fee discount plan: Lost Nation members can play at Timber Creek for 50 percent off its daily rates, and those from Timber Creek can enjoy the same discount at Lost Nation.

“It’s been great seeing all of the golfers who have been coming out,” Whalen said. “There’s a lot of energy and people are so excited that it’s getting the love that they felt it deserved over the years. It makes me feel good that we decided to take on this venture. It’s going to be challenging, and we’re just in the beginning stages, but with the energy that we feel and with the number of people that are just so excited that we’re staying open, it’s been great.”

It’s been 60 years since the first swings from the tees were made at Lost Nation, and many changes have happened during that time. Whalen’s ownership starts a new chapter in the course’s history, and he’s committed to keeping it a unique part of the northern Illinois golfing community.

“The number of stories I’ve heard, there’s a lot of history here, and I’m really happy and proud to keep it going,” Whalen said. “I couldn’t let it go away. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. With all of the great relationships that have been formed over the years, since the 1960s, this has meant a lot to everyone.” n

Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.