Brigg Delukie and McKenzie Covert, two teens who beat the odds, at McLane Children's Medical Center. | 42 & 46
by
BECKY STINEHOUR
FACES
CENTEX
Author
Seton Medical Center’s specialized unit helps patients
New moms can connect with doctors, nurses through Baylor Scott & White app
Surgeons at McLane Children's save boy's foot after accident
Photo
Pastor Wilson of Drouin Church with his granddaughter at the Together for Haiti Agape Community Center in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. | 12 Photo courtesy of TOGETHER FOR HAITI
Life and Style in Central Texas
The summer is coming to an end and school is nearly back in session. It’s hard to believe that fall is just around the corner. Before we get to fall fun, we have to deal with back-to-school woes — academic stress, change in schedules, financial issues and, of course, sickness. Every parent with school-aged children knows the tale — back-to-school also means back-to-back illnesses. Yes, just when one child is finally over a dreaded cold, flu, stomach bug, pink eye — whatever it may be — the next child is infected. That’s why this issue serves as a dual back-to-school and health care focused issue. Featured on the cover are two extraordinary teens who beat the odds and are now enjoying their teen years playing soccer.
Brigg Delukie, featured on page 42, is a 13-year-old boy who was seriously injured in an ATV accident last year. The surgeons at McLane Children's Medical Center saved his life and his foot, which they initially thought they would have to amputate.
McKenzie Covert is a 13-year-old girl who was diagnosed with B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a form of blood cancer affecting the white blood cells made in bone marrow when she was only 3. Read McKenzie’s extraordinary story on page 46, and find out how she’s making a difference in the world today.
Also in this issue, you will read about the Wound Healing Center at Seton Medical Center in Harker Heights. Since opening last year, the center has helped heal more than 200 people, some who have lived with wounds for decades. Read all about the great work they’re doing on page 34.
Baylor Scott & White Health has expanded its virtual care and is helping new moms dealing with postpartum concerns. With the click of a button, new moms can ask questions about their baby’s health and development, as well as their own physical and mental health, on the new Virtual Postpartum Care program. Read about the new app on page 38.
Tonya caught up with Belton High School Registered Nurse Regina Cox to find out what it takes to keep more than 1,700 students and staff healthy throughout a school year. In this page 50 story, Regina reveals the important role nurses play in a school.
Students in Temple High School’s Construction Technology Education Center program are changing lives, one tiny house at a time, with their House on Wheels Project. On page 58, read about how these high school students are building homes from the ground up and helping those in need at the same time.
Award-winning author Sarah Doran, a former Black Hawk helicopter pilot, shares the inspiration behind her three children’s books, page 68. The Army veteran combines her own blend of adventure and imagination with military history, to give children a unique look at the military.
As the summer concludes, I would like to ask you all to continue praying for the families whose lives were ripped apart during the devastation in Kerr County. Losing a child is unbearably difficult, so as you prepare your children for school this year, be grateful for what you have and pray for those who have lost everything.
For the United States, $24 per year, 6 issues. Mail check to P.O. Box 6114, Temple, TX 76503-6114. For questions about subscriptions, call 254-778-4444.
HOW TO CONTACT US: Advertising: 254-778-4444 or 254-501-7500. Editorial: Contact Brandy Cruz at editor@texappealmag.com
PHOENIX CARLISLE is an obsessive book lover, who can’t stop rearranging her shelves to fit her new finds. She is a Temple College student who is exploring new books and teaching younger children. Phoenix wants to be an elementary teacher, and she hopes that she can travel to all the places of which she dreams. As of now, she is working at school to grow her skills of nurturing young minds as she continues to read and write.
AMY ROGNLIE is an author and middleschool teacher. Her newest series of cozy mystery novels, The Short Creek Mysteries, are set in Bell County. Amy’s articles have been published in national magazines and websites. She blogs on encouragement, hope and faith on AmyRognlie.com. Amy and her family reside in Little River-Academy.
BECKY STINEHOUR is a portrait, commercial and event photographer, specializing in live music venues. Her work has been published in several regional magazines. She is a Killeen High School graduate who loves to highlight her hometown connections through the lens of her camera. Find her on Instagram at ciphoto.
RACHEL STRICKLAND is an adjunct English professor at Temple College and the founding editor of the literary magazine, The Raven Review. She earned a master’s degree from Texas A&M University-Central Texas in 2021. In her free time, she’s usually reading, crocheting, or trying to keep her houseplants alive.
JENNISE VENTURA has been saving money through couponing and budgeting for over 25 years. She is founder of Savealotmom on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. She lives in Killeen with her husband, two daughters and their Yorkie.
TONYA WARREN has been a registered nurse for 33 years with Ascension Providence Healthcare in Waco and a lifestyles writer for a few years. She lives in Waco and enjoys reading, writing and taking her grouchy German Shepherd on walks.
SHARON WHITE is an award-winning author who lives in Temple. Her writing has been featured in the New York Daily News, Huffington Post, AdvancingWomen.com and FashionBible.com. Her weekly lifestyle blog, QStyleTheBook.com, is based on her book, Quintessential Style: Cultivate and Communicate Your Signature Look
JANNA ZEPP is a native Texan. Her career in mass communication includes writing for film, TV, radio, and print media. She spent four years writing for the Fort Hood Sentinel and two years as a III Corps Public Affairs television producer, anchor and writer for Fort Hood On Track and three years as the editor of Tex Appeal.
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Beautiful By Design
ANGELA ALLEN SPENDS CAREER MAKING WOMEN SHINE
NStory and photos by SHARON WHITE
ew York has Bobbi Brown, London has Charlotte Tilbury and Central Texas has its own renowned makeup artist and skincare specialist: Angela Allen, better known to her clients simply as “Angie.”
Allen recently received one of the most prestigious honors awarded by Lancôme when she was chosen as a member of the elite “Lancôme Rose Society.” Only a select few are inducted into the Society nationwide based on product knowledge, sales and exemplary service.
“What started as a job quickly became a passion,” Allen said. “I always feel good about coming to work. What greater job is there where your number one goal is to make people feel happy!”
Allen has been a familiar face behind the Dillard's Lancôme cosmetics counter for the past 33 years. She graduated from Temple High School in 1980, and her career literally started at the Temple Mall when she began working as the assistant store manager for Lerner's clothing shop and later landed a position as a Dillard's Lancôme counter manager. That’s where, she recalled, “On my second day, I didn't even know where to find the mascara!”
In her early days, Allen worked with Lancôme associate Margie Flanagan — whom many remember as that “stunning silver-haired lady.” They made quite an impressive pair and Allen referred to Flanagan as “a dear blessing who was like a second mother and a wonderful mentor.”
“We had great fun together during those seven years,” Flanagan said, “and we learned so much together.”
She now becomes part of an advisory board for Lancôme, sharing her point of view on customer needs, and participating in extensive training and exclusive events. Decades of hard work have earned her the title of “Lancôme Happiness Activist.”
Building genuine relationships with her customers has been the most rewarding part of her career.
“My clients know I care about them as people first and that connection has built trust over time and kept them coming back for guidance and support.”
As a result, she has had hundreds of referrals.
“And now,” Allen said, as tears well in her eyes, “Moms are bringing their daughters — and granddaughters — in for consultations for proms, Wildflower Belle balls and even weddings.”
As a Lancôme skincare specialist and beauty professional,
Angela Allen, right, is notified by Area Executive Natasha Hopkins that she has been inducted into the elite “Lancôme Rose Society.”
ABOVE: Angela Allen gives Elena Araoz a lesson on makeup application at the Dillard’s Lancôme counter in Temple. BELOW: Allen and Margie Flanagan, in 1994. They still remain close today. | COURTESY PHOTO
Allen uses her years of training to advise women on complex skin issues and makeup artistry techniques to enhance their natural beauty. She sat down to discuss a few common questions clients often ask when they step up to her counter:
Do you have one or two general recommendations every woman can benefit from? “For younger girls, I recommend starting a consistent skincare regimen early. For older ladies, my recommendation is to buy the best moisturizer you can afford. And never forget the sunscreen ... at any age!”
What makeup tips can you share? “For women with daughters who are using the same foundation/skincare products as their daughters, I remind them that as we age, our skin changes and you can't expect the same results. For older women, I recommend skincare formulations that contain retinol, to help with cellular turnover.”
Is there anything mature women should avoid? “Black eyeliner is usually too harsh on older women. I recommend
softer shades. And I see a lot of women wearing lipstick that is too dark, which can age them. The objective is not to try to look like you did 20 or 30 years ago, but to look as fresh and vibrant as you can now.”
When Allen is not working, she loves to garden and spend time with her daughter, who is an aesthetician living in Georgetown. Allen and the Dillard's staff frequently volunteer their time at community service events like the annual Altrusa Taste of the Holidays Style Show. Lancôme has also donated thousands of dollars worth of products to charitable fundraisers over the years.
Even after three decades, Allen has no plans to slow down. She loves her work and said coworkers and customers make her feel “special ... and so valued. Many of my clients put their trust in me outside the realm of cosmetics.”
But, she doesn't take things too seriously, adding: “I sell lipstick — I'm not saving lives.”
Some of her customers might disagree.
Together for Haiti
GROUP MAKES LASTING IMPACT FOR HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
By AMY ROGNLIE | Photos courtesy of TOGETHER FOR HAITI
AHaitian organization with deep ties to Central Texas is making a lasting impact on hundreds of lives — both in a struggling nation in the Caribbean and here in the U.S.
“Together for Haiti’s main contribution to Central Texas is not food, clothing or services — it is the way it helps cultivate a globally aware, compassionate and ethically engaged community here, while giving people in Central Texas a meaningful way to make a difference in Haiti,” said Danny Davis, Central Texas resident and executive director of Together for Haiti. “Together for Haiti gives Central Texas individuals, families and churches a tangible way to engage with global poverty, education and women’s empowerment.”
Together for Haiti’s story begins in Port-au-Prince, the capital city. Rising from his humble beginnings of living in a one-room home with a dirt floor, native Haitian Jean Alix Paul and his family pulled themselves out of poverty and have been on a mission ever since to help others. He has faithfully led Together for Haiti for nearly 30 years. In that time, with the support of several U.S.-based partners, Paul has started 10 churches, four schools, two children’s homes, a human trafficking rescue home and numerous other related projects and initiatives. He has worked tirelessly to care for the needs of the Haitian people, serving hundreds of children and adults.
for sustainable, community-driven development in Haiti. Paul hired Davis in 2016 to open a U.S.based office to directly represent the work in Haiti in Central Texas. Davis is the executive director, whose primary role is fundraising, while his wife serves as the organization’s director of educational development.
Many supporters of TFH in Central Texas — including local churches and businesses — have developed a deeper understanding of both the challenges and the resilience of the Haitian people through their involvement. This has cultivated a spirit of global citizenship and compassionate giving in the local community, especially among families who want to teach their children about generosity. In addition, through trips to Haiti, small fundraising events and personal stories shared in Central Texas churches and community groups, Together for Haiti helps create relationships across cultural and national boundaries. For many supporters in Central Texas, these relationships have led to deep personal transformation — a more informed worldview and a stronger sense of connectedness to the global church.
Together for Haiti has existed since the 1980s, initially under the name Spirit of Truth. From the beginning, TFH was built on personal relationships, not simply project plans. One of those personal relationships began when Danny and Stephanie Davis of Temple began volunteering for the organization where they built a friendship with Paul. Over time, they realized they shared a vision
“Together for Haiti provides the Central Texas community with an example of ethical, relationship-based international development — countering the ‘savior complex’ that sometimes characterizes international aid,” Danny Davis said. “The organization’s long-standing commitment to Haitian leadership, sustainable impact and cultural humility has influenced how local supporters think about all forms of charity and missions work.”
The TFH board is particularly proud of the quality of education provided through their schools
Together for Haiti founder Jean Alix Paul.
Haitian children and adults get a chance to learn at Together For Haiti’s schools. Education and job training have helped lift hundreds of people out of poverty since the 1980s.
in Haiti, which is a vast improvement over what is usually available to poverty-stricken children. Under Stephanie Davis’ leadership since 2016, and in cooperation with TFH’s Haitian administration, their enrollment has increased from just under 1,400 students to more than 2,000 students across four schools in four underserved communities. In addition, the National Exam passing rates have increased from under 80% to consistently over 95% annually at the organization’s schools, all of which have been nationally recognized as one of the top performing schools in their region/department. TFH’s school lunch program also provides 400,000 free hot meals each school year.
Beyond providing education for children, TFH’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Program, Espwa Vivan, has trained 188 women entrepreneurs since 2019, helping each one launch a small business. An additional 66 women will graduate from the program in August 2025 with the ability to support themselves and their families in a difficult economy.
TFH is also invested in multiple agriculture development projects, focused on increasing both the quantity and quality of food produced.
“Through our Economic Development Initiative, we come alongside farmers, families, entrepreneurs
and small-business owners to build the economy and infrastructure necessary to see Haiti become a fully self-sustainable country and a global economic participant,” Danny Davis said. “Through this network we invest in projects and training that create jobs, provide sustainable income, and promote dignity.”
Over the years, TFH’s agriculture projects have lifted thousands of families out of starvation and subsistence farming. More importantly, the projects have become self-sustaining with little to no oversight required by TFH leadership.
“Together for Haiti deeply appreciates that Central Texas supporters don't just give money — they give themselves. Many donors take time to understand the issues, read updates, attend events, and build long-term relationships with the work,” Davis said. “The consistent, faithful giving — even through difficult seasons — has allowed TFH to provide stability for programs in Haiti, especially during times of national crisis.”
1. The H-E-B float passes in front of the Bell County Courthouse during Belton’s July 4 parade.
2. Keith Moore is decked out in red, white and blue.
3. Isobel waves her flags as her mom, Jerrica Martinez, waits for the parade to begin.
4. A parade-goer shows her spirit.
5. Randy Pittenger addresses the crowd.
Photos by BECKY STINEHOUR
40 years of fashion in Central Texas
Children’s Favorite Foods
TRY THESE KID-TESTED RECIPES AS SCHOOL BEGINS
Photos courtesy of THEFRESHMANCOOK.COM and iSTOCK | DronG
In our summer issue, we asked you to share your child’s favorite recipes. The recipes readers submitted look tasty and easy enough that children will be able to help make them. For our fall issue, we’d like you to share your favorite fall recipes. Maybe you have a special candied apple recipe or would like to share your go-to dessert for Thanksgiving. We’d love to see them! Include a photo and a little story about what makes your recipe special.
HOMEMADE PIZZA POCKETS
Submitted by LAURIE FITZGERALD
I wasn’t sure if you wanted recipes that kids enjoy making or eating, so I chose one that is both in my household. I set out all the fillings and let the kids choose what they want to put in them. Every once in a while they’ll surprise me by adding something “adventurous,” like bell peppers or mushrooms.
Ingredients
1 refrigerated tube of pizza crust
Pizza sauce
Mozzarella cheese or other cheese
Various pizza fillings, such as pepperoni, pre-cooked sausage pieces, bacon and veggies (bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, etc.)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 F.
Open the tube of pizza crust and roll it flat on a piece of parchment paper or on a floured surface.
Cut the pizza crust into 6 squares.
Add about 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce, some cheese and fillings to half of each square.
Fold over each square to make triangular pockets. Seal the edges with a fork.
Optional: Brush the top of each triangle with a small amount of oil. Sprinkle some dried oregano.
Bake at 425 F for 10 to 13 minutes until they are golden brown.
Serve with a little bowl of pizza or marinara sauce for dipping.
Continued
KOOL-AID GRAPES
Submitted by LISA M.
This vibrant recipe from thefreshmancook.com transforms juicy grapes into a burst of tangy sweetness, perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
3 pounds of seedless grapes
Kool-Aid mix (try various flavors)
Directions
Freeze grapes for about an hour and then twist off stems.
Place in a colander and run under cold water.
Separate grapes into bags with a packet of KoolAid mix in each bag. Shake well to coat the grapes in the Kool-Aid mix. Line the grapes on a baking sheet with parchment paper and then freeze for about 24 hours. Take out of the freezer and enjoy!
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This is not your average mule
Story and photo by JANNA ZEPP
One of my great-grandfathers from my paternal line, Price Rodgers, was a Methodist circuit preacher in the latter part of the 19th century. When he wasn’t preaching, he was farming in East Texas.
Back in the day before tractors, he plowed his fields with a mule team. Price loved red mules. He liked that they handled heat better than horses, and he liked them unbroken because they’d plow a field in twice the time of a tame pair.
By the time the wild ones tamed down, he’d sell them at twice or thrice what he paid for them.
Mules, to Price, were indispensable.
To Price’s farmhands, however, the mules proved quite the challenge.
My grandmother related to me the tale of a recently hired woman who had gone to town for the family to pick up supplies in a buckboard pulled by a not-quite-tame pair. Gammy remembered standing on the front porch of the family home watching a dust storm come down the road and a woman hollering, ‘WHOA, MULE! WHOOOAAAAA!!!” somewhere in the midst of that cyclone. The mules dragged that buckboard up to the barn at the speed of light, stopping just inside the entrance to the barn, leaving about a foot’s distance between the top of the barn and this woman’s head.
Bless her heart, she quit that job on the spot.
This story is not about that kind of mule. This is about my favorite mule; one that I discovered in my regular travels up to the thriving metropolis of Waco. My husband and I love to visit Pivovar, the Czech-themed boutique hotel and restaurant
downtown. Adrian, a friend and one of the bartenders, made my kind of mule for me and I was hooked. I love mezcal and this cocktail now ranks among my top favorites.
I can’t say that this delightful wild elixir will help you plow a field in twice the time of a more-tame version of the cocktail, but it will cool you off as the late summer continues into autumn.
Like this cocktail? Let me know at Janna.Zepp@gmail.com.
MEZCAL PASSION MULE
Ingredients
1.5 ounces mezcal
1 ounce lime juice
1 ounce passion fruit syrup
.5 ounce ginger syrup
1 ounce sparkling water
Directions: Add ingredients to shaker with ice and shake to chill. Strain over fresh ice into a chilled rocks glass (or copper mug). Garnish with a lime wedge.
MEZCAL PASSION MULE
Uncover secrets of Into The Fall
By M. CLARE HAEFNER | Cover courtesy of THOMAS & MERCER
Thrillers are not my usual vacation read, but I could not put down Tamara L. Miller’s Into The Fall (Thomas & Mercer, February 2025) during a recent trip to Europe.
The premise intrigued me earlier this year when I purchased the book, but it wasn’t until I started a nine-hour flight to London in late June that I finally cracked the cover.
I was immediately swept into the story.
Sarah Anderson wakes in a tent near a river in the Canadian Shield, wondering why her husband, Matthew, isn’t nearby. Briefly leaving her sleeping children to search, Sarah notices their canoe is missing and assumes Matthew took an early-morning trip. The area along the Mirabelle River near Nagadon Lake is like a second home to Matthew, but when he doesn't return as a big storm approaches, Sarah suspects something is wrong and seeks help.
At one point in her search of the shoreline, Miller writes, “(Sarah) couldn’t tell where the sky ended or began, as if the Mirabelle had swallowed the world.”
After a passing boater gets Sarah and her young children to safety, Officer Rob Boychuck launches a search in the wilderness for any sign of Matthew. His team finds the canoe, but no further sign of the man. As Matthew’s trail goes cold, Sarah finds herself in a yearlong quest to discover what really happened that morning in the wilderness.
In many of the thrillers I've read, the main characters are law enforcement officials or amateur sleuths working to solve a case. But in Into The Fall, Miller takes a different and refreshing approach. The narrative focuses on Sarah as she tries to unravel what happened to her husband, while alternately sharing the viewpoints of her estranged sister Izzy, who uproots her life in Toronto to come to Ottawa to help Sarah and the kids, and Officer Boychuck, who vows to keep searching until the truth is revealed.
It soon becomes clear to the reader (and Boychuck) that Sarah knows more than she’s saying about Matthew’s disappearance, but is she a killer (like Detective Ritter believes) or a victim of a man
who has vanished before?
The heart of Into The Fall is secrets. ”Secrets, Sarah thought, can be gluttonous beasts. They settle into your core and feed on experiences,” Miller writes at one point as she deftly weaves the narrative back and forth in time, slowly revealing those secrets as characters search for answers.
Into The Fall is a thrilling look inside a family struggling with grief and clinging on to hope amid a failing marriage and an unraveling web of secrets as they seek understanding and a way forward once the truth is finally revealed.
”Though it didn‘t look like it in the stillness, the water was always moving, changing, flowing to someplace else,” Miller writes, a perfect metaphor for life and the secrets we all keep.
Photography: Angela Sitz | Model: Jennifer Potts, Owner of Healthy Places since 2022, Cancer Survivor
A Coal Miner’s Bride
EXPLORE AMERICA'S PAST IN DIARY OF ANETKA KAMINSKA
By PHOENIX CARLISLE | Cover courtesy of SCHOLASTIC
Tyler Childers has a song that will always remind me of a young adult novel that shaped my reading today.
“Coal” is a song about the fight for survival as a coal miner and the sacrifices made by himself and his wife, and how betrayed he feels through the life he was given.
The rock that keeps our country going, buried a long way under the deep, dark ground that we often forget is still a sacrifice for families today. Granted a lesser sacrifice then, let’s say, the sacrifices given by those made by the men in the ground scraping for pay and their immigrant wives taking care of kids they didn’t birth in the late 19th century.
It is ultimately the story of Anetka Kaminska, a young Polish girl who comes to America hoping for a better life to raise three stepdaughters and to take care of her coal miner husband. A Coal Miner's Bride: The Diary of Anetka Kaminska, Lattimer, Pennsylvania, 1896 is part of the Dear America series that shows the ultimate fictional sacrifice, told through a diary-like format. Though told through the viewpoint of a dedicated woman, the story reveals the experience of thousands of women who made the sacrifice and how it impacts our country now.
Meet Anetka, a 13-year-old Polish girl who comes to America as a promised bride to a Pennsylvania coal miner, a sturdy match made by her father who works alongside Stanley Gawrych, who lost his wife after his third daughter was born. Through the waves of the Atlantic, the smog of Pennsylvania, and the hardships of motherhood, Anetka will survive it all. No union man, coal mining thief or wandering soldier can prevent her from the strength that comes from being a coal miner’s bride. Her fascinating diary entries give readers a personal glimpse into what life was like in a coalmining town during a tumultuous time in our country's past.
of empathy with Anetka, as well as seeing her switch between the mother-wife role and the teen girl who gets annoyed by her brother and begins secretly crushing on Leon, the wandering soldier who just happens to be there when she is in the most trouble.
This is what the Dear America series is about. It takes fictional stories of girls during momentous historical events, allowing younger readers to truly understand the depth of these events through everyday people who experienced them.
Of course, I can’t do a review without talking about the romance. Thinking back to Leon and Anetka, I still blush at how sweet their moments were. He was so patient with her. Although she comes to America to marry the older miner, Stanley, he dies early in the novel, leaving Anetka to raise three stepdaughters and help her brother navigate the world with her aging father. Leon is an angel to her and the girls, which softens Anetka’s heart when she finds it is easier to accept the love given rather than find it under the ground.
One of the most important things I look for in a novel is the ratio of timeline and progression, especially in a historical context, which is why I loved this book as much as I did and still do. Since it is in a diary format, the progression of the book flows as if a young teen is writing it. There are days she “skips” or when she doesn’t have time to write long entries, which flows the book in a pace that gets to the important events without dragging out minor scenes. The pacing of the novel works well with the diary style yet what works better is the personal elements. Reading this book as a young teen gave me deeper levels
Unfortunately I do understand the concern: a 13-year-old girl marrying a much older man in the 1800’s. To put your mind at ease, it is talked about throughout the book that this is a concern of many characters. Anetka brings up her age to her father as a way of defense when she is uncertain of her new life that she was almost forced into. This was a historical reality for many girls to gain better lives for themselves in the new world of America and it is taken in a historical context. In the series, the books center around younger teenage girls for that sense of perspective so if this novel doesn’t suit your parenting boundaries, don’t hesitate to open a historical conversation with your young reader or explore the other books in the series to find one that works better.
Give your child a real way to emotionally connect throughout the centuries. A Coal Miner's Bride by Susan C. Bartolleti is an eye-opener to the harsh realities of the coal industry in 19th century America. Bartolleti did a wonderful job working with as much historical evidence as possible to only tell the story as it was. She incorporates history, the Polish language and even photographs to illustrate what life what like. It is a fantastic, personal historical novel that explores love, duty and the ways of the world as a young teen during that time in history.
AUG. 15-17 2025
SEPT. 25 - 28 & OCT. 2 – 5
| Kenneth Wiedemann
Water Features
PROVIDE BATHS FOR BIRDS IN YARD
By AMY ROGNLIE
The hubby and I have long discussed adding a pond to our small backyard, usually in a vague, wishful kind of way: “Wouldn’t it be fun to have a pond?” or “I bet we could grow water lilies if we had a pond,” or even, “Wouldn’t it be cool to have a pond and put fish in it?” Sigh.
The closest we have ever gotten to a water feature is the summer I bought a foot-high tabletop fountain for half off at Hobby Lobby. I filled it with water, plugged it in on the deck and set some potted plants near it. I guess I had hoped that the soothing sound of the little trickle would add some ambiance to my west-facing, 110-degree and 85% humidity deck, where neither I nor anyone else was going to sit and relax to the musical tinkle of running water for any length of time. At least not until, oh, October or so.
I also theorized that the fountain would provide a delightful water source for butterflies, hummingbirds and the like. I never did see any pollinators even come near it, but the squirrels were delighted with it and regularly perched on top of the thing, digging through the pebbles with their little squirrelly hands, drinking all the water, and knocking over the potted plants. Double sigh.
We have, however, been successful with a bird bath. It sounds a bit ostentatious to describe a birdbath as a “water feature,” but it does hold water and attract wildlife, so we’ll roll with that. We bought ours at a big box store, but if you’re the artsycraftsy kind, you can spend hours perusing DIY ideas online, each more inspiring (or daunting) than the next.
But whether you purchase one or construct one, the main thing with a bird bath is to place it where birds or other wildlife (yes, squirrels), will feel safe.
Meaning, don’t stick a bird bath in the middle of your front yard all by itself. For one thing, it looks kinda lonely and forlorn. For another thing, birds especially need to have some foliage nearby where they can hide if they feel threatened. Nestle your bird bath near some shrubbery or at least under a tree where the birds can dart to safety.
Bird baths also need to be cleaned regularly. The problem with locating a bird bath under a tree is that leaves, seeds and twigs regularly fall or blow into it. And in our extreme Central Texas heat, all that organic debris turns to icky brown slime very quickly. Mosquitoes can also be an issue during the summer, but if you are regularly cleaning the bird bath at least once a week, the mosquito issue is minimized. You can also purchase tablets that dissolve in the water and kill mosquito larvae before they have a chance to leave the water.
Don’t forget to keep the bird bath full even in the fall and winter. The birds will still visit it, perhaps even more than in the summer when other water sources are plentiful.
So at our house, we will keep filling and cleaning our bird baths for now while dreamily discussing the pond idea. There are many inexpensive DIY ways to create water features other than bird baths (minimal effort) and full-fledged ponds (maximum effort and money), so I’ll fill you in on those next time. Maybe I’ll be able to grow those water lilies yet ...
Texas Style!
“The
Cassy Cathell, clinic program director for the Wound Healing Center at Seton Medical Center Harker Heights, stands by the bell patents ring after their wounds are fully healed.
Healing Wounds
SETON’S SPECIALIZED CENTER HELPS PATIENTS
By BRANDY CRUZ | Photos courtesy of SETON MEDICAL CENTER HARKER HEIGHTS
“Nearly 7 million Americans are living with a chronic or nonhealing wound,” said Cassy Cathell, clinic program director for the Wound Healing Center at Seton Medical Center Harker Heights. “It brings to the forefront how much wound care matters.”
Seton partnered with Healogics to open its state-of-the-art Wound Healing Center on July 31, 2024, and has since helped patients suffering from both chronic and acute wounds.
“There’s not really a wound we wouldn’t be able to tackle,” Cathell said.
She explained that some patients have suffered from wounds for years, sometimes decades, without healing. Such was the case of a patient with a venous ulcer, meaning the wound affected their vein’s ability to return blood to the heart, for 18 years.
“It was causing them chronic issues, infections and pain,” Cathell said. “It was affecting their quality of life, but we were able to heal (the patient) in four to six weeks.”
The facility uses a variety of specialized treatments, tailored to the individual patient’s needs. Some of those treatments include wound debridement (removal of damaged skin to enhance the healing potential), negative pressure wound therapy, skin substitutions, total contact casting (designed to protect the damaged area while the wound heals), doppler evaluation of pulses and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
diabetic ulcers, she said the center can treat any kind of wound. Cancer, burns, surgical — you name it, they treat it.
Mandy Shaiffer, chief nursing officer for the facility, said Seton is filling a gap and a need in the community though the Wound Healing Center. Since opening last year, they have treated wounds for 224 patients.
“I think we are very intentional in reaching out to the populations that could benefit from our service. We really are focused on providing services that we have a need for in our community,” she said. “We focus our efforts and try to reach out to veterans in our community who might need care or active-duty personnel at the neighboring Fort Hood.”
Ring this Bell, Three times well, Its toll to clearly say, My treatment is done, This course is run, And I am on my way! Congratulations!
The single most important thing they do, Cathell said, is to improve the quality of life for their patients. What sets them apart from other wound care facilities is focusing on the entirety of the patient, quality of care and the specialized training in their staff. The entire staff have trained in advanced wound healing techniques and have countless years of experience as a team.
“Our staff is really compassionate, and they love what they do. They’re just amazing,” she said. “We approach each patient with empathy and understanding. We want to collaborate with them and establish trust, so they believe we can finally heal this after all these years.”
“My main goal, and what I like the most, is just healing out these patients that have these difficult wounds that they’ve had for years and have affected their life and their livelihood,” Cathell said. “We’re able to bring them in and heal wounds that they never thought would be healed, so it’s wonderful what we’re able to do for their quality of living.”
Although most of their patients suffer from
Dr. Aaron Russell, medical director for the Wound Healing Center, is one of the physicians helping to make a difference at Seton Medical Center Harker Heights. He said chronic wounds can be incredibly debilitating, impacting a person's quality of life, independence, and selfesteem. Helping someone regain mobility, avoid amputation, or simply feel hopeful again is deeply rewarding for him and one of the many reasons he
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decided to become a doctor.
“One of the most satisfying aspects of working in a facility that helps people heal long-term wounds is witnessing the transformation in our patients — not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. Being part of a team that provides consistent care, encouragement, and evidence-based treatment allows us to celebrate milestones that might seem small to others but are life-changing to our patients,” Russell said. “Being able to discharge patients with completely healed wounds — who have had the wounds for years — is one of the most rewarding experiences as a physician.”
Cathell has been actively letting people know about the facility. She speaks with groups about it, especially those who are most in need of the center’s specialized care.
“At the end of the day, I really am just happy. It’s just a special feeling to participate in a patient’s healing journey and changing their life,” Cathell said. “It’s difficult to have these wounds and live with them every day, and the fact that we’re able to give that quality of life back to them is really — there’s not words for that — it’s an amazing feeling.”
The staff of the Wound Care Center at Seton Medical Center Harker Heights has helped 194 patients find healing since the center opened in July 2024. Part of the process includes attending health fairs to raise awareness.
Virtual Support
NEW MOMS CAN CONNECT WITH DOCTORS, NURSES THROUGH BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE APP
By RACHEL STRICKLAND | Photos courtesy of BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE HEALTH
It’s no secret that life after giving birth can be overwhelming, uncertain, and filled with change. Traditional medical care starts with pregnancy and ends with birth, but many parents feel that the real struggle begins after they leave the hospital with their new bundle of joy. Baylor Scott & White’s new Virtual Postpartum Care program aims to bridge the gap between pre- and postnatal care. With the click of a button, new moms can ask questions about their baby’s health and development, as well as their own physical and mental health. This digital health program enables mothers to chat with a dedicated Nurse Care Advocate without needing to visit a hospital or clinic. The program also offers unique and easy access to pelvic floor therapists, lactation consultants, and educational content designed to make the transition into motherhood as smooth as possible.
Baylor Scott & White recently launched several new Virtual Care programs within the MyBSWHealth app to enhance their patients’ health care experience by making it more accessible and convenient. Some of the telehealth programs include Headache Care, 24/7 Virtual Urgent Care, and Muscle and Joint Care, but the newest option is Virtual Postpartum Care, which offers support for new mothers.
Dr. Gordon Wright Bates, a professor at Baylor College of Medicine who serves as chair of OB/ GYN at Baylor Scott & White in Temple, believes there has been a gap between prenatal and postpartum care. He said that after their last postpartum check, most moms are left on their own to deal with their new babies, which can be extremely difficult and overwhelming.
“We wanted to fill this gap with the latest technology,” he said. “The MyBSWHealth app is widely recognized as an excellent app to access general health appointments and even finance, but we wanted to specifically focus on the postpartum period.”
“The MyBSWHealth app is widely recognized as an excellent app to access general health appointments and even finance, but we wanted to specifically focus on the postpartum period.” — Dr. Gordon Wright Bates
According to the doctor, the Postpartum Care program addresses three common problems for postpartum women: breast health/breastfeeding, pelvic floor health, and mental health support. He says it’s very common for women to have challenges with breastfeeding, from pain and discomfort to worries that the baby isn’t getting enough nutrition. Pelvic floor health, though not typically thought of as a postpartum issue, has a significant impact on a woman’s body after delivery. Bates, who has more than 30 years of experience in OB/GYN care, explained that many women have urine leakage, unusual bleeding, or other bladder and bowel issues. And finally, he said that roughly 80% of new moms experience some postpartum symptoms, from feeling sad or overwhelmed, which is why he says mental health support is so critical. The MyBSWHealth Postpartum Care feature provides access to specialists who can answer questions in these areas, offering helpful, focused and accurate information.
Bates notes that one of the most important features of the app is the messaging feature, which enables patients to send any questions they may have via a secure message and receive advice from a care advocate. If the patient feels that she
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New moms like Shelby Hodnett, with daughter Eloise, can get postpartum care through The MyBSWHealth app. It also offers prenatal care.
needs more help than that, she can use the app to schedule a video visit to address questions or determine the next steps. For pressing concerns, their care team gives patients a phone number to reach nurses for advice. They can also call 911 if it is an emergency. Even if no questions or issues arise, weekly check-ins are available through the app to help patients know what to expect regarding their recovery.
The Postpartum Care features aren’t just for brand-new mothers who are fresh out of the hospital —information and support are available for up to six months postpartum.
“It’s not a short-lived thing that you use, and it’s gone. It lasts for several months and available to any woman in Texas,” Bates added. “The patients feel empowered to get the information and the care they need,” he shared. “If they’re up feeding the baby in the middle of the night or have a worry, rather than accessing the emergency room or calling the on-call doc, they have the information at their fingertips. And that’s really what patients want now.”
He believes the app is beneficial for new moms who are tired and overwhelmed and want real-time, accurate information from a trusted source.
“Convenience and access are such a key part of patient care now,” he added.
Shelby Hodnett, a patient of Baylor Scott & White who gave birth to her second child in 2024, utilized the Virtual Postpartum Care features. Hodnett said she remembers receiving a lot of updates from her nurse care advocate.
“I had postpartum depression with my first baby, so they checked in a lot more just to make sure everything was so good,” she said. “And then, if I had any questions, I could reach out to my nurse, who was available any time that I needed her.”
Comparing her second pregnancy — with access to Virtual Postpartum Care — to her first, Hodnett said that she felt much more comfortable having
access to the app.
“I think with my first, I didn’t know what to expect, and so, (I just had to) wing it,” she said. “But the app really helped me put things in perspective.”
Hodnett said she also utilized the care features, which allowed her nurse care advocate to help her schedule pelvic floor therapy appointments.
“It was nice to have the option for care without having to leave home because it’s very difficult, especially if you’re a first-time mom. So, it just simplified everything.”
For Hodnett, one of the best parts about the Postpartum Care feature is the ability to get answers to her questions.
“I was able to discuss some breastfeeding concerns, as my daughter wasn’t latching properly. My nurse was able to give me some tips while also scheduling me a follow-up with a lactation consultant,” she said. “I think it’s a wonderful tool that new mothers definitely need, and I’m excited for them to expand and continue promoting this program.”
The app is constantly being updated, and in July, Baylor Scott & White launched even more care options for new moms: Prenatal Care. Anyone enrolled in Prenatal Care with a Baylor Scott & White physician will have access to the messaging feature, pregnancy expectations, weekly milestones and a question area.
“I’m really excited about it,” said Bates, who has delivered more than 1,000 babies as an OB/GYN and a reproductive endocrinologist. “It’s been a tremendous boost for our patients and seamlessly continues to provide great care during what’s traditionally been a time of many questions and many challenges with maybe not optimal support.”
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Medical Miracle
SURGEONS AT McLANE CHILDREN'S SAVE BOY'S FOOT
By AMY ROGNLIE | Photos by BECKY STINEHOUR and courtesy of the DELUKIE FAMILY
"There comes a point when you have to make a decision — life over limb,” said Dr. Hayden Stagg, pediatric surgeon at Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Medical Center in Temple. “It’s not an easy decision to make, but we were very close to having to make that decision in Brigg’s case.”
Last June, 12-year-old Brigg Delukie and his 8-year-old brother were riding an ATV on their grandparent’s farm. As Brigg drove, a tie rod suddenly broke, causing the vehicle to flip over on the side of the road. While the boys extricated themselves, Brigg realized he could not stand up and sent his little brother to run back a half mile to their grandparents’ house for help. Somehow, they got him into the car and headed to the hospital.
Brigg’s mom, Dr. Ali Delukie, was at work at BSWH’s OB/GYN clinic near McLane when she got the call that Brigg had broken his leg.
“I talked to him while they were on the way to the hospital and Brigg said, ‘It’s bad, Mom. And my foot is numb.’ I said, ‘It’s a broken leg. You’ll be fine.’ Honestly, I thought it was really bad timing to have to deal with a broken leg when we were supposed to go on vacation in a couple of days.”
Little did she know that Brigg’s injury was far more serious than an open fracture. After spending 15 minutes in a trauma bay, he was rushed into surgery for a lacerated artery.
“Most people have three arteries leading to their foot,” Stagg said. “Unbeknownst to anyone previously, Brigg has a vascular anomaly. He only has one vessel leading to his foot, so when we didn’t get any pulse beyond the fracture, we immediately realized that this was a much higher level of trauma than we had expected.”
According to the pediatric surgeon, children’s blood vessels are quite reactive, meaning that the vessel will clamp down to stop the blood flow. It can then be difficult to achieve adequate blood flow through the artery. In Brigg’s case, it took several hours to reattach the blood vessel and repair the fracture, while also dealing with significant soft tissue damage and bleeding. At last, the surgeons were satisfied that they had gotten
Surgeons at Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Medical Center in Temple repaired an artery to restore blood flow to Brigg Delukie’s foot after an ATV accident. It took nearly a year of physical therapy, but the 13-year-old is back playing soccer.
good blood flow through the repaired artery. After 12 hours in the operating room, Brigg was finally transferred to ICU.
“The doctors were pretty vague at that point about what might happen next,” Ali said. “But I think it was then that it dawned on us that our son could lose his leg.”
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The doctor decided to check the pulse in Brigg’s leg one more time before he left him to get settled in the ICU. Unfortunately, there was again no pulse, which meant Brigg would have to return to surgery. That’s when Stagg had an epiphany.
“The vascular surgeon was at the end of what he could do,” Stagg said. “I called in Dr. Neil Sachanandani, a plastic surgeon, to see if he could do anything because they work with smaller blood vessels.”
It was then that the pediatric surgeon told Ali and Bubba Delukie that it was likely he would have to amputate their son’s foot. They told him, “Do what you need to do. Go take care of our kid.”
“Four hours later, Brigg was out of surgery again and he still had a foot,” Ali said. “They took a vein out of his right leg and grafted it into his left leg.
We were told that Dr. Sachanandani tried four times before he was successful in obtaining blood flow. I’m so grateful that they refused to give up on my son’s foot.”
The first few days were rough, with the doctors watching the pulse closely to make sure the blood was still flowing to Brigg’s foot through the grafted vessel. In addition, the soft tissue wounds took longer to heal than usual because of the effects of the blood thinner. But after a month in ICU and then more time in a regular room, Brigg was finally able to go home, though he would need to use a wheelchair for several months afterward.
Brigg recently finished almost a year of physical therapy and is now back to playing soccer, his favorite sport. The 13-year-old is grateful to the medical personnel who took such good care of him
and always makes sure he wears his seat belt now when he rides an ATV.
Unfortunately, McLane Children’s has seen a large spike in ATV-related accidents. Although they are not a leading cause of traumatic injuries in children, they are at the top of the list for causing severe injury. Stagg encourages parents to supervise their children while are they riding ATVs and require that kids wear a helmet and seat belt. Driving an ATV in inclement weather or on an incline is also a recipe for disaster, especially with a child behind the steering wheel.
“The odds were pretty high that Brigg would lose his foot as a result of this accident,” Stagg said. “Although kids have a great ability to heal, Brigg’s case was truly a medical miracle. There were lots of answered prayers.”
Fighter to Survivor TEEN SPEAKS OUT ABOUT CHILDHOOD CANCER
By BRANDY CRUZ | Photos by BECKY STINEHOUR and courtesy of the COVERT FAMILY
At only 3 years old, McKenzie Covert’s world was turned upside down.
The normally bright and bubbly little girl was suddenly suffering from joint pain and lethargy. At first, she was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis. Call it mother’s intuition or a gut feeling, but in the back of her mind, McKenzie’s mom, Tiffany Covert, felt something else was wrong. When she discovered bruises on McKenzie’s chest and back
one night, she immediately took photos and sent them to her daughter’s primary care doctor and the rheumatologist she had been seeing for months for arthritis.
After some blood tests were done, the Coverts received a devastating call from the pediatrician, saying the blood work showed signs of leukemia. By midnight, the Coverts, who live in Woodway, were at Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Medical Center in Temple.
“I really thought nothing was going to happen until the next morning, but no, they poked and prodded and took blood and asked questions,” Tiffany said. “It was the very next morning when the oncologist came in and gave us the official diagnosis.”
Their 3-year-old daughter had B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a form of blood cancer affecting the white blood cells made in bone marrow.
From that moment, McKenzie’s childhood was no longer defined by preschool and play dates. Her new reality consisted of doctor’s visits, chemotherapy, blood tests, blood and platelet transfusions and the melodic beeping of hospital equipment.
The Coverts toddler was facing something even the strongest of adults can’t survive. But for Jeff and Tiffany Covert, finally knowing the real reason for the pain their daughter had been enduring was a relief.
“It was partly a relief that we knew what was going on and we had a plan,” Tiffany said. “But also, there was a feeling of helplessness when we found out she was going to have to go through two and half years of chemo. Just knowing she was going to be sick and she wasn’t going to be a regular child was devastating for us.”
Tiffany explained that her daughter was put into a standard risk category based on her blood work. That changed after a month of strong chemotherapy and steroids — protocol that normally puts patients into remission. McKenzie did not go into remission, however, so she was
McKenzie Covert rings the bell to mark the end of her cancer treatment at McLane Children’s Medical Center. The now 13-year-old has been in remission for five years and now serves as the 2025 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Champion for the Temple facility. Continued
The
moved to a high risk category, meaning she had a high risk of relapsing. With an even stronger chemo protocol that included high doses of Methotrexate, McKenzie had to be placed in the hospital for five to seven days each time she received that treatment.
“High dose Methotrexate was very rough on her. They had to reduce the amount by 25% after the first round because she developed mucositis, which are sores in your mouth and down your esophagus. She was throwing up blood. She couldn’t eat. She couldn’t drink,” Tiffany said. “My husband and I were a little nervous because if you’re not getting all the chemo that protocol says you need, it makes you a little nervous. What if it doesn’t work?”
Come January 2016, McKenzie was in remission.
“When we got the word that she was in remission, it was like a sigh of relief,” Tiffany said. “She wasn’t in the clear because she could relapse, but we felt like we could breathe again.”
McKenzie still had to undergo two more years of chemo to ensure the chemo killed any leukemia cells that could be hiding. Two years of treatments, being admitted to the hospital anytime her temperature hit 100.4, and being at the oncology clinic almost as much as she was at home was difficult, but they made it through thanks to the staff at McLane Children’s Medical Center.
“(The clinic and hospital staff) became like our second family, for sure. We were at the oncology clinic three days a week for the first year of treatment for multiple hours at a time. We had our favorite nurses when she was admitted to the hospital. McKenzie set up a nail salon in her hospital room and all the nurses would come in and get their nails done, even the male nurses,” Tiffany said.
“Being in the hospital for several days at a time or the clinic for five to eight hours a day is not fun, but McLane’s definitely made it as enjoyable and painless as possible. I feel like they treated us like family. Her main oncologist treated her like she was his daughter. I could feel the compassion. There’s some doctors who are good doctors but don’t have the best bedside manner. Dr. (Javier) Kane treated us with respect and made us feel like every concern and every question was valid.”
But with only two weeks left of treatment, McKenzie had to stop because she developed viral meningitis and her body was too weak to continue chemotherapy.
“It was a little nerve-wracking for me and my husband, just knowing she didn’t get all the chemo that she needed, but she got 98% of it,” Tiffany said. “It was enough! She hit the five-year post-
Maureen Coleman
“This is the most wonderful agency ever. They met the needs and wants of my 93 year old Aunt. They gave me a peace of mind knowing she was given the best care ever. I can never thank them enough. They were much moe than caregivers, they became family.”
Art Hub of Central Texas
treatment mark in January 2023, which is a big milestone.”
September marks 10 years since McKenzie was first diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, and the 13-year-old is now living her best life — playing all the sports she missed out on and even putting her entrepreneurial skills to the test by building her own lip gloss business.
McKenzie doesn’t remember a lot of what she went through, but that hasn’t stopped her from speaking out about childhood cancer. She serves as the 2025 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Champion for McLane Children’s Medical Center.
“It makes me feel happy and honored,” McKenzie said. “I go to different events and share my story.”
McKenzie shares her story of survival, spreading awareness about childhood cancer and letting people know how much their donations mean to families like the Coverts and how they help kids just like McKenzie.
As for her entrepreneurial feats, the 13-year-old offered up a little advice about skincare.
“Wash your face every night, don’t use a lot of different things and have a constant routine,” she said. “And use skincare that’s good for young skin. I like this skincare called Bubble.”
As for her personal lip gloss business — Glossy Girls Waco — McKenzie said they recently released three new scents of lip gloss — lavender, smoothie bowl and cotton candy, but her all-time favorite is pink drink.
McKenzie Covert is now 13, healthy and playing sports. Even during her long battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at McLane Children’s Medical Center in Temple, she kept her warm smile and resilient spirit.
Regina Cox and her colleagues care for the student and staff health needs at
Belton High School.
Beyond Bruises & Blisters
REGINA COX CARES FOR BELTON HIGH STUDENTS
By TONYA WARREN | Photos courtesy of BELTON ISD
It takes more than a village to keep approximately 1,750 Belton High School students and staff healthy, and while everyone else’s swimming suits may still carry the smell of chlorine from summertime pool fun, Belton High School Registered Nurse Regina Cox and her team are busy preparing for another school year of caring for energetic and busy teenagers.
According to a 2021 study published by the National Association of School Nurses, only 65.7% of schools have access to a full-time school nurse (RN/LVN). Cox is proud of the fact that an RN is present on every campus in the Belton Independent School District.
“On a typical school day, we see between 40 and 50 students for clinical visits,” Cox said.
She and her nursing staff, comprised of another RN and one licensed vocational nurse, work incredibly hard for students and staff to help ensure they’re healthy and safe throughout the school day and beyond.
Gone are the days when the job mainly consisted of temperature checks, verifying vaccine status and calling a parent to pick up their stomachache-ridden child. Certainly, those things will always be part of the job, but school nursing is no picnic.
“I use everything I learned in nursing school,” Cox said. “From my pharmacology knowledge, to knowledge I must have regarding diabetic care, emergency care to mental health issues and even stabilizing broken bones — we do it all.”
As a teenager, Cox saw firsthand the physical, as well as emotional, work that goes into nursing when her grandmother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Noticing how knowledgeable and caring her grandmother’s home health nurses were helped set the stage for Cox to pursue a nursing career.
“My grandmother often told me that I’d make a great nurse, and I began believing what she said was true,” she said.
One of the many wonderful things about nursing is the ability to have a flexible schedule, so after completing her master’s degree and wanting to work part-time to mother her oldest child, she worked as an adjunct faculty staff for the University of Mary HardinBaylor. In 2015, when her youngest daughter began school, Cox said she began her adventure as a school nurse at her daughter’s Belton elementary school. In 2021, she transferred to the high school campus after serving the elementary school for six years.
Her years of experience have helped prepare her for whatever the day throws at her. While some issues are minor, others require more extensive treatment. Some chronic health issues Cox and her team manage are, but not limited to, asthma, diabetes and epilepsy. Students with tracheostomies (a tube in the throat creating an airway) require daily suctioning, cleaning and changing of the tubes. There are also students with gastric feeding tubes who need staff to manage their care.
“We also have students with bowel and bladder issues who need help with colostomy bags and urinary catheters,” Cox said.
Another important aspect of the job is finding time throughout the day to document the care given to each student and that student’s response to the care received. Did the bleeding stop with a pressure bandage? Did the headache become worse after the locker collision where students were horsing around? Did the parent ever bring an inhaler for their kids’ asthma after being notified twice the kid was out of their medication? Documentation is one of the most important aspects in any area of nursing.
“Not every student has health issues that require school nurse management.” Cox said, “but we do have 1,000 listed health conditions that we are aware of.”
School nurses also play an important role for students with health needs who leave campus for things like sporting events, University Interscholastic League competitions, band trips and more. They coordinate care and make sure teachers and sponsors know how to manage various health conditions and emergency medicines. School nurses also coordinate with families to provide daily medications on overnight field trips.
Every school year, Cox and her staff also train all staff on hands-on CPR/first aid/ and AED, Epi pen use, and Stop the Bleed. Also, since hands-only CPR is a high school graduation requirement, they teach students this, as well as AED training.
Student hearing, vision and scoliosis screenings are also part of the job. The school nurse is sometimes the only health care provider a student has access to, and referrals are made as necessary. Every RN is also on the campus safety and security team, and Cox also works with a school counselor to coordinate pregnancy related services to help students continue their education.
And sometimes there are issues below the surface
in a student’s life that school nurses help treat. In 2024, the National Center for Education Statistics, which is responsible for collecting and reporting data on the condition of U.S. education from early childhood through adulthood, reported that on average, 19% of public school students utilize school-based mental health services.
Cox can certainly attest to today’s mental health challenges students face.
“Now, more than ever, students need access to mental health care,” she said. “And one of the greatest difficulties of school nursing today is mental health challenges for our students of all ages.”
Highly concerning is the number of students who battle depression, anxiety and even feelings of inferiority in high achieving students who feel stress in achieving and maintaining high performance expectations. Cox is proud of the fact that last fall, Belton High participated in the Mental Health First Aid training where her team learned more tools to assist students in undergoing a crisis.
“An important reminder is that no school is immune
to drug use and the increased rate of self-harm or suicide,” she said. “It’s imperative school nurses stay abreast of the changing substances students’ access and the effect of those substances.”
In addressing this need, school nurses have the opportunity to attend a districtwide Safety Summit, and an annual nurse conference also covers this topic.
When asked what the greatest healthcare need facing students today is, Cox was quick to reply.
“My personal opinion is that students could spend less time on their phones and drinking less energy drinks.”
In addition, she said students could benefit from more time outside, getting exercise, and eating healthy meals at the dinner table with their families.
Cox and her team are more than just school nurses, they’re some of the students’ most avid cheerleaders and advocates, providing a listening ear or a shoulder to lean on. Cox sees her job as a calling.
“Thank you for entrusting your children to our care,” she said. “Your children are amazing, and we love them.”
Registered Nurse Regina Cox listens to a co-worker’s heartbeat in the Belton High School health center.
Why Music Lovers Are Flocking to
By Courtney Jones
Photos courtesy of Discover temPle
GOOD TIMES, GREAT TUNES, TRUE TEXAS. THAT’S TEMPLE.
Temple, Texas, is stealing the spotlight as one of Central Texas’s most exciting live music and cultural festival destinations.
Whether you’re a diehard fan of soulful Texas country, gritty Americana, or high-energy rock, Temple’s music scene hits every note—and this year, it’s all leading up to the Tanglefoot Music & Barbecue Festival.
CREATING A MUSICAL HUB :
lAyiNG the GrouNDWorK for A viBrANt DestiNAtioN
Step into Temple’s downtown and you’ll feel it right away—the hum of local guitars, the warmth of community, and a rhythm that pulses through every event, patio, and street corner. From singer-songwriter showcases at cozy coffee shops to outdoor stages that light up the night, Temple’s music culture is more than a passing tune—it’s a way of life.
Venues like Bird Creek Brewing, Bold Republic Brewing, O’Brien’s Irish Pub, Bo’s Barn Dance Hall, and the Cultural Activities Center host weekly performances that range from bluesy ballads to foot-stomping folk. During the summer, live music spills outdoors, creating a soundtrack to Temple’s bustling nightlife and welcoming energy.
GET TANGLED IN TEMPLE
This fall welcomes the inaugural Tanglefoot, a two-day music and barbecue festival. The event will take place on September 12 and 13 and feature well-known, talented musicians such as Parker McCollum, Cody Jinks, Randy Rogers Band, and so much more. Get fired up this fall in Temple, Texas. The Tanglefoot Music & BBQ Festival blends the best of Texas culture: slow-smoked barbecue, brews, country flair, and a music lineup that will have you dancing in the streets.
Expect to see stages come alive with top regional acts and emerging artists from across the state. Food trucks, pitmasters, and BBQ joints will serve smoky ribs, brisket sandwiches, unique recipes, and inventive twists on Southern classics. With local vendors and all-day entertainment and live music, it’s a full-day experience worth planning your trip around.
EAT, SIP & EXPLORE BEFORE THE SHOW
Come early. Stay late. Make the most of your visit by diving into Temple’s vibrant downtown or exploring all the destination offers. Grab a bite at Old Jody’s, sip a cold one at Bold Republic Brewing, and take a stroll through the city’s parks or immersive selfie trail locations. If you’re a fan of craft cocktails, hidden patios, or late-night bites, Temple’s got a table and a tune waiting for you.
MAKE IT A WEEKEND TO REMEMBER
With unique places to stay and plenty of hotels to relax for the night, family-friendly accommodations, and easy access to I-35, turning your concert night into a full weekend escape has never been easier. Check out the event schedule, discover new artists, and build your own music lover’s itinerary at
DiscoverTemple.com .
Houses on Wheels
TEMPLE HIGH STUDENTS LEARN CONSTRUCTION BY BUILDING TINY HOMES
By AMY ROGNLIE
Photos courtesy of TEMPLE ISD
"Our students are not just building homes — they’re building hope,” said Stephen Bishop, Construction Technology Education Center teacher at Temple High School. “Our students are learning real-world skills while seeing the impact of their work firsthand. Every nail they drive and every wall they raise is tied to a real human story.”
THS’s House on Wheels Project began with a single moment of inspiration back in 2021. The Temple Area Builders Association (TABA) invited the THS students to tour its annual Parade of Homes. They gladly accepted, and one afternoon in May, 15 students explored several beautifully crafted homes. During the tour, one student hesitated at the entrance of a Kiella Executive home, quietly saying, “I’m not supposed to be in a house that nice.” With a little encouragement, he stepped inside — and was visibly amazed.
“That powerful moment sparked a conversation among our students and me about housing, affordability and opportunity,” Bishop said. “By the end of the school year, our students were designing tiny homes as their final exam projects, presenting to our CTE director and me.”
That summer, he reached out to the Temple Education Foundation with a bold idea: What if the Construction Technology students actually built one of those homes? To his surprise — and deep gratitude — they were awarded a grant. Over the next six months, they rallied support from across the community. Local businesses and partners enthusiastically stepped in, generating a wave of energy and purpose in the classroom. None of them knew exactly where the journey would lead, but they were all committed.
For students, this program is a chance to learn trade skills in a hands-on, purpose-driven way. They leave, not only with experience, but also with the pride of knowing their work matters. For the community, this project addresses a pressing
housing need with compassion and collaboration. What makes this unique is that it is youth-led construction for a social cause — it is education, service and workforce development rolled into one.
Tomiko Thompson, a CTE student who is headed
for a career in architecture, helped by drafting the blueprints for the project, as well as designing the cabinets and spice rack for the house’s diminutive kitchen. Continued
“Working on a project like this helps me understand architectural design from the inside out,” she said. “The hands-on experience gives me a head start on my career.”
Students in THS’s four-year CTE program learn the principles of construction, including construction math, how to read blueprints and problem solving.
THS senior Jesse Tipton has a goal to study contract law and land a position with a major construction company. He helped frame the windows, install siding and many other smaller tasks on the house.
“Building something that will help the homeless is awesome. We gave the house to a veteran, which was really motivating for me,” Tipton said. “Plus, building a tiny house gave me great practical experience and helped me learn how to problemsolve. My math skills improved as I used them to work on every aspect of this project.”
Junior Adam Rodriguez agreed with Tipton. Working toward a future in accounting and construction, he advises that students complete all four years in the CTE program.
“Your experience develops after your freshman
year,” he said. “And building a tiny house gives you a taste of all the different trades, from electrical to plumbing to roofing and everything in between.”
Bishop believes the program provides students with a safe place to fail — and succeed. One year after beginning the H.O.W. Project, the students had nearly completed their first tiny house — built with heart, vision, and strong community engagement. The plan was to sell the first home and use the proceeds to build another. That’s when Jeff Stegall from Feed My Sheep walked in. He not only saw the value in what our students had created, he also had a need and a place for it: the Elizabeth Farm, a safe and supportive refuge for Bell County’s un-housed neighbors.
Today, the H.O.W. Project is a collaborative effort between Temple High School’s Construction Trades program and a host of community sponsors, including TABA, Turley Engineering, Lengefeld Lumber, Moore Air, Saverse Plumbing, MEP Electrical, Kiella Homes and Feed My Sheep.
“Temple businesses love our students well, and we are very grateful,” Bishop said.
Together, Temple High students are designing and constructing durable, dignified tiny homes that serve individuals in need across Central Texas, with
the next house slated to be finished in the fall of 2025.
Bishop would love to see this model replicated across school districts where education and outreach intersect. His vision is to create a legacy that will impact students and the un-housed community for years to come — creating solid humans who look at the big picture of serving others with their gifts, skills, and abilities. He also hopes to create more opportunities for students to
build homes that become long-term assets for local nonprofit housing providers.
“This hands-on work gives students meaningful, real-world experience in residential construction while instilling a sense of purpose and social responsibility. The result is more than just shelter,” Bishop said. “It’s the creation of homes, hope, and lasting impact — for the community and for the students themselves — keeping the theme Temple strong.”
October & November
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Distribution date: Sept. 28, 2025
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Reserve space by Oct. 31, 2025
Distribution date: Nov. 28, 2025
Sharing Military Stories
VETERAN SARAH DORAN NOW WRITES CHILDREN’S BOOKS
By AMY ROGNLIE | Photos and book covers courtesy of SARAH DORAN
Once flying Black Hawk helicopters for the U.S. Army, veteran Sarah Doran now has a different mission.
“Creating authentic, high-quality literature to positively represent military families while providing the civilian population with a glimpse inside military family life is at the heart of my mission as a military children's author,” Sarah said.
Her stories are not only written for military kids — who desperately need great books they can see themselves in — but also for their civilian peers. Sarah grew up as a military child herself, as her dad served in the Air Force for seven years and in the Army for 23, retiring after 30 years of service.
“My entire childhood was spent navigating the unique challenges that military children face — the constant moving, the hard goodbyes, always making new friends,” Sarah said. “I'm grateful that I have two, almost three, books that I can give back to the community that helped raise me and make me into the woman I am today.”
Sarah and her husband, James, also a U.S. Army veteran, lived in Central Texas while stationed at Fort Hood from 2008-13 and then returned to the area in 2017. Sarah's military service includes two deployments, one to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, from 2009-10; and one to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, from 2011-12, as a member of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood.
The Dorans are active members of First Baptist Belton and very involved in the local homeschool community, where Sarah teaches at CENTEX Christian Cooperative. Sarah, who has two sons, wanted to create stories that would linger in readers’ minds long after they turned the final page, to instill a deeper understanding of military history, U.S. service members and their families, and the cultural legacy of military family life.
Sarah’s first book, The Peppered Sky, celebrates military family life as two young characters adventure into a world of airborne drop zones,
“I'm grateful that I have two, almost three, books that I can give back to the community that helped raise me.” — Sarah Doran
military aircraft and U.S. paratroopers, and witness a mesmerizing training exercise in the sky. Written in rhyme and told from a military child’s perspective, this beautifully illustrated book is sure to delight readers, both military and civilian alike. The Peppered Sky, published in 2023, recently won the 2025 Eric Hoffer da Vinci Eye Award, and was a 2025 Eric Hoffer Award Children's Category finalist, a 2024 American Legacy Book Award finalist and a 2023 Best Book Award finalist.
After a warm reception from both the military community and the general public, Sarah published her second title, Sleeping Giants, in 2024. This
book highlights the work of military women in aviation as well as the imagination and resiliency of military children with the warmth and passion of a veteran’s point of view.
Sarah is working on her third book, The Fearless and the Fallen, which is a tribute to veterans while still including Sarah’s hallmark adventure and imagination, military history, tanks, trucks and helicopters. It is slated for publication in early 2026.
“I strive to create books from a place of true authenticity,” she said. “My creative team is composed of military-connected individuals who personally understand the sacrifice, dedication and values associated with military service.”
All of Sarah’s books are printed in the United States, regardless of the higher printing costs, because she knows how much that matters to the military community. She also works diligently with her illustrators to ensure that artistic details are as accurate and authentic as possible to honorably reflect the armed forces. Sarah's stories each demonstrate the values that make our military community so unique and strong. Each story includes educational resource pages and a STEM activity to extend beyond each heart-warming story and encourage critical thinking in little readers.
As one of very few authors who write children’s books about the military, Sarah’s work has recently gained national attention. In May, she joined talk show host Eden Gordon-Hill to discuss books, America and Gordon-Hill’s All-American Book Club. Gordon-Hill is a Washington, D.C., morning talk show host with WMAL radio, a veteran spouse and former senior advisor of communications under the Trump administration from 2017 to 2020. Her radio show and podcast serve to promote meaningful discussion on national and family values. In July,
Planning Ahead
Not everyone likes to plan ahead, but pre-planning your funeral arrangements alleviate some of the stress and burden your loved ones are going through as they experience the grief associated with the loss. The staff of Young’s Daughters Funeral Home is happy to assist you with your funeral pre-needs by helping you make decisions about your funeral service in advance and guide you in helping eliminate some of the unnecessary stress brought on by a loved one’s death.
Sarah was featured on a podcast for Moms for America, which is a conservative education advocacy organization.
Sarah is also very active in the Bell County area, speaking at schools, libraries and on Fort Hood. In the last few months, she presented at the Killeen chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, the Temple Public Library’s “Books for Lunch” program and Barnes and Noble Bookstore, just to name a few. You can catch her in September at the annual Walker Honey Artisan Market in Rogers, and the Christmas on the Chisholm Trail Christmas Market in Belton, in December.
Besides the usual places to purchase books, Sarah’s books are available on Spousely, a platform where the vendors are all either military or firstresponders. Purchases directly support the vendors and their families.
Learn more at www.authorsarahdoran.com.
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Back-to-School Savings
FIND BARGAINS ON SUPPLIES AND CLOTHING
It feels like summer has just started and I am already seeing store signage for back to school.
I’m not ready mentally.
But here are some ideas to help save money: Buy clearance now. Lots of summer clothes are going on clearance to make room for the fall collection of clothes. It starts to get cold around mid-October, so students will still be wearing shorts and short sleeve tops. Old Navy, Target, The Children’s Place and Walmart always have great clearance and sales.
JENNISE VENTURA
It doesn’t hurt to take a little road trip to the Round Rock outlets, which has more variety and selection of clothes. We do well down there because we are part of the reward programs at our favorite stores so we can use digital coupons and rewards certificates, plus most offer military and teacher discounts. Old Navy and American Eagle have a great rewards program where you spend a certain amount and you get dollars off certificates for your next purchases plus it is combinable with the military discount. Don’t wait too long to shop because popular sizes and current fashions sell out quickly. Stock up on hoodies and other layering pieces to keep the kids warm during the cool mornings and evenings. This is ideal for kids who prefer to wear light clothes in the fall and winter. You don’t have to spend too much on pants, jeans and long-sleeved tops. Save those for the few months that it’s super cold.
Shop online for variety and selection. Amazon, Walmart, Old Navy, The Children’s Place and Target have a huge selection of clothes and school supplies. If you are part of the rewards program for any of these store and other stores, you will benefit more from their sales. A trick I use a lot is I save the item on the site or add it to my cart and leave it there. I check it every couple of days to see if it got marked down. This simplifies the shopping of the items I really want and it’s an easy way to track the markdowns.
Look at the stores’ policies on price adjustments. If you buy an item and it gets marked down within
the next couple of days, you may be eligible for the price difference. At some stores, you have a week and others two weeks to get the price difference. Most online stores offer free shipping. About 75% of my online purchase decision is based on whether items ship for free. If you do a lot of online retail shopping, those shipping fees add up.
As you shop, use Rakuten and other rebate programs to get paid for your shopping. You go through those websites, find a store and it will track your purchase so after you receive it, you’ll get a rebate based on how much you spend. You can still use promo codes, coupons and free shipping and get the purchase rebate.
Take advantage of Facebook marketplace, the Next Door site and other personal sale platforms for garage sales and individual item sales. Most have amazing deals. Don’t be afraid to ask for a lower price. The worst a seller can say is no.
Make sure you get the emails from your school and the school district. Only parents and legal guardians listed on the student’s enrollment form will receive the emails. If they have a Facebook or Instagram page, make sure you like their page. Most pages will keep you updated with the school supply list and updated dress code.
Low on funds? There is help! If you are in a bind and need assistance with clothes and school supplies, reach out to your child’s school and speak with the counselors as soon as possible. Most will have the resources, maybe even small supplies to help your child(ren).
If you have Facebook, go to the search bar and type in “Back to School Supplies” and you’ll see lots of churches and organizations that are offering free school supplies. Take advantage of these because most of what your child needs is offered for free. These giveaways are popular, so don’t hesitate to visit more than one.
If you have an Amazon account, make a wish list and share it on social media. Friends and family may be able to help. Include clothes, school supplies and snacks.
You can also shop during the state's back-toschool tax-free weekend. Most school supplies and clothes less than $100 are tax free Aug. 8-10.
1. Fans enjoy the Ted Nugent concert at Johnny's Steaks and BarBe-Que in Salado.
2. Ted Nugent ends a song with his hand raised to acknowledge fans.
3. Rico Gonzalez plays the fiddle at Johnny’s Steaks and Bar-Be-Que as the band Kin Faux opens the show.
