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NERF WAR, WII BOWLING, WALK A SHELTER DOG: ACTIVE IDEAS FOR THE WINTER MONTHS Wish Kim Stuart, Healthy At 40 VOL: 3 ISSUE: 1 Make A

My Boone Health Winter 2013

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Make a wish: Kim Stuart is healthy at age 40! Plus active ideas for the winter months include family Nerf wars, Wii bowling and walking dogs at your local animal shelter.

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Page 1: My Boone Health Winter 2013

NERF WAR, WII BOWLING, WALK A SHELTER DOG: ACTIVE IDEAS FOR THE WINTER MONTHS

WishKim Stuart,

Healthy At 40

VOL: 3 ISSUE: 1

Make A

Page 2: My Boone Health Winter 2013
Page 3: My Boone Health Winter 2013

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Winter 2013 3

Page 14 Page 16

Page 21 Page 30

Boone Hospital Center’s mission is

to improve the health of the people

and communities we serve.

Randy MorrowInterim President

Angy LittrellDirector

Ben CorneliusCommunications

and Marketing Manager

Jacob LueckeMedia Relations Manager

Shannon WhitneyCommunications Coordinator

Photos By:

Dave Hoffmaster

L.G. Patterson

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter

Instagram and Pinterest.

Please submit comments

or feedback to [email protected]

or call 573.815.3392

1600 East BroadwayColumbia, MO 65201

573-815-8000

For a free subscription,call 573-815-3392 or visitmyBooneHealth.com and

click on the subscription linkon the right side of the page.

Table Of Contents

5 ............................ A Note From Boone Hospital Interim President Randy Morrow

6 ..................................................................................................... myBoone Health Stories

8 ................................................................................................................ Hospital Headlines

10...................................................................................................... Happy 40th, Kim Stuart!

14........................................................................................................Cold Weather Workouts

16.......................................................................................... 5 Kilometers, Endless Benefi ts

17......................................................................................................................... Power Snacks

18..................................................................................................................... Worth The Drive

21 ........................................................................................................... Let’s B-E-A-T Crohn’s

22 ....................................................................................................................... Fuel For Health

24 ......................................................................................................... Perspectives From ’12

26 ....................................................................................... A STEP Into The Working World

28 ........................................................................................................ Calming Their Tremors

30 ............................................................................................................................ Simple Gifts

Page 4: My Boone Health Winter 2013
Page 5: My Boone Health Winter 2013

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Winter 2013 5

Happy New Year to you and your family! It’s human nature to see the passing of a year as a time for change and new beginnings. That is certainly the case at Boone Hospital Center as we begin 2013.

In October we learned our former president, Dan Rothery, was leaving to accept a new position with BJC HealthCare in St. Louis. Dan led Boone Hospital for six very productive years, including the completion of our largest ever expansion in 2011.

We thank Dan for his leadership and wish him all the best in his new role.

As we open 2013, we have one immediate New Year’s resolution — finding a new president.

A national search for an outstanding candidate has already begun. Until that person is selected, I’m honored to serve as interim president of Boone Hospital.

The opening of a new year is also a time for each of us personally to assess our lives, and, commonly, our health. Losing weight is the most popular resolution year after year.

If better health is your goal, you’ll find plenty of inspiration in this magazine.

Since many of us in mid-Missouri spend most of our time indoors this time of year, our staff members share their favorite wintertime activities on Pages 14 and 15.

And if you know that getting fit is your goal but you haven’t identified a plan to achieve it, see the story on pages 16 and 17. Running or walking a 5K is a great primer to health and can be achieved by nearly everyone.

Whatever your goals for the coming year, we wish you luck. Here’s to healthy beginnings!

A Note From Randy

New Beginnings In 2013

Randy MorrowInterim President

Boone Hospital Center

Page 6: My Boone Health Winter 2013

6 Winter 2013 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

Spine Center Staff Helped Turn A “Surgery Full Of AnxietyInto A Wonderful Experience” By Aimee Dorrell, Rothville

I was supposed to have my back surgery in February, but I didn’t go through with it when the time got closer. I opted to do more physical therapy and gave it until the summer to see how I felt.

Needless to say, I am at Boone for my minimally invasive spine surgery to my L4/L5. Dr. Craig Meyer and his team were patient and understanding. Not once did I feel pressured to make any decisions.

I arrived on Wednesday, Sept. 26, for my surgery here at Boone Hospital Center. Every doctor, nurse, assistant and secretary was very pleasant and understanding.

On the spine floor, where I stayed from Wednesday through Friday, the nurses and techs who were assigned to me were the most caring and positive people I’ve ever met in the hospital environment.

They assisted me in any way they could and would even suggest things if I was not comfortable. They checked on me often and made me feel welcome.

Thank you, Spine Center, for turning a surgery full of anxiety into a wonderful experience that I will never forget.

I know that if someone I knew needed a surgery, or any care of a hospital for that matter, I will be recommending them to Boone.

myBoone Health StoriesVisit myBooneHealth.com To Read More — And Share Your Own Story

This colorful picture was taken after a short afternoon rain shower on Oct. 17. The rainbow looks like it is coming to rest just beyond the Healing Garden. When shared online, many people said they found a deeper meaning in the photo. On Facebook, 500 people “liked” the picture.

Sky Lights

Page 7: My Boone Health Winter 2013

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Winter 2013 7

H aving been a nurse on the Joint Replacement Center at Boone Hospital Center for the last several years, I already knew

that Boone made patient satisfaction a priority and was a leader in patient safety and quality patient care.

I had the opportunity to experience all of these things firsthand on August 3, 2012, when I delivered my daughter at Boone during the busiest month for births at our hospital in 90 years.

My wonderful OB-GYN, Dr. Sarah Franken, had informed me that my baby

Share your storymyBooneHealth.com

Husband And Wife Share ImpressionsOf HospitalizationBy Cheryl and Nathaniel Dooley

Nurse WasAmazing During Daughter’s SurgeryBy Kelly Doke, Linn

Nurse Experiences Boone’s Care FirsthandBy Danielle Woods, Columbia

Caring Doctor Helps Solve Patient’s DizzinessBy Jim Roges, Gravois Mills

My 15-year-old daughter had surgery and in recovery she had a nurse by the name of La’Costa

Gaines. She was amazing!She was so attentive to Kyli and

shared so much information with us. She really put our minds at ease after everything Kyli has been through the past year. In Kyli’s words, “That nurse is an inspiration.”

All staff were wonderful but La’Costa is a standout! We cannot thank her enough for all the care she gave to Kyli and the rest of her family.

She allowed us to be with Kyli immediately after surgery and was better than what we could have asked for. She understood everything Kyli has been through and was a great educational tool. A huge thank you to her!

From Cheryl:I am staying here with my husband who is having surgery on Friday and they have done nothing but be nice to us. They’re the best staff that any hospital could ever have.

From Nathaniel:The housekeepers are so good at what they do here, they are on top of what you need done in your room. The doctors are on top of answering questions you need answered and they are good at taking care of you.

would be too big to safely deliver naturally, so I had a scheduled Cesarean section. The night before I was scheduled to come in for my procedure, a labor and delivery nurse called to make sure I was doing well and that I did not have any questions she could help with — a little touch that makes an anxious patient feel at ease.

From the time I entered the doors under the “Boone Family Birthplace” signature blue awning until the time I was discharged home, I experienced personalized, quality care.

(Read the rest at myboonehealth.com.)

On May 30, 2012, I met with Dr. Allard who determined I had BPPV (benign positional vertigo).

He met with me before the appointment started so he could explain exactly what the test would be like. He took his time once I entered the exam room and he continually talked me through each phase.

He made a tough experience very bearable and I just wanted to let Boone know how good he was to me.

I sincerely appreciated what he did. And, I’m not dizzy anymore!

Page 8: My Boone Health Winter 2013

8 Winter 2013 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

Holding hands tightly in the end zone, they waited for their big news. And then it came, over the stadium

loudspeakers: “Kelli and Shane Anderson, it’s a boy! Congratulations!”

The special announcement happened during the University of Missouri football game on Oct. 27. The Andersons were excited to be part of this special announcement, where the gender of their first child was revealed in front of the stadium audience.

The pregnancy was a miracle for the Andersons. For years, Kelli thought she would never be able to get pregnant, but fertility specialist Dr. Gil Wilshire at Boone Hospital Center made the impossible happen for Kelli and Shane.

To watch the announcement, visit www.youtube.com/boonehospital.

Hospital HeadlinesNews From Boone Hospital Center

4-H Donation Honors Former Leader

Jacquie Stuart dedicated much of her life to working with Monroe County youth through the 4-H program. In January 2012, Jacquie passed away just 10 weeks after being diagnosed with pancreatic

cancer. It was a sudden loss for her family and the 4-H community.

Seeking to honor Jacquie’s memory, 4-H kids started a “change war” at their annual camp last summer and collected more than 70 pounds of spare change, totaling $291.22. On Oct. 1, they brought a huge sack of coins to Boone Hospital Center, donating them to the hospital’s Supportive Care program.

“We are very honored that they all came

together and did something like this during their week at 4-H camp,” said Jess Stuart, Jacquie’s daughter and an occupational therapist at Boone Hospital.

Supportive Care provides services such as massages, spa treatments, healing touch and music and aroma therapy. For patients facing the end of life, the service also provides comfort bags with a soft blanket, stuffed animal, journal, photo album and visitor log.

Supportive Care Coordinator Dorreen Rardin said the generous donation would help fund more comfort bags for patients.

“This is awesome. It’s going to help a lot of patients,” Rardin said. “We certainly appreciate this gift.”

Family ReceivesBig News At Mizzou Game

Page 9: My Boone Health Winter 2013

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Winter 2013 9

Dan Rothery, president of Boone Hospital Center, announced on Oct. 29 that he was stepping down to accept a new position within BJC HealthCare.

Rothery has served as Boone Hospital Center president since 2006.

“The past six years have been the most rewarding of my career. It has been an incredible joy to be part of the Boone Hospital family and serve this community as the leader of what is increasingly a nationally renowned organization,” Rothery said. “Moving to this next chapter in my career is a decision I made with mixed emotions. Yet I am excited for the new challenge. I know I am leaving Boone Hospital in the capable hands of an experienced leadership team, a dedicated staff and a talented medical staff.”

In his new role, Rothery will lead BJC Home Care, Corporate Health and Behavioral Health Services in St. Louis.

A nationwide search for Boone Hospital’s next president has begun. Boone Hospital Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Randy Morrow will serve as interim president during the search.

Study Seeks People Who Have Overcome Chronic Pain

A Boone Hospital physician has begun a new study aimed at helping people

cope with chronic pain.Joseph Meyer, MD, a pain

management specialist, is seeking study participants who have suffered chronic pain but found a way to overcome that pain.

His study is looking for common elements in how people have overcome pain. Uncovering these similarities in people who cope well with pain could help guide other patients with chronic discomfort.

“To the best of my knowledge, nobody has really systematically studied people who have overcome pain,” Dr. Meyer said. “The key is, how do various people get over it and what’s in common?”

For his study, overcoming pain doesn’t mean the pain is no longer there. Rather, a person might still feel the pain and they’re just no longer troubled by it.

“When you meet these people, they almost always say, ‘I still have pain, it just doesn’t bother me anymore,’” he said.

Dr. Meyer is actively searching for more people, age 21 and older, willing to have a conversation with him about how they have overcome chronic pain they’ve experienced for more than a year. Anyone interested should write to: [email protected]. Learn more at http://studychronicpain.com.

“We’ll take all comers,” he said. “We’ll take anybody who has a story to tell us.”

Boone Ambulances DeployCooling Collar Technology

N ew technology being used on Boone Hospital ambulances might help save lives in cases of cardiac

arrest. This fall, ambulance crews began deploying cooling collars — devices that lower cerebral temperature to preserve brain cells.

It takes about 20 minutes for the collar to reduce cerebral temperature by 1.7 degrees.

Although that might sound small, that change can make a significant impact to a person’s ability to return to normal activities following a cardiac arrest event.

Boone Hospital was the third rescue service in the state, and the first in mid-Missouri, to deploy cooling collars.

The latest newsboone.org

Boone Hospital Center President Steps DownTo Accept New Position

Page 10: My Boone Health Winter 2013
Page 11: My Boone Health Winter 2013

Happy

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Winter 2013 11

40By Jacob Luecke

Comprehensive careboone.org/cancer

At this milestone, health is the best gift of all.

,K im Stuart !

th

Page 12: My Boone Health Winter 2013

12 Winter 2013 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

KIM STUART HAS A BIRTHDAY COMING UP, AND IT’S A BIG ONE.

On Feb. 3 she turns 40.It’s a milestone many of us grumble

about as it approaches, but for Stuart, 40 has a diff erent meaning.

“As a woman, you don’t want to be 40,” she said with a laugh. “But the fact that I was not supposed to live this long makes me feel very lucky.”

Kim was 16 when she was diagnosed with leukemia at Boone Hospital Center. Her caregivers thought she might have only days to live, but she pulled through.

A year later, the cancer came back. Her prognosis was even worse. Again, she persevered.

And on it went, a series of illnesses — one after the other — that would hospitalize Stuart for stretches of her teens and young adulthood.

Now, approaching 40, she’s fi nally healthy. She’s not taking it for granted.

“I feel very lucky that I am able to live a normal life and take care of my kids and have even basic things like a house and a car,” she said.

So if she’s about to go over the hill, maybe that’s not such a bad thing. Getting there was certainly an uphill climb.

FiRSt DiaGNoSiSAs hard as she tried, Kim just couldn’t keep up.

She was 16 and running laps with her Moberly High School softball team.

Th e worst part was there was no way out. She was stuck in the hospital, more than 40 miles from her friends and the rest of her life. She couldn’t leave.

“At that age you can usually fi nagle your way out of things, but there was nothing I could do,” she said.

She was placed in an isolation room and began chemotherapy. Her nurses weren’t certain if she would live through that fi rst weekend. But she did.

Th e days of treatment turned into weeks and then months. While she rarely was able to leave her room, she accepted a constant stream of visitors and well-wishers.

Th ey brought her stuff ed animals and teen heartthrob posters for her room.

“My hospital room ended up looking like a teenager’s bedroom,” she said. “It didn’t look like anyone else’s room in the hospital.”

Her parents and brother spent countless hours with her at the hospital. Th eir love and dedication encouraged Kim to keep fi ghting.

But she was also often alone. During these times, Kim forged a strong bond with her nurses, who she said were like second mothers.

“Th ey took me under their wings. Th ey treated me like family,” she said. “If I felt scared about anything, I knew I could talk to my nurses and they would make me feel better.”

Th e caregivers also tried to bring moments of fun to Kim’s hospital routine. On Halloween, Kim remembers dressing up and going trick-or-treating down the hospital halls with another young patient, their IV poles beside them.

It took two rounds of chemo to get her cancer into remission. She returned to school. Halfway through her senior year, the cancer returned and she was hospitalized again.

Boone Hospital was beginning to feel like a second home.

liNGeRiNG PRobleMSDuring her stays at Boone Hospital, Kim would sometimes walk to a window overlooking Columbia.

Th e view from up high made her feel like she was in a spaceship, watching remotely as people lived their lives below.

Sometimes, she would focus on a little white house with black shutters across the street. She would mentally take herself there, imagining what it must feel like to be inside that house, remembering the warmth of home.

A multisport athlete, Kim was usually among the fastest girls on the team. But now, she lagged behind.

“Come on, Perkins, pick it up!” she remembers her coach yelling, using her maiden name.

Something was wrong with her body. Every day she felt increasingly weak and lightheaded. She bruised easily.

Her parents took her to their family doctor in Moberly, who assured them Kim was simply feeling aftereff ects from the strep throat she had earlier in the year.

In her heart, Kim feared it was something worse.

Th e problems peaked on Kim’s fi rst day of school as a junior at Moberly High School. She felt bad that morning and threw up before school, but she went anyway.

When Kim got to school, she was so weak it was hard to even walk. She had to sit on the fl oor and rest on the way to class.

Her friends could tell something was wrong. “It’s just my strep,” she told them.

During class, her symptoms got worse. Rather than listening, she was fi ghting the urge to pass out. She was excused to go to the principal’s offi ce and asked to see her doctor. Th is time, she was sent to Boone Hospital for testing. She was admitted and stayed overnight.

Th e next day, she noticed her nurses were bringing equipment into her hospital room and seemed to be setting up for treatment.

“I was like, ‘Th is isn’t right. I’m going home today. I have a ball game,’” Kim said.

Later, her doctors came to share their devastating diagnosis: She had leukemia. She would need to start chemotherapy immediately.

Kim asked everyone to leave her room.“I just started screaming at the top

of my lungs, ‘No! Why? I’m not a bad person! Why are you doing this to me?” she said.

K im,, age 16, with her brother, Heath.

Page 13: My Boone Health Winter 2013

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Winter 2013 13

But even while far from her family and friends, Kim continued to remotely progress through high school.

When her cancer went into remission for a second time, Kim was able to leave the hospital to graduate from high school. But she was hospitalized again that summer for a bone marrow transplant.

In the years that followed, she attended college at Culver-Stockton on a full-ride scholarship. She graduated summa cum laude. She began a career, married her high school sweetheart and started a family.

But her good times were regularly punctured by recurring illness and hospitalization. There were still many days her health took her away from home.

She had a port-a-cath installed, had a liver biopsy, was hospitalized for pneumonia and underwent an appendix removal. She also sought treatment for allergy problems, bladder issues, hearing loss, migraines and other disorders.

While these ongoing problems seem unrelated to cancer, it’s likely her

treatments as a teenager weakened her body, contributing to the lingering health issues.

“Kim is a remarkable young woman,” said Joe Muscato, MD, Kim’s longtime physician. “She came close to death on several occasions during her treatment, a frightening place for anyone — but especially for a teenager. I am extremely proud of how she has carried herself in her life.”

In 2011, Kim was hospitalized yet again. She’d been living with hepatitis C for years. She likely contracted it through a blood transfusion as a teenager. Years ago, blood banks did not test for hepatitis C.

She decided to undergo a new treatment that would hopefully cure the disease, but the medication had severe side effects — she could barely walk or see. She couldn’t drive or work.

She was hospitalized and away from her home and family once again. She had flashbacks to earlier in life.

She went back to her old window overlooking Columbia, but this time

when she looked out, the little white house with black shutters was gone. In its place stood a large medical office building.

The entire hospital had changed over the years.

The hospital’s expansion and renovation were progress, but for Kim it was different and more personal. The hospital was like a home to her. Watching it transform felt like going back to a childhood home to find that so much had changed.

She found much comfort in one thing that hadn’t changed at Boone Hospital — the people.

“I would not be here if it hadn’t been for the doctors and caregivers,” she said.

Some of her caregivers from her teenage years still work at Boone Hospital and nearby physician clinics. These people hold a special place in her heart.

And like every time before, the care team again saw her back to health.

HealtHy at 40Kim still spends her days fighting cancer. But now, she fights other people’s cancers.

She serves as a registered medical technologist in the laboratory at Missouri Cancer Associates, the physician clinic affiliated with Boone Hospital. Some of the people who cared for her as a teen are now her coworkers.

With her personal experiences, Kim finds it easy to connect with her patients.

“When I go and do a biopsy in a room, I can actually say, ‘I know how you feel,’” she said. “It’s not just something that I’m saying. I’ve actually been there in that situation.”

As she approaches 40, she’s finally in a very good place. She is cured of cancer, hepatitis C and many of her other ailments. She is a mother to four adopted children. She has a husband who stood by her side through sickness and health.

She’s surrounded by friends and community members who prayed for her during her rough years. She has a strong Christian faith that has helped her turn difficult times into powerful life lessons.

She also still has Boone Hospital — which is directly across the street from her job. It’s a daily reminder of having another shot at a healthy life as she turns 40.

And health, it turns out, is the best birthday gift of all.

“I’m just happy to be here,” she said.

Page 14: My Boone Health Winter 2013

14 Winter 2013 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

Read more ideasmyBooneHealth.com

Cold Weather WorkoutsBoone Hospital Staff Shares Ideas For Staying Fit Through The WinterWe’re lucky to enjoy all four seasons in Missouri. We spend summers at the pool and have snowball fi ghts in the winter. In between is fi lled with changing leaves, growing gardens and warm weather, making it easier to stay active outside. During the cold winter months, it’s often hard to fi nd motivation to leave the warm house. We asked Boone Hospital Center employees to share their ideas for cold-weather workouts . We hope you fi nd inspiration to keep yourself and your family active this winter! By Shannon Whitney

Denise Martin

We roller skate. It costs less than a movie and is something the whole family can do. It beats sitting at home on the couch.

Sean KennellyI am an avid runner, and I like to train all year round, but I loathe running on the treadmill and wanting to stay in shape isn’t always enough motivation to get me out on the trails during the winter. Th at is one reason why I am a volunteer dog-walker at the Central Missouri Humane Society. Th ey need all the help they can get at this time of year, and knowing that the dogs are counting on volunteers for the stimulation and exercise they need helps me get out the door on really cold days. Th e dogs make great walking/running buddies, and the miles go by a lot quicker when you see how much they enjoy it.

Denise Martin

Gina CoxWith four children, having activities to do during the winter months is not just a need; it is a must! We have a membership to the local rec center. We load up and travel just three miles to the center to play basketball, work out on the exercise equipment or just play around. Our Wii system also provides great indoor fi tness opportunities. We set up bowling tournaments and compete to achieve the highest scores on many of the sports and dance-related games!

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BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Winter 2013 15

Betty LathropI enjoy shoveling snow and seeing the sun glisten off the snowflakes. I like walking through the timber when it snows. When the weather is good, I walk to the mailbox and back — one mile. Also, I get my leaf blower/mulcher out and walk around the yard.

Ann BeneOne thing my husband and I do to stay active is bike to work almost every day, even in the cold, unless there is ice or snow. Also we go for walks. I workout at WELLAWARE and swim at the ARC also during the winter months.

Becky HennessyWhen the hunting seasonis over, my husband and son hit the local gym to swim. I am a triathlete so I am always training for something. I spin, strength train and swim at the gym indoors, but I ride the trail and gravel roads and run outdoors. For me, the treadmill is the “dreadmill!”

Kirsten KempkerOne of my family’s favorite things to do during the winter months when it is too cold to get outside is we each have a Nerf gun and we run around the house hiding and shooting pellets at each other. It is quite the workout. It is great family fun and definitely works up a sweat!

Emily NusbaumIn the winter months I put on my cold-weather running gear and meet my friends for a run just like I do in the warmer months. I have worked hard to have fitness and do not want to lose it just because it is cold outside! It is hard to get out of a warm bed into the cold air outside, but I have never once regretted doing it. It is actually quite beautiful out there and it is hard to beat the feeling of accomplishment I get from getting the run done. It also makes me appreciate the days when I get to stay in my warm bed a little longer. Cold-weather running is not my favorite, but come spring I am so glad I stuck it out all winter!

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16 Winter 2013 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

It’s common these days to overhear people talk about training for a 5K. No doubt you know someone who’s done one.

But how about you? Are you ready to give it a try?Perhaps it’s something you’ve never considered before, or

maybe previous attempts to train for a 5K have run into the distraction of the “routine chaos” of daily life.

Regardless of your situation, completing a 5K is a great resolution for this year. It’s something nearly everyone can accomplish with the

proper preparation.You can participate, no matter your

fitness and ability level; you can run, walk or wheel your way to the finish line. There are a number of great training programs to get you prepared for race day. A good 5K program starts out slowly and gradually becomes more strenuous as the race approaches. It will acclimate your body to the 5K experience so that by race day, you’ll be at your best.

You’ll find a number of good 5K training resources online. See www.boone.org/5K for

programs designed for beginner, intermediate and advanced racers. Find a plan that works for you and set your goal.Having access to treadmills can be helpful when training

for a 5K. They have the advantage of being in a controlled, safe environment where you don’t have to worry about uneven terrain, dogs and strangers. The WELLAWARE Fitness Center offers a newly remodeled environment, complete with TVs for distraction.

A WELLAWARE personal trainer can also provide inspiration and personal guidance. When your drive is running low, a personal trainer can be like a motivational energy drink that can get you to your goal. Benefits of using a personal trainer include:

• Optimizing time and energy• Improving balance and coordination• Learning new exercises and variations in techniques• Improving strength, endurance, flexibility and body compositionSo, why not set a goal to complete a 5K in 2013? WELLAWARE

is here to help you. Feel free to call the WELLAWARE Fitness Center at 573-

815-3876 to discuss the membership options and personal training services that are available.

5 Kilometers, Endless BenefitsTraining For A 5K Can Be A Primer For A Healthy Lifestyle

Doug McDowell, M.ed., aCSM Registered Clinical exercise Physiologist

5K training programsboone.org/5K

Page 17: My Boone Health Winter 2013

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Winter 2013 17

Aquestion I frequently get asked is what kinds of foods are good to eat before or after a workout. Overall,

if you are working out within three hours of a meal or are exercising for 45 minutes or less, you probably don’t need a snack prior to exercise; it’s the job of your liver and fat stores to cover for these instances. The same goes for post-workout snacks. If exercise lasts less than 45 minutes or you are eat-ing a meal in the next hour, then no extra calories are needed. But if you are exercising for an hour or more, especially when it’s been awhile since you ate, here are some great pre- and post-workout snacks!

Power SnacksGood Foods To EatBefore And AfterExercise

Kristy Lang,RD, LD, CDE

Save the Date! May 9, 2013, Stephens Lake Park

Lee Pfefer Memorial WELLAWARE 5K

Kids on Track kickoff event

Watch for more information!

Pre-WorkoutPower SnackEight ounces of yogurt or a piece of fruit are both high in easily digestible carbs that can give you plenty of quick energy going into a workout without making you feel too full. Both are fast and easy to grab on the way out the door if you don’t have time to prepare a snack before heading to the gym.

Post-Workout Refueling SnackA piece of fruit and 2 to 2½ tablespoons of natural peanut butter are a good balance of carbs, protein and fat to help keep your blood sugars from crashing and to keep you full until your next meal. Try pre-portioned peanut butter containers to make this an easy snack to grab and keep in your gym bag.

Page 18: My Boone Health Winter 2013

→ When it’s time for Liz Parry’s regular checkup, she and husband Kirk simply drive to Boone Hospital Center.

Th ey cross the Buff alo River, motor past Branson, take a right at Springfi eld, turn left at Lebanon and they’re here. No problem.

Th e Parrys live in Little Rock, Ark. Th ey’ve been making this journey to

Boone Hospital — 400 miles one way — for about 15 years now.

So, what do their friends think of their regular trips to Missouri?

“Many of them think we’re nuts,” Kirk said.

But the Parrys wouldn’t have it any other way.

Th e hospital has helped bring Liz back from serious illness on two occasions, off ering care and expert diagnoses they simply couldn’t fi nd closer to home.

“Th ey gave me my life back,” Liz said.Th at’s easily worth the drive.

Worth The DriveSome Patients Travel Great DistancesFor Boone Hospital’s Care

BY JACOB LUECKE

Missouri BoundIt was the early 1990s and Liz was standing at the counter of a dry cleaner in Little Rock.

As she waited for her clothes, a van came crashing through the front of the store. It slammed into Liz, crushing her abdomen and pelvis.

She was taken to her local hospital, where doctors repaired her broken bones.

But long after her bones healed, the accident left her with a more mysterious and life-altering problem — she could no longer digest food.

Although she could still physically eat, food made her sick. She stopped going to restaurants. She even avoided social functions, knowing they often revolve around food.

“She was a prisoner in her own home,” Kirk said.

Th is went on for fi ve years. She was slowly dying from malnutrition.

“I got to be about this big around,” Liz said, holding her hands about a foot apart.

A relative in Missouri mentioned Liz’s perplexing situation to her physician, Lyndell Scoles, MD, an internal medicine specialist at Boone Hospital.

18 Winter 2013 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

Page 19: My Boone Health Winter 2013

40

65

44

52

63

Dr. Scoles had an idea of what could be wrong and said he’d be glad to see Liz if she could make the drive to Columbia.

At that point, Liz would go anywhere for help.

“Can he see me tomorrow?” Liz said.A 400-mile drive later, Dr. Scoles did

a simple blood test that determined the problem: Liz’s pancreas had been crushed by the impact from the van. It was no longer secreting the enzymes needed to digest food.

Fortunately, there was an easy fi x. Liz just needed to take an enzyme capsule before every meal.

“I said, ‘If this stuff works, can I eat a salad?’” Liz remembers. “He said, ‘If this stuff works, you can eat anything you want to.’”

And it worked. One visit to Boone Hospital had solved years of agony. Th e Parrys were sold.

From then on, they made regular trips back to Boone Hospital for Liz’s follow-up visits.

When Liz regained her health, the trips decreased to just once a year for checkups and Liz’s mammogram.

While they came for the medical expertise at Boone Hospital, their

repeat visits exposed them to something just as important — the hospital’s culture of caring.

Th ey were amazed by the courteous and knowledgeable staff members at every level of the organization. Th e experience was especially eye-opening for Kirk, a psychologist who has served in a number of health facilities.

“I’ve been in medical settings for 40 years, and I’ve never seen anything like Boone,” he said. “Sometimes, we’re driving home and saying, ‘Th at place is so diff erent than any other hospital. Th e culture is so pervasive, from housekeeper to CEO.’”

One example they talk about happened when Liz was preparing to undergo a radiology test. A tech noticed Liz was wearing a necklace. She would have to remove it for the exam.

Liz explained that it was a special necklace that held her mother’s wedding ring. To Liz, having the ring beside her was like feeling her mother’s presence telling her that everything would be OK. →

Liz, Kirk and Moose

Page 20: My Boone Health Winter 2013

Th e tech leaned down and said, “I’m here to tell you everything is going to be all right,” giving her a warm hug.

Even today, Liz recalls that moment like it happened fi ve minutes ago.

“I just marvel at that kind of thing. I needed to hear that. It was really special,” Liz said. “Th at’s the kind of experience we’ve had time after time.”

National ReputationAlthough Boone Hospital’s namesake is Boone County, today the hospital serves a much broader geographical area.

Less than half of the hospital’s 17,000 admissions each year are Boone County residents.

Many of the rest come from the hospital’s broad service area, encompassing 25 counties reaching from Kirksville to the Lake of the Ozarks.

Still, a subset of patients, like the Parrys, come from even farther.

In some cases, patients travel to Boone Hospital to see a specifi c doctor who specializes in a rare condition.

Other times, people might move away from mid-Missouri but still choose to come back to Boone Hospital for medical care.

Some patients might seek out Boone Hospital and travel here due to its reputation and status in national rankings for quality care, consumer preference and patient satisfaction.

Or an out-of-towner might just happen to be in mid-Missouri when a medical need arises.

Such was the case with Martha and James Wininger, of Attica, Ind.

“Recently, while visiting relatives in Fulton, my wife required medical services,” James said. He said the physician and nurse who saw them “received us and provided excellent care for her needs. Please extend our many thanks to them — they are assets for your institution.”

Boone Or BustTo day when the Parrys travel to Columbia, they bring their RV.

Th e RV off ers some of the comforts of home. It also has plenty of room for their boxer, Moose, to come along.

“Going to the hospital was not exactly what we got the RV for,” Liz said. “But it saved our life the last two years when we’ve been here for long stretches.”

Liz got pneumonia in December 2010. Despite visits to local health care providers, she continued to go downhill.

“I just kept getting weaker and weaker,” she said.

Before long, they were back at Boone Hospital. A series of tests revealed Liz was suff ering from an autoimmune disease with extensive blood clots in her legs and lungs. Th rough regular visits every six weeks, the Parrys and Dr. Scoles are fi nally turning the tide against the disease.

With all he has done, Liz considers Dr. Scoles to be “absolutely the most wonderful doctor that ever was.”

Dr. Scoles said experiences like this are what make his medical service so rewarding.

“I became a physician to love, to pray, to cry, to listen, to extend my family and to experience one of the greatest joys

In 2011, Boone Hospital welcomed patients from every corner of the United States. Patient hometowns are marked with blue dots.

in life — to watch the healing touch of God, to walk close to life and death and, with this walk, draw ever closer to God,” he said.

While the Parrys appreciate mid-Missouri, they hope Liz is soon healthy enough to point their RV in a diff erent direction. Kirk would like to visit California and Liz wants to see Mount Rushmore.

“Th is was not how I planned the last couple years of my life and it’s not what I want to keep doing,” Liz said. “But if I had to do it, I’m glad I got to do it here.”

If the need arises, it’s always nice to know Boone Hospital is only 400 miles away.

Dr. Lyndell Scoles

Beyond Mid-Missouri

20 Winter 2013 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

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BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Winter 2013 21

Digestive services at Booneboone.org/digestive

Kalani Hall, 17, had digestive issues on and off for years. She was told it was just anemia, but it felt worse than that. Th e mother of one of her cheerleading teammates works for Donald Gerhardt, MD, and helped Kalani make an appointment.

Dr. Gerhardt scheduled a colonoscopy, and in August 2011, diagnosed Kalani with Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is an infl ammatory bowel disease that tends to begin aff ecting people in their teens or 20s.

“I was scared. I had never really heard about it. I didn’t know if I was going to be OK or what was going to happen,” said Kalani, now a senior at Southern Boone County High School.

At fi rst, her treatment included iron infusions and other medications. She took 16 pills each day. Kalani and her family slowly began learning all about Crohn’s.

Let’s B-E-A-T Crohn’sHigh School Cheerleader Learns To Thrive With D iagnosis

“She and her mom are very intelligent. Th ey were receptive and followed what I explained to them,” said Dr. Gerhardt. “Th is family really helped her weigh the benefi ts and risks to each approach.”

Last spring, Dr. Gerhardt consulted with surgeon Walter Peters, MD. Th ey decided the most irritated portion of her intestine needed to be removed.

Although she was scared, Dr. Peters was able to answer her questions and fully prepare her and her parents for the surgery.

“It relieved a lot of stress, because it was all new to me, and I didn’t know what was going to happen,” Kalani said. “It made it easier to understand because he had a picture and showed how the surgery was going to go and what he was going to cut out.”

She was a cheerleader and a student. She didn’t want this diagnosis to aff ect her teenage life.

“I was really worried about it because cheerleading means a lot to me, and not being able to do it would be devastating,” Kalani said. “When we went and consulted with Dr. Peters, I asked him if I’d be able to cheer. He said it would be OK after healing.”

Although she was supposed to wait three weeks before returning to physical activity, Kalani knew she couldn’t miss cheerleading tryouts. Two weeks after surgery she endured tryouts and made the team.

Th is fall, Kalani was the top fundraiser for the fi rst Take Steps for Crohn’s and Colitis walk in Columbia. A group of her friends and family, including the cheerleading squad, joined the walk wearing matching shirts.

Now Kalani is managing both her Crohn’s and her cheerleading. She hopes to study criminal investigation in college next year.

She shares this advice with other teens struggling with Crohn’s: “It does get easier. It will get easier. You can still live a normal life. You just have to manage it well.” By Shannon Whitney

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22 Winter 2013 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

Fuel For HealthDiabetes Education Helps Moberly Man Find Wellness

Diabetes Self-Management Classboone.org/WELLAWARE/diabetes

Mark Morgan is careful about what kind of fuel he puts in his new truck.

It’s a Chevy Silverado. He’s cautious with the

engine and wants to protect his investment. He deliberates about different ethanol blends when he’s at the pump; he wants to maximize performance.

However, for many years Mark wasn’t nearly as cautious about the fuel he was putting into his own body.

Fast food, doughnuts and candy helped keep a pulsing sugar buzz going for his marketing consultant job at KRES radio in Moberly.

But the lifestyle took its toll. By his mid-40s, Mark weighed over 400 pounds. He was often getting sick. He started feeling light-headed, like he was going to pass out.

Bad fuel was threatening to kill his engine.“I was a heart attack or a stroke waiting

to happen,” Mark said.He was diagnosed with diabetes. He

began taking medication, but ignored any advice about changing his lifestyle.

“In hindsight, I can see clearly I was in denial,” he said. “It really didn’t mean a lot to me because I didn’t understand what diabetes meant as far as the condition itself, the threat to my health or what I was going to have to do.”

Years went by. His weight peaked at 450 pounds.

Then, about two years ago, he decided to make a change. He began to focus on sustained weight loss. He dropped dozens of pounds.

However, a hemoglobin test showed his diabetes was still out of control. His doctor, Andrea Eden, DO, at Boone Convenient Care in Moberly, compelled him to learn

Brenda Wilson, Mark Morgan and Jennifer Anderson

more about his disease. She recommended the diabetes self-management education classes offered at Boone Hospital Center.

Over four weekly sessions, the classes teach essential diabetes facts, possible complications and how to manage the disease through diet, exercise and medication.

“The goal of diabetes self-management education is to empower people with the tools they need to manage their diabetes,” said Jennifer Anderson, diabetes education coordinator.

For Mark, the classes were a revelation. For the first time, he understood what diabetes was, how it was affecting his body and how his food choices could have lasting consequences.

He realized immediate changes were needed. He started watching his carb intake, began to monitor his sugar levels and learned to listen to his body.

He also realized he needed to be on insulin, something he had resisted for years.

“Insulin is not the bad guy — diabetes complications are the bad guys. People

may not be making enough insulin to manage their blood sugars. Giving insulin is the only option to increase the amount available,” said Brenda Wilson, RN-BC. “Looking at the long term, you have to decide if your diabetes is going to manage you or if you are going to manage your diabetes.”

Armed with this knowledge, Mark, 54, has a new chance at health. His weight is now down to 346 and dropping. He’s on insulin.

“It’s basically awareness of what I’m putting in my body,” he said. “That’s the key along with medication and exercise.”

He also just feels better. Now he’s rarely sick and he finds it easier to thrive in his creative job.

With good fuel going in his body and the knowledge of how to tame his diabetes, Mark said he’s finally ready to steer his life toward health.

“Before I was completely in a reactive mode; I felt like I was being driven,” he said. “I feel like I’m driving now.” By Jacob Luecke

“In hindsight, I can see clearly I was in denial. ... I didn’t understand what diabetes meant.”

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24 Winter 2013 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

’12 PerspectivesEmployees Of The Month Share Thoughts On Everything Boone

Employee of the monthboone.org/eom

“Boone has always been, without exception, a place where patientsare treated with dignity and respect.”— MaRtiN PaRkS, Staff Nurse iii

“I can remember driving by Boone Hospital right after we moved and saying to my husband, ‘I really want to work there.’ ”

— CHeRiSe Still, Social Worker

“The harder the assignment,the better for me.”

— aMaNDo CaMPoSaNo,environmental Services

“You can lean on your coworkers, and they’ll teach you every single day. They are fabulous people.”— aMy SiebRaNDt,General Medicine Unit Secretary

“Boone is like a secondfamily. I really enjoy the coworkers I work with.”

— JaN kelly,Surgical Specialties

outcomes Coordinator

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BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Winter 2013 25

“I have so much fun just interacting with people.”— liNDa RaUCH, Patient Service Representative

“If I can support the people who serve patients every day, then this is a place where I can make a difference, too.’”— MaRCy WooD,Clinical Project Coordinator

“I feel like if I can help reducea patient’s anxiety, they’re going tohave a better visit with us.”— MaRy betH SCHilliNGeR, Social Worker

“I see lots of faces,lots of different people.

I try to make themsmile for their day.”

— MiCHael PUltMaN,Distribution

“The nursesand the techs, they are alljust great.We work as a team up here.”— liNDa WaiNSCott,environmental Services

“Boone is an excellent facility and takes excellent careof people, andI wanted to be part of that.”— DeNeaN MUlliS, Nurse

“Everyone saysit’s the people, but it really is. Everyone is doing a great job and that motivates you to do a great job.”— JeSSiCa PaRk,Marketing Project Coordinator

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26 Winter 2013 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

A STEP Into The Working WorldSpecial Needs Teens Get Experience At Boone Hospital

Starting last fall, there were some new faces in the halls of Boone. They might be transporting linens, organizing surgery trays, serving food or emptying wastebaskets.

These six seniors from Hickman and Rock Bridge High Schools have joined Boone’s workforce to get some experience working before graduation in May. Seamless Transition through Enhanced Partnership, or STEP, was specifically designed for students with special needs who want to learn important job skills that will help them make the transition from student to employee after graduation.

Karen Morgan is the STEP program instructor. She spends some time with the interns in the transition center each day before and after they go to work. They discuss job skills, enthusiasm, body language, attitude and other social skills that will help them succeed on the job.

“We’ve tried to set this up as close to the real job experience as possible,” Morgan said. “They filled out the application and took the competency tests; they went through the interview process just like anyone else would. We have tried to make it as realistic as possible.”

She said the interns are excited to leave the classroom environment and learn new skills.

“They’ve all blossomed by being a part of this program. Many of them struggled in school, academically or socially,” Morgan said. “Here, they are feeling included for probably the first time in their life.”

Randy Fry is a clinical educator at Boone who works closely with the STEP interns.

“They add a lot of benefit, and it opens people’s eyes to see what people with developmental disabilities true capabilities are,” Fry said. “It goes along with our culture here. We want to be diverse and inclusive but we’ve never taken it to this level before.”

Andrew Carter is one of the interns who spends most of his day on the first floor of the hospital. As a part of the Environmental Services team, he empties wastebaskets and cleans patient rooms in the sleep lab.

His favorite task is cleaning in the security office. He loves talking to the security employees.

While pushing his cart and wearing a red polo, he greets his

coworkers as well as patients. “I say hello and have a

conversation with them,” said Andrew of his frequent chatter.

“I hope it makes them feel a whole lot better. I want to make them feel welcome.”

Andrew has volunteered before, but never for an extended period of time. He’s grateful to get to know his coworkers better and learn his way around the hospital.

Meet Andrew

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BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Winter 2013 27

Tyler Young is usually pushing around a cart called a “gondola,” collecting trash and then doing one of his favorite duties: putting it in the compactor.

“I love being able to pick up trash because it gives me a chance to be active,” said Tyler, who enjoys being on the move all day instead of in a classroom.

He gets to see many parts of the hospital, but the Birthplace is his favorite.

“It makes me feel happy, seeing patients hoping they get well soon, and seeing newborn babies being born makes me

all cheerful,” Tyler said. Tyler is also proud

of his Vocera (a mobile communication device used at Boone Hospital) skills, and he’s making new friends in the hospital.

“I’ve learned responsibility from picking up the trash and always being on the lookout for patients and obstacles,” said Tyler of his work experience.

He also works in Environmental Services and enjoys eating lunch and socializing with his coworkers. Tyler’s excited to begin his job hunt this spring.

Meet TylerNext StepThe STEP interns work closely with ACT Career Specialist Josef Felten to look for permanent employment after graduation.

“I didn’t know any of these students before they started. We’ve all watched since the fall. We’ve seen some of them become totally different kids,” said Felten with a smile.

During the year, they will learn how to interact with coworkers and supervisors. They continue to work on basic job-training skills that will give them an edge when it comes to career hunting.

Most of the STEP interns were shy when they first started at Boone. Morgan is proud of how interactive they have become and how involved they feel working at the hospital.

Both Morgan and Felten are excited to see the interns continue to progress through building their hands-on learning and job skills. By Shannon Whitney

Page 28: My Boone Health Winter 2013

it needs to go. Compared to medications taken by mouth, pumped medicine can be much more effective at lower doses as it completely bypasses the liver and kidney, which work to degrade drugs.

“With the pump, we are able to put a tiny bit of medicine directly into the spinal fluid and get unbelievable results,” Dr. Noble said.

Well over 100 patients have received pumps at Boone Hospital’s Pain Management Clinic.

In June, Teresa came back to Boone Hospital for a test injection of baclofen, a drug used to treat spasticity. Dr. Noble wanted to see how her body would respond.

Teresa said it was like a miracle — the spasms calmed and she could move her legs under her own power. She hadn’t been able to do that for months.

“It was the best day of my life,” she said. “I was able to move my legs without all the spasms.”

In July, Dr. Noble performed the surgery to implant the baclofen pump. It’s a small, round device on the left side of her lower abdomen. During checkup visits, Dr. Noble uses a wireless device to communicate with the pump and adjust her dosage.

The baclofen medication allowed her spasms to relax enough that she could participate in physical and occupational therapy at Boone Hospital.

With the help of the baclofen pump and therapy, another miracle happened: Teresa stood up. She hadn’t stood in years.

“It was wonderful. Words can’t even express it,” she said.

The success she’s seen through the Pain Management Clinic has helped Teresa begin to regain her mobility and independence. She was able to stand and get herself into the car for her daughter’s recent college graduation.

She’s now working with Dr. Noble to set more goals. She’d love to be able to go fishing again.

But the best change for Teresa has been getting her sleep back. Now, she has no problem getting a full eight hours each night.

“I never thought that I would ever get a good night’s sleep,” she said. “It’s wonderful just to have that back.”

28 Winter 2013 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

“It was the best day of my life. I was able to move my legs without all the spasms.” – Teresa Nichols

Dr. Noble andTeresa Nichols

discuss herpain pump.Calming

TheirTremorsPain Management ClinicHelps Patients FindRelief From Spasms

During the last few years sleep has been precious — and fleeting — for Teresa Nichols. Teresa suffers from leg spasms. The spasms

can be so strong that she often can’t sleep because her legs uncontrollably jerk around.

“I was only getting two to three hours of sleep at night,” she said. “It just took a lot away from me.”

This lasted for years. Teresa nearly became exasperated.

Losing her sleep was the last straw in a series of debilitating losses for Teresa. In 2006, she fell in her bathroom, causing spinal damage. She lost the ability to walk. Over time, she could no longer stand or even move her legs.

She tried medications and treatments advised at other facilities across mid-Missouri. Nothing helped.

She became more and more dependent on her daughters.

“I was at the point where I just wanted to give up,” she said.

Then she found help at Boone Hospital Center’s Pain Management Clinic.

In May 2012, Teresa came to the clinic and met Brad Noble, DO, a pain management specialist. It would be a life-changing visit.

“He’s my knight in shining armor,” Teresa said.

Dr. Noble thought Teresa could benefit from a medication pump implanted under her skin.

Pumps deliver pre-programmed amounts of medication directly to where

Learn moreboone.org/pain

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BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Winter 2013 29

“It’s the first time anybody’s ever said they can fix it.”– Stephen Bailey

Neck Spasms Fixed InstantlyThe caregivers at the Pain Management Clinic have a knack for approaching problems from a fresh angle.

When Stephen Bailey, 65, came in to consult with Dr. Noble about his back pain, he had one of his neck spasms. Stephen didn’t think twice; his neck twitched like it had been for about 45 years.

Dr. Noble saw it happen and asked, “May I put my hands on your neck and feel it as you spasm?”

Stephen shrugged. Why not? After feeling the movement, Dr. Noble

said, “We can fix that with a Botox shot.” Both Stephen and his wife, Starlyn,

laughed. He had seen many doctors, but none could help. They tried medications, but to no avail.

But after a Botox shot the twitching finally stopped. The Baileys still can hardly believe it.

“It’s the first time anybody’s ever said that they can fix it. Everyone else was trying to cover it up with drugs,” said Stephen.

His wife said sometimes, while she was driving, his neck would jerk and his head would hit the window so hard that the car would move back and forth.

Now, she says, “None at all.” Stephen explained the problem started

after getting thrown off his feet in many

explosions while serving in the army in Vietnam.

Since returning from Vietnam, Stephen has treated injuries in his back, neck and knees, along with a very severe case of post-traumatic stress disorder. He is thankful Dr. Noble was able to diagnose and treat his spasmodic torticollis.

“I couldn’t go to church or any place. I’d have to get up and leave,” Stephen said. “I’d have to leave in the middle of conversations, and it would throw me for a loop.”

Thanks to a shot every three months, Stephen can fish more easily from his house on the Lake of the Ozarks. By Jacob Luecke and Shannon Whitney

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30 Winter 2013 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

E da Wegener, 91, volunteered all of her life. She was a member of P.E.O. (a national women’s organization), led a Girl Scout

troop, served as PTA president, was active in the First Presbyterian Church of Mexico, delivered Meals on Wheels and volunteered at hospitals for many years.

After she suffered a severe brain aneurysm in November 2002, Wegener spent more than two months at Boone Hospital. When she got back home, she searched for a way to give back to the hospital that saved her life.

She remembered seeing a newborn baby in the hospital. It was wearing a sweet little cap. That’s when the light bulb went on.

“I thought, well gosh, I know how to knit. I could knit for them. So that is how I started and now I can’t seem to stop,” she tells with a laugh.

Helping With HatsEach day she spends some time working on her hats. Some days it’s 10 minutes, other days it’s a few hours. Usually Wegener finishes about 25 hats each month. In the past eight years, she’s knitted more than 3,000 hats for Boone Babies.

“I never thought I’d live to be the age I am,” Wegener said sweetly. “Apparently, someone has some work for me to do still. I can’t do many other things, but I can still knit.”

Wegener simply loves to help people. She bakes for the residents of her community on their birthdays and used to make jams and jellies to share. She also used to knit hats for the children at the Head Start in Mexico, Mo.

LagniappeWegener spent much of her adult life moving around the country with her late husband, who was an engineer, and their two daughters.

In Louisiana, she picked up a term that describes her work perfectly: lagniappe. It’s a Louisiana French term meaning “a little something extra.”

Simple GiftsVolunteer Has Knit More Than 3,000 Hats For Boone Babies

“I think the new mothers really enjoy something that the hospital gives,” she explained. “It’s kept me alive and going, just the idea that someone is appreciating what I’ve done.”

Those little, sentimental gestures live on in baby books and newborn photos for years to come.

“Oh, the parents love the hats. They just think they’re beautiful,” said Ann Douglas, nurse in the newborn nursery. “We love them, too. We really enjoy being able to hand them out.”

Knitting RootsWegener learned to knit when she was 3 years old. She grew up in Southwest England with two older sisters. Their father taught them all to knit warm stockings using meat skewers.

Over the years, Wegener has also learned to make sweaters, coats and hats. Her daughters remember their mother knitting some of their clothes.

Both her daughter, Susan Hazelwood, and friend Ellen McKenzie help Wegener with the hats each month.

Family StoriesAs the matriarch of the family, she loves to

tell stories, and her family has many. In her apartment, with the occasional interjection from her daughter, Carol, Wegener can remember all sorts of funny family anecdotes.

Her brain aneurysm is now one of those stories. From the way she tells it, you would have guessed it happened to someone else.

After feeling uneasy one morning, she went to the emergency room at Audrain Medical Center. Right away the physician on duty recognized what was going on and had Wegener airlifted to Boone Hospital Center.

Wegener still jokes about the helicopter ride, “I paid a lot of money for that ride, and I didn’t even get to see the scenery!”

Once at Boone, she went immediately into surgery. Her family was told she had a slim chance of survival. Wegener held on and surprised them all.

Now she is grateful for the care she received, even though she admits she was not always a cooperative patient.

Her daughter Carol is glad her mother is sharing her story and her talents.

“I’ve always wanted people to see Mom through my eyes. I’m so proud of her,” Carol said. “She does so much for so many people.” By Shannon Whitney

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Boone Hospital Center 1600 East BroadwayColumbia, Mo 65201573-815-8000

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