For the first time in 50 years, Mercy will welcome new life and care for women in a new women’s center on the campus of Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City. The Love Family Women’s Center opened April 7, offering a host of new services for families and women of all ages.
Nearly half, or $43 million, of the $98 million project was funded by philanthropy, including a $10 million donation from the Tom and Judy Love family, making Mercy’s decade-long dream a reality.
The hospital’s labor and delivery and postpartum services have been at capacity for years, limiting Mercy’s ability to serve more patients. The Love Family Women’s Center has 15 large labor and delivery rooms, seven antepartum rooms, 47 postpartum rooms and three cesarean section rooms with pre- and post-operative recovery rooms. The additional space allows Mercy to increase from 4,000 to 6,000 births annually.
An obstetrics emergency department staffed by obstetricians who can address urgent pregnancy-related concerns will be open 24/7. This ER is the first of its kind in Oklahoma City.
“Pregnancy is such a vulnerable time for women. We know those sudden onset symptoms can be scary, and patients want to be seen quickly to be sure mom and baby are okay,” said Dr. Tori O’Daniel, obstetrician hospitalist and chair of obstetrics and gynecology Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City. “Our obstetrics ER will be there to provide immediate access for patients who are at least 20 weeks pregnant or up to six weeks postpartum. Patients are seen by obstetrician hospitalists who are physician experts in pregnancy, giving them peace of mind.”
The state’s first hospital-based low intervention birth unit is also located on the first floor of the Love Family Women’s Center. This unique space has four large labor and delivery suites, each with a queen-size bed and labor tub. Care for mom and baby will be led by a Mercy certified nurse midwife in a space designed to give families a natural, home-like experience just steps away from a higher level of care in the event of an emergency.
The center connects to the hospital via a sky bridge. This allows moms of babies needing a higher level of care to have quick, direct elevator access to Mercy’s neonatal intensive care unit on the fifth floor.
“The work we do is truly sacred, and the Love Family Women’s Center is such a special place to serve families,” said Laura Beck, Mercy’s executive director of nursing for women and infant services. “Our physicians and nurses helped design this building based on what is best for patients. Our teams have been working to develop programs and processes to best serve families and provide a safe, warm, welcoming and comfortable experience they’ll feel when they walk in the door.”
The center also houses outpatient services for women including appointments with lactation experts and a midwifery clinic where Mercy’s certified nurse midwives will provide care from pre-conception to early pregnancy, prenatal health, delivery and beyond.
An outpatient pelvic floor therapy department staffed by highly trained female physical therapists is also located on the first floor. The clinic has a therapy gym and four private consultation rooms to serve women of all ages and stages experiencing pelvic pain, urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, chronic constipation and more.
The center, the result of the largest fundraising campaign in Mercy’s history, has been made possible by a long list of generous donors who funded nearly half of the project. In addition to the lead donation from the Love family, campaign co-chairs Judy Love and Cathy Keating led the way in raising more than $33 million additional dollars for a donation total of $43.5 million.
“This campaign was led by women, for generations of women to come and there could be no better campaign co-chairs than Judy Love and Cathy Keating,” said Lori Cummins, vice president of Mercy Health Foundation communities. “They took this project head on just three months before a worldwide pandemic brought economic uncertainty, but it didn’t stop the enormous outpouring of support from our community and beyond. We could not be more grateful.”

Like with homeowners insurance, the cost of car insurance has steadily increased over the past few years. We at the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) understand the frustration Oklahomans experience when they see higher coverage costs. Remember some factors that determine premiums, such as your age and location, cannot be changed. However, there are still things you can do to lower the amount on your insurance bill. This month, I want to share some tips and information on how you can save money on car insurance.
Shop around.
This is the biggest advice I can give anyone unhappy with their current coverage or looking for coverage. It can be time-consuming, but it can save you hundreds of dollars annually. Get multiple quotes from different insurance companies to see who can offer the coverage you need at the right price. Also, keep in mind that you do not have to do this by yourself. Talk to an independent agent who can get you multiple estimates and review coverage options with you. It’s important always to research companies and see what quality of service they provide and to see if they have an extensive history of complaints because cheaper coverage might come with higher costs in other areas.
Adjust your coverage to meet your needs.
I want to preface this by saying your coverage should meet your needs. In Oklahoma, you must by law carry bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need additional coverage. It’s better to have more coverage than to be underinsured. Go through your policy with your agent to see what you need and what you can reduce or change. If you have no claims and don’t drive much, increasing your deductible can save you hundreds a year. If your vehicle is older and your premium is a considerable portion of its value, check to see if you still need to maintain collision and comprehensive coverages, and consider moving to liability-only coverage.
Check out discounts.
Contact your insurance company to see which discounts are available to you. Small discounts can add up and make a difference with your premium. The discounts vary from company to company, but you might be eligible for discounts for safe driving, low mileage, paperless billing, or having anti-theft devices, to name a few. Some companies offer good student discounts, which are helpful if you have a teen driver on your policy, and military discounts for active duty or retired service members. Bundling your auto policy with your homeowners or renters policy can also help you save.
Maintain a good driving record.
Accidents and tickets for careless or reckless driving will cause your insurance premiums to increase, but having a clear driving history can go a long way in helping to reduce costs. In Oklahoma, insurance companies can look at the past three years of your driving record to help determine premiums. Some companies offer discounts for taking defensive driving courses. Similarly, if you’re a cautious driver, many insurance companies have telematics programs where they track your driving via a small device in your car, which can result in lower costs.
Determine if minor damage is worth filing a claim.
If you are involved in an accident with another driver, you must submit a collision report and begin the process of filing a claim. However, if you have minor damage that doesn’t involve another vehicle or driver, like scrapes or dings, it may be in your best interest not to file a claim if you can weather it from a financial standpoint. Still, we recommend getting an estimate before deciding to file a claim for minor damage because, in some cases, what might seem minor could be more extensive or expensive, especially as automakers outfit vehicles with the latest technology.
Car insurance costs have increased over the past several years, but that doesn’t mean you can’t save money. Being an informed shopper and taking an active role in your insurance needs can help reduce your costs by hundreds of dollars. Don’t forget that OID is here to help. If you have any questions about car insurance, contact us at 800-522-0071 or online at oid.ok.gov. Additionally, I recommend checking out our Insurance Basics and Auto Insurance Common Myths pages for helpful information.

The Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) recently issued a Cease-and-Desist Order against First Premier Home Warranty Corp. for unauthorized sale of home warranty contracts in Oklahoma. Effective immediately, the company is required to halt all sales activities in the state. The OID emphasizes that any entity offering home warranty contracts to Oklahoma consumers must hold proper authorization from the Oklahoma Insurance Department.
Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready highlighted the importance of consumer protections stating, “Oklahoma consumers rely on home warranty companies to provide essential coverage. Our licensing protocols are designed to safeguard consumers and uphold ethical standards. When companies fail to adhere to these standards, we take swift action to protect consumers.”
The OID initiated an investigation following complaints from consumers regarding the sale of unlicensed home warranty plans in Oklahoma. Consumers are urged to verify the licensing status of any company before purchasing a policy. Suspected instances of fraud should be reported to the OID at 800-522-0071.

Story and photo by Van Mitchell, Staff Writer

Nerve Renewal continues to spread its footprint across Oklahoma with a new location in Edmond, located at 3520 South Boulevard, Suite 100.
Hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Mark Cope, community relations liaison for Nerve Renewal, said their Edmond location was added to address a growing metro patient base.
“We have five locations now,” he said. “We’ve got one in northwest Oklahoma City, southwest, Oklahoma City, Norman and Midwest City, and now Edmond. Shawnee is coming online hopefully by the end of next month, Broken Arrow is soon to follow with plans also in Stillwater, and Bartlesville. People with neuropathy are in pain a lot of the time and they don’t want to travel very far. We’re really trying to get within 20-30 minutes of everyone we can.”
Glenn Cope, co-founder and Vice-President of Nerve Renewal said the Edmond location opened last December, and has seen a steady growth of patients.
“I think they’re almost at full capacity already after only being open for four months,” he said. “A lot of these people are in pain, a few of them are driving themselves and they just don’t have the tolerance for long trips.”
Nerve Renewal’s mission is to help Oklahomans renew their quality of life through innovative nerve pain treatments that provide safe and effective relief so that their patients reclaim their joy, mobility, and freedom.
An estimated 20 million Americans are living with chronic pain or numbness due to neuropathy and nerve damage.
Nerve Renewal treatments are FDA-cleared and use a drug-free treatment which involves electrical stimulation combined with a vitamin B-12 complex nutrient blend that helps reduce neuropathy-related nerve pain and does not require recovery time after treatment.
80 percent of patients experience a long-term reduction in pain without surgery or medication through the use of proven electrical stimulation treatments.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held March 18 at the Edmond location, and was attended by members of the Edmond Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Darrell Davis, and others.
During that ceremony, Jimmy Steele, co-founder and Director of Patient Growth at Nerve Renewal, told attendees the types of patients Nerve Renewal treats.
“Does anybody know anybody that has diabetes? Does anybody know anybody that’s undergone chemotherapy treatment,” Steele asked attendees. “That’s what we typically help. When you are going through those things, you’re experiencing nerve pain, incredible amounts of pain.”
Steele said for most people experiencing that pain, they think medications are their only option.
“For most people, the only solution that they know for that is a medication like Gabapentin or Lyrica,” he said. “And if you’ve ever had it, if you know anybody that’s been on it that’s kind of experiencing life in a fog, it’s not exactly the best experience. But if you’re in pain, there are very few other options. What makes us different is that we are that other option. There is no medication, there are no surgical implants. It’s a treatment and relief from pain. And for patients who are experiencing a lot of numbness as well in their hands and their feet, they get to regain that feeling. That’s our big thing. That’s who we serve.”
Latrica Dorsey, Supervisory Nurse Practitioner, told attendees that Nerve Renewal does more than just improve a patient’s quality of life.
“The big thing with our clinics is more just improving the quality of life of people. We have a lot of patients that come in here just for chronic pain, or a lot of nerve damage, but it can be from anything,” she said. “I mean, our goal is to make sure that their quality of life is improving. And, over time when they come to these treatments, we hear stories, oh, I can walk better. Oh, I can stand up longer. These are things that we’re looking for in the community. And we’re hoping that we can give more people to come in and experience what we’re actually giving to the patients that come here so they can understand that. You don’t have to be in pain, you don’t have to have this medication.”
Mayor Darrell Davis said Edmond welcomes Nerve Renewal to town.
“I’m glad you’re here,” he said. “I’m glad you’re bringing this option to our community. I’m glad you’re here. You’re on one of the busiest streets (in Edmond), so the (Edmond) Chamber’s going to do a great job at getting your message out.

For more information about the Edmond location call (405) 754-4005 or visit https://nerverenewalnow.com/neuropathy-clinics/edmond.

Story and photo by Van Mitchell, Staff Writer

Don Conry and his sister Kathleen Conry have both been involved in serving others, but had done so from different cities.
Don, 80, had been involved with Mobile Meals in Dallas, and Kathleen, 77, was involved with her church in Manhattan, New York.
For the past three months, the siblings teamed together to serve meals for the Logan County Council on Aging in Guthrie.
Logan County Council on Aging is a non-profit organization that assists the Logan County Aging Service with funds for home-bound meals and bus purchases for its transportation program.
“I was involved in the Meals on Wheels in Dallas, not as much as I am today, but one or two times a week for maybe half a year,” Don said. “And when we moved up here to Guthrie, I would always bring my dog over here to Highland Park to walk. One day I saw the (Logan County Council on Aging) building and I came in and I found out they were doing Meals on Wheels. And I said, “Do you need any help? They said, “Yes, can you come one day a week?” Now, I do it five days a week because they’re really hurting for volunteers.”
Kathleen added “I’m a member of a church there, which is where I started doing a lot of volunteer work through our winter clothing closet and other kinds of missions for people in Manhattan. When Don and (wife) Lawana moved here, it was the obvious place to come visit when I got tired of New York. So, that’s happened a few times, and I’ve been here for three months this stint. That’s why we teamed up to do the weekly runs to all of our clients here for Logan County Council on Aging, which is great.”
Kathleen and Don grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where their father was a surgeon and an obstetrician, and their mother was a tap dancer. Their parents had five children.
“They met under extraordinary circumstances in Nebraska,” Kathleen said. “He was from Iowa; she was from Cleveland. She happened to be there and he happened to be going to medical school. There was this terrible accident. My mother was in the hospital and he was the attending surgeon in the ER. That’s how they met, fell in love, and nature took over.”
Don graduated college from Miami of Ohio with a business degree. He was also a member of the Navy ROTC. He is a Vietnam War veteran.
“I got a commission when I graduated and went back to Cleveland after I got out of college,” he said. “I got my orders, and they shipped me over to the Philippines, and got aboard my ship off the coast of Vietnam. I was in the Vietnam War (serving) in communications.”
After the war, Don returned to Cleveland, and got a job with Polaroid Corporation, where he worked for 15 years. His first posting was in Oklahoma City.
“This was my first job assignment. They sent me to be the Polaroid rep for the whole state of Oklahoma, and the panhandle of Texas, and a little bit of Arkansas,” he said. “I was the Polaroid rep here for five years, and married my wife, Lawana, who’s from Ardmore. And, then when I was transferred to Dallas. We lived for about 49 years in the same house in Plano, Texas.”
Don and his wife moved to Guthrie to be closer to their niece and her family.
“About four years ago, we found a house here that we liked,” he said. “We have a niece named Robin who has lived here for about seven or eight years, and she always wanted us to move up. We wanted to have a relative that could be close to us as we get older.”
Kathleen graduated from high school in 1966. She said her parents instilled the importance of music/theater in their children.
“I sort of got the mantle,” she said. “I went to ballet class when I was five. Tap class, jazz class, piano lessons. Don is a really good pianist. We have a lot of musical background.”
Kathleen said the allure of theater moved her to New York City.
“By the time I graduated from high school, I didn’t consider myself a good enough student to last through college, but I knew I had enough experience and had skills, I had a skill set for musical theater to go to Broadway,” she said. “I moved to New York in 1966 and I was on Broadway in 1968, did two Broadway shows, and hundreds of other shows. I then became a choreographer and a director. I retired 14 years ago. I still live in New York City. I have stayed in theater my whole life, even in retirement, I stay involved by doing a lot of mentoring.”
Kathleen and Don grew up in a Cleveland neighborhood called Clifton Park, that included residents Vernon Stouffer, owner of Stouffer’s, and members of the Glidden (Paint) family.
The siblings later moved to an upscale apartment complex called “the Winton Place,” where one of their neighbors was George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees.
“He was always extremely kind and just gracious,” Kathleen said.
Don and Kathleen said that they are doing more than just delivering meals. They are helping others, which is a lesson they learned from their parents.
“This is a wonderful ministry,” Don said. “So many people need help and they need to engage with somebody every day. Kathy and I do more than just delivering meals. We meet people that have needs, and we try to help them.”
Kathleen concurred.
“I think we learned from our parents post-World War II and being raised in an upper middle class neighborhood that you can’t just enjoy success. If you have any kind of good health, monetary success or career success, you have to give back. If you don’t give back, it’s kind of a waste of your energy.”

By Marilyn Olson, Executive Director, VillagesOKC

VillagesOKC is inviting adults of all ages to join them in a fundraiser at Topgolf Oklahoma City, a premier entertainment destination in the metro. The event will be on April 18 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm at 13313 Pawnee Dr.
“This is more than just your average golf tournament,” said Amy Shirola, VillagesOKC Administration and Finance Director. “It’s a great way to get together with friends and raise money for VillagesOKC.
We are a 501c3 nonprofit, and 80% of our operating budget is from donations. We want to continue giving stellar educational opportunities with great speakers, consulting with those who are in the middle of a major life transition or crisis, and connecting the 50+ population in the Oklahoma City metro with valuable resources.”
Cost is a $100 each for a six-person team; single-player registration is $125. Dinner is included. There will be a raffle going on all evening for great prizes and a Hole-In-One Contest where players can take a shot at a hole-in-1 for $10,000.
Shirola said there are sponsor opportunities also. Sponsorships range from $500 to $15,000.
“There are six sponsorship levels to choose from with various promotional opportunities,” she said. “Whether you choose to be a Putter Sponsor or Hole-in-One Sponsor, we sincerely appreciate your sponsorship of our Topgolf tournament.”
In 2023, VillagesOKC made 2,507 connections at its events for older adults. The goal is to increase that number significantly in 2024.
“Join us for a night out with friends and a delicious dinner while supporting our mission of empowering adults to age with vitality and purpose,” Shirola said.
Registration and sponsorship details are available at
https://villagesokc.org/top-golf-tournament/ or by calling (405) 990-6637.
Topgolf showcases a dartboard type driving range with golf balls that are tracked electronically and a scorecard that is updated automatically. Concentric circles mark the score for the session, and closer to the bulls-eye gets a higher score.
The fundraiser will use Top Contender Game Play rules. Here is how the Topgolf website describes this play:
• Choose 8 or 12 shots per player. Players rotate every 4 shots.
• Hit the glowing targets for double points.
• Aim closer to the center of each target for maximum points.
• Hit the glowing target that is furthest in the distance for maximum points.

“Get a hole-in-1 while you are playing Top Contender, and you can go home with up to $750 cash,” Shirola said. “The winning team will take home a cash prize.”

Visit: https://villagesokc.org/

By Nick Thomas

The 15th Turner Classic Movies Film Festival is scheduled for April 18-21, in Hollywood. Canceled for a couple of years due to the pandemic, no one was more pleased to attend the festival when it resumed in person two years ago than actress Diane Baker, a popular guest at many of the past festivals.
“I love them!” said Baker from Los Angeles, who noted that the 2020 and 2021 events had been held virtually.
The five current TCM hosts (Ben Mankiewicz, Alicia Malone, Dave Karger, Eddie Muller, and Jacqueline Stewart) will be on hand to introduce dozens of movies during the four-day event as the classic film community rallies around this year’s “Most Wanted: Crime and Justice in Film.” festival theme (see www.filmfestival.tcm.com).
A prolific film and television actor, producer, and college teacher, Baker remembers when the TCM cable channel came into existence 30 years ago this month and its first host.
“I was there the night of the announcement at the Writer’s Guild Theater in Los Angeles,” she recalled. “Roger Mayer (the late Columbia Pictures, MGM, and Turner former executive) came on stage to announce Turner Classic Movies was going to be launched and with no commercials, and that Robert Osborne (1932-2017) would be the new full-time host.”
During his subsequent two decades with the channel, Osborne became the beloved public face of TCM due to his genial on-screen nature, mellow comforting voice, and encyclopedic knowledge of the entertainment industry.
“I’d known Robert since I was 19 years old,” said Baker. “He studied journalism at the University of Washington but came to LA to try acting and lived in the neighborhood where I was growing up – Sherman Oaks.”
When attempting to secure her first Hollywood contract, Baker even read audition scenes with Osborne.
“I was offered a contract and he was not!” said Baker, who signed with Twentieth Century Fox and soon began filming her first feature, 1959’s emotionally charged “The Diary of Anne Frank.” Osborne, she says, accompanied her to the premiere.
Filmed almost entirely on a cramped stage setting to reproduce the confined attic where the Frank family hid for two years during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, Baker still vividly recalls her role as Anne’s sister, Margot, seven decades earlier.
“Mr. Stevens (director) wanted us to be there most of the time even if we weren’t in the scene because it was claustrophobic and he wanted that feeling of being a family closed off,” she recalled. “He was very kind and gentle with us newcomers (and) used to give me little peppermint candies so I would be confident and less nervous before a scene. I’ll never forget getting a beautiful box of yellow roses when the filming ended, from Mr. Stevens.”
She also recalls the last time she met with Osborne. “We stayed friends until he passed away and I saw him in his apartment just two weeks before. He was in a wheelchair, and we just talked and talked. I’ve always been involved with TCM and Robert was their rockstar.”
Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery in Alabama and writes features, columns, and interviews for newspapers and magazines around the country. See https://www.getnickt.org.

The OKC VAHCS relaunched the Medical Foster Home (MFH) program in 2023. The MFH program partners with caregivers in the community who are interested in welcoming Veterans to live with them in their private, residential home. The caregiver provides 24-hour care to the Veteran, who otherwise is no longer able to live independently in their own home.
The first MFH opened in October 2023, appropriately called House of Heroes. This home is now serving all female Veterans and providing these women a safe home with 24-hour care and without it, they may have otherwise been forced to transition into an institutional setting.
“What is beautiful about this House of Heroes home is that women from different life experiences and backgrounds have come together to support one another and because of this, our Veterans are being cared for in the most honorable way,” said Lindsey Altmiller-Hester, OKC VAHCS Medical Foster Home Coordinator. “Seeing our Veterans thrive in a home, enjoying things that are important to them, and having their needs met, that is why I do this.”
The first home consists of an all women team of Caregivers, they support the other Caregivers in the program by providing various health care support services to team members and all are working together to serve our Veterans who served. Often female Veterans can feel overlooked and put into situations and programs in-between male Veterans. This unique all-female home provides a place to feel comfortable, thrive and their healthcare needs are molded to their unique challenges.
The House of Heroes has cared for a Veteran that was once sleeping on the streets and is now thriving in their own bedroom and enjoying being supported by someone who cares about their wellbeing, has compassion and empathy to their situation. These Veterans’ health care needs are supported by the OKC VAHCS Home Based Primary Care (HBPC).
HBPC is a unique program that brings primary care to a Veteran in their home, including the MFH.
“It has been really rewarding to watch her transformation as she is getting the care she needs, the follow-up and continuity of care she needs” said Dr. Calli Landes, APRN. “She has this whole village of people in the MFH and with HBPC caring for her health and mental health. I think it helps her relax and feel safe and cared for.”
Dr. Landes shared that Veteran’s and families are often thankful for the care they receive in HBPC. HBPC is truly carrying out President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors. MFH and HBPC is a unique partnership to provide care for these Veterans.
“As coordinator of this program, we have an obligation to find the right match. The MFH Coordinator finds a caregiver, either male or female, in the community who is willing to take a Veteran into their private/residential home, provide 24-hour supervision, and as needed, personal assistance with day-to-day tasks. MFH follows CRC requirements for oversight, recruitment, and inspection of these homes that we are placing our Veterans.” Altmiller-Hester said, “These factors facilitate matching suitable MFHs with the greater complexity of these Veterans, achieving safe and therapeutic care in a small personal home setting. MFH provides an alternative to a nursing home, in a person’s home and a benefit is that it is at less than half the cost of institutional care.”
OKC VA HCS has sites in both OKC and Lawton and seeking caregivers who may be interested in welcoming a Veteran to live with them and provide that Veteran with 24-hour care. With an emphasis on supporting our Veterans in their communities, OKC VA is moving forward and aggressively seeking homes willing to foster our aging Veterans during this stage in their lives. This program aligns with the VA Secretary McDonough’s support for home care options for aging Veterans and OKC VA has relaunched this project to support this initiative and give qualified Veterans options to traditional nursing homes.
Interested caregivers can call the OKC VA MFH coordinator at 405-456-5484 or 405-208-9498 or email [email protected].
For more information about geriatrics and extended care, please click the link below or visit the VA website
https://www.va.gov/geriatrics/ or visit https://www.va.gov/.