The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) needs your help as we CLICK for Babies. This campaign is to create awareness of the Period of PURPLE Crying to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome. Frustration with crying infants is the number one trigger for the shaking and abuse of an infant. The OSDH is recruiting crochet artists and knitters to help reach this year’s cap goal of 4,300 to spread Shaken Baby Syndrome prevention efforts across the state.
The Period of PURPLE Crying is a time when babies cry more than any other time in their life. It is important for parents to know that it is a normal and healthy part of infancy, that it is not their fault, and that it is not going to last forever. Currently, Oklahoma has 41 birthing hospitals participating in providing new mothers with The Period of PURPLE Crying DVD to educate them on normal crying patterns, how to cope with unsoothable crying, and the importance of never shaking a baby. Along with the DVD, in the months of November and December, each newborn will receive a purple baby cap as a reminder of the importance of never shaking a baby.
Volunteers are encouraged to knit or crochet newborn baby boy and girl caps of any shade of purple with soft, baby friendly yarn. The caps can have a variety of fun colors and patterns, as long as they are at least 50 percent purple and free of straps, strings or other potential choking hazards. Purple baby caps are accepted year-round. Only caps received by Oct. 1 will make it in this year’s hospital distribution.
Purple caps can be mailed to:
Oklahoma State Department of Health, ATTN: Maternal and Child Health, 1000 NE 10th St, Oklahoma City, Ok 73117-1299
To obtain patterns for caps, guidelines and “CLICK for Babies” campaign details, visit clickcampaign.health.ok.gov, or call Amy Terry at (405) 271-4471, or email amyt@health.ok.gov. Media inquiries should be directed to Cody McDonell at (405) 271-5601.
The Oklahoma Arts Council is seeking nominations for the 42nd Annual Governor’s Arts Awards through September 12. The awards recognize individuals and organizations whose contributions to the arts have had an impact in communities, schools, or across the state. The awards will be presented by the Governor during a special ceremony at the state Capitol in the spring.
Awards are presented in several categories:
The Governor’s Award – recognizes individuals for longtime leadership and significant contributions to the arts across Oklahoma.
Arts in Education Award – recognizes an individual, organization, school, educator or group for their outstanding leadership and service in the arts benefitting youth and/or arts in education.
Business in the Arts Award – recognizes businesses/corporations who exhibit outstanding support of the arts in Oklahoma. This award was created in memory of Earl Sneed, prominent arts advocate.
Community Service Award – recognizes individuals for significant contributions to the arts in specific Oklahoma communities in the areas of leadership and volunteerism.
Media in the Arts Award – recognizes an individual member in the media who demonstrates commitment to the arts in Oklahoma documented through public awareness support and fairness, initiative, creativity and professionalism in reporting. This award was created in memory of Bill Crawford, veteran professional journalist.
George Nigh Public Service in the Arts Award – recognizes an Oklahoma government official for outstanding support of the arts. The category was named in honor of former Oklahoma Governor George Nigh.
Nominees must be current residents of the State of Oklahoma and living in Oklahoma full time, or organizations/businesses that work in and for the benefit of Oklahoma. Previous recipients of The Governor’s Award are not eligible. Honorees will be selected by the Governor’s Arts Awards Selection Committee, which is comprised of members of the Governor-appointed Oklahoma Arts Council board and may include past Governor’s Award recipients.
An online nomination form and a downloadable nomination form are available at arts.ok.gov. Deadline for submissions is Tuesday, September 12, 2017.
Summer is heating up, and as temperatures rise, so does the risk of heat-related illness. Each year, approximately 620 people die from heat-related illness in the United States.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) reminds residents that heat-related illness can range from heat rash, heat cramps and heat exhaustion to hyperthermia (overheating) and heat stroke. Heat stroke occurs when the body is unable to cool itself sufficiently, and it often results in severe organ damage or even death.
It is important to recognize the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke and act quickly.
Heat Exhaustion
* Heavy sweating
* Weakness
* Cold, pale, clammy skin
* Fast, weak pulse
* Nausea or vomiting
* Fainting
* Muscle cramps
* Headache
* Feeling dizzy
Heat Stroke
* Body temperature of 103 degrees or higher
* Hot, red, dry or moist skin
* Rapid and strong pulse
* Headache
* Nausea
* Feeling confused
* Feeling dizzy
* Unconsciousness
A heat stroke is a medical emergency. If any signs are recognizable, call 911 immediately and move the person to a cooler environment. Reduce the person’s body temperature with cool cloths or even a bath.
The OSDH offers the following safety tips for preventing a heat-related illness: Stay indoors. Stay in an air-conditioned place. If your home is not air-conditioned, visit the mall or public library, or contact the local health department for the location of a heat-relief shelter in the area.
Stay hydrated. Increase your fluid intake to two to four glasses (16-32 ounces) of cool fluids every hour. If you are on water pills or restricted fluid limit, consult a physician first. Avoid liquids which contain alcohol or large amounts of sugar; they contribute to the loss of more body fluid. Very cold drinks can cause stomach cramps and should be avoided as well.
Dress appropriately. Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing as well as sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher and broad spectrum or UVA/UVB protection.
Closely monitor those who are more vulnerable. Infants, children, people older than 65 years of age, those with mental illness, outdoor workers, athletes and those with physical illnesses such as heart disease or high blood pressure should be closely observed.
Never leave anyone in a vehicle. Never leave anyone, especially children and the elderly, in a parked vehicle, even if the windows are cracked.
Pet therapy helps residents feel better emotionally and physically. Animals help lift a person’s mood and give them something to focus on outside of themselves. Residents who feel sick, lonely or depressed will often respond to an animal and offer genuine affection and unconditional love. The resident may smile, open their eyes, pet or talk to the animal.
Touching and interacting with animals can help lower a resident’s blood pressure and heart rate and provide stress relief. Residents who have regular visits with pets have longer life spans and suffer from less depression.
Animals increase sensory stimulation, inspire a sense of purpose and increase social interactions with the staff. Pets serve as a valuable conversation starter, and are useful in promoting visitation of children with the elderly. Residents tend to look forward to their visits. They enjoy hearing children tell about their pets.
How does pet therapy work? The animals are non-threatening and non-judgmental. They do not expect anything and there is no pressure on the resident to do or say anything. They accept and are open to whoever the person is and whatever that person needs.
Ombudsman volunteers visit nursing home residents weekly. For more information on the ombudsman program, contact ombudsman supervisors Patricia Shidler, Tonya VanScoyoc, Debra Burris, Eric Locke, or Erin Davis at Areawide Aging Agency at 1-405-942-8500. Group presentations and flexible training schedules are available.
The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry (ODAFF), in collaboration with Oklahoma State University, is continuing to recognize Significant Women in Oklahoma Agriculture. The initiative is designed to honor and recognize numerous women in agriculture across all 77 counties of the state, from all aspects and areas of the industry ranging from producers to educators, leaders to entrepreneurs, veterinarians to board members and many more.
“Our hope is to continue telling the stories of the countless women who give selflessly to this industry but don’t always receive an award,” said Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese. “This has been such a fun project for all of us in agriculture, learning of and reading the stories of these women and their contributions. We thank all of you who have sent in nominations.”
One honoree is recognized each week on ODAFF’s social media with a detailed biography of her “ag story.” Additionally, a press release acknowledging her selection is submitted to area newspapers. The benefit of using social media for recognition is the accessibility to most everyone and allows the archives to be accessed long after they were published.
“We encourage everyone to submit a nomination,” said Secretary Reese.
All nominations must be submitted online at http://okwomeninagandsmallbusiness.com/. Please submit nominations by September 30. A selection committee will continue the process of identifying nominees to be recognized as Oklahoma’s Significant Women in Agriculture.
St. Anthony Hospital is pleased to welcome Shoaib Ahmad, M.D., to St. Anthony Physicians Group Pulmonary Medicine.
Dr. Ahmad is board certified in pulmonary medicine. He earned his medical degree from Nishtar Medical College in Pakistan, and completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine, at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Dr. Ahmad’s office is located at 608 N.W. 9th St., Suite 3110, in Oklahoma City. To schedule an appointment please call 405-772-4400.
Dallas Curtis (left) and Michael Huggins have helped thousands of amputees find the right fit.
by Bobby Anderson, Staff Writer
If you get the right fit, then everything else will take care of itself.
It’s the driving motto at Patriot Prosthetics in Yukon where Dallas Curtis and Michael and Michele Huggins have literally given thousands of Oklahomans a new lease on life.
In any given year, Oklahoma ranks either first or second nationally in the number of amputations.
There’s a host of health reasons behind it but what’s left every time is a person facing one of the most emotionally and physically draining experiences of their life.
That’s where Patriot comes in.
The pieces of steel, plastic and carbon fiber Huggins and Curtis create aren’t just works of art but art that truly works.
“They become one with the patient,” said Huggins, whose father had a prosthetic clinic on Oklahoma City’s south side for 16 years. “After awhile it becomes them so you take it and you work with it just like that. This is part of this patient so you carry it and work with that in mind.”
THE RIGHT FIT
Huggins knows that every prosthetic clinic in America orders parts from the same handful of manufacturers.
In that respect, most shops are the same.
But what Huggins and Curtis pride themselves on is taking the extra time to ensure the right fit.
“No matter what we put on underneath that socket it doesn’t matter,” Curtis said. “If the fit’s not good who cares if you have microprocessor-controlled knees or power ankle and feet systems. There’s so much technology out there now in our field it’s ridiculous, but it’s how you apply it.”
Growing up, prosthetics was close to home for Huggins.
He was around 10 when his father lost his leg above the knee following a car accident.
He watched his dad literally learn to walk again and often times regrets having to do so.
He saw the look on his dad’s face most mornings before he had to strap on the 16-pound apparatus that was allegedly his new leg.
After years of fit issues and being told ‘that’s the best we can do’ his father compressed four years of school into two before teaming with the legendary Ray Buddin – a below-the-knee amputee.
THE PROCESS
Patriot offers mobile, on-site, care for many of its patients. Staff can team up with your physician, therapist, or other healthcare provider to coordinate appointments near you or at your home.
Huggins says clients appreciate not having to spend the day driving across Oklahoma City for a single visit while many still enjoy coming to Patriot’s Yukon office.
The steps taken to be fit with a prosthesis or orthotic device vary from patient to patient. Commonly, patients are referred by a physician or therapist early in the healing process for an initial free evaluation to discuss their needs in detail.
Measurements and/or a casting may also occur during this initial visit.
It was while playing football at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Curtis found his way into the world or prosthetics.
While spearheading several community service programs with NSU athletes he literally uncovered his niche.
Spending time with a nursing home resident one day, Curtis saw a man come in, raise the man’s pant leg and uncover a prosthetic limb.
“I didn’t even know he was an amputee. He functioned really well,” Curtis said. “I had no idea until that prosthetist showed up. I was just hanging out, chatting and playing checkers.”
A new major followed for Curtis as did a career as a prosthetist.
“Back then everybody wanted it covered,” Curtis said of the stigma amputees carried. “Everybody wanted to disguise it as much as possible.”
Before opening Patriot, Curtis was the prosthetic supervisor at the Oklahoma City VA Health Care System.
Now he and Huggins have become the go-to clinic for those who have been told “that’s the best we can do.”
Huggins said the rule has and always should be “if it hurts then something’s wrong.”
THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGY
“The function of this is unbelievable,” Curtis said, holding a microprocessor prosthetic knee that has bluetooth connectability.
After fitting a client with the technology Curtis can connect wirelessly via his laptop and make a host of adjustments to match the client’s natural gait.
Patients are taught how to reprogram the joint for different activities through their smart phone.
Carbon technology allows energy to be returned to the client through rebound technology on some prosthetics.
But technology isn’t their passion.
“This stuff is not about us. This is about the amputee,” Huggins said. “We play a small part by casting and knowing how to modify and make that socket work throughout the day. The amputee takes it and does the rest.
“I don’t feel like I can take credit for a lot of what they do. That’s up to them.”
Mother/daughter duo Karen Jobe and Stacy Jobe Lea have built the Indie Trunk Show into a crafting success.
story and photo by Bobby Anderson, Staff Writer
A mother and daughter’s leisurely stroll through a craft fair has turned into a unique opportunity for thousands of Oklahoma craft lovers and businesses alike.
Karen Jobe had crafted all through her daughter’s childhood before finally getting her to join in on the fun.
A few years back, they found themselves at a craft show one day talking to each other like mothers and daughters often do.
“We were telling each other what we would do differently because it wasn’t like the best one,” Jobe said. “We decided we were on the wrong side of this and we could do this really well. That’s basically how we started.
“We decided we would go big or go home.”
Going big has turned into the Indie Trunk Show, which has grown to more than 200 Oklahoma vendors and 2,500 in average attendance, the largest and only one of its kind in the state.
Daughter Stacy, a former financial analyst in the natural gas industry, and Karen, a former Reading Specialist, have found their niche promoting local artisans.
The duo rented the smallest building they could at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in 2014. Eighty-five vendors showed up for the inaugural event with a waiting list for more.
Bigger and bigger buildings were rented at the fairgrounds until a lease was finally inked on the 71,000-square foot building known as The Pavilion.
“We made it and we never really intended on getting outside of Oklahoma City but some of our vendors who started with us and have done every show with us felt like they had good exposure in OKC and asked us to do August,” Jobe said.
Eight Oklahoma City Shows and two Tulsa shows have been held to date.
The duo will debut a new offering on September 24 with the Indie Bride Bridal Show and Market at OKC Farmer’s Market.
Florists, wedding favors, calligraphers, wedding decor, bridal party wear, bakeries, jewelry, photographers, gifts for the bridal party, dress makers/designers, stationary, rentals, musicians, caterers, and more expected.
There will be samples from wedding caterers and even a cash bar.
Food trucks are also expected.
“We are different,” Jobe said of the Indie Trunk Show.. “We don’t have to try really hard. It’s hard to explain how we’re different but when people walk into our show they totally get it.”
Along the way, Stacy had a child while working as a financial analyst with OG&E.
The Indie Trunk show has allowed her to stay home and raise her son.
“That’s the best thing in the world,” Jobe said. “We both have our strengths and we work together well. Since we are mother and daughter we know what the other thinks. There’s a trust there that I don’t think you can have with another person unless you’re related like we are.”
The rules are simple: you have to be from Oklahoma and you have to be independently owned to get into the Indie Trunk Show..
“There’s a lot of different kinds of shows. There’s lots of junk and vintage and we found a huge group of people who don’t really feel like … that’s not their target audience.”
Shopping local and shopping with independent business has always been the driving force behind the Indie Trunk shows.
More than 200 vendors showed up when the Indie Trunk Show resurfaced in Oklahoma City in June.
The success has spawned opportunities for workshops to teach others how to market themselves and their products. This September the Indie Girl Boss Workshop Retreat will spring up in downtown Oklahoma City. Topics ranging from visual merchandising to Social Media for Creative Businesses are scheduled to be covered.
Karen and Stacy will cover several topics as will guest speakers.
“The thing we want people to know is that everyone there is an independent business and that’s how they’re making a living,” Jobe said of the shows. “We have so many vendors that everything they have is hand-made, one-of-a-kind and we have the boutique shopping.
“You can buy every kind of gift or anything for yourself you can possible find and it’s all in one place. There’s very few places where you can go and do that.”
And few places with a mother and daughter can bond so well.
Left to Right: Nikki Buckelew, Rex Lawrence - Spanish Cove resident, Carolyn Merritt - Spanish Cove resident, Jill Huff - Spanish Cove, Julie Davis - Concordia, Harriette Boatright - Concordia resident, Chris Buckelew.
There is no guidebook or manual covering all the complexities associated with getting older. The self-help section of every bookstore boasts several topics ranging from helping aging parents and financing retirement, to health and wellness advice or dealing with those ever returning boomerang kids, but there is no one-size-fits-all model for aging successfully.
It is with this in mind that Nikki and Chris Buckelew and their real estate team’s mature moves division launched the “Senior Living Truth Series” back in 2016. The series includes a monthly educational program made up of seminars and expert panels dealing with topics important to mature homeowners.
“Because our team specializes in helping people who have lived in the same home for many years, we field questions daily on a range of topics. It’s important to be aligned with highly competent professionals we can recommend,” says Nikki Buckelew. “We introduce seminar attendees to these professionals through our expert panels.”
Seminar attendees are often either looking ahead to prepare for their own post-retirement lifestyle or are caring for an aging relative or friend. They are seeking answers to questions like what types of 55+ housing options are available, where to get support, how to pay for long-term care needs, ways to simplify and de-clutter, and more.
“Our attendees are smart people and when they have the resources they need, they feel more capable of making decisions. We all feel that way and that’s why we developed the series,” adds Buckelew.
Those attracted to the seminars appreciate the professional and organized fashion in which the seminars are delivered.
“The seminars are well-organized and well presented,” said Frank Andrews, a retired corporate trainer.
Frank and Carol are familiar faces at the truth series events and began attending after seeing an article in the paper.
“It’s about learning that you have to plan early and about understanding what you need and what you don’t,” added Carol. Jennifer Forrester, Community Relations Director with Oklahoma Hospice Care, a regular sponsor of the event, said the series has a way of helping people deal with the hard questions a lot of people tend to avoid.
“Nikki is the only Realtor I know who has a background in both counseling and gerontology, and as the moderator she has a way of taking hard topics and making them lighter and easier to talk about,” Forrester said. “She just says it like it is and doesn’t apologize for it.”
The Buckelews and their specialized team have made it their personal and professional mission to educate and guide consumers about best practices related to post-retirement living.
“People are doing the best they can and credible information is hard to find. Our attendees tell us they appreciate meeting local people with whom they can have a personal conversation without feeling pressured or rushed,” says Chris Buckelew.
James and Joan DonDero began attending the seminars a year ago.
“We attend frequently and chose to meet with the Buckelews personally to talk about downsizing in the future. It was just what they said – no pressure and no sales pitch,” said James.
The seminars serve to empower, equip, and educate by providing information to help people think about what their next steps might be and the timing to begin taking them.
“Going to the seminars helped us realize we had some things to think through,” added Joan.
The next event is titled “The Truth About Successfully Aging in Place” on July 13th from 10:00am – 11:30am and from 2pm – 3:30pm. The morning event has reached capacity and reservations are being accepted for the afternoon event.
“We know that people prefer to remain in their own homes and neighborhoods for as long as possible. The challenge is many have not prepared and need information on best practices for ‘staying put’,” Buckelew said.
The August event is titled “The Truth About De-cluttering Your Home.” With morning and afternoon sessions starting at 10am and 2pm.
Events are held at the MAPS3 Senior Health & Wellness Center located at 11501 N Rockwell in Oklahoma City. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Admission is free for those 55 or older and their guests. Professionals pay $25. Go to www.seniorlivingtruthseries.com or call 405-563-7501 to register.
