Macaroni “Mackee”, a 10-year-old Dalmatian therapy dog, walks close by owner Jane Neely and settles on the floor surrounded by children and books at the Midwest City Library.
After a little girl reads a book to Jane, while showing pictures to Mackee, a young boy comes in near the spotted dog and begins reading a book about cougars.
“Children are so open. They just sit down without any inhibitions and pet Mackee or read to him,” said Jane, a Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Central Oklahoma volunteer since 2005. “Sometimes they read to me and sometimes they like me to help them with their reading. Mackee is patient and just loves the kids.”
Jane is an active member of Therapy Dogs International, the leader in training and certifying therapy dogs, and Mackee is a certified therapy dog. She has had a love of Dalmatians for years, having owned nine. When she first began volunteering with RSVP, she gave her time delivering meals, but the love she has for her dogs and sharing them with others blossomed into a new volunteer opportunity reading to children at libraries and visiting nursing homes, where sometimes Mackee performs tricks for the residents.
Laura McPheeters, RSVP of Central Oklahoma volunteer coordinator, said that Jane’s dog is an icebreaker and comfort to children and the elderly, and that people feel no judgment and feel unconditionally supported by the dogs almost instantaneously.
“I think it’s fun to be a volunteer with RSVP and share my dog with people,” Jane said. “Dogs are born to love.”
Since 1973, RSVP of Central Oklahoma has helped senior adults continue to live with purpose and meaning by connecting them with rewarding community volunteer opportunities, including RSVP’s Provide-A-Ride Senior Transportation Program. RSVP is a partner of Senior Corps and the United Way of Central Oklahoma. To learn more about becoming a volunteer, call Laura McPheeters at 405.605.3110 or visit rsvpokc.org. You can also follow RSVP on Facebook at facebook.com/RSVPokc.

www.fullcircleok.com

Benefits include vehicle discounts, equipment service and access to mobility specialists

The Oklahoma Assisted Living Association (OKALA) is pleased to offer benefits to members through a collaboration with United Access. As the second largest provider of customized accessible vehicles and equipment in the nation, United Access provides vehicle sales for wheelchair vans, trucks and SUVs, as well as wheelchair and scooter lifts, hand controls, power transfer seats and more.
“With United Access our members will have the advantage of working with a local dealership and local mobility specialists who know, live and work in our community,” said Melissa Holland, Executive Director OKALA. “Being able to meet in person with United Access will not only be convenient and comfortable, but also critical to their developing a deep understanding of our members’ businesses and specific accessible vehicle needs, as well as knowing the local resources necessary to keeping your vehicles operating at peak performance.”
Incentives offered by United Access will enable OKALA members to receive the maximum possible value on their vehicles by working with dedicated mobility specialists. In addition to special discounts on vehicle acquisition, OKALA members will receive mobility equipment servicing and access to nationwide remarketing experts for selling vehicles, among other benefits. Dealer sales, service and financing and leasing also are available for retail and commercial wheelchair vans in Oklahoma.
Specific benefits and discounts include:
*Local, dedicated mobility specialists
*Up to 5 percent savings on vehicle acquisition costs
*Free annual mobility equipment service
*Factory ordering, manufacturer and volume incentives
*Access to nationwide remarketing experts for buying and selling vehicles
“United Access is dedicated to giving people the power of freedom and independence by providing the safest and most trusted accessible driving solutions and we are pleased to be able to offer these special benefits to OKALA members across the state,” said Jim Thurmond, commercial sales manager for United Access. “Our vehicles provide an affordable transportation solution for independent living and senior living communities for non-emergency medical transport and ambulette paratransit.”
All United Access’ wheelchair accessible vans comply with National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards and include top quality vehicles from trusted companies including BraunAbility, Vantage Mobility International (VMI), Bruno, Harmar lifts, and ElDorado. Selections include wheelchair vans with side- or rear-entry ramps, as well as full-size vans with lifts. Rentals also are available.

story by Bobby Anderson, Staff Writer

When Deborah Wedel received a business card from a friend a few years back she tucked it safely inside her purse.
It came after a session at the gym with friend Zenetta Kendricks and an urging for Wedel to sign up for the Ms. Oklahoma Senior America pageant.
Still working at the time, Wedel appreciated the gesture but figured it wasn’t for her.
That was until a few months ago when cleaning out that purse the card once again was in her hands.
“I thought ‘Oh, I’m retired now I might try this and I did,’” Wedel said.
And that was the beginning of a life-affirming journey for Wedel that culminated when she was crowned the 2019 Ms. Senior Oklahoma winner earlier this summer in Ada.
The night of the pageant Wedel’s nerves were flowing.
“They were all firing,” she laughed. “It’s amazing. I just want to say how encouraging we all tried to be for each other. I know it was a pageant but it was more like a sisterhood.”
“I didn’t think it was going to be my name,” she continued. “I thought it would be one of the ladies who had been in it before and I was just fine with that. The people in it before were such incredibly beautiful people inside and out.”
It was Wedel’s first pageant but an experience she wanted to use to get out of her comfort zone.
START TO FINISH
Back in 2013, Wedel went to the same gym as Kendricks, the 2013 Ms. Oklahoma Senior winner.
Kendricks handed her her card.
Wedel didn’t think much of it at the time. She was flattered but thought it wasn’t for her.
She was working full-time then, finishing up a 36-year teaching career that included a stint as a counselor at Mount St. Mary’s.
She loved the experience being around high school students. To this day she felt like she never met a single student she didn’t enjoy.
“Some people are really good with younger kids and I just really love the age,” she said. “It felt like I clicked with them.”
Most days as a counselor she was working on scholarship applications, which produced about an 86 percent success rate.
She retired about the time her husband, who served as a high school principal for a couple decades. During those years the two went to a lot of basketball, football and athletic events as well as drama and band productions.
After retiring the couple spruced up their rent homes and booked a trip to Switzerland coming up in September.
Nobody planned on a pageant win in between.
“Luckily, the national contest isn’t until October,” said Wedel, who will represent Oklahoma in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
“It was just incredible,” Wedel said of the experience. “I don’t think it was like a regular pageant in the fact we were all rooting for each other. Quite honestly, if I had not done anything and still been standing on the stage after they crowned that queen I would be alright with that.”
Her stage fright was in full effect when she performed a dramatic reading of an Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem.
“You would think that would go away after awhile but it doesn’t appear to,” said Wedel.
While most people expected the life-long singer to sing, she wowed the crowd with her tear-filled performance.
“Every time I read it I weep,” she said. “It’s a mother who lost both of her sons in the Italian war for independence. She encouraged them to give everything but when they actually do … she goes back and questions why.”
“I think most of us would question if we lost both of our children in a way but there are some things you can’t change.”
For Wedel it’s all about staying active with her husband, Bruce, of 46 years. She has two children of her own with a pair of grandchildren involved in the arts.
Exercise is still a priority. The other day she went over to mow her 92-year-old old mother’s yard.
She stays active at the house and civic events and sporting events as well as the local arts.
She wants to reach out to the community, helping with fundraisers and appearances. “I just stay active, hopefully helping others,” Wedel said. “I’m hoping for some events.”
Those who would like to get in touch with Wedel can contact her through her cell phone at (405) 274-2627.

Photography and Text by Terry “Travels with Terry” Zinn [email protected]

There comes a time in every senior’s life when you say, “Enough.” No, not enough of bills, enough of aches and pains, nor enough, everyday aggravation, but enough stuff. Stuff you you have bought over the years you still enjoy and don’t regret, but enough, maybe for just plain space to properly display and care for. There are no regrets in dusting your crystal, or original art, or even finding room on your closets for those beloved with fond memories stirred by wardrobe. If you are sentimental, sometimes your memories are your most prized possessions. There’s no need to down size your memories as there is always space to create and enjoy collecting more.
Reliving your memories and times in travel destinations is a comfort and joy. But why not make new pleasant memories a little closer to home with less travel time, energy and expense, by seeing the best in live performances?
From Lawton to Bartlesville and Tulsa, from Durant to Enid and certainly in the central metro-plex of Oklahoma City, Edmond, Guthrie and Norman, live theater is abundant. The best way economically and schedule wise, is to invest in a season subscription. A season long subscription ensure that you will not miss a performance, as its on your calendar as a prepaid event, and you are sure to go. In past seasons Lyric Theater of Oklahoma and CityRep theater in conjunction with their entertainment season has brought to OKC legendary entertainers in one person spotlight shows, including, Bernadette Peters, John Lithgow, Chita Rivera, Tommy Tune, and the incomparable Patti Lupone. This season as part of a subscription series is iconic cabaret veteran, Marylin Maye.
Super Senior entertainer, Marilyn Maye, performs as part of the University of Central Oklahoma Broadway Tonight season, at the OKC Boathouse, on November 1. I saw Marilyn Maye, there in OKC a couple of years ago in that intimate space and was once again warmed to hear her smooth mellow tones and was infected by her sincere joy of life. Today at age 91 she continues to charm audiences as she did on the Johnny Carson Show for a record breaking number of appearances, back in the day.
The photos here are of Marilyn Maye when she wowed the Dallas Fairmont Venetian room in 2011, where she performed a benefit concert for the Dallas Children’s Theatre. It’s not known exactly what songs she will perform on this visit but they may include some from that show.
Marilyn in her own down to earth personable way began the Fairmont concert with a number of songs relating to rainbows – pretty, but so what? Then she tickled our funny bone by sliding into the Sesame Street song, “ The Rainbow Connection,” which begins with the line,“Why are there so many songs about Rainbows?” The audience easily got the joke.
The rest of the over 1 hour and 40 minutes of music, nostalgia, humor and pathos was peppered with over 22 songs and or medleys including; a suite from Hello Dolly, her signature “Let a Winner Lead the Way,” “Maybe This Time”, a song from the Broadway show Catch Me If You Can, “I’m through with love,” and a song from her childhood, “Look For The Silver Lining.”
Commenting on her age, between doing high kicks, she exclaimed, “I’m too old to be humble.” All said in good nature, and with her talent and decades of performances with some of the greats of the musical world, there’s no need to be.
Near closing she performed Follies, “I’m Still Here” where she got a standing ovation as she did when she performed if for Stephen Sondheim’s Carnegie Hall Birthday Party. She recalls, “Steve came up to me after the show and just said ‘Congratulations,’ that’s all.” Sondheim is know for his brevity and what can you say to the performer who lived and interpreted that song to perfection, other than “Congratulations?”
Marilyn Maye, called the NYC’s Queen of Cabaret, truly loves performing and continues more and more as she is booked constantly at New York Supper clubs and other concert appearances. No doubt you will be uplifted and inspired by this Super Senior as she continues to celebrate life in song and stories, on November 1, at the OKC Central Boathouse, as part of the UCO Broadway Tonight Series. For limited seating single tickets and season subscriptions you must call the UCO box office ASAP at (405) 974-3375.

www.newbyvancemobility.com

Do you have swelling in your legs that will not go away?
Do your legs get red and warm?
Are your legs discolored or “stained”?
Do you have “weeping” from the lower legs?
Have you had a blood clot in your legs or in your lungs?
Do you have an ulcer or wound in your lower legs that will not heal, or has to be treated by a wound care specialist?
If one or more of these symptoms apply to you, then you could have Venous Stasis Disease
What is Venous Stasis Disease (VSD)?
Veins are the blood vessels which collect blood from tissues and organs all over the body. These veins are filled with carbon dioxide and waste products of metabolism from the tissues and organs. The veins return the blood to the right side of the heart and lungs to be replenished with oxygen and nutrients. It is then pumped out again to the tissues and organs of the body by the left side of the heart. In VSD the veins are not working effectively and blood flow back to the heart is slowed causing poor circulation and pooling of blood in the legs which leads to swelling.
Who is affected?
Primarily older men and women, but VSD can affect all ages. It becomes increasingly common with each year of life. Men are affected earlier, but women catch up quickly. People who have had blood clots in the legs or lungs, pelvic injury or surgery are at higher risk. This can also occur in some people because of the way their bodies are built. People who tend to stand in one position for prolonged periods or who sit at a desk for extended times are at increased risk.
How is it diagnosed?
Careful history and physical exam of an individual by a healthcare professional. After a physical exam, if venous stasis disease is suspected specialized ultrasound exams of the veins in the leg are performed . Oftentimes, specialized testing such as venograms or ultrasound with a probe or camera inside the vein is used to further diagnose.
What are the consequences of the disease?
Pain, cramping in the legs, burning pain, numbness, and tingling in the feet are common symptoms of venous stasis disease. Wounds or infections that are slow to resolve or do not resolve are also signs of the disease. Feet that turn blue, have constant severe pain, ulcers or dark “staining” of the skin may be a result of VSD. If left untreated or treated too late, it can lead to amputations or spread of infection into the bone or blood stream. Eventually, it can also lead to marked thickening of the skin in the legs and transformation to skin more like a thick hide in the lower legs.
Is it preventable?
Try to avoid sitting or standing in position for prolonged periods. Avoid periods of more than 2 hours at a time. Try to spend a few minutes walking and exercising the muscles in your legs, this helps “pump” blood back to the heart.
* Diabetes – it is very important to work with your primary healthcare professional to control your diabetes with a combination of medication, healthy diet, lifestyle modification, and weight loss
* Right heart failure – this can lead to swelling of both legs and requires management by a cardiologist
* Smoking – never start, or if you still smoke – QUIT!
* Overweight – manage with diet modification, weight loss, regular exercise
How is Venous Stasis Disease treated?
* Initially, conservative treatment such as compression stockings is used to put pressure on the legs, reduce swelling, and help pump blood back up to the heart. Diuretics or “water pills” may need to be supplemented to help reduce swelling.
* If there is a wound present, sometimes treatment by a wound care specialist is required
* Minimally invasive (percutaneous) procedures through an iv placed into the vein – in the neck or groin.
*Angioplasty – balloons of various sizes are used to expand a vein to its natural size – the balloon is removed after treatment is complete
*Stents – used in select situations to expand a vein to its normal size, and hold it open with a “scaffold” – these are permanent implants.
Who can treat it?
This can be treated by select cardiologists, vascular surgeons, and interventional radiologists. If you feel that you may be at risk for venous stasis disease, or have some of the above symptoms, you should consult your primary healthcare professional to screen for it, and to discuss treatment options.
Dr. C.V Ramana is a vascular and interventional radiologist with more than 20 years of practice experience. He has expertise in all areas of vascular and interventional radiology. Dr. Ramana has a Ph.D from Yale University and MD from CWRU in Cleveland, Ohio where he subsequently completed his fellowship in Vascular and Interventional Radiology at the Cleveland Clinic.

www.fountainbrookliving.com

by Vickie Jenkins
Staff Writer

There are a few churches around the metro area that offer a food pantry to those people that need a little extra hand every now and then. Mayfair church of Christ is one of those generous churches.
Meet David Ellis where you will find him here at the church different days of the week, different times of the day, and a lot of his time is spent in a room at the back of the church; designated as The Food Pantry. He will be doing his job as he serves as the food pantry coordinator.
“It all started fourteen years ago with a man named Jerry Bostick who actually started the food pantry at the church. Things were a little different back then,” David said. “There was a closet, literally, a closet, on the other side of the church, where a few boxes of food were stored and a few people picked up a few things. It was twelve years ago that I volunteered to help out. I’m still doing it,” he said with a smile. “Sometimes, I feel like maybe I got shanghaied into it, he laughed. “I really do enjoy it and it makes me feel good to be helping out. Since I am retired, I consider this my full-time job.”
Just for an update, In June, the pantry served 84 households consisting of 251 persons, (40 seniors, 122 adults and 89 children) we have received 34 cases (40 pounds each) of canned food as our portion of the Mail Carriers Food drive held in May. Distributions will begin when the Pantry opens on July 10, 2019. The hours of the Pantry will be each Wednesday 3-5 and the last Monday of each month 10-noon.
How do people hear about the Food Pantry? “Word of mouth is the biggest. Most of the people that come by to pick up food have been coming for several years. On the other hand there are some people that come one time during the whole year. We are here, come rain or shine,” David replied.
David explained how the people get approved to accept food from the food pantry. “The people have to qualify to register for the food pantry; they have to be in one of the six approved zip codes, meet federal income guidelines, show a picture ID and bring some type of document that verifies their address. We get shipments of food from the food bank which includes USDA meats, bread, vegetables, fruit, staples, canned goods and dry goods. We then take special care to bag the groceries according to the size of their family.”
How does David feel about being the food pantry coordinator? “It makes me feel good about the situation, especially when the people come in the very first time. They are not sure what to expect or not sure how to accept the help. I just want to make them feel comfortable and let them know that we are willing to help them,” David replied
“Even though I am the food pantry coordinator, there are plenty of others that use their time to serve others too; the volunteers…say there is a lot of work that goes into the food pantry but it is all well worth it. I am thankful for the people here at the church that are willing to serve,” David said. “I call that teamwork, he added.
On a personal note, David and his wife Elaina just celebrated their 50th anniversary on June 21st. Their families, along with their four grandchildren, were fortunate to be in town for the big celebration.
Because of his past experiences in life, his organizations skills were remarkable. ‘I didn’t realize it at the time, but God was preparing me for this job back then,” he said with a smile. “Running the food pantry takes a lot of organization, from ordering the food, to making sure there is enough for the families each month. We usually distribute about 3000 pounds of food, a little less than a ton. That is a lot of food!”
Asking if David had any words of encouragement, he said, “Well, my daughter said, ‘you are really a glass-half-full guy, aren’t you?’ I agreed with her, wondering what she meant. I laughed at the thought. All in all, yes, I am the Food Pantry Coordinator at Mayfair Church of Christ. I am happy to serve others.”
If you would like more information about Mayfair Church of Christ, located at 2340 N.W. 50, Oklahoma City, OK 73112 or call 405-842-2993

www.harborchase.com

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) recently announced that fifteen INTEGRIS Family Care Clinics earned Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition renewal.
The clinics received the initial recognition in 2016 for using evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long-term, participative relationships.
The facilities receiving the PCMH Certificate of Recognition renewal are listed below:
INTEGRIS Family Care Baptist
INTEGRIS Family Care Central
INTEGRIS Family Care Norman
INTEGRIS Family Care Yukon
INTEGRIS Family Care Coffee Creek
INTEGRIS Family Care Edmond East
INTEGRIS Family Care Edmond Renaissance
INTEGRIS Family Care Memorial West
INTEGRIS Family Care Northwest
INTEGRIS Family Care Southwest
INTEGRIS Family Care Lake Pointe
INTEGRIS Family Care Moore
INTEGRIS Family Care Surrey Hills
INTEGRIS Family Care South
INTEGRIS Family Care Mustang
The NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home is a model of primary care that combines teamwork and information technology to improve care, improve patients’ experience of care and reduce costs. Medical homes foster ongoing partnerships between patients and their personal clinicians, instead of approaching care as the sum of episodic office visits. Each patient’s care is overseen by clinician-led care teams that coordinate treatment across the health care system. Research shows that medical homes can lead to higher quality and lower costs and can improve patient and provider reported experiences of care.
To date, sixteen INTEGRIS Family Care Clinics have achieved this distinction. INTEGRIS Family Care South Penn has a different renewal cycle.

I like the nice weather and getting out in it and maybe walk. Joan Quatro

I used to jog a lot but now I just do boxing. Dovie Kasper

Vacation. I used to hike, backpack and rock climb. Now I don’t do much of anything. Robert Quatro

I like to camp, boat, ski and fish. I’m an outdoor person – have been all my life. Chris Offerson

https://www.aefuneral.com/

Presbyterian Health Foundation (PHF) is awarding $3.9 million in research dollars to Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, funding a total of 64 new grants during its June grant cycle in the areas of cancer, diabetes, heart, aging, and pediatrics.
Since revitalizing funding of medical research in Oklahoma, PHF has granted more than $20 million to the two research powerhouses, and the foundation doesn’t see its funding focus slowing any time soon.
“We are committed to funding the best, cutting-edge science to secure life-enhancing treatments for people in Oklahoma, across the country, and world,” said PHF’s President Tom R. Gray, III. “Getting scientists together who can combine their know-how in a collaborative way plays a critical role in achieving meaningful results. We’re excited about the many grants that were presented to us this round, in particular the team science awards.”
PHF team science grants are intended to foster innovative, collaborative approaches to research projects involving multiple researchers. These grants focus on collaborative relationships with at least two or more investigators on each project, combining and integrating basic, clinical, community-based and translational research endeavors.
A collaborative project funded at OMRF will continue its investigation on therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Scientists Holly Van Remmen, Ph.D., and Rheal Towner, Ph.D. will work in concert to test a new compound designed to ameliorate the effects of the disease. “The PHF funding will allow us to test the preliminary hypothesis that OKN-007, an anti-inflammatory compound with neuroprotective effects, can have a beneficial effect on the initiation and progression of ALS,” said Holly Van Remmen, Ph.D., chair of OMRF’s Aging and Metabolism Research Program. “The data we obtain from this study will be used to help us secure further funding to move this drug forward to a clinical trial for ALS.”
One particular team of scientists at OUHSC will focus its efforts on pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of cancer affecting people today. The team, including Courtney Houchen, M.D., Min Li, Ph.D., and CV Rao, Ph.D., is exploring how to improve treatment methods with this diagnosis.
Pancreatic cancer is particularly deadly because the way it grows is not highly responsive to available chemotherapies. In addition, patients often struggle with complications like cachexia, a muscle-wasting condition that affects at least 80 percent of people with pancreatic cancer. Because cachexia takes such a toll on patients, many cannot withstand surgery and they respond poorly to chemotherapy and radiation.
“Pancreatic cancer is a very tough disease, and novel therapies like treating cachexia are the only way we’re going to make progress because the traditional approach of trying to destroy the tumor isn’t enough,” Houchen said.
“We’ve seen an encouraging uptick in collaborative proposals over the last few years, indicating to us that the teamwork amongst Oklahoma’s researchers in stronger than ever,” said Gray. “We are confident these continued efforts will translate into better quality of life for us all.”