Sometimes your guardian angel appears in the form of an off-duty nurse. At least that is what Pamela Satchell believes after an INTEGRIS Health Miami Hospital nurse saved her life.
Shyanne Brandon, B.S.N., RN, was recently honored by INTEGRIS Health Miami Hospital Chief Executive Jonas Rabel for the life-saving measures she performed while attending as a guest at an employee appreciation event hosted by the Miami Nation’s Prairie Sun and Prairie Moon Casinos.
“Day in and day out, our caregivers report to work knowing that patients and their families are counting on us,” said Rabel. “Shyanne’s quick response to a medical crisis outside the walls of our hospital is a true example of heroism and her dedication to caring for our community, no matter where she might be.”
As food and beverage manager of the casinos, Satchell was assigned the task of checking-in employees and handing out t-shirts. After several hours in the hot July sun, she decided to go for a swim to cool off, and that is when things went awry.
“The only memory I have is going down the slide, landing in the water and then feeling like I was pulled under,” Satchell said. “I came up and told the lifeguard I needed help. That is really all that I can remember.”
Brandon witnessed the near-drowning and, without hesitation, began administering medical aid, which included checking for a pulse, rolling Satchell to her side, expelling water and continuing life-saving measures until emergency medical services arrived to transport Satchell to the hospital.
“As I helped pull Pam out of the water, I did a quick scene check and realized I was the only one around that could help,” said Brandon. “My training with INTEGRIS Health prepared me, and God truly overcame me with a sense of calm and clarity. I could hear all these people around me scared and worried, but I stayed calm. I can only say God truly was with me at that moment.”
Satchell spent two days in the hospital but is expected to make a full recovery. Weeks later, she was reunited with Brandon on the day hospital leadership presented her with an award for her off-duty heroism.
“Shyanne will always be my personal angel,” she added. “What a blessing to have someone like her at the right place and time.”
For more information about INTEGRIS Health visit: https://integrisok.com/

CENTENARIANS OF OKLAHOMA was proud to honor Oklahoma City resident, Dellora Manske, on the occasion of her 100th birthday, and induct her into the Centenarians of Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Dellora is a retired school teacher who continued her vocation by volunteering to help students with their school work. Dellora has these words of wisdom for younger people: “Work diligently, be honest and truthful.” “Study hard to learn new things and follow the Golden Rule”!
There are believed to be 400-500 centenarians living in Oklahoma. On average, there are about 300 living centenarians in Oklahoma that we have honored. Additionally, there are about 50 other centenarians that we are attempting to locate, recognize, and honor.
To date almost 3000, centenarians have been honored in the state. All of the historical records of these people are in Tulsa, currently in the offices of Centenarians of Oklahoma. Once a Centenarian passes, their records are filed at the Oklahoma Historical Society in Oklahoma City.
The work performed through the Centenarians of Oklahoma could not happen without generous supporters like you and the organization operates by volunteers and donations while providing this special honor to our “Golden Okies”.

by Greg Schwem

“Do you mind if I touch you?” I asked my wife one evening after dinner.
“Not at all,” she replied with a soft giggle.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” But the giggle had disappeared.
“There will be no negative ramifications or consequences if I place my hand anywhere on your body?” I asked, extending my hand toward her waist.
She slapped it away. “WHAT is going on?”
I recounted the story that played out on a recent business trip to New Orleans. After saying goodbye to a college friend who happened to be in town, I decided to have a nightcap at one of the dozens of bars dotting Bourbon Street. There was nothing special about the establishment; it featured two levels, the lower containing dozens of patrons in various stages of inebriation. I opted for the top floor.
I found a lone couple sitting at the bar. “Perfect,” I thought. “Maybe a chance to engage in some quiet conversation.” Chatting up strangers at bars is a pastime I sorely missed during quarantine. For starters, I am a standup comedian by trade and some of my best ideas, which later become comedic bits, germinate during bar conversations. Not all comedians write material this way, but it works for me.
More importantly, people in general fascinate me. I talk for a living, but I’m also an excellent listener. To me, there is nothing worse than seeing a bar full of customers engrossed in their phones, oblivious to their surroundings. Everybody has a story to tell if given a chance.
The bartender seemed to be taking an inordinately long time mixing the woman’s drink. I turned to her companion. “What’s she having?”
The bartender replied instead, naming some oddly titled New Orleans drink that I have since forgotten. I do know it wasn’t a Hurricane.
‘Well, it looks amazing,” I said to the man. Placing my hand on top of his shoulder, I added, “I think I’ll have one too. I’ve still got an hour before curfew.”
Without laughing or even smiling, he turned to me.
“Don’t ever touch me again.”
I should note, he added an unprintable word between ‘ever” and “touch.”
Then he took his hand, and not so gently shoved the side of my head. Without bothering to ask me if I liked being touched.
While his companion stared sullenly at her now completed drink, the man got off his stool and began to pace. I didn’t know if he had been overserved, for doing so would have required making eye contact. What if he didn’t like being stared at either?
The bartender, sensing a situation, intervened. Turning to me, he said, “Sir, why don’t you head downstairs?”
I took the hint.
“That sounds horrible,” my wife said. “Did he think you were hitting on him?”
“I put my hand on top of his shoulder. I didn’t try to kiss him,” I said.
“Can’t you just keep your hands off people?” she inquired. “What if he had a gun?”
How sad, I thought, that a simple gesture of friendship or inquisitiveness could end with gun violence.
“I won’t be touching anybody’s possessions either,” I said.
“Why not?”
Two days after returning from New Orleans, I was sitting in a traffic jam while heading to Chicago for a meeting. The Honda CRV, creeping in front of me, contained a decal to the left of its license tag stating, “Don’t Touch My Car.”
What frightened me wasn’t the command but the two-stick figure artwork accompanying it. One figure was crouched on its knees, its head being held down by the second figure, whose free hand contained an upraised stick. The message? Touch this particular Honda and get beaten over the head. Maybe it was the owner’s way of saying, “No Tailgating.” Or maybe the owner just returned from New Orleans. Regardless, I changed lanes.
I pondered the fact that I now fear the consequences of exhibiting a friendly gesture or inadvertently bumping a cheap vehicle. Our nation’s anger is manifesting itself in strange ways, in strange locations. Now, two years after quarantine forced everybody inside, I’m still not comfortable venturing outside, for who knows? I too might become angry at the slightest provocation.
I guess I’ll just stay indoors and watch TV. Oh, look, another Jan. 6 committee hearing is about to get underway.
(Greg Schwem is a corporate stand-up comedian and author of two books: “Text Me If You’re Breathing: Observations, Frustrations and Life Lessons From a Low-Tech Dad” and the recently released “The Road To Success Goes Through the Salad Bar: A Pile of BS From a Corporate Comedian,” available at Amazon.com. Visit Greg on the web at www.gregschwem.com.
You’ve enjoyed reading, and laughing at, Greg Schwem’s monthly humor columns in Senior Living News. But did you know Greg is also a nationally touring stand-up comedian? And he loves to make audiences laugh about the joys, and frustrations, of growing older. Watch the clip and, if you’d like Greg to perform at your senior center or senior event, contact him through his website at www.gregschwem.com)

For a full list of events/details visit: www.okhistory.org/calendar/ohs

Working America: A Sam Comen Photography Exhibition opens Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, 507 South 4th Street Enid, OK 73701. Thursday, September 1, 2022. Artist Sam Comen presents a series of portraits of American immigrants and first-generation Americans at work in the small, skilled trades as icons of the American experience.

Drummond Heirlooms exhibit opens (all month) Fred and Addie Drummond Home, 305 North Price Avenue Hominy, OK 74035. September 1st Family heirlooms belonging to the Drummond family will be on display for the entire month at the Victorian-style home they built in 1905.

“Musket Demo Day” living history program September 9-10, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Fort Gibson Historic Site, 907 North Garrison Avenue Fort Gibson, OK 74434. Fort Gibson Historic Site will host a living history program based on the history of musket firearms and musket demonstrations. This program will run from 10 a.m. to noon and again from 1 to 3 p.m.

Quilting workshop with Martha Ray September 10, 9 a.m.–11 a.m. Sod House Museum, 4628 State Highway 8 Aline, OK 73716. Workshop will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. with instructor Martha Ray, and the cost is $5 per person.

Tuesday Tunes at the Mansion featuring Hunter Thomas September 13, 6 p.m.–8 p.m. Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion, 405 NW 15th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73103. Preservation Oklahoma, Inc. will be hosting a series of relaxed free summer concerts featuring local musician Hunter Thomas.

“Traveling by Keelboat” living history program September 16-17, 10 a.m. Fort Gibson Historic Site, 907 North Garrison Avenue Fort Gibson, OK 74434. On Friday, September 16, and Saturday, September 17, join the staff and volunteers at Fort Gibson Historic Site as they demonstrate the operations of a keelboat during a special riverside living history program. The tours will run at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. on both days.

Will’s Cowboy Trader Days at the Ranch September 17, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.|Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch, 9501 East 380 Road Oologah, OK 74053 Third Saturday of the month through October, make the trip to the Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch in Oologah to take part in Will’s Cowboy Trader Days. See locally handcrafted and homemade items, saddles, cowboy hats, tack, boots, and a variety of work created by local artisans. Admission is FREE.

“A Long Walk in the Sun: Mexican-American War Days” September 17, 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Fort Towson Historic Site, HC 63, Box 1580 Fort Towson, OK 74735. FTHS will be host in mid-September. This event will feature an encampment set in the time period of the Mexican-American War, educational presentations, and opportunities to interact with experts.

“History of Masonic Temples in Oklahoma” by T. S. Akers September 17, 1 p.m.–2 p.m. Honey Springs Battlefield, 423159 E 1030 Road Checotah, OK 74426. A presentation by T. S. Akers. Akers, a historian of Freemasonry in Oklahoma, will discuss the establishment and architecture.

“Candles on Post” living history program” On Friday, September 23, and Saturday, September 24, from 10 a.m. to noon, and again from 1-3 p.m., the last September living history program will focus on the use of candles. Watch a candle-making demonstration in the palisade kitchens while learning about the differences between candles made of beeswax and those made of tallow. In candle making, wick preparation is the key to longer burning candles, and the use of herbs and scents was a 19th-century way of keeping pests.
educational presentations, and opportunities to interact with experts.

Movie Night featuring Animal Crackers (1930) September 24, 6 p.m.–9 p.m. Will Rogers Memorial Museum, 1720 West Will Rogers Boulevard Claremore, OK 74017. Animal Crackers (1930) will be featured in the theater. “Horsing Around with Will” will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. Enjoy activities and crafts relating to the movie.

“Americana: A Musical Tour of the USA” featuring Jonas Nordwall September 26, 7 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive Oklahoma City, OK 73105. The fall performance of the Kilgen Organ series will feature organist Jonas Nordwall, presenting musical selections that follow the theme “Americana: A Musical Tour of the USA.”

By Ron Hendricks, Hearing Loss Association of America Central Oklahoma Chapter

Hearing Loss Association of America Central Oklahoma Chapter (HLAA COC) is not all serious stuff. We have fun too. Our summer bingo party brought out a large crown for Bingo, Prizes and Pizza and August is cold. At least the ice cream at the Annual Ice Cream Social is cold. The social is the traditional kick-off of the new season of monthly Educational Seminars held by HLAA COC. Seminars have speakers of interest to the hearing loss community – subjects like technology, research, training, tips & tricks. All helpful to those with hearing loss and those who love ‘em. Speakers/programs for the fall include Shelley Gladden, Oklahoma Able Tech discussing technology, October we host Dr. Sarah Newman delving into research being done by Hearts for Hearing. In November Dr. Kopke with the Hough Ear Institute will talk about their research in hair regrowth that will possibly restore hearing. December, ‘ya-all come for the annual Christmas Party. The Ice Cream Social is also the time when we introduce the scholarship winners who are; Boyd Robertson, Josie Burns, Charles Brady IV.
HLAA COC’s educational seminars are captioned so you can see the conversation as well as hear it. Now there is also a hearing loop system to be used with the telecoil in your hearing aid AND we zoom the meeting too. Seminars are held monthly on the third Thursday, 11:30-1PM. The public is invited as there is no entry fee.
We have a lot of activities but our main mission here is to “Open the world of communication to people with hearing loss by providing information, education, support, and advocacy.” for more information visit our website, www.OklahomaHearingLoss.org.

As of the end of the day, Friday, August 12, 2022, OU Health and UnitedHealthcare (UHC) have come to a resolution. The two organizations had been negotiating their contract since November of 2021.
The agreement between OU Health and UHC for hospital and clinic facilities and services terminated on May 1, 2022, but have now been reinstated. UHC has agreed to retroactively process the out-of-network claims that would now be considered in-network. OU Health Partners, the health system’s physician and provider group, was under a separate contract, which was in effect through the end of 2022. Under the new agreement, the provider’s contract was extended through July 31, 2024. OU Health and UHC also agreed to re-engage transplant services to the same level as prior to May 1, 2022.
“With so many of our services not available anywhere else in the state, we are so pleased to be able to continue to care for our UHC-insured patients, so they can continue to receive services like cancer treatment or comprehensive children’s care,” said Richard Lofgren, M.D., OU Health president and CEO.
“Throughout this time, our focus and commitment to patient care and being an institution that champions the health of our state hasn’t changed,” Lofgren said. “We are extremely pleased to be able to reinstate and continue our partnership with UHC, and together, we will make a difference in the lives of Oklahomans.”

“Internet Food Safety Myths”

This event is free to the public. The internet is a great resource for many things, but there is a lot of misinformation, especially about food safety. Learn about some common internet food safety myths and what to do instead to keep you and your family safe. The class will be taught by Kelsey Ratcliff, an FCS area Specialist in Health Disparities. Come join us at 9:30 AM, Thursday, September 22, at the Extension Conference Center, 2500 NE 63rd Street, OKC. There is no charge for the class.

Story and photo Van Mitchell, Contributing Writer

An estimated 20 million Americans are living with chronic pain due to neuropathy

At Nerve Renewal Neuropathy Clinic located at 3705 NW 63rd Street, Suite 101 in Oklahoma City, they help Oklahomans renew their quality of life through proven nerve pain treatments that provide safe and effective relief.
Clinic hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
“At Nerve Renewal, we are on a mission to help Oklahomans renew their quality of life through established nerve pain treatments that provide safe and effective relief,” said Tim Bales, owner of Nerve Renewal Neuropathy Clinic. “Our prominent clients are seniors. They have some sort of pain, mainly neuropathy, and they are looking for some kind of relief from that pain or more feeling in their extremities.”
Peripheral Neuropathy is a disorder of the peripheral nerves, which connect the spinal cord to the muscles, skin, and internal organs in our bodies.
Neuropathy usually affects the hands and feet, and causes weakness, numbness, tingling and pain.
Patients may also report burning sensations, leg cramps, loss of balance, muscle weakness, and sensitivity to touch.
Neuropathy may come and go, progress over time, or even become severe and debilitating. Left untreated, it can lead to the loss of fingers, toes, and even limbs.
Each year, over 86,000 Americans undergo amputations as a result of uncontrolled neuropathy. However, if diagnosed early, peripheral neuropathy can often be treated.
Bales said while there is no cure for neuropathy, over 80 percent of patients report a significant reduction in pain after treatments. They can also enjoy better sleep due to reduced pain and recover more quickly from knee and hip surgery.
“Rather than masking your pain with medication, that can cause very undesirable side effects, as well as creating a long-term dependence on them, our staff of medical professionals will address the symptoms of neuropathy at the source with a non-invasive, drug-free form of therapy that combines injections of pharmaceutical-grade nutrient blend with electroanalgesia to provide relief from your symptoms,” he said. “Usually, treatments take between 16 and 24 treatments. Those vitamin injections really help the healing.”
Neuropathy has many different causes. The most common metabolic cause are patients with diabetes. Nearly 60 percent of all patients with diabetes develop neuropathy. This can commonly present as pain, numbness, swelling, burning, tingling, sleepless nights, balance issues.
Other causes of neuropathy include: chemotherapy, alcoholism, drugs/prescription medications; battlefield toxins, industrial toxins, vitamin deficiencies, acute physical trauma, and post-surgical pain.
Traditional neuropathy treatments, such as surgery and strong pain medications, can have a severe impact on patients’ long-term health.
Bales said Nerve Renewal Neuropathy Clinic takes a different approach, using established Electroanalgesia (EA) treatments to reduce pain without the drawbacks of invasive procedures or addictive medications.
EA works by delivering exact dosages of electrical stimulation to peripheral nerves. These high frequencies can decrease the ability of the affected nerves to transmit pain, which brings relief and healing. There is no opioid drowsiness, addiction concerns, or side effects.
“This non-evasive, drug-free form of technology is one of the oldest and most documented forms of medical science,” said Glenn Cope, Chief Operating Officer with Nerve Renewal Neuropathy Clinic. “Patients don’t feel trapped by pain. They are able to move and get exercise, leading to healthier outcomes for all other medical treatments.”
Cope said controlled research studies have shown that most patients find long-term relief from neuropathy after receiving Nerve Renewal Neuropathy Clinic’s specific treatment.
Bales said once the initial treatment is completed, patients then return every two weeks for follow-up care.
“Once you get to that threshold, there is maintenance,” he said. “You come back every two weeks, and it (helps) keep you where you are.”
Bales said their customers have requested adding Friday openings to their clinic hours, and he said that is something they are considering.
Cope said they are opening several other Nerve Renewal Neuropathy Clinics throughout the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.
“They (patients) aren’t crazy about driving a long way so we are building additional locations so it will be easier for them to get to places in town closer to them,” Cope said. “We are doing southwest Oklahoma City, just south of Oklahoma City Community College, Midwest City and Norman.”
Bales said the treatments are covered by most insurances.
“These established treatments are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, VA, and most medical insurance companies, so you can focus on enjoying life again,” he said.
For more information about Nerve Renewal Neuropathy Clinic call (405) 495-9270 or visit www.nerverenewalnow.com.

Dear Savvy Senior, I just turned 62 and am financially prepared for retirement, but I’m less certain about how to spend my time after leaving work. Can you recommend some resources or tools that can help me with this? — Feeling Lost

Dear Lost:
This is a great question! Many people, when asked what they want to do when they retire, will say they want a mix of travel, play and meaningful work. Specifics, however, tend to be few and far between. But planning how to fill your time in retirement is just as important as the financial planning aspect. Here are some resources that can help.
Online Tools
A good starting point to figuring out what you want to do in retirement is at LifeReimagined.aarp.org. This is an AARP website (you don’t have to be a member to use it) that can help you rediscover what truly matters to you and focus on what you really want to do. It offers a variety of free online exercises and programs that will hopefully spark some ideas and give you inspiration.
Encore.org is another good resource that helps people who are seeking work that matters in the second half of life. Click on “Resources” on the menu bar and download their free Encore Guide, and consider purchasing a copy of their “Encore Career Handbook” (available at Amazon.com or BN.com for $10.50) by Marci Alboher, which is excellent.
Also check out the free E-book called “The Age for Change,” which can help answer the question: “What now?” You can download this at ComingOfAge.org.
And, if you’ve never taken a personality test before, this too can be a good tool to help you figure out what type of activities or work you’d like to do. A good option for this is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessment, which you can take online at MBTIcomplete.com for $50.
Personalized Guidance
If you want personalized help, you can also get one-on-one guidance from a retirement or life planning coach. Some resources that can help you here include LifePlanningForYou.com, which has a free exercise called EVOKE to help identify a path that might suit you best in later life, and provides a directory to registered life planners to help guide you.
Also see: RetirementOptions.com, which will connect you with a retirement coach who will give you an assessment to help reveal your attitudes and opinions about work, family life, relationships, leisure time and more. And the LifePlanningNetwork.org, which is a group of professionals and organizations that help people navigate the second half of life. You can also find life and retirement coaching at the International Coach Federation at CoachFederation.org.
Coaching sessions typically range from $75 to $300 or more, and usually require four to six sessions to get the most out of the process.
Other Resources
If you’re primarily interested in volunteering, finding a retirement job or even starting a business when you retire, there are lots of resources that can help here too.
For volunteering, PointsOfLight.org, VolunteerMatch.org and SeniorCorps.gov and help you search for opportunities, or even create one on your own.
To look for job ideas, sites like RetirementJobs.com, Workforce50.com and RetiredBrains.com list thousands of jobs nationwide from companies that are actively seeking older workers. FlexJobs.com can help you find good work-at-home jobs. CoolWorks.com and BackDoorJobs.com are great for locating seasonal or summer jobs in great places. Or to search for freelance opportunities in a wide variety of areas, there’s Elance.com and Guru.com.
And if you’re interested in starting a new business, the U.S. Small Business Administration offers tips, tools and free online courses to entrepreneurs that are 50 and older at SBA.gov/content/50-entrepreneurs, as does the nonprofit association Score at Score.org.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

When a fresh wound occurs, cells rush to produce collagen, which aids healing. But sometimes this process goes awry, resulting in one of two extremes: insufficient healing or excessive scar tissue.
Thanks to a recent discovery at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, researchers now have a better grasp on the cause.
“It’s a delicate balance,” said OMRF scientist Lorin Olson, Ph.D., who led the study published this month in the journal Cell Reports. “Everything must work just right for proper wound healing to take place.”
Olson’s lab focused on a protein signal called platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and cells called fibroblasts, which create collagen to form scar tissue. Several days later, these cells morph into a different cell type called myofibroblasts, which pull the wound’s edges together, essentially closing it.
Working with researchers from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Olson’s team discovered that PDGF controls this transition from one cell type into another and that optimal healing requires precise amounts of the protein signal.
“This paper focuses on wounds in the skin, but the same principles apply to injuries in other tissue or organs,” Olson said, “because in every injury, cells respond by migrating toward the damage.”
Too much PDGF results in wounds full of fibroblasts but no myofibroblasts, causing excessive scar tissue. In contrast, without sufficient PDGF, there aren’t enough fibroblasts to create collagen, and wounds fester.
Those chronic wounds cause significant medical and financial issues for millions of Americans. One common example is in people with diabetes. Poor circulation and nerve damage caused by the disease can lead to chronic foot ulcers, potentially requiring amputation. A 2018 University of Southern California analysis found that chronic wound treatment accounted for up to $96.8 billion in annual Medicare costs.
“Wound healing happens so routinely that we tend to take it for granted,” said Lijun Xia, M.D., Ph.D., chair of OMRF’s Cardiovascular Biology Research Program. “Dr. Olson has dedicated his career to better understanding the inner workings of this complex process. His discovery gets us closer to solutions for cases where a wound refuses to heal properly.”
Olson has taken these findings to delve into the cause of keloids – thick, often permanent, raised scars that most frequently form on the earlobes, shoulders, chest and cheeks of people of African and Asian descent. However, he said this discovery has far broader relevance.
“We’re studying PDGF signaling in conditions like atherosclerosis, where deadly plaque builds up in arteries, as well as cancer,” Olson said. “So if we better understand how it works, we can apply that knowledge to many other health conditions.”
Olson’s research is supported by National Institutes of Health grants R01-AR070235 and R01-AR073828, the Oklahoma Center for Adult Stem Cell Research, a program of TSET, and the Presbyterian Health Foundation.