“It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get back up.” – Vince Lombardi

by Brandon Rabhar

Blake Leeper, an eight-time Paralympic Track and Field international medalist, world record holder and three-time American record holder, knows all too well the hurt that accompanies falling down. Physically, he has fallen down time and again due to being born with no legs. In the eyes of the Paralympics community, he has fallen from grace due to self-admitted bad personal life decisions.
But every time Blake Leeper has fallen, he has got back up stronger than ever before. And each time, he has risen with a newfound purpose in his life.
Born in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, Blake has defied the odds since the moment his parents Billy and Edith welcomed their baby boy in 1989.
“Being born missing one leg is a one in 40,000 chance,” said the jovial Leeper. “But being born without two legs? Those are astronomical numbers.”
Doctors told Leeper’s parents that the best case scenario for their legless son would be living life in a wheelchair. Fortunately for Leeper, his mother knew better. Edith worked as a nurse and was heavily involved in the medical community.
“This is not going to be his story,” Edith told those doctors and her husband nearly 30 years ago. Truly prophetic, Edith knew the key to changing the course of her son’s life was prosthetics.
Fast forward four years, and young Blake had major surgery so that his first legs would fit his little body better. For eight long weeks, Blake was in a full body cast and a wheelchair.
“I remember every single day being in that wheelchair and wanting to go outside. I knew in my head this was the last time I wanted to be in a wheelchair and it was,” recalls Leeper. “From that point on, I’ve been living life to the fullest.”
A purpose was born.
Blake, armed with legs for the first time, literally hit the ground running. He played any and every sport. He roller-bladed with his older brother Kris. So many times in those physically formative years, Blake’s legs would break or fall off, but he would always get back up. His main objective was to show the world how much he could do with his new legs.
In high school, Blake’s best friend just happened to be the best athlete on campus. His name was Coty Sensabaugh, who is currently starring at cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“Coty pushed me in a lot of areas where other people were afraid to push me,” said Leeper. “When you’re dealing with people with a disability, others are afraid to push us. But the only way we can get better is to be challenged.”
After high school, Blake enrolled at the University of Tennessee as a pre-med student. He was ready to hang up the sneakers and become an orthopedic surgeon. That all changed the moment he saw Oscar Pistorius sprint across his television during the 2008 Olympics.
“It was the first time I saw an amputee on TV in a major sport,” said Leeper. “I remember thinking, ‘This is what I want to do! I have to get those blades!’”
A purpose was redefined.
Blake got his first pair of running legs the next year. Before he even had time to start seriously training, he and his parents drove 14 hours to Oklahoma to participate in the Endeavor Games and his first ever race. As a rookie competing in a field stacked with national champs, the odds were stacked against him. The doe-eyed novice took first place in all three events he raced in: the 100, 200, and 400 meters.
Two whirlwind weeks later, Blake found himself racing in an international event in Brazil. He ran even faster than he did in Oklahoma, won a silver medal and came close to conquering the world champion.
In 2012, Blake tied Pistorius’s record time in the 400 meters going into the London Paralympics. He was ranked #1 in the 100, #1 in the 200, and #2 in the 400. In London, Blake won the silver medal in the 400 behind previous inspiration Pistorius and took home the bronze in the 200.
Only a few years after getting his running blades, Blake became a celebrated media mainstay. He played alongside superstars Kevin Hart and Chadwick Boseman in the NBA All Star Celebrity Game. His positive personality was welcomed on The Queen Latifah show, the Arsenio Hall show, and the Naomi Campbell fashion show. For the first time in his life, Blake was making big money.
“My life changed and I wasn’t prepared for it. I left college to quit partying, and I changed my environment but I didn’t change the person inside of me,” said Leeper. “I started hanging with the wrong people. Track, TV, interviews, flying everywhere for events. The only way I knew to balance that was to drink.”
Relying on talent, Blake was able to pull off the delicate balancing act of partying and still competing and winning. He broke every American record. He seemed invincible on and off the track.
In 2015, Blake did cocaine and a week later raced in the US Paralympic Nationals, breaking the American record. But he failed the drug test. The punishment was a one year suspension, reduced from two years behind the promise that Blake would get clean. The story broke in the Los Angeles Times.
“I lost my career, I lost my sponsorships, and I lost my legs,” said Leeper. “I hit rock bottom.”
A purpose was knocked down. But it would get back up.
Determined to come back stronger and faster after serving his suspension, Blake needed to find a new pair of running legs. Aaron Holmes from Wiggle Your Toes connected Blake with Scott Sabolich Prosthetics.
Blake walked into the building, back in Oklahoma where his racing career had begun, for the first time wearing two different pairs of legs that he had duct taped together.
“I had to go into my closet of legs I had collected over the years and put them together myself. I walked out with three pairs of legs,” said Leeper. “Scott Sabolich Prosthetics, they’re the best in the world. Their facilities, their lab, their staff. And for them to want to take a chance on me was truly amazing.”
Refocused, Blake was ready to prove that he was the fastest amputee in the world. Along with the new legs, he obtained new coaches, management, a trainer, and a nutritionist in preparation for the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. Running was no longer a hobby or a job, it was his life.
One year after testing positive for cocaine, Blake dropped his 400 meters time from 48 seconds, an American record at the time, to 46.1 seconds. He made the 2016 Paralympics team.
“My parents and my girlfriend Sadie are in Rio. We got a dog and named it Rio. Two weeks before the Paralympics, I got a call. The USA approved my deal, but the international committee did not,” Leeper said. “I was devastated, but I knew it was a self-inflicted wound. I took responsibility.”
After that life altering phone call, Blake went to his room, took off his legs and didn’t leave for three days. His coaches had to bust down Blake’s door to get him out. He walked out of that door a new man.
A fun and easygoing soul, Blake was mad and trained with a chip on his shoulder. The 46.1 he ran qualified him for the 2017 able body national championships, making history as the first amputee to qualify for any national championships.
At trials, Blake ran a blazing 45.5, qualifying for the semifinals. The man with no legs beat 2016 Olympians. The next day, Blake ran a 45.25 and broke Pistorius’s amputee world record, a personal goal of his from day one. He finished 12th overall out of top 64 fastest runners in the nation.
A purpose fulfilled.
To make the 2020 Olympic relay team, Blake needs to cut his time down about half a second and place top 6 overall. That’s his primary focus on the track these days. But it’s getting his life off the track back on the right track that defines the man.
“I love to talk about my failures because those were the most important days of my life. Being suspended actually saved my life,” Leeper said. “That’s my message. It’s one thing being born without legs. I didn’t have a choice. But as an adult, I had to lie in the bed I made. My mamma always said that.”
Edith Leeper was right. Being in a wheelchair would not be her son’s story. His story is one of triumph, tragedy, redemption and most importantly, purpose. And it’s a story that he fully embraces and loves.
“I’m living life to the fullest right now, trying to be present in the moment,” said Leeper. “But down the road, I’m gonna be like holy smokes, I played basketball with Black Panther!”

The Oklahoma Hospital Association (OHA) board of directors has named Patti Davis president, effective Sept. 5. Davis replaces Craig W. Jones, who will retire Aug. 31 after 21 years leading OHA. Davis is only the fourth executive to lead the organization in its 99-year history.
We are excited about the selection of Patti to lead the OHA as we enter our 100th year of the association,” said David Whitaker, FACHE, OHA board chairman, chief administrative officer, Mercy-West Community. “Her experience in both small, rural hospitals and large, urban medical centers, as well as her past experience on the OHA staff will be a tremendous asset as we continue our important work strengthening hospitals across the state.”
Jimmy Leopard, FACHE, chair of the search committee and CEO, Wagoner Community Hospital, said “After an extensive nationwide search, Patti emerged as the best possible candidate to lead the organization. As both an OHA member and as OHA staff, Patti has been instrumental in a number of key OHA advocacy initiatives and we look forward to working with her as hospitals in Oklahoma face many challenges.”
“I am humbled to be selected for this position and I’m ready to get to work taking on the important role of leading the association into our next 100 years,” Davis said. “Every day, Oklahomans depend on our members’ services, and we must work to ensure the highest quality care is available to those who need it.”
Davis comes to OHA from OU Medicine, where she has served as senior vice president of external affairs, and prior to that, senior vice president of strategy and business development since 2013. She was executive vice president at the Oklahoma Hospital Association from 2001 to 2013, where she coordinated operations and special projects and led advocacy efforts on state and federal issues. She was OHA vice president, government relations from 1996 to 2001.
Before joining the OHA staff in 1996, Davis was CEO of Carnegie Tri-County Municipal Hospital. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Davis will complete her Master of Legal Studies in Healthcare Law degree at OU this fall.
While in Carnegie, Davis served as chairman of the OHA board of directors and received the association’s highest award, the W. Cleveland Rodgers Distinguished Service Award. She has also served on the Rural Health Association of Oklahoma board, the Medical Advisory Committee of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, and the Trauma Advisory Council for the Oklahoma State Department of Health.
Davis is a resident of Norman, Okla.

The Western Dressage Association® of America is hosting its sixth annual Western Dressage World Championship Show Sept. 27-30 at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla. Entries are open through Sept. 5, and no qualifying is necessary. Admission is free for spectators.

Competitors from across the United States and internationally will vie for 77 world championships, more than 30 breed high-score awards and 20 divisional championship belt buckles. Other competitions include musical freestyle jackpot classes.

New in 2018 is the addition of therapeutic riding exhibition classes, where the benefits of western dressage – and the partnership it can create with a horse – will be on full display.

“Western dressage honors the partnership between horses and riders, and that was certainly on display at our 2017 World Show,” said WDAA World Show Committee Chairwoman Ellen DiBella. “I was especially thrilled to see the riders in our Physically Challenged division.”

In 2017, three-time world champion Shawn Makepeace, who is legally blind, earned that divisional championship on her American Quarter Horse mare, Mosly A Rose. Volunteers held bright LED lights at each letter around the dressage arena, making it possible for Makepeace, of Belleville, Ill., to discern the location of the letters as she rode her western dressage tests.

This inclusive sport is welcoming to all types of horses and both beginner and expert riders alike. Older horses have also found success in this discipline – many of them on their second or third career.

“It’s so exciting to see horses in their mid-20s competing successfully,” DiBella said.

A great example was the American Quarter Horse Spindoll, who in 2017 at age 25 helped her rider, Rose Ruotsalainen of Cheney, Wash., earn three junior world championships, two reserve world championships and the overall junior divisional championship at the introductory level.

Support from generous sponsors is what makes this championship show work. Sponsorships are still available for classes, welcome parties and other awards, and inquiries are welcomed.

WDAA’s mission is to build an equine community that combines the traditions of the American West with classical dressage. We honor the horse, and we value the partnership between horse and rider.

WDAA is a 501(c)3 educational not-for-profit organization, focusing on educating riders and promoting the ethics and values inherent in western dressage. The United States Equestrian Federation has recognized WDAA as the sole affiliate representing the discipline of western dressage.

To learn more, or for entry or sponsorship information, go online to www.wdaaworldshow.org.

Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about clinical trials and how to go about finding one?  Old and Ill

Dear Old,
Each year, hundreds of thousands of Americans participate in clinical trials in hopes of gaining access to the latest, and possibly greatest, but not yet on the market treatments for all types of illnesses. But, you need to be aware that clinical trials can vary greatly in what they’re designed to do, so be careful to choose one that can actually benefits you. HereÕs what you should know along with some tips for locating one.
Clinical Trials
A clinical trial is the scientific term for a test or research study of a drug, device or medical procedure using people. These trials sponsored by drug companies, doctors, hospitals and the federal government are conducted to learn whether a new treatment is safe and if it works. But, keep in mind that these new treatments are also unproven, so there may be risks too.
Also be aware that all clinical trials have certain eligibility criteria (age, gender, health status, etc.) that you must meet in order to be accepted. And before taking part in a trial, you’ll be asked to sign an informed consent agreement. You can also leave a study at any time.
Find a Trial
Every year, there are more than 100,000 clinical trials conducted in the U.S. You can find them by asking your doctor who may be monitoring trials in his or her specialty. Or, you can look for them on your own at ClinicalTrials.gov. This website, sponsored by the National Institutes of Heath, contains a comprehensive database of federally and privately supported clinical studies in the U.S. and abroad on a wide range of diseases and conditions, including information about each trial’s purpose, who may participate, locations, and phone numbers for more details.
If you want some help finding the right trial, try ResearchMatch.org, a web-based resource created by Vanderbilt University that connects willing patients with researchers of clinical trial. Or, use the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation at CISCRP.org. This is a nonprofit organization that will take your information online or over the phone and do a thorough clinical trials search for you, and mail or email you the results within a week or two. Call 877-633-4376 for assistance.
Those with dementia and their caregivers can also locate clinical trials at the Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch at TrialMatch.alz.org.
Things to Know
Before deciding to participate in a trial, you need to first discuss it with your doctor to make sure it is appropriate for you. Then, schedule an appointment with the study’s medical team and ask lots of questions, such as:
* What’s the purpose of the study and can it improve my condition?
* What are the risks?
* What kinds of tests and treatments does the study involve, and how often and where they are performed?
* Is the experimental treatment in the study being compared with a standard treatment or a placebo?
* Who’s paying for the study? Will I have any costs, and if so, will my insurance plan or Medicare cover the rest?
* What if something goes wrong during or after the trial and I need extra medical care? Who pays?
For more information on clinical trials for older adults visit the National Institute on Aging (nia.nih.gov/health/clinical-trials), which has many informative articles including one on Òquestions to ask before participating in a clinical trial.

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.

As a baby boomer, enough of the 1960s rubbed off on me to make me willing to question everything. I still believe there are absolutes, however, no matter how polically incorrect that may be,
The cataclysm of the Sixties started long before. You could say it began with early man. A survey of what our great philosophers had to say about humanity points to a downward spiral:
During the Iron Age, Israel’s King David asked, “What is man, that [God] is mindful of him?” (Psalm 8:4, NIV), but in Ancient Greece, Plato defined man as “a being in search of meaning.” He didn’t turn to God exclusively or even primarily in the search for his identity.
During the Renaissance, Descartes described humanity’s increasing dependance on their own reasoning. “I think; therefore I am.” No wonder in the last century that Friedrich Nietzsche said, “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him.”
In the wake of the sweeping changes that changed how our nation thought, God raised up warriors to “demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.” (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV) As Francis Schaeffer said, “He Is There, and He Is Not Silent.” I read his books, as well as others by C.S. Lewis, Philip Yancey, and Josh McDowell. What I learned only magnified my commitment to what I already believed by faith.
A generation later. my son struggled at a much deeper level. He wanted to believe in God, but he didn’t know that he could. He read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and sought answers to his questions. Now he is an apologist himself, eager to share not only what he believes but why.
I’m proud and grateful for my son’s calling. But it’s not mine. My intellect agrees God is sovereign, but my old way of life tugs me in the wrong directions. The apostle John describes my struggle well: in addition pride in my achievements and possessions, I’m also drawn to a craving for physical pleasure as well as for everything I see(I John 2:16 NLT).
Some of those distractions are outside of my control. In the nursing home where I live, we have several residents with dementia. People suffering from the disease may grow belligerent and offensive
Not everyone is surrounded by dementia patients, but most of us hear offensive language fairly often—at work, at school, sometimes at home and on the media. The best way I know to combat such repulsive thingsis to fill my mind with good thoughts, whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8, NLT).
No, I don’t have complete control, not even in my room, since I share it. But where I can make a choice, I seek to proactively fill my mind with good things.
I’ve memorized hundreds of Bible verses. I continue to dive into scripture and to write devotions and poetry based on my studies, stockpiling memories for future reference. As hymnist Kate Wilkinson wrote, “May the Word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour.”
I also train myself to have the mind of Christ, to look out for the interests of others before my own (Philippians 2:3-5). When I do, my spirit grows calmer, and I am able to communicate with someone who otherwise annoys me.
If I review the day’s problems at night, wakefulness plagues me. I sleep better when I review memory verses, pray, or sing hymns. Occasionally I create a poem. It doesn’t matter if I remember the lines when I wake up. The process helped me rest.
I also find it helpful to speak frequently of God’s wonderful deeds on my behalf. The more I do, the more His blessings come to mind. Encouragement, not complaints, should come from my mouth.
Bottom line? When I set my mind on things of the spirit, I will prove that God is true, even when every man seems to be a liar. He corrects my hearing and my vision.

Battle of the Mind
Jesus, hosanna, save now
My thoughts may wander
Let me in Your mind abide
You make me stronger.
May I never brood on strife
Rehearsing details
Better to hold Your word tight

HPI Holdings LLC, an operator of hospitals, outpatient centers and clinics in Oklahoma City, INTEGRIS, Oklahoma’s most advanced health care system, and United Surgical Partners International (USPI), a leading provider of ambulatory services in the United States, have entered into an agreement to form a joint venture designed to offer patients and families more choice and flexibility of care settings.
The joint venture combines HPI’s comprehensive service offerings and convenience of care, the INTEGRIS system’s unmatched continuum in Oklahoma and the management infrastructure and capabilities of USPI. It also establishes an affiliation of more than 1,300 accomplished physicians, representing a wide variety of specialties with practices across metro Oklahoma City.
HPI Community Hospital locations include the north campus at 9800 Broadway Extension, the south campus at 3100 SW 89th Street and the Northwest Surgical Hospital at 9204 N. May Avenue. The INTEGRIS network includes Baptist Medical Center, Southwest Medical Center and Lakeside Women’s Hospital in Oklahoma City, as well as Canadian Valley Hospital in Yukon and INTEGRIS Health Edmond hospital in Edmond, OK.
“It is more important than ever that health care leaders continue to find ways to offer high quality care in affordable settings,” says Ed Gray, President and CEO of HPI. “We’ve been successful developers and service providers in standalone settings, and we’re pleased to continue development in that space while also establishing stronger connectivity to INTEGRIS, which offers Oklahoma’s most comprehensive level of services from primary care to transplant and everything in between.”
“The joint venture helps INTEGRIS continue our progress toward improving consumer access to care, delivering exceptional patient experiences, lowering the overall cost of care, and growing the number of people and families we’re able to serve,” says Tim Pehrson, President and CEO of INTEGRIS.
Brett Brodnax, President of USPI, states, “USPI is honored to both expand our relationship with INTEGRIS and establish this partnership with HPI. HPI physicians, management and staff have distinguished themselves by serving the surgical needs of the Oklahoma City community with excellence in quality, safety and patient satisfaction.”
The transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2018, subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions. Brown Gibbons Lang & Company initiated the transaction and was the exclusive financial advisor to HPI.
HPI Community Hospital Group is a CMS 5-star rated and Blue Distinction Center + operator of physician-owned hospitals, outpatient centers and clinics in Oklahoma City, Okla. For more information visit hpillc.org.
INTEGRIS, an Oklahoma-owned not-for-profit health system in the state, is recognized for quality and innovation and offers advanced treatment options and specialties found nowhere else in the region. INTEGRIS is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network. For more information, visit integrisok.com.

What’s your favorite part about Fall? Norman Regional Health System Auxiliary

I love the leaves and the changing of the trees.

Cathy Dutcher

I don’t like the Fall because I don’t like raking leaves.

Vivian Holt

No more lawn mowing!

Frances Skidmore

I love the cooler weather and the fall colors.

Dolores Larison