story and photos by Bobby Anderson, Staff Writer

On Sundays strangers gather at New Heights Baptist Church on the city’s south side and sing their praises to the Lord.
But each Monday night, Capitol Hill alumni get together at New Heights to sing in praise of Albert “Ozzie” Ossenkop.
Randy Parsons directs Ozzie’s Capitol Hill Alumni Choir, a group composed solely of individuals taught by the local choral legend.
Members are either Ossenkop’s former students, their spouses or those he taught in church choirs.
Membership is by audition only and encompasses Capitol Hill students from 1963 to 1972.
“But we all auditioned 50 or 60 years ago,” Parsons laughed. “Ozzie was a great showman, a great choral director and taught us not only the love of music but he loved all of us.
“He made us feel special.”
The choir started after a couple of large reunions honoring their former director. Hundreds of students came out of the woodwork for those.
Ossenkop taught for 34 years and passed in 2011 at the age of 89.
During the later years, the group gathered each Christmas to serenade him at Legend at Rivendell.
“Many of the choir stayed in touch and would come to visit and still consider him like a father,” Parsons said. “As he aged our love for him probably increased because we could care for him a little bit like he cared for us.”
But when Ossenkop passed there was a void.
A couple of alumni got the idea of gathering members to sing for the lighting of the Stockyards Christmas tree.
“That’s what got us started and now we are the official choir of Stockyards City and we sing every year at the lighting,” he said. “We figured if we were going to do this let’s do this with the songs Ozzie taught us.”
The choir doesn’t just sing, it performs Ossenkop’s original arrangements he taught back in high school.
This will be the fourth season for Ozzie’s Capitol Hill Alumni Choir, which performs around 14 shows yearly.
In late August, the group performed at the Capitol Hill Alumni Association Annual Banquet.
One of Ossenkop’s students made it all the way. Tenor Chris Merritt has performed all over the world from Carnegie Hall to London’s Royal Opera House.
Ossenkop took his choirs all over as well. Disneyland, Montreal, San Antonio – Ossenkop’s choirs toured performing his annual Musical Extravaganza, a collection of show tunes he arranged.
Member Cheryl Tolsen was part of Ossenkop’s last choir. Coincidentally, her mother was in Ossenkop’s first choir.
“The alto doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Parsons joked.
On Monday nights you’ll find Kathy Perkins, Class of 1968, accompanying the choir on piano the same way she did in high school.
Following Labor Day, Parsons said the group will look to add more members. Anyone who was taught by Ossenkop is welcome to join this month to begin work on the group’s Christmas performances.
Carol Netherton (Class of 68) serves as the group’s secretary and treasurer.
“He was just full of vitality and vivaciousness,” she remembered. “I don’t know anybody who didn’t like him. He was like a father to so many.”
Alana Stephens (Class of 69) described her mentor as ‘“a big old teddy bear.” Seeing Ossenkop each morning at 7:25 a.m. was always a treat.
“He really was interested in all of us kids,” Stephens said. “He wasn’t just a teacher.”
Ossenkop’s expectations were straightforward: no smoking, no drinking, be an A+ person.
Even decades later, when Ossenkop would see one of his students he could tell them what voice part they sang and even remembered details about their families. “One teacher’s influence has been multiplied over all these years and is still being multiplied,” Parsons said. “Nobody pays these people to come. They have to put up with me but they come week after week, year after year. We enjoy each other but our main motivation is we want to honor the guy that started it all.”
Ossenkop left an indelible mark on every member of the choir.
Juanita Gasaway (Class of 1968) still has two pictures of Ossenkop on her cell phone. The first is of him holding her first son in 1970. The second was Ossenkop holding her son’s son in 2010.
“He had a heart of gold,” Gasaway said.

by Dr. C.V Ramana

What is osteoporosis?
It is the “weakening” or “softening” of bones.
Bone consists of a framework or matrix of collagen and other soft tissue elements. It is then “hardened” by deposition of calcium mineral into the matrix. We think of bone as being a “static” component of the body, but this is not true. Bone is constantly formed and broken down throughout our life as the result of a complex interplay of dueling hormones, health, diet, and activity. In childhood and young adulthood, bone growth is faster than breakdown. People generally reach peak bone mass in their late 20’s. After that, bone breakdown tends to be faster than new bone formation. When calcium is taken out of mature (or fully formed) bone and not replaced, the frame left behind is soft or weak, and easily susceptible to fracture.
Why is calcium needed in the body?
Calcium is an important mineral in the body – it is vital to the formation and strengthening of our bones, but also plays an important role in the function of muscles and nerves as well as innumerable biochemical reactions in the body. Calcium is transported throughout the body dissolved in blood, and so, available to all of our organs and tissues in carrying out their functions. The amount of calcium in the blood is tightly regulated by hormones released into the bloodstream from the thyroid and parathyroid glands (located below the Adam’s Apple), pituitary gland (in the brain), as well as the adrenal glands and kidneys.
Our bones serve as a massive reservoir of calcium that can be tapped when calcium levels in the blood are low due to inadequate dietary intake, inadequate levels of vitamin D in our bodies, or the wrong form of vitamin D due to inadequate exposure to sunlight, or as a result of some medications.
How to know if you have osteoporosis?
Unfortunately, this is a “silent disease” and does not become symptomatic until a bone is fractured, or the back becomes kyphotic (stooped) due to slow collapse of multiple vertebra in the upper spine.
How to find out if you have osteoporosis?
Sometimes the diagnosis may be suggested based on the appearance of bones on x-rays or CT scans that you may have for other reasons. The most reliable way, though, is through a test called DEXA which measures Bone Mineral Density (BMD) in various bones in the body.
Blood tests to determine the level of Calcium, Vitamin D, calcitonin and parathyroid hormone can also be helpful, especially in planning treatment.
Risk factors for developing osteoporosis
Factors that can be modified
* Lifestyle – inactive lifestyle or extended bedrest
* Smoking
* Alcohol consumption
* Inadequate dietary intake
* Sex hormones – abnormal absence of menstrual periods or menopause with low estrogen in women, and low testosterone in men
* Medications – long term use of steroids, some seizure medications
Factors that cannot be modified
* Sex – women are more prone to develop this than men
* Age – bone mass decreases in everyone after the late 20’s
* Body size – small boned women are more likely to develop osteoporosis]
Ethnicity – Caucasian and Asian women have a higher likelihood, though African American and Hispanic women are also at high risk.
* Heredity – people whose parents have osteoporosis have an increased likelihood
How can it be treated?
* Smoking cessation
* Decrease alcohol consumption
* Lifestyle modification – weight bearing exercises such as walking, jogging, hiking, climbing stairs, playing tennis and dancing are all good. Resistance exercises such as weight lifting or weight training machines are good
* Increase dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D
* Recommended levels – calcium – more than 1000 mg/day after the age of 30, and 1200 mg/day for women after the age of 50. Vitamin D – more than 600 IU/day for adults up to age 70, and 800 IU/day for men and women beyond the age of 70.
Medications
* Supplemental calcium and Vitamin D
* Prescription medications that work in a variety of ways to interfere with the rates of bone formation and breakdown balance
* Bisphosphonates (which bind to calcium for deposition in bone)
* Estrogen and estrogen analogues
* Estrogen receptor modifiers
* Calcitonin – hormone
* Parathyroid hormone blocker
Who can treat Osteoporosis?
A primary healthcare provider should be contacted for diagnosis and development of a treatment plan. In some cases, they may refer to a specialist for the treatment. Specialists can include endocrinologists, rheumatologists, and women’s health specialists such as an Ob/Gyn.
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. https://naadihealthcare.com/

1 NW 64th Street 73116 Oklahoma City, OK Phone: (405) 608-8884

For the past week, I have been scouring drug stores searching, without success, for a greeting card I plan to mail to Erramatti Mangayamma and her husband, E. Raja Rao.
The card I’m looking for would say, “Congratulations! What the hell were you thinking?”
On Sept. 5, Mangayamma gave birth to twin girls. This event alone may not be card-worthy, as women give birth every day. But not all of them are 73 years old.
With an 80-year-old husband.
Mangayamma, who is from Andhra Pradesh, India, is believed to be the oldest woman ever to give birth. Unable to conceive since they were married in 1962, the couple approached Dr. Sanakayyala Umashankar, who reportedly agreed to administer one round of in vitro fertilization to Mangayamma.
As someone whose second child was conceived via IVF, I know the risks involved with implanting multiple eggs into a woman’s body. Before doing so, our fertility doctor wanted us to be aware we could end up with not one child, but an entire litter, and were we OK with that?
We ended up with one but, with an infant and a kindergartner to care for, we were routinely exhausted by midday. At the time, my wife was 36. I was 39. Roughly half the ages of Mangayamma and Rao.
Don’t get me wrong, having a baby is a joyous occasion. But do new parents who are well into their years of Social Security eligibility, IRA withdrawals and entry into retirement communities REALLY know what they are getting themselves into? Mrs. Mangayamma, you do know that you can’t go to bed until your new girls have drifted off, right? I’m 56 and my bedtime is approximately 9:30 p.m.
Your infants’ bedtimes should be approximately, oh wait, infants don’t have set bedtimes. Never mind.
Mr. Rao let’s discuss your duties as a first-time dad. Are you OK with assembling two cribs, two strollers and, nightly, bathing two slippery babies? The latter requires very steady hands. I’m not making any assumptions about your manual dexterity but just yesterday, my fingers unexplainably twitched, causing me to drop a full glass of water. Just saying.
Now, new parents, let’s flash forward a few years. I’m not sure how popular youth sports programs are in India, but my girls started playing soccer and softball when they were 6. Mr. Rao, how are your coaching skills? At 86, will you be up to teaching a team of giggly first-graders how to execute a corner kick? Will you be able to frantically wave your arm in a circular motion, signaling your lead runner should round third base and head for home? Are you confident you can perform both those feats without crumbling to the ground, having pulled something?
Also, be ready to argue with opposing coaches who may have different views about athletic development. Sports have changed considerably since you grew up in the good old 1950s.
Finally, let’s not forget that you sired two girls. It’s worth noting that, sometime around 2030, both will be entering those hormonally charged years that, for parents, are about as pleasant as repeatedly biting your tongue in the exact same spot. Mrs. Mangayamma, you’ll be 84 while your husband will be 91. Better pray you both suffer from hearing loss by then; it’s the only way you’ll be immune from the sounds of slamming bedroom doors, screaming arguments about who-took-whose pair of Justice shorts and shouting matches involving bathroom time.
Also, both likely will have radically different dietary restrictions by then. The only thing they will have in common is their disdain for your dinner of choice: Jell-O and soup.
Well, I’ve probably given too many opinions. I’m sure that, after more than 50 years of yearning for children, you two will make amazing parents. Enjoy the experience because it goes so fast. In the blink of an eye, they’ll be out of college and on their own.
And, at 94 and 101, you’ll be empty-nesters.

Dear Savvy Senior, How much does cremation cost and how can I find a good deal in my area? I would like to get a simple, basic cremation that doesn’t cost me, or my family, a lot of money. Frugal Senior

Dear Frugal,
Cremation costs can vary widely. Depending on your location, the provider and the services you request, cremation can range anywhere from $500 to $7,500 or more. But that’s a lot cheaper than a full-service funeral and cemetery burial that averages nearly $11,000 today. Here are some tips to help you get a good deal.
Shop Around
Because prices can vary sharply by provider, the best way to get a good price on a simple “no frills” cremation is to call several funeral homes in your area (most funeral homes provide cremation services) and compare prices.
When you call, ask them specifically how much they charge for a “direct cremation,” which is the basic option and the least expensive. With direct cremation, there’s no embalming, formal viewing or funeral. It only includes the essentials: picking up the body, completing the required paperwork, the cremation itself and providing ashes to the family.
If your family wants to have a memorial service, they can have it at home or your place of worship after the cremation, in the presence of your remains.
If you want additional services beyond what a direct cremation offers, ask the funeral home for an itemized price list that covers the other service costs, so you know exactly what you’re getting. All providers are required by law to provide this.
To locate nearby funeral homes, look in your local yellow pages, or Google “cremation” or “funeral” followed by your city and state. You can also get good information online at Parting.com, which lets you compare prices from funeral providers in your area based on what you want.
Or, if you need more help contact your nearby funeral consumer alliance program (see Funerals.org/local-fca or call 802-865-8300 for contact information). These are volunteer groups located in most regions around the country that offer a wide range of information and prices on local funeral and cremation providers.
Pricey Urns
The urn is an item you need to be aware of that can drive up cremation costs. Funeral home urns usually cost around $100 to $300, but you aren’t required to get one.
Most funeral homes initially place ashes in a plastic bag that is inserted into a thick cardboard box. The box is all you need if you intend to have your ashes scattered. But if you want something to display, you can probably find a nice urn or comparable container online. Walmart.com and Amazon.com for example, sells urns for under $50. Or, you may want to use an old cookie jar or container you have around the house instead of a traditional urn.
Free Cremation
Another option you may want to consider that provides free cremation is to donate your body to a university medical facility. After using your body for research, they will cremate your remains for free (some programs may charge a small fee to transport your body to their facility), and either bury or scatter your ashes in a local cemetery or return them to your family, usually within a year or two.
To find a medical school near you that accepts body donations, the University of Florida maintains a directory at Anatbd.acb.med.ufl.edu/usprograms.
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.

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) recently awarded a three-year grant to the Oklahoma Healthy Aging Initiative, part of the Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatric Medicine. ACL is part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
The grant will help fund implementation of a statewide program for falls prevention.
Lee Jennings, M.D., geriatric medicine specialist, will coordinate the program, which integrates complimentary components: Tai Chi Quan: Moving for Better Balance (TCQ: MBB), and Stay Active and Independent for Life (SAIL) in an effort to decrease the likelihood of falls and improve mobility among older Oklahomans and those with disabilities.
“In addition, OHAI will train volunteer class leaders to enhance program sustainability. Our objective is to build sustainable partnerships with organizations, such as hospital systems, long-term care facilities and insurance providers,” Jennings said. She is also principle investigator on a study related to the grant-funded program.
National Falls Prevention Awareness Day, Monday, Sept. 23, is about preventing fall-related injuries. Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries, posing a threat to life and quality of life.
In connection with the national emphasis, OHAI will host a Facebook live event from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
The event will include healthcare professionals in a discussion of the adverse impact of falls, how to prevent them as well as practical tips for creating a more secure environment. The event will also feature video demonstrations of TCQ and SAIL classes.
Keith Kleszynski, Ph.D., associate director of OHAI, explained that the SAIL program is new to OHAI and relatively new to Oklahoma. “We selected this program for its emphasis on physical activity and its appeal to those inclined toward more rigorous exercise,” he said. “It represents a strategic move to reach more male participants.”
Currently, 79 percent of OHAI tai chi participants are female; however, the risks associated with falls and injuries are not limited by gender.
SAIL was developed to improve strength, balance and fitness – all critical components in one’s ability to remain physically active and reduce the risk of falls. It can be done seated or standing. Tai chi incorporates slow and controlled movements that also increase balance and flexibility.

by Valerie Pautsch, OU Medicine

Tara Dominguez didn’t fit the profile, if there is one. She was young, with no personal or family history of cancer, and with none of the “usual” risk factors. The diagnosis – cervical cancer – was shocking.
It was early in 2016, and a routine pap smear revealed an abnormal growth. A subsequent biopsy with Dominguez’ regular obstetrician-gynecologist determined cancer was present. “I asked where I should go for treatment – thinking I might be headed to Houston or New York. When I found out there was a cutting-edge cancer center right here in Oklahoma City, it really put my mind at ease,” Dominguez recalls.
Her doctor referred her at once to Katherine Moxley, M.D., Stephenson Cancer Center gynecologic oncologist.
As a pharmacist, Dominguez had a healthcare background and her education was science-heavy. With that perspective, she familiarized herself with treatment guidelines. She understood the drugs and what therapy entailed. She asked myriad questions and gained a thorough understanding of what she was facing.
“I got in to see Dr. Moxley right away. When I met her, she already had a plan and I was scheduled for surgery within a month,” Dominguez said.
Dominguez had what was believed to be a fairly early-stage cervical cancer. According to Moxley, the imaging studies looked normal, but did not tell the whole story. Initially, surgery was the primary treatment, and in 85 percent of cases, surgery would have been enough. Unfortunately, Dominguez defied these odds. Pathology identified high-risk characteristics requiring more aggressive treatment.
Dominguez came to Moxley and Stephenson Cancer Center hoping to participate in a clinical trial that used less-aggressive treatment approaches aimed at preserving fertility. But from the beginning, her options began to dwindle.
“We learned the tumor wasn’t confined to cervix,” Moxley said. “Chemotherapy combined with radiation became the next course of treatment, with radiation being the larger component.”
Dominguez was no longer eligible for the fertility-sparing treatments she had hoped for, but became a candidate for a different trial focused on chemo radiation with chemotherapy. Newly married, Dominguez began to see one of her dreams – motherhood – slipping away. Moxley began to work through options that would enable Dominguez and her husband to become parents on the other side of treatment and recovery. Moxley said the physician’s primary goal for patients is to keep them whole, alive and undamaged.
“So,” Moxley said, “the next question became, ‘How can we ensure your ability to have children?’ The answer took Donimguez through infertility treatments, and once they had viable embryos, she came back for surgery.”
For Moxley, it felt as if each meeting was another occasion in which she had to deliver a new and different piece of bad news. “These findings were exceedingly uncommon, and it was astounding that they all happened to Tara. Repeatedly, I had to say, ‘…..but there’s something different, something more or something else.’”
An avid runner before diagnosis, Dominguez competed in cross country events throughout high school. Later she started running 5Ks and 10Ks, then advanced to running a dozen or more half-marathons each year. Here too, Dominguez faced another significant loss in the life she had known.
“After surgery I couldn’t run of course, but more than that, I was advised that radiation treatment would probably mean the end of running altogether,” Dominguez said. Now a cancer survivor, Dominguez also has become a runner again, thanks in large part to Moxley’s steadfast encouragement. Recovering from treatment, Dominguez and Moxley both completed the 2017 Go Girl Run. “Dr. Moxley stayed after the race to cross the finish line with me,” she said. “It was a new start to this new chapter, returning to being able to run.”
Dominguez has completed five half-marathons this year. She will participate in the Outpace Cancer Race 10K event on Oct. 6, with Moxley once again as her running partner.
“We seek to cure cancer, but also, enable individuals to return to those things that inspire their passions,” Moxley said.
Though the physician/patient relationship is first defined by professionalism, cancer treatment introduces a different dynamic. For Moxley and Dominguez, appointments were frequent and spanned an entire year. “Discussions about life and health are intensely personal. During that time, I came to know Tara as a person, as well as a patient. You can’t really treat someone for a long-term condition if you don’t know their lives,” Moxley said. “Cancer is like ‘slow trauma.’ You walk through it with the patient as an advocate.”
As if experiencing a kind of mutual grace, the conversations seemed to follow a pattern with Moxley’s refrain, “I’m so sorry,” and Dominguez’ response, “Well, this is what we have before us, and I know you’re going to do the best thing for me.”
Moxley described Dominguez as incredibly stoic and strong, meeting each new challenge with courage and determination. “Tara came through therapy beautifully, and her long-term prognosis is excellent. Aggressive treatment was crucial.”
At Stephenson, Dominguez said she found one of the best treatment facilities in the nation. “I received the best care possible from amazing doctors – the best minds from across the country – and incredible staff. All that – and not having to travel for treatment, having friends, family and a complete support network right here…I already had obstacles in my mind, but these were no longer obstacles I had to cross.”
Dominguez underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatment spanning nearly four months. She credits radiation oncologist Spencer Thompson, M.D., and his staff for making her feel so much at home and so confident of the care she received.
Dominguez said her experience with cancer in some ways mirrors the effort of being a runner. “There are days you’re going to have setbacks, but you’ll also experience great joy and success.”
To register for the Outpace Cancer Race 5 or 10K event on Oct. 6, go to outpacecancer.com.

My favorites are the foliage colors and of course the temperature and the weather.

Rosa Knight

I can work in my garden again and there’s no mosquitoes.

Melanie Wright

The coolness and the Oklahoma State Fair.

June Cavendish

OU football and tailgating.

Vicki Bailey

OGE Energy Corp. will join forces with United Way of Central Oklahoma during its annual fundraising campaign to double new, first-time company contributions.
“United Way agencies provide such valuable services to our communities, and we’re only as strong as the communities we serve,” said Sean Trauschke, chairman, President and CEO of OGE Energy Corp. “We identified this as a way to help support and grow the missions of these agencies where we live and work.”
This opportunity comes at a critical time as United Way of Central Oklahoma begins fundraising efforts for 57 local nonprofits, serving hundreds of thousands of clients each year who need us more than ever. The gift will help Partner Agencies serve more central Oklahomans by providing life-saving services to those in need.
“OGE Energy Corp. is known for giving back in big ways, and we are truly grateful that they thought of United Way – that says a lot about the caring nature of their organization,” said Debby Hampton, United Way of Central Oklahoma president and CEO. “It takes all of us to make this a more compassionate community, and OGE’s support is one of the big puzzle pieces that makes that possible throughout central Oklahoma.”
Donations may be made online at unitedwayokc.org or by giving through your workplace campaign.
About United Way of Central Oklahoma
United Way of Central Oklahoma researches human needs within the communities of central Oklahoma and directs resources to accountable health and human services agencies to meet those needs by improving the health, safety, education and economic well-being of its most vulnerable citizens. For more information about United Way of Central Oklahoma, please visit unitedwayokc.org or call (405) 236-8441.