March-April 2019

Marty’s Memo

Yearly Eye Exams Can Save Your Life

I n reality, the eye exam is more than a simple glasses and con-tacts checkup. The health of

the body is reflected in the ocular health, which is why a yearly dilated eye exam is recommended for every-one.

When we dilate the eyes, we are looking at the retinal blood vessels. These vessels show us how blood pres-sure, cholesterol, and diabetes are af-fecting all of the blood vessels through-out your body because the vessels in your eyes are the same in your heart, your kidneys, your feet, etc. We liter-ally get a view inside the body without having to cut you open.

What about those patients who don’t have vascular concerns? Retinal holes and tears commonly have symp-toms, but some patients with these problems will have no symptoms at all. We have no idea until we dilate their eyes. Without prompt treatment,

these can threaten vision, irreversibly.

Eye exams also serve as an ocular cancer screening. The second most common location for melanoma is within the eyes (most common: skin). Early diagnosis is extremely critical for sur-vival due to high risk of metastasis. Unfortunately, most patients don’t have symptoms in early stages, and lesions are likely to be missed when you are not dilated.

We only get two eyes, and we can-not imagine life without our sight. That is our mission: Preserve vision throughout your entire lifetime. So don’t leave your vision/life to chance. Make sure you get your yearly eye exam!

(contributed by Dr. Eric Jerde, Eye Spe-cialists. Dr. Jerde is located at 10275 Watson Road in Sunset Hills, 63127. (314) 962-9334. www.jerdeeye.com. Thank you, Dr. Jerde!)

Everyone got crafty making their own Sweetheart Pillow

W e welcome spring! The

flowers are start-ing to push their way out of the ground in our beautiful gardens. Please join us on Saturday, May 18 from 9-noon to help spruce up our front garden. All we need is some raking, some clean up and mulch spreading. We promise fun (and donuts) for all! Speaking of new beginnings, I’m excited to welcome our new Direc-

tor of Nursing to the Home. Lisa Parish started with us the second week of March. Receiving her LPN in 1993 and her RN in 2009, Lisa has 18 years of

experience in nursing. She has a combined three years experience as a Director of Nursing and Assistant Director of Nursing before coming to the Home. I hear she’s quite the seamstress, and owns her own ser-ger! Welcome, Lisa! I also want to recognize and ap-plaud Alma McCoy who served as our Acting Director of Nursing for a month. In her short time here she helped sharpen our nurses’ and CNAs’ skills. Not only was she an excellent care giver and leader, she also contributed her educational ex-perience to the team. Thank you, Alma!

Marty Schenk Executive Director

Fond Memories The young-

est of four children (by six years), MCH resident Marion H. felt like she was

an only child—and really took ad-vantage of her mother’s attention to the older kids. Marion investi-gated everything and everywhere on their up-state New York farm. She found herself in trouble a lot but she says that’s what made life interesting. Marion has lots of

great stories about her childhood and even more of her world trav-els. She’s been everywhere, in-cluding Turkey and China, which she visited at age 79. She met her husband of 50 years at age 15 at the Saturday night square dance. She knew things were OK when her older brother, the local deputy sheriff, gave his approval. Marion is the first one to tell you, multiple times, that’s she’s had a wonderful life! Don’t we wish that for every-one. (Fond Memories will feature a different MCH resident each issue. We hope you enjoy learning a little bit about our la-dies.)

Happy January birthdays to Catherine (left) and Mary (right)

Passings

Our heartfelt condolences to the family of resident

Shirley Deatherage who passed away on

February 8.

Happy Birthday, Ladies! March

19, Mary Culver—178th birthday

April

10, Polly Sizemore

14, Joleen Shelton

27, Georgeann Terry

30, Yvonne Moore

More

fun

With

pillows!

We Could Use. . . Office Depot gift card for office supplies Gift cards to use as thank-you’s for our

great staff Chocolate candy to keep our nurses happy 8-foot and round linen and disposable ta-

blecloths for dining services Cat litter for Noah, our resident kitty Fun jewelry for our Culver Mart case Potato chips (single-serve size) and fun-

size candy bars for Bingo prizes Great stuff for Boutique coming up on

June 22 at Strawberry Festival

Staff Stars

E veryone at MCH knows Terrence Crump, whose official title may be Maintenance but

is really many other things—miracle worker, jack-of-all-trades, Mr. Dependable and all around nice guy. He’s been with the Home for 18 years and keeps coming to work each day because he loves the people here, especially the residents at the Home. Terrence says he’s a family guy, married to Marsha with three grown daughters and one granddaughter he gets to spend lots of time with. When he’s not with them, he loves fishing for catfish, a little roller skating and even some bowling—his high score is 200. He’s also a traveler with his favorite city being Port-land, Oregon. New York City is on his wish list—in a big RV loaded with all the family. Watch out Big Apple! (Terrence was recognized for exhibiting Core Six Values, which is awarded every two months. These values include: focus, kindness, creating fun, giving your best, respect and doing the right thing. He also won a $50 gift card. We will feature each employee who receives this well-earned recognition.)

HELP WANTED! Newsletter Squad

Only 3 hours one day every two months

Easy sit-down work Fun with other folks You help the Home

Kirkwood Theatre Guild Concession Stand

3 hours—May 3, 4 or 5 See the play for FREE Fun with other folks Easy work selling delicious

cookies! You help the Home Grounds Spruce-Up-May 18

9 am—noon Have fun in our garden Clean out our plantings Fun with other folks Coffee, water & donuts You help the Home

Strawberry Festival-June 22 Help set up Boutique during

the week Get tables/chairs ready Slice up strawberries day

before June 22, 1-3:30, staff Bou-

tique You help the Home

Call or email Gina to help:

(314) 966-6034 gina@maryculverhome.org

Thank You for Helping! Culver’s Restaurant/Crestwood 100 cups of frozen custard for Mary Culver’s 178th birthday! Sandra Ray Michele Ambach Newsletter Squad Sandra Ray Mailing List Marvel Judy Leach Michele Ambach Dave Voracek Joan Muccigrosso Bingo Buddies Jeanne Hermann family Potato Chips for Bingo Prizes Concordia Lutheran Church More Potato Chips Sue Domian Happy Hour Vino Sheryll Williams Candles & More Mary Parsons Great Stuff for Boutique Susan Haddock More Great Stuff for Boutique Anonymous Nice Clothing for Boutique

Michele Ambach Teddy Bears for the Ladies

Thanks f o r

he l p i ng ! N o a h

Minnie the Mannequin was decked out for Mardi Gras thanks to Marnie and Barb!

Non-Profit

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Permit 1316

St. Louis, MO

Address Service Requested

The Mary Culver Home

221 W. Washington Ave.

Kirkwood, MO 63122

314-966-6034

www.maryculverhome.org

Help Clean up

our Mailing List...

Want off our mailing list? OR

Want this as an email?

contact gina@maryculverhome.org or

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We sure appreciate it!

The mission of The Mary Culver Home is to provide visually impaired women with dignified, compassionate, holistic nursing care in a warm family atmosphere, as well as to promote security, confidence, and an excellent quality of life.

In This Issue:

Marty’s Memo

Eye Exams Save Lives

Birthdays

Passings

Help Wanted

Thank you

We Could Use

Staff Stars: Terrence Crump Fond Memories

Coming Up Next

Clean Up Our Mailing List

May 3,4,5

MCH staffs Kirkwood Theatre Guild concession stand

May 18, 9:00—Noon

Grounds Spruce-Up Day at MCH

June 22, 1:30—3:30

Strawberry Festival at MCH

Coming Up Next

Great stuff Inside!