my boone health fall 2012

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BREAST CANCER BREAKTHROUGH: NEW TECHNOLOGY IS SAVING LIVES IN MID-MISSOURI A Heart Of Rock ‘N Roll Richard King: VOL: 2 ISSUE: 4

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Richard King has a heart of Rock 'n Roll, plus discover a new technology for breast cancer that is saving lives in mid-Missouri.

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Page 1: My Boone Health Fall 2012

BReaSt CaNCeR BReaKtHRougH: NEW TECHNOLOGY IS SAVING LIVES IN MID-MISSOURI

A Heart Of Rock ‘N Roll

Richard King:

VOL: 2 ISSUE: 4

Page 2: My Boone Health Fall 2012
Page 3: My Boone Health Fall 2012

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Fall 2012 3

Page 14 Page 19

Page 20 Page 22

Boone Hospital Center’s mission is

to improve the health of the people

and communities we serve.

Dan Rothery

President

Angy Littrell

Director

Ben Cornelius

Communications

and Marketing Manager

Jacob Luecke

Media Relations Manager

Shannon Whitney

Communications Coordinator

Photos By:

Dave Hoffmaster

L.G. Patterson

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Please submit comments

or feedback to [email protected]

or call 573.815.3392

1600 East BroadwayColumbia, MO 65201

573-815-8000

For a free subscription,call 573-815-3392 or visitmyBooneHealth.com and

click on the subscription linkon the right side of the page.

table of Contents

5 ................................................ A Note From Boone Hospital President Dan Rothery

6 ..................................................................................................... myBoone Health Stories

8 ................................................................................................................ Hospital Headlines

10.................................................................................................................. Keeping The Beat

13............................................................................................................. Remember To Laugh

14.................................................................................................................. Boone Dog Saints

16........................................................................................................... Advice Worth Sharing

18............................................................................................................ Going The Extra Mile

19.................................................................................................................. Racing For A Cure

20 .................................................................................................. Autumn’s Delicious Décor

22 .................................................................................................................. Eli’s Angel Hands

24 ................................................................................... Eat Healthy, Eat Less, Move More

26 .................................................................................................................. Back On His Feet

27................................................................................................................ Snapshots Of Care

28 .............................................................. Inside The Heart Of The Health Care Debate

30 ....................................................................................................... A Touching Monument

Page 4: My Boone Health Fall 2012
Page 5: My Boone Health Fall 2012

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Fall 2012 5

Itruly enjoy reading the letters of thanks we receive from patients and community members. It’s easily one of the best parts of my job. What I love about these letters is they are often inspired by seemingly small gestures — the kindness of a

caregiver, a nurse with a contagious laugh, a doctor with a gift for clear communication.

If you want to see what I’m talking about, flip to the next page and read the letters people have shared for this magazine.

As a hospital leader, I’m often focused on big things, like striving to have the best medical technology available, keeping our care efficient and ensuring our staff is highly trained.

Yet, the letters from our patients remind me that the small, personal connections are often truly what matter. These interactions make people feel comfortable here, allowing them to relax and let healing happen.

It’s about making sure that when people are at Boone Hospital, their dignity is safe.

This is what our current advertising is all about. It’s about making dignity a big deal and highlighting the little acts that make a significant difference. We want to recognize that how we treat people is often just as important as how we treat people.

This isn’t a change for us; we have a long tradition of dignity. It’s part of our culture. It’s a big reason why this hospital is such a wonderful place to work. And it’s the source of so many letters that cross my inbox.

So whenever you need us, please know that we’ll protect your dignity and work our hardest to give you outstanding treatment — in every sense of the word.

Daniel J. Rothery

Note From DanDignity Is A Big Deal

Dan RotheryPresident

Boone Hospital Center

Page 6: My Boone Health Fall 2012

6 Fall 2012 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

myBoone Health StoriesVisit myBooneHealth.com To Read More — And Share Your Own Story

Two weeks ago today I had brain surgery performed by Dr. Ryan. I cannot thank everyone at Boone enough.They took excellent care of me and made my entire family feel much more at ease and very comfortable considering the situation. Your nurses, doctors, anesthesiologist and all support staff were just wonderful. Thank you so much!

I cannot say enough about Dr. Crowder and her skill as a doctor and surgeon. Cancer is a word no one wants to hear, but she helped me through it and saved

my life. Both Dr. Crowder and Boone Hospital took amazing care of me after three surgeries with an exceptional level of competence and compassion. I am forever grateful.

Since my diagnosis, I have had several encounters with Boone Hospital, and in every single case, the care was exceptional. What meant as much to me, though, was the kindness and compassion demonstrated by the staff. I was scared, my husband was scared, and in spite of being in the medical field myself (I am a speech pathologist), I felt lost. When I say the doctor and hospital staff made the difference, I mean it. I had to have faith in the people treating me, and never once did I feel like I would be better served by going to a different doctor or hospital or to a bigger city.

Following the third surgery, I had chemotherapy and radiation at Missouri Cancer Associates and felt good knowing they admitted to Boone. My care there was exceptional as well, and today I am a survivor. I am grateful to Dr. Crowder and Rachel for saving my life and for coordinating my care, to the doctors at MCA and their staff for their excellence in treatment to eliminate any cancer that couldn’t be seen, and to the staff at Boone Hospital for their expertise, kindness and a personal level of care that made me feel like more than a disease — I felt like a person. 

As an aside, in my work I encounter people who come in for rehab following a hospital stay. Those people who have been treated at Boone Hospital consistently express the same level of satisfaction for the care they received. That says something about your hospital and the people who work there.

Care Made The Difference During Cancer ScareBy Gwen Nolan

Thanks For Boone’s Love And CompassionBy Stacey Ferguson

Caregivers Were Wonderful During Brain Surgery By Stacy Eschliman Davis

From Tiny InfantTo Healthy GirlBy Wendahl Martin, Columbia

M y daughter was born at Boone weighing only 1 pound, 10 ounces. Thanks to the hard

work and constant care she received from the best staff anyone could ask for, she is now a healthy little girl with no side effects. And the care did not stop there. They have stayed by our side throughout the whole time.

We are so lucky to have Boone Hospital. Adrienne has been cleared of any problems that tend to come along with being a premature baby. Matter of fact, she is a year ahead of where she is supposed to be, and is in gymnastics classes. We owe it all to the doctors and nurses at Boone Hospital.

M y dad spent the last two weeks of his life at Boone Hospital. Dad had colorectal cancer. He was

diagnosed two years ago.Two weeks ago he had another bowel

obstruction and needed surgery. We thought he would recover and go home, but God had other plans. Dad never fully recovered; his body was worn out.

A week after the surgery he suffered a stroke and had more surgery. Dad passed two days later.

The care he received and the care the family received was wonderful those last two weeks Dad spent in the ICU.

The nurses were nothing but wonderful with Dad and us. I am very pleased with the care he received and the love and compassion that was shown to us by the nurses.

Page 7: My Boone Health Fall 2012

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Fall 2012 7

Where to begin? Boone Hospital Center is a wonderful hospital with many dedicated staff members.

I live two hours away and will not even go to my local hospital because of the great experiences with Boone.

Six months ago, I gave birth to my first child. It was the longest 33 hours of my life! But through those hours I had amazing nurses through each shift keeping me comfortable and helping me every step of the way.

My OB nurses were Hilary, Denise and Molly. That night as they were getting off their shifts, I was upset they weren’t going to be there for the birth. The following night I was 30 hours in labor and Hilary came back and was able to assist in delivering.

I have been seeing Dr. Moreton now for over seven years and I always enjoy the feedback I get from him. When Dr. Moreton put me on bed rest in February,

Share your storymyBooneHealth.com

Oh, I sure hope Judy comes back tonight,” said my mom, who was in the cardiac surgery step-down

floor this past week.Sure enough, at shift change we could

hear Judy’s contagious chuckle ringing down the hall as she approached the room. Judy McGhee has been such a joy to be with this past week. She has offered excellence in standard nursing care, but it was the laughter, the individualized care and the true concern in answering our questions about a myriad of issues that separated her from the rest of the high-quality staff.

We had the pleasure of watching her mentor a wonderful new little nurse named Christine, a lucky young nurse to be given such a fine, experienced medical professional.

Thank you, Judy!The Lilie Galloway Family

Patient’s Family Praises Individualized CareBy Lilie Galloway, Hannibal

Staff Was “Amazing” During Birth Of First ChildBy Jessica Branstetter, Green City

This photo by Dave Hoffmaster captures the moment when the funeral procession for Spc. Sterling Wyatt was about to pass under Boone Hospital’s pedestrian bridge. Spc. Wyatt was killed in Afghanistan on July 11. When shared on Facebook, the photo touched hearts around mid-Missouri. More than 35,000 people viewed the photo, which received 1,885 “likes” and was shared 234 times.

A Somber Moment

I was devastated that I wasn’t going to be able to teach any more this year.

“It’s MAP (Missouri Assessment Program) season, Dr. Moreton. Don’t you know how important this time is right now for all teachers throughout the state of Missouri?”

And his response was, “This is just one of these moments in your young adult life where you cannot be in control.”

Boy was he right! I have learned so much from him and I was so glad he was able to deliver my first child.

I cannot thank Dr. Moreton, Hilary, Denise, Molly, the student nurses and the rest of the amazing staff enough.

Page 8: My Boone Health Fall 2012

8 Fall 2012 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

Change is hard. Amy Dee-Kristensen understands. Dee-Kristensen, a national speaker, will share parts of her extraordinary life story during Day One, a free weight loss motivational event hosted by Boone

Hospital Center and Columbia Bariatric Associates.With help from Dee-Kristensen, Day One participants will

make a confident first step toward their weight loss goals. They will leave motivated, educated and empowered — ready to conquer days two, three and beyond.

Day One will be held on Oct. 20 at the Boone Hospital Conference Center. The free event begins with breakfast and health screenings from 7 to 8 a.m., followed by presentations from 8 to 10 a.m.

Space is limited, so register now by calling 573-815-6400 or 800-872-9008. Registrants also have a chance to win an iPad.

Hospital HeadlinesNews From Boone Hospital Center

Boone Nurse Featured In MACC Advertisement

A Big MonthFor BabiesAlthough August is typically a big month for Boone Babies, this was beyond big. In August, 213 babies were born at the Boone Family Birthplace. That sets a new record for the busiest month ever in Labor and Delivery. Congratulations to the staff, physicians and parents who make sure every single Boone Baby is a very special delivery.

Boone Hospital Center nurse Quenna Kovar, RN, stars in a new advertisement for

Moberly Area Community College. Kovar graduated from MACC

in 2009 with an associate’s degree in nursing. She now serves patients as a specialty lead in surgery. In the advertisement, she said that while nursing school was difficult, it allowed her to enter a rewarding career where she can make a big difference in people’s lives.

“So, if you’re excited about going to nursing school, it’s worth it,” she said. “All of the hours and the tests and everything you put into it is definitely worth it when you’re sitting there with your patient, holding their hand, telling them it will be OK, telling them what to expect in surgery and afterwards, and teaching them how to take care of themselves when they go home. The gratitude the patient and family gives you makes it all worth it.”

National Speaker Comes To Day One

Page 9: My Boone Health Fall 2012

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Fall 2012 9

The latest newsboone.org

Setting The Pace For Healthy Lifestyles

Boone Hospital Center Nurse Michelle Crowe took first place in the Columbia Slimdown Challenge

after losing 23.558 percent of her body weight. Thousands of people competed in the city-wide weight loss challenge.

Crowe’s incredible weight loss — 49.2 pounds — happened between May 1 and August 1.

She credited much of her success to a strict adherence to the Paleo Diet. As part of the diet, she stopped eating processed food, dairy, legumes and sugar.

“It’s incredible; it changes your life,” Crowe said.

Crowe has struggled with her weight since she was a pre-teen. But now she’s in “absolutely” the best shape of her life.

The change also helps in her job at Boone Hospital, where she often works long shifts serving patients in the Labor and Delivery Unit.

“Here, you’re on your feet a long time. A lot of us go home and our feet are puffy and swollen,” she said. “But I don’t have any of that anymore.”

Crowe has run two marathons in the past, and she’s now looking forward to her third.

“I can’t wait to run a marathon 49 pounds lighter,” she said.

Hundreds of local children had a summer full of healthy activity, thanks to Kids on Track, a

WELLAWARE health promotion.Kids on Track challenged local children

ages 14 and younger to run, walk or bike 26.2 miles, a full marathon, over the course of the summer.

More than 600 students participated, tracking their progress and receiving gifts from local organizations as they reached checkpoints along the way.

During a finale event held on Aug. 9, many parents said the program inspired their children to get outdoors and experience the benefits of exercise.

WELLAWARE would like to thank the many local organizations that pitched in as event sponsors and offered incentives to the students, including: AmerenUE, ARC – Activity & Recreation Center, B&B Bagel, Bob McCosh Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac Inc., Boone County National Bank, Boone Electric Cooperative, Collision Center of Columbia, Commerce Bank, Culligan, Dairy Queen, Empire Roller Rink, Hollywood Stadium 14, Hoss’s Market, Hy-Vee, Jimmy John’s Gourmet Subs, MC Sports, Missouri Employers Mutual, Shakespeare’s Pizza, Subway and WELLAWARE.

Nurse Wins Columbia Slimdown Challenge

Page 10: My Boone Health Fall 2012

10 Fall 2012 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

KeepiNgtHe BeatWith A Fixed Heart, Columbia’s Music Man Is Back

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BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Fall 2012 11

All down Ninth Street, thousands ofheads are bobbing and feet are tapping. They’re moved by this rhythm: The kick drum thumps on the downbeat while the high-hat lightly ticks across sixteenth notes. The snare skips alongside, touching the occasional upbeat.

At the front of the stage, country musician Corey Smith plays guitar and sings his popular song, “If I Could Do It Again.”

The fans smile and sing along to Smith’s nostalgic lyrics about his wild teenage years, but it’s the rhythm that holds it all together.

Richard King is hosting this street party, which

happened on Sept. 7. King owns the Blue Note music club in Columbia. He puts on more than 200 concerts each year. He’s made a career out of understanding what makes people groove to live music — a catchy beat.

But this year, good rhythm took on an even more important meaning for King when he was diagnosed with severe stenosis of the aortic valve.

“When the words ‘open heart surgery’ came out of my doctor’s mouth, my jaw just dropped,” he said.

For the first time in years, the always-moving King was forced to skip a beat — and refocus on his own rhythm.

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12 Fall 2012 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

Unpredictable RhythmA good beat needs to be just a little

unpredictable — you need to throw out something new to keep it fresh.

King’s life took an unexpected turn in August 1975. That month, King drove away from his native Pennsylvania, heading west for a new beginning. His eyes were on California.

Along the way, he stopped at a friend’s place in Columbia. Needing money to continue his trip, he got a job.

As sometimes happens, one thing rolled into another. Years passed. Before long it was 1980, and King and a partner were opening the Blue Note.

This would become King’s career. Over time, the Blue Note became the top music club in mid-Missouri, bringing in both major national acts and up-and-coming musicians.

In the early days, King remembers spending late nights working at his club, hanging out with bands and going to parties.

“It was my whole life as far as I was concerned,” he said.

As the years went by, he married and had two sons. While he remained devoted

to music and the Blue Note, he also began trying to find a more balanced life.

He took up exercise and became serious about it. He competed in triathlons and ran a marathon.

“Once you learn how to exercise and you get it into your lifestyle it becomes a very addictive hobby,” King said.

But last year, during his regular runs, King, 58, began to feel pain in his shoulder and chest. Doctors removed bone spurs from his shoulder, but the chest pain persisted. Additional testing revealed King’s heart condition. His aortic valve had narrowed, obstructing blood flow. He would need open heart surgery.

King’s cardiologist, James Elliott, MD, FACC, said that King’s work to keep his body in shape made him more likely to have a strong recovery.

“The healthier you are going in, the more able you are to recover from the rigors of surgery,” Dr. Elliott said.

King realized now was the best time to confront this problem.

“I thought, ‘Let’s get this over with; let’s get this done,’” King said.

His surgery was scheduled for May 22,

and everything went smoothly. “It was a great experience in terms of

how they took care of me,” King said. “I couldn’t believe the great care that I got. I thought, ‘Do they do all this for everyone? Are they this good with everybody?’”

Even with the successful surgery, getting back to speed would take time. He was going to have to focus on his health.

As always, music played a part. Several musicians heard about King’s

condition and bands sent care packages with CDs. Just a little something to help get King’s heart back up to tempo.

Strong As EverBecause rhythm is so important to

a live music, it’s always good to have a backup drummer.

King has a few dozen backing him up. King spent much of the summer

recuperating. That meant a diminished role for him at the Blue Note, so he relied on his roughly 50 staff members to keep tempo.

“My employees all really stepped up,” he said.

During his time away, he’s been regaining strength at Boone Hospital’s Cardiac Rehab.

“I love going to rehab,” he said. “I feel really, really good. And I don’t think I’m even 100 percent yet.”

He said his heart scare was a life-changing experience. He now tries to work from home more often, so he can be with his wife and sons.

“It’s an experience that makes you think about what you’re doing and what’s important,” he said.

But music is still his career and his passion, and he’s finding that his repaired heart is giving him a stronger beat.

Before his procedure, he would nap often, couldn’t run as far and was exhausted in the evenings. Now things are different. He has more energy than he’s had in years.

“I’m very optimistic for total recovery,” Dr. Elliott said. “Richard’s long-term prognosis is excellent.”

And that’s a good thing. The Blue Note has a number of big shows planned for the fall. And there’s King’s giant Roots N Blues N BBQ festival, which drew tens of thousands of fans.

Doctors have also given him the thumbs up to run a half marathon on Thanksgiving Day. He’s ready to go.

“Then, I’ll really be back,” he said.His beat is back. Strong as ever.

By Jacob Luecke

Page 13: My Boone Health Fall 2012

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Fall 2012 13

Cindy Blackmore worked full-time and was involved in her church and the local school. She and her husband Darwin, or Doc for short, were excited to send their youngest child to college and start a new chapter of their adventure.

A few weeks later, their lives changed. While on a hunting trip in Colorado, Doc suff ered a debilitating accident that left him a quadriplegic, paralyzed from the chin down.

Cindy documented their journey of therapy and rediscovering what it means to be in love through her journals and emails. Later, she wrote a book about her fi nal years with Doc, called Remember to Laugh.

At fi rst Doc couldn’t talk or move at all. He communicated by using a blinking system Cindy devised. Later, he regained his speech and was able to give talks to church groups around mid-Missouri.

Doc underwent most of this initial treatment and surgeries, as well as the majority of his therapy, in Colorado where the accident happened. When the couple returned to Moberly, Doc came to Boone Hospital for any treatment. Cindy wrote about their immersion into the Boone family.

“Th ey were like family; they bent over backwards,” Cindy said.

She complimented the nurses’ attitudes and their desire to learn and ask questions because her husband was not a typical patient.

“I used to hear stories about the nurses all wanting to try and get Doc as his or her patient,” she said. “I know it was because of the love in his room and his brilliant smile because he was probably the patient that required the most care. Th ere was nothing easy about taking care of a quad, and yet they would argue about who claimed him for his or her shift.”

Although he could not move from his wheelchair, Cindy and Doc shared many adventures in “Stan the Van,” their handicap-accessible minivan. Th ey traveled, went fi shing and watched many St. Louis Cardinals games.

She said he was at Boone for at least fi ve diff erent stays and quite a few surgeries. Cindy explained that her family felt comfort from the staff during their stays at the hospital.

“At our last stay in Boone, when Doc was slowly drifting to heaven, I had so many Boone employees that took the time to come in and tell me what we had meant to them. How we had changed their life for the better.”

For Cindy and Doc, the accident and the recovery was a time for spiritual growth that they shared with hospital employees, friends,

Remember to LaughBook Tells The Story Of Family’s Life After Paralysis

Buy the bookAmazon.com,

BarnesandNoble.com

Remember To Laugh shares the little miracles that happened every day and shows the strength of the Blackwell

family during an unimaginable

tragedy.

family, and even strangers. Her book shares the little miracles that happened every day and shows the strength of their family during an unimaginable tragedy.

Just a week before Doc’s 50th birthday and fi ve years after a life-changing accident, he passed away after losing a fi ght to pneumonia. Th roughout Remember to Laugh, Cindy constantly credits her faith and her husband for making the book possible.

“Th e story belonged to Doc, to me and to anyone that had been a part of it, and it needed to be told, and I needed to be the one to type the words.”

Cindy’s book is available for purchase at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. All the profi ts from the book sales are used to purchase recreational equipment for paralyzed people, including fi shing docks and bowling lanes. By Shannon Whitney

Page 14: My Boone Health Fall 2012

14 Fall 2012 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

When patients see Trooper scurrying around the hospital, they smile.

Even Trooper, the 3-year-old therapy dog, looks like he’s smiling as his owner, Alice Morison, leads him around Boone Hospital Center.

As a dog who has taken his hard knocks, it’s great to see him so happy. Earlier in life, Trooper and his sister were thrown from a moving car. Someone brought them both to the Humane Society, where Trooper’s leg had to be amputated. Th e veterinarian who performed the operation named him Trooper.

Morison has lived in Columbia since 1975 and loves critters of all kinds. She volunteers at D&D Farm and Animal Sanctuary and the Central Missouri Humane Society. Th at’s how she and Trooper fi rst crossed paths. She took him twice to KOMU’s “Pet Corner,” and after no one adopted him the second time, she did.

“I tell everyone he already had a leg up on the other dogs at the Humane Society,” Morison says with a laugh.

Her dry sense of humor perfectly compliments Trooper’s bright disposition.

Th ey clearly have chemistry. She rescued Trooper, not knowing that he would do the same for her and so many others.

In July 2011, Morison was hospitalized for severe pain, which led to a couple surgeries on her colon and a long stay at Boone Hospital. Morison got to know the nurses and physicians who, as she says, “brought her back to life.”

One Sunday, she saw the therapy dogs who visit Boone each week. Dogs and their owners come into meet patients, off ering comfort and friendship.

In talking to the nurses, she learned about Boone’s pet policy, which allows canine visitors, with a few stipulations. She called her vet, Dr. Debbie Leach, who had been taking care of Trooper during Morison’s hospitalization.

Dr. Leach brought Trooper up to visit on Th ursday afternoons. Morison gets a little teary-eyed when she talks about seeing her beloved pet.

“I missed him. It made me feel great,” she said. “Little kids have their blankie when they go to bed. He’s my blankie.”

Boone Dog Saints

She said sometimes when her compression hose would puff up in the middle of the night, she would think it was Trooper laying his head on her legs.

Trooper was no stranger to health care environments. Morison brought him to the nursing home each week to visit her mother.

“He’s not afraid at all of walkers or wheelchairs like most dogs are,” Morison says. “He accepts it and goes on. He has learned to stay out of the way of the wheels.”

It almost seems as if the dog has a special place in his heart for people who can’t get around conventionally, like himself.

“He just seems to have a sense for people who re ally need some kind of reassurance,” claims his adoring owner.

Morison has spent time training him to stay in the yard and heel on command. When he obeys, anyone can see the adoring look he gives her as he patiently waits for his next command.

Trooper also went to classes to become a therapy dog, but it’s clear his personality is what makes him a perfect fi t for the job.

Dog Visitors Help Patients Feel At Home During Hospitalization

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BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Fall 2012 15

Every Monday for the past year when Morison came back to have her bandages changed, she brought Trooper along. In the waiting room, he would bring smiles to kids and adults alike. v

One little boy was shy at fi rst, but eventually approached Trooper. Morison encouraged the boy to pet him, assuring him that Trooper was friendly and a therapy dog. After a few minutes the boy and Trooper were cuddling and talking like old friends.

Th e boy’s mother approached Morison and explained that her son was autistic, terrifi ed of dogs and never talked.

Morison just smiled, “Well, evidently he’s not afraid of Trooper. He seems to like playing with him,” she answered.

She was not surprised by Trooper’s healing presence; she has tons of anecdotes that tell of patients fi nding comfort in her three-legged friend.

Th is August, Morison came back to have another surgery at Boone Hospital. Of course, Trooper came back to visit.

By then he’d become a celebrity among the hospital’s staff . Martha Johnson in Customer Relations is one of Trooper’s favorites. He wags his tail impatiently at the door to her offi ce, begging for a belly scratch.

One day a family approached Morison asking if Trooper could visit their grandma. She had been in the hospital for two months and missed her three dogs at home. Johnson requested the vet fax over

Trooper’s records, and he was cleared for the visit.

Th e woman’s son lifted Trooper onto the bed with his mother, and he sat next to her nuzzling and wagging his tail.

“He’s really good. He never did try to step or lay on her; he just laid beside her,” Morison said.

Morison and Trooper are back at home, together again.

Now when they visit the hospital, nurses and staff rush over to greet them. Everyone inquires about her health and Trooper, too. Both are doing just fi ne.

Th e nurses on the fi fth fl oor are happy to see the puppy, but more excited to see Morison’s progress. She teases them and is happy to let them pet Trooper.

“I am very proud of him,” said Morison. “He’s just paying it forward.” By Shannon Whitney

❏ Dogs and cats are welcomed visitors at Boone Hospital. (Other pets, such as birds, reptiles, rabbits, etc. are not permitted.) Before bringing in a pet to visit a loved one, please talk to a nurse and be prepared to show current documentation of shots.

❏ Not all patients should receive animal visitors. Talk to the nurses in that unit to be sure the patient is healthy enough to receive a visit from four-legged friends.

❏ Dogs and cats are permitted to visit specifi c inpatients when prior arrangements are made. Contact the house supervisor with questions.

❏ Pets are only allowed in lobbies, visitor areas and the room of the patient who wishes to see the animal. (Any roommate must agree to the visit.)

❏ All animals should be bathed and brushed within 24 hours of the visit.

❏ Owner must have proof of current rabies and distemper vaccinations.

❏ All animals must be on leashes.

❏ Animals should be well behaved and owner must assume responsibility for animal’s care, including cleaning up any “accidents.”

❏ Animals must be house-broken to enter hospital.

Boone’sPet PolicyPet Policy

Trooper andAlice Morison visit

the caregiverson 5 South,where Alice

stayed this year.

Page 16: My Boone Health Fall 2012

16 Fall 2012 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

Penny Braun is mid-Missouri’s unofficial ambassador for annual mammograms. Over the last three years, pretty much anyone who

has crossed Braun’s path has heard her speak about the need to get screened. That includes friends, family, acquaintances — even salespeople who call her house.

“With me, it’s normally, ‘How do you do? Have you had your mammogram lately?” said Braun, 71, who is a retired English professor at Columbia College and executive director of the local Alzheimer’s Association.

Just this summer, Braun made a point to stop some yard workers at her home as they were packing up to leave.

“As they were leaving I told them, ‘You need to get your wives to go get their mammograms,’” she said.

Braun’s devotion to encouraging mammography comes after screenings helped save her life — not once, but twice — over the last three years.

As recommended for women who don’t have a family history of breast cancer, Braun began getting her annual mammogram at age 40.

The screenings came back clear until three years ago, when doctors at Boone Hospital’s Harris Breast Center discovered a tiny cancerous lump in Braun’s right breast.

She was startled by the cancer discovery. However, she was thankful doctors caught it early. As an even-tempered person, Braun said she simply hunkered down and completed her prescribed treatment.

“I’m not likely to get scared,” she said. “My theory is that if they catch it early, at least you don’t have to worry that you’re too late to get it fixed.”

By the next year, Braun was done with treatment and was cancer-free.

But this July, her mammography at the Harris Breast Center again uncovered a cancer. This time, the cancer was in her left breast and was completely unrelated to her previous cancerous lump. Fortunately,

advice Worth SharingBreast Cancer Patient Says Mammography Saved Her Life, Twice

Penny Braun

Page 17: My Boone Health Fall 2012

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Fall 2012 17

doctors also caught this cancer in an early stage.

Dr. Terry Elwing, MD, a radiologist at the Harris Breast Center, said the hospital’s 3D mammography capabilities are what made it possible to detect Braun’s second cancer.

The hospital introduced 3D mammography earlier in 2012. The new scan takes only a couple seconds longer than a traditional mammogram. However, in those extra seconds, the machine uses a technology called tomography to create a 3D image of the breast.

Traditional mammograms provide radiologists just one flat two-dimensional image. But with 3D mammography, doctors can scan through the breast in layers, finding small cancers that were previously undetectable.

Since 3D mammography was introduced at Boone Hospital, radiologists have been able to discover a number of cancers that would have been otherwise invisible. This allows treatment to begin sooner, when more treatment options are available.

Dr. Elwing said without 3D mammography, Braun’s cancer might have gone undetected until it had reached a more advanced stage.

“This is a cancer that with the older technology we might have not been able to detect for another two or three years,” she said. “But now, we’re finding these problems earlier than ever before, when they are easier to treat.”

Braun is still going through treatment for her second cancer. Because it was detected early, she has strong hopes for a positive outcome.

She said she’s been impressed by how kind, considerate and competent her service has been at Boone Hospital during her treatment.

“Every single nurse, every single doctor seems genuinely concerned,” she said. “It’s been exhilarating. Frankly, I brag about them a lot.”

Braun’s repeat experience with breast cancer, and the beneficial power of annual mammography, has only strengthened her desire to continue to preach about the importance of annual screenings.

Just after her second diagnosis, she attended her regular Kiwanis Club meeting

and decided to stand in front of the room and make an impromptu speech about mammography.

“I have something to tell you,” she told the group of mostly men. “The bad news is, I have breast cancer. But the good news

is I know I have breast cancer. Please tell all your wives, all your daughters, all your daughters-in-law, to go get their mammograms because if you catch it early, it’s a treatable condition.”

As she continues her treatment, Braun had three pieces of advice for anyone who will listen.

First and foremost, she encourages

women to get a mammogram every year. This is a must.

Second, between mammograms, she advises women to regularly check their breasts at home for lumps, and to follow up with a physician should they feel something unusual.

Finally, Braun wants other women to understand that knowledge is power. She said she occasionally comes across women who avoid mammograms for one reason or another.

Sometimes, it’s almost like they’re afraid to learn about a problem. But Braun said having a mammogram empowers a woman to move forward and takes worry-causing uncertainty out of the equation.

“After a mammogram, either you can walk away and not think about it for another year, or get started on fixing what they found,” Braun said. “It’s an event that you need to deal with. And the sooner you can do it, the better off you are.” By Jacob Luecke

With 3D mammography, doctors can scan through

the breast in layers, finding small cancers that were previously undetectable.

Schedule your mammogramboone.org/breastcenter

Dr. Terry Elwing

Page 18: My Boone Health Fall 2012

18 Fall 2012 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

M elissa Hart is passionate about her work at the Harris Breast Center. As a registered mammography technologist,

every day she witnesses the power of mammography to save women’s lives. She wants to encourage more and more women to get screened each year.

Th ree years ago, she decided to take that message on the road. She purchased a personalized pink license plate for her vehicle that reads MAMGRL.

“It was a fun way to let people know what I do and bring awareness that women need to be getting their mammograms,” she said. “I feel strongly about what I do, and this is a way to show that.”

She hopes other drivers are getting the message.

“Th ey could be driving down the road and somebody could look at my plate and say, ‘MAMGRL, what does that mean? Hey, maybe I need to get my mammogram,’” she said.

Th e entire team of caregivers at the Harris Breast Center shares Hart’s devotion

to their profession and their patients. Registered Mammography Technologist

Kristin Kempker said she and her colleagues go to great lengths to ensure women are getting the best care possible while at the breast center.

“I care about each and every patient who comes through our door and I always do my best for every patient,” she said. “I see the same thing out of everyone I work with.”

Kempker takes such pride in the Harris Breast Center that she encouraged her mother to drive from Illinois to have her annual screenings done at Boone Hospital. Th e hospital’s technology, expertise and level of care made the drive worth it.

“It’s just really awesome and amazing what we do, especially with our new 3D technology; we’re able to see so much more,” Kempker said. “We really are the best place to get your mammogram, and I’m not just saying that because I work here.”

Th e breast center’s patients tend to agree. Earlier this year, the Harris Breast Center earned impressive honors from PRC, a national organization that rates

hospital patient satisfaction based on phone interviews.

Th e organization recognized the Harris Breast Center as a HealthCare Award Winner for 2012 for Top Scoring HealthCare Facility for Outpatient Breast Health Services Overall Quality of Care. 

Th e Harris Breast Center was also recognized with a Five Star Excellence Award for scoring in the top 10 percent nationally for patients describing their care as excellent.

Laura Smith, supervisor of the Harris Breast Center, said a simple rule explains why so many patients have positive experiences.

“It’s all about treating people the way you would want to be treated,” she said. By Jacob Luecke

going the extra MileBreast Center Staff Knows Their Service Is More Than A Job

Melissa Hart

Page 19: My Boone Health Fall 2012

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Fall 2012 19

F or the third year in a row, Boone staff, family, friends and patients teamed up to support breast cancer research at the Mid-Missouri Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Forty-six people ran or walked the 5K race with our team, including four breast cancer survivors. Nearly 3,000 people attended at the Mizzou

Sports Plaza on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012. Our T-shirts and pink Boone Hospital Center glasses could be spotted in the crowd

of energetic racers on Sunday. Two Harris Breast Center employees answered questions and encouraged women over 40 to get an annual mammogram. The Know Your Numbers Mobile Health Unit was available for tours. Two massage therapists from WELLAWARE helped runners and walkers relax with short chair massages before and after the race. By Shannon Whitney

Racing For a CureBoone Hospital Supports Mid-Missouri Susan G. Komen Event

Page 20: My Boone Health Fall 2012

20 Fall 2012 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

Photography by Blaine Moats. Used with permission from Ultimate Slow Cooker™ Magazine. ©2006 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved. www.bhg.com/recipes

Page 21: My Boone Health Fall 2012

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Fall 2012 21

Pumpkin pies are a mandatory accessory to any Thanksgiving meal, and when Pumpkin Spice Lattes return to the Starbucks menu, I swear the news travels faster than if College GameDay decided to come back to

Mizzou. Because of this, I think it’s safe to say we as a society already love eating pumpkins.

However, thanks to the convenience of canned pumpkin, I also think a lot of people have forgotten that you can actually eat a

pumpkin. I’m talking a still-in-the-rind, carve-it-up-for-Halloween pumpkin. I don’t know about you, but up until a couple of years ago, I would look at a pumpkin and think, “Those are pretty decorations!” That’s because even though we are eating our fair share of pumpkin-flavored treats, the pumpkin itself tends to adorn our door steps and centerpieces more than our kitchen counters, and are then thrown away at the end of the season. Food for thought: Do you

buy apples for your fruit bowl and then just throw them away at the end of the month?

I mean, pumpkins are pretty and they do make good fall décor. But by the end of this article, I hope to give everyone the motivation to actually take a knife to a pumpkin sometime this season and not because you’re going to carve a scary face into it. I want to run into you at the grocery store where you exclaim how delicious pumpkins are and tell me about all the amazing things you’ve made with them. So to get us to that point in time, here’s a story:

A few years back I, like many mid-Missourians, spent a glorious fall weekend at the Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival, and by the end of the afternoon I had a request to turn one of our newly purchased

pumpkins into pumpkin bread. I agreed. I mean, I was sure there was a way to turn this gourd into bread without the help of Libby’s, right?

So I went home, put the pumpkin on my kitchen counter and did what everyone does when they lack the knowledge to do something. I Googled it. Two hours later I had three loaves of fresh, baked-from-scratch pumpkin bread coming out of the oven. I found out I only needed to steam that puppy in the microwave and give it a spin in my food processor to turn it into pureed pumpkin. Who knew?

Now, I realize this might not be quite the epiphany to other people as it was to me, but it was still the first time I saw a pumpkin as food versus decoration. I realized that there were actually a lot of things I could make with pumpkin that had nothing to do with treats or the requirement of sweetened condensed milk. So if you’re ready to try out a pumpkin recipe yourself, might I recommend this stew?

autumn’s Delicious DécorCarve Out Time For This Tasty Pumpkin Stew Recipe

NutRitioN FaCtSpeR SeRviNgCalories: 275Protein: 14gCarbohydrate: 46gTotal Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gDietary Fiber: 10g

Pumpkin, Chickpea and Red Lentil Stew

Kristy Lang, RD, LD

More health informationboone.org/wellaware

ingredients:1 pound pie pumpkin or

winter squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes

1 15 ounce can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained

3 medium carrots, sliced 1/2 inch thick

1 cup chopped onion (1 large)

1 cup red lentils, rinsed and drained

2 tablespoons tomato paste

Directions:

In a 3½ to 4-quart slow cooker, combine pumpkin, chickpeas, carrots, onion, lentils, tomato paste, ginger, lime juice, cumin, salt, turmeric and pepper. Pour broth over all in cooker.

Cover and cook on low heat setting for 8-10 hours or on high heat setting for 4-5 hours. Top each serving with peanuts, cilantro and if desired, yogurt/sour cream.

1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

1 tablespoon lime juice

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

4 cups chicken or vegetable broth

1/4 cup chopped peanuts

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Plain nonfat yogurt (optional)

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22 Fall 2012 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

eli’s angel HandsFamily Honored For Raising Awareness Of Birth Defect

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BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Fall 2012 23

Gibson family websitesites.google.com/site/elisangelhands

Two years ago, Yvonne and Brandon Gibson had never heard of a congenital diaphragmatic hernia — a birth defect that would soon change the course of their lives forever.

On Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010, the Gibsons arrived at the Boone Family Birthplace where Yvonne would deliver their son, Eli Douglass. It was a moment they and their 2 and a half year old daughter Emma Lauren had been anxiously awaiting.

But immediately after giving birth, they could tell something was wrong. Eli’s entire body was purple, and he was struggling to breathe.

“In my head, I was saying, ‘He needs help,’” Yvonne said. “I was just telling him, ‘Come on buddy, breathe, breathe, breathe.’”

Eli was quickly given an X-ray, which revealed he had an opening in his diaphragm. The opening had allowed his organs to grow into his chest cavity, pushing his heart to the right side and severely inhibiting the development of his lungs.

Boone caregivers explained to Yvonne and Brandon that the condition is called a congenital diaphragmatic hernia, or CDH. The diagnosis was a shock. Until that point, Yvonne and Brandon, like most parents of CDH babies, had never heard of CDH.

“We didn’t even know what that was,” Yvonne said. “And I couldn’t even pronounce it, let alone understand what was happening to what looked on the outside to be my perfectly healthy son.”

When stable, Eli was transferred to University of Missouri Women’s and Children’s Hospital where he waited for a helicopter to take him to St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

Brandon followed Eli to St. Louis, and Yvonne joined them the next day.

On Saturday, Eli’s condition worsened. Yvonne and Brandon remember watching as dozens of caregivers worked to save Eli’s life. But in the end, as Yvonne says, “God chose to give him wings over feet.”

Yvonne and Brandon held Eli, said their goodbyes, and he passed away in their arms.

It had been an overwhelming and devastating experience, all taking place in less than two days.

“He was only alive for 42 hours, and that was the longest 42 hours I’ve ever lived,” Brandon said.

As the family grieved and regrouped, they also sought to learn more about CDH.

Yvonne, who works at Boone Hospital as the foundation coordinator, was introduced to organizations for families of children affected by CDH, such as Breath of Hope and CHERUBS. Through these groups, she spoke with parents who had been through similar situations.

The family also decided they would honor Eli’s memory by working to help others and by raising awareness of CDH. So they started an organization called Eli’s Angel Hands, using Eli’s handprint as their logo.

Eli’s Angel Hands creates care packages for parents of children admitted to Boone Hospital’s Intensive Care Nursery as well as angel families who have experienced the death of an infant at the hospital. They also send the packages to CDH families outside our area.

Yvonne said the care packages are a way to assist others the same way she was supported when her family was going through this difficult time.

“All of these people were reaching out to us. Even people we didn’t know,” she said. “It was just nice to know that when you are in need, there are people out there thinking of you, praying for you and helping you.”

The family’s goal is to provide a package for every parent who has a child in Boone Hospital’s

Intensive Care Nursery and every angel family. Eli’s Angel Hands provided 80 care packages

in 2011, and has given 160 so far this year to Boone, as well as sending care packages to other CDH families in other parts of the country.

The family does take monetary or item donations to help create the packages. Yvonne said any potential donors should know Eli’s Angel Hands

is not a 501c3 tax-exempt organization, and thus donations are not tax deductable

at this time.Yvonne is also helping with a national effort

to establish an annual CDH Awareness Day on March 31 each year. Having an official day would help get the word out that CDH affects one in 2,000 newborns in the United States. It would also highlight the need for more research. There are still many unknowns about this birth defect and its causes.

To build momentum for a national awareness day, Yvonne and families around the country are asking their local elected officials to make proclamations on March 31.

This year, because of Yvonne’s work, the City of Columbia, Boone County and State of Missouri all recognized March 31 as CDH Awareness Day.

The Mizzou Tiger Football team also named the Gibson family honorary captains of the Sept. 15 football game against Arizona State. The family was invited onto the field and recognized for their continuing work to inform the public about CDH.

With the growing support for more awareness, and with the work to assist families with infants in intensive care, the Gibson family is doing their best to make sure their son’s short life has a lasting impact. By Jacob Luecke

“It was just nice to know that when you are in need, there are people

out there thinking of you, praying for you and helping you.”— Yvonne Gibson

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24 Fall 2012 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

eat Healthy, eat Less, Move MoreOne Employee’s Down-To-Earth Approach To Losing Weight

More health informationboone.org/wellaware

One day Sharon McCallister was dragging a 50-pound bag of potting soil to her picnic table, getting ready to plant some

fl owers. She was huffi ng and puffi ng, giving it her all, when the thought struck her.

“Th at was my epiphany. I realized I was dragging three of those [bags] everywhere I went,” she said. “Every step I took, I was dragging three of those extra 50 pound bags around with me. Th at’s what did it — a bag of dirt. It’s true.”

Th at pinpoints the exact moment her weight loss journey began. Th ree years later, the WELLAWARE employee is 148 pounds lighter and has a whole new outlook on life challenges.

Facing The ChallengeIn her own words: “I thought I put my heart into every-

thing that I do that matters to me — my Christian walk, my marriage, my job at Boone. Everything I do, I want to give it my best. My health was probably the one thing in my life that I went about half-heartedly.”

Like many people, McCallister had trouble sticking to a healthy lifestyle, “I’ve stayed with my Christian walk; I’ve stayed with my husband. I thought, why can’t I take that work ethic and put it into getting healthy? I think when I came to that, it was a big eye-opener.”

McCallister decided to recognize her excuses and face her fear. She took it one day and one meal at a time. She fell back on prayer when she felt the pressure to eat more.

All in all, her changes boiled down to a simple philosophy, “Eat healthy, eat less, move more.”

Eat Healthy, Eat LessIn the past she had tried all types of

diets. McCallister gave up carbohydrates or some other food to follow specifi c rules. Each one would work for a little while, but she always felt miserable and eventually gained the weight back, plus more.

“I would feel like I was being disciplined, like I was in timeout because I was in trouble,” she said.

“I thought I put my heart into everything that I do that matters to me — my Christian walk, my marriage, my job at Boone. Everything I do, I want to give it my best. My health was probably the one thing in my life that I went about half-heartedly.”

Page 25: My Boone Health Fall 2012

When she decided to get serious, she knew it would take a lifestyle change. She found a purpose to eat healthy and quit saying no, but started eating less.

“If I don’t like the taste of a low-fat or fat-free salad dressing, I just don’t buy it. I buy products that I do like and eat less of them,” McCallister says.

She will have a slice of pizza when she’s with her family or a piece of cake at a baby shower if she really wants it.

It’s all about moderation and not denying herself treats.

Move MoreShe asked her husband to mark out a

mile on their big driveway. Each morning she would lace up her shoes and walk 28 and a half laps, seven days a week.

Later, she bought a Bowflex and still spends 20 minutes on it each morning before her day begins.

McCallister works a little exercise into her everyday routines as well. She walks around the hospital without using the elevator, parks far from the doors at Wal-Mart, empties the dryer one piece of

laundry at a time instead of by handfuls, and uses the push mower instead of the riding lawn mower. She believes these little things add up and make a big difference in her commitment to health.

Celebration And SupportThe other secret weapon in McCallister’s

arsenal is her cheerleaders. Her daughters and husband inspired McCallister. Each lost weight successfully and went on to cheer for her progress.

“I really made my family crazy doing it,” McCallister said. “Every ounce I lost, I reported. I know I wore them out, but they were very supportive and encouraging.”

Instead of rewarding herself with food, she promised herself a new necklace or a top. As she shed the pounds, her new wardrobe of smaller clothes grew.

Her coworkers at WELLAWARE were just as encouraging. Office chatter is often about an upcoming 5K or marathon. Her coworkers generally avoid bringing in unhealthy snacks, instead sharing recipes using fresh foods.

“They truly represent what a team is,”

McCallister said. “They’ve done a beautiful job making me feel like part of that team. It’s such an honor.”

Honored By BooneIn August, McCallister was surprised at

her desk by her coworkers carrying a bunch of balloons and a certificate.

One of them nominated her for the Boone Hospital Health Literacy Health Hall of Fame. She won the annual award, which included tickets to a Cardinals game.

“I appreciate the award, and I think it’s awesome. It’s very humbling,” McCallister said. “My greatest award is the weight loss, to feel good again and have the energy back and buy cuter clothes.”

McCallister leaves anyone wanting to begin their journey with these words: “You can ultimately achieve the number on the scale you desired, but to maintain a healthy lifestyle and weight, you have to have a purpose to be healthy every day. It is so much like learning; you can achieve your degree, but that doesn’t mean the learning ends. It should be something we all do every day.” By Shannon Whitney

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26 Fall 2012 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

Back on His FeetStroke Survivor Jim Lee Is Back In Action With The Help Of Therapists And His Wife

Learn moreboone.org/strokecenter

Jim Lee is back to dancing at the senior center three times a month thanks to a lot of therapy and his wife of 37 years, Emma. His road to recovery has lasted over a year, but he has impressed his nurses with his spirit and his smile.

“I’ve gotten to where I can dance a little bit,” 81-year-old Jim said with a laugh. “I never was worth a darn at it, but I try.”

Emma will be the first to tell of the milestones she’s watched her husband tackle since last June when he had a stroke. The couple was relaxing at a barbecue in Paris, Mo., one Saturday night when Jim tried to stand up. He couldn’t, because his whole right side was unresponsive.

“I was aware of what was going on, but I didn’t know what was wrong with me,” Jim recalled of that evening. He and Emma decided to stop at the emergency room on their way back into town.

On Monday, the doctors confirmed Jim had a stroke. They began to plan his recovery process.

The HeroJim spent a month in Boone Hospital on

the therapy floor working on his speech and motor skills. Emma spent each day with him guiding her husband along the way.

While staying at Boone, Jim and Emma met their hero: nurse Julie Macy. Macy worked regularly with Jim until he left the hospital.

“Julie is my number one and Emma is number two; both have been troopers,” said Jim about his two leading ladies.

Macy worked with Jim again in November, and later referred him to work on his progress at WELLAWARE during December 2011.

Emma is grateful for Macy and her success with Jim. She joked, “I hope Julie doesn’t ask him to jump off the house, because he’d do it.”

Other Boone employees made a lasting impression on the Lees too. They joke

about the time Jim made a nurse jump during an evaluation or when he asked a physical therapist to teach him curse words in another language. It’s clear they felt at home at Boone Hospital.

Practice Makes PerfectThe entire time Jim was recuperating

from his stroke, he had one goal in mind: to come home. It was hard for such an independent guy to sleep in a hospital or a recliner.

He was excited to get back to his home and back to his bed.

Even once he returned to the villa he and Emma share on the west side of Columbia, things weren’t totally back to normal. Jim had a fall while trying to water his plants and depended on a stool to help him in the shower.

He had a walker, but only used it for a month; he was ready to be independent again.

Emma has cooked up her own therapy for him: balancing the checkbook. Jim is right-handed and one of the things he struggled with was relearning to write. Emma gives him practice each month.

“He pays the bills and writes my checks and does the whole thing. I’m making him do it, because he used to do it, and I want to get him back in the same routine. I don’t want him to slough off. I’m keeping him busy,” she said with a laugh.

He smiled at her and said, “I still can’t write worth a darn yet.”

“Oh yes he does,” she answered. “I think it’s good therapy for him.”

CooperationIf you met Jim, you wouldn’t guess that

a little over a year ago his right side didn’t function at all. He walks easily and chats about his two daughters, three grandkids and two great-grandkids. Although they don’t travel as often as they used to, last April the Lees went to Cancun for the wedding of one of their granddaughters.

For Jim, the key to recovery is simple: “The key word I would say is ‘cooperate.’ Cooperate with your physical therapist, your speech therapist, all of them.”

Emma was quick to pipe in, too. “Be willing to do it,” she said. “They sure did do wonders for him. He just had to work up to it.” By Shannon Whitney

Jim and Emma Lee

Page 27: My Boone Health Fall 2012

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Fall 2012 27

Find us on InstagramBooneHospital

This spring, Boone Hospital Center took another social media plunge. We opened an account with the popular photo blogging site, Instagram. Smartphone users can download the app and create a profi le to share photos with friends.

We post photos with vintage fi lters giving them an artistic fl are. Th e Instagram crowd is quite diverse and includes local personalities, parents, students, athletes

and people from all over the world who share everyday photos.

Boone Hospital Center also posts Instagram photos to Twitter and Facebook to share them with our other social networks.

Some of our most popular photos so far include the installation of the new bricks in the Healing Garden and photos from our events. By Shannon Whitney

Snapshots of CareBoone Hospital Joins Instagram

1

4

7 8

2

5

3

6

1) May 29, So sweet baby feet.

2) Aug. 2, Just what we do — dignity.

3) May 30, Flowers in bloom and brand new street banners. Happy summer!

4) July 19, In honor of Spc. Sterling Wyatt.

5) June 12, A vintage picture of our most vintage building.

6) June 8, Harpist in the Healing Garden.

7) Aug. 13, Ball of blooms on campus.

8) Sept. 11, A blimp fl ies over the hospital.

Page 28: My Boone Health Fall 2012

28 Fall 2012 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

There was only one thing making Dr. Jerry Kennett nervous as he arrived in Washington, D.C. in July to testify in front of Congress.

It wasn’t the legislators. He’s been involved in political advocacy for the last 30 years, so politicians don’t intimidate Dr. Kennett.

It wasn’t discussing the complexities of health care. As a longtime cardiologist and one of Boone’s top administrators, he knows the issues inside and out.

Rather, the thing making Dr. Kennett nervous was a little red buzzer. The buzzer is something used by Congress to cut off speakers who go too long. Since Dr. Kennett was given just a few minutes to make his prepared remarks, he’d have to keep it short.

“The experience itself was very exciting,” Dr. Kennett said. “When you get right down to it, the only thing that makes you nervous is you have to give your verbal testimony within five minutes, or you’ve got the red light right in front that goes off. I didn’t want that to happen.”

Fortunately, it didn’t.Dr. Kennett was invited by the House

Committee on Small Business to share his thoughts on the future of small and medium-sized private physician practices.

It’s a topic Dr. Kennett knows a lot about. He’s practiced medicine since 1978, nearly all of those years at Boone Hospital Center as a member of a private physician group, Missouri Cardiovascular Specialists.

His message to Congress was that physicians need more stability. Doctors have

faced years of increasing regulation. At the same time, they must confront a possibility of large annual cuts in reimbursement.

All the changes are making it hard for physician practices, which are essentially small businesses, to plan for the future.

“That has created a real problem for physicians,” he said.

Although this is a major issue, it’s just one of many Dr. Kennett is currently working on in Washington, D.C.

In March, he was appointed to the National Commission on Physician Payment Reform, a group working to make suggestions on transitioning physician payments from a volume-based system to a quality-based system.

He also serves on advocacy and legislation committees for the American

inside the Heart ofthe Health Care DebateBoone Hospital Center Cardiologist Is Making An Impact In Washington, D.C.

Page 29: My Boone Health Fall 2012

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Fall 2012 29

College of Cardiology and the American Medical Association, groups that represent thousands of medical professionals and organizations across the nation.

“Dr. Kennett has represented cardiologists and other physicians across the U.S. as well as Boone Hospital Center many times here in Washington, D.C. in drafting and supporting legislation to improve patient care and help reduce health care costs,” said Dr. James Fasules, senior vice president for advocacy for the American College of Cardiology.

Dr. Kennett’s rising national profile gives Boone Hospital a direct link into the many debates regarding the future of health care.

But despite the challenges ahead, he said it’s a future that looks very bright.

Rewarding HobbyWorking on legislation at a national level

can be a stressful, complex, time-consuming and sometimes frustrating experience. Or, as Dr. Kennett said, “It’s fun.”

He means it.He said his advocacy work has

introduced him to many good friends around the country. And having a successful impact in government can be as rewarding as any pastime.

“I don’t have any hobbies; I don’t play golf,” Dr. Kennett said. “So the politics of medicine has been my hobby for the past 30 years.”

He started with his hobby by serving on state-level boards decades ago. Over the years, he slowly took on greater responsibility then moved to national duties. It’s been a natural progression.

However, his initial inspiration to pursue medicine as a career was much more of a jolting experience.

Kennett was raised near Millersburg, Mo., just east of Columbia. As he was growing up, he worked on his family’s small farm. “Everyone had certain chores they were expected to do,” he said.

When he was 13, he was pulling a wagon full of corn behind a Ferguson 30 tractor, which lacked power steering. As he drove, the tractor hit a rut in the field and jerked the wheel sideways, tossing young Kennett off the tractor.

The back wheel ran over him, and his foot caught on the tailpipe. He was dragged 100 yards until the tractor crashed into a creek.

“Everybody thought I was dead,” he remembered.

Miraculously, he only had a third-degree burn on his foot.

During his recovery, he became close to his family physician, Dr. John Jefferson Brown. It was a turning point in his life.

“I admired him tremendously. He was a great physician,” Dr. Kennett said. “From that point forward I wanted to be a physician.”

He attended medical school at the University of Missouri where he chose cardiology as his specialty. Dr. Kennett said he finds heart care appealing because it’s a practice full of emotion. Life or death is often at stake. He has the ability to help preserve a person’s life.

It’s a powerful experience that sometimes leaves him with tears in his eyes.

“That’s why I was attracted to cardiology, the rich emotional experiences,” he said.

Today, Dr. Kennett is the chief medical officer at Boone Hospital Center. Despite his many administrative duties, he still makes time to see patients every day.

“I really enjoy my patients,” he said. “They are wonderful. I have been very lucky to have the patient population I see including many people I consider friends.”

Earlier this year, his service to patients and the field of medicine earned him the rare honor of being named Master of the American College of Cardiology.

Only 106 cardiologists have ever been give the title of “Master.”

Brighter FutureDespite the accomplish-

ments and national recogni-tion, Dr. Kennett sees many challenges ahead.

He said the much-debated Affordable Care Act of 2010 was positive in that it helps expand coverage to at least 16 million more Americans. But left largely undone is the difficult work of reducing health care costs.

There’s also the ongoing discussions about physician

payment models, the problem of rising regulation and ensuring only necessary health procedures are performed.

With so many issues, it’s easy to become pessimistic. But Dr. Kennett feels confident about where health care is heading.

“The future of health care is very bright,” he said.

Dr. Kennett reflects back to his early days in medicine. At that time, there were no laparoscopic surgeries, no echocardiograms and no MRIs.

“Just in the lifetime of my practice, the advances they’ve made in the field of medicine are unbelievable,” he said. “So 30 years from now, what will be here that we don’t even dream about at present?”

With advances in genetic modification and stem cell therapy, he sees the potential for radical improvements in care options.

“It’s entirely possible that, in the next 30 years, cardiovascular disease could be eliminated,” he said.

Along the way, Dr. Kennett’s national service will continue to keep Boone Hospital positioned on the leading edge and ready for what’s to come.

“We have a direct link to what happening in Congress,” he said. “That’s good for the hospital and our medical staff.” By Jacob Luecke

Dr. Jerry Kennett’s rising national profile gives Boone Hospital

a direct link into the many debates regarding the future of health care.

Page 30: My Boone Health Fall 2012

30 Fall 2012 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

A life-sized statue newly installed outside Boone Hospital Center illustrates the bond between caregivers and

their patients.The bronze statue, called “The Touch,”

shows a young girl reaching out to feel the heartbeat of a seated physician.

The work expresses that the relationship between caregivers and patients goes beyond medicine. There’s also a personal connection — one that can last a lifetime.

“The Touch” debuted in 2007 at the YouZeum, where the statue greeted visitors near the entrance.

The piece is a collaboration of sorts between artists Tammy Atkins and Mark Mueller.

Atkins conceived the idea for the sculpture and created wax busts for the two figures in the piece. The models are based on Dr. Ira Hubbell, Atkins’ stepfather, and local girl Kelsey Knorr.

But Atkins died before she could finish the work. Mueller was asked to take over and he worked to fulfill Atkins’ vision.

“It was an honor to take over the completion of this work that was started by Tammy. We were sculpture students together at Mizzou, but beyond that we were friends and colleagues,” Mueller said. “Her untimely death was a shock to our entire school and I felt it was the least I could do to honor her memory by helping finish the sculpture.”

After the YouZeum closed, a new permanent home was needed for “The Touch.”

This summer, the piece was moved to Boone Hospital. It sits just outside the gate to the hospital’s Healing Garden where it is surrounded by flowers.

Mueller, who now lives in Dallas, has not been able visit the sculpture at Boone Hospital. But he’s seen a photo.

“It really does look wonderful in its new setting,” he said. “I think Tammy would be quite proud of it.”

a touching MonumentSculpture Finds A Home At Boone Hospital’s Healing Garden

Ways to giveboone.org/foundation

Page 31: My Boone Health Fall 2012
Page 32: My Boone Health Fall 2012

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