Growing Bolder November December 15

THE GROWING BOLDER MANIFESTO • WHY MOVEMENT REALLY MATTERS

Stop Growing Older.

Start Growing Bolder.™

SUZE ORMAN’S CRUCIAL ADVICE TO BOOMERS A SURPRISING CAUSE FOR A CANCER ‘EPIDEMIC’

THE ROAD FROM DALLAS

At 75, TV Superstar Linda Gray Talks About Loving Life (and Sex)

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It’s National Hospice Month

N

ovember is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, a time when hospices all across the country raise awareness of the comprehensive and merciful works that hospice care provides for patients who are entering the end-stage of life.

Cornerstone Hospice will be joining in this year’s monthlong event with special programs that highlight the contributions its staff and programs make to families facing end-of-life challenges.

It’s important to point out that hospice is not a place. Rather, it’s an integrated family of services provided by caring professionals that has physical, emotional and spiritual components to help ease patients and their families through this final transition.

Most patients prefer to travel their final journey surrounded by the familiar comforts of their own home. Those who cannot are still able to find the same comfortable care at one of several Cornerstone Hospice Houses or inpatient units.

Cornerstone Hospice is blessed with many programs that have

expanded and been refined over the years, which provide exceptional service to our patients and their families. But far beyond this, it is the people implementing those programs who truly make a difference in the quality of care Cornerstone is able to deliver.

The instant a call comes in—and Cornerstone receives more than 6,000 calls a year—an entire interdisciplinary team mobilizes to answer the need. Physicians, nurses, hospice aides, grief counselors, therapists, social workers, chaplains and the most valuable resource—trained hospice volunteers—are ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice.

Once they do, this extraordinary group of professionals is assigned to one patient and his or her family. The care is all-encompassing, and on call 24/7.

Cornerstone Hospice has been serving Lake, Sumter, Orange, Osceola, Hardee, Highlands and Polk counties in Central Florida for more than 30 years. For information about Cornerstone Hospice, please call 1-888-728-6234 or visit cshospice.org. 

• We come to you!

• Available 24/7 • Medications, equipment and supplies provided • A dedicated team of Physicians, Nurses, Social Workers, Chaplains, Hospice Aides and Volunteers assigned to your care Information 866.742.6655 www.cornerstonehospice.org

Cornerstone is committed to caring for all hospice patients regardless of payer source or ability to pay. 100% covered by Medicare & Medicaid

GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM

GROWING BOLDER 3

CONTENTS NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

FEATURE

SHADES OF GRAY DEPARTMENTS 5 | FROM THE EDITOR 6 | GROWING BOLDER WITH

14 22 | BOLDER SPORTS Surgeon jumps into the future by looking at his past. By Marc Middleton

7 | BOLDER ROCKS R&B great Sam Moore longs for a return to great music. By Bill Shafer

24 | ROAD TO RECOVERY How we’re building a better model of patient care. By Robert Masson, M.D.

8 | NEVER TOO LATE An unusual evolution from circus performer to filmmaker. By Bill Shafer

26 | TEAM GB ELITE Honoring the examples set by our loved ones. By Mary Flynn

9 | BOLDER LIFE Here’s how physical activity can save your life. By Frank Van Kouwen

28 | SURVIVING & THRIVING ® The surprising link between sex and cancer. By Marc Middleton

10 | 5 QUESTIONS Suze Orman’s advice is just what baby boomers need to hear. By Jackie Carlin

30 | THE TAKEAWAY Don’t settle for being a witness to your own life. By Elizabeth Gilbert

4 GROWING BOLDER

At 75, the Superstar Talks About Living, Aging, Helping — and Sex.

BY JACKIE CARLIN

THE GROWING BOLDER MANIFESTO • WHY MOVEMENT REALLY MATTERS

HOPE • INSPIRATION • POSSIBILITY

SUZE ORMAN’S CRUCIAL ADVICE TO BOOMERS A SURPRISING CAUSE FOR A CANCER ‘EPIDEMIC’

THE ROAD FROM DALLAS

At 75, TV Superstar Linda Gray Talks About Loving Life (and Sex)

ON THE COVER: Linda Gray became an international superstar through her role as Sue Ellen Ewing in the CBS drama Dallas. Photo by Robert Erdmann NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

FROM THE EDITOR

Editor-in-Chief Marc Middleton Managing Editor Jackie Carlin Associate Editors Bill Shafer, Katy Widrick Contributing Writers Frank van Kouwen, PT, CMP, Robert Masson, M.D. Additional Photography Robert Erdmann, Timothy Greenfield-Sanders Digital Development and Production Jason Morrow, Pat Narciso, Josh Doolittle, Mike Nanus

407-406-5910 One Purlieu Place, Suite 139 Winter Park, FL 32792 GrowingBolderMagazine.com All editorial content copyright 2015 by Bolder Broadcasting Inc. Growing Bolder is a registered trademark of Bolder Broadcasting Inc. Nothing may be reprinted in part or in whole without written permission from Bolder Broadcasting Inc.

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FLORIDA HOME MEDIA Group Publisher Randy Noles Art Director Jenna Carberg CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Harry Wessel Florida Home Media’s Family of Publications: VoLUsia CoUntY: beaChes anD beYonD

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WINTER 2015

Inside The Dr. Phillips Center For The Performing Arts

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GROWING BOLDER MANIFESTO

emember when we thought the future was filled with limitless possibility?

When there was time to do anything? There still is. It’s never too late. Dreams don’t have an expiration date. There’s still time to learn a new instrument, pick up a paint brush, start a new business, get back into shape or even get into shape for the first time. Anything is still possible. Dreams are not about age.

They’re about attitude.

Stop Growing Older. Start Growing Bolder.™ We’ve been programmed to give up. Brainwashed into believing that when our skin begins to wrinkle, our dreams begin to die. The stereotypes of aging, embedded in our national psyche, make us fear what can be the best days of our lives. With few exceptions, Madison Avenue, the mainstream media and Hollywood all underestimate our passion and our potential.

Ageism, like racism and sexism, is rooted in fear and ignorance. And it threatens the future of everyone, because age is a fate only the unfortunate escape. Refuse to accept the negative stereotypes of aging. If your mind believes them — so will your body.

Stop Growing Older. Start Growing Bolder.™ Are you unhappy with who you are, with where you are in life? Do you long for more?

Then go find it. Quit waiting for life to find you. And quit waiting for permission to find it. Get off the couch and get into life. Happiness is not about age. It’s about attitude.

Stop Growing Older. Start Growing Bolder.™ Be optimistic about your future and take a leap of faith. Pursue your passions. Find your purpose. And don’t say you don’t have one. You just haven’t found it yet — probably because you stopped looking. Finding passion and purpose is not about age. It’s about attitude.

Stop Growing Older. Start Growing Bolder.™ And don’t quit when you fail. Because you probably will fail; at least at first. Everyone does. To be afraid to fail is to be afraid to live. The only question that matters is how many times are you willing to fail before you succeed? Success is not about age. It’s about attitude.

Stop Growing Older. Start Growing Bolder.™ Move forward but give back. Help others, any way you can. A simple act of kindness can change someone’s day, and maybe even their life. Making a difference is not about age. It’s about attitude.

Stop Growing Older. Start Growing Bolder.™ Believe that the rest of your life can be the best of your life. The most powerful weapon in the war against ageism is the simple example of an ordinary person living an extraordinary life. You can be that person.

Stop Growing Older. Start Growing Bolder.™ 

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Marc Middleton, Editor-in-Chief marcmiddleton@growingbolder.com GROWING BOLDER 5

GROWING BOLDER WITH

david FREIBERG

77

rocker

I couldn’t imagine reaching the age of 40 during the ’60s. But as I’m still here, I can’t see anything else to do, so I keep playing! As I watched so many people lose their lives to excesses, I started taking care of myself. By the time I turned 40, I was in the best shape of my life. As long as I’m having fun, how can I stop? When I’m at home for more than a month, I can’t wait to get back out on the road and play for people again. It’s so much fun. There’s nothing like communicating with a really good group of musicians. Whatever you want to do with your life, never give up. If it’s your dream, do it. You are yourself.

Two bands captured the sound and the spirit of the San Francisco psychedelic rock scene — Jefferson Airplane and Quicksilver Messenger Service. And David Freiberg was a key member of both bands. After taking a 20-year band break, David is back with Jefferson Starship, and once again touring the world, playing shows and having the time of his life.

mark victor hansen

67

author

I think all of us have infinite capacity, infinite talent and infinite skill sets if we work them, build them and stretch them. I want to help people take the lid off what they see as their limits. When you’re expressing your highest and most noble potential, everyone wins. Nobody loses. Right now, America is clearly in trouble. We need entrepreneurs. So why aren’t most people doing it? Most people are paralyzed by fear. They watch too much TV, which is full of doom and gloom. I advocate a PMA — a positive mental attitude. It always pays more. An NMA — negative mental attitude — screws you and the entire world up.

Mark Victor Hansen is an author and the co-creator of the massively popular Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Twenty years after the first book was published, the franchise has spawned more than 250 titles and sold more than 500 million copies worldwide. With books such as Cash in a Flash, The One-Minute Millionaire and How to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life (which he co-authored with the late Art Linkletter), Mark says he’s helped create more millionaires than anyone else on the planet.

tanya tucker

57

singer

When you peel the onion back, we’re all just humans. No matter your talent or passion, whether it’s singing or racing cars, live every day and keep working toward your dreams. Dreams sometimes come true, but wishes never do. So don’t sit around wishing. If you’re going to do anything, dream and don’t worry about what you have to go through to get to that dream. It’s worth it. And you’re worth it.

By the age of 8, Tanya Tucker was singing on stages around her hometown in Texas. By 9, her parents moved the family to Phoenix, then Las Vegas, to make their daughter’s dreams come true.

When she was just 13, she released “Delta Dawn,” which became a massive hit. Over the years, Tanya has survived career lows, physical abuse and drug addiction — but she’s come out on the other side, stronger, better and happy to still be touring, these days with her three children along for the ride.

GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to listen to our entire Growing Bolder Radio conversations with David Freiberg, Mark Victor Hansen and Tanya Tucker.

6 GROWING BOLDER

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

BOLDER ROCKS

Soul music pioneer Sam Moore is still going strong. But, in his view, the same can’t be said for his style of music.

HE’S A SOUL MAN R&B Great Sam Moore Longs for a Return to Great Music.

Photo courtesy of Sam Moore

By Bill Shafer

N

o one performer epitomizes soul music quite like Sam Moore.

Along with the late Dave Prater, the legendary Sam & Dave were the most successful and critically acclaimed duo in the history of the genre.

Part of their magic was in bringing the passion and heart of gospel music into the world of pop, creating unforgettable hits like “Hold On, I’m Coming,” “I Thank

GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM

You” and “Soul Man.” Sam & Dave have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. The duo performed together through most of the ’70s, despite several breakups.

Prater died in a car accident in 1988, leaving Moore to continue as a solo artist.

But recently Moore has become discouraged, telling Growing Bolder that he’s worried about the future. Not his own, but

rather the future of music.

“Here’s how bad I think it’s gotten,” Moore says. “I’m 80 years old and I think I have a brighter future than pop music does.”

Moore says the key to Sam & Dave’s success with Stax Records was in creating songs that were timeless, and that touched on universally human themes. They collaborated with Isaac Hayes and David Booker for some of the biggest hits of the rock era.

“These were songs that touched a lot of lives when people were young, and surprisingly those songs still sound great and continue to be crowd favorites,” Moore says. “I don’t know why really good soul and R&B has gone away, but we sure don’t seem to have that today.”

Age has been kind to Moore’s voice. Named

by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the Top 100 Singers of All Time, Moore continues to perform, sounding remarkably fresh and vocally agile. He attributes his musical longevity, in part, to the many accolades he’s received.

“They (awards) are both a blessing and a curse, because I’m so appreciative that I feel great pressure to deliver every time I take the stage, even to this day.”

Asked to name the best time in his life, Moore is quick to answer: “Right now.”

The reasons? “I have the love of my wife [Joyce McRae, also Moore’s business manager], a great woman who rescued me from a terrible drug addiction. My music is still played on the radio and appreciated.

And my heart is filled with nothing but gratitude. Even at 80, I feel wonderful!”

He says one of his biggest worries is where popular music is headed. “There are many great young singers out there, but the music? Oh, my gosh! Where is the great music for them to sing?”

And why does it matter? Moore thinks he has the answer: “Because music is our truest companion as we travel through life. This is something I see very clearly now. This generation deserves great music. I can only hope that my songs, and the great music from my era, will maybe inspire the next generation of musicians to turn everything around. The world needs great music as much now as ever.” 

GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to listen to our entire Growing Bolder Radio conversation with Sam Moore and for other interviews with music legends from yesterday and today.

GROWING BOLDER 7

NEVER TOO LATE

Banks Helfrich uses performance skills honed during his years with the Greatest Show on Earth to make films and help kids understand their schoolwork.

clown around

An Unusual Evolution from Circus Performer to Filmmaker.

By Bill Shafer

B

anks Helfrich was a college student who knew exactly where his life was headed. He was just six months away from completing his masters degree in sports nutrition. His career and his future were all but set — until that fateful day when the circus came to town.

On a whim, Helfrich attended a presentation for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College. The school, which operated from 1968 to 1997 drew as many as 5,000 applications a year while only accepting 50.

Just for fun, he decided to apply — and to his surprise, he was accepted. To his parents’ surprise, he decided to put sports nutrition on hold and enroll in a college for clowns. “I think there was a little resentment from my family,” he remembers.

“Like, ‘What the heck are you doing?’”

Helfrich himself wondered if he was making a mistake. But every time he put on clown makeup, he felt something special inside.

“I discovered the thrill in the challenge of making people feel and making them think,” he says. “I was a changed person overnight.”

8 GROWING BOLDER

The circus apparently thought so, too.

Helfrich was one of only 20 Clown College graduates hired full-time. He then traveled the country with the Greatest Show on Earth — aboard the mile-long circus train, of course — before spending a year clowning in Japan.

Helfrich loved every minute of it. But he longed for more. As a clown, he was limited in what kinds of messages he could convey. To reach people on a deeper level, he set his sights on becoming a filmmaker.

But when the only job on your resumé is circus clown, it can be difficult to break into the film industry. He moved to Orlando and applied to the University of Central Florida Film School. He was rejected but not dejected, deciding that he would eventually make films on his own.

Helfrich took a job at Universal Studios Florida, portraying iconic comedian and mime Harpo Marx. That gig lasted a decade. Then he developed educational characters that he dubbed “Healthy Herb,” “JiggleMan” and “Math-U.” He performed before audiences of children at schools, festivals and libraries across the state.

Because his jobs had allowed him to hone his skills as a performer, Helfrich decided it was time to make a movie.

“I had no idea what I was doing,” he says. “Which is why it took me five years to make.” He got his film into a festival, which motivated him to make second film. “That one got into no festivals, but I was on a roll,” he says. “I loved the process, and decided to keep making them.”

He’s now in production on his ninth feature. The one common thread is they’re all about quirky, unusual people. “I love the underdog,” Helfrich explains. “In fact, I’m the epitome of the underdog.”

For Helfrich, filmmaking isn’t about box-office success. “Because at some point, you realize the reward is in the process and not the applause,” he says.

He adds that he’s learned to look at life the same way.

“I could have taken the safe route, but I took a huge risk and followed my passion,” Helfrich says. “It’s pretty far from the beaten path, but it’s so rewarding.

Whether you’re watching one of my characters or one of my films, I’m creating something unique that hopefully many others will enjoy. And I’ve created a life I never thought possible.” 

GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine. com to watch our feature story on Banks Helfrich and see what it’s like at one of the JiggleMan’s performances for children.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

BOLDER LIFE Physical therapist Frank van Kouwen says that a sedentary lifestyle makes it more likely that you’ll suffer an injury — and more difficult to bounce back if you do.

GET MOVING!

Here’s How Physical Activity Can Save Your Life.

BY FRANK VAN KOUWEN, PT, CMP

T

wenty or 30 years ago, when someone turned 60 or 65, they were considered old. And worse than that, they considered themselves old. When you believe you’re old, you’re not as active.

You don’t have as much energy.

You don’t bounce out of bed each morning with as much purpose and passion. Today, we look at ourselves much differently. And as a result, it’s now possible to age much differently.

It’s possible to remain very active into our 70s, 80s and even our 90s. Whether it’s traveling the world, playing golf, skiing, or running with our great-grandchilGROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM

dren, it’s all possible. But we have to work to maintain or achieve that lifestyle.

As healthcare providers, we’re setting our goals much higher. That’s because we want to enable people to live the active lives they desire for as long as they can.

Not long ago, when someone in their 80s came in with lower back pain, most doctors would say, “That’s just old age.”

Today we say, “Let’s get moving. Let’s design a program to recapture the pain-free active lifestyle you used to enjoy.”

Surgery is almost always the last option.

But many times, even for older patients,

it’s the appropriate intervention. The great news is, surgery is less invasive than ever.

And recovery can be much quicker — provided the patient is in relatively good health and is willing to work both before and after surgery to maximize the outcome.

No matter what your age may be, the most important thing is to keep moving, or get moving. We’ve become a very sedentary society, spending far too much time sitting behind a desk, in a car or on a couch.

Being more active strengthens the core and helps prevent injuries, which is the No. 1 priority as we age. A single, small injury can sideline you for weeks. A major injury can sideline you for months or more. Sadly, many people never bounce back from a major injury.

Participating in a carefully planned and supervised program will help ensure that you’re building the right kind of strength and flexibility without risking injury.

Being active also helps keep your weight down, which is critical because increased weight places increased stress on joints, including the spine. Excess weight is typically the result of inactivity and poor nutrition, both of which, in their own right, are dangerous to health and well-being.

If you’re not accustomed to much physical activity, walking is the best way to get started.

Stop looking for shortcuts. When you go to the store, park in the far end of the lot instead of circling until you find the closest spot. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk a few blocks after dinner.

There are countless little opportunities throughout every day to become more active. It doesn’t require major lifestyle modification. It only takes the desire to get started.

Remember, if you do become disabled or injured in your later years, having surgery to restore pain-free functionality is, in many cases, only a viable option if you have an appropriate level of overall strength and fitness.

So don’t wait to get moving. Start today.

Frank van Kouwen, PT, CMP is a physical therapist working at Health Central Hospital in Orlando, Florida. 

GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine. com to watch Frank van Kouwen’s Health Central Hospital Minutes and to watch stories of others who’ve discovered the Fountain of Youth® thanks to physical activities.

GROWING BOLDER 9

5 QUESTIONS Suze Orman says you can still turn your financial situation around in your 50s or 60s, but after that, it gets trickier. Get her tips for starting to take control today.

It’s now or never Suze Orman’s No-Nonsense Retirement Advice is Exactly What Baby Boomers Need to Hear.

By JACKIE CARLIN 10 G R O W I N G B O L D E R

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

SUZE ORMAN

was named by Time and Forbes magazines as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in the World. USA Today described her as “a one-woman financial advice powerhouse.” She recently ended her long-running and wildly popular CNBC show and has hosted several money-themed specials on PBS, earning two Emmy Awards. She’s also a New York Times bestselling author and a motivational speaker. She blogs regularly on her site, suzeorman.com.

Although baby boomers have the lowest poverty rate of any age group, they have the highest rate of anxiety about their finances. When Merrill Lynch asked people 50 and older what they feared most, going broke ranked higher than dying. Many pointed to the rising cost of healthcare. What can we do about that?

During your 60s, 70s and 80s, you start to be afraid because you know very shortly, you’re not going to be able to earn enough money to pay your bills. So when you see costs increasing and increasing while your earning potential is decreasing and decreasing, anxiety goes up. What’s so sad is that as your anxiety goes up, so do your healthcare costs. No matter your age range, it’s crucial you start today to plan for tomorrow. It’s not just tackling healthcare costs. It’s determining whether you have a sound retirement plan in place to ensure you have the money to live the lifestyle you deserve to live.

In order to make those plans, you’ve got to have some hard conversations. Many people don’t trust financial planners.

How do you find the right person to ask for advice?

If you want to find the best financial adviser in the world, look in the mirror. Nobody’s going to care about your money more than you do. Money isn’t as hard to understand as Wall Street would love for you to think. It’s actually very simple. If GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM

you’ve postponed savings and have bills, the key is to decrease the number of bills.

For most people, the biggest bill is their mortgage. I have one incredible move you can make for yourself. If you own a home, and you know you’re going to stay in it for the rest of your life, make sure you pay down the mortgage before you retire.

At Growing Bolder, we tell people all the time it’s never too late. Does that same philosophy still hold true for savings for retirement? Do we reach a point when it’s too late?

I’m so sorry to say it, but yes, we do. For years, I got up on that stage and said, “It’s never too late to begin.” Then I started having guests on my show who were 80, 85 or even 90 who were no longer able to work and perhaps had just lost a spouse. That meant they’d lost one Social Security check and, in many cases, they’d lost a pension.

And there was nothing I could do for them.

There does come a time when it’s too late, but it’s not when you’re 50 or 60. If you’re in your 50s and 60s, there’s still plenty of time to turn your situation around.

We all think money is so complicated, yet you’ve succeeded because you keep it non-intimidating. You’ve broken financial planning down into simple steps. Tell us about your financial road map.

you take these steps, I promise you that you’ll see everything in your life, financially speaking, turn around. From this day forward, you need to live below your means. That means if you need a new car, then get one. But even if you can afford a new car every three years, that doesn’t mean you should get one. Focus on your needs, not your wants. You need to buy food at a grocery store; you want to buy food at a restaurant. Second, start getting as much pleasure out of saving as you do spending. Why can’t you get that same thrill from depositing $100 in your bank account as you would from spending that $100 on buying a sweater that’s on sale? Learn to love saving.

You have to do what’s right versus what’s easy.

You have to look within to see why you’re doing without. The most important lesson, though, is you can never fix a financial problem with money.

What’s next for you?

After 13 years, I recently ended my TV show to focus on my health. I just turned 64, and I want to focus on getting healthier and losing weight. All the money in the world won’t help any of us, including me, if we’re not healthy.

I’ve decided to put myself first, and dedicate at least the next year to walking, exercising, preparing meals and doing the things that will allow me to get healthy. So many times I’ve seen some of the wealthiest people in the world get sick because all they ever did was work. Your health is even more important than your wealth — but it sure is good to have money if and when your health goes! 

GB EXTRA Why don’t we have the money we need in our lives? Because we spend money we don’t have to impress people we don’t know or like. If

Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to listen to our Growing Bolder Radio conversation with Suze Orman and get more of her no-nonsense advice for taking control of your finances.

G R O W I N G B O L D E R 11

DESIGN YOUR DREAM LIFE

F

or years, you’ve chosen your homes based on the needs of others. You’ve had to consider school districts, bedrooms for the kids or proximity to the office. But now is the time to put what you want first. Now is the time to focus on yourself.

Del Webb Orlando, an active-adult lifestyle community near the heart of all the action in Central Florida, has been busy the last several years life-testing different home designs.

We used that feedback to create exciting new options, and then put them to the test through consumer focus groups.

Now, homeowners like you benefit from having the kind of choices that really fulfill your “wish list” in a new home — including features such as optional lofts with extra bedrooms and bathrooms, covered lanais with optional sunrooms plus your pick of homesites!

Haven’t you always wanted a home designed specifically for your unique lifestyle and interests? At Del Webb Orlando, that option is not only available — it’s more affordable than you might have thought!

The Inspired Design Collection includes six designs that allow ultimate flexibility in your new home. Features include dishwashers raised so you don’t have to bend down to load and unload dishes; microwaves lowered to eye level to help with mobility; and fixed stairs-to-attic storage, providing simple access to everything you need.

Maybe you want a traditional layout with extra bedrooms for guests and grandkids. Or maybe you want to use that space for hobby rooms, with dedicated areas for crafting, sewing, tinkering or even a “man cave.”

Guess what? You can have it all!

The community you’re a part of is just as important as the home you live in. With more than 30 charter clubs, interest groups, classes, sports courts, walking trails and a fitness center, there really is something for everyone. And at Del Webb Orlando, that’s not just a saying.

Having a fulltime, onsite Lifestyle Director means residents have a say in what happens in their community. It’s what allows a Sportsman’s Club to get started, a new garden to be approved for the Gardening Club and the craft room to get an upgraded makeover — complete with adjustable craft tables — so more people can do more kinds of projects.

As long as there’s interest, no club idea is too small. That’s because Del Webb Orlando is truly engaged with its residents — listening and working hard to make the community what their residents want it to be.

What could be more exciting than getting to start the next phase of your life in a home and a community that‘s exactly what you want it to be? Now’s the time to put yourself first! Stop dreaming and start planning today. Call 866-671-3330 or visit delwebb.com/dwo to make today the first day of your new life.

Del Webb Orlando offers an unparalleled active-adult lifestyle community designed for those who plan to keep on Growing Bolder, year after year. Plan your visit around one of Del Webb’s upcoming community events, participate in a club or simply get to know some of the neighbors.

Call 866-671-3330 or visit delwebb.com/dwo to schedule a visit today.

12 G R O W I N G B O L D E R

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

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At Del Webb communities, at least one resident must be 55 years of age or older, no one under 19 (18 in certain communities) in permanent residence, and additional restrictions apply. Some residents may be younger than 55. This material shall not constitute a valid offer in any state where prior registration is required or if void by law. Additional terms, conditions and restrictions apply. Contact a sales consultant for details. CGC1515415. ©2015 Pulte Home Corporation. All rights reserved. 9/24/15

At 75, the Superstar Talks About Living, Aging, Helping — and Sex.

BY JACKIE CARLIN

14 G R O W I N G B O L D E R

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

N

early 40 years after she became an international superstar, actress Linda Gray remains as vital, interesting and intriguing as Sue Ellen Ewing, the woman she so vividly brought to life each week on the CBS drama series Dallas.

Yet hers was a career that nearly ended before it even began.

It would have been easier for Gray, now 75, to just accept opinions from industry professionals — and even her own parents and husband — that her dreams weren’t worth pursuing.

It would have been easier to believe the Glamour magazine beauty editor who told her she might “shape into something” if she simply changed everything about the way she looked.

It would have been easier to give in to the polio she contracted at the age of 5.

Although she was quarantined for months — the disease is highly infectious and serious cases can cause paralysis — she made

a full recovery within a few months and soon began taking dance lessons.

But taking the easy route was never even a choice for Gray.

Life is a series of choices, says Gray, who describes herself as living proof that even though you’ll encounter potholes and speed bumps, it’s how you navigate life’s pathway forward that really matters.

That optimism is a characteristic Gray

traces to her polio diagnosis. Gray’s grandfather also had polio, which left him confined to a wheelchair. Therefore, the youngster’s devastated family anticipated the worst.

Gray, though, had another take on the situation.

“I thought it was great because I could ride around in my own wheelchair next to my grandpa,” she recalls to Growing Bolder. “I didn’t think of it as negative at

Linda Gray won some minor roles on television before snaring the role of a lifetime, Sue Ellen Ewing, on Dallas. But few knew that this talented and striking beauty had dealt with considerable adversity, including a childhood bout with polio and a mother afflicted by alcoholism. She tells all in her new book, The Road to Happiness is Always Under Construction.

GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM

G R O W I N G B O L D E R 15

“Thanks to Sue Ellen, the world got to see how alcoholics behaved, and the tremen­dous impact alcoholism has on the family dynamic.”

all. Eventually I realized I couldn’t get out of bed by myself and I couldn’t play with my friends, but it still didn’t get me down.

It was my first realization that I had a very positive attitude.”

It was an attitude she’d need throughout her childhood. She and her younger sister, Betty, were raised by their watchmaker father and stay-at-home mother in Culver City, California. Gray’s mother, a former dancer, developed alcoholism, perhaps in part to cope with the stresses of motherhood.

“I think [my mother] started anesthetizing herself from the situation with alco16 G R O W I N G B O L D E R

hol,” recalls Gray. “She gave up her dreams to become a mother. That’s what they did in the 1940s. Today that wouldn’t be the case — she’d have become a fashion designer, or something like that. But in those days, you stayed home with the kids. So that’s what she did.”

Gray says that both parents obviously loved their daughters, but she wanted her mother to be more present. “She was, instead, a little bit fuzzy,” Gray recalls. “That bothered me. So I sort of took over. I became the mother of the family.”

Gray decided to start modeling and in

1960, at 20, she sent her head shots to Glamour magazine. She received a letter telling her that she wasn’t model material. It was feedback that would have crushed most aspiring models. Gray, however, framed the letter and kept it on her desk for 55 years.

“When I look back on that, I laugh and think, ‘Why in the world would one not only keep a rejection letter, but also frame it and keep it on your desk?’ I got very feisty when I got that letter. I thought, ‘I’m going to show you, lady. One person’s opinion isn’t going to stop me.’”

She started winning small TV roles and NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

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even got paid $25 as a leg double for Anne Bancroft on The Graduate’s movie poster.

But she then put her dreams on hold. At 21, she had married art director and photographer Ed Thrasher, designer of many acclaimed album covers. Thrasher didn’t want his wife to pursue an acting career.

So Gray stayed home and raised the couple’s two children. She was, she realized, living her mother’s life.

In her mid-30s, against her husband’s wishes, she boldly decided to take acting lessons. Then, with no significant experience under her belt, at 38 she landed the role of a lifetime: Sue Ellen Ewing.

It was unlike any other role TV audiences had seen in prime time. Here was a real woman struggling with a philandering husband (the scurrilous J.R. Ewing, played by the late Larry Hagman) and the expectations placed on their wives. It also delivered an honest portrayal of something most people still weren’t talking about — alcoholism.

Gray immediately thought of one person: her mother.

“I always felt like Sue Ellen Ewing was a 18 G R O W I N G B O L D E R

gift to me,” Gray says. “When I got the first five scripts, I saw where the producers and writers were taking my character. You’ve got to remember, this was still the era when no one talked about anything. Everything was swept under the rug. You weren’t an alcoholic because it was never spoken of.”

Gray asked her mother to read the scripts.

“She did, and called me up and said, ‘That’s going to be hard for you,’” Gray says. “It was the first time there was a little crack.”

That crack led to a breakthrough, not only for Gray’s family but for families around the world. “It was absolutely brilliant the way it all transpired,” Gray adds.

“Thanks to Sue Ellen, the world got to see how alcoholics behaved, and the tremendous impact alcoholism has on the family dynamic.”

Gray’s mother began going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and stopped drinking at the age of 60. She didn’t drink again for the next 30 years that she lived, Gray says. (Following extensive counseling, in 1983 Gray divorced Thrasher, who she says was emotionally abusive.)

Just as Sue Ellen Ewing helped women in the 1970s and 1980s talk about issues that were once taboo, Gray is still at it. Her topic isn’t alcoholism, but it’s equally unsettling for some: sex.

It’s OK to enjoy sex and to talk about it, Gray says. In her fascinating new book, The Road to Happiness Is Always Under Construction, Gray says her sex life as a single woman has been a source of great joy and pleasure over the last 30 years.

Why has she decided to talk about it now?

“I thought it’d be interesting, since no one in our age group really talks about sex,” she says. “You know, we live in a very couple-focused society, and a lot of my friends are single. I wanted to include it in the book because I wanted to tell women that it’s OK to be single. You don’t have to be with somebody just to be with them. Be selective. That’s the key.”

As a former United Nations ambassador, Gray has traveled to all parts of the globe, from industrialized areas to developing nations, and she says she’s discovered that women everywhere share much in common.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

Courtesy of Linda Gray

Gray and the late Larry Hagman became synonymous with their characters, J.R. Ewing and his wife, Sue Ellen. But when she was young, Gray admits that she was no beauty, with unruly hair and buck teeth.

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G R O W I N G B O L D E R 19

“I love my laugh lines because I’ve laughed a lot. And we’re so lucky to still be here on the planet.”

“They all want to talk about aging; they all want to talk about men; they all want to talk about sex; they want to talk about all the ‘stuff ’ that makes up our lives.”

The 1989 death of Gray’s younger sister, who succumbed to breast cancer at 43, rocked Gray to her core — and taught her that there’s no time like the present to begin living your life. She says she decided that she was no longer going to worry about 20 G R O W I N G B O L D E R

what people thought about her looks, or to try and please anyone but herself.

“I love my laugh lines because I’ve laughed a lot,” she says. “And we’re so lucky to still be here on the planet. I’m not only optimistic about the future, I’m optimistic about today. When my sister died, she didn’t have a tomorrow. So I just think, ‘What can I do today to make it the best possible day that I can have?’ ‘How can I serve?’ ‘What can I do

to help someone else?’ That helps the aging process. I’m not kidding.”

In her book, Gray concludes that the coming years will be the best years of her life, filled with insight, creativity and confidence. With women like her breaking new ground and forging new paths forward, the road may be under construction — but it’s building toward a better future for us all.  NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

• • • • • • • • • • Promotional Feature • • • • • • • • • •

T H E

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In addition to featuring a 5-Star rated, Gold Seal Health Center, The Mayflower has recently formed an innovative partnership with the new Senior ER at Winter Park Memorial Hospital. customized daily activity programs and dietitian-approved meals in a fine-dining atmosphere. Shortand long-term rehabilitation is also available for physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech/ language pathology. On-site specialty appointments cover podiatry, optometry, audiology, wound care, dentistry, dermatology and ophthalmology.

“The Mayflower’s high ratings demonstrate our commitment to excellence in healthcare for older adults,” says Ann Cameron, director of health services. “That’s why we’re so honored to have been chosen to partner with Winter Park Memorial Hospital on its new Senior ER program.”

Partners in Innovation

The Mayflower Health Center meets the state of Florida’s highest possible standards.

As one of a select few retirement communities chosen to partner with Winter Park Memorial Hospital’s Senior ER (the first of its kind in Central Florida), The Mayflower is engaged in a collaborative effort to develop a standard protocol that will improve communication with all senior facilities in the area. This new protocol

Lorraine Zima-Lennon, RN, counsels patients at Winter Park Memorial Hospital’s new Senior ER – the first of its kind in Central Florida.

will ensure that appropriate and accurate data (such as a patient’s chief complaints, medical history, current medications, family contacts and primary physician) are provided in a timely manner to the ER. In addition to saving time for both patients and hospital staff, this enhanced communication provides a more seamless process that helps minimize readmissions, improve continuity of care, and streamline the ER experience.

Once a quarter, healthcare leaders from the hospital will also attend quality-assurance meetings at The Mayflower to engage in regular dialogue that promotes a unified approach.

“We’re excited that The Mayflower is bringing its expertise to the table in helping shape best practices that promote advances in senior care,” says Ken Bradley, CEO of Winter Park Memorial Hospital. “The Mayflower has been a leader in long-term care for more than 25 years, and its partnership with our Senior ER will tremendously benefit both organizations as well as the greater community.”

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s the only 5-Star rated, Gold Seal Health Center in Winter Park, The Mayflower ranks among the region’s top senior care facilities and is recognized by the Florida Legislature’s Panel on Excellence in Long-Term Care as meeting the state’s highest possible standards. In fact, only about 3 percent of Florida’s 700-plus licensed long-term care facilities receive the Governor’s Gold Seal Award, given every two years.

In addition, The Mayflower Health Center was ranked as one of the “Best Nursing Homes” in 2015 by U.S. News & World Report.

Here, patients receive a range of services that include 24/7 licensed nursing care, a resident physician, convenient transportation,

BOLDER SPORTS

Orthopedic surgeon Rich Konsens decided to resume competitive long jumping, a sport he had given up after graduating from college.

LEAP OF FAITH

Surgeon Jumps Into the Future by Looking at His Past.

By Marc Middleton

A

s a youngster, Rich Konsens loved running and jumping. And he was good at it. He became the New York state high school long jump champion. In college, he captained the Dartmouth track team and won the Ivy League long jump championship.

22 G R O W I N G B O L D E R

But when he put on his cap and gown, he took off his track shoes for what he thought was the final time.

“I took my last jump on graduation day,” says Konsens. “I was wearing my cap and gown. My family came to the pit where I made my final ceremonial jump.

For the next 30 years I never even thought

about jumping.”

Konsens “retired” from long jumping and began pursuing his other passion — medicine. He graduated from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, eventually specializing in orthopedics and sub-specializing in reconstructive surgery of the knee.

He built a distinguished career at Jewett Orthopedic Clinic in Winter Park, where he has cared for weekend warriors and served as a team doctor for the Orlando Magic, Rollins College, the University of Central Florida and even the World Cup. For decades, long jumping remained just a memory — until a colleague mentioned that a former teammate was competing in something called Masters Track and Field.

“And I thought to myself, ‘I haven’t had a single injury. I’m in decent shape and I have two teenage sons that I’d like to be an example for. I want to show them how to make a plan, set a goal and execute it.’ So I decided to do just that.”

The first call Konsens made was to Rod Jette, a longtime friend, personal trainer and world-class athlete. Jette created a custom training program designed to make Konsens a national age-group champion.

“We do core work, stretching work, speed work, life weights, plyometrics and work in the pit,” says Konsens. “All for a single running jump.”

His experience treating injured athletes at all levels also make it clear that his No. 1 priority was avoiding injury, which can derail a masters athlete for months or even years.

“His commitment to understanding and excelling in everything he does is remarkable,” says Jette. “The way he’s able to juggle a demanding career, an active family life and now competitive athletics is truly inspirational.”

Under Jette’s guidance, Konsens quickly regained speed, strength and flexibility.

And with the help of his family, he also made major changes in his diet.

“My whole family has really encouraged and supported me in countless ways, including preventing me from eating cookies when I get home,” he says.

Encouraged with his progress, he decided to enter his first meet in three decades.

And not just any meet — the Masters Track and Field U.S. National Championships in Boston.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

Now and then: Konsens as a Masters standout, and three decades earlier as a collegiate champion.

“You know, it’s the strangest thing,” Konsens says. “When I’m looking down the runway, getting ready to start my run, I feel the same as when I was 21. It’s that first step when I realize that I’m not the same.”

Not the same, but good enough to achieve his goal of making the podium and taking the bronze medal in the 55-59 age group. The performance earned him a spot on the U.S. team at the World Masters Championships in Lyon, France.

Competing against the best 55-59-yearold long jumpers in the world, Konsens finished 10th. “Those guys were serious,” he says. “They take training to an entirely different level. But I think I can get there if I keep working.”

GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM

Encouraged by his success, Konsens is training harder than ever for the upcoming indoor National Championships. And, when he turns 60, he plans on making the podium at the World Championships. He taught his sons — and is teaching others by example — that it’s never too late to pursue the passions of your youth.

“If you do have a talent for something, see it through,” Konsens says. “Go do it and never stop. We don’t have to quit something after high school, like we used to in the ’70s and ’80s.”

Back in the office, Konsens says his return to competitive sports has made him an even better doctor by allowing him to more fully understand the psychology of aging

athletes, their desire to bounce back quickly and the commitment required to do so.

He also encourages his friends and patients to “get moving,” because the better shape they’re in, the better their chances of bouncing back from injury — at any age.

“When it comes to surgery, we almost never say ‘you’re too old’ any more,” says Konsens. “If you’re 100 years old and healthy, and you’ve taken care of yourself, we don’t limit what we can do to help you out.” 

GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to watch our feature story on Konsens and see him in action at the long jumping pit.

G R O W I N G B O L D E R 23

ROAD TO RECOVERY

Dr. Robert Masson is developing a new, more effective and efficient model for patient care that fully orchestrates the entire process, from start to finish.

360 degrees

How We’re Building a Better Model of Patient Care.

By Robert Masson, M.D.

I

n my practice, we talk a lot about working with our team as well as with other healthcare providers who have a touchpoint with our patients. Together, we develop a 360-degree model of care.

The goal is to create a fully orchestrated medical support plan from the point a patient enters the system with a healthcare problem to the point he or she exits the system with that problem fully resolved. The goal is always to be able to say, “You’re done, now get back to your life.”

Fortunately, most of our lives aren’t spent in the midst of dealing with healthcare issues. But the reality is, we all experience them, and having help navigating through what remains an amazingly inefficient process is critically important.

We’re dedicated to simplifying and maximizing the patient pathway by refining the connectivity between physicians, surgeons, physical therapists and nutritionists — and 24 G R O W I N G B O L D E R

by developing and distributing the educational, instructional and motivational messaging required for long-term success.

This is an ambitious goal, but I believe it’s an achievable one. We now have bettertrained physicians, better technology, better medicines and a better understanding of how a multiple disciplinary approach to healthcare improves patient outcomes.

We’ve learned the importance of patient participation, lifestyle modification and the power of prehabilitation.

As we look to improve patient experiences and outcomes in American healthcare over the next 20 years, the real advances aren’t going to be found in small, localized solutions.

They’ll be found in global sequence and harmony solutions. And that will require highly coordinated execution between multiple experts, organizations and providers.

We hold ourselves to the highest standards of performance, and constantly challenge

others in the healthcare industry to do the same. Every journey through the healthcare system should involve the fluid coordination and application of the appropriate resources and interventions at the appropriate time.

Patients should always have the final say in treatment options, but they need to be guided through what can be an overwhelmingly stressful and frustrating process under the best of circumstances — and a nearly debilitating experience when faced with serious health issues.

Simplifying the patient flow through the system is the ultimate goal of our 360 degrees of care model. This cycle has to become a blip in a patient’s life, not a perpetual state.

Can we achieve that goal in every patient? Probably not, but we certainly can get better at it.

At the end of the day, clear goals, clear organization and clear messaging lead to better outcomes. Our efforts to not only lead but to drive the industry to pursue and provide 360 degrees of care for every patient is simply an expression of that desire. 

GB EXTRA Get more lifestyle and wellness tips from Dr. Masson on the NeuroSpine Institute’s YouTube channel.

Visit youtube.com/neurospineinstitute and get inspired to get started on your own Road to Recovery.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

Return to Work.

Return to Sport.

Return to Life.

NeuroSpine Institute is committed to using the highest traditional values and treatment goals, while maximizing each patient’s chance of the best possible outcome through state-of-the-art diagnostics, planning, prehabilitation, rehabilitation and technology.

ORLANDO Dr. Robert Masson & Dr. Mitchell Supler 2706 Rew Circle Suite 100 Orlando, FL 34761 P. 407-649-8585 | F. 407-649-0151

SANDESTIN / GULF BREEZE Dr. Mark Giovanini 1040 Gulf Breeze Pkwy Suite 209 Gulf Breeze, FL 32563 P. 850-934-7545 | F. 850-934-7972

www.NeuroSpineInstitute.org

PARK CITY 1820 Sidewinder Drive Park City, Utah 84098 P. 407-588-6103

TEAM GB ELITE

KATIE’S WAY Aunt Katie’s attitude about life was an inspiration.

O

Honoring the Examples Set by Our Loved Ones.

BY MARY FLYNN

ne of the reasons I love my association with Growing Bolder is our focus on those wonderfully inspiring people who are Surviving and Thriving®. Those who, despite the trials of advancing age or hardship, refuse to observe life from the sidelines.

Well past our 50s, 60s and 70s, some of us go in for things like skydiving, parasailing or scaling Mount Kilimanjaro.

We join local rock bands, hike the Appalachian Trail or bike 50 miles a day.

We enter marathons, train for the Half Ironman, bowl in tournaments and write the books that tickled around in our imaginations perhaps for years. At the core of it all is attitude.

My Aunt Katie never climbed a mountain or did a hard gym workout. Most women didn’t do that in her day. But her attitude toward life was one heck of an inspiration to me.

Back in the 1920s, she was in top form, winning every Charleston dance contest she entered. In the 1930s, she married the man who became my Uncle Ray, and after 14 miscarriages, gave birth to the only child they would have, my cousin Raymond.

In the 1940s, she checked into Memorial Hospital (it wasn’t Memorial-Sloan Kettering yet) and underwent the kind of radical mastectomy from which most women did not recover in those days. And if they did recover, there was a stigma about it.

In Aunt Katie’s case, certain muscles were cut. Over the years that followed, this caused her to develop a hump on her back. It was not something people talked about. And no one ever did.

In the 1950s, my Uncle Ray fell off a scaffold at work and wobbled along unsteadily for the rest of his days. Aunt Katie knew how much he had always enjoyed mowing the lawn, and that he was OK as long as he could hold on to something.

And so he pushed the mower around the yard as she walked close behind him in lockstep, holding him up by the belt of his

26 G R O W I N G B O L D E R

trousers, the two of them laughing all the way.

In the 1970s, their 3-year-old grandson drowned in a backyard pool.

Aunt Katie lived to be 85, a gentle, smiling woman with a twinkle in her eye, clear translucent skin and a soft, breathy laugh that was irresistible.

I never saw her frown. Not once. I never heard a negative word out of her mouth, unless it was accompanied by the hilarious stories she would tell about everyday life.

Year after year around the Thanksgiving table, she entertained us with her quirky tales. She could make a bran muffin sound funny. I believe this was the genesis of my passion for storytelling — and for developing a positive attitude toward life. Like her, I wanted to choose joyfulness.

No, Aunt Katie never climbed a mountain. What she scaled was higher and harder: the trials of life that would topple so many others. But not her. She was faithful and trusting, with a merry heart in all things. I will forever be thankful for her example.  Editor’s note: We know that the true Growing Bolder spirit isn’t just showcased in unforgettable characters and larger-than-life adventures; it’s best summed up in the journeys of real people, who inspire us with real stories. We asked our Team GB Elite bloggers to reflect on examples of Growing Bolder they’ve seen in their own lives — from friends and family members who have overcome obstacles to quiet moments of strangers making a positive difference in the world. We were especially touched by the entry from Mary Flynn, which we’ve excerpted here.

GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to read more reflections on Growing Bolder from the Team GB Elite bloggers.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

FROM OUR BROADCAST PARTNERS IN JACKSONVILLE AND ORLANDO

WEEKDAYS AT

GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM

11AM

G R O W I N G B O L D E R 27

SURVIVING & THRIVING ®

After a bout with HPV oral cancer, Robert Hutson is healthy and anxious to spread the word about the importance of HPV vaccines for children.

SILENT EPIDEMIC The Surprising Link Between Sex and Cancer.

BY MARC MIDDLETON

R

obert Hutson wasn’t overly concerned when he felt a painless lump in his throat. “I went to my primary care doctor,” says Hutson. “He thought it was an infection and gave me antibiotics.”

When the lump didn’t go away, Hutson went to a specialist who prescribed a stronger antibiotic. When that didn’t work, a scan and a biopsy were next. Then Hutson got a call asking him to come into the doctor’s office.

“Are you telling me I have cancer?” Hutson asked. The doctor replied: “You do.”

Hutson was diagnosed with oropharyngeal, or throat cancer, which had already spread from his tongue into the lymph nodes in his neck.

Henry Ho, M.D., medical director of head and neck cancer at Florida Hospital, linked Hutson’s cancer to HPV, or sexually transmitted human papillomavirus, spread to men primarily through oral sex.

HPV is a well-known cause of cervical cancer in women, and recently of an alarming number of head and neck cancers in men.

“It’s almost an epidemic in our practice,” says Ho. “Not long ago, head and neck cancers were mostly seen in 60- to 70-year-old smokers. Now they’re being seen in much younger 28 G R O W I N G B O L D E R

patients, many of whom never smoked and have few to no symptoms.”

The HPV virus causes a genetic alteration that can lead to cancer, usually decades after the infection. It’s the kind of cancer that actor Michael Douglas revealed he recently battled.

Researchers estimate that as many as 90 percent of U.S. adults have been exposed to HPV16, the strain of the virus that causes throat cancer. The good news is that the virus remains inactive in the vast majority, and the cure rate is very high if it’s caught quickly. It’s it not caught and goes untreated, it can be catastrophic.

Hutson was quickly scheduled for transoral robotic surgery (TORS), a high-tech, minimally invasive procedure through the mouth. “It went very well,” says Ho. “We got it all out, and everyone felt that he didn’t need any further therapy.”

Thinking his cancer ordeal was over, Hutson returned for a routine visit a few months later. Ho noticed what appeared to be typical post-surgery scar tissue, and sent his patient home with plans to be reexamined in the near future. Still, Ho had a nagging intuition that the subtle firmness he felt in Hutson’s throat could be something else.

“I woke up in the middle of the night thinking something was wrong, and I’ve learned over the years to listen to my inner voice,” remembers Ho. “I called Robert the next day and said, ‘I’m not sure what we’re looking for, but we need to get a CT scan.’”

Ho’s inner voice was right. The scan revealed that Hutson’s cancer had already returned, and was now growing against his spine and carotid artery. Ho performed another robotic surgical procedure and, this time, added both radiation and chemotherapy.

Hutson has been cancer-free ever since; better than ever, and determined to help others by spreading the word about the HPV vaccine for children. “‘You’ve got to do it. It’s not worth taking the risk,” he says. “The HPV virus is in 90 percent of the country. It’s dormant, waiting to cause problems. Why it manifests itself, nobody really knows.”

Adds Ho: “We have the ability to prevent this. We have to educate parents that their children have to get vaccinated. And it’s not just the girls. The boys have to be vaccinated now. And they need the vaccine before they’re sexually active. After that, it’s too late.”

The HPV vaccine is recommended for everyone between 9 and 26 years old. It prevents new HPV infections, but won’t cure current or previous HPV infections. 

GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to watch our feature story on Robert Hutson and to learn more about HPV. You can also watch complete episodes of our Emmy-nominated show, Surviving & Thriving ®.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

BOLDER EXPERTS

“An SRES® specialist will guide you through issues and concerns with un­matched knowledge, experience and un­derstanding.”

READY TO SELL? How GreatTRANSITIONS® Can Make it Happen.

By Paul and Lyn Henderson

S

elling a home is never easy, especially if you try to do it alone.

A certified Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) can be an invaluable resource. Follow these tips to increase the likelihood of a quick and successful sale:

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Get Your Paperwork Together Don’t wait until the last minute to find your mortgage statement, original deed, survey, HOA documents, termite bonds and receipts for major repairs and improvements.

GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM

2

Cleanliness Counts First impressions are important. Make sure your house sparkles inside and out. Pack away everything you can. Have a pre-sale home inspection to identify needed repairs. Deep clean all carpets, windows, baseboards and grout.

Pressure wash the exterior and plant colorful new flowers in front. A clean and spartan appearance will more than pay for itself.

3

Price It Right Base the asking price on current market

values and the condition of the house.

Other factors are irrelevant. An SRES® certified Realtor® can guide you through this. If done properly you should receive an offer within the first 10 showings.

4

Always be ready to show Be available to show at any time. Make sure all curtains and blinds are open, lights in all rooms are on and everything is in place.

It’s not always going to be convenient, but availability leads to faster sales. 

Editors note: Paul and Lyn Henderson hold the SRES® certification and are the creators of GreatTRANSITIONS®, a program designed to help people transition to the next place they call home. Find more information and request your free copy of Moving On by the Senior Real Estate Council and So Far Away by the National Institute on Aging, at Great-Transitions.com.

G R O W I N G B O L D E R 29

THE TAKEAWAY

ELIZABETH GILBERT I

Don’t Settle for Being a Witness to Your Own Life.

made a vow to myself when I was 16 that I would be a writer. avoid everything.

I say this as someone who’s inherently a very frightened person.

I never said I’d be great, or even successful, but writing revealed I’m nervous, high strung, anxious and sensitive. But here’s the key something within me that I couldn’t access in any other way.

For seven years, I got nothing but rejection letters. I persisted — I am just 1 percent more curious about the world than I am because I had a passion for something that would allow me to afraid of it. And that 1 percent has made all the difference.

Curiosity is the key to Growing Bolder. If do more than just pay bills and die. you can push past the fear and make a deciIsn’t that the way you want to feel, “Curiosity is the key to sion to pursue your curiosity and creativity, too? I believe there’s something in us all that world will open up to you. makes us want to follow our curiosity wherGrowing Bolder. If you can theBefore you know it, you’ll be actively coever it takes us.

We all follow a path, and these little bread- push past the fear and make creating your life instead of simply shuffling through in a puddle of despair, shrugging crumbs of curiosity drop in front of us, your shoulders and accepting whatever haptempting us to change our lives — or to at a decision to pursue your pens around you from day to day. least think about things differently. curiosity and creativity, the The road to fear leads to despair and the Too many times, we ignore our own curibelief that tomorrow is going to be exactly osity and fail to fully participate in our own world will open up to you.” the same as today. That belief is a lie, because lives. We let our fear overcome our curiosity and our creativity. we live in a world that’s in constant change.

I define creative living as any life defined more by curiosity than by You must emerge from fear and despair. Ask yourself what you fear. Every day, we come upon a fork in the road. One way leads to op- can do to actively and willingly participate in the changes that are portunity and the other leads to fear, which keeps us from opportunity. going on around you. Don’t settle for simply being a witness to You can choose to walk down the path of opportunity and open your own life. Take control. Give in to your curiosity. The result your life to endless possibilities, or turn down the road of fear and will be Big Magic. 

Elizabeth Gilbert is an author, essayist, short-story writer, biographer and novelist who has written articles for many major magazines. One of her pieces for GQ became the basis for the film Coyote Ugly. She became an international superstar, though, with the massive success of her memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, which chronicled the year she spent traveling the world following a painful divorce. The film version of the book starred Julia Roberts as Elizabeth. Her latest book is called Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear. The theme is encouraging us to explore, develop and release the creativity within everyone.

30 G R O W I N G B O L D E R

GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to listen to our full conversation with Elizabeth Gilbert and learn more about her ideas for incorporating creativity and passion into your everyday life.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

T H E

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M A Y F L O W E R

R E T I R E M E N T

C O M M U N I T Y

“Sold” on a new lifeStyle …

LOCATION, LUXURY AND LOVED ONES

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In retirement, Fannie Hillman still has what matters most.

Real estate icon Fannie Hillman has always focused her life around friends, family and the comforts of home. And, after moving to The Mayflower, she still does.

Here, Fannie enjoys the spacious luxury of her new customized apartment.

She also cherishes being near her children and staying active around town. “At The Mayflower, I am so close to my family and the Winter Park community I love,” she says.

Daughter Mary Greer and son Scott Hillman know their mother is well cared for in a safe, friendly environment. “The Mayflower’s location couldn’t be more convenient,” Scott says. “And the staff and residents have gone out of their way to make her feel at home.”

What’s your plan for the future?

Call today, and let’s talk about it: 407.672.1620.

THE ONLY 5-STAR RATED, GOLD SEAL HEALTH CENTER IN WINTER PARK! Don’t take our word for it ... see the state’s rankings online at FloridaHealthFinder.gov.

88141 PRAD GB 11/2015

www.themayflower.com 1620 Mayflower Court Winter Park, FL 32792