THE FACE OF
CARING REAL ESTATE RELATIONSHIPS
The process of selling or finding a home can be stressful and time-consuming. You need a “friend in the business,” someone you know and trust, a real estate veteran who not only knows the business but will also look after your needs as if you were family. Huntsville native Jeanne Allen knows Madison County and the Huntsville/Madison areas inside and out. She combines caring support cultivated from 25 years in the classroom with professionalism sharpened from another 20 years in residential real estate. Jeanne offers her clients service that is second to none. Jeanne takes the time to get to know her clients’ wants as well as their needs. She sets to work developing a unique marketing plan for sellers or helping buyers find the exact property they want. She draws upon her vast network of financing contacts and knowledge of how to best structure the deal to get her clients the home they want and will cherish for a lifetime. Jeanne Allen and Legend Realty – Your Owner-Broker Associate for Life
LEGEND REALTY Jeanne Allen - Owner/Broker Associate “Your Realtor for Life” Legend Realty | 3508 Memorial Parkway | Huntsville, AL 35801 Cell 256-337-7615 | Office 256-428-3780 jeanne@jeanneallen.com
FALL 2019
OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON 8. FALL FOR THE CITY
Things to do around town this autumn.
16. FOOD: THE SIZZLE AND THE STEAK
38. HOPE AND HEALING
Overcoming challenges brings inspiration to life. By Ann Marie Martin
46. STARTING SMALL
Hudson Alpha researches life’s smallest building block to find cures to huge medical problems. Written by Michael Kelley
Ruth’s Chris brings the sizzle and the steak.
20. HEART OF THE HOME
The kitchen has always played a central role in our homes. Giving it a new look and life can pay huge dividends.
24. HOLIDAY STYLE
54. WELLNESS
How to feel better. Written by Cynthia Adams
64. THE LAST WORD
The Caring House helps children handle grief. Written by Ann Marie Martin
Tips for a great holiday-scape from Amy Bailey.
32. HEALTHCARE INNOVATIONS
ABOUT THE COVER:
Innovations make great care available locally.
2 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
Medical inspiration Jerica Frazier.
THE FACE OF EXPERTS AT HOME
The beautiful Tennessee Valley is our home, our clients are our neighbors, and our communities are wonderful testaments to the power of a strong real estate market. When it comes to the home, we are experts. As agents we have endless tools and research at our disposal to determine a strategic approach to selling your home, or finding you your dream house to buy. Since 1955, RealtySouth agents have worked with generations of families to buy and sell their homes, which has made a huge impact in helping to build communities across Alabama. Our agents work tirelessly to help their clients achieve the American dream of home ownership. RealtySouth is Alabama’s largest full-service independent real estate company with 22 branch offices supporting an ever-growing agent population of nearly 1,000 licensed experts. Our parent company, HomeServices of America, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, is the largest full-service real estate brokerage company in the United States and brings with it a national network of more than 44,000 real estate professionals operating in nearly 900 offices across 30 states and the District of Columbia. Our network and referral reach are massive, and plays a huge role in our continued success in serving our buyers and sellers.
REALTYSOUTH HUNTSVILLE/TENNESSEE VALLEY 109 B Jefferson St. N |Huntsville, AL 35801 256-309-7438 office realtysouthtennesseevalley.com
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ADVERTISER INDEX Bank Independent................................Inside Front Cover Berkshire Hathaway Home Services …........................11 Best Vein Care of Huntsville........................................43 Catisfaction .............................................................5 Carriage House .......................................................6 Crestwood MedicalCenter...................................44–45 Delisa Locke Remax Alliance.......................................17 Dental Professionals on Whitesburg.............................49 1st Step Physical Therapy...........................................41 General Surgery Associates PC..................................51 Huntsville Ballet Company..........................................15 Huntsville Hospital................................................30-31 Huntsville Hospital................................................36-37 Huntsville Hospital........................................Back Cover Ivory & Birch Bridal Boutique........................................9 Legend Realty............................................................1 Madison Drugs........................................................59 Madison Medical Associates......................................57 Mary League ERA Ben Porter......................................25 Nick’s Ristorante.......................................................61 RealtySouth...............................................................3 Regenisis.................................................................55 Rene A. Talbot Dentistry.............................................29 Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse...............................................7 Ryan, Hicks, Cumpton & Cumpton LLP..........................63 Stonecraft Construction/Imagine Inc........Inside Back Cover Tallulah’s Salon & Spa...............................................13 Thrive Alabama........................................................53 Townhouse Galleries.................................................15
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PUBLISHER
Michael Kelley
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Robin Richeson Colter
EDITOR
Joe O’Donnell
PHOTOGRAPHERS Jennifer Tarkington David Phillips Jess Wood
WRITERS
Ann Marie Martin Kimberly Ballard Cynthia Adams Brian Foreman Joe O’Donnell Michael Kelley Faces of Huntsville/Madison is published quarterly by Professional Media Group, LLC, P.O.Box 22648 Huntsville, AL 35814 Phone: 256-701-2453 Copyright 2019. All rights reserved.
THE FACE OF
COMPASSIONATE EXCLUSIVELY FELINE FOCUSED VETERINARY CARE
Let›s face it - cats are different from dogs. Your cat deserves the kind of treatment only a totally dog-free veterinary clinic that Catisfaction can provide. You - and your cat - have probably never experienced a dog free, low stress boutique environment where doctors and staff work exclusively with cats and their owners. We give your cat individual, thoughtful attention whether the occasion is a wellness visit, a medical treatment, behavioral concern, boarding or a grooming procedure. At Catisfaction, cats and their owners are the focus. Dr. Stephanie Gandy has always loved animals and since age 15 she began volunteering at her neighborhood veterinary hospital. She went on to receive a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Mississippi State, and in 2010 opened Catisfaction to provide focused feline exclusive care as well as Alabama’s first private Radioactive Iodine center to cure Hyperthyroidism in cats. Your cat will love Catisfaction - where cats are our passion and focus.
CATISFACTION 9290 Madison Blvd. Ste. E | Madison, AL 35758 | 256-349-7341 www.catisfactioncatclinic.com
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FROM THE PUBLISHER...
We’re excited to present to you our Fall 2019 issue of FACES of Huntsville-Madison. This magazine, a labor of love from us to you, is our way of bringing to you “The Best of Huntsville and Madison County.” As Madison County’s population and national reputation have grown, so too has our medical community and everything that goes with it. For decades, our area has enjoyed high quality medical care. But that care always carried the qualification that many procedures and treatments could only be had in Nashville or Birmingham. We’re happy to report that is no longer as true as it once was. Fully half of this issue is devoted to our Medical/Wellness section, which makes the case that, except for procedures such as major organ transplants and the treatment of severe burns, medical care virtually the equal of anywhere else in the U.S. is now available right here. You’ll want to learn more about the newest innovations and capabilities at Huntsville Hospital and Crestwood Medical Center. Take a glimpse into genome research at HudsonAlpha. Learn more about wellness and sources of cutting-edge alternative medicine available locally. And be inspired by three people who are
living near–normal lives despite facing severe medical challenges. As much as anything else, FACES is about food. Joe O’Donnell, our Birmingham-based connoisseur of cuisine and publisher of our sister publication b-Metro, tells—and shows—why the ideal kitchen is the natural center of the home. You’ll also want to read about the history and background of the iconic Ruth’s Chris Steak House. And take a quick glance at some of our many area events going on this fall. So dive right in. We hope you enjoy the swim.
MICHAEL KELLEY
PUBLISHER, FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
A Modern Twist on Classic Style
115 Johnston Street Southeast Historic Downtown Decatur 256.355.4349 Monday - Friday | 10 - 5 Saturday | 10 - 4 Closed Sunday
Carriage house.indd 1
6 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
10/12/19 8:50 AM
GET OUT AND EXPLORE THE WORLDS OF ART, THEATRE, MUSIC AND MORE THIS FALL.
FALL
ART ON THURSDAYS
Enjoy art, wine, culture and cuisine, every Thursday night when admission to theHuntsville Museum of Art is only $5. For your added enjoyment, a glass of wine will be available for $5! Live music will also be included, so be sure to check the Facebook event page to see who’s performing. After touring the galleries, stroll to Pane E Vino where Museum guests may enjoy a special menu item every Thursday from 5 – 9 p.m. Make sure to show them your museum admission sticker! 8 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
FOR THE CITY
THE FACE OF
HUNTSVILLE’S PREMIER BRIDAL BOUTIQUE
For her special day every bride wants the best. Ivory & Birch, a quaint Bridal shop located in the village of Providence, works by appointment only so it truly is all about the bride and her experience. Victoria loves being able to help you find a bridal style that fits your personality and also makes you feel like the most beautiful Bride on your big day! They have a curated selection of couture gowns with that perfect hint of southern charm! Ivory & Birch Bridal Boutique. Huntsville’s premier bridal boutique, for those wanting the very best while finding their dream gown.
IVORY & BIRCH BRIDAL BOUTIQUE 500 Providence Main Street, Suite 3 | Huntsville, AL 35806 256-270-8895 | www.ivoryandbirchbridal.com
A BRONX TALE A BRONX TALE (NOV. 15 – 17, 2019)
Broadway’s hit crowd–pleaser, takes you to the stoops of the Bronx in the 1960s. Three years ago, Academy Award nominee Chazz Palminteri teamed up with Academy Award winner Robert De Niro, Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks and Tony Award nominee Sergio Trujillo to create this streetwise musical—based on Palminteri’s true life story. A Bronx Tale, Broadway’s hit crowd– pleaser, takes you to the stoops of the 10 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
Bronx in the 1960s, where a young man is caught between the father he loves and the mob boss he’d love to be. Bursting with high-energy dance numbers and original doo-wop tunes from Academy Award and Tony Award-winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast) and Tony Award–nominee Glenn Slater (Love Never Dies), A Bronx Tale is an unforgettable story of loyalty and family. The New York Times hails A Bronx Tale as “A Critics’ Pick! The kind of tale that makes you laugh and cry.”
ANNUAL THANKSGIVING DAY HIKE
It’s a Huntsville tradition—burning some calories with family and friends on Thanksgiving morning. The guide will lead hikers down Alms House Trail to Historic Three Caves for a moderate to difficult three–mile trek. Dogs on leads are welcome. Sturdy shoes and water recommended. Those who don’t want to make the walk back up will be shuttled to their cars. Please carpool to the starting location. This is a popular hike and parking is limited.
THE FACE OF TRUE SALES PROFESSIONALS
We know what it’s like to love where you live. We also know the satisfaction our clients feel when we’ve helped them find that special home. It’s that feeling of relief, joy, even exhilaration when we bring our buyer clients together with the perfect home – or when we bring our seller clients together with buyers who will love their home as they did. Perhaps that’s why we were chosen by Berkshire Hathaway to be their exclusive north Alabama real estate partner. We work as a team to meet and exceed our clients’ expectations. Whether it’s getting the most from your sale or feeling that joy each time you walk in your door, we bring the experience and market knowledge to secure happy outcomes for our clients. You can count on Huntsville broker/manager Anne Adams Bourque or Madison broker/manager John Thomas to make sure you experience that satisfying outcome.
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES 3603 Memorial Parkway |Huntsville, AL 35801 | 256-428-3780 Madison Office | 230 Hughes Road Ste. C,|Madison, AL 35758 | 256-772-8000 www.bhhsriserealestate.com
THANKSGIVING HIKE MONTE SANO NATURE PRESERVE
SARA EVANS Thanksgiving Hike November 28, 2019 Location: 2442 Bankhead Parkway Phone: (256) 534-5263 Time: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Price: No Admission Charged
SARA EVANS
As the fifth most–played female artist at country–radio in nearly the last two decades,multi-platinum entertainer Sara Evans has numerous chart–topping hits to 12 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
draw from during her engaging live shows. But this December, she’ll take to the stage to share her holiday favorites during her “Sara Evans—Blue Christmas Tour,” launching December 5 in Huntsville. The 10–city festive Christmas shows, created to get fans of all ages into the spirit of the season, will highlight 90 minutes of never–before–heard songs and arrangements throughout the tour, now in its tenth year. Special guests, rising country trio Temecula Road, will open the holiday tour. Von Braun Center Concert Hall, Dec. 5.
THE FACE OF HEALTHY, GLOWING SKIN
We are all concerned with aging, so pamper your complexion with a hydrating, brightening European facial. This antiaging facial combines dermoplaning, gentle acids, massage with essential oils, steaming and mask to balance your skin’s pH. You’ll soon notice your skin producing collagen at a faster rate, resurfacing the skin with new cells. We also provide bioelements skin care, a corrective line based on cranberry seed oil, Chinese herbs, and topical calcium. We can also custom formulate a moisturizer just for you using additional essential oils. You’ll love Bulgarian rose oil! Talk to Kellye, Master esthetician with 25 years experience and owner of Tallulah’s for 15 years, for answers to your quest for healthy, radiant skin. New customers get a complimentary makeup application with our proprietary Mirabella mineral makeup.
TALLULAH’S SALON AND SPA 609 Ward Street |Huntsville, AL 35801 256- 536-4434
HOLIDAZE BEETHOVEN 9
Perhaps the most monumental, ground–breaking work of classical music at the time of its 1824 premiere, Beethoven’s “Choral” Symphony No. 9 continues to thrill audiences with its broad emotional sweep and radiant finale, a setting of Schiller’s “Ode to Joy.” It is paired with the lighthearted, mischievous Symphony No. 9 of Shostakovich. Friday, November 22, 2019 7:30 P.M. Concert Hall, VBC Davidson Classical Series
A TRIBUTE TO GREAT JAZZ DIVAS
In celebration of the 200th Bicentennial year, Valley Arts Entertainment presents season 3 of “A Tribute to Great Jazz Divas.” The most talented local singers from around the Tennessee Valley will portray and pay honor to the greatest female jazz 14 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
BEETHOVEN 9 singers of the 20th century, the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s. These sultry voices gave us courage with their songs during a challenging time in America’s social history. This show kicks off the holiday season with glitz and glam. Vocalists will perform and take you back with songs from Dinah Washington (our own Alabama diva), Nina Simone, Rosemary Clooney, Nancy Wilson and more. Enjoy the song and the history. New this year is a great folk gospel icon who will portray Adel Vera Hall. Don’t miss this! November 24, 2019 Location: 700 Monroe Street Phone: (256) 755-8972 Time: 3 to 5 p.m. Price: Admission charged
CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE
Set in a multi–million–dollar wonderland of elaborate scenes and dozens of original holiday production numbers, au-
diences nationwide will celebrate the most wonderful time of the year as they experience over 300 spectacular costumes and 20 of the world’s most astonishing acts. Broadway singers perform original music along with a new twist on seasonal favorites such as “Deck The Halls,” “Winter Wonderland” and “Jingle Bell Rock.” On the edge–of–your–seat feats are performed by toy soldiers, snowmen, penguins, candles, reindeer, gingerbread, carolers, Santa and colossal ornaments flying, balancing and stretching imaginations in this groundbreaking holiday stage spectacular. It’s “Las Vegas…meets family entertainment…meets musical theatre,” touts The Boston Globe. November 27, 2019 Location: 700 Monroe Street Time: 7:30 p.m. Price: Admission charged
FOOD
THE SIZZLE
SOPHISTICATED AND FRIENDLY, RUTH’S CHRIS BRINGS THE SIZZLE AND THE STEAK. BY JOE O’DONNELL A restaurant owner I know told me once that he could tell how the evening was going in the dining room without even leaving the kitchen. He just had to listen and he could tell by the sounds (he called it the music of dinner) emanating from the dining room, the conversations, laughter, interplay, etc. whether he was going to have 16 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
a good night or a not so good one. In the main dining room at Ruth’s Chris Steak House, I do a bit of listening on my own. There is the movement of wait staff but it is so subtle it is extraordinarily noiseless. There are pockets of conversation, a little laughter, a slip of a funny story a diner is telling a waiter that I can just
barely make out. Then there is the sizzle. The sizzle of the steak coming to your table. Call it the music of dinner at Ruth’s Chris. Ruth’s Chris has a fascinating history. The Ruth’s Chris Steak House legacy began when a single mother, Ruth Fertel, mortgaged her home for $22,000 to purchase the “Chris Steak House,” a 60-seat
THE FACE OF A REAL ESTATE EXPERIENCE
The sale or purchase of a home is the largest financial transaction you may make during your lifetime, so the importance of having a knowledgeable Realtor in your corner is immeasurable. DeLisa Locke, a Huntsville native with over 25 years experience in marketing, management and real estate, takes pride in her North Alabama roots and intimate knowledge of the local real estate market. She has earned the Accredited Buyer Representative designation and is certified as a Military Relocation Professional. Founder of Locke Group Realty at RE/MAX Alliance, DeLisa has assembled a team of professionals to help make every experience in purchasing or selling a home as seamless as possible. Her team includes her husband, a local real estate appraiser with 20 years experience, mortgage professionals, home inspectors and local contractors. From the first meeting to closing day, DeLisa ensures that her clients always know they have her in their corner every step of the way.
DELISA LOCKE . . . REMAX ALLIANCE 507 Drake Avenue Ste. A |Huntsville, AL 35801 256- 799-2999 office | 256-694-4864 cell Delisa@lockegrouprealty.com
A few of the restaurant’s signature dishes: Crab Stack, Creme Brulee and the Tomahawk Ribeye.
restaurant in New Orleans. More than 40 years later, the restaurant’s success continues to be driven by an adherence to Ruth’s core values, which are to deliver the highest quality food, beverages and service in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Today, there are more than 150 Ruth’s Chris Steak Houses, including 20 international franchisee-owned restaurants in Mexico, Hong 18 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
Kong, Taiwan, Tokyo, Aruba, Canada and Dubai. The Huntsville restaurant at 720 Gallatin Street in the Twickenham Square development has been charming diners for many years. On this night, the charm factor was high. Our waiter was helpful and friendly as he explained the choices and outlined an
appropriate strategy for navigating the ala carte menu, which is really very helpful and makes the ordering experience seamless. For starters we tried the barbecued shrimp, which came to the table sautéed New Orleans style in wine, butter, garlic and spices. And we also tried the Crab Stack, which features blue crab peaks atop a mild medley of avocado and mango, com-
Interiors of the Ruth’s Chris in Huntsville.
bining sweet and savory flavor in every bite. That was followed by a salad, the lettuce wedge with an abundance of blue cheese and sprinkles of bacon. It was just the right touch to lead in to dinner. The steaks chosen were a New York Strip and the filet, both done just perfectly. The steaks were accompanied by asparagus, grilled, and a cone of shoestring fries that we shared. The meal was topped off with desserts, the creme brulee and a New Orleans–style cheesecake. Both were perfect endings to a great meal.
One of the exciting things about dining at Ruth’s Chris is the variety of food available within the classic steakhouse format. Sizzling blue crab cakes and the veal osso buco ravioli make excellent choices for appetizers. The lobster bisque or the fresh mozzarella and heirloom tomato salad are equally enticing for the soup and salad course. And if steak is not your forte for the evening, you could go with the entree option of a center–cut pork chop served with slices of cinnamon apples or the shrimp
and grits served over jalapeno–cheese grit cakes with crumbled bacon. Still steak made Ruth’s Chris what it is and the options are abundant, from the cowboy ribeye to the filet. Accompaniments to the steak include shrimp, lobster tail, blue cheese crust, as well as Bearnaise and hollandaise sauces. All in all, you can find one of the city’s best dining experiences during an evening at Ruth’s Chris.
FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
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HOME
HEART OF THE HOME THE KITCHEN HAS ALWAYS PLAYED A CENTRAL ROLE IN OUR HOMES. GIVING IT A NEW LOOK AND LIFE CAN PAY HUGE DIVIDENDS. MAKE IT BRAND NEW
If you are in the market for a remodel, one of the most effective and smartest areas of the home to renew is the kitchen. It is after all the heart of the home, the place we gather as family and friends to explore those bonds that hold us together and enjoy wonderful moments. Have you ever noticed how we always end up in the kitchen. There’s a reason for that. And since you are going to end up there anyway, why not make it the coolest, most comfortable and stylish part of the house. Today’s open–concept kitchens let you interact with people in the family room and offer improved traffic flow throughout the main floor. Eat–in kitchen/family rooms are now the norm for today’s updated kitchen. There is always a way to reconfigure a cramped and closed-in kitchen. So don’t be afraid to open it up. Counter cabinet aesthetics and functionality is vital in a kitchen remodel. After all, the perfect kitchen is not one–size–fits–all. The safety of small children; desired storage space; the accessibility of certain items for cooking, cleaning or entertaining; and the selected color and material of counter tops all influence a homeowner’s decision about updating kitchen cabinets. Then you have to think about the appliances and how upgrades can factor into the cost and long–term viability of the renova20 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
21
tion. After all appliances, even beyond aesthetics, are critical elements of the kitchen. What about costs? According to Home Advisor on average, a kitchen remodel costs $24,052 or $150 per square foot. Most homeowners spend between $12,905 and $35,440 or $75 to $250 per square
22 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
foot. The total expense varies depending on the size of the space, the quality of materials, and whether you change the layout of the room. A smaller project between $10,000 and $15,000 may include painting walls, refacing cabinets, upgrading the sink, and
installing a tile backsplash. A $30,000+ renovation may include installing custom cabinets, hardwood floors, granite counters, and high-end appliances. But whether on the low end or high end one thing is certain. A kitchen reborn can transform a home.
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS TIPS FOR A GREAT HOLIDAY-SCAPE.
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY AMY LEMLEY BAILEY
THE TABLE The table is a place to gather. A place of nourishment, of love, of laughter, of comfort. Cooking is love no matter how simple the food. For my holiday table I used: 1. Blue and White Chinoiserie Vases with Paper Whites from The Greenery I love the smell of paper whites and always try to add them into my holiday decor. The only key to paper whites is buying them before they are tall so that they do not bloom out before the holiday. Even when my family lived in Birmingham, we
would be visiting family in Huntsville over Thanksgiving and I would make the trip to The Greenery the weekend after Thanksgiving to buy their beautiful paper whites. 2. Monogrammed Heirloom Place–mats and Napkins These white with gold monogramming napkins and place–mats are a staple on my mother–in–law’s table and it is a joy to incorporate them into our Christmas table. 3. Large Pine Cones Absolutely love these pine cones from The Greenery, their simplicity and their
texture add to the tablescape. 4. Mixing China I used my Wedgwood Platinum pattern with my Royal Crown Derby Carlton both from Bromberg’s. 5. In The Center In a large, long gold vase I planted white hydrangeas, wispy ferns from The Greenery along with magnolia leaves from our magnolia tree in the front yard. Around the vase coming down the center of the table, I laid both Frasier Fir limbs and Cedar limbs. FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
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THE MANTEL Creating a mantel that is colorful and whimsical is always my goal. With our mantel being white, I love the idea of bringing reds and blues together. Here is how I brought this look together: 1. Garland First on my list, going to The Greenery for fresh garland. I love the smell of fresh garland and I love how it drapes naturally around the edges of the mantel. 2. Blue and White Chinoiserie Vases In keeping with the blue and white 24 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
Chinoiserie theme from the dining room, I added several pieces to the mantel with large red berries cascading out.
6. Birch Wood A basket full of Birch wood from Roosevelt & Company add an earthy element.
3. White Orchid A white orchid and maiden hair fern arrangement from Brooks and Collier creates an elegant touch.
7. Boxwood Wreath A DIY box wood wreath made with boxwood branches from our front porch hedges and secured with a red felt ribbon create a simple, festive look, adding height and making the mantel really pop.
4. Vintage Decor Red felt vintage Christmas reindeer and Santa add the touch of whimsy. 5. Bells Bells of various sizes I’ve collected over the years are mixed in the greenery.
8. Red and White Stockings Our family’s red and white stockings complete the look.
THE FACE OF
A REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL
Mary League, one of the Top Agents in Madison County, joined ERA BEN PORTER REAL ESTATE in 1995. With 25 years experience in listing and selling Residential, Commercial and Land, Mary fits right into the atmosphere at ERA BEN PORTER REAL ESTATE, one of family and pride where every member takes responsibility for maintaining that standard. Mary’s reputation is built on her caring attitude towards her customers and the trust she has earned within the community. She puts her client’s foremost in all of her efforts, maintaining high standards of service, and operating with professionalism, honesty and integrity. It shows
MARY LEAGUE • ERA BEN PORTER Mary League A Realtor you can trust 3409 S. Memorial Parkway | Huntsville, AL 35801 256- 881-9676 | 256- 337-0134 | maryleague@benporter.com
FACES FACES WINTER 2020
OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON THE FACES OF
WOMEN
IN BUSINESS
Look for the next issue of Faces of Huntsville/Madison this winter. We’ll highlight the exciting new developments in Huntsville business that make this one of the best places in the country for women to own and manage companies. Your FACES profile will make a major statement in the business community and among high-end consumers, and a 2-page spread is the perfect way to profile your entire team. A full page FACES profile is just $1,750 and a 2-page spread is $2,750.
OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
Contact Mike Kelley at mike@FacesofHuntsvilleMadison.com to secure your position in this next issue.
SPECIAL FOCUS
THE
HEALTH ISSUE ...
INNOVATIONS, INSPIRATION, RESEARCH
THE
HEALTH ISSUE ...
INNOVATIONS, INSPIRATION, RESEARCH
32. HEALTHCARE INNOVATIONS 46. STARTING SMALL Innovations make great care available.
38. HOPE AND HEALING
Overcoming challenges brings inspiration to life.
HudsonAlpha researches life’s smallest building block to find cures to huge medical problems.
54. WELLNESS
Finding your way to health.
32.
38.
46.
28 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
29
THE FACE OF
HEALTH CARE PROGRESS
Huntsville Hospital and its design/build partners at Chapman Sisson Architects and Robins & Morton are meeting the region’s growing health care needs with construction of the sevenstory Orthopedic & Spine Tower. Scheduled for a 2021 opening, the new tower will create an exceptional patient experience from pre-surgery teaching, admission and discharge in one convenient location. The street level will offer visitors, employees and the community choices in new restaurants and boutique shopping options.
HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL HEALTH SYSTEM 101 Sivley Road | Huntsville, AL 35801 256-265-1000 | www.huntsvillehospital.org
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Pictured from left: David Spillers, Huntsville Hospital Health System, CEO; Rudy Hornsby, Huntsville Hospital, Senior Vice President Support Services; Philip Bentley, Health Care Authority of the City of Huntsville, Chairman; Tammy Oddo, Chapman Sisson Architects, Medical Planner; Martin Sisson, Chapman Sisson Architects, Principal; Mike Sprader, Chapman Sisson Architects, Project Manager; Mitch Coley, Robins & Morton, Operations Manager; Jeff Jones, Robins & Morton, Superintendent; Jacob Davenport, Robins & Morton, Senior Project Manager
INNOVATIONS
HEALTHCARE
INNOVATIONS MAKE GREAT CARE AVAILABLE LOCALLY Madison County, growth engine for the state, continues to attract the type of people most cities only dream of. Educated, technologically savvy, and younger than the national average, they come to our area for the economic opportunities and lifestyle Huntsville and Madison have to offer. A growing healthcare capability is a crucial part of the mix. That capability takes many forms. Part of it is healthcare facilities, and the signs are everywhere, from the new Madison Hospital which opened in early 2012 to Huntsville Hospital’s new Orthopedic & Spine Tower, now coming out of the ground across from the hospital’s main entrance. As the hospitals expand, new medical practices grow up around them. That’s especially true at Madison Hospital, where a cluster of medical office buildings near the hospital has created a new Madison medical district. New medical office buildings have sprouted up around both Huntsville Hos32 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
pital and Crestwood Medical Center as established medical practices expand and new practices come into being. But medicine is more than bricks and mortar. Madison County attracts some of the nation’s brightest and most talented medical practitioners, which has contributed to a near doubling of Madison County’s population of doctors and medical specialists since 2000. These new practitioners, aided by exciting new medical technology, have raised the bar to a level of medical care that did not exist just a few years ago. Many are not aware
of the major advancements in Madison County healthcare that are negating the old adage that “you need to go to Nashville or Birmingham to have that procedure done.” Except for certain procedures such as organ transplants and intensive burn treatment, medical care equal to that found anywhere else can now be had locally.
SO MUCH NOW AVAILABLE LOCALLY
No one is in a better position to comment on the major leaps forward in Hunts-
INNOVATIONS ville medical care than Huntsville Hospital Health System CEO David Spillers. “It might have been true a few years back,” says Spillers, “that you had to go to Nashville or Birmingham, but it’s certainly no longer the case. With a few exceptions like transplants, patients in Madison County or anywhere in the Tennessee Valley can get just about any type of treatment they need at Huntsville Hospital.” Since 2010 the Huntsville Hospital Health System has expanded to include ownership or management of hospitals in Madison, Decatur, Athens, Boaz, Guntersville, Sheffield, Moulton, Russellville, Red Bay and Fayetteville, TN. And while Spillers takes pride in that, he gets excited about recent innovations and treatment facilities for a host of medical conditions . Foremost among those is the new Orthopedic & Spinal Tower, the largest healthcare construction project in Huntsville in the past 40 years. Viewed from the main building’s second floor, one gets a clear view of the enormity of this seven-story project, which when complete in 2021 will total almost 400,000 square feet. In addition to 72 dedicated patient beds, space is planned for 24 operating rooms, physical therapy space, and other facilities to provide the ultimate in care. Spillers cites the economies of scale that will result from concentrating a critical mass of spinal and orthopedic treatment power under one big roof. Those economies of scale will allow the Orthopedic & Spine Tower to become known across the Southeast. “It will give our
staff exposure to a very large patient base,” Spillers says. “When you do things in volume you get very efficient; you see so many patients that you learn to spot so many conditions early on.” But innovations don’t have to take the form of massive new buildings. Sometimes just doing things better can make the difference in patients’ lives. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children falls into that category. Recently expanded and the only Level III NICU between Nashville and Birmingham, it provides an unparalleled level of care to premature and sick infants. With 45 beds now and 10 more to be added with the latest expansion, the hospital unit provides treatment to about 1,100 babies each year. Fully staffed with obstetricians, surgeons, and specialists like neonatologists and pediatric pulmonologists, about the only care they cannot provide, says NICU Director Cheryl Case, is neonatal cardiac surgery. These specialists work every day with what Case calls a “tremendous amount of technology for the care of these children.” Most people today are aware of the devastating effect of birth defects, but as Case explains, it is often a mother’s health issues that lead to problems with their babies. “But we can usually provide a much better outcome if we can get the high–risk mother transferred here early.” Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children’s Neonatal ICU garnered national attention in December 2017 when Eric and Courtney Waldrop of Albertville chose the
hospital to deliver the first set of sextuplets born in Alabama since 2002. “They chose to deliver here even though they could easily have gone to Birmingham,” Case says. Newborns are not the only ones to benefit from the hospital staff’s passion for care. Pediatric hematologist-oncologist Dr. Jennifer Cox presides over a small but crucial operation that has made a huge difference in the care and treatment of children with cancer. The St. Jude Affiliate Clinic links with the world–renowned St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to provide many of the canOpposite: Orthopedic and Spine Tower under construction. Below: Huntsville Hospital Health System CEO David Spillers.
Opposite: St. Jude music therapy. Below: St. Jude patient Carson Corrigan.
cer treatment services formerly only available at St. Jude’s main campus in Memphis. Convenience, says Dr. Cox, was the initial driver. Delivery of many of St. Jude’s services right here in Madison County saves parents the four–hour drive to Memphis and the expense of hotels, meals, and other travel 34 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
costs. She is quick to point out how the combination of local services with world–class cancer specialists in Memphis makes it much easier on the parents of children with cancer. “Pediatric cancer care requires frequent trips to the hospital, and that takes a toll on families. We can do most of that here at the
Huntsville clinic, which saves a ton of travel for families. So these children get much of their cancer care here, with access to the specialists in Memphis. We help create the critical mass that allows St. Jude in Memphis to keep those people on staff.” The Affiliate Clinic serves from 30 to 40
pediatric cancer patients at any given time, and Dr. Cox, and her staff work hard to provide a child-friendly atmosphere for their young patients. “It’s a joy to take care of these kids. We see families at both the worst of times and best of times, but we strive to make it easier for the children. Part of that is making cancer treatment as much fun as possible. We have, for example, ‘No Mo Chemo’ parties for children who have finished their chemotherapy treatments,” she says. One measure of success, says Dr. Cox, is the reaction from children at the end of their cancer treatments. “They scream more about having to leave here than they do about the treatments. They don’t want to give up the fun.”
SPECIALIZED TREATMENT CENTERS
Just south of town Crestwood Medical Center is making a difference in the lives of ALS patients. Marking its 10th anniversary in 2019, Crestwood’s ALS Care Clinic brings together the various services needed by those suffering from this debilitating malady, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. A Certified Treatment Center of Excellence recognized by the national ALS Association, the clinic provides a multidisciplinary care program and treatment for the management of ALS, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Going beyond care and treatment, the Care Clinic also serves as a center for ALS research. Crestwood ALS Care Clinic Director Sherry Kolodziejczak explains that research is part of the overall ALS package. “To get the distinction of being known as a center of excellence, you have to have a comprehensive treatment team and be doing research.” To accomplish those objectives, Kolodziejczak is supported by two co-directors and eminent ALS neurologists: Doctors David White and Aruna Arora. Operating on a rotating basis, each doctor is present at the clinic three days each week. Their roles are primarily treatment–oriented, which leaves Kolodziejczak the primary responsibility of managing the operation and directing the ongoing ALS research. Part of that research involves an ongoing collaboration with HudsonAlpha Institute to explore the genetic causes of ALS. Called
Impacting ALS, the study conducts genomic sequencing and analysis of ALS patients from the ALS Care Clinic. Funded largely by the Alabama chapter of the ALS Association, Kolodziejczak says it’s the largest of Crestwood’s three ALS research projects. But it’s the difference the ALS Care Center makes in patients’ lives that makes it so special, says Kolodziejczak. “We had an ALS patient who wanted to visit friends and family in California, to visit the Grand Canyon, to work through his bucket list of places he wanted to see. At the time of the request he was dependent on a ventilator and feeding tube. We made all the connections with hospital staff and ALS clinics in other locations and he completed his journey, the last trip he and his wife were able to take.” “When he came back he said he would never forget all we did for him. This clinic became his safety net and foundation.” Today, Parkinson’s disease is a scourge that thus far has eluded cure. Its tremors and progressive difficulty with bodily movements and speech lead to increasing disability. Not known by many even in North Alabama, Huntsville Hospital’s Parkinson’s Care Clinic brings together specially trained physical therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists and exercise physiologists in a program designed to strengthen the bodies of Parkinson’s sufferers and delay the progression of the disease. In addition to the Parkinson’s Care Clin-
ic at the hospital’s downtown Medical Mall, Parkinson’s patients benefit from a unique program called Rock Steady Boxing. Offered through the Huntsville–Madison County Senior Center and underwritten by Huntsville Hospital’s Jean Wessel Templeton Community Health Initiative, the class uses the strenuous physical activity provided by shadow boxing and hitting a punching bag to slow progression of the disease. Madison Hospital has also seen its share of the new facilities. In January, it opened a new Endoscopy Center, a 10,000-square-foot facility that doubles the space available on the hospital campus for outpatient endoscopy procedures including colonoscopy and EGD, or upper endoscopy. “We’re very pleased to open this new center, which will allow these important diagnostic procedures to be done close to home,” says Mary Lynne Wright, Madison Hospital president. While Madison County is well-served by the widening array of procedures and programs now available locally, it may be years before such procedures as heart and kidney transplants become available here. As Spillers explains, rising healthcare costs across the U.S. require a critical mass of patients and procedures to justify the expense of securing the specialists and specialized equipment to support these procedures. “But the way Madison County is growing,” Spillers said, “who knows where we will be in five or 10 more years.”
THE FACE OF
ADVANCED MEDICAL SPECIALTIES
This community is progressive and its health care should be, too. Huntsville Hospital employs highly specialized physicians because your health is important to us. Neurosurgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons, trauma surgeons, pediatric specialists, gynecologic oncologists – the list is long and growing. It is one way that Huntsville Hospital is improving lives. HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL PHYSICIANS NETWORK SPECIALISTS: Neurological Associates • Maternal Fetal Medicine • St. Jude Affiliate Clinic • Obstetrics and Gynecology • Heart Center • Endocrinology & Diabetes Clinic • Tennessee Valley Gynecologic Oncology • Clinic for Breast Care • Huntsville Surgical Associates / Trauma Services • Lung Center • Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery • Valley Surgical Associates • Spine & Neuro Center • Heart Center Cardiothoracic Surgeons • Digestive Disease Center • Pediatric Neurology • Tennessee Valley Pediatric Surgery
HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL HEALTH SYSTEM 101 Sivley Road | Huntsville, AL 35801 256-265-1000 | www.huntsvillehospital.org 36 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
Seated from left to right: Marc Zelickson, MD, Valley Surgical Associates; Jennifer A. Cox, MD, St. Jude Affiliate Clinic; Whitney E. Dunham, MD, Huntsville Hospital Obstetrics and Gynecology; Tony L. Weaver, DO, Huntsville Hospital Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery; Anjaneyulu Alapati, MD, Huntsville Hospital Neurological Associates. Standing from left to right: Tyler O. Kirby, MD, Tennessee Valley Gynecologic Oncology; Holly Zywicke, MD, Spine & Neuro Center; Muhammad Shafi, MD, Huntsville Hospital Lung Center; Rony J. Najjar, MD, Huntsville Surgical Associates/Trauma Services; Frans S. van Wagenberg, MD, Heart Center Cardiothoracic Surgeons; Sean P. Groark, MD, Heart Center; Ankur Jindal, MD, Huntsville Hospital Endocrinology & Diabetes Clinic. Not pictured: Clinic for Breast Care; Digestive Disease Center; Maternal Fetal Medicine; Pediatric Neurology; Pediatric Surgery.
FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
37
TRIUMPHS
HOPE & HEALING
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES BRINGS INSPIRATION TO LIFE. BY ANN MARIE MARTIN
Above: Jim Rhodes working out in the boxing gym. Opposite: Jerica Frazier overcame a horrendous car wreck that nearly took her life.
Jim Rhodes strides into the gym for Rocket City Rock Steady Boxing. His big smile and cheerful greetings let you know he’s set for his regular workout to stay in shape in his retirement years. But Jim’s in the fight of his life against an opponent he can’t touch: Parkinson’s disease. Jerica Frazier struts into the library to share her story. Her smooth stride and styl38 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
ish outfit perfect belies the fact that unlike most twenty–somethings, Jerica also wears a prosthetic limb. She lost a leg in a car crash that almost took her life. Riley Patterson’s got the beat. Anyone watching her dance can see that. Year after year, she’s earned competition awards. Now the Sparkman High School senior is co– captain of the Varsity Dance Team. What’s
harder to see are two high–tech devices sending signals to the cochlear implants she’s had since she was a toddler. Thanks to her implants, Riley hears the music.
JIM RHODES
After Parkinson’s, Jim is training for Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile trek from the Pyrenees in France to the shrine of St.
FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
39
James in Spain. Start date, May 1, 2020. Wife Carolyn thinks he’s lost his mind, but she’s up for it, too. “I’m calling it the Parkinson’s Walk of Hope,” Jim said. “I’ve got 12 people committed right now to doing it, three of us Parkies and a group of other people who will go along to support us who are marathoners. People can come in and walk with us for a week because everybody can’t take 40 days off. It’s 12 to 14 miles a day. “We just want to raise awareness for Parkinson’s and say that no matter what 40 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
issues you’re dealing with, you can still do stuff.” A couple of corporate sponsors have already signed on. Any extra money raised will benefit the local Parkinson’s community, including Rock Steady Boxing and Huntsville Hospital’s Parkinson’s Care Clinic, a one–stop shop where patients can be evaluated for therapy and learn about social services that can help with disabilities. Before Parkinson’s, Jim was no stranger to medical problems: prostate cancer, colon surgery, a significant cardiac event.
“The doctors fixed me. I did the rehab. I went back to doing everything I normally did. The Parkinson’s diagnosis was the most difficult. I’ve always been a sprinter, but I’m learning to be a good marathon runner. Parkinson’s is not a death sentence necessarily, but it’s a life sentence.” When he was diagnosed in February 2016, Jim and Carolyn were shaken. Then they discovered Rock Steady. The website rocksteadyboxing.org explains why it’s effective: “Parkinson’s causes a loss in many of the same elements that boxers condition to improve. And published medical research has shown that forced, intense exercise can reduce, reverse and delay Parkinson’s symptoms.” Carolyn, fitness director at the Huntsville– Madison County Senior Center, proposed Rock Steady to Executive Director Tom Glynn and the board. They committed to paying the affiliate fee ongoing and sent Carolyn and Jim to be certified. They launched in June 2016 with six patients. Coaches Dallas Terrell and Allen Martin were among the volunteers. By November, they had 35 to 40 boxers and needed more space. Today there are some 150 boxers with maybe 120 active. Erin Keefer of the Parkinson’s Care Clinic is a volunteer coach as well as Jim’s physical therapist. Exercise helps, but it can’t fix everything. “It gets tiring,” Jim said. “Sometimes you just want a day off from Parkinson’s. Every four hours you’re taking meds.” Still, he said, “I’ve come to the point in my life that actually Parkinson’s has been a huge blessing. Out of that has grown all these wonderful relationships. If you look at those people in there, I guarantee you 90 percent of them would be sitting on the couch, and they’re not. They’re back on their lawn mowers. They’re back golfing. They’re back playing tennis. They’re playing with their grandkids. And they’re here three days a week fighting the fight of their lives.”
JERICA FRAZIER
“I think my stubbornness got me through it,” Jerica said, describing the crash, her injuries and her recovery. “Also my support group and, of course, prayers. It also introduced me to great caregivers, doctors, nurses. Dr. Stephan Moran was my trauma surgeon.” Moran is medical director of the Surgical & Trauma Intensive Care Unit at Huntsville Hos-
THE FACE OF
ONE ON ONE
Feeling good – every day - is important. 1st Step Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine began with a simple mission: to help people live more vibrant, pain free, and functional lives. Establishing a patient base by word of mouth alone, 1st Step Physical Therapy has become known throughout the community through its founder Joshua Farhat, PT, DPT, ATC. Joshua listens to, respects and values his patients. He develops a rapport that helps him develop customized treatment plans for each one. Our wide array of services ranges from traditional exercise-based treatments to dry needling, soft/deep tissue mobilization, manual joint mobilizations, and spinal manipulation. We also offer vestibular rehabilitation, cardiovascular conditioning, orthopedic, and post surgical rehab while also offering the latest, cutting edge-modalities. Come see us and begin the road to improved quality of life and pain-free living!
1ST STEP PHYSICAL THERAPY & SPORTS MEDICINE Joshua Farhat PT, DPT, ATC, Cert. DN (256) 325-1795| PT1ststep@outlook.com
Riley Patterson’s got the beat. Anyone watching her dance can see that. Year after year, she’s earned competition awards. Now the Sparkman High School senior is co–captain of the Varsity Dance Team. What’s harder to see are two high–tech devices sending signals to the cochlear implants she’s had since she was a toddler. Thanks to her implants, Riley hears the music. pital. He invited Jerica to tell her story to a group of trauma doctors. “When I did it, Dr. Moran got to introduce me. We didn’t plan it, but I wore a bright yellow dress. He said, ‘She’s my little light.’” Jerica doesn’t always wear yellow, but she’s rarely without her trademark smile. “I’ve always tried to have a smile on my face because you never know what somebody else is going through.” More than two years after the Feb. 18, 2016, accident, Jerica regularly dispenses encouragement and inspiration while she draws blood at a Huntsville Hospital clinic. She laughed as she recalled a fellow amputee who didn’t believe his phlebotomist could understand his pain. She pulled up the leg of her pants and showed him her prosthetic. “No one can tell that I have a prosthetic because of all the amazing therapy I’ve had. I think he gave me the greatest compliment I’ve ever had. “Throughout all of it, my mom was so amazed that the thing that upset me the most was they told me I would never wear heels again. I told them, ‘Watch me.’ Today, I’m wearing heels.” It’s been a long road from crash to heels. It started when Jerica was driving to Northeast Community College to take a test. “I was about 125 feet from the 18-wheeler in front of me. The car behind me hit me. They estimated him going about 80 miles an hour. He hit me and pushed me into the 18-wheeler.” Jerica lost her left leg, broke her wrist, fractured her sternum and lacerated her liver and spleen. She almost lost her right leg. “They told me they were sure I was going to lose my right leg to infection because there was so much debris in it. The whole time I was in Huntsville Hospital, I never had one 42 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
infection. That was a blessing.” Jerica’s smile is genuine, but it’s not her whole story. She’s cried many tears, too. She’s thankful for a strong support system, and she finds comfort in helping others. “It helps me get through it, even on my bad days. Just sitting there and talking to somebody who’s had an amputation that’s been a little bit worse or a little bit better than mine. Everybody’s given their battle to face. You have to do it on your own, but you have people there who can cheer you on and tell you their own stories.”
RILEY PATTERSON
The adventures of Sound Check Mama and the Bionic Girl—aka Tiffani Hill-Patterson and daughter Riley—began in October 2003. Eight days before Riley’s second birthday on Oct. 17, the little girl heard sound for the first time when her cochlear implants were turned on. Riley clapped and grinned. Tiffani saved the video on her cellphone. You never know how children will react. Some scream or cry. The new sounds didn’t scare Riley, but they didn’t tell her anything either. “The change is not immediate,” Tiffani said. “When the implants are first turned on, they may be hearing things, but they don’t know what they’re hearing. They have to learn what sounds mean.” Unlike hearing aids, which amplify sound, cochlear implants directly stimulate the auditory nerve. The outer part sits behind the ear and contains a microphone that sends sounds to a speech processor. The processor translates sounds into electrical signals that go to a transmitter in the outer coil and then to the implant itself underneath the skin. An electrode comes down through the mastoid bone and into the cochlea. The
electrical signals go into the cochlea and on to the auditory nerve, which sends signals to the brain. Implants gave Riley access. Auditory– verbal therapy gave her understanding. Tiffani’s the department secretary for Pediatric Audiology at Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children. A former editor at The Huntsville Times, she’s also a freelance journalist who writes about parenting and more on her Sound Check Mama blog. The department’s webpage, hhwomenandchildren. org/pediatric-audiology, cites her article on newborn hearing screening in Healthy Children, a publication of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “When kids come into the office, our audiology and speech team makes sure parents understand that you don’t just have the surgery, plop this device on their head, and they’re going to start speaking sentences. It’s a long process, and it can be difficult, but it’s worth it. You get that first ‘I love you’ and that first (sigh) ‘No, Mom.’” Tiffani smiled. “She’s come a long way, and she’s worked really hard, too.” Riley’s hard work has turned her into an accomplished dancer. Four years on Sparkman Varsity. All-American all three years at dance camp. Lots of awards. Maybe she could have done it without the implants, but she knows it would have been way more difficult. Now she’s turning 18, and they’re visiting colleges. She plans to major in history and American Sign Language/deaf studies. She also wants to study nursing, education and forensic science. She’s been participating in a medical internship that includes visits to various departments at Crestwood, Huntsville and Madison hospitals. Riley’s ready for her next adventure.
THE FACE OF
MODERN VEIN CARE
Dr. Tracy Lowery is a board-certified vascular surgeon and the director of Best Vein Care of Huntsville. The clinic offers state-of-the-art, minimally-invasive venous treatments. Dr. Lowery is a vein specialist and widely considered the leader in venous disease management in North Alabama. Dr. Lowery and Best Vein Care provide treatment of spider veins, varicose veins, and venous reflux disease. Symptoms of venous reflux include leg swelling, aching, heaviness, fatigue, pain, and restless leg syndrome. Dr. Lowery and the Best Vein Care team can help by offering comprehensive evaluations, specialized treatment, and compassionate care for you and your veins. Evaluation and treatment is covered by most health insurance providers.
BEST VEIN CARE OF HUNTSVILLE 2010 Southpoint Park Circle, Ste. 170 | Huntsville, AL 35801 256-715-7151 | www.bestveincarehuntsville.com
THE FACE OF
CONVENIENT, CARING HEALTHCARE
At Crestwood Medical Group, the health of your family is our top priority. Part of providing quality healthcare is making it easy for you to find it. With 13 convenient locations throughout Madison County, one in Decatur, and an affiliation with Crestwood Medical Center, we can offer just about every specialty you and your family might need, making referrals as simple as possible. On top of being experts in their specialties, the providers at Crestwood Medical Group pride themselves on listening, answering questions, and building lasting relationships with you and your loved ones. We are currently accepting new patients. To find a location convenient to you and schedule an appointment, visit CrestwoodMedGroup.com or call 1-888-261-3422.
CRESTWOOD MEDICAL GROUP WRITTEN BY MICHAEL KELLEY 1 Hospital Drive | SW Huntsville, AL 35801 | 1-888-261-3422 www.crestwoodmedgroup.com
44 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
Pictured from left to right on back row, David Mayer, D.O.; Jenny Chapman, M.D.; Anand Gottumukkala, M.D.; Amber Whitfield, M.D.; Charles Coffey, M.D.; Mylena Morton, M.D.; Andrea Reynolds, M.D.; Beth Barry, CRNP; Yari Campbell, M.D.; Chelsea Colombo, CRNP; Carisa Sparks, CRNP. Pictured from left to right on front row, Valerie Wright, D.O.; Kenneth Batchelor, CRNP; Bhavhna Sharma, M.D.; Susie Lynn, M.D.; Kimberley Tanner, CRNP; Linda Griffis, CRNP; Jose Pace, M.D.; Erik Henninger, D.O. Not pictured are Ann Chu, M.D., and Kristina Morris, CRNP. FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
45
RESEARCH
STARTINGSMALL HUDSONALPHA RESEARCHES
LIFE’S SMALLEST BUILDING BLOCK TO FIND CURES TO HUGE MEDICAL PROBLEMS.
46 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
Alpha Hudson’s Sara Cooper.
Even when faced with an enormous task like combating cancer, scientists at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology start small. The Institute’s research focuses on DNA and genetics, looking for life’s answers in the finest of fine print: the human genome. 48 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
“Cancer is ultimately a disease of the genome,” explains HudsonAlpha Faculty Investigator Sara Cooper, PhD. Genetic mutations accumulate in cells, and under the right conditions, those mutations can lead to the out–of–control cell growth that defines cancer.
“The main challenge in treating cancer,” Cooper adds, “is that those cells that form the tumor are very similar to healthy cells in your body.” The human genetic code is made up of more than three–billion pairs of letters, but it takes less than a dozen changes in the code
Acclinate Genetics founder Dr. Delmonize “Del” Smith.
to turn a healthy cell into a cancerous one. A small fraction of cancers can be accounted by a DNA change that is inherited from parents. These changes are associated with increased cancer risk. Mutations in the BRCA genes are associated with increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer. The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are tumor suppressors, so mutations that lead to abnormal function of the gene allow tumors to grow and spread. Using DNA sequencing to identify individuals with an inherited mutation of the BRCA genes opens the door to medical intervention such as increased screening and surgery that can improve the chances of catching and treating breast cancer successfully or even prevent breast cancer from ever arising. It’s just one example of the promise of genomics in cancer research. HudsonAlpha has already leveraged this knowledge to help people all over the Tennessee Valley. Thanks to a donation from the Russel Hill Cancer Foundation, HudsonAlpha offers free genetic testing for cancer risk to people in North Alabama through the Information is Power campaign. Through Nov. 6, 2019, any woman or man ages 28 to 30 in Madison, Limestone, 50 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
Jackson, Marshall or Morgan County may take the Information is Power test for free. Those who fall outside the free demographic can purchase the test for a reduced cost of $129. The test, offered by Kailos Genetics, tests the well-known BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, as well as several dozen other genes linked to breast, ovarian, colon, and other cancers. Information is Power has helped more than 4,100 people over the last four years. More than half of those people got their test for free. The initiative has already identified more than 70 genetic changes across 17 different cancer-linked genes. Over half of the people with mutations that indicate an increased risk of cancer had no strong family history. In most cases, these individuals would not be offered clinical testing, so the Information is Power initiative provides a unique opportunity to learn about genetic risk for cancer for individuals throughout our community With the information provided through Information is Power, participants with positive results can aggressively screen for cancer and adjust their care with the guidance of their doctors. Of course, even with the benefit of bet-
ter risk detection, there is plenty of work to be done in understanding cancer and how to fight it. “Genomics is a way for us to look at what are the changes in the DNA, what are the changes in gene expression, what are the changes in what we call epigenetics,” Cooper says. DNA is the cookbook that has all the ingredients and directions for how our cells function and grow. Changes in DNA are only part of the story since cancer cells also change how genes get turned on or off. When levels of a growth gene go up, tumors expand rapidly, or sometimes a tumor suppressor gene gets silenced, meaning growth that would normally be carefully regulated goes unchecked. HudsonAlpha’s labs apply genomic technologies to explore these complex interactions, from the genes associated with cancer to the transcription factors that regulate those genes. With 3-billion base pairs of nucleotides in the human genome, the haystack is plenty big. Researchers never know where they might find a needle. Cooper and her lab focus on cancer genomics, but her group is not alone in that work at the Institute. Devin Absher, PhD, fo-
THE FACE OF GENERAL SURGERY
For over twenty-five years, General Surgery Associates, P.C., has provided the highest-quality surgical care to patients in Huntsville, Madison, and surrounding North Alabama communities. Our Board-certified surgeons see patients for the entire spectrum of general surgical disease, including diseases of the breast, endocrine surgery, gastrointestinal and colon surgery, abdominal wall hernia repair, bariatric surgery, and skin cancers. We are committed to providing excellent surgical treatment that is both timely and compassionate. Our offices are conveniently located in both Huntsville and Madison. We look forward to the privilege of caring for you and your family.
GENERAL SURGERY ASSOCIATES, P.C. HUNTSVILLE OFFICE 4704 Whitesburg Drive | Suite 200 | Huntsville, AL 35802 | 256-880-4510 MADISON OFFICE 20 Hughes Road | Suite 201 | Madison, AL 35758 | 256-461-8702 Pictured from left to right: Philip K. Wiles, MD, Peter A. Vevon, MD, Manmohan K. Ghanta, MD, Peter S. Wilson, MD, Diane C. Winters, MD, Daniel A. Boyett, MD, Raymond L. Sheppard, Jr, MD
Even when faced with an enormous task like combating cancer, scientists at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology start small. The Institute’s research focuses on DNA and genetics, looking for life’s answers in the finest of fine print: the human genome.
cuses on epigenetic research, helping understand how genes are regulated, which often plays an important role in cancer. The detection of epigenetic changes in cancer can also be relevant for early detection. Le Su, PhD, currently studies mutations on the p53 gene that appear in more than half of all human cancer cases. One of the smaller, newer research companies at HudsonAlpha has a unique role: working to make sure minorities are represented in genetic research and clinical trials. Acclinate Genetics recognizes that genetic disorders such as hypertension and kidney disease are more likely to affect African Americans, a group historically under–represented in research studies and clinical trials. What’s more, the side effects of some pharmaceuticals can also be affected by genetic ethnicity, says Acclinate Genetics 52 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
founder Dr. Delmonize “Del” Smith. “As our country becomes more diverse, the time is now to address the underrepresentation of minorities and people of color in genomic research and clinical trials,” Smith says, citing figures showing that racial and ethnic minorities typically make up only 12-16 percent of clinical studies, though they now compose more than 40 percent of the U.S. population, Acclinate Genetics is actively reaching out to research firms, while at the same time building a network and database of what Smith terms “willing and diverse participants” ready to participate in research studies. Though less than two years old, the company is already gaining serious awareness in the scientific and investment communities. Early October brought news that Acclinate
Genetics was named a semi–finalist by the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama’s early stage seed fund, Alabama Launchpad. “This is big for us,” Smith says. “It’s a testament that the investment community has confidence in us.” About the same time Smith received an invitation for Acclinate to present at the 2019 Texas Life Sciences Forum. “We think recognition of this type will help us as we look for seed investors to make the company scalable,” he added. At HudsonAlpha, the Institute’s scientists work together to better understand the genome as a whole. Even when faced with the magnitude of a task like combating cancer, researchers at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology know the little things can make a big difference.
THE FACE OF
HEALTHCARE FOR YOU
Thrive Alabama is the community health center of choice for people with and without insurance. Imagine needing a primary care doctor, but finding none willing to accept patients with little to no insurance. Even people with private insurance have trouble finding an office accepting new patients. That’s the reality for nearly 90,000 people living in Madison County, a combination of people who live 200 percent below the federal poverty level; individuals who have Medicare or Medicaid, and individuals who have private insurance. Thrive Alabama CEO, Mary Elizabeth Marr says, “We provide healthcare for anyone who needs it. People who are uninsured, underinsured, and people who have insurance. That is what we’re all about. Helping individuals in our community who need healthcare.” The nonprofit clinic accepts patients from pediatrics to seniors.
THRIVE ALABAMA 600 St. Clair Avenue|Building 3|Huntsville, AL 35801 thrivealabama.org FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
53
WELLNESS
A NATURAL APPROACH
THERE IS A MULTITUDE OF NATURAL AND ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES TO CHOOSE FROM IN THE QUEST FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS. BY CYNTHIA ADAMS 54 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
THE FACE OF
STEM CELL THERAPIES
Dr. Charles Lee is board certified in anesthesiology, regenerative medicine, and stem cell therapies. He is credentialed by the state board of medical examiners to perform stem cell harvesting, isolation, and orthopedic injections. He was the first physician in Alabama to pursue regenerative and cellular therapy medicine and continues to lead the field and set the standard. It is his passion. Regenesis is the only practice of its kind in Alabama offering the latest innovations in regenerative and cellular therapies coupled with a comprehensive, holistic approach to medicine. Dr. Lee provides an alternative to invasive joint replacement and other orthopedic surgeries. Our focus is on improving our patients› quality of life by decreasing pain, increasing mobility by healing, not medications. Genesis is the first book in the bible, the beginning. «Re» is Latin for «again.» We strive to offer our patients the opportunity to «begin again,» hence to feel better and look better.
REGENESIS 300 Randolph Ave| Huntsville, AL 35801 | (256) 715-8193 www.drregenesis.com
The past few decades have seen an explosion in natural and alternative medicine, and Madison County is no exception to this trend. Local residents now have a multitude of natural remedies to choose from in the quest for health and wellness. Call it greater consumer choice. The natural state of humans should be wellness, say these practitioners of wellness and alternative medicine. And for those suffering illnesses who prefer to go the non–conventional route, a wide variety of treatment options are now available for many conditions for which only conventional treatment has been available. What each has in common is a strong emphasis on educating their patients and 56 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
helping them discover the cause of their distress or disease, then helping them find viable solutions to the problem so they can recover and regain their health and quality of life. And while medical insurance will not cover many of these procedures, the Huntsville area has thousands of adherents who are more than willing to pay from their own pockets for treatments that may be out of the mainstream. For some the quest begins with finding just the right pharmaceutical. Huntsville and Madison are home to several compounding pharmacies, and many feel the patriarch of the clan would be Madison Drugs. After years working from cramped quarters near Jeff Road and Highway 72, compounding
pharmacist Terry Wingo moved to Providence, where his clinic, nearly triple in size, dispenses not only custom–blended pharmaceuticals, but a variety of vitamins, food supplements, and other natural remedies. Wingo began his career more than 45 years ago as a conventional pharmacist, but it didn’t take him long to become disenchanted. “After a few years,” he says, he “became disenchanted with my patients not getting well.” He opened Madison Drugs in the mid–1980s, becoming Madison County’s first compounding pharmacy. From day one his focus has always been on maintaining wellness. Through consultations and customized pharmaceuticals, Wingo works to bring wellness to his hundreds of customers.
He is proud that Madison Drugs is one of only a few Alabama pharmacies with membership in both the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists and the Professional Compounding Centers of America. Customers typically start with a consultation that may range up to an hour or more. “We try to get at the root cause of their problem,” he says, “and it may involve a change in diet, adding a diet supplement regimen, or compounded pharmaceuticals.” But much of Madison Drug’s business involves working with a patient’s doctor to develop a customized pharmaceutical that will be more effective than conventional, one–size–fits–all remedies. In addition to being customized for each patient, Wingo says compounded pharmaceuticals typically eliminate allergic reactions that can result from the preservatives and dyes often found in conventional drugs. Getting the medicine into one’s system can be easier, he adds, due to the wider variety of delivery options, ranging from transdermal
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(absorbed through the skin) delivery to oral suspensions, chewables, under the tongue lozenges, and traditional capsules. “These can make taking medicine much more tolerable and palatable, especially for those with difficulty swallowing.” Breast cancer has been on the increase in the U.S. in recent years, making periodic breast examinations ever more important. Madison Drugs offers thermography, a non– radiation approach to checking breast health that involves use of a special camera to measure skin temperature on the breast itself. Some women, concerned with radiation used in mammograms, find thermography’s safe, non–toxic heat imaging an attractive alternative. Weight control has long been a major focus of wellness. Doctors largely agree that obesity contributes to many health problem such as diabetes, heart problems, even cancer. It’s a concern to millions: the latest figures from the National Weight Control Registry indicate about 108 million Americans are on some sort of diet at any given
time, and these dieters make about four to five attempts each year. The American Journal of Preventive Medicine projects that by 2030 more than 42 percent of Americans will be obese, adding an estimated $550 million annually to the nation’s already ballooning medical bill. Weight loss has become a major concern locally, with close to 100 weight loss clinics available in Madison County. The approaches range from traditional dieting to more exotic diets like the Keto diet and Alkaline diet, even intermittent fasting. But local clinics go beyond dieting by providing individualized counseling, weight loss psychology, and even hormone injections to help replace muscle mass lost in crash dieting. Many in south Huntsville have long turned to Allison Wellness Center for help in losing weight. Co–owners Huntsville plastic surgeon Dr. Bill Alison and wife Christy Alison say their approach to weight loss involves consultation and customized treatment plans. “We’ve looked at hundreds of diet plans and weight loss programs. We
THE FACE OF NATURAL HEALTH
Madison Drugs has provided the best in compounding pharmaceutical services to Huntsville and Madison for more than 25 years. Our reputation has spread to build a bond with the community that promotes lasting health and well-being. We work with you and your doctor to develop a solution tailored just for you and your particular condition. Our pharmacists specialize in helping provide custom solutions that work with your body to bring you the health you deserve. We believe that good health is the natural state, and health problems often result from deficiencies in certain nutrients as well as the accumulation of metabolic and environmental toxins. Let us consult with you about a customized regimen that includes specific targeted support and lifestyle changes. Madison Drugs – committed to your good health.
MADISON DRUGS 8 Parade Street (Providence) | Huntsville, AL 35806 | 256-837-1778 info@madisondrugs.com
look at a patient’s medical history and lab results to come up with a plan to help that patient lose weight,” he says. It’s widely known that rapid weight loss can often lead to loss of muscle mass. Alison Wellness offers hormone injections to help with that condition. Injections are gaining in acceptance in the growing field of wellness, one that includes not just hormone treatments, but also such exotic concepts as IV therapies. Both are a part of Alison Wellness’s IV Drip Lounge, which can administer not only hormone injections but also what they call the “Meyer’s Cocktail,” a widely renowned infusion of vitamins and minerals for overall wellness. IV therapy and injectibles offer a num60 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
ber of advantages, says Christy Alison. First, with IV therapy, liquid nutrition is immediately absorbed. Second, IV nutrition can significantly reduce recovery time for those going into surgery. And finally, injectibles can help avoid flu and an unwanted trip to the hospital emergency room during flu season. Injection Therapy can be very beneficial for quick energy, weight loss and helping overcome vitamin deficiencies. For example, Alison Wellness offers “B” Energized, a B– complex injection important in keeping the brain and nervous system functioning optimally and for the function of red blood cells. B–12, Alison says, is an amazing energizer without the jittery side effects associated with caffeine. Another injectible, Vitamin
D is critically important to the functioning of the immune system. In many people, Vitamin D typically drops during the winter months due to reduced sun exposure. They also offer Carnitine, a powerful fat–burner and natural antioxidant that slows down the aging process. One of the newest technologies coming into more common use is stem cell therapy for pain relief. It’s catching on in Huntsville, with a handful of clinics currently offering this unique treatment option. Sometimes used in combination with chiropractic care, stem cell therapy works by using a person’s own stem cells to regenerate muscle, tendon and cartilage tissue and replace cells not functioning at total capacity.
THE FACE OF
FINE ITALIAN DINING
Nestled in quiet south Huntsville, but easily accessible on Bailey Cove Road, Nick’s Ristorante “The Hidden Gem of Fine Dining in The Tennessee Valley” presents the finest in Italian cuisine away from the hustle and bustle of busy city life. A Northern Italian Steakhouse known throughout The Valley for its quality service, atmosphere, cuisine, and cocktails, Nick’s opened in 2010 and is the only VA Certified SDVOSB (Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business) Restaurant in Northern Alabama. Try our top of the line, Certified Angus Beef - specially aged 21 days, cut and individually wrapped to Nick’s and Chef Tom’s specifications. Inspired by Nick’s Delmonte Family recipes, our Northern Italian Cuisine matches the quality of our steaks along with the highest quality in seafood. Come visit Nick, Kaye, Chef Tom, Lounge Manager Kenny, Service Coordinator Joey, and the Staff!
NICK’S RISTORANTE 10300 Bailey Cove Rd SE. | Huntsville, AL 35803 | 256-489-8280 www.nicksristorante.com
Regenesis Stem Cell Center has built a growing reputation as the Huntsville leader in this field. Dr. Charles Lee, a Baton Rouge, Louisiana native, began in cardiac-thoracic anesthesia specialist, eventually turning to anti–aging, regenerative and functional medicine in 2007. Shortly afterward, he attained certification in stem cell therapies. Relocating to Huntsville in 2013, Dr. Lee opened Regenesis to bring regenerative anti–aging and aesthetics to the Rocket City. Preferring not to diversify into other areas, Dr. Lee maintains a concentration solely in Stem Cell and Anti–Aging Therapies and to enriching his patient’s lives. “Stem cells are the body’s natural repair system,” he says. “If you have been suffering from joint and/or soft tissue injuries, stem cell therapy can often lead to relief and the repair of damaged cells with little to no downtime.” Specializing in the stem cell treatment of joint pain, Dr. Lee treats everything from torn meniscus or ACL injuries to common arthritis and joints, especially knees, that have not improved as expected from knee surgery. Stem cell treatment, he explains, 62 FACES OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON
involves transplantation of a person’s own stem cells into the affected joint, where they reproduce themselves and actually regenerate cartilage or meniscus tissue. Regenesis has been a pioneer in platelet–rich plasma (PRP) therapy, which uses injections of a concentration of a patient’s own platelets to accelerate healing of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints. Stem cell therapy can be combined with other treatment techniques such as chiropractic. At Discovery Chiropractic on Pratt Avenue near 5 Points, Dr. Kathy Cornelius specializes in Integrative Chiropractic care that includes chiropractic care with stem cell therapy for conditions such as back pain, joint pain, headaches and athletic injuries. Discovery Medical also provides weight loss and rehabilitation services. In light of the current news on opioid misuse, Dr. Cornelius emphasizes that, chiropractic is a non–toxic, non–opioid approach to pain management. And among her patients, she is seeing more and more children from what she calls text neck and text–trigger finger pain caused by too much use of hand–held devices. “This has become
a real problem in our modern-tech era,” she says. “Children are increasingly complaining of pain in these area.” Discovery also addresses other common modern maladies such as carpal tunnel syndrome and sports injuries. Her patients receive functional assessments to determine strength and flexibility, from which customized treatment plans are then formulated. Regenerative medicine is also among the arsenal of treatments Discovery Medical uses to combat chronic pain. “Regenerative medicine is a cutting– edge, minimally invasive approach to self-healing. The process involves boosting your body’s healing capabilities, by implanting specialized cells—either from another part of your body or a donor—into your injured tissues. Over time, those cells start regenerating and forming new, healthy tissues. These potent treatments not only heal damaged tissue but help regrow tissue.” So Madison County residents have choices, and as Huntsville and Madison continue to grow, the number of wellness and alternative medical practitioners will only increase.
THE FACE OF
CREATIVE ESTATE PLANNING
L. Thomas Ryan, Jr., and the Law Firm of Ryan Hicks Cumpton & Cumpton, LLP, are dedicated to creating and maintaining an estate plan uniquely designed to meet the needs of you and your family, one that will grow and change as your family grows and changes. We provide a comprehensive array of estate planning services to meet your family’s needs and circumstances including Revocable Living Trusts, Wills, Powers of Attorney, Living Wills, Asset Protection Trusts, Special Needs Trusts, Elder Law, and Medicaid Planning. With over forty years legal experience, L. Thomas Ryan, Jr., can help you achieve your estate planning objectives.
RYAN, HICKS, CUMPTON & CUMPTON LLP 2319-B Market Place | Huntsville, AL 35801 | 256-533-1103 www.epattorneys.com No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
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THE CARING HOUSE BY ANN MARIE MARTIN
“I was 7 when my daddy died, too.” The little girl, 9 at the time, spoke calmly. We’d just finished our group sharing session in the Opening Circle Room at The Caring House of Hospice Family Care. One by one, children and adults had said their own name and the name of the person who’d died in their family. “I remember,” I replied, just as calmly. “That’s something you and I have in common.” She nodded. We smiled. Then she went off with the other “middles” kids, ages 7-12, to play in the Game Room, paint in the Art Room, or toss stuffed animals at padded walls in the Volcano Room. Losing a loved one hurts no matter how old you are. It’s a hole ripped out of your soul that never completely closes. But when you’re a child who’s lost a loved one, especially a parent, you face fears unique to your age. “Who’s going to take care of me?” worries the child who’s lost a primary caregiver. (If death can come once, it can come again.) “Who can I talk to?” wonders the child whose friends don’t want to think about death or maybe just don’t know what to say. (Children may hide their true feelings from grieving family members because they don’t want to upset them.) “Children grieve differently, which requires a specialized support group,” said Lee Shaw, Hospice’s business development
manager. “We are trained and modeled after the Dougy Center, the National Center for Grieving Children, and have the expertise to provide that support in peer–to–peer groups.” The Caring House offers a safe place for children ages 3-18 to talk honestly about their loss and learn how to live with it. It’s okay to cry at The Caring House. In fact, that’s one of the rules. A grief journey is never a straight path. Emotions go up, down and all around. Waves of sadness alternate with bursts of anger. But sometimes you feel like laughing and having fun. While I was a volunteer facilitator, a couple of our kids came up with this variation on the rule: “It’s okay to feel how you feel.” An evening at The Caring House may be managed by adults, but it’s very much driven by the kids, their needs and the connections they forge. Another rule written by our kids addressed the feelings of isolation that can come with loss: “Don’t leave others out. It’s not right.” “Children are often known as the forgotten mourners,” Shaw said. “With the support of The Caring House, they do not have to grieve alone.” Hospice Family Care, Madison County’s only not–for–profit hospice, has been helping people navigate the end of their lives with as much comfort and dignity as possible since 1979. Hospice opened The Caring House in 1995. I started volunteering with The Caring House when Hospice was located in a strip of offices on Drake Avenue. Then we moved to a larger office building off Ivy Street. During all that time, we dreamed of having a real house. Now that dream is a reality with a white picket fence. “It has been such a blessing,” Shaw said. “It would not have been possible without our community and Huntsville Hospital Foundation.” With a new home, she said, the program has grown to offer specialized support groups for parents who have lost children, families affected by suicide, and children whose loved one has a serious or chronic illness. “We also are now able to host our Caring House summer camp, Camp Good Grief.” Learn more about The Caring House at hhcaringforlife.org. From left back: Caring House volunteer Richard Willey, Huntsville Hospital Foundation volunteer coordinator Debbie Davis, Caring House facilitators Tina Whelchel and Betsy Wallace. From left front: Caring House coordinator Kim O’Leary and Caring House facilitator Angel Utt.
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