Saturday, November 12, 2016
Graniteville • Vaucluse • Warrenville
Vol. 2, No. 11
Today I Give Thanks by Anne Fulcher I’ve come to find there are many things for me to give thanks about. As we approach the season of Thanksgiving I’d like to reflect on all of the many things we have to give thanks for. First and foremost, I am most thankful for my family. My mother, my two sons and the loves of their lives along with my precious granddaughter. We are happy, healthy and Blessed to have the support and love of one another. Loved ones are the glue that hold the family unit together and one does not have to be blood to be family. Some of the most cherished “family” members are those we welcome into our family while they were not born into it by birth. I am most thankful for my freedom. The freedom to vote, to live in a
free country, able to be recognized as a productive part of society as a woman, and able to have a good education and job. To have these privileges, I MUST give thanks to the men and women who are currently and who have previously served our country to protect our freedom. Many have lost their lives in order for us to be Blessed with our freedom. As the editor of the GVW Report, I am most thankful for freedom of speech. In many countries, I would not be able to write about my faith and the works of faith in our community along with the non-profits and churches. My youngest son taught English as a second language in China and the stories he told of the Communist country were terrifying. I can honestly say those three months he and his girlfriend lived there changed his life forever. Yet again, an-
other blessing that we take for granted in our everyday life. I am thankful to be able to have food on the table. Aiken County has a large population of poverty level homes that do not have the fortitude to have good, nourishing food for their family. Thankfully, there are several organizations in the area that are available to help the impoverished. Please take the time to donate to organizations such as Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Center, ACTS of Aiken, Christ Central in Aiken and Hope Center, Graniteville. Each and every one of these organizations see a needs increase during the Holiday Season. Give a less fortunate family something to give thanks for. I am so thankful for the many of you who I call friends. There are many of you who I can call at the drop of a hat
if I need a favor. We take these relationships for granted as well. You see, since beginning my job in assisted living, I have many residents who have no one; AND I MEAN NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON. It breaks my heart to have their case worker come to visit them every few months…. Literally my heart hurts for these wonderful seniors. Have you ever thought about the seniors living in assisted living or skilled nursing facilities that may have no one? Think about this population who would appreciate a kind soul to come volunteer to spend time with them. Again, I beg you to be the Blessing that gives someone else a reason to give thanks. As we approach this much under-appreciated holiday of Thanksgiving, I want to give thanks to each and every one of the readers of the GVW Report.
2 • Saturday, November 12, 2016
Graniteville, Vaucluse, Warrenville
October Community Calendar Aiken County Recreation Center
Christ Central Graniteville (Hope Center)
Coupon Class November 5 - The Diva Couponista Class, taught by Aiesha Reynolds, offers a great interactive, learning session. Each participant will receive helpful tips, techniques and info. There will be a light snack, games and door prizes. $15/ person. Please RSVP with the Rec Center (663-6142 or tcooks@aikencountysc.gov) by September 5. Class is November 5 at 11 am.
Call Hope Center 803.393.4575 to sign up for any of these classes.
Spanish Made Simple! Jump on this 4 week train and Speak N Grow with us! This beginner’s Spanish course will tear down language barriers and improve success! Classes will be taught by a certified Spanish instructor. $30/4 week session. First class will be Tuesday, November 15 at 5:30 pm. Breakfast with Santa Saturday, December 10 – Bring the kids out to enjoy breakfast with Santa! Child must be on the list to participate. Please RSVP with the Rec Center by December 5. Room Rentals Available The Recreation Center is available for birthday parties, baby showers, family dinners and more! Call Tandra at 663.6142 for rental rates and reservations.
Area Churches Together Serving (ACTS)
Fit and Ready for the Job Market. November 7-18; 9 am - 2 pm. FREE Special training in soft skills for a variety of jobs including janitorial skills, food industry, retail or lawn care. Course also covers life skills, money matters, job search, workplace etiquette, interview skills, resume writing, conflict resolution, and understanding attitudes.
KARATE Karate classes are taught by Brian Randall are are held on Tuesday nights from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Classes are for ages 5 and older with instruction in Tae Kwon Do and Kenpo. Cost is $15 per month.
ServSafe(R) Food Manager Training. November 28, 8 am 5 pm with Karen Tempel. Deadline to register is October 10. WorkKeys(R). Mondays and Wednesdays 9 - noon. FREE. GED Prep. Mondays and Wednesdays 9 - noon. FREE.
See Calendar, Page 8
WorkKeys(R). Mondays and Wednesdays 9 - noon. FREE. GED Prep. Mondays and Wednesdays 9 - noon. FREE. Turning the Pages Ministry led by Rev. Gollie Walker. First and third Tuesdays at 7 pm. FREE Coffee with Jojo. Second and fourth Thursdays at 6 pm. Childcare provided with reservations by calling Jan at 803646-0451. Men’s Locker Room led by Roger Rollins. Second and fourth Thursdays at 6 pm. FREE
Nov 13; 4:00pm • Harvest Home Concert, USCA Masterworks Chorale Festival Chorus. An ecumenical, community event featuring a collection of American hymns & folk songs celebrating Thanksgiving (St. Johns United Methodist Church, 104 Newberry St. SW, Aiken). Admission = non-perishable food item; and a love offering will be taken up during intermission.
Small Engine Repairs. Friday, October 14 and Tuesday 25 from 9 am - 11 am. FREE
Nov 15; 5pm-7pm • ACTS Community Thank you Drop-In at ACTS. Call 648-3800 for more info or to RSVP or email event@actsofaiken.org
Gregg Park Civic Center
Nov 19; 8am-9:30am • ACTS Senior Food Program for ACTS Clients (340 Park Ave SW, Aiken) Nov 26; • ACTS Fashion Show (Aiken Municipal Building ( corner of Lauren St. & Hayne Ave.). Come see the beautiful clothing (a sample of what’s available in ACTS Resale Store at 401 Hayne Ave, Aiken) and receive a 50% off coupon for the ACTS Resale Store (good 11/26 -12/2/16). Nov 26; 10am-3pm • ACTS Retail Store will be open honoring Small Business Saturday. (401 Park Ave SW, Aiken) Dec 8; 6pm • Coffee with Jojo (Hope Center in Graniteville) There will be no meeting 12/22 in honor of Christmas. ACTS will be closed Nov 23-27 for Thanksgiving and reopen Nov 28. 2nd ACTS Resale Store is now open; Mon-Fri 10am-5pm. Monday is Senior Day all items are 50% off for seniors (60yo and above). (Masonic Shopping Center, 50 Canal St, Ste 6; Graniteville)
steps away. Sixteen walk times will earn you a free T-shirt and a healthier mind and body. Walking inside the gym or outside on our beautiful and serene ½ mile walking track. For more information, please call the park at 803-663-7552.
Learning English for Living. Thursdays 7-9PM Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday November 21 - 25.
FREE BLOOD PRESSURE TESTING For information on how you can sponsor the GVW Report, or to suggest story ideas, please contact the editor: Anne Fulcher at ernieace2@yahoo.com or call at 803-979-4476
GVW Report Editor Anne Fulcher
Layout/Design Lauren A. Haley
www.greggparkonline.com
Santa Party Ho!Ho!Ho! Merry Christmas Santa is making a special stop at Gregg Park for all you Kiddies! Santa’s Party is for children Ages 8&Under on Saturday, December 3rd, from 10-11:00 a.m. Come have your picture made with Santa while enjoying refreshments and a craft. For more info., call the park at 663-7552. LITE-SIDE A senior’s class for those who desire a vigorous and fun-filled workout. Certified instructor Wendy Moore will demonstrate the latest techniques for health conscious adults. Classes are held Mondays and Wednesday from 9 to 10 a.m. For more information, call the park at 803-663-7552. Free of charge. LINE DANCE Rock&Roll, Country & Beach Music Line dancing classes with instructor Cassie Barnhill are taught on Mondays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. the cost is $5 per class. For more information, call the park at 803-663-7552. LUNCH BUNCH WALKERS Let Gregg Park help you with your exercise and fitness program. A healthier and well-conditioned you is just a few
This Month’s Sponsors Aiken Regional Medical Center Aiken Technical College
Graniteville, Vaucluse, Warrenville
Saturday, November 12, 2016 • 3
Community Toy Drive and Holiday Party Each year, Aiken Regional Medical Centers holds a Toy Drive in partnership with The Salvation Army to benefit needy children in Aiken County. It’s a wonderful opportunity to directly make a difference in the lives of local families this holiday season. Aiken Regional asks employees and community members to bring new, unwrapped toys to the hospital between November 1 and December 10. Donations can be brought to Aiken Regional’s marketing department on the 6th floor of the hospital or to the Christmas at the Lake festivities at the hospital. This year, Christmas at the Lake is Thursday, December 15th from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. It will feature holiday music, refreshments, and a special guest of the season (Santa Claus!). All who attend are asked to donate a toy that is appropriate for children from newborn up to age 12. The names of all toy donors will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a Christmas stocking full of toys. Thanks to the generosity of Aiken Regional employees and community residents who donated toys last year, many children in the Aiken area were overjoyed to find presents under the Christmas tree. Parents were also happy and grateful to have presents for their children on Christmas morning. More than 300 new toys were collected for area children by the hospital toy drive. The Aiken Salvation Army takes applications from families each year in early October. In 2015, they helped over 600 families provide Christmas gifts to their children. Since many families have more than one child, the Aiken Salvation Army provided toys to over 1,400 children – all right here in the Aiken community. Aiken Regional Medical Centers are proud to be a part of such a generous and caring community. Get in the spirit of the holiday season and join the fun. Toy Drive & Christmas at the Lake Thursday, December 15, 6 – 7:30 pm Aiken Regional Medical Centers 302 University Parkway, Aiken, SC 29801 Please bring a new unwrapped toy. For more information, go to www.aikenregional.com. Happy holidays to all!
803-257-4994
4 • Saturday, November 12, 2016
Graniteville, Vaucluse, Warrenville
I’ve been blessed
BY Dr. Lynn Kirkland
Impact Ministries International, Inc.
I’ve been blessed this past year to be used to facilitate a Cypress class at a local church. Cypress is a transitional church training to help churches lead a more effective and missionary church, and connecting them for greater impact to their city. In Cypress we discuss eight big ideas: Mov ement>Kingdom>Harvest>Disciple>Church> Leadership>Multiplication>Scorecards First, we need to back up and lay down solid DNA so that Movement Thinking, Kingdom Perspective, and Harvest Focus drive our definition of Disciples, Leaders, and Churches. This DNA needs to shape the practices and methods of pastors and leaders as they build missionary teams, engage lost culture, and create a transformational, gospel-centered church culture. Scripturally we base our training on Isaiah 55 with a central focus on vs. 13. If we take a look at “The Literal Translation of the Holy Bible” it says, “Cypress and myrtle trees will grow in fields once covered by thorns. Then those trees will stand as an everlasting witness to the glory of the LORD that shall not be cut off.” God wants us to search for where He is moving. We are so prone to getting a great idea, developing a plan, and then as we try to carry it out in our on strength we ask God to bless it. After all, we did all this for Him, right? Or, did we? As Chapter 55 opens we see an invitation for all that are hungry and thirsty to come buy food and drink without money and without price. God wants us to see things from His perspective. As I was coming home today from an early morning prayer meeting for election day and the state of our nation I began praying out loud in the car. I found myself praying the Lord’s Prayer. “Our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven . . .” Jesus was teaching us to pray the same thing God the Father had told the Prophet hundreds of years earlier --- that we as believers are to pray for us to have the same Kingdom minded perspective that God does. A new economy, not an earthly one, but a Heavenly one. In God’s economy “things” still
have a price, but we buy with no money and without price. As we become more and more Kingdom minded we begin to see it is not about us! It is not about our church, or even our denomination. Everything (that means E V E R Y T H I N G) is about God and furthering His Kingdom. We are part of His agenda that is much bigger than we can ever imagine. Then comes the Harvest. We love the Harvest. We love to see our church grow and multiply. The Harvest is sort of our payoff. But, what does the Harvest look like from God’s perspective? If God really has His way will we be working for the Harvest? Or, will we be working in and on the Harvest? You see, the Harvest is not ours. It is His. If God really had His way in your life right now how would things be different for
you? For those around you? How would your church be different? How would your community be different? If God really had His way in your life . . . You see this needs to be the DNA in our church that is passed down generation to generation: Movement Thinking, Kingdom Perspective, and Harvest Focus. We have allowed our DNA from the early church (Acts, Chapters 1 thru 4) to be watered down by the culture of the world. We need to get back to the basics. The church (all of God’s people) need to start influencing the world and stop letting the world influence us. As part of the Cypress Project our aim is to equip missionary disciples, leaders, and churches that give every man, woman, and child where we live, work, and play repeated opportunities to hear, see, and respond to the
Gospel without them having to come or go anywhere. Cypress helps missionary leaders connect the dots. It is local church driven, community focused, accessible, low cost, contextual, and collaborative. If God may be leading you, or your local church, to be a part of the Cypress Project please contact me at PastorLynn.ImpactMinistries@gmail.com . Dr. Lynn Kirkland EVANGELIST / REVIVALVIST Impact Ministries International, Inc. 758 Silver Bluff Rd., #5431, Aiken, SC 29804 OFFICE PHONE: 803 400-3609 Sign up to receive our monthly “E~NEWS”: www.tinyurl.com/4enews
AIKEN JOB CONNECTION WORKSHOP SCHEDULE SUNDAY
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1015 PINE LOG ROAD, SUITE 103 AIKEN, SC 29803 == Ph. (803) 649-‐7694
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Saturday, November 12, 2016 • 5
Graniteville, Vaucluse, Warrenville
Give thanks to Veterans for their sacrifice BY Roger Rollins “Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die.” – G.K. Chesterton “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Bible November is a month for remembering and giving thanks. Thanksgiving Day was originally celebrated as a day of remembering and giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. And of course when you give thanks you have someone specific in mind. In this case it’s God, who is our all-sufficient provider. We also have the opportunity to give thanks as we honor military veterans, persons who served in the United States Armed Forces. These men and women have sacrificed much, as have their families, so we can celebrate Thanksgiving Day, and every day, in freedom. We must remember those who have gone before and honor and give thanks to those who are still with us. Recently my wife and I visited the Currahee Military Museum in Toccoa, Georgia. The museum features stories of soldiers who were trained at a camp near Toccoa as paratroopers in World War II. As I viewed and reflected on the memorabilia – or probably more accurately the memories – that were on display I felt like I was standing on hallowed ground. In reading the letters and messages to their families I was acutely aware that for many of them those words were the last words their families would ever receive. Many of the units also prepared flags with short poems or messages on them. I have copied some of the messages below. MOTHER Tho far away from you I seem. Each night I see you in a dream. The rose long famed for its grace. Is not as nice as your dear face.
And when my work o’er here is through. I’ll hurry home to be with YOU. SWEETHEART There’s no one else in this world as wonderful, charming, and thoughtful as you. There’s no one else in this world I could love like you, my sweetheart. To my WIFE: A darling little wife Has made my dreams come true. She blesses all my life. Her name is only YOU. You are my partner sweet. You share in all I do. And make my joy complete. By simply being YOU! Let me put the above in perspective with some more recent quotes, these regarding the effects of war on the family. “We have sort of studied everything but the family members themselves.” This is a quote from Melinda Moore, a University of Kentucky researcher who has worked with a Defense Department-funded group studying service member suicide. “The service member is like a pebble dropped in a pool,” she said. “The pain that person carries affects everyone around them. Trauma ripples outward.” Since its launch in 2007, the Veterans Crisis Line has answered more than 2.5 million calls and initiated the dispatch of emergency services to callers in crisis nearly 66,000 times. The Veterans Crisis Line anonymous online chat service, added in 2009, has engaged in nearly 308,000 chats. In 2013, the Veterans Crisis hotline fielded about 29,000 calls from people identifying themselves as family members or friends – about 11,000 more calls of this kind than the hotline received in 2012. What’s more these people who are calling are frequently not grieving over the death of someone; their “someone” is still alive, but far away, and has been so for a long time. The wife of a sergeant assigned to a special
operations unit barricaded herself in her home near Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in 2009. Police tried for hours over a PA system to persuade the pregnant Army wife to come out. She killed herself, and her baby also died. The nonprofit think-tank RAND Corporation issued a report, “Children and Spouses of Deployed Military Members Report Challenges as Responsibilities Increase,” which highlighted many of the challenges families in the military face. In addition the RAND report estimates a third of veterans likely have TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) or depression. These conditions affect not only the injured person but that person’s family. And that’s a lot of people! Many of us have friends and possibly family who are or have been in the military and we are aware of at least some of the challenges this presents. Two families in particular come to my mind.
One, a friend from years ago, was in the Korean War. I heard second hand that he was in a prisoner of war camp for a while. He never would talk about it, but it definitely affected his relationship with his family. The other of more recent times was in the Vietnam War. He and his family adjusted better to his return, but he never talks about it either. There are many who have returned from the more recent conflicts in the Middle East. All of our military personnel, past and present, and their families deserve our prayers and our profound appreciation. The Family & Marriage Coalition of Aiken, Inc. (FAMCO) was created to provide resources for you to succeed in your marriage and families. Roger Rollins, Executive Director, FAMCO, 803-640-4689, rogerrollins@aikenfamco.com, http://www. aikenfamco.com
Miss Graniteville, Kendra Pigler Greetings, I am Kendra Pigler and I serve as Miss Graniteville. It will be my honor to represent this resilient area in the Miss South Carolina USA Pageant in November. I was born October 12, 1995 to James Pigler and Lauminnia Nivens. I am a senior at South Carolina State University pursuing a degree in Broadcast Communications. I began my education at the Minnie Palmore House on A.P. Nivens St. in Graniteville, SC founded by my grandmother Abelle Palmore Nivens. It was the school up on the hill transforming young lives and inspiring the community. After the second grade I attended Byrd Elementary, Lloyd Kennedy Charter School, Schofield Middle School, and Aiken High School. Although I was born in Augusta, Ga and received most of my education in Aiken, Graniteville has always remained home because of my church family at Valley Fair Baptist Church. It later became my place of residence my sophomore year in high school.
Over the years, I have been a witness to the growth and journey towards greatness happening in this area. In 2005 Graniteville experienced the most strenuous test in its history. It was worse than the layoffs when the mills closed and worse than the crime in the 80’s that had police on high alert. The 2005 Train Wreck capsized a tank of chlorine on the streets of our community. It filled the lungs of children; infused itself into the walls of homes and businesses as it took the lives of great hardworking men. After this disaster, I recognized just how much endurance was in the members of this area. After the train wreck there was an unrecognizable sense of unity that took over the neighborhood constant rallies and community meetings began to take place. I have been a witness to the best and worst of days, I am happy to say I know there are even better to come. There are new housing developments going up every couple of years. There are renovations happening that are breathing life into old buildings. I am Kendra Pigler, Miss Graniteville, the face of an area that will never accept defeat.
6 • Saturday, November 12, 2016
Graniteville, Vaucluse, Warrenville
In January 2012, our family of four was complete when our daughter, Carly Michelle Prosser was born. Our eldest daughter Ansley was 8 years old and we were thrilled to have our second daughter. Life seemed to be perfect even though we were exhausted most of the time from adjusting to life with a new baby. Carly was in and out of the pediatrician’s office regularly because she cried so much and didn’t seem to keep much in her tummy. Weeks turned into months and things just weren’t getting any better. All children are different by Carly wasn’t developing at all like Ansley did. I was a nurse as well and had previously worked in pediatrics. I just felt like something was not right. Carly wasn’t attempting to roll over, she didn’t grasp your finger, her head control was not good, and she didn’t make eye contact or look in the direction of a toy playing music. One week, we were in the pediatrician’s office on three separate occasions. I wasn’t leaving that day without referrals. Carly’s doctor wasn’t at all convinced that anything was wrong, but I was. We left that day and were soon seen by an ophthalmologist. This was the day our journey truly began. In June of 2012, we went to the appointment and were giving devastating news. We were told Carly was blind. The diagnosis given was “Cortical blindness”. This means her eyes are fine and there is nothing to correct. It is the brain that isn’t allowing her eyes to see. Her brain isn’t processing vision and sending the appropriate messages. We were devastated and full of worry and disbelief. We left that day with a referral to a pediatric neurologist for the following day. The next day was another extremely difficult day for our family. We were in a waiting room full of children with many types of disabilities. Most were in wheelchairs, wore glasses, some could speak and some could only make noises even though they looked to be school aged. We waited our turn to see the doctor. After many questions and a very extensive assessment, the lists of tests were ordered. Carly was sent for blood work, x-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans and a sedated MRI. One of the questions the doctor asked kept coming back to me. She asked me several times if I was sure I had not seen anything that looked like a seizure. We had not. The next few weeks were full of worry, a lot of time away from work, and most of our time spent at the hospital seeing other doctors and
medication, so this was weaned and she was started on a very high dost of steroid injections used to treat this type of seizure, called ACTH. There are many side effects to this medication and some are very dangerous and include possible death. We had no choice. We had to stop the seizures. A couple of weeks after beginning the injections, Carly developed a stomach bleed and had to be immediately weaned from the steroids. Many anti-epileptic medications later, Carly was still having the seizures and were in and out of the hospital making adjustments. The seizures were taking their toll on her body. She was no longer interested in food and began to lose weight. She was listed as “failure to thrive”. We were losing ground almost daily. My husband and I began searching frantically for anywhere in the world that we could take Carly that may be able to help her. We were not about to give up. We found another child on Facebook with many of the same symptoms as Carly. He was at a hospital in Memphis, TN. We researched the hospital and found them to have a state-of-the-art Neuro-Science department with world-renowned physicians. I contacted them and they had us on our way to Tennessee within 2 weeks. When we arrived at le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, the tests started immediately. Carly underwent another sedated MRI that is more specialized than the one we had locally. This hospital has certain diagnostic tests that are only available in a couple of places around the world. We were amazed at the resources available and the compassion we were shown from everyone taking care of our daughter. We knew we had come to the place that would be taking care of our daughter for the rest of her life. Carly has been hospitalized 28 times and there have been several times that her prognosis did not look good at all. Her seizures continued and evolved into several different types by this point. In February of 2015, she was transported from Aiken Regional Medical Center to the Aiken Municipal Airport to be the flown by plane to Memphis. Carly was intubated and on a ventilator breathing for her. We had no idea if we would ever bring Carly back home. Once we arrived in Memphis, as always they took amazing care of her our Palliative Care team came in to help prepare us and to make decisions in Carly’s best interest. This was the most difficult
Thanks for Carly
completely all the tests ordered. When everything came back, the results were all normal. It didn’t make any sense to us. Our child cannot see because her brain isn’t responding in the appropriate way, but we don’t have a reason for any of it. We were even more confused now. Carly was then referred to a geneticist. Three spinal taps later and after more blood work, we knew we would have an answer. We thought we would be told that our child had a genetic mutation of some kind or that there was a syndrome that she fit perfectly into. We would find the perfect place in the country that specialized in whatever she had. We would take her there and they would know exactly what to do and how we could make this better. These tests take months to do and the waiting was agonizing. We finally got all of the test results back, and once again, everything was normal. In the meantime, when Carly was 7 months old, I was working as much as I could
and after work I came to my mom and dad’s to pick the girls up. When I came around the corner, Carly’s arms stretched out wide with her palms open and her eyes grew wide, while her head extended backwards. This happened several times in a pattern. It stopped after just a few times then started again. I videotaped it this time and immediately sent the video to her neurologist. She called within minutes and said, “… this is why I kept asking you if you had seen any seizures. This is called infantile spasms”. She went on to explain that infantile spasms is a very rare form of epilepsy that is the most catastrophic type if not stopped as soon as possible. However, only 30% of children with infantile spasms respond to treatment and lead normal lives. Once again, our hearts were shattered. Carly was seen the following day for an EEG and other tests. She was immediately admitted to the hospital so treatment for the seizures could be started. Carly didn’t respond to the first
Saturday, November 12, 2016• 7
Graniteville, Vaucluse, Warrenville thing we had done thus far. Five weeks later, Carly wasn’t any better and we decided with our wonderful team of doctors that it was time to bring her home. Our family had been separated and traveling back and forth and we needed to all be together if this was truly the end of Carly’s life. We came home and decided not to resume therapy for Carly because we didn’t want to add any stress to her already fragile body. Through the course of the next few weeks, there were no seizures visible, Carly started to get stronger, she started to smile, she started to even giggle at times. She became stronger than we had ever seen her before. There had been no changes to attribute it to other than we were witnessing God’s magnificent hand at work. He wasn’t finished with Carly yet and her story was only beginning. We resumed her therapies and took advantage of the strength we were seeing in her. Everyone was amazed. We went back for our 3 month check-up in Tennessee and her EEG looked better than it had every looked. Carly was fighting this monster called epilepsy. In August of 2016, we were able to tell the world that Carly was 1-year seizure free. While she still fights for what the seizures took away, she is not constantly being jolted by seizures. When infantile spasms start, often times development in the child stops. This was the case for Carly. She never learned to roll over, she can’t sit or stand, she lost head control, she cannot talk and she lost her ability to swallow without aspirating. In April of 2013, she had surgery to have a feeding tube placed for her nutrition. Today, Carly has physical and occupational therapy in our home 3 days a week. Our therapists have become a family to us and we are grateful for them all. Carly is finally making a little progress. She has gained head control most of the time; her shoulders and trunk have more strength than ever. She still doesn’t grasp objects and she can’t sit or stand, talk or eat by mouth. She is working so hard on all of those skills. There are even more difficult for her due to the cortical visual impairment. She does occasionally roll over on her own, and she is smiling at us daily. Her big sister is able to get the biggest smiles from her daily. We have no idea if Carly will ever master these skills but we will never give up or stop working to achieve them. Through our very difficult journey, we have grown closer as a family, learned true compassion and unconditional love, learned how to accept an outpouring of love from our friends, our church, our community, and from strangers from all over the world. More importantly, we have grown closer to our Heavenly Father than we ever knew was possible. We have allowed
God to be the center and to lead us, guide us, carry us when we are weary, strengthen us when we are weak, and forgive us when we fall. We have learned how to truly turn our lives over and to be joyful in the midst of adversity. God has blessed us far more than we deserve and we want the world to know our Carly and to see how God has blessed us in so many ways. The miracles all around us. We have to be open and allow our hearts to see what he has given us. We have learned to never take for granted the things that we did before our Carly was born. Our eyesight, our ability to walk, talk, to eat and so many other things that he is still revealing to us daily. So in this season of Thanksgiving, take time to reflect on your life and to give thanks for all the gifts that are given to us daily. Even the ones we so easily take for granted or just hadn’t thought about. We all have adversity and we all have mountains to climb. Be thankful for every trial that comes your way and allow it to change you into what God is calling you to be. We are thankful for everyday we have been given, past and present, and are so grateful God chose us to be Carly’s family for as long as He allows us to have her. If you would like to continue to follow Carly’s story, you may do so on Facebook at www.facebook.com/carlyunlimited. Be Blessed, Terry, Amy, Ansley and Carly Prosser
8 • Saturday, November 12, 2016 Calendar, from Page 2 Blood Pressure Testing is offered at Gregg Park Civic Center. This service is free if charge, and is performed by certified nurse Jeanne Townes. This service is provided the first and third Wednesday of each month from 4 to 6 p.m. GYMNASTICS Gymnastic classes are now being held at Gregg Park Civic Center. Registration fee is $10 and cost of instruction is $30 per month. Instructor Rhonda Whitley will teachGymnastics for children ages 4 and older on Mondays from 6 to 7 p.m. For more information, call the park at 663-7552 UNLIMITED Exercise Classes per Month $10/Month for Pass holders, $15/Month for Non-Pass holders • Cardio/Weight Class, Mondays and Wednesdays, 5 to 6 p.m. A 30/30 Cardio and Weight Class consisting of a cardio workout and followed by light weights for toning and abdominal work. Instructor: Becky Geeting • Zumba, Tuesdays, 5 to 6 p.m. Come check out the Zumba Party on Wednesday afternoons with instructor Becky Geeting. This class is for any
Graniteville, Vaucluse, Warrenville
level of participation and provides a non-intimidating opportunity for new exercisers. Come join the fun and enjoy group fitness with less impact. • Resistance Band Training. Mondays and Wednesdays, 6 to 6:30 p.m It’s only 30 minutes. Short on the time but long on the results. Bring your mat, towel and water. We provide the bands. Instructor Joan Beam will demonstrate exercise with concentration on tightening and toning the core muscles.
Midland Valley Area Chamber of Commerce
Meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Meeting time is noon. For more information call 803-979-4476.
Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Center
or Friday (or Monday, Wednesday and Friday), 10 a.m. to noon.
Benefit Bank of SC: Benefit Bank Counselor assist individuals and families in completing several different applications (SNAP/Food Stamps, TANF/FI Medicaid/ CHIP, FAFSA, Prescription Assistance/ Rx Assistance, Lifeline Services, Federal and State Taxes, and Voters Registration), for several different agencies all at one time and all during one interview. Appointments available Monday & Friday 10 a.m. to noon. Call Jackie Cobbs for an appointment 803617-9532.
Caseworker: Assessing the needs of the person seeking help.
GED classes: Tuesday and Thursday 5:30 to 8 p.m. Classes are free.
Midland Valley Public Library 9 Hillside Rd, Langley
AA Group: Monday, Wednesday and second Saturday.
Operating hours are as follows: Mondays 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays 1 to 6 p.m. Thursdays 1 to 6 p.m. Phone: 803-593-7379
Basic Computer Class: Call Sr. Dorothy 803-507-7715 Volunteers are always needed. All we ask is that you consider donating an hour or two of your time a week, a month, any amount you can give to the following:
Megiddo Dream Station
Food Pantry: driver to pick up the food (once a month), a person to unload the food truck (once a month), help restock shelves.
Megiddo Dream Station Work for Success Program. Call (803) 392-7044 or drop by 103 Canal Street to register.
Receptionist: Monday or Wednesday
Tutor: Helping students with reading, math, English and social studies.
The Family and Marriage Coalition of Aiken Inc. 1651 Banks Mill Road, Aiken, SC 29803, www.aikenfamco.com, 803-640-4689
Walgreens, Clearwater, SC Walgreens offers free blood pressure checks all day during pharmacy operating hours (9am - 9pm M-F, sa 9-6, and su 10-6). No appointment necessary. 1st Tuesday of every month is senior day which offers a 20% discount on regular priced merchandise. 2nd Wednesday of every month we offer free confidential HIV testing on site from 11am-2pm. To have your organizations events posted in the GVW Report Community Calendar, please email Anne Fulcher at ernieace2@ yahoo.com or call at 803-979-4476
GVW Report Resource Center Aiken Barnwell Mental Health Center 803-641-7700 1135 Gregg Hwy., Aiken, SC 29801 Aiken Regional Medical Center 803-641-5000 302 University Parkway, Aiken, SC 29801 Aiken Senior Life Services (formerly the Aiken Area Council on Aging) 803.648.5447 159 Morgan St. Aiken, SC 29801 • Providing meals in a dining hall setting • Hot meal delivery to homebound seniors • Frozen meal replacement for non-delivery days or for those outside our coverage area • Non-perishable food items that require minimal cooking • Non-emergency medical transportation • Rural public transit services via the Pony Express • Transportation for shopping, social, employment, and medical services Midland Valley Public Library The Midland Valley Public Library hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 1 to 6 and Tuesday 2 to 6.
Mt. Salem Ministries; 803-646-3847 Outreach Mission Men’s Homeless Shelter Registration from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Sunday 2121 Augusta Road, Gloverville, SC (Hwy 421) “His Table” Soup Kitchen, Monday through Friday “Free lunch” from noon to 2 p.m. 3850 Augusta Road, Bath, SC (Hwy 421) All are welcome!
Rural Health Services, Inc. 803-380-7000 With offices in Aiken, Clearwater and New Ellenton Seeing patients with and without insurance. Adult Medicine, Pediatric Medicine, Behavioral Health, Dentistry, OB/Gyn Medicine, Teen Clinic The Family and Marriage Coalition of Aiken, Inc. FAMCO is a local nonprofit corporation whose mission is to promote the acquisition of relationship skills necessary for successful families and marriages. Resources are provided for couples getting married and those who are married and would like to improve their marriages. Resources are also provided for churches, businesses and other organizations that would like to help their members with their relationship skills. Contact FAMCO at 803-640-4689
The Valley Alliance The Valley Alliance is a nonprofit organization of cooperative agencies, churches, institutions, ministries, and community servants working together within the Midland Valley area for the purpose of better serving our community and its needs by building networks of support and communication, and sharing resources and services that complement each other. The Valley Alliance meets the third Wednesday of every month, for lunch and to discuss our respective ministry activities and to share how we might best help each other with our goals and activities. If your organization would like to join us, just show up. If you have areas that are of interest to the betterment of the community we serve, please let a member of the Board know or you may email this address: rosegoes@aol.com. We would be glad to hear from you. If you have any suggestions for luncheon speakers, we would also like to hear about that. Women’s Breast Health & Imaging Center 803-641-5808 Aiken Regional Medical Center University Parkway, Aiken, SC 29801
Do you or your organization offer services to those in need? Please send us your information so we can share your services to those who need them. This is a free service. For more information, contact Anne Fulcher at 803-979-4476 or ernieace2@yahoo.com.
Saturday, November 12, 2016 • 9
Graniteville, Vaucluse, Warrenville
November, a time of Thanksgiving I am so thankful the elections are over and all those crazy commercials have come to an end. I pray that we as Americans can come together, work together to create a better world for our children. I believe we are in the days of Revelations... We were given two paths, and pray that America choose the right path and we can once again become good stewards. This is the month that we as Americans celebrate Thanksgiving! A lot has changed since the first celebration in 1621 in Plymouth as they celebrated the first good harvest. For those of you who are history buffs, it started with the Puritan Church leaders in New England, which started with days of fasting followed by a feast thanking the creator for the harvest. It did not become an annual harvest celebration until the late 1660’s. In 1789 President George Washington made Thanksgiving a nationwide celebration, “as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God”. By federal legislation in 1941 the 4th Thursday each November, as been set aside as Thanksgiving in America. Today many have forgotten it was a day to express our gratitude to God and a time of prayer. To many people today it is a time of family gatherings over a meal and football. We ask that you join us in praying for a healing in America and for those less fortunate than us. Americans are some of the most giving people in the world. There are many ways for us to give. Share your time by becoming a mentor and teaching kids to read or do math. You could become a volunteer at your local VA or nursing home. Let a veteran know how thankful you are for their services and that they are appreciated. There are many charities that could use your support. Just one day can make all the difference in the world. Minitor Market will be open most of Thanksgiving day to provide service to our customers. We do plan to close a little early to be able to spend some time with our families. We are stocked up on Pumpkins, pies and cakes for your meal. You will also find your favorite cuts of meats and vegetables to adorn your Thanksgiving table. Please take some time with your family
and give thanks for the blessings we have in America. Minitor Market, We have the Meats You Love…
At The Prices You Expect… From Faces You Know… YOU SAVE MONEY Check us out on FaceBook/MinitorMarket/ for Daily Specials!!
Your Hometown Tradition 1161 Augusta Rd. Warrenville, SC www.MinitorMarket.com
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Graniteville, Vaucluse, Warrenville
Thanksgiving Day Quiz Although people celebrate Thanksgiving each and every year, they may not be aware of some of its interesting history. Test your knowledge of gobblers and general trivia with this quiz. 1. Despite competing historical claims, the story most people associate with the first American Thanksgiving took place in a colony in this modern-day state? a. Pennsylvania b. New Jersey c. Massachusetts d. Delaware 2. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on which day of the week in Canada? a. Monday b. Tuesday
c. Wednesday d. Thursday 3. Pilgrims from Europe associated with Thanksgiving are purported to have sailed across the Atlantic to reach North American on which ship? a. Daisy b. Mayflower c. Santa Maria d. Roseflower d. 25 million years ago
c. 1941
a. Albert
6. Three different deboned types of poultry go into this Thanksgiving meal alternative?
d. 1946
b. Manitoba c. British Columbia
a. Orange duck
8. Twenty precent of the overall consumption of this type of fruit is done on Thanksgiving.
b. Turducken
a. apples
c. Turkey chowmein
b. cranberries
d. Chixturck
c. cherries
10. Canadians sometimes call the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States by this name to distinguish it from their own Thanksgiving celebration.
d. grapes
a. Yanksgiving
a. 10 million years ago
7. In what year did Congress make Thanksgiving an official national holiday in the United States?
b. Amerigiving
b. 15 million years ago
a. 1932
c. 20 million years ago
b. 1939
9. The first Canadian Thanksgiving was a welcome-home celebration for Sir Martin Frobisher when he returned to which area of the country?
4. Which tribe of Native Americans taught Pilgrims how to cultivate the land, contributing to the first Thanksgiving? a. Algonquin b. Lenape c. Shoshone d. Wampanoag 5. Fossil evidence shows that turkeys roamed the Americas how long ago?
d. Newfoundland
c. Turmerica d. USthanks
Answers: 1. c 2. a 3. b 4. d 5. a 6. b 7. c 8. b 9. d 10. a
It is once again time to talk turkey, stuffing and all of the trimmings. Thanksgiving is celebrated in both Canada and the United States with similar parades and fanfare. Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for the blessings in one’s life and enjoy the company of family and friends during a special meal.
Graniteville, Vaucluse, Warrenville
Saturday, November 12, 2016 • 11
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Graniteville, Vaucluse, Warrenville
Take charge
of your health. The Diabetes and Nutrition Teaching Center provides interdisciplinary care to adults and children experiencing health problems related to uncontrolled blood sugar. While there is no cure for diabetes, complications can be prevented with proper attention to nutrition, exercise, stress management and use of an accredited self-management education program. Contact the Diabetes and Nutrition Teaching Center today to learn how a specialty trained staff that includes physicians, nurses, dieticians, support personnel and certified diabetes educators can help.
The Village at Woodside 440 Society Hill Drive, Suite 204 Aiken, SC 29803 803-293-0023
November is National Diabetes Month. Physicians are on the medical staff of Aiken Regional Medical Centers, but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Aiken Regional Medical Centers. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. 161253 10/16