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Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Dr. Jones will work with you one-on-one to calculate your risk and to help you make informed decisions about how to lower your risk of developing breast cancer.

Thursday, October 20 5:00 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6:30 p.m. Appointment required.

411 East Vaughn Ave., Suite 200 To schedule an appointment, please call

318-255-1212.

Cynthia Jones, M.D. Board-Certified General Surgeon Member of the Medical Staff at Northern Louisiana Medical Center

editor

from the

Dr. Kessel

ave you ever been a part of something remarkable? Have you spent your precious time and energy on a project that you truly believed would make a difference in your community? If you have, you just might be a thrillionaire. What's a thrillionaire? A thrillionaire is a person that finds joy in giving to others, whether that gift be of time, of money, of labor, or of anything else that can make a difference in the lives of others. Perhaps you're a thrillionaire if you rush toward the Salvation Army bell during the holidays. Or maybe it's the thrillionaire in you that volunteers to work at your local homeless shelter. We all have a tiny piece of thrillionaire inside of us. But there are a few among us that want to help others even when it is out of season. And why shouldn't we? Once you have experienced the thrill that comes from helping others, it's hard to contain your desire to do more for those around you. At The Minute Magazine, we have been blessed by an abundance of thrillionaires in our staff. From devoted writers that use the written word to bring you their heartfelt feelings and ideas, to our very energetic Sales Manager (Vicki Caskey) that has devoted the last six months of her life to bringing you our first annual WIGGIN' OUT event, we are a staff chocked full of thrillionaires. One of my favorite websites is www.thrillionaires.org. I love reading their inspirational stories, and every time I visit their website I'm reminded that we should all do our best to make this world a better place. And when each issue of The Minute Magazine hits newsstands, I smile until my cheeks hurt. Because I know that we're making a difference here in Louisiana. And with any luck, we'll encourage you to do the same.

Jacquelyn Lewis

Jackie and her family of thrillionaires

issue inside this

The Minute Magazine is distributed throughout Caddo, Bossier, Claiborne, Bienville, DeSoto, Ouachita, Red River, Natchitoches, Webster, Lincoln & Orleans Parishes in Louisiana. They are FREE for you to enjoy. Take a few to your friends, relatives or anyone else that you think might need a refreshing, enlightening “minute.” For a list of locations near you, visit www.theminutemag.com today!

JACKIE LEWIS & TIFFANY BYRAM Owners/Publishers Regional Editors Graphics/Layout

VICKI CASKEY Sales Manager

GLORIA HAYNIE HUNTER LEONE

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JENNY REYNOLDS

This magazine is

Feature Story Photographer

Founder

Circulation & Distribution: James “Shay” Callen Contact Information: Office Phone: 318.382.1900 Ad Sales: 318.548.2693 512 Fort Avenue Minden, Louisiana, 71055

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However, you can have it mailed to you for $20 a year to cover postage & handling. Call us at 318.382.1900 and we’ll put you on our mailing list!

Laura Horton Jackie Lewis Michelle McCrary Jason McReynolds Elizabeth Pickett Lela Robichaux

For Good Memories by Margaret Tripp Timmons

True Beauty by Jackie Lewis

The Journey by Jason McReynolds On the Spectrum by Lela Robichaux Three Weeks to Live by Elizabeth Simpson-Pickett A Novel Approach by Winnie Griggs Wiggin' Out by Jackie Lewis Bulldogs Tackling Breast Cancer Life's Blessings by Vicki Caskey Weeder's Digest by Anita Goodson Louisiana Girl Revelations by April Timmons Antique Junkie by Donna Arender PJ’s Point of View by Phillip Volentine Simply Cooking by Melissa Teoulet Zombie Walk by Michelle McCrary Hormonal Woman by Elizabeth Drewett Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be copied or reproduced without permission. The Minute Magazine cannot be responsible for unsolicited materials. The editorial content of The Minute is prepared in accordance with the highest standards of journalistic accuracy. Readers are cautioned, however, not to use any information from the magazine as a substitute for expert opinion, technical information or advice. The Minute cannot be responsible for negligent acts, errors and omissions. The opinions expressed in The Minute are those of our writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. The publisher has the right to accept or reject any advertising and / or editorial submitted.

contributors Donna Arender Vicki Caskey Elizabeth Drewett Anita Goodson Winnie Griggs Rhonda Hollen

ion t p i r

Account Representative

10 12 19 21 22 26 30 32 39 42 44 51 52 56 60 62

Melissa Teoulet April W. Timmons Margaret Timmons Phillip J. Volentine

cover

Our cover model is breast cancer survivor Misty Byrd of Ruston, Louisiana. Photography by Hunter Leone of Three Nails Photography. Make-up by Ashleigh Runge of Total Changes Hair Salon. Body Paint Artist by folk artist Chris Broussard.

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Feedsack Dresses -----------------------------------

D o you remember the feed sack dresses that we

used to wear? I’ll never forget them, myself. I was going into my senior year in high school before I ever had a ‘store-bought’ dress. I don’t remember Mama being much over three feet high. That’s because she was just about that height while sitting in the chair at the sewing machine. She was always there… kind of like God… “In the beginning there was God.” If someone were to write about Mama like that, they would say “In the beginning there was a sewing machine, and Mama was there, from the beginning.” With seven girls to sew for, we would have had to own a textile mill of our very own to keep us all clothed. We didn’t but we did have the next best thing. We had a couple of cows that ate cow feed, which came in colorfully printed feed sacks. When washed and ironed, these feed sacks made perfectly good material for our dresses, shirts, blouses and pajamas.

When I think of it, it was those dresses that first sparked compassion for my fellowman. The girls at school would come up to me and say, “Hey, where’d you get that dress?” Then they’d look at each other and grin. “My Mama made it!” I’d say proudly. “Where’d you get yours?” I’d ask politely. “Ours are STOREBOUGHT! Our Mama’s don’t make homemade dresses!” the girls would say but their grins weren’t quite as wide anymore. I felt sorry for them. “Their mamas must not love them as much as Mama loves us,” I’d think to myself. It seems like it took forever to get enough feed sacks to make one dress. Sometimes Mr. Curtis would get in a shipment of feed, but the sacks wouldn’t match the ones that Mama already had. Then we’d have to wait for another batch to come in before she could make our dresses. Sometimes, Daddy would go without Mama and would pick the wrong sack. I remember going back to Curtis Brother’s store with Mama, her with the feed sack like she needed in her hand, to make sure she got the right color and pattern. We bought our feed at Curtis Brother’s Grocery and Feed Store in Cullen, Louisiana. The feed store was in the back of the store. Daddy had to drive the Chevy station wagon around there and back up to the big, wide door. It was there

that he loaded the feed into the car. The big, old room was on a concrete floor and was about 2 feet high off the ground. It was dark inside, but had all sorts of interesting things for us kids to look at while we waited for Daddy. When Mama had pointed out the sacks that she wanted, Daddy would throw a fifty pound sack of feed over each shoulder like they were filled with air. He would then carefully toss them into the back of the station wagon. When we got home, he would lift them out, carry them to the barn to the feed room, and empty them into the big, old feed barrels. He would then bring the empty sacks, still smelling of sweet molasses and corn, to the house to Mama. Mama would take them, carefully undo the side and bottom seams, and wash them in hot, soapy water to get any of the sweet feed out of them. She would hang them on the clothesline outside to dry. When they were dry, she would bring them in and iron them. Now they were ready for her to cutout and make our dresses. Somehow, she would find extra money to buy yards of Ric-Rac or lace to fancy up our homemade blouses, skirts, dresses, pajamas and gowns. We sometimes had enough sacks in certain patterns to make kitchen curtains and dishrags. As one sister

outgrew her dress, it was handed down to the next one to wear. Rachel had it pretty good because she was the oldest and got first chance to wear the new dress. I guess Judy had it pretty good too, because her hand-me-downs came from the twins. She got 2 of everything. I guess Joy would have it next to the best because she didn’t get any hand-me-downs. It wasn’t that she was special or anything. It was because I was so rough on clothes. By the time I had crawled through a few barbed wire fences and briar bushes, I had so many holes in my dresses it looked like I’d been shot at with a scattergun! I remember one time that Mama had splurged and bought a bolt of white material from the store. She worked feverishly to make all of us girls blouses and a shirt for Jimmie. This led to an incident that Jimmie remembers to this very day. Jimmie hastily got ready for church one Sunday morning along with his many sisters. Upon reaching the church and rushing inside, he was greeted with howls of laughter. Puzzled, Jimmie wondered what all the fun was about, when his buddy, T. Wayne pointed to his white ‘shirt’. It seems that Jimmie had put on one of his sister’s puffed sleeved blouses instead of his own shirt. I think that was the last time he wore a white shirt for many years! As for the feed sacks, after all the war was gotten out of our shirts, skirts, dresses, pajamas, and gowns that could

possibly be gotten, they were tossed into the quilt scrap box. Mama would go through what was left of the dresses and etc. to salvage buttons and zippers and then cut the fabric into quilt pieces. When she had enough, she would set to quilting, turning our feed sack dresses into keepsake quilts. On cold winter nights, before we turned out the light, we’d sit up in our big, old double beds with the iron bedstead, and look at our quilts. “Hey, here’s a piece of my dress,” one sister would whisper. “And, see those purple grapes? They were curtains in the utility room,” another one added. “There’s Jimmie’s pajama… the ones with the green stick figures of Cowboys and Indians. And here’s your pajama. Remember the ones with ‘Alice and Jerry’ on them?” another sister said as she touched the pieces and looked at the sister who had had the pajamas.

Gradually, we weaned ourselves away from feed sacks, to polyester knits, silky leopard skin, and whipped crème for our dresses. Permanent press and no-iron materials made their debut and quickly

replaced the 100% cotton feed sacks. But you know, I’ll always treasure the precious memories of Mama, her effort, and sacrifice of time making those dresses and other articles of clothing

for her seven girls and little boy. It is those precious memories that are lovingly etched on the pages of my heart and those that are woven tightly into the very fabric of those old feed sack dresses.

Photography (of Misty Byrd) by Three Nails Photography Article by Jackie Lewis

TRUE

Beauty

is beyond cancer’s reach

“Y

ou have cancer.” These three little words form the outline of many a life-altering moment. “You have breast cancer, Miss. Byrd.” Back then, in the moments before Misty Byrd received the news that her life would never again be the same, Misty had always considered herself a very typical young woman. But Misty was about to become one of the more than 230,000 American women (annually) who are diagnosed with breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. One short sentence transformed Misty Byrd’s life completely. In one tiny moment, she had to file herself away under a new label. She was no longer a carefree young woman, nor was she invincible. She was thirtytwo years old, and she was terrified. She was a woman living beneath the heavy-handed diagnosis of breast cancer. Two and a half years after she first heard those three little words, on a day that seemed more dream than reality, Misty Byrd walked through a thickly pined northern Louisiana forest. She was dressed simply in a swath of beige material, and atop her head rested a hot pink wig that was almost bright enough to match her personality. Every step she took was being photographed, her every nuance captured in pixel form. With courage in her eyes and a smile on her face, Misty posed for the camera as a half dozen people watched her from just beyond the camera’s lens. In the distance, thunder applauded her bravery as a thin mist of late-summer rain fell gently on her bare shoulders. Our staff beamed with pride and peeked at the photo shoot through green-leafed limbs, and with each snap of the shutter chills raced just a bit higher up our spines. For instead of simply watching a photo shoot that would capture the glowing smile of our next cover model, every single person that watched Misty

Byrd stare bravely into the camera knew without a doubt that we were witnessing something magical. We saw Misty Byrd, one of the bravest women any of us had ever met. And though none of us verbalized our thoughts, our eyes refused to hide our feelings. We cried as Misty smiled. We stared in awe as she reared her shoulders back and taught us a thing or two about real beauty. And as we watched her through tear-swollen eyes, each of us wondered if we would have been as strong if we had been placed in Misty’s shoes. To learn Misty’s story, we must go back to the year that she turned thirty-two. We must go back to the day that she heard those three little words. We must see the woman that she once was in order to understand the woman that she is now. Cancer wasn’t something that Misty expected for herself, and like many women she could not believe that she had become a statistic when she was diagnosed with breast cancer on March 30th, 2009. “I had a cyst on my left breast, and it had been there for seven years. My doctor told me that everything was fine. But when my cyst started changing, I went to another doctor and she told me that we needed to have it looked at. I had a mammogram, then an MRI, and finally I had a biopsy.” And then came the unexpected diagnosis. “You have breast cancer, Miss. Byrd.” Misty was about to begin battles on both the physical and spiritual warfronts. “Before my diagnosis, I kind of took life for granted. Simple things, like feeling good, would mean a lot more to me after my treatment. Before cancer, I really wasn’t as close to my family as I wanted to be. But after I went through breast cancer it changed my life. It brought my family together. I’m closer to my Mom and my Dad and my sisters. We do family things together, and it almost feels like all of this happened to bring us all together. It has made me stronger mentally. And above everything else, I’m closer to God than ever before,” says Misty. And she is not alone. Many people undergoing treatment report finding a newfound respect for their families, their friendships, and their God. In a case study published in The Permanente Journal, Stephen T. Magill researched the effect of spirituality upon cancer

treatment. In the study, entitled “New Lives—Latinos, Cancer, and Spirituality: An Ethnographic History” he wrote, “It is crucial for physicians to remember the role that spirituality plays in our patients’ lives. We are so focused on the important scientific details and evidencebased research, it is easy to overlook the impact a patient’s spirituality can have on their health condition.” He further stated, “We also need to be open to the reality that “miracles” can and do occur in medicine.” This was a lesson that Misty Byrd learned very quickly while undergoing treatment for breast cancer. “When I first found out I kept reminding myself, ‘God is going to take care of me, and I can get through this. I'm gonna be okay,’” said Misty about the first days of her diagnosis. “I know not everybody going through cancer is going to be okay, but that’s how I had to think. I had to believe it. And my family had to remind me all the time. If they had been negative, I would have wigged out. My oldest sister was with me when I was diagnosed, and I told her, ‘please don’t freak out, because it freaks me out when I see you freak out.’” Misty made certain that everyone in her life understood the importance of staying positive throughout her treatment. “I made it perfectly clear to everybody in my family, and just hearing that I was going to be okay really helped. I started saying, ‘I’ve just got a little bit of cancer, it’s okay.’ You have to look at it that way, and be positive. Because that makes a big difference.” Misty is a believer in the power of positive thinking. And she says that the worst part of cancer is the not knowing. “It is a terrible feeling to wonder about your cancer. Before you know where you stand, you imagine the worst. But once I found out where I stood with cancer, I was better. The not knowing was worse than the treatment.” During her treatment, Misty began to look at her life in a completely different way. “Going through what I went through was bad, but it’s like it ended up being a good thing. It made me a better person, a happier person. I used to be very different than I am now. I have more patience than I used to. I’ve always cared about people, but now my heart goes out to everyone. Especially the people that are ill.” But empathy isn’t the only change that has occurred in Misty. “I believed in God before my diagnosis. But after going through this, I know that I wouldn’t be here and alive if it wasn’t for God. I could have had all the friends and family support in the world, but if I hadn’t had a relationship with God, I wouldn’t have made it through.” Misty underwent a double mastectomy in May of 2009. “And then I began chemo,” she says. Misty began chemotherapy in July, not long after her mastectomy. “I had to do six treatments of the chemotherapy. The chemo was very tough, I can’t even explain the way I felt. It’s something I’ve never felt before. It drained me. My bones hurt, I had no energy, I was very nauseated. After my third treatment, I lost my hair. So I made the decision, and I shaved my head. And all of the sudden, things that mattered to me before just didn’t matter to me any more.” Misty says that she learned to appreciate life while going through her treatment for breast cancer. And she learned a lot about connecting with others. “After I found out that I had cancer, I met so many people going through chemo. Talking to them, I realized that I wanted to help them. And I learned that I could bring happiness to a room.” Misty has now finished all of her treatments,

and is on the five-year pill for breast cancer. And two and a half years after her diagnosis, Misty Byrd proudly says that she looks at her experience as a blessing. “If it wasn’t for the cyst, I would have never known. The cyst basically saved my life. The cyst wasn’t cancer, the cancer was in the tissue under the cyst. And now that it’s all over, everything is clear. I’m cancer free, even though I haven’ t reached the five year point. But I haven’t always felt this optimistic. When I was laying on that couch and I was sick, I was thinking how blessed I was to be alive and how blessed I was to feel good before the cancer. And to be honest, on days when I woke up and I wasn’t sick, it was such a joy. I learned not to take life for granted. You can be healthy one day, and sick the next. And I’ve learned that if you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything.” Misty was an honorary team captain of the Louisiana Tech Bulldog football team during their first home football game for the 2010 season. “I served as an honorary team captain. I went out on the field, and I was very, very honored to get nominated to be an honorary team captain. I was told that I was nominated because I was such an inspiration. Tech chose me and another survivor. I was going through treatments at the time, and I was very touched. I got to let everybody see and hear about what I had been through to that point. I was happy to help people. I think that’s one reason why I’ve gone through what I’ve gone through. I am now able to help other people.” Want to meet Misty, and thank her for sharing her story? The Minute Magazine is very proud to announce that we (along with Louisiana Tech Athletics and Northern Louisiana Medical Center) are sponsoring the first annual WIGGIN’ OUT event, to be held on Thursday, October 6th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at SQUIRE CREEK COUNTRY CLUB, 289 Squire Creek Parkway in Choudrant, Louisiana. Proceeds from WIGGIN’ OUT will be used to purchase wigs for women in northern Louisiana that are undergoing treatment for cancer who cannot afford wigs on their own. For tickets to this amazing event, email Audrey Buskirk at NORTHERN LOUISIANA MEDICAL CENTER at Audrey_buskirk@chs.net, or call her at 318.254.2492. WIGGIN’ OUT is a combined effort, sponsored by Northern Louisiana Medical Center, Louisiana Tech Athletics, and The Minute Magazine. This is sure to be a fun, yet informative night and a celebration of life. Heavy hors d’oeuvres and a wine bar will be provided with the special feature drink of the night being the “Pink Wig”. Peaches Wig Shop will provide a large wig display and a “Wig Runway” will be set up where individuals can get their picture taken wearing different types of crazy, unique and fun wigs. Selected Louisiana Tech studentathletes will be in attendance selling raffle tickets as a prize will be given away at the end of the evening. A silent auction will also be part of the night’s fundraising efforts. So put on your funkiest wig, throw on your favorite party dress, and help us celebrate the most beautiful women in northern Louisiana—the women that have faced their fears and learned the truth about life. So come on out to WIGGIN’ OUT and help us spread the message of true beauty— the side of beauty that is hidden far beyond cancer’s reach. Come help us celebrate the human spirit.

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Come Wig Out With Us! and be a part of the 5th Annual “Bulldogs Tackling Breast Cancer” Campaign

Thursday, October 6th Six o’clock in the evening Squire Creek Country Club • Choudrant, Louisiana $50 per ticket or Mr & Mrs. for $90 Heavy hors d’oeuvres • Wine and Beer Bar Silent Auction and Grand Prize Raffle

feat ure “The d drink Pi Wig nk ”

“Wig Runway”

Where women can try on their favorite most outrageous wigs while getting their photos taken. Photos will be available the evening of the event. Special guests include members of the LA Tech Bulldog football team. All proceeds benefit women in Northeast Louisiana who cannot afford wigs while undergoing chemotherapy. For ticket information, please call 254-2492 or visit www.northernlouisianamedicalcenter.com/btbc

Look Good...Feel Better

It’s like a makeover for the spirit. Look Good…Feel Better is a free program that helps women look their best during cancer treatment. At Look Good…Feel Better sessions, experienced cosmetologists teach cancer patients beauty tips to help minimize the appearance-related side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Good makeup application and a wig or turban can bring back your former appearance or create an entirely new one. In looking better, you’ll experience renewed self-confidence and self-esteem. It’s like a makeover for the spirit. And that’s a beautiful thing. To learn more about Look Good…Feel Better or other American Cancer Society programs for patients, call 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

Northeast Louisiana Look Good...Feel Better Sessions are held at Kitty DeGree Breast Health Center on the last Monday of every month and held at Glenwood Breast Health Center on the second Monday of every month. Please call (318) 398-9603 to reserve your spot today!

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God is After Me! -----------------------------------

think God is after me. The other day I’m sitting in my living room and the floor starts to rumble. This isn’t unusual in my house because I’ve got three kids under 6 and I live near a rail station where they slam rail cars together. But this was different. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference but this was definitely thunder. Big time thunder. Big time lightning came with it. So as any man would do, I went to stand out in the midst of it. Every guy does it. Whether in the middle of the yard, on the porch, or you just open the window, there’s something about feeling like your cheating death as the hairs on your arm rise from the increased static in the air. It’s so invigorating! About 5 months ago I was doing this very thing. Standing in my doorway I was watching a banshee of a storm roll through. I was thankful that none of the kids were asleep in the car.

We’ve spent about onesixth of the last six years in the car because none of my kids transfer to the house when they sleep in the car. I was thankful that I wasn’t in the car having to sit there and come up with things to do. All of a sudden a limb the length of my driveway and the width of The Rock’s torso slammed into the front window on the driver’s side of my SUV. I had several thoughts - “C’mon man!”, “Wow, most of the time you never actually see the limb fall on your car.... you just hear it. How cool was it that I was here!” and then it hit me, “Hey, I could have been in there!” But I wasn’t. Two months ago my wife and I were sitting on the front porch letting my daughter take a nap in the car and it started to rain. No big deal. They sleep through rain all the time. It started to thunder and lighting so I was going to run out and get her. All of a sudden a limb the size of Montana from the same sycamore tree thumps five feet away from us. Luckily it didn’t even come close to our SUV where my daughter was sleeping. Then it hit me... if I had stepped out any sooner I would have been flattened like a pancake. Ok, now I’m starting to think that the sycamore tree is angry at me for trimming it up. “Or”, I think fleetingly, “is God after me?”

This past week another storm rolls in. I’ve learned my lesson (for the short term anyway) and have decided to watch through the window with my son. This storm is bad. Thunder is shaking the foundation of the house. Lightning is cracking everywhere around us. And then “THWACK!!!” Lightning strikes the house. I quickly move everyone away from the window and into the center of the house just in case it starts raining sycamore again. Nothing. Whew! Then I think, “What is going on? Is God trying to rattle my cage? Is He trying to get a hold of me? This has never happened to me.” I look around the house to see what the lightning took out, if anything. I didn’t realize it had done anything until I tried to get online. Inconvenience. Then I tried to call the internet company. It took out my phone. “What if I was on the phone?!?!?” I thought. This is a wired home phone. That can kill you, can’t it? I told myself yes but no big deal. Just an annoyance. A couple of hours later my house is burning up. My wife has the tendency to roll it up because we have two different ideas of what cool is. I switch the A/C back on. Nothing. Try it again. Same result. Then it hits me. NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! No air conditioning in the

hottest month of the year in New Orleans. I quickly call out the air conditioning guy and he tells me that everything of worth is fried and combined with the fact that it is an old system he recommends a total replacement. TOTAL REPLACEMENT!!! That ain’t cheap. Ok, now God and I have to have a sit down talk. “What is going on here? If you wanted to take me you would have. I know that. So you didn’t want to take me but you have to be telling me something, right?” As I dwelt on this in my inner hall closet (cause it is the safest place structurally) I realized something. God is after me. He’s not out to get me, he is out to lead me! Otherwise He wouldn’t even bother with me. Who am I that God would want anything to do with me? I began to think of the power that He has to create the thunder and lightning. I thought about the dominance that He has over death by dying on the cross for my sins and the sins of all those who would place their lives in His hands. I thought about the muscle He has to turn the earth, spin the universe, and crack sycamore trees. My God is powerful! I have no reason to hide in this hallway closet! He is God almighty and He wants to talk to me! He is the one in control of Heaven and earth and He wants to lead me into the next steps in my life. He wants to show me how to be more like Jesus, His Son. Huh, it’s pretty amazing what a couple of downed limbs and a wrecked a/c unit will do? Those limbs are more than firewood to me. They are a divine revelation. I think know God is after me. He’s after me to make me into His servant, to change me into who He wants me to be, and then, well, we’ll see where He leads.

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My Kid Totally Rocks! -----------------------------------

IagaincouldhowtellmuchyouI have time and been

through as a parent of a child with autism. Matter of fact, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve expressed on several occasions how tough it has been to navigate the school system, the medical community and family life. We have faced challenges and have overcome many of them. I could preach about the necessity for families to stay strong and focus on what is most important. I know I have mentioned how you must strengthen your relationships and keep a circle of support around you that you can lean on when things go badly, because they will. However, instead of telling you how I have suffered, fought and prevailed over autism, I am going to let you hear it straight from someone who lives it. My son agreed to write about what he has lived all his life and how it has affected him and how he has coped with the fallout. "One thing thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

hard for me is that I, for some reason, act up. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know why I act up. For some reason, it just happens. Another thing thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard is that I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t remember some things (though I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think this is autism). I started to get in trouble for acting up when I was in 2nd grade. I got better over the years. Sometimes I cry when something is too hard. Sometimes I yell when I get angry. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t remember when I started forgetting things, but I think it has been since ECE. I will forget things that will get me in trouble. I just think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something my brain does to keep me from getting in trouble. But Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m better at remembering now. To overcome bad behavior I went to therapy, have a psychiatrist, and have an aide at school. My aide also helps me remember things like my locker combination and how to act. Some people with autism are very smart, like Bill Gates. I am one of those people. I once got straight Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. I learned my first computer script in 4th grade. I like having autism, even if I have a tendency to

misbehave and forget stuff." This kid totally rocks, no? I did not edit one word of that awesome dissertation, although I thought about it. He did once get straight Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. But, just so you know, the only thing that kept him from that honor every report card was the fact that he couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get an A in â&#x20AC;&#x153;conductâ&#x20AC;?. We also tell him it is rude to tell people how smart he is, but heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proud of the fact that he knows more than most people when it comes to computers. After reading this, how could we NOT fight to overcome the adversity he faces daily? How could we NOT fight to let this child have every opportunity afforded him to be the absolute best he can be? Autism is not a roadblock for him, he embraces it as part of who he is and uses itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eccentricities to his advantage and how can we not allow him to do so? Love who your children are; what makes them unique. By doing so, you give them the ability to overcome whatever life throws at them.

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three weeks

to live

Photography (of The Picketts) by Three Nails Photography 22

written by Minute Mag Columnist Elizabeth Simpson-Pickett

It was such a blow, but we put it in God’s hands.

Fast forward 5 years later. I went Thanksgiving week to my yearly eye exam. I had lost all vision in my left eye because of the radiation, but the treatment had worked, and I was cancer-free. The doctor knew we had been waiting for this appointment because the 5 year check-up is the BIG ONE!! I will never forget his words… “You look great! Go home and have some babies!!!” We were thrilled! I breathed a sigh of relief because it was over…I was in the clear.

story begins over ten years ago.

I was in the process of changing jobs and was taking a 2 week vacation. I was at home cleaning and blew out a big 3-wick candle. Wax hit my left eye, and the next day I woke up with an eye infection. I went to the doctor for what I thought would be a routine visit with a prescription for some antibiotics. Boy, was I wrong! The doctor noticed my vision was a little off and dilated my eye “just in case.” I remember him looking and looking for what seemed like an eternity. I remember the light burning my eye and how dry my eye felt because he was looking so long. He left the room without saying a word. He came back in and explained that there was a “mass” in my eye. “It’s probably nothing. People your age don’t get eye cancer, but you still need to see a specialist,” he said. I told him that if that was the case, I would wait until my new insurance kicked in from my new job. “Elizabeth, you don’t understand. I’ve already made you an appointment with a specialist. He is one of only 2 doctors in this area that deal with this. He’s at a tumor conference at LSUMC but is leaving right now to meet you at his office.” I was stunned. I was alone. I had no idea what to do. So many thoughts ran through my mind. A nurse came up to me and explained that she was Jason’s (my husband now, fiancé at the time) neighbor. She told me that I could come over anytime, and she would help in any way she could. Jason ended up going to her house that night, and she explained in laymen’s terms everything that was happening. That was such a blessing to Jason. My mom and dad closed their business that day and headed to the doctor’s office with me. The doctor quickly diagnosed me with “choroidal melanoma with a secondary exudative retinal detachment.” The tumor was so large it had detached my retina from my eye. It was such a slow process that I never even noticed my vision loss that probably started in high school. I left shortly after that to go to the University of Tennessee for radiation plaque therapy. The radiologist there told me that I was the youngest documented case of this type of cancer. The radiation plaque was inserted into my eye and ran 24 hours a day for 10 days straight. I was separated from my son, Jacob, during this time because he couldn’t come into the room because of the radiation. He stayed in Shreveport with my sister, Rachel, while my parents and Jason went with me. It was such a hard time…I was in pain…missing my family..and unsure of what was going to happen next. Jason and I were going to get married soon, so we asked the doctor if having another baby would be ok. His response was to look Jason square in the eye and say, “Well, that depends on whether you want to raise 1 child or 2 by yourself.”

Three days later, I was sitting in the bathtub relaxing after a hard week. We had just buried a family member who had died unexpectedly at a very young age. I was tired…emotionally and physically. I just happened to notice a lump on the outer side of my breast. I will never forget that moment. I took a deep breath and told myself not to worry. I was sure it was nothing, but I would go to the doctor just to make sure. The specialist got me in pretty quickly because of my history. He scheduled a biopsy a few days later. As I was on the table getting the biopsy, I caught a glimpse of the sample. It looked like motor oil. The nurse and doctor looked at each other in a strange way, and I knew something was wrong. A few days later, I got the call. He said it was cancer. I asked the doctor how in the world breast cancer was related to the eye cancer. He said, “Elizabeth, it’s not in your breast..it’s in your lymph nodes. It’s not breast cancer… the melanoma has metastasized.” (Just a side note…I was teaching school when I got this call. My mom had stopped by the school to get me to sign some release papers so we could get my medical records just in case. This is just another example of God’s love. He made sure that in my darkest hour my momma would be there for me. I remember the bell ringing, and I just crumpled into a desk as I tried to process the information.) Just a few days later, Jason and I were sitting in the oncologist’s office at the Willis-Knighton Cancer Center. Jason is an electrician and was working there at the time. When he told some people what was going on, they led him straight into the doctor’s office for a consultation. That sped up the process of trying to get an appointment. When we met, the doctor said, “Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat this. It’s bad. It’s really bad. I have done the research, and there isn’t even a protocol for treatment. This is probably going to be the end for you because there’s nothing we can do.” He then looked at Jason and said, “I lost my best friend in college to cancer, but I can’t imagine losing my wife. You are so young.” He then proceeded to tell us that we needed to quickly get Jason and Jacob into grief counseling. He said that death would come so quickly that they needed to start preparing for it now. By this point, my faith kicked in. I can’t explain it, but this undeniable peace came over me. I looked him straight in the eye and said, “I don’t know if you believe in God or miracles, but you are about to see something miraculous happen.” He smiled a little and said, “I hope you are right.” By now, it was the middle of December. The oncologist referred us to another oncologist for treatment. She is, in my opinion, the FINEST oncologist in our area. She explained to us that once melanoma is in the lymph nodes, it spreads quickly. She ordered a PET scan, but told us she was going to wait until after Christmas to give us the results. Her reasoning was that it was probably going to be our last holiday together, and there was no sense in ruining it. Once again, my faith kicked in. I

knew I was going to be ok. I was scared of the process because we never know how God is going to choose to heal us, but I knew I would survive. I continued to teach during this entire time, and my students and fellow teachers stood with me the whole time. I begged the doctor to give us the results before Christmas, and she agreed. We went in a few days before Christmas and got GREAT news. The cancer was somehow (divine intervention) contained to only ONE lymph node. We could do surgery in January to remove that node and a few around it just to make sure we got a negative margin.

better to just die. When we went in to get the results, we found out that they didn’t get a good sample. I smiled and knew God had intervened. The doctor said not to get our hopes up because the mass was still there, and she was absolutely sure it was melanoma. Other doctors who looked at the tests agreed. Even though I knew it would be painful, I asked for another biopsy. They put me into the CT scanner to get some pictures before they started. I was in there longer than I had been with the first biopsy which I thought was strange. Then the machine started moving me out. I remember wondering why that was happening. When I looked up, I saw the radiologist. “Well, we can’t do the procedure today,” he said. My mind began racing. Why? Good lord, I can’t take another day off work! I’ve prepared myself mentally for the pain! The doctor stopped my thoughts by saying, “I rarely get to give people good news, but I get to today! We can’t do the procedure because there’s nothing to biopsy. Your lungs are clear!” I immediately began to cry. The nurse began to rub my shoulder and handed me a tissue. They knew my story. They knew what I was up against. They knew what was at stake here. The doctor told me that I was free to leave. I told them that they had just witnessed a miracle, and if that didn’t make them believe in God, I don’t know what would.

On January 5th, I went in for surgery. Everything went well. The procedure involved radioactive dye being injected into my breast. This dye would “light up” the cancer cells, so the doctor would know where to look. They couldn’t put me under anesthesia or give me pain medicine for this because I was going into surgery soon. They put me on a table and strapped my arms and legs down because the radiologist said so many people kick and scream and punch him that this was now necessary. I knew this going into it and prayed…. and prayed…and prayed some more that this wouldn’t be the case for me. I was explaining all of this to the nurse while she laughed at me. He began injecting the dye, and I began to giggle. It tickled…it didn’t hurt. The doctor looked shocked and said, “Well, I’ve seen a lot of That, my friends, is the end of that chapter. I have been reactions, but I’ve NEVER seen that!” God is so faithful. completely cancer-free since that day. The medical community called it “spontaneous regression” but I call it After the successful surgery, I went home after just one a “miracle.” God stepped in and did what He had to do. night in the hospital. The doctor said I was looking good During the middle of this entire process, one of my many and just needed to come in every couple of weeks for doctors informed me that my body was going through blood work and CT scans. For several months, everything early menopause because of one of my medications. He was fine….until April. After a CT scan, we found a mass said the chances of me being able to have any more in my lung. The doctor was discouraged and said that it children were slim. I will never forget being at school was like playing “Whack a Mole” at the fair. Melanoma one day and a big ol’ football player came up to me and is absolutely unpredictable and just starts popping up said, “Mrs. Pickett, are you pregnant ?? Because you are everywhere. She ordered a more detailed CT scan with glowing.” I thought it was cute and went home and took small slices of samples just a few days later. By that time, a pregnancy test for fun. It was POSITIVE! I couldn’t the mass in my right lung had grown to twice its size, believe it. Two years ago, I gave birth to my special and there was another mass in my left lung. She came miracle baby girl, Caroline. But, once again, that’s not into the room and said, “I’ve thought about you WAY the end of my story. Just a few weeks ago, we were more than I should have over Easter. I’m not sure there’s once again blessed with another sweet little baby girl, anything we can do. Surgery is not an option because Casyn Claire. obviously you need your lungs. We need to start talking about quality of life.” Nothing we can do?? Quality of When Caroline was born, I decided to take a year off life?? I’m glad I know with God ALL things are possible. from teaching. God had blessed me beyond anything I could imagine, and I didn’t want to miss a moment She had me come back with my parents and my husband with her. I knew sacrifices would have to be made in so that we could all hear the information and decide the order to stay at home. That is what led to me becoming next step. She said there was a clinical trial she could Frugal Friend. I was able to learn to stretch our budget, get me into at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, and now I am a stay-at-home mommy and not planning Maryland. She was also honest with us and told us that it on going back to work any time soon. I can’t help but probably wouldn’t help me but would help with research in believe that God ordered all of my steps so that I would the future. I must say that even with all this bad news, we end up where I am today. never lost our faith. I would get discouraged and not like the process, but I ALWAYS knew God would heal me. I I’m not JUST a survivor. I’m not JUST existing. I’m living didn’t care if it was through chemo, radiation, a clinical trial, life! I’m living a blessed and abundant life. We don’t or a MIRACLE…I just knew God would somehow do it. take things for granted at my house. We don’t leave things unsaid. We know how precious life is. We asked for a lung biopsy just to make sure it was melanoma. The doctor said that lung biopsies are painful, I know that God has a plan and a future for me. He didn’t and it was unnecessary because she already knew. want to leave Jacob without a mother and Jason without I insisted, and she agreed. I prayed and prayed and a wife. He wanted sweet little Caroline and Casyn Claire prayed that I would get in there, and they would say, “Oh to be born. If you or someone you know is fighting a wow! It’s gone!” That didn’t happen. I didn’t understand cancer battle, don’t lose hope. Don’t lose faith. He did it why God didn’t miraculously step in as He had done so for me, and He’ll do it for you!!! many times before. It was painful..worse than childbirth, breast injections, or anything else I can think of! It was the only point in which I really wondered if it would be --------------------------------------------------------------------------

for you, to the point that you fail to realize you’ve left out some key elements needed to paint that same picture for your readers.

-----------------------------------

Telling Details: Adding Color and Life to Your Scenes -----------------------------------

ave you ever had this wonderful scene pictured in your mind, a scene filled with vibrancy and character insight and high drama? A scene with purpose and drive and thematic value? Yet when you get it down on paper, it is somehow flat and lacking in the sparkle and nuances you wanted to convey. Or worse yet, when your critique partner reads it over she fails to ‘get the point’? Part of the problem may be that as the author, your mind automatically fills in flashes of emotion and the nuances of atmosphere

To assist with this, I’ve developed a checklist I apply to my scenes to help me gauge whether I’ve used all the tools available to paint the picture I intended. As I write, I periodically go down the list and ask myself if I’ve thought about each of these points. And that list is what I’m going to share with you today. Please keep in mind that this checklist is only intended to help you think through your scenepainting process. You won’t want to use every element here every time - just pick and choose the ones that you believe will help make your scene come alive. CHECKLIST: IDENTIFYING THE DETAILS SETTING · Where are your characters physically located: If indoors : what is the structure type, room layout, furnishings? If outdoors: what kind of landscape, plants, insects, etc. are present ?

mannerisms? · What are they doing with their upper body hand gestures, fingers drumming, head movements, facial expressions, posture? · What are they doing with their lower body - sitting, crouching, limping, pacing, legs crossed, legs swinging, feet tapping? · Which character dominates? Can the scene be improved if someone else took the spotlight? · Who is your Point Of View character? Can the If in a vehicle: what is the scene be improved by type, is it well maintained changing this? or falling apart, is it still or in motion, what view of the SENSES outside world is available, · What can each of them what is the look and feel see? of the interior, what are · What can each of them the occupants’ comfort hear? level ? · What can each of them · What is the weather/ smell? climate like? · What can each of them · What time of day and taste? (don’t forget this time of year is it? can be internal, like bile · What kind of lighting is rising or blood from a cut present? lip) · What can each of them PHYSICAL physically feel/touch APPEARANCE / · Do the characters sense PRESENCE different things or the · Where are the same thing in different characters in relation ways (perfume can be to each other? Did perceived as arousing or you remain true to this cloying) throughout the scene ? (i.e.: he can’t see her EMOTIONS wrinkle her nose if her · What emotions does back is to him) each character experience · What sort of clothing inwardly? are they wearing:. · What emotions does Is it restrictive, flowing, each character express fitted, oversized? outwardly? Does it rustle, scratch, · How can I heighten caress? Is it new, old, the physical awareness/ worn, clean, soiled, sexual tension of this classic, chic? scene? · How is their general · How can I throw bigger appearance: Are obstacles at my characters they neat,disheveled, or otherwise heighten the comfortable? Is their hair conflict? up, slicked back, braided, loose? Are they wearing MISC make-up, glasses, five · Is there foreshadowing I o’clock shadow? can do of the secrets or of · Are they displaying any pivotal scenes to come? nervous/unconscious · Have I made the best

word choices to provide the pacing and convey the mood, level of tension and nuances of character I desire? DECIDING WHICH DETAILS TO USE I want to reiterate that you don’t want to use every element in each scene. If you pile on too many details, it all begins to run together and there is no punch, no pop. Rather, you’ll want to carefully pick those details that are most significant to the particular scene you are working on, those that provide the color and nuances you wish to depict. Find that one little thing, or collection of things that will really speak to the reader, then focus on it. WEAVING THEM IN Once you’ve selected the details you wish to use, you must determine how to reveal them. Your goal should be to maximize their impact without slowing the story’s pace. A few techniques consider:

· Unfold the setting through your character’s action. Most people don’t enter a new environment and absorb everything immediately. Just so, don’t stop the action of your scene by dumping in a block of description all at once. Let your character notice things naturally as he moves across the stage. · Color the setting through your character’s emotions and senses. Is your character happy, afraid, bitter, heartbroken, in pain? Those emotions will influence how he perceives the things

around him. For instance, the scent of a cigar can evoke cherished memories of a grandfather in one person, or trigger stressful cravings in a former smoker. · Filter the setting through your character’s background and life experiences. When a ten year old walks into a room, would she be more likely to focus on the style of furniture in the room or on the collection of antique toys just out of her reach? Just remember, the trick to good, fast paced, entertaining writing is to reveal only those things you NEED to show the reader, those significant images that move the story forward, make the character and setting come alive, and provide them with the texture and nuances that make them memorable.

WINNIE GRIGGS is a multi-published romance author who currently writes for Harlequin’s Love Inspired and Love Inspired Historical lines. Her column focuses on tips and prompts for aspiring authors. A small town girl herself, Winnie’s books focus on family, community and matters of faith all subjects that are near and dear to her own heart. Readers can learn more about Winnie and her books at www.winniegriggs. com or connect with her on Facebook.

WHY ARE WE

wiggin ’ out ? NORTHERN LOUISIANA MEDICAL CENTER discusses the link between hair loss and self-esteem in women undergoing treatment for cancer.

ccording to the Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T website, statistics taken from 2003- 2007, an average of 7 women in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana will die annually from breast cancer. And on average, 129 women a year in Lincoln Parish will hear the words, “You have breast cancer”. These are frightening statistics, and Northern Louisiana Medical Center in Ruston is doing their part to promote cancer awareness and to help ease a social stigma associated with cancer treatment. Northern Louisiana Medical Center has combined efforts with Louisiana Tech Athletics, Squire Creek, and The Minute Magazine to promote the BULLDOGS TACKLING BREAST CANCER campaign and the first annual WIGGIN’ OUT event. The fundraiser will raise money for women undergoing cancer treatment (all types of cancer) in northeastern Louisiana who cannot afford wigs. Yes, you read that correctly. Wigs. Curly or straight, brown, blonde, or even hot pink, wigs can have a tremendous impact upon a woman’s life when she’s going through chemotherapy and radiation. In our culture, beauty is all around us. What we wear, from the tip of our toes to the top of our heads, is an important part of American life. Whether you realize it or not, your hair is a major part of the way you see yourself. According to The Mayo Clinic, a large number of women and men newly diagnosed with cancer report that they are most afraid of losing their hair during treatment. Have you ever stopped to think about cancer treatment and wondered why cancer patients lose their hair? When chemotherapy medications begin to attack rapidly growing cells in your body, they often attack your rapidly growing hair roots. Many patients undergoing chemo lose hair all over their bodies, including their eyebrows and eyelashes. And although the hair loss is usually only temporary, many people find it difficult to adjust to the new image before their bathroom mirror. That’s where Northern Louisiana Medical Center, Louisiana Tech Athletics, and The Minute Magazine step

into the picture. WIGGIN’ OUT is a tiny title with a big idea. Imagine being diagnosed with cancer. Imagine being faced with hair loss and the constant barrage of social stigmas associated with hair and beauty. Add a drastic loss of energy into the equation, and you’ll begin to understand why NLMC is encouraging the women of northern Louisiana to begin WIGGIN’ OUT. Northern Louisiana Medical Center wants women undergoing cancer treatment to focus their precious energy reserves on getting better, not on worrying about how they look. In a 1994 study concerning the cultural dimensions of hair loss in women treated for breast cancer, TG Freedman reported that women undergoing chemotherapy often felt a loss of privacy as a result of their chemotherapy-related hair loss. Brady Dubois, Chief Executive Officer of Northern Louisiana Medical Center, wants to help ease a few of the emotional pains of women receiving cancer treatment in northern Louisiana. "Just the word, Cancer, stop's people in their tracks and elicits nothing but dread and fear. While Cancer continues to take it's toll, advances in Medicine and Technologies are making key differences in peoples ability to survive. As always, early detection is key to improve one's chances of survival," says Brady. "But human will and determination also play a vital part of any Cancer treatment. By helping reduce the stigma of hair loss as part of the treatment, we are working to help foster that determination. We are blessed to have such a robust medical community who are committed to delivering outstanding healthcare. Thank you in advance for your support, and I look forward to sporting my Taupe' at the Wiggin' Out." Hair loss was proven to make a negative impact upon a patient’s willingness to continue working in a 1999 study entitled, “Work problems after Breast Cancer: an Exploratory Qualitative Study.” Other studies connect a declining sense of self-esteem to treatment-related hair loss in cancer patients. And though the social stigmas attached to treatment-related hair loss are not easily combated, WIGGIN’ OUT presents the people of northern Louisiana with an opportunity to pay tribute to one of the emotional aspects of cancer treatment. Northern Louisiana Medical Center hopes to attract more than 250 attendees to the first annual WIGGIN’ OUT dinner, an event designed to pay for the wigs of hundreds of local cancer patients. Last year, the American Cancer Society provided wigs to 34 cancer patients in Northeast Louisiana, including 4 cancer patients in Lincoln Parish. With the help of NLMC, Louisiana Tech Athletics, and The Minute Magazine, the proceeds from the event will be used to purchase wigs for the women (and men) in our community who need them most. -------------------------------------------------------------------------For tickets to WIGGIN’ OUT, email Audrey Buskirk at NORTHERN LOUISIANA MEDICAL CENTER at Audrey_ buskirk@chs.net, or call her at 318.254.2492. --------------------------------------------------------------------------

BULLDOGS Tackling Breast Cancer

ouisiana Tech Athletics is teaming up with Northern Louisiana Medical Center (NLMC) and The Minute Magazine for the fifth annual Bulldogs Tackling Breast Cancer Campaign that will also include the inaugural “Wiggin’ Out” dinner this year. This year’s events are centered around the Oct. 1 Louisiana Tech vs. Hawaii football game as all proceeds from the

fundraisers surrounding it will go to benefit the Susan G. Komen For the Cure NECLA Affiliate as well as women who are undergoing chemotherapy.

(L to R): Louisiana Tech Lady Techster players Tavasha Anderson, Kiara Young and Whitney Jones don the pink Under Armour uniforms that the team wore at last year’s PINK ZONE Breast Cancer Awareness Game—an initiative started a few years ago by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). Every year the Lady Techsters are actively involved in the national effort to raise awareness of breast cancer and to help generate financial support in the on-going f i g h t against the dise a s e w h i c h affects so many women (and men).

Allison Dooley - wife of former Tech head coach Derek Dooley - and more than $50,000 has been raised the past four years for the Susan G. Komen For the Cure NECLA Affiliate with 75 percent “Louisiana Tech Athletics of those proceeds going has really increased to the local chapter. its effort over the last few years to make an One in every eight even bigger impact on women will be diagnosed our community through with breast cancer while service projects,” said the latest statistics also Tech Assistant Athletics show over 400 cases Director Leah Beasley. of men diagnosed with “Bulldogs Tackling Breast the disease. “This will Cancer has really grown be Northern Louisiana since it began five years Medical Center’s second ago, and we want this year to be involved with year’s effort to be the most Bulldogs Tackling Breast impactful yet.” Bulldogs Cancer,” said Elizabeth Tackling Breast Cancer Turnley, NLMC’s Director was started in 2007 by of Marketing. “We are

thrilled to be a part of this worthy cause and look forward to future endeavors with BTBC.” The main two fundraisers this year will be the sale of official Bulldogs Tackling Breast Cancer t-shirts and proceeds generated by the “Wiggin’ Out” Dinner which will be held at Squire Creek Country Club on Thursday, Oct. 6. Bulldogs Tackling Breast Cancer t-shirts are already on sale ($15 for short sleeve, $20 for long sleeve) at numerous locations around Ruston, including the gift shop at Northern Louisiana Medical Center, LA Tech

Ticket Office, Tolliver Hall (Tech campus), Community Trust Bank (Financial Center on North Trenton), Dawg House Sports Grill, LA Tech Marbury Alumni Center, Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, Bank of Ruston, QuickCare, Beehive, Rodeo Boutique and the Children’s Shoppe.

NECLA Affiliate, the LA Tech Nursing Department and Louisiana Tech Athletics will be selling the t-shirts at the game along with Susan G. Komen Foundation merchandise. They will also be passing out free breast cancer awareness information and pink ribbons on both sides of the stadium starting at 5 p.m.

T-shirts will also be sold the day of the TechHawaii game at Argent Pavilion (2 to 5 p.m.) and on both the east and west sides of Joe Aillet Stadium starting at 5 p.m. and running through halftime. All proceeds from the sales of these official BTBC t-shirts go to the Susan G. Komen For the Cure NECLA Affiliate.

The first 2,000 fans through the west side gates will also receive a free breast cancer awareness rally towel sponsored by Northern Louisiana Medical Center.

Tickets for the inaugural “Wiggin’ Out” dinner are $50 per person or $90 for couples (Mr. and Mrs. Ticket) and can be purchased by calling Representatives from Audrey Buskirk at 318NLMC, the Susan G. 254-2492 or by emailing Komen For the Cure audreybuskirk@chs.net.

Through a joint effort by Louisiana Tech Athletics, Northern Louisiana Medical Center and The Minute Magazine, this is sure to a fun, yet informative night and a celebration of life. “This is our newest initiative for this year’s BTBC event, and we are so thankful to the wonderful people at Northern Louisiana Medical Center and The Minute Magazine who are going to help make this a memorable evening,” Beasley said. “This is going to be a celebration of life, and the money we raise will go to help women who are battling cancer.” Heavy hors d’oeuvres and a wine/beer bar will be provided with the special feature drink of the night being the “Pink Wig”.

Peaches Wig Shop will provide a large wig display as a “Wig Runway” will be set up where individuals can get their picture taken wearing different types of crazy, unique and fun wigs. Selected Louisiana Tech student-athletes will be in attendance selling raffle tickets as prizes will be given away throughout the night. A silent auction will also be part of the night’s fundraising efforts. All proceeds from the “Wiggin’ Out” dinner will benefit women who cannot afford to purchase a wig while undergoing chemotherapy. Individuals can access more information on all of the events by logging onto www.northernlouisiana m e d i c a l c e n t e r. c o m / btbc or by calling Leah Beasley at 318-257-5332.

2nd BIG WEE

Grab your boots a PRCA Rodeo, then thrilling rides and music concerts!

1st BIG WEEK! Oct. 27 - 30 Game on! We open with a HUGE week with an exciting football match up, fantastic foods, and tons of NEW games and attractions along the Midway!

Oct. 27

Nov. 2

Junior

Nov. 4 & 5 PRCA

Opening Day is Dollar Day!

Oct. 28-30 Stanley Built for Life Tour Oct. 29

Shreveport Classic Jackson State vs. Prairie View

Oct. 29

State Fair Cheerleading Championship

Nov. 5

Ice Cr

Nov. 6

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Tickets av Ranchland Topps Wes Cavender’s Patton’s W

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Oct. 27 Bushrod Jenkins Oct. 29 Lakeside Oct. 30 Robert Mizzell

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Nov DISCOUNT TICKET

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3rd BIG WEEK! Nov. 9 - 13

Fiesta time is “over-the-top” during the final week! Catch everything from a Monster Truck Show to the delicious food, music and dance at A Taste of Mexico and all the fun on the Midway!

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Nov. 12

Monster Truck Show

Nov. 13

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Oct. 27 - Nov. 13 Closed Mondays & Tuesdays StateFairOfLouisiana.com

Written by Rhonda Hollen, American Cancer Society Communications

EARLY DETECTION

is your

BEST STRATEGY H

aving cancer is hard… finding help shouldn’t be. When Angela Colvin was diagnosed in 2007 with an aggressive form of stage four breast cancer, she then made the deliberate decision to treat the unexpected diagnosis and subsequent treatment as more of an adventure than a devastating and difficult journey. And oftentimes, Colvin carried on just as if the words “you have cancer” never came up in conversation, thought or even the mirror. “I got up every morning and put on all my makeup, fixed my wigs and dressed with matching jewelry,” said Colvin. “It made me feel like I was going to a social event and not a chemotherapy treatment. I socialized with all the nurses, aides and staff. They couldn’t wait to see which wig I had on that day.” Colvin has been cancer free for four years now. And she has turned her cancer experience into an extension of the “buddy system.” Colvin is now helping many local cancer patients by using the same positive attitude that carried her through her own diagnosis, treatment and recovery. “I believe I made a positive impact on everyone

I came in contact with,” said Colvin. Colvin volunteers for the American Cancer Society’s Look Good… Feel Better Program. This program is free to all women going through cancer related treatment. Look Good…Feel Better is taught by trained American Cancer Society volunteers and professional cosmetologists who teach simple beauty techniques and methods to enhance appearance, selfimage and esteem during cancer treatments like chemotherapy or radiation. “I volunteer because I have been there and done that – the cancer thing,” said Colvin. “If I can help one cancer patient that maybe is not feeling their best on that day, then I will have made a positive impact on someone’s life.” Colvin explains the transformation for patients after Look Good…Feel Better is heartwarming. “Many come with a frown of sorrow or pain on their face, but leave with a smile because of this special bonding process. They feel pretty again,” said Colvin. “The side effects of cancer and its treatment greatly alter our perception of ourselves. This program helps restore the self-esteem that each and every one of us need.” In many ways, Look Good…Feel Better has introduced the makeup brush as a new weapon in the fight against cancer. And Dr. Jun Chung hopes to produce even more

ammunition. Dr. Chung is one of six Louisiana researchers with studies funded by the American Cancer Society. And he is on a mission. He knows his enemy (cancer), proudly wears reputable armor (lab coat), and always uses a trustworthy weapon (microscope). He is very much on his way to understanding how to win the ultimate war on cancer one steady battle at a time. Dr. Chung’s research team focuses on understanding mechanisms of metastasis, or the process of cancer spreading. The team hopes to identify medications that work on blocking cancer cell survival, particularly in breast cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 22,780 Louisianans will be diagnosed with cancer in 2011. Of that number, 2,940 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. This is the third highest number of diagnosis rates after an expected 3,640 men diagnosed with prostate cancer and 3,630 predicted lung cancer cases in the state. It is estimated that more than 8,360 Louisiana cancer patients will die from the disease. More than 600 women will lose their battle with breast cancer. “Breast cancer cells in the body are exposed to many lethal conditions, such as lack of oxygen and lack of nutrients,” said Dr.

Chung. “However, these cancer cells overcome the odds, survive, and indeed, grow. I want to know how they can do this.” And there has been a revelation. Dr. Chung examined that a certain level correlates significantly with one subtype of breast cancer called Triple Negative Breast Cancer, or TNBC. Up to 37 percent of women with breast cancer have this subtype. It is identified as an aggressive and clinically less responsive type of breast cancer with extreme mortality rates. “We hope that our research leads to therapeutic intervention and find the cure for this devastating subtype of breast cancer.” And this particular research could also have other implications. Dr. Chung says the same targets applied to TNBC could possibly save the lives of other patients, including those with pancreatic and thyroid cancers. And while a cure for breast cancer won’t be immediate, Dr. Chung says prevention and early detection remain a best strategy against cancer. “While cancer represents a most formidable disease, it is largely preventable by changing lifestyle, such as eating habits and exercise, specifically in cases of breast and prostate cancers.” So, if wars are won with battles, then Dr. Chung is fighting every day. “I hope our research will provide the basis for clinical trial of novel therapy on aggressive subtype of cancers, like TNBC where no specific therapies are available,” said Dr. Chung. “Basic research is the first step to save lives of those patients who have no treatment options.” Colvin sees research being done worth the time, effort and price if just one life can be saved from the pain of cancer. “Just one more birthday, one more life saved…. awesome!”

TFG 1811 New Phys_Lee

6/24/11

4:47 PM

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JENNIFER CULPEPPER LEE, M.D. MINDEN MEDICAL CENTER IS PLEASED TO WE LCO M E OUR NEWEST PHYSICIAN In medical school, Dr. Jennifer Culpepper Lee couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t decide if she liked treating children or adults more. As a FAMILY MEDICINE physician, she chose both. Now she has chosen to bring her compassion and expertise to the community of Sibley and Minden Medical Center. A Minden native, Dr. Lee is looking forward to joining her extended family in the Minden area and raising her children with the small-town sense of community she felt growing up. Dr. Lee is enthusiastic about helping patients improve their health and preserve good health for a lifetime. She has a special interest in treating patients with high blood pressure, diabetes and lung problems. Dr. Lee is now accepting new patients at Lee Family Medicine Clinic, 382 North Main Street in Sibley. Appointments may be made by calling (318) 382-0909.

#1 MEDICAL PLAZA | MINDEN, LA 71055 | (318) 377-2321

EDUCATION MEDICAL DOCTORATE DEGREE Louisiana State University - Shreveport INTERNSHIP & FAMILY PRACTICE RESIDENCY University of Texas Health Sciences - Tyler PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP American Association of Family Physicians PERSONAL Dr. Lee enjoys running, cooking, baking and taking care of her two girls, Addison and Maren, with her husband, Jeff.

getting answers. She was a trooper and held a good game face. I am sure she was quite sick of me saying “no news is good news”.

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Listen to Your Body -----------------------------------

know most of you have heard the saying “no news is good news”. This is something we all want to believe, especially when it is concerning our health. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. My mother had been feeling overly tired and weak for some time. She never missed a check up with her regular physician or her annual lab work up. Occasionally she would have an odd symptom and would report it to her doctor and in turn follow up with the appropriate lab test. In which case, I would say to her “no news is good news”. It seems as though for about four years I said that statement to her quite

often. All the while her symptoms persisted and in some case worsened. But I stuck to my “no news is good news” and we went about our daily lives. Sometimes mom even thought she was losing it a little because she felt so weak.

she had. A birth defect we later found out.

What seems like an eternity, has actually only been three months ago. Mom had aortic valve replacement surgery back in May and I am happy to report has recovered quicker than most of the I admit, I even thought she patients her doctors have was losing it and knew for seen. certain I was. I felt helpless and nothing I could do or I do not believe we are say would make her feel to live in fear. I myself believe that there is a better. perfect plan for each of We knew “something” our lives. Had mom been was wrong, but never did diagnosed at a different we fear it was as bad as time her plan for recovery it turned out to be. All the would have been a much while her doctors were more difficult process. You telling her she was fine see mom had just moved and before I committed across the street from me us both to the funny farm, doing away with an hour a miracle happened. A drive to her old house. I perfectly orchestrated plan told you it was a perfectly only the Lord himself could orchestrated plan only the Lord could have pulled have made possible. off. Because of this I have My mother ended up in come to the conclusion front of a new physician that we must not ignore due to a move to a new that still small voice that city. This new physician speaks to us, directs us if must have been listening you will. to my mother’s heart that day with a stethoscope The Lord is such a often anointed by the Lord gentleman, himself because he heard whispering to get our instead of a heart murmur. A heart attention murmur that my sweet yelling. My mother was mother never even knew persistent even while not

It is important for us not to ignore our body or our mind. Listen to that still small voice speaking to you to make one more appointment with your doctor or go ahead and try a new doctor. Who cares if they think you’re crazy. New discoveries are made everyday in the medical world, there could be a nurse or lab tech working that just might think of a different test to run or make a suggestion to your doctor that they may not have thought about. What ever you do, do not give up! Trust yourself. You are your own voice of reason and sometimes the news you get may not be the news you want. Just keep pushing forward. Do not stop until the peace that passes all understanding rushes over you. It takes special people to be physicians and they are all human, with the ultimate goal to make your life the best it can be. I read a quote once that is very fitting: "It’s your life, your one and only life, so take excellence very personally." I am grateful to have a happy ending, so many do not and I thank the Lord everyday for the miracle of sparing my mothers life. A special thank you to Dr. Terry Gardner, Dr. Tommy Brown and Dr. Curt Prejean, three of the finest physicians I know.

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tomatillo plant survived my weeding. I watched it grow alongside the tomatoes. Harvesting tomato after tomato waiting on the tomatillos to set fruit. I had hundreds of blooms but no fruit. Finally after my tomatoes quit producing I looked Tomatillo up on the computer. Reading; if not setting fruit you need to add potassium. So that is what I did.

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Garden Creativity -----------------------------------

“N

obody wants a garden exactly like anybody else’s garden. Never will it happen, never in the world, so long as human vanity lasts. A garden is one place in the world where the urge can be indulged ad lib. There are no overseers to frown, no motorcycle police to ride up alongside and say “Pull over to the curb! Where do you think you are going with all those blazing red geraniums?” ~Leonard H. Robbins, Cure It with a Garden, 1933 Mr. Robbins is so right. No one could ever possibly grow a garden, whether a vegetable or flower, even close to being the same. Each and every year I have grown flowers for the last thirty five years. I finally decided you can’t eat very many flowers. So I have been experimenting

with vegetable gardens in the last few years. Each year I am getting better, more knowledgeable about vegetables, and when, where, and what to plant. I try different seeds to just see if it will grow. I take each effort as a challenge for myself personally. I have also begun to eat things that I would have never have touched when I was younger. I found a package of cantaloupe seed that I bought sometime last year in my freezer. I put the seeds out in only two hills, remembering how my mom and dad planted their vegetable garden. I was surprised with what I found. They grew so fast. I kept watching and watering, waiting on my melons to ripen. I had so many cantaloupes that I couldn’t figure out what I was going to do with them. When do I pick them? Finally one evening I checked the cantaloupe. The stem had fallen away from the fruit and it magically turned yellow overnight. Then, it seemed as if I was picking fruit every other day. Thank goodness for family and friends. We all had plenty. So that was a success. Not so much the same with my tomatillos.

The second experiment. I decided to plant some tomatillos seed along side my tomatoes. I have eaten this delicious green fruit before in salsa. I buy them in the grocery store, then I figured why not grow them. In Mexico tomatillos are referred to as green tomatoes. Although they is not a tomato at all. The tomatillos is a plant of the nightshade family, related to the cape gooseberry; bearing small, spherical, and green or green-purple fruit of the same name. I bought many different tomato plants. Not all plants weren’t individually marked with a name tag at the store. That was another mistake. I didn’t know what was what when it got to planting time the next day. I took the tomatoes and the tomatillos seed out with the purchased plants. I didn’t think it would matter because I was going to eat them anyway. Later, I remember checking on the tomatoes and seeing this weed coming up. I pulled it up and discarded it. Uh oh, I had planted the tomatillos seed. That was it. It looked like a weed. I pulled it up. The day after yanking it out, after it was ruined, I realized what it was. So only one

Time goes on to picking peas, okra, peppers, and putting up my veggies in the freezer, I forgot about the tomatillos. I have been watering every other day to keep whatever living to frost. Today I passed by that lonely tomatillo looking for fruit. Thinking all along well, what’s up with this? It must be six feet tall with at least 200 or more small yellow flowers all over it. I just shook my head in wonder. Again, looking up, on Wikipedia this time, it reads; Often self-incompatible, tomatillo need a second plant to enhance pollination and guarantee fruit set! Well, maybe next season. I learned what not to do before learning what to do. What is on your list to plant different for next growing season? With our climate changing we must take into consideration watering. Water rationing in many parts of our area is a must. We may need to go to naturalization. Don’t water and see what survives. I kind of like this idea. If you must water, water wisely use soaker hoses or drip irrigation. Do a rain dance, pray for rain, or at least cooler temperatures. Remember to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Happy Gardening. -----------------------------------

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Back in the Saddle Again -----------------------------------

“T

his is something, ain’t it A?” Those were the exact words my brother said to me as I stared at his charred body. His clothes were gone. Fire had destroyed them. I couldn’t speak. I’m sure my mouth was wide open. I had demanded to see him when I got to the emergency room that balmy August morning. I had to see him, to reassure him (in my best big sister voice) that everything would be ok, to see for myself that he wasn’t hurt too bad and so that I could tell my parents he was going to be alright. I wasn’t prepared for what I saw. He was burned and burned badly. The image is forever imprinted in my memory. The look on his

face, the skin that peeled from his body and the hair singed from his head are forever engrained in my mind. I’m never at a loss for words and I stood there staring at my baby brother with my mouth wide open trying to come up with comforting words. They didn’t come. Then he said to me, “I’m gonna be alright, OK?” I quickly regained my composure and stammered out an “Oh yeah, yeah! You’re gonna be fine, just fine. It’s gonna be fine. You hear me?” I don’t know who those words were more for: him or myself. He shook his head and the nurses ushered me out as they tried to explain they were about to entubate him and I couldn’t stay. The next time we got to talk to each other was 14 days later after the immediate threat of death had come and gone and the tube giving him life’s breath was removed from his throat. Slowly and painfully he began to recover and on day 80 he walked out of the LSU Burn ICU thanks to the Good Lord and his team of doctors, nurses, therapists and staff members. He refused to ride in the wheelchair that was offered to him. Camp I’m Still Me is a camp set up for area children that have been

a victim to burns. This camp is offered once a year for children that have a common bond. They get to come to a place where everyone is just like them. No one stares at them and they don’t feel the need to hide their scars. They are just regular children. They get to swim and play games and do arts and crafts and talk about their experiences with people big and small that have stories similar to theirs. Some children are more severely burned than others, but they all share the same pain and recovery. Each year is themed differently and the 2011 theme was chosen in early 2010. The chosen theme for 2011 was: Cowboys and Rodeo. Before anyone knew a cowboy would be burned in an accident and recover in the same hospital that the camp organizers work at, the theme was, in my opinion,

divinely chosen. This was no coincidence. This was part of His plan. Since coming home from the hospital Heath had been itching to get back on a horse. He’s been on a horse as long as I can remember. Cowboying isn’t a hobby to him; it’s just a way of life. Heath’s burns were extensive to his arms especially underneath his arms which made raising his arms up and over his head especially difficult. Therapy and surgeries are helping to correct this but it is still difficult. This is somewhat of a problem for him because he is a team roper. Since he got home his goal has been to rope again. Part of his therapy was swinging his rope at his dummy. It helps him regain strength in his arms and loosens up the tight scars that have formed. Not being able to scratch your head is one thing, but not being able to participate in your beloved sport is a soul killer. Heath would attend ropings with my Dad and his wife, but never

actually participated at them. Camp I’m Still Me hosted a mock rodeo for all the kids to enjoy during their themed Rodeo and Cowboys week. They asked several people to come and participate in events such as barrel racing, bull riding and team roping. My Dad and Heath’s wife were asked to rope in this rodeo. Heath had been insistent that I come to watch this rodeo. I tried to give him 14 excuses why I couldn’t make it, but decided that I should attend. Seeing children excited about anything is wonderful, but seeing 100 children, who have been through so much, excited about something that normally they wouldn’t get to see, is especially heartwarming. They clapped and cheered at each cowboy or cowgirl no matter if they bucked off or missed. I saw out of the corner of my eye Heath

warming his horse up and it almost looked like he was going to rope himself. But no that couldn’t be – he hadn’t roped in months and his own surgeon was there. Surely he wouldn’t do something he wasn’t supposed to right in front of his doctor! I turned to my Mom and asked her if Heath was going to rope and she shared the same sentiments as I did. Just as I had pushed the thought out of my mind, I heard the announcer proclaim that they had one more team to rope. The announcer told everyone that the next person up in the box was someone that everyone there probably knew. He had been through an ordeal and lived to tell about it. He had been at burn camp all week with the burned children and shared his own story. He listened as they told him their own story. Some even told him that he would

be ok. The cowboy in that box was Heath. He was about to ride and rope for the first time in 10 months. Tears immediately filled my eyes. The children screamed and cheered loudly as they announced his name. He gave a quick head nod and the gateman unleashed the fated steer. Heath lifted his arm as far as he could, cranked his rope and threw the figure eight straight for horns. It was like slow motion as I watch that rope catch both horns and he dallied and turned him. It was a magic moment. His heeler, Heath’s wife Casey, caught also. It was like a beautiful dance. I stood to my feet as tears streamed down my face. I looked behind me to see smiling, beaming faces and heard them clapping furiously. They all knew what this meant. It was his victory. It was their victory in a way.

A burn is one of the most painful experiences any human can go through. The recovery is slow and agonizing. The road is long and at times it seems as if you may go backwards instead of forward. It’s not fair and it ain’t right. But, when you are on the other side of it, you will be someone’s hero. So, yes, it is something Heath. It’s something terribly wonderful. It’s something that shows more strength than any human should have to muster. It’s something that you can be proud of and it’s something I will be in awe of. It’s something that I would never wish on anyone else, but if it’s in God’s plan for them to take this journey I hope they remember you and know that they too will be back in the saddle again one day.

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Minden & Ruston Locations

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Treasures

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s a person who loves antiques, I can’t imagine anyone who doesn’t. But then again, I don’t care for the “ritzy” antiques from England, France and other fancy-smancy places either. So when I say I like antiques, I am talking mainly about primitives. I love the old fashion one-of-a-kind pieces that are oozing with history and have wonderful stories to tell about their previous owners. They “speak” to my heart. I am surrounded by things that make me smile. And I think they are just as happy to call my humble little dwelling their “homesweet-home”. For people who don’t care for antiques, I’m sure they kinda scratch their heads & wonder what on earth I see in them. Some people love the crisp, new, modern pieces that no one has ever owned before. They like the “what’s-in-style” look that can be achieved by buying whatever is popular at all the “gotta have-it” shops. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not criticizing them for their taste in decor. I do love modern things, too, and I have seen some beautiful homes decorated in such a

because she was bullied at school. How horrific is that? We all have the need for acceptance. And we need to be accepted for “who we are”... because that is the way God made us. “For You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully And the same goes and wonderfully made...” for people. We are all Psalm139:13 & 14 DIFFERENT, and that is something that we should I am the first to admit that appreciate in each other, not I am sometimes guilty of condemn or criticize. Sadly, judging others by their looks. we are all guilty (at one time Sometimes I see a long or another) of judging others haired guy with tattoos and who are different from us. I immediately think; “rough We are often separated by and tough, bar-hopping biker social standards, material dude.” And if I only took the possessions, wealth, time to know him personally, geographical differences, or I’d learn that he gave his life even physical appearances. to Christ 20 years ago, and It’s sad to think that we are now has an awesome prison all created in the image of ministry because he can God; yet, we are sometimes “relate” to those who have separated and even ridiculed led similar lifestyles. Or, I because of physical flaws or see a lady and I immediately handicaps. How can people get the impression that she be so cruel? I can understand thinks she’s better that me. that our personalities are When, if I only knew her, I’d different, and not everyone find out that she “seems” will like the same things. But that way on the outside to we should appreciate and cover up the fact that she’s respect these differences... hurting on the inside. She not condemn people for has lived a hard life, and has overcome many obstacles them. to achieve her goals, and It usually starts early in life... she desperately needs a when you are aware of the close friend. The list could differences & are under go on and on, but you get pressure from your peers to the point. “fit in”. Too many kids are left out because they didn’t fit in a We are, all too often, quick certain “click” at school. This to judge others. In reality, leads to emotional problems we all have the same desire and often times, even worse. to be loved and accepted. I recently read an article We are designed to have about a young teenage relationships and be in girl who committed suicide fellowship with others. And way that...”IF” I was to ever change my decor...I’d want the same look. I’m just trying to describe the differences in taste... yet, make a point that they are all equally as beautiful. Obviously, not everyone has the same taste. WHY? Because God created us that way!

we are all different, and that is what makes us unique. Some of us are bright & shiny, like a well-polished expensive antique. Others are very sleek and modern, like a brand new contemporary piece of furniture. Still, there are others, which are more vintage or primitive, and may be a little rough around the edges. And then there are some, who, at first glance, seem hopeless and ready to be trashed; but actually just need some TLC. Like furniture, we ALL BELONG somewhere. An old primitive table wouldn’t look right in a mansion filled with expensive décor & only the finest furnishings. Neither would a crystal chandelier look right hanging in a historical log cabin build in the late 1800’s. They each have a purpose, and a place they “belong”. This life we’re living has enough problems of its own. We have to deal with sickness, accidents, financial difficulties, hardships of various kinds, and just day to day stress. The last thing any of us need is to feel hurt or rejected by some uncaring individual. I encourage you to try to make the journey a little better for us all, by doing your part to accept those who are different. We will never all have the same taste, but we don’t have to be rude, uncaring or downright mean to those who are different. And remember what Jesus said; “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7: 1 & 2 We all have battles to fight, odds to overcome and fears to face. Just remember to put yourself in someone’s place and walk in their shoes before you make that judgment. And please, teach your children to do the same. The “Carpenter” made us all different because we each have different purposes. Yet, He considers all a great workmanship. What “treasures” we are!

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Dog Days -----------------------------------

hese dog-days of summer have taken a toll on me. These long, hot days of over 100 degree temperatures are playing havoc on farms and ranches. This reminds me of a summer when I was about twelve years old. The grass was all but gone in the pasture and nearly all that remained was weeds, mostly bitter weed. As the name implies this is bitter tasting and when the cows ate the weeds their milk would curl your lips. That same year Mother exclaimed the cows got so skinny they started producing skim milk. It was also the year Poppa said it was so dry the hens were laying powdered eggs and that the fish had ticks on them. I could see for myself that the cows were in need of some green grass. I wasn’t quite sure what to do with the hens and fish. The farm animal that was most affected by the drought was an old red mule named Queen. She usually stayed down in the lower pasture where there was a branch and a small pond that usually had water all year. That year it did not have water. Queen would come up with the cows and we would draw water from the well during the dry months. Queen was more of a pet than the cows. When

she was near the house any member of the family could whistle and she would come running. You could ride her, she was very gentle but the thing I remember the most about her was when any of the kids were in the pasture she followed us everywhere we went. If the cows got too close she would butt them with her head. If a stranger passed by on the road, which was adjacent to the pasture she would run up and down the fence between us and the road. Once a rat snake came out of the barn and made a dash for the woods on the other side of the pasture. He didn’t make it because she stomped him into little pieces. Queen did have benefits being close to the house. We would catch all the horse flies we could and pull their heads off and throw them into the air to see how far they could fly. I guess keeping the water trough with an ample supply of water was enough on those long hot summer days to offset the aggravation we caused her. Looking back I realize Queen watched out for us as well as any person could which leads me to this statement. “You might be a hillbilly if your babysitter was a mule!” September came and we forgot about the drought and we lived happily ever after, until Daddy got sick. By the time the doctors discovered what was wrong with him, he was almost gone. Dr. Borkin operated on him and learned Daddy had a malignant brain tumor. By then it was late winter and Mother was gone with him

most of the time, spending as much time with him as she could. Daddy died just before school started the next fall. By now we sold the cows and hadn’t raised any hogs. We had eaten most of the chickens and the garden was overgrown with grass and weeds. As you have probably figured out by now we were not prepared for the

winter. It took all our money for hospital bills, funeral expenses and expenses related to Mother being away from home. We did all right until January when natural gas was extremely high due to the really cold weather. Mother often reminded us of her younger years during The Depression how winter after winter their family struggled along and that she was certain if we could make it to spring things would be a lot better. February money was tight and the gas bill came and we broke all the piggy banks and dug through every box in the house until we finally came up with enough money to pay the bill. A few years later Mother and I were talking about that winter and I made the comment that I thought the gas company was going to cut off the gas and we were going to freeze to death. Mother laughed and looked out the window, like she always did when she was worried or thinking about something and said “If February had 31 days we probably would have”.

including long-term care premiums. This allows you the opportunity to pay for your medical expenses with pre-tax dollars. In addition, any unused HSA funds may be withdrawn after you turn age 65 with no penalty. The funds will be taxed as ordinary income. HSAs are portable, with rollover provisions, allowing you the opportunity to move funds from one HSA to another. If you obtained an HSA through your employer and change jobs, you can roll over your HSA into a new HSA and take the funds with you.

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Health Care -----------------------------------

re you looking for a way to trim your health-care costs, reduce your federal income tax liability and potentially save more for your future?

You can contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA) which, when used in conjunction with a high deductible health plan (HDHP), helps individuals save for qualified medical and retiree health expenses on a tax-free basis.

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bottom of it in a bowl of ice to stop the cooking process (but be careful not to let ice or water drip over the edge of the pan.) Stir to cool. If you need to use the cream right away, keep it in the ice bath and stir to cool. Ideally, you’ll transfer the cream to a container and refrigerate it for several hours. Spoon generously over fresh berries. You’ll love it! Creamy Lemon and Chive Farfalle By Laurie at www. simplyscratch.com

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Internet Cooking -----------------------------------

uick, how many cookbooks are sitting on your bookshelves right now? Now add in all those cooking magazines, newspaper cut-outs, catalogs that you saved because they contained a recipe, and handwritten recipes written on scraps of paper. Total it all up and what do you get? A big pile of junk; you won’t be able to find that recipe for green beans right when you need it and forget about those handwritten notes altering that cheesecake recipe, they somehow got separated from the actual recipe. You keep telling yourself that one of these days you’re going to organize it all in a binder or on the computer but you never actually get around to it. Now what if I told you that you could get rid of all of that and still have tons of recipes at your fingertips? Welcome to the internet,

where all your culinary Blackberries with Sweet dreams can be found. Cream By Ree Drummond at www.thepioneerwoman. I’m sure most of you are com already aware that grocery products have websites. Ingredients: Two of the bigger names are Campbell’s and Kraft, · 1 pint Heavy Whipping but every product has one. Cream And they’re very helpful · 1 c. Sugar, divided in half too, especially when you · 10 whole Egg Yolks happen to have a leftover · 2 tsp Vanilla Extract can of chicken stock and no · Fresh Blackberries earthly idea what to do with it. You can also find websites Preparation: with members who post Combine cream with half recipes. I like to call those the sugar in a medium recipe hubs because it’s a saucepan. Bring to a strong place where many different simmer, but don’t boil. people can share and Whisk egg yolks in a bowl swap their recipes. Some (I used my electric mixer examples of recipe hubs w/ whisk attachment) with are www.allrecipes.com, the other half of the sugar. www.cooks.com and www. Add vanilla extract. (If using food.com. In addition to vanilla bean instead, scrape product websites and recipe caviar into cream/sugar hubs, there are quite a large mixture.) After whisking number of food bloggers on medium for a minute, online. My absolute favorite begin slowly pouring in the one has become so popular hot cream; I use a metal that she now has a TV show measuring cup to scoop on The Food Network. The out small portions at a time. Pioneer Woman writes After all cream is added, about everything and turn off mixer. Pour mixture anything, not just food. I’ve into the top of a double been following her blog for boiler (or a glass bowl fitted a couple of years now and over a saucepan). Cook have cooked many of her in the double boiler over recipes with great success. medium heat. Stir gently If you click the link called but constantly as the egg/ Tasty Kitchen, you’ll be cream mixture slowly brought over to her recipe thickens. Watch the mixture: hub where you’ll find many if it starts to really thicken more recipes posted by up, remove it immediately her readers. In this article, from the heat. You want I’ve listed all my favorite this to be more of a thick, websites for recipes as well pourable cream than a thick, as a couple of the recipes heavy pudding texture. As that can be found online. soon as you remove the pan from the heat, set the

Ingredients: · 1 pound Dried Farfalle Pasta · 2 small or 1 medium Shallot, diced small · 1-2 tablespoons Extra Light Olive Oil · 2 teaspoons All-Purpose Flour · 1/2 cup Dry White Wine · 1 cup Heavy Cream · 1/4 cup Fresh Chives, Chopped · 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice, freshly squeezed · 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt, or more to taste · 1/2 teaspoon Fresh Ground Black Pepper, or more to taste · 1 teaspoon Fresh Lemon Zest · 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese Preparation: Prepare the pasta according to package directions, reserving a cup of pasta water. Mean while sauté the diced shallots in olive oil over medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Once the shallots have softened, sprinkle with two teaspoons of flour and cook for one minute. Stir in white wine until flour is dissolved and bring to a simmer. Then reduce heat to mediumlow and add heavy cream, chives, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Grate a teaspoon of lemon zest and 1/2 cup Parmesan over the pasta and toss. Thin out with a little of the reserved pasta water, then divide among four plates and garnish more Parmesan if desired. Buttermilk Soaked Baked Parmesan Pork Chops By Jessica on www.

howsweeteats.com. Ingredients: · 4 thin-sliced, boneless center cut pork chops · 2 cups low-fat buttermilk · 2 cups panko bread crumbs · 1/3 cup flour (I used whole wheat pastry, any flour will do) · 1/2 teaspoon salt · 1/2 teaspoon pepper · 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese + a little more for garnish · 3 tablespoons olive oil · 3/4 cup chicken stock Preparation: Tenderize and trim fat from pork chops if you’d like. It’s not necessary but I do it. Add pork chops to a baking dish and pour buttermilk over top. Soak for at least 2 ours, or over night. Remove pork chops from fridge 30 minutes before you plan to make them. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a bowl, combine panko, flour, salt, pepper and parmesan. Heat an over-safe skillet on medium-high heat and

add olive oil. Grab a pork chop from the buttermilk, letting any excess milk run off. Dredge through panko mixture, coating completely. Lay down in skillet and repeat with remaining chops. Brown pork chops for 3 minutes on each side only! You don’t want them to toughen up. After six minutes, turn off heat and add chicken stock to pan. Sprinkle a little parmesan on pork chops and cover skillet. Bake for 20 minutes.

----------------------------------Melissa's Favorite Recipe Websites: simplyscratch.com;

100daysofrealfood.com; chow.com; howsweeteats. com; yumsugar.com; thepioneerwoman. com; tastykitchen. com; slowandsimple. com; seriouseats.com; cooking.com; eightytwenty. com; laurasbestrecipes. com; steamykitchen.com; topsecretrecipes.com.

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4th Annual

Article by Michelle McCrary

zombie walk set of the classic zombie film “Dawn of the Dead.” The walk was a benefit for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, in addition to setting a Guinness World Record for most zombies gathered in one place. Pittsburgh’s zombie walk has since grown into an annual horror festival called “Zombie Fest,” organized by the “It’s Alive Show,” a local Pittsburgh late night horror and science fiction television program. “Zombie Fest” serves as the headquarters of World Zombie Day, a world hunger charity event. Over fifty cities around the world participate, with a common goal of raising nonperishable food for their local food banks.

ombies have heart, not just a hunger for brains. Anyone needing further proof of this won’t have to go far. Downtown Shreveport will be a mecca of zombies and So what is the fascination with zombies? When film community outreach on Saturday, October 8, 2011. maker George A. Romero released the cult-classic film “Night of the Living Dead” in 1968, flesh-eating The Shreveport Zombie Walk started in 2008 after I ghouls lurched into popular culture and have been decided that Louisiana needed its own walk on the feeding the frenzy ever since. There have been official “World Zombie Day.” This unusual annual thousands of films, books, graphic novels and event began on October 29, 2006, when 894 video games made over the years dedicated to zombie fans gathered at Monroeville Mall outside the mythos of the zombie and the trend doesn’t of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which served as the seem to be ending anytime soon. It has been

said that “zombies are the new vampire,” and that they represent current fears in our society, such as plague-like disease, stock market crashes and governmental break downs. Recently, the Center for Disease Control jumped on the bandwagon, in an attempt to get Americans to be better prepared for emergencies, by releasing “Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse.” The article, found on their blog, lets the reader know how to prepare for a possible zombie outbreak. The tips they suggest can be used to prepare for any emergency or natural disaster, which is most likely the goal of the article. In my own experience, I grew up between two sisters and somehow the bonding between my daddy and I became watching bad horror movies. Some of them made me laugh, like the man that hid his face behind a spray-painted Captain Kirk Halloween costume mask; some of them I wasn’t afraid of at all, like the man with knives in a glove and a really bad complexion. But the one horror movie icon that I was truly afraid of, the one that I had nightmares about, was the zombie. In the eighties, campy horror movies were extremely popular. One in particular was “Return of the Living Dead,” a film that poked fun at zombie movies. As a matter of fact, the whole ideology of a zombie calling for “brains” began with this movie – and so did my nightmares. Back then, radio stations played advertisements for upcoming movies; I listened to the radio in the evenings while taking a shower. It was then that I heard the moaning zombies, calling for “brains” and the advertiser’s words of “They’re back from the dead and ready to party,” that I knew I was in serious trouble. The original black and white version of “Night of the Living Dead” would play on television frequently, so I made it a point to zoom the slide-lever on the cable box past whatever channel was playing it extremely fast. Years passed and my fear of zombies stayed with me, although it was hidden in the back of my mind. My little sister, who is ten years younger than me, grew older and became fascinated with video games that had the player decimating zombie hoards. She and I began to attend horror films together, in particular, the remake of “Dawn of the Dead,” which was released in 2004. It was then, sitting in the movie theater late one evening, that it all came back to me: I am scared to death of this and my husband is away at military training. Needless to say, my sister ending up staying over with me that night. I knew that I needed to face this fear but I never imagined I would make it a part of my life and a positive benefit for our community.

began reading survival and post-apocalyptic fiction, which after a time, lead into zombie-themed fiction. I had always wanted to write and could never figure out exactly what I wanted to write about. I’ve always heard that you should “write what you know” and after reading so many zombie books and watching so many zombie movies, I knew zombies. That lead into my first short story being published, an editing job, my husband and I attending horror conventions and famous zombie-movie related landmarks and of course, the Shreveport Zombie Walk. In 2010, approximately 250 attended and raised 871 pounds of food for the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana. This year’s walk will be in Downtown Shreveport for the first time; in previous years it was held at Mall St. Vincent. With the support of the Downtown Development Authority and the Shreveport-Bossier Tourism and Convention Bureau, it promises to be the biggest and best yet. McNeil Street, next to the courthouse, will be closed off for the hours between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm on the day of the event. Musical group “The Moulin Dudes” will keep the crowd entertained while dropping off food donations, getting zombie costumes judged, shopping for zombie books at a special booth provided by Barnes and Noble, and meeting cult-favorite horror author Rhiannon Frater, a good friend of mine and a special guest of the Shreveport Zombie Walk. Throughout the event, door prizes will be given away. Anyone who donates food will have a chance to win. Little zombies will also have art activities and face painting to keep them entertained. At about 5:45 pm, all zombies will gather, with the Twin City Knockers Women’s Roller Derby Team acting as official crowd control, and walk, lurch, and stagger together to raise awareness of hunger in our community. The fun doesn’t end after the walk. The Robinson Film Center will be showing a zombie film, selection yet to be announced, a few hours after the walk ends. The official Shreveport Zombie Walk “after party” will be later in the evening at MoJo’s, with more music and fun to be had by the over-21 crowd of zombie fanatics. The goal this year is to raise over one thousand pounds of non-perishable food. I truly believe this goal is attainable and that zombie fans in the community will rise up for fun and a good cause.

------------------------------------------------------------------For more information visit www. shreveportzombiewalk.com. Over the next few years, I realized that I liked discovering how people react in survival situations. I -------------------------------------------------------------------

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Courage, Infamy, and Miracles -----------------------------------

resident Franklin D. Roosevelt made one of the most memorable speeches in United States history when he spoke these words: “Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will life in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked...” For my generation, our “date which will live in infamy” was September 11, 2001. We stared at our televisions in disbelief and watched the horror unfold before our eyes. A terrorist attack on American soil shattered the illusion of safe surroundings just as it had in 1941. My “date which will live in infamy” came just one month prior to the 9-11 attacks, on Tuesday, August 7, 2001. On this day, courage, infamy and a miracle placed themselves in the center of my life as my two favorite men looked death squarely in the eyes.

My story begins just three months earlier, in May of 2001 in Phoenix, Arizona. My parents, lifelong residents of Louisiana, moved to Phoenix to be closer to me and their only grandchild, my son Langdon. My dad knew his days were numbered due to a 1996 diagnosis of Hepatitis C contracted from a blood transfusion in the mid 70’s. Daddy spent that day in May at the worldrenowned Mayo Clinic. His case was reviewed by their team of doctors, and, following extensive testing and evaluation, he returned home to share the news. He must have a liver transplant within the next three months if he were to live more than six. I know what stunned silence sounds like. It is loud. It rang in my ears. As the world spun around me, I steadied myself so as not to faint. Rank on the transplant list is based on immediate need and severity of condition. Unfortunately, Hepatitis C patients often become too sick to survive the transplant. The Mayo Clinic team advised my dad that while his position would now be high on the transplant list, his best hope was an experimental procedure - a living donor transplant. A new surgeon at Mayo Clinic had just begun a living donor liver transplant program

and one transplant had already been successfully performed. I was the first volunteer. I had biology on my side and, hopefully, a high likelihood that I would be a match. My hopes were shattered when the doctor looked me in the eyes following the first round of testing and said Elizabeth, you cannot be the donor. That now familiar feeling of loud silence ringing in my ears returned. If not me, who? At that moment, I heard the words, “I will” from the mouth of the one sitting beside me. They passed over the lips and out of the mouth of the man I love, my husband, C.P. Drewett. Six weeks of testing later, we received the amazing news. C.P., though not a blood relative, was a perfect match even down to the circumference of the arteries and veins entering and exiting the liver. The transplant was scheduled for August 7. The countdown had begun. The next six weeks were a blur. The heaviness of the moment soon descended upon me. My husband and my father would be in surgery simultaneously, both facing great risk of not surviving. I faced the possibility of losing them both. The mother of a 3-year old son, I looked at hope and tragedy all in one glance.

I had only one choice. Believe. If God could direct my path by virtue of a blind date (the only one in my life) to the man I married, and if that man would turn out in a millionsto-one chance to be a perfect match for my dad’s transplant, then God could be trusted to hold destiny in His hands. I could have never scripted my life the way it has twisted and turned. God’s amazingly creative storyline was proof enough that He held the outcome and He would give us all the strength to face it, no matter what that outcome might be. The day arrived. We seemed to float to the hospital on the wheels of prayers. Fourteen hours later, everyone emerged. Alive and well. My dad lived two wonderful years after that infamous day. I am thankful my son had more time with his Papa. I am thankful my husband was willing to put his life on the line. And I am thankful God revealed himself with such an amazing storyline, a miracle in every sense of the word. -----------------------------------

About the author: Elizabeth Haynes Drewett is a hormonal woman rumored to be between the age of 30 and 50. She lives in Ruston with her architect husband C.P. Drewett, Jr. and her muchkins Langdon, age 12, and Reagan, age 6. As Miss Louisiana 1992 she devoted her year of service to breast cancer prevention and early detection education. She is the co-owner of Spring Media USA, a unique marketing company which specializes in new media (springmediausa. com). Her favorite things are an underdog who overachieves, a good laugh, a good book, a good word, and a good hair day. You can find her on Twitter @edrewett and sneaking around Google+. Her father was Eddy Haynes, Ed.D., a native of Shongaloo, LA. You can read more Confessions of a Hormonal Woman at seasonswc.com.

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REGISTATION OPEN ONLINE for 17TH ANNUAL

RACE FOR THE CURE®

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egistration is now open online at www. komennwla.org for the 17th annual Northwest Louisiana Susan G. Komen for the Cure Race for the Cure ® which will

be held at a new location at the CenturyLink Center in Bossier City, LA on September 17th, 2011. This event is open to men, women, and children of all ages and includes a 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk, and a 5K Coed Run/Walk as well as Kids for the Cure® fun activities. All registered participants will receive a colorful Komen Race for the Cure t-shirt. Participants unable to make it on race day may register to Sleep In for the Cure®. Identical to regular registration, Sleep In for the Cure participants will receive their t-shirt and race packet. A breast cancer survivor breakfast snack and commemorative photo opportunity will be available at the CHRISTUS Schumpert Health Systems breast cancer survivor tent prior to the race at 7:00 a.m. especially for breast cancer survivors followed by the breast cancer

September 17th

survivor recognition ceremony at 7:30 a.m. for all. Preceding the race, breast cancer survivors may return to the tent for a served breakfast and special entertainment. The Kids for the Cure® activities sponsored by Breast Care Specialist will be available at the Kids Corral all morning and each registered child will receive a commemorative medal. The Kids for the Cure activities and registration is open to all children 9 years old and under.

The One-Mile Run/Walk begins at 8:00 a.m., and the 5K Co-ed Run/Walk begins at 8:30 a.m at the CenturyLink Center in Bossier City, LA. A recognition party with entertainment will be held at 9:30 preceding the

race. Komen souvenir merchandise will be available for purchase with credit card or cash all morning. Online registration is available at www. komennwla.org. For the first time ever, an “early bird” discount is available with a discounted rate. Participants registering online will also automatically be entered into a drawing to win one round-trip American Airlines plane ticket to anywhere in the continental United States. The registration fee is $20 July 1st – September 12th. It increases to $30 September 12-16th and 35$ the day of the race. Kids for the Cure® which includes t-shirt especially designed for the program, is for children 9 years and under and is $10. Timing Chips will be available at Sportspectum and are $5. Sportsspectrum’s address is: 6970 Fern Ave. Shreveport, LA 71105.

THREE TIMES IN EIGHT YEARS. TWO YEARS IN A ROW. It’s a time for celebration at Minden Medical Center. We have been selected as one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals for 2011 — the only Louisiana hospital to receive the recognition three times since its inception in 1993 and the only hospital in northwest Louisiana to be so honored in both 2010 and 2011. It’s a big honor based on ten areas of excellence in patient care and safety, financial stability, patient satisfaction and successful outcomes for patients with heart problems and pneumonia. It’s also a way for us to see how we measure up to our mission: to be the finest hospital in the country. This national recognition tells the community that the very best possible healthcare is available right here. Thank you to our staff and physicians whose loyalty, support, dedication and passion for excellence have enabled us to provide outstanding care and treatment for our patients. Thank you to our Board of Governors for their leadership and to our LifePoint corporate family for providing the support and structure to achieve our goals. As we celebrate this recognition, we vow to continue to strive for excellence by earning the loyalty of our staff, praise from our patients and the respect of our physicians…the best rewards of all.

cheers!

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George E. French, III George E. French III, CEO

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