NWGA'S PREMIER FEATURE MAGAZINE / MAY 2020
and Spring Edition 2020
Fresh on Demand Kicking off the second year of Between the Rivers Farmers Market
READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
1
Happy birth day,
baby!
Celebrating 150,000 first breaths and counting.
Wow! We've delivered over 150,000 babies at Floyd. And, while this amazing number speaks to our experience, it speaks to your trust as well. It's a special bond with growing families in the communities we serve that's almost 80 years strong. With an expert medical team, a family-centered environment, state-of-the-art care, education and support classes, and the peace of mind from knowing the region's only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is available 24/7 right here, every day brings more reasons to celebrate at the Family Birth Center at Floyd.
floyd.org/baby 2
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
It's All In Our Name...
nissan • gmc • buick • honda HeritageRome.com • RomeNissan.com • HeritageRomeHonda.com READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE 706.291.2277
3
MAY2020 COLUMNS 10
Jim Alred reflects on the values of endurance and encouragement in a time that for some, may feel much like a never-ending workout.
13
The world has turned upside down, and for some hectic schedules have vanished leaving new possibilities in its wake. Tammy Bar ron reminds us that isolation is a call to live our lives differently.
FEATURES 17 4
There's no better way to banish cabin fever and restlessness than by digging in the garden, and Lav ender Mountain has everything you'll need to bring forth those blooms.
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
FEATURES 22
The Betw een the Riv ers Far mers Market is back for the second year, offering local flavors and enhanced safety measures to allow farm-to-table shopping for all.
28
News of Harbin Clinic’s innovative approach to patient care during the pandemic, a star provider lauded by American Society Clinical Oncology, and Lacee Landrum’s battle against cancer and her fight to protect others.
33
A forbidden love sets the scene for a daughter’s lifetime of longing for the father she never knew, and Samantha Baker’s hope to reconcile all the questions she’s harbored since childhood.
38
A glimpse into how Sw ift and Finch is adjusting to fit the needs of our community during the coronavirus pandemic, all while expanding for the future.
GRAND COLUMNS
FEATURES
46
Renaissance Marquis is working tirelessly to meet current challenges head on in order to put the needs of the residents they serve at the forefront.
56
Sharon Seabolt might not have imagined that she would enter nursing school at 58, but her journey to becoming a hospice nurse is nothing short of compelling.
48
Nina Lovel is here to sing the praises of having wonderful grown-up friends, while encouraging us all to find our own group of OWLs.
62
EVENT CALENDAR
52
Rome Health and Rehab lends a glimpse into the science behind why we fall, and how can learn to get back up again.
READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
5
Publisher's Note “People are strange, when you’re a stranger, faces look ugly, when you're alone.” OWNER & CEO
That catchy tune by The Doors has been echoing in my head lately. While I’ve had more human interaction than some during this strange time, there is still a disconnect none of us can avoid feeling. I’ve walked and run the streets and pathways of downtown, seeing smiling faces as I O W N E R & C E O Ian Griffin travel, but there is still a social awkwardness that has developed during what my dear friend and broadcasting partner Matt Davis of WLAQ has dubbed, “the time of COVID-19”. Things have certainly livened up a bit around here in the last month or so, that’s for sure. It’s not like it used to be, but it’s hard to find a parking space on Broad Street again, so that’s one thing I didn’t miss that has returned to normal. I’ve allowed myself to partake in a few pre-coronavirus activities since they were allowed to operate again. The first, a haircut, and while I may not have much of it left on the top of my head, I learned that makes it all the more important to maintain. Things got a little too wooly for my liking and the Bruce Willis look was going to happen if the barber shop hadn’t opened back up when it did so for that I was grateful. The second, clothes shopping with my son, who decided to grow 4 inches recently and was in desperate need of some warm weather threads. That experience was interesting, at the mall there were more cars at Belk the day I went than I’ve seen there collectively in the past 5 years. I guess people are just dying to do something, so shopping it is. We went about our work quickly and efficiently, trying to respect the rules and regulations for social distanced shopping. Changing rooms were closed for that reason, but I got lucky and picked the right sizes so a return trip wasn’t required. The other shoppers I encountered were patient with the new processes and seemed grateful for some form of a return to the norm. Some wore masks, most didn’t, which was a little surprising to me, but it is a personal choice so to each their own. The employees were all geared up and cleaned the touch points between each customer, so that was appreciated. It was during these trips that I realized just how different things are going to be going forward. Some of these practices will disappear over time, but there are going to be many that remain, and that means our fast pace, have it your way society is going to have a major adjustment on our hands because things are going to move a lot slower than we are accustomed to. I’m as guilty as anyone of being impatient, but I hope we all can find a new balance on that front. Whether you think this pandemic is overblown or you are still under lock and key trying to avoid it, the people you encounter in service industries that are slowly reopening should be allowed a steep learning curve as they try to keep the spread of the virus at bay. The processes they are putting in place will hopefully allow all of us to continue to get at least a taste of what life was like before and even if it is different, it’s better than nothing at all. So try and stay patient…things will return to breakneck speeds again one day. These are strange days indeed, but do your best to smile at a stranger the next time you get out and about.
READV3.COM ReadV3.com: Where you can now find all the print content from this issue, our archives and exclusive ReadV3 digital features. 6
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
Ian Griffin MANAGING PARTNER Chris Forino MAG DESIGN Elizabeth Childers WRITERS Jim Alred, Ashlee Bagnell, Tammy Barron, DeMarcus Daniel, Ian Griffin, Cassie LaJeunesse, Nina Lovel EXECUTIVE PHOTOGRAPHER Cameron Flaisch CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jason Huynh Andy Calvert AD DESIGN Elizabeth Childers Ellie Borromeo PUBLISHER V3 Publications, LLC CONTACT 417 Broad Street Rome Ga, 30161 Office Phone 706.235.0748 v3publications@gmail.com CREATOR Neal Howard V3MAGAZINE.COM
Independent Living | Personal Care | Memory Care 706.295.0014 • 3126 Cedartown Hwy SW, Rome, GA 30161-4314 • www.RenaissanceMarquis.com READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
7
Have You Visited Our Fastest Growing Office? Always Open at www.heritagefirstbank.com No Maps Needed…
eBANK: Always Open at www.heritagefirstbank.com MAIN OFFICE: 501 Broad Street 706.378.5300 WEST ROME: 2211 Shorter Avenue 706.378.5305 ARMUCHEE: 2950 Martha Berry Blvd. 706.314.0560
CRBI MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN!
Giving you time for the more important things in life
313 Clean is a full service residential, commercial & construction cleaning company.
Specializing in:
Membership Benefits: • • • •
FREE access to our guided paddle trips Regular updates on events, education, and advocacy opportunities Discounts for CRBI members at Cedar Creek RV & Outdoor Center and Blue Sky Outfitters
Register at www.coosa.org 5 Broad St. Rome, GA 30161 • 706-232-2724 • www.coosa.org 8
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
• biweekly, monthly cleanings • move in/out turn key cleanings • hoarding cases • renovation clean up & more.
We work with sellers, buyers, realtors, offices, property managers, commercial offices, contractors & more
706.463.5379
Find us on Facebook
WE TEACHERS.
TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD A BETTER US
CALL FOR A
$50 DISCOUNT (normally $125) includes consultation, EMG, and any necessary x-rays
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK Teacher Appreciation WeekWeek May 6th - May Teacher Appreciation May 6-1210th Free exam EXPIRES JUNE 30TH
JOIN • GIVE VOLUNTEER
Lieberman
FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC www.romechiropractic.com 421 Broad St. Rome GA. 706.232.WELL (9355)
YMCA OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY 810 E 2nd Ave, Rome, GA 30161 706-232-2468 WWW.YMCAROME.ORG
You’ve earned the right to be choosy COSMETIC SURGERY FOR BREAST, BODY AND FACE SMARTLIPO, WARMSCULPTING FAT REDUCTION TEMPSURE (RF) SKIN TIGHTENING BODY AND FACE LASER/IPL SKIN REJUVENATION PICOSURE LASER SKIN REJUVENATION TATTOO REMOVAL | HAIR REMOVAL BOTOX | DYSPORT | RESTYLANE BREAST IMPLANT REVISION SURGERY MARC WETHERINGTON M.D
706-766-0480 406 East Second Ave., Rome, Georgia 30161
www.HorizonsPlasticSurgery.com
READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
9
FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME
With Jim Alred
ONE OF MY COLLEGIATE COACHES POINTED OUT to me and my teammates that he loved watching the grueling workouts, because it showed him so much about each of us. He noted it was easy to look good in the easier workouts or the ones that catered to our skill levels, but the grueling ones that we had to slog and fight and persevere to get through, not only showed more about our character but also made us better athletes. I remember the dread coursing through my body before those workouts started. Walk-ons at major colleges needed to show out at every workout, because we could be asked to walk off the team at any time. As a team, the workouts helped us bond. The course our coach laid out for us had us traversing hills over and over again in a brutal mile to mile-and-ahalf-long circuit. We passed teammates multiple times and each time we offered encouragement. I remember the sense of pride and accomplishment when those workouts ended. I also remember the pure exhaustion, my body drained wondering at times how I had made it through. I had done it. I had survived, and I had improved. My former coach’s words ring as true today as they did close to three decades ago. We’re all experiencing that tough, seemingly never ending workout right 10
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
now. It’s not easy, and we’re not sure when it’s going to end. When it does end, we’re not sure if everything will go back to normal or what that new normal might look like. I remember one workout when I was hurting bad on a final hill. Thoughts of stepping off or just turning around floated through my head. “You got this. You look great.” The words came from a fellow runner, who would earn multiple all conference and even All American awards. You have no idea how much those six words helped or meant. My teammate didn’t have to say them. Remember I was a walk-on, he was a scholarship runner. But they helped me through. During the past few weeks, I’ve thought back to those workouts more than I have since I graduated college. Each and every one of us is going through something far more grueling and devastating than what I did on the dirty, hilly roads of Auburn, Alabama. But just like those workouts, if we encourage each other and fight and do what we can, we will get through. So to everyone out there I repeat those same words, “You’ve got this. You look great.”
We are very proud of You and your accomplishments!
DREAM BIG, CLASS OF 2020 congratulations!
Celebrating you today and everyday!
2GradAD_RCB_2020_V3.indd 1
5/15/20 4:47 PM
A Tradition of Excellence SALES • INSTALLATION • WOOD FINISHING & REFINISHING UNFINISHED & PREFINISHED WOOD ENGINEERED WOOD • LUXURY VINYL PLANK FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED: A WOFFORD ON EVERY JOB
1 7 1 5 M A RT H A B E R RY B LV D N E , R O M E , G A 3 0 1 6 5 • 7 0 6 - 5 1 2 - 4 9 1 0 READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
11
AVAILABLE TUESDAY OPEN FOR THURSDAY ONE-ON-ONE Classically Crafted ! S T N E 12 pm - 5pm M T N I O P P A BEGINNING MAY 26TH
GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE! Shop Online at 706.584.7816 • 116 Broad St.,Rome, GA www.FarrellsFrameAndDesign.com Classically Crafted
amanda@farrellsframeanddesign.com www.FarrellsFrameAndDesign.com
OPEN for those
working on the frontlines Open Mon - Fri: 7:00am - 6:00pm
706-234-0800 16 O’Neill Street Rome • 203 N Division Street Rome Openings Available for Children 6 Weeks - 4 Years
12
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
The Upside to Down opened doors By Tammy Barron
It’s been some time since the world turned upside down. THE DISR UPTION, SO ENCOMPASSING, has made us all re-examine the way we approach our lives. This monster of a virus has two faces; one of fear and chaos as our front line heroes battle to save lives, the other stark and isolating. My experience is of the latter. No more soccer practice, weekend games, piano lessons, school commutes, doctor appointments, play dates, or shopping trips. The hectic scheduling has vanished, and in its wake a new possibility.
The pressure of it all ended so abruptly, I noticed immediately the worn out phrase, “Come on, let’s hurry. Gotta go!” completely erased from my vocabulary. Truthfully, I’m glad. In all this tragedy and loss, I hear a voice telling me to live my life differently; like an invitation to Take the time to listen more closely. Forget an agenda today, and enjoy each other. Every day we’ve been staying at home, I am awe struck by my kids, how bright and thoughtful little people they are. I hate to admit, but I wonder how long have I been in a daze rushing from one activity to another; not truly seeing and experiencing them. Distracted by the to-dos; I often forget to live in the moment. This moment is staring me in the face 24/7.
Two months in and counting, it’s been only an hour after since we wrapped up lessons for the day, and my son greets me with the dustiest, sweatiest hugs that leaves a little human print on my clothes. My daughter, is singing and cooing to the nest of newly hatched blue birds in the yard. It is completely possible that they love “Old Town Road” as much as she does. Together we have school, piano, and kickball tournaments. Our days are spent hunting arrowheads and salamanders. We talk about everything and nothing. Bless everyone in this uncertain time. For those luckiest to be home during this pandemic- enjoy all of the moments that are gifted; for being together really is a blessing.
READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
13
CARTERSVILLE CARTERSVILLE KNOWS KNOWS PIZZA! PIZZA! UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
28 S Wall St, Car tersville, GA 30120 • 470-227-7049
CBD / HEMP OIL
ALL-NATURAL PAIN RELIEF Available in oil, honey sticks, capsules, & gummies.
Benefits Include
• Reducing inflammation & anxiety • Relieving neuropathic pain & central pain • Easing symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis & PTSD The Farm Bill Act of 2014 makes CBD / Hemp Oil legal in every state (without THC)
THE ONLINE EXTENSION OF V3: All current issue content, archives and exclusive Read V3 digital features
Monday - Saturday: 9am - 6pm • Sunday: 12 - 6pm TheHerbShopOnBroad
• 706.232.4447 • 103 Broad Street
W E D O N O T D I A G N O S E , T R E AT, O R C U R E
14
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
15
Northwest Georgia’s Premier Furniture & Home Decor Store Specializing In:
• Rustic • Farmhouse • Industrial Design • Quality Leather Furniture
3144 Martha Berry Hwy Rome, GA 30165 • 706.233.1769 Follow Us on Facebook & Instagram
16
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
SPRING GREENS What better way to spend extra time at home than by getting your hands dirty? TEXT: Tammy Barron PHOTOS: Cameron Flaisch
READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
17
As springtime eases towards summer and warmer temperatures finally seem to be here to stay, there is no better time to pick up a shovel, get your hands dirty, and start a garden. Gardening can provide many benefits even beyond the beauty of a bloom; the tangible experience of watching the transformation from seed to a fully grown plant can be quite gratifying and allow a sense of control in a world suddenly filled with much uncertainty. Whether you are a seasoned pro or a newbie with a supposed brown thumb, Lavender Mountain has your foolproof guide to better blooms.
FOLLOW THESE 7 EASY STEPS FOR A BETTER GARDEN AND A BETTER YOU.
STEP 1: Test your soil
It is important to determine pH and nutrient deficiencies. You can purchase simple soil testers to do yourself, or if you want a full analysis you can send in a sample to UGA in soil sample pouches conveniently found at the counter at Lavender Mountain.
STEP 2: Determine if this is the right place for the plant you want
Paying attention to our zone 7b and frost dates will help to ensure successful growth and survival in the plants you choose.
STEP 3: Sunshine is critical
Too much or too little can make a large impact on the health of your plants. Be aware of how much shade and heat your garden is exposed to.
STEP 4: Control the weeds
Before and after planting - this is just as effective as fertilizer to make your plants grow healthily.
STEP 5: Everything needs water to live
A little too dry is better than too wet. At the same time, don’t go on vacation for 2 weeks and expect to return to a healthy garden.
STEP 6: Disease and insects
Are easy to control, but early detection is important. The experts at Lavender Mountain can help by advising the best cure – all you have to do is show them a photo!
STEP 7: Growing is science, but gardening an art
It takes years to master the medium; so don’t let this discourage you from exploring your self-expression outdoors, and enjoying the wonders of nature.
18
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
19
SPECIALIZING IN Quartz • Granite • Marble • Silestone CUSTOM UNDERMOUNT & VESSEL SINKS Copper • Porcelain • Glass • Stainless Steel
932 N. 2nd Ave NW Rome, GA 30165 • 706-512-0262
www.advancerehab.com ADVANCE REHABILITATION IS A PHYSICAL THERAPY PRACTICE SPECIALIZING IN ORTHOPAEDIC, BACK PAIN/INJURIES AND ATHLETIC INJURIES
20
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
ADAIRSVILLE 7423 Adairsville Hwy. (770) 773-9315
CALHOUN 136 West Belmont Dr. SW (706) 625-0662
CEDARTOWN 1566 Rome Hwy (770) 749-0250
CHATSWORTH 1422 Green Road, Suite N (706) 695-9699
SUMMERVILLE 11638 Highway 27, Suite 1 (706) 857-6366
JASPER 620 J.L. White Dr., Suite 110 (706) 692-9080
ROCKMART 1081 Nathan Dean Pkwy (678) 757-1899
ROME 224 Shorter Ave (706) 235-2727
MORNING SESSIONS: 10AM - 12PM AFTERNOON SESSIONS: 1PM - 3PM LIMITED SEATS: 6 PER SESSION
JUNE 1-5 JUNE 8-12 JUNE 15-19 JULY 13-17 JULY 20-24
REGIS ONL TER IN NOW E !
WWW.STUDIOSIRI.COM |1205 DEAN AVE. ROME, GA • 706.409.3022 READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
21
22
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
TO MARKET, TO MARKET
Between the Rivers Farmers Market is back to offer locally grown, sustainable foods while keeping the community both healthy and safe. TEXT: Tammy Barron PHOTOS: Jason Huynh & Andy Calvert
IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN WHEN WE GET TO CELEBRATE OUR LOCAL FLAVORS. 24
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
BETWEEN THE RIVERS FARMER’S MARKET is Rome’s answer to the call for sustainably grown organic goods in an open-air market, inspired by the Freedom Farmer’s Market in Atlanta. Although many Romans consider an outdoor market as more of an entertainment event, fundamentally it is an experience to connect a community with their food source. BTRFM is a space dedicated to producer-only vendors and offers a literal glimpse of the farm-to-table concept. In the beginning weeks of the market's second year, you may notice a few changes. Market Manager, Julie Fine details the efforts made to address current public health regulations, saying, “The market has worked hard in collaboration with all our vendors to continue to bring our community fresh produce in the safest possible way. We still have our dedicated producers Carlton Farms, Rise and Shine, Riverview Farms, and Sunflower Bakery; alongside various rotating vendors. All bringing you the best of what North Georgia has to offer.”
Knowing that the safety of customers and vendors alike is of utmost importance, the market has risen to the challenge. “We have taken extra steps to make this year at BTRFM just as spectacular as always. There will be a hand washing station and curbside pickup options for the first time. Vendors will assist market customers with their shopping as well as offer pre-packaged options to create the safest environment possible,” says Fine. If you prefer curbside pickup, “All available goods will update on the btrfarmersmarket.org website Wednesday evenings, and you can place orders online through each vendor’s link. All orders will be packaged and ready for pick up on Saturday morning.” Fine assures the goal of the Between the Rivers Farmers Market remains the same “to offer local, sustainable foods and unique arts and crafts in a colorful, vibrant urban setting; to the community with established Georgia family farmers, food artisans, and artists that promote healthy lifestyles. The Market will be held from 8:30-10:30 a.m. on Saturday mornings at Bridgepoint Plaza in Rome, Georgia starting Saturday, May 2, 2020, and will run through September.”
26
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
27
PRIVATE DINING
CATERED EVENTS
CREATING THE MENU OF YOUR DREAMS IS WHAT WE DO. WE TAKE YOUR VISION AND MAKE IT A REALITY. 413 broad street, rome, ga 30161 lascalaromega.com 706.238.9000 706.238.9011 28
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
Love Lost & Found A woman spends a lifetime searching for the identity of her father. A mystery steeped in secrecy, time, and fading memories is unveiled and a daughter is reunited with a stranger she has loved all her life. Text: Tammy Barron | Photos contributed by Samantha Baker
READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
29
“I always felt as if there were an enormous gap, a dark void in my life” recounts Samantha Baker about her childhood steeped in secrecy. It wouldn’t be until the day she spread her mother’s ashes that the truth of her father would be revealed. A forbidden love sets the scene for a daughter’s lifetime of longing for the father she never knew, and a woman’s hope to reconcile all the questions she’s harbored since childhood. Samantha recalls being happy as a child surrounded by the loving figures of her mother and grandparents. As can be expected she had typical questions about her father, none of which were ever answered. “My mother was quiet and known to keep her secrets. Once she remarried, she continued to skirt the questions about my father and told me ‘Don’t worry about it,’ and ‘You have your step-father now.’” With her new family expanding and halfsiblings on the way, Samantha couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. “When I became a teenager and later a mother, the need to know felt overwhelming,” Samantha states. “My birth certificate was blank where the father should be. My mother wouldn’t budge, and all the family members 30
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
I asked said they didn’t know- well- someone has to know. The fixation of what makes me, me became an incredible weight on my shoulders.” In 2000, Samantha’s mother was in an accident where her car was struck by a drunk driver. “She had a pretty bad head injury; although the doctors said she fully recovered, I never really thought she was the same after that,” she says. Less than a year later, her mother would lose her house to a fire. “After the house burned down, I stopped asking her about my father. I just didn’t want to cause trouble,” Samantha explains. Her mother began showing signs of early onset Alzheimer’s and later passed in 2015. As she held the ashes of her mother, she gave up on any chance she would find the identity of her father. She felt orphaned. It would be 2 more years, at the spreading of her mother’s ashes during her uncle’s burial service, before Baker would once again be on the trail in search of her father. “When my uncle died. He wanted to be buried with his parents up in Epworth near McCaysville, Georgia. So we made preparations for a funeral here in Rome, and
My birth certificate was blank where the father should be. My mother wouldn’t budge, and all the family members I asked said they didn’t know - well someone has to know. READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
31
burial several hours away. He had been so close to my mother, I figured this would be a perfect time to spread her ashes and give her rest.” Meanwhile, the family had cleared decades of collected memories from his home, finding boxes filled with old photos and letters from Samantha’s grandparent’s house. One box was labeled ‘Samantha’ and given to her at the funeral, it sat unopened next to her as her aunts drove hours to the gravesite. “The service was beautiful and peaceful. I felt very much at peace putting my mother to rest with the family she loved so much. On the way home the sun was shining through the back window, and I noticed the box next to me. I opened it and began looking through the loose photos of me as a young child with my mother and grandparents. I saw an envelope tossed in with the mix. It was sealed on Redmond Hospital letterhead. I have worked at Redmond for many years, and was curious what it might be about. Inside I found receipts and a folded typed request to the Atlanta Vital Records signed by my mother. It requested that my birth certificate be corrected to include the name Lawice Hugene Cooper as Father. I sat there looking at the name in shock. My breath caught in my chest. I cried out ‘I found him! I know my father’s name!’ My aunts pulled the car over and we just cried! I finally had a name. On the day I gave my mother a resting place, I felt so emotionally resolved. The sun was shining in on me that day, perhaps it was she that gifted me closure.” Samantha called her husband Ben, and by the time Samantha got home Ben had found her father under the name Gene Cooper of Fort Payne, Alabama now residing in Gold Hill, North Carolina. Questions of secrecy surfaced once again for Samantha, “Why had they all kept it a secret? Had her conception been a mistake? Was it consensual? Was he a bad man? Had he been on drugs? These had all been the machinations of her teenage mind. However, now as an adult, Samantha was concerned how to approach someone she never met but missed with all her heart. Knowing that he was the only one who could answer the questions she still held, she had no choice but to reach out to him. She emailed him an explanation of her identity, her mother’s name and age and her own date of birth. Within two hours she received the reply in caps, “THIS IS GENE COOPER. I GOT YOUR EMAIL AND WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH YOU…” Baker’s heart raced. They arranged a time to talk on the phone, and she cried with joy. The truth would soon all come to light. Step back in time to 1972, Katherine Ruth Watson is a student at Reinhardt University who also pulls a shift at Redmond Hospital as a billing clerk. Daughter of a wounded veteran of the Second World War and Korean War and a fulltime nurse at Northwest Regional Hospital, Katherine is one of seven siblings and the pride of her religious middle-class parents. Gene Cooper, age 23, is a hardworking and outspoken young man from Fort Payne, Alabama. He spends all the time he has honing his skills at billiards. It’s a warm evening in Jackson, Mississippi and Gene is holding strong at the largest billiards hall in town, when he is captivated by a beautiful young woman from across the room. Katherine and Gene hit it off immediately, and for nearly a year they find ways to sneak away from their responsibilities to be together. They are madly in love; but their families have some reservations, and are unprepared for what happens next. Samantha Lee Watson is born December 1973 just days before Christmas. Gene and Katherine long for nothing more than to build a life together, but accusations of exploitation, blame, immorality, and shame ignite a feud 32
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
between the families. The young lovers are torn apart; Gene Cooper’s name erased, and a child is raised in secrecy. So why didn’t Katherine ever tell her daughter, who her father was? Baker believes it’s because “she was heartbroken.” When she spoke to her father that very first anticipated time, “I could hear the same overwhelming emotions in my father’s voice. He was tearful, happy, guilty, and maybe a bit remorseful. But I told him, none of that matters now.” They talk for hours about the past; he had spent years travelling, playing billiards on the professional circuit as Gene “the Machine” Cooper. He married in his 50’s, and has a lovely wife and step-daughter. “I am his only biological child. When we spoke we were both so overcome. He said he had been looking for me. He had been so scared that he would never know who his child was. He told me about my mother. He remembered what she wore the night they
met.” That first talk with her father fills that empty place in her heart, and fulfills the desire for a bond with the missing piece of herself, her real father. They talk about the present, and a family is reunited. Meeting face-to-face the first time in 2018, children and grandchildren together. All of Samantha’s questions of her origin are answered, “I recognize his facial features in my children- Spencer, my son, has his smile. My outgoing nature is definitely from my father who lives fast and works hard.” She laughs, “He loves life, loves people. He’s loud, boisterous, and fun- just like me.” They talk about the future; on the phone they talk and text several times a week. Father and daughter together at last; both so thankful to have the chance to be a family. READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
33
QUARANTINE CAFFEINE Swift and Finch is hitting the streets to provide a much-needed coffee fix, served with a side of unexpected community. Text: Ian Griffin | Photos: Andy Calvert & Jason Huynh
34
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
35
S
ince 2012 Sw ift & Finch Coff ee has been serving up cups of fresh roasted goodness to java aficionados and those just in need of good tasting wake up call. While many still remember Clyde Collier Photography holding down the corner of Broad Street and 6th Avenue, Swift & Finch wasted no time becoming a staple of the look and feel of downtown Rome. Like most currently in the food and beverage industry, the team at Swift had to adapt quickly to the ever-changing landscape when it came to serving those brave enough to venture out of their homes to get a cup of coffee. And like most, they found a way to rise to the challenge in the face of adversity in a multitude of ways. With expansion plans in the works before the pandemic hit, they made the best of the situation by completing the louder aspects of that work while the dining area was forced to be closed. They also purchased a second roaster that was delivered during the shutdown, and some big changes are on the horizon that will improve the customer experience when the new normal finally arrives.
" We have had people tell us thank you because it was the f irst time they’ve spoken to a neighbor in a month or just one of their f irst times interacting with someone outside of their house in a while. That makes it wor th the drive ever y time."
36
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
37
While dining areas and patio service were shut down, operating hours adjusted and staff cut to the minimum needed to service their customers, Romans continued to find ways to support the local roasters by purchasing their favorite drinks, bagged coffee to brew at home, and Swift and Finch apparel like t-shirts and tumblers. The support was undoubtedly appreciated. “The support from our customers and the community in general has been overwhelming,” says Manager Mark McLucas. “We have lost revenue like just about every business, but people have gone out of their way to come in and give us their business. We have always appreciated that, but it’s hard not to appreciate it even more in these times.” That support helps keep the doors open, but more importantly it has kept the staff working. “We were fortunate that this hit during a transition period for us so a lot of our staff who didn’t necessarily need to work or had this as a 2nd job opted to go home and shelter in place with their families. That allowed those who had this as their primary source of income to keep working so the timing in that sense was good.” 38
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
Early on, the team at Swift made moves to get their coffee to their customers instead of waiting for them to come to the shop, via what they dubbed neighborhood van runs where they would load up their one-of-a-kind mobile unit and drive to subdivisions and small communities to sell coffee to those residents. “Those trips have been really rewarding,” says McLucas. “We use social media to gage the interest in us bringing the van out and while it’s great to sell a few cups of coffee, it’s been the reactions of the people we are serving that will stay with me. We have had people tell us thank you because it was the first time they’ve spoken to a neighbor in a month or just one of their first times interacting with someone outside of their house in a while. That makes it worth the drive every time.” So whether they come to your neighborhood or you visit them on Broad Street, Swift & Finch is open and ready to safely serve.
READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
39
The family you know, The name you trust.
“Rome’s Locally Owned Funeral Homes” Barry R. Henderson
Joe Paul Henderson (1919-2008)
www.hendersonandsons.com 40
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
Called to Care
Hear from hospice nurse Sharon Seabolt about how her journey led her to nursing school at 58
READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
41
GRAND COLUMN
RENAISSANCE MARQUIS
Commitment to Care Where The Heart Is with Renaissance Marquis
AS OUR WORLD HAS CHANGED BEFORE OUR EYES, uncertainty and panic have been understandably present emotions. The coronavirus pandemic has affected us all in more ways than one, but the efforts to suppress the spread have been amazing. Kindness has been prevalent, which during a time of sudden change speaks volumes about humanity. Changes have been abundant and sudden, but the response has been united. “This situation has been unlike anything any of us have experienced in our lifetime,” says Barry Ray, Founder and CEO of Legacy Senior Living. “All of us have had to deal with added stress inside and outside of the workplace. From restaurants and grocery stores having limited supplies, schools being closed, and many church services being pushed online, the fabric of our daily lives has been shaken.” As an organization focused on the livelihood of senior citizens, this crisis has been something Legacy Senior Living has been monitoring and preparing for. This means that despite the unknowns, the team members at each facility, including
42
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
Renaissance Marquis, are prepared to meet challenges head on in order to put the needs of the residents they serve at the forefront. “Our profession has rightly been a key focus during this time,” says Founder and President Bryan Cook. “Our clients have entrusted us with a sacred responsibility, the daily care of someone you deeply love. We welcome that responsibility as our calling and approach it with utmost seriousness, commitment, and respect. We want you to know that our highest priority is keeping your loved ones and our team members as safe as possible.” For decades, Legacy Senior Living has had the privilege of caring for senior residents at their facilities across multiple southeastern states, and that experience has played a huge factor in how they have handled this crisis. PPE supplies are always available and the longstanding relationships with vendors who provide those supplies and other essential needs have ensured their continued delivery throughout this crisis. “Part of our mission and service view has always been to provide the highest quality care to our residents, which includes having
ample supplies,” says Ray. “The COVID-19 crisis heightens that responsibility to a higher degree, now more than ever. We want you to know that we are aggressively monitoring this crisis with the CDC, local, state and national officials and are constantly working together to determine the best courses of action to keep everyone at our facilities safe,” he says. One such safety measure that Legacy Senior Living employed for all of their facilities in Georgia is taking advantage the Georgia National Guard’s infection-control team, which provides disinfection and enhanced sanitation services that are approved by the EPA and follow protocols of the Centers for Disease Control and Infection and the state health department. “Thanks to the remarkable efforts of staff and the cooperation of our residents and families, we have been able to keep everyone safe. We continue to do all we can to protect our staff and residents and are proud to have partnered with the National Guard to help control this virus,” said Renita Carnes, Executive Director for Renaissance Marquis. With safety being priority number one, the staff is also focused on making sure the residents have what they need to maintain quality of life during this trying time as well. The continuity of the staff plays a huge role in maintaining a sense of normalcy and community. It is a privilege that team members of the Legacy Senior Living staff don’t take lightly, as they have been called to serve with the utmost importance during these troubling times. “Our mission is to serve the greatest generation with honor, respect, faith and integrity,” says Ray. “The COVID-19 crisis will not shake that commitment, rather it solidifies it more than ever. Our teams are working tirelessly for you and we want you to know you can count on us to serve.”
Independent Living | Personal Care | Memory Care
Renita Carnes, Executive Director Ben Baker, Marketing Director
READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
43
GRAND COLUMN
NINA LOVEL
Friendship, Grown up style Here and Now with Nina Lovel
HAVE YOU EVER HAD A TELEPHONE HEALTH COACH? Well I have one, and I get paid $240 an hour just to talk to her. You read that right: if I do four 15-minute telephone-coaching sessions within a year, my insurance company will credit $240 to my deductible. While this must save the insurance company money (or they wouldn’t do it, right?), they’re losing money on me. I’m so attentive to my health that I can run that coach through those algorithm-generated screens of questions faster than you can say “clean eating”. I haughtily report that my last blood pressure was 118/62, I eat loads of fruits and vegetables and yes, I’m taking my meds (which are outnumbered by my vitamins and hopefully always will be) as prescribed. I gratefully give her the highest score on the “are you able to care for yourself / pay your bills / understand your health” questions. 44
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
Near the end comes my favorite part: questions about family and friends. My family couldn’t be better, thank you, and I get why they ask about friends too: friends are foundational to emotional health. Friends keep us engaged. They cheer us on, launch us on adventures, love our families, help us heal and more. On these I let ‘er rip. I can’t say enough about my friends; they keep me happy and my life in perspective. More scores of 10+, all down the screen. Now, please know I am not besmirching the value of healthcoaching calls. If they didn’t save money by keeping clients healthier, they wouldn’t be paying people $240 an hour to have the conversations. I’m just thankful to be healthy enough to earn that money without working my coach too hard. Onward, for my tribute to grown-up friendship!
NINA LOVEL
Grown Up Friends
For a long time I’ve wanted to write a column about friendship, but every time I started I would panic and write about something else. I’ve never put so much pressure on myself. Beside me was a list of friends and a list of stories; all I had to do was write them up. But what if I remembered something differently from the way my friend remembered it? What if a friend I wrote into one story didn’t think she was supposed to be in that story? What if a friend read a story she wasn’t there for and got her feelings hurt? What if I left a friend out of a story she was supposed to be in because I’m ADHD-forgetful? What if I (heaven forbid) FORGOT to mention a friend at all? My deadline loomed. I took the safe way out. I decided to write without names. These stories are from my grown-up friendships: we have left behind the drama, jealousy and petty arguments of youth in favor of loyal, mature relationships that bring joy and laughter to every day. To my friends: You know who you are, and I hope you enjoy finding yourselves in some of these stories. If you’re not sure whether you’re supposed to be in a story or not, the guideline is this: if you like the story, you were there. Have no fear of exposure, just breathe and read, because...no names! If you don’t find yourself here, remember that this is a column, not a book. The chapter list for my eventual book is 45 stories long - plenty of chances you’ll be in there. Stay alert. Onward, to what grown-up friends do:
Friends cheer each other on
It was 2010, and I was so out of shape that I got winded carrying my precious two-year-old granddaughter Maddie across the room. Something had to give, and my inspiration came from friends. A friend who had never run a block in her life had just done Couch to 5K and finished her first race; two other friends often left our occasional Friday-after-work-wine gathering with plans to meet the next morning for a downtown run. This was way before FOMO was a word, but I felt I was missing out on a level of fellowship I never knew existed. So I too, did Couch to 5K, finished the Tillman Clocktower Race with these three friends, added biking and swimming to the mix, and within a year had headed north to swim/bike/run the New York City Triathlon. While this fitness journey was the ultimate life-changing magic for me and while my coaches led the way, it was my friends who bore me aloft. They cheered for me, biked with me, ran with me and paddled kayaks alongside me on my Etowah river-swim practices. They sent me gifts, threw me a party, and graced my house with flowers, balloons, rose petals and the most heartfelt note I have ever received to celebrate my return. When I crossed the finish line of the NYC Triathlon in August of 2011, eleven friends stood with my kids, cheering me on! They were friends from work, friends from jazz, friends from tennis, friends from life, and friends from other friends. They were old friends and new ones, and while they had made separate journeys to New York, they all weathered the Central Park heat that day,
GRAND COLUMN
sporting bright green “Team NinaLove” t-shirts, just to cheer for me. It was a glass-dome-full-of-happy-tears moment, and I’m just glad that ONE of us thought to take a picture! Standing in the park or not, ALL of my friends were there with me in spirit. We cheer each other on.
Friends launch high adventures
How long has it been since you took a dare? And don’t get all hoity on me, acting like you’re too grown-up for this sort of thing; I know better. A while back a friend “challenged” (dared) me to paddle my kayak over the Lock and Dam dam. This isn’t a very long story. Ahead of me, she glided through the troubled waters just fine; I, however, did not. My paddle caught in the dam rocks [sic], flipping my kayak upside down and flinging me into the current. I bounced over rocks and concrete about two inches below the surface. I remember thinking ‘so this is why kayakers wear a helmet’, but it was too late for a safety talk. Remembering to put my feet first, I descended safely into the calm Coosa River below. Did I mention it was November? A nice young man in a canoe threw me a line and I held on like a fish too big to get in the boat while he paddled to the shore. I was SO grateful. Thank you, nice young man; I’ve always wondered who you were. Notwithstanding the incident at the dam, this is the friend who introduced me to the river. We have paddled countless miles together. We have introduced many other friends to the rivers. High adventures have abounded (some of which will never see print), and I hope they always will. Postscript: My friend proved her undying friendship that day by driving my wet shivering butt to the house.
Friends love on your whole family
While it can be fun to throw a party, it’s also a lot of work. And from the department of “When you did something nice for my child, it was better than doing it for me,” my friends threw a baby shower for my son and his expecting family. Friends planned it, friends came bearing gifts, friends decorated and dressed in lumberjack plaid, and friends made food that looked like little baby carriages and bundles of lumberjack wood. Words cannot express the joy you all brought to my family...thank you, every one, for loving us all!
Friends offer to help bury your cat
Okay this is not an absolute friend requirement, but the offer was so meaningful I can’t leave it out. It came from a work friend, the kind you keep professional and high-road; that’s the way we do it. Have you ever heard “A friend will help you move, but a really good friend will help you move a body.”? (Stay with me, this will end up okay.) Early one morning I had to let my oldest cat go. It was READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
45
GRAND COLUMN
NINA LOVEL
unexpected and it made me late for work, both because I was upset, and because I needed to dig his little grave out in my backyard kitty-memory-garden. I called my co-worker to say I would be late coming in, and he said the kindest, most thoughtful thing I think I’ve ever heard: “Can I come help you dig the grave?” That was what he said. Not “do you want me to come help?” which would be easy to shuck-off with a “naw, that’s a’ight, really…” This was a direct yes/no question and I knew it was sincere because this work-friend means what he says and says what he means. He does not patronize. I was almost through digging so I didn’t take his offer, but I mean, how sweet was that? A friend will help you move. A really good friend will help you move a body. An unbelievably thoughtful friend from work will offer to help you bury your cat.
Friends help you heal
When I had my second shoulder-fixing a while back, a precious bright-eyed morning-person friend took me to the surgery center at 5:30 am. Another friend brought me home and hung around for the afternoon, and a little flock of friends made plans to bring me food. They had this group text going on and somehow son Jedd was in it. After the seventeenth text about which night who was bringing me what to eat, my son snapped. Legend has it that Only Son politely conveyed the message: “Please take me out of this group text--I’m not an Old White Lady! In fact, that’s your new name: you’re the ‘OWLS’!” With our customary grown-up grace, we quietly revised OWLS to stand for “Old WISE Ladies” and well, here we are. We OWLS are a loyal lot who love one another unconditionally. Ours are “grown-up” friendships that we enjoy, cherish, and nurture every day.
46
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
The Foundations of OWL friendships are:
Honesty, always Friendship, forever Presence, whenever Drama, never Shenanigans, often Politics, not ever (OWLS have different stripes and value friendship over conflict)
“How do I get to be an OWL?” I hear you asking. If you have friendships like those above, you’re halfway there. Here are the rest of the guidelines: You may be an OWL if: Your children are grown and out of the house (if you never had children, you met this milestone 25 years ago) Well, if they are at least grown... You have positive energy and thrive in the fun and freedom of grown-up life Your friendships are well described by the Foundations above. And you qualify for OWL Exemplar if: Somebody young enough to be your grandchild has said, “When I grow up, I want to be you!” That’s it. No dues, no applications. No gender bias, either; OWLship is open to all who qualify. Grab your friends, agree to the Foundations and form a parliament of your own! So, friends, these are the stories for today. I hope I told them pretty close to how you remember they happened, but if I didn’t, well, you know me...and I know you’ll be honest. I also want to say this: if reading this saddens you because you’ve lost a friend or some have moved away, please do not despair. I have always found my friends by getting involved in things. You never know where you’ll find a friend. If you can, volunteer: you’ll find like-minded people there. Or go to one of the many free classes/seminars/movies/concerts in the area. If you can’t get out, ask a neighbor or caregiver if they’ll be your friend. It’s not a difficult ask, because... who’s going to say no to friendship?
ACW
L A N DSC A PE S
With ClifRock, install Outdoor Kitchens and Fireplaces in days, not weeks! LANDSCAPE DESIGN, INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE SINCE 2003
Thank You Rome!
We offer professional services such as: • • • • • •
Landscape Design and Installation Full-service Lawn Maintenance Hardscapes Custom Swimming Pools Irrigation Systems Landscape Lighting
Authorized Dealer
Financing options available through
Apply online at www.acwlandscapes.com
4617 Rockmart Hwy Silver Creek, GA | 706-528-4963 | www.acwlandscapes.com | Find us on Facebook
READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
47
GRAND COLUMN
ROME HEALTH AND REHAB
Why Do We Fall? Where Amazing Things Happen with Rome Health and Rehab Text Michael J Simmons, MPT
CAUTION
48
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
IN THE 2005 MOVIE BATMAN BEGINS, a young Bruce Wayne (aka Batman) and later an older Bruce Wayne, is asked on two separate occasions, “Why do we fall?” The answer given by both inquirers is “So we can learn to pick ourselves up.” Although this exchange was meant to inspire the character to persevere amidst failings and continue to strive to achieve, one can see the multitude of instances in the span of a human life where this applies. As a Physical Therapist who practices in the Long Term Care/Skilled Nursing Facility environment, my role in this context is geared primarily towards facilitating an individual’s ability to achieve and maintain biomechanical or physical balance. Throughout the course of my practice, I have often presented this very question to many of my patients. My goal being to both inspire the patient despite the impairment(s) they are suffering that brought them to my facility with the need for physical rehabilitation in the first place, and also facilitate understanding to the patient that the act of falling and learning to pick yourself up are normal and innate. Albeit, this physical process does indeed become more difficult as we age. Yet, it is instinctively engraved by design into our ability to survive and thrive as the apex species of this planet.
ROME HEALTH AND REHAB
By design, the human body is a magnificent and amazing biomechanical organism that, whether by evolution or divine creation, was made specifically to perform and achieve task success by establishing and maintaining “balance” in the ever present interactions of the Earth’s physical forces, primarily gravity. In my professional world, balance is defined as the human body’s ability to maintain its center of gravity over its base of support (COG/BOS). Simply put, it is the ability to keep your body mass over and between your feet. Indeed, the human body is designed to continuously modify its posture and positioning in space via concurrently acting muscle groups providing controlled action and stability throughout various skeletal joint ranges of motion while integrating various sensory systems in order to allow for variable motions performed at varying velocities spanning three planes. All of this while maintaining the ability to right oneself and prevent a loss of balance and fall. This is observed in varying extremes as witnessed in the practice of Tai Chi, a slower and more controlled ability, as compared to the “ninja-like” maneuverings of an individual slipping and sliding on a sheet of ice and righting themselves. However, despite all of the human body’s wonder, we all fall down, and unfortunately, traumatic injuries can and do occur as a result. Although, it could be argued that the act of falling does not cause injury. Indeed, is it not the actual landing, the sudden stop, that causes injury? Yessir, gravity is a ...! That being said, as a PT, I struggle to find ways to better control or soften an individual’s landing. However, there are interventions at my disposal to help patients improve their balance and help prevent falling in the first place. In understanding fall prevention and fall recovery, one must keep in mind the various systems at play. As previously mentioned, muscle groups in balance and muscle flexibility acting upon available skeletal joint range of motion, in coalition with the bodies proprioceptive sense to determine the varying environment under our feet, as well as our vision and our inner ear vestibular sensory mechanism that assist in determining spatial and postural awareness all work together in unison to allow an individual to establish and maintain balance at any given moment. That being said, it is easy to understand, that diminishment in one facet will lead to compensatory difficulties in the others and compromise the motion effectiveness and efficiency of an individual leading to balance deficits and the increased risk for falls with potential traumatic secondary injury. It is safe to say that falls primarily account for or play a secondary role in most patients who enter my facility to receive physical rehabilitation. Whether the fall was the chicken and resulted in a traumatic injury, or the fall was the egg and a secondary result of a primary onset of some other medical malady, a resultant impairment in an individual’s balance is typically experienced and requires some intervention to facilitate improvements allowing the patient to return to an improved quality of life. What is important to realize here is the devastating role that falls play in the aging population. Approximately two thirds of fall victims suffering a hip fracture in the geriatric population will discover little to no improvements or “worse” in the span of a year. What this means is that these
GRAND COLUMN
individuals will either never return to the level of functioning they were performing at, or they will leave us all together as a result of succumbing to other comorbidities or secondary medical complications and an inability to persevere. That leaves approximately one third of that same demographic showing a return to a prior level of functioning and quality of life. Those individuals who are lucky enough to not have suffered a hip fracture as a result of a fall, but suffer some other fracture or injury still incur a difficult rehabilitation and a strong possibility of never returning to a prior level of functioning, but to a level of functioning requiring compensatory or adaptation strategies and/ or assistive devices to return to a more normal level of functioning. Likewise, the financial expenditure to manage and treat falls and the secondary complications as a result are significant, staggering, and at times can be crushing to a patient and their significant others. In consideration of all of this, we all must as human beings stay real and understand that these systems we utilize to maintain balance typically will diminish as we age, and our risk for falling becomes a significantly greater threat as we do so. But all is not lost. The human body is genetically predispositioned to try and
So, as you continue to live life, stay active, yet pay attention to what your body is telling you. heal and improve its systems, and will work to do so in most instances given the opportunity and the right stimulus barring any progressive and deteriorating comorbidities or conditions. What remains is what can be done to improve an individual’s odds of preventing a fall or restoring an individual’s stability following a fall. This process is facilitated by both the patient and the physical therapist. First and foremost, it is important for us as individuals to remember and continuously remind ourselves that ultimately as we age we will become a byproduct of the level of effort we invest. Meaning, if we choose to live a relatively sedentary lifestyle, we
READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
49
GRAND COLUMN
ROME HEALTH AND REHAB
can almost certainly expect to suffer a degradation in our ability to functionally perform tasks with a high degree of stability and with a minimal fall risk. Stay active! Exercise! Remain flexible! Reasonably challenge yourself ! These things are within most individual’s capacity. Try to recognize certain warning signs that present themselves in situations where an individual’s balance systems become more challenged. These may be things such as new onset of dizziness or sometimes nausea during mobilities and activities where there was none in the past; if your senses are telling you that you don’t feel stable; if you struggle to participate in activities you are accustomed to due to an ever increasing fear of falling; if you’re feeling less safe moving in your home environment or you find yourself “cruising” or reaching for objects more frequently to feel safe; or if you experience frequent episodes of balance loss, stumbling, or falls.
50
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
In instances leading up to and/or following a potential fall, a Physical Therapist can intervene to help assess and improve an individual’s stability and minimize their fall risk. A PT does this by working to restore more normal (if not normal) muscle strength/endurance, flexibility, and concurrent muscle balance, skeletal joint mobility, stability, and available range of motion such that it becomes biomechanically possible to improve more normal posture, positioning, and improved COG/BOS relationship. Likewise, a PT can utilize learned techniques to potentially improve certain syncopal events brought on by inner ear or vestibular issues. The PT can safely engage a patient in higher level physical activity, requiring higher degrees of static or dynamic stability, incurring an elevated risk for falls in an effort to challenge the body’s multiple biomechanical and sensory balance mechanisms, and progress these towards improvement while maintaining a
ROME HEALTH AND REHAB
safe environment and keeping the patient free from falling such that the risks versus reward curve trends positive toward patient restoration and minimization or elimination of future falls. The sooner that either a perceived or observable balance deficit is recognized and addressed, the more favorable are the odds that a fall will not occur and an individual can maintain a higher level of safe and stable functioning. Likewise, the PT can assist in making and recommending environmental modifications and adaptations to improve the safety of your home in an effort to minimize obstacle negotiation and improve adaptive strategies.
GRAND COLUMN
So, as you continue to live life, stay active, yet pay attention to what your body is telling you. Pay attention to increasing difficulties in mobility that you are typically used to performing. Pay attention to any changes in your body’s “senses.” We as individuals must act sooner than later, and seek a physician’s guidance to refer us to a PT or appropriate medical professional as needed in an effort to maximize our biomechanical and physical potential. And “So we can learn to pick ourselves up.” Indeed, is this not the reason we fall?
Denise Champagne, Jennifer Haislip-Lynn, Lisa Thomas
Perpetual Care. It’s not just important, it’s our Promise!
www.hendersonandsons.com READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
51
a LIFELONG calling
Sharon Seabolt graduated from nursing school at the age of 62 and now, ten years later, she’s training other nurses about what it means to be a hospice nurse. From fiery car accidents to treating people around the world, this is her story. Photography Jason Huynh Text Ashlee Bagnell
52
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
SHARON SEABOLT
GRAND FEATURE
IN 2008, SHARON SEABOLT W A S N ’ T E X A C T LY A TRADITIONAL NURSING SCHOOL STUDENT. At 58 years old, Seabolt was accepted into Kennesaw State University’s prestigious school of nursing. She was one of 82 students chosen out of 1,000 applicants that semester and she’ll be the first to tell you, since then her life has never been the same. Seabolt now works as a hospice nurse for Heyman Hospice out of Floyd Medical Center in Rome, Georgia and spends her days caring for patients and families going through some of the hardest times in their lives. Her devotion and care for her patients comes from a love of people and a deep understanding of what they are going through. Seabolt has had a lifelong desire to help care for people, saying, “When I was a senior in high school, my plan was to go to nursing school at the Georgia Baptist Hospital School of Nursing, and I was dating a wonderful man named Ken. He was graduating from college that same year and he was going to serve in the military because we were in the middle of the Vietnamese War. I was going to finish nursing school while he served in the war and then we were going to get married when he came back.” The two had met on a school bus, when Ken was a senior in high school. Seabolt had a broken leg, and Ken gave up his seat on the bus so that she would not have to stand. That act of kindness won Seabolt over, and they were together from then on. In the spring before her graduation from high school, Ken took her to the Dallas Drag Strip to see a new race car driver, Richard Petty. In the middle of the race, Petty had a terrible accident that led to the injuries of several people and the death of a young boy. “As a 17 year old, I held that child and realized that I just don't think I could be a nurse because I couldn't handle death and dying,” she explains. “So, I gave up my nursing scholarship and instead of going to school that summer, Ken and I got married. He then got a marriage deferment, keeping him from getting drafted or going to Vietnam. I went into dental hygiene because that was a safe thing to do. I could help people take care of their mouths and nobody died from having their teeth cleaned,” she
says. Seabolt worked as a dental hygienist until she and Ken started a family several years later. She later worked several jobs as a school bus driver, a school bus driving instructor, a special service officer for Dekalb County and a secretary for many different organizations. But everything changed when Ken became very sick. In August of 2005, Ken passed away from cancer and Seabolt had her first encounter with hospice care. “In the summer that Ken
was home with cancer and in hospice care, I felt very much that God was leading me to go back to school and get a nursing degree. Of course, I really didn't want to because I was 58 years old,” she recalls. “I said ‘no, I don't think so- I'm too old and I need to go back to work,’ but that's not what God’s plan was, and so all of the things that I said no to, God said yes to. Finally, in January of 2006 I gave in and went back to school at Kennesaw State.” READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
53
GRAND FEATURE
SHARON SEABOLT
After her graduation, Seabolt went to work for Floyd Medical Center in their medsurg floor and worked there for a year until she was approached by Dr. Buford Harbin about becoming a hospice nurse. Seabolt says, “I laughed all the way home that day because I said, ‘God, the very thing that kept me from being a nurse 40 years ago is what you want me to do.’ But, I applied and went to work as a Hospice nurse in 2009.” Now over ten years later, Seabolt’s desire to care for others has not wavered, saying, “I love patient care tremendously. I like being in people's lives and being able to help them, and the neatest thing about being a Hospice nurse is that we don't just have a patient, we have a family and so it's a very holistic approach. We look at all aspects of care.” Seabolt not only spends her time treating patients, but also training nurses and teaching courses. “I do enjoy teaching a lot and I have had the privilege to precept students from the schools of nursing at both Berry and Shorter. I have precepted some of our doctors who are in training at Floyd Medical Center. They come and ride with us to see what Hospice is all about. I also do lots of health care training for staff at assisted living facilities and skilled nursing 54
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
facilities in some of the things that they are trying to keep their CNA's and their staff trained in such as catheter care and wound care. That's one of the areas that I really enjoy working in is wound care. Currently, I'm working towards a specialty degree and certification in wound care.” She is already certified as a Hospice and Palliative nurse which is a step beyond being a BSN RN. While technically retired, Seabolt stays busier than ever and shows no sign of stopping anytime soon. Outside of the hospital, Seabolt has used her training to aid those in the Horn of Africa and in London, England and plans to be more involved in experiences like those in the future. But she says that her favorite thing is spending time with her family. “I love being a grandma. I have four grown granddaughters and we do a lot of fun things together. I live next door to my family which is a privilege because we do eat dinner together every night. I'm very active in my church, I love my ladies group that I meet with on Sunday mornings. We are great prayer warriors and we spend a lot of time laughing and having a good time together but my main goal is trying to do things that help other people.”
SHARON SEABOLT
GRAND FEATURE
Remembrance Village Where everyday is meaningful
Senior Living
Remembrance Village
Premiere Memory Care Community
READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
55
S I L I C O N E C O AT I N G S O L U T I O N S
Don’t REPLACE your roof, RESTORE it! • Save 50-70% of the replacement cost on a commercial roof • 100% premium commercial silicone roof coating • Seamless repair of TPO/EPDM • Seal metal roofs • Environmentally friendly roof coating, anti-graffiti or wall coating
2101 Rockmart Road SE • www.siliconecs.com • 404-825-3174 56
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
The Dish
stro
MEDITERRANEAN
bistro
www.getjamwiched.com
www.lascalaromega.com 413 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161
706-238-9000
Hours: Mon - Sat: 6pm - 10pm 400 Block Bar & Lounge: 4pm-1:30am Live music each weekend.
La Scala offers both first-rate service and terrific Italian Cuisine in an upscale casual atmosphere. 50% off cafe menu from 4-6 p.m.
www.schroedersnewdeli.com 406 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161
706-234-4613
Hours: Mon-Thur: 11am-9pm Fri-Sat: 11am-10pm Sun: 11:30am-3pm
Schroeder’s menu includes sandwiches, calzones, soups, salads, potato skins, nachos, wings, and more. And don’t forget our pizza! It’s the best in town... and for a sweet treat, try our Cheesecake Calzone! (Draft and Bottled Beers & Wine also offered) Famous for: Their Roast Beef Relief!
www.hardees.com
1204 Turner McCall Blvd • Rome, GA 30161 2300 Shorter Ave • Rome, GA 30165 3110 Cedartown Hwy • Rome, GA 30161 104 S Tennessee St • Cartersville, GA 30120
We’re known as the place to go for juicy, delicious charbroiled burgers & made from scratch biscuits. Because if you’re gonna eat, you should Eat Like You Mean It!
www.fuddruckers.com/rome 706-233-9960
Hours: Monday: 11am-3pm Tues-Sat: 8am-3pm
706-314-9544
Jamwich - Serving distinctive sandwiches, salads, and soups. Sandwiches built with the finest ingredients: Boar’s Head meats and cheeses, Zelma’s Blue Ribbon Jams and Jellies, fresh sourdough bread, premium Boars Head thick cut bacon and farm-to-table produce.
www.moesoriginalbbq.com/rome 101 West 1st Street Rome, GA 30161
Hours: Sun-Thu: 11am - 10pm Fri- Sat: 11am - 2am
706-622-2977
Moe’s Original BBQ is a Southern soul food revival where great food is served in an atmosphere that is relaxed, spontaneous, yet civilized….well, sometimes.
www.swheatmarketdeli.com Hours: Mon-Sat: 5am-10pm Sun: 6am-10pm
706.291.2021
595 Riverside Parkway Rome, GA 30161
510 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161
5 E Main St Cartersville, GA 30120
770-607-0067
Hours: Mon and Tue 11-4 Wed and Thur 11-4 Fri and Sat 11-8 Sun 11-3
Casual counter serve offering sandwiches, salads & American comfort food
www.maineonmain.com Hours: Sun -Thu: 11am-9pm Fri - Sat: 11am-10pm
Fuddruckers catering can help you feed just about any size group, anytime, anywhere. Our menu will please the most discerning tastes and meet the high standards you require. We know how to make your event spectacular with the WORLD’S GREATEST CATERING.
24 W Main St Cartersville, GA 30120
770-334-3813
Hours: Mon - Thurs: 11am - 9pm Fri - Sat: 11am - 10pm Sun: 11am - 8pm
At Maine Street Coastal Cuisine, in the heart of historic downtown Cartersville, we pride ourselves on sourcing seafood from sustainable fisheries. Our passion is to provide a restaurant free of artificial flavors and ingredients.
Make it a meal worth remembering. Where to eat in Northwest Georgia. READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
57
Event Calendar MONDAYS Pool Room Open • 9am - 5pm At Parker Center
Sittercise • 9 - 10am
At Parker Center, Activity room
Silver Sneakers • 9 - 10am
Cyber Seniors • 4 - 5pm
At Parker Center, Activity room
Line Dancing Lessons • 6 - 8pm
At Parker Center, Banquet room *2 per class
WEDNESDAYS
At Parker Center, Banquet room
Sittercise • 9 - 10am
Dulcimer Lessons • 10 - 11am At Parker Center, Activity room
GA Mountain Music • 10am - 12pm
Gospel Singing • 10:30am - 12:30pm At Parker Center, Banquet room
Senior Activities • 10am - 2pm
At Gilbreath Center (games, bingo and more)
Pickleball • 10am - 2pm
At Gilbreath Center *$1 to play
At Parker Center, Activity room At Parker Center, Banquet room
Senior Activities • 11am - 1pm At Fielder Center (exercise, bingo, pot luck lunch)
Bingo • 1 - 2pm
At Parker Center, Banquet room
Line Dancing • 2:30 - 4:30pm
Duplicate Bridge Club • 12:30 - 4pm
At Parker Center, Banquet room
Line Dancing Practice • 2 - 4pm
THURSDAYS
At Parker Center, Activity room
At Parker Center, Banquet room
Line Dancing Lessons • 6 - 8pm
Duplicate Bridge Club • 12:45 - 4pm At Parker Center, Activity room
At Thornton Center *$2 per class
Social Dance Lessons • 6 - 9pm
FRIDAYS
At Parker Center, Banquet room *$5 per class
Sittercise • 9 - 10am
TUESDAYS
Pickleball + Cards • 9:30am - 12pm
S ittercise • 9 - 10am
At Parker Center, Activity room
Silver Sneakers • 9:15 - 10:15am
At Parker Center, Activity room At Gilbreath Center *$1 to play
Line Dancing • 10am - 12pm
At Parker Center, Banquet room *$2 per class
At Parker Center *$2 per class nonmembers, Banquet room
Line Dancing • 1 - 3pm
Line Dancing Lessons • 2 - 4pm
Bridge Club • 1 - 4pm
At Parker Center
At Parker Center, Banquet room *$2 per class At Parker Center
Provided by the RFPRA, this event calendar is consistent month to month. Visit rfpra.com/active-adults or call 706-234-0383 for more information.
58
V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
READV3.COM | MAY 2020 V3 MAGAZINE
59
Your health is Without question, your health is essential. From routine appointments to unexpected accidents or illnesses to consultations with a specialty provider, there's no need to delay. Get the complete care you need safely — in-office or virtually — at Harbin Clinic.
60
harbinclinic.com/dontdelay V3 MAGAZINE MAY 2020 | READV3.COM
