My New Normal

My New Normal

Winter months are notorious for cold and flu season, and in February 2016, Emily Hawkins was sick. Without a primary doctor, she went to an urgent care center. Within nine days, she returned to the clinic five times, walking away with diagnoses of strep throat and thrush – but finding no relief for her malaise or the headaches and fatigue she felt. Emily went to Boone Hospital Center to have some tests done.

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“Life Is Good”

“Life Is Good”

My name is Darren Gabbert, and I have an advanced form of muscular dystrophy called Type 2 – Spinal Muscular Atrophy. This genetic condition affects the nerves that control muscle movement. Type 2 of this disease is characterized by moderate onset and progressive weakness in arms, legs, lower torso, and respiratory muscles.

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Pregnant, With Cancer

Pregnant

There’s really no rhyme or reason to pregnancy symptoms. Morning sickness, fatigue, food aversions — as far as anyone can tell, it mostly comes down to luck.

As she carried her first child earlier this year, Tanna Niemeier seemed to have especially bad luck. She found herself suffering a painful hemorrhoid outbreak — a problem some moms face while pregnant.

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Overcoming Odds

Overcoming Odds

Patient care tech Deontae Curtis is one of the faces of Boone Hospital. Staff love him for his hard-working spirit and dedication to the job. Patients love him for his overwhelming kindness and compassion. So when Deontae broke his neck last year playing football, there wasn’t a dry eye in the hospital.

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Giving Back

Giving Back

If you walk into Boone Hospital Center’s lobby, you may see Charlie Gibbens extending a warm smile while wearing his signature volunteer red vest. He’ll probably ask you if you need any help finding your way and offer you a hug if you look like you need one.

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Supportive Care Program Encourages Patient Through Decades Of Hospitalizations

Supportive Care Program Encourages Patient Through Decades Of Hospitalizations

“When I am hospitalized, it can be a scary. Boone does everything it can to make things better for me. I’m Catholic, and I appreciate having a priest come to my bed and praying with me during my stay and even bring me communion,” says Cindy. “I also love how the volunteers bring me cards from my family and friends during my stay. I hold them close to me while I sleep and they make me feel so much better. I even get massages and manicures right in my hospital bed! There is nothing like human touch to make you feel better when you are ill. This is a very special place.”

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Flashback

Flashback

Last May, Teresa Wren’s life nearly ended in three brief flashes.

First, she remembers waking up in the middle of the night. She felt hot. So she stood up, turned down the air conditioner in her Columbia home and went back to bed.

In the next scene, it was morning. Her husband, Charles, was standing at the bedroom door. “Are you going to get up?” he asked. Teresa didn’t respond.

Her final vision was her daughter, Lexi, standing over her — just for a moment. Then black.

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Quick Action

Quick Action

 It was just your average Sunday. Glen Frerichs went up front and gave the announcements at his church, Trinity Lutheran, where he serves as an elder. He then went back to his seat and sat next to his wife, Kathy. The first hymn began to play and the church erupted into song. 

For the last verse of the hymn, the congregation rose from their seats, but when Glen got up, he knew something wasn’t right. A wave of dizziness hit him — and that’s the last Glen remembers of that morning until he awoke in the emergency room. 

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The Foundation C.A.R.E.s

The Foundation C.A.R.E.s

Shirley Brown had been in pain for a year when she was recommended to visit orthopedic surgeon Benjamin Holt, MD. What started as a dull hip pain had progressed to at times excruciating pain. 

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