Brad Barker receives a kidney transplant

Pain. It’s something we all may endure before our lives come to an end.  To watch your child suffer through long term pain is something that should never happen. I have witnessed this pain for the last four years with my youngest son Brad. Not only physical but emotional.  I have watched him suffer since the first part of August 2005. Four years of being hooked to a dialysis  machine each and every night. Being  poked and prodded at the hospital and undergoing a wide range of tests and exploratory surgeries. Emotions have been a roller coaster ride over these years. Not only for Brad but also for the whole family. Stress and financial worries seem to add quit a bit to the situation. Happy one day and ready to end things the next. No child should have to endure this. No parent should have to either. Count your blessings if you can look in the mirror  knowing your child or children are healthy. It is a blessing. You never know until it happens to your family.
At 10:44 am, On Wednesday, July 22, I received a phone call from Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was the call for Brad to come get his new kidney. Going in shock is the only way to describe that moment. I drove like a mad man to get from work to the house so we could get to the hospital. I calmed down after Brad was in the car and we were on our way. Guess it was an adrenaline rush I had never experienced before. We arrived at 2:00 pm and he was in surgery by 5:00 pm.  By 9:00 pm he was in ICU asking for a cell phone to call his best friend. The pain medicine wore off later and I had to watch again as he suffered though the next several days.
  I’m like most people. You think when someone has a transplant that everything’s good to go. Not the case. Takes several days after surgery to get over the pain and get moving again.  Swelling and weakness have been a big part of Brad’s recovery. He’s still in the hospital tonight and Mom is with him. Tonight is the July 30.  We have both taken turns staying with him because getting sleep there is impossible.  His older brother Brian even stayed with him last night to give Mom and Dad a break. It doesn’t end there. The next month will consist of three trips to the hospital each week. Two per week the second month and one per week the third month.
  Financially this whole deal is a nightmare. Anti-rejection  medicines along with gas and food expenses are overwhelming.  In 2005 the VFW started a kidney fund for Brad at the Peoples Bank. Four years of dialysis has drained this fund. Three poker runs for him added quite a bit of money in the beginning. The VFW has held several fundraisers, the last one being a two day yard sale. I would like to thank Earnie and Nancy Stephens. Mary Etta Graves, and Dora Kerns for  holding these events’ Also the VFW membership for allowing the yard sales and other fund raisers. All the members have helped through donations or volunteering  their time to help with these events. I’m a Gulf War Veteran and was very active in veterans events until our situation became overwhelming. I will return to support our troops when things get better at home. There are actually too many people to thank in this county. Businesses, churches, my co-workers and everyday people have donated to this fund. Bonnie Fleming has been the best whenever I put updates in her paper. My best wishes to Jerry. Sometimes pride gets in the way of asking for help. Being a Gulf war veteran makes it very hard to ask for help. I know our country is in a recession but my family would appreciate anything that is donated to Brad’s kidney fund. Whether it be a dollar or 10 dollars it all adds up. Thanks to everyone that that has helped out in the past. Also thanks for the get well cards people have sent to Brad.  It puts a smile on his face. Something we’ve waited four years to see. God bless you all!

Sincerely,
Greg & Marcy Barker

Mrs. Cropper

Freda Gay Cropper, 81, of Convict Pike, Flemingsburg, died Monday, Aug. 3, 2009, at the Johnson Mathers Health Care Facility in Carlisle.
She was born Oct. 27, 1927, to the late Nell Claypoole and Charles E. Claypoole.
Mrs. Cropper was a housewife.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John S. Cropper.
She is survived by three sons, Garey (Judith) Cropper of Greenbackville, Va., John (Annie) Cropper of Burnside and Tim Cropper of Flemingsburg; one daughter, Nell (Rick) Clevenger of Abingdon, Va.; six grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by six brothers and sisters.
Services are 1 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009 at the Denton-Workman Funeral Home in Flemingsburg with Pastors Gaylord Gillispie and Jim Gaunce officiating.
Burial will follow in the Wedonia Cemetery.
Visitation is after 6 p.m., today at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donation, may be made to the Nepton United Methodist Church, in care of Martha Clark, 838 Nepton Road, Ewing, Ky. 41039.

Mr. Muse

Jeremiah Lee Muse, age 31, passed away Wednesday, July 29, 2009. “Lee,” as he was known to family and friends, was a technology whiz. While a student at Simons Middle School, he made a presentation to the State Board of Education representing Fleming Co. He was the President of the STLP Club and he was the recipient of the the first Mike Gray Memorial Award given at Fleming County High School. He graduated from Fleming County High School and attended Morehead State University. Lee was a certified computer technician.
Jeremiah Lee Muse was born August 11,1977 to Christopher Dennis Muse and Judy Kay Sexton Muse, He is also survived by a brother Samuel Muse of Lexington, his companion, Greg Lee of Richmond, Ky., paternal
grandmother, Hilda McKenzie of Flemingsburg, three aunts, Bonnie Sexton Jensen of Woodbridge,Va., Connie Sexton of Hamilton, Ohio, Brenda Sexton-Cooper of Hillsboro. He is also survived by several cousins and friends.
Lee was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Arthur and Mabel Sexton and paternal grandfather Lincoln Muse and step-grandfather Reuben McKenzie.
A Memorial Service celebrating Lee’s life was held at the Flemingsburg Baptist Church on Saturday, August 1, 2009 at 2 p.m.
Donations in his memory may be made to the Human Rights Campaign or to the Big Run Community Church Mowing Fund.

Mr. Turley

Carl A. Turley, 87, of Wallingford, died Thursday, July 30, 2009.
Mr. Turley was a retired minister and also retired from Union Carbide.
He was born in Lincoln County, W. Va., March 23, 1922, to the late William H. and Ruby Ellen Harless Turley.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jane Turley who died Feb. 12, 1993.
Mr. Turley is survived by two daughters, Theresa (Fred) Garrett of Wallingford and Sandy (Bill) Nahodil of St. Albans, W. Va.; one son, Randy Turley of Southport, N. C.; two sisters, Joyce Ann Coinner of Charleston, W. Va. and Dorothy Nice of Wheeling, W. Va.; three grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by infant children, William and Beulah Turley; and siblings, Zelma Ward, Lyle Turley, Paul Turley, Sybil Hudnall, James Turley, Clifford Turley and Charlotte Stefanow.
Services will be at 1 p.m., Tuesday at the Boone-Nickell Funeral Home in Flemingsburg with Pastor Hillary Underwood officiating.
Burial will follow in the Fleming County Cemetery.
Visitation at the funeral home is after 6 p.m., Monday.
Arrangements by Boone-Nickell Funeral Home.

Ribbon is cut to dedicate Hwy 32

Ribbon cutting on Hwy 32 Thursday

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Kentucky Department of Highways District 9 cordially invite you to a ribbon-cutting for the KY 32 Reconstruction Project in Flemingsburg. Please join Transportation Secretary Joe Prather to celebrate the completion of this $3.6 million highway project, which will benefit Fleming County residents, students and travelers for generations to come.

WHAT:          Ribbon-cutting for KY 32 Reconstruction, Flemingsburg

WHEN:          Thursday, July 30, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. EDT

WHERE:       Fleming County High School, 1658 Elizaville Rd., Flemingsburg, Ky.

Ceremonies featuring guest speakers will take place inside Fleming County High School. Afterward, a ceremonial ribbon-cutting will take place near KY 32 at the high school entrance, weather permitting. The public is welcome to attend.

New CEO at Hospital

On the heels of its first anniversary in a new facility, Fleming County Hospital will have new leadership.

The Board of Trustees elected Davie Lloyd as the hospital’s next Chief Executive Officer. She was selected from three finalist candidates that all met Hospital Board criteria, presented by Quorum Health Resources, FCH’s management company. She will begin work on Aug. 10 and succeeds Ron Vigus who has served as interim CEO since early May. Vigus replaced David Sirk, who had served in the position for nearly a year. Sirk was CEO when the new facility opened in August 2008.

Lloyd is the fifth CEO since planning for a new hospital began during the administration of Mark Armstrong. He was followed by Carol Dozier, who oversaw much of the construction, then Sirk, Vigus and now Lloyd.

“We are very happy to have Davie join us as we begin a new chapter at our hospital,” said Louie Flanery, Chairman of the Board. “She has the right leadership experience for our hospital and a strong sense of community.”

Lloyd has seven years of senior healthcare leadership experience and grew up in a small community in Montana. At her last hospital, she achieved several improvements in the hospital including improving patient flow in the emergency department, implemented a hospital wide information technology system and improved accuracy in the billing process.

Fleming County was attractive to her and her 9 year old daughter due to its family focus, great schools and friendly community.