Last year at this time, Jacksonville’s Nancy Bork was recovering from an August stroke, faithfully attending her physical therapy appointments and planning a quiet Christmas. “You learn to appreciate the moments and the time together even when you are in…
In May 2013, Daniel Fouts was enjoying every minute of his life with his wife, their toddler and a six-month-old baby. But a few months earlier, the then 26-year-old had experienced a sense of impending doom he couldn’t quite forget.…
John Pruitt is a big fan of the medical community in Springfield. “The medical community is Springfield as far as I’m concerned,” the owner of E.L. Pruitt Co. said. “They employ the largest number of employees outside the State of…
A broken ankle was bad enough, but as she sat in the waiting room at a doctor’s appointment last summer, Norby Tester had a stroke. “I was having pain in my leg,” Norby said. “I thought I might have a…
At what pivotal time will you or a loved one need blood? Millions of patients nationwide need lifesaving blood products—including many within our own community. Blood donation benefits local patients battling cancer, kidney transplant recipients, those with sickle cell disease,…
Matt Cruise, 19, has loved playing baseball for as long as he can remember. Fortunately, a devastating line drive to the head will not bench the pitcher indefinitely, thanks to a quick response on the field at Robin Roberts Stadium…
When neurosurgeon Dr. Breck Jones of SIU Medicine performed a brain biopsy on a local patient earlier this month at Springfield Memorial Hospital, he had a new assistant helping guide him to the location of the suspected tumor – a…
Tyre “Ty” Rees exudes the spirit of volunteer service as he shares his time and talents with patients, visitors and employees at Springfield Memorial Hospital. Over the past 13 years, he has donated more than 6,000 hours, which led to…
A college ethics class 20 years ago made such an impact on Sarah Goleman, 41, that she recently donated a kidney to a stranger. The class explored whether individuals have a moral obligation to improve the lives of others. Those…
The numbers are staggering. Longtime Memorial Health volunteer Jody Wallace has donated more than 10,500 hours over nearly 39 years, which led to her recently being named one of 24 local Good as Gold Community Award winners. “These awards honor…