Stories from Sunday, April 19, 2015

When you're considering becoming a living organ donor, think very carefully about these pros and cons: Probably the greatest benefit of organ donation is knowing that you're saving a life. That life might be your spouse, child, parent, brother or sister, a close friend, or a very grateful stranger...

The annual Organ Donor Awareness Coffee will feature more than just good beverages -- it will feature information about saving lives. The event will be April 21 from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 or so, said organizer Maleah Claxton. The coffee, hosted by the Shelbyville Rotary Club, will be held at the Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce, 100 N. Cannon Blvd. Light snacks will be served...

Donate Life Tennessee teams up with organ and tissue donation supporters across the state to celebrate April National Donate Life Month. The month-long celebration honors the generosity of organ, eye and tissue donors and their families and commemorates all transplant recipients in the United States...

More than 120,000 people in the U.S. are waiting to receive a life-giving organ transplant, but the Health & Human Services' Organ Procurement and Transportation Network says there simply aren't enough donated organs to transplant everyone in need. As a result, the Network must balance factors of:...

Bedford County Mayor Eugene Ray signs a proclamation last month declaring April as Organ Donor Awareness Month in Tennessee, in line with state and national observances. More than 123,000 people are awaiting organ transplants nationwide, including more than 2,700 in Tennessee. The month is designed to raise awareness of organ donation and encourage citizens to both sign organ donor cards and discuss their wishes with their family members. Standing, from left, are kidney transplant recipient Annalise Perry; heart transplant recipient Wayne Carter; and liver transplant recipient Harrison Trice Jr. Seated are Donna Orr, widow of lung transplant recipient / organ donation ambassador David Orr; and Ray. (T-G Photo by John I. Carney)

One of Bedford County's best known -- and youngest -- organ transplant recipients continues to battle bravely for a healthy life. Row McLaughlin received a kidney at age 4 from his mother Jennifer Vining in June 2013. Row had been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, Vining said. Although his condition was not technically a disease, the term is used for all patients in renal failure, she said...

For Janice Hastings, a long life of kidney ailments and not feeling her best finally led to an organ transplant six years ago. Janice was raised in Bedford County, growing up on Fairfield Pike and going to school in Wartrace and Bell Buckle, eventually marrying a man from Petersburg and moving there. Now, at age 65, she has two kids, three stepchildren and 11 grandchildren...

The family of the late Curt Butts finds comfort because part of him lives on through a Shelbyville woman who received one of his kidneys. And that's just fine with Pam Cooper, who says she's in the best health she's been in years as a result. "I'm very honored, very blessed to receive his kidney," Cooper says. "I didn't know Curt but I'd always heard how giving and gracious he was."...

When Brad McTigue's phone rings, and the Caller ID is either "Vanderbilt" or "Indiana," he has to be ready to drop everything. What that call means is that there's a possible match for a life-saving kidney transplant. That call has come nine times -- and, nine times, Brad has been disappointed. ...

As you decide whether to donate an organ as a living donor, weigh the benefits and risks very seriously. It's important for you to get as much information as you can before making a decision. The transplant center should fully explain the organ donation process to you. You should also be assigned an independent donor advocate who will promote your medical rights...

Around seven years ago, Kerrie Upchurch's health was on the line. Diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disorder, Upchurch's kidneys gradually begin to fail. Battling the effects of lupus for over 10 years, Upchurch now looks back and realized she didn't realize how bad she felt...

Harrison Trice Jr. considered himself lucky when he received a liver transplant in March 2009, after only four months on the waiting list. Trice suffered from cirrhosis, a disease of the liver which can have many causes -- and sometimes, as in Trice's case, no known cause. ...

Charlie Coffey loves the outdoors -- and so many other activities. The 22-year-old Webb School graduate is working part time as a volunteer firefighter and pharmacy tech for Middle Tennessee Pharmacy and loves hunting -- that is, when he's not attending college...

After his first double lung transplant in 2006, David Orr's deep sense of gratitude led him to become a tireless advocate for organ donation. "If I received this gift, what am I doing with it?" quoted Donna Orr, describing her late husband's attitude...

By the time you read this, we will be deep in the midst of the move. Now is when we find out if all the scheduling and planning we have done will actually work. I am so very appreciative of all the folks who have volunteered, time, money, food, water, vehicles, moving equipment, and moral support!...

I mentioned before that I paint, artistically. Whether I'm good or not, we'll leave that for the message boards. I haven't painted as much lately because I've been focusing on other things, more pressing matters, such as the birth of our second child. The obvious thing for me to write about this week would be her, but I can't. At least, not yet--her day will come...

I recently reconnected with an old friend on Facebook. Jim was my pastor at the church I attended in Tucson, Arizona in the 70s. He made quite an impact on my life at that time, and he was instrumental in me going on to Bible College to prepare for ministry...

Several years back I was working for a local painter in town and we ended up working for a man named Hal Smith. We were at Mr. Smith's house for couple of weeks, painting several rooms. During one of the conversations with Mr. Smith, he told us of the work he did that was directly involved with our countries' first trip to the moon. Growing up, I was always interested in space exploration, so he had my attention from the first mention of being involved with the Apollo mission...

Laura Katherine Clinton and Joshua Nathan Mangrum, both of Shelbyville, have announced their engagement. The bride-elect is the daughter of Byron and Patti Clinton of Shelbyville. She is the granddaughter of Dick and Faye Abernathy of Shelbyville and Pat Sanders and the late Ray Clinton of Columbia, Mississippi...

This week the T-G caught up with local business owner and animal enthusiast Samson Ounekham. If you know anyone who would make for an interesting Sunday Conversation, email Sadie Fowler at sfowler@t-g.com. T-G: Where are you originally from? How did you end up in the area?...

Redbuds have burst into their pink blossom. Dogwood trees--like brides in their frothy veil--are covered with exquisite flowers. The Tennessee hills. which only a few weeks ago were encased in a sheath of ice and snow, now are green with infant leaves and the hope of a glorious season to come...

"A government is a body of people, usually notably ungoverned." Shepherd Book, Firefly. An unusual thing occurred in our nation's capital this week -- both sides of the House Oversight Committee agreed with each other. That's right, both Democrats and Republicans came together to call for leadership change at the Drug Enforcement Administration, declaring they had no confidence in DEA administrator Michele Leonhart...

"We shall neither fail nor falter; we shall not weaken or tire... give us the tools and we will finish the job." --Winston Churchill While things are starting to come to a close in the state legislature, we're still in full swing. We had Floor Session four days this week, debated and voted on many bills, and began discussion on the budget. ...

As you may know, I'm a member of the county organizing committee for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life, a cause that has meant a great deal to me since I lost my mother to pancreatic cancer in 2010. Earlier this month, our Relay committee hosted Bedford County's first-ever Bark For Life, a dog-themed cancer society fundraiser. Unlike Relay For Life, which is held on an overnight schedule, this event took place during broad daylight...

When people hurt, it's natural to look for various ways to heal; to cope with the pain. Those of you who've loyally read the Times-Gazette will remember years ago when I wrote a weekly column in Lifestyles called Sadie Says. Writers write, runners run, talkers talk...

Shelbyville Central High School HOSA students competed in the state conference in March. Front (from left): Marquist Henderson, Kayleigh Caldwell, Sally Oliver, Kristy Gibson, Perla Arias, Andrew Beard. Back (from left): Michelle Calvert- advisor, Sarah Saddler, Jordan Barnett, Hailey Puckett, Cerridwen Kaiding, Regan Pyrdum and Debbie Myers - advisor. (Submitted photo)

Bedford County FFA attended the Tennessee State FFA Convention in Gatlinburg from March 29 through April 1. Members attending were Jordin Hockaday, Jessie Sanders, Keith Cook, Kaitlin Davis, Hunter Lemmon, Courtney Mansfield, Dylon Ely, Jackson Smith, Brian McCarty, and Nathaniel Olson...

Money was stolen from a Shelbyville church Thursday, police were told. An envelope containing $80 was missing from one of several offices that had been ransacked but everything else was intact, officer Clint Adams' report said. Entry was gained by breaking a window, on which blood was found, police said...

A few extra motorcycle-riding state troopers were stopping drivers right and left Friday in Shelbyville and Bedford County. It was part of a "saturation of area" program designed to reduce accidents and fatalities in areas with the highest rates of potential accidents, Lt. Bill Miller of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said...

The Republican Party of Bedford County held its annual Reagan Day dinner on Thursday at the Blue Ribbon Circle. The Rev. Jason Porter gave the invocation and benediction. Rod Stacy gave the pledge, while Anita, Bonnye and Donnye Fields sang the National Anthem and "God Bless America." Military veterans were recognized as well...

A local congregation is getting a new place to call home soon. Work is well underway on Gateway Church's new building, the old Walmart on Madison Street, just up the street from its home for the past 25 years. "We're excited to get going on it," pastor Jason Daughdrill said...

Caroline, Brad and Thomas Whitaker haul their purchase from the Times-Gazette's Community Yard Sale across Depot Street to their vehicle Saturday. The T-G's Press Power Relay for Life team raised $1,561.60 in the event. (T-G Photo by Jim Davis)

The story of how the late David Orr contributed to organ donation awareness is coming soon to a television and website near you. A film crew for an organ donor organization filmed a documentary last Wednesday featuring David Orr's widow Donna. Donna spent much of the afternoon and evening filming the documentary at her home and at Riverbend Country Club, where David often played golf...

It was a rough outing for the Liberty Lady Patriots on Friday evening in a 17-5 loss to visiting Moore County. Moore County drove in eight runs in the top of the first inning and cruised to the victory. Liberty was hampered by 11 errors in the field, but managed to push five runs across the plate...

Cascade Lady Champion pitcher Brooke Sudduth was in total control on Friday afternoon against the Huntland Lady Hornets. Through five innings, Sudduth spun a no-hitter and struck out eight. She also smashed a two-run home run in the Lady Champs' eight-run fifth inning...

It's been a long, frustrating week for area teams with constant rain fall making fields unplayable. With a break in the weather on Friday, the Cascade Champions were able to play their first game in three days. Senior starter Heath Presley limited the Cannon County Lions (7-13) to just one hit in the Champs' 2-0 win in the Walking Horse Classic...

UNIONVILLE -- Ryan Fears pitched 6 2/3 innings of three-hit ball and his teammates backed him up with an errorless performance in the field as the Community Vikings defeated the Middle Tennessee Monarchs 3-2 in the Walking Horse Classic Friday night...

Beautiful sunset on Ft. Myers Beach.