Category Archives: Local Faces

‘A phenomenal relationship’

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, Local Business, Local Faces, , ,

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By Marie Havenga, Spectrum Health Beat

Photos by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat

 

Steven Houser slipped on his first pair of ballet slippers as a 6-year-old growing up in Portland, Oregon.

 

These days, he rarely takes them off.

 

The 30-year-old professional dancer is now in his 13th professional season, his sixth with the Grand Rapids Ballet.

 

As graceful and fluid as the dancers appear, the profession is wrought with injury—stemming from long, demanding physical hours and precision poses.

 

While warming up before class recently, Houser felt “something odd” in his neck. By the end of the session, he could barely move his head.

 

Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat

John Ferraro, Grand Rapids Ballet Company manager, called the Spectrum Health Medical Group Sports Medicine Team.

 

The Grand Rapids Ballet and Spectrum Health have enjoyed a harmonious relationship for the past five years, with sports medicine professionals and athletic trainers helping dancers achieve ultimate health and conditioning.

 

“Spectrum sent someone right over,” Houser said. “She really helped me out a lot because I had an important rehearsal that day.”

‘Piece me back together’

Houser said he’s grateful for the quick response, and grateful he could continue his love of “expressing emotion, physically.”

 

He’s on the mend.

 

“There was a bunch of stuff out of alignment,” he said. “It sent everything into spasm. It took a couple of weeks to get to a normal place. I think without that quick response, it would have taken much longer to heal.”

 

Even when there aren’t unexpected injuries, Spectrum Health athletic trainers Emilee Van Hoven and Allie Hoyt visit the ballet twice a week; Heather Pietrzak and Paige Bachelor visit the ballet three times a week. They work with dancers who are recovering from injury.

 

If they see a major issue or something that needs more attention, they refer the patient to Matthew Axtman, DO, a sports medicine specialist with Spectrum Health Medical Group.

 

“It’s a bit reoccurring, so they all help piece me back together,” Houser said.

 

After six hours a day of dancing—for six, sometimes seven days a week—even the strongest and most fit bodies tire.

 

“They keep an eye on things that could turn into something major,” Houser said. “My hip hurts a little bit today. My ankle feels a bit jammed. Those little things can become chronic if you can’t be seen quickly. Them being here so frequently is incredibly helpful.”

 

Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat

Houser said Fridays are typically the hardest day because the aches and pains compound over the week.

 

“Even if you’re just getting your calves to relax a little, it helps,” he said.

 

Depending on the nature of the injury, the sports medicine team will sometimes do soft tissue work, sometimes mobilization.

 

“Sometimes they’ll give you exercises and tools we can use on our own to maintain certain things, like stretches,” Houser said. “Or they’ll tape us up to help keep things in place.”

Hand in hand

Phillip Adler, manager of the Spectrum Health Medical Group Sports Medicine program, approached the ballet about a partnership in 2011. Dr. Axtman had previously worked with the Atlanta Ballet and other dance groups.

 

“The expertise he had really made the ballet believe we had the experience to manage this unique area of sports and performing arts medicine,” Adler said. “I was the primary athletic trainer that would go down whenever the ballet needed anything.”

 

And so began Spectrum Health’s performing arts medicine partnership with the Grand Rapids Ballet.

 

By the second year of the collaboration, Adler brought on additional sports medicine staff to help in the endeavor. They covered not only rehearsals, but performances.

 

“I have worked with a lot of high-level athletes and NFL players, but I’ll be honest, ballet dancers are not nice to their bodies,” Adler said. “They have to go on point balanced on one leg, with the hip bent at 90 degrees for 15 or 20 seconds with maybe a partner. They’re working eight or more hours a day.”

 

Ballet companies typically don’t have injury prevention or strength and conditioning programs like many other professional sports teams do.

 

“I don’t think the vast majority of people realize what goes into putting on a ballet performance,” Adler said.

 

Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat

Adler said the partnership can help extend dancers’ careers.

 

“They have such a finite time to be a professional ballet performer,” Adler said. “How can we help them prevent injury or manage injury so that it prolongs their career? Not so long ago a surgery for a ballet dancer was career-ending. We’re making sure if those things come up, how do we maintain careers?”

 

Ferraro said he has noticed a huge decline in injuries since partnering with Spectrum Health.

 

“It’s been a huge benefit to us,” the ballet manager said. “The dancers have absolutely loved it.”

 

The athletic trainers often spot and prevent things before they become serious injuries.

 

“If somebody starts to feel an issue or something isn’t feeling right, they can let us know and the athletic trainers will come pretty much any day they’re needed,” Ferraro said, noting he’s grateful for the assistance.

 

“A lot of bigger ballet companies don’t even have this benefit,” he said. “It’s just a phenomenal relationship for us.”

 

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

Cat of the week: Patrice

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals, , , ,

By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing


Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

 

 Pretty as a picture and as quiet as mouse is how Patrice came to us in mid-November of 2018, after having been rescued off of Putnam St. SW in downtown Grand Rapids. Born in late 2016, this stunning but shy tabby and white girl was one of many homeless cats that had been taking advantage of a feral cat feeding station; although she would enjoy meal time on a regular basis, her timid nature kept her tucked away from the humans that tried diligently to live-trap her to get her off of the streets.

 

Finally, persistence paid off and she was rescued, fixed and sheltered in her rescuer’s home. After a little over two weeks of R and R with a multitude of critters affectionately called ‘The Barnyard’, Patrice was ready to come to see Dr. Jen at the clinic. Initially she tested a very faint FIV+, which was fine as the plan was to eventually house her at our sanctuary. As luck would have it when she came back in a month later for her retest, she had cleared the virus from her system. Although still a bashful beauty, we felt it was time that Patrice head on down to our place for more socialization and schmoozing with our cats and crew.

 

It took this darling little lady quite a bit of time to settle comfortably in her new surroundings, but the patient, gentle hands of our doting volunteers won her over. As she comes out of her shell more and more, we get to see a sweet side of her that relishes attention; she won’t actively seek it out, but if you approach her while she is napping peacefully in her favorite teepee, she is all about head scratches and pets. In fact, once you start stroking her fur, she can’t get enough and practically begs you not to stop.

Patrice also likes to laze the day away in the comfort of a cozy cubby, where she can observe all of the activity and partake in the more mellow activities as she pleases. She really doesn’t seem to mind the other kitties, but it isn’t necessary she be placed into a home with another cat. We do know that small, rambunctious children would frighten her, so if a family with older, calmer kids falls in love with her, we feel that type of dynamic would better suit her needs. As long as her space is granted and respected and she isn’t forced to become a lap cat (that is going to take time and trust), she and her new family members will get along famously well; she simply needs time to feel safe, secure, accepted and adored for who she is.

More about Patrice:

  • Medium
  • Domestic Short Hair
  • Adult
  • Female
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Spayed
  • Not declawed
  • Prefers a home without children

Want to adopt Patrice? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.


Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

The many faces of Pamela Benjamin: A VOICES conversation

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Faces, Voices, ,

By Victoria Mullen, WKTV


Meet Pamela Benjamin, who shared her experiences with VOICES back in November of 2017. Benjamin’s animated personality made an already interesting saga that much richer.


Always an independent soul, Benjamin had traveled by ship from New Zealand to Australia on her way to Canada when she was 25 years old. She never got further than Sydney, where she met future husband Craig, who had stopped by Benjamin’s group house to give her friend, Tina, a flute lesson. Benjamin was in the kitchen baking a cake at the time.


“I gave him a piece of cake and he asked us to the movies,” said Benjamin. Tina and another man joined them.


That night, the course of Benjamin’s history changed. During dinner, the second man read her palm and asked Benjamin if he could speak to her privately.


“He told me that Craig and I would be happily married for a long time and have two children,” she said. “I told him, ‘Don’t be stupid, we just met at lunchtime.'”


The Benjamins have now been married over 40 years and have three children. (Nobody’s perfect, not even palm readers.)


The Benjamins emigrated to the United States — and Grand Rapids, specifically — in 2003 so that Craig (affectionately called “CB”) could accept a job offer at Grand Valley State University teaching Big History, an academic discipline which examines history from the Big Bang to the present.


“We came here because there were no jobs for professors in Australia,” Benjamin said. “Craig went from being a professional musician and high school band director to teaching Big History at GVSU.”

Benjamin found the move challenging in several respects, the most drastic of which was the threat to her independence. Although Craig had an H-1B visa, Pamela was dismayed to discover that her status as his spouse was essentially that of a ‘nonperson’. She couldn’t check out library books. She couldn’t get a driver’s license. Everything was different, including the grocery store; nothing looked familiar.


She felt isolated. Making art helped. So, too, did writing. But something more was needed. Something warm and fuzzy.


“I got a puppy,” said Benjamin. “It was a lifesaver.”


Today, Benjamin holds citizenship in three countries — New Zealand, Australia and the United States. She and Craig travel the world; she continues to make art; and she chronicles her life, family and their journeys on her blog.


Listen to Benjamin’s VOICES conversation here.


Share your story with VOICES. It’s easy — just go here to reserve a time!

Rep. Huizenga in Wyoming to honor local World War II Civil Air Patrol pilots

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Local Faces, Politics, Veterans, ,


Wilmer and Orvid Lawson (seated left), Rep. Bill Huizenga and Col. Rajesh Kothari (standing right) and others at a ceremony at the Roger Chaffee American Legion in Wyoming. (Supplied/Rep. Bill Huizenga’s office)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, who represents both Wyoming and Kentwood, was at the Roger Chaffee American Legion in Wyoming on Saturday, Jan. 19, as part of a ceremony to present Congressional Gold Medals to father and son Irwin and Orvid Lawson for their service in the Civil Air Patrol during World War II.

Rep. Huizenga (R-2nd District) presented the award to 92-year-old Wyoming resident Orvid Lawson, while Col. Rajesh Kothari, Commander of the Michigan Wing of Civil Air Patrol (CAP), presented Wilmer Lawson, son of Irwin and brother of Orvid, with Irwin’s Congressional Gold Medal.

After Rep. Billl Huizenga presented the Congressional Gold Medal to Wilmer Lawson, Commander of the Michigan Wing of Civil Air Patrol, Col. Rajesh Kothari, congratulates him. (Civil Air Patrol photo by Maj. Bill Carson, CAP)

“I had the honor of presenting 92-year-old Orvid Lawson of Wyoming with a Congressional Gold Medal for his service in the Civil Air Patrol during World War II,” Rep. Huizenga said in material supplied to WKTV. “We also posthumously presented Irwin Lawson, Orvid’s father, with a Congressional Gold Medal for his service in the CAP. Irwin was one of 65 CAP volunteers who lost their lives during World War II.”

Since the American Revolution, Congress has commissioned gold medals “as its highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions. Each medal honors a particular individual, institution, or event,” according to supplied material.

Father and son Irwin and Orvid Lawson served in the Civil Air Patrol during World War II. (Supplied office of Rep. Bill Huizenga)

Orvid served in the Sault Ste. Marie CAP Squadron until joining the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1945. His father, Irwin was one of 65 CAP members to lose their life while serving as a volunteer in the CAP. Irwin died August 10, 1945.

 
“Irwin was the head of the Civil Air Patrol in the Soo and Orvid was right by his side,” according to a statement from the congressman’s office. “In addition to some surveillance work, the Soo Civil Air Patrol was used for positioning barrage balloons and for identifying locations for anti-aircraft installations. The Soo was one of the most heavily defended inland sites in the United States during World War II because of the vital importance of the Locks. At its peak, approximately 12,000 troops were stationed there.

 
“During the early days of American involvement in World War II, the threats CAP faced were in the form of Nazi U-boats threatening U.S. shipping – especially oil tankers – off the Atlantic and Gulf coasts,” the statement continues. “CAP’s founders flew patrols that discouraged and eventually stopped the U-boat attacks saving hundreds of American lives. They also patrolled the country’s borders by air, towed targets for military trainees, spotted forest fires, conducted search and rescue missions, provided disaster relief and emergency transport of people and parts, and conducted orientation flights for future pilots.”

 
The ceremony at the Roger Chaffee American Legion included National Commander of the American Legion, Brett P. Reistad, as well as the Commander of the Roger Chaffee American Legion post, Bill Charon.

The little fighter

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By Sue Thoms, Spectrum HealthBeat; photos by Chris Clark

Like most babies, Ollie Lott came into the world crying, wiggling and naked as God made him.

But he brought something extra also—a coiled tube stuck out of the pale pink skin of his little belly.

The catheter, surgically implanted 14 weeks earlier, helped him overcome a birth defect that could have been fatal.

“It’s amazing,” said his mother, Kimberly Lott, as she cuddled Ollie, now a cooing and smiling 10-week-old baby.

“I didn’t know any of this stuff existed. I didn’t know people could do surgeries on babies while they were in the womb.”

The procedure certainly is rare—as is the birth defect, said Vivian Romero, MD, a Spectrum Health maternal fetal medicine specialist.

For Ollie, timing and technology came together to make possible the operation, and its happy outcome.

Ultrasound reveals a problem

Kimberly and her husband, Anthony, had no clues of the drama ahead as they prepared for the birth of their second child. They looked forward to welcoming a younger sibling for their 5-year-old son, Elliott.

At 20 weeks, Kimberly had a routine ultrasound near her home in Holland, Michigan. Because the baby’s kidneys and bladder were enlarged, Kimberly’s doctor referred her to the maternal fetal medicine specialists at Spectrum Health.

A few days later, the Lotts visited Dr. Romero and she performed another ultrasound. It, too, revealed enlargement of the bladder, kidneys and the ducts that connect the two.

“It looked like the baby had an obstruction, most likely below the bladder,” she said.

That tiny piece of plastic saved his life.

Kimberly Lott
Ollie’s mother

It was hard to get a detailed picture. A developing baby generally floats in amniotic fluid, which aids visualization of the anatomy. But in Ollie’s case, there was essentially no amniotic fluid. Dr. Romero could not even see if the baby was a boy or girl.

Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum HealthBeat

The lack of fluid can lead to damage of the urinary tract, kidneys and lungs.

“The baby releases urine to the amniotic cavity, and then the baby swallows and breathes the fluid, allowing the lungs to develop,” Dr. Romero explained. “Low amniotic fluid can result in underdevelopment of the lungs—pulmonary hypoplasia, a life-threatening condition.”

In the early stages of pregnancy, the placenta creates the amniotic fluid. The kidneys take over the job after week 17.

By retaining urine, the blockage in Ollie’s bladder disrupted that cycle. Later tests showed he had posterior urethral valves, which means he had extra flaps of tissue in the tube through which urine leaves the body.

The rare condition occurs in 1 in 8,000 to 1 in 25,000 live births of baby boys, said Alejandro Quiroga, MD, a pediatric nephrologist with Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.

Depending on the degree of the obstruction, the condition can be fatal.

‘We will try it’

The Lotts, reeling from the news of their baby’s prognosis, struggled to comprehend the options laid out for them. They could wait and let nature take its course, loving their child for his brief life on earth.

Or they could see if a shunt could be placed in utero in the bladder.

“It sounded kind of far-off,” Kimberly said. “I didn’t know if that was going to work. It seemed weird. But we said we will try it.”

First, they had to see if Ollie was a candidate for surgery. The maternal fetal medicine team had to make sure Ollie’s kidneys still worked and could produce urine. The surgery would not benefit him if the kidneys were so damaged they could not function.

I was so scared. I didn’t want to get my hopes up.

Kimberly Lott
Ollie’s mother

Dr. Romero performed a bladder tap, using ultrasound to guide her as she placed a long needle through Kimberly’s uterus and into Ollie’s bladder.

From that tiny sac, she withdrew about a teaspoon of urine.

Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum HealthBeat

“I felt it. It wasn’t good,” Kimberly said. “That first bladder tap was the worst. My whole uterus contracted. I was crying. I was upset. I was swearing.”

And most difficult of all: She had to repeat the bladder tap the next day. The second test would show if the bladder filled with urine again, indicating Ollie still had functioning kidneys.

Kimberly didn’t hesitate.

“I wanted to do everything I could do,” she said.

Daring to hope

The tests showed good renal function, so Dr. Romero performed the surgery. Kimberly was 23 weeks pregnant.

Using a larger, hollow needle, Dr. Romero placed the shunt into Ollie’s grape-sized bladder.

The tube, called a pigtail catheter, curled into a loop on each end. She placed one end coiled up inside his bladder. The other end looped in a circle outside his body, along his belly.

Urine flowed through the catheter from the bladder to the amniotic sac, bypassing the blockage.

For the rest of the pregnancy, Kimberly returned for repeated follow-up tests to make sure the catheter remained in place. Babies often manage to pull them out.

With each visit, Kimberly worried about whether the shunt still worked, whether her baby was growing.

“I was so scared,” she said. “I didn’t want to get my hopes up.”

As the weeks progressed without problems, she began to be hopeful. She stopped researching palliative care options and started reading about kidney issues. A few weeks before the delivery date, she finally allowed herself to buy a few baby outfits for him.

Throughout the pregnancy, the maternal fetal medicine team also monitored the growth of Ollie’s chest.

“We were all worried about how his lungs were working,” Dr. Romero said. “We noticed his chest was growing, so we hoped his lungs were growing, too. But we wouldn’t know until the baby was born.”

They planned to induce labor at 37 weeks. But three days before the delivery date, an ultrasound showed a drop in fluid levels. The catheter was not visible on the scan. The maternal fetal medicine specialists decided to deliver him that day.

That night, Dr. Romero performed a C-section, and Anthony Oliver Lott was born. He weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces.

“He came out and just started wailing,” Kimberly said. “It was such a relief to us.”

Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum HealthBeat

On his belly lay the coiled catheter that had been so elusive on the last ultrasound.

“Everyone was pointing at it and saying, ‘There it is! It’s in there,’” she said.

It didn’t take long to see it was still doing its job.

Ollie’s lungs managed to avoid major damage. In the children’s hospital neonatal intensive care unit, he didn’t need to be on oxygen.

His kidneys sustained major damage, but that had been expected.

‘We can deal with that’

Kimberly gave Ollie a bottle as her son Elliott played a computer game nearby. She talked about the challenges her infant son has already faced in his short life.

Five days after birth, he underwent surgery to remove the valves that blocked his urethra. Tubes were placed in his kidneys to drain urine from them. And he had a port placed so he can have dialysis in the future.

He will need a kidney transplant eventually. Kimberly hopes she will be able to give him one of hers.

He also has a feeding tube to make sure he gets enough nutrition. Children with kidney disease often have poor appetites, Kimberly explained.

Ollie’s health challenges don’t faze her. She just marvels at her son’s bright eyes and alert gaze, his wiggly arms and legs, his sweet smile.

“When he came out and all that was really damaged was his kidneys and urinary tract system, I said, ‘This is manageable. We can deal with that.’ There’s lots of kids in the world who have kidney disease and they are fine.”

She looks to his future with hope.

“He’s a little fighter,” she said. “He has been since the beginning.”

Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum HealthBeat

She opened a small bottle and tapped out a plastic tube, curled at both ends: the catheter that had been implanted in utero.

“It saved his life,” she marveled. “That tiny piece of plastic saved his life.”

Ollie’s progress is also deeply rewarding to his physicians.

“This is why you go into medicine, because you want to save lives,” Dr. Romero said. “You want to do good for people.”

She credited Kimberly and her doctor with seeking specialized care as soon as the problem with his bladder appeared. The timing was crucial to the success of the shunt surgery.

Dr. Quiroga praised the Lotts and their vigilance in managing Ollie’s complex health issues, during pregnancy and after birth.

“The family is awesome,” he said.

As for Ollie, he said, “He’s doing great. He’s surprising us. He’s keeping us busy but he’s doing well.”

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

WKTV sports features retiring East Kentwood swim coach, who talks memories, gratitude

3-bottom, Education, Kentwood Public Schools, Local Faces, Newscast, Sports, WKTV Featured sports,


By Drew Dargavell, WKTV Sports Intern
ken@wktv.org

After an illustrious career that spanned 38 seasons over 43 years, Jock Ambrose, head swim coach for the East Kentwood Falcons boys swim team, is stepping down from his position.

Ambrose accomplished a lot in his 38 seasons as head swim coach including 17 league titles, three state runner-ups, two state championships, and five Coach of the Year honors.
 

In his 43 years in the East Kentwood community, Ambrose not only served as the boys head swim coach but also as the boys water polo coach from 1977-1992, girls swim coach from 1994-1997, and athletic director from 1997-2001. He also served as Michigan Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (MISCA) area vice president for seven years, and MISCA water polo chair for five years. He was the founder of the West Michigan Water Polo League, and a founding member of the West Michigan Swim League.

But it wasn’t any of the awards, honors or positions that Ambrose said he will miss most.

“It’s the people around here, in this community that have made it as special as it is and will make it tough for me to walk away,” Ambrose said to WKTV.

Ambrose had a lot of praise for his final team as head coach, currently in its winter swim season, and its group of seniors — “This senior class is a tremendous group of young men, and a great group of leaders.”

The coach went on to give praise to his three senior captains — Nick Cohey, Theo Duong, and Max Henderson — who have stuck with the program all four years.

Ambrose has hopes of finishing his final season in the top half of the team’s state swim division and “to make a nice showing at the state meet. It’s been a few years since we’ve done that and I think this senior class is ready to.”

Ambrose also had a very optimistic outlook on the future of this program once he’s done as head coach. “We’ve got a wonderful freshman class, they’re going to be very, very good, four of them have senior brothers on the team so that’s very exciting.”

This video story and all sports news segments are available on the WKTV YouTube channel . All featured games covered by WKTV’s sports coverage crew, as well as other community events covered, are available on-demand at wktvondemand.com .

For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports .

Cat of the week: Juanita

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals, , , ,
Meet gorgeous Juanita!

By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing


Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW)


On Sept. 17, 2018, a super nice gal on the northwest side of Grand Rapids contacted Dr. Jen for help in placing a kitty she had rescued a week prior that turned up Feline Leukemia-positive. Although the rescuer was totally in love with the beautiful and bubbly teenager (born in February of 2018), she wasn’t comfortable adding a cat with this virus into her furry household; FELV+ can be transmitted through saliva (grooming, shared dishes) and blood (fighting), so unless a resident cat is fully vaccinated against the virus, it isn’t smart to intermingle the two.


Dr. Jen was more than thrilled to open our sanctuary doors to this little lass, and thankfully she did at that point in time as Juanita was terribly anemic; both antibiotics and steroids were started for a blood parasite that is common in stray cats who have either been flea infested or are immuno-compromised


Ten days later, Dr. Jen’s treatment was deemed a smashing success, and she was able to spay kitty, but another 10 days after that, Juanita came down with a highly transmissible respiratory infection (calicivirus) and was quarantined until her oral ulcers healed—poor girl could not catch a break! But no worries, as jovial Juanita is a sturdy, saucy kitty who is bound and determined to take what comes her way and kick it to the curb.


Ten days later, Dr. Jen’s treatment was deemed a smashing success, and she was able to spay kitty, but another 10 days after that, Juanita came down with a highly transmissible respiratory infection (calicivirus) and was quarantined until her oral ulcers healed—poor girl could not catch a break! But no worries, as jovial Juanita is a sturdy, saucy kitty who is bound and determined to take what comes her way and kick it to the curb.


Ten days later, Dr. Jen’s treatment was deemed a smashing success, and she was able to spay kitty, but another 10 days after that, Juanita came down with a highly transmissible respiratory infection (calicivirus) and was quarantined until her oral ulcers healed—poor girl could not catch a break! But no worries, as jovial Juanita is a sturdy, saucy kitty who is bound and determined to take what comes her way and kick it to the curb.

Since her arrival at Big Sid’s, it is safe to say that she has taken the place by storm, and that everyone (human and feline) is quite enamored by her:

“Juanita — what a little doll! She is such an outgoing little girl. She quickly made friends with just about everyone, and she and Eros have been seen chasing each other around the last few days, that is when she isn’t snuggled up napping with Gordo. She doesn’t have a mean bone in her pint-sized body. She loves to hang out up high on her favorite cat walk either looking down at everything going on when she isn’t directly involved in the activity.”

“If anyone is looking for a playful kitten-like cat, she would be perfect. She will require LOTS of feather toys as they are her absolute favorite.”


In all honesty, Juanita would be just about the perfect cat companion if it weren’t for the darned virus that could hold back her chances of being adopted. Cats with FELV can and often do live healthy, happy lives, and we have known dozens upon dozens over the years who have thrived, living well into late adulthood, so her viral status isn’t an immediate threat. Yes, certain living circumstances are required to house cats like Juanita, and education is key to understanding what the virus is all about and what to watch for as she ages, but she and all of our resident Sid’s Kids are some of the most loving, agreeable and affectionate cats around, and each of them deserves to end up in a home of their very own.


We know for a fact that Little Miss Sunshine here is going to add so much joy to her adopter’s life because she is simply so easy to fall hopelessly in love with and a hoot to engage, interact and play with!

More about Juanita:

  • Small
  • Domestic Short Hair, Black
  • Young
  • Female
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Spayed
  • FELV+
  • Not declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats, children

Want to adopt Juanita? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.


Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

WKTV VOICES: A conversation with Bruce and Becca Ling

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Faces, , ,

By Victoria Mullen, WKTV


Animals. Music. Nature. The river. These are just four things that Grand Rapids resident, Bruce Ling holds dear.


During his lifetime, the Chicago native has lived in many locales, always near water — from the Calumet River, the Pacific to Cape Cod — currently on the Grand River with wife and musical partner, Becca.


Bruce and Becca sat down with VOICES recently to talk about Bruce’s musical background, his affinity for animals and nature, and life on the river. According to Becca, Bruce is considered a kind of Michigan treasure when it comes to old-time music, being a collector of tunes, and teaching them to younger generations.


“Music has always been a big part of my life,” said Ling, who began playing slide guitar when he was 4 years old and whose father and uncle are both professional musicians. “When I was 8, my band made $5 playing in a basement for a birthday party. I’ve been playing ever since.”


After injuring a finger in an industrial accident, Ling turned from guitar to mandolin and fiddle out of necessity, mastering those instruments in very little time. Ling founded the ‘Hawks & Owls’ band in 1997, so named as a tribute to the many birds of prey that have crossed his path over the years.


In addition to music, Ling has enjoyed stints as a self-employed electrician and volunteer animal caretaker at Blandford Nature Center.


“I was the kid on the block with a menagerie in the basement,” he said. “People would bring me animals and birds that were injured. I could feel bones for a break and crafted popsicle stick splints with some paper medical tape a number of times on wings and legs and whatnot.”


He holds a reverence for all creatures, and it was an encounter with a red-tailed hawk years ago that led Ling to volunteering at Blandford Nature Center back when it had an animal hospital on site; he focused on the care and healing of raptors.


“I learned a long time ago that sometimes if you’re very quiet, a creature will tell you what needs to be done,” said Ling. “Whether it needs to go away and be euthanized with a quick crack and it’s done, or if it needs the energy of healing.”

Living on the river can be rejuvenating, exciting, challenging; the Lings and their neighbors always help each other out. The flood of 2013 wrecked the Lings’ house, and making matters worse, a vandal came in and destroyed the interior; Bruce and Becca were homeless for five months. Then out of the blue, an older couple with a house the Lings had coveted for years made it possible for them to obtain the title to that property.


“It was a karmic thing,” said Ling. “We try to help out where we can and now live just three doors down from the old house, but on higher ground.”

Listen to Bruce and Becca’s VOICES conversation here.

Share your story with VOICES. It’s easy — just go here to reserve a time!

Cat of the week: Leonard Purrstein

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Business, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals, , , ,
The kid is a hard worker

By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing

Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

When Dr. Jen first laid eyes on the strikingly stunning Leonard, she was impressed with how composed and sure of himself he was considering we were the third facility he had been in since June of 2018. Initially, he was transferred from Calhoun County to Focus on Ferals where it was discovered that he was FIV+. Having a bigger heart than space for these viral-bound cats, Gina committed to keeping him in her program with the hopes that someday soon there would be an opening for him at our sanctuary; luckily for them both, we were able to open our doors to the debonair Leonard Purrnstein in early August.

This muscular, 14-lb. lug (born in early 2014) was hungry for affection and couldn’t wait to repay our attention in kind with head butts and cuddle sessions. We’ve discovered that his favorite thing in the whole, wide world is wet food, wet food and more wet food—even more than people! In fact, he has become our little garbage disposal, cleaning up every single plate and bowl that the others leave behind. When he isn’t hanging out in the food prep area in our free-roaming shelter begging for handouts, he can be found snoozing away high upon a cat tree as, after all, a food coma is secondary to a full tummy.

Leonard really doesn’t care for the other cats, and at times he gets a bit too big for his britches and causes commotion, but he is surrounded by 49 other cats, so who can blame him. However, he has also has shown us his mellow, softer side so we feel that placing him in a home with a laid-back cat would be acceptable to him. Since FIV+ is transmitted through bite wounds, it is no wonder that being in close quarters with so many of the feline kind gets him a bit rattled, but food is an easy way to diffuse any tense situation with him.

Hopefully, he won’t leave our place much heavier than he arrived, but we figure he deserves a little spoiling given all that it took to get him here to us! We feel he would thrive in a home with kids and lots of things to climb; he may be part monkey, as the higher up he can get the happier he is. Overall, we adore Leonard, are enthralled by his intense good looks, and are thoroughly enjoying having him as an official Sid’s Kid until we find him his fur-ever home.

More about Leonard Purrnstein:

  • Medium
  • Domestic Short-haired Tabby (Tiger-striped), White
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats, children

Want to adopt Leonard Purrnstein? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Reining in the pain

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, Local Faces, Recreation, Senior Living, , , ,

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

By Marie Havenga, Spectrum Health Beat

Photos (except where noted) by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat

 

With the wind in her face and the reins in her hands, Shanna Ruffner guides Jag, her quarter horse, through corkscrew-like barrel racing drills at a farm near her Otsego, Michigan, home.

 

Ruffner, 39, has been steering horses through barrels since age 2.

 

She’s always felt freedom and exhilaration aboard a horse’s back. Until last year.

 

After many repetitive motions at work, she felt pain.

 

The pain in her hands started like a slow walk, waking her up at night about this time last year. By November, the sensation had galloped into her daily life, affecting just about everything she attempted to do.

Taking a toll

Ruffner has worked for years for General Motors in the Lansing Delta plant, assembling Traverse and Enclave vehicles.

 

“I do a lot with the main wiring harness for the motor, plugging in different things and bolting things to it,” Ruffner said. “I also torque down the strut, tie bar and hub on the front end and attach radiators to the undercarriage before it gets married to the body.”

 

It’s important work, but repetitive work. And it eventually took a toll on her.

 

“I started experiencing numbness in my fingers about a year ago,” she said. “It finally got to the point in November that I could no longer sleep because it was waking me up. My hands would completely go numb in the middle of the night. They would go numb and they would burn. It was just unbearable.”

 

It became increasingly more difficult to work, and also risky to ride.

 

“It made it difficult to ride a strong, powerful horse because my hands would go numb while I was riding,” Ruffner said. “I ride a very powerful gelding. It’s a good thing we have a good bond because if it were any other horse, I don’t think I’d be able to ride.”

 

Still, the pain sometimes outweighed the fun. It was a crushing blow for Ruffner, who followed in her dad’s hoofprints so many years ago.

 

Her dad, George, who died in 1996, rode competitively and taught his daughter all he knew about barrel racing.

 

Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat

As a child, Ruffner competed in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Texas.

 

But in the last year, she felt like her condition was holding her over the barrels.

 

“It made it hard to pull and made it hard to hang on,” she said. “It just didn’t feel quite right. I didn’t have as much control as I would have liked to have.”

 

A horse wasn’t the only thing that became difficult to steer. She experienced trouble driving a car.

 

Ruffner’s commute from Otsego to Lansing spans an hour and 15 minutes. About 10 minutes into her drive, her hands would go numb. And eventually, they’d be numb before she even turned on the ignition.

 

She enjoyed taking her sons, Trenton, 18, and Brady, 15, to the movie theater for family outings. But the numbness closed the curtain on those outings, too.

 

“I got to the point I didn’t want to go to the movie theater because I knew my hands would bother me by the time I got there,” she said.

‘It was simple’

Last spring, with pain and numbness continuing to canter, Ruffner saw a specialist in Lansing for a nerve test.

 

“They basically hooked up different electrodes to see how the nerves react,” she said. “The nerve testing came back that I needed surgery on both my hands.”

 

In June, she consulted with Peter Jebson, MD, a Spectrum Health Medical Group orthopedic hand and upper extremity surgeon.

 

Within 10 days of first seeing Dr. Jebson, on June 27, she underwent carpal tunnel release surgery in his office.

 

“It was simple,” Ruffner said. “I felt a little pressure when they were cutting (the ligament), but as far as anything else goes, the worst part of it was the shot of the local (anesthetic) to numb my hand. It was a piece of cake.”

 

Ruffner needed only Tylenol to keep the pain at bay.

 

“It’s felt really good,” she said.

 

Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat

Dr. Jebson said he’s pleased with Ruffner’s progress.

 

“With carpal tunnel, you have pain, particularly at night,” he said. “You can have bothersome numbness and tingling and also functional loss. She had the entire constellation of symptoms. But she’s already experiencing 100 percent pain relief and 90 percent of the tingling has improved. She is doing very well and the incision looks good.”

 

Dr. Jebson said carpal tunnel release surgery has come a long way in recent years. It used to be performed in an operating room in a hospital or outpatient surgery facility, under general anesthesia, which is significantly more expensive. The new technique, developed in Canada, saves patients money, pain and healing time.

 

“It also used to be a larger incision,” he said. “The patient used to be casted or splinted after surgery. We’ve progressed to where we now do minimally invasive incisions.”

 

Dr. Jebson and his Spectrum Health Medical Group team of hand specialists—Drs. Kevin Chan, Randy Lovell and Levi Hinkelman—perform about 750 in-office hand surgeries each year, including carpal tunnel release, trigger finger, trigger thumb, De Quervain’s tendonitis release, simple tendon laceration repairs and ganglion cyst excisions.

 

Dr. Jebson estimates performing procedures in the office suite saves patients and health care insurers $2,000, “which is significant with the increasing shift of financial responsibility to patients with higher co-pays and deductibles,” he said.

 

“Not only does it save patients a significant amount of out-of-pocket expense because they’re not using anesthesia and they’re not at a surgical center, patients don’t have to go for any preoperative testing, which saves them a lot of time,” Dr. Jebson said. “And this doesn’t require IV antibiotics.”

 

Office-based surgery is also environmentally friendly, producing only one bag of waste for a day’s worth of surgeries versus one bag for every procedure.

 

“It’s a significant savings to society in general,” he said. “It’s a multiple win and provides true value for patients. It’s the future—it will be the standard of care in three to five years across the country. We’ve been doing it for four years now and happen to be a nationally recognized program.”

 

Ruffner is pleased—especially that she’ll be able to return to work soon.

 

“I’m a self-admitted workaholic,” she said. “Being home all the time is difficult for me.”

 

Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat

It may be a bit before she bounces back to barrel racing—her saddle weighs 19 pounds and she has a 5-pound weight restriction.

 

But she has plans beyond lifting saddles. She aims to have surgery on her left hand, too.

 

“By the time this journey is all said and done, I will have had surgery on both hands,” Ruffner said. “I want to get it done and over with and be pain-free and resume a normal life.”

 

She hopes to be running barrels again by mid-September, with both hands healed and weight restrictions lifted.

 

“It’s a rush,” she said of barrel racing. “I love the adrenaline. You get to go out and run as fast as you can around three barrels without hitting them on a 1,000-pound animal that has a mind of their own. They have a personality and temperament all their own. You learn the true meaning of teamwork. It’s one thing to be a team with another human. It’s entirely different to be a team with an animal.”

 

But Ruffner said she truly appreciates the teamwork with Dr. Jebson and other Spectrum Health staff, in getting her back to where she wants to be.

 

“Anybody that is fearful of having carpal tunnel release surgery done should know, the way Dr. Jebson does it, they shouldn’t be fearful,” Ruffner said. “Have the surgery and take care of it as opposed to waiting until your hands are completely numb all the time. This experience has been so easy.”

 

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

Cat of the week: Grey Catsby

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Business, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals, , , ,

By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing

Meet Mr. Grey Catsby

Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

We felt it best in this case to relay the story of who this fine fella is and how he came to be in his guardian angel’s own words, as Grey Catsby (born in August of 2013) came to us under different circumstances and under the assumption that he was feline leukemia-positive (he retested negative several times). Here is his story in Augusta’s words:

“Grey is a big boy, but he’s not overweight and doesn’t overeat, he is just big-boned at 16 pounds. He’d make a great companion as he is pretty chill, but he would prefer to be the only cat in the place. His brother must have harassed him quite a bit as he wouldn’t eat or have a treat for a long time until he’d made sure no other critter was around.

“He’s smart and trainable, a big fan of Greenies, catnip, chicken and Lickables, though he isn’t a huge fan of canned food. He has excellent litter box manners and likes cuddles with people he bonds with, which I think he would do fairly easy with anyone who is consistent, gives him lotsa crunchy treats for basic good behavior, and only uses a loud or stern voice when he is doing something wrong (that doesn’t happen very often). He will be quite shy at first as he has been through a lot, and I don’t believe he had ever had a treat or toy in his life before I got him; he is just starting to get what toys are and feel safe enough to play.

“Until he has bonded with you, he won’t like you messing with the top of his head; he is OK with petting. but toys that are catapulted over his head or sudden, unexpected movements can freak him out. Honestly, I’ve worked with a ton of cats and this dude is really sweet. In the morning, he will wait for me to get my coffee and when I sit down with it, he will come over, look me in the eye and gently tap my arm with his right paw to ask for some cuddles; it is as if he has missed me while I was sleeping (even though he slept with me on the bed all night).

“I believe that feeling safe and secure is something he hadn’t much of, and that is probably as much to do with his nature as a nurturer. He becomes much more worried when there is a man and a woman in the house, though two woman are fine; add a man to the mix and he gets a bit skittish. He witnessed a great deal of verbal and some physical abuse in his former home, so he will just need consistency and kindness to allow him to start shining again.

“I can say with certainty that he now has the basic, but perhaps fragile, trust in believing in humans, and is learning that they can do right by him. In spite of his upbringing, he is not a lot of work, he’s cuddly without being clingy, and he’s getting happier by the day.”

Once you know his background, you can understand his demeanor with us since his arrival, and you are instantly SO PROUD of how far he has come in such a short period of time: Grey Catsby had a hard time adjusting to the hustle and bustle of shelter life but is doing much better. He still spends most of his time observing the action from the top of the catwalk, but if you call him, he will come down for pets. He will make an excellent cat for a family once he warms up to his new home. He could live with or without other cats. He is the perfect gentleman, and also very handsome.   

Grey Catsby likes people but isn’t crazy about being the center of attention. Once he comes down from the catwalk, though, he enjoys being near you — although he’s a bit shy at first. Anyone looking for a cat that has his quiet mannerisms will be very lucky. He may need a little extra time adjusting to new surroundings but would do just fine in no time. 

When Grey was sick with calicivirus, he got extra one-on-one attention, and we think that helped him be more comfortable with us (strange as that may sound). He would be perfect for any home with older kids, another cat, or a small dog.

Well, there ya have it folks, Grey Catsby in a nutshell. We are thoroughly enjoying watching him become brave and more self-assured every single day that he is with us. Augusta did a fantastic job laying the groundwork and Grey is coming in to his own with purpose and grace.

More about Grey Catsby:

  • Extra-large
  • Domestic Short-hair, Gray & White
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Prefers a home without dogs

Want to adopt Grey Catsby? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood weekend news you ought to know

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Local Business, Local Faces, , , ,

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

"It is never too late to be what you might have been.”

                                                     —George Eliot 

Only 354 days until Christmas!
Now, about that tree…

Don’t let your Christmas tree dry out — drop it off at a designated site

Wondering what to do with that Christmas tree? If you’re a resident of Wyoming, there is a drop-off site at 2660 Burlingame Ave. SW. Kentwood residents can drop off their trees at the city’s Department of Public Works, 5068 Breton Ave. SE from 7:30am-4pm Monday-Friday, through Jan. 31. Get the details here.

No. 89… No. 89… Oh, wait…

Cool, old-timey photo of the Grand Rapids Symphony in the 1930s

The Grand Rapids Symphony officially organized on Jan. 11, 1930, making it 89 in 2019. Coincidentally, the Symphony has a concert performance on Jan. 11. So to celebrate its 89th birthday, one of the featured pieces is Hayden’s Symphony No. 89. Pretty clever, no? Go here for more info.

And now, a blast from the past

Remember them now?

Hey! Remember S&H Green Stamps? No? Maybe your mom does — well, your grandmother definitely does. You can trace the roots of Meijer’s MPerks and Hallmark’s Gold Crown Rewards back to about 1896, when Sperry & Hutchinson (the S&H — get it?) started to offer its loyalty retail program to supermarkets, gas stations and stores in the form of small green stamps. Managing editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma dishes on this once-ubiquitous homemaker staple here.



Fun fact:

45%

That’s the percentage of Americans who make New Year’s resolutions. The top resolutions are: to lose weight, get organized, to spend less and save more, to stay fit and healthy, and to quit smoking. While nearly half of all Americans make resolutions, 25 percent of them give up on their resolutions by the second week of January. That’s next week, y’all.

‘When she’s happy, I’m happy’

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, Local Faces, , , , , ,

 

By Sue Thoms, Spectrum Health Beat

Photos by Taylor Ballek, Spectrum Health Beat

 

Alyssa D’Agostino can endure a lot: a battle against breast cancer, then leukemia, then a relapse of leukemia.

 

But when she realized she would not be home for her daughter Gianna’s ninth birthday—that drove her to tears.

 

“We have to do something.”

 

Katie Celentino heard that message over and over again from staff members at the bone marrow transplant unit at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, touched by D’Agostino’s sorrow.

 

And so they did. In 24 hours, they pulled together a purple unicorn party that left Gianna nearly speechless.

 

The little girl burst into the staff room for the party with a big “Oh!” as she whirled around, taking in the birthday banner, a unicorn drawing on the whiteboard, party hats and a table brimming with colorfully wrapped presents. Nurses and nurse technicians greeted her with a lively round of “Happy Birthday!”

 

D’Agostino sat beside her daughter, eyes sparkling above her yellow face mask. She wore her party attire, a green tinted wig and a headband decorated with a silver unicorn horn and peach flowers.

 

“This is so amazing,” she said. “I’m blown away big-time.”

 

Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, D’Agostino underwent surgery and chemotherapy and emerged a survivor.

 

Photo by Taylor Ballek, Spectrum Health Beat

In July 2017, she learned she had acute myeloid leukemia. It went into remission, but resurfaced in April 2018. Again, she was hospitalized as she began chemotherapy treatments.

 

In late August, she went to Butterworth Hospital, with plans to get the disease back into remission so she could undergo a bone marrow transplant.

 

Five straight months in a hospital: That has been her spring, summer and autumn.

 

She hoped she would be home for Gianna’s birthday. She had gifts and planned a surprise celebration with family. When she learned that would not happen, she said, “I was devastated.”

And then, she learned a party was in the works on the fifth floor of Butterworth Hospital.

 

Celentino, the nurse manager, said staff members eagerly joined together to make the day special. Nurses came in on their day off or stayed after their shifts ended. Nurse technician Courtney Fend used her artistic skills to create a birthday banner and unicorn drawing.

 

Sharing Gianna’s big day was deeply rewarding for the staff, Celentino said.

 

“We don’t always get to see these moments,” she said. “These are the things that matter to our patients. This is why they matter to us.”

A gift of happiness

Photo by Taylor Ballek, Spectrum Health Beat

Gianna, a third-grader at Chandler Woods Charter Academy in Belmont, Michigan, came to the party with her grandmother, Alice D’Agostino. She wore her Halloween costume—a purple and black outfit with a purple wig. She dressed as Mal from the Disney movie Descendants.

 

Her mom’s gift made the outfit complete. She gave Gianna a pair of black boots, just like Mal’s.

 

Gianna bubbled with enthusiasm as she opened her gifts: sparkly pencils and coloring books, fluffy unicorn pajamas, card games, glittery nail polish, hair chalk, a jewelry box and a kit for making her own jewelry.

 

She thanked everyone and went around the room giving hugs.

 

Gianna then sat beside her mom and they wrapped their arms around each other.

 

D’Agostino said the celebration exceeded all her expectations. And seeing her daughter’s happiness was a gift in itself.

 

“I just loved seeing her face light up,” she said. “When she’s happy, I’m happy. Doing something special for her just makes me feel good.”

Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood weekend news you want to know — end-of-year edition

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Education, Local Business, Local Faces, Our Cities, Tech Trends, , , ,

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

"It doesn't matter where you came from. All that matters is where you are going.”

                                                     -- Brian Tracy                                          

It’s been an interesting year.
Let’s take a look back.

Grand Rapids Sweet Adelines Chorus rehearses its holiday music.

Managing editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma has rounded up the most popular stories of 2018 and corralled them into one spot. Go here to see what readers read the most.

Everybody has a profile.
Even Kent County.

Cool, fun graphic

Counties have profiles? You bet! Thanks to the Kent County Administration and their most excellent bilingual survey, the secret is out: Kent County’s median age of 34.9 years old is more than five years younger than Michigan as a whole and 50 percent of the population of about 648,594 is 35-years-old or younger. Go here for the cool details.

Get ahead of the game.

Wouldn’t it be fun to pay your tax bill with Monopoly money?

You know that big tax cut we’ve all been hearing about? The one that has corporations so excited? Well, there’s a tiny bit of relief for single people and families, too. Standard deductions for single taxpayers nearly double from $6,350 for 2017 taxes to $12,000 for 2018 taxes (the ones you file in 2019). It might get confusing, but there’s free tax help here. Take advantage of it.


Fun fact:

April 11, 1954 

According to Cambridge computer scientist William Tunstall-Pedoe and his search engine project, ‘True Knowledge’, that’s the ‘Most Boring Day in History‘. After sifting through and analyzing 300 million facts, ‘True Knowledge’ divined that on April 11, 1954, a general election was held in Belgium, Turkish academic Professor Abdullah Atalar was born, and an Oldham Athletic footballer by the name of Jack Shufflebotham died. That’s it. Nothing else that matters happened.

Hey, kudos, dude.

Cat of the week: Karlie

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Business, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals, , ,

By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing

Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).


Courageous Karlie’s story is nothing short of amazing—and quite unique in the fact that she came back to us in October of 2018 after having been lost for over 3 years!


Our gorgeous girl (born in January of 2012) initially came to us in early 2015 and had only spent 2 months at Crash’s before a wonderful gal adopted her and another of our kitties. Sadly, only a few months after her arrival into her new home she somehow got outside, and no matter how hard her new mom looked for her for months on end, Karlie was simply nowhere to be found.


Many of our volunteers offered their support in staking out the neighborhood, but as time wore on, our hopes were dashed and the thought of her returning to a home she was just getting comfortable in seemed improbable. To top things off, her owners ended up moving within the year, so even if our buxom beauty had tried to return to the house she darted from, there would have been no familiar faces waiting for her there. It was a heartbreaking situation.

Fast forward to a chilly autumn day when Dr. Jen received a call from the Kent County Animal Shelter stating that a kitty with a microchip registered to us had been brought in; when she was told WHO it was, she could hardly believe it as so much time had passed! Dr. Jen was extremely surprised when she went to retrieve Karlie that she was still pleasantly plump, leading the good doctor to believe that someone had been caring for this kitty—and quite well at that.


Given Karlie’s shy nature, we suspect that she may have been leery of strangers, but a food bowl—now that was an entirely different story! Regardless of where she was for the past three years, she was found just a few short blocks away from her home, which in itself is quite astounding; wherever she hunkered down proved to be a safe hiding spot as signs posted in the neighborhood and door-to-door canvasing were unrewarded efforts. 

Once back in our care, Karlie turned out to be pretty darn healthy, although she needed a fractured tooth pulled and unfortunately turned up positive for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus), meaning that somewhere along the line she was bitten by an infected cat harboring the virus. Since this sweet girl hasn’t a mean bone in her bodacious body, there is minimal risk of her transmitting it to another cat as she prefers to spend most of her time now posing for photo ops and lounging in laps; she is definitely making up for lost time!

It took Karlie a bit to acclimate and come out of her shell at our sanctuary (who can blame her for that?), but once she began to trust us, she became the biggest snuggle-bug! In fact, she adores her cat-checker so very much she begs to be carried around for hours while Amelie works—or tries to with a 13# cat in her arms. She has found comfort not only in the embrace of her caretakers but also in the company of her fellow felines, so we’d love to find her a fur-ever home with another kitty to cuddle up to.


Karlie is the epitome of a lazy, lovable lap cat but given her history, we need to be sure we place her in an environment that is not too hectic and will allow her to adjust at her own pace. If you have a heart that is open wide and arms that are longing to hold a creature that will treasure you for the rest of her days, Karlie is THE cat for you! And we have it on good authority that Karlie’s wandering days are over—she promises to stay put!

More about Karlie:

  • Extra large
  • Torbie, White
  • Adult
  • Female
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • FIV+
  • Spayed
  • Declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats

Want to adopt Karlie? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Goats “pine” for leftover Christmas trees

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, How-To's, Local Faces, Pets/Animals, ,

By Jenny Ferels, Lewis Farms & Petting Zoo

Christmas is over, the presents unwrapped, leftovers are eaten, friends and family have gone home, and now there’s that pesky tree to deal with. So many real Christmas trees end up on the curb headed for the landfill, but we have a better solution! Recycle your Christmas tree at Lewis Farms & Petting Zoo as a delicious treat for our herd of goats.

“We’ve been asking for tree donations after Christmas for a number of years now,” says owner Cindy Lewis, “The goats can devour a tree in a matter of minutes, they get very excited!”


Pine needles are a natural worm control for goats and are full of vitamin C so they make a nice healthy snack in addition to their regular diet of hay and grain. The goats are accustomed to seeing people every day from May to October when we are open. After the farm closes for the season they can get a little bored and lonely. Having an abundance of trees on hand helps to break up the boredom and gives the goats something to look forward to!

If your family would like to spread a little extra Christmas cheer and donate your tree to the goats, we know they would certainly appreciate it. We will be accepting trees through the end of January here at the farm, 4180 W M-20 New Era, MI 49446. The drop off location is in the main parking lot marked with the sign “Thank you for the tree-mendous treat!” Please, no flocked trees, and make sure that all decorations are removed. Tinsel loses its luster when half-digested in a pile of goat droppings!

12 ways to celebrate the holidays in assisted living communities

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Crime Prevention, Health, Holidays, How-To's, Local Business, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Senior Living,
Courtesy Vista Springs Assisted Living

By Vista Springs Assisted Living


The holidays are always a time of year full of fun and a flurry of activities. Some people may be afraid that living in a senior community means missing out on some of the good times, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Assisted living communities have a lot of great ways to celebrate the holidays, from religious and spiritual services to festive activities and holiday outings.

We have put together a list of our favorite ways to celebrate the holidays, many of which are already happening in our Vista Springs communities.  We’re wishing all of our community members joy this holiday season!

Trips to local churches or chapel

Many churches and other places of worship have special holiday services that you may want to attend. Assisted living communities will often organize trips to visit places, or if there is a service you want to attend that doesn’t have a specially planned trip, speaking to your event organizer can help you plan a visit.

Visits from local dance and music groups

Local dance companies, choirs, and bands have winter or Christmas programs that they love to share. Many senior living communities like Vista Springs will invite these groups to come and perform, so make sure have get an event schedule so you don’t miss out on anything.

Pop-up vendors and shops

Pop-up shops and holiday vendors will often come visit communities and bring the best of holiday shopping right to you! Not only does this provide a great way to socialize with the rest of your community, but you can get great deals on gifts for your family and friends all from the comfort of your own front door. Usually these are one day events, so if you plan on attending make sure to keep room on your schedule.

Craft projects

Ever wanted to make a pinecone wreath? A special ornament? A tiny Christmas tree? Assisted living communities like Vista Springs have these and any number of other fun craft projects that you can take part in. Have a good time and feel like a kid again while getting a little messy with glue and ribbons. Crafts are a great way to get into the holiday spirit.

Community decorating

Most senior living communities will ask residents to help them put up decorations around the common spaces. Decorate trees with ornaments, hang garland, and put out table centerpieces to give the entire space that homey holiday feel. Some communities also have decorating contests to see who can make their doorway the most festive, so you can go all out and show your decorating skills to everyone.

Cookie decorating

Everyone likes cookies, and during the holidays that’s especially true. Assisted living communities can have cookie decorating activities so you can have fun and eat your work. If there aren’t cookies, see if there are any gingerbread house constructing or decorating activities planned in your community.

Trips to music performances

When local groups can’t come and perform at your community, you can get a chance to go and see them someplace else. Many assisted living communities, Vista Springs included, will plan trips to go see concerts and other live music performances wherever their normal venue is. Enjoy a nice trip out and listen to good music to help you keep in the holiday spirit.

Outings to local events

Similar to trips to listen to music, assisted living communities can have planned outings to event spaces that are holding holiday displays or special gatherings to celebrate the holidays. Parades, light displays, or house and garden tours are all examples of events that your community can have plans to see. One of our favorites is the Christmas light show at Fifth-Third Ballpark in Grand Rapids.

Visits to tree farms

Another fun place to visit over for the holidays are Christmas tree farms. While you might not be planning on taking a tree home with you, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy yourself and get some fresh air. Look at local crafts and handmade decorations, and relax with the smell of pine trees with other community members.

Community group performances

Many assisted living communities have their own choirs and other groups that put on holiday performances. Maybe you are even part of one! These ensembles have put a lot of work into their programs, so make sure to show up and support your community members as they entertain.

Movie viewings and game nights

Watch your favorite holiday movies or play fun board games with other community members. While you might have movie or game nights other times of the year, during the holidays there are often special treats like cocoa and snacks to help you get in the holiday mood and get the most out of community gatherings.

Dinner parties

Almost all communities will have a dinner party planned where you can invite family and friends to come and visit you at your home and celebrate together. Most of these parties happen early on in December, so if you have family members that you won’t be able to see later on in the year this is the perfect opportunity to enjoy some special time together.


The festivities of the holidays can be found anywhere, especially in your assisted living community. With all these activities, you can have holiday fun every day of the month.


Reprinted with permission from Vista Springs Assisted Living.

Cat of the week: Eros

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By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing

Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

Dr. Jen absolutely fell head over heels in love with this engaging and extremely charming FIV+ fella the minute she laid eyes on him, but once she picked him up and nuzzled him close, she was even more smitten! And when it came time to name this fantastic fella (born in October of 2016), she really didn’t have to do much research, as the white heart on his chest and the way he stole hers instantaneously led her to Eros, the Greek god of love.

Even though Eros was quite banged up upon arrival, bearing scars and scabs left over from his days of fighting and fending for himself, Dr. Jen found him to be a breathtaking beauty, with that adorable white locket and ivory tufts of fur between each and every toe! How could one cat be so darned handsome?!

Once at our sanctuary Eros proved to be a boisterous, busy boy who only stopped moving when a bowl of canned food came into sight. Although he was a bit timid around his caretakers at first (we think he was a bit overwhelmed by being indoors and not having to do anything to earn his keep), he took to chumming around with some of the more outgoing guys at Big Sid’s which ultimately helped him gain confidence. In fact, at the writing of this bio two months after his arrival, we can tell you that Eros has become a bit big for his britches and has needed a time out on more than one occasion.

Now that he knows he can play with the others and sometimes get them riled up with his rambunctious behavior, we have to monitor his activity— he can be quite the little instigator. Eros reminds us of that pesky little brother who delights in ruffling the feathers of his siblings simply to watch the reaction it causes; he is a little stinker sometimes but we sure do enjoy him!


We would like to find Eros a home with another FIV+ cat if possible, one that will rough-and-tumble with him when he gets things going. As far as the type of human companionship we feel he is best suited for, we can see him becoming best buds with youngsters in a household as his energy level will certainly rival theirs! Considering that this gorgeous guy is typically in perpetual motion a busy, bustling household beckons him! Come meet our enthusiastic Eros for yourself and fall in love with this social butterfly!

More about Eros:

  • Medium
  • Black
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • FIV+
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats, children

Want to adopt Eros? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Santa visits NICU babies

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Story and photos by Christopher Clark, Spectrum Health Beat

Gabriel Kulakowski’s grandmother found just the perfect outfit for her 2-day-old grandson to wear for his picture with Santa.

In a twinkle, Santa had a new elf.

Jolly Saint Nick parked his sleigh on the roof of Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital for a special visit with the babies and families at the NICU in the Gerber Foundation Neonatal Center.

“This is a way for the families to take a break from their worries and just enjoy the holiday season,” Santa said.

Santa knew just how to hold the tiny little ones he visited. Behind the beard is Al Jones, MD, a retired neonatal medicine specialist.

He has donned his fur-trimmed red jacket, hat and pants with a broad-buckled belt for the past six years to help create these moments.

Santa’s helper is Amy Nyberg. She is the March of Dimes family support program coordinator at the children’s hospital who makes this visit happen each year.

“Families love it,” Nyberg said. “Santa comes and they are able to hit that milestone and have that memory of baby’s first photo taken with Santa.”

Amy, also dressed in fur-trimmed red, gives candy canes and small toys to young siblings of the NICU babies. She arranges for a professional Santa portrait to be sent to the families.

Raelynn Rhodes wore a special outfit for her photo with Santa. Her mom, Morgan, found the perfect fit, an American Girl doll ensemble complete with ice skates.

Parker Davis’ mom, Megan Alexander, said they woke up bright and early to make sure they didn’t miss Santa’s visit.

“We didn’t expect him until after Christmas,” Alexander said of her little preemie. “He’s our little Christmas baby.”


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

‘This is the good stuff’

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By Sue Thoms, Spectrum Health Beat

Photos by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat

 

Emma Warner lay on the couch, sleepily watching a TV show on a tablet as her mom mixed water into a small vial of powder.

 

A tray appeared beside the couch, spread with syringes and a pair of gloves. Nine-year-old Emma didn’t even look up.

 

Her mom, Becky Warner, applied an orange antiseptic solution to the spot on Emma’s chest where a port lay beneath the skin. Into the port, she poked a needle connected to an intravenous line.

 

With a syringe, she injected saline into the line. Then came the medicine for hemophilia.

 

“This is the good stuff,” Becky said, as she slowly pressed the plunger on the syringe.

 

That good stuff—clotting factor—prevents uncontrolled bleeding that could damage Emma’s joints and cause other injuries.

 

Another shot of saline, followed by heparin to prevent clots, and the treatment was done.

 

Emma set down the tablet, yawned, and headed to the kitchen to eat breakfast with her 7-year-old brother, Gage.

She has a quick smile and charm. She is so easy to treasure.


Dr. Deanna Mitchell
Pediatric hematologist

The school-day routine, performed with a calm, antiseptic precision born of years of practice, gave no hint of the extraordinary nature of these treatments, of Emma herself.

 

To be born with severe hemophilia A puts her in a select group. And to be a girl with hemophilia is rarer still, said Deanna Mitchell, MD, a pediatric hematologist-oncologist at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital who sees children with hemophilia at the coagulation disorders clinic.

 

Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat

“We follow about 100 boys and young men with hemophilia, and she is my only female (patient),” she said.

 

Emma, a sandy-haired girl with a spray of freckles across her face, has made an impression, and not just because she’s the only girl in a group of boys. Her calm, easygoing nature wins over her medical team.

 

“She has a quick smile and charm,” Dr. Mitchell said. “She is so easy to treasure.”

 

The chronic condition requires vigilance and monitoring by specialists, parents and the children themselves. But research has led to improved treatments, and there is hope on the horizon, as researchers test a gene therapy for hemophilia.

Shock and fear

For Emma’s parents, Becky and Luke Warner, the diagnosis of hemophilia came without warning. They have no family history of the disorder.

 

Their first hint of a problem arose when Emma, at 13 months old, started to crawl. Large, dark bruises covered both knees, extending down into her lower leg.

 

“We knew something was not right,” Becky said.

 

Their family doctor ran blood work and Becky learned the diagnosis in a phone call: hemophilia A, or classic hemophilia.

 

Their reactions?

 

“Shock,” Luke said.

 

“Fear,” said Becky. “We didn’t know a lot about hemophilia.”

 

Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat

Meeting with Dr. Mitchell, they learned the disease puts a child at risk of prolonged bleeding after a cut or injury. A blow to the head could cause bleeding.

 

And often, children with hemophilia experience spontaneous bleeding in their joints, even when there is no noticeable injury. If not treated, it could cause irreversible damage to the joints over time.

 

“At 1, Emma couldn’t tell us what was happening,” Becky said. “So that part was scary.”

 

In years past, children with hemophilia often suffered such damage to their joints that, by adulthood, they needed a wheelchair or a pair of crutches for mobility. But improvements in treatments have made it possible to minimize the impact on the joints.

 

“Emma was born at a time when she has safe factor available that is completely synthetically made,” Dr. Mitchell said.

 

For Emma, a fourth-grader at Northeastern Elementary School in Hastings, Michigan, hemophilia means avoiding contact sports and activities that might lead to injury.

 

“I cannot go on trampolines,” she said. “I cannot go on snowmobiles.”

 

“She can’t do gymnastics or cheerleading,” Becky said. “At a young age certain sports are fine, like soccer. But if they become competitive when she gets older, that’s when the danger kicks in.”

 

Even with those activities off the table, Emma does plenty.

 

She golfs, swims and shoots hoops on the driveway with her brother and parents. She plays piano and recently started guitar lessons.

 

At school, she likes music class best.

 

“This year in fourth grade, we get to play recorders,” she said.

The genetic mystery

Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat

Through genetic testing, the Warners learned how Emma became one of the few girls with the disease.

 

About 1 in 5,000 newborn boys have hemophilia A, which is caused by a defect in a gene that codes for a protein needed for blood clotting, called factor 8.

 

The gene is carried on the X chromosome. Because girls have two X chromosomes, a girl with the genetic mutation on one chromosome usually does not have the disease. A functioning backup gene on the other X chromosome allows her to create factor 8.

 

A girl with the genetic defect is a carrier, and may pass the disease on to her sons. That’s how most cases occur.

 

But with Emma—and 30 percent of people with hemophilia—a spontaneous mutation caused the disease.

 

And in her case, the backup gene on her other X chromosome is inactive. Although rare, this issue occurs occasionally in X-linked genetic conditions, Dr. Mitchell said.

 

Kids with mild or moderate hemophilia A have low levels of factor 8. But Emma’s blood test showed no detectable amount of the protein, which means she has a severe form of the disease.

Getting used to pokes

For the first few years, Emma received infusions of clotting factor only when needed. Her parents watched for signs of bleeding in her joints.

 

Her mom recalled an incident when Emma was a toddler. She slept on a mattress on the floor, with a railing, to minimize risk of falls.

 

One morning, she woke up excited about going to day care. She jumped up eagerly, and then suddenly dropped back to the floor.

 

Worried she had a bleed in her ankle, the Warners took her to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. Emma got an infusion.

 

Once, when she was 3, Emma got a bump on her cheek. It swelled to the size of a tennis ball.

 

How did she handle the pokes as a small child? A shy smile spread across Emma’s face.

 

“The first couple of times, I was scared. Once I tried to bite someone,” she said. “But I got used to it.”

 

The bleeds happened more frequently as Emma grew and became more mobile. At 5, when she started kindergarten, she began to get infusions regularly, as a preventive treatment.

 

Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat

“I feel better sending her to school knowing she has protection,” Becky said.

 

She and Luke give the infusions to Emma every Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.

 

“Parents are just heroes in the world of hemophilia,” Dr. Mitchell said. “They have made it so children don’t have joint disability. They can grow up to be strong and healthy.”

 

The Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital clinic treats kids who have a variety of bleeding disorders. In addition to hemophilia A, they see children with hemophilia B, which affects 1 in 30,000 boys, and von Willebrand disease, which occurs in both genders and affects 1 percent of the population.

 

To help combat complications of the disease, the team hosts comprehensive coagulation clinics every month that allow children to see a number of providers in one visit.

 

The kids come in once a year and meet with a hematologist and review their medication doses and adjust if needed. They also see nurses, research coordinators, a psychologist, a physical therapist who measures joint mobility, and a dental hygienist who addresses ways to prevent bleeding gums.

 

Eventually, kids like Emma learn to give intravenous infusions to themselves.

 

Treatment options may change dramatically in Emma’s future, Dr. Mitchell added. Researchers are developing new medications and holding clinical trials to test a gene therapy treatment.

 

Because hemophilia often affects multiple family members, the clinical team forms ties with multiple generations of extended families.

 

“That’s very gratifying to follow families for many years and to see the progress being made,” Dr. Mitchell said.

 

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

Cat of the week: Viggo

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Meet Sir Viggo, a most debonair gentleman

By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing

 

Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

 

Former volunteer and ‘Queen of the Stray Cats’, Rochelle M. live-trapped this striking stud-muffin who had been hanging around her Cutlerville home in mid-September, 2018. Her intention was to take #130 to CSNIP for neutering and then release him back outdoors as he kept company with members of her feral colony, but when he proved to her just how affectionate and friendly he was and was sporting some pretty nasty cat fight wounds, she contacted Dr. Jen for help.

 

It wasn’t a surprise that this stunning black and gray smoky fella (born around March of 2016) turned up positive for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) given the fact he was intact and a scrapper, but it was quite shocking as to the sheer number of fleas he had infesting his battered and bedraggled body; how he avoided becoming anemic was beyond comprehension, but thankfully his issues were only skin deep and healed up wonderfully well.

 

Our shelter and cat care managers have some pretty good insight as to what makes our silver fox Viggo tick: “This drop-dead gorgeous guy has come a long way since we took him in. He was a bit of a spitfire and would pick on any cat that walked past him but is doing much better now — and was even snuggling with Sia recently. He’s really started to show his cute personality by following volunteers around looking for the attention he deserves”

 

“Once in awhile he lets out a meow and I’ll pick him up and he just sits there in my arms looking up at me. He loves to nap A LOT! I think he is so fond of snoozing because he has relaxed so much since he has been with us, finally safe and able to sleep soundly.”

 

And of course we can’t overlook the obvious: he has the coolest markings and fur that you can’t help but run your fingers through, with those silver undertones that rival that of his namesake. He’d do best in a home with a companion, as we feel he would be utterly amazing with kids and probably a dog too; Viggo probably could cohabitate harmoniously with the right type of cat as well (non-confrontational, mellow and a snuggler so that no biting occurs that could transmit the virus), and most certainly would thrive in a home overflowing with humans.

 

So as you can clearly see, this debonair and dashing feline specimen really is the complete picture: affectionate, outgoing, people-oriented and overall just a gregarious guy looking for a place to call his very own. And after all that he went through to land with us, Viggo most definitely deserves it.

More about Viggo:

  • Large
  • Black, Gray/Blue/Silver, Smoke
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats, children

Want to adopt Viggo? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

 

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

 

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Calvin Prison Initiative students lead restorative justice conference

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By Jacquelyn Hubbard, Calvin College

 

North America holds about 5% of the world’s population and 25% of its incarcerated population. Its prison population has increased 800% in the past 40 years. And Michigan prisoners will typically serve 120% of their minimum sentence.

 

Those stats call for action. And a population of students in the Calvin Prison Initiative (CPI) program are helping facilitate some important conversations related to these statistics from behind bars.

 

“Inner transformation is key to radical reconciliation, and ultimately restorative justice. We hope that as more people come to see the humanity and values of these forgotten men and women, the willingness to discard people will end.”

 

Jamie Sturdevant, a student at Calvin’s Handlon Prison campus, spoke this collective hope on behalf of the CPI students who organized and led the second annual West Michigan Restorative Justice Conference. The theme of the October 13 conference was “Hope, Healing, and Radical Reconciliation.”

Leading from inside the fences

Throughout the conference, CPI students introduced speakers, explained restorative justice, and sang original pieces via pre-recorded videos. The Handlon Tabernacle Choir began the conference in song and then proceeded to define restorative justice.

 

CPI student Shawn England described how restorative justice is focused on relationship-building, not punishment. “Reconciliation requires more than leaving places of power for periodic visits to communities of oppressed people,” he said. “It means building ongoing relationships with many persons from marginalized communities and engaging in those relationships for the duration of our lives.”

 

“The road to healing and reconciliation is never easy; it requires humility and courage,” CPI student Aaron Wadsworth added. “We are all called to walk this road, but we do not walk the road alone.”

Restorative justice speakers

The student organizers introduced conference speakers from various backgrounds and experiences with restorative justice. Calvin alumnus and former professor Nicholas Wolterstorff argued that restorative justice must focus on healing the breach between personal relationships rather than providing a consequence for a harm. “Aren’t persons more important than laws? Aren’t laws for the sake of persons?” Wolterstorff challenged.

 

Father David Kelly, the director of Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation, followed Wolterstorff by encouraging others to become more proximate to those affected by injustice. “We have to be willing to go in and touch the woundedness of one another,” Kelly said. “As a church, we ought to be living in the Holy Saturday moment—to embrace the hurt and pain of the crucifixion, and yet give witness to the resurrection.”

 

After offering statistics on the history of American incarceration, writer and speaker Dominique Gilliard spoke on America’s historic, concealed imprisonment system: convict leasing. “We are addicted to punitiveness and we have understood it as justice. As Christians, we cannot accept that definition of justice because it is morally bankrupt,” Gilliard said.

 

State representative and Calvin alumnus David LaGrand then provided an inside look at Michigan’s criminal justice landscape and specific legislative areas for reform. He argued that the church has a crucial role to play in this pursuit. “We need to focus on who is hurt and how we can heal who is hurt,” LaGrand said.

 

Jerline Riley then spoke about losing her son in February 1994 at the hands of a CPI student. She described the long reconciliation process between herself and the student, and how she now views him as a son. “I see him moving forward and doing great things with his life, because that’s what God raises us up for,” Riley said. “Seventy times seven—that’s how I feel about life. I hope I play a role in him coming home someday. I am a wounded healer, and I want God to use my story to plant seeds.”

 

Hope College professor and Calvin alumnus Charlotte Van-Oyen Witvliet concluded the conference by speaking on the dehumanization of the incarcerated and the power of forgiveness. “We cannot confuse an image bearer of God with the wrongdoing of which they are responsible,” Van-Oyen Witvliet said. “This person needs to undergo positive transformation; that transformation helps us pivot away from desiring that person’s destruction.”

Restorative Justice Club

The conference was made possible by Handlon’s Restorative Justice Club, which meets biweekly to learn about how to become part of the movement toward a more personable and just society. Professors Thomas R. Thompson and Matthew Walhout have been the club’s faculty mentors since the club’s inception in Fall 2017. “The club’s members and leadership are highly self-motivated and self-facilitating. We receive much more than we give, but we do provide some administrative legs on the outside of the facility,” Thompson said.

 

According to Thompson, the Restorative Justice Club members would like the conference venue to vary institutionally and ecumenically throughout the coming years to achieve greater awareness and participation in the restorative justice movement. In March 2017, the first West Michigan Restorative Justice Conference took place at Hope College.

 

Currently, efforts are being made to launch a chapter of the Restorative Justice Club on Calvin’s main campus, which would interact and coordinate with the CPI chapter’s interests and efforts.

 

Reprinted with permission from Calvin College.

A closer look at a complex heart

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By Sue Thoms, Spectrum Health Beat

Photos by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat

 

The image of Luke Carpenter’s heart seemed to float off the screen, a hologram in red and blue.

 

With flicks of a stylus, the heart moved forward, rotated left and right, and then settled back into position among the ribs.

 

For Luke, a 15-year-old from Middleville, Michigan, the virtual image matches the reality of his life.

 

For the specialists at the Congenital Heart Center at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, it’s a roadmap that helps them plan the best way to fix what ails him.

 

The 3D imaging software, True 3D Viewer by EchoPixel Inc., is the latest high-tech tool used by the congenital heart team to understand the complex anatomy of a beating heart.

 

The physicians used scans of Luke’s heart to create the virtual image, which they consulted as they decided whether to do surgery, and how to prepare for the operation.

‘Tired pretty quick’

Luke, the son of Pam and Jason Carpenter, was born with several rare congenital heart defects, including dextrocardia, a condition in which the heart is situated on the right side of the chest, instead of the left. And he had transposition of the great arteries—which means the two major blood vessels that carry blood from the heart were switched.

 

Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat

By the time he entered Thornapple Kellogg High School last fall, Luke had undergone four open-heart surgeries. Surgeons patched holes in his heart, replaced the mitral valve and rerouted major blood vessels.

 

The fixes helped him grow and thrive in school and activities. He couldn’t play contact sports because of the blood thinners he took, but he loved to watch football and basketball. And he played golf and joined the high school team.

 

One day, he would like to become an athletic trainer for sports teams.

 

In the fall of his freshman year, however, he noticed difficulty in keeping up the same level of activity.

 

“I’d get tired pretty quick,” he said. “I would feel like (my heart) was beating really fast.”

 

“He was fine (when he was) resting,” his mom said. “But when he was running around the yard or doing something even mildly active, his heart would be pounding really hard.”

 

His pediatric cardiologist, Jeffrey Schneider, MD, consulted Joseph Vettukattil, MD, an interventional pediatric cardiologist and the co-director of the congenital heart center.

Pioneering a solution

The congenital heart team focused on the tube that had been placed in Luke’s heart to connect the right side of the heart to the lung arteries. A surgeon first created the conduit when he was 14 months old because he was born without a pulmonary artery. A surgeon replaced it when Luke turned 9.

 

Dr. Vettukattil examined the structure in a heart catheterization procedure. He hoped to use a balloon catheter to expand the tube and improve blood flow.

 

But he discovered the conduit lay between the heart and the breast bone, a tight spot that compressed the tube. The congenital heart team determined he needed open-heart surgery to replace the tube—and to place it in a different spot.

 

Getting a clear picture of Luke’s unique heart became crucial to planning the surgery.

 

“In a complex heart like this, when the heart is on the right side of the chest, it is important for the surgeon to orient themselves,” Dr. Vettukattil said.

 

A pioneer in 3D imaging techniques, Dr. Vettukattil used scans of Luke’s heart to create a 3D printed model, printed in a clear plastic resin.

Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat

Then, he contacted researchers in Michigan State University’s biomedical engineering department, who printed a model in color, using shades of blue and red to distinguish the vessels and chambers of the heart as well as part of the sternum.

 

That model also was used to create the image of the heart viewed on the Echo Pixel monitor. Wearing 3D glasses, the physicians examined the heart and its position within Luke’s chest.

 

“When you do the Echo Pixel model, you are visualizing the whole chest,” Dr. Vettukattil said. “You have a much better spatial understanding—the whole organ system of the patient is represented intact. And you are visualizing it in three dimensions.”

 

Marcus Haw, MD, pediatric heart surgeon and co-director of the congenital heart center, used the 3D images to plan the operation.

 

“As soon as I reviewed the printed model, I was able to show Luke and his parents the compressed conduit,” he said.

 

“More importantly, it showed that there was an extension of his heart cavity that would give room for a larger conduit—and that the coronary artery was not in the way of the potential route for the conduit.”

 

On April 16, 2018, he placed a new tube between the right side of the heart and lung arteries, this time routing it across the top of Luke’s heart. He also replaced the mitral valve with a larger one.

‘Means everything to us’

Two and a half weeks later, Luke arrived at the congenital heart center for his follow-up visit.

 

“You’re healing nicely,” said physician assistant Sarah Yarger, PA, as she examined the incision.

 

As he recovered from surgery, Luke said he was slowly regaining energy and appetite. He received approval to return to school the next week.

 

He hoped the new connector in his heart would make a difference. He looked forward to getting back on the golf course.

 

“I hope it will make me have more energy and able to do more things,” he said.

 

He had a chance to look at the colorful 3D model of his heart pre-surgery.

 

Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat

“It’s crazy,” he said, turning the heart over in his hands.

 

He pointed out the tube that lay compressed under the sternum—the one that had just been replaced.

 

For the specialists at the congenital heart center, the use of 3D imagery—including the printed model and the virtual image seen with 3D glasses—helps further the diagnosis and treatment of complex congenital heart defects.

 

“The capability to see the structures of the heart in this way is opening up new possibilities for patients who’ve previously been told there is no more we can do or that surgery is too dangerous,” Dr. Haw said.

 

The physicians continue to work on ways to better see the interrelated parts of a beating heart so they can fine-tune each patient’s treatment.

 

“That means everything to us,” Dr. Vettukattil said. “If we can use the best technology for the best treatment for our patients, that means a lot.”

 

Learn more about the nationally ranked cardiology and heart surgery care at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Congenital Heart Center. If you would like to support this lifesaving work, contact the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation.

 

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

Cat of the week: Stavros

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Business, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals, , , ,

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By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing

 

Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

 

It’s goes without saying that scruffy little Stavros had seen his fair share of tough times before he was picked up on south campus of Davenport College in mid-August 2018. His rescuer took him in and housed him, making sure he had his basic needs met (food, water, shelter) but he still had a long way to go in filling out his bony frame (he was starving when found); he also needed to be neutered and was in dire need of a spa day.

 

When he was taken in to a local vet a week prior to coming to us, it was discovered that he was FIV+, which made long-term housing even more challenging. So the dynamic duo of Lynnette and Sue asked for our assistance, and on October 8th Dr. Jen was able to bring this stinky, skunky (yet adorable), filthy, matted and formerly flea-ridden fellow into our program, but first he had to make a long overdue pit stop at the clinic. While there Dr. Jen not only (nicely) took away his manhood but combed an entire cat’s worth of hair off of him, treated a nasty ear infection and extracted some problematic teeth.

 

Once he was bathed and beautified, stunning Stavros (born around October of 2013) was ready to head on down to Sid’s to receive lots of hands on attention, something he had clearly been missing for quite some time.

 

Since Dr. Jen only got to spend a bit of time with him at the clinic upon intake, and then again for his follow-up a month later, she asked my cat care people for some insight on our ever evolving Stavros:

 

“He is becoming a really sweet boy. He was so scared for the first couple weeks he was with us, but now he purrs and happy drools. He still spends all of his time up on the cat walk, but he will let you know when he wants attention. He seems to get confidence from being around the other cats, so he should go to a home that has at least one other cat. He does get a little nervous at times, so it is probably best he live without obnoxious dogs or young kids.”

 

“Stavros—I love this cat!! He has a secret… he LOVES one-on-one attention as long as you have the brush or comb in hand; he drools, coos, and shakes when he’s being brushed which cracks me right up. He’s always got that concerned/ puzzled look on his face which I think some perceive as “not friendly”, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. He’s a quieter, keep to himself kind of cat until you set him down either on your lap or next to you and start brushing his super fuzzy soft hair. Everything about him is just adorable to me. He’s not real crazy about a lot of the other cats near him, but has not once shown any aggression towards them. He’d do well in a quieter home with lots and lots of attention. No dogs, but possibly another non-dominant cat.”

 

We also have it on good authority that someone has a finger fetish—to the point where he will slobber and nibble on your fingertips, so you have to watch out as when he gets a bit over-enthusiastic he can’t help but give a love chomp! There exists a video of him enjoying grooming himself so exuberantly that the slurping sounds he elicited almost made the videographer gag a bit.

 

We figure that he spent so much time dirty and dread-locked that now he can finally keep him self shiny and clean he is going to make the most of it—and make sure everyone knows what he is doing! In the short time we have had him, Stavros has come such a long way, and we can’t wait to see what he has in store for us.

More about Stavros:

  • Medium
  • Domestic Medium Hair & Domestic Short Hair Mix
  • Gray/Blue/Silver, White
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Prefers a home without dogs, children

Want to adopt Stavros? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

 

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

 

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Identical triplets: A rare and ‘indescribable’ joy

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By Sue Thoms, Spectrum Health Beat

 

Photos by Chris Clark

 

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!

 

In an instant, Julie and John VanderMolen became parents of three beautiful infants.

 

All boys.

 

All identical.

 

Statistically, that’s a rare event―identical triplets occur once in every 100,000 births.

 

And for the VanderMolens, it’s a triply blessed event.

 

The babies arrived by cesarean section Nov. 26 at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, and the couple eagerly embraced the moment they became a family of five.

 

“I just was a mess of tears,” Julie says. “The pregnancy was a pretty long journey for me.

 

“Just having that bond with them in utero, and being able to feel each one of them move separately. And then to see them outside of me, it just felt so surreal. I felt like I already knew them.”

 

Ivan John arrived first, at 11:28 a.m., weighing 4 pounds, 7 ounces. Then came William Lloyd, at 11:29 a.m., tipping the scale at 5 pounds. Third was Harrison Kenneth, born at 11:31 a.m., weighing 3 pounds, 15 ounces.

 

Each has a full head of hair, and each gave a hearty cry at birth.

 

“To hear that scream―that moment is indescribable,” John says. “I am just so happy and thankful they are healthy. They are doing great now. We are just very blessed.”

One, two, three heartbeats

The couple found out they were expecting triplets early in the pregnancy. Julie had experienced a miscarriage a year earlier, so she had an ultrasound exam at six weeks.

 

“You guys are having twins,” the technician said, as she detected two heartbeats.

 

Photos by Chris Clark

A moment later, she added, “There are three heartbeats.”

 

Julie began to shake. “Like a leaf,” she says. John became dizzy.

 

“Things got real very quickly,” he says. “I just was not prepared. I felt like I had been hit by a car.”

 

It didn’t take long for shock to give way to feelings of excitement.

 

“We desperately wanted children,” Julie says.

 

Although John had lobbied for a big family, they hadn’t decided how many kids they wanted. They thought they would start with one and see how that went.

 

Doctors told the parents early in the pregnancy the infants would be identical because, although they had three separate sacs, they shared a single placenta.

 

Identical triplets can occur when a single fertilized egg divides in two, and then one of those eggs divides, said Vivian Romero, MD, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist with Spectrum Health Medical Group.

 

Julie, a social worker, and John, a former Marine who works for the federal government, are Grand Rapids-area natives who moved to North Carolina for John’s job. After they found out they were expecting triplets, they moved back to West Michigan to be closer to family.

To be able to see him and hold him is an indescribable feeling.

 

John VanderMolen
Father of identical triplets

During her pregnancy, Julie received care from the maternal-fetal medicine specialists at Spectrum Health.

 

She gained about 70 pounds and carried the babies for 32 weeks. Labor began suddenly Saturday morning.

 

“It was very unexpected,” she says. “Everything went quickly after that.”

 

William breathed room oxygen from birth. Ivan and Harrison needed continuous positive airway pressure, but only for a day.

 

Photo by Chris Clark

The three babies moved to the neonatal intensive care unit at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital―in the same room but in separate incubators.

 

 

“They are doing well,” says Carol Bos, RN.

 

 

The boys receive nourishment through feeding tubes. They will learn to eat on their own before they are ready to go home.

Perfection

On Monday afternoon, John wheels Julie to the NICU so they can hold the babies, providing skin-to-skin contact. They make sure each boy receives equal cuddle time. This visit, Ivan waits in his crib while his brothers get their turn.

 

Nurse Bos lifts Harrison from his crib and gently helps Julie settle him on her chest.

 

“Hi, buddy. Come to mama,” Julie murmurs. Harrison opens his eyes and looks up at her.

 

John sits in a nearby chair and holds William. The newborn squawks and squirms, then settles in and closes his eyes.

 

“To be able to see him and hold him is an indescribable feeling,” John says.

 

“It’s unlike anything you can ever describe,” Julie agrees. “It’s perfection.”

 

The VanderMolens received a moment of fame with a playful video they created to announce their triple pregnancy. It shows their frantic preparations for parenthood―with John catching three baseballs and Julie filling three baby bottles. It was featured on ABC’s Good Morning America.

 

Now, they can’t wait to bring their babies to their home in Kentwood, Michigan. Three cribs await the boys upstairs. A triple stroller stands ready. They have piles of outfits, diapers and bottles.

 

Photo by Chris Clark

Julie looks forward to taking her sons to church. John dreams of playing sports with the boys.

 

With Julie still recovering from surgery, the couple says they don’t think they have quite come to grips with the challenges ahead.

 

“The full responsibility has not sunk in yet,” John says.

 

“But I wouldn’t say we are fearful about it at all,” Julie says. “The connection we have with them is just so instant. And I am so looking forward to being home, on our own schedule, and figuring it out together as a family.”

 

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

Absentee student problem, ambitious county landfill plan on WKTV Journal In Focus

3-bottom, Area Education, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Kentwood Public Schools, Local Faces, WKTV Journal In Focus, , , , ,

 

K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus, countywide issues that impact public school students educational success rates and also the quality of the environment they will inherit.

 

We talk with two education experts on the Strive for Less than 5 effort to combat high rates of student absenteeism, and then we talk with the director of the county’s public works department about Kent County’s Sustainable Business Park Master Plan for 250 acres adjacent to the South Kent Landfill in Byron Center.

 

Explaining the importance of the “Strive for Less than 5” countywide campaign is Mel Atkins II, Executive Director of Community & Student Affairs for Grand Rapids Public Schools, and Kent ISD data researcher Sunil Joy, who has studied the importance of the reducing absenteeism.

 

Also on the show is Darwin J. Baas, Director of the Kent County Department of Public Works. Baas will discuss the details of the Sustainable Business Park Master Plan, which is intended to provide opportunity for partnerships and innovative approaches to managing waste in the county, with the goal of diverting 90 percent of trash from the South Kent Land ll by 2030.

 

 

 

“WKTV Journal In Focus” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (see our Weekly On-air Schedule for dates and times). But all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.