The Leader • Saturday, October 12, 2019 • Page 1B
Series of miracles
Preferred Health DIRECTORY
Immediate care, medication helped Woodland Heights woman survive stroke By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com Woodland Heights resident Brenda Erickson credits her survival to a series of miracles – and being at the right place at the right time to get the care she needed. Nineteen months ago, Erickson was at home working on a real estate deal after spending the night in the emergency room with her mother, when she found herself struggling to find the right words. She knew something was wrong and called her husband into the room, but she resisted calling 911. “I didn’t want an ambulance,” Erickson said. “And I didn’t want the neighbors to see me. I wanted to get my deal done. I was in denial.” Even though Erickson started to feel better, an ambulance came to transport her to Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center, where she spent the night. The next day, after an uneventful evening, Erickson was getting dressed to go home when she felt dizzy. “My head was so cloudy and foggy,” Erickson said. Even when doctors determined she was having an ischemic stroke, with a block to blood flow in her brain, Erickson was in disbelief. “I was not in pain,” she said. “In fact, I thought they were wrong.” Erickson, who then lost movement in her hand and leg on her right side, soon was given tPA, a medication that dissolves blood clots that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1997 to treat ischemic-type strokes. It is not effective for hemorrhagic strokes and has to be administered within a certain window of time after the stroke to be effective. A news release by Memorial Hermann said that when given promptly, one out of every three patients who receives tPA medication experiences major improvement in stroke symptoms, or sometimes, the symptoms resolve altogether. The medication helped Erickson, who spent one week in intensive
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“I was not in pain. In fact, I thought they were wrong.”
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- Brenda Erickson
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Contributed photo Woodland Heights resident Brenda Erickson, with husband John, said she has regained most of her mobility after an ischemic stroke in 2017.
care and then entered the acute inpatient rehabilitation unit at TIRR Memorial Hermann Greater Heights. Dr. Richard Huang, the attending physician at TIRR Memorial Hermann Greater Heights and assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, said it is very beneficial for stroke patients to attend an intensive, comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation program soon after a stroke. “People tend to make most of their improvements in six months,” Huang said, adding that continued
improvements can happen after that time. He said spasticity, which is a condition in which certain muscles are continuously contracted, might affect rehabilitation and once that is treated, improvements will follow. “We focus on re-educating the brain to restore normal body movements by strengthening weak muscles and fixing abnormal body movement patterns that may occur after a stroke, all in an effort to improve functional mobility and selfcare skills such as eating, grooming, dressing, toileting and showering,” Huang said in the release.
Erickson said she gained a new appreciation for the disabled. “I just wanted to turn over a quarter, or roll out a piece of clay,” Erickson said. “I wanted to wash my face and blow my nose. In 20 years, I hadn’t been to the hospital. Your life is upended.” When she left inpatient rehab, Erickson was in a walker and could barely get down her driveway. She said she now has regained most of the mobility she lost and, because she is left-handed, could eat and brush her hair easily as well as
By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com
DR. STEPHANIE FULTON Stephanie Fulton, M.D. 1740 W. 27 St. Suite 301 Houston, TX 77008 713-880-2727 www.fultonobgyn.com
Major Hospitals
Memorial Hermann Greater Heights 1635 North Loop West Houston, Texas 77008 Tel: 713-867-2000 memorialhermann.org Physician Referral 713.222.CARE
See Stroke P. 3B
Company provides virtual care Ways2Well, founded in 2018 by Heights resident Brigham Buhler, is a virtual preventative health care provider that uses blood lab analysis to provide data on patients’ health states. Buhler said the company’s origin was inspired by his personal journey. Buhler spent 15 years in the medical industry, first with American pharmaceutical company Eli Lily and then for Stryker, a Fortune 500 medical technologies firm. “I was working long hours and trying to be everything to everyone,” Buhler said. In his late 20s, he saw a nutritionist and did CrossFit to try to lose weight and ward off the diabetes that runs in his family. But Buhler, who was pre-diabetic, he said he wasn’t seeing results. After a months-long wait to see a specialist and the expense of having a wide array of tests run, Buhler said it was discovered that he was low on a wide array of hormones. He described his subsequent hormone therapy treatments as life-changing, because they helped his body react better to exercise and diet changes. Buhler wished he could have improved his health much earlier. “I wondered, ‘What if we could stop the progression (toward disease)?’” he said. Along the way, Buhler linked up with Aaron Schneider, who had spent more than 15 years as a pharmacy technician, pharmacist, pharmacy manager, and director of operations. Together they cofounded ReviveRx, a licensed compounding pharmacy that is the sister company of Ways2Well. They both are under the same roof in Garden Oaks at 3831 Golf Dr. Completing the team is Tay Bagley, Ways2Well’s chief
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Contributed photo From left to right are Ways2Well chief operating officer Tay Bagley, ReviveRX head pharmacist Aaron Schneider and Ways2Well founder Brigham Buhler.
operating officer who runs daily operations and explores market expansion opportunities. Bagley spent the early part of his career in sales and management at Stryker and MediSmart. Schneider and Bagley are also residents of the Heights. What makes Ways2Well innovative, according to Buhler, is the time that patients spend with a health care provider as well as Ways2Well’s self-pay system, in which clients don’t go through insurance to get a blood panel. “A primary care physician has to do it all in eight minutes,” Buhler said. “They have to practice sick care.” Buhler contrasts that with the 75 minutes that a Ways2Well patient will spend in consultation with one of their health care providers – and they don’t have to wait months for an appointment or
pay for parking. He also said that if a comprehensive panel is done with a doctor and billed through insurance, the cost can be thousands of dollars, and there is no guarantee that insurance will pick up the total cost. That cost can also effect what kind of tests doctors order. With the self-pay system, not billed through insurance, lab tests range from $99-$299 for a full work-up. “Our goal is to be the Amazon of health care,” Buhler said. The way it works is that patients will have their first virtual consultation with Ways2Well and then the company schedules the patients’ lab work at a Quest Diagnostics of their choice. Once the tests are done, results are sent to Ways2Well – which it says is a HIPAA-compliant medical provider – and another virtual
appointment is done through a secure video call provider. The session is between the Ways2Well nurse practitioner Danese Rexroad with medical director Dr. Mark Mahaffey as a resource. “They walk you through the results,” Bagley said. The analysis of the comprehensive blood panels are used to detect genetic and early markers of disease and illness. “The focus is wellness care,” Bagley said, noting that if there any markers for serious illness or disease, patients are then referred to a specialist. With test results, ReviveRx can prescribe and compound custom-created prescriptiongrade vitamins and supplements for the patient. And it can happen in real time because they are next door. See Virtual Care P. 3B
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Page 2B • Saturday, October 12, 2019 • The Leader
How nutrition can fight colds and flu By Shana Tatum statum@wellnesscollaborative.com As we begin the fall season, pumpkin spice flavors are not the only thoughts that fill our mind. Cold and flu season may preoccupy our attention as well. Most know the dread we feel when that scratchy throat or the drippy nose symptoms appear. It can slow us down and put a kink in our day-today activities. However, just as most of the points shared here in this column, there are many preventive measures to take to avoid having a season filled with colds or the flu. If you are a regular reader of The Leader, you know I put great weight on good sleep hygiene. Practicing this nightly sets you up for a stronger immune response. In fact, recent research shows that during sleep, certain parts of the immune system are activated. One study demonstrated that people sleeping seven hours per night were shown to be 200 percent more likely to catch a cold than those who slept eight hours per night. Good, long sleep is of high importance, especially if a cold has already begun. In addition to good rest, there are some foods that are beneficial to include in the diet to enhance the immune system. Old-fashioned chicken soup It’s the kind our grandmothers made. Hydrating broth made with chicken bones contain amino acids rich in glycine, proline, lysine, alanine, arginine and valine. Soups like this provide needed protein and hydration during times of healing. Minerals and vitamins found in carrots, celery and onion further support the immune system in intervals of illness. Old-fashioned chicken soup also is an easily digestible soup. Garlic Long known for its antimicrobial properties, garlic (allicin) can help fight against
Women’s Health Directory Directory of Local Female Health Service Professionals Dr. Stephanie Fulton
Tatum
infection, reduce inflammation and even may be a guard against tumor formation. It’s use dates back to 400 BC and has been used by many cultures worldwide. It is a common ingredient in much of today’s cooking. It can be used minced or roasted whole in recipes for added flavor. If using garlic in your cooking is new for you or you fear the dreaded “garlic breath,” start slow. Add whole cloves to soups or stew-like meals. You may also find garlic in the refrigerated produce section pre-minced and in a jar. As a health remedy, add the juice of one lime, a ¼ cup chopped onion, 1-2 cloves of minced garlic and ½ cup water in a blender. Mix well and drink daily when cold-like symptoms appear. Foods rich in Vitamin C Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is a watersoluble vitamin. Foods high in Vitamin C act as an antioxidant to combat stress in the body. It is an immune booster and a key ingredient to include in your medicine pantry. It serves as a main structural protein of skin, cartilage and blood vessels and is rapidly depleted with physical and emotional stress. If taken regularly before a cold strikes, it has been shown to reduce the duration of the virus. Examples of foods rich in Vitamin C include orange and See Nutrition P. 3B
Dr. Fulton is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Her practice consists of obstetrics, gynecology, and cosmetic procedures such as laser hair removal. She is a graduate of the University of Texas and completed residency at St. Vincent’s Medical Center where she was a Chief Resident. Dr. Fulton volunteers as part of the health team ministry of her church. 1740 W. 27 St. Suite 301 • Houston, TX 77008 713-880-2727 www.fultonobgyn.com
Dr. Attiya S. Khan Dr. Khan focuses on the prevention of heart disease through early diagnosis and provides the latest interventional techniques to treat coronary and peripheral vascular diseases. She is one of the few female interventional cardiologists in Houston available to perform emergency angioplasties and stents for patients who are experiencing a heart attack. 1631 North Loop West, Ste. 220 • Houston TX 77008 713-365-0786 www.nwcardiology.net
Dr. Julia Kovacs Dr. Julia Kovacs has more than 20 years of experience practicing primary care and internal medicine in Houston. She focuses on preventive medicine and the management of chronic diseases including diabetes, thyroid disorders, HIV and hypertension, among others. She graduated from the University of Arizona College of Medicine and did her internship and residency at Baylor College of Medicine. Board Certified Internist 427 W. 20th St., Ste. 303 • Houston, TX 77008 713-231-1880 www.sjmcphysicians.com
Dr. Dora E. Cantu Board Certified Ophthalmologist. Dr. Cantu has been practicing ophthalmology for over 25 years. She sees patients daily for ocular problems including glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration, and ocular infections. Her passion is cataract and pterygium surgery. Dr. Cantu has been recently named The Leader’s best ophthalmologist!
1740 W. 27th St. Suite 180 • Houston, TX 77008 713-864-8652 www.opiavisioncenter.com
Dr. Becky J. Fredrickson Board Certified Ophthalmologist. Dr. Fredrickson has been practicing ophthalmology for over 12 years. She routinely sees patients for diabetes, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and ocular infections. She specializes in surgical procedures including cataract, eyelid lifts, eyelid cysts, Botox and Juvederm, and pterygia. 1415 N. Loop, Ste 400 • 427 W. 20th St. Ste 100 Houston, TX 77008 713-668-6828 • www.houstoneye.com
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Join Senior Advantage at St. Joseph Medical Center Senior Advantage is a free program for men and women ages 55 and better. We host monthly seminars and social gatherings with topics and activities geared toward the active, fun-loving senior adult in mind. New location: St. Joseph Medical Center in the George W. Strake Bldg., 9th Floor Auditorium 1919 LaBranch St., Houston, TX 77002 Upcoming Events: • Welcome Luncheon Wednesday, October Tuesday, October 29 23 12 – 2 p.m. • BINGO Wednesday, November 13 2 – 3:30 p.m.
STAY ACTIVE, MAKE NEW FRIENDS
Come join our group, meet new people and learn more about our community and your healthcare options.
and have fun! For more information and to RSVP for events, call 713-757-7575 or visit sjmctx.org/senioradvantage In Partnership with Physician Owners.
The Leader • Saturday, October 12, 2019 • Page 3B
Stroke from P. 1B continue to be the drummer for The Redan Street Blues Band – also known as The Devil Ate My Sandwich on YouTube. She also visits with new stroke survivors at the hospital to help give them hope. A former smoker, she has given up cigarettes as well as takeout pizza and Burger King. “It is veggies, chicken and fish now,” Erickson said. She exercises at the Harriet and Joe Foster Family YMCA and loves the Silver Sneakers class with Eliot Perez. “He’s such a goofball, you’re in a good mood (and)
he is good with distraction because sometimes it is hard,” Erickson said. She also uses the treadmill and has a trainer, focusing on exercises that involve repetition. “I have to make my nerves reconnect around the affected area,” Erickson said. “I still have all the muscles and strength.” Erickson said her husband, John – also the lead guitarist in the blues band – deserves all the credit for helping her to acclimate and that she is lucky to have been able to remodel their Heights bungalow, adding a second bath-
room and moving the washer and drier in from the garage. The luckiest thing for Erickson was her location at the time of her stroke. “I’m so grateful I was already at the hospital,” she said. Huang said the initial sporadic nature of Erickson’s symptoms is not unusual. He said one cause could be a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which occurs when part of the brain experiences a temporary lack of blood flow. “It can be a precursor to stroke, or a risk for stroke,” he said.
According to Schneider, all of ReviveRx’s products are sourced and purchased from distributors approved by the Federal Drug Administration. “We focus on prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance,” Schneider said. “They are patient specific.” While the company doesn’t share Ways2Well patient numbers, its leaders say it is grow-
ing beyond their expectations. Buhler said ReviveRX, which has a wider reach and is pursuing licenses in a number of states, has served 6,000 patients. Ways2Well is now working to grow outside of Houston to the rest of the state. For more information, visit https://ways2well.com/.
mation-reducing compounds found in herbs and spices, we can look to our daily meals to fully nourish us. By getting good nightly sleep, avoiding excess alcohol and managing daily stress, be it physical or emotional, we
can strike a balance that supports optimal wellness and keeps illness at bay. My hope is that you try some of these tips to stay well this cold and flu season. To your health!
Virtual Care from P. 1B Schneider said ReviveRx is not a retail-facing pharmacy for walk-in customers. Patients are referred there by a network of physicians or the clinical team at Ways2Well. But legally and health care-wise, Schneider said ReviveRX is an accredited pharmacy that could dispense anything you could get at a Walgreens or CVS pharmacy.
Nutrition from P. 2B tomato juice, red bell peppers and strawberries. Ginger Ginger belongs to the family Zingiberaceae. Through a recent boating adventure in Kauai, I saw firsthand how ginger helps ease motion sickness. Sailors for generations have praised its properties and distant cultures have employed the root for the immune-boosting benefits. With much of the immune system housed in the digestive tract, it is no mystery that gut and immune health may both see improvements with the powerful flavorings of ginger. An easy ginger tea can be made with boiled water, ginger root, lemons annd raw honey. Thankfully, Mother Nature provides much of the immune system support we need every day. Whether it is the powerful phytonutrients and antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables or the inflam-
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Page 4B • Saturday, October 12, 2019 • The Leader
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Page 6B • Saturday, October 12, 2019 • The Leader
Republicans outmaneuver Democrats on county tax rate By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com A majority of Harris County Commissioners Court members wanted to raise the property tax rate. It will end up being lowered. Republicans Jack Cagle and Steve Radack, who were against a rate increase proposed by the court’s three Democrats, skipped Tuesday’s meeting to prevent the state-required quorum needed to levy a tax. The county will revert to the effective tax rate as a result, meaning the rate will decrease by about 3 percent to 61.17 cents per $100 of assessed value. County Judge Linda Hidalgo, along with fellow Democrats Rodney Ellis and Adrian Garcia, had proposed to increase the county’s property tax rate for the first time in more than 20 years. Their proposal was to bump
the rate from 62.998 cents per $100 valuation to 65.260, an increase of 3.59 percent that would have increased the county’s tax revenue by 8 percent -- the maximum allowable by state law without
requiring a countywide vote. County taxes go to the county itself as well as the Harris County Flood Control District, Harris Health System and the Port of Houston. Ellis, who represents part of
the area along with Cagle, said the county’s continued growth presented a need for additional tax revenue. “We must be able to keep up with the services that people expect,” Hidalgo said during Tuesday’s meeting. Although there was no vote, the commissioners court held a public comment session on the proposed rate increase for the third time in the last three weeks. Multiple community members voiced their opinions, with some supporting an increase and some against it. Paul Simpson, chairman of the Harris County Republican Party, praised Cagle and Radack for skipping the meeting and thereby preventing a rate increase. “That act of courage has saved an untold number of seniors, parents and other people who struggle to make ends meet,” he said.
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HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT C SPOTLIGHT
FEMA offering assistance to GLADYS HOUSE FOR DISTRICT C Imelda-impacted residents ELECTION DAY: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019 From Staff Reports
Area residents impacted by recent flooding can apply for federal assistance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is offering assistance to Harris County homeowners, certain types of renters and businesses affected by Tropical Storm Imelda. Applications for assistance will be accepted through Dec. 3. Residents who qualify can get assistance for their primary homes with disaster-caused expenses such as medical and dental care, child care, moving and storage, vehicle costs and some clean-up items. FEMA partners with the Small Business Administration, which offers low-interest loans for business damages. To apply for assistance,
Preservation of Neighborhoods on national and local levels; saved heritage brick streets; obtained largest historic district of its kind in America. Renamed Westheimer HPD Storefront in honor of Sgt. R.V. Wilson in 2019 Co-Founder of CDC of Greater Houston to empower residents in their neighborhoods economically Partnership for Houston neighborhood improvements Recognizes as community worker by United Nations in September of 2012 Business owner for nearly 20 years Challenged banks to reinvest in neighborhoods since 1998
Area residents who flooded recently can apply for FEMA assistance.
visit disasterassistance.gov/ and type in your address to see what kind of assistance is available. Residents also apply by calling 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585.
Many Harris County residents may not be eligible for FEMA assistance. For a list of non-FEMA recovery resources, visit ReadyHarris.org.
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The Leader • Saturday, October 12, 2019 • Page 7B
Mums the word: Homecoming tradition continues to grow By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com To mum or not to mum? For many Texans, the answer to that question is an enthusiastic yes. From its more humble start in the mid-20th century as a real chrysanthemum flower given by a boy to his homecoming date, similar to a prom corsage, the homecoming mum of today is supersized. The flower, or flowers, are now silk to serve as a keepsake. Ribbons and bells cascade from a cardboard or Plexiglass backing. The mum is a personal reflection of its owner. And there’s no way you can pin it on. You carry it or wear it around your neck during spirit week and to the football game but not to the dance. Boys also have the option to wear a garter around their arm. For many high schoolers, like Shepherd Park Plaza’s Camille Smith, who goes to St. Agnes, a mum is a homecoming must. “We had homecoming at our middle school but having mums and garters wasn’t a big deal, like it is in high school,” Smith said. “It was something to look forward to. It’s cool that you can personalize it to the girl’s interests.” Smith’s mum, a gift from her date, was purchased by his
Photo by Betsy Denson Donna Webb, left, and Debby Hobart have a mum-making business.
mother from a Strake Jesuit group who makes them and sells a limited number online. The mum had dance figurines to reflect Smith’s dance team membership and football stickers because her friend was a football player. Smith, with parental help, made her date’s garter. Making mums is a timeconsuming endeavor and for that reason, many florists don’t do them anymore. “We quit doing mums six or seven years ago because it takes forever,” said Wally Nobles of Heights Floral Shop. “The kids wanted to add so many things. We do everything else, though.”
In the place of florists, a number of do-it-yourself mum makers have emerged – and they are very busy this time of year. Oak Forest sisters Donna Webb and Debby Hobart burned the midnight oil all week to fulfill a lot of lastminute orders from St Pius X High School. “Our biggest clients this year are freshman from St. Pius,” Webb said. The sisters started making mums about 10 years ago for their Waltrip High School kids after the sticker shock of the $85-$100 price tag they saw elsewhere. Their mums start at $50 for one with everything else included. More mums,
Contributed photo Camille Smith, left, poses with her homecoming date.
though, mean more money. “The biggest one had around 17 mums,” Webb said. “The dad said he wanted it as big as Texas for his daughter.” Webb and Hobart have their system down now – as well as a giant ribbon rack built for them by Randy Stuart of Stuart’s Home Improvements. “She’s very crafty,” Webb said of her sister. “She glues it (and) I do the pieces.”
They purchase their supplies at craft stores early and each mum takes them about three hours of combined work. Still, they enjoy it. Webb says that after this week, they have more mums to prepare for Heights High School’s homecoming. Ashlee Garcia is another mum maker who has been at it since high school. “I started making for them
for myself and friends,” Garcia said. “I preferred to make them myself because when I would order them I was never happy with the outcome and would always add more.” A few weeks ago, Garcia hosted a mum-making party for St. Rose of Lima middle school students. “It was so great to see the school show so much spirit,” Garcia said. “The great thing about mums nowadays is that you can add so much individuality to them. Mums provide a lasting memory for homecoming and not to mention it is a Texas (tradition). So to keep these little traditions going like this is really important to me.” Barbara Pilato started making mums for family and friends and now takes orders from high schools as far away as Atascocita, Summer Creek, Humble, Klein Collins and Katy. “My biggest clientele come from St. Pius, Waltrip, Lutheran High North and Heights High School,” Pilato said. “I enjoy making mums. It is good seasonal money for me, but I love to see the smile on the face of a young man picking up his mum for his date or the parents buying their daughter’s first mum. Just the look on their faces is priceless. I get to be a part of all that year after year.”
Waltrip shuts out Sharpstown for first victory of season By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com The 2019 season did not open how head coach Wayne Wheeler and the Waltrip Rams would have liked, but Wheeler hopes last week’s performance is an indicator of what’s still to come. Following losses to Bridgeland, Humble Kingwood, Sterling and Fort Bend Willowridge – who are a combined 14-9 – Waltrip picked up its first win of the season last Saturday with a 55-0 shutout of Sharpstown. Both sides of the football put on their best performance of the season in a wire-to-wire rout.
Contributed photo Waltrip’s Jonah Brooks hands off to Jaylen Green during a practice.
Waltrip’s record now stands at 1-4 overall and 1-2 in District 11-5A, with a matchup against Fort Bend Marshall (5-1, 3-1
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district) this week. Sharpstown dropped to 0-5 on the year. Prolific attack keeps Lions
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unbeaten Lutheran High North quarterback Owen Poole had his most prolific game of the season last week in a 68-20 victory against Frassati Catholic, throwing for 360 yards and seven touchdowns. He has now tossed 17 touchdown passes on the year against one interception. Sophomore Xavier Neal hauled in six passes for 191 yards and four scores, while senior William Harris caught five passes for 151 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground, Zach Menefee had his highest output of the season with 190 yards, marking the second consecutive contest in which he’s
eclipsed the century mark. The Lions now sit at 4-0 overall and 1-0 in TAPPS District 4 heading into a matchup with fellow unbeaten Woodlands Christian Academy (6-0).
In all, five area teams were in action last week, with four of them emerging victorious. Scarborough had a bye last week and returns to the field this week against Kashmere.
Weekly Game Results Oct. 3
Heights 36, Chavez 26
Oct. 4
Bishop Dunne 48, St. Pius X 8 St. Thomas 14, China Spring 13 Lutheran High North 68, Frassati Catholic 20
Oct. 5
Waltrip 55, Sharpstown 0
Page 8B • Saturday, October 12, 2019 • The Leader
Liberty Hoepfl Garage hosting ladies’ car clinic
A vote for me is a vote for you.
From Staff Reports
Women who would like to learn how to better take care of their vehicles can start with the basics at an area garage next week. Liberty Hoepfl Garage will be hosting a free ladies’ car clinic Tuesday Oct. 15 from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the shop at 4610 N. Shepherd Dr. Instructors will demonstrate how to check car fluid levels and inform about tire wear, tire pressure and how to change a tire in a way customized to any specific vehicle. They also will discuss fuel additives, oil change intervals, all major vehicle systems and review the proper maintenance schedule for particular vehicles and give suggestions on what to do in emergency situations or in the event of certain mechanical failures, along with how to extend a car’s life. Though it is designed specifically for women, men also are welcome for the free clinic. Space is limited to 15 participants to ensure individual instruction. Only 15 spots are available, and the event is first come, first served. Those wishing to reserve a spot can call the shop at 713-695-5071.
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“A first of it’s kind publication!”
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Over 120 pages that pays tribute to local veterans. Not all have received national recoginition, but what they sacrificed for our country can not be ignored.
Henry circled in photos on ferry with other G.I.s being taken to the ship where they will serve on.
Grandson Michael Elliott is a soldier, too, having recently graduated from Texas A&M and enlisted in the Army. The family’s introduction to the military started with Martinez’s father. Even though he was born in Mexico, he did not speak English and was not a U.S. citizen, according to his youngest son, Alvino Martinez was drafted in 1918 to serve in World War I. But the elder Martinez, who worked on a farm in Medina County outside San Antonio, was rejected when he reported for duty as he had lost much of his
right index finger in a farming accident. “He didn’t get in because his trigger finger was cut off,” Henry Martinez said. But his sons earned their red, white and blue stripes as American soldiers, which has been a great source of pride for the Martinez family. Henry has the memories and memorabilia to prove it. Much of his home is a shrine to his and his family’s service. On a shelf in a spare bedroom, Martinez has a collection of combat helmets, pistols, canteens, grenades, bullets and a field phone. He keeps a Korean doll in a glass case on a table in the corner of his living room. In another corner of the room is a collection of medals, scrapbooks and photos, along
with three small flags – the American flag, Texas flag and Korean flag – and opposite that is a shelf stocked with military books and more photos. Martinez has helped organize
military days at Houston Astros games, where he’s thrown out a first pitch and met baseball legends such as Craig Biggio and Jimmy Wynn. He also has had brushes with four U.S. presidents
Jarvis Elliot
U.S. Army • 1966-1969 • Vietnam 5th Maintenance Battalion Jarvis Elliot completed training in Ft. Lee Virginia, from 1968-1969 afterwards he was deployed to Phu Tai Valley, Qui Nhon as a supply clerk where he used a key punch machine to order and track army supplies coming into his unit.
Capturing the Pacific The ship, General D. E. Aultman, loaded and waiting for orders to head out to sea and the far east - Incheon, Korea,1948.
Jarvis, left, at the key punch machine.
Page 59
J
J. H. Freeman U.S. Army 1942-1945 • WWII
Bob Dole, a former U.S. senator from Kansas and a presidential candidate for the Republican Party in 1996. “He sat there and thanked us for our service,” Semander said. “There were about 60 of us in line. When I got there, I knelt down beside him, I looked him straight in the eyes and I said, ‘Mr. Dole, I thank you for your service. You came back not whole. I came back whole. So I wanted to thank you for your service.’ I looked him straight in the eyes, and he hugged me and thanked me for thanking him for his service.” John meets veteran Bob Dole.
- Betsy Denson
A love like no other
Freeman details the battles at Leyte and Okinawa .H. Freeman was a decorated veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific Theater. He was a captain in the U.S. Army, 96th Division Field Artillery, and participated as a forward observer in the invasions of Leyte in the Philippines and at Okinawa in Japan. Before the war he lived in different houses with his older brother, Albert Freeman, in the Houston Heights during the Great Depression. His daughter Lucinda Freeman called him a writer by nature, though his career path led him to be assistant to the managing partner at the law firm Baker Botts. Freeman wrote a history of the firm called The People of Baker Botts. His next project was to chronicle his time serving in the United States Army during World War II, from 1942
er, it would break in half,” Semander said. “We got in some rough weather on the trip home (and) they had to stretch cables from one end of the ship to the other (to keep it intact).” Semander returned home single. He had told his Houston sweetheart that he didn’t think he was coming back and that she shouldn’t wait for him. She ended up marrying another man, but her sister told Semander that she had someone else for him to meet. “I told her that I’ll pick who I go with,” Semander said. However, he consented to meet Nancy Wallbraun who has been his wife ever since and with whom he has a son, a daughter and grandson, Nicholas. Semander said a spring 2019 trip to Washington D.C. with the Honor Flight Network, a nonprofit organization that honors America’s veterans by flying them to the nation’s capital for a weekend of appreciation and sightseeing, brought back a lot of memories for him. “It was the first time I saw (the Korean monument),” Semander said. “It’s really something to see.” The group visited all the monuments and the World War II memorial and encountered none other than World War II Purple Heart recipient
A respectful greeting from another service member. Page 113
From shaping their hearts to shaping the Heights
C
Martin William Narendorf U.S. Army • Sergeant • 1943-1945 • WWII First Scout
The Stars and Stripes in the Philippines. until his return home in 1945. The book is titled Diary and Letters from World War II. A copy of the book rests in the hands of his daughter, who said that while her father never spoke of the war, he could write about it. “I am not the same person I would have been had I not
participated in these events,” Freeman wrote in the introduction of the book. “It is impossible to explain why. I feel like one person went into battle and an entirely different one came home.” When he wrote the introduction in the 1970s, he mentioned how he looked at teen-
Jarvis, far right, with fellow soliders.
-Courtesy of Betty Jarvis
Martin Narendorf served in the 32nd Infantry Division, 127th Regiment, Company L, Red Arrow Unit during World War II. He was a Staff Sergeant, a First Scout and 2nd Leader of Platoon. He carried the flag for his unit in parades.
Page 66
Martin served in Australia. He also served in New Guinea, through the Philippine islands, to Japan as part of the occupying force after the bombs were dropped.
Carl Cohen
Page 13
1943-1945 • WWII
Carl and Melvalene Cohen. men,” Melvalene said. “My parents always (said), ‘beware of men, beware of men.’” He went to the movie with the girls and from there Melvalene said their love life bloomed. Their courtship of about three years took place mostly through letters. Melvalene kept all of Carl’s love letters. On Mother’s Day 2019,
Page 35
Commendations: • Expert Rifleman • Purple Heart • Good Conduct • Asiatic Pacific Campaign three battle stars • WWII Victory • Philippine Liberation one battle star • Japanese Occupation
Martin with his unit in the Philippines.
Inside you’ll find...
arl and Melvalene Cohen, wellknown Houston Heights residents, were once the nerve center of the neighborhood with their store, Studewood Food Market. The store was reportedly the largest independently owned grocery store in the Southwestern United States at the time. The Cohens would also become integral in transforming the Heights into what it is today. But before any of that, Carl was in the United States Army, drafted in 1943 to Camp Wallace in Hitchcock, Texas, and Melvalene was a country girl who’d come to live in Houston just before World War II. It was while Carl had a day off in Houston that the pair met. “My girlfriend and I were sitting at a Walgreens drugstore at 1023 Main St. having a soda, waiting for the movie to start across the street,” Melvalene said. Carl was driving around when he saw the girls sitting at the soda fountain. He went right in and sat with them. While he sat next to Melvalene’s friend, she said he kept looking at her. “I was a country girl, very shy, and my girlfriend lived in Houston and she was used to
- Courtesy of Martin Narendorf Page 32
35 planes left that night, but only 4 returned. He managed to shoot the enemy, without firing a round. He was the first seaman from Waco to die at Pearl Harbor. - or so his parents thought. and more.
Last week to pre-order.
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Order today in honor of Veterans Day Each purchase helps support your local American Legion - Post 560 Call to order 713.686.8494 or go online www.theleadernews.com/our-veterans