Latest / Still Caring / Bonus: Our Why: The Stories That Led Us Here

Transcript

Bonus: Our Why: The Stories That Led Us Here · Still Caring

0:03
Intro: Welcome to the Still Caring Podcast presented by Stillwater Medical.
0:07
Here, community is at the heart of healthcare.
0:09
Through honest conversations and shared experiences, we explore what it
0:13
means to care for our health and each other, because Better health takes
0:16
a village and you're part of ours.
0:19
Abby Fox: Hello and welcome to the Still Caring Podcast.
0:21
I'm Abby Fox.
0:22
I'm the PR and marketing manager here at Stillwater Medical, and I'm joined with my
0:26
two friends who are co-hosts of this show.
0:29
Joe, you wanna introduce yourself to our listeners?
0:33
Joe Akin: Sure.
0:33
I'm Joe Aiken.
0:35
I work in the Stillwater Medical Foundation and I am the Senior
0:39
Director of Development and community.
0:41
Outreach
0:42
Abby Fox: Sweet.
0:42
How long have you been at Stillwater Medical
0:44
Joe Akin: coming up on six years.
0:46
I started, my first three years I was responsible for the HR department.
0:51
The last three years I've been in the foundation and
0:54
enjoying every minute of it,
0:56
Abby Fox: HR?
0:56
During COVID times.
0:57
That is no joke.
0:59
trial by fire, I bet.
1:01
Joe Akin: a hundred percent.
1:02
it was absolutely a challenge, but it was probably the most
1:06
rewarding three years of my life.
1:08
Abby Fox: We're grateful to work with you, Joe Kayton, do you wanna
1:11
introduce yourself to our audience?
1:13
Katon Lunsford: Yeah.
1:13
Hi guys.
1:14
My name is Kate Lunsford and I am the public relations communications
1:19
specialist, and I just started this role recently in January,
1:23
so I'm really excited to be here.
1:25
Abby Fox: we're thrilled to have you as part of our team for sure.
1:28
so today we thought it would be fun instead of having a guest on
1:31
the show to get to know the host and a little bit more about us.
1:35
And what we do and kind of what our stories are.
1:37
because That is one thing that's so central to the theme of this show is
1:41
just, the stories that are behind the lives that each one of us lives
1:46
And the things that even though the three of us have been working together
1:49
for a year, that we didn't even know about one another until we sat down
1:53
to prep for this conversation today.
1:55
So, Joe, why don't you start us off because I was really touched by your
1:59
personal story And what you shared.
2:01
so I'd love for the guests to hear that.
2:04
Joe Akin: Sure.
2:04
So I moved to Stillwater in 1984 and just haven't left.
2:09
The community has been wonderful to me and my family, but my story that ties
2:15
me directly to Stillwater Medical.
2:18
Was in 2004, so that was a while ago, I remember it like it was yesterday.
2:22
It was July 31st, 2004, approximately 1 32 o'clock in the afternoon.
2:30
I was doing business in Oklahoma City.
2:34
I was driving back from the city and I was very excited to get home
2:38
for a lot of reasons, but I think the biggest was the next day we were
2:42
getting ready to take a family trip to Florida And we were all excited.
2:47
So I was coming home to pack.
2:50
The only problem is I didn't make it home that evening.
2:54
So when you drive north on I 35 at mile marker one 70, which is the Mulhall exit.
3:01
the road, the highway curves just a little bit, and I didn't, And we still
3:06
aren't completely sure what happened, but at full speed, without even
3:10
touching the brakes, I hit the guardrail and I rolled my truck five times.
3:15
I was ejected out of the sunroof, and when they found me, I was on
3:20
my face and my right foot was.
3:23
On the side of my face And what I had done, if you can imagine, This
3:27
is your hip socket and This is your femur I had when I hit the ground.
3:30
I drove the femur up through the hip socket and it opened my pelvis this way
3:36
And then rotated back, so I'm unbelievably fortunate to be here talking to you today.
3:45
It was everything that transpired after that that brought me to Stillwater
3:49
Medical in a very personal way.
3:50
I was life-flighted to OU Trauma Center, where an absolutely incredible
3:57
surgeon put me back together.
3:59
from what I understand, it was three days after the wreck when he did the
4:03
surgery because he was trying to figure out how we'd all go back together.
4:07
But he did an amazing job.
4:09
And after a week or two in ICU there, I was transferred to Stillwater Medical
4:16
to the rehab floor, and that's when the magic started happening for me.
4:21
That's when I really started understanding how much a difference an
4:28
individual or a group of individuals can make for you in your recovery
4:32
process when you believe they care.
4:35
Because if you think about it, you can go to a hospital and people
4:38
can be there to care for you, but that's completely different than
4:42
them actually exhibiting true caring.
4:46
And that's what I felt when I was there.
4:49
I felt like they became my friends.
4:51
I felt like they were my advocates and they wanted nothing more than
4:55
for me to get back on my feet.
4:58
So I was in their rehab area for an extended period of time, and
5:02
when I finally got to go home.
5:04
I was able to start my rehab work at Ortho Oklahoma, and my three physical
5:12
therapists that I work with there, Joe, Ken, and Janelle, were absolutely amazing.
5:21
looked forward to the rehab sessions because I knew This is the work I
5:25
was going to have to do to be able to
5:27
Abby Fox: It was painful probably too, right?
5:30
Like,
5:30
Joe Akin: Well, yes.
5:32
I mean, it was, but at the same time I had to go through the pain to figure
5:38
out what life was gonna be like after the fact and So, it was a few weeks
5:42
of, rehab before I was able to take a step and I rem I was in the chair.
5:51
Janelle told me to stand up and she said, This is the day and I'm
5:56
getting, I'm getting choked up.
5:59
She told me this was the day we're gonna take the step, and, for me, I knew
6:04
immediately that this step was going to give me the understanding of what really
6:11
the rest of my life was going to be like I hesitated for what seemed like 10 minutes
6:17
to take the first step because I just saw all these terrible things potentially
6:22
happening like a Tom and Jerry cartoon when they have a collision and just
6:27
dust flies and springs go everywhere.
6:30
In my mind, that's truly what I was afraid of, and I took that
6:35
first step And that didn't happen.
6:39
I mean, I just broke down and Janelle broke down And we, we had a moment and
6:45
it was, an incredible moment because at that point I knew that it was really up
6:52
to me to get to where I wanted to be.
6:56
And if you saw me today, you guys know, well, I think, you know, if you see
7:00
me walking down the street, you have no idea that I'd been through that.
7:04
All of This is because of the people in the hospital and at Ortho Oklahoma that
7:12
put so much time and energy that I think more than anything, the caring nature that
7:18
they expressed themselves to me every day.
7:21
I didn't wanna disappoint them.
7:23
I wanted to make sure that, that I was there much as they were there.
7:28
And so that's what.
7:30
For all the years, as soon as the, the Stillwater medical opportunity
7:34
popped up, I thought, you know what?
7:35
This is where I'm, I'm gonna end my career.
7:38
Abby Fox: Well, Joe, you were here when I came to Stillwater Medical and I have
7:42
observed your passion firsthand, and I so.
7:46
Appreciate that because I feel it's genuine and I feel that from you.
7:51
And so knowing that story and learning the background of that
7:54
story, like it all makes sense.
7:55
So thank you for sharing that with us today.
7:59
one of the things that.
8:01
I think is illustrated in your story that I see in my own is this concept
8:05
of like, better health takes a village.
8:07
And so that's one of the things that we kind of founded this show
8:09
on is Better Health Takes a Village.
8:11
And as you talk about the people from that moment of impact from your rec,
8:16
all the people that were involved in your care And what that looked like And
8:19
what it took to get to that first step.
8:22
I'm reminded of my own story 'cause for me.
8:25
I don't have like a big moment like that that I could recall.
8:29
but for me it's all about family and starting a family.
8:32
My husband and I, we had been married for seven years when we decided that we
8:35
were gonna start a family And we were thrilled because, you get like all
8:39
excited to go into the doctor's office and hear the heartbeat for the first-time.
8:43
And so we were riding a high, And then we got in the doctor's office and
8:46
they didn't find the heartbeat, but they're like, this happens sometimes.
8:49
We'll send you to the hospital, you'll get a picture and all that stuff.
8:52
So we were excited And then we got to that ultrasound room and it was in
8:56
that room that we realized there really was no picture of a healthy baby that
9:01
we were gonna walk out with that day.
9:03
that was a really hard realization for us.
9:07
And the days and months that followed, you know, we learned that it was a
9:10
molar pregnancy And so I needed a DNC and there were gonna be months.
9:15
Before we could try again and there were gonna be regular blood draws
9:18
that we were gonna have to do.
9:20
And so just going from the highest of highs to a very low space that
9:24
really felt really dark, for me.
9:27
But I'm reminded of all those days that I showed up at the hospital not
9:32
wanting to be there to get another blood draw, but the warm smiles of
9:36
the volunteers when I would walk in.
9:38
And the registration ladies who kind of got to know me because
9:40
I kept coming back regularly.
9:43
And then the sweet lab techs who I would have to warn every time that I'm
9:46
a fainter 'cause I can't do needles.
9:48
and they eventually, you know, they were so kind and gentle and
9:51
eventually after that time it's like.
9:52
I could do it without fainting and it was really exciting.
9:55
so then fast forward a year later, and it was in that same ultrasound
9:59
room after going through that whole process again, And the doctor couldn't
10:03
find the heartbeat this time either.
10:05
that we actually got to see a picture of our now 9-year-old son for the
10:08
first-time, and his name is Decker.
10:10
so that has been kind of just a picture of how.
10:14
Not only this health system has supported me, but the community
10:17
really around me as well.
10:19
our family, our friends, so many people were so supportive during that time.
10:23
Sometimes there's not, you know, there's a weight, there's
10:27
nothing you can necessarily do.
10:29
but just being there and witnessing, Each other's stories,
10:33
I think makes a big difference.
10:34
So that's kind of why working for S Water Medical now means so much to
10:39
me is because we get to be there for people, not only on their highest of
10:43
highs, but also in their lowest of lows and all those ordinary days in between,
10:47
And we get to be witness to that.
10:48
So I love that.
10:50
Joe Akin: I'm so glad you, brought up the family and friends and community
10:55
in your situation because it is during those times that you really, truly.
11:01
Figure out who your people are.
11:04
I will never ever forget that the first real meal I had when I got
11:11
home was a delivered meal and.
11:14
I had the best blackberry cobbler and vanilla ice cream that I, remember
11:21
a friend named Candy made it for us and I can taste it to this day.
11:26
And, she actually, when we had the fires back in March, March 14th of
11:31
last year, she, two days after the fire, she came by our house with
11:37
blackberry cobbler and ice cream and.
11:39
You, you'll be able to tell through these stories that I'm kind of a
11:44
mush ball because we reminisced about when she brought it last time
11:49
And we, we both broke out in tears.
11:52
But it's, it's fantastic.
11:54
The community is fantastic and when you find out who your people
11:59
are, it's an amazing feeling.
12:01
Abby Fox: And that's the thing, we just show up even if we're not sure
12:04
what to do, you know, we just show up for each other And that that means
12:07
something in the end of the day.
12:09
So, Caden, how have people showed up for you in your journey?
12:12
What does that look like?
12:14
Katon Lunsford: Yeah.
12:15
Like what both you guys were talking about.
12:16
even when we're unsure, it's really just presence that matters.
12:19
so my story starts back home in my hometown.
12:22
I remember waking up January 1st, 2021.
12:25
I just said the night before I was so happy that I made it through
12:28
2020 without getting COVID-19.
12:31
And I was just so excited that I'd made it through the year of,
12:34
we all know what 2020 was like.
12:35
I mean, Joe worked here so we all understand how scary
12:39
and frightening that was.
12:39
And so I woke up that morning not feeling well.
12:42
And I later, was told that I had got to, or COVID, 19.
12:47
and at that time the recommendation was to quarantine for two weeks.
12:50
so I remember I was a junior in high school and I quarantined
12:54
for two weeks and there weren't.
12:57
Fully formed studies out yet that articulated what
12:59
would come after COVID to 19.
13:02
It was kind of just you quarantine And then we're going to see what happens.
13:06
And so I remember those whole two weeks I couldn't leave my bed.
13:09
I, you are just so exhausted and every time I tried to leave,
13:13
I would just suddenly become.
13:15
very faint and I would pass out, or my heart rate would spike very high.
13:20
And so I went to many, many doctors and many cardiologists and they'd put all the
13:24
patches on me and monitor my heartbeat.
13:27
And, I was a runner.
13:29
I mean, my heart was supposed to be healthy because when you're a young
13:31
athlete, you're eating and drinking and doing all the right things.
13:35
You know your heart's healthy 'cause you're running miles
13:37
and it's supposed to be normal.
13:38
And so I remember I tried to come back after two weeks, but I couldn't
13:42
even stand up for my share without my heart rate spiking above 200.
13:46
my parents and I were like, this isn't normal.
13:49
And we need to figure this out.
13:51
so I've been going to physical therapy for two years prior to that
13:54
because I was a runner with bad form.
13:56
And that just means you have lots of ACHE's because you don't
13:59
have the proper form to run.
14:00
so he was like, let's just see what's going on.
14:03
I remember going in there for the first-time and kind of like you said,
14:06
Joe, that first step, because for me at the time, walking was scary too, because
14:10
I mean, my heart was just uncontrollable.
14:13
And when it's your heart that's messed up.
14:14
I mean, that's the beat of your body.
14:16
And so it's really frightening when that's not.
14:18
Working how it's supposed to work.
14:20
And so I remember that first step onto the treadmill.
14:23
I was like, I just, Brandon, I don't think I can.
14:25
Like, I just don't think I'm ready.
14:27
And I remember him just being like, you never will be.
14:30
So now's the time.
14:32
And so he just would stand beside me and I had a heart monitor on my finger
14:35
and wander around my chest and it was just walking on the treadmill day after
14:39
day until one day he was like, I think we finally regulated it a little bit.
14:44
Let's try jogging.
14:44
And I mean, that was just, I mean, that was just frightening because.
14:48
I mean, I just got walking down again.
14:50
so we would try jogging and it was like one minute of jogging And then I would
14:53
walk for five to like slow it back down.
14:55
And I mean, it took weeks and weeks and months before I finally felt
14:59
confident to go back out on the track and do something by myself again.
15:03
But.
15:04
I will just always remember that as the turning point for my passion and
15:09
admiration for healthcare because I mean, they really give us the
15:12
quality of our life back and it was just a really frightening time to
15:17
be like a stranger in your own body.
15:19
'cause I didn't really feel comfortable in my own skin for a
15:22
while, And so I just will always.
15:24
Have that as my moment where I'm like, This is what healthcare does for us.
15:29
so when I came to Stillwater And this opportunity to be an intern for Stillwater
15:33
Medical opened up, I was just immediately intrigued because I don't quite have.
15:38
The brain wiring for, healthcare.
15:40
But I love, I love community and I love talking to people.
15:44
so being able to serve in the PR marketing department for Stillwater
15:49
Medical is incredible because it just combines all my interest into one.
15:53
I mean, that was just a pivotal moment where I was like,
15:55
oh, This is what matters.
15:56
And the people that showed up for me during that time when I couldn't really
15:59
show up for myself, I will just always.
16:03
Appreciate and have a deep love for.
16:05
Joe Akin: You know, Caden, I, I heard your story the other day for the first-time.
16:09
my jaw hit the table when you told me what your heart rate was, just standing up.
16:15
I was going, that's, that's crazy.
16:18
And I really could empathize with that, thought process of just not
16:24
knowing what it was going to be like.
16:26
I mean, at your age, compared to where I was, I was 40 years old at the time.
16:31
You're in your twenties and you're standing up and you're having trouble.
16:37
keeping your balance and not falling down, not passing out.
16:41
I just can't imagine what was running through your head in those moments.
16:47
Especially coming from someone who had a manner speaking controlled their body.
16:53
you were a runner.
16:54
You would go out and you understood what your heart rate, where your
16:58
max rate was going to be And what you should be training at.
17:02
And you're standing there and your heart rate's higher than that.
17:04
I, just can't imagine.
17:06
Abby Fox: what I resonate so.
17:07
much with your story is the fact that you can do something now to kind of
17:11
contribute to what we're doing here at Stillwater Medical because I feel
17:14
the same like I shared, like I faint.
17:16
Anytime there's needles involved, I was interviewing Shelby Wright the
17:20
other day who works at our wound care facility, so shout out to Shelby
17:23
Wright if anybody listening knows her.
17:25
But she has such a passion for what she does in wound care And
17:29
for what she sees and experiences and things that I could never.
17:33
Ever do, but she does them so well and with excellence and with passion.
17:37
And so the fact that we can all kind of contribute in some way I
17:41
think is a, is a beautiful thing.
17:43
Joe Akin: You know, I do think that the hospital, system is
17:46
such a big organization and it takes so many different.
17:51
Personalities, so many different skill sets.
17:53
I mean so many different parts to make it work.
17:58
It's kinda like you were talking about Shelby.
18:00
She can do things that you can't, well, you can do things that, other's can't.
18:05
It just takes all these parts working together to make it work.
18:10
And I'm with you.
18:11
I look at the people, let's say in, the emergency department.
18:15
I just think of them as unicorns.
18:18
Every one of them.
18:19
They're just such unique personalities to be able to do what they do.
18:25
But then if you really start sinking in and looking at people in other areas and
18:28
really understanding what they do, you get the same sense of, wow, these are all
18:34
just really special people and they care.
18:38
I'll go back to that a million times.
18:40
They care about what happens to the people that come in there.
18:43
Abby Fox: I think there's definitely a reason.
18:45
what I've observed since I've been here is there's definitely a reason
18:48
why patient experience ranks so high.
18:50
I here because that does seem to be the focus, whatever we're attacking,
18:55
that does seem to be the focus of.
18:57
Experience is what's best for the patient, and that's gonna
19:00
drive our decision-making.
19:02
So it's been fun to be a fly on the wall of that.
19:04
I mean, I'm brand new to healthcare.
19:06
I've been here a little over a year, And so never did I ever
19:09
think I would be on this side of things, but it has been really fun.
19:13
And part of what inspired us to kind of start this podcast was to let
19:17
everybody else kind of listen in on those stories that we get to hear.
19:21
Every day of major life change and people making others' lives better.
19:26
And so I think that's our hope with this whole, still caring podcast that
19:30
we're doing, is that it creates a space for people to share, their experiences
19:35
And that maybe by learning from the experiences of other's, we can better care
19:39
for ourselves And then make our community stronger at the end of the day too.
19:44
okay, so we're gonna end every episode with a challenge to care.
19:48
So something that you are gonna do yourself or that you would challenge
19:52
other's in the community to do to improve health in the community.
19:56
Do you all have a challenge to care that you would like to share with us today?
20:01
Joe Akin: the big thing for me.
20:02
Right now, we have so much going on and there's so much stress in our lives
20:08
for a multitude of reasons right now, and I won't go into them, but I think
20:15
thing that I would challenge people to do is take some time in the morning,
20:20
take some time around lunch to take some time in the evenings to just breathe.
20:26
Really focus on their breathing, clear their mind of everything
20:30
else, and just be in that moment and relieve some of that stress because.
20:37
Sooner or later, it is just gonna build up and build up and build up.
20:41
And there, has to be some sort of a release.
20:44
But if you're focused on yourself, if you're focused on your, breathing, and
20:48
you figure out how to calm down your engine in those moments, it will help you.
20:56
It will help you get through the day.
20:57
It'll help you get through the week.
20:58
It'll help you get through the month, but you just have to learn to
21:02
relax yourself and really breathe.
21:06
Not just shallow breaths.
21:07
I'm talking deep breaths and deep thoughts.
21:10
Abby Fox: You have to take us through a breathing exercise.
21:12
Of these days.
21:13
So that would be a great, it would be a mini episode on the feed.
21:16
Katon Lunsford: Some guided meditation.
21:19
Oh, okay.
21:20
Thank you, Joe.
21:21
I think my challenge to care kind of how we all had kind of been saying in our
21:25
own words is that first step, just allow yourself to be scared, but take that
21:30
first step to regaining your quality of life back, whatever that may look like.
21:34
If that's taking some big, deep breaths in the morning or going to the doctor
21:38
again for the first-time in years or.
21:41
getting a screen that you're a little bit scared to do.
21:43
I think it's important to allow yourself to be scared And then do it anyway.
21:47
And if I had let myself be scared and not taken that first step, I
21:51
would be in a lot different, place.
21:52
So I just think it's really important that, you just kind of take hold
21:56
in charge of your life again.
21:58
Abby Fox: for me, I think mine is gonna be like the blackberry cobbler,
22:02
like, just show up, you know, like, just show up for someone I think.
22:07
In today's world, we all know people that are hurting, that are struggling.
22:11
That might be a health-related issue, but it might not be.
22:13
It might just be, something to do with their mental health
22:16
or something to do with the circumstances are surrounding them.
22:19
So I would just encourage people to reach out and just.
22:23
Tell people that you're there And that you're thinking about them and see
22:27
where that grows and where that goes.
22:29
Because I know in my own life, that has been such a blessing when I'm in a hard
22:34
space, just relying on the people around me, has been the greatest gift that I
22:38
could ever give myself, is to just open up and let other's know, that I'm here.
22:42
Joe Akin: And, you know, to that point, Abby, I think women are so much
22:47
better at doing that than men are.
22:50
I think just the, the mothering instincts they're just powerful.
22:55
And women and men feel.
22:58
In my experience, men feel a little bit awkward saying that to other guys, I'm
23:04
hopeful that we're kind of turning a corner because I do hear that more often.
23:10
I do hear men reaching out to men and say, Hey, I'm here
23:13
for you if you need anything.
23:15
And it is a very powerful statement when someone says that
23:19
to you, you feel so good inside.
23:24
Because someone is, they're venturing out into an uncomfortable area
23:28
to make that statement to you.
23:30
And I, don't know, it's just very uplifting at a time when
23:33
we all need a, a nice lift.
23:36
Abby Fox: So a reminder, we're in this together.
23:39
Well, thanks to you guys for being in this together with me.
23:42
I feel like This is a crazy idea that we're just doing, so we're excited.
23:46
We're ready to kind of birth this into the world and get this out there.
23:49
We hope it touches your heart as much as it has already touched all of ours,
23:53
and stick around for some of the great conversations that we're gonna have with
23:56
community members throughout this year.
23:58
We're really excited for what's coming.
24:00
Joe Akin: It's gonna be so much fun.
24:01
Cannot wait to get this thing going.
24:03
Katon Lunsford: Yes.
24:04
Thanks for listening for us guys.