October 8, 2003 was a day like any other when 16-year-old Kate Cutshaw got in the car and headed to class at East High School in Morristown, TN. In the next few minutes the day became unlike any she had ever lived. She reached down to change the CD and as she looked up the car crashed into a tree.
She was taken to the University of Tennessee Hospital and six days later to a rehabilitation facility in Atlanta. Kate is now a quadriplegic. No longer do her legs and arms function normally. She remained there until March adjusting to this new way of life. Not only Kate but her supportive family went through a learning process too.
Her sister Tiffany was a few years older and the girls had always been close buddies. During the months Kate was recovering she became an aunt when Tiffany gave birth to her first baby. By the time Kate arrived back in Morristown Tiffany would be an even closer caring buddy.
When Kate was seven she was told her vision was so bad she was legally blind and glasses were very important in her life. One of the first things Tiffany did each morning after Kate’s return home was to put her glasses on since this was a task Kate was unable to handle. However, Kate was determined to diaper her new niece and after a long struggle she was successful.
In 2003, the year Kate lost her independence, a vision correction specialist in Kansas, Dr. David Durrie, watched Christopher Reeves deliver a speech on television and he saw his wife position his glasses on his face before he spoke. At that moment the doctor realized how many persons suffering from paralysis had to depend on others for an act as simple as putting on glasses.
Dr. Durrie was inspired to use his skills to give back to the community and he created a non-profit organization Focus on Independence. It would provide free laser or surgical correction to disabled individuals who are unable to use their arms or hands to handle eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Still early in its development the organization had to get the word to other specialist doctors to volunteer their services in this effort. In Crossville Dr. Larry Patterson learned of the program and volunteered. He was told he was the first from Tennessee.
Over in Morristown Kate’s father was searching the web when he found the information about Focus on Independence. In February, 2009, these three players from Kansas, Crossville and Morristown were linked. Kate came to Crossville for an evaluation by Dr. Patterson and later she had lasik surgery on both eyes.
Her final visit was May 27 and she was told she now has 20/20 vision. In an interview she and her sister Tiffany told me how reading has become her favorite pastime. She is going through books at a rapid pace and she said, “These eyes should be good until I’m 50!”
Kate added that she is also practicing doing diapers again so when Tiffany’s second baby arrives in October she will be ready.
To date Kate is one of approximately 40 people who have benefited from the mission of Focus on Independence, to increase the independence of people with spinal cord injuries by reducing their need for glasses and contact lenses through correctional surgery.
Because the program is early in its developing stage their goal now is to raise capital to produce support materials and training programs for interested vision correction surgeons across the country who wish to participate. They also need to add a public relations plan to raise awareness of the program among those who suffer from spinal cord injuries. Their web site is HYPERLINK "http://www.focusonindependence.com" www.focusonindependence.com.
Lifestyles
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The gift of sight
- Lifestyles
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Widows Sons support TAD
The Widows Sons Masonic Riding Association, Dry Bones Chapter, held a benefit motorcycle ride May 19 to benefit the Teens Against Drugs (TAD) Center in Crossville.
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New Corvette Club shares love for flair, design
If you were reaching maturity during the 1950s through '60s, you were probably either a Chevy guy or a Ford guy. While Chevy guys had reason to admire Ford Thunderbirds and Mustangs, the Chevy sports car enthusiasts have had an ace-in-the hole with the advent of the first production Corvette in 1953 — only six months after it debuted as a GM prototype.
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Arts festival coming in September
Mark on your calendar the dates of September 14-15 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) for the Plateau Arts Festival at the Plateau Creative Arts Center, 451 Lakeview Drive (off Peavine) in Fairfield Glade.
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PLEASANT HILL RAMBLINGS: Award-winning artist shares talent with community
Not everyone has the pleasure of living next door to a “real live artist” – not just a Sunday painter as many of us are, but an award-winning career artist who has had 20 solo exhibitions, been accepted into various juried shows and garnered numerous awards.
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2012 Tennessee Senior Chess Tournament winners honored
The chess tournament was a great success, with a total of 18 players representing Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and Kentucky. They took home many prizes, plaques and cash playing open section.
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PLATEAU GARDENING: Photographing plants and blossoms
I keep a monthly photographic plant journal. With a digital camera, photography enthusiasts like myself can take lots of pictures at little cost. Not surprised plants are my favorite photo subjects, are you?
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Celebrating Tennessee state parks
Come celebrate National Trails Day and the 75th anniversary of Tennessee State Parks, Saturday, June 2.
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GIVING BACK: Take a look at state of our waste
The county recently submitted its solid waste report to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. In the past year, the county collected and landfilled 52,462 tons of waste. Another 6,067 tons of materials were collected and recycled. A total of 58,829 tons of waste were collected by the county.
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The River WILD!
The Big South Fork of the Cumberland River winds its way through the 125,000 acres of the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area before flowing into the Cumberland River and Lake Cumberland in Kentucky. It’s a free-flowing river, with no dams to control release of the water, but the scenery and the magnificent rock formations make it a favorite of paddling enthusiasts who watch the weather to see if they can get out and explore areas that are hard to reach by foot.
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Farmer's Market opens for business June 2
The Cumberland County Farmer’s Market will officially open the growing season as it has every year since 1978. This year’s “opening” will be Saturday, June 2, at the traditional location on Livingston Rd., next to the fairgrounds. Selling will begin early (6:30 a.m. or so), although some vendors may set up a few hours later in order to provide the freshest vegetables picked just that morning. There is usually a good selection until well after noon.
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