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When lifelong trekker and adventurer Dorismae Weber learned her aortic valve was shutting down, she was afraid she was losing something she loved most: her daily walks. But following a trans catheter aortic valve implantation, Weber reclaimed her walking shoes — and her life. This is her story. An avid walker and traveler, Dorismae Weber’s life changed dramatically when she was exploring Mongolia and began having trouble breathing. Weber, 84, learned her aortic valve was shutting down. “It’s scary when you lose what you’ve always done,” Weber says. “I’ve walked all my life, and it’s always been the place I’ve gone to for comfort, for solving problems, for just enjoying. But all of a sudden, I couldn’t do this anymore.” Weber was not a candidate for traditional open heart surgery because she had heart surgery in the past. Then Weber learned about about trans catheter aortic valve implantation, also known as TAVR. She went to see Renown cardiologist Jake Ichino, MD, who put her through a battery of tests before performing the procedure. “Unlike the standard traditional open heart surgery, TAVR is a less invasive approach,” Dr. Ichino says. “We traditionally go up the artery of the leg with a catheter tube device and then we implant a valve without opening the chest.” After the TAVR procedure, Weber was once again able to complete her daily five-mile hikes. “When I woke up, all I can tell you is that I looked around and I thought, ‘I have a whole new life ahead of me — when I was told there was very little left,'” Weber says. She has also planned a trek just below the arctic circle with the environmental group Earthwatch. “I’m here because I had that procedure,” Weber says. “I’m here because they offered that procedure. And I’m very grateful for it, because I wouldn’t be here without it.” To learn more about TAVR, visit Renown’s Institute for Heart and Vascular Health.

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Meet a couple that's all heart. After each had a heart attack one year apart, they committed to Renown's new Healthy Heart Program and support each other along the road to heart health. Almost a year to the day that Janis VanHorn had a heart attack, her partner, Carl Edson, had one too.  "That kind of doubled the dose of making sure that we were doing everything that we could to continue with our life," VanHorn says. "It's a very life-altering thing.” And after Edson's quadruple bypass open heart surgery, he was grateful for the simple act of getting into the car with the woman he loves. "I was so relieved," he says. "I didn't realize how precious life was until that moment." The couple see the same cardiologist, Richard Seher, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, who recommended they participate in Renown's new Healthy Heart Program, a 12-week, 36-visit intensive cardiac rehabilitation curriculum that includes monitored exercising and cooking classes. Now they're both familiar faces at the program, which is located at the Renown South Meadows Medical Center. After several weeks, Edson says he has lost 10 pounds and VanHorton has lost inches and feels more toned. Tackling the program together has brought the couple closer and given them the opportunity to fuel one another's health goals and longevity. "I would be lost without this man," VanHorn says," and anything I can do to help him live longer, I'm going to do that." Edson adds, "She is to me my whole life, and I mean that sincerely. There's no one else I can turn to that has helped me in my life as she has, and I'm just trying to return the favor in a big-time way. She is my everything."

Read More About Carl and Janis Team Approach to Renowns Healthy Heart Program

Knee pain and injury can restrict movement and make it difficult to be active, but studies show that the right type of exercise can help prevent these issues. It’s no wonder our knees are highly prone to injury. They house a complex network of muscles, ligaments and joints, and are crucial to our agility and daily movements. If you are experiencing knee pain, it’s important to not ignore this message from your body. While it’s fairly common to have occasional aches, if the pain limits your ability to perform normal daily activities like climbing stairs or walking with ease, have a medical professional check it out. “The take-home message here is to listen to your body,” says Amanda Henriques, PT, DPT at Renown Physical Therapy. “We are all built differently and respond to exercise in different and unique ways. Running may feel great for one person, but always lead to injury for another.” At any age, it's important to protect and strengthen your knees to help prevent pain and injury. Here are five tips from our experts: 1. Strengthen your muscles Choose exercises that focuses on the muscles around your kneecaps, hips and pelvis and places extra emphasis on your core. These muscles will absorb some of the stress places on your knees, helping them stay balanced and stable. 2. Maintain a healthy weight Each pound of body weight produces five pounds of force on the knee. If you need to shed weight, start with low-impact activities to avoid increased stress to your joints. 3. Pick the right exercise Opt for exercise that put less stress on your knees, such as cycling, walking or swimming. Choose flat surfaces when walking for exercise and avoid activities that put extra stress on your knees, such as deep knee bends or downhill running. 4. Warm up before working out Don’t overdo the workouts in length or intensity, and stretch after exercise to help prevent injury. 5. Avoid high heels Wear shoes with good arch support specific to your choice of exercise that provide a stable base for your feet and legs. Replace running shoes every 300 to 500 miles. Other athletic shoes should be replaced after 500 miles of wear. These tips can help keep your knees strong and prevent injury. But if you experience an accident or trauma, seek medical attention and follow up with any rehabilitation recommendations you receive. Depending on the injury, your doctor may recommend physical therapy, where you will be guided through individualized exercises to strengthen and heal. “If you listen to your body and take the appropriate preventative measures, you can find the right type of exercise to keep you happy, healthy and fit for life,”

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Not all memory loss is inevitable — there are several things you can do to keep your brain nimble at any age. Find out how brain exercises, a healthy diet and daily movement can improve your brain’s focus. A modest decline in memory is to be expected as we get older. We forget someone’s name but recall it later. We find the need to make lists to remember things more pressing. Manageable? Yes. But frustrating nonetheless. The good news is we don’t have to sit back and succumb to age-related memory loss. There are concrete things we can do at any age to keep our brains sharp, nimble and engaged. Five Simple Brain Exercises 1. Volunteer or participate in meaningful activities outside of work. This engages your brain and emotions in a healthy, positive way. 2. Engage in moderate, regular exercise to tone body and mind. Overall good health is critical to brain health. Even casual daily walking can boost your mental abilities. 3. Eat the rainbow. Choose to include plenty of colorful fruits and veggies and ease up on processed foods in your daily diet. The proper nutrients can improve circulation to your brain, which will amp up your cognitive abilities. Consult your doctor for the best diet and supplement choices for your specific health needs 4. Get a blood test to determine your body’s hormonal and nutrient levels. Specific hormones and nutrients can affect cognition. Be mindful of your cholesterol levels, and if you take cholesterol medications, such as statin drugs, be aware they can also affect your mental faculties. 5. Engage in brain activities like reading, crossword puzzles, Sudoku and Trivial Pursuit. These types of activities can improve your brain’s focus and concentration and — most important — test your memory and general knowledge. You derive more benefit by engaging in these activities consistently for short amounts of time, so make a weekly appointment with yourself to build brainpower.

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If you’re looking for an easy way to add a nutritious kick to your favorite brownie, pizza or cream sauce recipe, check out these healthy ingredient substitutions. There’s no doubt about it: People love decadent, creamy and starchy dishes. If you’re prone to avoiding your favorite guilty pleasure because it’s not a healthy choice, there are a few easy, healthy and delicious substitutions you can add to your cooking or baking routine to satisfy your cravings. Here are eight of our favorite healthy substitutions you might have in your kitchen right now: Baking Swaps Avocados for Butter While this might not sound like an appetizing addition, avocado's creamy texture is similar to butter and can easily be added to brownie and cookie recipes. Avocados are high in healthy fats that help to lower cholesterol and are lower in saturated fats. They also can add vitamin E, fiber and potassium to your baked goods. Swap Amount: Substitute 1 cup blended avocado per 1 cup butter. Bananas for Oil Bananas are a tasty option to replace the use of oil in baking recipes. While oil is higher in fat and calories, bananas can provide potassium, fiber, vitamin B6 and all-natural sweetness to your recipe. Do take into account that bananas are higher in sugar and carbohydrates. Swap Amount: Substitute 1 cup of mashed bananas per 1 cup of oil. Beans for Flour You might not typically think of beans as a substitution, but they can add a lot of nutritional benefits to your treats. High in protein, fiber, folate, magnesium and phosphorous, beans are a great substitution for traditional flour in recipes and create a moist and dense texture to your baked goods. Swap Amount: Substitute 1 cup of blended beans (about a 15 ounce can) per 1 cup of traditional flour. Or, Wheat Flour for White Flour If the bean substitution doesn’t appeal to you, try substituting at least half or all of your unbleached white flour for whole wheat flour. Keep in mind for every cup of whole wheat flour you use, add another 1/4 cup of water to your recipe. This will add more fiber, protein, B vitamins, and several minerals for your baking recipe and scrumptious treats. Chia Seeds or Flax Seeds for Eggs This is a great substitution if you're allergic to eggs or have a vegan diet, but still want to enjoy desserts and breads. Chia and flax seeds are high in omega-3 fatty acids and calcium along with fiber, vitamins and minerals to help promote healthy digestion. This substitution will not provide as much protein as an egg would; however, there is less cholesterol and saturated fat. Swap Amount: Combine 1 tablespoon of ground chia or flax seeds mixed with 3 tablespoons of water, stir and let sit for 15 minutes. Equals one whole egg equivalent. Cooking Swaps Nonfat Greek Yogurt for Mayonnaise Making this switch is an easy replacement for sauces and dressings. Nonfat Greek yogurt is significantly lower in fat and calories and higher in protein. With the added protein, you will feel fuller longer throughout the day. Swap Amount: Substitute equal parts nonfat Greek yogurt for mayonnaise. Try mixing it into a cheese sauce or add lemon juice and spices for a creamy salad dressing. Lemon Juice or Vinegar for Salt If you are worried that your food will be bland, try this swap to lower added salt and still enjoy flavor while creating a fresh, tangy twist to the meal. There are a lot of varieties -- red wine, apple cider and balsamic -- each enhancing your dish with a different flavor. Swap Amount: Experiment by using half the amount of vinegar or lemon juice per the amount of salt your recipe calls for. Cauliflower for Pizza Crust Try a new twist on pizza by switching out its carbohydrate dense crust with fresh cauliflower. This substitution is lower in calories, fat, and simple carbohydrates while increasing your vitamin C and vegetable intake for the day. Swap Amount: Add one egg per every head of cauliflower and season with spices to taste, for a medium sized pizza. Or, Mashed Potatoes Preparing a homemade cauliflower pizza crust can be time consuming, so an easier exchange might be to substitute mashed cauliflower for mashed potatoes, which are higher in starches, calories and carbohydrates. Swap Amount:  Boil and puree a medium size head of cauliflower. Add a splash of low fat milk and season to taste. Zucchini or Squash for Spaghetti Another great way to add vegetables to your meals is to exchange ribbons of zucchini or spaghetti squash for spaghetti noodles. This substitution helps to reduce calories and carbohydrates and zucchini is rich in vitamin A. Experiment with different sauces and spices to create a variety of dishes. Swap Amount:  For zucchini ribbons, try using a mandolin or a peeler. When preparing spaghetti squash, cut it in half and lay face down in an oven safe pan. Add 1/2 inch of water to the bottom of the pan for more tender spaghetti strings (optional). Cook for 30 to 45 minutes until tender. Lie the squash face up, letting it slightly cool, and then use a fork to gently pull the squash from the peel, separating into strands. Remember: Some of these substitutions will affect the taste and texture of your recipes, so it is essential to play with the ratios to find the perfect fit for you. Consume a variety of foods, eat treats in moderation, and incorporate frequent physical activity to keep a well balanced, healthy lifestyle.

Read More About Use This, Not That: 8 Healthy Cooking Swaps

If you're not taking safety precautions during mountain sports, you could be at risk for a spinal cord injury. Dr. Benjamin Pence of Renown Rehabilitation Hospital explains the best way to prevent this serious injury. Mountain sports are a big part of the winter season here in our area, but if you’re not practicing all the proper safety techniques, you could end up with a serious spinal cord injury. Benjamin Pence, MD, Renown Rehabilitation Hospital, is here to offer tips to prevent this serious injury while you’re out enjoying what the Truckee Meadows has to offer. What is the spinal cord? The spine stretches from the base of your skull to the coccyx (commonly referred to as the tailbone). Your spine is made up of 24 vertebrae—seven cervical, which are in your neck, 12 thoracic, which are in your chest, and five lumbar, which are in your lower back. There are ligaments and muscles attached to each vertebra. These facilitate back movement and protect the bones from damage. There is cartilage between each vertebra which acts as a shock absorber for your spine. Finally, the spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of the nervous tissue and support cells that is enclosed in the spinal canal and send signals from the brain to everything from your arm and leg muscles to bowel and bladder function. The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system.

Read More About Preventing Spinal Cord Injuries: What to Know

Even when fires burn outside our area, the air quality in the region can reach dangerous levels. Our expert explains how to maintain your lung health when fire season strikes. It’s a sight we know all too well as northern Nevadans — a hazy or thick layer on the horizon when smoke rolls in from nearby fires. Sometimes the smoke is more evident than others, but it’s important to remember, even when the smoke may not be as visible across the valley, it still impacts our air quality. The last week or so, our air quality has been in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” range, which can be dangerous for people who are sensitive to air pollution. Air Quality Changes: Who’s at Risk? Renown Pediatric Pulmonologist Sonia Budhecha, M.D., explains certain people are especially at risk when smoke moves in: Older people, whose lungs are not as healthy as they used to be Young children, whose lungs are still developing People with heart and lung disease including asthma, COPD and emphysema “Smoke and haze from fires carry particulates that can get into your respiratory system and eyes, which can be a danger for all ages,” Dr. Budhecha says. How You Can Protect Yourself Until the smoke clears and the air returns to the “good” range, it is best to follow these tips to protect yourself and your family: Stay indoors and keep windows closed Turn on the air conditioning to recirculate clean air Drink plenty of fluids to help your body flush out any toxins you inhale Additionally, all community members should reduce their physical activity and try to prevent heavy exertion outside. If you or a loved one has a heart or lung disease, avoid physical exertion altogether because smoke can aggravate these conditions. “People with heart disease may experience shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations or fatigue,” Dr. Budhecha says. “People with lung disease may also have shortness of breath, chest discomfort, wheezing, phlegm or a cough.” Smoky Signs and Symptoms Smoke can also impact healthy people — irritating your eyes, nose or throat. And in some cases, inhaling smoke can lead to bronchitis. When haze moves into our area, keep an eye out for these symptoms: Burning or stinging eyes Runny nose Cough or scratchy throat Headaches Wheezing Shortness of breath Difficult taking a full breath Chest heaviness Lightheadedness Dizziness If experiencing any of the above symptoms, seek medical attention or call your doctor for advice. Sometimes, these symptoms do not appear for as long as 24 to 48 hours after smoke inhalation. For those that have pre-existing lung or heart conditions, consult with a health care provider on action or management plans. To schedule an appointment Visit Renown Pulmonary Medicine, or call 775-982-5000. Understanding Our Air Quality The Air Quality Index (AQI) is broken down by large (PM10) and small (PM2.5) particulates. According to Dr. Budhecha, large particulates are usually ones that can be seen and smelled. They can damage your eyes and nose but don’t often get deep in the lungs or blood vessels.   “The more dangerous ones are PM2.5, which can’t always be seen or smelled,” Dr. Budhecha says. “Any time the AQI is above 51, children with lung or heart disease should not be outdoors.” For the latest air quality update in your area, visit AirNow.gov or call (775) 785-4110.

Read More About Stay Inside When Skies Are Smoky

Winter skin alert – cold temperatures can put your skin into chaos. We asked for skin tips from Heidi Nicol, an esthetician with Renown Dermatology, Laser & Skin Care. She shares how to keep your skin glowing through the frosty months ahead. 1. Re-think your shower Few things feel better on a cold day than a long, hot shower. But hot showers can lead to dry skin because they strip your skin of its natural protective oils. Avoiding them altogether is best – choose a lukewarm, or warm, shower instead. If you have an occasional hot shower, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) suggests keeping it at five to ten minutes. Nicol recommends using a gentle cleanser and avoid using too much. Moisturizing after a shower or bath while your skin is still damp is also a must. Slathering on your favorite lotion helps your skin hold on to precious moisture. 2. Stay away from smoke and fire Although sitting close to a roaring fireplace can feel good, it is drying to your skin. Smoking and exposure to smoke also harms your skin. Smoking reduces healthy blood flow to the skin. This also causes your skin to wrinkle faster, making you looker older. Additionally your skin heals much slower if you smoke. 3. Consider a humidifier Cranking up the thermostat dries out indoor air. Skin is our largest organ, and in general, heat is very drying to your skin. To clarify, over time dry air degrades your skin’s natural moisture (lipid) barrier leading to flaking, peeling and cracking. Your skin can overcompensate for the dryness by producing even more oil. In other words it is possible for your skin to be both oily and dehydrated at the same time. Even oily skin needs a daily lightweight, non-pore clogging moisturizer. 4. Use SPF daily The sun’s rays damage your skin even on cloudy days. Sunlight contains UVB (burning) and UVA (aging) rays. Although UVB rays are less strong in the winter, the UVA rays are same strength all year. And snow can reflect almost 90% of UV radiation. With this in mind make sure you have suitable skin and eye protection when going outdoors. 5. Take care of your hands and feet Don't forget your fingers and toes when moisturizing. These areas tend to be drier than other parts of the body. Gloves help to protect hands from winter weather and lock in moisture. Similarly, putting lotion on your feet before your socks will keep them your skin from flaking and cracking. Follow the tips above to make sure your skin is at its best, despite the winter weather.

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Renown’s Sterling Silver Club is honored to feature members of our club each season. We thank Mary and Dave for sharing their fun-loving story and all of our members for leading healthy, happy lives that inspire us all.     Rock On! Rhyolite almost sounds like a rock band, but it’s not (at least not one that we are aware of). It is a ghost town near the eastern boundary of Death Valley National Park, the most silica-rich of volcanic rock – and the magma-based spark for what has become a very special relationship of our featured Sterling Silver Club member couple, Mary and Dave.  “May I carry those for you?” Mary and Dave first met back in January of 2015 when they sat near each other at a financial seminar in Reno. Though friendly banter was exchanged at the time, contact information was not. It wasn’t until later that year in July when “rock karma” intervened. The two reunited unexpectedly when they joined friends on an excursion to Wonder Mountain near Fallon, Nevada to gather… Rhyolite!  “I remember I enjoyed meeting Mary at the seminar and thought she was pretty, but didn’t get her phone number,” recalls Dave.  “But that day in the desert, Dave asked if he could carry my rocks,” Mary smiles, “and we got each other’s numbers and began dating after that.”  Since then, they’ve gone “rockhounding” all over the state. Smokey quartz brought them to Mt. Peterson, north of Reno. Daisy agates were worth a trip to Austin, Nevada. They’ve hunted for Larsonite, a rare, petrified bog wood found only in McDermott, and also venture out with the Comstock Gold Prospectors Club in search of that precious metal.  Hiking, exploring and searching for interesting and colorful “finds” together make rock hunting one of the couple’s favorite hobbies.  “I’m especially fascinated with petrified wood that’s been lying in the desert for millions of years until I dig it up,” says Dave. “Pretty cool!” The Pre-Rock Years Mary and her four siblings are first generation Chinese Americans. Her parents who emigrated from Malaysia to the U.S. by way of Canada after World War II and raised the family in Northern Virginia. After earning a bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary, our Mary started a career in software training and project management. Now retired, she occasionally goes to work helping friends and family with travel reservations.  Dave and his three siblings were born and raised in Southern California. He remembers his parents taking the family camping in the Sierra Nevada mountains a couple times a year and trips out to the sand dunes in San Filipe, Mexico where they’d stay for weeks at a time. Dave began his career in the restaurant industry right out of high school and was eventually recruited to run a developer’s hotel restaurant and be his personal chef. Dave wrapped up his career in 2012 when he stepped down as executive chef at Circus Circus Reno Hotel & Casino.  More recently on the non-work front, Dave’s son, Cameron, and his wife, Rebecca, have blessed grandpa Dave with a granddaughter, Madison – and there’s a grandson on the way!  Getting to Know You   Mary and Dave also use their time to collect travel experiences that have allowed their relationship to deepen and their appreciation of each other to grow. They’ve camped at Death Valley and locations throughout the Nevada desert and admit to more civilized stays in hotels and resorts in Ireland, Mexico, Portugal, Spain and the United States. They also spend a week every fall paddling their canoe along the shores of Lake Tahoe, which they call the most beautiful place in the world.  Well, when you travel that much with someone, you really get to know them.  “Mary has the clever wit to keep things interesting,” says Dave. “Plus she has the patience to put up with my little quirks and idiosyncrasies, and the gumption to keep me out of trouble!”    And Dave’s cooking skills have found a fan in Mary, who’s a bit of a cook herself. “My favorite dish of his is roast duck,” says Mary. “I offered a little coaching and showed him the traditional way of serving it with steamed rice pancakes, hoisin sauce and spring onions.”  Mary also enjoys spending time bulldog spotting, restoring her 1992 Mazda Miata, playing the ukulele, crocheting and knitting – and she’s teaching herself Spanish!  Member-to-Member Advice Mary and Dave enjoy socializing with other Sterling Silver Club members and learning how to better care for their health at different club events. As for their advice to other members? That’s simple: “Live the best life you can by taking care of yourself and your family and friends.” The Sterling Silver Club thanks Mary and Dave for giving us a glimpse inside their ROCKIN’ relationship and appreciates all of our members for being passionate about living their best lives.

Read More About This Couple Rocks

A Gallery-Worthy Member Artistry usually refers to a person’s ability to express their unique creativity in powerful and surprising ways. But there is also an art to living your life in ways that celebrate who you are, your limitless potential, the people you love and the community you care about. So imagine our delight to discover a Sterling Silver Club member and artist whose artistry of life reaches far beyond gallery walls.  An Early Love of Art Born in Chicago, Illinois, Debbie arrived as the last of her parents’ three children and has two older siblings, Cynthia and Henry (a.k.a. Skip). As is usually the case, school played an important role in their shared childhood and Debbie remembers being drawn to art assignments in class from an early age.   “When I was a young girl, I loved working on various art projects at school,” she recalls. “I always found myself learning something new and then teaching it to everyone I knew.”  Later, Debbie would play violin in the school orchestra, join the swim team, and to continue to learn about art and its broader influence.  “I remember taking a class and learning about color theory,” recounts Debbie. “I was so impressed with how colors relate to one another and also discovered how primary and secondary colors can be used together to make everything from products and advertising to what we wear more pleasing to the eye.”  Expression-ism. “Art allows you to express yourself,” says Debbie. “And I’ve always been quite happy being expressive.” Though Debbie’s affinity for art was obvious, it wasn’t destined to be her career… at least initially.  After earning degrees in marketing and public relations at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois and George Williams College of Aurora University in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, respectively, Debbie began what turned out to be a career in technology.  In the Chicago area, she held positions as a systems analyst and computer programmer and a role in marketing and public relations for a computer software company. Then it was off to Los Angeles, California with her new husband, David, where she worked in sales and education for another software company.  The couple returned to Elmhurst, Illinois to start their family but eventually moved to and settled in Minden, Nevada where David had an insurance business for 23 years and their children grew to become the adults their grandparents dreamed of. “My mom and dad would be most proud of our children,” beams Debbie. “They (her parents) always hoped for the best for them and would be over the moon that they are doing what they want to do, two of them in the field of medicine.”  Debbie and David now live in Carson City, Nevada and their three children have established lives of their own. Jeffrey, the oldest, is a pastor and holds two master’s degrees. Rachael is an OB/GYN provider in Southern California and a graduate of University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med). And their youngest, John-Henry, is finishing up his medical training and will soon be a trauma surgeon.  Furry Family Members Debbie’s other “kids” are of the four-legged variety. “Mercedes and Bentley are really our luxury pugs,” she admits. “But are named after famous characters from books, not luxury cars.” She also says they are goofy, much-loved and simply melt the hearts of everyone they meet – “always!”

Read More About Sterling Silver Club Member Masterpiece

Renaissance Don   The Sterling Silver Club is honored to have thousands of members who’ve led and continue to lead incredibly vibrant and diverse lives. And we’re absolutely thrilled when those members volunteer to share their stories and experiences so we can all appreciate and learn from them.   This issue’s featured member is no exception. From his love of cooking, travel and music to his drive to learn new languages, take on new hobbies and keep himself active and fit, Don is an aspiring Renaissance man who may already be deserving of the title.    Revolutionary Family Roots   Don’s father, who was born in Beijing, China, earned a master’s degree in metallurgical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and was working on his PhD there on a full scholarship from his home country when the Chinese Communist Revolution occurred. In order to stay in the United States and avoid potentially being thrown into prison by the new communist regime (a fate that befell some of his family members), his father married Don’s mother, who was a U.S. citizen and also a student at Berkeley. Together, they started a family.   “My father met my mother in a class and received his green card by marrying her,” says Don. “They proceeded to have six kids in nine years, I was number three. Dad never finished his PhD, but clearly earned what we like to call his “PSK” degree – Papa with Six Kids.”  Proud (of) Papa: Don’s father was a professor of metallurgy and a brilliant research scientist who was responsible for virtually every breakthrough in the development of titanium in the 1960s.

Read More About Meet Multifaceted Member Don Chang

Renown’s Sterling Silver Club is honored to feature one of our more than 9,000 members each season. We thank Judith for sharing her inspirational story and all of our members for leading healthy, happy lives that inspire us all.     Mother, grandmother and eventually great-grandmother is the expected title progression as families grow and babies have babies. “Grand” and “great” usually imply roles and responsibilities have shifted from daily child-rearing duties to those of a doting grandparent – that is, unless you decide to do it all over again. At the age of 61, that’s exactly what featured Sterling Silver Club member, Judith, decided to do when she adopted four of her great-grandchildren. At the time, Alicia, Adrianna and Joey were all under five and Giancarlo, the youngest, was just a baby. “At the adoption hearing, the judge was concerned how stressful it would be for me to raise four children in my late 70s and early 80s,” recalls Judith. “But I told him I had raised my own four children and then three grandchildren for a number of years and that it would be far more stressful for me to have my great-grandchildren separated from each other and me, possibly forever. I knew I could handle the stress of raising them no matter my age, but I couldn’t survive the stress of losing them.” “That was when Giancarlo started getting fidgety,” she continues. “So I raised up his little shirt and blew a raspberry on his tummy which made him giggle and settle down. Seeing that, the judge told the recorder to “put that move in the record” and agreed I was capable of caring for my little ones.” Years later, Judith has come to realize that her great-grandchildren also want to be there to care for her. “Giancarlo always makes me smile,” says Judith. “Once during a stay in the hospital, I was awoken at 3 a.m. for blood work and found him sitting next to my bed watching the oxygen count – he was 10 years old at the time.” “The nurse asked him why he was awake and he said he heard her say the count shouldn’t go below 88, so he was watching to save me if it did,” Judith explains. “The nurse reassured him that she was also watching the count at her desk and he didn’t need to worry. Then Giancarlo looked her square in the eye and told her if it went below 88 to wake him up because he loved me and didn’t want to lose me.” “He is still my sunshine,” Judith smiles. “And I have never regretted my decision.”   Work & Play For 20 years, Judith worked at Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC), first as an administrative assistant for the police academy before moving to a position in the president’s office. There she worked with the TMCC Foundation and on TMCC projects to raise capital funds for new buildings, off-site campuses, scholarships, college programs and more. “It felt wonderful to be able to notify a student that they had received a scholarship or tell a department that they had received the funds to purchase needed equipment for their program,” recalls Judith. For fun these days, Judith still enjoys doing something she did as a teenager: playing pool. “My mother taught me to play pool in my dad’s pool room/teen hangout space in my early 20s and I’m just getting back into the game by taking lessons to help remind me what I was taught,” says Judith. “I grew up in a small, country town on the Ohio River and my mother could beat almost all of the boys in the county. I would love to be able to emulate her ability in the game.” Judith also enjoys reading, watching Hallmark movies or Warriors basketball games, walking in nature, playing “competitive” shuffleboard with friends, all genres of music – and dancing! In fact, she’s currently taking dance lessons to learn a few new steps. Always Good for a Laugh “My great-grandchildren and I laugh a lot when I try to teach them the stroll, twist, mashed potato and old-fashioned, rock-‘n’-roll dancing,” admits Judith. “But we laugh even harder when they try to teach me their dance moves!”   Faith in What Matters Faith is something Judith celebrates and embraces for herself and others. “I truly believe that we are placed on earth exactly where God feels we are needed and that we are here to help each other through life, not to accumulate material goods for ourselves,” says Judith. “I feel deep satisfaction when I can help others either through just listening to them, advising them, helping them with specific needs or simply giving a smile to a stranger. To me, giving a smile or a helping hand to someone is like skipping a rock across the water – the ripples go on and on.” Then she adds, “And raising my great-grandchildren to be able to have wonderful lives full of love and happiness and closeness to God is the greatest gift I could give them.”   Club Talk So what does Judith appreciate most about being a member of the Sterling Silver Club? She says it’s the opportunity to just – talk. “I fully enjoyed my initial interaction with the club and other club members at the Roaring Twenties dinner dance event,” remembers Judith. “I sat at a table with the nicest ladies and had great conversations with adults and danced with one of the instructors. When you are raising four teenagers who sometimes seem to speak an entirely different language, it’s refreshing to meet and speak with others your own age.” Pictures of some of the popular Sterling Silver Club events are featured here. Judith finds club events that bring her joy. “I also like the cooking classes and recently went on a walking tour of Oxbow Park, which was very peaceful.”     What advice does Judith have to help other members live their best and fullest lives? “On a wet December morning 50 years ago,” Judith begins, “a truck coming around a curve on a country road slid into me and that split second could have made all the difference in the world to me. But God was with me and I survived, which no one expected.” “You never know when that one second that could change everything might happen, so make the most of all of your seconds,” she advises. “Do what you love with those you love. My family means the world to me and I try to think about how my decisions will reflect on the memory I will leave behind for them.” Then Judith thoughtfully adds, “I want them to remember that I truly loved them and always did my best to let them know that.”

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