BY BIANCA NAVARRO Community contributor ream as if you will live forever; live as if you will die today.” That is my sister’s way of looking at life. Nothing scares her — not even leaving her family for an entire school year and living on the other side of the world! That’s right; Joanna has headed to Germany on a foreign-exchange program and has left behind her senior year at Ridgeview High School. She is so excited to be staying in a monastery to learn a third lan- guage — she’s fluent in Spanish and English and is currently learn- ing to speak German. Joanna has reported that the monastery is incredible. “The site of it is breath taking!” she said. “It’s like being in Harry Potter — only without the wiz- ards!” Joanna claims the atmosphere to be extremely refreshing as well. She shares that transportation is a lot different from here. There are hardly any cars — and most people walk or rely on bikes. And for food, vegetables and meat are commonly served. Most importantly, she says the people are very polite and wel- coming. While there, my sister hopes to visit museums, ruins, and other historical landmarks. She anticipates touring France, the Swiss Alps, Italy, Spain, and Greece! Adventure seems to follow her, so I have yet to hear her stories. Joanna has taught me two things. One being, yesterday’s dreams are today’s goals. And two, you have to risk going too far to discover just how far you can really go. My family and I are exceptionally proud of her. There is no doubt in my mind my sister has an amazing future ahead of her. Bianca Navarro is a freshman at Ridgeview High School where she misses the company of her older sis- ter, Joanna. 2 The Bakersfield Voice Sunday, September 26, 2010 Share stories, photos, blogs www. bakersfieldvoice .com ■ Submitting your sto- ries for The Bakersfield Voice is simple and FREE! Just go to: www.bakers- fieldvoice.com and create a profile. ■ Choose what you’d like to contribute (an article, letter, picture or community event listing) and post it yourself. ■ For delivery issues, please e-mail: voicedelivery@bakersfield.com ■ Still need help getting your contributions onto our website? E-mail Sandra Molen at smolen@bakersfield.com YOUR VOICE n Oct 30, 2008, Kenny Elmore rose from bed at 4 a.m. — like he had every morning for the past seven years to do his usual 4:20 a.m. workout. He chatted with a friend, Dave, for a few minutes before leaving the gym at approxi- mately 5:20 a.m. He went home, ate, show- ered and was out the door by 6:10 a.m.. Around 6:20 a.m., on route to his job, he was hit by someone who had made a left turn in front of him. Kenny was on his motorcycle. When his wife got the call, ironically, it was from his boss, asking Wendy where Kenny was — as he was never late for work. His co-workers, also worried that Kenny had not shown up for work, had actually seen the accident on their way to work! They knew it “didn’t look good” for their lifeless friend. The ambulance rushed Kenny to emer- gency where he was clinging to life. Amaz- ingly coherent, the ambulance driver said Kenny was pretty alert for “what should be a dead guy.” Life as Kenny Elmore had lived for 41 years changed in about ONE SECOND. The accident caused major life threaten- ing trauma to his pelvis, and midsection, major blood loss, blood clots, multiple torn ligaments in his right knee, and burns and major lacerations to his left leg. Kenny was in the hospital for six, long weeks. After the hospital stay, he was allowed to go home and was bedridden for another six weeks, due to the severity of his injuries. Totally bedridden for three months, he would have his loving wife, Wendy, children, Loren, 19, and Kelly, 16, help with feeding, dressing, and any and all daily activities he could muster up lying in a hospital bed — the daily activities that most of us can take for granted were an unbelievable chore for this once active, agile man. A physical therapist would come in to work with Kenny — and shortly realized that this man was stronger than the average bear. He could do things with balls and bands that he wasn’t “supposed to do yet.” Totally impressed, the PT moved right along with Kenny’s progress. Tiring quickly of the supine position, Kenny attempted to sit in a wheel chair for 30 minutes a day. Vertigo from lying down in bed so long took its toll. Kenny told me he had to sit up an inch or two a day to try to get his bearings back. Inch by inch, he finally became vertical after five days! Within three months of the accident, Kenny became weight bearing. Kenny’s genetic size and strength came in like a life saving device. His fitness level, prior to the accident, coupled with his size and strength, helped him stay alive after the accident. Moreover, it also helped him heal from many of his injuries that took over six months due to their severi- ty. I’ve seen pictures of Kenny in the hospi- tal — ouch, major ouch. One would think he wasn’t gonna make it, if you know what I mean. Doctors said it would be awhile before he could walk again. Beyond that, he credits his family for his return to existence. His devoted wife took six weeks off to nurse him back to health. His daughter and son also helped dad to his path to recovery. Kelly told me he just did whatever was needed to help his dad in any way he could. Loren said she had to nur- ture her dad back to health, one day at a time, and knows as an athlete herself, that his size, strength and fitness lev- el played a big role in his recovery. I would like to mention that while I did not know Kenny and his family prior to the accident, I can see a bond between his family the minute they enter the gym. Its “Family Fitness” time when the Elmore’s arrive . Kenny’s book, “One Sec- ond,” which has been pro- moted at Fitness 19, Russo’s and several book signing events, is still available to anyone interest- ed in how this Kenny Elmore’s life changed in just ONE SECOND. Read how the horrible anguish of this accident lead him to the perils of a tri- umphant recovery in full detail. This short article does little justice but only acknowledges how fitness helped him on his road to back to life and the gym. Kenny told me that prayers, fitness, fam- ily, and his friends from church were his true support mechanisms. Fast forwarding to today, Kenny is back at the gym, getting himself back in shape That, of course, takes on a whole new meaning. Kenny currently wears an AFO (ankle foot orthopedic foot brace) and a knee brace, has permanent paralysis below the knee and even has to wear a special brace on his foot at night when sleeping. Still, we have seen Kenny come back to life, one step at a time, literally speaking. He works out on a daily basis with his family. He recently got off disability and has a new job as a safety contractor for Aera Energy. Congrats to that, Mr. Elmore! Miracles do happen. Kenny Elmore is proof of that. Kenny Elmore, 43 years young, is the author of the book “One Second.” This book describes the one second it took to change his life. Please pick up a copy of “One Sec- ond,” available at Russo’s book store, Ama- zon.com, and Barns and Noble Booksellers. Questions, comments? Please email Gina @[email protected]. YOUR FITNESS O Get in step to fight ALS! COURTESY PHOTO Joanna Navarro (right) hugs her sister, Bianca Navarro. A long way from home It takes just ‘one second’ to change a life BY STACY INMAN AND MICHAEL GAGNER Community contributor he Seventh annual “Walk to Defeat ALS” will be held Saturday, Oct. 2 at the Park at River Walk in Bakersfield. The Walk will help raise money for local patient services and increase awareness of ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, in Kern Coun- ty. Over the last six years, our friends and neighbors have contributed over $530,000, making the Bakers- field Walk one of the most success- ful events for the Golden West ALS Association. This success is the result of countless people in our community working hard to improve the lives of those afflicted with ALS. The biggest thrill is seeing all those people — friends and strangers alike —parading around the park in support of our cause. Once again, we call upon the can- do spirit of our community to help those in need. The ALS Association has been there to help Kern County ALS patients and their families through their most difficult times, from finding doctors to obtaining med- ical equipment, or providing a sym- pathetic ear. The Walk has helped the ALS Association provide the following services for Kern County: ·Located and provided services for nearly 50 percent of ALS patients in Kern County ·Hired Kern County case manager ·Monthly support group meeting ·Opened Center for ALS Care at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center ·Sponsor annual "Ask the Experts" seminars ·Created local equipment loan pool Walk registration begins at 8 a.m. and is followed by a three-mile walk around the park. Sponsorship opportunities are available — and we are forming teams of walkers now. If this disease has affected your family, or you know of someone who has ALS, please consider walk- ing in their honor or memory. See http://walkgla.alsa.org (Kern County Walk) for information on donating, volunteering, or forming a walking team. You may also contact Stacy Inman or Michael Gagner at 664- 1226 or 636-4841. Get in step to fight ALS! GINA ROLOW Fitness columnist T Join St. Demiana Coptic Church for annual festival! BY JASMIN SHENOUDA Community contributor t. Demiana Coptic Church invites you to its Third annual Coptic Christian Festival Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 9 and 10 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The festival will be on the church grounds located on 9200 White Lane, on the corner of Park View Dr. in southwest Bakersfield. The festival will offer activities for children, authentic Middle Eastern food, informational movie, gift shop, bookstore, photo opportunity with the kings and queens of ancient Egypt and a church tour. Admission is free. For more information, call 664-7320. S Sign ups for Bakersfield Bobby Sox Oct. 2 & Oct. 16 BY ROCKY BESS Community contributor akersfield Bobby Sox, a girls fastpitch softball league, will be holding sign ups for our upcom- ing 2011 season. Girls ages 3-18 are encouraged to sign up. Registration will be held Saturday, Oct. 2 and again on Saturday, Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. both days. Sign ups will be at Ellis Island Pizza Company in the Wild West Shopping Center on the corner of Stockdale Hwy & Real Road. If your daughter is new to Bobby Sox this season, please bring a copy of her birth certificate and her doc- tor and insurance information. Cost for registration is Mini Sox division $75 (ages 3- 6) and 8u-American Girl divisions $95. Price includes registration, basic picture package, shirt, socks, visor & secondary insurance. All girls in the Mini Sox division will receive a medal at our year end picnic. In all other divisions, 1st and 2nd place teams will receive trophies at the year end picnic. We will be needing volunteers for: managers, chaper- ones and coaches. If interested, please let us know at the Sign ups. For more information visit our Web site at: www.bak- ersfieldbobbysox.com or, call Kathy at 832-1271. B Cal State Bakersfield’s FACT hosts 28th annual ‘Barbecue for the Birds’ Saturday COURTESY OF CAL STATE BAKERSFIELD he 28th annual Facility for Animal Care and Treatment (FACT) Barbecue for the Birds and Open House will be held at California State Uni- versity, Bakersfield’s Environmental Studies Area on Saturday, Oct. 2 beginning at 2 p.m. Dinner will be served at 5 p.m. Tours of FACT feature talks and demonstrations with live birds of prey. A number of young birds, such as barn owls, great horned owls, and red-tail hawks will be on display. CSUB Biology students will give visitors an opportu- nity to dissect owl pellets and study bones of animals eaten by the owls. Members of CSUB’s 60+ Club will sell nature gifts, such as T-shirts, note cards, coloring books, zoo books, and other items. Dinner includes deep-pit beef and turkey, barbecue beans and salsa, tossed salad, rolls, homemade desserts, coffee and tea. Beer, wine and soda will also be available for purchase. A silent auction will be held during the open house and dinner. A live auction will begin after dinner, along with an opportunity drawing. Door prizes will be awarded at the end of the evening. Dinner tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors (60+), and $6 for kids 5-12. Reservations should be made in advance. For details and reserva- tions call 654-3167 or, email [email protected]. More information can also be found at www.csub.edu/fact/Annu- al_BBQ.htm. FACT is a wildlife rescue/conser- vation education project founded in 1975 by Ted Murphy, CSUB emeritus professor of biology. FACT students and volunteers care for hundreds of injured or orphaned birds of prey and conduct tours of the facility and classroom programs for thousands of Kern County school children each year. FACT is supported by the annual barbecue, mem- bers of Friends of FACT, and the sale of gift items. Directions: FACT is located in the Environmental Studies Area on the southeast side of CSUB. Enter campus on Roadrunner Drive from Camino Media Boulevard. Just after the information booth, turn right into Parking Lot I to access the road to the facility. Pass the recycling drop off area and, at the softball field backdrop, find a short dirt road. Follow the road over the bike path (yield to traffic on the bike path) to the parking area. T “D EXTRA! EXTRA! EXTRA! EXTRA! COURTESY PHOTO Participants in the 2009 “Walk to Defeat ALS” gather with family, friends and pets to show their support and raise funds for ALS research. COURTESY PHOTO Kenny Elmore CALIFORNIAN FILE Two great horned Owls are per- manent residents at the Facility for Animal Care and Treatment at Cal State.