Amy's Blog

Miss Dora

     I really want to meet Miss Dora.  She must be one of a kind, truly.  Her daughter e-mailed me a wonderful bio, if you will, of her mother to share with me for this blog.  She's a heart survivor and so much more. I really think in this case, I need to let her do the talking but I'll set it up with a little background.

    Dora Bartley lives in Tomkinsville, Kentucky.  She is a mother, grandmother, and a great grandmother. Dora is 92 and still working at the county jail. She's worked her entire life, starting at age 4. She chopped corn with her dad and helped her mother in the house. By age ten, she could sew. She was one of 13 children and says they would cut wood and sell it so they could buy shoes for the winter.They churned butter and dried fruit for pies. They raised chickens for the eggs, and cows for meat. They helped her dad make molasses. They rode horses.  Her life is so rich in wonderful memories of working and playing with her family.

   Dora not only sews, and cooks at the county jail, she quilts. and does ceramics. No grass grows under her feet!

   Her heart disease didn't appear until she was in her seventh decade of life.This is where I must let Dora do the talking.   

   "I would not have had to work after I reached retirement age, but I do love being around people and staying busy. I had my first heart procedure in my seventies. The first trip to Nashville was long and somewhat silent even though the car was full. I was scared my life would change drastically. This proved to be a waste of emotion. I went through the procedure with flying colors and was back home within the week. I resumed my daily activities and life went on as usual surrounded by family and friends.  A few years passed and I had a second bypass procedure with the same good results. Both were under the supervision of Dr. Dante Graves (Saint Thomas).

     When I turned 92 this year, my children threw a large birthday party for me and I danced enough to earn between 40 to 50 dollars. It was so much fun for me. Later this year, the chest discomfort returned and I returned to Dr. Graves. We made another trip to Nashville, never dreaming there could be a treatment plan beyond medication. Again, Saint Thomas and Dr. Graves came through for us. I had a cath procedure that morning, a stent in place by the afternoon and I was home the next day.

    Since the first bypass, I have had grandchildren and great grandchildren born. I have danced at weddings and caught bouquets. I have made even more friends and attended so many church singings, I have lost count. For this I am thankful.

    After these 92 years, I feel I have been blessed. I have the remaining 6 children and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. I also have a church family, a work family and a medical family in Dr. Bean and Dr. Graves. God has blessed them with a wonderful gift and God blessed me by bringing them to me."

     We are now blessed to know Dora Bartley.  May she continue to work, dance, sing, laugh and love for many more years.

      Oh, and one more thing; some advice from Dora.  "You only have to keep faith and have a positive outlook. Then find a physician you can trust and talk to. I cannot thank Dr. Graves, his staff and the employees at Saint Thomas enough."

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