Rutherford Weekly - Shelby NC
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1496503
Thursday, April 6-April 12, 2023 www.rutherfordweekly.com 828-248-1408 Rutherford Weekly - Page 3 A n d r e w Tisdale has opened the Rutherford C o u n t y offi ce of Ameriprise F i n a n c i a l S e r v i c e s , LLC as a F i n a n c i a l A d v i s o r . The offi ce is located at 247 Oak Street Extension, Ste. 105 Forest City. Also joining Ameriprise is Alex Ledbetter, Client Service Manager. "Andrew's passion for helping clients address their fi nancial concerns and delivering personalized investment, retirement and estate planning strategies makes him a wonderful addition to our team" Sam Head, CEP@, APMA@, CRPCo, Private Wealth Advisor. "l am thrilled to join Carolinas Wealth Management because of their strong, positive reputation in the community and the way they provide exemplary service to clients," said Andrew Tisdale. Carolinas Wealth Management has served the Carolinas since the early 2000s. Tisdale graduated from Western Carolina Universlty with a degree in Education, Gardner Webb University with a Master's degree in Education, East Carolina University with an Education Specialist degree, and Liberty University with a Master's of Arts degree. As a private wealth advisory practice, Carolinas Wealth Management provides fi nancial advice that is anchored in a solid understanding of client needs and expectations and is provided in one-on- one relationships with their clients. For more information, contact Andrew Tisdale at 828-429-7539. Rutherford County Weather...........16 Fast Way Oil Kids Corner...............15 Community Calendar.....................16 Business & Services Directory........7 Obituaries................................18-19 Local Churches............................21 Outdoor Truths................................9 Classified Ads.........................22-23 I n s i d e T h i s W e e k I n s i d e T h i s W e e k Smith's Drugs has sold more than 53 copies of the book "It's About Jesus" 45 copies of "Heart On Wheels", the book about Tommy Hicks have sold. Although she had received a dire diagnosis she still began college. "I wasn't going to let this hold me back," she said. Magnolia kept searching for answers and treatment but found it was getting more diffi cult for her to keep on going. Her energy levels declined. All she could do was go to class and come home. Traveling all over the U.S. for treatment options, the only thing that helped her condition was having an outpatient procedure where the cysts were drained right behind her stomach every few months. "As time kept going on, I dropped down to 100 pounds and I started to look sick," she said. In October of 2016 when she went in for the cyst draining, she woke up screaming. The person doing the procedure punctured and drained her gallbladder rather than drain the cysts. "This left bile freely fl owing in my abdominal cavity. I was then hospitalized and had to undergo multiple corrective procedures, all of which seemed to make my condition worse and worse." She had to drop out of school because she couldn't catch up on her work and that caused her to lose her scholarships and fi nancial aid. "There was no way for me to pay for school," she said. "I sat in the hospital and watched every brick I had laid for myself crumble around me. I was at the point of giving up. There was no way that this could get better" Magnolia said. About that time is when Dr. Chirag Desai walked into her hospital room, and with no explanation whatsoever, told her "he was going to wait to take my gallbladder out when he took out my pancreas." "Now, to be honest, I was on pain medication at this point due to all of the surgeries, but the only thing I remember was my mom picking her jaw off the fl oor and asking why this man wanted my pancreas," Magnolia said. The doctor said he had been recruited to UNC hospital to create a program around this experimental transplant, and that she and her mom should give him a chance to change Magnolia's life. She didn't have anything to lose, so why not? The doctor explained the complicated procedure where he would take out her pancreas, dissolve it down to the islet cells that produce insulin, transplant them into her liver, which would make the liver turn into a hybrid organ. If the liver accepted the islet cells, it would act as the endocrine function of her pancreas and control her blood sugars instead of becoming a severely brittle diabetic. Since the procedure was new to Magnolia and her mom, they asked for time to do more research. Dr. Desai gave Magnolia no guarantees that this transplant would fi x her issues. "It was not a promise, but it was a glimmer of hope. One that I had not seen in a long, long time. I wasn't ready to give up quite yet." While waiting for the procedure, she decided to transfer to UNCG to continue her education where she was closer to the hospital. She was also prepped for a recovery after the surgery that could last at least six months with very light physical activity and a year before she got back to normal. She had the procedure and recovered a day at a time. Her life took on a new beginning after being so sick for so long. In May of 2020, with academic honors, Magnolia graduated from UNCG and was subsequently chosen to become a Lead for North Carolina Fellow, and moved to begin her job with the Town of Rutherfordton. She even became a Rutherfordton fi refi ghter in 2021. "I have devoted myself to helping others, because that is what I've been called to do," she said. Without the transplant fi ve years ago, none of this would be possible. Magnolia has a lot going on these days, and she admits she gets tired but said it's a "good kind of tired." She has learned how to say "no" to obligations rather than "I can't." "And it's all because of the hope and life that my islet cell transplant brought me. I can't help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for my entire transplant experience, and I wouldn't change a single thing about it." Although she didn't have a solid organ transplant, medical research shows that it is inevitable that she will need a lung transplant one day due to CF and she hopes people will register as organ donors. "One donor can save and heal more than 75 lives," she said. "It's my dream that CF will one day stand for 'Cure Found,' and your donation can help that happen," she said. Magnolia in a UNCG promotion. Spending her 18th birthday in the hospital. Magnolia and her mother. Continued from front page. Magnolia Long the night after her transplant in the hospital. Golden Valley Crusaders IN CONCERT No Admission Everyone Welcome Sunday, April 23 • 2pm ELLENBORO COMMUNITY CHURCH Hwy 74 (Main St.), Ellenboro Tisdale Joins Carolinas Wealth Management Article Provided By: Ryan S. Moore Andrew Tisdale PLEASE PLEASE RECYCLE RECYCLE