| Dr. Robert Gale Martin: 'Farm boy' found worldwide acclaim
PINEHURST — Dr. Robert Gale Martin, a Wilkes County farm boy who became an internationally known ophthalmologist, lived his life by a few simple words: Do onto others as you would have them do onto you. Martin died March 18. He was 65. About five years ago, Martin was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a type of cancer that is found in the protective lining surrounding most of the body’s internal organs. "He knew it was terminal at the outset," said Dr. Gregory Mincey, a retina surgeon who worked with Martin. "We all did. Typical of Gale, he didn’t retreat. He picked up the pace. He literally operated until the very last." Martin was co-founder of Carolina Eye Associates, one of the largest outpatient ocular surgical centers in the state.
Military working dog Rex recovering from recent eye surgery
Former U.S. Air Force military working dog Rex is recovering very quickly from eye surgery he received March 13 to replace non-functioning tear ducts in his eyes. Rex was featured in The Era at the end of February seeking help to get him the vital eye surgery that his owner, former Air Force Tech Sgt. Jamie Himes Mangan, could not afford on her own. The next day, an anonymous donor contacted Mangan and provided the full amount for the surgery, which was in the vicinity of $2,000. Two weeks later, Rex got his surgery at Animal Eye Care of Western New York and took just a couple of days to recover."He had to wear one of those protective collars around his neck so that he wouldn’t rub at his eyes and he was pretty sore the night of the surgery," said Mangan. "Other than that though, he has recovered quickly and his eyes are producing tears again so it’s great."Rex’s tear glands stopped producing tears about a year ago and after trying every other possible route, Mangan concluded the only option was to get the surgery.To replace the tear glands, a surgeon had to locate one salivary gland from each side of Rex’s mouth and re-route it to his eyes.
Inside Pitch
The golden rules I followed for my drafts this year? I didn't select any of the Athletics' so-called hitters, I didn't reach for closers and I sure as heck didn't waste late-round picks on starting pitching depth. Why my embargo on extra arms? We live in a world in which we're much too concerned about things such as Fourth Meal and two-start pitchers. Because of our quest for excess, we unwisely load up on mediocre (at best) food at 3 a.m. and mediocre (at best) arms to maximize two-start opportunities. Ask yourself this question: Do you really want two starts from Miguel Batista? Didn't think so. Luckily, it's not too late to realize and correct your mistake. From year to year, bats are much more consistent than arms, so you're better off focusing on offense when it comes to your bench.
Charlotte launches £4m children’s hospital appeal
CHARLOTTE CHURCH said motherhood made it "a hundred times" more important for her to help needy children. The singer and television presenter yesterday launched a £4m appeal to equip the second phase of the Children's Hospital for Wales. Charlotte, who gave birth to her first child, daughter Ruby Megan, last September, is patron of the Noah's Ark Appeal, which has already raised £11m to build and kit out the Cardiff-based hospital's first stage. After touring the old paediatric wards at the University Hospital of Wales next door, the 22-year-old said, "It's amazing to see how the parents cope. When you have a child of your own it makes it so much closer to home. "If Ruby was ever ill, which, touch wood, she'll never be, just to know there would be a children's hospital that's absolutely state of the art, that you wouldn't have to travel to England for, to have it right here in Wales, would make any parent sleep well at night.
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