Harris Frey, pictured here with his mother, Theresa, celebrates a birthday with style.

Ah! Sunshine. Spring breezes. Flowering trees.  Long walks through green fields.  Hard to sit at a keyboard and type the news, but what wonderful news we have to share!

There are two new babies in McConnell bringing smiles to the families of Chuck and Hunter Busse and Kelly and Summer Pharr.  Harris Frey and Jesse Ligo celebrated birthdays of note.  Also news from Malcolm Partin about his noteworthy surgery that let him “beat the odds.”

CRADLE ROLL

Anna Katherine Pharr

Davis (left) and Holden Pharr are delighted to have a beautiful baby sister, Anna Katherine Pharr.

“It’s a girl!” was the joyful cheer that could be heard throughout the halls of CMC when Anna Katherine Pharr arrived on March 9, weighing 6 lbs. 14 oz. and stretching to 19 1/4 inches.  Proud parents Kelly and Summer Pharr had decided not to learn the sex of the baby ahead of time, and so were thrilled to have a first daughter to share their home with sons, Davis (almost 6) and Holden (almost 3).

Happy family members on hand to greet the new arrival included Summer’s parents, Jeanette and Ace Brown of Augusta, Ga., her older sister, JoAnn Maguire of Atlanta (who rushed right out to buy some “girl things” for Anna Katherine), and younger sister, Autumn Brown of Greenville, N.C.  Kelly’s dad, Mickey Pharr, and mom, Mickie Jones and her husband, Brice, all live in Cornelius and were at CMC to greet their new granddaughter.  Kelly’s sister, Wendy Speckman and her husband, Damien, also live in Cornelius and had a first baby, Brody, this past December so were delighted to welcome a new cousin for their son.

Best wishes to all the family.

Sarah Elizabeth Busse

What fun to have a new baby sister! Just ask Carter and Molly Busse who love to hold Sarah Elizabeth Busse.

Congratulations to Chuck and Hunter Busse who also welcomed a new baby daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Busse, on March 6.  Sarah weighed 8 lbs. 14 oz. and was 21 inches long.  Big brother, Carter, 6, and big sister, Molly, 4, are thrilled to have a new baby sister and in Hunter’s words “can’t get enough of her!”

Doting grandparents close by include Hunter’s parents, Andy and Kim Beard of Davidson and Chuck’s mother, Maureen Busse, of Cornelius.  Also living in Cornelius in Chuck’s sister, Dedi Beluisk, and her son, John Roberts.  Hunter’s brother, Will Beard and his wife, Stacy, are close by in Charlotte with their sons, Drew and Jack.  Wonderful to have family near to help with the newest addition – and a little babysitting for sure.

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Harris Frey

Happy Birthday to you, Harris Frey, who turned 23 years old this month.  Harris is the son of Theresa and the late Mike Frey of McConnell.  A senior at UNC-Wilmington, Harris called his mother to ask if she would like to join him for Spring Break in Orlando.  Finding a great deal at The Royal Pacific Resort at Universal, Theresa left her “post” at Davidson’s Aquesta Bank and headed south with Harris and his girlfriend, Danielle Oruska, a sophomore at UNC-W for the week of March 8.  Harris and Danielle had a fabulous time on the rides at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.  They also drove to Cocoa Beach for a day of surfing.

For most of the time, Theresa was happy relaxing by the resort pool with some good books including “Twenty Wishes” by Debbie Macomber about a group of widows who decided on 20 wishes that positively affected their lives.  Now Theresa is ready to share these insights with her widow’s group – younger women in our area who have lost husbands.  (Contact Theresa at theresafrey@att.net if you want to know more.)

Before heading back to North Carolina, Theresa, Harris and Danielle had a special dinner at Emeril’s Tchoup Chop restaurant with pineapple martinis, pot stickers, crab cakes and a special creme brulee for Harris served on a decorated birthday plate. What a nice excuse for a getaway!

Jesse Ligo

Seeing Gardner Ligo shopping for roses at Harris Teeter was a perfect opportunity to inquire of the occasion and find out that the bouquet was for Jesse Ligo who turned 21 on March 15.  Daughter of Gardner and Larry Ligo, Jesse grew up in Davidson and following high school headed to Drexel University where she is majoring in design and marketing.

Happy 21st Birthday, Jesse Ligo, shown here with her brother, Seth

This spring term of her junior year, Jesse is living at home on North Main Street while completing an internship with Brooke McLeod Thomas (a Davidson College graduate), who publishes a quarterly magazine called “Weddings Unveiled.”  Brooke is the editor, publisher and photographer so Jesse is gaining marvelous experience working with her out of the publication’s Mooresville office.

Last fall, Jesse traveled to Florence, Italy, to intern with a fashion broker and learn Italian.  This summer she will take design courses with Drexel in Prague.  What a well traveled young lady!  We are just delighted that her travels and coursework allowed her to be at home to celebrate with family on this important 21st birthday!  Happy Birthday, Jesse.

A MIRACLE SURGERY FOR MALCOLM

Professor Emeritus Dr. Malcolm O. Partin retired from Davidson College’s history department in 2003 after 35 years teaching modern European history.  An avid gardener, the yard of his south Lynbrook Drive home shows the wonderful results of his expertise over the 33 years he has lived there.

However, about two years ago Malcolm began to notice lapses in memory and difficulties with balance.  After much testing, Charlotte neurologists determined Malcolm suffered from normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). When successful, surgery for “water pressure on the brain” is the only reversible form of dementia. Lucky for Malcolm, he was deemed a suitable candidate for the procedure.

Delighted to be back at work in his yard is Malcolm Partin.

This past August, neurosurgeon Dr. Scott McClanahan inserted a programmable shunt in Malcolm’s head to carry away excess fluid.  After the initial surgery a “program” adjustment is needed in a five -minute office procedure.  After a mere two days in the hospital, Malcolm was home in Davidson and soon after back to his normal routine.  Gardening is his first love and he rejoices daily that he can once more tend his sizable yard.  Malcolm recovered his physical well being quickly but tells visitors that his short-term memory is taking a bit longer to recover. What a remarkable reversal for Malcolm.  In his case, he certainly beat the odds of progressive loss of memory and coordination.

This success story shows how fortunate we are to live in a strong medical community.  Want to know more about treatment for Malcolm’s form of dementia?  WBTV anchor Tonia Bendickson interviewed Malcolm, his good friend Leland Park and his doctor, Scott McClanahan on the 6 p.m. news  March 19.

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Have news for Brenda? Write to her at hbarger@bellsouth.net.