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Declutter Your Kitchen page 2 WE REMEMBER LOLA Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda MURRELL page 2 FINDING PEACE Soul Snacks “Peace is not an Lola was an integral part of our team, Of course, Lola never took her place at page 3 absence of war. It is making her departure that much harder. our front desk again, but she didn’t give One day, I was called from my office; up. Lola worked really hard, rehabilitating Turkey and Spinach Stuffed a virtue; a state of someone said Lola wasn’t looking well. herself to regain her ability to communicate Mushrooms mind; a disposition for By the time I reached the front desk, Lola and get around with less assistance. Her page 3 benevolence, confidence, couldn’t respond. We called 911, and though husband really jumped into action, helping and justice.” her however he could. Though times were The Four-Legged Hero of tough, they grew closer as Lola strove to – Baruch Spinoza recover fully. page 4 Unfortunately, two years after the first This was the favorite quote stroke, Lola suffered from another massive of a former legal assistant, stroke. I was devastated to learn she didn’t Lola Murrell. A few of you may pull through, and she passed away on remember Lola from when December 10 of last year. she worked at our front desk. Sergeant Stubby: Four- Medical issues forced her to After she passed, I was honored to be leave some time ago, and Lola invited to a get-together in her honor, A Salute to Freedom | Legged Hero of World War I passed away a few months where I had the opportunity to meet many back. Recently, I found myself of her close friends and family and learn reflecting on the amazing more about her life and spirit. I didn’t know impact she left on our office. until then how long she’d dreamed of In the summer of 1917, a stray mix fell into commanding officer “promoted” Stubby to becoming a paralegal or how much being the ranks of the 102nd Infantry Regiment while sergeant right then. In 2012, Lola had just received hired at our office meant to her. they trained at . Christened “Stubby” During his 18 months in Europe, Stubby her post-baccalaureate for his short stature, the friendly stray became the participated in 17 battles, receiving certificate in paralegal studies If it hadn’t been for this medical issue, I regiment’s constant companion, participating in numerous medals and becoming the from Old Dominion University, know, without a doubt, that Lola would still drills and learning how to salute. subject of countless newspaper stories. but she didn’t have any be in the office today. Lola was that good at When the 102nd shipped out that following Sergeant Stubby returned home with experience in the field. At the her job, and we’ve never been able to find October, Private J. Robert Conroy smuggled Conroy as a hero. He shook hands — time, I needed someone to someone who could replace her passion, Stubby onto the ship. After being discovered by paws? — with three presidents, led work our front desk as a legal skill, and work ethic. We still feel scars the commanding officer, a salute from Stubby hundreds of parades across the country, assistant, and a friend was quick from her loss, but when times get tough, I convinced the officer to let the canine remain as stayed in elite hotels, and received to recommend Lola. remember Lola’s favorite quote and honor the unit’s unofficial mascot. lifetime memberships from the YMCA, her memory by working hard to ensure this it only took emergency response five the , and the American “She’s a brilliant woman,” he insisted. “I law practice continues to be a force for It wasn’t long before Stubby proved himself to be minutes to reach us, in those five minutes I Red Cross. When Conroy enrolled in know her well, and I know she’ll do a great benevolence, confidence, and justice — to more than a one-trick pit bull. After surviving a saw Lola go from a fully functioning person law school at , job for you.” bring our clients at least a tiny taste of poison gas attack, Stubby became very sensitive to basically a vegetable. Stubby also became the mascot of the peace. to the chemical. Early one morning, Stubby football team. He was right. From day one, Lola did great began running through the trenches, barking and Racing her to the emergency room, we work. She could look at a massive stack of Rest in peace, Lola. You are dearly missed. giving soldiers enough time to put on their — and After Stubby passed away, his body medical records, understand exactly what soon learned Lola had suffered a massive Stubby’s — gas masks and fight off a German was preserved. Conroy donated she was seeing, and know what information stroke. She survived, but she faced a long attack. him and his many medals to the she needed for our cases. A real whiz at road. She was forced to leave the office, Smithsonian Institution, where though we kept her on the insurance plan The fearless Stubby became an expert at finding Microsoft Excel, Lola even developed the he remains today as part of the as long as we could, partly to help out wounded soldiers. During one patrol, Stubby system for recording, storing, accessing, WWI exhibit, titled “The Price of and partly to hold onto our own hope that even found a German spy hiding in the bushes and tracking our client intake that we Freedom.” Not too shabby for a maybe, by some miracle, she’d be able to and mapping American positions. Impressed, the still use today. All the while, Lola put a – Joseph Miller stray from Connecticut. dedication to justice in everything she did. come back.

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you have space to work, you make much keeping sharp items from accidentally In Virginia, your workers’ compensation Those decisions are entirely within the being done there. Wrong!!! The referral less of a mess. Open counters will also poking you. nurse case manager is the person province and control of your authorized is 100 percent within the doctor’s keep you from having to move items who is supposed to act as the liaison treating physician. The nurse case control, and the nurse case manager around constantly. As far as food goes, make sure you are labeling and dating things to avoid between the insurance company, your manager might try to direct your has no say in the matter! health care providers, and you. It is her treatment to facilities or providers that The kitchen can be an organizational Next, eliminate or stow away rarely used pileups in the pantry or fridge. If you nightmare. People are in and out of it or seasonal items. While that custom can easily tell how long food has been job to help schedule appointments, the insurance company likes, or who It is important to be aware of this, all day long. Items end up in different pineapple slicer might seem cool, how hanging out, you are much more likely communicate with are in their network. If those desires run because you can rest assured that the places every time someone empties the often are you really using it? Items like to throw it out when it has reached its your doctor, and counter to your doctor’s orders, then insurance companies have their go-to dishwasher. Sometimes it feels like you these should be stored somewhere with expiration date. I promise you, you’ll get clarification too bad. facilities and providers who will almost can find everything except the utensil extra space; the kitchen is likely not that never eat those 6-month-old crackers. about your course always say that you are capable of you need. Sound familiar? If so, it’s likely place. Take it out when you need it, and They belong in the trash. of treatment. In short, the nurse case manager is not returning to work when you are not, put it back when you are done. because your kitchen is filled with things allowed to manage your care. That is or who will say that you are a faker These few simple suggestions will have you don’t use often or don’t use at all. But what she does the job of your doctor. and not really injured. The nurse case Below are a few tips to declutter so this Drawer dividers are great for keeping your kitchen running much smoother not do is control managers are given marching orders by room will work better for everyone in utensils separated by size or function. If in no time. You will be shocked at how your treatment. Unfortunately, many doctors are the workers’ comp insurance companies your household. something comes from a distinct place, many things in your kitchen are just it is easier to remember where it goes wasting space. Once you have pared She does not get not aware of this and it sometimes to make sure you get to these go-to First, clear counter space. Only your back after being washed. It also makes down to the essentials, keeping the to decide what becomes our job to educate them. We facilities. most essential kitchen items should be it much easier to find the next time you kitchen organized will be much less facilities you will recently had a doctor refer our client hogging this precious real estate. When need it. Dividers are especially useful for daunting. be treated at or to a testing facility that he preferred, When we are on a case, we do what specialists but then actually tell the client that the everything possible to make sure that you are to be nurse case manager usually chooses does not happen. referred to. the facility, so testing might not end up

Turkey Spinach COULDA, Joe’s Monthly STUFFED& MUSHROOMS WOULDA, ‘SOUL SNACKS’ This is a new series of recurring articles we As if that weren’t sad enough, SHOULDA Mr. Milford So eventually, after many years in this would like to feature from time to time. They made the mistake of not calling our office lighter job, after all of his potential workers’ are based on very sad calls we receive from until many years after his terrible accident. comp benefits had expired, his employer folks who appeared to have a great case — knowing he could get away with it — and would have been entitled to significant So what happened? Mr. Milford had surgery fired Mr. Milford. Of course, that is what It is known that an angry What You’ll Need ... money, but by waiting years before calling to smooth out the stump on his arm. He prompted him to call us. Could he get person does everything only a workers’ compensation attorney (and was fitted with a special prosthesis. And the any benefits now? • 2 teaspoons coconut oil • Handful of baby spinach leaves thereby not protecting their rights or taking company he worked for gave him a light- to further his own prestige. • 6 large portobello mushroom • 6–8 grape tomatoes, sliced any action), they simply blew any chance duty job he could perform with one hand. Now this man in his late 50s with caps, cleaned and gills removed (roasted if preferred) of obtaining workers’ comp benefits or a limited skills and only one hand has to R. S. Arush • 1 small onion, diced • Salt and pepper, to taste settlement. Of course we are not sharing Neither his employer nor workers’ comp try to find a job. • ½ pound ground turkey these situations to make fun of or denigrate insurance company ever told him he was the unfortunate person who made this entitled to 150 weeks of compensation He called us, and we had to give Step by Step ... for the loss of his hand, which he could him the very sad news: because he mistake, but rather to spread the word: DO 1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt coconut oil. Place have received in a lump sum. Nor did they had not protected his rights in a Physical cravings are like NOT end up like these folks, or let anyone the mushrooms into the skillet and let cook about 5–7 minutes until ever tell him he was entitled to negotiate timely manner, there was absolutely you know end up like them. Get on the a drug coated with honey softened. Flip halfway through, then set aside. phone and call us. a potential settlement of his medical nothing that could be done for him claim based on the future lifetime cost of under workers’ comp law. — however much more you 2. In the same skillet, sauté onion until softened, about 3 minutes. Add Our first story is from a man we’ll call Mr. prosthetics and potential surgeries, which bite into it, the more bitter ground turkey to the pan and break into small pieces. Sprinkle with Milford. Mr. Milford was assigned to work his doctor would likely say he would need If only he had called us back salt and pepper and cook until done. over the course of his life. in 2006. Yes, maybe he would and addictive it becomes. a machine at a factory. The machine was 3. Remove turkey from heat and add baby spinach leaves. Let the have had to return to work, supposed to be tagged out for safety turkey’s heat wilt the spinach. issues, but it wasn’t. One day in 2006, Worst of all, no one ever told him that there but perhaps we would have R. Nachman without realizing he was not supposed to were papers he had to file to secure an obtained a decent settlement 4. To assemble, use a small spoon and scoop the turkey and spinach use the machine, Mr. Milford went to do his award and become entitled to his lifetime for him and he would not be so filling into the caps of the mushrooms. Top with roasted or regular job and as a result, one of his hands was medical benefits, or to any workers’ comp desperate now. grape tomatoes and serve warm! Recipe courtesy of TableForTwoBlog.com. chopped off. It could not be reattached. benefits.

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