You gotta have friends

by Sharlene Irete

sirete@recordcourier.com

Gardnerville resident Dorie Pharris said her life has been prolonged thanks in part to her Red Hat sisters.

"They got me to my heart treatments and it's given me a longer period of life," said Pharris, 84. "My fantastic, unselfish sisters took me back and forth to Reno for 35 treatments."

Pharris had to be on a machine for an hour every day for seven weeks and couldn't miss a treatment.

"I'm on my seventh pacemaker. My days were numbered. I couldn't have any more operations so my doctor recommended this treatment and said it will guarantee me another year of life," she said.

Pharris isn't able to drive, but after telling her situation to fellow Red Hat group member Vicki Hargrove of the Hip Hatters of Carson Valley, travel arrangements were made.

"Vicki had everything organized," she said. "She told me every day there would someone to take me to Reno for my treatments."

She said the results of the 35 one-hour treatments may be compared to having a heart bypass without the operation. The machine forced blood from her own body to open capillaries that hadn't worked in years.

"It made my heart work," she said. "I had one valve gone and couldn't exert myself, but now everyone says I look so much better. I made it and I'm grateful to God that I did. I'm doing fine.

"I sent thank-you notes to all the members. 'Thank you' is a beautiful word, but it doesn't express the feeling I have. I just want to let people know what a beautiful place Gardnerville is. I've been here seven years and everyone has been so kind," said Pharris.

"The Hip Hatters gave me a new life. We're very active in the Valley and I'm ready to participate again."