100-year-old takes dialysis in stride

[okarol]

Thursday, July 24, 2008          

100-year-old takes dialysis in stride
Platteville woman says attitude is key

By ERIK HOGSTROM TH staff writer

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. -- Family genes might be one of the reasons Nell Myers turned 100 on Wednesday, but she thinks there is more to celebrating a century than that.

"Your attitude toward living is one of the most important things," Myers said. "Enjoy what is out there. You've got to look at life that way."

Born near Glen Haven in 1908, Myers marked her 100th birthday much how she spends every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning: She left her assisted-living facility home by taxi for four hours of treatment at the Platteville office of Tri-State Dialysis.

"We actually have a fair number of patients in their 90s, but she is our oldest patient on dialysis," Tri-State Dialysis Nurse Manager Kate Kern said of Myers. "It is very unusual. She does very well. She comes walking in with her cane."

Myers grew up on a Grant County farm. She remembers the days of horse and buggy, predating the highways connecting the tri-states.

"The new road to Dubuque, I waited for that for 20 years," she said.

Myers has been receiving dialysis treatments since 1999.

"Just that machine is absolutely awesome," she said.

Myers' familiarity with medical procedures comes from her longtime occupation. She graduated from nursing school in Madison in 1929 and worked as a nurse until age 72.

"I always thought of (nursing) as what I would like to do," Myers said.

Jobs were scarce upon Myers' graduation.

"It was the Depression," she said. "There were no jobs -- even for nurses. I was just like all the rest of the girls, I went home."

Myers eventually landed a job as a visiting nurse. She also worked at a hospital at the University of Wisconsin-Madison during World War II.

"I have seen all the wars, World War I, World War II and on and on," she said.

Myers returned home when her dad died. "My mother needed me," she said.

Myers also worked as a nurse in Lancaster and Platteville.

In her retirement, Myers takes frequent walks and follows sports and politics.

A self-described avid Democrat, Myers said she was rooting for Hillary Clinton.

Myers also avidly follows the Milwaukee Brewers and their star pitcher, Ben Sheets.

"I am interested in all sports and any Badgers sports. I follow them real close," she said.

http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=209918