Latest news with #SueSmith
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
The Good Stuff: Bella Vista veteran commemorates 100th birthday week at D-Day remembrance
BELLA VISTA, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — One Bella Vista veteran marks not only a milestone birthday, but the legacy of the shipmates and heroes he'll never forget. There are not many days that 100-year-old World War II veteran K.B. Smith finds himself just sitting at home, but when he does you will often find him sitting at his desk in his office. 'It's like going through a photo album over the years,' said K.B. while pointing toward all of the photos on the wall. Some of the frame photographs include one with an airplane he used to own when he was a pilot with the civil air patrol. Another is a horseback photo taken many years ago when he once served as a deputy. There were also a number of photos from through the years of K.B. and his wife of 73 years, Sue. 'We met on a blind date on December 1, 1950,' he said with a smile, adding, 'She took good care of me.' Like she did a year ago when the two traveled to France to attend the 80th D-Day Remembrance event in Normandy. For K.B., it truly is a full-circle moment for him. On June 6, 1944, he was a crewmember of the U.S.S. Satterlee. 'We were the first warship to fire on the French coast, up close,' shared K.B. about their role providing support to the Army's 2nd Ranger Battalion that was faced with the near impossible mission of scaling the 100-foot cliffs at Omaha Beach. 'The real heroes are the ones who went up the cliff,' added K.B. The Good Stuff: Parent on the Run It is an historic role he and his shipmates have proudly shared through the years, including fellow Navyman John Seiwart, from Wisconsin, who he reconnected with in 2015. 'Over the years we narrowed it down to just two,' K.B. said when he and John realized they were the only two known survivors from the Satterlee from D-Day. When John passed away in August, it left K.B. as the lone remaining voice of the Satterlee. Without question, K.B. wanted to return to Normandy for the 81st annual remembrance. But this trip would be without his wife, Sue, who passed away just months ago. So, on May 31st, K.B. boarded an international flight to France with his good friend and fellow veteran Chuck Hammake. And to K.B.'s surprise, there was a surprise birthday party awaiting him on June 1, his 100th birthday. The party was hosted at the home of John Seiwart's son, Patrick, who just happens to now call Paris, home. K.B. added, the only thing that could top being treated to a surprise celebration is honoring those who lost their lives in the fight to liberate France from Nazi-Germany. 'It gave me a warm feeling to be a part of that. I tell you; tears came down my cheek and I'm not ashamed to admit it.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
‘NHS says I'm too big for surgery — now I'm spending my pension on weight-loss jabs'
With every step she takes, 72-year-old Sue Smith is in agony. The retired NHS clinician has been on the waiting list for a knee replacement for four years and walks, she says, as though her leg is broken. Despite her daily battle with pain, Ms Smith has been repeatedly denied surgery — because she is obese. But she has also been given no help by the NHS to lose weight, as waiting lists for such programmes soar. She is now forking out hundreds of pounds per month to pay for a weight-loss injection so she can have the operation she so desperately needs. Speaking to The Independent, Ms Smith — who has physically deteriorated so dramatically that she now uses a mobility scooter — said: 'I'm not lazy. I want my life back, but I'm stuck in a vicious cycle of trying to lose weight for this operation. I'm 72 years old now and am desperate for a knee replacement. 'What will they do — wait until I can't walk at all? Or I fall over and break my leg?' The Independent revealed last week that obese patients are being taken off waiting lists for life-changing hip and knee replacement surgery and being refused referrals as the NHS cuts costs. National guidelines make clear that weight should not be used to restrict patients' access to joint replacement surgery. But research has revealed more than a third of NHS areas are blocking patient access based on their body mass index (BMI). Ms Smith, who suffers from osteoarthritis, said she was told before the Covid outbreak that she needed an operation. At that time, she was fitter and slimmer and may have been eligible for the procedure, but was instead treated with steroids and physiotherapy. During the coronavirus lockdowns, the former NHS speech and language therapist struggled to maintain an active lifestyle. She was referred again for the operation in 2020 but was turned down — because her BMI was 43 — and told to lose weight. Her GP attempted to refer her for the operation three more times, but she was rejected on each occasion because of her size. Years later, with a BMI of 42, she remains above the threshold which Maidstone and Tonbridge Wells hospital set for her to be allowed an operation, she told The Independent. She said: 'The only way forward for me is to get down to this fantasy weight. I just want a knee replacement so I can exercise normally.' But Ms Smith is yet to receive any specialist weight management support from the NHS. She was finally referred for support services in January 2025 — more than four years after she was first told she could not have her operation due to weight — but was told the wait was at least 18 weeks. She is still waiting and has not heard when she will get an appointment. The Independent revealed that, in some areas, patients are waiting years for access to NHS weight loss management services. Desperate to get her operation, Ms Smith sought to get weight-loss jabs through the NHS. But, in another blow, she was told by her GP that they could not prescribe it. Under current rules, which are tightly controlling the use of such jabs, only specialist weight-loss management services can prescribe these drugs. Ms Smith has paid around £1,000 since February to have the weight loss jab Mounjaro privately, which she said has helped her to lose 18 pounds. She said: 'I get a pension from the NHS, it's about £200 a month, so really, I'm using that for this injection. I really want to have my knees done so I can move forward. I've had to buy a mobility scooter, which I don't use every day, but I have to sometimes. I don't want to be in it; I never wanted to have one. I only use it when I have to, which is once a week... It's awful, I just feel like a lesser being.' Ms Smith said that, following a recent X-ray, her GP told her knees are 'worn out.' Initially, Ms Smith said she only needed one knee replacement, however, the wait has led to her now needing surgery on both. A spokesperson for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust said: 'We understand how upsetting it can be for anyone living with ongoing pain, and our teams are committed to ensuring patients receive the best possible care. While we can't comment on individual cases, referrals for surgery are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and a range of clinical factors are reviewed. 'These include, but are not limited to BMI, and enable our clinicians to ensure the surgery is safe and appropriate.'
The Independent
5 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
‘NHS says I'm too big for surgery — now I'm spending my pension on weight-loss jabs'
With every step she takes, 72-year-old Sue Smith is in agony. The retired NHS clinician has been on the waiting list for a knee replacement for four years and walks, she says, as though her leg is broken. Despite her daily battle with pain, Ms Smith has been repeatedly denied surgery — because she is obese. But she has also been given no help by the NHS to lose weight, as waiting lists for such programmes soar. She is now forking out hundreds of pounds per month to pay for a weight-loss injection so she can have the operation she so desperately needs. Speaking to The Independent, Ms Smith — who has physically deteriorated so dramatically that she now uses a mobility scooter — said: 'I'm not lazy. I want my life back, but I'm stuck in a vicious cycle of trying to lose weight for this operation. I'm 72 years old now and am desperate for a knee replacement. 'What will they do — wait until I can't walk at all? Or I fall over and break my leg?' The Independent revealed last week that obese patients are being taken off waiting lists for life-changing hip and knee replacement surgery and being refused referrals as the NHS cuts costs. National guidelines make clear that weight should not be used to restrict patients' access to joint replacement surgery. But research has revealed more than a third of NHS areas are blocking patient access based on their body mass index (BMI). Ms Smith, who suffers from osteoarthritis, said she was told before the Covid outbreak that she needed an operation. At that time, she was fitter and slimmer and may have been eligible for the procedure, but was instead treated with steroids and physiotherapy. During the coronavirus lockdowns, the former NHS speech and language therapist struggled to maintain an active lifestyle. She was referred again for the operation in 2020 but was turned down — because her BMI was 43 — and told to lose weight. Her GP attempted to refer her for the operation three more times, but she was rejected on each occasion because of her size. Years later, with a BMI of 42, she remains above the threshold which Maidstone and Tonbridge Wells hospital set for her to be allowed an operation, she told The Independent. She said: 'The only way forward for me is to get down to this fantasy weight. I just want a knee replacement so I can exercise normally.' But Ms Smith is yet to receive any specialist weight management support from the NHS. She was finally referred for support services in January 2025 — more than four years after she was first told she could not have her operation due to weight — but was told the wait was at least 18 weeks. She is still waiting and has not heard when she will get an appointment. The Independent revealed that, in some areas, patients are waiting years for access to NHS weight loss management services. Desperate to get her operation, Ms Smith sought to get weight-loss jabs through the NHS. But, in another blow, she was told by her GP that they could not prescribe it. Under current rules, which are tightly controlling the use of such jabs, only specialist weight-loss management services can prescribe these drugs. Ms Smith has paid around £1,000 since February to have the weight loss jab Mounjaro privately, which she said has helped her to lose 18 pounds. She said: 'I get a pension from the NHS, it's about £200 a month, so really, I'm using that for this injection. I really want to have my knees done so I can move forward. I've had to buy a mobility scooter, which I don't use every day, but I have to sometimes. I don't want to be in it; I never wanted to have one. I only use it when I have to, which is once a week... It's awful, I just feel like a lesser being.' Ms Smith said that, following a recent X-ray, her GP told her knees are 'worn out.' Initially, Ms Smith said she only needed one knee replacement, however, the wait has led to her now needing surgery on both. A spokesperson for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust said: 'We understand how upsetting it can be for anyone living with ongoing pain, and our teams are committed to ensuring patients receive the best possible care. While we can't comment on individual cases, referrals for surgery are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and a range of clinical factors are reviewed. 'These include, but are not limited to BMI, and enable our clinicians to ensure the surgery is safe and appropriate.'
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Emotional Sky Sports presenter chokes up during final show after 27 YEARS with the broadcaster
A Sky Sports presenter choked up during his final appearance for the broadcaster after working there for 27 years. Rob Wotton was almost reduced to tears as he bid goodbye to viewers for the final time on The Football Show, which has since been axed by Sky. He said: 'It's been an absolute pleasure. I came here in my 20s and I thought I was only coming for a couple of weeks. 'And look, they haven't been able to get rid of me. I keep turning up, maybe one day they'll pay me!' He was joined by fellow hosts Stephen Warnock and Sue Smith, who gave Wotton a fond farewell before his departure. Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was said to be a keen viewer of the analysis show, as he enjoyed its 'Ref Watch' analysis segment with ex-Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher. presenter rob wotton has signed off sky sports after 27 years with the corporation with the words 'c'mon the chels' one of our own 💙 — ⭐️ zigga zagga ⭐️ (@celery_brigade) May 26, 2025 He was almost reduced to tears as he bid goodbye to viewers for the final time Wotton's departure comes as a shock to employees as Sky, who are said to be dismayed by the decision to cut the programme. Some are even said to be 'bewildered' with Sky Sports undergoing a 'restructure' that has seen seven reporters and presenters leave. Insiders told Mail Sport that 'the changes are aimed at making them more agile and able to concentrate on breaking news stories across platforms.' Mail Sport also exclusively revealed last Saturday that the Premier League and Sky will hold further high-level talks aimed at preventing a repeat of Nottingham Forest's refusal to admit Gary Neville to Sunday's season-defining clash with Chelsea. It is understood that senior figures at the Premier League, Sky and other broadcasters have been alarmed at the controversial step taken by Forest, which we revealed on Saturday. Forest denied access to Neville, citing a potentially hostile welcome from fans following what they view as aggressive messaging from the Sky pundit aimed at hampering the club's progress. That decision sparked discussions between the Premier League and Sky, who pay billions and who are viewed as a vital component to the competition's success. More talks are set to follow immediately, with a rule change one possibility. In 2023, Sky shelled out for four of the five packages available in a £6.7bn, four-year deal along with TNT Sports for UK television rights. Next season they will screen a minimum of 215 live matches as the lead domestic broadcaster. The precedent set by Forest, who are currently within their rights to decide who enters their property, is understood to have triggered widespread alarm.
The Sun
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Sky Sports presenter chokes up on final appearance as he leaves after nearly 30 YEARS with much-loved show axed
SKY SPORTS presenter Rob Wotton choked up as he waved goodbye after nearly 30 YEARS with the TV channel. Wotton joined Sky in 1998 and helped present coverage across all sports. 4 4 He also presented The Football Show - which aired every Monday - but has since been axed. Presenter Wotton fought back tears as he signed the show off and his career on Sky for the final time. He said: "It's been an absolute pleasure. I came here in my 20s and I thought I was only coming for a couple of weeks. "And look, they haven't been able to get rid of me. I keep turning up, maybe one day they'll pay me!" Wotton presented The Football Show with Stephen Warnock and Sue Smith - who helped give Wotton a farewell send off. Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was known to be a big fan of the analysis show. The German especially enjoyed coverage from ex-official Dermot Gallagher - who would join for a section called 'Ref Watch'. According to the Daily Mail, The Football Show cancellation has caused confusion and 'dismay' among staff. It is claimed Sky chiefs want to attract a younger audience, with the broadcaster already doing away with various old-school elements in favour of YouTubers and influencers. Last year saw the end of the popular Fantasy Football League show after two years. Sky Sports - The Football Show - Guardiola Vs Klopp rivalry But workers are thought to be 'bewildered' by the latest item to fall victim, with Sky Sports currently undergoing a 'restructure' that is seeing seven reporters and presenters leave. However, insiders told The Mail that 'the changes are aimed at making them more agile and able to concentrate on breaking news stories across platforms.' While Gallagher's Ref Watch will remain in a new format elsewhere. 4
