MURRAY – A habeas corpus petition filed last week by Nathan Carter, the former HOPE Calloway director charged with stealing more than $52,000 from the nonprofit, was dismissed without prejudice Monday after he posted the full $100,000 cash bond and withdrew the filing.
Murray attorney Mitch Ryan filed the petition for writ of habeas corpus in Calloway Circuit Court on Thursday, Feb. 5, challenging Carter’s detention and the constitutionality of the $100,000 cash bond set in the underlying theft case by Calloway District Judge Randall Hutchens, as previously reported by The Sentinel. In the filing, Ryan argued the bond was excessive and asked the circuit court to order Carter’s release or modify the conditions.
Nathaniel “Nathan” Carter (Photo provided)
Carter, 40, of Kirksey, who served as executive director of HOPE Calloway – a local nonprofit serving Calloway County’s homeless population – since its inception, was arrested Wednesday, Feb. 4, after alleged financial discrepancies were discovered during a leadership transition and reported to authorities. He faces 19 counts of theft by deception ($1,000 to $10,000) and one count of theft by unlawful taking ($10,000 to $1,000,000).
Court records show Carter posted the full cash bond and was released from custody Friday, Feb. 6.
Ryan filed a notice withdrawing the habeas petition Monday, and Calloway Circuit Judge Andrea Moore subsequently entered an order dismissing the case without prejudice. A hearing previously scheduled for that afternoon was canceled.
A dismissal without prejudice means the petition could be refiled in the future, but the current habeas action is no longer active. The dismissal does not affect the criminal case, which remains pending.
Carter is scheduled to be arraigned in Calloway District Court at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
Individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
MURRAY – A financial review during a leadership transition at HOPE Calloway uncovered more than $52,000 in unauthorized payments to its former executive director, who investigators say issued extra payroll checks to himself and used nonprofit funds for personal expenses.
Nathaniel “Nathan” Carter, 40, of Kirksey, was arrested Wednesday, Feb. 4, on theft-related charges after financial discrepancies were discovered and reported to authorities. A complaint warrant filed in Calloway District Court charges him with 19 counts of theft by deception and one count of theft by unlawful taking.
Immediately following Carter’s arrest, the organization’s board of directors posted a statement on social media.
“During a routine leadership transition and organizational review, in partnership with an independent third party, the Board of Directors identified financial discrepancies involving the former Executive Director that required further review,” the statement read. “The Board has engaged legal counsel and is taking appropriate steps, including reporting the matter to the proper authorities. HOPE Calloway remains fully operational and committed to compassionately serving individuals and families in our community.”
The investigation began after Carter told board members in late 2025 that HOPE Calloway was running out of money and would need to hold another fundraiser, the affidavit states.
The statement raised concerns among board members, who authorized a financial review to determine how the organization was running out of money and asked Roy Riley, who has a financial background, to assist in examining the nonprofit’s records. Investigators say Riley examined bank statements and payroll data spanning several years and identified irregularities in Carter’s compensation.
Nathan Carter speaks at the Highroad Leadership Breakfast in September 2024. (JESSICA PAINE/The Murray Sentinel)
HOPE Calloway employees are paid biweekly, or 26 times per year, through direct deposit. Carter, as executive director, was responsible for processing payroll and was a signatory on the nonprofit’s checking account. The checks did not require a second signature.
Riley found Carter received significantly more paychecks than expected — 36 in 2024 and 35 in 2025. Investigators allege that on the same dates he received electronic payroll deposits, Carter wrote himself paper checks for the net amount of those paychecks.
On Jan. 23, Riley and Board President Jeremy McKeel met with Carter to discuss the discrepancies. During the meeting, which investigators said was audio recorded, Carter acknowledged writing additional payroll checks to himself. He told board members he began doing so when he was running short on money and intended to repay the funds. The affidavit states Carter admitted to “having issues with impulsivity” and said he could not recall how many times he had issued additional checks to himself.
Between 2023 and 2025, Carter issued himself extra payroll checks totaling $38,210.21, court records state.
Investigators say Carter used HOPE Calloway funds to make payments totaling $6,538.05 on a Capital One credit card. McKeel told police the organization does not have an account with Capital One.
The affidavit further alleges Carter used nonprofit funds to pay $7,478.98 in expenses related to the Maxwell Leadership Conference, including registration fees and other charges that McKeel said had not been approved.
In total, court records indicate Carter took $52,227.24 from HOPE Calloway through extra payroll checks, credit card payments and conference-related expenses.
HOPE Calloway provides transitional housing and resources for unhoused individuals and families in Calloway County. The organization was formed in 2020 when the Murray Calloway County Homeless Coalition and Gentry House merged. Carter, who led Gentry House at the time, became HOPE Calloway’s inaugural executive director.
Leadership transition preceded investigation
HOPE Calloway publicly announced Carter’s departure in a Dec. 12 social media post, sharing a letter in which he said he had decided to step down after “a lot of thought and prayer.” Carter described the decision as part of a transition to a “new chapter of growth” and said he would remain available to support staff and incoming leadership.
Three weeks before his arrest, Carter publicly discussed his departure during an appearance on “Mornings in Murray” on local radio station WNBS.
Asked why he was stepping down after seven years leading the organization, Carter said, “There’s a season and a time for everything.”
At the time, Carter said incoming executive director Amber Sugg, whose hiring was announced in January, brought strengths in financial planning and forecasting.
“Now, with Amber coming in to provide some great stability, she has such a great track record and some great insight into the financial stability and the long-term planning and financial forecasting and some stuff that, honestly, is not my strength,” he explained.
Carter told listeners he planned to remain involved with HOPE Calloway and Community United Benevolent Services, the affiliation of local nonprofits known as CUBS, and had taken a job teaching a weekly business leadership class at New Covenant Christian Academy in Hardin.
Charges follow board review and police investigation
The Murray Police Department began investigating Carter on Jan. 28, after being contacted by the nonprofit regarding financial discrepancies identified during the leadership transition.
Calloway District Judge Randall Hutchens set Carter’s bond at $100,000 cash. Carter posted bond two days later and was released from custody. A previously scheduled hearing on his petition for a writ of habeas corpus challenging the bond was canceled.
Carter is scheduled to be arraigned in Calloway District Court on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 9 a.m.
Individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
MURRAY – When an E-F4 tornado ravaged downtown Mayfield, Kentucky, in 2021, a painting by esteemed artist Helen LaFrance was pummeled at the local Ice House Gallery, which was levelled by the storm.
The same tornado splintered solid beams and once-sturdy walls of St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church, where a LaFrance mural of the Garden of Gethsemane barely survived the disaster.
LaFrance’s mural of the Garden of Gethsemane remains intact after an EF-4 tornado destroyed most of the St. James AME Church. (Derek Operle/WKMS News, used with permission)
Since then, due to the efforts of a dedicated community and the strategic vision and tireless fundraising of the Paducah Historic Preservation Group, the damaged works by LaFrance have been repaired. Moreover, a collection of her art is receiving long-overdue attention at an exhibition currently on view until February 27 at Murray State University’s Wrather Museum.
LaFrance was born in Graves County Nov. 2, 1919. She was barely out of the toddler stage when she discovered the power of the pencil, with help from her mother. According to Jayne Moore Waldrop’s biography of LaFrance, “She Remembered It All,” Helen’s mother “slipped a paintbrush between Helen’s fingers” and showed her how to use it.
Thus, at an early age, Helen learned “to make paints from plants like dandelions, from bright, shiny berries, and even from the bluing they used on laundry day.”
“County Fair” (Photo courtesy of Paducah Historical Preservation Group)
The LaFrance exhibition at the Wrather Museum lures visitors back to an age of gravel roads and open fields, old-time, rural settings including a cabbage patch, a country kitchen and a river baptism. In one nighttime scene, the excitement of a county fair plays out against a sprawling black sky. Nearby, a gigantic Ferris wheel offers a starlit adventure, while a fancy carousel features a carnival of fantastic animals suited to riders of every age.
“River Baptism” (Photo courtesy of Paducah Historical Preservation Group)
For almost a hundred years, LaFrance hoarded details of everyday life in the Jim Crow era and reproduced them painstakingly in her paintings. Commonplace tasks like churning butter and peeling potatoes are captured in her colorful work. “Out for Dinner” shows a Black-owned diner where mouth-watering dishes like pork barbeque were served to Black patrons.
“Children Sleeping #2,” one of this writer’s favorites, may reflect one of LaFrance’s memories of growing up, when she and her sisters and cousins bunked together, giggling, whispering secrets and sharing hopes and dreams until they succumbed to sleep.
This LaFrance painting depicts the Graves County Courthouse, which was destroyed in the December 2021 tornado. (Photo courtesy of Paducah Historical Preservation Group)
The museum exhibit marks the first public viewing of LaFrance’s iconic 1998 painting of the Graves County Courthouse, which was toppled in the 1991 tornado. The historic painting was purchased by the Waldrop family of western Kentucky in 2025, through efforts of the Paducah Historical Preservation Group.
The art of Helen LaFrance is just one dimension of the Paducah Historical Preservation Group. Their vision is focused on preserving African American history in the Purchase Area: Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Marshall and McCracken Counties.
The group’s purpose is to identify historically significant locations and have them recognized as historical preservation sites that are documented on state and national registries.
The Wrather Museum is open Monday through Friday, 12-4 p.m. There is no admission fee.
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman on Tuesday announced the guilty plea of a Murray woman who admitted stealing from an elderly woman while serving as her caregiver, after reaching a plea agreement last week in Calloway Circuit Court.
Leslie Lockhart, 53, pleaded guilty to theft, forgery and identity theft charges connected to the exploitation of Maria Judy. The plea agreement calls for an eight-year sentence and requires Lockhart to pay $300,000 in restitution to Judy’s estate, including $100,000 within 30 days. Sentencing is scheduled for April 20, according to plea agreement details reported by The Sentinel.
In a press release issued Tuesday, Coleman said Lockhart pleaded guilty to theft, forgery and identity theft charges stemming from the case. He said Lockhart stole funds between May 2023 and December 2024 by forging checks and making unauthorized withdrawals from the victim’s financial and retirement accounts.
“When a criminal uses their position to steal from our most vulnerable, it isn’t just money that’s taken, it’s trust,” Coleman said. “All Kentucky seniors should know that we take this exploitation seriously and will hold the culprit accountable for her loathsome actions.”
According to the plea agreement, Assistant Attorney General Richie Kemp, who served as special prosecutor in the case, will not oppose Lockhart’s eight-year sentence being probated for a period of five years, provided she makes restitution payments as outlined in the agreement. If restitution is paid in full before the probationary period ends, the Commonwealth will not oppose reducing Lockhart’s probation as long as she has completed at least three years of supervision and will not oppose expungement of the charges from her record.
The plea agreement followed mediation involving Lockhart, prosecutors and members of Judy’s family, as previously detailed in The Sentinel’s original coverage.
MURRAY – After missing two announced start dates, the Charley Miller Road bridge replacement project is now expected to begin by the end of the day Friday, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC).
Carrie Dillard, public information officer for KYTC District 1, told The Sentinel on Friday the project did not start earlier in the week as previously announced due to “a miscommunication,” but said she anticipated the road would be closed by the end of the day and the contractor would begin moving equipment to the site.
The project will require an extended closure of Charley Miller Road between Kelly Road and Jackson Road while crews replace the bridge over Wades Creek. Weather permitting, the new bridge is expected to reopen to traffic in April.
Image courtesy of KYTC
KYTC first announced the project would begin in mid-January, but when road crews arrived to place closure signage that morning, County Judge-Executive Kenny Imes said they found no sign of the contractor. The cabinet later issued a news release delaying the start until late January or early February, followed by a second announcement scheduling work to begin Wednesday.
Lexington-based Jave, LLC was awarded the $495,000 contract to construct the new bridge.
The project is funded through the City County Bridge Improvement Program, a state initiative established by the Kentucky General Assembly in 2024 to help local governments repair, replace or preserve bridges. The program allocated $25 million in fiscal year 2025 and another $25 million in fiscal year 2026, with funds awarded in phases based on project readiness and need.
Calloway County has received $2,385,000 through the program to fund five bridge replacement projects:
MURRAY – On the eve of the one-year anniversary of her arrest, the Murray woman accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from an elderly woman pleaded guilty Thursday under an agreement requiring her to repay $300,000 to the victim’s estate and tying her ability to avoid prison to restitution.
Leslie Lockhart, 53, was arrested Feb. 7, 2025, after an investigation determined she had stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars from Maria Judy, an elderly woman for whom she served as both a financial assistant and part-time caregiver. Calloway District Judge Randall Hutchens set bond at $20,000 cash, which was posted within two days.
According to the complaint warrant, financial discrepancies were discovered by Judy’s heirs following her death in December 2024. The investigation uncovered 20 forged checks and multiple unauthorized transactions from Judy’s investment accounts.
Leslie Lockhart, right, appears in Calloway District Court with her attorney, Jason Holland, for arraignment in February 2025. (Zoom screenshot/The Murray Sentinel)
Originally, Lockhart faced 26 criminal charges:
Count 1: theft by unlawful taking, more than $10,000, a Class C felony
Counts 2-24: second-degree forgery, Class D felonies
Count 25: theft of identity of another without consent, a Class D felony
Count 26: knowingly exploiting an adult, a Class D felony
Thursday, she pleaded guilty to 23* counts of second-degree forgery in addition to theft of identity of another without consent and the amended charge of theft by unlawful taking, less than $10,000, a Class D felony. Count 26 was dismissed.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, the recommended sentence is five years on Count 1 and three years on Count 25, to be served consecutively, plus one year each on Counts 2-24, to be served concurrently with Counts 1 and 25, for a total sentence of eight years. Lockhart also agreed to pay restitution to the Estate of Maria Judy in the amount of $300,000.
The agreement followed a mediation involving Lockhart, her attorney Jason Holland, Special Prosecutor Richie Kemp, and Judy’s daughter and son-in-law. Former Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice John Minton mediated the session.
The restitution terms reflect the central issue in the case: recovering the money prosecutors said Lockhart stole from Judy. Investigators previously alleged Lockhart forged checks and made unauthorized transfers totaling more than $256,000, prompting court orders early in the case restricting her ability to sell property out of concern she might be unable to repay the estate. The plea agreement now makes restitution the determining factor in whether she ultimately serves prison time or remains on probation.
Special Prosecutor Richie Kemp stands at the podium during a hearing in June. (JESSICA PAINE/The Murray Sentinel)
Kemp agreed not to oppose probating the sentence for a period of five years, provided Lockhart fulfills several requirements, all of which are related to the restitution. Within 30 days, Lockhart must pay $100,000. Within 60 days, she must pay another $100,000 or list her home for sale. If the home is sold, all remaining proceeds after mortgage and closing costs must be applied toward restitution.
Any remaining balance must be paid in monthly installments of $3,000 until paid in full, with the first payment due at sentencing, scheduled for Monday, April 20, at 8:30 a.m., giving Lockhart 75 days to satisfy the initial restitution requirements.
The agreement also states that the $300,000 restitution cannot be discharged in bankruptcy because the debt arose from criminal activity.
Leslie Lockhart, left, appears in Calloway Circuit Court with attorney Jason Holland on for a hearing in June. (JESSICA PAINE/The Murray Sentinel)
The agreement further specifies that if Lockhart pays the restitution in full within the probationary period, Kemp will not oppose reducing probation, provided she has completed at least three years. Upon successful completion of the probation, Kemp will not oppose expungement of the convictions.
The plea agreement shifts the case’s focus from proving what happened to determining what comes next. Whether Lockhart ultimately serves prison time – or has the chance to clear her name – will largely depend on whether she repays the $300,000 she owes Judy’s estate.
*CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misstated the number of second-degree forgery counts filed against Lockhart. This version has been corrected. We regret the error.
UPDATE (Feb. 13, 2026): Carter’s habeas corpus petition was withdrawn Feb. 9 after he posted the full $100,000 cash bond and was dismissed without prejudice. Read our latest update here.
MURRAY – Calloway District Judge Randall Hutchens on Thursday set a $100,000 cash bond for former HOPE Calloway Executive Director Nathan Carter, who is charged with multiple theft-related offenses. Hours later, Carter’s attorney filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, challenging the bond and his continued detention.
A writ of habeas corpus asks a judge to review whether a person is being lawfully detained or whether the conditions of their detention, including bond, are appropriate. Under Kentucky law, such petitions are heard in circuit court.
Murray-based attorney Mitch Ryan filed the petition against Ken Claud, in his official capacity as Calloway County Jailer, in Calloway Circuit Court early Thursday afternoon. In the filing, Ryan argues that the $100,000 cash bond violates Kentucky law and constitutional protections – both state and federal – against excessive bail.
The petition argues that Carter has no prior criminal history, voluntarily surrendered to law enforcement and was assessed by Pretrial Services as posing no failure-to-appear risk. The filing also contends that bond may not be used to secure restitution or serve as punishment prior to adjudication.
(Photo provided)
The Murray Police Department (MPD) began investigating Carter, 40, of Murray, last month, according to a new release, after being contacted by a local nonprofit over financial discrepancies found during a transition in leadership. MPD charged Carter with theft by unlawful taking and 19 counts of theft by deception.
He was charged with theft by deception and theft by unlawful taking in connection with alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as executive director of HOPE Calloway, a nonprofit organization that provides transitional housing and support services in Murray.
The Sentinel is reviewing court filings related to the charges and will publish a more detailed report later today.
Individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
MURRAY – On Jan. 8, the Calloway County E-911 Communication Center is please to announce the launch of Text-to-911, a new service that allows individuals to contact emergency dispatchers by sending a text message in urgent situations where calling may be unsafe or impossible.
Text-to-911 enhances public safety by expanding access for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, have a speech disability, or find themselves in a situation where speaking could endanger their safety. This service is now fully operational throughout Calloway County.
“Adding Text-to-911 gives our community another critical pathway to reach help when seconds count,” said Calloway County E-911 Director Nathan Baird. “While calling remains the fastest and most reliable way to reach emergency services, texting can be lifesaving when calling isn’t an option.”
How to Text-to-911 works
Enter 911 in the “To” field of your text message.
In the message body, provide your location and the type of emergency.
Respond promptly to all follow-up questions from telecommunicator.
Do not send photos, videos, or group messages – Text-to-911 currently supports text only.
When to text instead of call
Text-to-911 should only be used when calling is not possible or safe, such as:
When a person is deaf, hard of hearing, or has a speech disability.
During a home invasion or domestic violence situation where silence is critical.
When poor cell service prevents a voice call from connecting, but text messaging may succeed.
Again, always start the text with the specific location of the emergency and the type of emergency.
“Call if you Can, Text if you Can’t”
Officials remind the public that a voice call is still the preferred method for emergencies. Calling allows telecommunicators to gather information more quickly and provides critical audio cues that texting cannot convey.
The Calloway County E-911 Communication Center remains committed to improving emergency response capabilities and ensuring that all residents have access to life-saving services when they need them most.
MAYFIELD, Ky. – Days of arctic cold left layers of ice and frozen snow on roads and unshovelled sidewalks, but the sky was blue as the eye of eternity Saturday morning. Undeterred by the weather, scores of people showed up for the long-awaited dedication of the restored St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church on South 8th Street in Mayfield, Kentucky.
They came from near and far to celebrate what Lead Project Contractor Chris Black of the Paducah firm, Ray Black and Son, described as a “dramatic transformation.”
Throughout the day, others called it a miracle – one of many – that led to the repair and reconstruction of the historic church that was nearly demolished when a deadly EF4 tornado swept through Mayfield’s downtown in December 2021.
Sheila Mason left Frankfort before dawn to attend Saturday’s dedication service. Despite the long drive, she and other representatives from the board and staff of Kentucky Historical Society were determined to make the trip. “We wanted to show our appreciation for what this church went through to preserve its history,” she explained.
A fourth generation, lifelong AME, whose ties to the denomination go back to her great-grandparents, Mason also remarked, “I’m so proud of AME’s resilience.”
Pastor Gloria Lasco was a newcomer to St. James on Dec. 10, 2021. She had been in town barely two Sundays. “We were just coming out of Covid,” she said. “And then the tornado.”
Remembering the verse she had learned as a child, the reverend held up her hands to demonstrate: “Here is the church. Here is the steeple. Open the door and see all the people.”
Pastor Gloria Lasco speaks to the congregation during Sunday’s service. (Still courtesy of Facebook/St. James AME Church Mayfield, KY)
She also recalled a more somber variation: “Close the doors, hear them pray. Open the doors, they all go away.”
“But the people remained,” Lasco went on. “They kept working and serving this community, distributing food, clothing, whatever came their way.”
In the shadow of splintered walls and mountains of rubble, “The church maintained its position as a place of refuge. The steeple endured. The people remained,” she reported.
A sincere chorus of “Amens” followed her remarks.
Within two weeks of the disaster, the National Trust for Historic Preservation contacted her.
According to speaker, Brent Leggs, executive director of the Action Fund, “Black churches are a living testament to generations of achievement and resiliency and their preservation is critical so that they can continue to serve as the epicenters of community and heritage.”
Presiding Church Elder Kenneth Golphin speaks to the congregation during Sunday’s service. (Still courtesy of Facebook)
Kenneth Golphin, presiding church elder, briefly chronicled its history. Just three years after Emancipation, founding members of St. James AME Church organized in Mayfield’s Black Bottom neighborhood to address the community’s social, spiritual and physical needs. When it burned down a few years later, the congregation purchased land on South 8th Street and constructed a brick church with a central bell tower that still stands today, testimony to the faith of the congregation and their commitment to hard work.
Completed in 1923, St. James played a leadership role in the Western Kentucky AME district, hosting conference meetings and community gatherings. Its membership included local business owners, educators and notables such as renowned artist Helen LaFrance, whose powerful mural of the Garden of Gethsemane miraculously survived the tornado.
“Our weeping has not lasted as long as our rejoicing,” Mayor Kathy Stewart O’Nan declared in her presentation.
Coordinator of Disaster Response, Dr. Dave Adams and his wife drove to Mayfield from Memphis every day except Sunday to pitch in. This grueling routine was bearable because of its uplifting impact. According to Adams, St. James “was a place of comfort” and “a beacon of light” that beamed even in the aftermath of loss and tragedy.
Extolling the power that comes from teamwork, Tiffany Tolbert, Senior Director for Preservation for African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, explained, “Perseverance is what we do. God’s work is best done together.”
Another aspect of the restoration was a series of oral history interviews by students from Murray State University. Guiding the process, MSU’s David Pizzo, Ph. D. emphasized the importance of documenting church history. Quoting Psalm 122, Pizzo said, “May there be peace be within your walls” as he invited members of the audience to become part of the interview process.
The last phase of Saturday’s celebration was a dedication by Bishop Jeffrey B. Cooper, Sr.,
based on a quote attributed to Albert Einstein: “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”
Preaching with spirited energy, the bishop listed the many miracles that happen in a routine day, starting with just waking up and having food to put on the table.
“They’re all miracles,” he roared. “Don’t let the chaos and confusion and injustice happening now, don’t let it discourage you!”
There are always reasons to feel discouraged, times when giving up seems like a good idea, he reminded the gathering, “But every time you walk through these doors, it is a miracle,” he concluded.
MURRAY – Jan. 6 would have marked 40 years of service to Murray-Calloway County Hospital (MCCH) for Carol Perlow, RN. Holding several positions during her time at MCCH, she has spent the last 25+ years as the Director of Educational Services. As a registered nurse and leader, she offered skill, compassion, and reassurance to countless staff members, patients, and families. The hospital was her second home, and nursing was never just a job – it was her calling.
However, just before her planned retirement, Carol’s life took an unexpected and dramatic turn on Dec. 1, 2025. As she recalled her day, she remembers leaving work, heading to her car, and thinking how long it was taking to walk. When she got there, she was unusually fatigued and just sat in her car to rest for a few minutes.
Carol was on her way to the Wellness Center where she met regularly twice a week with her trainer, Drew. Her first thought was to just walk on the treadmill instead since she didn’t feel up to training; however, she knew something just was not right and she called her friend and co-worker Mary to meet her in the parking lot and asked her to bring a stethoscope.
Within a few minutes, Mary, along with Lori and Calla came ready with a wheelchair and took her back to the education unit where they hooked her up to the defibrillator. That is when they realized she was having abnormal heart rhythms (heart palpitations). They gave her the choice to go straight to the ER or to the Walk-In Clinic at MMA.
Carol decided she would just go to the clinic first, no need to panic. Michelle Wann, APRN, who had also worked for years in the ER, took care of Carol and things progressed fast from there. Carol said details are fuzzy, but she remembers her husband, Mike, being there and rushed quickly to the ER where she was met by Dr. Homayuni, Interventional Cardiologist.
They were able to stabilize her and Carol stayed in PCU overnight until her scheduled heart cath the next day. Following the heart cath, Dr. Homayuni shared the results, which showed that Carol had at least three arteries that were 90% blocked and she would also need a heart valve replacement.
Carol had suffered a heart attack – an event that stunned her family, friends, and co-workers who had long known her as a nurse, not the patient.
She was transported by ambulance to Centennial in Nashville where she would undergo surgery. Carol underwent triple bypass surgery along with a heart valve replacement. This time, she lay in a hospital bed not as a nurse, but as someone relying completely on the expertise and compassion of the very profession she had dedicated her life to. Surrounded by medical teams who now cared for her, Carol faced recovery with the same courage and determination she had always encouraged in her patients. She remained in the hospital for nine more days.
Perlow is seen exercising in her cardiac rehab program. (Photo provided)
Her healing did not stop in the operating room; on Dec. 10, she was transferred back to the Acute Inpatient Rehab Department at MCCH where she would receive 24/7 nursing care, and vigorous physical and occupational therapy for the next ten days to regain her strength. The process was challenging, both physically and emotionally, but she met it head-on.
“They were wonderful in Acute Rehab, and I was able to get home before Christmas. I had lots of occupational and physical therapy. They went from helping me with a shower to activities of daily living and getting me back in my normal routine,” said Carol. “The nurses there were available any time I pushed the call light…they really worked as a team.”
She is continuing her care by working with a dietitian and participating in a Cardiac Rehab program, which will include a total of thirty-six sessions of tailored exercise and education. As she continues in Cardiac Rehab, Carol is recovering, stronger with each passing day, and embracing life from a new perspective. Her retirement looks different than she once imagined, but her story is no less powerful. It is one of resilience and the spirit of a nurse whose heart, both figuratively and literally, has given so much.
After 40 years of caring for others, Carol Perlow now focuses on healing herself and is looking forward to her retirement celebration in February, as well as, going on a trip to Egypt with her husband, Mike, and spending more time with her family and grandchildren. Her journey reminds us that strength, compassion, and hope can carry us through even the most unexpected life events.
