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TakingHeartLauren von ForeggerGregg & Sidney Harper of Pearl are countingtheir blessings as 2021 will mark six years since Gregg,a member of the United States Congress from 2009-2019,experienced a blockage in his major artery, a condition knownas “the widow maker.”26 • JANUARY 2021
Gregg was at home one weekend in June2015, mowing the lawn. He noticed that hefelt tired and winded. “Mowing the lawn wassomething I did often, and I never felt windedlike that; we have a really small yard!” he recounts.“I would sit and rest and then I’d be fine, so I’dgo back and start again, and a few minutes later,I’d have to sit down again.”Gregg decided to take the symptomsseriously as his father had died of a massive heartattack in 1993 at the age of 67. He was slated tofly back to Washington D.C. the next day, wherehe made an appointment with a physician. Atthe appointment, Gregg had an EKG done andall the results came back as normal.“I just kept thinking I wanted to be sure,”he said. “Even though everything was showingup as normal, I wanted to do more testing.” Hescheduled a stress test for later in the week.“I go in for the stress test and I’m in therewith the cardiologist and technician, and theyexplain that the treadmill test will take about20 minutes,” he remembers. “Well, a coupleminutes into it, I told the doctor I felt somesharpness in my chest. He looks at the screenand he tells the technician, ‘You can stop,something major is wrong.’ Then he looks atme and says ‘You are not leaving the hospitaltoday.’”A heart cath revealed that Gregg wassuffering from a 95 percent blockage in his leftanterior descending artery. He was immediatelysent to have a stent placed in his heart.“When they were prepping me for the stent,all I could think about was my relationship withChrist, and my family. My daughter was gettingmarried soon and I wanted to walk her downthe aisle. I prayed right then and there, ‘Lord,please let me walk my baby girl down the aisle.’”Gregg says he immediately felt better afterthe successful stent placement.“You feel a lot better when your blood’sflowing right,” he says. “As soon as I was cleared,I could tell the difference. I am so thankful forthe physicians that caught it. I probably should’venever gotten on that airplane, but I just willalways be thankful that it was discovered.”Gregg says he encourages people to be theirown medical advocates when they feel somethingis not right. “I encourage anyone withfamily history or symptoms of any kind toplease go get yourself checked out.”Gregg and Sidney Harper reside in CountryPlace where they still live in the same homethat they purchased together in 1986. Theyhave two adult children, Livingston and Maggie,one grandson, and another grandson on theway. They are members of Crossgates BaptistChurch. Gregg, though now retired fromhis congressional service, is a member ofWatkins & Eager where he does consultingand lobbying work.Gregg is serving as the American HeartAssociation’s 2021 Heart Ball Chair.“I know what it’s like to have a heart scare,so the American Heart Association’s missionis near and dear to me. I think what they do isso important: creating awareness aroundprevention and getting people the resourcesthey need to extend their lives.”The Metro Jackson Heart Ball is a yearroundcampaign that supports the life-savingmission of the American Heart Association.It is the largest source of revenue for the organizationin the state of Mississippi, contributingnearly $7 million since its inception. The fundsraised support local research, communityprograms, hospital education, CPR training,and much more.For event information, visit metrojacksonheartball.heart.org, or contact Jordan Walker, Heart Ball director,at 601.321.1215 or jordan.walker@heart.org.Hometown RANKIN • 27
Page 1: FLOWOOD • BRANDON • PELAHATCHIE
Page 5 and 6: FROM OUR PUBLISHERMy momis a big fa
Page 7 and 8: READERSPOTLIGHTVickieCHAPMAN ______
Page 9 and 10: “...what makes asuccessful marria
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Page 15 and 16: Hometown RANKIN • 15
Page 17 and 18: TheMartinsTell us about your family
Page 19 and 20: How long has Florencebeen your home
Page 21 and 22: RenewedRestoredREDEEMEDIn a year fi
Page 23 and 24: “God is the light in all that bur
Page 25: Their relationship began in June of
Page 29 and 30: He’d previously had a room that h
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Page 33 and 34: The heart of a teacher not only ser
Page 35 and 36: At six feet tall, Jeff Wall says he
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Pearl MEA Primary Care Plusis honor
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THANK YOUFOR NOMINATING US!SHANE’
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Hometown RANKIN • 81
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Share some things you enjoy doing i
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I’ve worked as a coach, teacher,a
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FromHometown GirlMrs.toMississippiA
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Hometown RANKIN • 91
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NorthshoreWhile this year may have
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Pearl Public School DistrictThe Pea
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2 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOURIDGELAND10
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Hunting & Fishing Exposaturday, Mar
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