Surgery

State Sen. Tom Buford, R-Nicholasville, is at home recuperating from recent heart surgery. The senator said he is doing well, and adhering to a strict diet. "My diet is all fruit, oatmeal and whatever Carol will let me have," he said, referring to his wife. Buford said the Friday before Thanksgiving, he began to experience an "extremely uncomfortable" feeling in his chest, as well as nausea. His wife called paramedics, who transported him to Central Baptist Hospital.

HOOVER, Ala. -- Kentucky coach Rich Brooks says surgery on linebacker Wesley Woodyard's hand went well and hopes he will not have to play more than one game with a cast. "I talked to Wesley after the surgery (on Tuesday). He's fine," said Brooks during the Southeastern Conference Media Days here on Wednesday. "He had a plate put in his left hand by the index finger. He will probably be withheld from contact the first three, four or five days of fall camp until we make sure he is fine.

LEXINGTON - He won't be playing in the NCAA Tournament, but Kentucky freshman Patrick Patterson knows he's going to enjoy just being part of March Madness. "After watching it on TV through my whole high school career, I am going to really enjoy it," said Patterson. "I am looking forward to it and will do what I can to help my teammates. " Kentucky could use Patterson's scoring and rebounding when it plays Marquette Thursday in Anaheim, Calif., but he's out for the season due to a stress fracture in his left ankle.

See Molly run. Molly runs just like all the other girls, moving freely up and down the soccer field as if nothing ever happened. And she doesn't look back. The brace on her right knee and the 3-inch scar it surrounds remind Molly Pittman that something did happen, but she isn't going to let that slow her down any more. The Danville senior-to-be is confident she can regain the form that served her well as one of the top high school scorers in the state two seasons ago, and she doesn't appear to be that far away.

Giles L. Stephens, M.D., 83, of Louisville, died Tuesday, Feb. 5. Dr. Stephens was a 1942 graduate of Louisville Male High School, served in the Navy with the First Marine Division in the South Pacific during World War II, was wounded on Peleliu Island and awarded the Purple Heart medal, and served during the Okinawa invasion. He was a 1951 graduate of the University of Louisville, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, a 1952 graduate of the University School of Medicine, where he was a member of Phi Chi medical fraternity, a fellow of the Louisville Surgical Society, the Kentucky Surgical Society, the American College of Surgeons, and the Southeastern Surgical Congress, and a diplomat of the American Board of Surgery.

Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said Monday that quarterback Randall Cobb will undergo knee surgery today. Cobb will have arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage he injured in his left knee during Saturday's game at Tennessee. The university said in a statement that Cobb's status for bowl play will be decided after surgery. Cobb has started the last four games at quarterback. For the season, he's 52-of-99 passing for 542 yards and five touchdowns. He's rushed for 316 yards and seven TDs. At wide receiver, he's caught 21 pass

He was 16 years old and taking full-time college classes at Bluegrass Technical College. He was showing exceptional mathematical skills and leaning toward a career in science. This same teenage boy recently developed a heart valve infection, which required surgery. The surgery was successful. However, a blood clot developed in his brain. The second surgery required removing part of his skull and left him in a coma since mid-October. He is currently at Cardinal Hill in Lexington.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky sophomore guard Ramel Bradley does not need surgery on his broken left hand. UK coach Tubby Smith said Tuesday that the timeline for Bradley's recovery is "two weeks, more or less" because he will not have to have a pin inserted in his hand to fix the break. "It's not like he is incapacitated," Smith said. "He can still run. It's not his shooting hand. He will get in the gym and shoot because he loves to do that. He just does not need to fall or get hit. " Smith also said associate coach David Hobbs will not be on the bench for the Mississippi game tonight after undergoing surgery Monday.

Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center is committed to ensuring the safety of all patients who seek services at the hospital, especially those individuals who undergo surgery. The medical center will join hospitals across the nation today in observing National Time Out Day. The theme for this year's observance is "Taking Time Out for Patient Safety . . . Every Patient, Every Time. " "We observe National Time Out Day each year to let our patients know how serious we are about their safety," said Byron Underwood, director of surgical services at the Medical Center.

Pets of the week are Margaret and Waylon. Margaret will need a special adoption or a guardian angel. Margaret is a 6-month-old Collie puppy that has a heart murmur. She will need surgery soon and it will not be inexpensive. Call to donate to Margaret's surgery or to adopt this especially sweet girl. Waylon is a 10-week-old kitten with very unusual markings. He is sweet and very playful. He is among many kittens and puppies that are available at the shelter. Be sure to stop by this weekend for the 127 Love Sale with Hal's Haven.