The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

The Doctors: a series of area graduates

Dr. Tim Hainds, Anesthesiologist, 1977 Union High School Graduate

It is nice to be remembered by friends and family in the community after not really living in the Oquawka area for such a long time.

I grew up in Oquawka, and to this day I have to second guess myself when people ask me where I'm from because inevitably if I say "Oquawka" it leads to a lengthy description of the town, location, etc.. Depending on how verbose I feel, I may just say "Illinois" (although now it's actually Iowa where I live). If I say "Illinois" then the general response is- "Oh you're from Chicago?", which leads me into the specifics of Oquawka's location again anyway.

Now I leave in Sioux City, Iowa- on the Missouri River where South Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa meet.

After high school I went to Western Illinois University in Macomb for two years, then the University of Iowa in Iowa City for three years where I graduated with a B. S. in Pharmacy.

Then (I wasn't tired yet)- I went to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale for a year as a first year medical student- followed by three years of medical school at Southern Illinois University in Springfield, IL.

I did my internship year in internal medicine at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts followed by a three year residency in Anesthesia. I passed my boards in Anesthesia in 1991- a mere 14 years after high school.

I spent my formative years collecting pop bottles and delivering newspapers throughout the North end of Oquawka. My best friends Pam and Pat Olson had the market on the South end. At some point in time I landed a job as a busboy at Alfreda's Restaurant in Oquawka- just during the peak times- Saturday night and Sunday noon- people would line up down the street for Nellie Bruner's fried fish and chicken and Mrs. Helen Vaughan's grilled steaks and baked potatoes.

I am quite sure this is where I developed my work ethic- restaurant work is really hard and those women kept that place going no matter how many people showed up.

Eventually I grew up and went to Union High School where I graduated in 1977. Then came 14 years of college prep and training so I could practice medicine- anesthesiology specifically.

I worked my first ten years out of residency in Springfield, Illinois where I met my wife. And I have spent the past two years in Sioux City where I decided to move to a job that offered more time off to be spent with my family.

I have a huge family in Oquawka- my Mom had seven brothers and two sisters, all but one lived in the area while I was growing up. Anyone by the name of Lox in the Oquawka area is my first, second, or third cousin.

My Mom died several years ago from pneumonia and my Dad many years before that. My brother Rusty and my sister Nan still live in Oquawka and provide me with wonderful excuses to "come home".

I have a brother Ron whom is a high school teacher in Jacksonville, Illinois. My wife Madhvi and I have been married for 14 years. I have a 13-year-old son, Nishan, and a 10-year-old daughter, Rhiannon.

They're both involved in way too many activities but that's another whole discussion. My only hobbie is to fight the evils of aging and for me that is a full time job- on top of the real job I already have.

I haven't slowed down enough yet to want to play golf but I probably will someday- right now I play tennis, run, and weight train throughout each week- I'm still looking for a 30 hr day.

My primary decision to participate in this series of articles on health professionals from the community was to thank a few people for helping make it happen for me- something you just may really never take the chance to do, unless you're given the opportunity afforded by this forum.

My dad was a commercial fisherman and employee of Burlington Northern and died suddenly from encephalitis when I was in 2nd grade- 1965. My Mom died from pneumonia about four years ago from a prolonged respiratory illness but prior to that was a cook at Country Fun.

I really owe a lot to my Mom because she sacrificed a lot to keep a roof over my head and our household still going after my Dad died. I think my coworkers now would classify me as a hard worker and I definitely developed my work ethic through observation of my mother.

There were many days she came home from work in the winter and didn't even get her coat off before she had fallen asleep in the living room chair. Sometimes she would even fall asleep in the car after she had parked it in the garage.

My brother set the example for me as a student in those early years and he sets it for me now as an adult in his every day life.

At Tri-Valley Middle School, I have to give Mr. Avery credit for making science such a fun and interesting class. He was also my basketball coach- I really had no talent (sucked!) at basketball, but he appreciated my enthusiasm and recognized it and I appreciate the fact that he even noticed.

In high school, Mr. Ives and Larry Sterett offered a curriculum in math and science that set the foundation for an easy transition into college that even spilled over into my second year of college.

In retrospect I feel very fortunate to have even been able to talk myself into signing up for Mr. Sterett's classes knowing how difficult they were going to be- everyone of them well worth the time and effort in the long haul. I learned a lot from Mr. Shimmons also, but I think I've forgotten it all even after having to repeat it all in college.

I have a lot of friends from high school that I don't hear from, but I still feel like I remember them from just yesterday- maybe everyone feels like that. The only problem is when I come home I don't recognize anyone.

One of my best friends from high school was Pat Olson- she turned in my name for this so if I have embarrassed anyone it's her fault. She was recently nominated for teacher of the year- an accomplishment much more honorable that anything I have ever been able to achieve ( but I am working on uncovering the spinothalamic neurotransmitter that could explain the cause of spinal cord neuroplasticity responsible for pain perception and mood swings of the Mississippi Channel Cat- article to follow).

Together we developed our study habits- I just took it to the extreme and it was the key to my success as a professional college student.

My advice to kids in high school now, that want to go to college later, is to take advantage of all that's afforded to you in high school- once you get in college you're paying for it and it may be a lot less personal.

Take prep classes for your college entrance exams and retake them as necessary- the college you may want to go to may look at your excellent resume, but if you don't meet their minimal score to be considered, they won't end up looking at your other achievements.

And never underestimate your desire to achieve and the energy to be able to achieve as a young person that which you'll never be able to match in your later life.