Wednesday's Woman

Mother’s Day holds a special significance for Laura Cooper.

Cooper became an acting parent when she adopted her granddaughter, Amber, on April 8, 1997, in Michigan. Amber was 4, about four months shy of turning 5 on her July 31 birthday.

In October 1998, shortly after adopting Amber, Cooper moved to Hardin County and founded the nonprofit organization Open Arms. It’s a support group for grandparents and acting parents raising children.

“We purposely retired early to give Amber a better life,” Cooper said.

Providing assistance to those navigating the labyrinthine health insurance process or to those who need help getting prescription medications, Carol Baldwin derives a great amount of satisfaction from her dual role.

“It’s just the most rewarding thing I’ve ever been involved in,” Baldwin said. “Ever.”

As the community organizer for the Kentucky Prescription Assistance Program and director for State Health Insurance Program, Baldwin provides free services through Lincoln Trail Area Development District.

Nisha Haque is a long way from her hometown of Elizabethtown. She is working with a medical relief mission and with Mother Teresa’s charities in Kolkata, India.

She’s a fourth-year medical student who came to Hardin Memorial Hospital for her third- and fourth-year clinical rotation requirements as an osteopathic medical student.

A late start as a swimmer didn’t stop Sharon Garcia of Radcliff from making a splash in the sport.

At the end of September 2011, Garcia became swim coach for North Hardin, John Hardin and Central Hardin high schools after serving as assistant coach.

“I started swimming originally when I was at Fort Bragg,” Garcia said.

She was 10 — almost 11— at the time, which kind of classified her as a late starter, she said. She became part of the school swim team, the Aqua Dragons.