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| Mom visiting with Denise Balchunas and Bonnie Kennelly. |
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| Mom and my cousin (her niece), Tiffany Cass. I didn't get a picture with her husband Kelly in it, but he was here too. :-) |
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| Denise, mom, and Bonnie. |
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| Mom, her cousin Pam B, and her aunt Marty Goodwin. |
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| Me, mom, and dad, walking the stem cell unit - she did TWO laps! Woo hoo! |
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| "Angry birds" from Taylor and Isaac Johnson (Brianne and Travis Johnson's boys). |
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| W with mom next to the stem cell unit Christmas tree. |
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| Dad, W, me, and mom next to the Christmas tree in the lobby at the CTCA. |
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| Dad wheeling mom over to see the exotic fish tank. |
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| Dad, mom, Mr. C, and W walking and wheeling the halls. |
Today's a good day...many more are on the horizon! :-)
Love and Blessings,
*mandie*
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| That's right...South Korea!!!!! |
We decided we wanted to go ahead and reveal Baby C's home country, because we've had to tell several people due to mom's illness. So, we thought, why not? That means more people will know and more people will be able to pray for Baby C with us!
Judy, our social worker, thinks that we will get our referral by May/June. Mr. C and I are SO EXCITED! We're also excited that Holt has been in Korea since 1954; it's amazing, and we feel so good about that.
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| Map of South Korea. We will fly into Seoul when we go to pick up Baby C. |
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| Traditional hanboks for boys and girls...I'm GOING to get Baby C one of these as soon as I know what gender s/he is! |
So, there you have it, friends! Within a year, God willing (and He IS willing, AMEN!), we will be in Korea to bring Baby C home. God is so good! We are so blessed!
All the Love in the World,
*mandie*
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| Mom and one of her fabulous nurses checking her IV drips. |
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| Cafeteria. The food here is really pretty amazing - NOT your average hospital food. |
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| It was Whitney's 24th birthday on Monday. Some of the stem cell unit nurses came in and sang "Happy Birthday" to her and gave her a HUGE, delicious slice of cake covered in whipped topping, raspberries, and blueberries - so nice! |
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| Mom's ward on the 4th floor. Everyone has to foam in, and then foam out. No germs allowed! |
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| Christmas tree in the lobby. |
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| Light trees in the atrium. |
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| Trees stuffed in every corner, everywhere. |
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| My favorite, little buddy in the fish tank downstairs. He literally follows you when you walk from side to side - neatest fish ever! |
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| Beautiful "flowers" from Patti Balderson. <3 |
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| Tiffany and Kelly Cass' oldest, Kohen, colored this for mom. He's so cute, and he did a really good job! |
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| Letters and cards from friends and family - mom has REALLY enjoyed hearing from people. |
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| Christmas tree right outside of mom's door in the stem cell unit. |
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| Christmas tree in the cafeteria - so pretty! |
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| Mom's room has the best view! The ducks, geese, and seagulls are always out and very busy - fun to watch! |
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| Mom got platelets, potassium, and IV fluids today. |
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| Yes, we do! |
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| Brianne and Travis Johnson's boys, Tyler and Isaac, sent mom some "angry birds" with some cards - mom LOVED these! The Johnson's go to Faith Christian Outreach Church in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa with mom, dad, and W. |
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| Mom sleeping with her CTCA bear. They gave her a "goodie" bag full of nice things: a bear; a fluffy, white robe; bath necessities, etc. |
Mom has really enjoyed reading mail from people. If you'd like to send her a letter or card, even if you don't know her, she'd really LOVE it! You can mail her here:
Kerry Hickenbottom
c/o Cancer Treatment Center of America
Midwest Regional Medical Center
Stem Cell Unit, Room #5
2520 Elisha Ave.
Zion, IL 60099
Thank you for the prayers and standing with us firmly on God's promises. God is working miracles in mom's body, and we are watching it happen every day - every day BETTER and BETTER. Please continue to stand with us and mom in prayer and thanks. We love and appreciate you all!
All the Love in the World,
*mandie*
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| Chevron and elephant curtains I made for the closet door. |
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| Elephant curtain I made in coordinating fabric on window, and black and white polka dot lamp from Ikea. It won't stay there, but I liked seeing all the black and white stuff against the yellow walls. |
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| I bought these three black and white paper packs on sale for $2/piece at Michael's, I cut them into paper flags that will hang from a network of black twine from the ceiling. |
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| These are some of the cut flags; they will be affixed to one another front and back and secured to the twine across the ceiling (ah, the blessings of loft living, we have nearly infinite space upwards!) to create black and white patterned banners. |
To be continued...
*mandie*
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| Mom and her pic line...used for blood samples and chemotherapy. |
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| NO REAL FLOWERS allowed; but her Bible study pals got her this pretty silk, fall arrangement and mylar balloon (NO LATEX allowed). |
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| One view of her newer, bigger room - stem cell unit, room #5. |
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| Long view of the room - TWO recliners and a BIG TV - waahoo! |
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| Mom enjoying a lunch - the food at CTCA is fabulous! |
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| Silk topiary arrangement with hummingbirds and 4 mylars from M, W, and myself. |
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| Anyone who's ever been to a Cancer Treatment Center of America knows what this is... |
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| Pastor Monte Knudson from Faith Christian Outreach Center in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa (my parents' church), mom, and dad. |
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| Monte, mom, and dad. |
All the Love in the World, *mandie*
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