Storm Lake, Iowa · Thursday, March 11, 2010
[Masthead] Fog ~ 36°F  
Don't lose hope Linke family!
Posted Tuesday, March 9, at 4:46 PM
Zailin Linke, Alta, just celebrated his third birthday on Saturday!! Zailin has a brainstem tumor and doctors gave him 12-18 months to live after discovering the tumor last May. He runs around with the energy of a typical three year old, you wouldn't guess he was sick if you saw him on the street.

I can't tell you what's going to happen. I can't tell you he'll be all better in a few months because I don't know. I also can't tell you that he'll gradually worsen...I don't know. I'm just a human being. Doctors are human beings and have their limitations, they really only know so much, they don't have all the answers. I believe in miracles and it doesn't matter how far progressed a person is in their illness. Please don't lose hope, people defy the odds all the time.

My grandpa had a heart attack when he was 50 years old and wasn't expected to live long. He lived to be almost 90 years old. My mom has been battling a bone marrow disease for almost eight years and I'm still holding out for a miracle, I still believe it can happen. I've had people come up to me and tell me they they understand what I'm going through, they tell me they watched their mother die slowly of cancer. Who said my mother was dying? I'm going to tell you I know exactly how you feel. I don't. I've never had a child but I know how hard it is to have a mother who is sick. Not knowing what the future holds can be really scary. You kinda feel helpless because you want to help that person but what can you do? You want to take that pain away from them, you want to clear their body of that disease.... but you often can't.

But like you mentioned.... it's definitely important to enjoy every day with those special people in your life, I'd say that goes for everybody!

My thoughts and prayers go out to you!

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If Iowa hosted the olympics
Posted Thursday, February 25, at 5:16 PM

Although the entire country has seen some snow - some of us more than others obviously - somehow Canada missed out and had to bring in snow for the olympics. Sheesh. Well if they need to borrow any of ours it's theirs for the taking. Winter games in Iowa -...

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I can't wait for spring
Posted Monday, February 22, at 2:13 PM

I can't wait for spring! The sunshine we've had the last couple of days is promising. A co-worker was just mentioning how she couldn't believe that March was almost here.... I'm glad that we're all that much more closer to spring. I hope we don't see another winter like the one we just saw for a very long time...

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RAGBRAI here I come!!
Posted Wednesday, February 10, at 4:34 PM

Well I've submitted an application to be part of RAGBRAI this year. I don't plan to ride the whole thing - just want to ride from Sioux City to Storm Lake, a chance to get my feet wet and get somewhat of an idea of what RAGBRAI is all about. There is no way at this point I could physically ride the entire distance. Their journal will end in Dubuque...

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Shayla Bee's 27th Family
Posted Monday, January 18, at 3:25 PM

Come support Shayla Bee and Shayla Bee families this Saturday as they make their 27th donation! The Steven and Bridget Lytle Family, Spencer, have a 2 year old daughter with a hole in her heart, severe enough that she will be having heart surgery in February. A doctor from Chicago will be coming to Sioux Falls to perform the surgery...

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Resolutions....
Posted Tuesday, December 29, at 3:53 PM

What are your resolutions for this year? Here are some silly ones I've heard.... 1) I will balance my checkbook (on my nose - haha....I agree just lately it's been depressing, especially when I have to keep writing 'I owe myself $50' in the message line)...

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More blessings
Posted Friday, November 27, at 1:51 PM

I'm also thankful for technologically savvy uncles! After I got home from a stressful end of the weekend break down (the period between a car breakdown and the call from the mechanic is one of the most stressful experiences!! I am not familiar with cars at all so unless it needs oil, more pressure in the tires or gas in the tank.... ...

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Thanksgiving!
Posted Friday, November 27, at 12:12 PM

Hey- Earlier this week I came back to work after an absolutely amazingly fun weekend in California to share in my cousin's wedding! Thankfully there wasn't a lot of sun or it would have definitely made it a little harder to come back to chilly Iowa! Everything went smoothly, made all of my flights - none were delayed and I didn't miss any of them. ...

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Craft sale to be held Dec 4-6, proceeds to benefit Shayla Bee Fund
Posted Tuesday, November 24, at 4:49 PM

Help raise money for the Shayla Bee Fund group by attending the 3rd annual Craft & Bake Sale on December 4th, 5th and 6th. The Shayla Bee group is a group that was formed as a living memorial to Shayla Kaye Rohrbaugh who was born with Schizencephaly, she passed away at the young age of 6. ...

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I don't get it.....
Posted Friday, November 13, at 9:30 AM

Hey everyone! I hope you had an enjoyable week. I talked to my mom last night on the phone. Earlier this week she was taken by ambulance to the hospital because the chemo treatments really took a toll on her. She was diagnosed with a rare bone marrow transplant about eight years ago and ever since has been kind of a guinea pig going through all these treatments and heavy drugs...

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Up the Down Side
Jennifer Nelson
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Hey- I grew up in Northcentral Iowa. I attended Iowa State University where I received a B.A. Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and had an emphasis on Child and Family Studies. I moved to Storm Lake in 2008 to work for the Pilot-Tribune, after working for a daily paper in Nebraska. When I'm not busy typing like a mad woman, peering from behind a camera lens or interviewing all sorts of new and exciting people, you can probably find me rollerblading/biking the paved paths of Storm Lake, strumming out a few notes on my guitar, walking numerous dogs all at once in Newell. I am also a member of Faith Bible, a member of the Shayla Bee family, the SL Kiwanis and a longtime member of the Twizzlers Annonymous Support group. Wink Wink.
Hot topics
Don't lose hope Linke family!
(0 ~ 4:46 PM, Mar 9)

If Iowa hosted the olympics
(0 ~ 5:16 PM, Feb 25)

I can't wait for spring
(0 ~ 2:13 PM, Feb 22)

RAGBRAI here I come!!
(0 ~ 4:34 PM, Feb 10)

Shayla Bee's 27th Family
(0 ~ 3:25 PM, Jan 18)