Prayer

July 18: Jayne Knochenmus relates the following, quoting: "Shelly was admitted this week with a fever and pain. They are running tests and antibiotics to fight off an infection. They have postponed her new chemo until next week. Heavy prayers for Shelly, she’s fighting a serious battle that needs lots of prayers. Thank you, Jayne."
July 18: Dawn Taborda relates the following, quoting: “Kailee is 3 weeks from her BMT and has been out of the hospital for a little over a week and she has been doing pretty good. Kailees counts have continued to be stable so she hasn't needed any blood or platelets since she has been out of hospital. She still is pretty weak, but is getting in her PT daily. It will be nice when the heat and smoke go away so we can get outside and explore. We are feeling blessed that she has been able to keep the expected side effects at bay and a praying that it continues so we can keep her out of the hospital. She had a Bone Marrow Biopsy on Thursday (7/16) to make sure that there is still no sign of the Leukemia. Results usually take a few days to come in. Praying the results show NED. We have been adapting to apartment life. It is definitely different than being home. My mom came up with Marco last weekend and Kailee had a friend from high school come visit for a couple of days this week. It was great. Next weekend all the kids, Marco and Siouxsie are coming for a visit. We are going to be testing the capacity of this 2 bedroom aprtment with all of us here. It will be great to have everyone in the same place. We have missed them all alot. Please continue to pray and/or send positive thoughts. We really appreciated all of it more than you know! Team Kailee—Dawn Taborda”
July 17: Lloyd VanEssen has completed the chemo bladder flushes. He says he had few side effects. Praise God for that. He will have a scan in September. Thanks for your prayers.
July 14: Jayne Knochenmus relates the following, quoting: “It’s been awhile since I’ve sent an update on my friend Shelly. She’s going through so much and today heard the report after having 8 weeks of chemo. Chemo has kept the cancer from growing where it’s at but it has appeared to other areas. What a heavy load to hear after fighting the last several months. She certainly leans on God heavily and says we’ll just fight harder. Prayers for my friend as she starts a more aggressive chemo. Keep her strong both physically and mentally. To me she is a trooper and I admire her for her positive attitude and fight! God bless her and her family. Jayne Knochenmus”
July 13: Susan Payne relates the following, quoting: “Troy’s mom, Alva, 89, is in Mobridge Hospital after falling out of bed and has injuries to her head. Susan’s sister’s other half has had a heart attack. He is in Sanford and they will try a stint(s) first before open heart surgery. Please pray for them both. Thank you, Troy and Susan Payne”
July 13: Steve Attema relates the following, quoting: “Many of you know that my wife, Evita Attema, battled cancer two years ago. We were thankful that things were looking good, but recently we learned that the cancer has returned, and she is now facing her second battle. This has been incredibly difficult for Evita and our family. Before anything else, we ask for your prayers. Our greatest prayer is for complete healing. That the cancer would be gone and never return. We also ask you to pray for strength through the emotional and physical challenges, peace during the difficult days, and hope for the journey ahead. We truly believe in the power of prayer, and we are grateful for every person who lifts Evita and our family up in prayer. If you know Evita, you know she has always been the first to lend a helping hand, encourage someone who was struggling, or give of herself without expecting anything in return. She has touched so many lives through her kindness, compassion, generosity, and faith. Now we're asking for that same love and support to surround her. In facing cancer, we are navigating significant emotional, practical, and financial challenges, and we are grateful for any support people feel led to give.—Steve Attema”
July 10: Jerralynne Tjeerdsma relates the following, quoting: "I want to thank everyone who has been praying for my daughter Deb as she had a C-scan this week and the tumor that showed up last December is now gone! She will continue to have maintance Chemo until December and then check to see if her lungs look clear! Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers! All praise to our Heavenly Father for the healing! Deb favorite verse Ps. 46:10. Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! --Jerralynne Tjeerdsma"
July 9: Please pray for Seth & Reagan Burchill. Their newborn daughter is experiencing medical complications.
July 9: Dawn Taborda relates the following, quoting: “Day+12. Kailee has been doing very good. Her ANC has come back up and she was able to leave her room after 20+ days. Her platelets and blood counts have also been on the rise. The last two days she has not need any product. After 26 days in hospital, we got the news last night that the plan is to discharge Kailee on Thursday 7/9. This is about 1 to 2 weeks ahead of schedule. We will move her to the apartment here in the Cities. We will be here for another 3 months. She will have weekly appointments as well as OT and PT to help with weakness. We are so thankful for the amazing nurses and doctors on the BMT floor. They have been great! Kailee is looking forward to getting home and getting a peacefully night sleep. No more beeping pumps and early morning wake ups for blood work! She also can't wait to be able to bring Siouxsie for a visit. She misses her a lot. Even though this is not the end of the adventure it is great to pass on one more hurdle for Kailee to have a healthy future. If you would like to send a card or anything to Kailee, please message her or I and we can give you the apartment address. Prayers: gain strength and energy, continued minimal side effects, continued rise in counts, keep any sickness at bay so she can stay out of hospital, get her appetite back to wean off her tube feedings. Thanks everyone for the continued positive thoughts and prayers. They are more appreciated then you know. Team Kailee. –Dawn Taborda”
July 6: Gracia Harmen's father, Konrad Eugene Post, age 56, of Doon, Iowa, passed away peacefully on July 4, 2026, at Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital in Rock Rapids, Iowa. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 8, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley, Iowa. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 9, at 10:00am at the United Reformed Church in Doon, Iowa. Pastor Clyde Teel will be officiating. Burial will take place immediately after the service at the Doon Hillside Cemetery. A luncheon will be held back at the church directly after the committal. Please keep the family and friends in your prayers.
July 6: Rhonda Lockwood's father, Keith Donald Everton, passed away on July 5, 2026, at the VA Hospice Cottage in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at the age of 99. Burial with military honors will take place at 12:00 pm on Thursday, July 9, 2026 at the South Dakota Veterans Cemetery, 25965 477th Ave, Sioux Falls, SD. Please keep the family and friends in your prayers.
July 5: Our condolences go out to Rhonda Lockwood and her family and friends on the passing of her father, on July 5. Please keep them in your prayers.
July 5: A prayer of thanksgiving! Rick Beckstrom reports a recent medical test has revealed there are no detectable cancer cells. "Great is your faithfulness!"
July 5: Dawn Taborda relates the following, quoting: “Happy 4th of July. Day +8. It was a tough holiday for Kailee (and me) being away from family at the Lake. We were able to switch rooms to the west side of the hospital in hopes we would be able to see some fireworks over the city. We got to see some, but it just wasn't the same. We did a little decorating with lights and Kailee decorated the windows with fireworks and a flag. Kailee has been doing good. We are still waiting for counts to come up, but hoping it will be in the next 3 to 5 days. Once her ANC is over 500 for 3 days, she can start leaving her room and then the discharge shouldn't be too far off. Please pray or send positive thoughts for this week: gain strength (doing better with all PT/OT she is doing): no graft-versus-host: keep side effects to a minimum: new cells to come in and increase her immunity. Thanks to all who have sent packages, cards and donation. We appreciate all your support! Team Kailee—Dawn Taborda”
July 4: Our condolences go out to Gracia Harmsen and her family and friends. Her father passed away this morning (July 4). Please keep them all in your prayers.
July 3: The memorial service for Ken Bloom will be on Friday, July 10, at 11 am at Community Reformed Church with lunch to follow.
July 1: John Thornton here. I have been asked about my health, so here is an update. I am still in atrial fib, and have been since June 18th. I am tolerating it okay, and still doing my typical routines. With A-fib there are three components; rate, rhythm, and risk. My heart rate has been less than 100, which is good. My rhythm has been irregular, which is not good. My risk of stroke is being controlled by anticoagulants, which is good. I am hemodynamically stable, but with A-fib.
I am not on any medications to control the A-fib, and there are no plans to start any new medications because of possible side effects. I am disappointed by the local cardiology people, as they have not gotten me an appointment yet, and have been very slow in responding to messages and phone calls. Unless something changes for the worse, or I go naturally back into normal rhythm, I am sort of stuck. Your prayers are appreciated. Thanks.
June 30 Liz Teel relates the following, quoting "This will be the last update on my cousin’s baby until and unless something changes. He is home and doing very well. The surgical site on his tiny back looks great! He has to have a dressing on it for a few more days, and then he’ll be good to go. He is moving his legs and curling his toes, which is a great sign! Ultimately, they don’t know how everything will continue to grow and develop, but they will just take it one day at a time and are so thankful for how far he’s already come. They will check in with their medical team monthly for a time too. As there are pertinent updates, I’ll be sure to share them. For now, thanks again, Community, for your many prayers! --Liz Teel"
June 27: Dawn Taborda relates the following, quoting: “Saturday, June 27, 2026. Day +1. Kailee’s Bone Marrow Transplant went well yesterday. The whole process took only about a half hour total, which we were thinking closer to 2 hours. It still amazes how this whole thing will work. Today has been a good day. Kailee’s counts are starting to go down, but not low enough yet to get blood or platelets. We know that her counts will bottom out in about 5 or 6 days after transplant. This will also be the time frame that the side effects will start being present. Kailee has been working on Legos, learning to play piano and doing art therapy, PT/OT to help her get back some of her strength. Please pray or send positive thoughts for this week: gain strength, no graft-versus-host, minimal side effects and/or the ability to stay on top of what does come, new cells to come in and increase her immunity. Thanks to all who have sent packages, cards and donation. We appreciate all your support! gofund.me/0e7176c9d . Team Kailee—Dawn Taborda”
June 26: Dawn Taborda relates the following, quoting: “June 26, 2026. Day 0 - Fri. June 26, 2026. TODAY IS THE DAY! Day 0 After two rounds of intense chemo and four days of twice-a-day total body radiation, today is Bone Marrow Transplant Day! We can't thank Kailee's donor enough for her incredible selflessness and willingness to donate her bone marrow to someone clear across the country. While the actual bone marrow transplant infusion only takes about two hours, the journey afterward will be the hardest part. Kailee will remain in the hospital for about another 30 days while her amazing doctors and nurses closely monitor her to make sure her body accepts the new bone marrow and her blood counts begin to recover. She won't be allowed to leave her room for at least two weeks. I think that's one of the things she's struggling with the most—not being able to go outside and enjoy the beautiful summer weather. She's missing time at the lake with family, the Fourth of July, hanging out with friends, and, believe it or not, even going to work. Our family is incredibly proud of how Kailee has handled all of this. There have definitely been some very hard days, but she has faced every challenge with a strength we never knew she had. A huge thank you to everyone who has supported her through GoFundMe, sent care packages to make her hospital stay a little brighter, or mailed cards to let her know she's being thought of. All the kindness that has been shown means more than you'll ever know, and we are so grateful. As we begin this next chapter, we'd appreciate continued prayers and positive thoughts for: A smooth transplant with no complications. No mouth sores (they're extremely painful and make eating very difficult). No graft-versus-host disease. Kailee's strength, appetite, and blood counts to return quickly. Thank you for being with us through this journey. Your prayers and support have meant the world to us! Team Kailee—Dawn Taborda”
June 25: Liz Teel relates the following, quoting: "My cousin Caitlyn delivered their baby boy by c-section today, and everything went very well! They did do an MRI and a few other tests after he was born and sent those results to her surgical docs in Denver. My understanding is that there will continue to be appointments with her team as he grows and develops. He is in NICU for the time being but seems to be strong. They are really thankful he is here and doing well, and they thank everyone for their prayers!--Liz Teel"
June 24: Daniel Burlingame has been discharged from the hospital. Please pray for his ongoing health issues. Thanks.
June 24: Harriet Valentine had a series of falls and ended up in the hospital. She was thoroughly evaluated by doctors, nurses, therapists, and staff. It was determined that she now needs more care due to her declining health. She has been transferred to Dow Rummel, Allen Wing, room 724. Visitors are welcome. If you have any questions, please feel free to call Verl, Carrie, or Lexi Valentine, or Pastor John. Please pray that this is a good transition for Harriet on her journey.
June 23: Dawn Taborda relates the following about her 21-year-old daughter, Kailee, quoting: “Monday, June 22, 2026. Day -4 (countdown to BMT Bone Marrow Transplant) Marco was able to come up this weekend and spend sometime with us. We celebrated Fathers Day with Olive Garden delivery. It was great having him here. Since our last update Kailee had a couple rounds of chemo over the weekend, which required her to get up every 2 hours all weekend. To say she is exhausted today is an understatement. Luckily she did not have any major side effects even though the chemo she received had potential to make her extremely sick. Today Kailee started Total Body Radiation. She will be doing radiation 2 times a day through Thursday. The process only takes about 20 minutes per session. Radiation today has made her pretty nauseous and has been given Benadryl and Ativan, which has made her extremely sleepy. Hoping they can keep the nausea at bay so she can start eating again For now, they are going to increase her tube feeds to help her get the nutrition she needs. We are amazed by the amount of donations and gifts that Kailee has received to make her stay more comfortable. We appreciated all the support! Keep the prayers and positive thought coming. Team Kailee—Dawn Taborda”
June 23: Daniel Burlingame has been admitted to the hospital with gastro-intestinal bleeding. Please keep him in your prayers. Thanks.
June 22: Gracia Harmsen relates the following, quoting: “As much as I didn't want to write this update, I wanted to share where things stand. I'll try to keep it short and sweet. After multiple meetings with the oncology team and considering everything carefully, Dad made the decision not to pursue radiation for the spot of cancer on his vertebrae. At this point, there are no further treatment options available. Last week, we enrolled Dad in home hospice care. This isn’t a decision made out of giving up, but rather a shift in focus. Our goal now is comfort and quality of life — helping Dad be as comfortable and peaceful as possible in the days ahead. He has been in extensive pain, and he is quite tired. Hospice has already been such a gift in helping manage symptoms and care for him well at home. This season has been hard to navigate because there isn’t a straight line to it. Some days surprise us and feel almost normal — full of conversation, laughter, stories, and moments we want to hold onto. Other times, those good days are followed by a string of very difficult ones. We’re learning to hold plans loosely and take things one day at a time. Through it all, Dad continues to show incredible strength, grace, and steadiness. We also want to say thank you. Thank you for your prayers, your meals, your messages, your encouragement, and the countless ways you’ve cared for our family. We feel deeply supported and loved. As we enter this season, visits are welcome, but we kindly ask that everyone please call or text ahead before stopping by so we can make sure it’s a good day and a good time for Dad. Please continue praying for comfort, peace, meaningful moments together, and wisdom as we walk each day as it comes.—Gracia Harmsen”
June 19: Liz Teel relates the following, quoting: "Here's an updated prayer request for my cousin, Caitlyn Peterson. Cait's doctor has moved up her c-section to next Thursday, June 25 (instead of July 2). He’s concerned about her uterus rupturing. He said the scars from the previous spina bifida surgeries appear to have thinned since last week's scan. He also said the NICU team will be present but does not anticipate that the baby will necessarily need to go to the NICU, maybe just for a few hours for a good assessment. They are asking for prayers that she can carry the baby to next Thursday, and that the delivery would go smoothly. She is being very careful with everything she does, i.e. no lifting whatsoever. Thank you for praying!--Liz Teel"
June 19: Our condolences go out to Wendy Hellenga and her family on the passing of her mother, Brenda Ratliff, last night. Please keep them in your prayers.
June 19John Thornton here. I was in the heart hospital for a few hours through the night. I am home now, but even though I was shocked four times, my heart rhythm is still not normal. Trying to get in an a see the cardiologist today. your prayers are appreciated. Thanks.
June 18 This is John Thornton. I went into atrial field again tonight and I'm at the heart hospital. Please keep me in your prayers. Also keep Marcia in your prayers as she still recovering from her surgery. Thank you
June 14: Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Dustin Schouten, his parents Stu and Joan, and his brother Luke. Luke's wife, Chris Schouten passed away. Please keep the family in your prayers.
June 16 Dawn Taborda relates the following, quoting: “Marco, Logan, Kailee and I moved our stuff into the apartment we got for the next 4 months. Thankfully it is furnished but you forget how much you need to set up an apartment with just staples. A few trips have been made to Walmart already. On Sunday, June 14th Kailee started her 1st round of chemo. She will receive ATG chemo through Wednesday. We were told that the 1st day of this chemo would be the worst and so far she had had minimal reactions just some minor rashes. She is not allowed to leave her room, so we have been trying to keep busy and entertained. We made Suncatchers, put together some Legos and did some decorating to the room to make it feel a little more homey. I might have to make a run to Hobby Lobby for some more activities though since it is only day two. After Wednesday, she will have a few days to rest before a other round of chemo, which will have her up about every 2 hours. Kailee loves hearing from everybody so please continue to reach out. The address to the hospital is:
M Faiview Masonic Children's Hospital
2450 Riverside Avenue
Minneapolis, MN. 55454
We really appreciate all your prayers and support. Team Kailee—Dawn Taborda”June 16 Our condolences go out to Tami Boyle and her family on the passing of her grandfather. Please keep the friends and family in your prayers
June 16 Please pray for Helen Robinson's brother-in-law, Donald Dykstra. He has cancer, is very weak, and having trouble eating. He lives out of state. Thanks.
June 13: Bill Klein is scheduled to be released to home from the hospital today. Please pray for his ongoing recovery. Thanks.
June 11: Bill Klein's hip repair surgery went well. He will be in the hospital for a few days. Please pray for his recovery. Thanks,
June 11: Bill Klein will have the hip repair surgery this morning (Thursday 6-11-26) at 9 am. Please keep him in your prayers. Thanks.
June 10 Bill Klein fell last week. Today, the doctor uncovered that he had broken a hip. He is being admitted to Avera for a hip repair surgery, which might still happen today. Please keep him in your prayers. Thanks
June 8 Marcia Thornton stabilized. Thank you for your prayers. She has now been discharged to home. Please pray for her complete recovery over the next few weeks
June 8: Marcia Thornton is having some low blood pressure issues in the hospital after her surgery. Please keep her in your prayers
June 8: Marcia Thornton's surgery went well. She is in recovery. Not sure yet if she will get to come home today or not. Thanks for your prayers, and please pray for her recovery.
June 7: Dawn Taborda relates the following, quoting: “In a week, Kailee will be admitted to M Fairview Children's Hospital in Minneapolis to start the Bone Marrow Transplant process. As scary as it is, we know that this is the best possible treatment to ensure Kailee has a healthy future. She will have to endure a week of more chemo and 4 days of Total Body radiation to get rid of all her bone marrow. This will make way for the new marrow that is being donated by a young lady in Chile. We are so grateful for people who go through the process to become a donor. Her hospital stay will be at least 30 days, but she will need to stay no more than 30 minutes away from the hospital for at least 3 months after her discharge, so we will be getting an apartment in the Cities. As hard as this is going to be on her, she is ready to get this going so she can get back to school and go back to working at Precious Angels. She misses seeing the kids! Since this will be a long stay away from family and friends, please keep sending positive thoughts and prayers. She would love to hear from all of you. I will post our address to the apartment when we get it. Your support means more to us than you know. Team Kailee. --Dawn & Kailee Taborda”
June 7: Marcia Thornton will be having pelvic floor repair surgery tomorrow (Monday June 8). It is scheduled to be a same-day surgery, but that could change. Please pray for the surgery and the recovery to go well and without any complications. Thanks.
June 5: Lloyd Van Essen will be starting the new series of chemo bladder flushes on Tuesday with a stronger chemo medication. Please keep him in your prayers. Thanks.
June 4: Melanie Odens relates the following, quoting: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you: I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41: 10. “Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.” Psalm 30:2. Praise the Lord! Amber's scans to be clear Thank you so much for all the prayers, love and care. With Love and Gratitude, The Poppen Family”—Melanie Odens.
June 4: Katie Thill relates the following, quoting: “Today's update. Wednesday night, Leroy came down with a stomach bug and was up vomiting most of the night. Around 10:30 yesterday morning, he vomited again, and it was brown. We took him to the ER, where he became lethargic and continued vomiting. Testing showed there was blood in his vomit, so they quickly started an IV and ordered an X-ray, ultrasound, and esophagram. By God’s grace, the ultrasound and esophagram looked great. The X-ray showed that his G-tube balloon had somehow become overfilled, causing a blockage in his stomach. Once they removed some of the water, he was able to keep down Pedialyte and a bottle with no issues. To top it off, I came down with the stomach bug while we were there and ended up needing fluids and Zofran myself. We are so thankful for God’s protection and provision through it all. He guided the medical team, and we’re especially grateful for the nurse who stayed by Leroy’s side the entire time. God is good, and we’re thankful this scare had a simple solution.—Katie Thill”
Jane 4: Melanie Odens relates the following, quoting: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you: I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41: 10. Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. Psalm 30:2. Every time I hear CeCe Winans sing a song I have instant renewed confidence in the Lord. It's something about how she sings. I find my arms raising. Sometimes that's just what we need, isn't it? We have thoughts that want to creep in and want to shadow our connection with the Lord. God is always there and won't let the shadow overtake us. Today is a day we are asking you to pray for Amber. She has her scan (every 3-4 months) and blood test(s) and those days can bring thoughts, wonderings and feelings that want to "shake us up" or "cast a shadow." As Pastor Clyde has been sharing how we can be "unshakeable" in the Lord, we ask that you would pray for Amber and for any other loved ones your mind is thinking of...that if the anticipation of tests tries to "shake us" (like cancer can) that we go to the Lord with the bold confidence while we wait. If you are able to pray, her blood draw, scans etc., will be mid morning today. Please pray *Praise-God's mercy for clear scans and health in the past. Requests: *clear scans for decades and decades * Amber's body continues to be cancer free in every cell *peace that passes all understanding for Amber as she waits *good health for Amber *any other cancer patients and loved ones who need the Lord's presence. We adore you all and appreciate all of your gifts of prayer. With Love, The Poppen Family—Melanie Odens”
June 3: Congratulations! Gracia and Jon Harmsen relate the following. “Introducing our daughter, 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐧. There are moments in life that feel almost impossible to put into words, and this is one of them. After losing seven babies and walking through more than four years of waiting, paperwork, prayers, uncertainty, tears, and hope through adoption, we can finally say: 𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞. This season of waiting has been the most difficult of our lives, but somehow, it has also been one of the most beautiful. Like the pruning that takes place before a vine can flourish, God has been doing deep work in our hearts. Through the pain, the loss, the disappointment, and the waiting, we held onto the belief that He was writing a story we could not yet see—that somehow He would bring beauty from ashes. For years, Ezra faithfully prayed every single day that God would bring him a sibling. He would ask God for the “just right baby” and the “just right mama” to be brought to our family. And in His perfect timing, God answered that prayer in a way more beautiful than we could have imagined. Evie’s birth mom is the embodiment of courage, strength, and sacrificial love. There are no words that adequately express the love and gratitude we have for her. Her incredible sacrifice has given us the gift of becoming Evangeline’s parents, but our love for her goes far beyond that. She is deeply treasured, deeply valued, and deeply loved by Jesus. We are forever grateful that our stories will always be connected through this precious little girl. Evie Grace, you are loved beyond measure. Long before we held you in our arms, we carried you in our hearts. Every prayer, every tear, every loss, and every mile of this journey led us to you. And you were worth every moment of the wait. Welcome to our family, sweet girl. 𝐖𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮. We are still waiting to be able to go home, as there is a slew of paperwork and legal hoops to jump through. We are praying that we get to be back home in South Dakota by the end of the week. –Gracia and Jon Harmsen”
June 3: Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Carmen Van Middendorp on the passing of her father John Van Middendorp of Rock Rapids, IA. A visitation will be held Thursday, June 4th, from 4:00 to 8:00, with the family present 6:00 to 8:00 PM, at the Christian Reformed Church of Rock Rapids. Family and friends may gather at Hillside Cemetery in Doon at 9:30 AM, Friday, June 5th prior to the memorial service, with Pastor Al Richardson officiating. A memorial service will be at 11:00 AM, Friday, June 5th at the Christian Reformed Church of Rock Rapids, IA, with Rev. Dr. Cliff Hoekstra officiating. Please keep Carmen and her family in your prayers.
May 27: Bonnie Frisbee relates the following, quoting: "Please pray for Brian Frisbee. He has had low blood pressure these last two days. He has had difficulty focusing on therapy due to acute medical challenges. This has set him back in his goal to regain strength and endurance. It has been a long and exhausting journey to recovery. We continue to pray and trust. Please pray for strength and endurance for Brian. Thank you--Bonnie Frisbee"
May 25: Dawn Taborda relates the following, quoting: “The last couple of weeks came with a few unexpected set backs. The week after she got out of the hospital, she was scheduled to get G tube (replacing her NG tube) and a Broviac line (replaces her PICC line) and her Bone Marrow Biopsy on Tues 19th. She had lab work on Monday and both blood and platelets, which even after that were to low for the procedure so she was given both on Monday afternoon. On Tuesday she needed to be at the surgery center at 6am in order to get more platelets before the surgeon would proceed with the surgery. Surgery took about 2 hours and she was to be admitted over night to make sure the feeds went good. I will just say that her body had another plan. I wont go into detail about all that happened, but she did end up in the PICU and was taken back for emergency surgery at 11pm Tuesday night. Doctors were able to get everything under control and on Wednesday she was moved from the PICU and back to the 3rd floor Castle. Once she was feeling better they released her on Friday 22nd. The Bone Marrow biopsy showed 0 signs of Leukemia, which is fantastic so she will be able to get the Bone Marrow Transplant process started. **Just for clarification, the bone marrow biospy showed no disease cells so Kailee is in remission, but the ultimate goal is to cure Kailee of Leukemia. Tiny amounts of leukemia cells can still be hiding in her body. A bone marrow transplant gives the best chance at getting rid of those hidden cells and helping prevent the leukemia from coming back. The dates for when she will go to Univ of MN Childrens for her Bone Marrow transplant. Jun 2-5 - workup week and tests. June 14th - Admitted to childrens. June 26th - Bone Marrow Transplant day. When we know her room at the hospital and our apartment in Minneapolis I will put on here. I know Kailee would love to hear from you all! Thanks for all you prayers and positive thoughts. They me a great deal to Kailee and out family! Dawn & Kailee Taborda”
May 25: Our condolences go out to the friends and family of Ken Bloom who passed away early this morning (Monday May 25). Funeral details are pending. Please keep Bonnie and the family in your prayers. Thanks.
May 22: Lloyd VanEssen saw the doctor. They're going to be letting him heal for the next month, and then they will be restarting the bladder chemotherapy flushes with a stronger chemotherapy medicine. He will have six of those. Thank you for everyone who has been praying for him. Please continue to pray for him. Thank you.
May 21: Katie Thill relates the following, quoting: “We are back in Philadelphia for another dilation for Leroy. Yesterday we had several appointments, and we are so thankful that they all went really well. The doctors are very happy with the progress he is making, and he even got to try applesauce for the first time — which he absolutely loved! Today was dilation day. When they went in, they were able to easily place the balloon, which meant his esophagus was sitting around a 5 or 6. They noticed it starting to stretch around a 7, and by the grace of God, they were able to safely dilate him back to a 10! We also got the exciting news that we can officially start purées. In true Leroy fashion, they also found a little hairball stuck in his throat. They believe it came from him sucking on the tags of his toys, so now we’ll be cutting tags off everything he can get his hands on. We are so thankful for how far God has brought Leroy already. There have been so many moments of fear and uncertainty throughout this journey, but the Lord continues to provide peace, strength, and healing every step of the way. We are endlessly grateful for the prayers, love, and support surrounding our family. Our next dilation will be in 3 months. The team said we can either do it in Sioux Falls or come back to Philadelphia if that’s what we feel most comfortable with. For now, we are praising God for another successful procedure and continued progress for our sweet boy.—Katie Thill”
May 19: Kate Stellinga relates the following, about her dad, Ken Stellinga, quoting: “Praise the Lord - Dad remains cancer free. Scans & blood work all look good/stable. Met with the dietician & planning to start some enzymes to help digestion & hopefully gain some weight back. Those of you who have had your gall bladder removed can probaly relate! Thank you for prayers & following the journey. Dad remains grateful for the cards, calls & text messages.—Kate Stellinga”
May 19: The funeral for Dolly Hoogendoorn will be on Friday at 11 am at Community Reformed Church.
Visitation is on Thursday evening from 5 to 7 pm at Community Reformed Church.
May 19: Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Dolly Hoogendoorn. She passed away early this morning. Funeral arrangements are pending. Please keep the family in your prayers
May 18: Gracia Harmsen relates the following quoting: “It’s been a while since our last update! In February, Dad began what was considered his “final option” for treatment — an oral chemotherapy medication called Lonsurf. We were told going into it that the side effects could be difficult and that, historically, the effectiveness of this treatment is fairly limited. Even so, Dad wanted to give it a try. Since then, he has completed 3 rounds of Lonsurf (each round lasting 4 weeks). As expected, the side effects have been challenging. He has dealt with significant nausea and intense abdominal pain. Between having very little appetite and struggling to swallow because of the size of the esophageal tumor, he has lost a considerable amount of weight. Getting enough calories in has become increasingly difficult, so he has been relying heavily on high-calorie Boost drinks. Late last week, Dad had another scan, and today we met with his oncology team to review the results and discuss next steps. The scan confirmed what we already knew — there is still a significant amount of cancer present. After three months on oral chemotherapy, the cancer does not appear dramatically worse, but it also has not improved. There has been some additional spread, however. Dr. Solomon shared that the cancer appears more “bulky and thick” than before, and there is now evidence of spread to the bone. A new spot was found on his T11 vertebrae, which is especially concerning because of its close proximity to the spinal cord. When cancer spreads to the bone, it continues weakening and eating away at the bone, and complications can progress very quickly from there. Because of this, we are being referred to radiation oncology to discuss the possibility of targeted radiation to that area. Up until now, Dad has not been a candidate for radiation because of the nature of his cancer, but we are hoping that this may help slow the spread and protect that part of the spine. He will also begin receiving an infusion medication called Zometa, which is intended to help strengthen the bones. Dad has also decided to continue the oral chemotherapy for one more month. We do not know how much benefit it will provide, but he wants to give it one final attempt. After this, there are no remaining treatment options available. We will meet with his oncology team again next month, and when both Dad and his doctors feel the time is right, we will likely begin transitioning to home hospice care. Hospice care is generally introduced when life expectancy is estimated at six months or less, with the primary focus shifting toward comfort and quality of life. While today’s news isn't necessarily "light", it's also not unexpected. We are thankful for the clarity it brings and for the time we still have together. Dad continues to face all of this with remarkable strength, humility, and peace. Even in the middle of difficult conversations and hard decisions, his steady trust in the Lord has been deeply evident. Right now, our focus is simply on taking things one day at a time — making memories, caring for Dad well, and trusting God for the grace needed for each step ahead. We do not know exactly what the coming months will hold, but we do know that the Lord has sustained our family over and over again, and we believe He will continue to do so. We would appreciate continued prayers for comfort, strength, wisdom, and meaningful time together as a family. Thank you for walking alongside us so faithfully for the last year and a half. Your prayers, encouragement, and support have carried us in more ways than we can express, and we are incredibly grateful.-- Gracia Harmsen”
May 18: Dolly Hoogendoorn has been moved to ICU. She has a complicated and very serious medical situation. Please keep her in your prayers.
May 18: Dolly Hoogendoorn went to the ER last evening with abdominal pain. She has been admitted to the hospital and tests are being done. Please keep her in your prayers. Please no visitors at this time. Thanks,
May 17: Kate Stellinga relates the following, quoting: “Hi! Me again.....just a quick update - Ken has his first follow up appt on Tuesday! This will include a CT scan, labs & appointment. Hoping for no surprises! Hes been doing well, staying active, eating well, remaining healthy despite living with a bunch of his grandchildren who love sharing germs. The only concern, which may be a strong word, is Dad has been losing weight/having a hard time maintaining weight. This could be post surgical related. We will update everyone after his appt on Tuesday! Prayers for a clear scan and stable labs would be appreciated! We hope you all are receiving the beautiful weather and transition into spring! Thank you for your continued prayers. Kate Stellinga”
May 16: Junella Wesselink relates the following, quoting: “Daughter Brenda and her son Jesse are both in need of prayers. My daughter has been free of cancer since early 1990's. Now has area under collar bone. Ultrasound is scheduled for Monday. My grandson has a heart issue. Very scary a week ago, but stabilized now. He is 29 yrs. Been a week of turmoil for all the family. A test of unshakeable and shakable. This word of family crisis given to me in phone call after wishing me Happy Mother's Day last Sunday. I know Jesus will walk us thru all.—Junella Wesselink”
May 15: Lloyd VanEssen is out of surgery in PacU. Lloyd is scheduled to go home today
May 12 Lloyd VanEssen will be having same day surgery on his bladder cancer on friday. Please keep him in your prayers
May 10: Dawn Taborda relates the following, quoting: “Kailee was discharged today. ANC has made it to 108🎊! She still needs to be careful, but at least the number is increasing! Not sure if she will be able to do the biopsy this week since we dont know if the counts are high enough. She may get another break week. Keep alll the positive thoughts and prayers coming! Dawn & Kailee Taborda”
May 8: Dawn Taborda relates the following, quoting: "Kailee is still in the hospital. The fevers are gone and her blood culture results came back clear. The problem is that her counts are still low. The main one being her ANC is still only 20 and it will need to show significant improvement in order for them to discharge her. It is looking like she will probably be in hospital through the weekend. Dawn & Kailee Taborda"
May 7: Katie Thill relates the following, quoting: “Update on Leroy! Today we had an orthopedic appointment to re-evaluate Leroy’s metatarsus adductus. Metatarsus adductus is a common congenital foot deformity where the front part of the foot turns inward, giving it a C-shape. In true Leroy fashion, his little tootsies have not improved like we had hoped, so he officially won himself 4 weeks of serial casting. After that, he will need to wear braces on his feet while sleeping for an unknown amount of time. While this wasn’t the update we were praying for, we continue to trust God’s plan for Leroy’s journey. We are so thankful for answered prayers in other areas — his repeat hip ultrasound looked great, and everything from that standpoint is completely normal! God continues to remind us that progress doesn’t always happen the way we expect, but He is faithful through every step, cast, appointment, and challenge. We are trusting Him to guide Leroy’s little feet exactly where they are meant to go.—Katie Thill”
May 5: Jayne Knockenmus relates the following, quoting: "Shelly has had a rough weekend. She was able to return home yesterday and continues to fight off a few infections. Please continue to pray for Continued healing for the infections to leave her body and she can continue on with treatment next week. “The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him.” Nahum‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT--Jayne"‬‬
May 4: Dawn Taborda relates the following, quoting: “May 4. Kailee had her #4 and #5 Rylase chemo on Friday (5/1). She wasn't feeling the greatest the start of the week. Her blood work on Friday showed that her platelets were low 19 (normal is 140) and her ANC was 0. **The ANC tell how much immunity she has in her system. Anything under 500 makes Kailee more prone for illness. Friday night and Saturday Kailee was not able to tolerate her tube feedings and was getting sick eating anything by mouth. Saturday she was feeling pretty bad. We took her temp and she was running between 102 and 104. Once we called her doctor they direct admitted her to the Castle. Saturday and Sunday she received multiple antibotics to combat whatever was causing the fevers and the nausea. She was pretty miserable this weekend. Today she is feeling a little better. No fevers since last night at 630pm. Still not able to eat by mouth much, but she is now getting continously NG feeds at a slow rate to help her get the nutrients she needs without making her sick. Today she also received her LAST Rylase chemo shot. We celebrated with Auntie Anne's pretzels and Sprite Tomorrow she will have a PET scan in the morning and the plan is still to do her Bone Marrow biopsy on Tuesday, May 12th. Once those results are done we will know the next steps and when we will need to head to the Cities to start the Bone Marrow Transplant process. Please sent prayer or positive thoughts that the results show that the chemo is working. Dawn & Kailee”
May 2: Jayne Knochenmus relates the following, quoting: "I haven’t sent a recent update on my friend Shelly because she’s been handling the Chemo pretty good. Few set backs but she has been able to manage them. She’s done 4 rounds of chemo. Unfortunately, she had to be admitted last night. Her bloodwork revealed that the infection needs to be treated with an IV antibiotic, so she is back in the hospital for the next few days as she receives treatment. Prayers that the infection clears quickly. Jayne"
April 28: Katie Thill relates the following, quoting: “Update on Leroy! Leroy has been doing pretty well since our last dilation! His GERD has definitely picked up, but we’re choosing to see that as a good sign—it likely means his esophagus is staying open. It also means a little more laundry for mom. We head back to Philadelphia for appointments on May 20th, and we are praying for continued progress, smooth appointments, and good reports. We’re so thankful for how far he’s come and trusting God with each next step. We are so incredibly thankful for everyone’s kind words, donations, prayers, love, and support—it truly means more than we can say.—Katie Thill”
April 27: Larry and Rachel Halverson relate the following, quoting: "I thought I’d send an update on Anna's seizures. The good news: her brain MRI appears to be fine. The bad news: she is still having seizures and has had several more at school and home in the last few months, including this past Friday again. She has missed a few extra days of 5th grade, as she needs 12-20+ hours of sleep to recover after one. The doctor is still adjusting meds to try to get them under control again. We appreciate the prayers! Larry and Rachel Halverson"
April 25: Dawn Taborda relates the following, quoting: “Good Morning! Sorry for the lack of updates. Kailee has been tolerating everything pretty good. Kailee has been struggling with her weight for the last couple of months, and last week she was given the option to get a NG tube now or wait until her Bone Marrow biopsy and they would put a G tube in. She decided it would best to do the NG tube right away in order to help her with her nutrition and weight. The procedure was not a great experience for her, but she was a trooper and got it done. Fast forward to this week's appointment and she has already gained 4 pounds. We were all pretty happy and excited for her. Now that she is getting better nutrition she has a lot more energy than she has had in the last month. Her counts this week were lower than expected so she had to have platelets AND blood which meant her appointment was about 7 hours. We are going to have to start replenishing her Legos if they keeping lasting this long. She started another round of chemo and a series of 6 Rylase shots on Wednesday. She will be done with this phase of her treatment the 1st part of May. Her Bone Marrow Biopsy will be the middle of May, where they will see if she is in remission and can start the process to get her Bone Marrow transplant somewhere about the 1st week of June. We will give more details about that when everything gets worked out. Thanks for all your prayers, kind words and thoughts. You will never know how much we appreciate it. Kailee & Dawn Taborda”
April 24: Lloyd VanEssen had a follow-up on his bladder cancer. The news showed more tumors, which was not what was hoped for. He will be seeing more doctors to assess and treat this cancer. Please pray for appointments to open up soon, and for all that is happening. Thanks.
April 22: Dorland is scheduled to go home from the hospital today. The surgery yesterday placed a stent into an artery going into his brain. They were able to go through the groin to do that, so no incision. He is doing well. He and Shirley thank you all for your prayers
April 21: Shirley reports that Dorland's surgery went well, but it was delayed in getting started, he is now in the ICU recovery. They are not sure how long he will be in the hospital. He is having some back pain now, so please pray for pain relief as well as recovery from the surgery. Thanks
April 21: Shirley Schuld reports, quoting: "We are at Avera, Dorland had a stroke yesterday am, ER..then transferred to Neur Room…appreciate prayers..expect to go to surgery by 11:00--Shirley Schuld"
April 20: Chele Tjedt, the woman with the support dog, needs a ride to an appointment on each Wednesday afternoon at 2 pm and then a ride home at 3 pm. The transport will include her and her dog, Orion. Call me, John Thornton is you can help out and for more details. Thanks.
April 17: Elaine Deelstra has had a dramatic decrease in her eyesight. She will be visiting doctors for evaluation. Please keep her in your prayers. Thanks.
April 16: Ken Bloom has been admitted to the Dougherty Hospice House. Please keep him, his wife Bonnie, and their family in your prayers. Thanks.
April 16: Our condolences go out to Ken Stellinga and his family in the loss of his older brother, Bob, who died on Saturday. Please keep the friends and family in your prayers.
April 15: Liz Teel replates the following, quoting: "The latest update on my cousin Caitlyn and Baby Peterson is very encouraging! This week’s MRI showed a huge change in his brain placement already! His brain was being pulled down by the force of the spinal cord, but once the spinal cord was put back inside where it belongs, it released some of the pressure and is allowing his brain to float back up where it belongs. This is a huge answer to prayer! They are now back home in Herrick, SD, but she has to check in with her medical team in Sioux Falls every week until he is born. They thank everyone for their prayers and ask you to continue praying!--Liz Teel"
April 14: Katie Thill relates the following, quoting: “Update on Leroy. Trevor, Kyler, Leroy, and I flew back to Philly last night for Leroy’s dilation this morning. His esophagus had narrowed to 4 mm with a stricture, but it was easily dilated to 10 mm, which was very reassuring. They also gave him steroid injections and removed a few stitches that were causing irritation. We have a full day of appointments tomorrow before heading back home tomorrow night. The plan is to return in 4–6 weeks for another dilation, and we’re so grateful for the experts caring for him until the transition back to Sanford. We are continually reminded of God’s faithfulness and the power of prayer. “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” – Psalm 126:3—Katie Thill”
Card Shower! On Friday, April 17, Florene Meier will turn 98 years old. Please consider sending her a birthday card.
Florene Meier
1416 S Main Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
April 12: Baby Leroy Thill's family is taking him back to Philadelphia for a dilation procedure and appointment. They leave tomorrow (Monday). Please keep them in your prayers. Thanks
April 10: Glenda is now home after her knee replacement surgery. Vicki reports that she is very comfortable and is doing her exercises. Please continue to pray for her rehab and recovery. Thanks.
April 9: Dawn Taborda relates the following, quoting: “Kailee went in for blood work on Tuesday and found out she made counts after her week off. Wednesday she started another round of Chemo. This will be her 2nd month her Consolidation phase of chemo, which lasts 4 weeks. After this round she will have a Bone Marrow Biopsy to see her percentage of Leukemia cells. Hoping and praying for 0%. Due to the type of Leukemia Kailee has, both her doctors at Sanford and at M Fairview Children's are recommending that she get a Bone Marrow Transplant as soon as she goes into remission. Lots of details need to be worked out before that time. She will need to be within 30 minutes of the hospital (Fairview) after she has been discharged for at least 3 months. More to come on that when we know for sure when the BMT will happen. Continued thoughts and prayers for Kailee to start gaining back her strength and appetite. Dawn & Kailee Taborda”
April 9 Glenda's knee replacement surgery went well. She will be spending the night in the hospital. Please continue to pray for her recovery. Thank you
April 8: Liz Teel relates the following, quoting: "A follow up appointment yesterday showed that all is healing nicely. The baby looks good, and the doctor told Caitlyn she’s being talked about as a wonder mom! Apparently, no one is ever out of the hospital so quickly after that surgery, and no one is ever walking on Day 1 after the surgery. That is the power of prayer! They are still unsure how Baby Peterson will be affected yet or how serious his disability might be. There is a wide range of possibilities in that, but they are trusting God with it all. They ask for prayers to continue and they thank everyone for their prayers thus far! Thanks, --Liz Teel"
April 7: Glenda Van Den Hoek will be having knee replacement on Thursday, April 9 at Avera. Please keep her in your prayers. Thanks.
April 6: The funeral services for Leah Reuwsaat’s mother, Marie Bossman, will be as follows. Visitation: Thursday, April 09, 2026, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Zion Bible Church, Bridgewater, SD 57319. Funeral on Friday, April 10, 2026 10:30 AM also at Zion Bible Church, Bridgewater, SD 57319. Please keep the family in your prayers. Thanks.
April 4: Marie Bossman passed away on April 4th. She was Leah Reuwsaat mother. Our condolences go out to all her family and friends. May God give them comfort in their loss.
April 2: Dawn Taborda relates the following, quoting: “This week has been pretty busy. Monday after Kailee Rylase shot#5, Marco, Kailee and I headed to Minneapolis for a appointment at the University of MN Childrens Hospital. On Tuesday, we had a consult with the Bone Marrow Transplant team. The appointment was good, but a little overwhelming with lots of information. The desicion of when or if she needs the Bone Marrow transplant will depend on the results of her next few rounds of chemo. Hoping and praying that these next rounds do the job! The week Kailee did not make counts to do Chemo, which was actually expected by her team. She will have this week to recover and get her counts back so up she can start back up next week. With her getting a break from chemo this week, hopefully she will start feeling better and be able to enjoy her Birthday. Kailee will turn 21 on Saturday(4/4). Your thoughts and prayer are appreciated! Dawn & Kailee Taborda”
March 31: Update on Pastor Clyde's niece- Caitlin Peterson’s surgery went well for both her and the baby boy. Now they have to wait for almost 2 weeks to rescan to see how successful it was and how the baby’s development is coming along. Thank you for praying!
March 29: Please pray for Pastor Clyde's niece (and cousin of Liz and Abbie), Caitlyn Peterson. She is pregnant with a baby boy who was recently diagnosed with spina bifida. Cait will be having in utero surgery on Monday in Denver at a specialty hospital. Please pray she does not go into early labor during the surgery and that the surgery would be a success. Also please keep her husband, Derrick, and their 2 young children in your prayers. Thank you!
March 26: Tim DeLoof's surgery went well and he is home resting. Thanks for your prayers.
March 26: Dawn Taborda relates the following, quoting: “Today was the last of the Lumbar Punctures with chemo for this round, which will help reduce her time in clinic. Kailee had to have platelets again today. They were at there lowest she has ever had at 7. Normal range is around 140. She is on #4 out of 6 of the shots for the chemo (Rylase) that she had the reaction too last week as well as her regular chemo. Her Neutrophils Absolute was only 5 today, which means that her immune system is compromised. Just for reference she has been running in the 1500. With this being said, we need to make sure that we limit visitors and make sure that she is not around anyone sick until that number can be brought back up. Kailee is still feeling pretty tired but other than that is doing OK. It is hard for her not to be able to do the things she has done in the past. The littlest things make her tired. Thanks for the well wishes. Dawn & Kailee Taborda”
March 25: Sandy DeLoof relates the following, quoting: "Tim DeLoof will be having an outpatient surgery at Avera Hospital tomorrow (Thursday) at 10am. It is a pretty straightforward 20 to 30 minute procedure, but he will need anesthesia which always presents a small risk for ALS patients..so would appreciate prayers. --Sandy DeLoof"
March 24: Here are the life celebration events for Harlan Van Meeteren. Visitation on Sunday, March 29 at Community Reformed Church from 4 pm to 6 pm. The funeral service will be on Monday March 30 at 10 am at Community Reformed Church, lunch to follow, and then burial at the Veteran's cemetery at 1 pm.
March 24: Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Harlan Van Meeteren. Harlan went to heaven this morning about 5:30. Funeral details are pending. Please keep the family and friends in your prayers. Thanks.
March 22: Jayne Knochenmus relates the following, quoting: "Please continue to lift my friend Shelly up in prayer as she navigates this challenging journey. She has triumphantly completed her first round of chemo, and although side effects were manageable, she faced a setback with a hospitalization on Thursday due to a fever and infection. Thankfully, she has returned home with oral antibiotics. Let us pray that she will overcome this infection and fever, and that her body will continue to fight against the cancer. Despite facing numerous obstacles, Shelly has remained remarkably positive, and I have no doubt that she will emerge from this trial even stronger. Let us surround her with love, support, and prayer as she prepares to continue her chemo treatment this week. --Jayne Knochenmus"
March 21: Jenna Hoogendoorn's grandfather, Leroy Downs, suffered a heart attack and then fell and broke his hip. He is in the hospital. Please keep him in your prayers. Thanks.
March 19: Susan Payne reports the following, quoting: "Christie is much better but still doing dialysis. Yesterday, she had a heart angioplasty and only a 20 percent blockage so no stints. They recommend changes in diet and a little weight loss. Praise GOD!
She is doing dialysis on 22nd Street. Her kidney doctor says her kidneys should be back to normal within 6 months. Thank you for all of your prayers, and please keep praying for her continued healing.
PRAISE OUR LORD! Susan Payne and family."
March 19: Dawn Taborda relates the following, quoting: “Sorry for the lack of updates lately, but things had been going well with no major issues now that Kailee has finally gotten over COVID and pneumonia. Today was another long day with some unexpected delays. We arrived at 8:00 a.m., but after her bloodwork came back, it was determined she needed platelets before she could have her lumbar puncture with chemo. The LP didn’t begin until 11:30 a.m. After the LP, she then had to go to clinic for two rounds of chemo. The first infusion went well, but the second chemo medication did not. Kailee had a pretty bad reaction to it. The nurses at the Castle are amazing and were watching her closely from the start, so they got everything under control very quickly. This chemo can cause allergic reactions for many people going through treatment, but they still use it because the alternative is going to clinic three days a week for chemo shots instead. Kailee had this chemo before while she was in the hospital and tolerated it well, but it seems the second dose can cause issues for some. We finally got home around 5:30 p.m., so we were at clinic for close to nine hours. Kailee will need to take shots for this chemo for six days over the next two weeks, and if you know her, she is definitely not a fan of needles. The good thing is that allergic reactions are very rare when it is given by shot instead of IV. She is feeling much better now and will take Thursday as a rest day before starting chemo again on Friday. Positive thoughts and prayers that Kailee tolerates the next rounds well would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all so much for your support and kindness. Kailee & Dawn Taborda”
March 19: Katie Thill relates the following, quoting: “We have finally been discharged! Trevor and Kyler made it to Philly yesterday afternoon to pick us up from the hospital. We headed to my dad’s cousin’s house just outside the city and stayed the night, where Kyler got to meet—and play with—his little brother for the first time. This afternoon, we started the long drive home and made it to just outside Akron, Ohio. Both Kyler and Leroy have been amazing. Kyler has kept us entertained the whole way, chatting with Leroy and pointing out all the cool things he sees, while Leroy has been perfectly content—just eating and sleeping.—Katie Thill”
March 17: Funeral Services information: For Christopher Thesenvitz. Sunday 3/22 -Public visitation at George Boom Funeral Home Sunday 4 -7pm with wake service at 7. Monday 3/23 - Funeral Mass at St Therese will be at 10am. SD Veterans Cemetery commital at 12pm. Luncheon at Church to follow
March 16: Katie Thill relates the following, quoting: “Leroy had his dilation today, and he did so well! When they performed his initial surgery, his esophagus was dilated to 5 mm. Today, they found it had narrowed slightly to 4 mm, but they were able to successfully dilate it up to 8 mm—such a big step forward! They did notice some irritation, which they said is expected after a procedure like this. The plan is to repeat the dilation in about 3 weeks, so Leroy and I will be flying back out for a couple of days. And the best news—tomorrow is discharge day! Trev and Kyler are on their way here now, and my mom will be flying in tomorrow afternoon.—Katie Thill”
March 16: Susan Payne relates the following, quoting: "Please put out a request for my sister, Christie. She is having issues with her heart, blood pressure and kidneys. She has been in Sanford hospital for over a week.She is currently on dialysis. Please pray for kidney to function and A-Fib for her heart. God bless, Susan Payne"
March 16: Laura Thesenvitz relates the following, quoting: “40 Days - And Now He Walks With Jesus. I will need some more time to fully process and circle back to eleborate on this part of the journey.. but 40 days. Wow. Though I am so thankful for peace my heart is still heavy to have to share that , Christopher passed away early this morning. He is walking with Jesus. Christopher was the love of my life. My better half. My person. Anyone who knew him, knew his generous heart, and the way he always showed up for the people he loved. His fighting spirit and heart that beat and lived for others was a true testament of that to the end. Our family will miss him more than words can say. Thank you to everyone who has reached out with the mountains of generosity, kindness, love and support. Please continue to keep our family in your prayers during this difficult time. We will share wake and funeral information soon. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace...—Laura Thesenvitz”
March 16: Pete and Jan Mellema relate the following, quoting: "Our son-in-law, Chris Thesenvitz, passed into the arms of Jesus early this morning. I will pass on service details later. Thank you everyone for your continued thoughts, prayers, hugs and support during this long journey! We are so blessed to have such a loving church family! God Bless you all!
Pete and Jan Mellema"
March 15: Katie Thill relates the following, quoting: “In true Leroy fashion, he decided to surprise us yet again. His feet have always been a bit of a concern because they turn inward. He was diagnosed with bilateral internal tibial torsion and metatarsus adductus. Internal tibial torsion is when the shinbone (tibia) twists inward, causing the feet to point toward each other when walking. Metatarsus adductus is when the front half of the foot curves inward, giving it a C-shape. Because of this, Leroy got his very first pair of shoes! He’ll need to wear them 22 hours a day to help guide his feet into the correct position as he grows. They also noticed a small dimple near the top of his butt crack and were concerned it could mean his spinal cord was tethered. Thankfully, all of the testing came back normal, which was a huge relief. Tomorrow is the BIG day! Leroy has his dilation scheduled around 11 a.m., and if everything goes well, we are hoping for discharge on Tuesday. Trevor and Kyler are going to drive out to Philly to pick us up, and I cannot wait for Kyler to finally meet his baby brother. We are so close to finally being a family of five under one roof.—Katie Thill”
March 13: Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Ruth Van Aartsen. She was Steve Van Aartsen's Mom (Heather DeWit's Grandmother). She passed away yesterday. She was 95 years old. Please keep them all in your prayers. Thanks.
March 12: Dawn Taborda relates the following, quoting: “Today's Kailee had a round of Chemo and a Lumbar Puncture, both procudures went well. During her bloodwork, they saw that her Hemoglobin was low so she had to get blood, which added another 2 and a half hours in to her appointment as well. We made good use of our time by playing UNO. (Yes, she won them all!) While she was getting blood she had her first PT. The chemo that she gets as well as COVID have caused some weakness in her legs. Therapy was pretty hard but her therapist made it fun. Food is still any issue due to both the chemo changing her taste buds and the medication making her nauseous. She has lost quite a bit of weight because of the symptoms. We are trying to find foods/drinks that she likes. She has been feeling better and she was able to hang out for a bit on Tuesday, which was great for her mental health. Our whole family would like to thank everyone for the prayers and thoughts. Dawn & Kailee Taborda"
March 11: Jayne Knochenmus relates the following, quoting: "Shelly was able to return home on Sunday which is a blessing. Today the fight begins. She started chemo, prayers that all goes well and she is able to handle the drug. Prayers that she feels the strength and love of God walking with her through this journey. Continued prayers for Shelly and Kevin and family. 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."--Jayne Knochenmus"
March 11: Harlan Van Meeteren has been moved to the Dougherty hospice house. Please keep him and his family in your prayers. Thanks
March 10: Katie Thill relates the following, quoting: “Today marks four whole months with Leroy, and he is doing so well. He no longer needs to be connected to any monitors as long as we’re in the room with him, which feels like such a big step forward. This morning, speech therapy stopped by and shared some great news — Leroy has been moved up from a transitional nipple to a level 1 nipple, and he’s now allowed to eat for 30 minutes at a time. He’s been doing really well with the change and finished his 110 mL within that 30 minutes! On the 16th, it will be one month since his surgery, which means he’ll be ready for his first dilation if it’s needed. CHOP would like to perform the first one to make sure everything goes smoothly. After that, any future dilations can be done back home at Sanford, which will make things much easier for us. We’re so proud of how far he’s come.—Katie Thill”
March 9: Laura Thesenvitz relates the following, quoting: “A Plea For Peace 32 days ago we entered hospice care. 21 days ago.. Christopher slipped into a minimally responsive state and we stood by his bed and prayed. He hasn’t taken food or water from that point forward. 21 days…. And yet his heart beats. His body has wasted to skin and bones. We pray incessantly. Comfort meds are a constant battle. Even not being lucid or awake, his crying moans and aching gasps are soul crushing. It has nothing to do with level of care he is receiving. The care team at the VA Hospice Cottages are God gifted individuals and amazing people. They care deeply and personally. Each new day and level of suffering I have to watch Christopher endure, feels like my broken heart is crushed over again. I don’t understand why God continues to let Christopher suffer. I don’t get it. Please pray that he allows him to see Jesus face to face. To end his suffering. To grant him peace and eternal rest. To walk again. I’m at a loss. In the dark. I hate this. SO MUCH, not because the love of my life is dying, but because he doesn’t deserve this.. 21 days.. he still suffers.. why? Please. I beg you. Please pray… Laura Thesenvitz”
March 8: Dree Mayer is now home from the hospital. Thanks for your prayers.
March 6: Jayne Knochenmus relates the following, quoting: "Shelly’s procedure went well. They will continue to monitor her throughout the night. She is resting comfortably. Thank you for your prayers. Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”--Jayne Knochenmus
March 6: Dree Mayer had the colonoscopy. The doctor was able to cauterize a bleeding spot. She is now receiving more blood and will remain in the hospital at least overnight. Please continue to pray for her. Thanks.
March 6: Jayne Knochenmus relates the following, quoting: "Shelly remains in the hospital. She will have another procedure today to try to stop the bleed in her liver. Please pray this is successful and help her to regain her strength. The power of prayer has done some amazing things, she just needs some powerful prayers. Jayne"
March 5: Dree Mayer had the upper endoscopy, but they did not find where the bleeding is originating. She will remain in the hospital and have a colonoscopy in the morning. Please keep her in your prayers. Thanks.
March 5: Lloyd VanEssen has completed his chemo treatments. Praise God. He will have a test again in a few month to evaluate how his bladder is doing. Thanks for your prayers.
March 5: Dawn Taborda relates the following, quoting: "Kailee started the Consolidation portion of her treatment today. It was a long day with chemo in the morning followed by a Lumbar puncture with Chemo right after. This will be standard for the next 8 weeks. She tolerated it pretty well, just continues to be extremely tired. She really appreciates all your kind words and prayers. She truly misses working with the kids and staff at Precious Angels. She can't wait to come back! Kailee & Dawn Taborda
March 5: Katie Thill relates the following, quoting: "Big milestone for little Leroy today! He has been working hard on drinking his bottle. Today they gave him a 40 ml bottle with the 15-minute time limit and finished the entire thing right on time. However, Leroy clearly has a serious case of FOMO. Instead of focusing on eating, he’d much rather look around and keep track of everything going on! He also officially graduated from the NICU and moved upstairs into his new room today. The NICU nurses were sad to see him go, but it’s a big step forward. Now that he’s upstairs, he’ll be able to leave the room and go on walks in the stroller—which is perfect for our very curious (and very nosey) little guy. For now, we’re just waiting until the 16th to see if he’ll need a dilation, and we’ll go from there. One step closer every day!--Katie Thill"
March 5: Dree Mayer is in the hospital with a GI bleed. She will be having an upper endoscopy this morning (Thursday). Please keep her in your prayers. Thanks.
March 4: Jan McDowell had her total shoulder replacement today. She reports that it went well. She will spend on night in the hospital and then be discharged and she will be staying with a friend for a few days. Please keep her in your prayers. Thanks.
March 4: Rick Beckstrom has completed his radiation treatment for prostate cancer! He tolerated it well! He will be under surveillance for future. Thank you for the prayers!
March 3; Katie Thill relates the following, quoting: “As of late afternoon yesterday, they removed his PICC line, so he is off everything! Leroy has been working hard on his feeds. They say he is a bit “uncoordinated” with his drinking, but also, he was still on some sedation, and had been doing better throughout the day as it completely wore off. Sounds like March 16th they will possibly do a dilation. They are wanting to see how it looks first, so while they are in there they will decide if he needs a dilation or not. After that, it’s HOME. As long as everything continues to go as planned, we should be able to discharge that week. With how well he has done out here, we are hopeful there will be no setbacks, and it’s smooth sailing from here.—Katie Thill”
March 2: Jayne Knockenmus relates the following, quoting: "Prayers for my friend Shelly, she was admitted to the hospital last night after experiencing pain and blood in her drain. She underwent a procedure this morning to find and stop the bleeding. She is currently in ICU as they monitor her vitals and the bleeding. Please pray for the bleed to stop and she may return home. Jayne Knockenmus"
March 2: Rachel Halverson relates the following about Anna, quoting: "Anna’s seizures seem to have started up again after a 1.5 year break. She had a seizure at school Friday afternoon and then again Friday night at home. We may have to adjust meds. And her doctor recommends she go in for an EEG and brain MRI, scheduled in a couple of weeks.--Rachel Halverson"
March 2: Jeanette Jennings has ben discharged, and is in the Hospital at Home program were staff comes to her home to give her treatments. She is still quiet sick. Please keep her in your prayers. Thanks
March 1: Carmen Van Middendorp's brother in law Brent Davelaar passed away after his battle with cancer. Brent's funeral is Tuesday morning in Ireton, IA. Please pray for the Davelaar and Van Middendorp families. Our condolences go out to all who knew him.
March 1: Dawn Taborda relates the following, quoting: "Kailee is still fighting pneomia, but is starting to feel a little better. Still coughing alot especially at night and weak. Result came in from bone marrow test and there is still 1.7% of leukemia cells. We were hoping for zero. For the next 2 months, Kailee will have weekly IV chemo as well as weekly Lumbar punctures with chemo. Hopeful that this round willl knock out the last of Luekemia cells. Please send positive thoughts and pray for Kailee to get her strength back, tolerate the next rounds of chemo and that these rounds will bring her to remission. PS: Thanks to everybody that has reached out, provided food and send words of encouragement. We appreciate all of you!--Dawn Taborda
Feb 28: Katie Thill relates the following, quoting: “Not much to update. Leroy has been doing so well! He has been working hard on taking the bottle, and he took 16ml of his 40ml yesterday, which is HUGE for him! They are still weaning him off his sedation, so he still has his PICC line in, but once he’s off, we can take that out. Mom and Dad flew in on Thursday night with Jax so we could celebrate his birthday early (March 5). Monday morning, Trevor will fly back with my dad and Jax, and Mom will stay with me until Leroy gets to come home. We are excited to finally be able to get back to some sort of normalcy.—Katie Thill”
Feb 28: Matt Meyer's father, Mark, will be having open heart surgery at Rochester. Please keep him in your prayers. Thanks.
Feb 27: There are a number of people in our church, including Marcia and me, who have been stricken with flu-like illnesses. Please keep us all in your prayers. Thank you
Feb 27: Please pray for Dick & Jeannette Jennings. Dick is recovering from the flu and Jeannette is being hospitalized for the flu. Thanks
Feb 26: Jayne Knochenmus relates the following, quoting: “Please pray for my very good Friend Shelly VanPeursem from First Christian Reformed Church who was diagnosed with stage 4 Gall Bladder cancer. She has been fighting a high bilirubin count and until they can get these numbers down, they won’t start treatment. She is now in the hospital fighting infections. Please pray for strength, patience and free from pain. Both Kevin and Shelly can use our prays. --Jayne Knochenmus”
Feb 25: Jennie Friesen is asking for prayer that her breast ultrasound comes back normal. Thanks.
Feb 25: Dawn Taborda relates the following, quoting: “Its been a rough couple days since Kailees discharge from the hospital.. Covid was giving her a temp over 101, which is an automatic ER vist to check for an underlying infection due to her compromised immune system. So Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights we headed to the ER. She was not readmitted to the hospital but was given IV antibotics and sent home. Those that know Kailee know that she is not a fan of needles and at each visit they had to place an IV (for some reason they didnt want to use her PICC line) so she was not particular happy with them. She is feeling much better today, so hopefully Covid is finally going. Bone marrow biopsy result should be in later this week. --Dawn Taborda”
Feb 25: Katie Thill relates the following, quoting: "God is GOOD! We had the esophagram this morning, and everything looked good, and he drank the contrast from the bottle! He finally has all of his tubes removed and is allowed out of his crib to be held again. Later today, speech will come in and will start working with him on his feeds. This weekend/early next week, Leroy will be graduating from the NICU and moving upstairs. Once he is up there, he is free to get out of his room and prepare him for home. They are wanting to do another dilation prior to us leaving, so we will still be here for a few more weeks, but we are headed in the right direction to be able to go home! --Katie Thill"
Feb 24: Sandy DeLoof injured her shoulder. The doctor reviewed the MRI and X-rays and surgery is not necessary. She will be doing physical therapy. Please keep her in your prayers as she also cares for her husband Tim. Thanks.
Feb 24: Gracia Harmsen relates the following, quoting: “Two months ago, Dad started a new chemotherapy regimen, knowing it was the last of the “heavy hitters” available for his cancer. He wasn’t scheduled for another scan for a month, but as his symptoms became more severe and his pain increasingly difficult to control, we made the decision to scan early. He had imaging yesterday and met with oncology today to review the results and discuss next steps. We went into the appointment prepared for progression — and that is what the scan showed. In short, the cancer has grown and spread. There are lesions covering the outside of his liver, cancer throughout the abdominal wall, enlarged lymph nodes, and his primary esophageal tumor has increased in size. The doctors described his upper abdomen as “bulky” with disease. At this point, he has completed the three main frontline chemotherapy options, and they are no longer working. He has been given the option to try one additional treatment — an oral chemotherapy pill called Lonsurf. This is considered the last line of treatment. The doctors were very honest that the response rate is low. However, there are occasional outliers who respond well, and for those who do, it may offer an additional 3–4 months. After thoughtful discussion, Dad has decided to give the chemo pill a try for one month and see how his body tolerates it. We are going into this fully aware of the odds. At any point, if it becomes clear that it isn’t helping or the side effects outweigh the benefit, he will stop. When that time comes, we will begin the transition to home hospice care. Hospice guidelines typically indicate a life expectancy of six months or less, and their focus is comfort and quality of life. While this is a lot to absorb, it is not unexpected. We have known this season was coming and have tried to prepare our hearts as best we can. Dad is handling it with incredible grace. He remains ready to move forward — whatever that may look like. He is still able to eat (mostly soft foods), which feels like a meaningful win right now. We are deeply grateful for the community surrounding him. The rides to Sioux Falls over the past year, the prescription pickups, the meals delivered to his home — each act of kindness has carried him. We cannot adequately express how thankful we are for the way family, friends, and the entire community of Doon has shown up for him with such tangible love. As we step into this next month, we are holding everything with open hands. We believe God is not surprised by any of this. He has been faithful in every season before, and we trust He will be faithful now — whether that faithfulness looks like more time, more comfort, or the grace to walk through what lies ahead. We are praying for peace that surpasses understanding, for strength for Dad’s body, and for courage for each of us to live these days well. Thank you for continuing to pray, to show up, and to stand in the gap for our family. We feel it. We are leaning on the Lord, and we are thankful for each and every one of you.—Gracia Harmsen”
Feb 24: Kate Stellinga relates the following about Ken, quoting: “Quick update - Dad had his post operative appointments on 2/18. He met with infectious disease (lung infection), oncologist and surgeon. The infectious disease doctor didn't think dad would need to be on the high dose anti-fungal meds much longer since he is no longer doing chemo and compromising his immune system. Oncologist and Surgeon both said they have never seen a case like Dad's before - imagine that!! Dad has never fit into a box and in this case, that is a good thing!! To have the cancer completely gone, pathology shows negative margins and NO lymph nodes affected....WOW!!! He surprised the doctors!! Couldn't have had a better report. As far as healing, Dad is moved in with us. He navigates a household of 6 kids (soon to be 7), 2 dogs, 1 cat pretty well! Thankfully he has had many days of nice weather to get outside to go for walks. He has his set up with a bathroom, big closet, his recliner, bed, t.v. fridge, etc in his room....and all the kids/animals love having Grandpa around. His staples were removed from his incision and that is healing well. His biggest hurdle is probably gaining some weight back! He isn't able to eat a ton in one setting as he gets full fairly quick. His diet/appetite also affects his diabetes/glucose numbers, so that is also been a little tricky. Overall, this has been such a rollercoaster, with the best possible ending. He will continue to have labs and imaging every 3 months for the next little bit. Please feel free to set up a visit, phone call, text or card to Dad. Thank you all for walking this journey with him and lifting him up in prayer. He has a new lease on life and I think he's excited/anticipating what God's bigger plan is. Good lesson for all of us. Take care.—Kate Stellinga”
Feb 24: Harlan Van Meeteren is now in home hospice. Please keep him, his wife Judy, and their family in your prayers. Thanks.
Feb 23: Katie Thill relates the following, quoting: “Leroy had a pretty good day! He only had a fever yesterday, and all his lab results are perfect. They’ve decided to hold off on his esophagram until Wednesday, so he can slowly decrease his medication and oxygen. I got back to work today, which was great to get back into my routine, so we didn’t get to the hospital until later. But he was awake and ready to play!—Katie Thill”
Feb 22; Dawn Taborda relates the following, quoting: “Kailee was discharged from the hospital today. All her counts have gone up except her platelets which were low so she was platelets before discharge. She is still achy and tired but these are just symptoms of Covid and pnemonia. She will be on antibodics for a few days still. She is glad to be home! Hopefully we will get the results from her bone marrow biopsy tommorow and see what the nrxt steps will be. Thanks for all the love and support!—Dawn Taborda”
Feb 22: Katie Thill relates the following, quoting: "Leroy had a really good day. He was pretty happy the whole time we were there. They let us know that he should hopefully get taken off his O2 later today. Once we got back to the Ronald McDonald House, we got a phone call from the hospital, and in true Leroy fashion, he spiked a temp. They didn’t seem too concerned, but they started him on Vancomycin and are running tests to rule out sepsis or other infections. So far, everything has come back negative. Tomorrow, he gets his esophagram, and as long as everything goes well, we can finally hold him again and start feeds! Please continue to pray Leroy’s fever is just a fluke and there is no real infection. --Katie Thill"
Feb 21: Our condolences go out to Junella Wesselink and her family on the passing of her nephew-in-law, Tom. She relates, quoting: "Tom passed away this afternoon on Tom and Tammy's 39th anniversary. Prayers for Tammy and her family. Been hard for them since Jan. 30 and will be for some time. --Junella Wesselink"
Feb 21 Katie Thill relates the following about baby Leroy, quoting: “Sometimes life is hard to swallow,” and boy has this journey been one of the hardest. Sometimes the path that God chooses for us doesn’t make sense at first. This road we’ve encountered has been tough and some days felt uncertain, but we are so thankful that God knows what he is doing even when we don’t understand. As we keep our faith steady, we know that what is ahead is far better than what is in the past. Today we are beyond thankful that we have our sweet, smiling boy back! We still don’t get to hold him, as we have to wait until his esophagram on Monday, but we are so happy he is alert and happy! Tomorrow and into Monday, we are supposed to get 6-10 inches of snow out here, and the Ronald McDonald shuttle said they may not run. I also go back to work on Monday, so I will be splitting my time at the Ronald McDonald and the hospital. Please continue to pray for Leroy to remain happy and healthy from here on out. --Katie Thill"
Feb 20: Katie Thill relates the following about baby Leroy, quoting: "Today has been a really good day for Leroy! He is off the vent, and we can finally see his sweet face again. As of now, he is unsure of what to think of it all. He is not able to have his paci right now, but they compromised and let him hold his emotional support puppy that is attached to it. We cannot thank each and every one of you enough for your kind words, prayers, and donations. We feel truly blessed with all of your love and support for our family.--Katie Thill"
Feb 20: Junella Wesselink relates the following about her nephew-in-law, quoting: "Tom is breathing on his own. Paralyzed. At time when all said their goodbyes, Dr. said it would be a few hrs. God is in charge. Tomorrow is Tom and Tammy's 39th anniversary. --Junella Wesselink"
Feb 20: Dawn Taborda relates the following, quoting: “So Kailee was diagnosed with Covid on Wednesday and yesterday she had a fever. We went to the ER and they ran some blood work and her White blood cell count went way done. She was admitted to the Castle last night. They just want to make sure that there isnt another underlying infection (besides Covid). She is getting antibodics and IV fluids. She will admitted for at least 48 hours. Kailee was lucky enough to never get Covid during the pandemic so these issues are new for us. She is extremely weak and is having trouble getting up on her own. Once she is up she is able to walk just slow. Hoping after these rounds of antibotics that she starts feeling like herself again. Thanks!—Dawn Taborda”
Feb 20: Justin Hinks' step-father, Eugene Hlavach is being discharged from the hospital. Please keep his cardiac rehab in your prayers.
Feb 19: Katie Thill relates the following about baby Leroy, quoting: “Things haven’t changed much today. They’ve been gently reducing his sedation. They started at 2 p.m., and by 5:30 p.m., he was slowly waking up. His little body kept jolting and shaking, which was tough to watch, but that’s normal when they take away sedation. If everything goes well tomorrow, they’re planning to remove his breathing tube. Early next week, we’ll do an esophagram to make sure there’s no leak, but as of now, everything looks fantastic!—Katie Thill”
Feb 19: Today, Justin Hinks' step-father, Eugene Hlavach, underwent a high-risk cardiac procedure where the doctors placed 6 stents. That went well and he is recovering at the heart hospital. Please continue to keep him in your prayers. Thanks.
Feb 18: Junella Wesselink relates the following, quoting: "Asking for prayers for nephew in law Tom's family. The family is with him at this time saying their good byes to Tom.--Junella Wesselink"
Feb 18: Justin Hink's step dad, Eugene, will likely have a heart bypass today. Please keep him in your prayers.
Feb 17: Katie Thill relates the following, quoting: "Today was a pretty boring day (which we love!). Leroy is still in his medically induced coma and is doing so well! Me and Trevor finally got into the Ronald McDonald House, so we spent most of the day getting packed up at our Airbnb and then getting situated at the Ronald McDonald. Please keep praying for the boring days. --Katie Thill"
Feb 16: Katie Thill relates the following, quoting: “But God has surely listened; and has heard my prayer” Psalm 66:19. Leroy is out of surgery and it was SUCCESSFUL! They were able to repair his tracheomalacia and open up his esophagus to 5 mm! The surgeons said that he will only need to be in a medically induced coma for about 3 days. Next week we will have an esophagram, and as long as everything comes back good we can start working on feeds! From what the surgeons said; we may only need to be here another month, maybe less, just depending on how Leroy is handling everything. Please continue to pray for his recovery and that Leroy doesn’t throw us for another loop (because we all know he’s good about that). --Katie Thill"
Feb 16: Katie reports that baby Leroy's surgery is completed and it was successful. Praise Jesus!
Feb 15: Baby Leroy's surgery is Monday morning. Please pray! Katie Thill relates the following, quoting: “Not much to report today. Leroy didn’t seem to be in much pain, which was a huge relief. We made sure to get in all the last snuggles before he’s put into a medically induced coma for the next 7-10 days. Tomorrow morning, Trevor and I are planning to go to the hospital early so we can be with Leroy before they take him back for surgery. Then, we wait and pray that this surgery goes well and we can start the journey of recovery and coming back home to be a family again.—Katie Thill”
Feb 14: Katie Thill relates the following about baby Leroy, quoting: “Yesterday evening, as they prepared to take Leroy for his CT scan, he experienced some breathing difficulties. They chose to remove his breathing tube before the CT instead of after. Once the tube was removed, his heart rate increased rapidly. It took some time to stabilize him, but once he calmed down, everything was fine. Early this morning, Leroy surprised us by developing a fever, which was a potential side effect from his procedure on Thursday. They conducted some tests and began administering a broad-spectrum antibiotic. So far, all results have been negative, and we are awaiting the culture results. Leroy has been more agitated today, which is expected after the procedure, but we truly miss his joyful, smiling face. Please continue to pray for Leroy, the doctors, and nurses.—Katie Thill”
Feb 13: Katie Thill relates the following, quoting” “This morning I got a call that Leroy’s hemoglobin was low, and they were wanting to do a blood transfusion, but once they did this, his levels looked great. This afternoon, they will do a CT scan for his surgery on Monday, and then they can remove his breathing tube. As for his surgery on Monday: it’s going to be a big one. They called all the patients on the schedule and explained the situation, and they all agreed to reschedule their surgeries so that Leroy could have his surgery, which we are so appreciative of! They will start around 7:30, and it is expected to last until 4:30/5. The doctor seemed very confident in this, and it makes us so comfortable knowing that he has done many of these before. After the surgery, Leroy will be intubated for about a week, allowing his little body to heal properly. Leroy will need to have dilations after his surgery as well. They would like him to stay out here for the first few so they can monitor how they go. After that, we SHOULD be able to do everything else in Sioux Falls. He will also need speech therapy to help learn how to eat. This is going to be a long road for us, and our time here in Philadelphia is unknown right now. Please continue to pray for Leroy and for the doctors and nurses during his surgery.—Katie Thill”
Feb 13: Katie Thill relates the following, quoting: “Leroy had his triple scope today (Thursday), and we did not get the news we were hoping to hear. Leroy has severe tracheomalacia. This happens when the cartilage is too weak and normally happens when you exhale. As we all know, Leroy marches to the beat of his own drum, and for him, his tracheomalacia happens when he inhales. They did try to dilate Leroy, and while they were attempting this, they found the stricture was a lot more thick than they anticipated. So while they were trying to dilate, they ended up puncturing a small hole in his lung, which caused some air to leak. He will be intubated for a while to allow that to heal. Our next step is to reconstruct his airway. He will undergo surgery at the beginning of next week. Right now, they don’t feel it is safe for him to be eating, so they will be placing a PICC line so he can start getting his nutrients. They will also start him back on fentanyl to help manage his pain. We understand that God’s plan is always the best, even when the process is painful and challenging. Despite these difficulties, we remain steadfast in our faith and trust that God’s timing is perfect for our little Leroy.--Katie Thill”
Feb 12: Melanie Odens relates the following, quoting: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you: I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41: 10. Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. Psalm 30:2. Praise the Lord God allowed Amber's scans to be clear. Thank you so much for all the prayers, love and care. With Love and Gratitude, The Poppen Family—Melanie Odens"
Feb 12: Bob Sayler is now how from the hospital. He is on medicine for the A-fib and is recovering from influenza. Please keep him in your prayers.
Feb 12: Steve Lee relates the following, quoting: "I was discharged late Tuesday so Becky and I came home that evening with some new meds and equipment. Hopefully we’ll see some ongoing improvement as we treat rejection issues.
Thanks for your prayers! --Steve Lee"
Feb 12: Melanie Odens relates the following about Amber, quoting: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you: I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41: 10. Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. Psalm 30:2. Have you seen the sunrises or sunsets lately? They are so colorful and beautiful. Each day the Lord paints a new sunrise and each night paints a new sunset. The Creator has also created his creatures to be able to create too. Amber is one of those. She can paint. Her hand is steady and her creations are beautiful. Sometimes she creates a "paint by number" and other projects she "free hands it." Where have you seen God lately? In creation or in the sky? Maybe somewhere else..."You're Here and I know you are moving..." I know He is moving and drawing our attention. I love this song so much (link above). It was shared with me recently from a colleague and it reminds me that God is instantly present and fills us when we need it. Tomorrow is a day we are asking you to pray for the Spirit to rest on Amber. She has a scan and those days bring up an "icky" feeling, an anticipation that only cancer does for the loved ones and the patient. If you are able to pray, her blood draw, scans etc., will be tomorrow/Thursday around 12:00. Please pray: *Praise-God's mercy for clear scans and health in the past. Requests: *clear scans for decades and decades * Amber's body continues to be cancer free in every cell *peace that passes all understanding for Amber as she waits *good health for Amber *any other cancer patients and loved ones who need the Lord's presence. We adore you all and appreciate all of your gifts of prayer. With Love, The Poppen Family—Melanie Odens”
Feb 11: Bob Sayler is in the hospital with A-fib and Influenza A. Please keep him in your prayers.
Feb 10: Harlan Van Meeteren has stage 4 stomach cancer. There are no chemotherapy or surgery options. He will be following with palliative care. Please keep him, his wife, Judy, and their family in your prayers. Thanks.
Feb 9: Junella Wesselink relates the following, quoting: “Nephew in law has been removed from heavy sedation and now on strong pain meds. Getting him ready for testing now to find damage to brain. This must be known before heart surgery. He has not woke up yet. Thank you for prayers for Tom and his wife Tammy. Asking for continued prayers. Is a critical situation.—Junella Wesselink”
Feb 8: Katie Thill relates the following, quoting: “Since Leroy got to CHOP, things have been pretty steady. He’s been getting comfortable in his new room and is having a blast getting to know the nurses! The doctor mentioned today that they’ll start the tests tomorrow and then plan to do a scope of his esophagus to get a better idea of what’s happening. His room is open-plan, so he only has three walls and no door, which will take us a bit to get used to, but Leroy absolutely loves it because there’s so much more to see and discover! This has been quite a culture shock for me and Trevor, and it’s definitely made us appreciate our small-town life even more.—Katie Thill”
Feb 7: Steve Lee relates the following, quoting: "I am currently in the hospital in Minneapolis. My transplant physician thinks I may be experiencing some rejection & that may be why I am having so much trouble breathing again. In June/July they stopped one of my immunosuppressant meds to help fight my PTLD (transplant-related cancer). I am staying in the hospital thru the weekend to give me a heavy dose of steroids to override any rejection. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers! Steve & Becky"
Feb 6: Katie Thill relates the following, quoting: “Leroy had his first-ever flight today, and he even managed to fly over Canada, making it his first international flight as well! The nurses were incredibly kind and sent us some pictures. They informed us that Leroy was diagnosed with FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) and that he only took a 30-minute nap because he was too busy observing the surroundings. While we patiently awaited Leroy’s arrival, we decided to visit the Philadelphia Auto Show, which was pretty fun, Trevor told me he died and went to heaven. Once we received the call that Leroy had arrived, we headed over to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). We spoke with a few doctors, and they all seemed amazing and in love with Leroy’s little smile. They informed us that they would do additional tests on Monday, but they currently expect Leroy to be in the hospital for at least a month. –Katie Thill”
Feb 6: Kate Stellinga relates the following about Ken, quoting: “Dad is home!!!!! Broke him out of the hospital around 1 this afternoon. His own reciner was a welcomed seat and he's been relaxing since we made it home. Feel free to keep the calls, texts & mail coming. His recovery is far from over, but this has been a big step in the right direction!—Kate Stellinga”
Feb 6: Here are the funeral details for Judy Van Meeteren’s mother, Leone Sandbulte. Visitation is Friday, February 6, 2026 from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm at American Reformed Church of Luverne. Funeral service is Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 10:30 am at American Reformed Church of Luverne.
Feb 6: Baby Leroy is enroute to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. His parents, Katie and Trevor went to Philadelphia yesterday (they were not allowed to fly with Leroy on the medical plane), so they will be there when Leroy arrives. Please keep them all in your prayers.
Feb 5: Katie Thill relates the following about baby Leroy, quoting: “We finally got word that there is going to be a bed available for Leroy on Friday! Trevor and I are flying out to Philadelphia today so that we can get some things figured out and not be so rushed to get there tomorrow. Jaxon is beyond excited to get a break from us and Kyler is pumped to spend some time with his “best buddies” Tyson and Wyatt. Please continue to pray for a smooth transition for the boys and a safe flight for Leroy. He is such a little lover, and all the nurses keep popping in to say how much they’ll miss him. My mama heart hurts as this will be the first time I’ve ever been away from my boys for this long, but I know they are in the best hands and are so loved by everyone. When I am afraid I put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3—Katie Thill”
Feb 5: Kate Stelling relates the following about Kem, quoting: “Dad is still in the hospital - waiting for "things" to get "moving" per usual hospital protocol prior to discharge. He is a little better every day from what I can tell - still occasional pain and moving is still slow as his stomach muscles are going to take some time to heal. The incisions look good and drainage sites are healing. No fevers. Some minor hiccups in blood work with low magnesium and potassium that he's had supplemented through the IV. His diet has slowly advance from liquids to soft foods to now regular diet with "small bites." We are anxious to get him home and resting in a more comfortable environment. He's ready as well. His days blend together between naps, walks, nurses stopping in, more walks and visitors. Overall, he is doing really well all things considered. It is not an easy surgery like we've said before. But, knock on wood, dad has managed to get through this first week of recovery without too many hiccups. Pathology came back - not sure if I mentioned this in the last message, all clear!!! Margins were negative and all the lymph nodes were negative for malignancy. They did a liver biopsy while they were in there and that was benign as well. Praise God! Thank you for your continued support through prayers, visits, cards and text messages/calls. Your thoughtfulness means everything during this recovery period.—Kate Stellinga”
Feb 5: Laura Thesenvitz relates the following, quoting: “It’s been a week since I’ve made an official update. I’ve circulated family updates to have forwarded via text circles but that is all I’ve been able to muster up with the long days as it feels like it gets heavier to keep life moving forward and to feel like I’m doing my best to protect the kids but also keep them informed – hard balance. Into the weekend we saw a jump in Christopher’s white count again and continued chest fullness and discomfort and side pain - this prompted a CT on Sunday morning and they saw a large increase in fluid on his lungs and suspect area of abscess by his liver. After a lot of discussion and contemplation we decided to proceed with the procedures to drain the fluids. They drained about 800cc off his right lung and 20cc of fluid from near his liver and 10 from his perispinal area as well that they decided at the time of procedure was appropriate. He ended of after that with 2 additional drains from his back area that they took the fluid from his liver and perispinal region. They did not leave in a chest tube per Christopher’s request and one agreement to procedure. Monday brought a lot of discussion with the various doctors and specifically the surgical team and conferenced in Dr Ho – oncology from Mayo to discuss realistic prognosis based on remaining options for cancer treatment and the recovery chances for his body following this serious of scute events. From a cancer standpoint there aren’t any treatment options remaining or trials available and Dr. Ho gave an honest and direct prognosis that needed to be heard. With that information and knowing the level of care needed, a referral was put in for the VA hospice cottages. As of yesterday morning the VA has accepted Christopher and his care was transferred to there to the hospice cottages. This change is about prioritizing comfort, and time together, in a setting that gives us space to focus on family and moments that matter most and giving him more good days. We will take things one day at a time and even though we're still holding onto hope, the main goal is for restful, pain-mangaged, meaningful days. We appreciate your prayers as we navigate this. And your grace and understanding for minimal updates. Thank you for your continued love and support.—Laura Thesenvitz”
Feb 4: Junella Wesselink's nephew-in-law, Tom, continues to deteriorate (heart attacks, strokes, seizures). Please keep him and his family in your prayers.
Feb 4: There is a bed for baby Leroy at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia on Friday! Praise God. Please pray for Katie and Trevor, Leroy and the rest of the family. Keep the travel plans in prayer for the medical air flight for Leroy and for the accommodations for Trevor and Leroy. Their other children will be staying here with relatives. Thanks!
Feb 4: Gary McCann has been discharged from the hospital. Please pray for his continued recovery after his cervical surgery.
Feb 4: Ken Stellinga remains in the hospital. Please pray for his continued recovery.
Feb 4: Baby Leroy is still waiting for a bed to open up at the Philadelphia children's Hospital. Please keep him, his family, and specially his parents Katie and Trevor in your prayers.
Feb 3: Junella Wesselink relates the following, quoting: "Received word at 1:42am that niece Tammy's husband Tom was air lifted from their local hospital to Methodist hospital in Omaha. He had 2 heart attacks at home. At Omaha during procedure Tom had 3rd heart attack. All valves shut down. Put on ECMO. Machines keeping Tom alive in hopes heart will rest. At Methodist hospital, they do not deal with this being on ECMO. Transported to Creighton in Omaha and is in ICU. Known so far that triple by pass is needed. However, Tammy was told his heart maybe beyond repair. A wait and see at this point. If so next step is a transplant. All their kids there at this time. Please pray for God's healing and guidance for the Dr's. Tom is only 57 yrs. Had shoulder replacement on Jan 13th. Home a few weeks and this began. --Junella Wesselink"
Feb 2: Our condolences go out to Judy Van Meeteren and her family and friends on the passing of her mother this morning. Please keep the family and friends in your prayers.
Feb 2: Linda reports that Gary McCann's neck surgery went well. Please keep him in your prayers for his recovery. Thanks.
Feb 2: Harlan Van Meeteren has been diagnosed with malignant stomach cancer. He will be meeting with an oncologist soon to discuss treatment options. Please keep him and his family in your prayers. Thanks.
Jan 31: Here are the memorial service details for Mike Boyenga’s father, Ronald Leroy Boyenga. Hartquist Funeral Home - Luverne Chapel, Tuesday, February 3, 2026 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Please keep the family and friends in your prayers.

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