LATEST MEDICAL UPDATE - by Poppo

La Donna was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration a few years ago and has been receiving treatment to prevent any further destruction of her right eye. Today (her birthday no less) she visited Dr. Janet Hummer at the Indiana Eye Surgery Clinic. A thorough examination revealed no concern for change. Her vision measured 20/30 in her effected right eye. As a preventive measure, she was given another shot in her eyeball and told she would not need to come back for seven months.

We are so grateful to Dr. Hummer and her expertise in diagnosing her problem and finding a solution for it. When La Donna mentioned to the doctor that she sure looked like she knew what she was doing, she received the reply “Well, I have given about 4600 of these eye injections over the past four years, so I guess I should have learned a little bit about this procedure.” We are grateful to God and His Angels of Mercy for the medical care that we have enjoyed.

HAPPY 81ST BIRTHDAY TO LA DONNA - by Poppo

Wednesday the family gathered for a dinner at Lori Fishers house to celebrate La Donna’s 81st birthday. After opening the gifts that were presented her, Lori and Audi said they had one other gift they wanted to share with Mom and Dad. Since Dad has had an interminable longing to take an Alaskan Cruise, they announced that Art Cathcart was arranging transportation and cruise arrangements for the Cathcart, Fishers and Chamberlin families. Now that is a birthday present that Dad can appreciate with his whole heart.

This day also marked the second anniversary of La Donna’s Quintuple (5) Bypass Surgery.

A Time Away from Home - by Poppo

Nelson and La Donna took a few days off to travel to Springfield, Illinois. There they visited the ABRAHAM LINCOLN PRESIDENTIAL MUSEUM … unbelievable experience! One could spend the most of one day in this marvelous place where the history of Abraham Lincoln and his family is graphically displayed. Several theatres and many rooms of Lincoln memorabilia give one the feeling of what it was to be living back in those days. Life-size wax figures abound throughout the display areas.

They also had a personal tour through the Lincoln homestead which was occupied for many years before the family moved to the White House in Washington, D.C. Surprisingly the Lincoln home is a large 3200 square foot structure within are many authentic Lincoln possessions maintained in excellent condition.

Finally they visited the LINCOLN TOMB in which the bodies of Abraham Lincoln, his wife Mary Todd and three of his children are interred. The impressive structure is 172 feet tall.

Their trip was rounded out the next day when they visited a former next door neighbor now living in Morton, Illinois and a member of the Trombone Trio which Nelson participated in for three years while in college.