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TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016
THE WEAKLEY COUNTY PRESS
Dresden/ Gleason (Weakley East) Relay Friday night at Tater Town Raceway
The Weakley East Relay takes place Friday night at Gleason’s Tater Town Raceway. It will feature bouncy houses, corn hole, a car show and fireworks. The 2016 Honorary Chairs are Gabe Parker (youth) Richard Black & Leah Bennett Entertainment will be provided by: Wendell Verdell; Gail Muzzall; Lyndell and Melinda Dilday; Rising Phoenix (DJ); Ricky Morgan; and The Gleason Methodist Church’s Hands of Worship. There will be food concessions featuring BBQ Bologna, Grilled hamburgers, hotdogs, polish sausages, smoked tenderloin sandwiches as well as desserts like homemade ice cream, pies, cakes and cookies. The Lifeline Bloodmobile will be on site. Donors will recieve a free t-shirt and enter for a chance to win four tickets to Six Flags, St. Louis.
Schedule of Events 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Survivor registration, concession sales begin and car show 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Music from Gleason 1st Methodist Church Hands of Worship, Grace Stafford and Sophie Wilson 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Music from Lyndell & Melinda Dilday 7:30 p.m. Opening Ceremonies, National Anthem performed by Wendell Verdell 7:45 p.m. Survivor recognition, survivor lap, Honorary Chair introductions followed by an auction and music by Ricky Morgan. 9:45 p.m. Torch of Hope Ceremony and Luminary Service 10 p.m. Fireworks 11 p.m. to 12 a.m. Let the fun and games begin! 12 a.m. Clean up and farewell
Gabriel Parker, our son, our hero During the fall of 2014, Gabe was a happy-golucky boy enjoying sports, being with his friends, and going to school. At some point during that time, we began to notice a large lump on the side of his neck. Everyone has swollen lymph nodes so we did not think very much of it. Around December of 2014, Gabe became sick with a sinus infection and I took him to the Martin Walk-In Clinic. As the doctor looked as his throat he noticed Gabe’s lump. He asked me how long it had been there and if his doctor had noticed it? I told him that I knew it had been there for several months, maybe even a year, and I wasn’t sure if his doctor had noticed it. He told me that I needed to make an appointment with his doctor, Dr. Sammy Bradberry, right away so he could look at it. We still did not think much of the lump so we did not bring Gabe to see Dr. Bradberry until January of 2015. During the visit, Dr. Sam said, “I want this to be removed in the next few
weeks so let’s make an appointment with a surgeon in Union City.” We arrived at the office of Dr. Jennifer Dicocco and she looked at the lump on Gabe’s neck. She said “I can’t operate on this. He is too young plus the lump is in a high risk location. However, I can biopsy it for you.” The results of the biopsy came back on a Friday in February 2015; the same day the big ice storm hit. Dr. Dicocco called and said, “I know bad weather is coming and we have already closed the office, but Gabe’s results are in and I need to see you all right away.” She reopened her office for us that day and told us that the results of the biopsy are unclear, but it does reveal irregular cells, possible Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Of course we were devastated and headed into the weekend not knowing for sure it was. On Monday of the next week, we proceeded to Paducah, KY to meet with an Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist which Dr. Dicocco had already scheduled before the biopsy. Dr. Dicoc-
Celebrate During a Relay event, participants and survivors celebrate what they’ve overcome.
Weakley County Rehabilitaion & Nursing Center Weakley County Rehabilitation & Nursing Center offering short and long term services with an unbeatable rehabilitation department
co called us when were in route to Paducah and said “Turn around. I’ve made you an appointment with St. Jude on Tuesday Morning.” We looked at each other and said “Wow! She really must think that he has it!” It was great news but a crushing blow at the same time. Our experience at St. Jude was both humbling and amazing. Gabe was assigned an entire team of doctors and nurses, including a Child Life Nurse and Psychologist who ensured that he was happy. After several scans, he was officially diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma 2A by his Oncologist, Dr. Monica Metzger and Dr. Jessica Valdez. As it turned out, Gabe had several other swollen lymph nodes in his neck and under his arm. He had the large tumor removed that week and began receiving chemotherapy on Tuesday of the next week. Gabe underwent chemo treatments every other week for the next three months. He was declared fully clear on May 5, 2015. Many people have asked
TEAM GABE — Willie and Kyla Parker stand with their son Gabe who is one of this year’s Honorary Chairs for Weakley East. Gabe is a survivor of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. how we managed to get through this ordeal, but I can tell you that it is easy to keep your head up and keep going when people are carrying you all along the way. We are truly indebted to the doctors, nurses, support staff, and donors of St. Jude. We stayed at the hos-
pital hotel, received superb care, and even received food and snacks all free of charge. We were cared for by our dear friends, Mark and Kerry Maddox, Amy Whitaker of Paris, Dr. Sam, Dr. Dicocco, our co-workers, families, local churches, communities and schools. We know that peo-
Remember We remember people lost to the disease, and honor people who have fought or are fighting cancer.
ple continue to think and pray for us, and for all of this, we will are eternally grateful. We have emerged from this journey knowing for certain that we are incredibly fortunate to be loved by so many outstanding people and there is no greater blessing than that.
Fight Back The event inspires Relay participants to take action against a disease that has taken too much.
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Need for blood never takes a vacation… YOU can make sure it will be there when our West TN families and friends need it.
Relay for Life Blood Drive Friday, June 3, Dresden Relay from 6-10 p.m. E. W. James of Martin Blood Drive Monday, June 13, 12 noon – 6 p.m. Tennova in Martin Wednesday, June 15th from 12 to 4 pm BaTTLE of ThE BaDgEs, Martin at simmons Bank Friday, June 24, 11:30 – 4:30 Weakley County Library in Dresden Tuesday, June 28th from 11 to 3 pm for the JUNE DRIVEs only, donors may register to win 4 tickets to six flags, st. Louis.
All donors receive a free t-shirt