HEALTH EDITION
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www.driftlessjournal.com | news@driftlessjournal.com | 563-382-4221 | Tuesday, January 16, 2024 | Vol. 6 Issue 3
Pulling together
Ronald McDonald House keeps families close By Samantha Ludeking
Five-year-old Rhett Einck of Decorah is pictured at Ronald McDonald House in Rochester, Minn., where he stayed during his treatments for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. INSET TOP- The late Matt Sweeney of Waukon is remembered for his big heart and support of Ronald McDonald House Charities through can tabs. INSET BOTTOM- Ayla Feller was born at 31 weeks at 1 lb. 10 oz. Her family utilized the Ronald McDonald House in Rochester while she was in the NICU. (Submitted photos)
“I remember when Matt Sweeney would save his can tabs. I’d think, I should start doing that, but I couldn’t possibly save enough of them to make it worthwhile,” reflects Susan O’Hare, one of the Matt Sweeney Memorial Ride organizers. Sweeney, who died in July 2022 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident, was a big supporter of the Ronald McDonald House (RMH). He was quoted as saying “It’s a small effort that makes a big impact!” Donations and can tabs for RMH were collected during a memorial ride in honor of Sweeney this past August. “I would bet that Matt would have never imagined the huge impact he had on his community. That his legacy would continue even after he is gone. That his community would continue to show up again and again and make donations in his memory. The point is that this action of saving tabs, which may seem like very little to some, adds up and results in a huge impact,” said O’Hare. The money earned from recyclable aluminum tabs allows RMH programs to keep families close to their children being treated at hospitals far from their homes. Families can rest and recharge, interact with
other families going through similar experiences, enjoy home-cooked meals and receive compassionate hospitality from staff and volunteers — all just minutes from the hospital where their child is receiving care. Stays can be as short as one night or as long as several months, and sometimes extend to a year or more, depending on the child’s illness and treatment. RMH gets the going rate for pop tabs which varies based on the demand for aluminum. Although the entire aluminum can is valuable, the tab itself is much cleaner and easier to collect in large quantities. The tab of a standard soda can is made of high-quality, high-grade aluminum. By itself, it doesn’t mean much, but when everyone pulls together, pop tabs add up and become a valuable donation. If you’ve ever wondered if saving tabs or dropping coins in those donation boxes would actually make a difference, the answer is “Yes”. These are the reflections from Driftless area families who have been supported by RMH.
Disney’s “Descendants the Musical” opens Jan. 18
The New Minowa Players present the Disney’s “Descendants – the Musical” this winter. The show opens Thursday, Jan. 18, and runs Jan. 18, 19, 20, 26 and 27 at 7 p.m.; and matinees on Jan. 21 and 27. Directors say the musical is jam-packed with comedy, adventure, Disney characters, and hit songs from the film. Here is a brief synopsis of the show: Imprisoned on the Isle of the Lost – home of the most infamous villains who ever lived – the teenage children of Maleficent, the Evil Queen, Jafar and Cruella De Ville have never ventured off the island, until now. When the four troublemakers are sent to attend prep school alongside the children of beloved Disney heroes, they have a difficult choice to make: Should they follow in their parents’ wicked footsteps or learn to be good. Pictured above are the four “Evils”: Ezra Harman-Wood as Jay, Indigo Fish as Mal, Jillian Volz as Evie, Emma Cline as Carlos. (Driftless Multimedia photos by Roz Weis)
Feller Family “I had heard about the Ronald McDonald House but never knew how incredible it was until I needed to stay there. We had pregnancy complications that started at 24 weeks with our youngest daughter, Ayla, that lead to her being born at 31 weeks at a tiny, but mighty, 1 lb. 10 oz.,” began Emily Feller of rural Decorah. “The day she was born I
RMH stories
continued on page 7
Villain parents: Molly Holkesvik as Cruella de Ville, Karen Esterl as Maleficent, Rick Scheffert as Jafar, Kelly Johnson (behind) as Evil Queen Grimhilde.
Emerging Whole Wellness brings new energy to the Driftless area By Zach Jensen
This past December marks one year since Catherine Meinecke connected with Barb Gardner in her shop, Little Birds, in downtown Cresco, and what has been built inside 215 N. Elm Street since then seems like it was always meant to be. “I walked in on Christmas Eve,” said Meinecke, a 1995 Crestwood graduate and Master’s-level holistic healer. “We were talking, and she had crystals in the shop, and I talked with several customers about them — teaching them and helping them pick out crystals. And, Barb said, ‘If you ever want a place, I have space,’ and that was a year ago.” Meinecke, a school nurse at
Catherine Meinecke and therapy dog Kenzo pose for a photo in the room where the holistic healer conducts energy and healing sessions at Emerging Whole Wellness in downtown Cresco. (Driftless Multimedia photo by Zach Jensen)
Services
Crestwood High School at the time, began constructing part of her dream in the lower level of Little Birds just three months later, and by October, her new holistic health practice was ready for clients. Meinecke’s business, Emerging Whole Wellness, opened on Oct. 6, 2023. “I have been a nurse since I was 25 years old, and behavioral health is my background, and I found that what people were really needing was a place of connection,” Meinecke said. “The more research they do, the more they’re finding that healing has so much to do with connection and feeling safe in your body — and your nervous system settling enough to heal.” Meinecke has a small corner of Gardner’s shop, where
she sells sage bundles, crystals and flower essences, and downstairs, she and her therapy dog, Kenzo, a Japanese Shiba Inu, offer multiple energy-oriented healing services, including Healing Touch, Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, crystal healing, resiliency skills training, handson healing, online sessions, distance healing, sound healing, intuitive guidance and wellness coaching. And, in addition to in-person individual sessions, she also does group education. Meinecke also offers what she’s dubbed “Story Work”. “Story Work unravels your present and ancestral DNA, and connection with your ancestors and culture,” her website reads. “This helps you to reconnect to your spirit, through the con-
nection and support heal whatever dis-ease has developed. I provide support for letting go of judgment and embracing the lessons that will bring forth your unique light that will help balance the collective and create universal healing.” In addition to her healing work, Meinecke said she also offers membership plans for Emerging Whole Wellness, which include a discount on services, a reading nook containing a small library of holistic health books and other benefits. “Basically, my theory on healing is that you have to empower people to heal themselves,” she
Wellness continued on page 6
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