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INSIDE 2018 Holiday Gift Guide
SPORTS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2018
Photos courtesy David Leong
SOCIAL
Thankful for COMMUNITY
Penny Downes and the Vestavia Hills cheerleading team, above. Downes’ oldest daughter, Sydney, is a member of the squad. The cheerleading team wrote inspirational letters to Downes to encourage her in her battle with cancer. Left, Penny with husband Jeff Downes.
Vestavia Rallies to Help the City Manager’s Wife, A ‘Newcomer’ Fighting Cancer
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By William C. Singleton III
t a recent Vestavia Hills football game, Penny Downes, wife of Vestavia Hills city manager Jeff Downes, was talking to a parent about what she hopes to accomplish as she regains her strength from treatments for multiple myeloma and prepared herself for the battle that lies ahead. Penny Downes mentioned that, because her immune system is compromised by cancer treatments, she’s trying to make her home as germ-free as possible. Along with air purifiers throughout the house, she makes her children remove their shoes when they come from the garage into
the house. The woman she was talking to, whose daughter attends a Bible study with Downes’ oldest daughter, relayed the message to the Bible study group. “The next thing I knew, her Bible study group had taken a collection, and they had a custom-made shoe cubby for me to fit in a little area in our garage,” Penny Downes said. “It’s just perfect. It’s just one way to keep the germs out of our house.” Ever since Jeff and Penny Downes informed their neighbors, friends and the Vestavia Hills community about Penny’s diagnosis of multiple myeloma, the community has See THANKFUL, page 14
HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS: ACS PROJECT 33 SUPPORTERS PUT A PERSONAL TOUCH ON LIFE AT HOPE LODGE, PAGE 12
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