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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID WABASH, IN PERMIT NO. 233 Vol. 43, No. 47
Giant snowman brings smiles to many By Mandy Mahan mmahan@thepaperofwabash.com The giant snowman in the Landis family’s front yard has drawn much attention this season, as well as past winters, but the extravagance of the snowman at their North Miami Street home isn’t just as simple as a winter activity for the Landises, but a tradition that has come to mean something very special to the family of four. Jeremy and Rachel Landis, both Wabash natives and owners at J&R Express Carwash and Detailing, married in 2011 and a few years later brought their first daughter, Danika, into the world as a special new addition to their family. Shortly after turning 3 years old, Danika was diagnosed with high risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, her blood and bone marrow being 99 percent full of leukemia. “Our lives instantly flipped upside down,” Rachel told The Paper of Wabash County. “Danika became highly allergic to several antibiotics along the way that made her very ill and completely scalded the skin all over her body.” Danika went through a month of chemotherapy only to go into respiratory, liver and kidney failure. And then, Rachel describes what they see as a miracle. “We kept the faith and had lots of people praying. Danika’s skin peeled from her head to her toes, and truly became new. God completely restored her body,” she said. “We then found out that her bone marrow biopsy showed absolutely no leukemia anymore. After returning home 52 days andnights later, we then had
over two more years of preventive chemo. Chemotherapy and steroids came with a lot of side effects. Danika has been through more than anyone should ever have to go through. She is wise beyond her years and very strong.” Throughout all of this hardship, the family welcomed another little girl, Lakin. “I was four months pregnant when Danika was diagnosed. We had her sister, Lakin, five months into treatment. It wasn’t easy with a newborn. We stayed inpatient at Riley every other week right when Lakin was born. And for a long time, traveled to Indianapolis one to three days a week for treatment and transfusions.” After 852 days of everyday oral chemo and steroids, 115 major chemo treatments, 25 spinal taps, three bone marrow biopsies, 53 blood transfusions, 80 days and nights inpatient at Riley, port placement and removal surgery and many procedures, Danika completed treatment at the end of 2017. “We still travel to the Riley Hospital for routine blood draws,” said Rachel. “The journey was certainly not easy, but Danika was very brave through it all. We had great family support and are so thankful to God for healing our daughter and carrying us through.” Danika was chosen as an ICU Champion and stole the dance floor at two of Riley Cancer Center Proms. She also raised nearly $2,000 to donate a custom-built red wagon that honors her name. Red wagons are offered at Riley to pull children around the hospital. Danika also received a Wish Trip from the Make a Wish Foundation, and the family was able to spend a week at Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld. Continued on Page 5
Danika (left) and Lakin Landis pose with the snowman they made with their parents this year. Photo provided.
Danika Landis at Riley Children’s Hospital in 2016. Photo provided.
Snow buddies bring smile to Grandma’s face By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
Martha Chamberlain (above) looks through her window at Bickford Cottage (top left) as she poses with her granddaughters, Chrissy Chamberlain (left) and Kimberly Baer and greatgranddaughter, Karmyn Baer. The trio built snow buddies outside Mrs. Chamberlain’s window.
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A pair of local sisters took advantage of last week’s snowfall to bring a smile to their grandmother’s face. Chrissy Chamberlain and Kimberly Baer, along with Kimberly’s daughter, Karmyn, went to Bickford Cottage to build a family of snow buddies outside the room of their grandmother and great-grandmother, Martha Chamberlain. Mrs. Chamberlain, 92, recently moved to Bickford, and family members say she is quite lonely, having recently lost her husband of more than 70 years, Orville Chamberlain. “When Grandma moved into Bickford, we knew it would be hard for us to have visits with her, especially with the greatgrandkids,” Chrissy Chamberlain told The
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Paper of Wabash County. When the snow arrived, she contacted Kimberly and asked if she and Karmyn would like to meet at Bickford to build “a big snowman for Grandma.” “We gathered some fun supplies and met there Tuesday,” she continued. “I went to the door to ask if it was OK (to build the snowman), and one of the employees said that would be wonderful.” The sisters picked a spot near their grandmother’s window to build the snowman. Unfortunately, plans had to change. “The snow wouldn’t pack very well to build that big snowman, so we built three small snow buddies,” Chrissy said. “Grandma stood at her window and waved. She had a big smile on her face as she watched us.” It took the trio about 45 minutes to build Continued on Page 5
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