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“The doctors keep telling me that my case is unique and complex,” VandeWalker said. “So it is something they really don’t’ know what to do with.”

Nevertheless, three doctors took on her case and expect she will undergo 20 procedures, including at least three major reconstructive surgeries. Those will include taking cartilage form her ear to rebuild the bridge of her nose and using a flap of skin on her forehead to graft skin to close the hole.

“It is a three-part reconstruction,” mother Erin Carey said. “It will be structural, internal, and external.”

But Carey said her daughter has “built-in caregivers.”

“Her husband and her twin sister Kiara – who also is a patient care technician at Northwestern Medicine in Huntley – are able to do wound care,” Carey said. “I can’t … it is pretty gruesome.”

VandeWalker said her spirits were high: “I have a bright outlook.”

Every day she looks for the silver lining. One day, she said, she was just thankful that she could see out of her eyes. Another day, she was thankful that her smile was turned up. The next day, she was extraordinarily thankful that her sense of smell had returned.

“I thought it was gone forever,” VandeWalker said.

She remembers vividly smelling a rose-like bubble-gum scent at the hospital after her first reconstruction appointment three days after the attack. “It was so strong.”

One thing VandeWalker is not leaving to chance is her mental health.

“I know that mental and physical health is an important aspect of recovery,” she said.

Her mother said they had bought a pedal cycle to keep VandeWalker’s legs strong and that she had already reached out to mental health professionals.

“I laugh, smile, and cry,” VandeWalker said. “I try to find the silver lining – but I know there are moments that I cry. I think that you don’t know how many people care about you until something like this happens. ... I put up the cards because I want to be able to see them when I’m having a tough day.”

Lynn Diane Brown, 71, of Woodstock, passed away peacefully on Feb. 13, 2021, in Crystal Lake. She was born on July 12, 1949, in Harvard to Roland and Margery (Wright) Brown. Lynn was a devoted mother to Christopher (Stephanie) Spitson and Michael (Madeline) Spitson, and loving Nana to Allison Lynn Diane Brown and Mason.

She worked as a dispatcher for the McHenry County Police Department and city of Kissimmee Police Department for many years. She enjoyed playing cards, watching the Chicago Cubs, Blackhawks, and had a true passion for animals. She was loved and will be truly missed.

In addition to being survived by her sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren, she is survived by her sister, Carole (Paul) Jachimek; as well as nephews; a niece; and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation will be held Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, from 4 to 7 p.m., with a brief service at 6:30 p.m. at Schneider, Leucht, Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home, 1211 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock, IL 60098.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to Helping Paws or JourneyCare Hospice.

For information, call Schneider, Leucht Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home at 815-338-1710 or visit slmcfh.com.

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY TRICIA CARZOLI

■ Reyman Solis, 24, Lake in the Hills, was arrested Jan. 31 in the 2000 block of South Eastwood Drive on charges of driving under the influence and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. Bond $3,000. Released after posting $100 and surrender of driver’s license. Court date March 11. ■ Daniel Sanchez, 18, Harvard, was arrested Feb. 2 in the 11000 block of U.S. 14 on charges of speeding and no valid driver’s license. Bond $2,500. Released on personal recognizance. Court date March 11. ■ Male juvenile, 14, Woodstock, was arrested Feb. 3 in the 400 block of Leah Lane on charges of failure to yield to emergency vehicle, improper lighting (headlights), no registration light, and no valid driver’s license. Bond $2,500. Released to parent. Court date March 11. ■ Robert B. Marin, 34, Hebron, was arrested Feb. 4 in the 1600 block of South Eastwood Drive on charges of improper lane usage, driving under the influence, and driving under the influence with blood-alcohol over 0.08 percent. Bond $3,000. Released after posting $100 and surrender of driver’s license. Court date March 19. ■ Victoria P. Kusio, 26, Mount Prospect, was arrested Feb. 7 at Eastwood Drive and Calhoun Street on charges of improper lighting and no valid driver’s license. Bond $2,500. Released on own recognizance. Court date March 18. ■ Eleazar Saaverda Hernandez, 43, Woodstock, was arrested Feb. 8 in the

12:34 p.m. – 4500 block of South Route 47, traffic accident with no injuries; engine, shift commander, ambulance 6:16 p.m. – 100 block of Van Buren Street, unintentional alarm system activation, no fire; command car 6:46 p.m. – 3300 block of Castle Road, unintentional alarm system activation; engine, shift commander, ambulance, command car 11:36 p.m. – 20000 block of Collins Road, Marengo, assist police or other agency; engine

11:14 a.m. – 11600 block of Catalpa Lane, unintentional detector activation, no fire; engine, ambulance 11:17 a.m. – U.S. 14 and Lake Avenue, traffic accident with no injuries; shift commander, ambulance 1 p.m. – 600 block of North Madison Street, malfunctioning smoke detector activation; engine, shift commander, ambulance

11:50 a.m. – 1100 block of North Rose Farm Road; unintentional transmission of alarm/other; truck, shift commander, utility pickup

1400 block of Commons Drive on two counts of domestic battery. Taken to jail. Bond and court date to be set.

■ Bryan P. Clark, 38, Bull Valley, was arrested Jan. 29 on a charge of possession of a controlled substance. ■ Daniel K. Ohlrich, 31, Wonder Lake, was arrested Feb. 1 on a charge of retail theft of merchandise more than $300 and theft/false representation less than $300. ■ Carolyn M. Wolf, 32, Wonder Lake, was arrested Feb. 1 on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence with bloodalcohol content of 0.08 percent, and leaving the scene of an accident/vehicle damage. ■ Daniel M. Hill, 34, Wonder Lake, was arrested Feb. 8 on a charge of domestic battery/bodily harm.

9:55 a.m. – Short and Railroad streets, rail vehicle fire; truck, shift commander, ambulance 2:48 p.m. – 8400 block of Mason Hill Road, traffic accident with no injuries; truck, shift commander, ambulance 6:45 p.m. – Lucas Road and Route 47, traffic accident with injuries; engine, shift commander, ambulance

7:44 p.m. – 1800 block of Sebastian Drive, local alarm system/malicious false alarm; engine, shift commander, ambulance, command car