Daily Reflector Article (Kally Nelson from Bethel)

Bone marrow transplant patient will return to renovated home
By Kim Grizzard
The Daily Reflector
Monday, March 29, 2010
When Beau’s Buddies Cancer Fund had its first fundraising dinner, there was a place at the table for Kally Nelson.
The then 21-year-old softball player was there in honor of her mother, Jane, and her brother, Daniel, who had both died from cancer.
She was there in support of her father’s co-worker, Dr. John Gibbs, who had been diagnosed with cancer the previous year.
She was there in memory of Beau Stanley, the charity’s namesake, a child she had met at Pitt County Memorial Hospital’s pediatric oncology department, where Kally had fought her own battle against the disease.
Now, Beau’s Buddies wants to be there for Kally. The charitable fund, established to help cancer patients and their families, is leading an effort to renovate the Nelsons’ house in Bethel to make a place for Kally, who is scheduled to return home in June following a bone marrow transplant.
“This is definitely a special situation,” Debbie Hudson, a member of the board for Beau’s Buddies, said of the chance to help a family that has previously supported the organization.“We felt like this was a great opportunity for Beau’s Buddies to give back.”
Beau’s Buddies’ gift, a $25,000 renovation project, will be one of the charity’s largest projects to date. To meet the sterile standards that Kally’s immune system requires, the Nelson home needed to have windows replaced, carpet removed, and have the heating and air-conditioning system sanitized.
When Jenny Nelson learned what upgrades her stepdaughter’s doctors were recommending, she wondered if the family had the schedule or the savings to accommodate them.
The stay-at-home mom already was spending several nights a week away from her son, Wesley, 12, to be with Kally in Chapel Hill. She and her husband, Roger, sometimes passed each other on the road as he took time from working two jobs as a nurse practitioner to share in Kally’s care.
“We jokingly said, ‘We need to call ABC,’” Jenny said, “because we need an extreme home makeover.”
“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” a reality-TV show hosted by Ty Pennington, provides home renovations for families facing hardships, rallying community volunteers to pitch in to complete the work. While the Nelson family did not have a celebrity spokesman, they already had community support.
Longtime friends Don and Kathy Carson and neighbors Charlie and Linda Wall were working to involve friends and community members in preparing Kally’s room for her homecoming.
It was not difficult to get people on board. Roger Nelson has been a deacon at Bethel Baptist Church; Jenny has been president of Bethel School’s PTA.
“They are good people,” Linda Wall said. “If it were me or you or somebody else that they could help in our community, they would be more than willing.”
In the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd, Jenny, who had just married Roger and moved to Bethel, gave away furniture to families in need. She and Linda cooked and served meals in the Nelson home for neighbors and even strangers who were affected by the storm.
“That’s how it is in Bethel,” Jenny said. “Everybody should live in a small town.”
Kally, a standout player in the Pitt County Girls Softball League and later for Pitt Community College, made friends far beyond Bethel. A class from her alma mater, North Pitt High School, is volunteering to remove the carpet from her home. Churches like Bethel Baptist, where Kally has worked with the youth group, are also signing up to help.
“People love her,” Jenny said. “Once somebody said, ‘Kally Nelson needs ...’ that was all they had to do because they love her so much.”
That love is no mystery to Jenny, who has been Kally’s mother since Kally was an early adolescent.
“I have to say that if I ever had a hero, it would be her,” Jenny said. “She has seen her mama die. She was in the room with us the night her brother died. She’s amazing. She just keeps going.”
Kally has shown that same resiliency since her transplant on Feb. 18, pushing herself to exercise, even though she has to wear a heavy mask anytime she leaves her sterile apartment. Without the renovations to the entire Nelson home, Kally would have risked compromising her immune system when she left her room to watch television with the family or come to the table.
Carson is grateful that Beau’s Buddies is moving forward with plans to renovate the remainder of the home. All the Nelsons’ furniture and personal items are scheduled to be moved out by Thursday, and the group hopes to have window and flooring installed and painting complete by mid-May, one month before Kally’s scheduled return.
“Trying to get different contractors to do different things in that timely fashion would have been almost impossible, but we were going to try,” Don Carson said. “It was just a blessing from the good Lord that (Beau’s Buddies) stepped up to the plate.”
Jenny said she is overwhelmed that people who stood by the family during Jane’s and Dan’s illnesses and when Kally was diagnosed with bone cancer are there for them again.
“It’s really overwhelming,” she said. “They’ve always offered (to help), but we’d say, ‘No we don’t need anything.’ This time it’s different. This time we can’t say, ‘No, we don’t need anything’ because we really did.”
She is grateful for Beau’s Buddies, which has provided cancer patients and their families with everything Christmas toys to camp tuition and dental work to Disney World.
“I don’t think some people realize how phenomenal it is to have Beau’s Buddies,” Jenny said. “They’re actually helping her be able to live and be comfortable, to feel like she can come home.”

How to help
To volunteer to help with renovations, contact Don Carson at 714-5232 or Linda Wall, after 4 p.m., at 714-7025.
Donations for the home renovation project can be made to Beau’s Buddies Cancer Fund, David G. Vaughn Construction, c/o Debbie Hudson, 1025 Director Court, Suite E, Greenville NC 27858.
The Web site is www.beausbuddies.com

WOW!!! Amazing Easter Eggs From Georgia!!!!

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"We decorated easter eggs last night at our home with all of the kids and adults getting involved.

Henri ,Josh, Kim,Mark,Madison,Savannah, Howard, Sherri and Mazkenzie.And the winners are!!!"

Henri

(Ed's nieces & nephews from the Atlanta area)

Monica Is Having A Party

You’re invited
to a Thirty-One event!

Please join me at my home for a Thirty-One Gifts party. With so many wonderful items, you are sure to find something you will love! Whether you need a gift for someone else (Mother’s Day is May 9th) or something for yourself, you can find it with Thirty-One. Feel free to bring a friend!

Host: Monica Briley
When: April 9, 2010
Location: 888 Briley Road, Greenville, NC
Time: 6:00 – 8:00pm
RSVP (regrets only): crawfordm17@aol.com or 885-6365

You can take a sneak peak at the products or shop online at www.mythirtyone.com/paigebrooks
To Shop: Click on my events on the right under my info, find Monica’s name and click on “shop now.”

Scouts, Out & About

The Bethel Boy Scouts had their annual 8-mile hike today and what a beautiful day for it. Glad that Scott was able to make the hike with the boys! I know they're happy to have him back.

Making Easter Eggs!

Karen, Farrish, Kelli & I made Easter Eggs today. Had lots of fun!!!

Photos Among the Spring Flowers!

Daffodil Fields in Winterville on Old Tar Road! There were about 15 cars parked along the road Thursday with folks also taking pictures. Channel 9 was there, as well. The flowers are still in bloom if anyone is interested in going over to take pictures.

Update on My Cousin Steve Williams After Liver Surgery

"Steve is getting a little better each day..It is really slow but overall we are pleased with his progress. He went back to his Raleigh oncologist this week and he was really pleased with the surgery and his progress. He is cancer free which is really good news.. It will take him a while to get his energy and stamina back but he is walking a little more each day. We go back to his UNC doctor on Friday and hopefully he will get a really good report."
Love ya
Cindy

Happy Birthday, Maggie Holland!

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Myrtle's granddaughter, Greg's daughter, Maggie had a birthday this weekend. I am sharing Tina's pictures! Congratulations, young lady.

Congratulations Courtney and Jeremy!

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The daughter of my cousin, Brenda Bullock Hall originally from Stokes and now from New Bern, recently got married. I wanted to share the article published in the newspaper. Courtney's grandparents, Catherine and Darrell Bullock continue to live in Stokes.

Lion's Club 11th Annual Bowl for the Blind, March 13

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Roy Berbert has been a member of the Lion's Club in Greenville as long as I've known him, and that's a long time. I worked with him at Burroughs Wellcome for 22 years and he was also Kevin's Little League coach for 4 years. Roy moved down with BW from New York, and has been a real asset to the Greenville community. In the picture, he is second from the left.

A Friend of the Crawfords from Bethel

"I wanted to write and to let everyone know that Callie Nelson, Lizzie Nelson's sister, was at Duke and received a bone marrow transplant. She is doing well, but the waiting is hard. She is such an active girl. She has just now settled into an apartment which she will have to stay for approximately 3 months. Monica and I are going to take a little trip to visit for a couple of days as soon as she gets settled. She gets bored. If anyone has any ideas or anything to send, call me at 885-6364 or e-mail me, I will be happy carry anything to her. OR come with us!! She loves people and loves to chit chat."

Susan Whitehurst Crawford

"Here are some pic's from my vacation in Ventura, California, and Lake Tahoe. I flew into L.A. X where my sister-in-law, Mindy, met me at the airport. We drove up to Ventura and I was there a week with Robin and Mindy. We all went up to Lake Tahoe and then back to Ventura. Went skiing in Lake Tahoe, and whale watching in Ventura. Met some fun people and had a great time. Also went to Mindy's and Robin's Health club and got to swim in the outside pool - was warmer outside than inside."

Carolyn James, Michigan

Mayhew Cox's Daughter is Engaged

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Pictures From Susan & Family!

Matt and Camaron are holding hands going down the slope. This was a picture I took last year!
They were, this year, skiing down the Double Diamond Slope.

Susan & Family Return from Ski Trip

"We had a great time. I am a little worried that I will never go to another hot place again! They are already planning their next year's trip. Ronald surprised Monica and I with a day at the spa!"

Susan Whitehurst Crawford

Spring Ahead This Weekend

Ed Jr, Judson, Susan & Janene's Aunt Passes Away

Mrs. Minnie Frances Perry Tyson, 67, died Friday, March 5, 2010. The funeral service will be at 3:30 p.m. Monday in the Wilkerson Funeral Chapel. Burial will be in Pinewood Memorial Park. Mrs. Tyson, a native of Beaufort County, attended Stokes-Pactolus High School. For a number of years she was the manager of the frozen food and dairy section at Harris supermarket and Piggly Wiggly. She was a member of the Stokes Missionary Baptist Church. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Tyson was preceded in death by her brother, Melvin Perry and sister, Susie Everett. She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Ennis Carroll Tyson; son, Grover Carroll Tyson and wife Wendy of Greenville; daughter, Pamela Tyson Moxley and husband Robert of Greenville; brothers, Robert Perry of Williamston, Harvey Perry of Stokes, and Cleveland Perry and wife Kathy of Williamston; grandchildren, Jonathan Ray Clark of Greenville, Amy Lynn Tyson of Williamston, and Ashleigh Clark, Kacey Cheyenne Moxley, Summer Ionia Moxley, and Joshua David Tyson, all of Greenville. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. today at Wilkerson Funeral Home. Online condolences at www.wilkersonfuneralhome.com.

A Childhood Neighbor Passes Away

The Prices lived in Bethel on the Big Oak Road about a mile from me when I was growing up. Christa Price was a close friend and I was in her wedding many moons ago. Her mom died when she was about 12 or 13 years old. Christa is a RN and lives in Wilson. Thought some of you may remember the family. There were also 4 boys, 3 are now dentists.

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Malotha Bowen Price

ROBERSONVILLE - Malotha "Loafy" Bowen Price, 83, passed away Thursday March 4, 2010. He was a Martin County native, a World War II veteran, and retired from farming and Perdue Poultry. Mr. Price was an elder at the Gold Point Church of Christ where he taught Sunday school for many years. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ira and Mary Bet Price, and his first wife, Christine James Price. Mr. Price is survived by his wife of 40 years, Pattie Cowan Price; sons, Dr. Edward D. "Danny" Price and wife Jeannie of Williamston, Dr. Jerry W. Price and wife Faye of Tarboro, Dr. Jeffery B. Price and wife Betsy Armstrong-Price of Hendersonville, David J. Price and wife Lu Anne of Snow Hill; daughter, Christa P. Goff and husband Carlton of Wilson; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; step daughter-in-law Virginia Rawls; brothers, Preston Price, Ira Price Jr., Haywood Price, James "Buddy" Price; and sisters, Peggy Barbour and Ruth Peaks. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. today at Biggs Funeral Home Chapel in Robersonville with Chris Minton and the Rev. Haywood Price officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Martin Memorial Gardens. Arrangements by Biggs Funeral Home, Robersonville.

Great News for My Cousin, Steve Williams

I received a wonderful call late Friday afternoon from Steve Williams, my cousin, who has recently had surgery at UNC. The plan is for him to be released on Sunday to go home. This is the answer to many prayers and we are very happy for Steve and his family.

Charlie Manning Jr From Bethel Passes Away

BETHEL - Mr. Charlie L. Manning, Jr., died peacefully at his home on Thursday, March 4, 2010. Mr. Manning was born in Pitt County on April 30, 1927, at the Manning home place, better known as "Mama's". His parents were the late Lillie James Manning and Charlie L. Manning Sr. He was the fourth of seven children. He was predeceased by his parents; two sisters, Lona Manning and Mary James Sexton; brother, Laddie Gordon Manning; and sister-in-law, Mary L. Manning. He was also predeceased by a son-in-law, Ronnie Mills; three brothers-in-law, Floyd Phillips, Joe Rawls and Delton Perry. Charlie was the loving supportive and best friend of his wife, Janie Edmondson Manning for forty seven years. Together they provided a Godly home of love, trust, joy, and friendship for their two children, Kim Mills Evans and Charlie L. Manning III (Lee). They always knew daddy would guide, help and support them through their choices. Charlie was a farmer who found great joy and pride in his work. He always honored the land he worked, both owned and rented. He understood what it meant to replenish the earth and the earth would give back to you the fruits of his labor. He enjoyed sitting around "The Store," Whitehurst Station, talking, playing checkers, cards, as well as learning and sharing ideas on farming. These farmers understood the importance of being supportive of each other. Charlie served numerous years on the Farm Bureau Board. He was elected several terms as the area committeeman for the Pitt County Farm Service Agency. He enjoyed the people who worked in both the Pitt and Martin County US Department of Agriculture offices. After retiring, Charlie joined the Tuesday night Bethel Rotary Club. He also met with a group of five men on Thursday night. He looked forward to Tuesday and Thursday night fellowship, the stories and the laughter that's so good for the soul. He was an active member of the Bethel United Methodist Church where he served as usher, was on the Board of Trustees and the General Board. His greatest joy came in greeting people on the front porch of the church, where he faithfully operated the elevator. He also found great pleasure in the Florie Whitehurst Sunday School Class. He would, with a twinkle in his eyes and a teasing smile, offer you a church bulletin in exchange for a dollar for the collection plate. Charlie was a quiet Christian man who daily "walked the walk, rather than talk the talk". He attended the Bethel schools and North Carolina State University. He was an avid fan of all sports. He enjoyed watching the games on television. Charlie served in the Armed Forces during World War II. He served a tour of duty in Germany. The most pronounced characteristic of his life was his devotion to family. A devoted son, brother, husband, daddy, father-in-law, granddaddy, great-granddaddy and uncle, his favorite times were gathering together at the home place, "Mama's" for reunions and holiday celebrations. He is survived by his loving wife, Janie; daughter and husband, Kim and Jimmy Evans of Greenville; son and wife, Lee and Libby Manning of Bethel; grandchildren, Ryan Brittany and Taylor Mills of Greenville, Katie and Nicholas Manning of Bethel; and great-grandchild, Ashlyn Mills of Greenville. Also surviving are his sisters, Ruby Phillips of Greenville, Valeria Rawls and Arlene Manning of Bethel, Lona and husband, Ben Howser of Newport News, Va.; brother-in-law, Fred Sexton and wife, Faye of Lillington; nieces, Carol and husband, Emery Davis of Bethel, Carla and husband, Dr. Doug Peaden of Roanoke Rapids, Joan and husband, Jack Campbell, of Washington, N.C.; nephews, Dr. Scott Rawls, of Philadelphia and Charles "Chuck" Howser and wife, Crystal of Newport News, Va.; numerous great and great-great-nieces and nephews; sister-in-law, Ola Perry and family, of Bethel. Funeral service will be held at Bethel United Methodist Church, Saturday at 11 a.m. Visitation will be held tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 at Bethel United Methodist Church. Memorials may be sent to the United Methodist Church organ or window fund. Special thanks to his doctors, nurses, pharmacist and other staff at the Leo Jenkins Cancer Center; Bethel Family Practice and Bethel Pharmacy; Wendy Cooke, nurse and Hospice workers with Roanoke Home Health Service; Linda Andrews, who has faithfully assisted in the home; to friends, extended family and our minister, Steve Smith. On-line condolences may be sent to www.walkerfh.net.

Brother of My Friend, Brenda Harris

Lester "Dick" Moore Jr.

FARMVILLE - Mr. Lester "Dick" Moore Jr., age 65, of 2271 Chinquapin Road died Tuesday, March 2, 2010. Funeral service will be conducted Friday at 2:00 p.m. from the Church Street Chapel of the Farmville Funeral Home. Mr. Moore is survived by his wife, Phyllis O. Moore of the home; two daughters, Rhonda Mebane and husband, Shawn, of Jamesville and Lesley Eakes and husband, Mitchell, of Bell Arthur; two sons, Steve Moore of Farmville and Jeff Moore of Greenville; four sisters, Shirley Eastwood and husband, Bratchard, of Farmville, Francine McMillion and husband, Russell, of Greenville, Brenda Harris and husband, Jimmie, of Winterville, and Doris Bradshaw of New Bern; two brothers, Pat Moore and wife, Betty Lou, of Greenville and Roger Moore and wife, Lou, of Farmville; and grandchildren, Ashley Moore Wells, Allen Moore, Hunter Mebane, Matthew Mebane, Cameron Moore, Lindsey Nicole Phillips, Sarah Rose and Justin Eakes; and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends tonight from 7-9 at the Farmville Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.farmvillefh.com.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. Annette & Ed

Update on Steve

Wed 3/3/2010 3:58 PM

"Steve is 100% better today.. He has walked several times and has eaten good today. The surgery went well to replace one of the bilinary drains that was blocked so hopefully this will improve all his numbers and get him back on track to recovery. He has been up most of the day."
Cindy

Update on Steve

From Cindy Tues 3/2/2010 8:48 AM

"Steve had a rough night last night (Day 20 at UNC)...ran a temperature of 101 most of the night and his numbers are elevated again this morning. They ordered some additional tests and a complete CT scan for tomorrow morning to try to determine what is causing the roller coaster ride up and down. Thanks for your concern."

Latest Update on Cousin, Steve Williams

Mon 3/1/2010 8:50 AM

"Looks like they have identified the fungus in the blood (it was one of the easily treatable ones) and the antibiotic seems to be taking care of it; however his bilirubin number has not come down for the last 3 days which is a concern..It is still way too high so they have to try to figure out what is causing it to stay high. Looks like his stay at UNC will continue for a while longer. Hopefully they can determine what is the root cause of this number staying elevated and not decreasing. Thanks for your concern"

Cindy Wall