Forever in our hearts...

Cheryl M. Read, age 68, of Coupeville passed away peacefully July 23rd surrounded by her family and loved ones. She was born March 31, 1944 in Sumas, to Vance and Mae (Dickinson) Clark. Cheryl grew up in Bellingham where she met her high school sweetheart Carl (Bill) Read and soon married in August of 1965. Cheryl loved to learn and earned multiple degrees which included Elementary Education (1966), Early Childhood (1972), and a Masters in Learning Resources (1986). She was an educator at heart and taught at all levels from preschool to college.

Cheryl had a true passion for books. She enjoyed all kinds of stories, and often read up to eight books at a time. Cheryl also had a love for nature. She enjoyed walking, bird watching, and spending time at the beach with her grandchildren.

Cheryl was very giving of her time and very active in the communities in which she lived. She always had a special place in her heart for those in need. A sampling of her public service included Ferndale Planning Commission, F.L.A.G. Community Library Group, Ferndale Library Board, Christ Lutheran Church, and founder of the Ferndale Community Meal, which continues to serve hundreds of families in the Ferndale area today. In 1983 she was voted Woman of the Year!

Cheryl’s family meant the world to her. Cheryl is survived by her loving husband of 47 years Carl (Bill) Read of Coupeville, WA, sister Coleen and Jeff Mayville of Houston, TX and brother Roger Clark and Elaine Rickman of Camano Island. She is survived by her children Michael and Lynn Read of Seattle, Robert and Christina Read of Lynden, and Ryan and Christine Wasserman of Bellingham. She has five grandchildren, Nevan Read, Natalia & Johanna Read, and Benjamin & Zoe Wasserman.

A celebration of life service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church on Whidbey Island, Saturday September 8th at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Ferndale Community Meal or in support of this website at Caringbridge.org.  The Ferndale Community Meal program can be reached at:

PO Box 2205
5694 Second Ave.
Ferndale, WA  98248
(360) 380-2200

The Read Family........

"Our Mother"

Cheryl Read, May 2010

Caring Bridge: Cheryl Read

Tonight my heart aches with the loss of "our mother"... 
 

Our Mother

“Mother-in-law” they say, and yet
Somehow I simply can’t forget
‘Twas you who watched his baby ways,
Who taught him his first hymn of praise,
Who smiled on him with loving pride,
When he first toddled by your side.

“Mother-in-law” but oh, ‘twas you
Who taught him to be kind and true;
When he was tired, almost asleep,
‘Twas to your arms he used to creep.
And when he bruised his tiny knee,
‘Twas you who kissed it tenderly.

“Mother-in-law” they say, and yet
Somehow I never shall forget
How much I owe
To you,
who taught him how to grow.

You trained your son to look above,
You made of him the man I love.
And so I think of that today
When with thankful heart I’ll say,
“Our Mother.”
~ unknown

Sugar Free Strawberry Jam

I am super excited with how my sugar free strawberry freezer jam turned out!!  It set up and tastes great! 

Here's my recipe:

4 cups mashed strawberries
1 cup apple juice concentrate
1-2 tsp stevia depending on how sweet your strawberries are
1 1/2 packages of Sure Jell low/no sugar pectin (packages contain approx 5-6 tblsp of pectin, so use one full box plus about 3 tblsp)

Wash, hull and mash strawberries.  Bring apple juice and pectin to a boil in a small saucepan for one minute (you are substituting apple juice concentrate for the water called for in the pectin directions).  Stir constantly or it will burn.  It will be pretty thick.  Stir in stevia.  Immediately mix into prepared strawberries and place in freezer containers.  Allow to sit at room temperature for 24 hours before freezing.  Per the pectin directions, freeze for up to one year or in the fridge for 3 weeks.  I can't imagine that it will last that long around our house!!

Seattle Children's Hospital is just so cool!

No surprise that this video that went viral on YouTube was done at Seattle Children's Hospital.  Way too cool!

Stronger Video

Making the Stronger video

Kelly Clarkson's special message

3 Weeks Post-Op

Yesterday was Natalia's three-week post-op visit with her surgeon at Children's.  Dr. Krengel is very pleased with Natalia's progress and feels that her recovery is on track.  She is able to begin resuming "normal" activities, including school, as she can tolerate them.  Sitting for long periods, especially on hard chairs, is still very tiring and difficult, but getting better with each day.  Yesterday, by the time we got to Seattle, she was ready to lie down. She has only gained 2 pounds back from her weight loss - need to keep working on that!  She is supposed to walk daily, working up to 45 to 60 minutes daily.  Hmmm...if it would stop raining that would be a lot easier!

We did ask about the "hardware" - she has eleven screws, four hooks, and two titanium rods - 5.5 millimeter in diameter.   She will get special "attention" going through airport security for sure :-)

We are so very thankful for modern medicine, a very talented surgeon, a wonderful Children's Hospital, and a (so far) smooth recovery!   May it continue!

Natalia & Dr. Krengel

Natalia's amazing doctor

This is Natalia's doctor at Seattle Children's Hospital.   He is the head of the orthopedic spinal team there, and truly an amazing and gifted doctor. We are so thankful to benefit from his expertise!  Children's Hospital is such an amazing facility as well - truly top notch!

http://youtu.be/MtRKAXmFxIU

2 weeks post-op

Today marks 2 weeks since Natalia's spinal fusion surgery. We are constantly amazed at how quickly things change and how well Natalia is recovering. Natalia lost 8 pounds, which she didn't really have to lose, but we are doing our best to put those pounds back on. Natalia is managing her pain well, and mostly able to cover it with Tylenol, except at night. Her rotated ribs seem to cause her as much, or maybe more, pain than her back itself. We met with her school tutor last Thursday, and she has started to work on some school work, which is wonderful. Stamina is the big thing right now - there just isn't much! Simple tasks, and even sitting up for extended periods really tire Natalia out. But every day is a little bit better, and she is a little stronger! We are so very thankful for the availability of modern medicine and all they can do. It still amazes us to see how very straight Natalia is! Thank you for all your visits, cards, gifts, prayers and thoughts - they've brightened our days and helped us along the journey immeasurably!

Big DayS

In re-reading the blog posts, I realized that I began each day with "Today (or day three, four, whatever) was a BIG day." That just kind of sums up the week for us - one BIG day after another! We are settling in at home, working to keep Natalia comfortable, entertained, and as active as possible. Rob goes back to work tomorrow, and Johanna returns to school. Hoping for an uneventful week, with not quite such BIG days!

Before and After

You cannot really imagine the difference in Natalia's back. At her pre-op appointment, her thoracic (top) curve was at 73 degrees, and her bottom (lumbar) compensatory curve was at 40 degrees. Her curve progressed very rapidly - last August, on her first x-ray, her thoracic curve was 32 degrees. Because of the large curve and rapid progression, her spine was also pulling and rotating her ribs. We were warned that this would not likely be corrected, as the ribs begin to grow in the new/rotated position. Dr. Krengel was amazed at how much her ribs did return to normal position and so we are very thankful for that! X-rays taken yesterday indicate the thoracic curve is now at 19 degrees, and the lumbar at 17 degrees, which is an unnoticeable curve that balances itself out. And because a picture is worth more than 1000 words - here are the before and after pics:

Before - a big S curve

Before: the curve causing spine and rib rotation

Before: this is what a 73 degree curvature looks like on x-ray

After: x-ray shows 2 rods and hooks/screws

After: first look at the incision on day four - so STRAIGHT!

Day Four Post-Op

Day four was a BiG dAY! The day started off at 6 am when the orthopedic team came in to change the bandage - what a way to wake up! It was our first look at the incision. It is amazing, and very straight! X-rays at 9, followed by physical therapy at 10:30. The final physical therapy "test" was to go up and down a flight of stairs - she "passed"! So, that meant we were free to go home after lunch! The nurse told us our discharge morning went very smoothly, with all the steps just falling in line, and that "hardly ever happens." We left the hospital at 2 pm, and headed north, hoping for minimal traffic on a Friday afternoon. We lucked out and made it home by 4! We were worried that the road bumps would cause a lot of pain, but I guess we had enough pillows as she didn't complain!

Lots of support from little sister Johanna

With Dad and Mom

Cousin visitors: Ben & Zoe

Final PT test

IV's coming out - removing that tape isn't any fun

Leaving room 3007 for the last time

Headed Home!!!