CELEBRATING LIFE … Up near the top of this happy pyramid are little Dean David with his dad and mom, Norman and Crystal Zehr. The next step down has Bryan Mayor Carrie Schlade, co-chair for WC CHD – Amanda Hoover, WC Commissioner Lewis Hilkert, Annie King and Jessica Lafferty. In front of the mayor is Meg Kunsman with her arm around her daughter Annie Kunsman. On the far left are Liam Murphy with his mom Bridgette Murphy and his grandmother. The two littles in the front are the children of Amanda Hoover, Aleigh and Bryson (who just had an article about him). On the right in front of Jessica L. is her mom and brother Shawn. Ticker joined the photo much to the joy of the little ones and on the far right is co-chair Amanda Harper. This group joined together at 4 p.m. on Monday, January 31, 2022 on the second floor steps in the court house, to celebrate the proclamation made that morning during the Commissioners’ meeting. (PHOTO BY REBECCA MILLER, STAFF)
By: Rebecca Miller
For the third year, a group gathered to share a Proclamation for Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week in Williams County.
On the morning of January 31, 2022, Commissioner Brian Davis read the Proclamation during the Commissioner’s morning session.
The driving force behind getting this started in Williams County, Amanda Hoover, was present for the reading.
Later on that day, at 4 o’clock, Mrs. Hoover and her little boy Bryson who was born with a congenital heart defect, and his little sister Leigha, joined with others for a photo shoot.
The time offers this group who share a common life changing birth defect, an opportunity to get together, see that they are not alone, and to celebrate life.
Hoover started the ball rolling a few years back when she went to see Mayor Carrie Schlade to see what could be done to make others aware of this need in Williams County.
Mayor Schlade took it to the commissioners and a Proclamation was born. As February is the month to celebrate love from the heart, it seemed appropriate to make the Awareness week held in that month.
Everyone who gathered for the picture either had a heart defect at birth or is a family member caring for them, as well as the officials who support them in their life walk.
Hoover brought along little packages of goodies for each person present and quietly made her way amongst them after the picture, encouraging each family to hang in there and keep on fighting for life.
Rebecca can be reached at rebecca@thevillagereporter.com
