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Do IT this week: Layering
Founder helps Rittman girl diagnosed with leukemia feel like a princess
By Jewell Cardwell
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Saturday, Nov 21, 2009
Every parent knows that when a child is diagnosed with cancer or any other life-threatening illness, the most important tools to have in the healing arsenal are prayer and the best medical talent possible.
It's also important to wrap everyone involved in a blanket of positive energy. A shelter from the storm, so to speak.
Wadsworth's Jan Householder started the Giving Doll ministry in March 2006 to do just that.
This very special ministry — told with soft-sculpture dolls handmade by a growing number of volunteer disciples near and far — has as its noble goal healing children who are hurting: those who are critically or chronically ill, abandoned, abused, those who have witnessed violence or are missing a mommy or daddy serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Hard to believe Householder's project, with dolls now sprinkled around the world, has just given birth to its 5,000th doll.
On Friday, Householder presented that doll to 5-year-old Katelin ''Boo'' Magyar of Rittman, who was diagnosed Sept. 23, 2008, with leukemia. Her parents, John and Kelly Magyar, — who live in those positive moments — say their little girl will be receiving chemotherapy at Akron Children's Hospital once a month until 2011.
Boo's new, beautiful ''Princess'' doll, dressed in pink, was given in memory of Katherine ''Princess'' McVey, a Stow girl who received the first Giving Doll. Katherine was an amazingly giving little girl, the daughter of Paula and Wayne McVey and big sister of Ian. She died March 18, 2007, of complications from a rare brain tumor. She was 12.
So important were Doll No. 1 and Doll No. 5,000 that Paula McVey, Ian and Katherine's best friend, Baylee Walters, shopped for the material for the doll, the accompanying blanket and tote. Boo's doll package even came with a pink satin sleep mask in the tradition of what was important to Katherine.
''We feel so honored that our little girl was chosen to receive this special doll,'' Kelly Magyar said.
Boo also received a Giving Doll some months ago at the Doylestown-Rittman Relay for Life.
Both are loved. But clearly Princess is the special one.
Special, too, was that Householder brought along dolls for the couple's three other children: 7-year-old Skyler, 3-year-old Lyla and 15-month-old Ethan (who received a boy doll).
The reach of the Giving Doll ministry has been captured in a small quilt by Akron's Helen Louis, featuring a map of the United States with red buttons showing where there are doll-making clubs. There's a red heart in Ohio, designating Wadsworth, where it all began, and a star in Tennessee, marking St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, where Katherine McVey was a patient.
The dolls are personalized when possible: boys and girls; white, African-American, Hispanic and Asian.
Recently the Giving Doll ministry was adopted by the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America as its major outreach project.
For the ministry to continue to grow and reach more hurting children, more volunteers and more donations are needed. Interested in helping? Please contact Householder at jan@thegivingdoll.com or 330-336-7246.
Remembering a friend
Friends of Anna C. Stashkiw-Risor, who died this summer as a result of an automobile accident, are remembering their friend in a special way this Thanksgiving and vowing to do what they can to help the family she loved and left behind.
They are contributing to a bank fund to help the 38-year-old woman's husband, Del Risor, and the couple's four children, Alan, Joseph, Annabella and Alexis, and encouraging others to do the same.
Anna, the daughter of Walter and Kathy Stashkiw and a graduate of Akron's Archbishop Hoban High School, Bowling Green State University and Horry Georgetown Technical College, was a homemaker and an assistant Cub master with Cub Scout Pack 396 in South Carolina, where she had recently moved.
Here is how one of her dear friends, Ann Marie (Thomas) Flannery, remembered her: ''Anna Stashkiw-Risor was in my high school class at Hoban. In the months prior to Anna's death, she connected her many classmates via Facebook. Anna's daily postings touched on so many things, from her musings as a mother of a toddler to her fears of returning to the work force. Hoban alumni sought out her advice daily and admired her for her honesty and humor. Anna's daily writings had become a special part of so many of our lives.
''I continue to be amazed by the faith and strength of Del's family. A.J. is an incredible boy, forced to overcome so much more than the loss of his mother (he's battling leukemia). In this season of giving, I could not think of a more deserving family to be sponsored.''
Childhood friend Jessie Malkin echoed similar sentiments.
A Risor Children's Fund has been established at First Federal Bank, 12182 Highway 17 Bypass, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576.
Benefit dinner
A benefit dinner and memorial for Arlene Tribble is set for 5 to 10 p.m. Nov. 28 at the Ellet Amateur Athletic Association, 2208 E. Market St., Akron.
The 45-year-old Akron woman died Nov. 9, apparently from complications of swine flu, after being admitted to the hospital a week earlier.
Arlene, single mother of two and grandmother of two, worked for 30 years at the Brimfield Steakhouse and was a major part of the sports association in Ellet.
''Our family, the Ellet Sports Association, the Ellet football moms, the Ellet teachers, Brimfield Steakhouse and several small businesses in Ellet and Brimfield have pulled together and donated everything so that we can raise money for her expenses and for her sons,'' said her cousin, Marie Jack.
The event features food, music and raffles and a 7 p.m. memorial service.
Donations will be accepted at the door. Also, an Arlene Tribble Memorial Fund has been set up at Fifth Third Bank.
Tips to feed hungry
Hats off to the servers and bartenders at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse, 4000 Medina Road, who on Sunday are donating all gratuities they earn between 4 and 9 p.m. to feed the hungry this holiday season at the Haven of Rest.
This wonderful idea was the brainchild of servers/bartenders Jimmy Arrunategui and Michael Hanna.
Reservations are required at Fleming's: 330-670-5200.
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.
Every parent knows that when a child is diagnosed with cancer or any other life-threatening illness, the most important tools to have in the healing arsenal are prayer and the best medical talent possible.
Get the full article here.
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