Debbie Rose has a knack for growing things including her family over the past 50 years featuring husband Ron, sons Brent and Jaron and their wives, and five grandchildren - and her flowers.
“I have a perennial garden with quite a variety. I love Victoria Blue Salvia. I also love dipladenias, a tropical type flower, and I have a large area of pink roses, day lilies and fairy gardens.”
“Working with flowers is therapy. Where flowers bloom, so does hope,” she said.
Over the past several years, Debbie has been using her skills to grow something different - an exceptional relationship with Blessing Health System.
A resident of Bluffs, Illinois, just about an hour east of Quincy, Debbie’s first experience with Blessing was in 2022. Osteoporosis and arthritis were contributing to excruciating foot and ankle pain. She called a doctor who had repaired her broken wrist many years before, orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician Dr. Darr Leutz. Since he first cared for Debbie, Dr. Leutz had relocated to Blessing. When Debbie called his Quincy office, she was referred to Blessing Health board certified foot and ankle surgeon, Dr. Mark Wavrunek.
“Dr. Wavrunek was the best podiatrist I had ever seen. Eight weeks after surgery I was walking comfortably again. And the Surgery Center is an amazing facility. Every employee was caring and kind.”
After that experience, Debbie says she was sold on Blessing’s care.
“I wouldn’t go anywhere else.”
Debbie was back at Blessing the following year. Her osteoarthritis led to the need for a knee replacement with Dr. Leutz at the Blessing Surgery Center.
“Thanks to Dr. Leutz and his expertise in robotic surgery, my recovery time was fast and pain free. He is a wonderful, caring doctor.
After her surgery, Debbie decided to move her primary care to Blessing Health System, too, becoming a patient of Dr. Surya Polavarapu.
Debbie enjoyed good health for the next 16-months. In early 2025, her bone and joint conditions led to a fractured bone in her ankle. In this situation, she saw another Blessing podiatrist, Dr. Michael Kiely. Again, she found relief from her pain.
“He checked me often to be sure it was healing properly with a walking boot. Dr. Kiely is an excellent podiatrist as well.”
In March 2025, Debbie – an 18-year breast cancer survivor – received her yearly mammogram at the Blessing Breast Center.
“The Blessing Breast Center was amazing, as well as every single staff person I encountered there.
“I appreciate that biopsies, ultrasounds and mammograms are all done there. No traveling to another location is required. The care is very thorough and the technology is great. I can’t say enough about the Breast Center.”
That thorough care and cutting-edge technology detected a return of Debbie’s breast cancer, leading her to surgeon Emmanuel Bessay and his team, the Blessing Cancer Center radiation oncology team and Dr. Mark Khil, and the medical oncology team and Dr. Daniel Koh.
“Drs. Khil and Koh knew I had to travel for my care, so they made sure I could have appointments with both of them on the same day, which I appreciated.”
After surgery, Debbie received 21 radiation therapy treatments. She and her husband Ron were amazed at what they felt was the short amount of time from diagnosis, to surgery, to follow-up treatment.
“You don’t wait around here. They get it done,” Debbie said.
“I felt like I was their only patient. That’s how they treated me,” she added about all caregivers involved in her breast cancer care - doctors, nurses, patient navigator, technologists and social worker.
On Tuesday, June 10, surrounded by her caregivers and Ron by her side, Debbie rang the Blessing Cancer Center’s “gong” to celebrate the end of her radiation therapy treatment. “That was amazing,” she said.
Debbie will remain under Dr. Koh’s care, taking medication to reduce the risk of a recurrence, and having regular follow-up visits.
With her health back on track, Debbie looks forward to spending time with her grandchildren and with her husband – who she refers to affectionately as “Captain Ron” - on the Lake of the Ozarks this summer, knowing that her Blessing team has her back whenever needed.
“I believe I found the Blessing family for a reason. I am thankful and blessed to have received excellent care to improve my quality of life and I will not go anywhere else.”
To Debbie and Ron - best wishes for smooth sailing this summer and many summers to come.