These two words set the tone for same sex couple’s life in Pike County

Two words from her boss – shared nearly four years ago – are etched into the memory and onto the heart of Jenna Maki, Performance Excellence Coordinator at Illini Community Hospital in Pittsfield, IL. Jenna is the wife of another Illini employee, Laura Maki, Informatics Analyst. The couple has been together through civil union and then marriage, when it became legal for same sex couples, for 10 years.

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Tamara Scott, RN, received Who's Your Angel Award

Tamara Scott, Care Coordination, RN Inpatient Clinical Care Coordinator, received a Who’s Your Angel nomination from fellow Blessing Hospital employee Carrie Altobelli, Critical Care/PCU, RN. The Blessing Foundation presented the Who’s Your Angel award on June 3.

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Volunteer sees the beauty in every cancer patient she meets

Poet Maya Angelou said, “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” That’s the story of Bonnie Hallerberg’s life. Whether in the kitchen creating meals for family and friends, designing artificial floral cemetery arrangements for those who have experienced loss, or changing the lives of Blessing Cancer Center patients - in her 70s, Bonnie is as talented and productive as ever.

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A sister’s advice leads to shocking discovery

It’s probably pneumonia. Maybe it’s COVID? Those were the thoughts running through the mind of 28-year old Patrick Smith as he drove through a dark winter’s night from his home in Hannibal to the Blessing Hospital Emergency Center.

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Finding hope - and a reason to laugh - after cancer

Dan Simbro has a contagious sense of humor. Ask him how many grandchildren he has and Dan will tell you “a bunch” because he’s afraid to give an exact number and forget someone. In the days before Easter 2022, at age 68, Dan dressed up in a bright pink bunny suit and passed out candy in public.

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