Debbie Hedrick

Yesterday James Peters told me about the passing of Debbie Hedrick. Debbie was a good friend of the Peters family and has attended our family reunion in the past. The following obituary was published in the Corbin Times Tribune:

Deborah Hedrick
Deborah Hedrick “Debbie” Hedrick, 52, of Corbin, passed away Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008, at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington. She was the daughter of the late Edward Russell and Bettie Sawyer Hedrick Sr. She was born May 28, 1955 in Corbin. She was a member of South Park United Baptist Church and a member of the Ladies Aide at South Park United Baptist Church.She was preceded in death by her father, Edward Russell Hedrick Sr.; mother, Bettie Sawyer Hedrick; grandparents, J.C. and Ida Benge, and Tom and Easter Sawyer; nephew, Steve Fleming; brothers-in-law, Charlie Bill Litteral, Lawrence Henderlight, Larry Woodlee, Luther Burner and Dennis Pickard.Survivors include two brothers, Jim Hedrick (and Mrs. Linda) of Nashville, Tenn., and Russell Hedrick (and Mrs. Jane) of Gray; six sisters, Faye Pickard of Corbin, Anna Litteral of Corbin, Alma Henderlight Burner of Corbin, Lois Harrison Cathers (and Mr. David) of Corbin, Linda King (and Mr. Norwood) of Gray, Pat Mitchell (and Mr. Murrell, Jr.) of Corbin; and a host of family and friends who mourn her passing.Debbie’s homecoming celebration services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008, at Corbin Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Steve Cole and Rev. Paula Farmer officiating.Burial will follow at Resthaven Cemetery in Corbin.Pallbearers will be Ms. Hendrick’s nephews. Honorary pallbearers will be members of South Park United Baptist Church.The family of Deborah “Debbie” Hedrick will receive friends from 5-9 p.m. Wednesday at Corbin Funeral Home.In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to South Park United Baptist Church’s general fund, PO Box 933, Woodbine, Kentucky, 40771. To the Deborah “Debbie” Hedrick family, the staff of Corbin Funeral Home would like to offer you our heartfelt sympathy during your time of bereavement.Corbin Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, Byron L. Schiesz, director. Published in the Times Tribune from 2/27/2008 - 2/29/2008.

2-21-08 Update on Kasey Lynn Sumner

2-21-08
Good news from James Peters! Last night, shortly after midnight, Debbie, Jessica and Kasey Lynn dropped in for a visit (at James and Jackie's home in Corbin)! They had just arrived back in Corbin from Michigan.

James said that Kasey was breathing easier than before the surgery, and she looked more relaxed than before the surgery. One section of her heart had enlarged due to the original problem. The doctors said that the enlarged section had developed over a five-month period as a result of the holes in her heart. They expect that it'll take another five months for the damage to be un-done. She still has a long way to go down the road to recovery, but she has made it through major open-heart surgery much better than most of the doctors expected.
Even though Kasey is a long way from being recovered, we have much to be thankful for. Right off hand I can think of the following:

1. A safe trip to Michigan and back in the middle of Winter when there were snow storms and seriously cold temperatures throughout the midwest. As I was speaking with James, they were bracing for a major ice storm in Corbin - just hours after Debbie, Jessica, and Kasey's safe arrival home.
2. Good doctors and nurses who were blessed with the knowledge and facilities required to perform an operation that would have been impossible just a few years ago
3. Prayers and support from family and friends, and
4. God's mercy and grace in making all this possible.

Let's thank Him for answering our prayers so far as we continue to pray for Kasey's complete recovery in the months to come...

2-18-08 Evening:
I spoke with James Peters this evening. The last news he heard was yesterday (Sunday, 2/17) afternoon. The news was good at that time. They had removed all the tubes and had taken her off the respirator. She started breathing on her own as soon as they took her off the respirator and had been breathing on her own for several hours at that time. They were surprised at how well she came off the respirator.

Also, as of yesterday afternoon, they had already given her Pedialite and were starting her on Formula. The doctors were amazed at her progress! When James and Jackie called she was reaching for the phone. James was able to record her crying, and she sounded strong on the recording.

That's all we know up to now. James will call me as soon as he gets another update, and I'll post it on this web site. Meanwhile, KEEP PRAYING (prayer of thanksgiving for our prayers being answered so far and pray for continued good progress).

2-16-08 morning
Received the following update from Lois (Alene) Peters this morning:

Kasey Lynn had some bleeding during the night. They gave her blood and were able to get the bleeding stopped.

I'll continue to post updates as I receive them. Meanwhile, keep praying!

2-15-08 afternoon:
Kasey Lynn went into surgery today at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan at about 1:00 pm. to close two holes in her heart.
She came out of surgery at about 4:10 this afternoon. The doctors successfully closed up both holes. Their report was, "It went well. There was a little excessive bleeding but they were able to stop it."
Thanks to all of you for your prayers - KEEP PRAYING!

Posting from Wednesday:
James and Jackie Peters' Great Ganddaughter, Kasey Lynn Sumner, is having serious health issues. Debbie (daughter of James and Jackie and grandmother of Kasey Lynn) will take her to the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan on Wednesday with plans for open heart surgery on Friday, February 15. Kasey will be 5 months old on the 19th and weighs 8 lbs. (The photo above is Jessica holding her daughter Kasey.)

A special fund has been set up to help cover the travel expenses. If you would like to donate to this fund, you may send your donation to Forcht Bank, Kasey Lynn Sumner Fund, P.O. Box 2600, London, KY 40743. Attention Keri. Make checks payable to the "Kasey Lynn Summer fund."

If you live in the London area, you may also make a donation in person at any Forcht Bank. Specify that your donation is for the Kasey Lynn Sumner fund.

The Peters family has always had the reputation of being people who are there to help in times of need. Your help will be greatly appreciated and is definitely needed!





The following article was in the Corbin Times Tribune newspaper on February 5:





Published: February 05, 2008 09:38 am
Infant needs donations
By Samantha Swindler / Managing Editor


It’s certainly not easy being a single teenage mom. And for Corbin mother Jessica Sumner, it’s only gotten harder. At nearly four-and-a-half months old, her daughter, Kasey Lynn Sumner, is actually smaller than on the day she was born. Without a surgery planned for later this month, she could face more problems, and now friends are taking donations to help pay for the family’s expenses during their trip to a Michigan hospital.


“Kasey was diagnosed when my daughter was pregnant with a heart defect, and so whenever she was born, they told us she had two holes in her heart and she would eventually have to have surgery if the holes didn’t close up,” said Jessica’s mother Debbie Sumner. “Through medication and a lot of prayer and through time, we thought the holes would close.”


But the holes did not heal on their own. Last Monday, Jessica said she learned surgery would be needed, and the procedure could likely be done in May. But on Wednesday, doctors said the surgery couldn’t wait. Kasey’s heart had enlarged and the Sumners need to be at C.S. Mott Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich. Feb. 13, with surgery scheduled for Feb. 15.


“It just kindly hit us really quick,” Debbie said. “We were expecting the holes to just start closing. Her heart’s enlarged and they need to do it now.”


Kasey weighted 8 pounds, 14 ounces when she was born a month early on Sept. 19, but part of that weight was because Jessica is diabetic, and it caused Kasey to be born with high blood sugar and extra fat. She dropped down to a low of 7 pounds, 4 ounces, but is now 8 pounds, 8 ounces.


“She doesn’t cry a whole lot, she’s a good baby in that sense,”Jessica said. “She makes little noises when she breathes. She’s on four different medications.


“I’m 18 years old,” she added about Kasey’s diagnosis. “It was extremely hard. With the help of my mom and support of family members we got through it.”




Jessica graduated from South Laurel High School last year. The baby’s father isn’t involved in Jessica’s life, she said. With Kasey needing regular feeding every three hours — even if it takes waking the baby at night to feed — Jessica lives with Debbie and isn’t working. She plans, though, to take online college courses and pursue a career in social work.


“My mom has been total moral support, and if not for her, I don’t think I could have made it,” Jessica said. “My family has been there for me, and.. it amazes me how people will help in a small town when they realize something bad has happened. It’s a hard situation.”


“We did expect surgery,” Jessica added. “But we didn’t expect a week(‘s notice) to go to Michigan. We were expecting in three months to spend a week in Lexington.”




The family does have insurance to pay for the procedure, but it will not cover costs for travel, meals and hotel expenses for the one to two weeks Jessica and Debbie will be in Michigan.


A friend — who asked not to be named in this story — heard about the Sumner’s troubles and offered to help. “(She) is a friend here at the school,” Debbie said. “We’re just working people, and she said ‘you need some money?’ and I said, well, what can I say...”


The friend set out on an e-mail campaign seeking donations and agreed to pay for a rental car to take the girls to Michigan. “Bless her heart, I feel blessed by the niceness of people, (even though) this is a bad situation to say you feel blessed in,” Debbie said.




An account has been set up at Forcht Bank in Kasey Sumner’s name for donations for the family’s expenses. If the family isn’t able to raise money through donations, Jessica said they’ll find a way to get to Michigan. “We’ll borrow it no matter what, because Kasey has to have heart surgery no matter what,” she said.

Special Prayer Request

The following was received from Charles Peters today (February 11, 2008):

James and Jackie's Great Ganddaughter, Kasey Lynn Sumner, is having serious health issues. Debbie will take her to the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan on Wednesday with plans for open heart surgery on Friday, February 15. Kasey will be 5 months old on the 19th and weighs 8 lbs. James requested that we put Kasey in our prayers.

Kasey is the daughter of Jessica Sumner and Granddaughter of Debbie Sumner.

Charley