In early April, DeAnna Gerber (nee DeMeritt) was preparing for an excursion to Copenhagen and Russia. Always ready to travel, DeAnna had been on 15 trips in 2018 alone, primarily in the United States. More were planned for this year, some with Red Hats, her social club.
Several days before her departure date, DeAnna experienced persistent pain that became so great, sometimes nearly debilitating, she had scans and other tests.
The doctor called two days before the trip, with the diagnosis of cancer, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, in several places.
If you go on the trip, you may die, he cautioned.
Upon canceling her plans, she spent the next seven months undergoing chemotherapy.
The drugs worked, and DeAnna has been in remission since October.
DeAnna spent Thanksgiving week with Beverly and me a delight for us.
DEANNA was raised outside Savonburg. She began school at 4 sister Darlene, 14 years older, taught at a nearby country school and graduated from Humboldt High in 1961.
She attended several colleges.
Her mother, Wilma, also had returned to college and later taught for a few years.
DeAnna recalled a time the two were driving to Savonburg for a visit when a deer ran out into the road. DeAnna lost control and slammed into a culvert.
She left seven teeth imbedded in the cars dashboard, the rest were shattered. That was before seatbelts and airbags.
I walked a mile to a house, her face battered, her clothing soaked with blood.
She was treated at Chanutes hospital, and then transferred to Kansas City. Twenty-two operations followed to realign bones.
Her mother, miraculously, suffered no serious injuries.
