January 2003 Updates on

Mary Beth's Journey

The following page contains updates regarding Mary Beth's journey for January of 2003. Links to other pages: Home / Pictures / Mary Beth's Obituary Dec - 02 / Feb/March - 03 If you wish to contact Mary Beth's family, you may do so through contact us.   1-1-03 - Happy New Year! Please accept our wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous year filled with God's blessings. God bless you, Gerry 1-2-03 We enjoyed our evening by watching the Blues game in the Savvis Center suite of Doug Weight courtesy of HIS KIDS.  Although the game was abysmal, the company was wonderful.  We were joined by the Baumgartner family and had a great time catching up.  One of the most courageous and inspiring people we know, Rachel Baumgartner, was in and out of the suite wearing her wonderful smile.  We ask for your prayers of healing for Rachel.  She was informed that her cancer is out of remission but this news has not slowed her schedule in living life to the fullest. God bless you, Gerry 1-23-03 On this, the second Feast Day of Mary Beth Ricken, we truly felt her presence through the type of weather she loved - snow covering everything and frigid cold.  In some respects, today was much harder than MB's first anniversary, but the love and support expressed by so many made the day very fulfilling. We used this day to kick off the planning for our first major fundraising event for Mary Beth's Angels Foundation, the first annual golf tournament to be held at Norwood Hills on Tuesday, June 10, 2003.  Mark your calendars for what should be a very exciting day.  Mary Beth's (and our) friend Dan Lane is chairing this event.  If you are interested in participating that day or assisting in any other way, please feel free to email Dan at dlanejr@aol.com. God bless you, Gerry 1-27-03   Happy Sweet Sixteen Barbie! Today, our lives take on a new dimension with Barbie on her own behind the wheel, legally.  It does not seem like 16 years have passed since 13 month-old Mary Beth came to visit her little sister at Shawnee Mission Medical Center.  Shortly after her visit, the doctors whisked Barbie away to neo-natal intensive care because her lungs were not fully developed.  Although she weighed in at 8 pounds, she was considered "premature" because of her lungs.  Several prayers and a couple of blood transfusions later, she was released from the hospital a week later.  She has developed from a premature infant to a mature young lady today.  After passing her driving test today, she is ready to take on the next phase of challenges and opportunities.  We believe you are safe on the roads with our newest driver and appreciate your patience when she actually stops at a stop sign in greater St. Louis (a rarity for locals)! God bless you, Gerry   Home / Top of page / MB's Obituary / Dec - 02 / Feb/March - 03