10 Years Ago 1997

Friends and family of 3-year-old Dylan Lewis have organized a benefit trail ride to raise money for a complete bone marrow transfusion Dylan will be undergoing in October. Dylan suffers from a rare blood disease known as Fanconis anemia. To date, he has the only known case of this disease in Washington state. Since birth, Dylan has been under the care of hematology specialist Dr. Dana Mathews at Fred Hutchinsons and Childrens Hospital in Seattle. But his condition has progressed to the point that he must now have a complete bone marrow transfusion to save his life. FA is a genetic birth defect producing severe external and internal abnormalities. Dylan has been undergoing blood transfusions every five to 10 days because his blood fails to produce platelets, white cells that help maintain the immune system and oxygen-carrying red blood cells. Without the transfusion, Dylans health would likely progress to a life-threatening condition, with leukemia, cancer and other tumors a strong possibility. The only doctor in the country who is trained in bone marrow transplants for FA is Dr. John Wagner of the University of Minnesota Hospital in Minneapolis, Minn. Thus, the family must travel there for the procedure. Medical costs for Dylans transfusion are estimated to exceed $500,000. Dylans parents, Mike and Myra Lewis of Darrington, carry insurance that will cover only half the cost of the transfusion and doesnt cover medical costs for the bone marrow donor. The remaining $250,000, as well as travel and living expenses while in Minnesota, must be secured by other means. To help with costs, friends of Dylans, the Darrington Horse Owners Association, are sponsoring a trail ride. The first riders will begin the approximately three hour ride at 10 a.m. The trail begins at the Darrington rodeo grounds, cuts across North Mountain and runs through meadows, up gullies and over streams. It offers incredible views of Whitehorse Mountain and glimpses of wildlife. The trail ends back at the Darrington rodeo grounds. Margo Powell, member of the horse owners association, said shes hoping for at least 150 riders. She hopes to raise $2,000 – $3,000 for the Fanconis Anemia Foundation in Dylans name. Participants must bring their own horses and each pay $5 to ride the 10-mile loop trail. Powell helped sponsor a similar ride last year for Dylan and said she will try to organize two trail rides a year to benefit various causes. Right now, Dylans is top on her list. We came up for the idea of a charity ride last year, about the time that Dylan came along. Weve donated money for a lot of different things but we concentrate on family-oriented causes. Were thinking about making a hike-a-thon also since theres been so much interest and not everyone owns a horse, she added. Powell said she believes that Mike and Myra Lewis dont want to have to rely on outside help but she wants to help any way she can. The community support from Darrington and Arlington has been incredible, Myra Lewis said. Darrington alone has raised over $50,000. Doctors tell Myra that Dylan stands approximately a 50 percent chance of surviving the procedure. Added to the uncertainty is the question of how well Dylans body will react to the new bone marrow. But if he does survive, it will prolong his life by several years, she said, and thats worth the risk. Myra said its a lot harder for young kids with the disease like Dylan to survive because their organs are fragile. Doctors tell Mike and Myra theyll have a better idea weather or not Dylan will survive approximately 20 days after the transfusion, when his body has had a chance to accept or reject the bone marrow. Myra remains optimistic. Dylan has been fighting the odds since he was born and I really think thats what will pull him through.


25 Years Ago 1982

Patricia L. Dawson, M.D., is the newest addition to the medical staff at Cascade Valley Hospital. Dr. Dawson graduated from the surgical residence program at Virginia Mason Hospital in June, 1982. To date she is one of only two women to graduate from Virginia Masons surgical residence program. She was a member of Virginia Masons program for three years. Prior to that, she completed her first two years of surgical residency in New Jersey. Dr. Dawson is now board eligible and will be taking the written examination in November and the oral exam in March of 1983. She is also a candidate for the Fellowship of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Dawson was born in Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies and grew up in Newark, New Jersey. She graduated from Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania in 1971 with a B.A. in Sociology. She then took pre-medical courses in Drew University, Madison, New Jersey and Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey from September 1972 to August 1973. After receiving her M.D. at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark in June of 1977, Dr. Dawson completed a years surgical internship at the same medical school. She presented a paper on Acute Appendicitis In Incarcerated Inguinal Hernias at the Seattle Surgical Society meeting in January of 1982. Dr. Dawson moved to Arlington with her husband, Stanley Hiserman, in late June. Mr. Hiserman is in business for himself creating custom furniture cabinets. Dr. Dawsons parents are living with her and her husband at present. Her father is a retired General Practitioner. He is in the process of building a sailboat which he and his wife plan to live on when it is completed. Dr. Dawson began surgery at Cascade Valley Hospital the first September. Her office will be in the new medical clinic next to the hospital.

50 Years Ago 1957

Hank Lind, 12, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albin Lind, 220 No. Dunham, Arlington, was the winner of the junior championship of the state in an archery contest at Tacoma held over the Labor Day weekend. Others attending the contest from Arlington were Everett Bundt and Erling Espedal.
Miss Elaine Klein, 18, formerly of Arlington and now of Marysville, won third place in an essay contest of Midland National Life Insurance Company. Miss Kleins essay on What insurance means to me, had been selected third place from entries from 26 states and Alaska. Miss Klein plans to use the money to further her education at the College of Puget Sound. She graduated from the Marysville High School in spring of 1957. During the past year Miss Klein was chosen for the State of Washington DAR Good Citizen Award.
Of the F.F.A. chapters which had diary cattle exhibits at the Evergreen State Fair, the Arlington chapter placed first in herdsmanship. From the local chapter there were 25 head of cattle, nine sheep and 30 entries in poultry. On their cattle entries the following awards were won by the boys: Carl Bates, two reds; Don Brekhus, one blue; Roy Strotz, two blue, one red; Buzz Bradley, one blue; Mike Larson, one blue; Jack Baker, one blue; Gerald Nysether, one red; David Lewis, two blue; Dean Lewis, one blue; Ken Peterson, one red; Bill Pangburn, one red; Bob Sedy, one red; Craig Riker, one red; Larry Sandstrom, one red; Skip Sesby, one white; Floyd Langdon, one blue; Louis Stangland, one blue, one red; Marvin Lang, one blue. Of the above animals that were exhibited Louis Strangland had the Reserve Champion Holstein and Roy Strotz had Jr. Champion Guernsey. The boys won the following awards in Fitting and Showing: Mike Larson, one white; Carl Bates, one red; Don Brekhus, one red; Roy Strotz, one blue; Buzz Bradley, one white; Jack Baker, one white; David Lewis, one red; Dean Lewis, one white; Ken Peterson, one red; Bill Pangburn, one white; Bob Sedy, one red; Larry Sandstrom, one blue; Floyd Langdon, one red; Louis Stangland, one red; Marv Lang, one white; Gerald Nysether, one red. Ralph Peterson, who exhibited nine Cheviot sheep, got seven blue and two red ribbons. He also had the Grand Champion male, the Grand Champion female, Reserve Champion female and Jr. Champion female. In fitting and showing of sheep he was awarded a blue ribbon. In the poultry exhibit the following awards were won: Bucky Hasko, three blue; Karly Larson, two blue; Floyd Langdon, Jr., one blue, two red; Roy Strotz, five blue, two red. The Arlington Dairy Cattle Judging Team placed third in competition with 22 other teams. In doing so, they tied for first in the judging of Guernseys and placed third in judging Jersey cows. The boys on the team were Rob Norman, Bill Kopp and David Lewis.