SEUSS NIGHT: Heartwarming support

On Wednesday night we held our annual Dr. Seuss night at Bryan Elementary School. It was so heartwarming to see the community support for our event. Texas Roadhouse fed 500 people. Target employees came to make Thing 1 hair with our kiddos. ICARE donated books to the children attending. North Idaho College students volunteered their time to run activities.

The fantastic Bryan staff members volunteered their evening and also spent many hours preparing for the event. It was great to spend the evening celebrating Dr. Seuss and our love of reading! Thank you community partners!

JANET THOMPSON

Coeur d'Alene

GAME FEAST: Thanks to organizers

On Feb. 21, Fernan Elementary held its first Wild Game Feast fundraiser to support our new STEM focus curriculum. What a wonderful night of great food (prepared by our principal/executive chef Bill Rutherford), entertainment (Acuff & Sherfey) and coming together of school and community members. This night was able to come together in less than three months because of the hard work from a dedicated committee of Fernan parents and staff.

Thank you to Randy Folk at Avondale Golf Course for all your help throughout the planning process. Avondale went above and beyond to make this event happen! Thank you to Paula Conley and all of the Fernan staff members and parents who volunteered the night of the event to make it a success.

Special thanks to the following businesses and individuals for making our auction one of our most successful yet:

Bill Rutherford, Scott and Sheri Bullock, RW Baird & Co., Dr. Bret and Michele Dirks, Springhill Suites, Le Peep, SF Sourdough, Melone's, Tiffany Blue, Well Read Moose, Coeur d'Alene Casino, Coeur d'Alene Cellars, Silverwood, Triple Play, Kroc Center, Redbox, IEGA, Big Picture Studio, Lake City Timberwolves Booster Club, Garnet Cafe, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Golden Corral, Texas Roadhouse, Buffalo Wild Wings, Baskin Robbins, Vault, Spokane Indians, Spokane Shock, Spokane Chiefs, Washington State University, University of Idaho, University of Washington, Embers by the Lake, Anne Couser, Super 1 Foods, Art Spirit, Panhandle Carpet One and Shannon Howry.

Be on the lookout for next year's Wild Game Feast ... you will not want to miss it!

JULIE MEREDITH

Coeur d'Alene

DENTAL PARTY: Thanks to all volunteers, donors

Dozens of Kootenai County youth received no cost dental screenings, fluoride varnish and sealants at the 5th Annual Teen Dental Party. On behalf of Panhandle Health District, I would like to thank all those who volunteered and donated to make this possible. Special thanks to Dr. Justin Rader from Generations Dental, Hayden Family Dental Care, Riverstone Dental Care, Brumbach Family Dentistry, Coeur d'Alene Dental Center, Laser Dentistry, Dr. Daniel Cullum, Dr. Thomas Smart, Dental Hygiene Instructor Emily Petrie and her EWU students for providing services and vouchers for follow-up care.

Thank you to the Kroc Center, Sunset Bowling, Wild Walls, Caruso's Sandwich and Pizza Company, Hayden Papa Murphy's, Coeur d'Alene Qdoba and Noodle Express for donating door prizes for all the kids. I would also like to thank Pilgrim's Market and Super 1 Foods for arranging healthy snacks for families enjoying the party.

Staff and volunteers welcomed kids with enthusiasm and a fun approach. They stayed late into the evening to fit in as many teens as possible. The bright smiles and thankful families made it easy to see the positive impact of their hard work.

I'm grateful for another successful Teen Dental Party and a community that cares about our youth's health. Thank you!

LINDA HARDER

Oral Health Program Coordinator

Panhandle Health District

DOCTOR: This one goes above and beyond

Congratulations for courage Dr. Douglas P. McInnis, MD! We often hear stories of the darkness that is inherent in mankind, but this is an story to express gratitude for the goodness and tenacity I experienced from a doctor whose highest ambition is to help his patients and improve their lives.

In 1995 I experienced my first hip surgery and by 2000 the count was up to number 3! Dislocations occurred four times by the third revision, and subsequent dislocations followed. Being an active person, loving to garden and enjoy living, I found myself by 2014 not able to walk without a serious condition known as Trendelenburg Gait. Total strangers would offer to help me walk - or "could they assist me somehow?" I was not in good shape and obviously needed help.

When I asked Dr. McInnis for his help he took a X-ray and informed me I needed a total hip revision and abductor reconstruction. This surgery is complicated and is rarely necessary, and he thought I should seek help somewhere else. He gave me material to read on this operation and we had several talks on the matter. When I could not be dissuaded and asked him to "please give me my life back," he agreed to do the surgery and spent long hours reviewing the very intricate procedures and ramifications of this operation with his PA Travis Hendley.

The operation was four-plus hours and Travis held my hip up the whole time so Dr. McInnis could do what had to be done! The operation was early Nov. 2014, and we're into February - I'm walking with use of a cane but "standing tall" once again. It may take years for me to be my normal, but I'm eternally grateful for my request to have been granted by a caring doctor who was courageous enough to do what needed to be done, and I hope he may be able to help others such as myself.

Thank you Dr. McInnis!

Your grateful patient,

MARY F. MARTIN

Coeur d'Alene