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The Independent Newspapers

9 hours ago

Romance comes to Elmhurst Hospital

After health scare, couple decides to wed RIGHT NOW!

By Dee Longfellow
For The Elmhurst Independent

“I’d asked her before to marry me,” said Tom King, the groom in a last-minute impromptu wedding hat took place on Saturday, June 10 in the chapel of Elmhurst Hospital. “She just always put it off.”
His lady-friend-now-wife Alexandria Dolezal, who goes by Alex, changed her mind after Tom suffered a recent heart attack. The episode gave Alex a bit of a shake-up so Tom insisted they get married immediately — which they did in a few days.

The story begins…
The story actually begins on Wednesday, June 7 when Tom was feeling uncomfortable and decided to go to the hospital.
“I wasn’t feeling well, it began to feel like there were two elephants sitting on my chest,” Tom recalled. “It wasn’t until I got to the emergency room that I actually had a heart attack. They ended up doing CPR and had to ‘zap’ me a couple of times with the defibrillator.”
Tom ended up in surgery, where doctors installed a stent. After that, he just needed a few days to convalesce and then was to be released to go home.

Time to make a decision
“Alex and I have been together for five years,” he said. “I had asked her to marry me before, but that was always the end of the conversation right there. This incident was something that I guess made her realize what was going on, so she said, ‘sure.’ And I said, well, then let’s do it right here.”
So it was decided — a wedding in the Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Pastoral Chapel. Tom’s doctor was neurologist Dr. Donald Lussky who said he had no objections.

Bride’s chaplain sister happens to be in town
As it turns out, Alex has a sister named Carol who happens to be a chaplain. Carol’s daughter, Alex’s niece, is a student at Northwestern University and Carol happened to be in town to help her move out of the dorm room.
Alex and Carol and others from the hospital spent Thursday and Friday planning the entire wedding to take place in the chapel the following morning. Carol even pulled together a wedding dress for Alex.
If you know Elmhurst Hospital, they don’t just stand aside, they get involved. This time was no different. The Elmhurst Hospital Pastoral Care stepped in to help and took care of a wedding cake and flowers. They also arranged for coffee to be served after the ceremony with the cake.
The hospital staff took Tom down to the chapel that morning, still hooked up to his heart monitor.
“Two nurses came along and stayed through the ceremony to make sure nothing bad happened,” Tom said.
After all that, Tom was discharged on Monday, June 12 and went home to further recover — from his health issues AND the wedding! ... See MoreSee Less

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The Independent Newspapers

12 hours ago

4 on the 4th Race

Posted by RVP Editor / June 22, 2017 / Edit post
Final plans coming together

Race organization and and runner registration are in high gear for the 13th annual Elmhurst Running Club 4 on the 4th, Presented by InMotion Foot & Ankle Center. The 4-mile run to celebrate the Fourth of July begins at 7:15 a.m. on Tuesday, July 4, starting and finishing in front of Elmhurst College on Prospect Ave., in Elmhurst. A 1-kilometer Kids run for ages 12-and-under begins at 8:25 a.m.

Primary beneficiary of the race is the Elmhurst Children’s Assistance Foundation (ECAF) with a portion of proceeds also being given to the May Family Support Trust in honor of Darryl May, a standout runner and pioneer in the founding of the Elmhurst Running Club and the 4 on the 4th, who passed away earlier this year. Also new for 2017, runners are encouraged to bring a new pair of socks, still in its packaging, for donation to military veterans and others in need. A “Sock Man” collection vehicle will be visible for runners to drop off the socks.

“We’re looking forward to another wonderful morning of running and celebration of our nation’s Independence,” said race director Bob Richards of the Elmhurst Running Club. “It’s about fun, family and fitness, and we hope to see a nice turnout. We do urge people to sign up ahead of time if at all possible.”

Race information and online registration, including a course map, are available at www.4on4th.com. Runners who sign up by 8 p.m. Friday, June 30, will be able to pick up their packets ahead of race day at Fleet Feet Sports, 124 E. Schiller, Elmhurst. Hours will be 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday, July 1; 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday, July 2; and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, July 3. In-person registration registration will be available during those hours as well as on race morning from 5:45 a.m.-7 a.m. at Elmhurst College, 190 Prospect Ave. The registration fee increased $5 on race morning (July 4).

The 4 on the 4th is one of 15 races on the Chicago Area Runners Association Runner’s Choice Circuit.

For more information, e-mail 4on4th@elmhurstrunningclub.com ... See MoreSee Less

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The Independent Newspapers

1 day ago

Summer is here, which means the Block to Block Party is back and ready to rock! Visit the heart of downtown Elmhurst every Wednesday night, starting June 7th from 5:30pm-8:30pm for free, live music and family-friendly fun put on by the Elmhurst City Centre.
Each week, there will be two new and different professional musicians/bands playing at the same time at two locations: City Centre Fountain Plaza, and new to this year, Elmhurst 255 Plaza at 255 N. York Road. Bringing a blanket or chair is encouraged for the Elmhurst 255 Plaza location, as there is spacious green lawn to watch and enjoy the music. ... See MoreSee Less

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