| SOFTBALL TIPS |
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| SITE STUFF |
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ARCHIVES
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June 26, 2005 |
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July 03, 2005 |
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July 10, 2005 |
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July 17, 2005 |
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July 24, 2005 |
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July 31, 2005 |
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August 07, 2005 |
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August 14, 2005 |
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August 21, 2005 |
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August 28, 2005 |
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September 11, 2005 |
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October 02, 2005 |
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October 09, 2005 |
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October 23, 2005 |
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October 30, 2005 |
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November 06, 2005 |
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November 13, 2005 |
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December 04, 2005 |
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December 18, 2005 |
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December 25, 2005 |
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January 08, 2006 |
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January 15, 2006 |
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January 29, 2006 |
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February 05, 2006 |
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February 12, 2006 |
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February 19, 2006 |
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February 26, 2006 |
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March 05, 2006 |
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March 12, 2006 |
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March 19, 2006 |
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March 26, 2006 |
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April 02, 2006 |
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April 09, 2006 |
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April 16, 2006 |
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April 23, 2006 |
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April 30, 2006 |
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May 07, 2006 |
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May 14, 2006 |
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May 21, 2006 |
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May 28, 2006 |
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June 04, 2006 |
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June 11, 2006 |
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June 18, 2006 |
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June 25, 2006 |
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July 09, 2006 |
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July 16, 2006 |
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July 23, 2006 |
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July 30, 2006 |
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August 13, 2006 |
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August 20, 2006 |
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September 03, 2006 |
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September 10, 2006 |
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September 17, 2006 |
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September 24, 2006 |
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October 01, 2006 |
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October 08, 2006 |
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October 15, 2006 |
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October 22, 2006 |
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November 12, 2006 |
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November 26, 2006 |
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December 31, 2006 |
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January 14, 2007 |
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January 21, 2007 |
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January 28, 2007 |
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February 04, 2007 |
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February 11, 2007 |
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February 18, 2007 |
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February 25, 2007 |
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March 04, 2007 |
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March 11, 2007 |
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March 18, 2007 |
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April 01, 2007 |
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April 08, 2007 |
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April 15, 2007 |
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April 22, 2007 |
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April 29, 2007 |
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May 06, 2007 |
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May 13, 2007 |
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May 20, 2007 |
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May 27, 2007 |
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June 03, 2007 |
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June 10, 2007 |
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June 17, 2007 |
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June 24, 2007 |
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July 01, 2007 |
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July 22, 2007 |
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July 29, 2007 |
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August 12, 2007 |
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August 19, 2007 |
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September 02, 2007 |
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September 16, 2007 |
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September 30, 2007 |
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October 07, 2007 |
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October 14, 2007 |
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October 21, 2007 |
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November 04, 2007 |
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November 18, 2007 |
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November 25, 2007 |
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December 02, 2007 |
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December 09, 2007 |
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December 16, 2007 |
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January 13, 2008 |
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February 17, 2008 |
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February 24, 2008 |
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March 02, 2008 |
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March 09, 2008 |
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March 30, 2008 |
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April 06, 2008 |
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April 13, 2008 |
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April 20, 2008 |
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April 27, 2008 |
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May 04, 2008 |
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May 11, 2008 |
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May 18, 2008 |
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May 25, 2008 |
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June 01, 2008 |
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June 15, 2008 |
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June 22, 2008 |
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June 29, 2008 |
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July 06, 2008 |
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July 13, 2008 |
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July 20, 2008 |
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August 03, 2008 |
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August 10, 2008 |
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August 17, 2008 |
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August 24, 2008 |
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August 31, 2008 |
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September 07, 2008 |
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September 14, 2008 |
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September 21, 2008 |
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September 28, 2008 |
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October 05, 2008 |
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October 12, 2008 |
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October 19, 2008 |
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October 26, 2008 |
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November 02, 2008 |
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November 09, 2008 |
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November 16, 2008 |
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November 30, 2008 |
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December 07, 2008 |
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December 21, 2008 |
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December 28, 2008 |
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February 15, 2009 |
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February 22, 2009 |
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April 12, 2009 |
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April 19, 2009 |
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April 26, 2009 |
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May 03, 2009 |
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May 10, 2009 |
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May 17, 2009 |
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May 24, 2009 |
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May 31, 2009 |
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June 07, 2009 |
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June 14, 2009 |
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June 21, 2009 |
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July 05, 2009 |
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July 12, 2009 |
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July 19, 2009 |
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August 02, 2009 |
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August 30, 2009 |
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September 06, 2009 |
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September 20, 2009 |
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October 04, 2009 |
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October 11, 2009 |
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October 18, 2009 |
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November 08, 2009 |
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November 15, 2009 |
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November 22, 2009 |
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November 29, 2009 |
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December 27, 2009 |
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January 03, 2010 |
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January 10, 2010 |
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January 17, 2010 |
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January 24, 2010 |
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January 31, 2010 |
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March 14, 2010 |
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March 21, 2010 |
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March 28, 2010 |
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April 04, 2010 |
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April 18, 2010 |
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April 25, 2010 |
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| SOFTBALL LINKS |
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Happy Tears
by Dave
Friday, May 29, 2009
Gary wrote in yesterday to, among other things, request "an update on the girl's condition, the one that you wrote about last year who was fighting the good fight?" The girl is Ashley Runion. And she has some news for those of us who have not kept abreast of all her developments as she fights against Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).
When I responded to Gary's e-mail, I noted that I was reluctant to stand as a representative of Ashley because I do not know the family. Originally, I was contacted by a man who was one of her current or former coaches or who knew her story (I'm not sure) and requested I publish something about her condition. I agreed.
I don't do very well with serious childhood diseases. I have great difficulty controlling my emotions with these, especially cancer, more especially aggressive cancers with a poor long-term prognosis.
I would not dare express real empathy with what a family suffering through a disease such as AML could be experiencing. How could I? None of us has any real understanding of what that would feel like unless we were going through it ourselves.
So I simply published the facts of the story to the extent I knew them. Then, when this past Christmas was approaching, I checked back on Ashley's Caring Bridge Page and saw that she really wanted to come home for Christmas. I requested that everyone who comes to my site (regardkless of any religious persuasion) pray for her to get this one wish. At the time, I suspected it would be her last Christmas. I'm actually getting a little teared up now as I contemplate this.
You see, AML is very aggressive and has a low cure rate. According to Merck's site, "without treatment, most people with AML die within a few weeks to months of the diagnosis. With therapy, between 20% and 40% of people survive at least 5 years, without any relapse. Because relapses almost always occur within the first 5 years after initial treatment, most people who remain leukemia-free after 5 years are considered cured."
How would you feel if you were told your kid will die within a few weeks to months without treatment and if she receives treatment the best she can hope for is a 20%-40% chance? I don't like those odds. But the reason I'm writing today is to tell you that Ashley has beaten the odds thus far. And without any further ado, here is her most recent news:
"She went for her monthly doctor's appointment last week and all was well ... This weekend is her travel teams first tournament of the spring/summer season and she is planning on going to it in uniform. She will mainly be there to help coach as she is still working on trying to build back the strength in those legs ...
I will be crying happy tears this weekend when I see her step out on the field in her uniform. Almost, one year ago on June 7, 2008 is when I received that call to take her to Fairfax Hospital immediately because they thought she had leukemia. What a year! It truly is a miracle that she is here with us and that she is able to be back out on the field doing what she loves. Thanks for everyone's support and prayers this last year."
Let's continue to put Ashley in our prayers. Let's get her back on the field of play so we can all cry happy tears.
 
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