January 1, 2025
Happy New Year!! 
Wishing you the very best in 2025 #weloveyou #merrillbudz #merrillsworktogetherplaytogetherstaytogether 
#madnesswiththemerrillbudz
Wishing you the very best in 2025 #weloveyou #merrillbudz #merrillsworktogetherplaytogetherstaytogether #madnesswiththemerrillbudz
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.“ -C.S. Lewis We learn from yesterday! We are living for today and hoping for tomorrow.
January 6, 2025
Happiest place on earth? I think so. One of them at least 
It was a magical couple days as a family at Disneyland! We loved the fast rides, meeting new people, and time spent together! 
Made it the happiest place because we were together! Harrison’s favorites was meeting his superheroes. As parents, we loved seeing the joy and excitement, that was my favorite. This was their Christmas present this year and making fun memories was the best present. I love what Walt Disney said, “All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”
It was a magical couple days as a family at Disneyland! We loved the fast rides, meeting new people, and time spent together! Made it the happiest place because we were together! Harrison’s favorites was meeting his superheroes. As parents, we loved seeing the joy and excitement, that was my favorite. This was their Christmas present this year and making fun memories was the best present. I love what Walt Disney said, “All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”-Walt Disney
Getting around Disneyland, with special needs, definitely was an obstacle, but they ran and rolled hard til midnight both nights, not wanting to miss a second of magic. We did come home to a basement flooding again, tree roots in our system, so obstacles keep coming but like he said, a good kick in the teeth just maybe the best thing! We just keep learning, growing, and finding the joys of life!! I feel like I’m handling this trial with a little better attitude than the last. yay!!! 
#madnesswiththemerrillbudz #disneyland #joy #trials #happynewyear #justalittlesick #blessings #gratitude
yay!!! #madnesswiththemerrillbudz #disneyland #joy #trials #happynewyear #justalittlesick #blessings #gratitude 
January 9
Quick busy day at hospitals, first physical therapy and Caroline getting fitted for new crutches She picked red ones 
I loved the excitement! She grew out of her little orange ones and moved into adult size. It’s so crazy to see my kids growing up, all teenagers and adults 
and then off to Mayo with my mom and dad 
Update on our dad, Keith. He just finished his 25 rounds of radiation and prepping for surgery. His first surgery will be on Tuesday the 14th, limb saving cancer procedure. Praying for you Dad 
#loveyou #softtissuecancer
#cerebralpalsyhacked #inclusion #upright #livelifeactivated #madnesswiththemerrillbudz #merrillsworktogetherplaytogetherstaytogether #neurodegenerativedisease
She picked red ones I loved the excitement! She grew out of her little orange ones and moved into adult size. It’s so crazy to see my kids growing up, all teenagers and adults and then off to Mayo with my mom and dad Update on our dad, Keith. He just finished his 25 rounds of radiation and prepping for surgery. His first surgery will be on Tuesday the 14th, limb saving cancer procedure. Praying for you Dad #loveyou #softtissuecancer #cerebralpalsyhacked #inclusion #upright #livelifeactivated #madnesswiththemerrillbudz #merrillsworktogetherplaytogetherstaytogether #neurodegenerativedisease 
January 11
Yay!!! we got a lot of walls hung up today. Thank you for the extra hands and extra help. Counting down the days til moving this family in on the 29th! It’s crunch time, still hanging insulation in the walls late into the night! So so excited for this family. I love the power of inclusion and working together! #lovepeople #inclusionmatters
January 14
Grandpa Pember, our dad, Keith, was wheeled away into surgery this morning… into a surgery with hopeful unknown results, we finally got to go back with him this evening. It’s been a prayerful, emotional, heartfelt long day….
A little update! Surgery went well!
Dr says tumor came out beautifully. Margins were all clean (meaning no Metastisis into nerves or bones or blood vessels) it was all encapsulated and they didn’t have to touch the sciatic nerve! (That’s a big deal for his leg to function and preventing chronic nerve pain). They did NOT have to radiate while inside which was another huge blessing…. All is well!
Prayers are continually working!! 
Tomorrow is another long surgery putting him back together. Thank you Love you Daddy Grandpa Pember #prayers #blessings #miracles #gratitude #mayo #sarcomacancer
Tomorrow is another long surgery putting him back together. Thank you Love you Daddy Grandpa Pember #prayers #blessings #miracles #gratitude #mayo #sarcomacancer
January 15
Yay!! Update Dr finally called to let us know he was finally finished after 10 hours. It sounded like a lot of work for him to get his leg all put back together correctly. The first skin graft they tried didn’t work so they had to do another one. They ended up not taking muscle from his back like discussed but from his front thigh muscle on the same leg. Dr seemed to be in a big hurry so his team will meet with us tomorrow to explain more. For now he’s in recovery and stable And We finally got to see him!
Dr finally called to let us know he was finally finished after 10 hours. It sounded like a lot of work for him to get his leg all put back together correctly. The first skin graft they tried didn’t work so they had to do another one. They ended up not taking muscle from his back like discussed but from his front thigh muscle on the same leg. Dr seemed to be in a big hurry so his team will meet with us tomorrow to explain more. For now he’s in recovery and stable And We finally got to see him! They took 2 skin grafts from his hip a well. He says his pain is a 12 out of 10 
. Poor dad but he’s tough! I think that’s all the update for now. Thank you for the love and prayers #loveyoudad #prayers #grateful #sarcomacancer #mayo
. Poor dad but he’s tough! I think that’s all the update for now. Thank you for the love and prayers #loveyoudad #prayers #grateful #sarcomacancer #mayo
@dirkleverantonline Thank you!! Sometimes we just all need a good reminder
Kriston Richardson is with Merrill Richardson.
Having a sensory kid is so hard but we have been really working with Ellie she does therapies two times and week and has grown leaps and bounds in her equine therapy thank you Mrs. Anna Pember Merrill I don’t know what I would do with you and your family and all you do for my family. You are special to us.
Marissa has been doing equine therapy also and has enjoyed it so much she has also learned a ton how to get on Dr dollar and off how to lead the horse and back her up. She has really enjoyed this.
Lincoln is just crazy still and loving kindergarten and learning a lot this year. I am so thankful for people in our small town and unified special Olympics in our community for our community and all the friends we have made. Thank you for loving my kids and making us feel included out
Grateful for America, the country in which I live.
Happy Martin Luther King Day! #inclusionmatters #madnesswiththemerrillbudz #everyonehappierandhealthier #iloveamerica
January 21
(Don’t mind the inside out shirt) 
I was so thrilled that Harrison took a tragic rough moment in our home and turned it into something exciting and to look forward to. A pipe burst in our home and it flooded our basement. We had to rip up carpet, cut into walls, dry out and clean up over the last couple weeks. It has been pretty interesting. I did dive in and figure out how to repair the sheet rock. And my job wasn’t beautiful, 
So Harrison is putting a mural over it. It’s so fun to see his love of art. A kid after his own mama’s heart! 
#madnesswiththemerrillbudz #iloveart #family #grateful #mural #flood #sheetrock #everyonehappierandhealthier #arttherapy #fourpillarsofhealth #resilience
I was so thrilled that Harrison took a tragic rough moment in our home and turned it into something exciting and to look forward to. A pipe burst in our home and it flooded our basement. We had to rip up carpet, cut into walls, dry out and clean up over the last couple weeks. It has been pretty interesting. I did dive in and figure out how to repair the sheet rock. And my job wasn’t beautiful, So Harrison is putting a mural over it. It’s so fun to see his love of art. A kid after his own mama’s heart! #madnesswiththemerrillbudz #iloveart #family #grateful #mural #flood #sheetrock #everyonehappierandhealthier #arttherapy #fourpillarsofhealth #resilience
January 24
First scrimmage of the season! It’s incredible to see the confidence and skill build 
The difference from last year is remarkable Including their health, stamina and resilience!!! A body in motion stays in motion!! We have athletes on four separate teams from ages 6 - 65 with all levels of skills and abilities, some beginners So proud of all of them!! Inclusion matters! Unified movement Everyone is welcome
The difference from last year is remarkable Including their health, stamina and resilience!!! A body in motion stays in motion!! We have athletes on four separate teams from ages 6 - 65 with all levels of skills and abilities, some beginners So proud of all of them!! Inclusion matters! Unified movement Everyone is welcome 
January 26
Exciting weekend We just moved them in late last night!! After a couple years of building late into the nights Feels so wonderful when they text the next morning after their first night in their home, “We woke up to a beautiful sunrise! View from bedroom. Nice and cozy. “ 
Still have carpet and trim and a few things to take care of, but they’re in! A working house! 
Thank you to all those who came and helped with all the final touches to make this dream for them come true! #madnesswiththemerrillbudz #merrillsworktogetherplaytogetherstaytogether #playunified #inclusionmatters #everyonehappierandhealthier #specialolympicsunified #dreamscometrue #lovepeople
We just moved them in late last night!! After a couple years of building late into the nights Feels so wonderful when they text the next morning after their first night in their home, “We woke up to a beautiful sunrise! View from bedroom. Nice and cozy. “ Still have carpet and trim and a few things to take care of, but they’re in! A working house! Thank you to all those who came and helped with all the final touches to make this dream for them come true! #madnesswiththemerrillbudz #merrillsworktogetherplaytogetherstaytogether #playunified #inclusionmatters #everyonehappierandhealthier #specialolympicsunified #dreamscometrue #lovepeople
January 30
My favorite!!! Update on Harrison’s Mural!!! Art heals!!! After a long couple days of procedures and looking for answers. He came home, turned on music and went right to work. While I help Charlotte with her college work. We stopped and studied at libraries in between trying to keep up!! Can’t wait to hear how Harrison does on his history test. #madnesswiththemerrillbudz #merrillsworktogetherplaytogetherstaytogether #everyonehappierandhealthier #neurodegenerativedisease #grateful #echocardiogram #lovelife #arttherapy #mural #sonicthehedgehog
After a long couple days of procedures and looking for answers. He came home, turned on music and went right to work. While I help Charlotte with her college work. We stopped and studied at libraries in between trying to keep up!! Can’t wait to hear how Harrison does on his history test. #madnesswiththemerrillbudz #merrillsworktogetherplaytogetherstaytogether #everyonehappierandhealthier #neurodegenerativedisease #grateful #echocardiogram #lovelife #arttherapy #mural #sonicthehedgehog
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