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NewsDecember 4, 1999

Christopher Palmer, 10, and Nathan Wibbenmeyer, 11, don't like talking about the cancer treatments each has gone through.They would rather talk about pizza, football, video games, candy and getting out of school for the holidays.But the two boys agreed to talk about this not-so-favorite subject since they are honorary "chairkids" of Southeast Missouri Hospital Foundation's "A Christmas Story." The concert, which will be Sunday afternoon at Lynwood Baptist Church, raises money for programs and services of the hospital's Regional Cancer Center.Chris, son of Clifford and Jeri Palmer of Fruitland, and Nathan, son of Gary and Sue Wibbenmeyer of Cape Girardeau, met during last summer's "We Can Weekend," a retreat for cancer patients and their families organized by the Regional Cancer Center and which will receive most of the funds of the concert.The retreat, which is free to participants, is held each year at the YMCA of the Ozarks in Potosi, Mo., and offers educational programs and recreational activities to help participants learn to cope with cancer and have some enjoyable family time."Cancer is a disease that affects the whole family," said Nancy Mattingly, cancer program coordinator at the Regional Cancer Center. ...

Christopher Palmer, 10, and Nathan Wibbenmeyer, 11, don't like talking about the cancer treatments each has gone through.They would rather talk about pizza, football, video games, candy and getting out of school for the holidays.But the two boys agreed to talk about this not-so-favorite subject since they are honorary "chairkids" of Southeast Missouri Hospital Foundation's "A Christmas Story." The concert, which will be Sunday afternoon at Lynwood Baptist Church, raises money for programs and services of the hospital's Regional Cancer Center.Chris, son of Clifford and Jeri Palmer of Fruitland, and Nathan, son of Gary and Sue Wibbenmeyer of Cape Girardeau, met during last summer's "We Can Weekend," a retreat for cancer patients and their families organized by the Regional Cancer Center and which will receive most of the funds of the concert.The retreat, which is free to participants, is held each year at the YMCA of the Ozarks in Potosi, Mo., and offers educational programs and recreational activities to help participants learn to cope with cancer and have some enjoyable family time."Cancer is a disease that affects the whole family," said Nancy Mattingly, cancer program coordinator at the Regional Cancer Center. "The only way to cope with it is as a family."The retreat offers programs in coping and communication to aid a family's ability to cope, she said.It also gives families a chance to relax and enjoy themselves, Jeri Palmer said."You forget to have fun when you are going through treatment," she said. Chris and Nathan got to the retreat at the same time last year, their families had rooms next to each other and the boys and their parents hit it off immediately."There are some amazing similarities between our families," said Mrs. Palmer. "I don't feel like it was a coincidence that brought us together."Both boy were diagnosed with cancer at the age of 9, Nathan with bone cancer and Chris with cancer in one of his kidneys. They both went through surgeries and months of treatment.While the boys say they don't talk about their cancers when they play with each other, each can appreciate what the other went through.Meeting each other at the retreat has been good for both boys, Mrs. Palmer said. It not only showed each boy that there are other children with cancer but has let them see how other families are dealing with it."It's nice for Chris to see that other mothers worry just like I do," she said.But for the boys, the most important element of their friendship comes down to the fact that they really like each other."It's the same thing as my other friends," Nathan said. "We just met at a different place."

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A CHRISTMAS STORY

What: 4th annual benefit concert for Southeast Hospital's Regional Cancer CenterWhen: 2 p.m. SundayWhere: Lynwood Baptist ChurchAdmission: $5The concert will include performances by violinist Liesl Schoenberger, vocalist Casie Janet, pianist Shane Steck and harpist Sophis Gathman. Don McNeely will read "Twas the Night Before Christmas."

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