Page 8A The Advocate News (Wilton-Durant, Iowa) Thursday, August 1, 2013

Opinion
'Fortunate to witness perfection, if only for a short time'
The daughter of Doug and Lenore Brammeier, I wrote an extensive piece on Laura in our Thanksgiving issue last year. I enclosed a timeline (that follows) to let our readers know what Laura had dealt with in such a short window of time: * March, 2011Laura blacked out after a he passage above is from the second letter of Paul to Timothy. It was part workout and had trouble reading and forming of Fr. Robert Bushers remarks at the sentences. She was originally diagnosed with funeral of Laura (Brammeier) Yoho July 27, having a stroke. * April, 2011After meeting with a handful at St. Marys Catholic Church in Wilton. After a two-plus year battle with a very ag- of other doctors searching for second opinions, gressive form of brain cancer, my dear friend an MRI showed that Laura had a cancerous and classmate Laura passed away July 23, in brain tumor. * May, 2011Laura had surgery to remove the comfort of her home surrounded by her her brain tumor at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, loving family. As a fellow member of the Wilton High Minn. She then began receiving radiation and School class of 2001, I can say with certainty chemotherapy treatments. * February, 2012An that our class was forced to MRI showed that her tumor grow up fast. came back. This is the third member * March, 2012Laura had of our graduating class weve a second brain surgery at lost two of which were Mayo and then began a new prior to our five-year reunion course of chemotherapy. before losing Laura last * April, 2012An MRI week. By Derek Sawvell showed Lauras tumor was We lost one due to the back for a third time and taking of his own life (C.J. Lindle), one to a horrific car accident (Ryan she began receiving a new form of chemotherapy. Bradley) and now one to cancer (Laura). * May, 2012Tests showed her tumor had With most of us being at or around age 30, its safe to say we know heartbreak. We know doubled in size. * July, 2012Laura had her third brain despair. We know hopelessness. But through tragedy weve also come to surgery. * September, 2012Lauras tumor came embrace faith. Weve come to know hope. back for the fourth time. She then stayed at Weve come to form bonds. Bonds so strong in fact, that a fellow Mayo for two more weeks of radiation. Since March of 2011, Laura has had classmate, Kara (Lucas) Stetson, stepped up to be a surrogate mother for Laura when three brain surgeries, two rounds of radiashe and her husband Nate wanted to have a tion and has been taking different forms of baby. Prior to Lauras ongoing battle, which chemotherapy on a consistent basis. To say involved extensive surgeries, radiation and its been a whirlwind two years would be an chemotherapy treatments, the couple harvested understatement. While her death was something her closest some embryos. Without hesitation, Kara stepped up and friends and family were all inevitably preparing offered her body and love for her best friend. for, it is no less shocking. It definitely leaves Shes currently pregnant and a baby girl is due us with all the why questions. How could this happen to undoubtedly the most healthin December. Laura and Nate decided to name the baby conscious person in our class? The only explanation I can give is what Ive Caralyn, in honor of Kara, and Lauras mother said before when writing about cancer. It truly Lenore. The time has come for me to leave this life. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. is a non-discriminating disease and it would be impossible to find anyone who hasnt felt its affects in one way or another. Ill forever hold that last meeting we had in November in my memory. Ill also remember her beautiful, contagious smile and what Fr. Busher called unwavering courage. I want to end by sharing a couple meaningful messages that Ive seen/heard over the past week. The first comes from a Facebook site created for friends of Laura. The page is called Show Love for Laura. I believe members of Nates family helped keep the 1,398 followers informed. On July 24, the following message appeared on the site: To all of those who have been with us through Lauras journey, it is with a heavy heart to announce that Laura has passed away. She died peacefully surrounded by her family, Tuesday July 23, 2013, at her home. We want to acknowledge the tremendous impact Laura had on everyones lives. She was an inspiration to many with her positive attitude and unwavering strength throughout her battle with cancer. She was a remarkable woman and will be deeply missed. Laura is survived by her husband Nate, who battled right alongside her. We encourage you to continue to show your support for Nate and their unborn child, Caralyn, due to be born in December through surrogacy. The Brammeier and Yoho family want to thank you for your prayers and words of comfort at this difficult time. While attending the funeral July 27, Fr. Busher shared an email he received from Nates parents, Tim and Donna, which I thought was powerful and beautifully written. Fr. Busher was kind enough to share it with me so I can share it with all of you: Laura and Nathan were our princess and prince. They were soul mates, best friends, husband and wife, a perfect couple. Laura taught us about extraordinary courage and Nathan taught us about unwavering commitment. So many people have been touched by their story. They lived their wedding vows, in sickness and in health they loved each other, all the days of their lives. Laura was Donnas best friend. She was

Case in Point

Laura is shown above with her husband Nate Yoho at the couple's wedding rehearsal dinner.

One of the final pictures taken of Laura. She's shown above with her sister Katy at a baby shower held for her over the weekend of July 20-21. On display were some outfits for baby Caralyn (due in December) given by Derek and his mother,Tami Sawvell.
Contributed photos

like a daughter to us and we are forever grateful to Doug and Lenore and the Brammeier family for sharing her. Donna and I were so fortunate to witness perfection, if only for a short time. Laura's obituary can be viewed on page 7.

'Our organization is focused on continuous improvement'

Editor: Attention Wilton students, parents and community members: As Superintendent of the Wilton Community School District, I would like to welcome you to the 2013-2014 school year. A new school year presents an opportunity for a fresh start and a recommitment to educating our children to be the best they can be. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with you and we eagerly anticipate the start of the school year on Wednesday, August 21, 2013. We are welcoming Ms. Erin Harrity and Ms. Marcia Hetzler to our teaching staff. Ms. Harrity will be in the high school English department and Ms. Hetzler will serve as a junior high language arts teacher. Please stop by to meet them at open house on Monday, August 19, 2013 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The district continues to improve instruction at all levels. The Thursday in-service days have been primarily focused on differentiated instruction, technology integration and the implementation of the Iowa Core Curriculum. A major goal this year is to equip every student in the Jr./Sr. high school with a chrome book. The plan is to have the chrome books distributed to the students in late September. With technology ever advancing, our goal is to give our students the technological tools and education to succeed in the future. Speaking of technology, this is the second year that we are having school registration online. Please go to our web-site at www.wiltoncsd.org to register. We have been blessed with the one cent sales tax funding since 2000. That funding source has given the district the ability to build an auditorium, start the one-to-one computer initiative, remodel the concession stands, put concrete on our high school parking lot, and do many projects around the school and pool that wouldnt otherwise be possible. The current focus continues to be on the elementary facility and grounds. The community facility committee has been working since last September to give the district patrons an opportunity to choose the future of an elementary facility. A vote on a bond referendum will most likely take place next February. Stay tuned and please come to the informational meetings that will take place this fall and winter. Our organization is focused on continuous improvement. Communicating will assist our improvement efforts and I urge you contact me with questions or concerns as they arise. Its exciting to see another great year in the making. The community support our students and staff receive is second to none and we appreciate it Thank you! Go Beavers! Mr. Joe Burnett, Superintendent Wilton Community School District

Iowa Department of Revenue Sales Tax Holiday Aug. 2-3

Iowas Annual Sales Tax Holiday is Friday, Aug. 2, and Saturday, Aug. 3, on select clothing and footwear. The holiday does not include Sunday. All businesses that are open on these days are required to participate. The definition of clothing is any article of wearing apparel and typical footwear intended to be worn on the body. No sales tax will be charged for an article of clothing or footwear with a selling price of less than $100 and applies to each article priced under $100. A list of guidelines includes the following: Articles sold as a unit must continue to be sold as a unit and cannot be separately sold to obtain the exemption. Buy one, get one free or for a reduced price, cannot be averaged in order for both items to qualify for the exemption. Sets containing both exempt and taxable items as a set or single unit, the full price is subject to sales tax if the value exceed the tax limit. No additional tax is due if a customer exchanges an eligible item for the same item in a later exchange. Manufacturers coupons do not reduce the price of an item; the coupon cannot be used to reduce the selling price of an item to less than $100. Store coupons and discounts reduce the sales price of an item and can be used to reduce the price of an item to less than $100. Rebates do not affect the sale price of an item as they occur after the sale. The sale of a gift certificate is not taxable. Eligible items sold and delivered during the exemption period using a rain check qualify for the exemption; however, issuing a rain check during the exemption period will not qualify if the item is actually sold and delivered after the exemption period. Layaway sales qualify for the exemption if the customer takes delivery during the exemption period or puts the merchandise on layaway during the exemption period. Eligible items purchased by mail or Internet are exempt if they are delivered during the exemption period or if they are ordered and paid for during the exemption period. Taxable items include such items as jewelry, handbags, athletic wear and equipment, dance shoes, book bags, belts, hunting vests, luggage, cosmetics, hair accessories, etc. For more information, go to http://www.iowa.gov/ tax/education/holiday1.html.