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Love, faith and hope deliver a miracle

12/21/2019

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(SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTO BY KELLY SAWYERS) Amy, left, Jack and Bill Davis have a lot to be thankful for this Christmas. Son, Daniel, wasn’t available for the family picture.
By Kelly Sawyers
Publisher

Celebrating Christmas is a miracle for this Southside family. On July 26, Bill Davis, owner of B. Davis Remodeling, was talking on the phone to his Pella window rep about an upcoming project. The rep noticed him stammering his words, couldn’t understand what he was saying and told him to get to a hospital.

Davis recalled, “I don’t remember driving. I truly believe God was in the car with me and guided me there (Community South). I only remember the valet parking and going inside.” He told the hospital staff that it felt like an elephant was on his chest and was admitted. He needed immediate open-heart surgery and was transported to Community North, under the care of cardiologist, Dr. Bradley Litke.

Davis’ wife Amy and son, Jack, were vacationing in Michigan and immediately headed to Community North once they got word of the surgery, meeting older son Daniel. After the surgery, Dr. Litke shared that he had a torn mitral valve and two other valves that had to be repaired. Five weeks later, Davis finally woke up. He had gone into repeated cardiac arrest and underwent emergency open heart surgery again. During surgery, his doctor held his heart in his hand.

“Dr. Litke said I’m his miracle patient,” said Davis. Davis’ organs also started shutting down and was placed on dialysis for eight weeks. “Thank God I graduated and my kidneys started working again,” said Davis in a soft raspy voice, caused from a temporary tracheotomy. It took three weeks of therapy to re-learn how to walk and move. Davis has battled infections that are too many to count. He underwent two $17,000 IVs to get rid of the infections. He has had multiple blood infusions and has a low blood count.

He shared, “Dr. Litke told me that everything that can go wrong, did. Someone wants me here.” Three months to the day, Bill, 55 and a 1982 graduate of Roncalli, was able to return home and continue his long rehabilitation. He was asked about his journey.

How has your faith played a part in your healing?

“I thank the Lord every day and ask for the power to move forward and continue to heal. I received prayer, communion and Holy Oil while there. I know I need God in my mind and heart.”

What positives have come from this journey?

“I learned how much I love my wife Amy and sons Daniel and Jack. They were always on my mind and in my heart. I knew that I had to fight and couldn’t leave them alone, I am too young. It has brought my siblings (John, Diane, Kathy, Joe, Tom, Rick and Cary) closer together than ever before.

We all say “I love you when we meet”. My sisters Diane and Kathy went to bat for me. The staff couldn’t do anything to me without their knowledge or consent.” Learning how many friends, neighbors and customers I have in my life.

​“I love them all. I felt so blessed to have had more than 120 visitors from the Southside. The outpouring of prayers, flowers and cards has been unbelievable. Don’t ever think you are alone in this world. You aren’t just here to simply move through life, you’re here to reach out and touch someone’s heart and soul.”

How is business?

​Busy! Busy! Mike Hendricks and my son Daniel took over. I was there one day and asleep for five weeks. Daniel took off his senior year of college at IUPUI, to assist Mike, who took over right away. They won’t let me work much until my incision heals and I get my energy back.”

Down 60 pounds, Davis has Christmas spirit, thanks to son Jack and his friend Dylan Koglin, both freshmen at Roncalli High School. They decorated a Christmas tree across from the recliner that is used as his temporary bed until his chest incision is healed.

Their house is decorated beautifully for Christmas, so uplifting to visitors. Amy said, “Bill keeps himself busy watching Notre Dame games, game shows, Christmas and uplifting movies and has even been working an hour or two, here and there, in his home office.”

She also added that today (Wednesday) will be the third week in a row he’s been able to watch Jack’s CYO basketball game.

“Bill hasn’t had much of an appetite, but he’s enjoyed my grilled chicken, vegetables and salad.” said Amy.

While the doctor estimates a year of recovery, Davis is excited to celebrate Christmas Eve at his brother-in-law Brian Turk’s home with his family, and Amy’s mom, Jay Lawrie; then later to his mom’s (Katherine Davis) to celebrate with his family and later attend Mass at St. Jude Church. Davis, a long-time friend, let me share his story in hopes of touching others and showing how faith can get you through the hardest times and never underestimate the power of prayers.

​Merry Christmas!
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Linzie-Inabnitt Christmas lights attract generations

12/17/2019

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Kenny Linzie, right, and nephew Don “Newt” Repp, a City of Greenwood employee for 19 years, take a break from connecting extension cords.
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(SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY AL STILLEY) This is one of the two candles on the Linzie family’s front porch that eventually launched a massive Christmas display enjoyed by generations in Greenwood.
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The reason for the Christmas season: a simple manger scene where Christ was born.
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The Linzies keep adding to their displays, including this one where two nutcrackers guard the mailbox for letters to Santa.
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Snoopy, in different sizes, is among popular characters on display.
By Al Stilley
Editor

Kenny Linzie knows how a massive Christmas display began on the family farm but can’t be sure of when it began.

The farmland near the heart of Greenwood has been in the family since his dad, Herman, moved there in 1948.

“My wife (Cathy) set two tall plastic candles on the front porch and we kept adding to it,” Linzie recalled. “I have completely forgotten exactly when this all got so big.”

The two candles are visible on the front porch – a tradition but not quite part of the “wow” factor of the hundreds of lighted Christmas decorations in their yard and of neighbor Barry Inabnitt.

Linzie knows that for years they shied away from any publicity or notoriety. Year after year, the annual Christmas display kept attracting more and more motorists who would bring families and kids to the key-shaped drive at the end of Middle Street in Greenwood.

Longtime Greenwood residents contend the displays have been an annual event for five decades.

“We’ve always tried to keep it quiet,” Linzie said. “But with all the online stuff out there like Facebook and Twitter, this has spread across the internet. I know that someone had a drone over the properties and took photos of the entire display and put it up on the internet.”

This month, the lights came on a bit later than usual due to and farming season that stretched deep into November. He did not have enough time to bring out many of the hundreds of unique wooden cutouts to be displayed. However, the traditional wooden stand-ups depict Kenny, Linzie and daughter Amy at the entrance with another sign proclaiming the display as the Linzies and Inabnitts.

With help from nephew Don “Newt” Repp of Franklin, the lights came on just a few nights ago that turned each side of the driveway and the barns at the north end of the property into another Christmas sight to remember.

The Linzie farmland encompasses 190 acres, far less than the original 300-plus acres. Some of the land was sold where Northeast Elementary School and a small Greenwood Park are located.

Inabnitt’s land is on the west side of the drive. One afternoon last week, he noticed a mother and son in a car driving through to see the decorations and plastic characters in daylight.

“That’s why we do this; it’s so that kids can enjoy it,” Inabnitt said.

The driveway on the property is narrow, but there’s room for one lane of traffic each way.
​
The massive display is easy to find from East Main Street, just turn north onto Middle Street. After crossing Broadway Street, don’t let the “dead end” sign fool you – the Christmas lights are just ahead.
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