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www.SanTanSun.com June 21 - July 18, 2008
Carroll family to stay in Chandler
by Natalie Morris year,” Carroll says. “We should get green card approval
A Chandler family whose legal immigration around June 2009 and if it gets delayed, we can fi le
nightmare was detailed in a recent edition of the another extension. It sounds complicated, but actually
SanTan Sun News received an unexpected gift – the what this means is we get to stay and fulfi ll our dreams.
ability to stay in the United States. Our son, Mike, will return to Hamilton High School as
John Carroll and his family received an offi cial a junior in July. Our son, Steven, can continue his
confi rmation from the United States Citizen and education in California and my wife, Helen, can relax
Immigration Service called an I-797B Notice of instead of packing more and more boxes.”
Action. Carroll and his family are humbled by and grateful
“What this means is that Immigration has approved for the outpouring of concern they received from
my visa extension for at least one year,” explains members of the Southern Chandler community after
Carroll. the May 3, 2008 article and during this diffi cult time.
The series of events that led to this extension would “I often wonder what fate is really about sometimes,”
almost be more believable as a television movie. he refl ects. “All our neighbors and friends here in
Carroll volunteered to attend a trade show in place Chandler have been so supportive and kind – we were
of a company executive. At the exhibition hall, he fated to move here from California to meet all these
visited the booth of a competing company to discuss generous, caring people. Their combined thoughts,
business and ended up speaking with the company’s kindness and prayers sent us an ‘immigration angel’
president. and put me in Chicago on that fateful day.”
“After my cocktail party summary of immigration Carroll now wishes to offer more detailed
events, he was shocked and appalled,” describes information or encouragement to those who face
Carroll. “He then told me he was a former vice similar challenges. He can be reached at john.carroll2@
president of a major company that manufactured
STSN photo by Gordon Murray
cox.net.
the green cards and that he ‘knew some people.’ You
STAYING: Former UK resident John Carroll, wife Helen and son
could have knocked me down with a feather.”
Michael of Clemente Ranch can stay in Chandler for at least
Natalie Morris is a freelance writer who lives in Cooper
Through this business associate’s connections,
another year.
Commons with her husband, two sons and their dog, Bella.
Contact her at Natalie@SanTanSun.com.
Carroll and his attorney learned about a fairly new impact his case.
amendment to immigration legislation that could “The bottom line now is ... we can stay for another
Surviving cancer
HHS grads leave for Army
Courage, perspective and a cure
Two 2007 Hamilton High School graduates and Fox Crossing residents are on
by Natalie Morris
their way to Army boot camp.
They are friends. They are
Douglas Schmidt, 19, and longtime friend Steven Spring, 19, met in sixth-grade
neighbors. They are heroes.
at Basha Elementary School. They attended Bogle Junior High together, then
Everyday, courageous cancer
graduated in the same class at HHS.
victims and their families in
Schmidt, son of Debbie Jennings and stepfather Craig Spalding of Fox Crossing,
the SanTan Sun area face
left June 12 for Army basic training in Fort Benning, GA, as a private fi rst class in
the fi ght of their lives. In this
the 11X Infantry Division.
fi ght, victory doesn’t mean
Spring, son of Rick and Connie Spring and grandson of Sue Spring, also of Fox
monetary rewards or public
Crossing, left June 11 for his Army basic training as a 13F private fi re support
adulation or a golden statue
specialist in Ft. Sill, OK. Spring and his girlfriend, Monique, became engaged just
for the mantle. In this fi ght,
before he left.
victory means life.
Jennings threw a going away party for Schmidt, where many friends, including
Spring, family members and Fox Crossing neighbors attended to give their support
John Raslavsky III
and well wishes. Jennings made a journal and asked people to write their well
As a child, Old Stone
wishes and “pearls of wisdom.”
Ranch resident John
“When your own child decides to go [into the Army], it really tears at your heart,”
Raslavsky watched his
she says. “It’s hard to let them go, but you just have to, then pray for their safe
mother, father and 14 aunts
return.”
and uncles battle cancer. A
heavy smoker, Raslavsky’s
See Army Page A+8
father died from lung cancer
STSN photo by Gordon Murray
at age 57. Many years later,
having never smoked,
HELPING OTHERS: John Raslavsky III, right, went from
watching family members die of cancer, to suffering cancer
Raslavsky was diagnosed himself, to helping cancer patients such as Pramado Rao, left.
with the same cancer at the
same age. He and his wife cried for days. All he kept saying was “I don’t want to
die.”
The inspiration of family and friends gave him hope, including his many relatives
who had survived cancer and lived into old age. In fact, Raslavsky’s mother is now
92 and has survived cancer three times.
In 2001 he had surgery to remove one-third of his right lung. The surgery was
extremely painful and the follow-up chemotherapy tiring, but he survived. Then
the cancer reoccurred in 2006. Raslavsky was nervous but kept praying and hoping,
eventually navigating surgery, chemo and radiation successfully.
Several years ago, someone asked him, “Now that you have a second chance
at life what are you going to do with it?” In response to that question, Raslavsky
started volunteering with the American Cancer Society, working directly with
cancer patients to relieve the suffering they feel. He encourages patients to gain
inspiration from his family’s history and to “never give up hope.” Submitted photo
OFF TO BOOT CAMP: Dougles Schmidt, left, and Steven Spring, both 2007 Hamilton High grads and
See Cancer Page A+6 residents of Fox Crossing, shipped out to basic training this month.
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