2006

Holiday Greetings
from the
Hodges Family
2006
special issue: surgery
The Healer: Bella plastered
herself with Band-Aids to
make Mommy better
Dakka (Reggie) with a morphine smile the day after his
knee surgery
Grandma and Josie do a video chat. Celeste: Josie, where
do you get coffee? Josie: Starbucks. Celeste: What do you
do on the computer? Josie: I
google!
We said a sad final goodbye to Reggie’s sister
Cassandra, just days ago, as she succumbed to
breast cancer. She lived nearby, our lives were intertwined, and we miss her very much.
Feeling perfectly fine, Kadi was diagnosed with
fibromuscular dysplasia, a rare artery disease which
required an even rarer kidney autotransplant. The
all-day surgery was successful, but frightening
complications ensued. Kadi is recovering, and her
relocated kidney is now nourished by artery segments that cost more than her house. Details at
www.poshkidney.blogspot.com.
Kadi and her boyfriend, Allen Frazelle, a SAS
computer programmer, were married the night
before her surgery. They honeymooned in Duke’s
ICU and are working on the logistics of blending
households.
Reggie had surgery to repair a torn meniscus.
Poor guy wanted attention, but 45-minute knee
surgery just doesn’t have the wow factor of a kidney autotransplant.
Celeste had no surgery. She finished the Hodges
ABC Book in time for Reggie’s mother’s 90th birthday. See it at www.cs.duke.edu/~hodges/hodges/
book2006.pdf
Hass and Nicole kept up with high-spirited
Josie, 21 months. During video chats we find ourselves saying, “Wow, she is so Hass,” as we watch
Josie run, crash into walls, climb, and build with
Legos — just like Hass at that age.
Bella, 3, always in pink, is thrilled to have
Phoebe, Allen’s 7-year-old daughter, as her new
big sister.
Bella likes to tell funny stories: “When I get big,
I’m going to college and Grandma’s going to bring
me cookies and ChapStick ... and Erskine [her cat]
is going to college with me, ha, ha, ha.”
Bobo takes credit for Kadi and Allen’s marriage. Phoebe was terrified of dogs, Bobo turned
on his charm and won her over, and everything
else just fell into place.
Doggie Jatu gets the prize for most surgeries as she’s had numerous old-age growths
removed this year. Jatu’s vet and pathologist love us!
Hass and backseat photographer Josie
Now they’re family: Phoebe, Bella, Allen, and Kadi
at Duke Gardens
Celeste, Josie, and Bella wait for a pretend bus
Nicole and Josie make big bubbles
With warm wishes,
Reggie & Celeste
What’s a kidney transplant without commemorative souvenirs?
Thank goodness Hass was available to do the design and merchandising
More photos at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/celestehodges/
Many more photos at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mapgoblin/
Reggie: rhodges@durhamliteracy.org
Celeste: hodges@cs.duke.edu
Can you hear me now? Bella, Josie, and Phoebe