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SPECIAL MEETING, SPECIAL MEMORIES â Twenty years after her birth, âMiracle Babyâ Abbigael âAbbyâ Balzano, seated center, looks at a scrapbook of photos taken after her birth in 2000. With her are her mother, Rachel Balzano, seated left. During a routine prenatal doctorâs visit, Rachelâs water broke and a prolapsed umbilical cord emergency situation put a team of health care professionals at then Trinity East into action to have Abby delivered through a Cesarean section. Retired registered OB nurse Pam Welsh, seated right, was one of those team members who had always wondered what happened to Abby, a question answered when longtime friend and fellow nurse Becky Salvino, standing, connected with Abby, a nursing student at the Franciscan University of Steubenville where Salvino is one of her instructors. The four gathered at Franciscan in March for a first-time meeting where they refrained from mask-wearing for the photo.
Beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday, community members can purchase a $25 gift card for 25% off from participating downtown businesses, including Ad Astra Books and Coffeehouse and Blushe Boutique.
Penny Bettles, executive director of Salina Downtown, expressed the difficulty and constant change that many endured through the past year.
“Now as hope fills the air, and the weather starts to warm, we want to thank you for continuing to support our local downtown businesses throughout a really tough time,” Bettles said.
Ad Astra is one business involved in the promotion, and manager Tammy Jarvis said they like being a part of what is happening downtown.