Heidi Kaisand: Good morning and welcome to create with Heidi. I'm Heidi Kaisand, owner of Hen and Chicks studio in Conrad, Iowa, and lover of all things creative. Each week here on create with Heidi, we'd like to cover topics that educate and inspire you about how people are being creative, whether it's quilting, scrapbooking, food, wool, or just hanging out with others who seem to have their creative Mojo groovin in all the right directions. We are excited to share these things with you. Each week, I like to start with a quote. And today my quote is, you never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have. And that is unknown. Today, my guest is Chris Reinhardt. And good morning, Chris, how are you?

Chris Rhinehart: Hi, Heidi. I'm great. How are you doing?

Heidi Kaisand: I am good. I'm especially good. Because, you know, this morning at Hen and Chicks studio, the Natural Grind to go bus is parked out behind us.

Chris Rhinehart: I know I see that. I'm gonna try to talk my husband into going and getting me some and bringing me some to work.

Heidi Kaisand: Yes. There were a lot of a lot of that going on of people taking their coffee and their and their treats and stuff and going and they're there until 11:30 in case you happen to be in Conrad this morning. So yeah, so that it's a good way to start the day. Very good way to start. Yeah. Okay. Well, Chris, we're so glad to have you here. And I want to kind of explain to our audience, what it is that we're doing it and why we've asked you to join us this morning. A couple of weeks ago, I did announce that once again, in July from July 1 through the 31st, we will be selling all of our store samples that we are done with. And this is the third year that we will have done a store sample sale. And the way this works is that you can purchase a quilt or a quilt item. Sometimes it's table runners, some there's some bags, there's all sorts of different stuff, I think there's even maybe a pillow or something in there. But you purchase it and let's just say the item costs $100, you end up paying $100 plus the tax for that item. But 100% of the $100 is going to be donated to a cause. And in the last two years, we raised about $4,000, the first year for some causes, both the BCLUW school and ALS. Last year we raised $7,000 as part of helping a young boy that has leukemia. And this year, our cause is going to be split between to one thing as a one organization and one person. The person is you, Chris, and the organization is the American Cancer Society reach researchers, which is all about women that are researching specifically for cancer. And a couple weeks ago, I interviewed Alex, from the American Cancer Society and all about that program. So we have that information as well. But we are so honored to be able to help you. And so

Chris Rhinehart: I'm humbled that yes, I the community has just been fabulous. And yeah, I am humbled that you have thought of me and then I'm so glad you're taking the American research because that is so important to be able to beat this ugly disease.

Heidi Kaisand:  It is in and you know, I'd look at this conversation with you this morning. As you know, of course we want people to get to know who you are. But there's there's an education part here because, to be honest, I had never heard of nets. And, and so I would like you to go ahead and tell us a little bit about your diagnosis, Chris.

Chris Rhinehart: Okay. Yep, net is what it is. It's the brigade. It's neuro endocrine tumors. I had never heard of it. Back in 2014 I just said started to have any severe stomach pains and they did my guests are all just take me within my took out my gallbladder. We randomly just numerous tests over many years and 2019 I went back into the ER sometimes the pains were so bad, just don't make it and I don't know what would cause it.That's when they did a scan and notice there were tumors on my liver and then that when we got theI went to the Waterloo cancers or the Waterloo hospital and did a biopsy and then that came back positive for net which I was like what's net but newer crown endocrine is is very rare. It's it's not curable, but it's treatable. I'm blessed very blessed that that way.It's what started out you know, that's why am I had my stomach pains was started out in my small bowel, they did end up having I did have surgery in July of 20 to remove eight inches of my small bowel which removed that tumor. But my liver that was covered that you know that we couldn't do any surgery on that because there are just too many around the my, my liver. So that is what I have treatments for every 28 days, I go with the cancer center and have my infusions. And so far those have been keeping the tumors stable. That's the word I like stable. I've lived here shrink or go away. Yes. The word stable I have found is wonderful term that I love to hear. And so yeah, I have a doctor at Mayo Clinic that I see often Dr. Hobday and he is phenomenal. Just wonderful. And you know, we have a lot I have a long long road ahead, but I say the support and my family and that is everything that

Heidi Kaisand: Yeah, and then it is all awesome and I want to I want to hit keep talking and learn more about that. But can you believe we already need to take a commercial break. So let's get hang right there. Hang right there and we're going to be right back after this.
The all Iowa shop brings together sewing and quilting enthusiasts across Iowa now through July 31. Hand in check studio on Conrad is a participating quilt shop along with 85 other shops collect Iowa shop have exclusive fabrics free quilt blocks for enterprises make and share your creations. For more information, go online to all Iowa shop hop comm you'll find a list of participating shops and links to their websites, including henandchickstudio.com. Don't miss the fun at the iOS shop.

Heidi Kaisand: Welcome back to create with Heidi, excuse me, this is Heidi Kaisand. And we are here with Chris Rhinehart. And we are talking about her diagnosis of nets as part of our goal at Hen and Chicks studio to help raise money to help in Chris's journey, as well as the American Cancer Society researchers. And if you are interested in learning more about this event that we're having, you can go to Hen and chicks studio.com slash cause and you will learn there's a great video, excuse mea great video there about the Americans Cancer Society and everything that we've learned about the researchers program. And there's information about Chris and you can see the nearly 100 items that we are going to have for sale now it's nothing like a little tease that you can click on all of them and you can see the prices and you can see the sizes and all of that, but you can't add them to the cart. So in other words, they cannot be purchased until the morning of July 1 and about 5am I'm going to flip that switch so that all of those items will be for sale. And it's great because there's a large variety of prices and and and items and different things so whether whether you have $10 or $100 or several $100 there are there's something for your budget if you would like to help us raise money and the exciting thing is that if we sold every item in there every item on our website we could with your help donate over $10,000 and split that between the two causes that we are choosing this year and so we do ask you if you are able that you can visit that website and and check that out. But before the break Chris was telling us I I love the word stable that you love the word stable and I love the word stable for you. Because there has to be a certain amount of I'm gonna say stress worry I mean let's

Chris Rhinehart: Oh yeah,

Heidi Kaisand: I can't even imagine Chris because you're you're a mom, you're a grandma you have a job you love and that that even even though the diagnosis as you said is not curable, but it is treatable. Is that how I see As I say that right?

Chris Rhinehart: Yes, yes. Yeah. Yep, that's exactly right. And like I say it's spread. You know, it was stage four because it did spray spread to my liver. But like I say, it's still contained on my liver. I will probably need a new liver transplant here down in the future but but yeah, we you know, our goal is just to not let it spread anywhere else because that's when it does get scary and I am a wreck right? place my wife for family and husband and students, they I think they kind of know the week of my, my scans is is coming up because I am it's, it's, it's been hard, but my support my family's work my coworkers, my boss has just been fabulous through all of this.

Heidi Kaisand: So you have to go to you basically then you go to Rochester, Minnesota every every 28 days, I think is what you said.

Chris Rhinehart: Not not. Yeah, thank goodness, I don't have to go clear Rochester for that. I do get to go to the cancer center in Waterloo. Fabulous to Yeah, I didn't even know there was a cancer center there when this all began and Mayo. Mayo works closely with them. So I don't have to travel, my checkups and scans or everything right now. But thank goodness, I only have to go to water at Waterloo for my infusion.

Heidi Kaisand: Yeah, and all that. Because even even I think there's there's so many different parts.When anyone is diagnosed with something that we don't even think about, like the time the time it takes you away from your job. Or the Oh, yeah. You know, and, and you know, does you get? Is it that kind of infusion? I don't I don't have any idea. Do you get sick before the after it? Or is it? Is it just part of your routine? I mean, how does that work?

Chris Rhinehart: Yeah, it's, it's a shot. It just it depends. Jen, Jen, generally I feel pretty good. I've, you know, after it the week before I tenderly tend to have bad weeks because I can tell my body's starting to, you know, it means It's time. It's time. So yeah, my my energy level is especially that that's that's probably been, you know, one of the hardest things is just not keep doing everything that I love to to do. It's getting better. But, but yeah, yeah, it has it's been, it's been a wake up call, but I have been so blessed that, you know, there there is treatment that is working so far. For me. And, and like I say the support I have here in my community is just amazing.

Heidi Kaisand: Absolutely. And, you know, I think I think I maybe said this to you in a previous conversation. But, you know, to look at you, if I saw you walking down the street, I wouldn't necessarily know that anything is wrong. And I I think that it's also a good, good reminder for all of us. Anybody else. That whether it's seeing you walk down the street, or seeing somebody else walk down the street, that sometimes we don't even know what struggles or what, what battles you're fighting. Exactly. Yeah. Because it doesn't show it doesn't necessarily show on the outside.

Chris Rhinehart: Yep. No, it's true. Yeah, a lot of people have no, no idea until, yeah, let's like, show them my wonderful scars are. Sure, yeah, they, they, it's really you don't know what people are. And I send that to try to hide it. Well, sure. I do get extremely emotional over it. It's not, you know, but I absolutely yeah, it's been it's been rough. But like I say, I'm blessed to have this. Well, let's let's want wonderful army behind me.

Heidi Kaisand: Let's have you tell us a little bit about your family. And so tell us about your husband and your kids. your grandkids. Let's get to know you just a little bit.

Yeah, yep. No, my husband is he's. We live I grew up in Marshalltown. My mom and dad police here in Burma are still in Marshalltown. That's where I grew up and graduated and my husband graduated from LDS and we met in college when we were going to get our teaching degrees and both got hired as teachers our first year of marriage and he got hired at BCLUW and he's been here ever since. And, and I started here about 15 years ago and we love it. We wanted to make Conrad our home when they educate our children here. Shannon is our oldest she has husband back with three children. She just had twins a year ago.Lily and Matthew and and Lydia is four so they are my life. They keep me going. And that's it.

Heidi Kaisand: That scenario is a little like mine.So Lydia is about is she about three years older than the twins?

Chris Rhinehart: Yep, exactly.

Heidi Kaisand: That's exactly what Henry Henry's three years older than his sisters. So, yeah,

Chris Rhinehart: Yeah, I know exactly. exactly.

Heidi Kaisand: But  you understand what the busy what the busy household is like,

Chris Rhinehart: Oh, yes, yes, it is. And then our middle child Sarah, she married Jacob triplet and they lived in Ohio originally. And we were so blessed that they did move back this past year. During the COVID time it made it finally with something happy during that time they can't they moved home and live in Conrad also. She teaches at Dike-New Hartford and Jacob we're works at Iowa Co Op. And then Keegan, our son but the baby is 21 and just graduated from UNI. You and I would his biochemistry degree and we couldn't be more proud of, of all of our children. They are life my husband coaches. Yeah, as you know, Coach loves his passion of coaching sports. That's what I love most about him is that he just, he's the students, the kids, we love what we do. We love our districts we love you know, we just love being in this area

Heidi Kaisand: So yeah, that's awesome. Well, we're gonna take a another quick commercial break and when we come back, I have some more to talk about the quilts that we're going to be selling. The all Iowa shop brings together sewing and quilting enthusiasts across Iowa now through July 31. hen and chicks studio and Conrad is a participating quilt shop along with 85 other shops collect Iowa shop have exclusive fabrics, free quilt blocks for enterprises make and share your creations. For more information. Go online to all Iowa shop hop comm you'll find a list of participating shops and links to their websites, including hen and chick studio.com. Don't miss the fun the all Iowa shop hop.

Heidi Kaisand: Welcome back to create with Heidi. This is Heidi Kaisand and I'm with Hen and Chicks studio. And Today my guest is Chris Reinhardt. She is a teacher in the BC l UW School District. AndI grew up here in Marshalltown and I heard a little little, I'll say birdie telling me during the commercial break, Chris, that your mom might make a really mean chocolate chip cookie.

Chris Rhinehart: Yeah, she does.

Kyle: Your your mom. Sharon brings me shocked she brings me chocolate chip cookies occasionally.

Chris Rhinehart: That does not surprise.

Kyle: Yeah, I love your parents. They're so nice.

Chris Rhinehart: Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. I I do too. They are they have been another rock of mine that Yes, they are. I am blessed to truly have. Yeah, the most wonderful parents in the world. That's awesome. That's awesome.

Heidi Kaisand: So I don't know, maybe we'll have to see if we can request some chocolate chip cookies or whatever.

Chris Rhinehart: I know she's listening. So I bet she's baking right now.

Do There we go. Well, that that'll be fabulous. All right. Well, we're so excited about what is coming up.You know, I I always feel very blessed, Chris, that I have the opportunity to help so many people be creative. And it's for me.I always I always feel like I should be doing more to help others. I sometimes don't know I don't know what to do. So this is my way of being able to share the quilts that we have been lucky enough to make at the store and have used to store samples but I want to tell you that Goldie and Virginia who are who are my daughter's obviously all three of my kids have had you as as teacher.

Chris Rhinehart: Love them.

Heidi Kaisand: Yeah, but uh, but I have told Goldie in Virginia since the day they started quilting that just keep making quilts because somebody will need a quilt. And and so you know, we've got quilts everywhere at the house, you know, kind of thing. And so as we were talking about this, this summer's sale, and what we're going to do, they pulled out three quilts that they had made with no particular attention as to who it was going to go to. And they have added those to the sale. So that that it will benefit you as well as they have made. They like to make and sell bags, little little bags that like go in your purse to hold things and stuff. And yeah, oh, like my brother uses them for computer cords and awkward anyway. And all of their bags have also been added to the sale. And so that 100% of the sale of those bags will also go to the cause as well.

Chris Rhinehart: Wow

Heidi Kaisand: because they wanted to beTo help in raising money for you and for the American Cancer Society, so, yes, yes. And so now, I was saying that saying that you can go to everybody can go to hen and chicks to do.com slash cause and see the quilt. But one step better, is always being able to see the quilts in person. And on July 1, through July 5,we will have all of the quilts for display in our retreat center. So some people like to be able to see what they're buying, before they they buy, which is great, we don't have any problem with that. And so we're going to turn the retreat centerinto like a quilt show, and be able to hang the quilt up so people can come and see them. And then on Monday, July 5, which is our normal Facebook Live event that we do at seven o'clock on the first Monday of the month, you and of course you can bring Heath along,if you like or if you think it's safe going out, we know he won't have any trouble being on air with us.

Chris Rhinehart: No he won't.

Heidi Kaisand: But we have invited you guys to join us for our Facebook Live event on July 5, so that we can, again, spread the word to everybody. Now by then some of the quilts will probably have been sold. Because I already know somebody got their alarm set for 4:45am on July 1 to buy a specific one that they want. So, so that's exciting. That's very important.

Chris Rhinehart: Yeah, so I'm looking forward to that. But yes, I can't wait to see them. My daughter, Shannon, her oldest, has gotten into making quilts. And she's made, she made one for, for me, I think my 50th birthday. And it's just, it's beautiful. I just I wish I could do that she is such stash is passionate or just hard for her to do now with all the kids.

Heidi Kaisand: But if she likes, she likes doing it, she'll come back to it when when the kids can

Chris Rhinehart: either help her or play on their own one of the two. Yeah, yeah, well, there's something very good at it.

Heidi Kaisand: There's something so warm and cozy about a quilt that, that, you know, it's been made.You know, typically, you know, typically when people are making quilts, I mean, it's a little different with a store sample. But typically when people are making quilts, you're making it with somebody in mind. And so I always think if you're the recipient of that, that it's more than just fabric it is it is their way of really wrapping you with love and being able to,you know, be with you even if they physically can't be with you. Absolutely, yes. Oh, yes. Well, and, you know, is there. Is there anything else about nets or your journey that you want to share with us, Chris, as we're getting close to the the top of the hour here?

Chris Rhinehart: No, I'm just excited that, you know, we are bringing awareness, awareness to it, because it is it's people haven't heard about it. And it's not it's not common, and, but it is out there. It's just, yeah, I'm just excited that we can spread awareness for it andand let people know and that maybe someday there is a cure. That's what my specialist keeps telling me, you know, 10 years from now, I may not have to be coming anymore. So I just pray every day that we do get a cure.

Heidi Kaisand: Absolutely. Well, we're really appreciative of you being here this morning. I know you have class in a couple minutes as a teacher. So until next week, I hope everybody will come and visit us at Hen and Chicks studio.com click on our cause page, and until next week, be creative.