The increasing pain below her stomach let Sandra Williams know medicine wasn't going to be enough treatment anymore for her Crohn's disease. This year's holiday appeal marks the 32nd year of The Ledger's Newspaper with a Heart campaign. There are no overhead costs.
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455 Sixth St. N.W. Heart Campaign Page She tried to delay surgery until after the holidays, so she could accumulate more sick time, but instead ended up dehydrated and in the hospital for several days. The operation scheduled after that became two surgeries and a monthlong stay at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, some of it in intensive care. Her doctor needed to remove more of her diseased intestines than originally expected. She came home the evening before Thanksgiving. They moved there in June from Winter Haven.