The staff of the Blessing Health Hannibal Cancer Center, and their patients, enjoyed Christmas a bit early, thanks to the generosity of the family and friends of a former patient.
A donation was made to the cancer center in memory of Christia Provancha. Christia was known to many as Coach P, a fast pitch softball legend who was once clocked throwing over 100 miles per hour, and was a physical education teacher for 32 years in the Ralls County R-2 School District. She passed away on August 22, 2025, at the age of 72, after battling cancer for more than seven years. A letter with the donation stated:
“Christy and Arlen (Christia’s husband) always sang your praises and were so appreciative of the care given by the staff. Please use this memorial to buy something you would like.”
Staff used the majority of the funds to benefit the cancer center’s current patients, including purchasing more than 30 specially-made “port” shirts. Those are shirts with access openings sewn into them so they can be worn conveniently and comfortably by persons while receiving chemotherapy. Other donation money was used to purchase a wind chime and hummingbird feeders for the garden onto which patients look as they receive treatment at the center.
Arlen also wrote with the donation, “Christia always looked for the good in people and events. As the Monty Python song states, she ‘always looked at the bright side of life.’ We hope that it (the donation) will be used in a manner that lifts the spirit of the staff and helps them to look at the bright side of life, too.”
So, on Thursday, December 11, 2025, the Blessing Health Hannibal Cancer Center team used the remainder of the memorial donation to toast the life and memory of their former patient with an ice cream party.
Cancer Center team members Hannah Lotz and Jolene Blankenship had the honor of knowing Christia and were moved deeply by the donation.
“We all cried,” Hannah said about the team’s reaction to receiving the donation. “Christia and Arlen made a point of going around and talking to the other patients, encouraging them to stay positive. They were a really positive influence on the patients, and on us.”
“Very passionate. Very loving. Very caring. Very sweet lady. Always had a positive attitude every day she was here,” Jolene added. “Christy and her husband were just one of a kind.”
“Every day we work for the patient and they become family,” she concluded.
Christia’s obituary read, in part, “To know her was to witness a life lived with devotion, loyalty, and remarkable talent. Her memory will continue to inspire all who were blessed to share in her journey.”
Pictured are Blessing Health Hannibal Cancer Center team members displaying the wind chime and hummingbird feeders. Left to right are Sadie Stine, RN; Kasey Nacke, RN; Amy Ryan, LPN; Chris Dodd, MA; Jolene Blankenship, office coordinator, and Theresa Luckett, RN.
Team members displaying port shirts, left to right, are Dara Poppe, RN; Dee Dee Simmons, NP; Jolene Blankenship, office coordinator; Hannah Lotz and Becky Goodwin, registration/scheduling; Becky Runyon, RN, nurse navigator; Tonya Seddon, RN, and Amanda Jennings, NP. Not pictured are Arif Bari, MD, medical oncologist; Lori Winfrey, RN; office manager; Sara Heinecke, RN, director; Debbie Green and Roshelle Brown, registration/scheduling; Stephanie Gash, RN; Jacquelyn Perez, registration/scheduling; Brooke Gibson, RN, nurse navigator, Annie Muehring, RN, and Sydney Allen, RN.