cthompson@messengernews.net

When Jill Lawler opened the front door of her Fort Dodge home Thursday evening, she was greeted with the sounds of kids playing, friends singing, and dozens of people waving in her direction.

Those people were there to express their support for Lawler, who returned to her house in October after battling leukemia throughout the past year.

Lawler’s daughter, Amy Johnson, of Fort Dodge, was there.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Dozens of people gathered outside the home of Jill Lawler Thursday night to wave in support of her. Lawler was diagnosed with leukemia in January. She returned home from treatments in October.

She said it’s not like her mom to just sit by and watch.

“She’s very social,” Johnson said. “I said give her 10 minutes and she’d be out talking.”

Jill Lawler and her husband, Steve Lawler, have lived in Fort Dodge all their lives, Johnson said.

The couple owned the Tom Thumb restaurant and convenience store on North 15th Street for years.

In December 2016 they sold the business.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Jill Lawler, of Fort Dodge, looks back at a crowd of neighbors who stopped by Thursday evening to wave in support of her battle with leukemia.

Johnson said her mom was diagnosed with leukemia in late January 2017.

She was treated in Ames in June before being sent to the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.

There she underwent a stem cell transplant.

“She spent 100 days in Rochester,” Johnson said.

In October, Lawler was able to come home.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Jean Flattery, left, and Connie Gruver, both of Fort Dodge, carol outside of Jill Lawler’s home Thursday evening.

“She is doing very well,” Johnson said. “She’s overwhelmed with the kindness and support.”

Johnson said having her mother back has been good for her father, Steve Lawler, too.

“She is happy to be back in Fort Dodge,” Steve Lawler said.

Lance Lennon, of Fort Dodge, wanted to show support for his friend in a special way.

He organized the walk and wave event, but the idea came from somewhere else, he said.

“I totally stole the idea from the University of Iowa,” he said. “And that hurts because I am a Cyclones fan.”

The Wave is an act of kindness displayed by college football fans who wave from inside Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City to pediatric patients at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital who overlook the stadium from across the street.

Lennon gave the Hawkeyes some credit, though.

“A good idea is a good idea,” he said.

Jill Lawler was one of the first people Lennon met when he moved to Fort Dodge years ago, he said.

“She’s a fabulous lady,” he said. “It’s nice to do nice things for nice people.”

Janet Clark, Bill Gormally, and their mother, Bettie Gormally, were among the crowd of wavers.

“It was so beautiful to participate,” Clark said.

Gormally said his family grew up just down the street from the Lawlers.

The attendance is testament to Fort Dodge, he said.

“It’s a good neighborhood,” he said. “A lot of people turned out.”

Bettie Gormally was happy to be there too.

“Bless her,” she said. “We have been praying for her.”

Nicole Ahrens, of Fort Dodge, brought her family, which includes her husband, Nick Ahrens; son, Nolan Ahrens, 7; and daughter, Paityn Ahrens, 3.

“My husband is good friends of the family and we wanted to show our support,” Nicole Ahrens said.

Jean Flattery and Connie Johnson, both of Fort Dodge, participated in some caroling.

A group from Butler Elementary School was there to help.

“I brought the bells,” Flattery said. “It’s something easy we could do.”

Jill Lawler said the turnout was more than she could have asked for.

“I tell you, it’s just amazing the support you get,” she said. “When you get sick and all of them show up and more. It’s just plain amazing.”

She’s happy to be back in her neighborhood.

“I’m thankful for all their prayers, love and support,” Lawler said. “That helped me get to where I am today — and that’s home.”