The Shawnee Dispatch / Letter: Thanks, Cougars

Archive for Tuesday, April 17, 2007

April 17, 2007

To the Editor:

We want to recognize the students of "Cougars Community Commitment" at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School! Unexpectedly last year, we found out that my husband was in kidney failure. He began dialysis and was in need of a kidney transplant. We found out that I was a match, and we both underwent surgery in November 2006.

With both of us being off work for surgery and recovery for eight weeks, in addition to all the expenses from his dialysis, post-transplant medications, and our hospital stay, our medical bills were piling up -- all of this occurring in the first six months of our marriage.

Erica Warren, a teacher at Shawnee Mission Northwest, contacted the group on our behalf last fall. They "took us on" and began to do fundraising activities.

This incredible group of students dedicate themselves to helping others and we want to ensure they have the recognition they deserve. We are fortunate that today we are both healthy and the burden of our medical bills is a lot lighter now thanks to these amazing students. We want to thank them for their generosity and hard work in raising money to help us with our medical bills.

Words can't express our gratitude.

Kimberli Bean

Kansas City, Mo.

Talking points

How often do you go to the library?

“I almost never go there at all — only with my wife, Kim. She checks out, I’d say, at least three books a week. The kids go with her, and she teaches them how to find things.”

— Chris Lopez

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