Kathy's Medical Fund
Donation protected
This is my friend Kathy.
You've heard people say that they've got your back before? Kathy is a pro at having the backs of everyone she cares about.
First, her kids. Not her students, not to Kathy, every year she gets about 120 new "kids" and they are hers, not just for the year, but for always. I can't tell you the number of times I've sat awkwardly at a table while our waiteress/waiter/fellow patron comes over to gleefully catch up with Miss Speagle. They love her, and her reach goes far beyond their days sitting in her classroom. The craziest thing, is no matter how long it has been since they sat in her room, she always remembers their name, she can always come up with a story about their time together. Always. Once you're in her heart, you're there forever.
Second, her co-workers. Kathy is the person you want on your team whenever there is an obstical in the way. With Kathy, there is no such thing as an obstical, if there is a wall between what needs to be done and getting it done, Kathy will scale it, burn it down, rent a bulldozer, whatever she's got to do to make it happen. If you need help, even if it takes the last of what she has to give, she gives it.
Third, her friends. Kathy and I are peas in a pod. We knew each other a long time before we worked closely directing the school play. Whoever thought that putting us together was a good idea was both right and super wrong. I'm not sure who needed more supervision the children or us. While working on the play we became close friends. When I got sick in 2011 and was out having heart surgery, Kathy picked up the slack and made sure I still felt included. When I came back to work and was running on about 25%, she carried the other 75. And it wasn't just at school she helped out, she'd help tidy my house, SHE CLEANED MY CATS LITER. That's love.
In 2013 it became my turn to return that love as Kathy was diagnosed with uterine cancer. I shaved her head when the bald patches were too big to ignore. She napped on my couch when she just needed a change from her own. She kicked cancer's butt, and I had a front row seat.
Since then the medical bills have poured in, treatment, check ups, testing...she has been robbing Peter to pay Paul.
About 3 months ago, Kathy found herself in the ER again, this time by ambulance with large bloodclots in her lungs. She was placed on blood thinners to the tune of $300 a bottle AFTER insurance, in addition to at home oxygen, further pushing her in to a financial corner.
Today Kathy found herself in an ambulance again, this time with chest pain. Upon arriving at the hospital, it was discovered that apart from the clots and cancer, Kathy had a heart attack. She was immidiately taken to have a stent placed and is now as I type this resting in her hospital room.
You want to know what one of the first things my dear friend said to me was?
"How am I going to afford this?"
That is where I need your help. This is where Kathy needs our help.
Can you help me have Kathy's back?
No donation is too small. Every single bit will go towards paying down medical bills, catching up on expenses, and gaining some security so that she can focus on getting better and not the stress of juggling the cost.
Thank you so much, and I know Kathy does too.
You've heard people say that they've got your back before? Kathy is a pro at having the backs of everyone she cares about.
First, her kids. Not her students, not to Kathy, every year she gets about 120 new "kids" and they are hers, not just for the year, but for always. I can't tell you the number of times I've sat awkwardly at a table while our waiteress/waiter/fellow patron comes over to gleefully catch up with Miss Speagle. They love her, and her reach goes far beyond their days sitting in her classroom. The craziest thing, is no matter how long it has been since they sat in her room, she always remembers their name, she can always come up with a story about their time together. Always. Once you're in her heart, you're there forever.
Second, her co-workers. Kathy is the person you want on your team whenever there is an obstical in the way. With Kathy, there is no such thing as an obstical, if there is a wall between what needs to be done and getting it done, Kathy will scale it, burn it down, rent a bulldozer, whatever she's got to do to make it happen. If you need help, even if it takes the last of what she has to give, she gives it.
Third, her friends. Kathy and I are peas in a pod. We knew each other a long time before we worked closely directing the school play. Whoever thought that putting us together was a good idea was both right and super wrong. I'm not sure who needed more supervision the children or us. While working on the play we became close friends. When I got sick in 2011 and was out having heart surgery, Kathy picked up the slack and made sure I still felt included. When I came back to work and was running on about 25%, she carried the other 75. And it wasn't just at school she helped out, she'd help tidy my house, SHE CLEANED MY CATS LITER. That's love.
In 2013 it became my turn to return that love as Kathy was diagnosed with uterine cancer. I shaved her head when the bald patches were too big to ignore. She napped on my couch when she just needed a change from her own. She kicked cancer's butt, and I had a front row seat.
Since then the medical bills have poured in, treatment, check ups, testing...she has been robbing Peter to pay Paul.
About 3 months ago, Kathy found herself in the ER again, this time by ambulance with large bloodclots in her lungs. She was placed on blood thinners to the tune of $300 a bottle AFTER insurance, in addition to at home oxygen, further pushing her in to a financial corner.
Today Kathy found herself in an ambulance again, this time with chest pain. Upon arriving at the hospital, it was discovered that apart from the clots and cancer, Kathy had a heart attack. She was immidiately taken to have a stent placed and is now as I type this resting in her hospital room.
You want to know what one of the first things my dear friend said to me was?
"How am I going to afford this?"
That is where I need your help. This is where Kathy needs our help.
Can you help me have Kathy's back?
No donation is too small. Every single bit will go towards paying down medical bills, catching up on expenses, and gaining some security so that she can focus on getting better and not the stress of juggling the cost.
Thank you so much, and I know Kathy does too.
Organizer
Katherine Speagle
Organizer
Topeka, KS
