Word of Thanks - (archive 2000) - Page 1
Kelli's Page
…...A Word of Thanks
(Okay, Maybe a Few More than That!)
The donor baby and family are unknown to us, but their gift of lungs is no less appreciated. There just simply isn’t
anything you can say that seems to say “just the right thing”. Thank you seems so weak an effort. Just the same, we do
thank them from the bottom of our hearts and honestly know their heartache was Kelligar’s only chance at life. We pray for
their baby, their loss and possibly some feeling of hope knowing their baby benefitted so many other babies. If you are so
inclined to pray, we ask that you pray for the donor family, their ability to deal with grief and go on with life and for their
darling baby…….And please, consider organ donation if you haven’t already done so; it is truly the gift of life!
We would especially like to thank our employers, Kalinowski & Associates and Southwest Financial Services, for their
generosities and liberties given, allowing us to take care of our baby. It would be easy to think it was luck, but we actually
know that these are good people who chose to make some allowances even if doing so presented some severe work
challenges and hardships. Again, we both thank you.
With equal credit, we want to thank our families who have stood steadfast and been huge shoulders to cry on. We don’t
think we could have done it, and been worth a darn to Kelli, if they weren’t such a part of our lives. They have been the
best mental, spiritual, physical, and financial supporters.
Our friends are numerous and we know we are truly blessed. Robert and Debbie Kuenzli have done a fabulous job with
Kelli's Website, various fundraisers and even helping out around the house. Stacy Watkins has been a tremendous help and
a wondrous source of information as well as a general contact. She too has been integral in fundraising. Oh and by the way,
she is really pregnant and should be relaxing, not out doing these sorts of things! In light of that fact and the fact that Stacy
broke her tailbone (for real), I would also like to thank my very good friend Peggy Beswick, who picked up the slack and
became, I understand, quite the campaigner for Kelli’s cause.
We would also like to thank Phoenix Children’s Hospital and more specifically, Dr. Guillermo Gutierrez-Calleros, MD,
Robyn Wales NNP, Judy Zelazny RN, Hayley Rumbarger RN, Melodie Bumguardner RN, Norma Essex RT and Joy
Zavala RT. These fine individuals are those “listed” as her primary caretakers, but there isn’t enough space on the internet
to list all the nurses, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, phlebotomists and doctors that were also her caretakers (sorry
if I forgot anyone!). We know that Kelli was a challenge and that they worked hard at keeping Kelli alive. We feel it’s
because of their care that she made it as far as she did.
(Okay, Maybe a Few More than That!)
The donor baby and family are unknown to us, but their gift of lungs is no less appreciated. There just simply isn’t
anything you can say that seems to say “just the right thing”. Thank you seems so weak an effort. Just the same, we do
thank them from the bottom of our hearts and honestly know their heartache was Kelligar’s only chance at life. We pray for
their baby, their loss and possibly some feeling of hope knowing their baby benefitted so many other babies. If you are so
inclined to pray, we ask that you pray for the donor family, their ability to deal with grief and go on with life and for their
darling baby…….And please, consider organ donation if you haven’t already done so; it is truly the gift of life!
We would especially like to thank our employers, Kalinowski & Associates and Southwest Financial Services, for their
generosities and liberties given, allowing us to take care of our baby. It would be easy to think it was luck, but we actually
know that these are good people who chose to make some allowances even if doing so presented some severe work
challenges and hardships. Again, we both thank you.
With equal credit, we want to thank our families who have stood steadfast and been huge shoulders to cry on. We don’t
think we could have done it, and been worth a darn to Kelli, if they weren’t such a part of our lives. They have been the
best mental, spiritual, physical, and financial supporters.
Our friends are numerous and we know we are truly blessed. Robert and Debbie Kuenzli have done a fabulous job with
Kelli's Website, various fundraisers and even helping out around the house. Stacy Watkins has been a tremendous help and
a wondrous source of information as well as a general contact. She too has been integral in fundraising. Oh and by the way,
she is really pregnant and should be relaxing, not out doing these sorts of things! In light of that fact and the fact that Stacy
broke her tailbone (for real), I would also like to thank my very good friend Peggy Beswick, who picked up the slack and
became, I understand, quite the campaigner for Kelli’s cause.
We would also like to thank Phoenix Children’s Hospital and more specifically, Dr. Guillermo Gutierrez-Calleros, MD,
Robyn Wales NNP, Judy Zelazny RN, Hayley Rumbarger RN, Melodie Bumguardner RN, Norma Essex RT and Joy
Zavala RT. These fine individuals are those “listed” as her primary caretakers, but there isn’t enough space on the internet
to list all the nurses, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, phlebotomists and doctors that were also her caretakers (sorry
if I forgot anyone!). We know that Kelli was a challenge and that they worked hard at keeping Kelli alive. We feel it’s
because of their care that she made it as far as she did.