Former and current KISD students share a unique
kinship
KLEIN ISD – The extent of what parents will do for their
child is often limitless. In the cases of former student Ryan Flores and
current student Kimmy Witty, it was their fathers who, literally, saved their
lives.
Ryan Flores received his father Mike’s kidney when he was
just 16 months old, and when he was five Ryan was diagnosed with Stage IV lymphoma
cancer. Fortunately, on April 15, 1999, he went into remission. During this
time the Flores family recalled the tremendous amount of support they received
from their family, friends and Ryan’s teachers at Roth Elementary. In fact,
when he was first diagnosed they thought they would have to transfer him to a
different district to participate in a specialized education program offered at
the hospital. Fortunately for the Flores’, former principal Betty Dodd and
Ryan’s kindergarten teacher Nancy Brooks stepped in to help. A similar program
in the Klein ISD existed, but having taught Ryan’s older brother, Brooks
willingly volunteered to teach Ryan after school at home during his recovery.
“It was the most incredible thing,” recalled Mike Flores,
Ryan’s dad. “To this day, if you ask Mrs. Brooks what her favorite moment in
teaching is, she will tell you the time she got to come and teach Ryan. We tell
her, that is our favorite moment too. We are so thankful.”
Ryan grew up to be very active. At Klein Collins, he played
basketball, was a four-year letterman on the baseball team, was a member of the
National Honor Society, and graduated last year in the top 12 percent. His
mother, Debbie Flores, became a teacher at Roth more than 10 years ago. She said
the experience with Ryan and the positive support they received was what
inspired her to teach.
“We’ve had a lot of great people pass through our lives in
the Klein ISD over the years, and that has played an important part of Ryan’s
inspiration growing up,” said Debbie Flores. “Ryan had such a hard start to
life, and now all the blessings he has been given and to see him grow up and go
off to college is just incredible.”
The Flores family started the Children’s Kidney Foundation.
For more than 17 years, the Flores family alongside friends, family and members
of the Spring/Klein community has raised money to support the initiatives of
the foundation and provide opportunities for children needing kidney
transplants. Due to his volunteer and service in the transplant community, Ryan
was chosen by the Texas Children’s Hospital last year to serve as a
representative on Team U.S.A. at the World Transplant Games in Sweden. At the
Games, he competed alongside kids from 54 countries and won a bronze medal
after participating in golf, tennis, team bowling, ping pong and a 5K marathon.
“The entire event was just special,” Ryan recalled.
“Everyone there had been through a tough time just like me, but still had
smiles on their faces. Another thing that stood out was that everyone I met was
educated on organ donation and supporters of it. It inspired me to do my part.”
The hospital also nominated Ryan to be featured in an
upcoming series on the ABC Network called Everyday
Health scheduled to air on Saturdays beginning in February 2012. The series
features those who overcame health adversities and became positive role models
in their communities. Ryan was one of 21 selected among more than 1,000
entries. His segment including Kimmy
Witty will air on Feb. 25, 2012, on ABC.
Last fall during his freshman year at Abilene Christian
University (ACU) Ryan was contacted by the network to film. Despite being new
to campus he had an idea to hold a walkathon to promote organ donation and have
it coincide with the ABC production. After working with ACU and ABC, the
walkathon was a success with 150 participants and more than 40 who signed up to
be organ donors. ACU featured Ryan after the event, click
here.
“My dad is my hero for sure for giving me his kidney, but my
whole family has always been there because we all went through this together,”
said Ryan, who is majoring in biology and plans to work in the medical field.
“Everything I have been through is what has made me who I truly am today. My
parents have been so supportive and taught me that no matter what life throws
at you, stay positive and work through it.”
Kimmy Witty, seventh grader at Hildebrandt Intermediate, was
diagnosed with Stage IV chronic kidney disease in January 2011. Prior to the
diagnosis, Kimmy was your normal and healthy child who was active in soccer,
swimming and volleyball. When she found out the news, Kimmy was confused.
“At first I was shocked. I didn’t understand because one
moment I was just a normal kid playing with my friends, and then all of a
sudden I became a kid with kidney failure,” she said.
Although Kimmy’s older siblings never had any indication of
the disease, it was found to be genetic. Fortunately for Kimmy both her
parents, Ross and Cheryl, were near perfect matches as transplant donors for
their daughter. After further screening, it was her dad who was the best match.
“It was huge to know that I was a match,” said 53-year-old
Ross. “They put me through every test imaginable. In the end I was relieved to
know that my two older children wouldn’t have to go through that and we
wouldn’t have to wait long for her to get a kidney.”
The Witty family did not have to face the disease alone
either as they were surrounded by tons of support from friends, family,
colleagues, their church, and even the Flores family. Students in Kimmy’s youth
group at Creeks End Church organized a fundraiser and sold teal t-shirts with
the phrase “Team Kim Possible” with proceeds benefiting medical expenses for
the Wittys. With a sea of teal supporters and lots of prayers, Kimmy and her
dad underwent surgery in November at the Children’s Memorial Hermann Medical
Center.
Both surgeries were successful. Ross returned to work at
Buxton Interest part-time, and Cheryl, a teacher in Tomball ISD for more than
29 years, has taken some leave to be with her daughter through her recovery. Although
it will be a while before Kimmy can return to Hildebrandt and normal every day
kid activities, Kimmy is optimistic in her future.
“I’ve learned to never give up and to keep going, because
one day, it will all be ok again,” she said. To see the full story of Kimmy and
her journey, click
here.
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading …
Posted in 
Add to Google