Leukemia Survivor Counsels, Supports Newly Diagnosed Patients

Everyday Inspirations is a series that features people in Patch communities who inspire others through their work, or people who have faced extraordinary situations and grown from them. They have been featured by other people in the community that have been inspired by the nominees.

Name: Kathy Lebedun
Town: Chesterfield, MO
Nominated by: Mark Lebedun

Why is this person an "Everyday Inspiration?" 
When Kathy Lebedun retired as a medical social worker at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, she did not retire from helping others. As a member of her place of worship she joined a committee to call on families at times of death, new baby visits, and nursing home visits.

She regularly visited an isolated, mentally ill woman for two years (until her death). This woman had never attended the nursing home functions or New Year's party until Kathy accompanied her.

When the Fleisher Healing Center in St. Louis was created, Kathy was asked to be on the Board of Directors. She served as Board secretary and was an active committee member, involved with monthly healing services, community outreach and education.

Kathy has been a volunteer for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for almost two decades. As a 20-year leukemia survivor, Kathy has been a "First Connection" volunteer, counseling and supporting newly diagnosed leukemia patients.

She served as chair-person for the Ambassador Committee, a program in which volunteers take educational materials to Oncologists' offices. She has also helped put together hundreds of patient notebooks for distribution. Kathy coordinated a week-end leukemia conference in St. Louis for patients and families from eight states. She has been involved with Fund-raising activities, such as the Light the Night Walk and the 25th Annual Missouri Winefest.

As someone who has received 33 blood transfusions, Kathy has been a dedicated volunteer for The American Red Cross. She volunteers at a donor centers and community blood drives so that she can personally thank the donors for "the gift of life."

Because Kathy is so passionate about blood donation, she fought her fear of public speaking to share her personal story at places such as Washington University Medical School (for students becoming doctors) and Boeing.

Has the nominee's life been changed in an extraordinary way? 

Rachael's amazing drive and devotion to help others who could potentially walk in her shoes is a what makes her such an incredible woman. Rachael's motivation to spare others of such horrible tragedy has her planning the second annual "FORE" Ever Loved Golf Outing, to support two amazing foundations- the Danny Did Foundation for Epilepsy and the Carcinoid Cancer Awareness Network.

How does this person work to make others' lives better?

Because of her fundraising efforts and commitment to families suffering similar illnesses, Rachael has been able to provide numerous monitoring alarms for children with epilepsy, preventing the same seizure that took her beloved 3-year-old daughter.