Kite Tales

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2 | Kite Tales|FALL 2016 2016 Board of Directors Matthew L. Brotzge Kirk Carter, PP Eddie Chrisman, PP Randy Coe, AIF®, PP Larry Craig Barry Dunn Robert W. Flowers, Treasurer John B. Hitt II, Secretary Steve Hueston, Potentate Tom Larimore Harry Lusk Patrick Philip Miller Gary Morgan David L. Nicholson David Owen, PP Kenneth Reiss, PP J.R. Riggs, Jr., PP H.I. Stroth, Jr., Vice Chairman Jeff Schilffarth Glen E. Stuckel James E. Szofer Frank Texas Martin R. Walters Jerry W. Ward, Chairman Board Members Emeriti C. Brown Allen, PP Samuel G. Swope* *Deceased 2016 Advisory Council Chandler Blewett Bob Bonsutto Gina Calvert Jerry Cantrell Bobby Clarkson Joan Conrad Reba Doutrick Robert Hart David James Jean West Losavio Tom O’Bryan John B. Roth, MD Lester Sanders Craig Scherman Sandy Metts Snowden Sam Watkins, Jr. Ex Officio Members Randy Coe AIF®, PP, President Kosair Charities Jerry Ward, Chairman of the Board Executive Staff Randy Coe, AIF®, PP, President Aimee Sapp, CPA, Senior Vice President & CFO Mike Schneider, Senior Vice President of Facility Management & Planning Vicky Weber, Senior Vice President of Business Relations & Marketing
Kite Tales|FALL 2016 | 3 Ballerina Wendy Whelan: Dancing beyond scoliosis Wendy Whelan began taking ballet classes when she was 3 years old, and like many little girls, she dreamed of growing up to be a ballerina. By age 12, Wendy was determined to make those dreams a reality. But despite her immense talent and overwhelming drive, she had one challenge that could potentially derail her — she was diagnosed with scoliosis. Scoliosis is a condition that causes the spine to curve to the side, and in Wendy’s case, her spine was shaped like an S. This was not ideal for a sport that required perfect posture and balance, but Wendy was determined to overcome this challenge. Wendy spent the summer of 1980 in and out of Kosair Crippled Children Hospital. She would spend one week a month at the hospital in hopes of straightening out her spine. She would spend all day in traction and the night in neck and waist halters. After her first visit, she was an inch and a half taller, and she knew her treatment was working. Her physician, Dr. Kenton Leatherman, told her that the best sports for those with scoliosis were swimming and ballet, and Wendy knew her dreams were not lost. Keeping dreams alive After spending a week at KCCH, Wendy would go home for a month to resume her normal life — with the addition of a 15-pound plaster cast she had to wear on her back. Wendy’s Louisville Ballet instructor encouraged her to come to class every day and do everything she could even though she was very limited. Her teacher knew that she had worked hard to get to the level she was at, and needed to keep her focus if she wanted to keep her dreams afloat. So that’s just what Wendy did. Once Wendy’s final cast was removed, she said she felt like a bird that had been freed from its cage. She could jump and kick higher and she felt more powerful than ever. She could feel the change in her body from her newly straightened back. In 1981, Wendy auditioned and was accepted into a summer ballet program in New York. She was invited to stay through the winter, and within a year and a half, she was attending the School for American Ballet on full scholarship and living in New York City at age 15. She joined the New York City Ballet just 2 years later and by the age of 24, she was promoted to principal dancer. A proud Kosair Kid ® Wendy performed with the NYCB for 30 years. Her final performance with the company was in October 2014 and sold out within minutes. Wendy has traveled around the world thanks to dance, and has been a guest artist with The Royal Ballet and with the Kirov Ballet. Wendy says she still has a lot of dance left in her, and is now working in the world of contemporary dance. Wendy’s current hip surgeon is amazed at how balanced her hips are and how centered her head is over her pelvis, and believes that was what helped make her into such an incredible dancer. Wendy attributes her balance to the doctors at Kosair. Wendy said, “I tremendously valued my time at Kosair Crippled Children Hospital. It made me mentally, emotionally, and physically who I am now.” Wendy is a proud Kosair Kid® and an advocate for those with scoliosis. Kosair Kid® Wendy Whelan Top/ “Wendy’s Louisville” banner is located at the J. Graham Brown School (corner of 1st and Muhammad Ali Blvd.) Above/ X-ray of Wendy’s back with scoliosis.
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Page 5 and 6: Kite Tales|FALL 2016 | 5 Charitable
Page 7 and 8: Kite Tales|FALL 2016 | 7 Kosair Cha
Page 9 and 10: Kite Tales|FALL 2016 | 9 Bluegrass
Page 11 and 12: Kite Tales|FALL 2016 | 11 Left/ Pot
Page 13 and 14: Kite Tales|FALL 2016 | 13 2016 Cele
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Page 17 and 18: Kite Tales|FALL 2016 | 17 High Flye
Page 19 and 20: City BBQ’s First Anniversary City
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Page 23 and 24: Working hand in hand with more than

Kite Tales

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