The ‘Feel Good” Stories of 2016
Waynesburg Central High School senior Morgan McDowell suffered a stroke during a basketball game on Jan. 25. Her mother, Karla McDowell, said the community support was overwhelming.
Greene County resident Tom Young, who passed away last February after losing his battle with lung cancer, was a hard-working and well-known man who did various odd jobs in the community. And the community paid him back in kind, providing donations for his burial expenses. (Submitted photo)
Waynesburg Borough Police put a message on the rear windows of three police vehicles to bring attention to Morgan Yoney’s need for a double lung transplant. From left: Chief Rob Toth and Officers Tom Ankrom and Shawn Wood. (Courtesy of Waynesburg Borough)
The 21st annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Greene County, held April 30-May 1 at the Waynesburg Central Raider Field of Pride, kicked off with an opening ceremony and the traditional Survivors Lap, in which more than 100 cancer survivors participated.
Carly Riggi, a student at Jefferson-Morgan High School, poses with a personalized painting that she created and presented to a patient at Rolling Meadows Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Waynesburg.
Jacob Robison, 11, of Carmichaels was granted a wish last year by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome when he was just four days old and has since gone through four open heart surgeries and other surgeries.
Braedyn Wasko (front and center) is all smiles as he poses with players and coaches from the Carmichaels Area High School football team during a pep rally on Sept. 30. The players and coaches shaved their heads to show their support for Wasko, who was diagnosed with cancer. (Photo by Jacob Meyer)
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Over the past two issues, the Messenger has presented the biggest news stories of 2016 in our annual “Year In Review” feature. After compiling and publishing the installments, our staff realized that almost all of the stories presented in the Year In Review were articles that focused on negative topics such as criminal cases, drug epidemics and environmental hardships. A closer look at our issues throughout the year, however, revealed that there were just as many — if not more — uplifting and inspiring stories found in our pages in 2016, positive stories that shone spotlights on local people and events committed to helping others in need. So, here are some of the “feel good” stories that we published in 2016 that made us proud to be Greene Countians.)
Community offers ‘overwhelming’ support for area teen
On Jan. 25, the McDowell family’s lives changed dramatically as Waynesburg Central High School senior Morgan McDowell suffered a stroke during a basketball game against Beth-Center.
Since then, a multitude of support was shown to Morgan and her family, in many different ways; and Karla McDowell, Morgan’s mother, said the support as well as the cards and prayers were “just overwhelming.”
In addition to cards and prayers, a benefit dinner was held at the Morris Township Community Center in Nineveh on Sunday, Feb. 7, which brought a “wonderful turnout,” according to Sadie Wright, a junior public relations major at Waynesburg University and friend of Morgan.
“It’s incredible how the community can come together,” said Becca Nash, who helped plan the event, along with members of the Morris Township Fire Department.
Fundraisers and T-shirt sales are currently underway at her high school as well.
In remembrance of the night of Morgan’s incident, Beth-Center donated the proceeds from their senior night toward Morgan’s recovery.
That night on the basketball court is not one Morgan’s family or teammates will soon forget.
Waynesburg Central Assistant Basketball Coach Shakila Kienholz has enjoyed coaching Morgan and said she is a good leader, someone who has been seen spending extra time with younger teammates, teaching them the game.
Kienholz said she saw Morgan limping on the court that night, but thought it was a knee injury because of her history of knee problems. She suggested she be taken out of the game, but the referees would not stop play. Soon after, she collapsed.
Nurses at the scene suggested she be taken to the hospital under the suspicion of a stroke, so the McDowell family flew to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh where the stroke was confirmed by doctors, who insisted immediate action.
It was determined that Morgan had a blood clot near her brain and required surgery to stop inflammation. She was transported to UPMC Presbyterian and the surgery began.
During the surgery, doctors discovered Morgan has a blood disorder called Factor V, which caused the blood clot. Morgan spent four days in ICU and then started rehab.
Karla McDowell expressed her gratitude for the support of family and friends across the country, which included a prayer chain going in eight states.
Community comes through for inspirational jack-of-all-trades
Area residents may remember seeing a solitary man making his way to Waynesburg by foot daily along Route 21 from his home just outside Eastview.
For the past 12 years or so, the man, Tom Young, went into town to do various sorts of odd jobs, including washing windows. Fortunately for Young, several different people who knew him would often stop to give him a ride into town.
Whether it was cleaning out a basement, shoveling snow off sidewalks or tearing down a whole house — which he did occasionally using only a crowbar, sledgehammer and electric saw — Young always worked with enthusiasm and speed. To further supplement his income, he also recycled metals and operated a continuous yard sale at his home.
“Those of us who got to know Tom found him to be a very generous, positive person with a good sense of humor,” said Chuck Baily, friend and former president of Baily Insurance and Real Estate of Waynesburg.
According to Baily, it was hard to get Young to talk about his past. What is known is that he grew up in New York and Ohio and was one of nine siblings, though he has not been in touch with them for almost three decades. He was married to Linda May Toland, now deceased, but they had no children. His most recent “family” included eight cats, which were all well-trained and cared for.
Near the end of last year, Young began having health problems, and on the week of Jan. 17, he was admitted to Washington Hospital’s critical care unit. There, he was diagnosed with lung cancer, pneumonia and sepsis. A week later, he transferred to the Donnell House in Washington, then to Rolling Meadows in Waynesburg.
When chemotherapy was considered as a treatment option, doctors decided that Young wasn’t strong enough to go through with the procedure. His weight had dropped from 130 pounds to 100 pounds, but, with oxygen, he was able to breathe comfortably. However, early on Sunday morning, Feb. 28, Young passed away in his sleep.
Fortunately, Young was able to visit his cats twice after he got back to Waynesburg. But he wasn’t able to do the other thing he really wanted to do — personally see and thank everyone for their friendship and loyalty to him.
“We talked about driving up High Street and having his customers come out to the car to see him, but Tom knew he didn’t look very well,” Baily said. “And he also just didn’t have the strength for it.”
Tom’s cats are now out of the mobile home and in the care of the Humane Society of Greene County, which is adopting them out to good homes.
“The man we all know as the ‘window washer’ was a whole lot more,” said Trish Eddy, friend and Internet online coordinator for First Federal Savings and Loan of Greene County. “Tom often inspired me with his hard work and willingness to walk the journey daily to seek odd jobs. His hard work and dedication to this community will always be remembered by many.”
“I truly believe that God sent Tom to our community to show folks who judge people by their appearance instead of their hard work and kindness,” she continued. “If you were one of those people or businesses that supported Tom and his effort to make his way in this world with work, bless you. For all of us that have experienced the inner soul of Tom, we are truly blessed. I am certain Heaven has the cleanest windows it has ever had.”
With no relatives or finances, getting Young cremated and buried seemed like a challenge. But the community came through for the man many had come to know and respect. Melody Longstreth, executive director of the Waynesburg Chamber of Commerce, got involved and sent out a mailing to Chamber members. As a result, over 20 businesses and individuals have donated a total of $1,500 for his burial.
Paul Lesako of the Lesako Funeral Home in Carmichaels has agreed to cremate Young below the usual prevailing cost, and Todd Moore offered a plot in Oakmont Cemetery including a simple headstone. Moore is also working on an etching for Young’s stone, which will feature a man washing windows.
At noon on Tuesday, March 15, friends and customers of Young gathered at Hot Rods in Waynesburg for lunch and an informal memorial conversation celebrating his life and sharing several Tom Young tales.
“The Tom Young story is just one more example of why we should be very proud of our community,” Baily said. “There are several stories of generosity and loyalty to Tom over the years. And to see him have a proper burial and headstone is a nice tribute to him.”
As a final note, some of Young’s ashes was scattered along Route 21 from Eastview to Waynesburg, the route he walked each day. The rest of Young’s remains was set in his final resting place — a plot in Oakmont Cemetery.
Morgan’s Army ready for battle, continues to grow
In a story published in April, Tammy Yoney said she was overwhelmed by the incredible support her 21-year-old daughter, Morgan, received while she was anxiously and prayerfully awaiting a second lifesaving double lung transplant.
Morgan was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was 9 months old and for much of her life, she did quite well. But when she was 12 years old she lost a lot of her lung function and on Jan. 15, 2010, Morgan had a double lung and liver transplant at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh.
However, in May 2013, she took a turn for the worse and was diagnosed with humeral rejection of the lungs and steroidal rejection of the liver. Her liver recovered but her lungs did not.
In desperate need of a second double lung transplant, Morgan’s story reached far beyond the hamlet of Spraggs in Greene County where she and her parents live.
After local media published her story in early spring this year, her plight and fight was soon picked up by Pittsburgh television markets. Morgan’s Facebook page was filled with supportive postings and photos and soon a Morgan’s Army page was created.
There were several fundraising events to help the Yoneys cover their medical bills and anything else they may need.
“It’s just incredible to see the support from people taking time out of their day to give Morgan well wishes and pray for her,” Tammy Yoney said.
Signs with O+ Lungs Needed for Morgan Yoney are appearing throughout Greene County and elsewhere, including on the rear windows of three Waynesburg Borough police vehicles.
Waynesburg police Officer Tom Ankrom asked Chief Rob Toth if they could put the message on the vehicles and he gave his blessing.
“We have been following Morgan’s Army since 2011,” Ankrom said, “and this is our way to show support through a mobile billboard. We need to spread the word about organ and direct donations for her,” he said. And Toth said, “This is not about us; it’s about her.”
Meanwhile, on Facebook the supporters show no signs of letting up their dedication to this cause, especially after the following message appeared on the Morgan’s Army page:
“We are on the ‘Hunt for Lungs’ and it is a race against time to hunt down a set of O+ Lungs for … Morgan Yoney … who is awaiting her second double lung transplant. It has been 600 days since she has been put on the transplant list and she is in dire need of O+ lungs to survive! Her lung function is at 19 percent and dropping. If you know anyone with a connection, please encourage them to make a direct donation by contacting Morgan’s Army on Facebook.
We need to spread her message across the U.S. on signs via businesses, residential areas and on cars. The Message is ‘O+ Lungs needed for Morgan Yoney.’ If we can create a large enough awareness, we may see a modern day miracle.”
Following that post, a number of individuals, businesses and organizations too numerous to count joined Morgan’s Army. People posted information on how to contact local and national television news and talk shows to spread the message, and photographs were posted daily of people holding signs, as well as businesses and cars with signs and messages asking others for support.
Pittsburgh news stations KDKA and WTAE have featured Morgan and her story, and word continued to quickly spread.
Another memorable Relay For Life
The Waynesburg Central High School Raider Field of Pride was filled with excitement, celebration, music, laughter and tears at the end of April as people of all ages and from all walks of life gathered for the 21st annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Greene County.
A large number of area businesses, agencies, schools, churches and individuals who participated in the event helped make the event a truly memorable and special affair, participating in a traditional fundraising initiative that has raised close to $2.5 million over the past 20 years and counting.
The annual fundraising event — which is held across the nation and around the world to raise money for the American Cancer Society’s ongoing battle against cancer — once again featured an emotional opening ceremony that was followed by a wide array of activities offering fun for all ages throughout the 24-hour Relay.
As is tradition, the Greene County Relay kicked off with the annual torch run. The torch was carried by runners representing the county high schools. The runners were escorted by members of various local police departments and members of the Patriot’s Dream Riding Association.
After the torch arrived at the Relay, it was time for the opening ceremony, where Relay representatives presented special plaques to the many individuals, businesses and agencies that supported the Relay.
For the 15th year, WTAE-TV personality Andrew Stockey served as the master of ceremonies for the opening ceremony. During his opening remarks, he acknowledged the many volunteers who served on various Relay committees, as well as the many teams, schools, agencies, organizations, businesses and individuals who donated or raised money for the cause.
He also recognized the many entities that sponsored different aspects of the Relay; in all, nearly $35,000 was raised in sponsorships alone this year.
Stockey also recognized the other fundraising initiatives that were held — and are being held — to benefit the Relay, including the 14th annual “Rockin’ Rollin’ Relay,” which will be held at Rolling Meadows Nursing and Rehabilitation on May 6; Waynesburg University’s ninth annual Mini-Relay, which was held on April 17 and raised over $18,000; and Waynesburg Central Elementary Center’s fifth Mini-Relay, which will be held on Tuesday, May 24.
It was also announced during the opening ceremony that Greene County was recognized on a national level yet again, for winning the All-American Relay Award. This award is presented to a Relay For Life event that shows growth in all aspects of the event from survivor engagement to overall money raised.
Relay Co-Lead JP Smith also announced that the Greene County event received another special recognition.
“With the help of our amazing teams, and the wonderful folks of Greene County, for the fifth year in a row Greene County has received national recognition from the American Cancer Society,” Smith said. “With our outstanding fundraising performance last year, Greene County was awarded the 2015 Per Capita Award. This is an award that is given to a community based on the amount of money raised and the amount of people living in that community.”
Following the opening ceremony, it was time for the traditional survivors’ lap, in which roughly 100 cancer survivors participated. Just before the lap began, each of the survivors were introduced and then walked the first lap behind a large banner that read “Survivors — Celebrating Life!”
The opening ceremony and survivors’ lap was just the beginning of a busy day filled with a wide array of activities geared to the ongoing battle against cancer.
Days after the event ended, Steven Gillis, Relay For life senior community manager, said he was proud of what was accomplished during the 2016 Relay and recognized the support the Relay received from the co-leads, committee members and volunteers of all ages and all walks of life.
“I am still blown away by the amount of support the community shows our event,” he said. “It is not like that in every community, and I am proud to tell everyone that I am the staff partner for Greene County’s Relay.”
Students bring smiles to Greene County seniors
The patients of Rolling Meadows Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Waynesburg found themselves with wide smiles stretching across their faces on Friday, May 20, when students from the Jefferson-Morgan High School Art Club presented them with personalized paintings.
The paintings that the students created varied greatly in style and subject, but each work of art brightened the day of a senior citizen of Rolling Meadows.
This was the third year that the Jefferson-Morgan High School Art Club has teamed up with Rolling Meadows to bring joy to the residents.
The annual project was founded by Mike Lesko, the Jefferson-Morgan High School art teacher. Lasko said he was inspired to start a community project as a way to get his students to use their artistic talents to enrich the lives of others. After brainstorming with his students, it was decided that the senior citizens of Greene County were the perfect candidates for the community project.
“Students need to see life situations and also bring smiles to people,” Lesko said.
A total of 18 students participated in the project and partnered up with patients from Rolling Meadows. Sixteen-by 20-inch canvases were graciously provided by Rolling Meadows and the art supplies were provided by the school. The resulting artwork was a combination of talent, inspiration and collaboration with the seniors of Rolling Meadows.
“The advanced Art and Art 2 classes came up with a questionnaire for the patients that had about 20 questions on it,” Lesko said.
The students then used the answers from the questionnaire to create a work of art that would have personal significance to their partner. After weeks of painting, the students visited Rolling Meadows both to meet their partners in person and to show them the art they had custom-created for them. The seniors responded with both big grins and tears of joy.
Connecting students to patients through art was a rewarding experience for both parties. For some students, such as freshman Michael Ludrosky, it was the first time they had an opportunity to see how they could reach out to other members of the community through their artwork.
“It was my first time doing something like this and it really made me feel good to be able to bring happiness to someone with my artwork,” Ludrosky said. “I can’t wait to do it again next year.”
Even students who have participated in the project since its inception, such as senior Carly Riggi, were still touched by the joyous reactions of their partners.
“It’s very emotional because you start to feel what they feel,” Riggi explained. “You get to know your partner, and then when you finally get to meet them, your emotions really take over.”
Lesko said he was pleased to see how well his students responded to the project.
“I think after seeing and hearing the students when we leave makes it all worth it,” Lesko said.
The impact of the project leaves a lasting impression on the students and serves as an important lesson that artistic talent can be a great gift to the community.
“It’s such a nice thing to give back,” Lesko said. “I’m lucky to have students who have talent like they do, and to see our students understand life situations and how to make the older generation smile, that’s an important life lesson.”
Make-a-Wish brightens life of Carmichaels youth
Eleven-year-old Jacob Robison of Carmichaels has had more than his share of hard knocks. But last May, thanks to an organization devoted to making childrens’ dreams come true, he enjoyed one of the best experiences of his young life.
Diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome when he was just four days old, Jacob has since gone through four open heart surgeries and seven catheterizations and other surgeries. At the moment, he has an enlarged liver and his heart rate is slower than normal.
Jacob manages to attend school but is not allowed to play sports and his activity in gym class is limited. But like many other boys his age, he had a strong desire for the last several years to visit Disney World in Florida.
In 2014, Jacob’s parents got a letter from the Make-a-Wish Foundation informing them that someone had made a referral for Jacob and that he might be eligible to have his wish granted. At that time, his mother, Wendy, felt her son wasn’t ready for the experience, partially because doctors were monitoring his condition.
Last May, however, she felt Jacob was ready, and she initiated a referral of her own. After the foundation screened his application, his wish was approved. Jacob, his mother and father, his brother, Wyatt, 3 and step-brothers, Kevin, 13, and Darin, 11, flew to Orlando, where they spent seven days touring Disney World, Legoland, Sea World and Universal Studios.
As a Make-a-Wish Child, Jacob also received a Genie Wish Pass at Disney World and his entire family was presented with fast passes at Universal Studios, which gave them immediate access to the front of the wait lines.
The entire cost of the trip – everything from air fare and hotel accommodations to meals and entrance park admissions – was paid for by Make-a-Wish.
“This was my family’s first flight on an airplane and our first visit to Florida,” Jacob’s mother said.
Although there were a couple of roller coasters his mother wouldn’t let him ride due to his condition, the boy did get to do everything else he wanted to.
“The trip was everything I thought it would be,” said Jacob, who added that his favorite experience was riding Expedition Everest, a roller coaster. “When I got home, I told all my friends about the trip. I can’t wait to go back again some day.”
Jacob’s mother said her son loved his trip to Disney World and that it was fun for the entire family.
Carmichaels players, coaches shave their heads in support of student
Before the start of their game against Mapletown on Sept. 30, the captains for the Carmichaels Area High School football team went out for the coin toss without their helmets.
They weren’t being forgetful, nor were they staging any form of protest. Rather, they did it to show off their recently shaved heads, which was done to show their support for a fellow student.
Earlier in the day, all 41 members of the Carmichaels football team, as well as several coaches and community members, shaved their heads in support of a local 10-year-old boy with cancer at a fundraiser held in the same place the Mighty Mikes would play that night.
Three days before his 10th birthday, Braedyn Wasko was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a cancer that accounts for one percent of childhood cancers. The doctors found Braedyn’s cancer after he was hit by a baseball pitch on back-to-back days in April. If those baseballs had not hit Braedyn, they may not have found his cancer as soon as they did, before it metastasized.
Braedyn’s mother, Carla Hughes, said the fundraiser raised about $8,000 for Braedyn’s medical and travel expenses, as he has about two more months of chemotherapy before possibly having surgery to remove the tumor in his leg.
“There are really no words to describe what this school district has done for us,” Hughes said. “This is a very small community. For them to do all of this today, it’s amazing what they’ve done.”
Braedyn added, “It’s meant a lot. It’s pretty cool that they all did this for me; it’s pretty awesome.”
Hughes said her son was most worried about losing his hair, which is mostly gone now, from his chemotherapy treatments, leading to the fundraiser at the pep rally.
“He’s excited because now he knows that in this little area he’s not the only one who is bald, and that’s what he’s been worried about was (losing his hair),” Hughes said. “So now he’s a little bit more comfortable because he knows he’s not the only one.”
Carmichaels head football coach Ryan Krull, who helped spearhead the fundraiser, said the amount of money raised for Braedyn shows how special the town of Carmichaels is.
“Tough times like this you get to really see people’s true colors,” Krull said. “There’s been so much support from everyone throughout the community.”
Krull first found out about Braedyn’s cancer from his older brother Colby Wasko, who used to play for Krull on the football team. When it was time for Colby Wasko to get his hair shaved, Braedyn came over and took the clippers.
“I thought he was going to cut my ear,” Colby said, laughing. “He said before he was going to purposely do it.”
At the end of the pep rally, sophomore lineman Jacob Turner took a moment away from the guys to look out onto the empty football field.
“It’s just tough seeing that he’s 10 years old and he has to go through this,” he said, holding back tears. “He got dealt a bad hand. He’s 10 years old and he shouldn’t be going through this, so we’re all going to go through it with him.”
Krull, who had his eyebrows shaved because he is already bald, said the pep rally is something he will never forget.
“Proud would be the first word that comes to mind,” Krull said. “Proud of Braedyn Wasko … with the outlook he has in fighting this thing has taught us all something. I’m proud of our players as well. To have our guys to understand we’re doing something for a greater cause, it gives me chills.”
Carmichaels would win the football game against Mapletown 35-0, clinching the team a spot in the playoffs.
But Carmichaels Area High School Principal John Menhart said it wasn’t about the game that night.
“It’s just incredible; it goes way beyond a football game,” he said. “The kids have rallied around this young man who is part of our family.”