WMS Student Helps Friend with Special T-Shirts
Fundraiser Developed for KJ Russ Following Spinal Surgeries
Launch the media gallery 1 playerA student at Wahoo Middle School came up with a unique way to help out a friend.
Kirk Lindstrom, an eighth-grader at the school, designed T-shirts in support of fellow eighth-grader KJ Russ.
KJ had three surgeries last month in Omaha for spina bifida, said Kirk’s mother, Bev, a second-grade teacher at Wahoo Elementary.
“It’s just a way that we can help out in some way,” Lindstrom said. “We certainly can’t make the pain go away. We’d certainly like to do that, but this is something we can do.”
Kirk made a logo for the T-shirts and took it to Gottschalk Athletics in Wahoo. Owner Eric Gottschalk helped refine the design and printed the T-shirts.
Kirk also approached several businesses in town to seek out sponsorships for the shirts.
“He was just impressed and amazed with everyone and how willing they were to help sponsor the shirts,” Lindstrom said. “It was just nice support from our community. So many of them were just happy to help out.”
The shirts, which cost $10, are available at all of the public schools in Wahoo. They also can be ordered online at www.wahooschools.org.
Money raised from the sale of the shirts will assist the family in paying medical bills.
KJ’s mother, Lisa, is a language arts teacher at the middle school and he also has a sister who attends the middle school.
Lindstrom said she tries to take Kirk and some other friends in to see KJ -- who still is going through intensive rehabilitation at the hospital -- whenever possible.
While she is proud of her son’s desire to help a friend, Lindstrom also has been impressed with KJ’s attitude throughout the surgeries.
“Every time I go to see KJ I’m just in awe of the courage he’s showing and how brave he’s being,” she said.
Anyone wanting to track KJ’s progress and read about his life can do so at www.carepages.com/carepages/KJRuss/updates.