Kathy Rhodes

PINEVIEW - Kathy Rhodes has spent her entire life helping other people.

Now it's their turn to help her.

If she could, she would get up out of her wheelchair Saturday night and tap her toe to the Dixie Rhythm Singers at a gospel concert at Fullington Academy down the road in Pinehurst.

If she could raise her arms, she would hug every one of the 1,600 people expected to attend the benefit concert and chicken dinner being held in her honor.
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Two months ago, Kathy was diagnosed with the advanced stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, an incurable nerve disease more widely known as Lou Gehrig's disease. (It claimed the life of the popular baseball player in 1941.)

Doctors have given her anywhere from six months to two years to live.She will celebrate her 46th birthday Sunday.

Kathy's family lived in Pineview until she was ready to start school, then moved to Hawkinsville, where she graduated from high school in 1977.

She met Terry while working at Robins Air Force Base.He was from Pineview.Even though they had lived only a few miles apart when Kathy was a child, they never knew each other until they met at RAFB.March 24, they will celebrate their 26th wedding anniversary.

Terry was first diagnosed with cancer in 1998.He has had six surgeries and suffered a heart attack in January 2004.

Kathy joined the staff at Fullington 11 years ago.For six years, she was an assistant in the school's Learning Center, working with students with learning disabilities.She eventually became the school's secretary.She resigned in January after her diagnosis.

About a year ago, doctors and family members suspected she might have suffered a mild stroke.Her speech grew slurred.She gradually lost control of her right hand.
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Fortunately, Kathy has a wonderful support system with sons Russ and Wes, along with Terry's brothers and sisters (his parents are deceased).Fullington and their church, Friendship Baptist, have also helped. (Kathy has a prayer pager at (800) 204-8750.)

"Kathy has always been there for other people," said Jan Peavy, director of the Learning Center at Fullington.
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Kathy can no longer raise her arms to hug.

That's OK.This time, everybody will be hugging her.

Reach Grisamore at 744-4275 or egrisamore@macontel.com.Visit his Web site at www.grisamore.com.