KnockKnockTX.com

I would like to share with you an amazing gift I received this week from my sister and a generous listener & her family from 94.9 KLTY radio station. KLTY is a DFW Christian radio station. I was dismissed from the hospital December 15th and today I received a phone call from my sister. She begged me not to be angry with her and that I needed to remember she loved me. Kim had a prayer request and she had been praying God would answer her prayer request for over 9 days. She learned today her request had been answered.

She promised me I would receive a phone call from her later today explaining the rest. She called back via a conference call. It was then I learned she had submitted my name to the KLTY Christmas Wish Campaign and her wish for me had been granted. The listener asked to remain anonymous and agreed I could use her first name. She and her family have had their lives impacted by breast cancer and they had lost a family member this past year. They knew only too real the impact breast cancer can have on a family.

The past 6 months
For us the financial cost of the disease has been tough for us but we have been fortunate to have had some plans in place. We had faced this hurdle only 18 months earlier. We were just getting our feet back on the ground. We often wonder what happens with other families that do not have a plan and/or lack insurance.

 - John has been able to continue to work full-time as a police officer having the support of my parents and friends getting me to appointments and trips to Houston.

- I have been able to use my annuity account with early withdrawals for medical reason. We will pay taxes and penalties but it has allowed us to keep our home and cars. It has helped us to meet all our co-pays and the many expenses we have endured when we travel to MD Anderson. We have had 3: 7-14 day hospitalizations including one extensive stay in the ICU.

- It is amazing the cumulative costs for medications, tests and hospitalizations. Our monthly medical copays have been $1,000 - 1,500. I  had been able to work up until this past month. The multiple hospitalizations and 6 months of chemotherapy have really adding up. I am now on short term leave with requires a month of lost wages prior to reimbursement kicking in.

Despite the past financial costs we have seen, the 6 months have been filled with amazing gifts and support from family, friends and strangers.

- Jennifer and I were gifted a graduation trip to Hawaii.

- David and I participated in 2007 Komen 3-Day Walk and were selected to be a part of their 2008 Ad Campaign.

- Our gift from a Julie & her family making the holiday Christmas season easier for John and I. While our medical bills have continue to mount; we promised Julie, per their request, we would use some of the money to purchase gifts that would make this a special holiday for our family.

Kim’s Amazing Nomination Letter to KLTY
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From: Coen, Kim
Sent: Monday, December 10, 2007 5:14 PM
To: ‘kltychristmaswishnomination@klty.com’
Subject: Nomination for Christmas Wish

I would like to nominate my sister, Stephanie Gaworski.  She is married with two children ages 17 & 15.  She is currently battling stage IV breast cancer that metastasis to her liver, spine and lymph nodes.  Right now she is unable to work so her family has lost her income as well as with co-pays and other medical expenses running between $1,000 to $1,500 per month.  Things have been really tight for them.  She has a blog about herself at www.knockknocktx.com, should you have a chance to read what an inspiration she is for everyone.  During all this time she has focused on the positive side of things and has tried to be an encourager for others.  At the time of this letter she is at Baylor All Saints Hospital with complications from her last chemo treatment.

I asked her what she and her husband are doing for the kids for Christmas and she said that she really did not know, but that her husband would not let them go without, they would find a way to give them something.

I would like to see them not having to worry, if just for a month, about her medical expense and for many people to pray for a miracle for her.  And that she can be home and surrounded by all of her family that loves her very dearly during this Christmas holiday.

Thank you and may God bless everyone this holiday season,

Kim Coen

What is the 94.9 KLTY Christmas Wish?
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During the holiday season, 94.9 KLTY helps out the DFW metroplex by initiating two promotions called The 94.9 KLTY Christmas Wish. Through the generous donations of the 94.9 KLTY listeners and their advertisers, 94.9 KLTY is able to donate over $660,000 back into the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. To take part, listeners simply stop by DFW Chick-fil-A to make a contribution. 100% of all funds raised are given back to the DFW Community. These promotions help to make Christmas wishes come true.

- They ask our listeners to email them Christmas wishes or nominate a Christmas Wish Recipient. 94.9 KLTY then selects a letter a day starting November 26th through December 24th, and make their wish a reality!

- Notebooks are compiled of letters not selected and readers are given the opportunity read through the notebooks and make personal selections. This is how our letter was selected.

Kim’s Thank You Letter to Julie & her Family
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From: Coen, Kim
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2007 3:52 PM
To: Julie
Cc: Steph Gaworski home
Subject: RE: Christmas Wish

Julie,

Thank you so much for granting my wish for my sister.  You will never know just how much it meant for me and my family.  I know that God was and is in control of all things.  I will always thank Him for your generosity.

I also look forward to meeting you in January, and I hope that you and your family will have a very blessed Christmas. I have copied this e-mail to Stephanie, so you should be able to see her email address, if not it is stephaniegaworski@charter.net.

Sisters in Christ,

Kim Coen

Tomorrows to come
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Nearly everyone has been touched in some way by breast cancer. It is hard for us to imagine a world without breast cancer given how pervasive the disease has been in our life. Let yourself envision that world, it’s not a fantasy. It’s a reality within our grasp. I should have to look at the mirror in the morning and say: Will I survive? Everyone deserves a lifetime: No family should loose a mother prematurely, a dear friend, sister, wife, daughter, or co-worker.

I promise you this: it through God’s grace and his promise of salvation that I step foot out of bed each day. It is support from family, friends and strangers that continue to uplift us in prayer and provide daily comfort. To each and every one we wish you a very Merry Christmas.