LAKEWOOD Nearly one year to the day after the car accident that left her comatose, friends and family of Meggi Ward came together to support her care.
The 18-year-old was a junior at Lakewood High School, and the LHS campus served as the cross country course for the fun run fundraiser for her May 12.
Tanya Davenport, a classmate of Wards who graduates this year, and Nic Caldwell, who graduated last year, organized the event with the aid of Jeff Sowards, who taught Wards advanced placement U.S. history class and coached her in cross country track.
She had a quick wit and was very fun to be around, Sowards said. She had an understanding of worldly matters well beyond many of her peers. Having intelligent conversations with her was easy, because thats the level she was already at.
Caldwell credited Sowards advice and aid in coordinating the event, over the course of the past two months, with helping to make the fun run possible. Caldwell likewise echoed Sowards praise for the days turnout, estimating that the fundraiser drew more than 120 attendees and generated $5,945 for Ward and her family.
The hardest part was getting the word out to everyone in the community, said Caldwell, whose mother paid for many of the prizes handed out after everyone had reached the finish line. I must have spent $110 on color copies, making posters to put everywhere. It was worth it, though. Once you meet Meggi, youll never find anyone else like her. She was outgoing and crazy and excelled at everything. No matter how bad your day was, she could always cheer you up. Shes just a good person.
LHS senior Ross Trevino not only ran the two-mile course, but has also maintained a near-daily journal about Wards progress online at www.caringbridge.com/visit/meggiward. Trevino reported that he receives calls from Wards mother almost every night, updating him on the state of her health.
I started the site a couple of days after the accident, Trevino said. Shes definitely worth it. She was a fresh, spunky, cheery individual who was the life of the party and made sure everyone had a great time. She brings out the best in people. The page already has 50,000 views, so its not just me saying this. Theres a lot of love out there for her. I cant even put into words how special she is. Shes one in 6 billion, and shes totally worth all this time. Its not even an effort.
Wards father, Bob, expressed his gratitude to everyone he met during the event, smiling and shaking their hands as he thanked them for their concern and contributions. A year after the accident, he still spoke highly of the emergency response and medical personnel who responded to the call, as well as the various local merchants and community groups who have pitched in on behalf of his familys needs.
It costs about $5,000 a week to provide her care at the Childrens Country Home in Woodinville, said Bob Ward. Luckily, my work insurance covers a lot of that, but there are still incidental expenses. The Cascade Bank in Smokey Point opened an account to pay for many of our medical and legal expenses, that people can donate to. Ive just been so surprised and touched that so many people have chosen to help support us.
While Meggi remains comatose, Bob noted that she has surgeries scheduled and added, They dont know if shell come out of this, but if anyone can do it, she can.