A special man
by Kelly Van Tuyl
The Kansas City Times
Early in 1983, my husband Dennis and I started a fund-raising campaign for our 3½-year-old son Jesse. He has a very rare blood disease called Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome. His main problem is immune deficiency. Jesse’s only hope of living a normal healthy life is a $100,000 bone marrow transplant. We wrote several thousand letters to businesses, churches, unions, etc., asking for help. The response was wonderful, but one man in particular – John Sullivan – responded and hasn’t stopped helping to this day.
John Sullivan has been the financial secretary for Electrical Workers Union Local 124 for the past 14 years. He is loved and respected not only by fellow union members but everyone who knows him. He cares about people and has a special love for children.
Dennis’s aunt and uncle, Clarence and Erlene Craighead, own several pieces of rental property, one of which we live in now. Another burned in January 1985. They were gracious enough to sell it to us at a very low price so we could rebuild. We had to get Jesse a room of his own. He’s been in our room for 3½ years and it’s time to move on. We knew it would be a big task to rebuild, but it seemed like our only hope of ever being able to buy a house. With the help of Dennis’s mom and stepfather, a construction loan was taken out, so we started in.
When Mr. Sullivan found out what we were up to, he again jumped in to help. He contacted different unions to try and get us some help. Plumbers Union Local 8 has completed our plumbing, Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 2 has done our heating and cooling, and Electrical Workers Union Local 124 is doing our wiring, all at no cost.
We cannot express enough our appreciation and thanks to Mr. Sullivan for all his hard work and devotion. As have many others, we have grown to love and respect him. He is a very special man and we hope he remains a part of our lives.
We also would like to thank Ed Drake, president of Local 124, for all of his help and support; also, Local 2 and Local 8 for their most generous contributions.
People helping people is what this world is all about. Dennis and I have great respect for unions in general. They do care and are a group of giving individuals, as demonstrated by what they have done for our family.
John Sullivan has been the financial secretary for Electrical Workers Union Local 124 for the past 14 years. He is loved and respected not only by fellow union members but everyone who knows him. He cares about people and has a special love for children.
Dennis’s aunt and uncle, Clarence and Erlene Craighead, own several pieces of rental property, one of which we live in now. Another burned in January 1985. They were gracious enough to sell it to us at a very low price so we could rebuild. We had to get Jesse a room of his own. He’s been in our room for 3½ years and it’s time to move on. We knew it would be a big task to rebuild, but it seemed like our only hope of ever being able to buy a house. With the help of Dennis’s mom and stepfather, a construction loan was taken out, so we started in.
When Mr. Sullivan found out what we were up to, he again jumped in to help. He contacted different unions to try and get us some help. Plumbers Union Local 8 has completed our plumbing, Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 2 has done our heating and cooling, and Electrical Workers Union Local 124 is doing our wiring, all at no cost.
We cannot express enough our appreciation and thanks to Mr. Sullivan for all his hard work and devotion. As have many others, we have grown to love and respect him. He is a very special man and we hope he remains a part of our lives.
We also would like to thank Ed Drake, president of Local 124, for all of his help and support; also, Local 2 and Local 8 for their most generous contributions.
People helping people is what this world is all about. Dennis and I have great respect for unions in general. They do care and are a group of giving individuals, as demonstrated by what they have done for our family.