MedWest-Harris Receives $900 Donation from Nine-year-old.

9/12/2011

SYLVA – When Abby McLeod’s parents asked her what she wanted for her 9th birthday there was really no hesitation. She told them she wanted to give a donation to help children in need. 

So for Abby’s birthday she requested her friends and family bring a donation to give to MedWest-Harris instead of a gift. She is the daughter of Mike and Whitney McLeod of Bryson City.

“Initially with didn’t think it would amount to more than a couple of hundred dollars but as people heard about what she wanted to do more people and businesses chipped in,” said Whitney McLeod.

Abby, her parents, and her little sister, Adison, recently presented the $900 donation to Christy Reagan, Director of 3East, and Melanie Moody, Care Team Coordinator for 3East, where babies at MedWest-Harris are born, and pediatric patients are cared for.

They presented the check in the very same room where Abby was born nine years earlier.

When asked about her donation, Abby said, “I just had plenty of stuff and I wanted to give some of it to other kids who could use it. I challenge others to do the same.” She added, “I would like to thank everyone for their generosity in making this birthday wish come true.”

The donation will assist with making upgrades to the unit with a portion going towards the purchase of a much-needed pediatric wheelchair for the unit. Abby’s name will be placed on the chair to recognize the donation.

Abby and her family live in Bryson City where her mother, Whitney, works for the Swain County School System and her father, Mike, works for the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. Abby’s grandparents are Gary and Phyllis Davis of Robbinsville and Ray and Jackie McLeod of the Needmore Community in Swain County.

If you or someone you know is interested in making a donation to MedWest, please contact Steve Brown, Executive Director of MedWest Foundations at 828-631-8891.