How many surgeries have you had and how long did they take?
I have had three liver transplants in three different years. My IV caught on fire right after I was born, so I had to stay in the hospital for six months because of that. Then in 2006, I had a fistula. Which means that my intestines were pushing out of my stomach which made it extremely difficult to eat. I had to go without eating for several days that is why it was very low chances of me surviving.
Did you believe you would survive?
Yes, I did believe I would survive even though I was very scared when I saw my mother crying.
How did having these surgeries impact or change you?
I used to brag a lot. However, after my surgeries I was much nicer to people. The fact that I was alive after all that I had been through made me more grateful towards life.
What motivates to keep you going everyday?
I love to go to school. I like my teachers and my friends. When I was in sixth grade, I used to come to school sick. I looked yellowish green, I was very very sick. I was almost passing out but I still came to school, because I did not want to skip. Sometimes, I had to layed down and then walked very slowly to classes. One day a teacher found me laying down and had to hold me so I didn’t fall while I was walking. Then I had to go to gym, I did not do anything. I just walked alone. I was afraid during basketball that the ball would hit me so I used to hide in the gym locker room and the gym teacher found me. He was worried something happened to me.
What are your plans after graduation?
I love baseball. My favorite teams are the Cardinals and the Yankees. I want to study business management after high school. I want to be a sports manager for one of these teams and get myself into the baseball hall of fame.
What is your message to the other people who are inspired by you?
I was bullied by my peers in third grade because I was short and different. I am writing a story about my journey. I want this story to not only inspire other people but to show those bullies that I survived, I am fighting and will keep on going strong.
Did you have anything you want to add?
Do not bully people who have disabilities. Do not bully people who have cancer or heart attacks. And who are short. It is not ok!
![“[I think being a teacher comes] from a place of experience, where we all enjoyed high school. It had a meaningful impact on us, which was [the case] for me. I had a lot of good mentors in high school, and seeing the opportunity, the impact that they could make, I think [that was] what inspired me. [It] definitely goes back to one teacher in particular [that] I had in eighth grade, he was a huge role model for me, and somebody who I was so appreciative of what he did for me. I figured if I could do even a fraction of what he did I feel like I would be very fulfilled [in] myself, and so there's just that aspect of wanting to do something meaningful every day.” - Kaleb Schumer, English](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_9428-1200x800.jpeg)
![Looking out into the audience, senior Jack Mullen solos “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Frank Sinatra at the annual winter choir concert on Dec. 10. Mullen volunteered to sing a solo to aid the transition between choir groups on stage. “I chose that song because I really like the crooner genre when it comes to holiday music. [That song] had all the element[s] of Michael bublé, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. Also, it's a simple melody, so I did vocal gymnastics when I could and made it my own,” Mullen said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/jackedited-1200x800.jpg)
![“Hitting that ball hard is just pure satisfaction. I’m on the varsity tennis team, and it’s funny because I actually got pressured into joining, but we actually [had] a really good season. I’ve been playing for three years now. My favorite part is definitely going to other schools and meeting other girls. Tennis is really fun and it's a good stress reliever, but something that [stresses me out] is definitely tests [at school]. When things [start to] stress me out, I just tell myself that [I] can get there because everyone will move on and [will] get there [too].” Alisha Yin, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/alishayin-copy-1200x800.jpg)
![Under the hoop, senior Chloe Kallaos and the cheer team line up before they begin their cheer routine on Feb. 10. The seniors celebrated by wearing t-shirts that each underclassmen made for them. “My shirt was made by one of my teammates, [sophomore] Elizabeth Knott. It’s a tradition for the underclassmen to make t-shirts for the seniors to wear on their senior night. In my sophomore year, I made one for Madi Nuernberger and Sami Milholland,” Kallaos said. “My favorite part was seeing my fellow seniors fly when some of them don't normally get the chance to fly. It was fun to see my friends try new skills,” Kallaos said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Image_20240217_231546_661-1.jpeg)
![Holding his two smiling daughters in his arms, Principal John McCabe celebrates earning his doctorate degree. He attended Maryville University for two years and reached his goal of achieving a Doctor of Education: Educational Leadership degree after months upon months of hard work and long nights. “I'm not going to lie, I'm glad I have another night of my life back when I'm not at school till very late,” McCabe said. “I can spend more time with my family and with my friends [who] are here at [West]. I'm really happy about that.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/mccabefeature.png)
