Legacy

In the spring of 1996, I was fresh out of college and more concerned with planning my upcoming wedding than the new job I had just begun as the Monroe County 4-H agent. Don't get me wrong, I had lots of ideas and excitement, but most of them were colored by the limited world of Extension I had seen in my home county. But, there I was thrust into the middle of a lively program with plenty of opinionated people. Even "my office" was filled with the history that was Monroe County 4-H. Front and center was Kela Lyons. Not her personally, but her many accomplishments. Lots of Kentucky 4-Hers hosted Japanese exchange students, but Kela went to Japan. Pick any project or event and Kela had some how done it bigger and better. Not only had she done all these things, but somehow managed to include everyone with her. She brought back gifts and art work, she shared her stories, and seemed to have made every one she knew feel as if they had a personal part in her achievements. Everything we did was compared to Kela. I heard about her wedding, her job, her life. Some days I wondered if her essence walked around the building at night. As a new face trying to make a name for myself and my kids, I sometimes felt discouraged that the bar was so high.

When Kela opened her practice in Bowling Green, it was almost a mad dash to beat down her office door. Subjects that are never discussed in polite company seemed to be overheard at every extension function as people bragged on the wonders of Kela Fee. Shortly there after, I moved on from Extension to deal full time with the infertility battle we were fighting and eventually on to adoption. My gyn at that the time was not as ready to give up the infertility fight and felt the need to discuss additional options with me at every appointment. My raw nerves could not handle this and so in desperation, I made an appointment with the famed Dr. Fee.

Past experiences made me a little leery. Most great people eventually read and believe enough of their own press that they make me crazy. Not Kela. She was everything everyone had said and then more. She talked with patients while they were still dressed. She remembered names and details and would ask to see pictures of my now growing family. She welcomed newborn babies into the world with a kiss and made even the most yucky exams more bearable with discussions of cute shoes and "mom" jewelry. She kept up with it all. As some of you all will remember, I began a bought with serious illness about the same time she was diagnosed with much worse than I had going on. Despite that, she apologized when she saw me in the mall. She was worried that my case had to be transferred and that something would fall through the cracks. She had so much to deal with and yet still worried about my little details. I have never been happy with a doctor since her. Plain and simply, no one will ever be able to live up to that amazing standard she set.

What a legacy. What an impact she has had on everyone around her from childhood until her last breath. No one is perfect. No one can do it all, but to leave the world better than we found it is truly the legacy we should all strive for. Without a doubt, Kela left everyone in her world, better for knowing her.