Weavers blessed by Kidron United Fund
Kidron Council will host an Easter egg hunt on April 26 at the Kidron Park front diamond.
During the two terms Harry Weaver was on the Kidron Council, he didn't realize he would help start something he would personally benefit from years later.
In the early 2000s, he was part of the committee that started the Kidron United Fund, a drive done every year before Christmas to help nominated members of the Kidron community who are struggling with various problems.
This past fall Weaver was selected to be one of the recipients of the 2024 United Fund after a year of health issues including two major surgeries.
Weaver began experiencing numbness down to his knee and back pain. After doctors' visits, he found out he needed surgery. But his pre-op surgery had to be canceled due to a problem with his aortic valve failing.
“I knew my back hurt, but I didn't even realize I had heart issues,” Weaver said.
Even with the pain and the numbness, Weaver worked excavating with his track hoe up to the day before his six-hour back surgery in February 2024.
“He's the toughest person you ever met,” his wife Edna said.
After the surgery he had a five-day stay at Summa Health. He then was transferred to Walnut Hills Nursing Home for therapy and home care for eight days.
Then during his first checkup at the Crystal Clinic, he was fainting and was transferred to Aultman Hospital for syncope, which they found was related to his blood pressure medication. While at the hospital, he had a positive stress test and underwent cardiac catheterization, which relieved multiple blockages. Three stents were put in March 2024.
Weaver still needs a valve replaced, but when they found a blood clot on his lungs, surgery was delayed six months. When he met with his doctor in November 2024, the doctor told him, “You've had enough for this year. It's not a rush to replace this valve.”
Weaver will meet with the heart doctor in March 2025 and will find out then when a valve surgery could be.
In the meantime Weaver stays busy doing excavating work and doesn't seem to be slowed down much by his setbacks in 2024. He exercises morning and evening for a half an hour on the stair stepper his family got him for Christmas, has a sharp mind, and uses a cane to walk to help with his balance.
“I didn't realize (the community) raised that much money,” Harry Weaver said.
The Weavers used the donated funds to pay for medical expenses and transportation. They also enjoyed the box of groceries shoppers contributed to at Kidron Town and Country Store.
The other 2024 Kidron United Fund recipient was the Moe and Lusi Hostetler family. Born in Liberia, West Africa, Moe Hostetler was adopted at age 12 by Dan and Sue Hostetler and grew up from that point in Kidron.
At age 31, in April 2024, Moe Hostetler was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of T-cell lymphoma and passed away at the end of 2024.
“We are greatly humbled and appreciative of the generosity of the council and community that blessed Lusi and the boys with such an offering,” Dan Hostetler said. “It not only enabled Lusi and the boys to help pay medical bills, but also provided a special Christmas for them. Your thoughtfulness and compassion is appreciated more than words can express. In this time of need, your love offering was such a blessing to Moe's family.”
Besides the Kidron United Fund, Kidron Council does other community-building events.
The next one will be an Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 26 at 1 p.m. at the Kidron Park front diamond, with a May 3 rain date.
Kidron Days will kick off June 12-14 with local yard sales, a benefit meal on Friday evening and a Saturday morning timed run. Residents can call or text 234-799-2137 to add their yard sale address to the map. Yard sale days will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Kidron Fun Nite will be July 22 starting at 5:30 p.m., with a July 23 rain date.
For more information visit www.kidroncouncil.com, email kidroncouncil@gmail.com, call 330-641-1824 or send a message on Facebook.
The United Fund Drive will accept nominations in the fall and wrap up the drive to get the groceries and monetary gifts to the families before Christmas.