Winter 2002

Mike King Thanks Co-Workers for Amazing Generosity

"I just want to say thank you to everyone who helped make Kayla's dream come true," says Seattle Lighthouse Boeing Department Lead, Mike King. Mike, who is visually impaired due to retinitis pigmentosa, has worked at the Lighthouse as a machinist since 1991.

In late August while Mike and his wife Sandra were working and their daughter Kayla was in day care, burglars broke into their apartment. Mike's specially adapted computer was stolen, along with the family's entertainment center and other items. Most painful of all however, was the loss of five-year-old Kayla's piggy bank. "She had been saving up for a doll house," Mike says. "It upset her so much."

In the meantime, National Industries for the Blind flew Mike and his family to an annual conference where Mike was honored as Seattle Lighthouse 2001 Employee of the Year. Upon his return, his co-workers presented him with a present for Kayla. "They gave me a great big piggy bank filled with coins for Kayla," he relates. "You should have seen her face when she found out. She just lit up." Mike and Sandra discussed the gift with their daughter. "I told her maybe she should wait on buying the doll house," Mike laughs. "I told her maybe Santa would bring it. But, oh no, she had to have it right away. So, we went and got it for her."

Mike asked that his family's gratitude be expressed publicly in the Seattle Lighthouse Horizons newsletter. Mike describes his feelings about his co-workers in one word: "Wonderful."

Horizons Main Page | Home