NBC12.com-Richmond, VA News, Weather, Traffic & SportsMan honored for lifting spirits

ACTS OF KINDNESS

Man honored for lifting spirits

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By Sabrina Squire - bio | email
Posted by Terry Alexander - email

  • Acts of KindnessActs of Kindness

  • Tuesday, May 22 2012 6:18 PM EDT2012-05-22 22:18:42 GMT
    The past few weeks, I've been hitting the streets in Richmond and Henrico catching people on the spot who're willing to pay it forward with $300. Today, I return to where our Acts of Kindness journey began
    I asked Dori if she knew someone we could both pay it forward to. She told me about the friend who's like a second mom.

  • Tuesday, May 15 2012 5:31 PM EDT2012-05-15 21:31:52 GMT
    Sometimes it takes a village to pay it forward. I hit the streets in Henrico at the White Oak Shopping Village to find someone ready on the spot to pass on a $300 Act of Kindness. I was certain my
    I hit the streets in Henrico at the White Oak Shopping Village and met with Michelle Johnson, a bus driver with Henrico Public Schools.

  • Tuesday, May 8 2012 6:25 PM EDT2012-05-08 22:25:37 GMT
    Nominations for our $300 Acts of Kindness segment usually come via phone or e-mail. But for the next few weeks, I'm hitting the streets all around town, to catch people willing to pay it forward on the spot.
    Nominations for our $300 Acts of Kindness segment usually come via phone or e-mail. But for the next few weeks, I'm hitting the streets all around town, to catch people willing to pay it forward on the spot to someone in need or reward someone's good deeds.

  • Tuesday, May 1 2012 5:34 PM EDT2012-05-01 21:34:51 GMT
    After the sudden death of a Prince George police officer three weeks ago, loved ones wanted to honor her memory with an Act of Kindness for the people she called "her" heroes.
    After the sudden death of a Prince George police officer three weeks ago, loved ones wanted to honor her memory with an Act of Kindness for the people she called "her" heroes.

  • Tuesday, April 24 2012 6:28 PM EDT2012-04-24 22:28:17 GMT
    RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - Sometimes family ties can test us in ways we never imagine. We're paying it forward to a bachelor who suddenly found himself being a surrogate parent to an active pre-teen, while
    We're paying it forward to a bachelor who suddenly found himself being a surrogate parent to an active pre-teen, while also caring for his own critically ill mother. His friend calls him a strong, inspiring role model who deserves an Act of Kindness.

  • Tuesday, April 17 2012 5:40 PM EDT2012-04-17 21:40:56 GMT
    We're paying it forward in Chesterfield to a woman her neighbor calls "the most compassionate caretaker." Not only is she managing her own family's serious medical issues, she's opened her home to displaced families and pets, and looks after kids around the apartment complex.

  • Tuesday, April 10 2012 5:57 PM EDT2012-04-10 21:57:21 GMT
    A knit hat warmed a local woman's "heart" so much, she tracked down the person who knitted it and nominated her for today's Acts of Kindness.

  • Tuesday, April 3 2012 8:05 PM EDT2012-04-04 00:05:02 GMT
    We're paying it forward to a woman who takes care of seven hundred children and dozens of adults several days a week. She's such a great asset to her school and everyone in it, she's been voted support staff person of the year several years in a row and today she's our Act of Kindness recipient. 

  • ACTS OF KINDNESS

    Tuesday, March 27 2012 6:25 PM EDT2012-03-27 22:25:37 GMT
    Lots of us remember an exceptional teacher who made us believe we could succeed at anything. Today a grandmother and cancer survivor is paying it forward to the educator she says has given her confidence that she absolutely will earn the diploma she's been longing for. Their teacher-student bond is this week's "Acts of Kindness."

  • ACTS OF KINDNESS

    Wednesday, March 21 2012 8:10 AM EDT2012-03-21 12:10:09 GMT
    In this week's Acts of Kindness, we pay it forward to someone who opened their heart and their home to one of our viewers.

CAROLINE, VA (WWBT) - Kevin Pleasants plays, sings and directs choirs at a couple of Caroline County churches. 

"Everybody loves him, everybody loves to hear him sing," said Harolynn Quash. 

Kevin found the keys to contentment at a young age. 

"I was 15 when I started playing, the Lord called me at that age," Kevin recalled. 

With relatively no formal training Kevin was ministering through music.  

"5 months later I was playing for the church I play for now. I'm 50 years old now," he said.  

For nearly half his 50 years, Kevin has been making music while battling medical issues. 

"Neurological problems with my muscles, nerves. There are times when pain so severe I really don't feel like doing anything," he explained. 

"Even when he's down and not feeling well he still goes out to play with the choir," added Harolynn. 

Three years ago this musician got a chilling diagnosis: acoutic neuroma. "I've been struggling through a lot; I had a brain tumor removed in 2008." 

At least seven more surgeries followed. Removing the tumor required severing nerves for hearing and balancing.  

"Just this week I've been having balancing problems, my wife said ‘what do you keep falling down for?'" Kevin said. "It's strange hearing out one ear, but the Lord makes it so I'm able to continue." 

Church members, family and friends helped pay for a hearing aid. Last summer Kevin got a special type of cochlear implant, a bone anchored hearing aid. 

"They drilled a hole, and then screwed [the implant] into my skull," Kevin showed us. "The hearing aid actually snaps on to the implant." 

He could hear in stereo again, but by fall another setback when the implant came out. "I woke up felt something hit my shoulder," Kevin recalled. 

Kevin and his wife were devastated to learn the surgery would have to be redone.   

"We just text each other every day, every other day to see how each other is doing," Harolynn said. "Let him know there are people out there that love him." 

Longtime friend and cancer survivor Harolynn Quash wanted to do more.  

"I was sitting here kept watching you all on Channel 12 about the Acts of Kindness," she said. We answered the call, with $300 cash. 

"He's gonna be surprised, I tell you that much, he's not going to believe that I did this," said Harolynn. 

We were about to find out, just a short drive, and we arrive at Pleasant's place. 

HAROLYNN: "So Kevin the Act of Kindness from Channel 12, I nominated you. They chose you, so today Alex and me coming to you to present $300."
KEVIN: "Thank you. (Laughs)"
SABRINA: "So what do you think of what your friend has done?"
KEVIN: "I appreciate this. I need this $300. It's a blessing to us."  

Kevin says he can get more hardware for his head, a new pair of spectacles to replace the one's he had to cut after surgery. 

"I'm actually going to go today to Lens Crafters and find myself some glasses," Kevin said. 

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