In The News

Southside Place Man Has 'Leg Up' on Happy New Year
By Lisa Viator

In less than a month, Southside Place resident Richard Kennedy has lost and regained a car and a leg and, in the process, personified the spirit of the season with his attitude of faith.

Kennedy, 71, whose prosthetic leg was in his car when it was stolen from his apartment complex in the early morning of Nov. 21, was calmly accepting of that latest streak in April when he was involved in a motorcycle accident; five months later and mere weeks after receiving his first prosthesis, his car was stolen outside his apartment.

Village News and Southwest News television partner KTRK-Channel 13 featured Kennedy's story on Nov. 23 on several evening broadcasts. Before the story featured on the 5 p.m. broadcast ended, Kennedy received a surprise phone call.

"A young lady from TMC Orthopedic at Willowbrook Mall called to say her company wanted to provide me with a new leg, for free, "Kennedy says. "I thought it was a crank call. When she finally convinced me, I was overjoyed. That's quite a gift. I cried many tears and I still cry when I think about it."

Quite a gift, indeed. Kennedy say the first (and stolen) prosthetic, was covered by Medicare at a cost of more than $9,000, Had TMC not stepped up to the plate, he would have been on his own to pay for the second.

Kennedy won't be alone today when he treks to Healthsouth Rehab in the Woodlands, where Kennedy will receive the new leg. A film crew from Channel 13 will be there to tape the event and will air the segment tonight,

Kennedy will likely watch the broadcast, but soon after he'll be off to the Melody Ballroom, near Fondren and Westheimer, with his best girl, Lou Scarborough. That's where the pair met, and Kennedy says they're happy to be headed back to the dance floor. He says he's overwhelmingly grateful to all the help, support and prayers he's received throughout the year.

"I'll be standing for Christmas," Kennedy says. "Not riding around in a wheelchair anymore, but back on my own two feet."