Matthies Family
John and Diana Matthies could not have children of their own, so instead they have helped raise other people’s kids. They have cared for more than eighty foster children in their Olathe, Kansas, home during the past 10 years.
Two of those children came into their home and never left -- 9-year-old Kiki and 11-year-old Jamica.
“Jamica was 1 year old, and Kiki was 1 day old,” Diana said. Even though the girls have lived with this stable two-parent family nearly their whole lives, like any children, they have challenges.
“One day we were at the KVC Outpatient Clinic, and Kiki was having a bad day,” Diana said.
Denise LeBow, a KVC outpatient therapist, saw what was happening and took charge. “Denise totally defused the situation and we have been seeing her ever since,” John said. Sometimes LeBow provides family therapy at the couple’s home.
Diana and John are so thankful that the KVC Outpatient Clinic is there to serve them. They use it for everything from medication management for their girls’ ADHD to well checks.
“They are nearby and always just a phone call away. I don’t know what we’d do without them,” Diana said. Besides the Olathe location, KVC has an Outpatient Clinic at its Wyandotte County campus.