If you take your kids to the Mercy Pediatric Clinic on Highway 102 in Rogers, then you’ve probably seen and talked to Ms. Shelley plenty of times. For years, she was the friendly face at the check-out desk where you pay your bill before leaving the clinic.
To the countless number of kids who also saw her there, she was the nice lady handing out suckers or stickers or whatever goodies she had to offer. She always sympathized with her little patients and even handed out many medals of bravery for those kids who got their kindergarten shots or endured some other medical procedure they weren’t happy about. When my son Jack was a year old and pulled a lamp off a table onto his head, he had to get a few staples in his head to close the wound. He earned one of Ms. Shelley’s medals in the process and had his photo posted on her “wall of honor” near her desk with lots of other kids.
Unfortunately, Ms. Shelley has had some medical problems recently which has forced her to retire earlier than expected. But she didn’t want to ride off into the retirement sunset without saying goodbye to the hundreds of kids she has come to know over the years. If your child is one of them, you can drop by her Goodbye Party on Saturday, August 15th at 2 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Parrish Hall on the corner of 9th and Oak Streets in Rogers. It’s a potluck luncheon, and there will be games and prizes for the kids! You can RSVP to 479-871-9962.
Thanks, Ms. Shelley, for your years of service and for being so kind to sick kids while doing a job you loved. Here’s hoping you’re feeling better soon and enjoying a great retirement!
