Cynthia (Cindy) Saavedra:  

. . . After our awesome graduation from WHS in May 1971, I moved to KCMO for 6 months, then enlisted in the Navy, and served 3 years of active duty at US Navy bases in Maryland, Tennessee, and California. After my Navy enlistment was up, I enlisted in the US Army and served as a recruiter for a little over 3 years. I've worked for five law firms in CA, WA, and MO, working my way up from System Administrator to Personnel Director. My last employer was Government Employees Health Association (GEHA), the 2nd largest provider of health insurance and dental insurance forUS federal employees - and an outstanding place to work. After more than 19 years of service as a Human Resources professional, I retired from GEHA unexpectedly last year at 57 due to a septic staph infection from which I am still recovering. I was diagnosed about 10 years ago with Psoriatic Arthritis (similar to Rheumatoid Arthritis), and haven't been able to resume taking all of my treatments because they wipe out my immune system. During 2010, I took medical leave from my job to have a second total knee replacement. Unfortunately I developed a whopping case of MSSA, Medicillin Susceptible Staphylococcus Aureus. I had fevers up to 108 and was re-admitted four times after the jinitial joint replacement surgery. I was discharged with a PIC line and on IV antibiotics three different times; I lost more than 50 pounds, and am still working to get my strength back. After spending 42 years working, it's been difficult for me to make the transition to that of a retired disabled person. I'm glad to be at home and very glad to be alive. When I'm stronger, I plan to return to school to finish up some undergrad classes and then embark on my Master of Science in Psychology. I met John Saavedra in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1975; he was the Administrative Officer for the same recruiting command I was assigned to; we ma...Expand for more