POWERGRAMS

A serious family illness has a way of taking your peace, your joy, your calm – it can almost take your breath away. That was the case for Tasha Sullivan, whose family was plunged into fear in 2005. Her then-17-year-old cousin, Steven Mitchell – a seemingly healthy high school junior – was readying to play varsity football. When Steven suddenly became ill, his parents took him – time after time after time – to see a doctor. But when Steven began to sleep constantly, his father insisted on more medical tests. The results weren't what the family hoped to hear: Steven had leukemia. "The doctor said, 'You have to fly to St. Jude's Hospital tonight,'" recalled Sullivan, Mobile Division Marketing specialist. "Someone flew him for free to St. Jude's, and we stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Memphis while he was in treatment." Though he continues to receive twice annual tests at St. Jude's Hospital, Mitchell is cancer-free: "We are all so grateful to St. Jude's and to Ronald McDonald House," she said. After Mitchell's diagnosis, Sullivan and another cousin began volunteering at Ronald McDonald House in Mobile through Theodore United Methodist Church. "We wanted to give back to them for everything they did for our family," she said. Walking through a hallway of Ronald McDonald House, Sullivan saw a tiled listing of sponsors. "I noticed right away that Alabama Power wasn't listed," Sullivan said. "I was like, 'Where's Alabama Power?'" She sprang into action. A member of the Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO), Sullivan was eager to introduce the project to the Mobile Division APSO board. "That started the ball rolling," said APSO State President Ryan Allenbach, Mobile Division Marketing specialist. Since then, Mobile and Barry APSO chapters have held fundraisers and other events to help. Mobile APSO members collected paper products, laundry detergent and cleaning supplies. Magic City members have helped clean and cook at the Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham. Remembering other volunteers' thoughtfulness and the hearty meals she enjoyed at Ronald McDonald House in Memphis, Sullivan said, "We started cooking 13 Barry, Mobile volunteers bring meals to kids' parents BY DONNA COPE • PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAN ANDERSON APSO Ronald McDonald House families enjoy homestyle meals cooked by members of Barry and Mobile APSO chapters.

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