A mother's heart for making a difference

In November 2006 Tom and Cyndie Johnson were on holiday with their daughters, Desiree and Aubree, and son, Jordan. There in the hotel room, while peacefully sleeping, 15-year-old Jordan experienced sudden cardiac arrest. Within minutes their handsome, healthy, athletic boy was gone. Five months later Tom would be killed when a drunk driver hit he and Cyndie's motorcycle while they traveled in Mexico.

I'm in awe that Cyndie has the strength to not only get out of bed every day after such profound loss but to be dedicated to honoring Jordan and Tom's lives with her actions.On Saturday, Aug. 27, her Straight From the Heart Foundation will hold the first free Youth Heart Screening at Post Falls High School from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sudden cardiac arrest in teens isn't limited to athletes and Cyndie inspires to provide the specialized screening at no cost to area youth.

Mentored by another mother's foundation, Nick of Time in the Seattle area, it made sense to piggyback within a few days of a westside screening for the sharing of equipment, hence the August 27 date. Said Cyndie ... the irony of scheduling the screening on August 27, the significance of which she hadn't mentioned to anyone, is that it would have been Jordan's 20th birthday.Contact Cyndie Johnson Lempesis at [email protected] if you would like to schedule a free screening for a young person age 14-24. Also if you'd like to volunteer your time and/or medical expertise on Aug. 27, let Cyndie know.

*** Anyone out on Hayden Lake this evening can experience a real treat. The "yacht club," a loose-knit group of friends, including Clark House owner Monty Danner, will present a first-ever musical program that was the brainchild of Phillip Moss. Internationally renowned pianist Ron Pass is performing for guests this summer on the patio of the Clark House. Today from 5 to 7 p.m. he'll perform on a floating barge that will feature the Clark House's stunning white grand piano, which will be on the water in front of the Hayden Lake Country Club.

This event definitely qualifies for the "I Love Where I Live" files.***

Enjoyed this past week with three of my four siblings. One sister, Janna, lives in Hayden, brother Reeder is here for a visit from Long Beach and baby sis Ronna was up for the weekend from Blackfoot. Love those birth order photos that might be contenders for the awkward family photos website. :)***

A picture perfect summer weekend with the excitement of the hydroplanes on Lake Coeur d'Alene as the marquee event. My favorite visual of the day ... Hydromaniac and regatta organizer Doug Miller all suited up in the pits for a thrilling ride in the Miss Thriftway. I bet he's still grinning like a little kid on Christmas morning.

***Sunday evening on Scott and Sharon Shawver's Spokane River dock we saw what looked like a dozen or more hummingbirds flitting around their very large petunia "tree." Upon closer inspection they weren't birds at all ... the odd creatures were insects. I do believe that's the first time I've ever seen a sphinx moth.

***It's North Idaho Fair time and that means just one thing ... my famous corn shirt will be worn once again. :)

***Happy Birthday today to Eric Burgeson and Kim Perry. Tomorrow is a special day for Ali Shute, Jeff Selle, Staci Anderson, Angie Penzkover, Cindi Carlson, Jeff Mannshreck, David Flood and Lita Balbin. Sofia Armstrong celebrates her second birthday on Friday, along with slightly older folks Troy Blood, Cam Crollard, Andrew Evenson, Pam Grenny and Julie Rinard. Saturday milestone 60th birthdays will be marked by Ed Mitchell and Jan Frank. Aug. 27 birthdays also belong to Peggy Sawicki and George Forgacs. Wish Jack Reiswig, Michelle Garcia, Becky Fletcher, Spencer Messina, Darlene Johnson, Loretta Richards and Jude DeTar happy birthday on Sunday. On Monday, Jeannie Peugh, Bob Myklebust, Cody Jewell and Cindy Foulk will blow out their candles and on Tuesday it's a big day for Bryan Williams and Stefany Mealey.

***THERE'S MORE: New stories and photos almost every day at More Main Street. There's a link also for adding your birthday to the Main Street Birthday Club! Access at cdapress.com, columns tab.

***Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. She was voted Best Local Writer for 2010 by the readers of the North Idaho Business Journal. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press. More Main Street blog is at http://moremainstreet.blogspot.com. Listen to Main Street Monday on KVNI AM1080. Kerri can be reached at [email protected]