Posted on Thu, Dec. 30, 2004
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Holiday is a mixture of joy and sadness
AMID TRAGEDY, COMMUNITY RALLIES AROUND COACH'S FAMILY
Mercury News
Christmas at the Davey home in Campbell was
celebrated this year with a mixture of joy and sadness.
Christmas Eve marked 11 months since 38-year-old Kathleen Davey suffered
cardiac arrest while exercising in her home. Her daughter Samantha, now 7,
dialed 911, and emergency workers were able to restart Davey's heart.
Since then, husband Mike Davey, a teacher and basketball coach at Saratoga
High, has been a model of perseverance and strength. He has been at his wife's
side every day. Relatives help him raise Samantha and 5-year-old Rachel while
he copes with the tragedy.
On Dec. 11, Kathleen Davey, 38, finally came home. She stays in a new
addition to their home designed to help with her rehabilitation.
The family is happy to have her home, where Rachel and Samantha can spend
time with her in comfortable surroundings.
``The girls hang out and play with their dolls and watch movies on her
bed,'' said Mike Davey, 36. ``It gives them a chance to be at home and not in
the hospital.
``The community has been unbelievable. They help out with the kids, offer
their time and help raise money. It's wonderful to see, it's been beyond my
expectations. But I see this as a tragedy.'' Kathleen is still unresponsive and
uses a feeding tube, but she has already beaten some odds. After the incident,
she was given her last rites, and the family was prepared for her death.
Last week, the Saratoga community rallied around the Daveys as Saratoga held
its annual alumni basketball game. Mike Davey served as the referee for 30
former players who returned for a fundraising event that raised $4,500 to help
with medical costs. Insurance coverage ended for Kathleen Davey at the
beginning of the month.
Mike Davey is coaching again this year, and the Falcons are off to a 10-3
start, including a victory at the Prospect Tournament earlier this month.
``I don't know if there was one moment that I decided I had to coach,'' said
Mike Davey, whose father, Dick Davey, is the men's basketball coach at Santa
Clara University. ``I just kept going. I told the team I wouldn't be there like
I was before, I'm not able to scout like I could before, so they have to mature
as a team and take more responsibility.
``It's good for me because of all the unhappy things in my life. It gives me
some joy to see the kids playing.''
The basketball community has also taken notice of the Daveys' plight.
Friday, the Falcons play at Mountain View, and Spartans Coach Bob Heckmann has
turned the game into a fundraiser to help with medical costs. The frosh-soph
game begins at noon, with the varsity game set for 1:30 p.m.
All proceeds from the gate and concessions will go to a foundation set up to
help with Kathleen Davey's medical costs.
Mike Davey chronicles his wife's rehabilitation in a journal that can be
viewed at www.saratogahigh.org.
On Christmas Eve, he made the following note:
``The greatest loss is Kathleen's influence in our daily lives. She is still
here, but her empathy, laugh, sense of humor and excellent advice are sorely
missed in this world.''
Contact Dennis Knight at dknight@mercurynews.com.