Karen Knieb

Interim President
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Hello! I am Karen Kneib. My family is from Waterloo, Illinois. I received two bachelor’s degrees from SIU Carbondale and spent several years teaching English in Austria. When I returned, I met Dave Kneib and moved to St. Louis. We have been married for 35 years and have three children, one grandson, and three fur grandbabies.

I worked in sales for Dave’s family’s business for many years. I then got back into teaching as a long-term substitute teacher for Pattonville School District, covering maternity and long-term sick leaves. Dave and I bought a flower shop and enjoyed working together. We sold the business when Dave’s lungs would no longer allow him to do much work around the shop.

Dave received his bilateral lung transplant in January 2013. As the wife and caregiver of a transplant recipient, I am aware of the many concerns and issues that arise in connection with this wonderful gift.

Through my association with Second Wind, I hope to increase awareness of the need for organ donation and to raise funds to assist others on their path in transplantation.
 

Beverly Crosby-Blackmon

Board Member
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Nick Ingram

Board Member
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Michael Kilfoy

Board Member
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Michael Kilfoy is a passionate creative, marketer, designer, and photographer. He is the owner and Chief Creative Officer of Studio X, a brand marketing, design, and photography firm located in Maplewood, Missouri. He has extensive experience in branding working in all facets of digital and print media. He has done extensive branding, design, and photography for Great Rivers Greenway, The Salvation Army, the City of Maplewood, Straub’s, The South Grand Business District, Second Wind Lung Transplant Association, and many businesses throughout the region. He authored a nationally award-winning book on the city of St. Louis called St. Louis Seen and Unseen and CID: A Journey, a book about the Central Institute for the Deaf.

Brigitte Mittler

Board Member
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Greetings everyone, my name is Brigitte Mittler. I am a Clinical Research Coordinator with the Lung Transplant team. I grew up in nearby Union, Missouri, and became a St. Louisian while attending college at Washington University. I received bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Anthropology. I have been working at Washington University Medical School since 1999, first in Psychiatry and then in Pulmonary & Critical Care since 2006. I have the privilege of working with many of our amazing patients and their families while exposing them to the wonders of medical research. Lung transplant has made a huge impact on my life and I am honored to have made so many wonderful friends.

I am the proud dog mom to 2 fuzzballs, Moses and Myles. My stress relief is running half marathons and even a couple of marathons (although, I’m not that crazy anymore). I have 8 states left to finish all 50. I am also working toward 100 half marathons in total (currently at 77). I can’t wait for the pandemic to end so I can finish both these goals! I am an avid supporter of the Cardinals and Blues.

I first learned about Second Wind from our respiratory therapists. I then participated in the Lung Walks and trivia. I look forward to spreading awareness of organ donation and continuing the mission of the Second Wind organization as a board member.

Michael Williams

Board Member
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Hello all. My name is Michael Williams and I am Michelle Bass-Williams’s husband. I was born and raised in North County by two loving parents that gave me strong Midwestern values and work ethics. I have been in the electrical/electronic controls industry for more than 30 years, 27 years of those in various sales roles. Like others with Second Wind, I come to the organization from that of a caregiver. To be honest, I knew nothing of the organization before my wife’s transplant. You see Michelle stepped off of the cliff and her disease escalated from being told she would need a transplant in the middle of October 2012 to being blessed in having one on December 9, 2012, just before being intubated.

To say we were on the roller coaster ride from September of 2012 until the beginning of 2013 is an understatement. This was the most trying time, but the most rewarding of my life. You see, my wife has a second chance at life because a family made the unselfish and generous decision to donate their loved one’s organs. I cannot fathom having a loved one in a position where this decision needs to be made at a time of grief. That is why I encourage everyone to make the decision to become an organ donor, so loved ones are not in a position to make that decision should the time arise. Michelle and I learned of Second Wind from some friends of hers, Brandi and Ben Akers. Brandi, a lung transplant recipient herself, and Ben a coworker of Michelle’s in the past. Because we had heard nothing but good things about the organization we decided to participate in the Lung Walk as a part of Brandi and Ben’s team. My wife, as she does most things, dove in headfirst and was all in for raising funds for Second Wind.

Soon after this, we started attending the Sunday afternoon socials, as I call them, and began to make friends with the people that attended. Everyone shares their experiences with one another, making all feel more relaxed and not alone in the effort, even if they did not realize this was happening. All in attendance were so friendly, gracious, and thankful. It is a great environment to be around, especially for those that may be having difficulty after transplant. Michelle and I learned more about Second Wind and how they help those pre-and post-transplant patients with their monetary and social needs. Michelle and I believe we can help this organization. With my strong business and sales background, I hope to help Second Wind increase their awareness in the community and thereby the money with which they can help those in need. There will be challenges, but with communication, the strength of the community, and desire, I believe we can overcome anything thrown our way.

Ramsey Hachem, M.D.

Medical Advisor and Columnist
Washington University School of Medicine Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care

Second Wind St. Louis is honored and pleased to present articles written by Dr. Ramsey Hachem, MD. Dr. Hachem practices at Washington University School of Medicine Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care. He became the physician representative on Second Wind St. Louis’ Board of Advisors in 2004. Dr. Hachem studied medicine and completed his residency at the University of Texas Medical School followed by a fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis.

A member of the BJC Lung Transplant team, he specializes in treating diseases of the lungs and is board certified in Pulmonology, Transplantation, Critical Care, and Internal Medicine. Dr. Hachem sees patients at the Jacqueline Maritz Lung Center of Washington University and at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. He has been kind enough to contribute these articles to Second Wind about lung transplantation and related topics.

Standing Committee Chairpersons

Lung Walk and Trivia Night Chairperson

Karen Kneib
Chairperson
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Newsletter

Karen Kneib
Co-Editor
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Nick Ingram
Co-Editor, Proof Reader

Committee Members

Dr. Ramsey Hachem, M.D.
Medical Advisor and Columnist