Memories of John McCallie Bolinger

John McCallie Bolinger MD

1949-2005

The establishment of Keep Shedding Foundation http://www.KeepShedding.com was inspired from the life of a dear freind John McCallie Bolinger MD who died on May 29, 2005 while hiking Mt. LeConte in the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. John Bolinger, MD, faithfully dedicated his life and work in the field of psychiatry to helping adolescents who were too poor in spirit and finances to dream. With incredible generosity, he quietly paid for the education of scores of young people so they could attend private high schools and colleges. "Dr. Bolinger saved my life," is heard by many whose path he crossed. His boundless good cheer and unshakable belief in a world that holds hope for everyone inspired many to climb up unimaginable heights. His infectious laugh, loving heart, and generous spirit lives on in the multitude of lives he touched. Live Well! Laugh Often! Love Much! John Bolinger sure did save my life! I first met in him in 1986 after taking a job as a nurse at Valley Psychiatric Hospital in Chattanooga, TN. My first day at work I was approached by my director of nursing who gave me my first project. JOHN BOLINGER. She said my assignment was to meet him, build a relationship with him and set up treatment team meetings with the adolescents he admitted to the hospital. (For those of you who knew John well, you know WHY he was my first project. John was "at times" a little difficult to track down!) I asked her how I would know who he was. "He has an infectious laugh and drives a Saab Convertible." A week later while in the hospital lobby, I heard the "infectious laugh" and I knew it was him. We immediatley struck up a wonderful conversation. I walked away from that meeting thinking WOW! What an incredible man! If I ever go "crazy" he's the guy I want to take care of me! Little did I realize it that several months later I would be right there ---recieving the most devasting call of my life. "Kathy, your HIV test has come back positive!" I had been exposed to an AIDS patient months before while working in the ER. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) became involved. Weeks later all the confirmatory tests also came back positive. I was the first healthcare worker to be diagnosed HIV positive. I was taking off my job and told if the community found out the hospital would shut down. I stopped eating and sleeping. I became irrational and suicidal. I am alive today because of John Bolinger. Months later, in an ironic twist, the CDC called and said all test were now negative. Some call it a medical error. I call it a miracle. It was the wake up call that began my life transformation. For almost 20 years John was my dear friend, colleague, therapist, mentor and big brother! His belief in me has inspired me to be more, do more than any ONE person in my life! Because of my AIDS incident, I felt called to go to Africa. This summer I spend a month working with orphans who had all lost their parents to AIDS. John spirit is alive and well in the many lives he touched. And he will live on and continue to touch thousands of more lives. It only cost $10 to send an orphan from Africa to school for a year. John's generous spirit has inspired Keep Shedding Foundation to set a goal of sending 10,000 kids to school. With your help, we can do it!!! Visit http://www.keepshedding.com/ to send some kids to school in John Bolinger's memory. Please share with us your stories, your memories about how John has touched your life. If you have pictures of John you'd like to share, please send them to Kathy@KeepShedding.com