Shoebox Baby

In 1931, Alta Joan Mainard weighed just two pounds when she was born at seven months gestation in Garden City, Mo. She was so small that the doctor told her mother to “lay her aside and don’t worry about it.” But legend has it that her grandma, a mother of 10, would not give up on her. She put her in a shoebox with a hot water bottle. Her dad, a brick mason, said her hands looked like chicken feet! A while later, she started having seizures, and the family took her to Children’s Mercy. They credit Children’s Mercy with saving her life.

Jo has had a full and active life, winning slalom waterskiing competitions, playing the keyboard and singing on the radio, attending business school on scholarship and working at banks and a casino. Her supervisor in the cash management department at J.C. Penny told her, “I’ve never seen anyone handle cash as fast as you!”

She married Johnny Williams at age 20, and they were married for 51 years. They had two boys, Randy and Steve. She taught the boys to ski, and the tradition was established. Several of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren ski, too.

Son Randy has developed an appreciation for Children’s Mercy, as well; he brought both of his children to the hospital. His son was six weeks premature and developed pneumonia, and his daughter was evaluated for heart problems in grade school. Both are thriving now, with kids of their own.

These days, Jo says she’s happy to be vertical. She enjoys playing bingo and listening to music. And she’d sure like to visit the casino for some video poker. Her luck’s probably pretty good!