Eighteen-month old Miles Gomberg crawled toward the overstuffed beanbag chairs and grinned.   Furnished with puppet trees, magnetic doodle boards and shelves of play dough, the room attracted more than a dozen toddlers who were among the guests gathered to honor Kindra McClennan, the C4 children’s therapist who lost her battle with cancer last January.

            Family, friends and C4 staff gathered November 6 to dedicate Kindra's Playroom, which displays the many games, toys, and arts and crafts the 29-year –old therapist had personally bought to use in sessions with the children she counseled.

            “I saw Kindra grow as a therapist and as a powerful force with the children she worked with,” observed Maria Donamaria, who supervised Kindra during her five years at C4 Clark.  “She left her mark on our hearts.”

            Painted soft blue, the playroom’s walls display some of Kindra’s favorite words in shimmering gold: “Imagine,” Courage” and ‘No worries.”

            “I think of her every day,” said C4 therapist Shannon Garrison, who worked closely with Kindra and whose former office is now Kindra’s Playroom.

            Among the more than 60 guests was Mark McClennan, Kindra’s husband.

            “I want to thank the C4 family, he said. “It means a lot to me.” Mark said that people continue to send-e-mail messages to the blog Kindra wrote to keep friends updated about her cancer treatment.  Kindra’s frank and spirited writing offered hope to hundreds who never knew her and were suffering with cancer or another life hardship.

            “She touched so many people, “said friend Kari Gomberg, whose son, Miles, is Kindra's godson. “She was so gifted with children. This playroom is a great way to honor her memory.”

Read more about the dedication in the Chicago Tribune.

Click on link below for article by Marti Parham "New Kindra's Playroom keeps counselor's spirit alive."