Over miles and years, patient expresses gratitude

A Thanksgiving Day e-mail from halfway around the world has resulted in a $100,000 gift to KU Med and the School of Medicine's Pulmonary Department.

In the e-mail, Hak Soon Chang, a 74-year-old businessman from Seoul, Republic of South Korea, said he had never forgotten the care and kindness he received while hospitalized at the KU Medical Center more than 47 years ago.

Hak Soon Chang, pictured here with his wife, has given $100,000 to KU Endowment in appreciation for treatment he received at the KU hospital in 1955 and 1956.

"It will be very much appreciated if you kindly let me know how and whom I can contact in order to deliver this gift with my heartfelt gratitude," Chang wrote in the e-mail to Irene Cumming, KU Med president and chief executive officer.

The story behind the e-mail began in 1955.

As a civil engineer for the South Korean government, Chang came to Kansas City to study flood control engineering with the Army Corps of Engineers. While attending a conference, he suddenly became ill. A friend brought Chang to KUMC, where he was diagnosed with acute lung tuberculosis and immediately admitted.

Chang spent almost 12 months in the hospital and was discharged in early December 1956. Following his recovery, he returned to the Republic of South Korea.

Since then, Chang reports his health has been very good. At 74, he still manages a small water treatment equipment company in Seoul. He and his wife have a son, a daughter and three grandchildren. In his country, reaching the age of 70 is considered "an age of rare living."

"I am living over the ages of rare life now as the result of KUMC s wonderful care," wrote Chang.

Half of Chang's $100,000 gift will go to the medical school's pulmonary department to fund respiratory disease research. The other half will establish a hospital fund to help uninsured patients, with priority given to those with pulmonary diseases.

"This is an incredible story of a true gentleman and businessman who, in his heart, has never forgotten the kindness of others," says Janice Benjamin, KU Med's vice president of development.

Chang's gift counts toward the $500 million goal of KU First: Invest in Excellence, the largest fund-raising campaign in KU history. The KU Endowment Association is conducting KU First on behalf of KU and its affiliated organizations.

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