SEMO students plan fund-raiser for professor's wife

Southeast Missouri State University students are holding a fund-raiser Saturday for a Cape Girardeau woman who's been in a comalike state since July.

As part of their service learning project, students in the Success in Technology course are hosting a spaghetti dinner at St. Andrew Lutheran Church to raise money for Jonie Koch, the wife of Doug Koch, an assistant professor in the Department of Industrial and Engineering Technology at the university.

The Success in Technology program was designed to offer practice in the skills needed by industrial and engineering technology students for academic and career successes.

On June 30, Doug Koch and his son, Ben, went out of town for the weekend. Jonie Koch stayed home from her job as a letter carrier at the Jackson post office. At about 6:30 p.m. the next day, Doug Koch spoke with his wife.

"She had worked that day, and it was about 100 degrees outside. She said she was tired and wasn't feeling well, and that she was going to bed," he said.

Doug Koch and his 12-year-old son returned home late the next day and found Jonie unconscious in her bed.

She was transferred to Saint Francis Medical Center, spent time at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, and was then taken to Community Hospital East Hook Rehabilitation Center in Indianapolis, Ind. In September, she was moved to the Life Care Center in Cape Girardeau because her insurance would no longer pay for treatment in Indiana.

Doctors haven't diagnosed her condition, but believe she had a viral encephalitis, which is an inflammation of the brain caused by a viral infection.

"It's still very uncertain with her condition. She has opened her eyes, and has responded to some things like turning her head on occasion. We get excited about small progress," Doug Koch said.

His wife continues to receive treatment, as well as physical, occupational and speech therapy at the Life Care Center.

Amanda Eller, an adviser and teacher of the Success in Technology course, helped her students coordinate the spaghetti dinner on Saturday.

"Most of these students will eventually have Doug as a professor, so they really are excited about helping the family out," Eller said.

Koch was surprised with the students' eagerness to hold the fund-raiser. "I normally don't like asking for help, but the students have been very generous for doing this," he said.

jfreeze@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 246

WANT TO GO?

* What: Fund-raiser for Jonie Koch

* When: 5 to 7 p.m., Saturday

* Where: St. Andrew Lutheran Church

* Tickets: $7 for adults and $4 for children