Waitress earns cash reward for her honesty

OLATHE, Kan. -- Heidi Tomassi's honesty helped save one family's Christmas and is paying off in even bigger ways for the waitress.

Last week, Tomassi found an envelope packed with 33 $100 bills while working at Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar in Olathe. She gave the envelope to her manager for safekeeping until it was claimed by its owner the next day.

Tomassi said she is $15,000 in debt because of medical bills and travel costs to treat her 4 1/2-month-old son's heart defect but never considered keeping the money.

A Sedalia, Mo., man who lost the money said he had sold a car to have money for Christmas presents. He rewarded Tomassi with $100.

News of Tomassi's good deed spread quickly. After her story reached the media, she and her husband, Joe, received several donations.

Mike Wagers, general manager of the restaurant, said calls have been pouring in from other people interested in making donations.

Her son's heart defect required open heart surgery July 19, the day after he was born. After a month at Children's Mercy Hospital, the couple brought Griffin home. Two weeks later, he went back to the hospital for another surgery.

The procedure failed to correct the defect, and Griffin Tomassi was given about six weeks to live.

Things got even worse for the family when Joe Tomassi was fired after asking his employer for six weeks off to spend time with his wife and children.

The couple then found a surgeon at Stanford University in California who could perform the necessary procedure to save their son's life.

In addition to the check she was to receive Wednesday, Heidi has received numerous donations from customers in the restaurant. Some people also donated stockings and stuffed animals for Griffin and his 2-year-old sister, Laney.