Living day to day, local man spreads cheer to all who pass

By Sam Shawver, sshawver@mariettatimes.com
Even during Thursday’s pouring rain it was nearly impossible for drivers along Ohio 676 to miss the guy in a wheelchair at the side of the road, waving while holding a bright orange “Free Smiles” sign high in the air.

“No job I’ve ever had was better than what I’m doing now, just wave and smile—it really makes someone’s day,” said Donnie Kuhn Sr.

Every day since April 29, Kuhn, 41, a husband and father of three, has been sitting at the end of his driveway at 1328 Lancaster St. from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine, waving, smiling and shouting encouragement to every driver on the road.

“I’ve been smiling so much it makes my cheek muscles hurt,” he said. “But I could die today and I’d be happy.”

That’s pretty ironic from a man who just three days ago learned his lung capacity has dwindled to 20 percent, down from 26 percent when he was diagnosed with severe congenital emphysema in November 2005.

Last fall, Kuhn’s physician told him he had a 50 percent chance of dying within two years without a lung transplant. But the former U.S. Army recruiter chose not to pursue a transplant, deciding instead to live the best he can from day to day.

“I believe in God, and if He wants me to live, it doesn’t matter what anyone says or what my lung capacity is,” he said. “I’ve really never felt better about my life.”

Kuhn says his mission is to bring some happiness to people’s lives—and it’s apparently working.

“The first time I saw him, crews were putting in culverts along 676, and there was a long line of traffic,” said Evelyn Strauss of Palmer Township. “He was just smiling and waving, trying to make people happy.”

Sixteen-year-old Stephanie Bowes, a junior at the Washington County Career Center, passes Kuhn every day on the way to school.

“The first time I saw him there I was so shocked I didn’t even blow my horn or wave,” she said. “But after that I’ve always waved and beeped.

“In the mornings his sign says ‘Good Morning,’ and in the afternoon it’s ‘Free Smiles,’ and he always waves and smiles at each car,” Bowes added.

“People have stopped to give me donuts or brownies,” Kuhn said. “A couple of 17-year-olds, I guess they were on the way to the career center, one day brought me powdered donuts, and two days later they brought me brownies.

“I said, ‘Dude, you don’t have to bring me anything,’ but they said they wanted to because I brightened their day,” Kuhn said.

As his lung condition has worsened, Kuhn said he has to spend more time in the wheelchair.

For a time, he spent his days helping out at the Marietta Family YMCA.

“I couldn’t breathe and had to stay in my chair, so I had to stop going,” Kuhn said. “But I was going crazy just sitting in my house, so I painted a big sign and started waving and smiling at everyone who passed by.”

On Thursday afternoon, sitting under a large umbrella with the wheels of his chair in nearly three inches of mud, Kuhn was determined to keep his vigil.

“I’ll be here every day,” he said. “I just wish everybody could have this feeling.”