When Kim Pegula suddenly became ill and required a lengthy and ongoing rehabilitation process, many fans of the Buffalo Bills and Sabres grieved the loss of her significant presence as owner and President of both organizations. She was our shining star… and for many women… a role model for shattering glass ceilings.
As a fan of both teams, her sudden disappearance from public view was an emotional experience for me… and I’m guessing many of you reading this felt the same way.
Mrs. Pegula… Kim … became a part of our collective heart, especially for those of us native Western New Yorkers. She is one of us. She understood our pain. It wasn’t a secret she constantly fretted during games and was as emotional about the team as we all are… because we are a different kind of fan base.
Kim became a different kind of Owner/Executive. Her love for the people of WNY is undeniable. And we love her back with equal ferocity. It’s a relationship like none other between an owner and fan base.
After Kim’s medical crisis in 2022, many of us prayed, sent vibes and waited to know more about how she was doing. The Pegula family is rightfully protective of her privacy as she continues to progress with physical rehabilitation and occupational therapy. Kim is a testimony to what can be accomplished when a person is motivated and has all the resources necessary to reach their rehabilitation potential.
As a former rehabilitation counselor in another lifetime, my mind always wondered about how or when we might see Mrs. Pegula engaging with players and fans again. One of the obvious goals of rehabilitation is to restore as much function/engagement as existed prior to the medical event.
However, the way that takes shape varies a great deal. Mental rehabilitation is as important as physical recovery… and part of that process involves evaluating personality factors that may affect the rehabilitation process. It’s important to understand how each person’s unique personality affects the plan for recovery.
For example, in Mrs. Pegula’s case we all know from her prior life in public how much she was energized by fans and people in WNY. As President of both the Bills and Sabres, she was the face of both franchises.
But Kim is also a big part of the heart and soul of our community… our BillsMafia family.
So naturally I wondered as time passed if we would be blessed by her presence among us once again. The reason it resonated with me so much is because I cannot imagine a more motivating experience for Mrs. Pegula than reengaging with the public and players on whatever basis she chooses to do so.
This is not only a terrific opportunity for Kim to benefit from all the love, it is the BEST medicine for helping her reach her mental and physical goals in rehabilitation. I hope her appearance this past week at Bills’ Training Camp is a sign of things to come.
If Bills players needed someone to look at for inspiration this season, look no further than Kim Pegula. Just her presence is inspiration for us all.
Editor’s babble: You can also find me on Xwitter @RobynMundyWYO.
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