Regis & Kelly Fulfill Clovis Family's Mothers Day Wish | ABC30 Fresno

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By ABC30

Friday, May 8, 2009

Clovis, CA -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
www.theshawnakilbertproject.org
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34-year-old Shawna Kilbert passed away in March after battling cervical cancer. But Friday, before Mother's Day weekend, her wish came true in front of a national audience on "Live: with Regis and Kelly".

The Kilbert family is used to celebrating in big ways. Even when watching a special episode of Regis and Kelly.

Friday morning, was bittersweet; a mother's day surprise for Shawna Kilbert's family about two months after her death.

This was all possible because of a letter written to the Regis and Kelly show from Suzanne Motte. The letter told the story of Shawna Kilbert which is familiar to many people in the Central Valley.

The wife, mother of two and former teacher died in March from cervical cancer at the age of 34. Shawna is an inspiration to many people in the community and the letter inspired Regis and Kelly to give her husband and two kids a big gift in her honor:

A nice basketball court.

6-year-old Preston and 3-year-old Logan were excited about their new basketball court. Their father, Dan, is the women's basketball coach at Reedley College.

The middle of their new court was a symbolic reminder of Shawna. "That is the Flour De Lis symbol and its Shawna's favorite symbol and it's great that it's on the basketball court because it's another memory for their kids every time they walk out on the court or look out from the windows," said Dan Kilbert.

But the surprises weren't over...

N.B.A. basketball players and Fresno natives Brook and Robin Lopez came to shoot around with Preston and Logan. "It just got me excited. It stoked me to come out here. And to play on the court myself, they were ready to go and so excited," said Brook Lopez with the New Jersey Nets.

The final surprise of the morning: a $25,000 dollar check.

This will be a mother's day no one will forget for a mother who keeps giving even after she's gone.