The Blog:
HereTo Donate: You may donate on-line at
PayPal (click on "PayPal" to go to the donation page) or by or by sending a check to:
Vectra Bank
Quebec Square Location
C/O Brett Purdom
3600 Quebec St
Denver CO 80207
The FULL Story: (This is the email we received from our friend Mac Pinski)
To my friends,
Most of you that know me, know that I like to spend my summers in Montana at our family cabin. My mother's side of the family had engraved this ritual into our brains at an early age.
My mother, her sister Bizzy, and her brother Mickey, hauled their families to Montana each summer for an extended stay at the family cabin. As kids, we spent upwards of six weeks each summer swimming, fishing, playing, and anything else that kids can imagine. This time spent together created strong relationships with my first cousins, aunts and uncles, etc... to the extent that they are as much of a part of my immediate family as my mother, father, brothers and sister.
In 2009, we have experienced a number of tragedies that have rocked this family to its core:
* In late March, my Uncle Wayne (Biz's husband) passed away from a battle with prostate cancer. Although his passing was hard on the family, we had prepared ourselves for this event.
* Two weeks later, my Aunt Jackie, (Mick's wife) passed away from a battle with small cell carcinoma, another form of cancer. This too, although tragic, was known and expected.
* Two weeks later, while attending the reception of Jackie's funeral, we received word that Biz passed away from stroke. She had been in the hospital recovering from surgery when the stroke occurred. This news was devastating to my cousin's Wayne and Brett. They had just lost their father a month ago and now their mother had passed away.
* A month later, Brett and Wayne spent Memorial day weekend cleaning out their folks house preparing it for an estate sale. Brett wanted to take a few items home with him to Denver and rented a U-Haul trailer for the trek home. On his way back to Denver, the trailer dislodged from the truck and began swaying back and forth. The momentum flipped his truck while traveling on the highway. Fortunately, his wife Kelly and their kids, Cole (age 3) and Caroline (age 5) were uninjured. Brett, however, suffered a C5/ C6 fracture. He was airlifted to the nearest hospital and surgery was done immediately to realign his spinal cord. At this time he is paralyzed from the chest down.
I spent the past week at or near the hospital, spending each night with him so his wife could get some rest. Tomorrow he is being transferred to Denver and has been admitted to Craig Hospital. He is very fortunate to have been admitted to this hospital as they do not accept every applicant.
Brett is a well known and respected physical therapist in Denver area. He is well connected with the doctors and aids at this hospital as well as the surrounding community and they are anxiously awaiting his arrival tomorrow. Although his recovery has gone well, this family has a long road to travel and the endpoint is still unknown. I was able to view images of the damage to his spinal cord. The doctor compared it to when someone kinks a hose to stop the water from flowing. This injury was very severe.
I returned home over the weekend and have been struggling with how I can assist them while living in Seattle. The only thing I can come up with to share his story with others in hope that all of us together can help this family during this time. Kelly, Brett's wife, is going to be challenged with running their family. She is going to be caring for her husband, working, raising two kids, as well as worrying about all the things that most of us take for granted when running a household.
I realize that most of us are experiencing tough times financially, but I need to ask that if you are in a position to help out the Purdom family, your gift would be greatly appreciated.
Please know that I struggled with sending this email out to each of you. I am not one to turn to others for help, but, I am not sure were else to turn. My hope is that I am able to use the relationships that I have developed over my lifetime to help out a family that is truly in need of some assistance.
I do hope this email finds all of you and your families in good health. Please make sure to take a moment to spend time with them and cherish each moment. Life is very short and should not be taken for granted.
I thank you all for taking the time to listen to my story. Please know that I am upbeat and confident that my cousin is going improve from his current position. He is a strong person and has a fighting spirit.
Donations:
Many of you have asked how to assist financially. While the extent of the need is unknown at this time we appreciate all of your kind thoughts and generosity. If you would like to contribute you may do so 1 of 2 ways.
You may donate on-line at PayPal
(click on "PayPal" to go to the donation page) or by or by sending a check to:
Vectra Bank
Quebec Square Location
C/O Brett Purdom
3600 Quebec St
Denver CO 80207
Thank you for all of your thoughts, well wishes and prayers. Your support is greatly appreciated and we are extremely grateful to have such a wonderful and generous circle of family and friends
Thanks!
Mac Pinski
