"The tornado finally touched down ..." Those were the words my husband
said to a dear friend of Renees when he called to check in and see how
they were fairing while waiting for updates about Renee's accident the
morning after. I sat at the kitchen table with the other phones on each
hip and half listened. I heard bits and pieces from behind me like,
"how crazy that girl was", " how this is the day we all feared", and
"how lucky others on the road were because Renee reacted so quickly and
selflessly," "did you hear the wine story?" Although much of the chaos
was over by then, her mother and sister had finally arrived safely to
help, and things were starting to move forward ... I was still holding
my breath a little. I've been around far too many accident victims that
had bare minimum neuro testing done, then deemed "okay", and released
only for me to run them back the hospital the next day with late
appearing symptoms indicating concussions and worse, bleeding. Renee
was quickly released. No extensive testing. I stopped thinking about it
as I remembered that Renee assured me she'd get a fully physical once
she got home and a second opinion. Then my thoughts were replaced by
something else. Wee animals can be so fragile in dealing with stress.
Physical stress at that. I kept wondering ... how long does it take
for very slow internal bleeding to show up? How long does it take for
a neurological problem, back or head injury to show itself? Why does
something like this have to happen to someone who was dedicating their
time to helping ferrets and the ferret community? The very reason she
was at the wrong place in the wrong time was because she was headed to
the Florida Ferret Symposium after all. The car was joyfully packed
with food, gifts, and items for those in need. I squeezed my eyes
shut ... time to shout a command to myself, "STOP". Then I repeated
to myself, "out of sight, out of mind", a good three times. I closed
my eyes and thought of what was important at the time such as making
sure communication was still going on between those on the scene, and
updating friends and family that were not there. And between that I
needed to think about everything that went "right". There was a LOT
that went right that night and into the next morning. A whole lot of
"right" is still going on right now.

Currently, Kat Parsons is constructing a site to display the incredible
photos that Dianne Campbell took of the wreckage of Renee's car
resulting from the terrible accident she suffered in NC. They are very
graphic, sobering photos. And if you look closely, you'll see the
miracle. The tiny place where Renee was sitting (the drivers seat) is
the only spot not collapsed. As if someone's hand reached up and held
it through divine intervention. Then when you look at how everything
was sandwiched together and smooshed inside ... you wonder ... but
where did the ferrets go? Did they magically turn to mist and seep into
the cracks the same way they slip under doors? I don't know what the
answers are. They just are what they are I suppose. And I'm going to
sit down soon, and make a list. A list of everything that went "right",
and not wrong. It will be a very long list indeed.

But for now, I'm trying to relax a bit and accept what happened so that
I can move on with Kat and the site. So that I can begin yet another
ferrety project Monday with a couple of friends. And so that I can
begin this project that Diane suggested to me. A fund for Renee's
recovery. Actually it was not Dianne's idea, but several others who
called her out of the blue wondering where they could send help. What
help would you like it to go to, she asked. Just help, is what she was
told. Whether that be towards a new weasel wagon, new blender, vet or
medical bills, or whatever that unexpectedly must be dealt with during
a crisis like this. They just want to help Renee. Renee who has,
::scratching my head and trying to count on my fingers:: NEVER asked
for support, let alone help for anything in the world. Renee who has
routinely traveled the country delivering adopted ferrets, items for
shelters, herself to roll up her sleeves at symposiums and other ferret
events, for FERRET, the Red Cross and God knows what all else. Yeah,
I'll second that idea. Even if we can only afford a few dollars in the
end, ya know what? That's a coffee fund for when she travels to help
others yet again. During today's rough financial times, Renee must at
least be able to keep doing her part in keeping Starbucks going, yes
she must.

So for those who would enjoy doing so, here is the PayPal fund to help
Renee get up on her feet again. The addie below that you need for
PayPal will also be on the web page when it is published. I'm sending
this out before the page is finished because people requested a way to
help. Even Kat needs a day off to ... oh I don't know, bath? So it will
be another day or two at least. But for now, she has opened up this
fund at PayPal. All monies go directly to Renee. If you do not or will
not "do PayPal", please email me and we'll get an alternate plan going!

[log in to unmask]

Silly husband. Renee was upgraded from a tornado to a hurricane years
ago. There is no "touching down" for her! Just moving foward...

Wolfy

[Posted in FML 5967]