Sometimes life comes hard and fast. This has been one of those weeks when I have realized that fact. A good friend from North Carolina lost her mother. Another long time friend from our Navy days lost her father. I am in that age range now where this is a common occurrence for deaths of those we are close to. Since the beginning of the year we have made 3 memorial donations and that is hard to imagine.
As I talked with my good friend about the chaos that goes into getting things ready for the service to celebrate the life of her dad, the appointments, the paperwork, the legalities, the cleaning out of things and just the overwhelmingness of it all I had to laugh at her comment that her life is one of “reconfiguring”. Like the GPS unit that has to reconfigure when you take an alternate route—life sometimes throws us for a loop and we have to continually readjust and reconfigure. I loved the thought of that and today I am going to do some reconfiguring because of another event which has happened to a blogger friend of mine.
Nina Hedin is a Minnesota blogger that I “met” through Bernie of One Mixed Bag. Nina blogs over at The Adventures of Artsy Nina and she also has an awesome vintage Etsy shop called Camp Honeybelle. Nina is one of those ladies that just exudes good vibes. Her blog sometimes features her sweet children, Jack and baby June, and her husband Tom. What first drew me to her blog was that they bought a 1884 house and what all that entailed. I can not imagine!!! She is a talented writer, creative in every way and just an all round good ole midwestern type gal.
Over the weekend Nina got that dreaded knock on the door. Her husband had gone snowmobiling and she had not heard from him for hours or been able to reach him. What happened is still unclear but suffice it to say Tom had a horrible accident and was airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis . The road ahead is going to be reconfigured for them. Most likely every day will bring new adjustments and challenges. It is not going to be easy. But it is a good world that we live in that we can share this with others who can lift this precious family up in prayer and offer financial assistance as they can.
Do I know Nina and Tom??? Well as much as I know any of these blogging buddies that I am honored to call friends. I know in my heart of hearts that they deserve to feel the outpouring of love that we can all show them. They have started a Caring Bridge site where updates will be posted about Tom’s progress regularly. Just click here and it will take you to Tom’s page. (You may have to set up an account if you have never viewed Caring Bridge before—it is simple and then you can look for ThomasHedin). They have also very wisely set up a donation site online which will give folks a place to safely support them financially. Any amount will help. Nothing is too small. If you feel so inclined I would love for you to check it out and make a small donation by clicking here on the Give Forward website.
I wanted to share with you some words that were on the Give Forward website to give you an indication of what the need truly is:
Tom sustained multiple serious injuries, including a brain hemorrhage on January 5th during a snowmobile accident. Injuries listed from top to bottom; brain hemorrhage and complications, fractured orbital (eye) socket, facial lacerations, fractured T6 vertebrae, broken and dislocated right wrist, broken left elbow and fractured upper arm, left knee cap broken with severed tendon and puncture wound, right knee ligament injury. He faces a long, hard road to recovery. As of yet we are unsure of the extent of damage to the brain, and the recovery time/therapy needed for his limbs and back will take months. Tom supported his wife, three year old son Jack and baby daughter June. We’ve just learned that he does not qualify for FMLA as he was only with his new employer for 6 months.
Photo courtesy of Nina Hedin
So I am going to do my own reconfiguring this month and adjust my Comments for a Cause for both January and February to go to the Tom Hedin fund. It is the least I can do. My apologies to the United Way of Western Connecticut but this one comes way closer to my heart today and will for a long time. Please keep this family “Showered with Love ” and if you can’t make your own donation please make sure you comment without ceasing here in January and February. You know I always have something to say and love to hear your comments.
Other bloggers are posting similar posts and as those posts go live I will update the list below with their blog links. Please click on the links below and see what they have to say. Thank you.
In her own words —Nina Hedin at Artsy Nina
Bernie at One Mixed Bag
Audrey at Minnesota Prairie Roots
Michele at Living on Less
Diane at Tangled in Kudzu
