Big hearts overcome bad burns
Sometimes it takes a tragedy to make us realize just how much people really care. We just go along when life is good and sometimes don't even express our appreciation to those around us, just for being there. We don't take them for granted, really, but when things in our life are just going along normal, it may seem that we are.
And almost every day we hear in the news about the bad things that happen ... to somebody else, and they, and their problems, seem so far removed - until something drastic happens to us. Like little kids in a fire. Oh, we've read these kinds of stories, and our hearts go out to them. It seems especially hard to imagine some of the things that happen to little children.
We live in a community in North Idaho that has always had the small-town feel. I started first grade here, 62 years ago. Granted, our town was a lot smaller then ... there were no traffic lights anywhere, rural country roads instead of highways, you could know everyone in town, literally, and children were safe to play in the streets, in the woods, any time of the day. It's different today. Not many years ago our city won the designation of "City With a Heart." When you drive in off the freeway, there's a sign that says so. I am not sure what the criteria is for that award, but I will say, the people make it the way it is.
I have shared recently that my little 4-year-old great-granddaughter and her 8-year-old next door neighbor boy were badly burned in a backyard fire. Both were airlifted from our local emergency room to a burn center more than 400 miles away from home. Our little girl spent four weeks to the day in the burn center, receiving many types of treatment for her burns which covered her arms and legs, and part of her face, including a single skin graft, which was successful. Her little friend is still hospitalized and may be for several more weeks. There is a lot to their rehab and recovery. His burns were worse and he had more extensive grafting. The parents have stayed there with them, so there have accumulated a myriad of expenses for both families.
A fundraiser was begun right away, for both children. Then another. Collection jars sprang up around town in various restaurants - all begun by caring friends and family members. Many of the donors do not even know the children or the families, but their hearts have gone out to them.
A dunk-tank benefit was held this past weekend in which the "dunkees" were put up for auction, and the bidders would "win" so many shots at the magic button that would drop the participant into the water. This was a public event and turned out to be a huge success. People from all over town, young and old, came to share in the fun, and again, many did not know the children. Our little girl was there, though, and many were very happy to meet her. She was not shy with her "super-soaker" and bandaged legs! The owner of a print shop donated T-shirts commemorating the event and when they were sold, all the proceeds went toward the kids, as well as monies raised from the dunk-tank.
It was very clear to me, while watching this whole evening unfold, that we truly do live in a City with a Heart. All through this calamity we have witnessed the love of people with compassionate hearts. Many things, from hotel rooms to vacation time to home repairs, have been donated by folks in all walks of life. A box of toys was sent to the hospital from the children's department of a local church they do not even attend.
Paul said to the Hebrews (13:2), "Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." I think I would like to change our designation to the "City of Angels." I don't think we will ever be able to thank everyone.
Jeanne Helstrom is a Coeur d'Alene resident.