A Million Thanks Would Never Be Enough (parents)

Steve:  Six months have passed since Carson's injury, and through this time the outpouring of support has been nothing short of incredible. Now that we are settling into a new and difficult long-term family rhythm, we have struggled to know how to thank everyone who has been involved in support since the accident, and have concluded that we simply can't thank everyone at the level we would like.  How does one thank people who have donated their time and money who wish to remain anonymous, and other unsung people who have been working in the shadows many hours to make events happen such as "Anything for a Friend"? The task would be overwhelming and we collectively feel inadequate in our effort to recognize everyone who has had a hand in helping our son. But we are grateful. We know the effort that goes into these events with all the organizing, coordination, and hours upon hours of preparation, taking away personal and family time from those involved. It makes us feel guilty in many regards. All the demands that have transpired over the past six months have been crushing. The myriad of things to worry about and coordinate have been nearly a full time job. At times we questioned our ability to get everything done that was needed and it has only been through the help of others that has kept our heads above the rising water. We do wish to call attention to the highlights of the support for our family.

MORE SAVING, MORE DOING; THAT'S THE POWER OF THE HOME DEPOT.......(no kidding!)


Before discharge from the hospital, certain modifications to the house were required. Occupational Therapists made several visits to the house with recommended changes. This was difficult because we really could not test or try out what was going to work because we didn't know what changes were going to happen with Carson's functioning. Shortly after the accident, representatives for "Anything for a Friend" presented Carson's case for consideration to Home Depot for possible assistance with home renovations. Home Depot has a program that partners with the United Way of Northern Utah to locate recipients for their efforts and resources.  In our specific case, not only did they respond to the needs of Carson, but also recognized we are a veteran military family. Very quickly, the two managers of the Riverdale and Layton Home Depot's (Andy Olsen and Derek Carver respectively) came to the home and began to make plans to renovate the basement bathroom and change the flooring in Carson's room and hallways. The amount of effort that took place in a incredibly short time was staggering. We had a small army of Home Depot personnel come to the house on a rainy day to get the major portions of the renovations completed.  They installed flooring and continued to work on bathroom/basement modifications.  Later, both store managers and the regional manager came in and finished off the cabinetry (see second photo below).  Of course, Ken Taylor (second from left in first picture below) may just as well have slept at our house he was putting in so many hours.

Before Renovation


After Renovation...... wheelchair accessible!

From L-R: Andy Olsen (Riverdale Home Depot), Derek Carver (Layton Home Depot), Joe Alvarez (Regional Manager), the ultimate workhorse, Ken Taylor (Riverdale), and Carson

EPITOME OF "LOVE THY NEIGHBOR"

Steve: In the midst of all of this I had to travel for business trips. When I left before this renovation project, my basement looked the same---like a storage room with sick green carpet that had been there a million years, old paint that came with the house, poor lighting etc. Five days later I hardly recognized the same basement. Carpet gone, new paint, and cabinets installed. I was dumfounded. Little did I know that half the neighborhood had been in the basement helping to paint, alter Carson's room to accommodate his wheel chair and a host of other things. In the ensuing nights, I would go down to the basement and find someone in there on their hands and knees painting baseboard or putting a second coating of paint on the wall etc. Many times people would let themselves in through the north entrance to the basement and I didn't even know they were down there. I still shudder to think what verbal family transactions they heard among the chaos. It was truly an "all hands on deck" effort.  We know that it took personal and family time away from these people and we felt truly blessed.

L-R: Linda Romney, Kathy Smith, Becky Taylor and Diane Austin

L-R: Frank Romney, Brent Florek and Judd Taylor

Camille: During the week that  Home Depot was working feverishly on the bathroom trying to finish in time for Carson's return home, we had neighbors come in who expressed a desire to help make the basement user-friendly for Carson. I listened to their ideas and then shared our thoughts of what we hoped to do to the basement. Unbeknownst to me, Ken Taylor (Riverdale Home Depot) had heard the conversation from the next room and came in and said, "I think we can make that happen." I couldn't believe it since we didn't really have the time and ability to take on a larger project on our own.  Ken talked with his manager the next day, they worked some numbers and he came back and said they could provide supplies for our neighbors to complete the work. I had several concerns and worries about pulling a makeover off that fast (one of them being my husband was gone), but they all pressed forward knowing it was now or never since Carson would soon come home. I was told "This neighborhood knows how to mobilize!" and they were right. They took it into their own hands and in about a week's period of time the majority of our basement had been renovated. I was so humbled watching these proactive, positive people that I posted a Chinese Proverb on the front door for all those who were coming and going. It read, "THOSE WHO SAY IT CAN'T BE DONE SHOULD GET OUT OF THE WAY OF THOSE WHO ARE DOING IT."   I didn't really need to have my faith restored in our community (especially after the wind storm of December 2011)  but I was impressed beyond words.  I had someone ask me if the additional chaos that comes with a major construction project was adding additional stress to our already upside down life. No.... it did just the opposite for me. I felt an amazing spirit of charity in our home that buoyed me up. When I would come home from the hospital at the end of a long day, I would see more progress in the basement and longed to know who had been there. Our home was blessed in more ways than one by these people! When Carson came home he was greeted to a neighborhood full of blue ribbons, "Welcome Home" signs and a newly remodeled  basement living arrangement. Knowing Carson would have difficulty coming home (which he did), the changes in his environment have made this transition easier.

"ANYTHING FOR A FRIEND"

Steve: Even though "Anything for a Friend" is the name of the formal fund raising organization, the name also encapsulates for us the remarkable generosity shown by people donating their time, money, individual talents and sacrifices for another person. These include the leaders of organizations, individuals, anonymous donors, friends who know Carson, and also incredibly, those who don't know him!   



Spinal Cord injuries are cruel. They leave the person intact intellectually and personality/character remains just as it has, but now without bodily functioning below the injury level. I knew from the outset of Carson's injury what the long term ramifications would be. This is not a terminal illness and the battle will rage for the next 50+? years. If statistics are any indication, the future is full of emotional and physical challenges, some of which can be life threatening. The cost of adaptive equipment has already been astounding without even entertaining the future of complicated medical issues that Carson has already written about. 

That being said, we would like to highlight the fundraising that has taken place, because quite frankly, it is the means to take care of the necessary demands of the injury. Those who have donated have anticipated this, and given generously of your hard earned money. Thank you! We know it is a sacrifice to give in tough economic times. It underscores the goodness of people, exemplifies charity, and represents everything that is good about human beings who have the capacity to love. Within days of the injury a neighbor set up a way to contribute to Carson through the blog site, herself having a disabled son and anticipating the costs involved. This, along with the movie event and amazing fundraiser efforts through "Anything for a Friend" that included many sponsors and donations of businesses and goods, filled us with amazement at people's generosity.


Ashley and Patricia Barson made 2,400 bracelets for Carson's Event....over 400 hours!
Talk about doing  anything for a friend  :) 

Weeks prior to the event  Teena Stucki and Lori Florek  organized  a very hard working
"Team Carson."

The race begins!

The food was generously catered by the Cottam Family/Bella's Fresh Mexican Grill

The Kid's Corner

Dinner and Auction Pavilion

Final balloon launch!

Becky Anderson (director of Anything For A Friend) w/ Carson @ Lorraine's Event

Camille:  Carson's event was amazing... a day we will never forget. In some ways it was hard to take it all in and we struggled to comprehend such generosity. We were able to relate to what past recipients of "Anything For a Friend" have expressed when they said they felt embarrassed and  unworthy.  For our family we just wanted to see the event go well for those who had put in so many hard working hours on behalf of Carson and our family. I know the greatest desire of the organizers of this fundraiser was wanting people to come and feel the spirit of the day. We felt it. We saw a community unite in goodwill hoping to make a difference in someone's life. This time it happened to be our son, for which we are eternally grateful. Now that we are 6 months out from Carson's accident we can look back and count literally hundreds of acts of service of every kind. We have felt every positive vibe you have sent our way and we have survived because of your love and support. We know we will continue to struggle to help Carson through his  hard times, but we are not alone in this battle. We have friends.