dakine_surf
"Stay Thirsty my Friends"
Hey Troy, I think I have an extra Carhart laying around here that is basically new, when I locate it I will send it your way.
Micah
Micah
I was witness to see a family lose almost everything today (Photos)
- Thread starter troybilt
- Start date
dakine_surf said:
This is awesome guys I know they can use it all. I was there the other day while they were going through stuff. It was so sad to watch. Anyhow, when I told him what you guys were doing he got a tear in his eye and ask me to tell everyone thank you from the bottom of his heart. Really makes me proud to be a member of the DTT family. Thank you to everyone.Redbird said:Troy, I've got three boxes full of Crackers, Breakfast Bars, and Cookies on their way to you. Be on the lookout
Redbird the day it gets here I'll take it up to them. Thanks again man.
Just to let you all know we have collected $120.00 so far. I've decided to keep collections open till the end of the week. At that time I'll purchase the walmart gift card and place it inside a nice card for them.
I'll also be making the trip to Pittsubugh to meet up with Mike towards the end of the week. Dude has been crazy busy collecting items for the family. Last count I heard he had 13 bags of clothes and household items. Major props to all of you and again I thank you!
A co-worker had his house burn to the ground last weekend. Two story house with a basement. It was still burning 4 days later.
He lost EVERYTHING.
We swing shifts and he and his wife were in bed on Sunday afternoon. The smoke alarm went off and they awoke to find the kitchen fully engulfed in flame. They had time to throw on some pants and get out. No shoes, even.
They lost two dogs, two cars, ALL personal possessions. A third vehicle, his truck, was severely damaged by the heat. It melted the glass in the headlights and the tires. An aluminum boat, parked ~20 yards from the house, was literally melted in half. The rear of the boat still looked like a boat. The front was just a puddle of aluminum.
No keys, no ID, nothing......
Be thankful for what you have and check the batteries in your smoke alarms.
He lost EVERYTHING.
We swing shifts and he and his wife were in bed on Sunday afternoon. The smoke alarm went off and they awoke to find the kitchen fully engulfed in flame. They had time to throw on some pants and get out. No shoes, even.
They lost two dogs, two cars, ALL personal possessions. A third vehicle, his truck, was severely damaged by the heat. It melted the glass in the headlights and the tires. An aluminum boat, parked ~20 yards from the house, was literally melted in half. The rear of the boat still looked like a boat. The front was just a puddle of aluminum.
No keys, no ID, nothing......
Be thankful for what you have and check the batteries in your smoke alarms.
CresentSon
Over 1,000 Posts
Troy you sell yourself short brother. The thing that separated you from those who stood idle is the fact that you live with your heart and soul open. We all live in our own little bubble, but the rare few who are open can see past the wall and understand the connections we all share. Those locked in indecision and inaction physically can't acknowledge what is in front of them as real, because the only things that exist to them are inside their personal universe. Just a side effect of the human brain.
Your gift, and the testament to your valor, is the fact you live every moment with the warriors heart. You don't ignore the suffering inherent in our world. It is your commitment everyday to perceive things beyond yourself that made you able to be there for that family, no mater what might have been asked of you. It is this and not a singular action that day that makes you a great man.
The world needs more like you, and I'm glad to know your boys will carry the torch.
Your gift, and the testament to your valor, is the fact you live every moment with the warriors heart. You don't ignore the suffering inherent in our world. It is your commitment everyday to perceive things beyond yourself that made you able to be there for that family, no mater what might have been asked of you. It is this and not a singular action that day that makes you a great man.
The world needs more like you, and I'm glad to know your boys will carry the torch.
xulf13 said:
Thanks for your generosity Eddie. Its greatly appreciated. I received your email and was deeply touched by it. It really means a lot to know that people out there understand. I am doing ok and thank you so much for your concern. The story you told is very powerful and needs to be out there for others to read. If you don't mind I'd like to post it for the others. Besides reminding us to be there for our fellow man, the other thing to take from this is we should cherish EVERY SINGLE MOMENT we have with our loved ones. You never know when they might be ripped from our lives.
scott s that is heart wrenching if there is anything we can do please let us know.
Crescent I'm not even sure what to say after reading your kind words. I don't take compliments well at all. I've avoiding responding every since I read your post because I had no idea what to say. It means the world to recognize humanity and compassion. It exists within all of us and its were we all should be. Thank you
I want to take a moment to thank everyone for keeping this family in their thoughts and prayers. I would like to acknowledge a group that have gone above and beyond. Those who sent money for the Reckart family are: Maritime, Justinlonghorn, Tim, Xulf13, Ringo, Jkent and Mothgils.
Through their generosity a walmart gift card in the amount of $200.00 will be given to the family.
Christian Kahle (Tribemoto) and Nanci Goldberg sent a Target giftcard. Basement rat, VonYinzer, BigRich, Redbird, Slice, Rocan, dakine_surf, slice, have all donated items or is sending items in the mail.
If your name was inadvertently left from the list I apologize. Please pm so you can be added and to make sure I didn't overlook your donation.
Huge thank you to all of you!
Through their generosity a walmart gift card in the amount of $200.00 will be given to the family.
Christian Kahle (Tribemoto) and Nanci Goldberg sent a Target giftcard. Basement rat, VonYinzer, BigRich, Redbird, Slice, Rocan, dakine_surf, slice, have all donated items or is sending items in the mail.
If your name was inadvertently left from the list I apologize. Please pm so you can be added and to make sure I didn't overlook your donation.
Huge thank you to all of you!
xulf13
West of Tennessee
Troy, I'm glad you're doing ok, again, thanks for what you did and continue to do. My story is not really my story, but of that father I mentioned to you. I was just a witness like you. It was an event in my life that I cannot forget nor should I. It's a reminder of how precious life is, as you mentioned above. I have to pass thru that bridge every day and of course, I remember in detail. It's fine with me if you re post it for everyone else to read it, so long it helps others. I'm sure others here have similar stories. Stay and strong and continue to reach out.troybilt said:
Basement rat
Over 1,000 Posts
New Safery boots and new mechanics gloves in the mail as of an hour and a half ago.
Basement rat said:
Fantastic BR Ill be watching for them.
Yesterday when I got home there were 3 very large and very heavy boxes from Redbird. I couldn't believe how heavy these things were. He tells me they are filled with Crackers, CheezIts, Cookies, Rice Krispy Treats, Nutrigrain bars, etc. I think they will be set in that department for a long long time haha. Thanks man. I hope to take it to them tomorrow.
*******If everyone that donated funds or goods would Pm me with your name and address I'd greatly appreciate it.
I would like to share with everyone an email that I received from xulf 13. Its a very touching story that left me in tears. It is a reminder for us to cherish every moment with our loved ones. We never know when they might be ripped from our lives. Thanks again Eddie for allowing me to share this with everyone. Hey Troy, just wanted to check on you and see how you were. I know that even witnessing some one elses loss can be devastating. I know everyone here thinks your a great guy and no doubt about it. But I just wanted to make sure you were ok.
I myself witnessed an accident last november, where a man and his little 2 1/2 yeard daughter were heading to the day care and on the way a deer crossed the road. it sent the car off the road and landed upside down into a swamp area near a bridge. I had just gone thru knee surgery (ACL replacement) about a month prior, I could barely walk then. So anyhow, I pulled into the scene maybe 5 minutes after it had happened. I saw a big guy out of the car standing in the swamp trying to open the door. It turned out it was the father, the car was 3/4 under water while upside down, you could only see the tires and under carriage. Somehow after the car landed in the swamp upside down, he was able to get out, as he went to catch his breath, the car must have slipped further into the swamp and the door got shut on him and was being blocked by a tree stump. He could not get in to get his little girl. I could not even jump intothe swamp to help this guy. I went in the back of my truck to get a tire iron to see if the window could be busted. By this time 2 guys had gone in the water with him. it was a cold morning and it had been raining for the prebious two days. Usually the wamp area is dry or the water very low. Not this day though. The little girl was trapped in the car and drowning, the father was big and strong, yet could not break the window, and neither could the people that were trying to help. I felt helpless that I could not help and all I could do was pray for him.
I could hear him scream and saw the anguish in his face, knowing his little girl was in there. It must have been 10 minutes later that more people showed up followed by the fire dept and ambulance. 6 more guys or so jumped in the water and after a few more minutes, they were able to flip the car over while in the swamp. I fire fighter went thru the only door that was open whic had been kept shut by the tree stump earlier. he reached for the little girl and her lifeless body was layed in the marsh near by. As the fire fighter began to perform CPR the father was also being pulled out of the water. He was bleeding and exhausted, he could not move and layed crying for his daughter in the middle of the now blocked two lane road.
I wish I could say the little girl made it and there was a happy ending. In this case a precious life was lost. The father broke his arm while trying to save his daughter, and he has to rehabilitate from his injuries.
A few days later I went to the funeral. The neighborhood and the community had pulled together, helped and reached out to them. They are still in pain and sorrow I'm sure.
In this case, people did help and reached out. But one should not have to wait till a precious life is taken or for someone to lose a house in order to reach out and help, but should definetly do so when a tragedy happens. I have learned that in life, we easily get disconected with what matters most. It is people that matter the most and the relationships we have with them.
I'm glad your neighbors did not lose a kid. But yet, they lost very much.
I really don't know what to say, I just know that I was pretty sad for a few weeks after I witnessed the death of that little girl. I know you don't know me from scrap, but If you need to vent I'm here (well, in NC to be exact.) . I'm glad you were there and that you are making yourself available and are reaching out to your neighbors.
Take care and cheer up. You've been given the oportunity to impact and bless your neighbors and perhaps arouse the rest of the community to reach out to one another.
Eddie
I myself witnessed an accident last november, where a man and his little 2 1/2 yeard daughter were heading to the day care and on the way a deer crossed the road. it sent the car off the road and landed upside down into a swamp area near a bridge. I had just gone thru knee surgery (ACL replacement) about a month prior, I could barely walk then. So anyhow, I pulled into the scene maybe 5 minutes after it had happened. I saw a big guy out of the car standing in the swamp trying to open the door. It turned out it was the father, the car was 3/4 under water while upside down, you could only see the tires and under carriage. Somehow after the car landed in the swamp upside down, he was able to get out, as he went to catch his breath, the car must have slipped further into the swamp and the door got shut on him and was being blocked by a tree stump. He could not get in to get his little girl. I could not even jump intothe swamp to help this guy. I went in the back of my truck to get a tire iron to see if the window could be busted. By this time 2 guys had gone in the water with him. it was a cold morning and it had been raining for the prebious two days. Usually the wamp area is dry or the water very low. Not this day though. The little girl was trapped in the car and drowning, the father was big and strong, yet could not break the window, and neither could the people that were trying to help. I felt helpless that I could not help and all I could do was pray for him.
I could hear him scream and saw the anguish in his face, knowing his little girl was in there. It must have been 10 minutes later that more people showed up followed by the fire dept and ambulance. 6 more guys or so jumped in the water and after a few more minutes, they were able to flip the car over while in the swamp. I fire fighter went thru the only door that was open whic had been kept shut by the tree stump earlier. he reached for the little girl and her lifeless body was layed in the marsh near by. As the fire fighter began to perform CPR the father was also being pulled out of the water. He was bleeding and exhausted, he could not move and layed crying for his daughter in the middle of the now blocked two lane road.
I wish I could say the little girl made it and there was a happy ending. In this case a precious life was lost. The father broke his arm while trying to save his daughter, and he has to rehabilitate from his injuries.
A few days later I went to the funeral. The neighborhood and the community had pulled together, helped and reached out to them. They are still in pain and sorrow I'm sure.
In this case, people did help and reached out. But one should not have to wait till a precious life is taken or for someone to lose a house in order to reach out and help, but should definetly do so when a tragedy happens. I have learned that in life, we easily get disconected with what matters most. It is people that matter the most and the relationships we have with them.
I'm glad your neighbors did not lose a kid. But yet, they lost very much.
I really don't know what to say, I just know that I was pretty sad for a few weeks after I witnessed the death of that little girl. I know you don't know me from scrap, but If you need to vent I'm here (well, in NC to be exact.) . I'm glad you were there and that you are making yourself available and are reaching out to your neighbors.
Take care and cheer up. You've been given the oportunity to impact and bless your neighbors and perhaps arouse the rest of the community to reach out to one another.
Eddie
Basement rat
Over 1,000 Posts
Is there an update on the family? How are they doing?