Tragedy and Help Needed

Hi,

Last week Matt and I received a phone call from the folks at Whispering Winds that I hope no one else ever gets. Susan went out to the fifth wheel on their property where their son Steve was staying while he helped them out, and found him deceased.  Steve was about 40, I think, and had a 10 year old daughter.  The manner in which he died was horribly tragic and no mother or father would ever be the same after discovering that type of situation.   Although we were reluctant to head into a situation with so much pain, and knew we were walking into a horrible nightmare, where there is basically nothing you can do to make it better, we headed out.  But I know that there was a reason that she called us, and that God wanted us to go.  I don't think anyone has a choice in a situation like that.  As human beings we simply need to step up and help each other. Unfortunately due to the distance, It took about five hours to get there, and then the only thing I could do was simply hold her while we cried.  I cannot even begin to describe the pain that surrounded that situation.

We spent five days trying to help them get through the 1st days of the tragedy.  It was a horrific and heartbreaking situation, and Matt and I helped Tom clean up the trailer so they can get it off the property. It was definitely a parent's worst nightmare, and the family needs prayers beyond imagination.  Basically Susan is unable to even walk out the front door at this time, as the trailer needs some repairs before it can be taken off of the property.  In reality, she is beyond overwhelmed and close to, or more realistically beginning to have a complete and utter breakdown.  Tom has been standing strong, but he is also grieving and it is too much for them to function, let alone take care of 38 horses.  Yesterday she posted they were "shut down", and although we are not affiliated with Whispering Winds, we have been asked to help them place horses.  

While we all have our own responsibilities, this is one of those situations where we simply need to come together as the horse community to ensure the rescue horses from Tom and Susan's will continue to be well cared for, as they have been in the past.  I know that once again God would want us to step up and try to take care of His creatures. We already have received the call about placing numerous horses.  I know that many people have had their differences over the years when involved in the horse world.  But when someone goes through something like this, I would certainly hope that people forgive and forget any differences they have had in the past.  If nothing else, we are supposed to be "about the horses".  There is a particular "special needs" crippled one that I would be willing to take on if I could move Chilly Pepper.  His leg is deformed and he reminds me of me - haha.  One of the things with placing the horses that needs to be thought of is the price of transportation.  It is quite costly to transport them, so we need to either raise funds for that or at least figure it into the process.  I know that even if it is one at a time, we can "git er done', with all of your help.

This is not the happy, wonderful update I thought that I would be putting out for the holidays.  But life waits for no one, and we need to treasure each and every second we have with the ones that we love.  Our life will never be the same after what we saw and felt, and I simply pray that no one else ever has to go through that.  Please reach out to anyone and everyone that you can think of so we can place those horses.  The group of mustangs have been together for a very long time, and all of the ones that need new homes need sanctuary situations.  I know that more horses needing homes at this time seems like a nightmare, until you consider what caused this urgent need.  Getting through placing these horses is a piece of cake compared to everything that happened last week.

On a happier note, all the critters are doing wonderfully, and we have every last piece of insulation up and finished in the nursery.  (Thank you so much to our special "insulation Angel".)  We have a couple of the walls almost finished, although they still need a little bit of work.  We have to add a stub wall and some detail work to finish up, but we are ready with a warm nursery for whatever comes.  PTL as it is starting to get colder and the nursery, once we find a working pellet stove, will be absolutely perfect for the babies.  (But for now, we have a portable heater so if we get a call - we are still good to go)   The feeder that HAWES RANCH AND FARM SUPPLY helped us get is working perfectly, and we are trying to get another one.  It is so awesome to go out and see absolutely no hay that has been stepped on and wasted.  WOOHOOO!!!!   So one of our new goals is to get another one for Honey Bandit and the kids on that side.  As we all know, hay is like gold.

I am sorry that it took so long to send out another update.  We picked up the 8 x 12 shed that was donated from Greg Clarke in Vegas, and are working on getting that put up.  It will be our first "tarp free" hay storage.  We are so thankful for that.

God bless and give your loved ones extra hugs.


p.s.  Quick note regarding computer issues.  My computer dumped and the whole thing had to be cleared.  You can buy "computer repair" for a year, or two or three at Best Buy.  I ended up doing that as it was cheaper to buy the "year's worth" of protection than to pay for the repairs for this one issue.  So now we have coverage if anything goes wrong on this computer.  I believe you can actually use it on 3 computers in your home.  PTL I had Carbonite.  It costs about $60 a year and when your computer is erased (like mine was), all your info is in outerspace and they can put it back on.  (Of course it takes days to get everything set back up, but no data was actually lost).  Just a thought for those out there on a budget.  They certainly saved our hides with the service plan, and I didn't even buy it until my computer crashed.  Just a heads up for anyone who needs computer repairs and is on a budget.


http://www.whisperingwindsanimalsanctuary.org/horses-needing-forever-homes.html