Update from Marsha Reiter:
The Johnson family moves back to FL on 9/21. They need prayer as they adjust back home and face another chapter of grieving the loss of their daughter Hannah and Owen’s needs with being quadriplegic.
Original Post:
I do not know this family but received this request from a friend who knows of this family. The story breaks my heart and really makes me feel like all of my problems are teeny tiny. All they are asking for is a home to live in for three months near Scottish Rite. The family is from Florida but the nearest Children’s hospital to the accident is our very own phenomenal Scottish Rite. (see details below). If you can help, please contact Kristin Bonner whose contact details are listed below.
Click here to read the CaringBridge Story for the sad details of the accident
This is about a beautiful family from Florida who were involved in a terrible wreck on Jul 1, 2011 that killed their 6 year old girl, Hannah, and severed the spinal cord of their 2 year old boy, Owen, who is now crippled for life. They were on a family vacation in Blue Ridge, GA when a drunk 16 year old rear-ended their car at 100 mph. You can read their story on CaringBridge.com. I am familiar with their story because the Johnsons are related to one of my co-workers.
The Johnsons live in Florida and have been in Chattanooga since Jul 1 at Erlanger Hospital, but Owen is being transferred to Scottish Rite here in Atlanta soon. They need a place to live for about 3 months. They are now a family of five. They have two daughters (Brooke and Kathryn) who lived through the accident but both have broken limbs, etc. Mom and Dad are OK.
Do you or someone you know have a house or apt or condo or something that could house this family for 3 months? It would be beneficial if it had “easy” access to 400/Scottish Rite Hospital. If you don’t, could you please send this email to your friends and let’s see if we can help this family.
Thanks.
Kristy
Kristin Bonner, CPCU, AAM
Regional Claims Supervisor
Phone: 770-510-4204
Fax: 770-510-4272
kristin.bonner@uticanational.com
www.uticanational.com
Audra… Was just talking to my friend Kathie C. about this family last night. She found someone with possible housing but didn’t know how to get in touch with the family! Just sent this to her 🙂
Thx!
Katie T.
Copy of letter from Aha! Subscriber (S.S.)
Hi Kristin,
I just read the awful story of the family that will need to be by Scottish Rite in Atlanta for 3 months. My girl scout troop just donated at the Ronald McDonald house that’s right next to Scottish Rite and also took a tour of the facility.
I didn’t know if you had tried to place the family there, but our troop just learned that’s exactly what RMH does for families and is an amazing organization!
The house was lovely and helps provide everything a transplanted family needs: Accomodations at the house, meals, and support! Local businesses serve dinners every night at the house and there was such a wonderful air of support and caring at the house.
Ronald Mc Donald House
5420 Peachtree Dunwoody Road Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30342-1706(404) 847-0760 ?
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?pq=ronald+mcdonald+house+perimeter++ga&hl=en&cp=29&gs_id=e&xhr=t&client=safari&rls=en&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1281&bih=614&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=ronald+mcdonald+house&fb=1&gl=us&hq=ronald+mcdonald+house&hnear=0x88f50bd1ef7b8327:0xee8e1a960787a80e,Atlanta,+GA+30338&cid=12825941536041850858
I know there is another RMH location in Atlanta, but this one is right at Scottish Rite. I am praying that you can get them in there.
My thoughts and prayers are with the family,
Hey Audra, I am a realtor in the Dunwoody Coldwell banker office and have sent it to my broker for office distribution to see if someone has a property that would work. Hope it helps, what an awful story….
Thanks for all you do,
Regan Maeroff Cox
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
7706177234
Regan.Maeroff@cbatlanta.com
folks, wanted to update everyone on the Johnson family…short term they are in the Ronald McDonald house….in a few more days they will be moving into a home very near hospital….THANKS TO ALL OF YOU for responding and in some instances offering your home….thank you and God Bless you…..I do not have any further info as to how they are doing but we all can imagine how difficult it must be…please keep them in your prayers…..Bayne T.
Dear Audra,
The Johnson family that was in the tragic accident in TN is arriving to Atlanta today. They plan to be in the Dunwoody area for 3 months as their son Owen is treated at Scottish Rite. My church, The Village Church of Dunwoody is collecting restaurant and other gift cards for the family which will be helpful to them. Walmart, Target, Itunes, Toys R Us gift cards would also be a great idea. Anyone interested could mail them to our church address: The Village Church of Dunwoody, 2526 Mt Vernon Road, Suite B, Post Mail Box 191, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338 or drop them at my house 1615 Manhasset Farm Rd., Dunwoody or mail them to The Ronald MacDonald house, David and Susie Johnson Family, 5420 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA 30342.
PS-I am also working on a Chick Fil-A night to help raise funds for the family. I will let you know as soon as I hear back from Chick Fil-A.
Thanks, Marsha Reiter
I work at Scottish Rite as an RN on the first floor. I will be happy to deliver anything to family there if that helps bi plan to pay them a visit when I am at the hospital to see if they need anything. If anyone needs me to do anything, my email is ikemom@bellsouth.net. Cell is 404-376-7817
Nancy Ike
Do you know the ages of the other 2 daughters? (Just trying to gather items from my 11 year old that she could share.
Also, will they be enrolling in school for the first few months of the school year?
Thanks for sharing this information….