Saving A Life In Carson, ND – Incredible Efforts From Volunteers
I have a friend named Dan Stewart...
... he lives in Carson, North Dakota ( Yes mountain time ) - Every year I am honored to take that 55-mile drive out there and walk among all the antique cars and people who make the Rods and Rock Car Show so special. Dan is your Harrison Ford look alike to a tee - big huge smile and welcoming hug. August 17th was their 15th Annual. I was there to capture some interviews for Townsquare Media - our Bismarck/Mandan radio stations ( 5 of them ) - In the course of the 3 hours that I was there, I found out about an incredible story of Strength, Volunteers, and Community.
On May 20th, Renee Stewart experienced a day she will never forget.
Out in the fields. moving cattle along with her kids and Nala her dog, there she was on her 4-wheeler ATV in mid-afternoon at what she described as "Christmas Tree Mountain Pasture" - where the "creek meets the river" she misjudged some ground and before she knew it she was flat on her back. "I felt like I folded in half right there" from the violent fall out of the vehicle. One of the few things she still remembers of that day is "...looking into the sky...struggling to breathe"
"Go get Papa"
Her husband Preston was not with her, so "Go Get Papa", she told one of her kids - and Dan Stewart ( her father-in-law ) arrived. As he knelt by her side, volunteers from Flasher, Elgin, and Carson all swept in - fire department vehicles, ambulance, the sheriff - Once again MOST of them were volunteers - people who donate their time, who are motivated to save lives, and that was one thing they all had in common. All the hours of training, preparing themselves to face anything that comes their way - this was a complete act of so many wonderful people who helped save Renee's life.
Try and imagine the thoughts and fears that were running through her mind...
...as she was life-flighted to Bismarck ( by helicopter from Aberdeen )
As horrible as the pain and shock that she was suffering, I can't imagine how scary that flight was. The thoughts and prayers of a family, and several communities of volunteers were on that helicopter with her. I stood right next to Dan on that bright Saturday afternoon at the car show and watched the emotion on his face and the tears in his eyes as he told me this unbelievable story of strength. Today ( September 4th ) I spoke with Renee - she told me she was in the St. Alexis hospital for 8 days - she had 12 broken ribs and 11 vertebrae bones. Once again, she doesn't remember much about the accident - she does know this though, the outpouring of love from her family, her neighbors, and the men and woman who are on-call around the clock to save a life - volunteers...Incredible
As horrible as the pain and shock that she was suffering, I can't imagine how scary that flight was. The thoughts and prayers of a family, and several communities of volunteers were on that helicopter with her. I stood right next to Dan on that bright Saturday afternoon at the car show and watched the emotion on his face and the tears in his eyes as he told me this unbelievable story of strength. Today ( September 4th ) I spoke with Renee - she told me she was in the St. Alexis hospital for 8 days - she had 12 broken ribs and 11 vertebrae bones. Once again, she doesn't remember much about the accident - she does know this though, the outpouring of love from her family, her neighbors, and the men and woman who are on-call around the clock to save a life - volunteers...Incredible
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