I received this email today. I am happy this has come full circle so that I can help out this family. Thank you Donna.
I received this from Lila Lipscomb (Mom from Farenheit 911 that lost her son in Iraq). Passing it along.
Donna Greenberg
Subject: an appeal for help
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2005 22:08:34 +0000
Dear Friends, Old and New, I am sending you this to see if you can help the Arredondo family in anyway. This family is feeling the same unbearable pain and indescribable devastation that the Sheehan Family ( and so many families in our country) is feeling, only they have the added burden of the expense and the pain of the burn treatments. The below description is an e-mail that MFSO sent out to their Massachessetts members with the address of the bank you can send any contributions to. There was a story in the Washington Post today if you want to read more. I warn you, it is a heartbreaking story. My heart is aching, and I don't mean figuratively. After I read the story, I was compelled to try and do something for the family.
WashingtonPost.com The story is called: A Father Transformed by Anguish.
Thank you, Cindy
On his birthday, August 25, 2004, Carlos Arredondo was visited at his home in Florida by Marines who told him that his son Lance Cpl. Alexander Arredondo had been killed on August 24, 2004 in Najaf. In shock and grief, Carlos set the Marines' van on fire. In the process, Carlos himself caught on fire and was burned on 26% of his body. Carlos is making a good recovery from these burns. He and his wife Melida (Alexander's stepmother) relocated to the Boston area to attend Alexander's funeral and allow Carlos to continue medical treatments in Boston. Medical costs of over $50,000 are outstanding for the Ryder Burn Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital, Memorial Regional Hospital and ambulance costs. Government assistance on most of these bills is not available.
Make your check out to: The Carlos Arredondo Medical Fund and write the account number: 1515093233 on the back of the check and send to: The Cooperative Bank, 40 Belgrade Avenue, Roslindale, MA 02131. The bank's phone number is 617-325-2900. If you have any questions or comments for the Arredondo family, please e-mail them to me and I will pass them on.
I wrote her back:
Hi Donna, I want to thank you for sending me the email that you do. It is one way we can make people aware of what is really going on..by passing on email as we get them. I remember this day very well. It is a day that changed me. I will never for get it. The Arredondo family lived up the street from me when this happened. If you are in Hollywood go north one block off of Hollywood Blvd to Tyler Street and go one block east of 56 Avenue and you can still see the burn marks in the street in front of where the family lived. I am a few blocks away at 46 Avenue. I will never forget. It was raining that day. I was having a very bad day. I had written an article about the election called "how much are you willing to pay" It was about all that I felt was wrong with our country. My one big thing was all the death we have caused. It is soul killing to know all the death.... I had been receiving all kinds of email that day from people (friends and family) calling me names regarding my morals and values. It was very hurtful. My husband went to work out at LA Fitness and took my daughter. My son and I went to publix to buy food to make a special dinner together. While at publix I ran into a guy from "move on", Tom. He had noticed all the anti bush things I had on my car and offered me another bumper sticker. He made me feel better knowing there were other people out there like me. I hadn't turned the TV off when we left the house and when I got home they had on the news with this story about the Arredono's. It hit me hard. I had to go in my room because I was crying so hard and didn't want my son to see my tears. MORE DEATH..and I just couldn't take it anymore. And so close to me... I walk my neighborhood every evening for exercise. That evening, because of the rain, the smoke from the fire was being held down. It felt like death out. I had a lot of tears while I walked. I was looking at the ground, praying and walking. Asking why all of this is happening. Why all the death. Why all the hurtful things that people say to defend all the death. I prayed and asked if what I am doing is the right thing, letting people know how I feel and that they should do the right thing by voting Bush out of office. It is so easy to stand in a crowd and speak your mind but to do it solo and get all the backlash is very hard. ...I was walking,I turned a corner I was looking down and I found a wet dollar bill. I had the feeling come over me that I will be rewarded for what I was doing. It made me feel better at the time. I really thought it was a sign that Kerry would prevail but we all know how that turned out. Still, it is a day that I will never forget! A few days after this happened I heard on the news that Bank of America had set up a fund for them. I had gone into the bank to give them money but the bank president said there was problems with the fund and they couldn't accept any money at that time. Once again it has presented itself to me and this time I can help out this family. Thank you so much for sending me the email. I hope others will help them also. Hope you and your family are doing good. My kids have both had fevers all weekend. Figures, day off of school and they are sick :) Peace 2 all, Cindy
No comments:
Post a Comment