One Family's Tragedy - A Plea For Help

I have previously written on this blog about the cliche that declares life can turn on a dime. I think a lot of cliches catch on because at their center rests a seed of truth. This seed tends to be a truth that is fairly universal, thus leading to the birth of the accepted cliche.

On Christmas Eve 2010 here in Delaware, life once again performed its cruel dime trick. The Haxton family, Paul and Trina, along with their two daughters Lyndsey and Hayley, were traveling to see family for the holidays. Sadly, they never arrived at their destination. They were involved in a horrible accident en route to their family celebration. Both Paul and Trina were thrown from the vehicle. Paul Haxton lost his life. His wife Trina was flown to a trauma center in Baltimore, her condition desperately critical. The two girls, ages six and four, escaped the accident with minor injuries. Nearly two months after the accident Trina remains at a rehabilitation center in Maryland. Her recovery has been long and arduous, yet she has been making great progress.

We got to know Paul and Trina through our daughter. Lyndsey and The Peanut have played fall and spring soccer together for five seasons. In the fall of 2008 they played together on a team for the first time. Their soccer coach, Coach Ben, is a great guy and a fantastic soccer coach for the kids. We like Coach Ben (and more importantly The Peanut LOVES him) and we have stayed with him since that fall season. The Haxtons stayed with him as well and, as faithful soccer moms and dads, we are fortunate enough to have gotten to know them. One of the greatest things about Paul was how obvious it was just how crazy he was about his two little girls. He and I would help Coach Ben run practice and we even coached a game one week when Ben couldn't be there. He was a very patient and understanding man who clearly loved working not just with Lyndsey, but with all the kids. The spring season which will be starting up in a month or so will not be the same without him.

I am writing this post to ask my readers for help. Tonight we went to a benefit and silent auction at Club 3 in Wilmington. It was amazing and inspiring to see what a group of determined friends and family, with the support and tremendous generosity of local businesses and politicians (including Senator Tom Carper), can accomplish to help Trina and the girls. A trust has been set up for them. Proceeds from tonight's event will go straight to the girls. Trina's road to recovery will continue to be a long one and every dollar given will help.

As I sat watching well over a hundred people coming together, donating money for Trina and the girls, it hit me that there was something else I could do. And that's where you come in. I don't generally make requests like this through the blog, but this is an exceptional situation. I will post a mailing address at the bottom of this post. I would like to ask any and all of you who have the means to please consider making a donation to the trust set up for Trina and the girls. I know I have a lot of compassionate readers. ANY money we can raise will be appreciated.

Life can be cruel when it performs its dime trick. It is down right frightening how life can change so permanently in a fraction of a second. But we can do something to help make that heavy burden just a bit lighter. Donations can be  mailed to the address below the short YouTube video. Thank you for your time and consideration of this most noble of causes.

DONATE VIA STANDARD MAIL:

THE HAXTON FAMILY FUNDRAISER
364 E. MAIN STREET
SUITE 406
MIDDLETOWN, DE 19709

**Please note that all checks or money orders need to be made payable to VERONICA ERNST, I.T.F. In the memo line of a check please write LYNDSEY AND HAYLEY TRUST FUND.

Thanks so much for your time and consideration.