When Lori Stafford’s friend Carol Decker became ill, Stafford said she felt helpless.
“I felt like I couldn’t do anything,” she said.
Then she heard about the Deckers’ mounting after-insurance expenses on Carol’s road to recovery and decided to turn her upcoming marathon into a fundraiser for her friends.
“If someone pledged $1 for every mile that would be $26,” she said of her Sept. 20, 26.2-mile run in the Top of Utah. “If 20 people gave $26 that might be enough to make a difference.”
So far she has raised $2,000 just among friends, family and members of her church. She’s accepting pledges at www.running4carol.weebly.com.
She’s not the only one helping out the Deckers. There was a golf tournament in Richland, Wash., there’s an account set up to take donations at Washington Mutual and more friends are planning a barbecue lunch and silent auction from noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Enumclaw Expo Center (King County fairgrounds) activity hall.
The cost for that event, which is being organized by Denice Baxter, is $10 per person or $25 for a family. The local classic rock band, The Maine Event, will perform. The group is collecting silent auction items and donations, for information call Baxter at 360-802-9778 or e-mail her at ddhlbaxter@msn.com.
A silent on-line fundraising auction was also available at www.auctionforcarol.blogspot.com. That event was scheduled to end Saturday.
Scott Decker has been keeping the community updated through a www.sccsdecker.blogspot.com.
Carol had an emergency cesarean section June 10, delivering the Decker’s second daughter, Safiya. After the surgery, Carol developed life-threatening hypotension from a septic pneumonia infection. After fighting several weeks, the medicine she was on to save her life had the unfortunate side effect of blocking blood flow to her legs, left arm and eyes.
Carol has had both legs amputated below the knee, her left arm has been amputated and she is blind. Scott said she was released from the intensive care unit Sept. 2 and is looking at around two months of rehabilitation and then prosthetics. Safiya is home and doing well.
“We’re lucky to be here in Enumclaw,” Scott Decker said, adding he is thankful for the support of family and friends. The young couple recently return to Scott’s hometown of Enumclaw, purchased a home and Scott opened a dental practice.
The fundraisers will help cover costs that are not covered by insurance, which are estimated to be, at worst, $80,000.
“Carol, Chloe, Safiya and I just want to say “thank you” to everyone who is helping,” Scott said in a recently released statement. “Your thoughts, prayers and contributions are not only hard to believe but really have shown us the humanity and compassion that people really have. I hope we have the opportunity to personally thank each and every one of you. Until then, please accept our deepest gratitude and thanks.”
Reach Brenda Sexton at bsexton@courierherald.com or 360-802-8206.
