Dear CHS & Class of 1985,
By now, all of you should be aware of an unfortunate accident before the holidays that left one of our classmates, Donny Bracken, in need of our help, support and prayers. If you are not aware, I will try to bring you up to speed with the following important information below:
Monica Patterson Dixon, Beverly Coons Lindsey, Spring Heflin and Grace Alexander Bluerock have done a tremendous job of keeping us up-to-date on Donny’s prognosis and recovery. These ladies created a community page on Facebook called Cleveland High School, Class of 1985. On this page, you will find postings & updates on Donny’s condition and the class efforts to organize fundraising events to help with future rehabilitation & medical cost. Wade Baskin is in the process of obtaining information on developing a website for Donny so we can donate funds online and the Bracken family can have access to these donations immediately. Our community page has 73 members. This page is an excellent resource for you to obtain updates on our class and to volunteer to participate in upcoming events/fundraising efforts.
The bottom line is, DONNY BRACKEN NEEDS OUR HELP NOW!!
Please read below the latest update that Beverly & Monica provided to us on January 18, 2011……….From Ronny Bracken : Donny is not able to complete his rehab on his arms and hands due to needing surgery on his left wrist. Surgery will be done in the next week and recovery time will be about 8 weeks. Without completing the rehab program, Donny will remain a full quadriplegic.
The insurance company will not pay for him to stay at Shepherds during this
recovery time. So he will be sent home in the next 10 to 14 days. Where
is home? None of us have any idea because no one is prepared with a
handicapped vehicle, home or all the equipment that he needs, nursing
care of any kind, etc. What are we going to do? The insurance company is not
leaving us much choice. We also need to raise over $15,000 to pay for
him to go back for the rehab he still so desperately needs. We need to get something in the works.....soon!
If you can send any type donation for now, send it to:
Ronny or Cassandra Bracken
1008 Highgrove Drive
Monroe, GA 30655
678-635-5365
This is the response we provided to Ronny on January 20, 2011
From Lisa Dean: Hey Guys, I'm in Jacksonville, Florida and unfortunately I can't do much fundraising here, but I am willing to do whatever it takes to let the Bracken twins know that they can always depend on CHS Class of '85 and that we are here for them.
As I think about our class, we had a 90% participation rate at our 20th year reunion. At least, 95% of our classmates appear to be on facebook. Of course, I'm single and loving every minute of my life, however, I am willing to sacrifice my See's Peanut Brittle for my fellow classmate. Today is Donny’s day, but it could very well be Lisa Dean next week so please remember the golden rule...treat people the way you want to be treated.
The money is needed for Donny's recovery like yesterday and the fundraiser sounds like great idea, but it is still in the planning stage. So, here's my challenge to each of you......there are at least 100 classmates that are attached to each other in some form or fashion. I challenge each of you to send a cashier's check, check or money order in the amount of $150 by January 28, 2011. If we can get 100 classmates to donate $150.....we are talking $15,000 very quick & easy. Now of course, you are welcome to send MORE or less. Ronny will have my donation on or before Jan 28. Please forward this email to anyone that you keep in touch with who is not included on our class email list. Please feel free to copy and paste any portions of this email to your facebook page. Ronny will accept any donation from any class. So if you keep in contact with individuals from other classes other than 1985, we will be happy and very grateful to accept their donations.
Taking care of a love one can be mentally, emotionally and financially draining. For those of you who would like to do more, I would highly suggest a care package. I would love for Cassandra to provide us with a list of household items and basic medical supplies that she know for sure that Donny will need while recovering......for example, favorite snacks, bed padding, alcohol, germ x, personal hygiene products, baby wipes, gift cards to Wal-Mart, CVS, Target or Walgreens, etc.
In closing, I would like to say "thank you". Thank you for the prayers. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Thanks to the ones that read this but really can't do any of the above, but your heart and thoughts are in the correct place. If you can't participate in the above, at a minimum, a simple card or letter goes a long way. The saying that "you will never forget how a person made you feel" is so true. A card or letter letting Donny know that we have not forgotten about him and we are praying for him daily will really give him that extra little push he will need during his journey on the road to recovery. Please continue to pray for the Bracken family and may God continue to bless each of you.
Sincerely,
Lisa Dean
