I would like to thank, from the bottom of my heart, my neighbors and friends in White Horse Acres. 4-1/2 years ago, June 14th, 2002, my (late) husband and I were in a tragic car accident. We were hit on the highway, head-on, by an 82-year old man who had dementia and turned the wrong way onto the highway. My husband, Jack, died instantly. I was life-flighted to the hospital and suffered severe injuries. I spent five days in intensive-care and almost 6 months in physical therapy. The mental therapy took years.

I returned home two weeks after the accident as a 34-yr. old widowed mother of two young daughters, Amanda, 8, and Emily, 4. They are now 13 and 9, respectively. While I was in the hospital, my basement apparently flooded. Without burdening me, my neighbors pulled together and cleaned the mess and fixed the problem. A load of mulch had also been delivered during that time. Again, my neighbors pitched in and spread the mulch. They also cut my grass and "held down the fort" until I could return. I had no idea they were doing these things.

After I returned home, I learned that they collected money and paid for someone to come to my home on a weekly basis to clean until I could get back on my feet. They also paid for a landscaper to cut my grass weekly for the rest of the summer and plow the driveway over the winter. Every night, for at least a month, a different neighbor would show up with a full dinner for us. It was incredible! After that, they presented me with gift certificates to Zeppe's.

The years that followed that horrible day were very hard for me. I missed my husband and became very depressed and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. While I attempted to drown in my misery and isolate myself, my neighbors never failed to check on us periodically and urged me to attend our neighborhood social functions. They persisted when I tried to decline.

I don't know how I could ever fully express my gratitude to all of them for their help. I have never witnessed such warmth, thoughtfulness and generosity from so many people. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! I have been blessed and pray that God will bless each of you.

Rose Dolance
White Horse Acres