Heroes, small and tall

 We were devastated to hear the news that my cousin Kolby Thompson's 6 year old daughter had been in a riding lawnmower accident, which nearly severed her leg.  We joined them in praying for her but found out the next morning the doctors had to amputate her leg above the knee.  Such a blow, and at such a young age.  I wasn't sure how she would be able to deal with it.  Amazingly enough, however, Chelsey has been a real trooper!  Her positive attitude and brave smile has won over the town, and they are doing what they can to help the family.

 Chelsey and Grandma got pictures taken in their matching wheelchairs.  Apparently, Chelsey wanted to race but Grandma was a little too tired (she passed away about 2 weeks later).

 The week after the accident I attended an event at Fort Hall for a soldier, Phillip Baldwin, who had lost both legs in Afghanistan.  A wonderful group raised the money to build him a handicapped accessible home, and the head of the organization, a veteran and amputee himself, came to speak.  So did Larry Echohawk, who is now a member of the Quorum of the Seventies in the LDS church, and it was neat to be able to shake his hand.  He presented the soldier with a check for $10,000 from the church to spend on a gazebo and furniture.

 I talked to the man in charge of the event, Justin Bond, and when he heard about Chelsey he wanted to be able to talk to her parents about prosthetic limbs and meet her.  He was anxious to help if he could and was so nice.  Heroes usually are.