Missy got in touch with KDWB's Christmas Wish to share a heartbreaking story about her friend Brenda and Brenda's family:
I nominated my friends, Brenda and Scott, for the KDWB Christmas Wish due to 2016 being a really tough year for them and their kids. The year started with their son being rushed to Children’s hospital, where doctors discovered that Brenda and Scott’s son had been born ten years ago with only one kidney. He had been a football player, a baseball player, and an avid wrestler up to this point in his life. After this discovery, the family was told that their son could no longer participate in high contact sports for fear that it would damage his only kidney. For a family that loves wrestling (their daughter wrestles too), this was a heartbreaking moment for them. Luckily, Scott and Brenda’s son is still able to participate in baseball, a sport that he loves and accelerates in.
In the spring of this year, Brenda and I lot a dear friend to domestic violence. Brenda took the news extremely hard. She was extremely emotional and distraught over our friend’s death. A few months after this, Scott was t-boned by another driver while making a left-hand turn. The accident totaled their car and caused damaged to Scott’s rotator cuff.
At the beginning of November, Scott had surgery to repair his damaged rotator cuff. A week later (the Thursday before Thanksgiving), disaster struck the family. Brenda was in the basement of their house when she heard glass breaking. She thought it was her son goofing around when he should have been in bed. As she walked up the basement stairs, she saw the flames in their entry way – the house was on fire. She yelled to Scott, who was still in the basement and ran upstairs to get their son. As she headed down the hall, she heard her son outside on the front lawn. He had army crawled his way to his bedroom door, saw the flames, and then army crawled back to his bedroom window and jumped out to safety. He then proceeded to help Scott, his little sister, and the family’s two dogs get out of the basement bedroom window. Brenda ran out the back patio door and down the deck stairs to safety.
The heartbreaking events of 2016 have made it hard for Brenda to find the Christmas spirit this year. She’s been trying hard to keep it up for her kids who are 10 & 8, but with the fire, being in temporary housing with items that aren’t theirs, and all the stress, it’s been extremely tough for her and Scott. My Christmas wish is that Brenda, Scott, and their family get a little joy back and end their year on a loving note.
We jumped at the chance to help Brenda and her entire family after the year they had. Brenda and Scott received gift cards to SuperAmerica, CobornsDelivers.com for groceries and Masu Sushi & Robata for a night out, Target, and more! Plus, we got them tons of kitchen essentials (measuring cups, mixing bowls, silverware, pots & pans and more). The family also received board games, blankets, hats & gloves and more! Zac got Nerf guns, Legos, books and more. Evie received coloring books, toys, games, books and more.
Plus, the Twins' Joe Mauer and his wife Maddie heard about this KDWB Christmas Wish and wanted to help out. They are donating a fun day at the ballpark next season, including Legends Club tickets to a home (evening) game, a VIP tour of the stadium, watch the team batting practice on the field and a meet & greet with Joe, a $500 Nike gift card to help buy new sporting equipment that was lost in the fire, a Twins gift pack for Zac and Evie – including Twins merch, and a signed bat for the family!
Also, Treasure Island Resort and Casino heard about this story and would like to give your family $2,000 to help purchase new clothing and household necessities that were lost in the fire. Thank you to the Prairie island Indian Community and Treasure Island Resort and Casino!
As one of our partners this year, EVERY Christmas wish will be receiving a $101 gas card courtesy of SuperAmerica! as well as a grocery gift card from CobornsDelivers.com.
We couldn't do KDWB's Christmas Wish without your donations. Click here to make a tax-deductible donation. Special thanks to Venture Bank. Plus, part of the donations will automatically go to YouthLink to help homeless youth in the Twin Cities.