Ren Allen

By Ren Allen (Ren) on Saturday, October 2, 2004 - 11:45 am:
Sorry I didn't get back to respond to you all....we lost the
internet for a few days and then I couldn't find this thread for a
while!! Good to know all your relations are doing ok right now.

I finally heard from Sonja (the unschooling Mom that lost
EVERYTHING) and they've been getting donations of food and clothing
and such from churches down there. I asked her to call so I could
get some of the stuff everyone here sent our way.

Update on Jay and Betsy:
Katie got extremely sick with Salmonella this week and was
hospitalized (does it ever end?). She was released yesterday and is
doing MUCH better...it was the dehydration actually that got really
scary and was the reason for keeping her there. Once they got her
hydrated, she perked up fairly quick.
I've given them some of the donations you all sent...they were
totally floored. They asked for me to give them addresses so they
could thank everyone, but I told them folks had asked me to just
keep them updated rather than have them write a personal thanks
(figuring they had enough to worry about right now).
They've been so touched by everyone's concern. Interestingly, I had
some cash (from all the donations) ready for them and had planned to
take it over the next day.
Jay had shown up at our door at about 10pm on Thursday night,
looking very ashen and shaky. He told us about Katie and how worried
they were (we knew she was sick, but not in the hospital), so the
help came at the perfect moment really...they desperately needed a
boost that night.
He was almost in tears.

They are more grateful for all the concern and want you all to know
how much it means to them. Things will get better and they'll never
forget all the kindness they've encountered from unschoolers they
had never even met!!

Katie is coming over soon to take home a big bagful of all the art
supplies/clothing items that have also been sent.

Thank you again everyone.

Love,
Ren