Online Plus Edition Monday, August 16, 2004
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Changed lives: Paralyzed Danvers woman recovers as family rallies around herBy Melissa Beecher
DANVERS -- Wendy Erikson has never been the kind of person to get overly emotional about the little things. The single mother of four barely found time for herself in between working, pursuing her degree, volunteering for sports teams' fund-raisers and the usual household chores. But now, Erikson finds herself in the most emotional -- and physical -- battle of her life. On June 23, Erikson took her new motorcycle out for a drive in Topsfield. When the Harley-Davidson clipped a telephone pole, she was thrown 30 to 40 feet. The helmet she was wearing was thrown off. Erikson broke her neck. Since the day she became paralyzed, the 42-year-old who has always done for others has been forced to put the maternal mental checklist on hold and focus on recovery. "She doesn't cry for herself," said friend Karen Devaney. "She told me, 'What good is crying going to do?' But she's upset for her kids. They're her biggest concern." Picking up the pieces While Erikson recovers from surgery that fused four of her neck vertebrae, her oldest daughter, Kim, 22, has stepped up to run the household. Kim has been forced to balance the responsibility of helping two of her younger siblings cope with their family tragedy while raising her own son, an active 2-year-old named Dylan. She said the past month has been one trial after another. "It's been hard. But I have to. Who else is going to?" said Kim McNutt. "I have to choose between doing dishes and laundry or visiting mom, but when I go visit her, the dishes are still here when I get back. It's things like that that make it hard." Levi Stanley, 16, and 12-year-old T.J. Stanley still keep up with their sports teams and spend time with friends, but McNutt says they both miss their mom terribly. Artie Stanley, 20, lives in Vermont with his newborn son, also named Artie. The young woman with a world of responsibility on her shoulders chokes up when asked to describe her mom. "She's awesome. You can't keep up with her. She's always running around nonstop. Things are totally different now. It's so hard not to have her here with us," said McNutt, fighting through tears. "I always helped out with laundry or things like that ... but she always found a way to do it all." Before the accident, Erikson left her job to go back to school to become a medical technician. On the night of the crash, she had received her report card. She earned straight A's during her first semester. "Here we are these soccer moms standing around at practice, and Wendy comes riding up on a Harley," said family friend Amy Ladd. "She's funny, friendly and outgoing. She'd do anything for anyone. That's why everyone loves her." Soccer moms unite Neighbors in the close-knit neighborhood around Crane Street have been supportive of the Stanley family's struggle. They've brought food and gift certificates for the children, and watched the house and baby Dylan while McNutt takes the older children to visit their mom at Boston Medical Center. But each day Erikson spends in the hospital is a day the family's modest savings gets further depleted. Knowing that handicapped accessible ramps and a first-floor bathroom will need to be added to the house when Erikson comes home, friends have issued a call to help the family. Parents of the Danvers National Little League, Danvers Youth Football and Danvers High baseball and football teams have rallied to organize a fund-raiser. Roger Day, coach of the Danvers High baseball team and assistant coach of the football team, says parents know the family well. "Wendy is one of those parents who always put in a ton of work," said Day, who coached Artie and Levi in sports. "When people found out what happened, they wanted to help right away." The Wendy Erikson Irrevocable Trust was started. The main fund-raiser to put dollars into that fund will be held Sept. 10. The Wendy Erikson Benefit Dinner Dance and Silent Auction is scheduled to be held at the Franco-American Club in Beverly at 7:30 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the Stanley children trust. The effort was spearheaded by friends like Devaney, who McNutt says has helped the family tremendously. "I know that if this happened to someone else, Wendy would be the first in line helping out," said Devaney. "When I asked her if she minded that we were doing (the fund-raiser) her first words were 'What can I do to help?' She's in the hospital and still thinking of ways she can help. I think that shows you the kind of person she is." As for the Stanley children, McNutt said they are all hopeful their mother will be home from physical therapy soon. "She just wants to come home," said McNutt. "And we all want her here. We're all trying to be strong for her ... be strong like her." "She's a fighter, though," McNutt added. "She keeps saying she'll walk again, and I'd doubt it, if it was coming from anyone else than my mom." Staff writer Melissa Beecher can be reached at (978) 338-2526 or by e-mail at mbeecher@ecnnews.com. Staff writer
How to help the Stanley family
What: The Wendy Erikson Benefit Dinner Dance and Silent Auction When: Friday, Sept. 10, 7:30 p.m. Where: Franco-American Club, 44 Park St., Beverly Ticket Cost: $25 per person, all proceeds will benefit the family Where to purchase: Doyle Insurance Agency, Seaquels, Four Sixty Six Restaurant For more information: Karen Devaney, (978) 774-0520, Amy and Tom Ladd, (978) 777-9218 or Karen McInnis, (978) 375-3053 How else to help: Donations and gift certificates can also be mailed to the Wendy Erikson Irrevocable Trust, P.O. Box 262, Danvers, MA. 01923
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