Mourn With Those That Mourn

We have had a huge tragedy occur in our ward this last week, and while I have wanted to get on here and ask for support for the family, I have been unable to face having to write it all out.  The family could use some help, though, so I need to just bite the bullet and get on with it.

Anyone in Utah has probably heard of the Inndia Powell family recently, as their sad story has been front page and headline news for about a week now.  That family is in my ward.  They live about 50 feet from our house, and we almost share a backyard.

A couple of weeks ago, their 7 year old son was playing with a lighter when his pants caught on fire.  He ended up with severe burns and was in the UofU burn unit.  It was a huge burden on the family as the two younger sons had to be passed from family members houses while the parents took shifts being with Anthony in the hospital and going to their respective jobs.

After the stress of all of this, Inndia, the mother, needed a break, so she left her husband at the hospital with Anthony and took her two younger sons with her on a road trip to her home town in Wyoming to attend a birthday party of the son of a family friend.

They never made it.  They got caught in a horrendous white out snow storm, lost control of the van, which rolled four times before landing face down in a river, where all three of them died.

Heart breaking.  Utterly heart breaking.

I have not been quiet at all about proclaiming the love I have for this ward.  It is amazing.  I have never been in a community where I have felt so much love and support for everything.  Inndia was no small part of that community.  She was always ready to help anyone in need, and even ran over some gatorade to us at one point when I mentioned on facebook that I wasn't feeling well.  I have babysat her sons on a few occasions, and Emma loved playing with Alex at the park because he would let her boss him around. :)  She was Sara's nursery teacher at one point, and was a bright ray of light and kindness in our neighborhood.  To say she will be missed would be a huge understatement, but I don't know what else to say.

Thomas and Anthony are now left to try and pick up the pieces of their lives without their mother, wife, sons, and brothers.  I am amazed at the strength and serenity with which they are dealing with this incredible loss.  My point in writing this is to ask for help for them.  I am asking you to help use mourn with those that mourn, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort.  There are some funds set up to help them deal with the costs of the funerals and the medical bills from Anthony's burns (which Thomas believed saved his life from the accident.)  If you can spare anything to help them in any way, I would really appreciate it.

This site was set up by a personal friend of Thomas's.
http://www.gofundme.com/a2mvg

The second is a trust that has been set up. Thomas has asked that in lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to "The Inndia Powell Family Memorial" through America First Credit Union.

Here are some of the news articles that have been circulating about the event, for those who haven't seen them:
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=960&sid=18069562#.TsBj4rTGQ40.facebook

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52901515-78/expected-inches-lake-salt.html.csp#.Tr9fvBxEAmU.facebook 


http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=18119310#.TsUcbuc0ya0.facebook


I had a YW leader who always said, "Trials can make you bItter or they can make you bEtter- it just depends on which vowel you buy." You can see here which one this family has chosen.