A challenge Too Soon

A couple of years ago, Sandy McGurk was in Vancouver, BC, driving a Trailways bus for the Winter Olympics. Shuttling athletes to and from the various venues, she couldn't reach her husband, Tom. She finally called a close family friend, asking him to check on Tom, figuring his cell phone probably had quit. It hadn't. His heart did. The friend found him face down in his shop, where he tinkered by the hours with various projects.

Sandy was called and to Trailways credit, they immediately shipped her back to attend to the unthinkable. Tom and Sandy were solid citizens and respected by all. Tom drove truck for Coeur d'Alene Paving and drove steam engine Sundays at Silverwood.

Last week, Sandy experienced what she recognized as a heart attack while picking up her mail preparatory to heading for work at Trailways. She struggled down to the Bayview Mercantile, where she could take advantage of the WiFi present there. She called 911 and was transported to Kootenai Medical Center, where she received two stents. She was also informed she would have to have bypass surgery later this month. She will most likely live.

Unfortunately, working part time for Trailways doesn't include medical insurance and her husband's expired with his death. Shortly after the stent she spent $260 for necessary prescriptions, the last of her savings. She is currently bouncing around in the bureaucracy that constitutes, Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid. Broke, but with many friends, it is hoped we can help her over the hump.

Once she has had her bypass, the bus driving job will be available again. That is, after a period of recovery. We need to help her over the next 60 to 90 days, until she can again help herself.

If you can, please donate to her, Sandy McGurk c/o Herb Huseland and send it to PO Box 884, Bayview, ID. 83803. This is a person worth saving.