Friends holding benefit for paralyzed Fremont woman
FREMONT – Margaret Adams recently received a brief, but moving postcard in the mail from her 16-year-old grandson, Caleb, a Bellevue High School football player.
Caleb’s postcard started off with, “Dear Grandma, I just wanted you to know that you have inspired me deeply this offseason with your strength and courage.”
It’s been a rough few months for Margaret, 61, who was paralyzed from the chest down in a fluke bicycle accident on Tiffin Road near Conner Park in May.
Thrivent Financial and Fremont Alliance Church are hosting a spaghetti benefit dinner and a silent auction to raise money for the Adams family at the church Sept. 26 on Margaret’s behalf. Her home needs numerous renovations to accommodate her and the family is facing other expenses.
The postcard from one of her eight grandchildren provided a special boost and made her tear up, Margaret acknowledged, as she held her grandson’s note in her Ballville Township home.
Although she’s struggled with the adjustment of being in a motorized wheelchair and new limitations on her mobility, Adams said the experience also has shown her the generosity of her family, friends and the wider community.
“It’s been amazing. We’ve been blessed a million times over,” Adams said Tuesday, as she talked about her injury and the response she’s received from fellow church members at Fremont Alliance Church, neighbors and co-workers.
The benefit dinner and silent auction are scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m., with tickets $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 4 to 12. Several area businesses have donated items to be auctioned off in support of the family.
Andy Brandon, Adams’ nephew, said his aunt sustained a spinal cord injury in the May accident, where she lost her balance and fell from a bicycle. She was an avid lifelong runner and worked at the city’s east side Kroger for a number of years.
He said the bicycle was a Mother’s Day gift to her this year from her husband.
“It was her first time riding it,” Brandon said.
A sign on one of Adams’ household walls reads “Believe You Can and You Will.”
Although she is confined to a motorized wheelchair, Adams said she tries to stay active around the house and help with cleaning and other chores to the extent she can.
Adams worked for 12 years at Kroger in the office and as a cashier. She said she’s lived in the area all of her life and knows a lot of people through work, church and her kids.
At Kroger, Adams said she got to indulge her love of visiting with people.
Her nephew said a lot of people in Fremont, even if though they don’t know her name, seem to know her from a trip into the Kroger for groceries.
“On Facebook, it’s interesting how many people recognize her from Kroger,” Brandon said.
Rick Adams, Margaret’s husband, said the volunteered contributions from the public have been overwhelming and greatly appreciated, with their son-in-law and fellow church members pitching in to help build a wheelchair-accessible ramp at the couple’s home.
“They not only built it, but they paid for the whole thing,” Rick said.
He said the list of individual and business donors that have helped with renovations at the couple’s home, provided free plumbing and masonry services, or shared meals through the Meal Train service was lengthy.
The couple has been married for 42 years, and Rick said he and his wife wanted the community to know how grateful they were for the support.
While the couple were initially devastated by the accident and fearful of being bankrupted by bills, Rick said he and Margaret have regrouped and been propped up by the community’s giving.
“We’re impressed with the whole community,” he said.
Tickets for the benefit can be purchased by calling 419-334-3830, Ext. 4, Monday through Thursday.
dacarson@gannett.com
419-334-1046
Twitter:@DanielCarson7.