Thanks from One Waveland Family
Touched By Support from Wayland
MaKenzie Shurtz Tells Her Family's Story
Delayed Holiday Package Gets Through!
February 28, 2007
Dear WMS Girl Scout Troop #3178:
I really honestly do not know where to begin… sigh… The first thing I need to say is I cannot believe what you all have done for my girls and my husband and I for Christmas, you all will never know the impact you all have had on us this year, and I am sure on many other people. You all have the biggest hearts of anyone I have met. And you all need to be praised for that, we will never forget you all.
My girls opened the box of toys and jumped up and down they had the biggest smile on their faces and we well we sat back took pictures and tears of joy rolled down our face. They loved it all and so did we. They love the Bratz dolls, puzzles, lots of books, and there favorite thing to do in there free time is art work, so they loved the Crayola package, and Courtney our 4 year old was shocked when she saw the bike, she is so excited she can ride her own bike now. Whoever made the bracelets, did a great job thank you so much. Good things come to those who are patient, giving, caring and you all have it all. So you all are next. The city of Waveland, MS called me several times and told me this package from you all has been waiting, well I told them I had no truck to get there and get it, so they were so nice to deliver all this stuff to us last week. I hope you all know what an impact you all have on people, it is amazing.
You know it has been so tough since Hurricane Katrina ...
Katrina was devastating, it took our home, all our belongings, and most important all the memories we have had since my 7 year old was born. We left Long Beach, MS 2 days before hurricane Katrina hit, we went to Louisiana to stay safe. My brother decided to stay in Gulfport, MS where he lived thinking the hurricane was not going to be that bad. My whole family watched the news before and after the storm had hit and all we could do was think, ‘Did Zack (my brother) make it through, is he alive. I wonder if our house is still standing.’
We were a nervous wreck. My stepdad (who is a firefighter) left Louisiana and headed back to Long Beach 3 days after the storm to see what was left. My husband and I got a call from him and he said, ‘Zack is alive but survived after his house flooded and the roof came off of his house, he ended up holding on to the top of a tree for 9 hours, so he would not drown.’ He said Zack was exhausted and shocked all at the same time. He also said, ‘Makenzie your house is gone, I'm sorry baby.’
My mom got on the phone and he said, ‘Honey there is not a piece of a limb in our yard, the hurricane has totally took our house and woods and all of the neighborhoods houses in the ocean or somewhere. He said our rode that use to be paved is now a dirt road.’
My mom and I held each other and cried. But we got our thoughts together and tried to figure out what we were all going to do. I had to enroll our kids in a school in Louisiana because there was no where for us to go in MS. I was still employed at the hospital in MS, but no where to live to go to work. So I stayed in Louisiana for 2 months, while my husband had to be back in MS on base and continue his job with the military and help all these families in MS, and we had to wait until we could get a FEMA trailer.
My mom and stepdad bought a RV and lived in it on some friends property in MS so they could get back to work. My brother moved to Birmingham, Alabama, and swore he would never move back to MS, because the storm scared him so bad. The girls and 1 went back to MS 2 months later and moved into our FEMA trailer and lived in it for 5 months, that's all we could take of it, the trailer was a gift from god, but it was very uncomfortable living quarters.
From there my husband the kids and I rented an apartment in Long Beach for an outrageous amount. It is so sad, our rent went up a lot more than our income. You see my husband is military so our income is not the greatest. I work just part time at the hospital because I am a full time student in the Respiratory Therapy program. So we (meaning everyone affected) all have been literally just making ends meat since the storm. But we will never give up, because giving up is way to easy. This has made all of us so much stronger as people, and has made us appreciate the little things in life that we overlooked before the storm.
I am telling you all this story to tell you this, God was present through all of this and he was present when we received our FEMA trailer and he was also present when we received this box of joy from you all. And I know that god is with my husband while he is serving his time over in Iraq, he has been there since October and is due home sometime in April. The girls and I miss him so dearly. Please keep him in your thoughts as I know he and all the other troops would appreciate.
You all have touched my family's hearts in so many ways I want you all to know you are absolutely great people for what you do. This world would be a better place if there were more people just like you all...
Sincerely with all our Hearts,
The Shurtz Family