She's Helped So Many....Can You Help Her?

Sometimes the people who make the greatest impact on our lives don't live in the same community as us. We may not see them day in and day out, but their presence in our lives is felt every minute of our days. Such is the case of Laura Thomas-Hadley and Tayla Andrews.

As many of you know, Andrews is our local postal worker - most of us see her on a daily basis and know her friendly smile. Thomas-Hadley has helped change Andrews life in many dramatic ways throughout the years and Andrews is hoping our generous community might help her return the favor.

Andrews met Thomas-Hadley in 1993 when she moved to Texas for assistance with an eating disorder and mental health issues. Thomas-Hadley was an art therapist at the facility and, over the course of five years off and on, helped Andrews rejoin the world as a functional member of society via art therapy.

"She is honest, kind, and selfless. She looks for the good in everyone and is always giving," Andrews said.

Seven years ago, after marrying and moving to England, Thomas-Hadley was in a horrific car accident which pulverized her left ankle and knee, broke both femurs in 6+ places each, shattered both of her shins to pieces and cracked her right hip.

"By some trick of fate, there happened to be an ambulance transporting blood and it was the nearest one to me. So I made it. I wish I hadn't," Thomas-Hadley says on Andrews fundraising page. Because of the accident, Thomas-Hadley has suffered severe rheumatoid arthritis, coupled with debilitating depression. She has been unable to find comfort and support from her family, leaning instead on her friends, including Andrews.

Andrews set up fundraiser on freefunder.com (see freefunder.com/campaign/lauras-journey), in addition to all of her side-job Mary Kay sales going to support Thomas-Hadley's journey back to the United States.

"The end goal is to get her back to the United States, specifically to Minnesota's Mayo Clinic, then she will travel to Whitehall," Andrews said, adding that the Whitehall community, via Facebook shares on Andrews' personal page, has already been very generous and both she and Thomas-Hadley are "beyond thankful."

"She is not needy by nature - she is always helping others, never herself. I really want to be able to help her on this journey; she's helped me so much," Andrews said.

Please take a moment and visit http://www.freefunder.com/campaign/lauras-journey and read more of Laura's story. Donations may be made direct to Laura's Journey donation account at Rocky Mountain Bank, on freefunder.com, or by contacting Tayla Andrews at 406-570-2538.