Just when I thought I had heard the worst Katrina stories,

[proud2BlibKansan]

I found this one. :cry:


Help Madison's mom lay her to rest
Home: 618-972-8291

Email: [e-mail]

Subject: My Hurricane Story -- Please help

My name is Kimberly Estopinal and I am writing to you to plead for your help. My story, like many of those of the victims is not a short one, but I will try to be as brief as posible. I am not a resident of New Orleans anymore, however I was born and raised there and have remained a loyal New Orleanian from my new home of Granite City, IL.

I am writing this e-mail on behalf of my daughter Madison Falgout. Madison was born a normal, healthy baby. Late on the night of August 28, 1999 while I was working my now ex-husband violently shook Madison, leaving her severly brain damaged, parapalegic, blind and bed ridden.

My beautiful baby defied the fatalistic predictions of all of her doctors, who said that she would never come off of life support in 1999. She proved them wrong then, and many times since. Until two weeks ago. It was then (August 26, 2005), almost six years to the day from her originally date of injury when Madison died under the care of home health services.

There was never a doubt in the mind of anyone in our family, or who knew my family where Madison should be laid to rest. It was to be in the family crypt where nearly every member of our family has been laid to rest for nearly the past 90 years, in Greenwood Cemetery in New Orleans.

The morning after she passed away(Sat., August 27), her body was flown to New Orleans, No one knew at that time the destruction that Hurricane Katrina would cause. On Sunday morning, my Father who is a retired Kenner Police Officer and now works as a Federal Marshall in downtown New Orleans called and told me that I should wait until Tuesday morning to drive to New Orleans and make the funeral arrangements for Madison.

The next day, my hometown was destroyed, from what I hear. I have tried nearly continuously to call the funeral home and the cemetery but have not been able to get through. My problem now is that I have no idea, not any way of finding out #1- How the funeral home where Madison is weathered the storm and of her body is safe from flood waters, rugged weather or even the criminal element. And #2, when she will be able to be laid to rest.

My family and I are frantic for information. This storm has doubled my grief for my baby to the point that I am no longer even able to sleep, only to lie awake and wonder what is hapening to her now. And how I can get her laid to rest. Please, if there is any way that you can help me and my daughter, I am begging you to do it. I am including all of the information that I have as well as my contact information. I know that right now your main priority is to help in rescue efforts for the living, but I pray that someone down there can help me, if in nothing else than giving me some small peice of mind in the form of information.

http://www.nola.com/weblogs/nola/

[hiley]

1. so sad

:cry:
edit to add recommend Madison's story should be known to all.
Maybe someone can help her family.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Good idea

[NVMojo]

2. NOLA, the many faces of heartbreak ...