This week my husband told me about a news report he read about a guy who got stuck and died in the Nutty Puddy caves in Utah near BYU where we went to college together. Today he told me more details about the story. I remember being invited to go explore these caves in college. I am a bit claustrophobic though so I didn't go. Still so many of my friends did go that this story seemed personal to me. This could have been any one of my friends.
So today I read more about this man, John Jones, and his trial being stuck upside down in a space 10 inches high by 18 inches wide for 28 or so hours while rescue workers labored to get him out. And I read a bit about his family and his life. He was 26. He was married and had a 14 month old little girl. I kinda have a serious soft spot for 14 month old little girls. His wife is expecting their second child. He was a BYU grad and was in medical school at the University of Virginia.
His life reads so much like so many of my friends. I just really feel heart broken for his wife and family. I saw that there is a memorial fund set up for his wife and children. I can imagine how stressful money would be on top of the grief for this new young widow of a med student. I wanted to do something. So tomorrow I am going to Wells Fargo to donate to the Emily Jones Memorial Fund. I think it will be the perfect way to officially start the Christmas season in my heart. And yet, I want to do more.
So .... I am thinking I want to do an auction to raise money for this young widow. I am going to be posting some things this week that will be auctioned off to raise money for this fund. The auctions will start tomorrow. I will try to do one every day. If you want to put something up for auction, let me know in a comment. Otherwise, watch this week for auction items and details on bidding.
If you don't want to bid on anything you see, think about making a donation at Wells Fargo to the Emily Jones Memorial Fund. I think it will be the best gift I give this Christmas.
You can read the family's statement HERE.
25 comments:
I would love to be a part of this auction. I heard about this tragedy this weekend from my in laws who are in John's parents ward in Stansbury. My husband loves the nutty putty caves... it really could have been anyone of my family or friends. My heart goes out to his beautiful wife. I like to make these "family trees" that I sell in my etsy shop. I would love to auction a tree for the cause. Let me know what information you would need. My shop address is naturallymeg.etsy.com and my blog is naturallymeg.blogspot.com. Thank you for this opportunity to help even in this small way.
I would love to take part, also. I don't have much, but I will do what I can. I haven't been able to stop thinking about this whole tragedy. I cry every time I think about it. Thank you for taking the initiative to do this.
My business partner and I would love to participate in this auction. We would love to auction off some of our Christmas cards. If you could email me at contact@yourcardbakery.com I would love to discuss this with you. Thanks so much and we look forward to hearing back from you.
Whitney
YourCardBakery.com
I'll have to tell my man about this story. You know how crazy he his.
Let me know if you'd want me to donate. I'd be happy too.
Please go forth with this auction! It is such a wonderful thing to do for an amazing family that has just lost so much and having to deal with the financial burden on top of everything... Thank you for doing it!
Please get this family submitted @ http://thelizlogelinfoundation.org/
Its exactly why this foundation was set up.
I think your idea of an Auction is awesome. I look forward to seeing what is up!
This is a great idea Stephanie, my heart goes out to this family. I have been in the nutty putty's and I swore I would never go back, it was freaky how tight those spaces were.
I am sure the family will appreciate anything, and yes, what a great way to start the holiday season, doing something for someone in need.
sara g.
john and emily jones are friends of mine... we were in the same BYU married ward a couple of years ago before my husband and i moved to california. they are literally angelic people... the best kind of people you could ever imagine.
i have 14 hand-painted onesies i would love to donate to the auction. email me at whitneyshafer@gmail.com
I explored those caves many times as have many of my family and friends...so this has hit hard for me. I think your auction is a great idea and what a neat way to start the holiday season!
After my earlier comment, I started thinking about what I have or could do to donate for the auction. I would like to donate a homemade handbag for auction. My email address is cory_sharon@msn.com. I will send pictures if you would like.
My deepest condonlences go out to his family. My husbad went to high school with him and played on the basketball team with him. It is so sad. I am will to offer some of my items. www.avella.etsy.com lease email me at laceytorgerson@yahoo.com for more info.
This story has hit home with my wife and I. My heart still aches for Emily and her Daughter. This is a reminder for me to be more careful because I have a wife and three beautiful kids relying on me. Your blog has motivated me to donate to the wellsfargo account.
My family is all just haunted by this. We grew up in the same stake as them in St. George - his older brother Spencer (lawyer in San Fran) I grew up with. They are a great family. I was at my parents house and we just sat and sickly watched the news. My husband went in those caves as a teen and he is celebrating their decision to close them down.
I hope his wife and kids not only have temporal help, but spiritual help as well to get through this tradgedy.
I would love to be a part of this auction! I will email you...
AWESOME idea!! Love it!! My heart goes out to his family and friends and my prayers are with them. I think I will send a link to my sis. She may want to donate something as well. She crochets the cutest baby hats!!
This man was a family friend, so it is a close to home story. I pray their family will be healed.
just wanted to thank you for being pro active and starting an auction for this family. people like you set a high standard of example for the rest of us to live up to and I'm appreciative and grateful for it! thanks again!
I would love to donate some flower clips and other accessories from my website! Email me krista@sweetabigailbows.com
Such a touching story!! If you're still looking for items, I would be happy to action off a hooded bath towel. My website is bathtimehoodies.com.
Thank you so much for your generosity in doing this for this wonderful woman you haven't even met. She was my roommate and I have been sick since I heard of his death. It touches me to see that even a stranger will reach out to help her right now. Bless you.
I'm really touched that you are doing such a kind and generous thing for a stranger. I have been thinking about this poor little family for days. It even woke me up last night and I spent the morning crying after reading the family's statement. I'm contributing to the memorial fund tomorrow.
I don't know if you need any more things to auction, but I make baby slings and I have some cute baby girl fabric left over from the last sling I made. This story was heart-breaking to read and I'd love to help! Here is the link to my etsy store:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/cluffgirl?ga_search_query=cluffgirl&ga_search_type=seller_usernames
my e-mail is cluffgirl@hotmail.com. Let me know if your could use one!
Marie Cluff
Thank you for doing this. My husband was one of the paramedics who tried to rescue John and he spent many hours in the bottom of the cave talking to John on his last day. This tragedy has hit close to home for us and many others and I personally appreciate your caring and loving attitude.
Hello, my name is Desiree Bowen, and I live in Charlottesville, VA, where John was attending medical school. Emily is one of my dear friends and I want you to know what a sweet thing I, along with other many other members in our ward, think you are doing. Emily could not be more deserving of this- she is one of the nicest people I know. Her husband John, was the same- everyone thought he was a wonderful person. Thank you so much for doing this!!!
You are an angel.
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