Help for Tracey Palmer

We are writing today to ask for assistance for our dear friend, Tracey Palmer. (Some of you may remember her as Tracey Ebling-Narisi.) Tracey, our bubbly, endlessly creative, and fiercely independent friend, was seriously injured in a freak accident this past summer. She continues to suffer medical and financial fallout from this event.

If you know Tracey, you know she’s tough as nails, an eternal optimist, and a survivor of the first order. It took a lot to convince her to let us make an appeal for her.

What happened: Most of us have had the experience of seeing a beach umbrella take flight down the beach on a windy day. This past summer, Tracey was eating at an outdoor restaurant when a gust of wind lifted a very large patio umbrella out of the center of a nearby table. The umbrella was launched high into the air. It came back down like a spear, with the metal pole hitting Tracey directly on the top of her head.

Frankly, she’s lucky to be alive.

Tracey received emergency medical treatment at the time. She suffered a massive concussion, as well as a deep and gruesome laceration on the top of her head (which was held together rather painfully by metal staples). Ever the optimist, Tracey tried to downplay her injuries and focus on getting back to work as soon as possible. However, she spent most of the next two weeks in severe pain, confusion, and mental distress.

As a self-employed landscaper, painter, and decorator, Tracey does not have the traditional financial safety net that might be available to people with conventional employment. She has no paid time off, no medical leave, and no short-term disability. If she doesn’t work, there is no money coming in.

Tracey has resumed work part-time, but it has been a challenge. She experiences crushing migraines nearly every day, memory loss, and continuing physical pain. She has to see a chiropractor for hours every week just to be able to function. The work that she is able to do takes longer and exacts a physical toll. Her income has been very unstable for close to four months and is likely to stay that way for the foreseeable future.

To answer the obvious question, yes, there are pending legal matters that are being worked out, but the legal system moves slowly. We’re not sure when Tracey is likely to see any financial relief.

In the meantime, our friend needs help.

Also, she’s terrible at accepting help. But we have tried to convince her that the people who love her would want to help – not out of charity, but out of love. We are all stronger when we stand together. Sometimes you’re the one giving help and sometimes you’re the one receiving it. (Right now, dear Tracey, it’s time to let your friends be there for you. We love you.)

Two important notes:

1. The ONLY way Tracey would agree to let us do this was if she could donate 10% of the proceeds to a charity. So please know that 10% of your donation will go to Aark Wildlife and Rehabilitation Center and/or A Woman’s Place.

2. Tracey is totally mortified about her situation even though it’s clearly not her fault. In fact, she has told only a small handful of people about her accident. She is going to take a break from Facebook for a while after this gets posted. Please don’t worry if you reach out to her and it takes a while for her to reply.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for anything you’re able to contribute.

Much love,

Trish Sammer and LeeAnne Englert