Summer Fredette's speedy recovery

The Anderson, S.C., community was dealt a shock on Thursday, February 29, when Summer Fredette, co-owner of SummaJoe’s Searing Pans and MR Rivers Breakfast Joint, suffered an aneurysm while tending to her many duties at the restaurants. With the quick thinking of family and friends, Summer was rushed to AnMed, stabilized and eventually moved to Greenville for further treatment.

In just a week, Summer has gone through two surgeries — one to cauterize the busted vessel and one to install a coil — and thanks to the amazing work of doctors and nurses in both cities, will soon be moved from intensive care to a regular room. She will be spending at least another week there and that is when the real road to recovery will begin.

Anyone who knows Summer knows how much she has given to the Anderson community. As co-owner of her restaurants, Summer has sponsored numerous events, supported countless causes and, of course, offers employment, friendship and caring to her staff in both eateries. And while their support has been invaluable in keeping the restaurants going in her absence, there is still so much more that will need to be done.

Insurance will cover some of Summer’s ordeal, but as a self-employed small business owner, that insurance will only go so far with such a serious medical emergency that includes ambulance transportation, surgeries, ICU stays, hospital stays and the rehabilitation that will go along with it.

Please consider donating what you can to someone who has given of herself and her business over the last 15 years and more. Any amount will help get her back on her feet and where she belongs — being a constant asset to her community, her friends and, most of all, her family.

And if you can’t give here, please stop in and thank her amazing staff at SummaJoe’s Searing Pans and MR Rivers Breakfast Joint in downtown Anderson, S.C. They have been working tirelessly to make sure things continue just like Summer would do.