Tara Presnell

Ms. Tara is my son’s beloved preschool teacher, as to many other little ones that she pours her entire heart into nurturing. I have come to love and adore Tara through the love she gives to my son. I was absolutely heartbroken when I heard that she was in a car accident caused by someone who should not have ever been behind the wheel. Tara had to have surgery for a fractured hip and will be out of work for at least six weeks. It is going to be a tough journey to heal- physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially. We know she is tough as she has beat breast cancer only a year ago and because she draws her strength from the Lord. All funds that are raised will be to support the family in whatever way they need during this journey. Tara, and her family, are such a blessing to so many people and now it’s our turn to help bless them! Thank you!

From her husband:

I’m Furious, I’m Sad, I’m Grateful!!!!

I’m furious that an unlicensed, uninsured multiple DUI convicted driver pulled out in front of my wife and our 4 year old niece. I’m furious that the APD officer was so heartless to not see that all she cared about was our niece at the time and decided he wanted to belittle her by asking if she even tried to stop and making a smart comment about even if she had tried that her tires weren’t good enough to do anything. I’m furious that while she’s in pain and worried, that he told her it could have been avoided if she was wearing her seatbelt (she absolutely was, she even has belt rash!!!!). I’m furious that he drove to the hospital and put a seatbelt ticket on her pants that the EMT’s had to cut off her body while the nurses had her on a table and were positioning her for x-rays. I’m furious that she cried while telling me about his hateful behavior and she kept asking “did I do something wrong” and promising me over and over that the other car came out of nowhere (like I wouldn’t believe her because the officer tried to find a reason to put her at fault).

I’m sad that the force of the impact pushed the ball of her leg bone through the back of her hip. I’m sad that she spent days in the hospital instead of living her life. I’m sad that we still haven’t completely paid off the $40k for her cancer bills and now who knows what this bill will be. I’m sad that she can’t walk for 8 to 10 weeks. I’m sad that just about the time she’s mentally getting over the changes of a double mastectomy and hysterectomy that the breast cancer caused, that now she’s dealing with another major life changing medical procedure. I’m sad that she’s going to miss our sweet niece’s 5th birthday party. I’m sad that she can’t give our daughter the sweet 16 party that she’s been dreaming of since the day after we way overdid her 6th birthday party. I’m sad that she’s going to miss our son’s first real basketball championship tournament. I’m sad that even if she can walk in 2 months, she won’t be able to go up stairs easily, so she might miss out on the rest of the year at work. I’m sad that she’s so heartbroken that she might miss her “preschool babies” that she truly loves finish their year out. I’m sad that she’s so worried about not getting her paycheck for that long. I’m sad that thanks to the officer making her feel like she was at fault that she hasn’t slept because she keeps replaying the wreck in her head thinking what she could have done differently. I‘m sad that she’s likely going to have major arthritis and possibly need a hip replacement when she’s older. Im sad that I travel for work so much so I have to chose between taking care of her or going out of town.

Most of all: I’M SAD THAT SHE HURTS.

But…

I Am Grateful!

I’m grateful that God was in the passenger seat and that he grabbed the wheel in the fraction of a second the entire thing happened. I’m grateful that our sweet Charlee wasn’t hurt. I’m extremely grateful for all of the friends and family that helped her till I could fly home and are still doing so much to help us. I’m so very grateful for the lady that stopped to help and be a witness. This lady was on the way to a Dr. appointment with her sister and nephew. She actually stayed alone without a car and had her sister go on to the appointment because she “couldn’t believe he would do that”. Seriously; people don’t go out of their way like that anymore. So we really want to thank her somehow. I’m grateful that it wasn’t worse and that my wife is alive.