Whaley Family Support and Healing

Neah Whaley, age 20, was in a fire at her house on January 15, 2024 and tragically she didn't survive. Many of our fiddle player friends knew Neah and if you took the time to get to know her you knew that she was full of love, humor, talent, and radiated goodness.

Marsha and Alan Whaley adopted Neah from the U k r a i n e when she was almost 8 and brought her to Texas. Much more than shyness, she just couldn't communicate easily as her vocal cords never developed. She was never held or talked to, never held a pencil or crayon, she had only been outside of her orphanage to swing on the swing set and had only ridden in a car one time to transfer to a another orphanage. She was found by an American organization whose goal is to find children in orphanages so bad that they need to be rescued immediately.

Marsha reached out to me seven years ago when Neah was 13 and explained that she was non-verbal and asked if I would consider taking her on as a fiddle student. We decided the three of use could give it a try. Neah wouldnt look at me at first or try to speak for a long time. Marsha sat in on the weekly lessons and took detailed notes and recordings, she worked with Neah everyday at home to teach her what we had done in the lesson and Neah started to catch on. We had a system where Neah would point at certain words on note cards with phrases on them “I dont understand” “Please play it again” “I like that!” until she eventually started trying to talk and we didn't need the cards. Marsha tabbed out her songs and color coded them, played piano at home with her, did anything and everything to help Neah learn the fiddle. She eventually didn't need the color coding and was learning by ear. Neah probably knew 40 -50 songs by memory and the keys they were in.

Marsha dedicated her life to teaching Neah basic things - spelling, reading, math, sewing etc. They were best friends and partners in crime. The mind blowing effort Marsha put into helping Neah be the best she could be in all aspects of her life ended up changing my life too.

As heartbroken as we are, the pain her parents and all of her family are experiencing is unimaginable. I can't put it into words.

Joey, Cindy Roberts and I were at the hospital with them and know first hand they ran from their house without anything except the clothes they were wearing. This GoFundMe* is to help with essentials now and for medical, burial, and other expenses in the future. Alan was moved from ICU to a regular room today. He relies on a wheelchair to get around and be able to work, and funds are greatly needed for a hospital bed, breathing machine, etc.. for when he is released. More than anything Marsha asked that you pray for them. Please spread this as far as you can.

Sherry McKenzie

Neah performing at the Bob Wills Fiddle Festival & Contest in Greenville Texas with Joey McKenzie, Gavin Kelso, and Sherry McKenzie.

Neah with some of her fiddle friends

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