A hot, dry breeze rustles the curtains reminding me that we are in the midst of a severe drought. For a moment this morning, I dared to hope for rain. The sky was gray and overcast. Rain was not in the forecast but sometimes the weather service gets it wrong. “Oh, please let this be one of those times”, I thought.

One step outside, one deep breath and I knew they were not wrong. The heavens were not going to open and give us the rain we so desperately need. Rather, smoke from distant forest fires obscured the sun creating the haze and with it a cruel deception.

Where there should be green grass, there is dirt. Scrawny cattle search for blades of grass to ease their hunger. Crops suffer and with them the families who have given their lives to producing the food that feeds our population as well as much of the world. Farmers and ranchers talk with furrowed brows in worried tones. We need rain. And we humans are powerless to produce it.

The curtains rustle again, drawing my attention back to the woman in front of me. She sits up in bed with her left foot propped up on a stack of pillows. In spite of the pain I know she’s enduring, her face remains beautiful. I listen as she shares her story.

Surround by drought this story is almost incomprehensible. 13 years ago and 1200 miles away Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on all in it’s path. Then, like now, we were powerless against it.

Sadie’s story is the story of a mother forced to flee her home as a hurricane threatened her life and those of her children. It’s the story of survival, of resilience, of faith. It’s a story of community, and caring, of generosity and hope.

Before Katrine destroyed New Orleans and Sadie’s home, belongings and business, she owned a cleaning company. For eight years Unlimited Cleaning Services cleaned homes and business. It was hard work but Sadie is a hard worker and she was providing a living for her family.

On Saturday, August 27, 2005, two days before Katrina made landfall, Sadie packed her two children, ages 7 and 14 into her vehicle and commenced the 45 minute drive to Baton Rouge, finally arriving 7 hours later. Motels posted No-Vacancy signs. Gas stations were sold out of fuel, and traffic clogged the roadways.

Finally, Sadie and her children found an available hotel room. That room would become home for the next two months. Simple necessities, like food were hard to come by.

Food stamps were made available but it took a full 24 hours to make it through the line in order to obtain them. Even with the stamps it was difficult to find food and the food they could obtain was cold. Always cold and often military issued pouches. Finally, a church started providing a hot meal once a day.

With two children depending on her, Sadie struggled to survive, all the while worrying and wondering about her older two daughters. They had chosen not to evacuate with Sadie and in the aftermath of the storm, she could not find them. For 30 days she was left to guess at their fate. Finally, she learned they were safe. They’d survived.

Eventually, life in the hotel took on somewhat of a routine. Sadie obtained a job cleaning for the hotel that had become their temporary home. She was grateful for the added money but concerned about the children.

The local schools were overwhelmed and would not allow them to attend. With all of her mother love and determination, she approached a Lutheran private school, knowing full well that she did not have the means to pay the tuition. The school agreed to enroll the kids and to waive the associated costs.

The school then decided to help families, like Sadie’s, relocated and start over, if they desired. After completing the application process, Sadie was chosen for their program. The school identified a location, provided food, gas and hotel rooms for the journey west. That is how Sadie landed in southern Colorado.

Another charitable group arranged for an apartment for the family in their new town. They provided them with much needed winter clothing and filled their cabinets with food.

Furniture Row donated an entire houseful of furniture. They were allowed to choose three bedroom sets, as well as a dining room and living room set.

The Salvation Army learned of Sadie and her family and for three years they provided Christmas and birthday gifts and even paid off the loan on her van.

Fannie Mae allowed her to rent a foreclosed home for a mere $1/month for 18 months. People would see her Louisiana license plates and offer to help.

Little by little, with help and generosity of so many, they began to rebuild their life. Even still, it was hard. When her blood pressure was high enough that she needed to go to the emergency room, she realized that the only person she could list as an emergency contact was several states away. Sometimes the isolation was almost unbearable.

With little formal education Sadie needed a way to provide for her family. Cleaning had started taking it’s toll on her body so she considered other options. She obtained her CNA certificate and began providing in home health services.

In addition to providing an income, this helped ease the feelings of isolation.  And she was good at it! For a time she cared for my aging grandfather. We had used several different people from several different companies, and Sadie was far and away the very best.

In 2009 she began to develop pain in her left foot. Doctors performed a multitude of tests but could not reach consensus on the cause. Eventually, they determined she had rheumatoid arthritis. Though in constant pain, she continued to work and struggled to save, knowing she would eventually need surgery and she wanted to be financially prepared.

Finally, she could no longer stand on the foot and it became apparent that the time had come for the operation. Though she’d saved and prepared, scheduling the surgery took much, much longer than expected, depleting her savings account. Her car was repossessed when she was unable to make her payments, throwing her back into the dreaded isolation.

In addition to the financial burden, we soon realized that she would require 24 hour care for weeks following the surgery. Only one of her children still live in this area and he does not have the means to care for her.

This proud, resourceful, independent woman once again found herself in a desperate situation. She needed the surgery to be able to return to work, but did not know how to survive financially through the procedure and recovery.

There was also the issue of care. Who would care for her during the recovery time? The doctors made it clear that she would not be able to be alone as she would not be able to put any weight on the foot for many weeks.  With no family nearby, Sadie once again felt alone, isolated, and desperate.

My mom had met Sadie several years prior at church. Though sometimes described as bossy, my mother is generous and kind and a woman of action. She cares for people unselfishly and sacrificially when needed. It’s always been that way.

Our home always had a steady flow of people, some friends, some just people in need. She’d feed them, pay a bill, or provide a shoulder to cry on. When she learned of Sadie’s situation, she sprang into action.

Sadie had the surgery last week. It’s a long and painful recovery. The damage was extensive and the foot now contains all sorts of nuts and bolts. She will never have side to side motion again, nor will she be pain-free. The hope is simply that it becomes more manageable so she can return to work.

For now, she’s recovering at my parent’s house and trying to maneuver the painfully, slow process of seeking Social Security and other aid.

As I sat and listened to Sadie this morning she spoke of the day when she will once again be able to get a car, so key to ending the isolation she’s felt. She spoke of the kindness and care of people. “I just want people to know that people are kind. That they really do care,” she said.

But as she recounted her story, there was one theme that I heard repeatedly. Over and over and over again she said, “I am so blessed. I am so blessed.” No bitterness for the home that was lost or the things she’s endured. No hint of victimhood or entitlement. Just thankfulness, a sweet graciousness and a faith, tried as if by fire and found to be pure.

Note: My mom has set up a Go Fund Me page for Sadie. You can find it here.

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