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DEL.ICIO.USCommunity response gets man to Boston
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
AJC Gwinnett News reporters and photographers covered about thousands of stories this year. We asked our staff to share with readers how a particular story touched them — personally or professionally. “Touched by a Story” is the result. This is the final story of the year and we hope you also will be touched by this story. In the process, you will get a glimpse into the workings of the journalists who hustle every day to bring you the news.
Time was ticking.
He had four days to get to Boston, or else he’d lose a bed in the Boston Home, a century-old nursing home. Jack Stabinsky had been trying to get into the renowned facility for some time. He suffers from multiple sclerosis, and as the disease inevitably progresses, he’d wanted to relocate from the Life Care Center of Gwinnett in Lawrenceville to a specialized center.
On July 6, a Friday, he got word that one of the Boston center’s 96 beds was available. He’d have to get up there lickety-split, though; the nursing home couldn’t hold the space indefinitely.
Dick Deacon’s a friend of Stabinsky’s. He thought that, if the situation were publicized, someone might step forward to help him get to Boston as quickly, and as cheaply, as possible.
My column about Stabinsky’s plight ran July 10. It simply asked for ideas, suggestions, anything, that offered hope. Readers were told to call Deacon. He was overwhelmed by the response. Me, too.
Dozens of readers contacted Deacon to assist. Some suggested Stabinsky might qualify for a “mercy flight.” Others offered up frequent flier miles, buddy passes, airline tickets and money.
Needless to say, Stabinsky arrived in Boston two days after the column ran. Here’s how he got there:
An “elite traveler” donated the travel miles for him and Becky Moore, the admissions director at Life Care Center of Gwinnett, to fly Air Tran. Her return trip to Atlanta was free, too. Another anonymous donor paid for an ambulance service to take him from Boston’s Logan Airport to the nursing home.
And that’s where Stabinsky resides to this day.
Now, relatives like Jacqueline Dormer, a niece who lives in Pennsylvania, can visit. Days after “Uncle Jack” arrived, she posted a comment in my blog.
“God bless everyone for their support and help,” she wrote. “You have no idea how much you helped our family.”
What a tale.
As a columnist, it ranks as one of the best pieces of advocacy journalism I’ve ever written.
As a Gwinnett resident, the miracle provided by this community serves as a prime example of what makes the county special. I hope 2008 brings us more miracles like this one.
Rick Badie is the AJC Gwinnett News columnist. Reach him at 770-263-3875.
Permalink | Comments (19) | Post your comment | Categories: Rick Badie
Comments
By Mark
December 31, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this
Chirp, chirp, chirp….
By Airborne
December 31, 2007 6:24 PM | Link to this
There you go again,nothing positive to say.you know what i’m just going to give up on you,because it’s obvious that your mentality and not what your transcript says is true,grow up and get rid of the soiled pamper you’re wearing,because i think thats whats causing you so much pain and discomfort in your brain.Keep up the good work Mr.Badie.
By James McCoy
January 2, 2008 6:23 AM | Link to this
It’s one thing to be critical of a topic Mr.Badie writes about but for you guys to engage in personal attacks is just a little childish in my opinion.
By T
January 2, 2008 6:49 AM | Link to this
Rick, I do believe that was your best article and I too am grateful for people who are willing to help.
I think you second best article was about the group that goes to Atlanta every Monday to feed the homeless.
That one got me off of my seat and made me want to be a better person. I spent my Thanksgiving morning serving other people this year.
I sat and had a long conversation with a guy who had been homeless for several months. It was an eye opening conversation. (Too much information to try to explain here)
Keep up the good work in 08 and don’t let the loonies who write into this Blog get you down. You see, there are some people in this world that will never be satisfied, no matter what you do …
By Airborne
January 2, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this
Mr.McCoy,i agree with you,and i wish to apologize to you and the readers for allowing myself to come to marks level.It only became personal when mark decided to make everything a racial issue,in this day and time i just wish race would’nt become an issue.I should know better and be a little more displined,but somethings get to me,especially when i lived through the hard times we have suffered,and are still going through changes,but after thought i realized that some people still have to learn about life.Thanks for the wake up call.”Airborne”
By Mark
January 3, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this
airborne
“I should know better and be a little more displined,but somethings get to me,especially when i lived through the hard times we have suffered”
Want some cheese with that whine? Just exactly have you suffered?
By Sandy_G
January 3, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this
“Just exactly have you suffered?”
I can’t speak for anyone else, but I have suffered through countless inane, uninformed, uninspired, unenlightened, uncreative, unintelligent, irrelevant, mean-spirited, immature and witless posts by Mark this year.
Honestly Mark, if you have so much time on your hands and your life is so empty that you must derive entertainment from being an internet troll, surely you could invest some measure of effort in your pursuits and at least offer us something witty instead of the same old, rehashed, recycled, tired insults?
I mean if you’re really going to do something, don’t be so lazy. Develop a vocabulary, read a book, pick up a newspaper or crack open a thesaurus once in a while, Mark. If you’re going to monopolize the message boards with your infantile taunting, at least taunt with some pinache!
By T
January 4, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this
I have a suggestion for all of you Bloggers who get angry enough to respond to some of these ridiculous posts.
Ignore these people and they will eventually go away to other Blogs where someone will respond to them.
By responding to numbskulls you are just stooping to their level.
Try to stick to the article subject in your Blogs. When you disagree (with a reasonable Blogger) respond in a civilized way, (like most people would if they were having a personal conversation).
Try what I’m saying and see if it doesn’t work …
By Brent
January 4, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this
Guys, Seriously,
Mark’s just looking to stir up some trouble. Just ignore it. Trying to get him to see the “error of his ways” isn’t going to get you anywhere, it will not engage him in some sort of Intelligent discussion or a confession of sins. He’s just going to keep doing it. It makes him feel good about himself to be able to insult people on the internet.
He’s probably not even racist. He’s just saying racist things to get a reaction and make people angry.
We’ve all got better things to do than get heated up about some teenager’s remarks on the internet. So go on, carry on your own discussions without engaging mark.
By Airborne
January 4, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this
Thanks Sandy,i wish to apologize for allowing myself to stoop to marks comments.I’ll move on a be the better man.At least you understand where i’m coming from.Have a good year.”Airborne”
By Airborne
January 4, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this
Hi T,you’re correct,i wish to apologize to you and the readers for my behavior.I allowed myself to stoop to marks level by responding with anger.I knew if i ignored marks rude comments it would stop,but i was hoping that he would see the light.I was wrong,from here on, i will stick to the topics at hand.Hve a happy year.”Airborne”
By Airborne
January 4, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this
Hi Brent,you’re right,mark probably is trying to stir up trouble,he may not be a racist.I do have better things to comment about,and i regret letting a teenager get me riled up.I’t hard to ignore a possible racist,but sometimes it’s easier to beat them when you ignore them.I’ll continue to stay positive and ignore marks comments.Thanks man.Hve a happy new year.”Airborne”
By Mark
January 4, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this
Sandy_G
What are you, a spelling teacher? You act like you never had a typo.
Oh you people had it so hard….LOL
AIRBORNE
Why don’y you apologize for being such a gullible fool?
By Sandy_G
January 4, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this
Mark, Typos? You would have to actually string some actual sentences together and incorporate the occasional original thought into your ramblings for them to be actually considered to be “writing”. I would consider your posts to be more like “virtual graffitti”. You know, the gang stuff that doesn’t contain any artwork.
By the way, I’m still waiting for your next brilliant article on your own blog….oh wait, sorry, I forgot, you don’t have one. Oh well, cheer up Mark. If you ever want to try your writing skills, there’s always the wall in the men’s room at Cowboy’s.
By Airborne
January 4, 2008 6:40 PM | Link to this
Sandy,don’t feed into marks comments.Remember the Lord said “forgive them father for they know not what they do.Mark is a fly that has no where to rest and he’s waiting for me to reply with a negative comment.Be cool don’t let him play you,just don’t reply and he’ll go away.If you read his last posting he has a problem with spelling,that’s his true aptitude coming out.Sorry mark you’re not really worth bickering back and forth with.Smile and claim yourself a victory,because i refuse to continue to lowering myself to your level of intelligence.Two zeros amount to nothing,so i guess you’re the last one standing,i’m out.PEACE.
By Mark
January 6, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this
Airborne
You couldn’t even match the level of my intelligence. You proved that by going into the service to fight for a country that doesn’t give a s** about you or it’s citizens.
By Airborne
January 6, 2008 11:23 PM | Link to this
Mark you probably could’nt pass the physical because they saw that you were’nt all man,and further more i was man enough to fight for a country that gives your suppose to be intelligent a— freedom.When are you going to admit that you’re a coward and like to live on the freedom that others have gvn there lives for.Don’t talk about patriotism,until you’ve been there.You’re a typical draft-dodger if the draft was re-instated.You talk the talk,but i know you will never walk the walk.It’s people like you that wind up being traitors to their country,a regular sell-out.I’m sure someone in your family was in the military,and i bet you don’t say negative things to them,you Benidict Arnold.Trying to match your intelligence is not hard to do,it shows in your comments that your level is that of a 15 year old spoiled mamas boy who never got wet in the rain and still wants to be a fireman when you grow up or a girlscout.Make up your mind,or is that to much for you to bear?Do you remember me saying that i was drafted into the military.See, your retainability is limited.You can’t remember the differance between being drafted and joining the military.At least i did’nt duck the draft or hide behind a student deferment,or run to Canada or go to jail,or use political influence,or hide behind mommys dress.I went like a man to serve my country whether it was right or wrong,you don’t get something for nothing,you have to earn or fight for freedom.As soon as you pass your history class you might understand that freedom and rights come with a price,but you would’nt know that because you stay sheltered in your house sending negative comments because you have the right to do so at others expense.You make me sick,you closet creep.
By Brent
January 7, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this
Airborne,
I hope you realize you just gave Mark a good hearty laugh with your last response.
Man, c’mon, you’re better than that. Listen to your own advice you gave to Sandy_G.
By Airborne
January 7, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this
Ok Brent,man it’s hard sometimes to ignore the remarks ,but as i said i should be the better man.Maybe it did give him a laugh,and maybe i’m dealing with a teenager.I’ll follow the advice i gave to Sandy G and leave it alone.Thanks man at least you cooled me down.