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Family’s tale shared at fundraiser
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| H&N photo by Jill Aho Cynthia Eddy Postlethwait, left, decorated a Hawaiian-themed tree for the annual Assistance League Wonderland of Trees fundraiser with her daughter Suzanne. The tree sold twice to different bidders. |
By JILL AHO
H&N Staff Writer
Michelle Eddy’s story was so moving, the tree decorated by her mother’s store, Ohana Momma’s, for the Assistance League fundraiser Wonderland of Trees Jubilee sold twice.
It was Ohana Momma owner Cynthia Eddy Postlethwait’s first time decorating a tree for the annual Assistance League fundraiser, which uses the proceeds to supply new clothing to children in need.
Assistance League volunteer Shirley Alley said the fundraiser took in about $40,000, and she expects profits to be between $30,000 and $35,000.
“We did very well compared to what we expected, the way the economy is,” Alley said. “The community really backed us and supported us this year.”
The Ohana Momma’s tree was first purchased by House of Homes Realty, which then gave the tree to Assistance League. Assistance League auctioned the tree again, and it was sold once more.
Miracle story
“I think a lot of it had to do with the miracle story of my daughter and my grandchildren,” Postlethwait said. When Michelle Eddy was 21, she was the mother of two young children, and she became very ill.
“(The doctors) said very direct and without any preparation she had suffered a massive brain injury and they didn’t think she’d survive, and if she did, she’d be a vegetable,” Postlethwait said in an interview Monday. “I told them I wanted to try to save her.”
At the hospital in Medford, Postlethwait learned her daughter also had a brain abnormality, which could complicate surgery. The doctor said he could not treat Michelle, who was flown to Oregon Health and Sciences University in Portland.
Daughter’s baby
“When somebody finally came and talked to me they said, ‘Do you want us to do anything to save the baby?’ My daughter was pregnant and I didn’t even know it,” Postlethwait said.
Many operations later, Michelle was alive, and so was her baby. Meanwhile, Michelle’s two other children were in the care of relatives, and Postlethwait’s father, Daniel, ran Postlethwait’s store in Medford, The Great Outdoors. The trauma to Michelle’s brain meant she would need a lot of time to recover, and she would have to learn to walk and feed herself again. She was transferred to Providence hospital in Portland.
“After two or three weeks, the kids got to come and see her, and that’s when we found out about all the things that had been done for them,” Postlethwait said.
Assistance League helps
Michelle’s two young children were given clothes, shoes and toiletries through the Assistance League program, Operation School Bell, while Michelle was being treated in Portland.
Michelle’s baby was delivered in Medford.
“The baby survived and it was scary, but wonderful,” Postlethwait said. Michelle developed epilepsy from the trauma, has trouble reading and currently walks with a brace.
“The baby was not only fine, the baby’s like astronomically intelligent,” Postlethwait said.
Selena Esperanza Cynthia Eddy is now 5.
That is why Postlethwait decorated a tree with such care for the fundraiser.
“The whole reason we had the tree there was to thank Assistance League for all they did to help my daughter and my grandchildren,” Postlethwait said.
Hand-picked decorations
Many of the Hawaiian-themed tree’s decorations were hand-picked in Hawaii, then flown to the U.S., Postlethwait said. Ukuleles bring the musical warmth of aloha, Postlethwait said, and her grandchildren helped make pineapples from Oregon pine cones.
The tree now sits in the Hawaiian-themed den of Klamath Falls attorney Karen Oakes, who purchased the tree the second time. It was one of three trees Oakes purchased, and her third year supporting Assistance League. Oakes said she spent $976.
“I think they do really, really good stuff. Really good work,” Oakes said.
It was Ohana Momma owner Cynthia Eddy Postlethwait’s first time decorating a tree for the annual Assistance League fundraiser, which uses the proceeds to supply new clothing to children in need.
Assistance League volunteer Shirley Alley said the fundraiser took in about $40,000, and she expects profits to be between $30,000 and $35,000.
“We did very well compared to what we expected, the way the economy is,” Alley said. “The community really backed us and supported us this year.”
The Ohana Momma’s tree was first purchased by House of Homes Realty, which then gave the tree to Assistance League. Assistance League auctioned the tree again, and it was sold once more.
Miracle story
“I think a lot of it had to do with the miracle story of my daughter and my grandchildren,” Postlethwait said. When Michelle Eddy was 21, she was the mother of two young children, and she became very ill.
“(The doctors) said very direct and without any preparation she had suffered a massive brain injury and they didn’t think she’d survive, and if she did, she’d be a vegetable,” Postlethwait said in an interview Monday. “I told them I wanted to try to save her.”
At the hospital in Medford, Postlethwait learned her daughter also had a brain abnormality, which could complicate surgery. The doctor said he could not treat Michelle, who was flown to Oregon Health and Sciences University in Portland.
Daughter’s baby
“When somebody finally came and talked to me they said, ‘Do you want us to do anything to save the baby?’ My daughter was pregnant and I didn’t even know it,” Postlethwait said.
Many operations later, Michelle was alive, and so was her baby. Meanwhile, Michelle’s two other children were in the care of relatives, and Postlethwait’s father, Daniel, ran Postlethwait’s store in Medford, The Great Outdoors. The trauma to Michelle’s brain meant she would need a lot of time to recover, and she would have to learn to walk and feed herself again. She was transferred to Providence hospital in Portland.
“After two or three weeks, the kids got to come and see her, and that’s when we found out about all the things that had been done for them,” Postlethwait said.
Assistance League helps
Michelle’s two young children were given clothes, shoes and toiletries through the Assistance League program, Operation School Bell, while Michelle was being treated in Portland.
Michelle’s baby was delivered in Medford.
“The baby survived and it was scary, but wonderful,” Postlethwait said. Michelle developed epilepsy from the trauma, has trouble reading and currently walks with a brace.
“The baby was not only fine, the baby’s like astronomically intelligent,” Postlethwait said.
Selena Esperanza Cynthia Eddy is now 5.
That is why Postlethwait decorated a tree with such care for the fundraiser.
“The whole reason we had the tree there was to thank Assistance League for all they did to help my daughter and my grandchildren,” Postlethwait said.
Hand-picked decorations
Many of the Hawaiian-themed tree’s decorations were hand-picked in Hawaii, then flown to the U.S., Postlethwait said. Ukuleles bring the musical warmth of aloha, Postlethwait said, and her grandchildren helped make pineapples from Oregon pine cones.
The tree now sits in the Hawaiian-themed den of Klamath Falls attorney Karen Oakes, who purchased the tree the second time. It was one of three trees Oakes purchased, and her third year supporting Assistance League. Oakes said she spent $976.
“I think they do really, really good stuff. Really good work,” Oakes said.
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