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THE TRIBUNE DEMOCRAT, JOHNSTOWN, PA
FRIEND SENDS HELP FOR LOCAL WOMAN
BY ARLENE JOHNS February 9, 2008
On Dec. 7, Wendy Harrison-Green in Lancashire, England, had an odd e-mail from a Johnstown woman she met in an on-line chat room.
"I love you and always will," the friend wrote.
Although Harrison-Green never had met "Sue," the two had become very close, sending each other dozens of e-mail messages daily. And something in the latest message seemed odd. Wendy responded immediately. Her hunch was right. Sue was in trouble.
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GO HERE TO READ THE COMPLETE STORY:
http://www.tribune-democrat.com/local/local_story_040234622.html
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There are two reasons I have put together this article.
The first reason is because I want to introduce you to a Hero. Almost no one knows her or what she did. That's because it was the kind of news that most national media outlets seem to overlook. This story appeared in a small newspaper in Johnstown PA back in February of this year. This story would have been forgotten by now. But, this time it won't be.
IT WON'T BE, because Wendy is an Internet friend I've had the privilege of knowing for almost 10 years now. Because of the tragic story of Abraham Biggs' Internet suicide this week, It occurred to me yesterday that I, little ole' me, could actually tell MANY people about her. She is over in England, after all. And-in her own words, she really is painfully shy when it comes to saying anything positive about herself. She knows nothing about this article, by the way. I'll tell her later. She is one of the most genuine, giving people I have ever met, and someone who always thinks of others before herself.
I met Wendy on a Garth Brooks Bulletin Board around the spring of 1999. As soon as I met her, I felt like I had known her forever. She's like the sister I never had.
Wendy had the most interesting job. She was a cab driver. Wendy and I went through "Garth Mania" together, when you couldn't even FIND his music over there. After knowing one another a short while, she became a big fan of a rookie in Nascar named Tony Stewart. Stock car racing wasn't televised or followed in England. When a race is a good one, I call her and we scream and watch it together (IF it's shown there).
We've been through a lot together over the years. When I met her she was still grieving over the death of her husband. When my Father was first ill with cancer, she was there to hold me together through the tough times of caring for him. When he died and then when my Mother died suddenly, she was there when I needed someone to talk to, especially in the middle of the night. She's the kind of friend that can make me laugh so hard that I cry. But also the kind of friend who can make me laugh when I have only been able to cry.
I can say with much joy that she has remarried, and to a wonderful guy. I've also watched as her Daughter keeps giving her beautiful grandchildren. Wendy also breeds German Shepherds part time and has a house full. One of her hobbies now is collecting die cast passenger Cabs and stock cars.
The second reason I am writing this article. When I found out about it, I thought it was amazing for someone in England to overcome all of those odds to reach halfway across the world to save the life of someone in America. I also thought it would be a great story for the National News. Not only for what she did, but also regarding the obstacles she faced that hindered her so much. I emailed Fox, CNN, CNBC and MSNBC. Not ONE of them so much as responded other than that auto response.
So there you go. It seems only the bad news reach us most of the time. For that reason, I thought this would be wonderfully appropriate for the "good-news-wednesday" crowd that is gathering. A real hero! She certainly is one to me. I know "Sue" would agree with me. Sorry Wendy, I couldn't help myself girl! (but you'll forgive,right?) *SMILE*
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