Former RC graduate seriously injured; fundraiser planned

by Amanda Polaski– Staff Writer

The Rogers City High School Class of 1998 has had its share of tragedies in the past with two classmates passing away far too soon. They have learned, as a core group of friends, to lean on each other for comfort, support, and strength. On Saturday, August 4, numerous members of the Class of 1998 will gather once again ? this time for a fundraiser to gather strength for another one of their own, classmate Julie Windy, who was seriously injured in a car accident in the Saginaw area on June 6.

JULIE, THE daughter of former Rogers City residents Stan and Pat Windy, was driving alone on June 6 when her car went off the road, and rolled several times before coming to a stop. Julie was ejected from the car during the accident. Because there was no one else involved in the accident, the details are not known for certain. Julie sustained major injuries to her head and neck, and was taken to Hurley Hospital in Flint. At this time, Julie remains in an induced coma in order to regulate her breathing. Although the progress has been slow, there have been signs of improvement. She was recently moved from ICU to a ?select specialties services? non-trauma floor at Hurley Hospital. The goal for Julie on the new floor is to increase her range of motion and to eventually remove her from the ventilator. Although Julie has shown positive signs, such as moving her arms and toes, she has not yet come out of the induced coma state. ?Julie has been responding more, but she has not been consciously awake,? said Lindsay Lawes, who has been a good friend of Julie?s since middle school in Rogers City. ?I think the main focus now is to work on her breathing. They?ve moved her from the ICU to another floor, and to me, that?s a good step.? Lindsay said the outpouring of support for Julie and her family has been overwhelmingly positive ? especially the support coming from Swan Valley High School, where Julie worked as a teacher.

?JULIE TEACHES biology and chemistry, and she also is the National Honor Society advisor, as well as the track and cross country coach for Swan Valley in Saginaw,? said Lindsay, who is also a teacher. ?The school system has done so much for Julie already. They had a car wash the week of the accident?and it was unbelievable how much money they made. They even had to extend the hours.? Lindsay said Julie?s students have created a paper chain of positive messages that has since been hung up in Julie?s classroom. The school district has kept a ?Miss Windy Update? page on its website in order to keep all of Julie?s friends, family, and students up to date on her progress. (The page can be located by going to www.swanvalley.k12.mi.us, and clicking on ?schools.? From ?schools,? click on ?high school? and follow the ?Miss Windy Update? link.) ?The influence she has had on her students has been remarkable,? said Lindsay. ?I just hope I can achieve something close to it some day.?

Julie?s family, including long-time boyfriend Brent Muckle, has only asked for prayers and support throughout this ordeal, and thankfully Julie?s medical insurance is helping with much of her hospital costs; however, Lindsay said with the move from ICU to a non-trauma floor, she is concerned Julie?s family will no longer have a ?family room? where they can constantly be at Julie?s side. ?Until recently, they?ve had a room that has allowed Julie?s family to stay right there with her,? said Lindsay. ?Now that she?s moved to another area of the hospital, I?m worried that the family?s traveling expenses (or lodging) will increase.?

IN ORDER to help defer the family?s costs of remaining by Julie?s side, several of Julie?s closest friends have organized an August 4 fundraiser called ?Jogging for Julie? in Rogers City. ?Everyone feels so helpless, and this will give us something that we can do for Julie,? said Lindsay. ?This will help people feel that they have contributed toward Julie?s recovery.? The fundraiser is being held in Rogers City during the Nautical City Festival in hopes of attracting the biggest crowd of caring friends and strangers. ?Julie and I would always talk about ways we could someday return to Rogers City ? she wanted to be back there, and she?d come up with excuses to go ?home,?? said Lindsay. ?This fundraiser will give us all a way to gather together and support Julie.? ?Jogging for Julie? will be open to anyone who would like to run, walk, bike, or jog in order to raise money and support for Julie and her family. The fundraiser will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on August 4, starting at the ?green area? of the Sunrise Trail, off of Forest Avenue. Participants will take the trail out toward Hoeft State Park and back (approximately three miles). There will not be a charge for the event, but donations will be accepted. T-shirts will be available to purchase, as well as inspirational bracelets. A silent auction also is possible, depending on donations.

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atie Ries, another long-time friend of Julie?s, said the fundraiser is mainly an opportunity to bring people together for support. ?This has been a slow process ? it has been baby steps toward recovery,? said Katie. ?Even when Julie wakes up, she is going to have a long road ahead of her. Right now, it is a sit and wait game ? and that is why we are having this fundraiser ? so we can do something for Julie.? For more information on ?Jogging for Julie,? please contact Katie at (989) 213-6726, or Tammi Schalk at (989) 734-3711. Information on the fundraiser also can be found on the Swan Valley website mentioned above.

In honor of Julie?s birthday, which is July 23, well wishes and cards can be sent to: Hurley Medical Center, One Hurley Plaza, Flint, Michigan, 48503. ATTN: Julie Windy and Family, 11th Floor.

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