Some of you who have stayed at Birchwood Lodge since spring of this year, may have met a front desk clerk by the name of Natalie Jackson. Natalie is a vibrant person with a winsome smile and a slight southern accent. She has been consistently working at Birchwood Lodge this year in the evenings and on some weekend shifts, in addition to her full-time job in Sturgeon Bay. Recently, on a late fall afternoon, she, and her two-year old daughter, were driving home from Sturgeon Bay, headed back north to Sister Bay. The driver of a car, traveling at 55 mph in the opposite direction, slammed head on into Natalie’s car. She was thrown from the driver’s seat and was pinned under the dashboard, unable to move. Emergency personnel extricated her from the car and were amazed that she was still alive. Her daughter, strapped in a child safety seat in the back, was not injured. Natalie was taken to a trauma hospital in Green Bay where an orthopedic specialist performed extensive surgery to repair the shattered femur in her left leg. The foot on her right leg was also broken. Miraculously, she did not sustain any other injuries. All of the emergency personnel at the scene of the accident said, “She was lucky to be alive.”
Natalie is now recovering at home with temporary assistance from family members who have come from out of state. Her healing process will stretch through the winter months while she receives extensive physical therapy. It will be a very long time before she will be able to return to work. You probably have surmised, she will be without any income for an unknown period of time. As her needs rise, so will her bills. Meals and food supplies have been delivered and some of her immediate needs have been addressed. We have solicited aid for Natalie from agencies in Door County and some have responded to provide one time, or short term help. For her long term needs, she will still have to pay rent, utilities, phone expenses, child care fees and medical bills. We understand how strained everyone’s budgets can be during the holiday season and at year’s end, but we’re asking for your help. If you would like to make a monetary contribution to assist Natalie, we have established an account in her name at the Sister Bay branch of Baylake Bank. We’re not asking for any specific amount. Whatever you would like to contribute will be greatly appreciated. You may send your contribution to the Natalie Jackson Fund at Baylake Bank, 2348 S. Bayshore Drive, Sister Bay, Wisconsin, 54234. If you’d like more information, please call Roman or speak to any of the front desk staff at Birchwood Lodge, 866-854-7195. We express our sincere gratitude to you in advance for anything that you might be able to give, and as Natalie would say in her southern dialect, “Thanks y’all”.
