Please Think: Why We've Been M.I.A.
So...If you follow Gem Steady on social media you may have noticed we've been absent for almost two weeks now.
I'm writing this post to tell you why.
On Wednesday October 21st, 2015 my husband Bobby (or as most of you know him, The Whittle Master) and I finished eating dinner at home and took our dog on a walk before he decided to head back to our studio to finish making a few pieces of jewelry that were due later in the week. I walked him out as usual to give him a kiss goodbye. I watched him climb on his motorcycle and ride off into the night.
About 20 or 30 minutes later my phone rang. It was a local number I didn't recognize.
I answered.
The voice on the other end identified himself as Officer Joe from the police department... my heart instantly sank..
"What happened?!!!" I choked.
My intuition told me before his next sentence confirmed that there had been an accident. He continued on, giving details that were unimportant to me at the moment, finally cutting to the chase to let me know that my husband was still alive, conscious, and on his way to the hospital.
I've never been so scared in my life.
That 7 second lag between "There's been an accident" and "He's alive" felt like an eternity.... I feel sick even recalling that moment right now. Thinking your significant other is dead for even a millisecond is gut wrenching.
Thank God the hospital he was taken to is only a few miles from my house. My sweet sister rushed over to drive me. We actually passed the scene of the accident on our way. His beautiful (virtually brand new) Harley Davidson lay mangled on the road, illuminated by blue flashing lights just a couple of blocks from our home.
The emergency room workers greeted me upon arrival. I wasn't allowed back to see him for over an hour, but was assured he was stable. Later we learned the extent of his injuries; a severely broken leg and broken pelvis.. As of the time of my writing this he's had around five different surgeries and procedures done, including various rods and screws inserted into his pelvis and femur, a skin graft, and an upcoming bone graft. He is expected to be in a wheelchair for the next several months.
By now you're probably wondering 'what happened?'
That's the real kicker.
All of this was entirely avoidable. My husband was hit by a car because of a distracted driver who flat out ran a red light. Blew right through it going 35-40 MPH.
We got lucky. My babe is damaged, but he will recover with time. A fate many others aren't so fortunate to see.
I'm telling you guys all of this for a several reasons. One. To beg you to PLEASE focus on the road when you're behind the wheel. You're not only responsible for yourself and your passengers, but for everyone who shares the pavement with you. Please DO NOT text and drive, mess with the radio, or fix your mascara once you've taken the car out of park. Get directions and set your GPS before you begin your journey. Changing your music or chumming it up with your passengers is not as important as paying attention.
The next reason I'm sharing all of this with you is because we need your support right now more than ever. Gem Steady is operated solely by the two of us. Since The Whittle Master will be out of commission for the next several weeks, I've created several pieces that I've been referring to as 'THINK Bracelets' in hopes to try and manage the flood of bills and expenses we've acquired as a result of his accident.
We love you guys. I honestly believe we've got the raddest clients and supporters anyone could ask for. Gem Steady isn't just our job, it's something that we truly love and believe in. Through our art we've met some of the kindest and most interesting people from all over the world. The people we create for are not just customers to us, but become our friends and our family. I mean it when I say the we couldn't do it without you. So, I ask you now. If you enjoy seeing our jewels in your social media feeds, or if we've created for you before, or even if you just want to support a nice couple in their time of need please consider helping us today by purchasing one or more THINK BRACELETS. 100% of the profits will go towards paying our mounting bills and keeping Gem Steady afloat during this difficult time. We are a very small business. The Whittle Master is literally my other half. I can't do it without him and we can't do it without all of you.
Aside from buying bracelets; Here are some other ways you can show your support.
-Pre-order a custom piece of jewelry for The Whittle Master to create when he's back at his bench
-Share this blog post with your friends on social media and encourage them to help.
-Make a tax deductible contribution. (email brittanyc@gemsteady.com for arrangements)
-ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS pay attention when you're driving!!!
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I want to thank you in advance for supporting Gem Steady and for continuing to #THINKandDrive every time you get behind the wheel.
Very sincerely,
Brittany and Bobby aka The Whittle Master
