On May 2nd of 2007, Dawn Weiss and her two daughters, Kayla, 10, and Destyni, 6, were held hostage by a group of young men at gunpoint in a home invasion. When Dawn was taken upstairs and told to undress, she quickly refused and tried to get away. She was able to get her two girls and run for their car. Their captors caught up to them as soon as they entered the car and pointed their guns directly at Dawn. Many thoughts ran through her head, but she just wanted to protect her children. Two of the captor opened fire on Dawn, hitting her 5 times before running away like cowards. Kayla and Destyni sat in the backseat watching their mother, slumped over the steering wheel, bleeding to death. Luckily, a neighbor hear the commotion and was able to come and staunch the bleeding enough to allow the paramedics to get her to the hospital.
Through all of this her husband Mike, a Sergeant First Class in the US Army, was stationed in Kuwait. He got word of the incident from the Chaplain, and was told that the prognosis for her to live did not look good. He rushed to get back state-side so that he could be there for his wife and children.
Dawn did not die. But she suffered major injuries, especially to her vertebrae and spinal cord. She was paralyzed from the chest down and would never walk again. Dawn is a strong woman. She had to learn to do everything again. How to dress, use the bathroom, shower, feed herself, all of the things that we take for granted every single day. But with the loving help of her husband and her children, she has managed to get through each day and survive this horrible ordeal, for it's not just the physical complications that haunt her, but the emotional complications of PTSD that sometimes leave her crippled in fear when others are around.
Then she got “Devoted.” Devoted is a Golden Retriever puppy that became her service puppy/dog, her best friend, her protector, her helper, and her therapist. Devoted has given Dawn a new sense of happiness and purpose and love. They are inseparable.
I put this Fundraising campaign together because Dawn needs help, and it is difficult for her to ask for it. Mike's Army insurance pays for all of her medical bills, except for certain things like specialized wheelchairs, certain equipment, and biggest of all, a handicap accessible van. The Weiss' had a van for a long time and then, unfortunately, it was in an accident and the insurance did not cover the entire cost. I'm not trying to raise it all for them, but I would like to do my part, as a friend and empathizer. My friends and I are trying to raise $5000 for them to defray these costs that aren't covered by insurance, auto or medical. Please join me in helping to raise this and give what you can to such a good person. I have added a link to their story in the news if you would like to read more. God Bless you all, and have a wonderful day.
If you would like to make a donation by mail instead of online, please mail to:
First Advantage Federal Credit Union
P.O. BOX 2116
NEWPORT NEWS, VA 23609-0116
(757) 877-2444
Felicia Johnson, Relationship Manager
In care of Dawn Weiss Recovery Account
Routing Number - 251480563