Sometimes when you least expect it life can really slap you in the face and then it kicks you when your on the ground.
The slap came when Jackie Melville was taken ill in January last year and
needed surgery.
Her husband Bob had a steady job and they even had limited medical insurance
and although they had to pay the difference Bob knew he could cover it by
putting in some overtime.
Then came the first kick, in February with two thousand dollars in medical bills
unpaid, Bob lost his job.
In April Another kick, with the medical bills still unpaid and Bob unemployed
and Jackie unable to work for several months because of the surgery and with
mounting bills and no money for rent they lost the house.
Bob, Jackie, 9 year old son Sam and seven year old twins Ben and Josh moved
into a mobile home in a trailer park.
Over The following seven months the Melville's worked hard to rebuild there
lives.
In June Bob found another job and although not as well paid as the one he lost it
seemed to be more secure and In July Jackie fully recovered was able to return to
work herself.
The boys did their bit as well by washing cars, cleaning windows and doing odd
jobs on the park.
By December they had managed to pay off their debts and even had a bit left
over for Christmas.
They were doing so well that in another six months they would be able to move
back into a house.
Then on the 20th December life kicked them again.
During the night the electric heater in the mobile home burst into flames and
rapidly spread.
The alarm was raised by Clinton Avery, a shift worker and one of the other
residents of the park who was returning home when he saw the burning trailer.
Thankfully everyone was rescued safely but the Melville's lost everything all
that remained after fireman Billy Daly had doused the fire were a few scraps of
melted toys half-burned books and scorched and tattered clothing.
They had lost everything to fire, smoke and water, including all the childrens
clothes and the Christmas presents.
How cruel for a family who had worked so hard to get back on there feet to be
dealt such a blow.
This would be bad enough at anytime but just before Christmas compounded the
cruelty.
But it is under the very circumstances experienced by the Melville's that
brings the best out in people.
That night the family were boarded in various homes on the park and the next
day they had a visit from a man called Howard Daly.
Howard was the brother Billy Daly, one of the firemen, and he gave Bob and
Jackie the key to a mobile home on the park belonging to him which he wasn't
using and he said that they were welcome to stay as long as it took to get back
on their feet.
The Melville's were overcome with Howard's generosity but that was only the
beginning in the space of a day-and-a-half, friends, family and strangers
helped the family get back on track.
The pharmacist at the drugstore refused to accept Jackie's money for the twin's
asthma medication.
In fact nobody would accept any money and people just kept on donating goods.
One man, he wouldn't give his name, pulled up at the trailer park in his pick up,
unloaded some bunk beds and he said “I had these at home, and I heard you needed
them more than me,” got back in his truck and left.
Pat Phillips who was a teacher at the local School, and knew the family drove Jackie
from place to place to collect medications, clothes, dishes and such like.
Come christmas day the boys had some toys including a race track, a football
and a baseball glove.
Due to The generosity of friends and strangers alike the Melville's were able
to enjoy their christmas and look forward to hopeful new year just five days
after they thought their Christmas dreams had burned away.
This story goes to prove without any shadow of doubt that the Christmas spirit
truly dwells within the hearts of mankind.
