The Armstrong family
oUr story. Here you will find info on our family, my wife’s accident AND her recovery.
My wife suffered a stroke a few years ago because of a violent crime. in these pages you will find information about the beginning, carol’s struggle to live, and now today you can follow her own words and thoughts from Carol’s blog.
More articles and photos related to the accident can be found on the following pages.
We have the new website up for the Carol’s Home Project. Most of the up-to-date information can be found there. This website (thearmstrongs.org) has the older information, most of which has been ported over to Carolshome.info. You can register to receive email updates when they are posted. We have a blog on the construction schedule and progress. Come check it out at http://carolshome.info
Here is a link on charleston.net to a photo gallery I came across while looking for the new article on Carol. http://charleston.net/photos/galleries/2008/apr/24/carol_armstrong/3240/
The progress on the home building project is moving along nicely at this point. For those that don’t know the Charleston Homebuilders Association is helping organize a project to build Carol a new accessible home. They have the plans finalized and a list of building supplies and items needed. Progress is being made with donated materials and labor. You can visit the Charleston Homebuilders website (click on the “Carol’s Home” link) for the details. I have made a webpage with the logos and links of the companies that have helped so far. Click here to see.
Here is an image of Carol’s most recent MRI taken in November of 2007. The new neurologist was ‘pleasantly surprised’ as he put it when he actually talked to Carol after seeing the MRI. He was not expecting to see someone doing as well as she is.
The groundbreaking and party went well. Everyone had a great time and the food was good. You can watch the video of Channel 2 News on our gallery page. I also have the video of Channel 5 News.
I will be posting some photos later. We would like to thank all those that donated their time and effort to make this happen along with all those that have donated materials and labor.
While at the Home show a few months ago we were approached by Marie
Fisher, a Pampered Chef representative, who wanted to setup a registry that other Pampered Chef sales persons and friends could use to furnish the kitchen at the new home. The page she setup can be found here.
Latest MRI showing the removed brain matter (on the left, image is reversed).
A new article written by David Berman of the Summerville Journal Scene: http://www.journalscene.com/news/0312NEarmstrong
The undefeated: Carol Armstrong
Monday, April 28, 2008
On Independence Day 2002, a vicious criminal used a shovel to beat and rob a cleaning woman outside a North Charleston office building, blinding her in one eye and paralyzing her left side. Such a cruel fate would drive most people to despair. Carol Armstrong is clearly not most people.
As Nadine Parks reported in Thursday's Post and Courier, Mrs. Armstrong, at age 43, isn't looking back. She's looking forward with an inspiring attitude and getting lots of inspiring assistance from compassionate members of our community. As Mrs. Armstrong told our reporter: "I won't let an evil man with a shovel ruin our family. He has not defeated me."
Nor has that brute, now serving a 20-year sentence, defeated the good people of the Charleston Trident Home Builders Association — people who are doing all they can to help the Armstrong family.
After the attack, Mrs. Armstrong was in and out of comas, had numerous surgeries over a three-month span and had many more months in therapy before returning to her North Charleston home. While finally going home was a welcome change, the relatively small house lacked assorted wheelchair-accessible features she and her family sorely needed.
Those limitations are about to end for Mrs. Armstrong, her husband and two sons. The builders group broke ground Friday on a large (2,400 square feet) new home for the Armstrongs in Knightsville, with volunteers doing the work and private donations covering the costs of materials. The wheelchair-friendly features will include a ramp from the house into the back yard, where Mrs. Armstrong plans to get "my hands in the dirt" by growing herbs and tomatoes. The kitchen also will be constructed in a manner that maximizes her access.
Builders Association Executive Vice President Philip Ford said one goal for the project is to try "to build them a house, debt-free." Assorted fundraising initiatives will continue to advance this worthy cause.
Mrs. Armstrong expressed "guilt" over being the beneficiary of such generosity, pointing out that others need more help than she does. She also insisted: "I don't want to be remembered as some tragedy. I want people to remember that we triumphed over tragedy, and we're still together as a family."
Such grace under devastating duress provides an uplifting reminder of how resilient and resourceful good folks can be when the going gets tough. So if you think you've been dealt a lousy hand, learn a positive lesson from the admirable examples of the Armstrongs — and their many friends.
Copyright © 1997 - 2007 the Evening Post Publishing Co.
We went to the lot this afternoon (May 3rd) to show Carol’s Mom and Sister. Here is a photo of the front showing the Sponsor signs. You can click to show larger.
