This is the most difficult update I have ever had to write.  In the past, I have asked you to put yourselves in the place of law enforcement as well as emergency and public service personnel.  I have asked you to close your eyes and experience the fears they face as they work our nation’s highways.  I have even asked you to think about what your husband or wife, son or daughter would experience as they had to receive that knock on the door.  Maybe I asked you to consider all of this because I have had to watch my husband bury two friends.  Maybe I asked you to put yourselves at a graveside as you watched someone you care about being lowered into the ground.  Maybe I asked you all of this because I never thought we would go through it again.

I knew someone, somewhere would have to bury someone they loved, their life lost as they did their duty to protect and serve.  Here though?  Here in this beautiful small mountain community that had already lost two troopers in such a short period of time.  It should not have happened again.  We never thought it would happen again.  Yet, here we are. 

The song of the bagpipes, the mournful sound of the bugle, the whinnies of the riderless horse and the twenty-one gun salute were enough to bring me to my knees once again.   I tried to stay strong.  I knew what to expect.  I tried so hard to keep my hands around the shoulders of the other spouses from our district, the ones who never had witnessed this sad march before.  I tried so hard to prepare them for what was to come, yet my own tears came and I found these other women holding on to me as as hard as I was holding onto them.

I would ask you to keep the families of our North Carolina Highway Patrol Troop G District 5 in your prayers, but I won’t.  We still have our husband’s by our sides.  We are so grateful for that, but feel guilty for that gratefulness as well.  What we need you to do is pray for the family that is living our worst nightmare.  Whatever it takes, and whereever you can find the strength, pray for Shawn’s family.

Today, Michaela will sit by her son’s side as he fights for each breath.  Tye, who was born seven weeks premature, has the strength of the caisson horses that carried his father’s body.  This three-pound beautiful baby boy is fighting hard.  Maybe because his daddy had the chance to hold him in his arms.  Maybe because his daddy’s friend led the caisson and willed the strength of the horses to find their way to Tye.  Maybe because his daddy’s friends marched as brothers, and his daddy’s best friends helped to keep his mommy strong.  Maybe because of the strength of the Cherokee blood that runs through him.  Maybe because we have all prayed day and night.  But mostly because his mommy is right by his side and needs him as much as he needs her.  

Our families have been humbled by the outpouring of generosity for Michaela and Baby Tye.  Never have we witnessed such an outpouring of support.  Whether people just want to know how Tye is doing [great, by the way and trying to gain two more pounds so he can be strong enough for heart surgery] or because they want to know how to help, the e-mails I have received are countless. 

This month, maybe even this summer or longer, it is not going to be about FORS.  It is going to be about helping Michaela and Tye.  I apologize for doing this, but I need to.  I am sure you will understand, and if you don’t, well…life isn’t fair.

Here are some things you can do to help Michaela and Tye:  GO TO OUR DONATION INFO PAGE FOR A LISTING OF ALL FUNDRAISING EVENTS FOR THE BLANTON FAMILY.

On July 12th, there wil be a motorcycle ride from Black Mountain to Maggie Valley.  Click here for more information.

On July 28th, eat at Fat Buddies of Asheville or Waynesville.  Ten percent of all proceeds will go to Michaela and Tye.

On August 2nd, the Blue Ridge Mustang Club of Asheville will be doing a HUGE Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and Fundraiser. Click here for details or call 1-828-667-8213.

Shawn’s best friends are organizing a softball tournament and a golf tournament which I will share with you as soon as I receive the information.

To make a monetary donation, you can either go to our donation info page and we will forward any donations to Michaela and Tye, or you can send a donation directly to the State Employees Credit Union.  An account has been set up for them.  Make checks payable to “Michaela Blanton FBO Brendan Tye Blanton” and mail it to: SECU PO BOX 97  Waynesville, NC  28786 or go to your local SECU branch. For SECU questions, call 1-828-452-3570.

If nothing else, keep praying.

With deep regret and sadness I wanted to inform you of the passing of North Carolina State Trooper David Shawn Blanton.  Shawn was conducting a traffic stop on I-40 in Haywood County, NC when he was shot and killed by the motorist that he had stopped.  Shawn had been a trooper for two years, was married less than a year ago and became a father less than two weeks ago to a little boy who was seven weeks premature.  Please keep the Blanton family in your thoughts and prayers.  For more information, please feel free to visit www.citizen-times.com or www.wlos.com. For those that wish to send a monetary donation for Shawn’s wife and baby, a fund has been established with the North Carolina State Employees Credit Union.  You can go to any branch in North Carolina.  The fund is called “Michaela Nicole Blanton FBO Brendan Tye Blanton.”  If you wish to mail a check, please feel free to mail the donation to:SECUc/o Michaela Nicole Blanton FBO Brendan Tye BlantonPO Box 97Waynesville, NC  28786 For questions regarding the fund, you can call SECU at 1-828-452-3570 and ask for Allison. If you wish to make a PAYPAL donation, please feel free to make the donation on the FORS website and I will make sure Michaela receives the money.  Please be sure to make a note or send me an e-mail that you are doing that, so I can tag the funds for her. On a personal note, my husband was one of the troopers on duty with Shawn last night.  We were fortunate enough to have Shawn over to dinner on Monday night and he shared his baby’s progress with us.   I am glad that my children had the chance to know him.  Please keep the Blanton family and the NCSHP G5 district in your thoughts and prayers….