LAPHC Fund For Arwen
The back story
On the afternoon of Saturday, June 10, 2006 23 year old Arwen Renner was on Route 78 in San Marcos driving home from enrolling as a YMCA summer counselor. Just back from New York where she had gone to pursue a career as a dancer, Arwen was looking forward to working with kids for the summer, going back to school for post graduate studies and resuming her quest to dance, teach and become a choreographer.
Suddenly fate changed her plans, Arwen was struck by a book size piece of concrete thrown up into the windshield by the vehicle in front of her. It broke through and impacted Arwen's face, leaving her with injuries resulting in the the loss of her left eye, lacerations and fractures expected to require extensive reconstructive surgery.
Just two years ago, Arwen won a World Jazz Dance competition in Costa Rica. Her family knows she will be back on stage again, whatever it takes, and so do we. The Los Angeles Parrot Head Club has created this Fund For Arwen to help with her expenses. Please join with us in helping make her dreams true again.
You probably wonder why LAPHC is involved. Obviously, this was a tragic event, sadly though, not unique. What is special to us is that Arwen is the daughter of Randy Renner, drummer in the preeminent West Coast Buffett tribute band Stars on the Water, He and Stars have given us and Parrot Heads throughout the US countless hours of pleasure. In the Parrot Head tradition of 'Partying With A Purpose,' we can think of no better cause than helping Arwen. Please look through the articles below and come back often to read of her progress.
Read a few words from Arwen. Send a message to Arwen, or Contribute if you can.
Arwen Updates:
- Sunday, June 25, 2006
After 5 hours of surgery, the rest of Arwen's face reconstruction was a success. In a month they will put her prostetic eye in and a few months she will appear like she did before all of this happened. This has been a extremely difficult and emtotional time for my family. I would like to express my family's gratitude for all prayers, love, and financial donations we have received over the last two weeks.
Again , thanks for all your support. Randy
- Wednesday, June 28, 2006,
Just wanted to update everyone on Arwen's current status. She came home yesterday, and for two weeks we need to feed her liquids through a tube. Her mouth is wired shut due to the fact that every bone in her skull ( in the face area) was fractured. They had to, with a series of titanium rods and small screws, put her skull back together. Once the jaw is free from the wires, she will need to have her front teeth fixed. So for the next 4 weeks she will be doing lot of healing and just being bed ridden. But her spirit is strong, and she has shown so much courage. Thanks for all the cards,and flowers, donations and prayers. And special thanks to all the people and great musician friends who have done benefits for her, or have plans to do so. You have given her so much hope.
Sincerely, Randy
- Wednesday, July 5, 2006,
Hello friends. Arwen is home improving everyday. Her jaw is still wired shut,and we're feeding her liquids through a tube. She'll get the wires off in a week . Then we need to get her front teeth fixed. They were chipped. And in a couple of weeks, the lens to her prostetic eye will be put on. The swelling on her face goes down a little everyday. She is in good spirits,considering what she has gone through. Much gratitude goes out to all who sent flowers, prayers, cards, and donatios for her recovery.
God bless all of you for your kindness and
generosity. Randy
- Thursday, July 13, 2006 -- From Arwen,
well everyone, i am at home healing day by day. i will be getting a prosthetic eye in about two and a half weeks, but it will take about six months to look normal because all of the bones abd muscles need to grow around it so it will move like my other eye. this is taking a lot fo my patience. the surgeon cut into my hip bone to out into my shattered cheeks, which is making me walk with a pretty strong limp. this is really frustrating also. i am getting used to being blind in one eye, although i dont know when i will drive again. my jaw has been wired shut for 5 weeks, (yes i am REALLY skinny now), and i havent been able to eat anything at all really. yesterday the wires came off, and we switched to really strong rubberbands. i ate beans yesterday for the first time, and they tasted heavenly to say the least. I am hanging in there, i miss the simple things. showering myself whenever i want, eating pizza, souplantation, burritos, etc. i havent had any coffee or one sip of alcohol, i havent been to the beach, i cant exercise, dance, or even stretch at all; i just miss being and living normally. however, i have learned more from this accident than i have in my entire life, about patience, surrendering, acceptance, healing, unconditional love, and that everything is temporary. Say a prayer if you have a moment, for my full and speedy recovery, so far i have been showered with blessings and i am thankful for every one of them.
take care, and drive safe!! Arwen
- Wednesday, July 19, 2006 -- From Arwen: Update on my recovery
Anyway, as of now, I am waiting about two more weeks to get my prosthetic eye, and at about the same time, I am getting my teeth fixed that are chipped. I just got my jaw unwired from being completely wired shut for 5 weeks, YIKES, but i still can barely open my mouth. I can eat really really mushy food, like potatoes, and beans, and thats about it, but believe me, that tastes amazing. I have no sense of smell what so ever, since the nerves are pretty fried in my nose, and my left side of my face is totally numb. my surgeon says that the feeling should come back though and so should the smell. I still walk with a limp since they took bone out of my hip to put into my cheekbones, but that gets better every day too. Today, I got the tube taken out of my stomach, the feeding tube that is, and although i feel so free from that being out, it was probably the worst pain i have ever felt in my life. they had to fit a lime size balloon through a hole in my tummy about the size of a pencil top. you can imagine my reaction with no pain killer. But, i have been through a hell of a lot worse now havent I....
That is my update for now..... Please pass this email on to all of the people that donated to me on pay pal, I am so grateful for every dime!!! I never expected any of this, and i am truly blessed to say the least.
Thank you again for everything. Arwen
- Tuesday, October 10, 2006 -- From Randy: Arwen just celebrated her 24th birthday
At the 3 month mark after her accident, when the doctors predicted 6 months recovery, Arwen moved into an apartment in Encinitas with her guy Adam, and is working full time at Montessori school in Encinitas. She has shown an amazing resilience and courage to bounce back to a productive life so quickly. All of her surgeons are totally amazed as well. She still has a few tune up smaller procedures over the next 10 months or so around the eye area, but all the big stuff seems to be over. She is still sending thank you cards out to all the people who have helped her through this difficult time in her life.
Arwen, right, is especially grateful to all the Parrot Heads who rushed to her aid, and this holds true for the whole family.
Send a message to Arwen, or Contribute if you can.
Press Coverage:
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I you prefer to send a contribution by mail, please make your check payable to Fund For Arwen and mail to:
The Fund For Arwen, %Robert Plasky, LAPHC President, 17739 Arvida, Granada Hills, CA 91344.
Thank you
For more information, contact Frank Bellino, LAPHC Director of Communications.
