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Neighbors rally together for injured child, family
Source:
Special to the Eagle
Written by:
Rachel Burkot
Published:
August 19, 2009
Last month's tragic accident involving an 18-month-old Cranberry toddler has brought her neighborhood together.
Residents of the Blue Ridge Estates neighborhood have joined in support of the family of Camryn Surman, who was found unresponsive in a toy box at her Blue Ridge Drive home July 20.
While Surman remains in Children's Hospital after suffering respiratory and cardiac arrest, friends and neighbors in Blue Ridge Estates are doing their part to ensure the Surman family has little to focus on besides the recovery of their daughter.
The neighborhood has already seen an outpouring of support for the child in a prayer vigil organized by neighbors one week after the accident. Friends of the family placed flyers in every mailbox announcing a service at the neighborhood gazebo that night, and about 75 people showed up to pray for Surman with neighbors, friends and strangers.
"On the spur of the moment, we were all there," said Blue Ridge resident Jim Bianchi. "We heard about something happening to one of our neighbors, and the whole neighborhood just pulled together."
Surman's grandmother was at the service and spoke briefly, stating her gratitude for all the prayers, support and help that the neighborhood has given the family. During the service, participants read together from prayer sheets and lit candles for the toddler.
After it was over, neighbors remained to talk, offer support and catch up with friends they hadn't seen in awhile.
"The prayer vigil for Camryn reflects the attitude and caring spirit of this neighborhood," said Larry LeRoy, president of the Blue Ridge Homeowners Association. "All parents are in shock and are unable to wrap their brains around such an incident happening to one of their children, so they want to do anything they can for the family."
Participants in the prayer vigil included both close friends of the Surman family and neighbors who had never met them. Residents of diverse religious backgrounds came together for one purpose.
"I feel blessed to live in such a supporting neighborhood," said Erin Dahl, family friend of the Surmans. "It was great to see the show of love for Camryn and for the family."
Since the accident, neighbors have been pitching in to cook meals for the Surmans, who remain in the hospital with their daughter.
"That's what we do here. It's hard to explain," Bianchi said. "When we talk to people outside the neighborhood, they just can't understand. It's a family here, and when tragedy strikes, neighbors take over, provide for the family and come through."
After the prayer vigil, red ribbons were distributed to residents to hang from mailboxes in support of Camryn. They remain as symbols of the close ties that bind Blue Ridge and the countless thoughts and prayers offered for the child and her family until she is welcomed back into the neighborhood.
"Though we don't know all our neighbors, we come together in times of crisis," LeRoy said. "Something like this hits everybody right in the heart, and we cry out together for the family."
The Surmans could not be reached for comment.
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