(WXYZ) — Mr. Rogers told us to look for the helpers and so that is what we are doing in our segment “Helping Each Other", from businesses to nonprofits to individuals performing awesome acts of kindness and helping those who are hurting.
Today, we met a nurse working in the intensive care unit at Henry Ford Hospital. She’s nearly 6 months pregnant.
“Yeah, this has been stressful,” says Abbey Pett.
She’s not talking about the stress of working in an ICU in the midst of a pandemic or the stress of being a working mom with another one on the way or the worry she might bring a highly contagious virus home to her family. She’s talking about what happened Sunday night.
After a 12 hour shift, she walked into the hospital’s underground parking garage to discover her car wasn’t where she parked it.
“And I looked and I saw some broken glass in my spot,” says Pett.
Her 2018 Dodge Charger had been stolen.
Early the next morning, she got a call. Police found her car, but it wasn’t happy news. Her car was totaled, crashed into a tree. Then the news got even worse.
“Whoever had stolen the car had died. That’s obviously not what I want, it’s just a car, it’s not worth anybody’s life. So that was very upsetting." says Pett emotionally.
Meanwhile, she needs a vehicle to get to work and doctor’s appointments.
In the midst of this pandemic, getting a hold of a police report, making insurance claims, buying a car, iit all takes time.
“I’m trying to handle this all over the phone and people aren’t necessarily in their offices either,” says Pett.
In the midst of an especially difficult week, in the midst of our interview, Kelly LaFontaine, Vice President of LaFontaine Automotive Group, popped into our Zoom call to shine a very bright light!
“I think of what you guys do on a continuous basis is heroic,” says LaFontaine.
As soon as she heard what happened, she wanted to help.
“I couldn’t thank you enough and I’m so glad that we could be part of a hope in this for you,” says LaFontaine.
She orchestrated today’s very special delivery along with Michael Law, the General Manager of the Dearborn dealership. He personally delivered a 2019 Volkswagon Atlas SUV to Abbey’s home in Wyandotte.
LaFontaine is providing a free vehicle rental, with even the insurance costs covered. A rental is the fastest way they can get Abbey back on the road, safely too and from work. It buys her much needed time to figure out next steps with the theft.
Eventually they plan to help her navigate securing a new car of her own in the midst of these unprecedented times.
"We’re just here. We just want to give you a little bit of peace of mind and hope today and our continuous thanks for what you’re doing,” says LaFontaine.
Abbey, loves her new SUV.
“It’s so much nicer than my car,” says Abbey as she and her 5-year-old son sit inside.
To the LaFontaine Automotive Group:
“I really, really appreciate you guys and everything you are doing for me! And that you appreciate what we do because not everyone realizes how much work it can be,” says Abbey.
A happy ending to a tough week, because of people in the community, helping each other.
You can let us know about a Helping Each Other story we should be covering by emaiing connectwith7@wxyz.com.
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