Wildwood Catering to Hold Pop-Up Restaurant to Support Brave Local Mom
For years, Wildwood Catering’s Jessica Wood and North Kingstown mom Wendy Rodger have participated in the annual Pell Bridge Run, a four mile race over the Newport Bridge. Jessica describes the early morning charity run, cresting the bridge at sunrise as “a spiritual experience” for the two friends. This year will be no different, save the fact that only one of the two will actually be running: Jess will push Wendy through the course in her wheelchair.
All things considered, just getting to the November race could be considered miraculous for Wendy. One Sunday this past July, her life changed dramatically. It’s the stuff nightmares are made of: a car barreling down a hill—too fast—toward Wendy’s four-year old son Evan. There was no time, but this brave mom courageously pushed her son to safety, putting herself directly in the driver’s path. The results were devastating. Wendy heard her pelvis break as the car dragged, then trapped her. Still, Wendy’s thoughts were on her little boy, whom she could hear crying from the sidewalk nearby. Despite critical injuries, Wendy managed to call a friend to come care for Evan before she was transported to a local hospital, then airlifted to Boston’s Tufts Medical Center.
Wendy’s condition was grave. She had a collapsed lung, internal bleeding and multiple fractures. Doctors stabilized her broken pelvis with an external fixation device, leaving Wendy with metal rods protruding from both hips. Wendy’s prognosis was unknown, but one thing was certain: Wendy had saved four-year old Evan’s life that summer afternoon. Now it was Wendy’s life that hung in the balance.
But Wendy had never been one to give up, and true to character, she fought through her long hospitalization and initial rehabilitation period with one steadfast goal: to get home to her husband, John, and their young sons, Jake and Evan. To those who know Wendy, it was not a surprise that she attained that homecoming goal in three months time.
But while Wendy is home now, her recovery is in its very early stages. To compound this, Wendy’s medical bills are already in excess of one million dollars. This does not include her ongoing care, including a home health aide, intensive physical therapy, specialized medical equipment and home modifications. Wendy requires a wheelchair for mobility and is just starting to learn to walk again with a walker.
Wendy made the ultimate sacrifice as a mother. Now she needs our community to support her physical and emotional recovery.
Please join Wildwood Catering as they host a pop-up restaurant to support Wendy’s recovery at their UMelt Providence location on Friday, November 8th. For a $50 minimum donation, guests will be served a four course, farm-to-table meal, with all proceeds benefiting Wendy and her family. There will be a 5 pm and 8 pm seating for this exclusive event. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy Wildwood’s fresh take on fine dining while fueling a courageous local mom’s recovery. Tickets are available at https://squareup.com/market/wildwood-catering
And of course, don’t miss Wendy Rodger’s triumphant return to the Pell Bridge Run on Sunday, November 10th!
