All Things Become New: Spring Into Action 5K

September 12, 2010 was for all intents and purposes another great day.  However, it was the day that changed the life of Mindy Morneault, a University of Maine at Fort Kent soccer goalie.  In her own words, "I was blindly introduced to the fact that traumatic brain injuries do not discriminate.  I was knocked unconscious by a girl from the opposing team.  To this day my final memory of the 'old Mindy' was standing in goal, waiting for the referee to blow the whistle to start the game, 25 minutes before my injury. I had absolutely no idea that on this very day, my life would drastically change forever."

For Mindy's mother, Suzanne, September 12, 2010 was a day that time seemed to stand still.  In her own words, "It’s funny how a date can be etched into our minds forever…the birth of a child…marriage to the love of your life...these are dates that are easy to celebrate.  Unfortunately, some dates bring to mind tragic things, like the terrorist attack on September 11.  For each of us, these memories are different, leaving permanent brush strokes forever painted in our minds.

​For my family, one of those dates is September 12, 2010. It started out like any other Sunday…I got the family up…fed them breakfast…drove to church.  But what we didn’t know, sitting in our pew at church, was that our life was about to change drastically.  

Care giving for me began just like that.  We're not given a choice, care giving is often something we are thrown into and for me it started from the moment she took my hand in the hospital sobbing and would not let go."

Many trips up and down the State of Maine ensued.  Doctors, treatment, diagnosis's followed.  It was on these trips, together, that Suzanne and Mindy began thinking of others, like themselves.  The Haven of Rest Home was created and is a beautiful 6 bedroom home in Eagle Lake, Maine.

This house is their new office and offers caregivers a break from their in home responsibilities. A mini vacation, whether for week or week end, is free for families like the Morneaults, who struggle with the high medical needs, which don't afford breaks they could use. 

For more of Mindy and Suzanne's stories, please visit https://www.allthingsbecomenew.org/