12/18/2020
Thank You Jesus for putting Angels Among Us
***UPDATE***
Local good samaritans have been found!
We are thrilled to report that The Montanian received the following email on Thursday morning, December 17, "I was reading your article in this week's paper and realized it was a story my mother had just shared with me. Your mystery angels are my mother and my sister... I'm so proud of them both!"
Stay tuned for more...
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HEARTFELT GRATITUDE FROM KALISPELL BUSINESS OWNER
FOR TWO LIBBY AREA RESIDENTS
by Stacy Bender
“I am just so very grateful,” shared Judy Rowland as she fought back tears in a phone conversation on Saturday morning, December 12. “They stayed right beside me, held me and talked to me while I was laying there so scared and unable to breathe.”
Rowland, a Kalispell resident and owner of Evergreen Acres Farmers Market on W. Reserve Drive, had been navigating a flood of residual feelings for approximately 48 hours before reaching out to The Montanian. This following a chance encounter with two Libby area residents on Thursday afternoon, December 10. "My husband had come into the house to ask me about a price on one of the items in our little store,” Rowland continued as she took a few deep breathes to calm herself again.
“I decided to walk out and help our customer directly. And oh... I still just can’t believe what happened next! I was literally 30 ft away from the garage and my lungs went into shock. I have COPD. I lost my breathe and collapsed. I was so scared,” Rowland exclaimed, “I couldn’t breathe.”
"These two ladies - all I know is their first names were Tonya and Laura – they were my angels. Tonya stayed with me while my lips turned blue and I felt myself panicking. All I could do was nod yes or no in response to her words. She instructed my husband to call 911 and asked him to locate my rescue inhaler. We later found out she used to work as a home health care provider.”
“Tonya’s friend, Laura, made herself visible to the street and watched so she could wave in the ambulance once they arrived. Our Evergreen first responders were here in mere moments. It was remarkable.” Thanks to the quick response of Tonya and Laura, Graham was able to stabilize from the unexpected and critical shock to her lungs ultimately declined transport to an area hospital. “If they had not been there...” Rowland stopped herself to suppress tears yet again.
According to Judy and her husband, Tim, the pair of helpful patrons had arrived at the small market store that day, “Because they had been driving past our signs for years and decided to stop in and take a look. We’ve heard that from so many folks who’ve wandered in. All Glory to God for he gave us two Angels on Earth from Libby that day! Please tell them they have Christmas presents awaiting their next visit.”
Rowland has special ordered a small pair of blue birds which one of the Libby residents had been looking to acquire and will be holding them on-site in hopes they again meet one day soon. “I can only tell you that Tonya was, I believe, the younger of the two ladies with longer than shoulder-length blonde hair. Laura appeared a little older? She was a small-framed lady who also had blonde hair which was short, cut just below her ears,” Rowland shared in hopes that someone might recognize their description and forward her note of enormous gratitude.
In a follow-up email closing out conversations to fulfill their request to reach out in humble gratitude, Judy then wrote, "Gods Blessings and Merry Christmas to these ladies and the Town of Libby. - Tim and Judy Rowland”
**If you recognize the descriptions above and/or have information which might lead to reconnecting the Rowlands with their mystery-angels, please email us at [email protected]. We look forward to sharing the moment when Judy is able to thank them again in person.
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Photo:
Judy Rowland of Evergreen Acres Farmers Market (Courtesy Photo)
