Bolt family support

My name is Sharon and I am sister in law to Kay Bolt and her husband Jim Bolt.  Their family is in dire straits and  needs help badly.


Life for the Bolt family has  been a constant struggle.  The Bolt family, originally from New Jersey, has been living in North Carolina for 12 years.  It was barely bearable before the storm because they were living in a rental with numerous problems and a landlord who just didn't care.  Last year they had no air conditioning for months, despite 96 degree temperatures and high humidity.  Saying it can't get any worse was a thought, but the wrong thing to say.

 They ran for their lives to NJ when the storm hit, and when it had subsided, came home to flood waters and ridiculous living conditions.  Everything was wet, the roof leaked profusely and all their personal belongings, clothing, furniture, electronics, food, etc. was ruined, full of mold and mildew and unusable.  They got out the Clorox, cleaned and  cleaned, put buckets under the leaks, and tried as best they could to make do with what they had left.    They begged and pleaded for repairs, but they were ignored, until finally the landlord said, "Get out".  They had no where to go, there wasn't another rental available inside a 100 mile area.  Finally, having to vacate, a co-worker friend of Jims invited the family to live with his family for a short time until they could get relocated.

Jim was beside himself with grief, frustration and anger because he couldn't, despite still having a job, provide enough for his family. He worked all the hours he could, becoming totally exhausted and beaten down by the struggle.  His wife couldn't find a job because everything around was still in chaos. Jim and Kay spent every moment they could to find another home, but to no avail.

Jim continued working long, long hours, totally exhausting himself and the stress built higher and higher, until he began to have major health problems and depression.  Meds he was given only made him sick.

Jim's heart was breaking for his oldest child, Kelsey, who had graduated with honors, and several small scholorships and planned to attend college in the fall.  Even though she had worked for two years and saved her money, she would still need major help to go to college.  Jim told me he would give his life to see her get through college.  I believe Jim is a wonderful father who loves his children and is willing to sacrifice his all for them. 

In the meantime, the family has tried to carry on and the younger children, Kyleigh and Karson are very active in sports.  They each were on baseball teams that advanced to state level finals this past week.  Older family members pledged support and the Bolts found a reconstructed home to buy.  They were to close next week and things looked as if they were taking a turn for the better.

They had just attended a hotly contested battle for their boys baseball team, yelling and fighting unfair calls as parents are apt to do, spending all day in 100 plus degree temperatures in the sun, and were on their way home when Jim began to act strange.  Family members recognized symptoms and believed Jim was having a stoke.  Others in their caravan immediately called for an emergenc y  squad and Jim was quickly taken to Carteret General in Moorehead City.  A cat scan quickly found a burst aortic blood vessel on the backside of the heart and a life flight was ordered to take Jim to Vidant in Greensboro, NC, specialists in aneurisms.  He was bleeding internally, but refused to leave until he could say goodbye to his family.
When he arrived at Vidant, he was taken into immediate surgery, and given a 10% chance of survival.

Eight surgeons at Vidant worked nine hours, placing Jim on heart/lung machines, stopping his heart and pulling it to place patches on the ruptured vessels.  With lots of prayer and skilled hands, a miracle happened and Jim survived.  Amazingly, Jim is doing well in recovery, up walking already and giving his nurses fits.  He will now be facing therapy and possibly hundreds of thousands in doctors and hospital bills.   Without help they maybe also lose their  chance to get a new home and Kelsey's college education may be in jeopardy.

Your prayers are especially needed and anything you may be able to give to help them would certainly be appreciated.