FAREWELL FYNN: please help Tricia Wright recover

My name is Teressa Ray and I thank you beforehand for taking a few minutes of your busy day to read about one of my closest friends, Tricia Wright, whom I first met in 1990 when we were playing softball. Trish has supported me through some very tough life challenges. Tricia participated in many sports throughout her life and coached at multiple universities. Tricia left Las Cruces and New Mexico State University after many years as an Assistant Volleyball Coach and Director of Player Development - to help care for her aging parents.

On January 7, 2023, her home, converted from an Oregon milkhouse, caught fire and was destroyed. Tricia was out shopping for her dogs when the fire started.

Her four-legged fur kids, including dogs, Fynn and Kaia, cat Moka, and a sweet dog named Hazel, who she was pet sitting, were in the house. Sadly, Kaia was the only survivor. For those of you who know “pet people” – our pets are our kids! Tricia firmly believes Fynn was protecting Kaia and Hazel until he could no longer. Kaia is trying to move on without her best buddy Fynn. Hazel’s ‘parents’ are also trying to move on without their sweet girl.

As devastating as the losses of 4-year-old Fynn, who was Tricia’s protector, 16-year-old Moka, and Hazel have been, Tricia has had to re-focus her time and energy to care for her ailing dad, who is currently under Hospice care.

Some friends and organizations have already provided support to Tricia and Kaia’s immediate needs. Hopefully, insurance proceeds will aid in rebuilding and replacing some of Tricia’s belongings, which were totally wiped out in the fire.

For those of you in the local or sports community who know Tricia, you know she makes a huge impact wherever she goes. She exemplified love, encouragement, and support to ALL kids in her programs, whether by providing volleyball lessons, consoling homesick athletes, giving away game tickets, assisting with volleyball camps, or making road trip burritos!

Tricia has ALWAYS shown her love and assisted others in times of need, and we now have an opportunity to RETURN THE LOVE!

Tricia, in her humility, would never ask for donations, so that’s where I come in! I know many of you would like to help her through this very difficult chapter in her life. If, in your lifetime, you have ever benefited from her kindness, now is your time to “Pay It Forward”!

Although you can never replace personal items nor put a price on sentimental items, I’m hoping that a financial boost, words of encouragement, and well wishes, can help Tricia begin to rebuild her life and continue to provide for Kaia.

For those of you who know Tricia, once her needs are met, you can be assured that any “overage” – in Fynn’s honor – will be spent assisting others with pet expenses, adoption fees, medical expenses, and spaying/neutering fees. Tricia has also always loved animals, especially dogs, and I know many of you met Kona, her beloved Newfoundland, who was always hanging out at NMSU with her. Fynn and Kona were great buddies, and Fynn helped Tricia get through her sudden and unexpected loss of Kona a few years ago.

Fynn certainly made the world a better place with his loving personality, fun-loving attitude, goofy smile, and ball-chasing skills. He traveled with Tricia on many exciting trips, soaked in the horse trough, swam in the ocean, and hiked the family farm in Oregon with his beloved master. Further, he loved providing warm comforting snuggles to both Kaia and Tricia.

I realize and understand that many people are currently experiencing post-holiday or economic struggles. However, if you feel you can spare just a little, a little becomes a lot, and a lot becomes more than enough!

Please share this post with any individual or organization you believe may be touched by this story. Thank you in advance for your generosity!!!