Last year, I worked with a really great family. Josh and Rebecca Chrestman moved to Springfield, MO, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, because they wanted a better environment to raise their children. Josh worked in the automobile industry, and Rebecca had just received her Doctorate in Acupuncture.
They came to me to buy a home in May of 2010. After months of searching, I had gotten to know them and their two children, Caleb and Maddie, very well. They were a young couple, very much in love, happy with life, and awesome parents. It didn't take long to see that Josh was a very proud, incredibly hard-working man, often working late, long hours, to provide for his family. Josh took his role as head of the household very, very seriously. Family came first with Josh, and he lived and cherished the role of "Protector" for his family. And he did it well. They closed on their new home in February of this year.
During their home search, Josh's parents, Mike & Chris, flew in from Albuquerque a couple of times. Mike was considering retirement in a few years, and had planned to move to the Springfield area near Josh and Rebecca at that time. After watching the market, Mike and Chris decided to go ahead and purchase a home now, while home prices were low. It didn't take long to realize where Josh had inherited his strong family values. Mike Chrestman was a man's man, full of wisdom, and always in perfect control. He didn't shout it....he didn't have to. His strength was powerful, and his love for his family was equally as strong.
And finally, Rebecca's mother, Jane, decided she, too, would move from Albuquerque to Springfield. I had the pleasure of helping her in her home search. Jane was divorced, and very nervous at the idea of leaving behind her life and home to move to an area where she didn't know anyone except her children. But her love for her grandchildren was stronger than her fears. During the contract on her home, I received a call from Mike Chrestman. He was stepping in to help Jane. Jane was not a Chrestman by name, but Mike made it very clear that she was a part of their family....and the Chrestman men always take care of their family.
By the end of March, all 3 had closed on their homes, and I had gained new friends. Jane, Rebecca, Maddie and Caleb came to my wedding in May. When I think of the Chrestman family, the word "client" no longer comes to mind. The word "friend" does. And I love each one of them dearly.
On September 11, 2011, Josh went to Kansas City for a work-related event. After checking into the hotel, Josh decided to check out the pool. Josh dove into the pool and sustained a traumatic spinal cord injury, crushing his C4, C5 and C6 vertebrae, and damaging both main arteries that run to his brain. He has undergone several surgeries, and has a few more to go. The initial prognosis was that Josh would never use his arms or legs again.
But those doctors don't know Josh or the Chrestman family. The Chrestmans believe Josh is strong physically, mentally, and full of heart, which will help him make a full recovery from this tragic accident, and you can bet that the Chrestmans, especially Mike, will be there every second pushing him along. On Friday, Josh was taken off the ventilator, all equipment was removed from his face, and when they sat him up, Josh was able to hold himself up for 10 seconds on his own. He even managed a wink and a smile. I think the doctors are going to learn what the rest of us have....NEVER underestimate a Chrestman!
In the meantime, Jane is staying at Josh and Rebecca's home and taking care of their two children. Bills are piling up, house payments need to be made, the yard needs to be mowed, and the children will be needing new winter clothes. Because Josh and Rebecca are unable to work at this time, the financial burden is one more hardship they are having to endure.
If you would like to help contribute, please make your contribution through the instructions on Josh's Facebook Support page. There is no amount too small, and any help would be greatly appreciated.
I once heard Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, speak at a Missouri Bar Association event. The topic of his speech was "Victims." His speech was incredible, inspiring, and unforgettable....and something I have referred back to many times over the years. I will try to paraphrase....
"Society has gotten it all wrong. We have turned 'victims' into people to be placed on a pedestal. We exalt victims. We worship victims. We aspire to be victims. We wear the term 'victim' like a badge of honor on our chests. Why? There is no glory in being a victim. It doesn't take any special qualities or talent to be a victim. It is not a status achieved by any great accomplishment. So why do we aspire to be one? Being a victim is nothing but a choice we make, and we can choose to NOT be a victim. We used to aspire to being a hero. A 'hero' is someone who has accomplished something great. A 'hero' is someone to be admired. A 'hero' is someone worthy of glory. To be a hero requires hard work, guts, determination, and some very special qualities only found deep inside your soul. A hero is someone who has faced tragedy and refused to accept the role of 'victim.' A hero is someone who was victimized, but picked himself up and faced their challenges, no matter how great, and said, "Today, I refuse to be a victim. Today, I will rise above." That is something for us all to aspire to."
Josh Chrestman will never choose to be a victim. Josh is a hero. I believe Josh will work hard, and show us all what it is like to face your challenges and conquer them. I'm hoping we can find a few friends to help him and his family during this difficult time.
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Lina Robertson Jones
Owner/Agent
RE/MAX Solutions
1715 James River Road
Ozark, MO, 65721
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Mobile: (417) 844-7265
linarobertson@remax.net
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RE/MAX - Outstanding Agents, Outstanding Results!
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About the author: I am full-time REALTOR® with RE/MAX Solutions in Springfield, MO, and a member of the Greater Springfield Board of REALTORS®. I have helped hundreds of families in the Springfield, Nixa, Republic and Ozark real estate markets, whether buying a home, or selling a home. Visit my website at www.ozarks-realestate.com to search for All Springfield MO Area MLS listings. Want to know what our market is like? My website is also an excellent resource for current Springfield MO Area Real Estate Market Reports, as well as current market reports for Ozark, Nixa, Republic, and Rogersville.
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