Chris and Cheryl Gumprecht Clinton
Cheryl Gumprecht Clinton '02 and her husband, Chris, lived in Metairie, Louisiana before Hurricane Katrina ruined their home. Cheryl's e-mail detailing their situation is prefaced by a note from Cheryl's brother, Michael Gumprecht, who is a junior at Cedarville University. (Note: Chris' brother, Patrick Clinton, is a junior at the 'Ville.)
From Michael:
Cheryl and her husband are OK but 90% of their belongings has been destroyed. They were married in July 2002 and everything they've saved for or built on has been ruined. I've attached photos from within their small house. Water entered the house up to five feet and knocked everything over. The water receded, but the filth within the water has contaminated and ruined everything it came in contact with. Their home will most likely have to be condemned; you can see how spores and mold are already beginning to grow on the walls and on their ruined furniture, etc. These photos were taken when her husband broke barriers to get to the home; they cannot go back to it and won't be able to for a long time. Cheryl is currently staying with our parents in North Carolina.
From Cheryl:
Hi all. Sorry if I haven't gotten back to all of you by phone yet. Well, Chris somehow got into our neighborhood by foot today. He took some pictures with his cell phone and sent them to me. We have lost everything in our house that we left behind. The water came in and was at least four feet high. The mud and mold that is everywhere in the pictures is horrible. The water line is on the walls, and Chris described the sheetrock as crumbling and the wood floors falling apart. Our bookshelf that we just got is disintegrated along with all of our college books and high school yearbooks. I can't even describe the pictures...it is horrible. The trees outside of our house are falling apart. The whole neighborhood is ruined. It is very sad.
Thank you for all of your prayers. Chris is still working at the hospital. We are able to meet next Wednesday for a few days. Unfortunately, my job (cath lab) wanted me to work the days that Chris has off. I had to make the very hard decision of telling them "no" and that I am not sure when/if I will be coming back to work. Due to this I have lost my job.
I am thankful that Chris and I are both safe and our dogs, too. We were able to save our photos and some irreplaceables also. I am still living with my parents for the time being. Please keep us in your prayers as this has been a very hard time for us.
Love,
Cheryl Gumprecht Clinton '02