Meet the Founder

NED'S TESTIMONY

On June 8, 2002, my world was rocked forever.

 

James and Vickie Parrett were on their way home from a family reunion and were laughing and talking about how well Uncle Dick was doing after his hip replacement and how big the twins were getting and about how Aunt Ethyl was still the meanest thing that God ever put breath into and so on.  They said that once every 10 years just wasn't enough. Seemed like the only time that they all got together were at family weddings or funerals.... little did they know.

 

It was about 2:30 in the afternoon on a beautiful, sunny, Saturday when all of a sudden a full size Dodge Ram pickup pulled right out in front of them.  They were in a Ford Econoline van doing about 55mph. Neither driver had a chance to react and Jim and Vickie slammed into the passenger side of the truck. They were in a T-bone when they spun around and then released and barrel rolled and landed on all 4 tires facing the opposite direction that they were traveling in the edge of a bean field.  The pickup was about 75 feet further away.  Both Jim and Vickie were ejected from the van and were laying on the ground outside their perspective doors.  Neither were wearing a seatbelt. Vickie had a messed up rotator cup, a broken collar bone, a broken pelvic, a broken leg bone and several cuts and abrasions.  She was unable to get up but was able to twist her head around to see under the front of the van and see Jim's legs and they weren't moving.

 

She then saw a pair of feet approach Jim and kneel down.  She was hollering his name and asking how he was doing and if he was okay.  She got nothing but silence. Soon she again saw the feet and they were coming over to her.  She asked how Jim was doing this was answered with, "He's okay right now.  Someone stopped and had a cell phone and called 911.  The ambulance and police are on their way." Vickie was in so much pain she went into shock and passed out.

  When she came to she was in the emergency room at LaPorte, IN hospital.  A nurse was beside her and as soon as she could she asked how is my husband doing?  The nurse told her she would go get the doctor.  Soon he retuned and again Vickie asked about Jim.  It was at this time she found out that Jim had died at the scene of the accident and that he was killed by a drunk driver.

 

I AM THAT DRUNK DRIVER.  JAMES PARRETT DIED IN MY ARMS THAT DAY.

 

On September 25, 2003, I was convicted of reckless endangerment w/death involved, with the judge sentencing me to 5 years do 2 and a half with good behavior and then 6 months in the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation program in South Bend, IN.

 

On December 15, 2003, I told God that He needed to take over in my life because it was obvious I had no idea what I was doing.  Here I am, 50 years old, lying on a prison bunk, I don't have 2 nickels to rub together, and have no idea where I'm going when I do get out, and aren't sure just how long I'll be in,  This was not what I had planned for my retirement.  God took over my life and, even in prison, my life began to get better. Not in a instant but in baby steps.  That was all I could handle.  I kept my nose fairly clean and read the Bible constantly, I joined about a dozen mail order Bible studies and when the day to get out finally came, I was a warrior for Christ.  On 4 July 2005, I walked out of those gates a New free man.

I had a couple of days before I had to report to the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center(ARC), so I was staying with my mother and father.  My Dad suggested that we go to Wal-Mart and pick up some clothes instead of my prison dungarees. It was drizzling that morning and when we got there dad dropped me at the front door and said he would go park the car. I got out and when he came up to me, after parking, I was standing in the same spot...... in the rain.  He looked at me rather quizzically and asked, "Why didn't you go in?"  I said, "Nobody told me to."  At this point I realized what being Institutionalized really meant. 

 

I was in the process of putting together all the necessary paperwork to apply for my 501(c)3, non-profit tax exemption, but being freshly out of prison and starting over , my funds were very limited.  I was unable to financially retain an attorney to assist me or have the application fee for the IRS.  There was a limit to the application time and after twenty two months my time ran out. My dream of a transition house faded away.  Although I never lost hope I just was unable to make it all come together.

 

To be continued...........