This tragedy is much greater than my dx

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AnacortesGirl
AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Ladies -

I'm trying to read the posts but it just isn't working.  BC is going on a backburner for a while.

Many of you have probably seen the news yesterday and heard about the explosion at the Tesoro Refinery in Anacortes, WA.  That's where I work.

I was planning on going back into the office at least part time next week.  I still am -- but I'm not looking forward to it the way I was a few days ago.

We've now lost 5 people.  No, I personally didn't know them well.  I only occasionally interacted with them.  My husband, before he retired, was a machinist so he knew them better.  We have two dear friends, really wonderful guys, that are on the fire brigade and they found some of the bodies. 

I'm just not sure right now how to deal with this.  I've cried some, but honestly I need to get more tears out.  These people had families.  Some have relatives (a father, a brother) who work at the refinery.

I guess I'm not going to be participating much in the boards right now.  This hurts too much right now.

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  • Bugs
    Bugs Member Posts: 1,719
    edited April 2010

    Christy,

    I heard of this tragedy and immediately thought of you due to your screenname.  My thoughts and prayers go out to all those families.  Big hugs to you....this must be so difficult.

    Bugs

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  • ktym
    ktym Member Posts: 2,637
    edited April 2010

    Christy, my heart goes out to you and everyone involved. It has been a long time since the explosion at the Ford factory in Michigan, but in some ways it is still fresh in my mind.  Lives changed forever in an instant.  I'll be thinking of you and everyone involved.

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited April 2010

    I am so sorry you are going through this.......what a terrible unexpected tragedy.  When something like this happens there are no words that can heal the pain and it's a terribly hard thing to go through.   Know that we are all here with you and surrounding you with (((hugs))). 

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  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited April 2010

    yes, i heard about this horrible event. i have friends who live up North. i am so sorry you are going through this.  life is just so unpredictable at times and can sneak up on us...and loved ones..people we know....and knock us down. please know that people are thinking of others who are having tragedies...sending prayers to people we don't even know.  we are here to support and pray for you . 

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited April 2010

    Christy - I am so sorry to hear this. My heart goes out to you. Sending strength and good wishes....

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  • Issymom
    Issymom Member Posts: 264
    edited April 2010

    When I heard about the explosion, I immediately thought of you and wondered if you knew any of the victims.  I know your whole community is realing after this tragedy.  I hope the 2 who are in the hospital are OK.

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  • blondie45
    blondie45 Member Posts: 580
    edited April 2010

    I hadn't heard about this yet but I am so sorry and am praying for everyone involved.

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited April 2010

    I am so sorry to hear of this tragedy. In an instant, lives are destroyed, futures are changed, nothing is the same. And those of us on the outside have no words adequate to comfort the ones who are suffering.

    Leah

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited April 2010

    Prayers coming your way to you and the victims and their families.

    Sharon

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  • AnacortesGirl
    AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
    edited April 2010

    I went back to work part time this last week.  I'm so glad I did.  I was able to hug so many people.  And I didn't even think about it, but my return meant something to them.  They saw it as a positive that I'm doing well and continuing to fight this with an attitude.  Especially the people I saw who were first responders or on the fire brigade.  They saw and experienced some terrible things.

    We are such a close knit group.  Many of us have family who work there.  And many are second and third generations -- their dad and grandad spent their careers at the refinery.  As someone who, up until their recent retirement, had a husband and brother-in-law working at the plant my heart goes out to the fallen.  We have a father who lost a son.  A brother who lost his brother.  A father who lost his daughter-in-law.  And countless friends who lost someone they cared about deeply.

    It's also been frustrating for us to see what been in the media.  Contrary to what the media says, we have been and continue to be a very safe refinery.  They paint with sensationalism and not with the details.  We have many investigators onsite to find out exactly what happened.  But we do know that the operations team was working on one exchanger, doing routine maintenance, when the exchanger that was online exploded.  Nothing exceptional was going on -- we are anxious to find out why this happened. 

    Thank you for your thoughts and prayers to the fallen and to the 2 who still continue to fight in the burn center.

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  • ktym
    ktym Member Posts: 2,637
    edited April 2010

    Christy, thanks for the update on how people are doing, our thoughts have been with all of you.  Happy to hear you feel well enough to go back part time too.  Sorry the media has been so sensationalistic, but, doubt most of us believe it when they are that way.  Most of us know when the truth comes out it comes out quietly many weeks later when the media have moved on.

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  • YoYo44
    YoYo44 Member Posts: 203
    edited April 2010

    Christy,

    I have not been on much since going back to work and did not hear about this.  So sad.  I will send prayers to you and your colleagues and everyone else touched by this tragedy.

    Sending you hugs,

    yo

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