It was a close call for 30a Santa Rosa Beach resident "Redd's" family at the Boston Marathon. Stacey, Redd's Sister, her Dad Paul Smith, and brother in law, Rich, were at the Boston Marathon. They all competed in the Seaside Half Marathon in March. Here is Staceys account: I just want to thank ALL of you who called or txtd me yesterday. My dad and I were stopped with thousands of other runners at mile 25. Our cell phones were in our race bags which were checked onto a bus before the event. We could now get cell service once we finally found our bags, so please know I had no way to get in touch with anyone. I want to thank the Boston policeman who tried so hard to reach my husband when I was falling apart … The stranger who saw me crying and hugged me and prayed for Rich when I didn't know if he was ok…the lady who gave me her shirt when see saw me shivering…the Michelle I don't know your last name but thank you for stopping me when I was in full on panic because I knew my husband was at the finish line …you could have just walked away but you said you knew text would go thru vs calling…but you were able to reach Rich and direct him to where we were. When I saw Rich he was hobbling with one shoe missing and blood on his sock. He said he was next to where the second bomb exploded and it literally blew him out of his shoe. He said the person to his right lost both legs and the grandstands were blown away. I need to thank Richard Hopkins for his special prayer he said for me last Monday and all of you for your emails phone calls, posts and texts…sooooo many messages that my heart is overwhelmed to this moment. Rich is physically ok but probably has a broken toe. Our prayers are going out to you and all the people who are suffering today. I carried a special note with me during the race yesterday. it was a note that Meb wrote on a post-it note for me during his autograph session at the marathon expo. It says "with God anything is possible" – I love you friends and family. Thanks for the outpouring of love to my family.
