Tag Archives: Pray for Lydia

Lydia’s Homecoming

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On November 1st Lydia Herrle walked the 250 meters from her family market across the parking lot and up the lane way to her home. It had been almost 6 months since the day she was struck by a truck, knocked out of her shoes, and into a coma. Hundreds of people from the community here in Waterloo Region showed up to show their support, and triumphantly waved their worn and tattered green ribbons that they have been displaying on their cars, trees, sign posts, and mailboxes since the day after the accident.

This outpouring of support and amazing display of community solidarity is a testament to the people that live and work in the region. Almost half a million people live within 20 minutes of the Herrle farm, yet in that moment it felt as though we were a small village, where every face is familiar and everyone comes to help when someone is in need.

To have seen so many people of all backgrounds, occupations, and religions in one place showing their support and rejoicing Lydia’s amazing recovery, and in admiration of the strength of the Herrle family, was a sight that will forever be in my memory. I fought through the tears and managed to take some photographs of the event, though the images hardly do it justice.

The Herrle family has been chronicling their journey here: http://prayforlydia2012.blogspot.ca Please take a few minutes to read their blog.

Welcome home Lydia. Welcome home.

~
Cars line Erb Street as hundreds of people converge on the Herrle farm to wave their green ribbons.

Panoramic view of the parking lot and lane way, lined with people 3 or 4 deep on both sides.

CTV News van setup in the parking lot. Excellent coverage by the local affiliate of this national network.

The start of the line at the edge of the parking lot. By the time Lydia came out to see us it had grown by 40 or 50 feet.

Another shot of the lined lane way from the other side of the field.

People patiently wait in the rain on the muddy lane way of the Herrle farm.

A young girl makes her way across the parking lot of the Herrle farm, green ribbon in tow.

Lydia makes her appearance!

The Lydiamobile followed her throughout the 250 meter journey. She did not need to sit down for the entire walk.

Lydia waves to all the people lined up and cheering.

Lydia spots a friend from school, her smile widening and her eyes brightening. The two friends embrace, emotion overcoming Lydia’s friend as they hug.

Pray for Lydia

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FINAL UPDATE


I attended the ribbon waving event. Cried a lot, but smiled more. Took some photos:

http://potatochipmath.blogspot.ca/2012/11/lydias-homecoming.html

UPDATE!

The date and time for Lydia’s ribbon waving event has been set:

Thursday, November 1 @ 5:00pm in the Herrle farm parking lot and laneway.

http://prayforlydia2012.blogspot.com/2012/10/lydia-has-had-another-good-day.html?spref=tw

UPDATE!

Lydia is on her way home!
http://prayforlydia2012.blogspot.ca/2012/10/waving-lime-green-ribbons.html

On a date yet to be chosen (though likely the first Friday of November) people will wave green ribbons as the Herrle family gives Lydia a little tour around the parking lot and down the lane way. I will be there. Hopefully you will be too!


As many of you know, on May 17th tragedy struck a small rural town just outside Kitchener-Waterloo. Lydia Herrle was struck by a truck after getting off her school bus and has been in a coma ever since. Her parents, James and Michelle Herrle, own and operate Herrle’s Country Farm Market and are not just well known in the community, they are well liked. They are blogging about their journey through this difficult time and you can read about it here: 

http://prayforlydia2012.blogspot.ca

I have only had the pleasure of meeting any Herrle on two occasions, both times it was Trevor: once last year at a community event where we exchanged a few minutes of pleasantries, and the other time earlier this morning. The first meeting was much happier. Today, I dropped off a gift for Lydia. A little something for her to look at when she wakes up. I also wrote a letter I hope someone will read aloud to her, and one that she will read herself some day soon.



I added some colourful stickers to brighten it up a bit. A cross, some music, some flowers, and few butterflies. Things I know will bring a smile to her face. My only wish for her now is that she wakes up to see them.

I won’t post the entire letter here; that’s for Lydia and her family to read, but I will share a particularly fitting quote that I used from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.”

So stay strong, Lydia. Stay strong, be patient, and know that there’s an entire community by your side every step of the way.