I have been overwhelmed by the love and support people have shown for the Smith Family! Many of you who are NOT in Omaha have asked if there is a way to donate directly to the family of Dr Adam Smith. The answer is YES! There is a fund set up for the family at the Greater Omaha Credit Union, and donations may be mailed to the Greater Omaha Credit Union, Creighton University Medical Center, 601 N. 30 St., Omaha, NE 68131.

Below is a repost about tomorrow night's Benefit Dinner for the family of Dr Adam Smith who was killed by a drunk driver. If you are in Omaha, please come-you can still send us ticket requests and we will have the tickets for you at the door. Just email your ticket requests to hoaa.unmc@yahoo.com with the subject line "tickets" Each ticket is $15 which is a little pricey, but remember, it is a benefit dinner and silent auction for a wonderful family going through a tough time!!

Also, I want to mention that we have an AMAZING list of donated items for the silent auction that includes a Colorado getaway at a very nice resort, season tickets to all Creighton athletics, lots of jewelry, spa, restaurant, and theatre items. This list just hits the tip of the iceberg! There is SOOOO much to bid on, and the items vary in price so even if you are low on money like me, there is likely something great you can bid on, and all those items were donated so the money made will go right to my good friend, Melissa Smith (widow of Dr Adam Smith) and her boys!

Feel free to email me with any questions: beckeesdeals@gmail.com

If you are in Omaha, please read the following letter and consider attending this event sponsored by HOAA (which is a group to support families of residents. I am in the presidency):



August 18, 2010

Our Omaha Community,

Last week, the medical community lost a terrific doctor and wonderful man when fourth year Creighton radiology resident, Dr. Adam Smith, was struck by a drunk driver.

The House Officer’s Association Alliance (HOAA), which exists to provide support to the spouses and partners of residents and fellows at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, would like to do all that we can to help Adam’s wife Melissa and her three sons during this difficult time. We are asking the community to join us in this endeavor.

On Thursday, August 26, HOAA will be sponsoring a benefit dinner and silent auction with all proceeds going to the Adam Smith Memorial Fund. Dinner will be served anytime from 5 - 8 p.m., in the Lower Storz Pavillion on the ground floor of Clarkson hospital. Please make plans to join us if you can.

Tickets are available for a suggested donation of $15 each and can be reserved by
e-mailing us at hoaa.unmc@yahoo.com. Please put “tickets” in the subject line, and make sure to include your name and phone number in your message. Donations are also being accepted for the silent auction. Please contact Devon Toomey, our volunteer chair, at 402-932-8959 or toomeydevon@yahoo.com for more information.

Thank you and we hope to see you there!

Stephanie Kumor, President
House Officers Association Alliance
Hoaa.unmc@yahoo.com
402-884-6823

I posted about the fundraising dinner and auction HOAA through UNMC is doing next Thursday to benefit the Smith family. I hope some of you are able to attend that. I am including that information at the end of this email again, but I wanted to also let you know about a benefit going on TODAY at Family Fun Cutz (144th & Center). Today the salon is donating ALL proceeds from the entire day for the salon to the Smith Family.

And Saturday there will be facepainting and fingernail painting done at Family Fun Cutz as well. The proceeds from that will also go to the Smith Family. Please read about all Family Fun Cutz is planning here on the Adam Smith Memorial website.

If you are in Omaha, please read the following letter and consider attending this event sponsoerd by HOAA (which is a group to support families of residents. I am in the presidency):



August 18, 2010

Our Omaha Community,

Last week, the medical community lost a terrific doctor and wonderful man when fourth year Creighton radiology resident, Dr. Adam Smith, was struck by a drunk driver.

The House Officer’s Association Alliance (HOAA), which exists to provide support to the spouses and partners of residents and fellows at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, would like to do all that we can to help Adam’s wife Melissa and her three sons during this difficult time. We are asking the community to join us in this endeavor.

On Thursday, August 26, HOAA will be sponsoring a benefit dinner and silent auction with all proceeds going to the Adam Smith Memorial Fund. Dinner will be served anytime from 5 - 8 p.m., in the Lower Storz Pavillion on the ground floor of Clarkson hospital. Please make plans to join us if you can.

Tickets are available for a suggested donation of $15 each and can be reserved by
e-mailing us at hoaa.unmc@yahoo.com. Please put “tickets” in the subject line, and make sure to include your name and phone number in your message. Donations are also being accepted for the silent auction. Please contact Devon Toomey, our volunteer chair, at 402-932-8959 or toomeydevon@yahoo.com for more information.

Thank you and we hope to see you there!

Stephanie Kumor, President
House Officers Association Alliance
Hoaa.unmc@yahoo.com
402-884-6823

If you own a company and would like to donate anything for us to auction off at the Silent auction to benefit the Smith family, please contact me directly and I will send you our official letter and information! We are trying to collect items to auction off as quickly as possible!

Thanks you and please contact me at beckeesdeals@gmail.com

If you are in Omaha, please read the following letter and consider attending this event sponsoerd by HOAA (which is a group to support families of residents. I am in the presidency):



August 18, 2010

Our Omaha Community,

Last week, the medical community lost a terrific doctor and wonderful man when fourth year Creighton radiology resident, Dr. Adam Smith, was struck by a drunk driver.

The House Officer’s Association Alliance (HOAA), which exists to provide support to the spouses and partners of residents and fellows at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, would like to do all that we can to help Adam’s wife Melissa and her three sons during this difficult time. We are asking the community to join us in this endeavor.

On Thursday, August 26, HOAA will be sponsoring a benefit dinner and silent auction with all proceeds going to the Adam Smith Memorial Fund. Dinner will be served anytime from 5 - 8 p.m., in the Lower Storz Pavillion on the ground floor of Clarkson hospital. Please make plans to join us if you can.

Tickets are available for a suggested donation of $15 each and can be reserved by
e-mailing us at hoaa.unmc@yahoo.com. Please put “tickets” in the subject line, and make sure to include your name and phone number in your message. Donations are also being accepted for the silent auction. Please contact Devon Toomey, our volunteer chair, at 402-932-8959 or toomeydevon@yahoo.com for more information.

Thank you and we hope to see you there!

Stephanie Kumor, President
House Officers Association Alliance
Hoaa.unmc@yahoo.com
402-884-6823

I told you the other day that a tragedy happened here in Omaha on Wednesday that has affected us greatly. A friend of ours from medical school, Dr Adam Smith, was killed when his car was sturck head on by a drunk driver while taking his son to his first day of school. It is a devastating story and my thoughts and prayers are with my friend, his wife Melissa, and their 3 sons.

Since then, many of you have asked how you can help, and I would ask that you all continue to pray for the family. I also want to let you know that a memorial fund has been set up for the family of Adam Smith. Donations may be mailed to the Greater Omaha Credit Union, Creighton University Medical Center, 601 N. 30 St., Omaha, NE 68131. They can also be dropped off at the credit union in the lobby of the medical center.

***UPDATE: A website has been set up to leave memories, offer service, and to get donation information. Please see the site here: http://adamsmithmemorial.com/

I told you yesterday that a tragedy happened here in Omaha on Wednesday that has effected us greatly. A friend of ours from medical school, Dr Adam Smith, was killed when his car was sturck head on by a drunk driver while taking his son to his first day of school. It is a devastating story and my thoughts and prayers are with my friend, his wife Melissa, and their 3 sons.

SInce then, many of you have asked how you can help, and I would ask that you all continue to pray for the family. I also want to let you know that a memorial fund has been set up for the family of Adam Smith. Donations may be mailed to the Greater Omaha Credit Union, Creighton University Medical Center, 601 N. 30 St., Omaha, NE 68131. They can also be dropped off at the credit union in the lobby of the medical center.

Today I wanted to talk about making the most of what you have. Please forgive me, but I am going to tell you my personal story and why I am thinking about this today. My husband is a physician resident on his way to being a full fledged doctor (a radiologist). Many people do not realize how long this actually takes. Here is the run down of what it takes to be a radiologist: 4 years of Undergraduate work (college), 4 years of medical school, 1 year of Internship or transitional year work, 4 years of Radiology Residency, and possibly a 1-2 year fellowship (my husband will be doing a 1 year fellowship). So, after high school, you have 14-15 MORE years of education left. Longer that your K-12 schooling.

Now, through all this you do not make much money. Eventually Wes will presumably have a good salary and money will not be as much of an issue for us-the budget will loosen up a bit. But for all these years, we have been living on a very small budget (especially for a family of 6 going on 7).

Well, in spite of the budget, or lack there of we have had, long ago we decided that we were not going to be the people that put off our lives until he was done, until it was all over! We were always going to make the most of what we have NOW and not wait until later. Because of that, we learned to find fun and free activities to do. Our date nights often consist of a redbox or netflix movie in the basement after the kids are in bed (that way we do not pay for a babysitter). We tried to do a lot of babysitting swaps during medical school. But we no matter what the situation was at the time, we made time for each other and our kids-that was the main goal!

Yesterday a tragedy happened here in Omaha that has effected us greatly. A friend of ours from medical school was killed in a car accident while taking his son to his first day of school. He was a resident here just like my husband, but a year ahead of Wes. Meaning he was in his LAST year of residency and going on to a fellowship in Texas next year-he was FINALLY almost to the end of all this! It is a devastating story and my thoughts and prayers are with my friend, his wife Melissa, and their 3 children. I send all my love to them! I know Melissa and Adam, like Wes and I were excited to be done with this training, but they were also, like us, not ones to wait until the end to live their lives. They made the most of what they had through all the long training and what happened yesterday reminds us all why we ALL need to do that!

Thank you for reading through this. It is very tender to my heart now! Please hug your loved ones extra tight tonight and make the most of what you have. And please, please keep the Smith family in your prayers! Melissa and the boys will need all the prayers and support they can get I am sure!