Faith keeps family strong after Isabel destroys Maryland home

Published: 2003-10-03

MIDDLE RIVER, Md. (CNS) -- Standing on their front lawn one week after the remnants of Hurricane Isabel violently whipped through their community of Middle River, James and Valerie Dimmer still couldn't believe the monumental destruction left in the storm's wake. "It's incredible," said Valerie Dimmer, glancing at a life's worth of belongings strewn about her yard -- waterlogged mattresses, broken window frames, decades-old toys, books, Christmas decorations and shingles ripped from the roof. A nearby trash bin was already overflowing with broken furniture, ruined appliances and all manner of battered household goods. "All we have was gone in one instant," she told The Catholic Review, newspaper of the Baltimore Archdiocese. The couple belongs to Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Middle River. Valerie Dimmer is the administrative assistant in the parish school. Her husband, a retired Baltimore City policeman, is the plant operator. Despite their loss, the Dimmers said they consider themselves blessed. Said James Dimmer: "We were happy that we made it out. You know, you have to count your blessings. You can get a new sofa. You can't get a new life."

Copyright (c) 2003 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .