THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 23, 1995 TAG: 9510230062
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAM STARR, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
In the past three days, Desiree Wilson has received a $300 bicycle and offers of a new car, a used car, used bikes, clothing, jobs and money.
The 32-year-old is stunned by the generosity of strangers and amazed at her good fortune. But those who read about Wilson in Friday's newspaper were just responding to the story of a special friendship in which one good deed led to another.
This summer, Jeane Vesey, a 51-year-old disabled woman, had found the homeless Wilson sleeping in a pup tent in the woods next to Vesey's apartment in Virginia Beach. Wilson had lost her waitressing job and her trailer in February.
After several weeks, Vesey persuaded Wilson to move in with her. From the start, they knew it was a heaven-sent match.
In exchange for room and board, Wilson took care of Vesey and grocery-shopped using an old bike.
She cooked and cleaned and kept Vesey company.
And on Oct. 14, Wilson saved Vesey's life.
She stopped by that morning to check on Vesey and found her unconscious and barely breathing. She called 911.
Vesey was taken to Sentara Bayside Hospital and placed on a respirator in the Critical Care Unit.
Vesey's sister, Diana Wertenbach, said that without the quick action of Wilson, Vesey would have died.
Vesey, whose lungs were burned in a chemical accident several years ago, suffers from asthma and emphysema.
``Jeane had a three-phase shutdown of her liver, kidneys and lungs,'' said Wertenbach. ``Desiree saved her life.''
Vesey is still in the hospital but no longer needs a respirator to breathe. She'll probably be able to go home this week.
Wilson, meanwhile, is trying to figure out how to thank everyone who called to offer her all those goodies.
Early Friday morning, Wilson, whose bike had been stolen, received a new one, complete with two baskets.
It was delivered to the hospital's critical care unit by a man known only as Dennis.
More than 30 people called Wilson, including a woman who wants to give her a new car.
Wilson isn't sure she feels right about accepting such an extravagant gift and hasn't made up her mind yet.
``I can't believe this!'' she exclaimed Sunday. ``I'm big-time surprised. I had no idea people were like this.
``It shows you that what goes around comes around,'' she added. ``I donated money to feed the children a couple of weeks ago.''
Some people who called just wanted to tell Wilson what a good deed she had performed. A few offered her work as a waitress. One man even asked her out on a date.
An elderly man wanted to give Wilson his late wife's clothing, and at least a dozen people offered her used bikes.
Today, Wilson plans to begin calling everyone back, setting up job interviews and trying to decide what to do.
She says she'll take care of Vesey and stay with her when she returns from the hospital.
``I just want everyone to know how much I appreciate everything,'' Wilson said. ``If I wrote thank-you notes, I'd be writing for a week. God bless them all.'' ILLUSTRATION: STEVE EARLEY
The Virginian-Pilot
by CNB