Miss Dixie

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 4:27 pm

I pondered over how to appropriately spread this news, and it just seemed like the most logical thing was to post it in itâ€˜s own topic. If it seems non-relevant, please forgive. Iâ€™ll keep it to the point.

Yesterday a friend was in a 19 car pile up in Texas and is in serious condition at the moment. Her name is Margaret, aka Miss Dixie. Some of you may have met her on the playa with her involvement in the TVFree Burning Man project. Through Burners Without Borders, Karine and I worked with her and her S.O. Richard, aka Big Stick, in both Biloxi and Pearlington after Katrina. Richard is the crane operator who sets up all the big stuff out there in the desert. If youâ€™ve needed a crane at Burning Man, then youâ€™ve met Big Stick.

These two fine people were once again volunteering their time to help after a hurricane, this time on the Texas Coast and Margaret was heading back to Jackson Hole when she was involved in this accident. She was pinned between a semi and a concrete barrier, sustaining severe head trauma and breaking her neck. She was not expected to make it at first, but has pulled through the first critical moments. Big Stick is on his way back to Texas and may well even be there at the hospital by now.

I thought anyone whoâ€™d met Miss Dixie or Big Stick would want to know about this, and even if you donâ€™t know either of them personally, sending some healing thoughts canâ€™t hurt. These are two people who have a great deal of my respect and any good vibes that you can muster would mean a lot to her and her family, as well as to me.

More info at This Link

Post by **Elderberry** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 4:31 pm

Didn't know her, sorry to hear the news. My thoughts are with her.

JK

**burn** · Post by **burn** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 4:56 pm

BlackCat & Karine - I'm sorry to hear about your friend.
I will send positive thoughts her way.

xoxo

Artemis · Post by **Artemis** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 5:17 pm

Sending some goddess energy to Miss Dixie and Big Stick, although I do not know them personally. I'm grateful for all of the work that they (and Burners w/o Borders) do to give back to the world.

Thank you for sharing this.

karine · Post by **karine** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 6:40 pm

I keep following the website the family created awaiting any new news. They doctors have said it was a good thing that her skull cracked/ shattered, leaving room for the swelling and keeping pressure off the brain... These next few days are critical, so all the well wishing & prayers you can muster are appreciated!

Keep on keepin' on, Miss Margaret!

**burn** · Post by **burn** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:08 pm

Keep us updated, Karine.

Apollonaris Zeus · Post by **Apollonaris Zeus** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:17 pm

that really sucks

They will be in my thoughts as well

Barbie · Post by **Barbie** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 8:15 pm

So Sorry to read this news, I don't know Miss Dixie & Big Stick,
my good thoughts and positive vibes go out to them.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:08 pm

Ouch, ouch, ouch. Keep me posted if there's any Illuminaughty action.

Really, reading about these accidents is so much more visceral than it used to by.

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 6:38 am

FUCK!

i've met them both. Jefr sent the 60' dome down to N.O after Katrina in 2005 to help out.

i hope everything ends up ok, i cant stand it when bad things happen to good people.

pinemom · Post by **pinemom** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:56 am

OHH...geeze!!! Oh my...
send healing thoughts!
Good people, great kharma is theirs!

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:07 am

Fuck! I've not met them but that doesn't mean I can't send healing thought's and prayers their way

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:36 am

Thank you all. A new blog entry says sheâ€™s doing better and is more responsive today. Hopefully there is no damage done that canâ€™t heal.

Box Burner · Post by **Box Burner** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 9:50 pm

Sending healing energy and best wishes.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 9:57 pm

Thanks Box...

According to the website they set up, things are slow, but moving in the right direction.

ALICEtheGOON · Post by **ALICEtheGOON** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 12:43 am

LeChatNoir wrote:Thank you all. A new blog entry says sheâ€™s doing better and is more responsive today. Hopefully there is no damage done that canâ€™t heal.

great news and gods speed to your friends

littleflower · Post by **littleflower** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 7:57 pm

karine · Post by **karine** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 12:08 am

There's a new webite... aside from the family blog which has been giving us updates on her condition almost every day.

http://www.margaretballiet.com/

(Margaret is still in her coma, but physically going through pretty vigorous physical therapy in her new hospital closer to family.)

You can donate an item to the art auction from the new website link, and find a lot of pictures of her b e a u t i f u l self.

(sigh) I miss Miss Margaret.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 12:50 am

I have friends that were in a coma much longer.
I'm hoping for the best.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:54 pm

I am very pleased to bump this thread.

Miss Dixie is making good progress. She can spell her name by pointing to letters, recognizes friends, and it looks like she will be moving to the Rehab floor next week. The next step is to attempt to get her up a bit and moving. Slow, very slowâ€¦ but it looks like she is moving along and has toughed it out over some major first hurdles.

Please do keep her in your thoughts and prayerful contemplations. And I also ask you to visit this link, if you like:

Miss Margaret Tribute Gallery

Itâ€™s to a tribute website set up by Big Stick and friends to honor, cheer up, and keep the vibes going for Margaret. You can write a letter to her, donate to an organization, or participate in an art auction. She has insurance, so thatâ€™s not the reason for the auction. It is, instead, an auction of art and experiences to benefit whatever group or cause the donator of said items may wish. Margaret is a grassroots kid of girl and supporting such actions and the people behind them is simply a great way to pay tribute to someone who has given so much to others without question.

And if youâ€™d like to be a part of the art auction thereâ€™s info there on how to participate too!

This is just beginning so thereâ€™s only a couple of things there now, but please check back since I know for a fact that there are other cool things coming soon.

And hereâ€™s a link to a page with organizations that Miss Dixie believes in:

Some of Margaret's favortie groups to support

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 11:43 pm

Is big stick also aka f-stick(DPW) ?

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 9:20 am

Not that I know of. Big Stick is the guy who runs and/or directs all the cranes at the event.

karine · Post by **karine** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 10:09 pm

Richard = Sky cat.

(If ceiling cat is in the ceiling, than Richard is like sky cat)

He grabs & sets up all the big stuff.

karine · Post by **karine** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 8:15 pm

A gate in tribute to Margaret!

You can see (OR DONATE!) items to the Tribute Gallery & silent auction here:
http://www.margaretballiet.com/index.ph ... &Itemid=42

Artemis · Post by **Artemis** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 12:05 pm

Hearing about our other Burner buddy struggling after an accident, got me thinking about Miss Dixie.

Looks like things are improving, slowly, but surely....pasted from the caringbridge website update from last Thursday:
Okayâ€¦I have saved some good stuff for the end. In recreational therapy, they gave her a computer. Andâ€¦are you ready? They told her to type:
1) Her nameâ€¦. and she typed â€œMargaretâ€

karine · Post by **karine** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 2:01 pm

The gate & some other things (like Spoon's beignet on-playa exravaganza) has been auctioned off, but there are other new items on Miss Dixie's website!