James Kim

[HeidiE]

http://news.com.com/James+Kim+1971-2...3-6141617.html

my heart is broken



when my kids where about the same age as these...my husband and I took a "snow day" and drove up to Mt Lemon outside Tuscon Arizona....it was a beautiful day...we had inner tubes and the snow was beautiful ...

we drove up to a remote place in the mountains and my husband stepped out of our truck to see if it was a good place to slide with the tubes....with in two seconds he slipped on the icey crust of what had looked like fluffy snow and plummeted over a cliff landing with his leg wrapped around his neck ..literally ...I am not sure how many feet but trust me he was so far down I could not see him and could barely hear him scream ...but I did ...

the ice was so thick I could not get to him with out risking falling myself ...and my kids started screaming bloody murder and were trying to climb out of the truck in a panic (15 mo and 2 1/2) ....probably because I was going hysterical myself on the side of this remote road ....2 1/2 hours later after I had tossed blankets blindly down to him ..no cell phone back then ...nothing ....finally a car came and I flagged them down they called 911 and we got him out before he died...

he had only fractured his femur thank goodness ..and the snow actually froze him enough so his leg did not bleed out ...he did get the blankets I tossed ..by the grace of God/Buddha/Allha whatever you believe in ... he survived...

while I was watching the Kim story day after day this agonizing week hoping like Helll they would find this dear man....it reminded me of the most terrifying horrible experience I have ever had in my life..

I hurt so much for this mother and her children right now ....the terror she must have felt when he walked off is beyond anything we can imagine...and Thank God she was breastfeeding ..those babies survived....

Rest In Peace James Kim you saved your family

what a good person this world has lost ...

[not2late]

Re: James Kim

I heard that on the news too. Very sad story. When I lived in the Mid-West, I got stuck on the highway during a blizzard. Luckily, it was only for a couple of hours before the snow plow came through. So I'm hyper-vigilant about snowy weather: in the backseat, I have a bag with a flashlight, a manual radio (you wind it to power it), a change of clothing, a small towel, and I have a blanket that I keep on the back seat. In the trunk I have a coffee can full of ice melt, another coffee can of sand, a small snow shovel, and flares. I always have a snack in my purse and a bottle of water. I know that sounds like overkill, but I've learned my lesson.

Heidi, is there cell service in that region?

[HeidiE]

Re: James Kim

I doubt it Megs I have been to the area where the Kim family was found... several times and it is quite remote ...

and I can totally see how this happened that is what is so sad

they were on a family adventure ...

[dreamof145]

Re: James Kim

I've watched this story unfold from the beginning. My heart goes out to Mrs. Kim and the children. I too have been stuck in a blizzard at our family cabin. Our car became stuck in the snow and we (husband, two kids, daughter's husband and dog) had to hike out of the car and make it to the cabin. It was a night I'll never forget. It was so cold that our noses shut and we couldn't breath. The wind blew so hard and the snow was so deep that we kept falling down. It took us over an half hour to make it to the cabin, but it seemed like a lifetime. I was out of shape at the time and had a very hard time of it. I kept thinking of my experience while I watched and prayed he'd be found alive.

This was so sad.

[sadie147]

Re: James Kim

I too was so hopeful he would be found alive It's such a tragedy for his wife, family and 2 small children. What a tragedy.

megs I am going to also keep an 'emergecy pack' in my jeep for winter driving. I drove last week up to my cottage on a winding deserted road in an ice storm with a drop into the woods at either side of a very narrow shoulder, it occurred to me as I was driving that if i lost control and went off the road into those woods it would be difficult/impossible for anyone to see my car, and it was miles for me to walk anywhere. luckily I made it. Thanks for the good ideas on what to put in there. Another thing to add is emergency candles. I have heard that 1 candle can keep the heat above freezing in the inside of a car for a couple of hours...can save your battery/gas or help if your car wont start.

[dreamof145]

Re: James Kim

We always keep emergency equipment in the trunk, blankets, food, shovels, ice melt, water, and first aid kit with matches. I even bought some snow-shoes that I keep in there, but haven't used them yet. I heard on the news that they suggest you keep a jar of vaseline as if you rub it on rags or twigs, it will make a fire start and last better.

[Lisa M]

Re: James Kim

Wow, Heidi. What a testimony for you and your DH. ((hugs))

We watched it from the beginning as well. It just makes you stop and consider all that you have and are capable of doing under any circumstances.

[not2late]

Re: James Kim

I mail-ordered one of those battery-less flashlights last week---the kind you shake and the chemicals provide the energy for the light. This sounds weird, but I also saw a sleeping mat for pets---it supposedly reflects the pet's body heat back to the pet, in order to keep him warm. I'll have to stop by a pet store and take a look at that. I figure if the mat is large enough for my back seat, I can keep it there, just in case.

The first aid kit, candles and matches is a good idea---gotta add that to my trunk kit.

[Lady_Hawke]

Re: James Kim

I bet alot of people are thinking of the Kim story and packing emergency kits in their trunks or going through the one's they already have and adding to them......James Kim saved more then just his family, he's opened the eye's of others and some other family may just come out of a similar situation better off because of James Kim.

RIP James Kim.

[sallyseachange]

Re: James Kim

Heavens what a story! How tragic...but what an amazing sacrifice!

[Coop2004]

Re: James Kim

I bet alot of people are thinking of the Kim story and packing emergency kits in their trunks or going through the one's they already have and adding to them......James Kim saved more then just his family, he's opened the eye's of others and some other family may just come out of a similar situation better off because of James Kim.

RIP James Kim.

How true. It's sad way to have to learn how to prepare for a situation like this.

May God bless Mr. Kim as well as Mrs. Kim and their two children!!

[Atkid]

Re: James Kim

You all talked about the cell phone, I read that they actually pinpointed on the spot from a ping from the cellphone. How they had anykind of battery left at that point I don't know but I guess they didn't have any service otherwise they would have called out would be my guess. I prayed they would find that poor man alive. God bless him and his family for the ordeal they have been through.

This is from CNN:
Go to: At 7:45 on the morning of December 2, James Kim decided to leave his family and seek help. He promised to return by 1 p.m. The next day, authorities received a "ping" from the Kims' cell phone. On Monday morning, December 4, rescuers in a team hired by the family spotted Kati Kim waving an umbrella. Kati, Sabine, and Penelope, pictured, were taken to the hospital in good condition.