Overcome with gratitude, Wanda Payne, her husband Wes (right), and son Derek react after receiving more than $5,200 from the Tooele Transcript-Bulletin Christmas Benefit Fund at their home Friday morning.
- photography / Troy Boman
- photography / Troy Boman
Reunited for the holidays, brothers Derek and Justin Payne stand outside their Tooele home. Justin lives and works in New Mexico and did not know if he would be able to spend Christmas with his dying father. Through an anonymous contribution of frequent flyer miles, Justin was able to fly home.
- photography / Troy Boman
- photography / Troy Boman
Generosity of readers helps reunite father and son, buoys family’s spirits
The Payne family of Tooele got Christmas a little early this year with the homecoming of son Justin and a special delivery last Friday.
The Paynes, who were chosen as the Tooele Transcript-Bulletin Christmas Benefit Fund family for 2007, were presented with packages and a check for $5,225 by Transcript-Bulletin Publisher Scott Dunn in the living room of their home.
"This is on behalf of the Transcript-Bulletin and the good people of Tooele County," Dunn said. "Merry Christmas."
Wanda Payne, the mother of the family, was overcome with emotion.
"Oh my heck, $5,000," Wanda said through tears. "We're so grateful and thankful."
The Paynes have had a difficult time the past eight years, ever since father Wes, 47, was diagnosed with cancer. Since that time, the family lost their home and lived in a motor home because of overwhelming medical bills. Currently, Wanda, along with son Derek — a senior at Tooele High School — and daughter Audrey, who has a 4-year-old son, all live in an Oquirrh Avenue home with Wes, who is on hospice home care.
Last Wednesday, Wes took a turn for the worse, as his bowels started shutting down, Wanda said.
"We told him he can't go until after the holidays," Wanda said.
But the family has remained optimistic, and Wes has even made some plans for the future, including taking his boys fishing in February.
Wanda said all she wanted for Christmas was for her son Justin — who has been working in New Mexico and helping pay his family's bills — to come home, and for her husband to get better.
Through the help of an anonymous donor, 23-year-old Justin and his cousin were able to use donated frequent flyer miles to fly from New Mexico to Utah on Thursday morning.
Wes said since being named the Benefit Fund family, the Paynes have heard from friends they hadn't heard from in years. Wanda said the experience reminded them they had many people ready to support them, just when they had thought times were darkest.
"There have been a lot of miracles," she said.
Sarah Miley: swest@tooeletranscript.com
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