By Amanda Monk
Moapa Valley Progress
Overton resident Vicki Wendt has chronicled her remarkable story of survival in a new book entitled Lost and Frozen: Cedar Mountain, Utah which is now available for purchase.
The book tells Wendt’s amazing and harrowing experience of three days exposure to extreme blizzard conditions in the mountains of southern Utah. In February of 2009 Wendt and her husband Randy took a weekend snowmobiling trip to Cedar Mountain. The couple became separated and stranded in a snow storm, spending three nights in the below-freezing temperatures.
The couple were eventually located by search and rescue crews. Randy came out of the experience without injury. But Vicki was taken to the hospital and treated for severe frostbite to her feet. Eventually her injuries resulted in a double amputation and the eventual learning to use prosthetic legs and feet to walk.
Wendt tells the whole story in detail from her own perspective. Covering all of the survival experience, the resulting medical care and surgeries and finally, coming to a point where she says, “I began to live again.”
It took Wendt about 6 months to write her inspirational book. Although this is her first published book, she says it will not be her last.
Wendt had taken several college writing courses and enjoyed them all before choosing the path of an author. Currently she is employed with the Overton Senior Center. She is very thankful for the fact. Since companies aren’t willing to hire her, she has turned her focus to finishing her college degree. In March of 2011 she plans to walk across the stage in Phoenix, AZ to receive her Bachelor’s degree in Business Finance.
In Lost and Frozen Wendt also shares how blessed she feels to have been on the receiving end of so much love and kindness. “When I worked at the DMV in Mesquite, I gave 150% to my customers and most of the customers were from this Valley,” she said. “It was difficult for me to receive but I have learned how.”
Many efforts to help cushion the financial impact of, not only losing her limbs, but rebuilding a life without the use of her legs was helped by many who cared for Wendt. The Valley who came together with the fund raising events, was truly amazing to her. The Red Rooster auction, the community wide yard sale and dinner at Calvary Community Church showed Wendt an overwhelming generosity. As well as the businesses and individuals who donated items to help her and spread her triumphant story.
She also added, “I want to thank Randy, my husband, for helping as much as he has.”
Wendt is happy to be alive and is functioning well. She recently took and passed her driving test at the DMV and passed with a 98%.
She also received her second set of sockets for her prosthetic limbs last month as her old ones no longer fit. It is common for the area where a limb has been amputated to shrink, causing the artificial limbs to fit incorrectly.
“There is not a day goes by that I don’t wish I had my legs, but I have accepted my prosthetics.” said Wendt.
She says that this experience has given her a closer walk with God, humbleness, hope, faith and a rejuvenated belief. She has adapted well and is learning how to achieve physical abilities as she once did. “I do not focus on this area, I remain positive.”
Lost and Frozen: Cedar Mountain, Utah was published by PublishAmerica and has a set release date of September 23, of this year. Her book is dedicated to her three granddaughters: Krisheana, Delphia and Alexis.
Those who wish to order the book now, can do so by going to publishamerica.com and click on their online book store tab, search under their self-help section, and place their order there as it is listed in alphabetical order.
