Community rallies to reopen Abbey's Shabbey shed
In November 2017, Abbey’s ShAbbey Shed opened for business, with Abbey Tilton and her family surrounded by friends and family who were excited for Abbey, a spastic quadriplegic who is legally blind and was born with cerebral palsy, to start on her new venture, showcasing her vintage Abbey’s ShAbbey Designs. In February a storm took down a tree which landed on Abbey’s store, closing her business down. Abbey, her family, friends and customers were devastated and her family and friends helped to empty the shed, which was completely destroyed. The family vowed to help her rebuild. However, Abbey’s struggles were only just beginning.
“After the tree destroyed Abbey’s shop, Abbey took a tragic fall and ended up on life support in the trauma intensive care at Rhode Island Hospital,” said her mom, Sharon. “While she was fighting for her life, literally, the community started rebuilding Abbey’s shop. It started with a wonderful family who volunteered to remove the tree, and then the volunteers just started coming forward.”
Sharon Tilton’s friend, Sherri Onorato helped drive the efforts to rebuild by organizing a GoFundMe and introduced the family to John Cambio, who led the rebuild and rebuilt a good portion of the shed himself, with his friend Bob Boie. Even while Abbey was fighting for her life in the intensive care unit at the hospital, a fundraiser organized by her cousin, Amanda Beaudoin was taking place.
On Friday, July 13, Abbey and her family hosted a reception to thank those who pulled together and helped her to rebuild and reopen. Presents were handed out to volunteers, with Cambio receiving an engraved hammer that said, “Thank you for rebuilding my life,” and Abbey singing a song she’d written herself, called “My Hero.”
The following day, July 14, Abbey’s ShAbbey Shed re-opened for business, again surrounded by family, friends and supporters, including many new friends.
“So many people came to see her and the new and improved shop,” said Sharon. “Even her therapist from the hospital and her preschool teacher came.”
Although Abbey is still recuperating, Sharon said that Abbey and her family are truly grateful for the love and support shown to them by the local community, volunteers, family and friends and they are thankful for Abbey’s recovery and that of Abbey’s ShAbbey Shed.
“She is a miracle.”
Abbey's ShAbbey Shed is located at 1460 Phenix Avenue and the business can be found on Facebook as Abbeys Shabbey Designs.
