Haddon Heights Explosion Victim Gets Help From Coworkers
Raquel Nunn suffered second- and third-degree burns over half her body. She has no health insurance. Her friends at Ott's Greentop Inn in Berlin are coordinating some help.
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California native Raquel Nunn moved to Haddon Heights only a few months ago, said her friend and coworker, Elizabeth Croker.
Nunn will be spending at least twice that amount of time in the hospital, as the young woman heals from the second- and third-degree burns that now cover nearly half her body, Croker said.
Nunn has no health insurance.
Everything she owned was destroyed in the explosion that leveled the White Horse Pike apartment she rented, Croker said.
"She doesn’t even have a toothbrush; she doesn’t even have anywhere to go home to," Croker said.
The severity of Nunn's injuries are such that "we’re not sure if she can actually wear clothes [right now]," she said.
So Croker, a Collingswood resident and coworker of Nunn at Ott's Greentop Inn in Berlin, is working to organize some relief.
"So far we’re taking cash; we’re taking anything," she said. "We’ll take anything, and I’ll store it in my basement until she comes out [of the hospital]."
As Nunn's family flies in from California, Croker said, they are being made to wait 48 hours before they are allowed to visit her. By Sunday evening, when she spoke with Patch, not enough time had yet elapsed for them to visit.
Nunn is being kept sedated until then, Croker said.
In the meantime, Croker said, she's also been on the lookout for Nunn's all-black cat, Leo—"the love of her life."
She described Nunn as "absolutely one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever seen, inside and out.
"She’s a hard worker, an awesome friend, she’s loyal," Croker said of Nunn. "Customers love her. This was her family. We spend 40-50 hours a week together."
Since the accident, "none of us have slept," Croker said. "We’re all trying to brainstorm [ways to help]."
On Sunday afternoon, the bar's Facebook status read:
Please keep our lovely bartender Raquel in your prayers. She still has a long road of recovery ahead of her. We are accepting donations every day and the fundraising information will be available soon.
Want to help? Croker can be reached through Ott’s Greentop: 856-767-3534.
Update, 12:43 p.m. Feb. 26: More supporters are setting up fundraisers and drives for the explosion victims, including Nunn. Get the info at Community Rallies Around Heights Explosion Victims.
Rebecca Gillis
7:32 am on Monday, February 25, 2013
The relief fundraiser is this Thursday at Ott's Greentop in Berlin on Rt. 73
JPG
11:49 am on Monday, February 25, 2013
I heard the boom and my house shook
Kelly
9:12 am on Monday, February 25, 2013
How did the explosion happen? I'm glad she is alive. We will keep her in our prayers!
June
9:36 am on Monday, February 25, 2013
PLEASE FIND HER PRECIOUS CAT...RIGHT NOW THAT'S ALL SHE HAS LEFT.
June
9:43 am on Monday, February 25, 2013
sHE WILL NOT HAVE ANY FINANCIAL PROBLEMS BECAUSE THE HOMEOWNER should have insurance. iF HE DOESN'T HE HAS BIG PROBLEMS and so does the contractor that did the gas work...that work is supposed to be inspected to prevent problems like this....some where along the line, some did not do their job correctly. The paper mentions that there were a lot of renovation recently done to this property. It looks like a lot of peole are involved. PLEASE BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR HER PRECIOUS PET...P L E A S E!
Kelly
10:08 am on Monday, February 25, 2013
Nevermind, I read the article on the gas leak. As far as insurance goes, and I'm not an insurance agent, but her "stuff" is only covered if she had "renters" (contents) insurance, homeowner's only covers the building. There may be some provision in the liability though for medical bills. I'm not sure. But whose liability pays might depend on why the gas leak occured (who hooked it up, etc.). I hope that she is able to get some sort of medical assistance. I don't have health insurance either yet and I can only imagine how tragic it would be if I was involved in a major accident. Will keep her and her family in my prayers! And I hope the cat was able to escape...if so, she's probably hiding. I would be. :(
Sarah
10:14 am on Monday, February 25, 2013
FYI-She has lived in NJ for over half her life. She is not new to South Jersey, just Haddon Heights. Fact checking is important.
Matt Skoufalos
1:55 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
The story does not say she is new to New Jersey. The story says she recently moved to Haddon Heights but is a California native. None of those facts are in dispute.
Brooke
10:39 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
I live 2 blocks away off green and 7th and a black cat was in my backyard today but think I saw a white spot on it. Is it all black?
Lauren Burgoon
10:44 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
Unfortunately, we don't have a full body picture of Leo (there are 2 above in the photo section.) The Haddon Heights Police Department called him an all-black cat, though. It can't hurt to call the police, though, they really seem to want to find Leo for Raquel.
LYNNE WILDRICK
11:43 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Thank you for your continued coverage of this tragic story. Will you let us know if you hear of a fund being set up for Raquel where we might send contributions?
Lauren Burgoon
12:43 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Thanks Lynne - There is a fund set up through Haddon Heights Good Neighbors. Info here: http://patch.com/A-2qm5
kelly paoli
6:48 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
we have missing cat flyers hanging around town. Pat lives on 4th ave and has 3 traps set hoping we can trap Leo and her sister Claudia placed clothing with Raquels sent on them so Leo can smell her and hopefully lore him into one of the traps. we will find Leo he has ben seen in the neighborhood!!!! say a prayer for Raquel Leo and her family, thank you, Kelly P
MILDRED ELLIS
11:45 am on Sunday, March 17, 2013
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