ENUMCLAW, Wash. — The morning after an Enumclaw man appeared on KING 5 to share the story of his ailing mother becoming the victim of a generator theft, a stranger donated his own generator so the elderly woman would have an emergency backup.
Nila Clark, 89, was recently placed in home hospice care with heart, lung and kidney failure that requires constant use of an oxygen machine.
Like hundreds of thousands of others in western Washington, Clark lost power during last week's storm — the same power that kept her oxygen flowing.
Her son Shawn Clark, who lives nearby, found a solution in the form of a generator borrowed from a longtime friend. But days later, it was stolen from outside Ms. Clark's home around 2:40 a.m. Friday.
"Someone cut the cord and chain I had on there while [it was] running and drove away with her generator... I was stunned," Clark told KING 5 on Saturday.
His mother was hospitalized until power was restored last Friday.
Little did Clark know that a man in northwest Snohomish County, approximately 90 miles north of Enumclaw, a KING 5 viewer was so moved by the story he decided to help.
Clark said around 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, Enumclaw police called to explain someone offered to donate their generator.
The two men spoke on the phone and agreed to meet each other about halfway between their two homes.
The donor, who requested anonymity from KING 5, drove to SeaTac and handed over the equipment to Clark.
When reached by phone, the man said he simply wanted to help.
"The outpouring of support for me and my family has been just amazing," Clark said. "It put my heart to ease to know [that] if something happens, I have backup for her. I appreciate it."
Clark said his mother's health is deteriorating, made worse by the stress of the last several days.
"Once my mom passes, I'm going to go to the police department, or fire department and say, 'If you have somebody, please take this and offer it to them if something like this happens to them.' Somebody donated it to me, I want it to go to that use."
Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact the Enumclaw Police Department.