Tesmer feels warmth of kindness

Saturday, November 7, 2009
Mary Tesmer

GREENCASTLE -- Every day has the possibility of a miracle.

For Greencastle resident Mary Tesmer, the possibility became a reality.

Tesmer survived two years without a working furnace in her home. She kept herself bundled up and used a few small heaters to keep warm during the winter season last year.

Things got worse for Tesmer in April, when she lost her job unexpectedly due to a medical condition. With no income, she couldn't afford to have the furnace replaced.

"The furnace man tried to patch it, but it quit working completely," said Tesmer.

One night in late June, Tesmer couldn't sleep. At 3 a.m., she turned on the radio beside her bed and heard a 15-second commercial announcing a giveaway. Indianapolis television station Channel 6 and One Hour Heating and Cooling, Indianapolis, were teaming up to give away three air conditioners and three furnaces to Hoosiers in need.

"At the time, they were giving away the air conditioners," Tesmer recalled.

She made a phone call to One Hour and spoke to Duane Dunn, who told her to contact Todd Kane with the TV station. She did. Kane told her to write down her information and submit it -- this was in early July. She did that, too.

It was late August when she phoned Kane and requested to have her name removed from the giveaway. Tesmer said she felt there were better candidates for an air conditioner.

"I just felt compelled (to have my name taken off the list) because I could live without an air conditioner," she said. "(Kane) asked me twice if I was sure and I said, 'Yes.'"

However, she agreed to keep her name on the list for a furnace. The furnaces were to be given away in October, so she remained hopeful. October arrived and the news came.

"I was driving down Veteran's Memorial Highway, when my phone rang," Tesmer said.

It was Kane informing her she had been chosen to receive a new furnace. It was a moment she will forever remember.

"I started screaming, 'It's a miracle,'" she said. "I had to pull my car over."

But before her miracle arrived, Tesmer had to face her fear. She had to accept the harsh reality of possibly losing her home and possessions to survive. She finally let it all go and placed her faith in God -- but she never gave up; she remained strong.

Tesmer received her new furnace Oct. 27 and now she has a warm home and a promising new career in nursing. After initially receiving her nursing license in 1987, she instead went on to open a business in Greencastle, which she ran for 15 years.

"On Monday, I received my nursing license," she said with a smile. "I thought it would be impossible to get back into nursing," she admitted.

Tesmer's story will be aired on Channel 6 during the "Extreme Makeover" show beginning at 8 p.m.

To all those suffering through hard times, Tesmer offers hope.

"Never give up hope," she said.

Miracles can still happen.

Comments
View 11 comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.
  • AWESOME story, true to his word, turn it over to the Lord and he will provide.

    -- Posted by snooper245 on Sat, Nov 7, 2009, at 6:42 AM
  • You can afford a cell phone, but can't keep your self warm??? Something seems fishy with this story!

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Sat, Nov 7, 2009, at 10:38 AM
  • 1stamendrights you are ridiculous! you must be one of those people who find something negative in everything and then spreads that negativity all around. ick!

    Nice story!

    -- Posted by just a local on Sat, Nov 7, 2009, at 11:23 AM
  • Great story!!! I'm glad God blessed you with a job & a furnace!!!! God bless you for being a nurse not everybody can handle that job!!!!

    -- Posted by reader55 on Sat, Nov 7, 2009, at 4:05 PM
  • I wish we had known about her a long time ago, Table Talk Ministries would've gotten her some heat. That's what we're here for.

    -- Posted by tabletalk on Sat, Nov 7, 2009, at 8:38 PM
  • I'm negitive I go to work and make scraps and raise a child without government assistence. Whats more importent a cell phone or a heater? I personally would choose a heater. People just don't prioritze and they ask others to bail them out. I believe in working for everything I have and if that is negitive so be it!!!

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Tue, Nov 10, 2009, at 6:12 PM
  • I think I would rather have a phone with me in case of emergencies or to call 911 to save my life or someone else~s life(maybe yours 1stamendrights). Maybe she has no landline and uses that phone for everything like many people are doing nowadays.

    -- Posted by killintime on Wed, Nov 11, 2009, at 2:59 PM
  • So you are telling me that you would rather have a cell phone then a heater?? She is wanting a handmedown heater rather then going out and working for one. She could work at burger king and use the extra money to buy a heater but instead ask charity to give her one. Im sick of these storys and the people who refuse to go the extra mile to better there lives!!! Tesmer is an example of someone who is looking for society to give her a freebie. I personally work for what I get and I can lay my head down at night knowing that I did the best i could without begging society to fill my needs!

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Wed, Nov 11, 2009, at 9:27 PM
  • If you read the story it states she was using some small heaters to keep warm. It was her furnace that was in question, which two companies held a givaway. Not a handmedown and not charity, you put your name in a drawing and get lucky. There is nothing wrong with that. When she applies for another job at BK, what are they going to call to tell her that she has the job....her heater!?!

    -- Posted by killintime on Thu, Nov 12, 2009, at 6:39 AM
  • Some people just have tunnel vision and it does not matter to them the truth of a situation. I have known Mary and her family most of my life and they are hard working people with good Christian values. She would do without to help her fellow man and evidently did that for a year. For some of us a cell phone is an econimical way to transact business and the only means of communication that we have. It is much less expensive than a land line. Mary wasn't asking anyone to bail her out nor did she beg for society to fill her needs. God forbid that you should ever have to do without. We are blessed to have the friendship and love of the Tesmer family in this community.

    -- Posted by dumpsterdiva2 on Thu, Nov 12, 2009, at 3:29 PM
  • I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL SHE WAS ABLE TO GET HELP. FOR THE PERSON WHO SPOKE AS IF SHE WAS JUST A FREE LOADER OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T READ FURTHER ON ABOUT HER NURSING DEGREE THAT SHE HAD OBTAINED. INSTEAD OF BEING JEALOUS OR BITTER ABOUT WHAT GOD HAS BLESSED HER WITH, WHY DON'T YOU TURN YOUR FAITH TO HIM AND HE WILL SEEK YOU OUT IN TIMES OF TROUBLE TOO. PLEASE DO NOT JUDGE ANYONE ESPECIALLY IF YOU DO NOT EVEN KNOW THAT PERSON,LET GOD DO THAT AND YOU STICK TO YOUR JOB.

    -- Posted by hnw1401 on Sun, Nov 15, 2009, at 5:27 AM
Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: