When the Music Stopped
Lindon, Utah- Dance was a big part of life for a 15-year-old
girl from Lindon, Utah until she was involved in a tragic car
accident on Father's Day, June 19, last summer.
Tori Schmanski spent most of her free time dancing for 12 years
on competitive teams, training about three to six hours per day
at the Dance Club in Orem, Utah. Whether it was Jazz, Hip Hop,
Ballet, Modern or Tap, Tori's face would light up when her feet
touched the stage and the spotlight was on her and the other
dancers.
Tori's dream of dancing throughout her life ended suddenly when
her vehicle rolled two-and-a-half times and landed upside down
in a water-filled canal in Delta, Utah. She suffered from a
Traumatic Brain Injury and hasn't been able to dance since.
She was traveling with her sister Whitney, 11, and two of her
cousins. Whitney and her cousins swam out of the vehicle safely,
but Tori wasn't as fortunate. Tim Schmanski, Tori's father, said
his daughter Whitney and her cousins were in the back seat of
the car and both remember being pushed out the driver's window.
He said they believe Tori saved their lives.
"Tori is a very caring, open, outgoing and socially oriented
person," said Tim smiling. "Her unique personality is the
primary reason she's had an incredibly positive impact and
influence on so many people. Because of the way she is, I'm sure
Tori didn't hesitate to help her sister and cousins escape
during the accident." more... After being trapped in the canal
upside-down for 15 minutes, Tori was taken from the car and
rushed to a local hospital. She was then life flighted to the
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Primary Children's Hospital
in Salt Lake City. She spent 65 days at Primary Children's
hospital,
moved to Health South Rehabilitation Hospital and then
returned to Primary Children's.
For Every Body, a candle manufacturer in Lindon, Utah introduced
a new candle line with Tori's picture on the front of each
candle and a tiny dancer on the top this September to raise
funds to help her recover.
"We want to do everything we can to help Tori so she might be
able to dance again," said Becky Lunceford, CEO of For Every
Body. "As a mother of four daughters, I can't imagine what the
family is going through."
Tori's candles can be purchased at www.pray4tori.com or
www.foreverybody.com. All the proceeds from the new candles will
go to the Schmanski family.
Friends, family and local Utah residents have been very
supportive of the Schmanski family to help give comfort and
hope.
"We are so grateful for the support, love and prayers from
everyone," Tim said as tears fell down his face. "It has helped
us to keep going through this."
For Every Body is a bath and body and candle manufacturer
established in 1995 by Becky Lunceford. It began in her kitchen
and has grown significantly over the past ten years. Currently,
the company owns and operates an in-house manufacturing plant
and warehouse. They are in twelve nationwide show rooms and have
more than 120 national sales representatives. For Every Body
also employs about 200 people and still runs three retail stores
in Lindon, Orem and Draper, Utah.
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About the author:
For Every Body is a candle manufacturer based in Lindon. They
have created a candle to raise funds for Tori Schmanski who was
involved in a terrible car accident.
Written by: Shannon Young
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