Snow kept New Haven man from dialysis

Snow kept New Haven man from dialysis
When the city wouldn't help he turned to News 8

Updated: Wednesday, 12 Jan 2011, 11:25 PM EST
Published : Wednesday, 12 Jan 2011, 9:44 PM EST

By: Jamie Muro
New Haven, Conn (WTNH) - Digging out has been difficult for everyone in Connecticut, but especially for one man stuck in New Haven, who absolutely has to get out Thursday morning to get dialysis treatment.

He called the city to help get him out, but they were too busy, so he called News 8.

Every home on Hawthorne Street in New Haven has a clean driveway except one, number 30V.

Alfred Allesandrine, who is blind, called News 8 when he could find no one to help him clear his driveway and sidewalk so a medical van can pick him up and take him for his needed dialysis appointment.

"If you don't go to dialysis, obviously, I'm dead, I'm dead. And I'll be off three days if I don't get there tomorrow (Thursday), which would mean, it's all over, curtains," Allesandrine said.

Every now and then, you have to stop reporting on a story, and just help out. A few doors down, we found neighbor Drummond Sykes, who had some shovels, some time, and a whole lot of neighborly spirit.

"He's a nice guy, he helped me refinance my house. I'll do this for him every time it snows," said Drummond.

News 8 Photographer Joe D'Addese even got involved, both of us following the lead of Mr. Sykes.

In about half an hour, everything was clear, and Sykes quietly walked down the street, looking for no praise. It was a bad storm - but we found a good story.

http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/new_haven_cty/snow-kept-new-haven-man-from-dyalisis