Dad 'hanging in there' after young mom's swine flu death

For Bonnie Jones - who just lost her cherished daughter-in-law Valerie Post to swine flu - planning a charity event to raise money for her son and his two daughters is a form of therapy.

"I am hanging in there," she says. "The poker run is keeping my mind in a better place."

The poker run is scheduled for Nov. 14 and kicks off at the Harley-Davidson dealership, 1785 S. Suncoast Blvd., Crystal River. Jones says proceeds will go to help her son, Bryan Post, raise his children, 17-month-old Trinity and 7-week-old Norah, who was delivered early after it was discovered her mom, Valerie Post, had contracted swine flu.

Valerie Post died Monday night.

Jones says she was "the love of Bryan's life."

"I couldn't have asked for a better daughter-in-law," she says. "He couldn't have picked a better woman, the way she was with Trinity. It sucks that she is gone. She would have been an awesome, awesome mommy."

The couple, she said, had such a bright future together.

"They didn't ask anyone for help," Jones says. "They had good jobs."

And then it all changed. Valerie contracted swine flu. Norah was delivered early, on Aug. 7, via cesareansection so she wouldn't get the illness, but then complications set in. Valerie was placed in a medically induced coma. On Sunday, the sedation was lifted, but Valerie didn't recognize Bryan. She died Monday night.

During Valerie's 52 days in the hospital, the couple had some big milestones, Jones says. Bryan and Valerie turned 24. They had their second anniversary.

Through it all, Bryan is "hanging in there," Jones says. His brother, Stephen Anderson, is heading into town. The two were very close, Jones says, and Bryan is excited about the visit.

But Bryan's sister, Raquel Davis, is not coming.

She wants to, says Jones.

"But I told her not to come," she says. "Raquel is pregnant and in South Dakota, where Bryan and Valerie were fixing to move to, but I don't want her anywhere near Florida and pregnant. I am scared she will get this swine flu."

Raquel is devastated, Jones says.

"She is taking it the hardest," Jones says. "She can't be here."

Valerie's family is working on funeral arrangements.

"I don't know when the funeral will be," Jones says, "but there will be a cremation. We are waiting for the death certificate."

The poker run starts at the Harley Davidson in Crystal River then runs to Mickey's Bar and Billiards, the Ramble Inn, Oar House and ends at Castaways. For a $5 donation, participants get a card that they get stamped at each location. Everyone then turns the card in for a hand of five cards at Castaways. Whoever gets the best hand splits the pot, with half going to charity.

Castaways will host a party, according to bartender Chris Harrington, with bands, $5-a-plate food, games like horseshoes, a beautiful biker babe and a scruffiest biker dude contests.

There will even be a dunk tank in which local law enforcement may participate, she says.

"It is just heartbreaking," says Harrington, who did not know Bryan or Valerie, but is good friends with Jones. "Half the story has not even told. They were supposed to be moving to South Dakota, two days after she got sick, and Bryan was basically homeless. He already moved out of the house. The chaos he went through, I can't imagine."

Jones says she hopes the poker run is a success.

"He is a single father and has to raise two kids all alone," she says. "It was 52 days she was in the hospital, and he hasn't worked in 52 days. And it will be more before he gets back to his job at Aaron's as a sales manager. They told him to come back when he is ready."

Aside from needing money for the future, Jones says her son racked up some serious bills. About $100 a day for parking, she says, plus gas back and forth between Tampa and Crystal River.

Fortunately, he had some help.

Hampton Inns donated rooms for him and Valerie's family.

As for the future, Jones says she is taking it one day at a time looking forward to the charity event.

Not only will it help her family, she says it will help others as well.

The Citrus County Health Department, she says, will be there, giving out information about swine flu.

And maybe even vaccinations.