Macy’s parade mishap results in national fame
By DEBORAH A. MILES
Making national news on Thanksgiving Day wasn’t in the plan for PEF Staff Director Stephen Chamberlain and his family.
At their second annual trip to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, a giant “M&M Chocolate Candies” balloon snagged a street light and caused part of it to fall on Sarah and Mary Chamberlain.
STARS FOR A DAY — Celebrity Ellen DeGeneres greets Mary (left) and Sarah Chamberlain on her nationally televised talk show, Ellen, in November after the girls were injured at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. In the audience directly behind are siblings Cate, Matthew, their mom, Suzanne, and (not seen) Steve Chamberlain, PEF staff director. — Photo courtesy of the Ellen Show
Chamberlain, his wife, Suzanne, along with their two other children Matt, 12 and sister Cate, 8, were enjoying the balloons and floats from their spot in Times Square. Near the end of the parade and within a few seconds, wind caused the tethers of the M&M balloon to wrap around the head of a 2 1/2-foot-wide lamppost, causing it to fall on Sarah and Mary.
“The street light sounded like a huge shot when it hit,” said 11-year-old Sarah, who sustained a gash to her head that required nine stitches.
“When the lamp fell, I got scared. I wanted to know if Mary was okay,” Sarah said.
Mary, 26, and wheelchair-bound due to cerebral palsy, was treated for minor scrapes from the falling debris. She was partially protected by a Dynavox, a text-to-speech device that resembles a laptop computer and sits on her wheelchair.
The Chamberlains were grateful the injuries were not serious, and opted not to sue. As word spread from coast-to-coast about the accident, the family was invited to appear on several national TV shows, including the Ellen DeGeneres show.
“Ellen is really funny,” Sarah said. “We were on TV and we got to talk with her after the show.”
What Sarah remembers most about the entire incident is being worried about Mary, and seeing the different balloons and floats before the incident occurred. Sarah especially liked the Build-a-Bear float and Sponge Bob balloon.
The family plans on attending the 2006 Macy’s parade. Courtesy of Macy’s President Jim Gray and a grateful Mayor Michael Bloomberg, they will be sitting in the VIP section and looking forward to it.
The Communicator February
2006
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