Rachel’s Road to Recovery

On Sunday, December 15th, Rachel and her boyfriend Eric were involved in a serious car collision. Tragically, Eric did not survive. Rachel was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in critical condition with endotrachael intubation. She had suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and several broken bones including: broken vertebra, pelvis, ribs, wrist, collarbone and lower leg. On Monday she had surgery on her pelvis and began breathing on her own but remained in ICU for four days. She was then transferred to the orthopedic unit for six days and is now in the trauma rehabiltation ward undergoing three hours of physical, occupational and speech/language therapy daily. The speech therapist is working with cognition and memory after the TBI. She still has no memory of the accident. The doctors do not want her to use a walker; they want her to use a wheelchair and stay in inpatient care for the time being. Next week, the medical team will determine whether she will remain in the hospital, go to a rehab facility or go home.

 

Rachel has a long road to recovery and will not be able to work for several weeks or possibly months. She is strong-willed and determined to make a full recovery, so her prognosis is good. Thankfully, her employer is supportive and insurance will help cover most of the medical expenses. However, insurance won’t cover everything. All money donated to Rachel’s recovery will be used for her remaining medical bills, transportation, household bills and monthly living expenses for her and her two children.

 

NOTE: the news initially reported a man in his “50s or 60s” died at the scene but that is incorrrect; Eric was 44.

https://komonews.com/news/local/1-dead-3-injured-in-shoreline-crash-on-i-5

Please note: All money donated will be deposited in a joint bank account shared by Rachel and her parents, Wayne and Jan Slusher, so that they can assist with managing her expenses while she is recovering.