Accident Recovery Support for The Marino Family

On Monday, February 27th, Lesley Marino, a local school teacher and mother of one, was struck by a vehicle while walking home from a doctor’s appointment, and suffered numerous injuries. In Phase 1, we’ve been able to raise $10,000+ in urgent funds to ensure that she and her family are cared for in the immediate aftermath. While Lesley is hospitalized, her co-parent, Dean Marino, is caring for their child full-time, and has had the financial stress of getting through the next few months eased thanks to the generosity of family and community. Now in Phase 2, we need to prepare for the long road of recovering.

Unfortunately, as a teacher whose career with the TDSB (Toronto District School Board) is in its early stages, Lesley lacks the health coverage and disability insurance granted to full-time employees. The driver who struck her remained on the scene and is now facing charges, but it will be a couple of years before the insurance claim can be settled.

Lesley is now approaching one month since being admitted to the hospital. She has been moved from the ICU, but remains mostly bedbound, with short sprints of time adjusting to wheelchair use. Among her injuries are: two broken kneecaps, a broken ankle, broken jaw, facial fractures, and pelvic fractures. Her status is improving; she can communicate better than she could during the first couple weeks of hospitalization, and is no longer on a ventilator. Her family has been by her side every day providing love and support, and nutritious vegan food.

While she recovers from the accident, Lesley will not be able to work for the foreseeable future. This unexpected crisis has left Lesley in a precarious situation. Without the availability of either short- or long-term disability coverage, we must count on both community and the kindness of strangers to relieve the financial strain Lesley is now faced with, and make sure we continue to keep her and her family safe and cared for.

In the meantime, Lesley remains hopeful, and looks forward to fulfilling her roles as mother and teacher once again. Her rehabilitation will be a long and arduous road. The future is uncertain, but with your ongoing support, we know we can give her the best chance of adapting to her current reality, and returning to the life, and the people, she knows and loves.