My daughter's name is Tabitha Bernal, and on June 28, 2024, her life was changed dramatically. On the morning of Friday, June 28th, I received the phone call that would stop any mother's heart on the spot. There was a nurse on the other end of the phone apologizing for the one to be the bearer of bad news, but Tabitha was riding her electric scooter and was run over by an SUV and is on life support on the operating table and her condition did not look promising. We jumped on the next available flight to Nebraska to later learn from multiple surgical teams that she was bleeding from her belly, liver, kidney, spleen, pelvic and bladder(ruptured) and had fractures to her face, right wrist, right arm, front pelvic, back pelvic(shattered into multiple pieces) and broke a couple of ribs, her lungs collapsed and has spinal cord injuries. Seeing her in so much pain makes my heart bleed.

We had to make the tough decision to bring kids back to SA while she undergoes many life threatening, major and minor surgeries with a 20% chance of living & still unknown if she will ever be able to walk again. Her spirit is nearly broken and will take some mending; however, she is very strong and determined to walk again and also be able to care for and support her kids again. She has a long, painful recovery ahead and for an undetermined amount of time and even though she has some bad days, she is still smiling.

Distracted driving has taken so much from her. Tab still faces many challenges and may not be able to work anytime soon. It was at that point, that we realized that we needed help from our community. We have started this Go Fund Me account to ease the burden over the next days, weeks and months ahead, she will need to be at countless Dr. appointments, hospital stays & surgeries as well as physical therapy facility until she can put weight on her legs & right arm. The first step is to get Tabitha well enough to be accepted to Physical Therapy Facility and out of the hospital. The funds will be used to help with anything needed for kids(clothes for school, supplies for school) and life bills that are piling up. Eventually funds will assist with any medical equipment needed to hopefully assist her to be able to walk again, and for medical bills.

So my hope is to raise enough money to enable Tabitha and her family to be able to concentrate on Tab getting well and fighting these injuries to hopefully walking & using all limbs again without the financial worries. She is consulting with legal counsel and was advised could take up to 2 years to finalize outcome. It starts small, a simple act of kindness goes a long way to help in her next journey. We cannot thank you enough for caring about Tabitha. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! God Bless you all!

God teaches us to dream and pray big. So we are, Thank you again.

P.S. Please don't think that any amount of money is too small. Honestly $5 is plenty, please give only what your family can afford to help with and know we appreciate you! Please feel free to share the link to anyone you feel would love to share their generosity to Tabitha and her family.