UPDATE…AUGUST 2, 2025. SHE’S HOME!!! On July 20th, nineteen weeks after the accident, DJ had finally healed enough to be able to return home! She is managing with a cane and walker and getting stronger every day.
On Friday, August 1st, KATU ABC in Oregon did a very nice piece about DJ’s story. If you are able to watch it, you’ll see DJ tell, in her own words, what happened and how she is doing. She is truly an inspiration of hope, positive vibes and determination.
To each of you who read this GoFundMe, and whether you donated and/or sent prayers and healing thoughts into the universe for her, it all helped, and combined with her zest for life, this story has a happy ending. Thank you again, so very much.
UPDATE…JUNE 16, 2025. Thank you to all of you who so generously donated and gave your prayers for DJ’s recovery after this unimaginable event. It has been more than 3 months since DJ was out for her daily 3-mile walk and was suddenly knocked to the ground by a 14lbs metal ratchet and tie-down strap that flew off of a passing 20-foot flatbed truck. See photo of truck below.
It has been a long journey. DJ initially spent 10 days in the trauma unit, and another 10 in a rehabilitation facility, whereupon the large area of skin on the left side of her body that was hit by the belt and metal ratchet became infected and the skin died, leaving a “very large hole” on her back side.
So, after 20 days, DJ was transferred back to the hospital with a severe wound infection. She spent the next 3 weeks in the burn unit receiving care for the infection and open wound. Then she was transferred to another specialty hospital for 3 more weeks where the large wound continued to receive treatment and monitoring for any signs of infection. The hope was that it would heal and close enough so that she could receive a skin graft, using skin from another part of her back.
Finally, on May 15th, on DJ’s 87th BIRTHDAY, and over 9 weeks since the impact while out for her daily walk, the wound had closed enough that she was able to receive the skin graft surgery. Hard to believe that anyone could look at surgery as a birthday present, but in her case, it meant that she would finally be able to look toward focusing on physical therapy to regain use of the left side of her body and eventually get her life back. She never waivered from this goal after setting out for her daily morning walk on March 11th, and not returning home that day or any day since.
After two more weeks of recovery in the hospital following the skin graft surgery, on May 28th, DJ was able to be transferred to a rehabilitation and skilled nursing facility where she could finally…FINALLY…begin to focus on moving while her wound and skin graft continued to be monitored to make sure everything was healing correctly.
She learned to stand, putting all of her weight on her right foot (for 3 minutes…a major success) until her doctor gives permission for her to use her left side (hopefully this week). She can now get out of the bed and use a walker to get to the rest room while putting minimal weight on her left leg. All of the things that we do all day long without thinking, that we take for granted, have to be re-learned, a literal “step” at a time. We are all hopeful that this week she will be able to transfer to an assisted living/respite facility, where she can continue to progress with gradually decreasing assistance until she can return home and regain her life. It has now been over three months, a whole season has gone by since she left her house for her daily walk.
I am attaching the only picture of the truck that we could get. That has been a long journey as well, but unfortunately as of this update, we have not been able to locate the truck or the driver. So DJ continues to move forward, looking ahead, moving through the most unimaginable obstacles and pain and choosing, CHOOSING to stay positive and appreciating every thing and every one.
It needs to be said, that throughout ALL of this…every setback…every curve ball, everything that has been thrown at her…DJ has kept a positive attitude. Every day is…another day. And another possibility to find laughter and joy. To practice patience and letting go of control.
YOU…YOU who are her family or friends or even strangers who have called, texted, sent cards or visited, and YOU who have never met DJ but donated to this GoFundMe…YOU ARE THE REASON her light continues to shine when it could so easily have dimmed…so many times. So, THANK YOU…for your donations, for your time, for your caring and your prayers. Please know that YOU have made such a huge difference in this. I am adding a recent picture below. When you see her smile, please know that YOU are the reason for it.
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Original Story Below
Hello Everyone, This is my Grandma DJ. She is 86 years old and was in a freak accident during her daily 1 hour walk on Tuesday, March 11th. While walking on the sidewalk she was suddenly struck to the ground by a tie-down strap and 14lbs steel ratchet that flew off of a flatbed truck. It snapped off and directly hit my Grandma causing her to collapse on the side of the road. A women saw it happen and called 911. My Grandma fractured her pelvic bone in 3 areas, fractured bones along her spine, broke her left elbow, four ribs, and hit her head. She has been moved from the Trauma Unit and is now in a Rehabilitation/Skilled Nursing Facility, getting the care and treatment she will need for the long road to recovery ahead.
We are asking for help with any information anyone has that may have seen or witnessed the occurrence (perhaps on a dashcam?) on Tuesday, March 11th on Durham Rd. between 108th St. and 113th St. in Tigard, Oregon at about 9:20 a.m. The flatbed truck had a white cab with bright green lettering or logo on the door. Or if you could possibly donate to help with the vast medical bills that she is incurring . Thank you so much!