Aid Morgan's Recovery After Horrific Car Crash

STRIVING TO BRING MORGAN SOME NORMALCY AND PEACE OF MIND AFTER BEING HIT BY A DRUNK DRIVER:

We have started this page to raise funds to assist in getting Morgan a car and to cover medical costs incurred due to being hit by a drunk driver; we hope this will bless her with a safe car which she can use to transport herself, along with her wheelchair and walker, to her Doctoral program as well as around town.

Morgan’s Story:

On November 16, 2024, just two months ago, Morgan Ciochina’s life changed in an instant. While acting as a designated driver herself, she was hit by a drunk driver. Morgan, along with another young lady, sustained significant injuries. Morgan’s biggest injury proved to be a fractured pelvis, requiring surgery, a screw placement in the back of her pelvis, and an external fixator bar in the front, holding together her pelvis. Her physical pain has been constant and often overwhelming. In fact, it necessitated 5 more trips to the ER and another hospital stay for intense, 10/10 nerve pain; she had little relief from the debilitating pain. Her mental fortitude and spirit have been taxed, but she is strong and will get through this. Morgan was wheelchair-bound exclusively for two months, but on January 9th, the external bar was removed! What a turning point. She has been up and walking very short distances with a walker and will continue to recover with time, more intervention, and perseverance. The road has been so very long, hard, excruciating, and heartbreaking for her as well as for her family (especially for Marci, her mom, who had to move in with her for two months to care for her). This drunk driver stole Morgan’s mobility, winter break/holidays, autonomy, dignity, schooling, car, her health and well-being, and her freedom as she is mostly housebound. Morgan has been left struggling with the emotions of all of this coupled with a long road to recovery. Sadly, what is “fair” doesn’t always happen and the 24-year-old man who did this will most likely spend virtually no time in prison; he has no assets so she can’t sue him and with the first hospital bill received from the first week of hospitalization and surgery alone being $96,000, all the car insurance monies available on the underinsured policy of 50/100 will go to only partially satisfying her and the other young woman’s current medical bills; sadly, there is no pain and suffering award coming nor monies to cover not only all of the current charges (EMS, hospital bills, doctors’ bills, PT/OT, equipment, etc.) but future issues and charges as Morgan’s journey is far from over with medical and financial expenditures still on the horizon. She is trying to be strong and we are all proud of her and grateful that she survived this horrific accident, but she has been left with a lifetime of scars, mentally and physically, with a year forward of rehab/recovery and without a car. Won’t you please help us as we try to get her enough money to purchase a safe car that can accommodate her wheelchair and walker and allow her to start leading the life that was stolen from her that fateful night two months ago?! We thank you for your consideration and appreciate anything you can give and if not, ask for prayers as she navigates the medical, financial, and insurance mayhem this tragedy has caused.