Drunk Driver Changes Our Lives

On June 16, 2018, my sister Robin Leftwich and her husband Jim were involved in a serious car accident caused by a 19 year old who had been drinking. Traveling down a two lane road, the driver swerved over and hit their car head on. What began as a fun day of collecting chickens for their newfound hobby, became a nightmare in a heartbeat. 

 
After the paramedics were able to cut Robin out of the car, they rushed her to the nearest emergency room where they began to assess her injuries. She was in horrific pain and the extent of her injuries was not yet known.  Jim suffered mild contusions and banged his head pretty hard, but was able to walk away with minimal assistance. The x-rays revealed that Robin had a broken arm, broken hip and shattered femur, and a brain contusion. All the injuries were on her right side.

At that point, because of the extent of her injuries, they decided to transfer her immediately to the University of Florida Medical Center’s trauma unit in Jacksonville, Florida. After her two surgeries, the surgeon had some pretty grim news for us. He was able to set her arm and her hip with pins and rods, and painstakingly piece her femur back together. He mentioned to us that this was probably the worst fracture he had ever seen. He said Robin would be AT LEAST 12 weeks non-weight bearing and probably in a wheel chair until Thanksgiving. She would not be able to drive again most likely until January 2019. She spent two weeks in the hospital, encountering health obstacles along the way caused by the trauma. She spent 16 days in the trauma unit (CCU) before being moved to the rehab center. She was finally able to go home after a total of seven weeks of hospitalization. 

 Robin and Jim have incurred many expenses they have to pay out of pocket. Not only medical care, but ongoing home care-giving as well. For the time being, because of the cost, Jim is doing it on his own. Taking care of Robin is 24/7, plus trying to keep up with his job and attending to their house. He is trying to make their home wheelchair-accessible and figuring out how to attend to her daily needs for living. She is not ambulatory at all and still does not have use of her right arm. Their world has been turned upside down!

The expenses they have incurred are great and life altering. In addition to the mountain of medical bills and ongoing care, they also need to make some minor home renovations that will allow Robin to get in and out of a bathroom and be able to take a shower in her wheelchair. They also need use of a handicap van that can support her wheelchair. She will return to outpatient rehab in September, 3 times a weeks for 3 months. 

 We know that our God is in control and we do not fear the future. We are thankful that He spared the lives of Robin and Jim in that terrible car accident. We covet the prayers of our friends and family and are grateful to all those who have reached out and/or murmured a prayer.

Any gift would be immensely appreciated and will help offset some of the burden of financial stress.

Thank you for considering us.”