Encouraging Melissa to a full recovery!!
Donation protected
On November 5, Melissa was running errands in Indianapolis and was walking across Michigan Road when a man driving a pickup truck came out of the parking lot behind her, didn't see her, and struck her as she was halfway across the street. She was thrown in the air and landed on her back, was taken by ambulance to Ascension St. Vincent hospital, and found out she had suffered a broken right femur,a broken right arm (ulna),and some small fractures in her back (L1-L4). Melissa spent almost 2 weeks at St. Vincent recovering from surgery that placed a rod and a plate in her leg and a rod in her arm. No surgery was needed in her back, because it was already supported by rods from two previous spinal fusions (fortunately, the hardware held up and was not damaged in the accident!).On November 18 she was admitted to the Community Rehabilitation Hospital , an acute rehab facility where she spent three very painful but productive weeks. Still, her injuries were so severe that she still was not independent enough to come home, so she spent another week in a skilled nursing facility (Hamilton Trace, in Fishers), finally able to return home for the first time on December 18.
Gail, Melissa's wife and primary caretaker, will be returning to teach spring classes at Butler University on January 10, leaving Melissa alone during the day and sometimes in the evening. Melissa is still on a walker or in a wheelchair, so she cannot get her own meals, needs help bathing and dressing, and needs assistance with everyday tasks. This GoFundMe would provide funding for two needs: first, for daily assistance until Melissa is able to complete household tasks on her own. Second, Melissa has a membership to a local gym at the Jewish Community Center about a mile from her home. This center has a therapy pool and a natatorium that is ideal for handicapped patrons, but Melissa will need assistance getting to and from the center, assistance getting dressed and getting in and out of the therapy pool, and a personal trainer for help in the pool. For those of you who know Melissa well, she is an accomplished swimmer, having taught swimming lessons and life guarding . To help her regain her strength , she hopes to go to the center every other day, working towards being able tp participate in adult aquatic programs they offer at the center.
Our goal for the GoFundMe is to raise 20,000 to cover this daily assistance, assistance in utilizing the gym’s therapy pool, and to cover the loss in income she continues to suffer due to not being able to work. Although it will take time, Melissa is determined to come back stronger than before the accident!
Gail, Melissa's wife and primary caretaker, will be returning to teach spring classes at Butler University on January 10, leaving Melissa alone during the day and sometimes in the evening. Melissa is still on a walker or in a wheelchair, so she cannot get her own meals, needs help bathing and dressing, and needs assistance with everyday tasks. This GoFundMe would provide funding for two needs: first, for daily assistance until Melissa is able to complete household tasks on her own. Second, Melissa has a membership to a local gym at the Jewish Community Center about a mile from her home. This center has a therapy pool and a natatorium that is ideal for handicapped patrons, but Melissa will need assistance getting to and from the center, assistance getting dressed and getting in and out of the therapy pool, and a personal trainer for help in the pool. For those of you who know Melissa well, she is an accomplished swimmer, having taught swimming lessons and life guarding . To help her regain her strength , she hopes to go to the center every other day, working towards being able tp participate in adult aquatic programs they offer at the center.
Our goal for the GoFundMe is to raise 20,000 to cover this daily assistance, assistance in utilizing the gym’s therapy pool, and to cover the loss in income she continues to suffer due to not being able to work. Although it will take time, Melissa is determined to come back stronger than before the accident!
Organizer and beneficiary
Ann Fowler
Organizer
Indianapolis, IN
Melissa Wiiliams
Beneficiary