On August 18th, 2020, the life of the Smith family was changed forever. Evelyn and Craig just left their home and only a few blocks away when their van was rammed from behind by a person who was going nearly three times over the speed limit. According to the police report at the moment of impact, the car was going at least 86 miles per hour, and the results were detrimental. The Smith family van was first hit in the rear end, followed by a hit to the drivers’ side door. The van was pushed through a telephone pole, finally stopping after it hit the side of a cinder block garage. Craig suffered numerous back injuries and a concussion that caused amnesic memory loss. Evelyn wasn’t so lucky. Her neck was broken as was her back; She endured 10 hours of surgery but at this moment she still has no feeling below the waist and her right arm and hand lack any resemblance of motor skill. She is experiencing excruciating spasms in her arms, shoulders, back, and neck. The silver lining is that her left arm is somewhat functional, although with severely limited movement. Every tragedy comes with its own set of troubles, making the struggle to go back to normal life all that more difficult. The driver who caused the accident is claiming a medical issue contributed to her erratic driving, while her insurance will not cover the costs of Evelyn and Craig’s surgeries and subsequent recuperation bills. Both are in need of extensive therapy to regain as much of their locomotor skills, and Evelyn needs rehabilitation during her devastatingly traumatic situation. Despite everything that happened to their bodies, their spirit remains unbroken. Evelyn and Craig’s home is a two-story house that needs to be adapted to their new circumstances; this includes wheelchair ramps and other alterations to make them as independent as possible, and enable Craig to continue visiting Evelyn while she remains in hospital. A lot of things we take for granted need to be tweaked for the Smith family – doors need to be widened, and doorways need to be smoothed to enable safe daily functioning of the family. To this end, the existing bathroom needs to be modified, and the living room downstairs converted into a bedroom suitable for the much-needed rest and rehabilitation after leaving the hospital. At this moment, he is depending on others for transportation to doctors’ appointments and visits to Evelyn on the medical-surgical floor. This is proving to be quite taxing, as Craig is out of work because of the heart condition he has; with a surgically implanted pacemaker, and a history of back injuries incurred during employment on a previous job, it is solely through enduring will and the care from his wife that he managed to leave the hospital bed as soon as he did. Their demolished van will need to be replaced with one that is handicapped accessible, and this would go a long way in providing them with much-needed mobility and independence. Before the accident, Evelyn was his caregiver, and this is the first time since 2016 – the year of Craig’s emergency surgery – that she isn’t able to be there for him. Nevertheless, he’s there for her now. His last major surgery happened almost exactly a year ago when a cage was put in his back to support his spinal cord; all these events put an extra physical and psychological strain on the couple, and alleviating it in any way possible is another step on the road to recovery. Throughout this ordeal, Evelyn and Craig have shown amazing physical and moral fortitude in the face of adversity, but they do not need to carry this burden alone. For the twenty-two years they have been together, the Smiths have maintained a loving relationship while enriching the lives of the people they met. They’ve given a lot to the community, and are known as selfless, modest people who would go out of their way to help others. Evelyn works as a property manager in Ohio, where she deals with every aspect of rental maintenance and upkeep. It is through their hard work and responsibility that they acquired a stable life for themselves, only for it all to come crashing down in seconds. Evelyn and Craig are both fighters and are determined to build up a new life for themselves. This is where we as a community can step in. Even if you’re an outsider, there is something here that is true, and universal: a story about love, about fortitude in the face of bad fortune, and the goodwill of people who recognize the value – and worth – in helping those who truly deserve it. Help us lay down a foundation for Evelyn and Craig’s new beginning. Every bit matters, and if we can come together and chip in according to our personal means, this fundraiser will succeed, and two good people will be validated for their personal qualities and communal efforts. Donate now and be a piece of the puzzle that will solve the immediate need in Evelyn and Craig Smith’s life. Thank you.