Hey everyone,

For those who don’t know me, my name is Holly (Murray) Marsh, and joining me in this effort is my sister, Hope (Murray) Burbury. Together, we’ve created this fundraiser on behalf of our best friend — and chosen family — Alicia. We’ve both known Alicia for over 15 years, and our children have grown up together. She’s not just a friend to us — she’s family.

On April 12th, 2024, Alicia was involved in a serious car crash in Bay Roberts, NL. While driving south on Conception Bay Highway, a large truck entered her right of way, causing her to T-bone the vehicle. Her SUV was completely totaled, and Alicia was rushed to Carbonear General Hospital with multiple fractures, including a Galeazzi fracture — a rare and complex arm fracture seen in only 3–7% of all forearm injuries.

The next day, April 13th, 2024, Alicia underwent surgery to repair her arm. Although she has worked incredibly hard through months of rehabilitation, she has regained only about 80% of her range of motion and continues to experience daily pain.

Despite everything, Alicia’s resilience never wavered. In July 2024, she bravely returned to school to complete the clinical and work term components of her Dental Assistant program — determined to finish what she started. But just four days later, both of her hands went completely numb.

After multiple ER visits and an urgent neurology referral, an MRI revealed moderate to severe spinal stenosis, severe foraminal narrowing causing nerve impingement, and a lesion measuring 5 x 4 x 5 mm between C2–C3, along with bulging discs from C2 through C6.

A neurosurgeon confirmed that the only option was spinal surgery — warning Alicia that while surgery could stop her condition from worsening, she might never regain full function of her hands, and that additional surgeries would likely be needed in the future.

On September 15th, 2025, Alicia underwent a cervical discectomy and fusion from C2 to C6, a major procedure involving her neck and upper spine. Her recovery has been extremely painful and complex — her incision was closed with 40 surgical staples. Just over a week later, on September 23rd, she was rushed back to the operating room for a second emergency surgery to repair a CSF leak, a serious complication from the initial operation.

Alicia spent a total of 10 days in hospital and is back home however, she faces a 12–18 month recovery, with limited mobility, ongoing pain, and many physical and financial challenges ahead.

She is having tremendous trouble keeping her head above water. Under different circumstances, Alicia would be working hard and meeting her financial obligations as she always has — but this series of surgeries and setbacks has left her in a position she simply cannot recover from alone.

Alicia is a single mother to a wonderful 12-year-old son, who has been deeply affected by everything his mom has endured. He has even expressed wanting to give up playing hockey, his greatest passion, just to be home to help support his mom during her recovery. As a single parent, Alicia relies solely on the support of those nearest and dearest to her. She now faces an upcoming household move that she cannot physically manage on her own and will require the assistance of professional movers.

All available government and community supports have been explored, but Alicia has reached a dead end. This fundraiser is truly a last-ditch effort to help her overcome this hurdle — and the many more she will face in the coming months and years as her case moves through the litigation process. Unfortunately, while insurance and legal support may eventually help, they provide no relief in the immediate moment — when she needs it most.

We are asking for donations to help Alicia with living expenses, medical costs, moving expenses, and daily necessities as she heals and rebuilds.

If you know Alicia, you know she would be the first to offer a helping hand, a warm meal, or a kind word to someone in need. Now it’s our turn to rally around her.

Every contribution, no matter how small, will make a meaningful difference. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping Alicia and her son through this difficult journey.

❤️ With love and gratitude,

Holly (Murray) Marsh & Hope (Murray) Burbury

for thise not comfortable supporting this fundraiser through the platform, Alicia is also accepting donations to her email.