After a successful shift at Lu and Carl’s ringing in the New Year, Kate was involved in a horrific accident just before leaving in the early hours of the morning on New Year’s Day. She fell onto a garbage bag that had a glass bottle inside, using her left hand and arm to break her fall. Upon impact, the glass bottle was broken which resulted in a laceration to her left hand and wrist causing damage to her radial artery, median nerve, ligaments and tendons. Immediate life saving care was given by her coworkers, the police were called and she was rushed to University of Michigan Hospital ICU within minutes to try and stop the bleeding. Once at the hospital, an emergency two hour surgery on her hand was scheduled and successfully completed. The surgery included cauterizing the radial artery, repairing the median nerve, and repairing the affected ligaments and tendons. Once in post surgery recovery, Kate was informed that her injury would cause her the inability to use her hand for a minimum of 6-8 weeks. As a server, Kate cannot perform her job duties and responsibilities without the use and movement of both of her hands. For the next 6 months to a year, Kate is going to go through extensive hand and physical therapy to relearn hot/cold sensation, the everyday use and countermeasures of possible permanent nerve damage to her hand.

Kate is tremendously grateful for the outpouring of love, support and encouragement from everyone that has reached out since the accident occurred. Anything that anyone is willing to do to help and support her in this unfortunate time of need is graciously appreciated.