My name is Makayla Mathison, and over a week ago, on July 26th, my life was turned completely upside down.

I was in the back seat of a vehicle when we were in a devastating car accident. The impact was so violent that I was ejected from the car. By some miracle, a police officer happened to be nearby and arrived at the scene quickly — I truly believe his presence saved my life.

I was rushed to the hospital in Sisseton, SD, and immediately life-flighted to Fargo, ND, where I underwent emergency surgeries. The injuries were catastrophic. I had broken my L2 and T10 vertebrae and torn my dermal cord, which caused spinal fluid to leak dangerously. Doctors had to place a drain in my back, perform spinal fusion surgery, and insert rods to stabilize my spine & leaving me with 122 staples down my back.

That wasn’t all. My left hip and femur was broken. My sternum was fractured. A large portion of my ribs were shattered. One of my lungs collapsed and had to be partially removed. A chest tube was inserted just so I could breathe. 

Today, I am considered half-paraplegic. I cannot walk, YET. I’ve been in the hospital for 12 days now, and the doctors say my recovery will be long and uncertain. I’ll need to be transferred to a rehabilitation center for weeks, maybe months, of therapy just to try and regain movement.

I’ve been working with a hospital case manager to explore every possible option, but the financial burden is massive. Medical bills, surgeries, emergency transport, spinal hardware, rehab, medical equipment, and medications. It’s too much for anyone to carry alone…

As hard as it is to say this — I need help.

Before this accident, I was preparing to go back to work as a teacher. I love working with young children within my community. I had so much excitement for the new school year, but I’m now unable to work, && I don’t know when I’ll be able to return to doing what I love most.

I also have my boyfriend, Brandon Adams, and family who are doing everything they can to support me. They’ve had to travel to Fargo and will continue to stay with me and help however they can. But even their support adds more expenses: gas, lodging, time off work, food, and so much more.

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How the Funds Will Be Used

Your donation will directly help cover:

• Medical treatment and procedures 

• Rehabilitation and recovery services 

• Travel, food, and lodging for my support system 

• Essential daily living expenses while I’m unable to work 

• Medical equipment and accessibility needs during recovery

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If you’ve read this far, thank you. Just being willing to hear my story means the world to me. If you’re able to donate, share, or even say a prayer for my healing, I would be forever grateful.

This is the hardest thing I’ve ever been through, but I’m holding on — to hope, to the people I love, and to the belief that I will walk again someday.

From the bottom of my heart,

Thank you.

Makayla Mathison