Hello everyone. My name is Katelyn and I'm the daughter of Jim and Nashell Barnes. Unfortunately, Wednesday, November 12th, 2025, my parents' lives were turned upside down in a fatal, head-on collision caused by a drunk driver with prior offenses. They were on their way home from running some errands to finalize some things for their son's wedding on the 14th when the crash happened.

My dad, James, passed away the following morning at 8:38 AM after an attempted life-saving surgery, and their beloved, beautiful dog, Paisley, was also brutally killed in the crash. My mother, Nashell, is left completely alone with 50% of her ribs broken, a broken sternum, a collapsed lung, and various fractures to her right knee and foot. On top of that, a broken heart. These injuries are so profound she will likely never lead a normal life after recovering. My mom even awoke awoke after the initial impact to my dad saying how he will die and their barely-conscious dog laid over their laps.

My father, my mother's husband, and their four-legged companion were her entire world. They both had struggled with life's hardships in more ways than one, and things were finally turning around for the better. They worked hard and Doordashed for the community with their pup by their side. They were committed and dedicated individuals before the 12th. My father had worked all of his life to make sure our family could be happy and have a roof over our head. So much so, he worked until his last moments on this Earth. He was just on the up-and-up after multiple chronic medical diagnosis, and he was looking forward to his disability approval so he can finally relax. His passing has left my mom grasping at straws because the life she built in a committed 30 year marriage was ripped from her in an instance.

This GoFundMe, I hope to relieve my mother of the financial burden of planning a funeral, aftercare services, her medical bills, prolonged physical and mental therapy to overcome what she has witnessed and has to live with, as well as get her some extra money because she will be out of work for quite a long time. Adding to this list is lengthy legal fees. The last thing I want her to worry about is how she is going to pay for anything.

Any little bit helps. Even something as small as a share. Even $1 could mean my mom has to worry a little less and recover a little better. Thank you.