Jean - Teacher's Life Changing Auto Accident

Hello! My 40+ year friend's life was changed in an instant on Feb. 27th this year when she was involved in a tragic accident. A preschool/kindergarten teacher in Tampa, Jean was on her way to work when a young woman, driving her 2019 BMW too fast, lost control of her car. She hit Jean's 2007 Jeep Wrangler almost head-on before her vehicle ricocheted into another SUV causing it to flip multiple times. Jean sustained a broken neck, broken ribs, a shattered ankle and a crushed heel bone on her right foot. Sadly, the young woman causing the accident died on her way to the hospital but the SUV driver miraculously walked away with no injuries.

Photos of Accident:

Jean's Injuries:

Jean underwent multiple surgeries at St. Joseph's Hospital. Her neurosurgeon had to fuse her 1st, 2nd and 3rd vertebrae and put her in a neck brace she'll continue to wear for another 8 weeks, as of this writing. She will no longer be able to turn her head from side to side, not to mention the chronic pain these types of injuries almost always guarantee. Her orthopedic surgeon has operated twice on her foot; first, to put pins and screws in her ankle and a week later to install a steel plate in her heel. Her inside ankle was torn so badly that only time will tell what comes next for the gaping hole it left. There was not enough skin left to suture it closed so when the scab comes off they will see how the soft tissue beneath is growing. She will require wound care for a period to avoid infection and may also require plastic surgery to graft skin over the opening. Jean cannot put any weight on her foot for another 3-4 months. Please beware, the following pictures of her injuries are graphic.

Why does Jean need monetary assistance?

The driver who caused the accident had no assets and her car was minimally insured. This left Jean with no vehicle, no income and no money from the accident to even begin to cover her medical bills. Her doctors are optimistic that she can heal sufficiently, but it will likely require further surgeries and many hours of physical therapy to rehab. Her goal is to recover enough to go back to teaching, most likely a year-long process. She truly wants to pay for the doctors/hospital responsible for saving her foot and for her recovery. The family is struggling to help with the normal bills (mortgage, electricity, water, medical supplies, etc.) but Jean needs help with the medical bills. We were under the impression insurance would take care of most of these expenses but we are learning that available funds have already been depleted. We haven't even begun to receive the bills for her 2-week hospital stay, half of which was in ICU, and multiple surgeries to date. While Jean was not keen on setting up a GoFundMe account, her family/friends felt that it was in her best interest and worth a try.

A little introduction to Jean:

Jean is a hard-working single woman in her 60s. She was an avid runner and a lover of animals. She is the kind of friend everyone would be fortunate to have. She is a huge Tampa Bay Lightning fan - Go Bolts! She has been responsible with her finances over the years and has lived a very frugal life. After graduating from FSU, she worked for a large law firm in Tampa for almost 20 years. She became restless in her pursuit of something more meaningful and challenging. A suggestion was made to substitute teach. Jean would go to schools that were less attractive to other volunteers and this opened up a whole new world for her. Given her success, a K-8 community school offered her a full-time position if she would pursue her teaching certificate. She had found her passion! She has a special bond with all 23 of her kindergartners and knows she's making a positive impact on these young children both culturally and academically. Her concern about her students and how they will cope/progress in her absence truly reflects the kind of person she is.

Jean is trying to remain positive about her situation but constantly battles negative thoughts about what the future holds for her. She's a fighter though and my money is on her to not let this beat her. Thank you for taking the time to read her story and contribute if and what you can. Any contribution toward her medical expenses would be appreciated but even your prayers for strength and healing for Jean would be meaningful. We will continue to send updates as Jean progresses in her journey to become self-sufficient again.