Love for Crystal: Healing & Recovery Fund

The night of October 30th, on my drive back to home, I encountered some black ice and lost control of my car on the highway. The ice threw my vehicle into a cement wall at full speed, crashed head on and bounced back into the middle of the highway. I remember hitting my head multiple times on the steering wheel and window. My pup, Jack, was in the car with with me but luckily the passenger side air bag went off and he was safe from injury. I on the other hand knew I broke my collar bone, had bad whiplash and possible injuries to my brain & spine. My car was filling up with smoke, I thought it was going to catch fire & I knew if I stayed in my car there was a high chance of being hit by other vehicles. 

Dazed & hurt but thinking quickly, I unbuckled my seat belt, grabbed my puppy and my phone, got out of the car and ran across the highway towards the same cement wall. I had a gut feeling to get up high so tossed my pup onto the ledge, somehow climbed up with one arm and called 911. Seconds later another car spun out on the same patch of black ice and crash exactly where I would have been standing if I didn’t climb up to the ledge. Because I was on the ledge the car crashed right in front of me, barely missing Jack and I. I was so terrified, I didn’t know if I was okay and was so scared I might die. I scaled the wall, moving out of the way in case other vehicles were to hit the black ice or one of the cars blocking the highway. And sure enough, I was right. Cars were starting to pile up.

I tried flagging someone down the best I could but I could only managed to stick my foot out with holding on to Jack for dear life and staying on the phone with 911. I was fading fast but I was in survival mode, I just kept telling myself, “don’t die, don’t die. Stay strong.” The pain kept me alert enough to stay perched on that wall until the first responders arrived. 

Once the ambulance was on the scene, they rushed my pup and I inside, cut off all of my clothes and began working on me and asking lots of questions. Panicked and losing consciousness I still didn’t know if I was okay. My body temperature got really high, I was extremely nauseous, and had a horrible headache, I was still fearing for my life. My car was totaled and unfortunately they had to call a city tow truck, it was just too dangerous to wait for AAA. We were rushed to the hospital, I was slipping out of consciousness, shaking and pouring with sweat. I still didn’t know what was wrong for sure and I thought I may be bleeding internally from hitting my head so hard. 

The pain was excruciating, soon I was at the hospital and they started checking my vitals, taking my blood, putting me on a saline drip, nausea meds, pain meds and rushed me to have a full body cat scan, brain scan and X-rays of my hand. Luckily I didn’t have any bleeding in my head but the seat belt did in fact snap my collar bone, suffered severe whiplash and broke my thumb. The pain medicine didn’t seem to do anything. I couldn’t move, turn my head, lift up, or even wiggle my fingers without jolts of pain shooting through my body. The X-rays came back and because my broken collarbone isn’t far enough apart they won’t perform surgery and put me in a temporary sling until I can see a specialist to get me in a proper brace so I can heal correctly. I was sent home in ridiculously intense pain but their was little more the hospital could do.

I can only sit up for a minute or two at a time before getting dizzy & nauseous. My neck is so stiff and painful. My neck and shoulder muscles are torn and I have nerve damage and muscle spasms quite often. Focusing is difficult at times and sleeping has been tough. Often when I drift off I have a nightmare, re-living the accident and jolt awake causing a lot of pain. But it’s okay though. I am alive and I’m beyond grateful to see another morning. I’m very much looking forward to my future life, I’m not going to let anything stand in my way of shining brighter than ever before. 

I am trying my very best to stay positive and keep my focus on healing. I need around the clock care as I can’t do much on my own. I’ll be out of work for awhile, it will take at least two months for my collarbone to heal and another two months of physical therapy to regain strength in my arm and shoulder, and to regain full movement of my collarbone again. 

I am uninsured and very worried about all of my medical bills, monthly expenses and supporting myself during this healing process. My car insurance does not cover a new vehicle and the tow yard employees made it very difficult so I wasn’t able to gather all of my belongings, including my camping gear, which is crucial to my outdoor, traveling artist lifestyle. 

Friends and family suggested this fundraiser to help give me some peace of mind during this traumatic time. If you are able to donate, bless you from the bottom of my heart. If you are unable to donate, please share my story on your page if you don’t mind. I love you all to the moon and back, soon I will be dancing beneath the stars again. And for others that are healing please read out loud: 

I am okay. My body has innate wisdom to repair, replenish, and release. My body always knows what to do, so I can let go of control. I surrender. I am healing. I trust. I trust. I trust.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. So much gratitude darlings.

From my heart to yours,


Crystal Stone