Mackenzie's Climb

As many of you know, on May 26th, 2021, our niece, Mackenzie (now 17), was in a terrible rollover accident. While driving in Morris, IL to go fishing with friends, Mackenzie made a left hand turn onto a country road and her back right tire hit a hidden pothole. Her jeep rolled 4 times down a ravine and her left foot was crushed. No other significant injuries to her, thank goodness!

She was airlifted from Morris Hospital to Loyola University Medical Center and underwent emergency surgery that night to try to stabilize her injury. On Friday, May 28th, she had to have another surgery and unfortunately the doctor realized that he could not save her foot. Mackenzie was then scheduled the following Tuesday for the doctor to amputate just below the knee. This decision gives her a better quality of life vs. taking just the foot and she is now able to live a fairly normal, while forever changed, life. "Life" being the key word here, as Mackenzie has been told many times that she was beyond lucky to have survived this accident. We are all so thankful for that!

In the spirit of being grateful during this Thanksgiving and Holiday Season, we are starting this fundraising campaign for Mack to help improve her daily "quality of life", as well as thinking ahead towards next year and beyond! Mack has some daily challenges in her new "normal" and we would like to make some significant changes to her bedroom and bathroom . These changes will vastly improve her daily routine as currently something as simple as showering has its great challenges. Additionally, Mack is a true "waterbug" but that requires an entirely different prosthetic from the one she currently has to enjoy all of those activities. We are hoping to raise enough funds to renovate her bedroom and bathroom, as well as be able to make her "water specific" prosthetic a reality.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Mackenzie's journey and new "normal". Please know that Mack is an amazing person in so many ways and has an amazing outlook on her future. She is incredibly strong and has approached every day of this journey with strength, courage, and fearlessness. Her friends and family continue to rally around her during these times!

We appreciate your contributions, however big or small. All of your thoughts and prayers have meant the world to Mack and her family, so please keep them coming!