At 4:00 pm on Monday, October 12, 2026, our beautiful 32-year-old daughter Sophia Georgia Ganapes got in her car and headed home. She had just finished work at Normandale Hills Elementary School in Bloomington, Minnesota, as a para professional, helping special needs children get the education they’ll need in their lives. She entered Interstate 35W for the rush hour commute and in an instant her life was changed. A wrong way driver, suspected of being impaired by alcohol, headed south in the north bound lane. Maybe a minute later, he smashed head-on into Sophie’s car in a horrific, violent crash.

She received life-threatening injuries, including head trauma causing pressure on her brain and requiring neurosurgery. She may need more. Also, Sophia’’s internal organs were banged and contused, and she has 5 broken bones, some needing orthopedic surgery. She has been fully sedated and in intensive care for the past week and will likely be there for another week or more. Modern treatments at a nationally renowned trauma center saved her young life but the bills certainly are mounting up.

Sophie has just started a new phase in her life. She got a new apartment, a new job and a new cat, who she loves. Her new job continues her long love of working with children. She began volunteering with a toddler program at Jeremiah House in Minneapolis while still in high school. She has continued with that work until now. She loves children and they love her.

She is suffering a major setback, and will need lots of support and help for a long time while she recovers. We ask you to donate if you can, any amount, and please, share this with your friends and social media communities.