Fatal car accident; single mother needs help

My friend Julie is in need of support.

On the night of December 8th, 2023, while on their way from Santa Rosa to Sebastapol to visit a friend, her two children, Elisa (age 23) and Logan (age 21) were killed in a head-on collision on Hwy 116. Stepson Emilliano (age 20) survived the accident and is at Memorial Hospital after sustaining a leg amputation, collapsed lung, multiple fractures of the ribs, collarbone, spine, and legs. With a medical history of hemophilia, his rescue was complicated by several resuscitations.

Julie has been a single mother throughout the children's lives. Their father passed away when they were very young. The three children live(d) together with Julie and were extremely close. One of their favorite activities was to drive together to Bodega Bay to watch the sunset. The children were and are animal lovers and spectacular artists. They would often sit and draw together.

Julie is a food server at a local diner. She has fallen into debt over the past year due to her own need for back surgery and to help pay Elisa’s medical bills. Eight years ago Elisa fell off of a balcony breaking her back leaving her without the use of her legs. Her wheelchair in the back seat of the car may have been responsible for Emilliano’s survival from the accident.

Daughter Elisa (23)

Although Elisa needed a wheelchair to get around, she was determined not to let her limitations define her. She wasn’t afraid to be fully alive in the world and would enjoy going to the skatepark. She loved her rescue dog Clementine “Clem” and they were inseparable from the day of adoption seven years ago. She loved her partner Thomas who was her best friend for many years before dating. Elisa was an award-winning artist, who loved music and animals. She was working on a career as a tattoo artist.

Son Logan (21), a Class A driver for Canyon Rock Quarry, was a man of few words but was very poignant when he did speak. He was sensitive, thoughtful, loved his mom, and was known to have an unrelenting appetite for delicious foods. He was the kind of guy who still hung out with the friends that he’d known since T-Ball. He considered his friends as family and was a safe harbor for them. He was always someone you could count on. He brought a lot of joy to all he came into contact with and had a great sense of humor. People were often laughing and smiling in his presence. He loved his job and being a part of something.

Logan and Julie

Logan, Julie, and Emilliano

Julie and Elisa

Celebrating with a friend.

The day Clem was adopted. Love at first sight.

Emilliano and Clem

Elisa

Emilliano enjoying the sunset at Bodega

Clem and Elisa

Emilliano cooking with cat Honey

Clem misses her mom and walks from room to room looking for her.

I hope to raise enough money to allow time for this family to grieve, get out of debt, pay for medical bills, and prepare for Emilliano's return to Julie's home for a lengthy recovery.

This profound loss has affected the entire extended family. In spite of the deep sorrow they are experiencing, they continue to show up with full love and support for Julie. For this, she is deeply grateful and would like to acknowledge that she could not get through this without them.

Thank you for reading and sharing this fundraiser and for your generous donation this holiday season. My thoughts and prayers go out to all who were involved in this terrible tragedy.