On August 24, Christina’s youngest son, Jeremiah, was struck by another vehicle on Hwy 47 while driving to work at Walmart. His car hit a ditch, flew into the air, spun 360 degrees, crashed to the ground, and rolled several times before coming to a stop. Jeremiah was thrown more than one hundred feet from where it finally stopped. Pieces of the vehicle — and his shoe — were found several hundred feet from the scene, scattered across the highway and into the yards of nearby homes. An officer found him on the opposite side of the highway, critically injured. EMTs stabilized him before he was airlifted to Mercy Hospital St. Louis. Little did anyone know that this tragedy, which broke her son, would also save Christina’s life.

As Christina made decisions no mother should ever have to face at Big Mercy, family and friends gathered and prayed. Jeremiah was once again airlifted, this time to Cardinal Glennon, where he received more blood, imaging, and further stabilization. A special surgical team was assembled, and when he was strong enough, Jeremiah was transferred to SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. That same night, he underwent his first emergency surgery to repair a dangerous arterial bleed. Once stabilized on a ventilator, holes were drilled into his femur and he was placed in traction until strong enough for pelvic surgery.

On August 29, five days after the crash, Jeremiah had his second surgery: a seven-hour pelvic operation. As he was recovering in ICU, Christina would not leave his side even though she was in severe pain. She had not left his side since being called to the crash site, but now she was forced to when nurses ordered a rapid response team to take her to the emergency room in a wheelchair. In the emergency room, she was evaluated and rushed into emergency exploratory surgery. A volleyball-sized cyst on her pancreas had begun to bleed into her abdomen. The bleed was repaired, but she was now a patient in the same hospital her son was in.

She was an impatient patient, constantly worried about her son and dissatisfied with second-hand updates on Jeremiah's upcoming surgery and progress from family and nurses. So upon her release on August 31, she immediately returned to her son's side, only to collapse again September 1. This time she was rushed into a second exploratory surgery that proved to be far more serious and life-threatening than the first. Christina was transferred to ICU, connected to five tubes and oxygen that kept her alive — a stark reminder of how close she had come to death. There was no being released to return to her son's side this time, so as she fought for her life on one floor, her son fought for his on another. Each of them had three surgeries during their stay at St. Louis University Hospital, totaling six surgeries all together.

Christina came home on September 14. Jeremiah was released on September 18. Both are home now and working hard on their recovery. She now faces the difficult task of recovering her own health after nearly losing her life.

The financial strain has been immense. Christina is unable to work, and the cost of hospitalizations, surgeries, and recovery has quickly become overwhelming.

We are asking for help with:

Medical bills and recovery needs after multiple surgeries

Medications and medical supplies

Transportation for ongoing hospital, doctor, and surgeon visits

Rent, utilities, gas, and basic living expenses while she is unable to work

Every donation allows Christina to focus on healing without the crushing weight of financial worry. If you are unable to give, please consider sharing her story so others can stand with her.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for supporting Christina in her time of greatest need.