On the way home from getting groceries December 8, 2025, a careless drive turned sharply in front of Matt and Erica’s car. Still in the tail end of rush hour, there was no move to escape the impact, nor time to do so. They hit at 45 miles an hour. The pain was immediate and intense for Matt who was driving. He looked over to see his wife slumped over the dash. She came to and they made their way out of the remains of the Nissan. Matt rushed to call 911 and then family. A witness stopped to help. Leaving behind bloody clothes, they were transported to the hospital less than two miles away.

Family converged on the ER. Matt in bay 6, Erica in 11. Family rushed from 6 to 11, and back again. We called each other on speakerphone so they could hear each other’s voices. Matt’s big toe had been crushed as the car crumpled. The toenail was displaced and blood dripped all round. There was an ever growing knot on his chest from the airbag impact. He was diagnosed with a fractured toe, fractured rib, and fractured sternum and discharged later that night.

Erica was not as lucky. The windshield cracked in front of her so they placed her in a c-collar and scanned and x-rayed top to tail. While Matt was released, she is still there. Her knees, swollen and painful, making it difficult to walk. Her sternum also fractured. Even with a walker, she struggles to get out of bed.

Matt and Erica are generous and thoughtful, often going out of their way to jump in and help. That can mean making and delivering meals, to running errands for others, to being there to provide support for a friend. They don’t wait to be asked, they see the need and they DO. They are there to help and support. They show up. They care.

Neither are able to work for some time, but bills still arrive. Knowing their work ethic, they will attempt to return to work way too soon to pay bills and to help the work-team during the busiest time of year.

This GoFundMe is being started in the hope to raise some funds for them that will enable them to continue to heal while being able to pay bills. Let’s help them.