Stepping Up for Sarah
Donation protected
This fundraiser has been created to help with the cost of a prosthetic leg for our dear friend, Sarah Wrigley. Sarah, as well as her family, are an important part in our family's life and we want nothing more than to do what we can to see her up on her feet, able to walk around, enjoy a ladies night out, attend her son's golf tournaments, play with our son, and enjoy life again as she once did.
On the morning of November 17, 2015, Sarah was in a horrific and life-changing accident. As she was preparing for what was a typical Tuesday morning, which involved managing her carpet cleaning business and juggling a myriad of other responsibilities for her family, Sarah's life was forever changed.
Sarah was struck by a vehicle and was ultimately run over and pinned to her car. The main arterial vein in her left leg was completely severed and the lower portion of her leg was crushed. During these terrorizing moments immediately following the accident, Sarah was able to stay calm, phone her husband (Steven), her son (William), and her daughter (Cristina) - all the while tying a tourniquet around her leg to stem the bleeding.
Steven, William, and Cristina were able to meet her at the scene of the accident just as Sarah was rushed to Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC). During Sarah's time at ORMC, she underwent eight surgeries, along with 28 blood transfusions, in an attempt to restore circulation to the lower half of her leg and repair the massive trauma. Due to the severity of her injuries, she was kept in an induced coma for a number of days in the ICU.
Sarah spent the following days in the vascular unit under critical care and albeit in tremendous pain she remained optimistic that she would be able to keep her leg and one day walk again. As each day passed, it became increasingly evident to not only the doctors, but also to Sarah and her family, that her left leg would in fact, need to be amputated. On November 23, Sarah and Steven met with her surgical team to discuss her limited options - one of which included a complete amputation of her left leg above her knee. Sarah then waited through the Thanksgiving holiday and on November 27, 2015, Sarah underwent the necessary amputation.
The hours, days, and weeks that followed were filled with pain, fear, uncertainty, optimism and hope. Post surgery and once approved by Sarah's medical team, Sarah was moved to the rehabilition unit within ORMC in order to begin the process of preparing her for life without her leg. Her goal was to be home for Christmas with her family, and on December 11, Sarah was able to return home.
Against this backdrop, Sarah's loving spirit and determination throughout this ordeal has been truly inspirational. Despite the physical and psychological trauma she was facing, Sarah was ever the charasmatic and grateful soul to every one of her family members, friends, doctors, and nurses. We joked that Sarah quickly became the "favorite" among the staff at ORMC and the staff would comment to me how she was the most popular patient in their unit due to her many visitors, flowers, and gifts. Sarah has been overwhelmed with the love and support she has received from everyone who has come to know her story. She asks for nothing and continues to give of herself whether it be a smile, a hug, her love, or support.
Sarah is adjusting to life at home as best she can with a walker and a wheelchair. Anyone who knows Sarah can understand how challenging this is for someone with such a "get up and go" mentality. Sarah's doctor is monitoring her healing and anticipates that she can be fitted for a prosthetic in the next couple of months. Sarah longs for the day to be able to walk again and dreams of wearing all of her beautiful shoes once more.
We ask of you for any contribution that you can make to help Sarah pay for her new leg. A prosthetic can cost upwards of $100,000. The driver who hit Sarah has minimal insurance which hasn't even begun to help cover any of Sarah's medical expenses, let alone the cost of a prosthetic leg.
Please help to give Sarah back the life that she deserves, but more importantly, let's help someone that would do the same, and likely more, for any of us if we were faced with this life-changing set of events.
Thank you for reading Sarah's story.
On the morning of November 17, 2015, Sarah was in a horrific and life-changing accident. As she was preparing for what was a typical Tuesday morning, which involved managing her carpet cleaning business and juggling a myriad of other responsibilities for her family, Sarah's life was forever changed.
Sarah was struck by a vehicle and was ultimately run over and pinned to her car. The main arterial vein in her left leg was completely severed and the lower portion of her leg was crushed. During these terrorizing moments immediately following the accident, Sarah was able to stay calm, phone her husband (Steven), her son (William), and her daughter (Cristina) - all the while tying a tourniquet around her leg to stem the bleeding.
Steven, William, and Cristina were able to meet her at the scene of the accident just as Sarah was rushed to Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC). During Sarah's time at ORMC, she underwent eight surgeries, along with 28 blood transfusions, in an attempt to restore circulation to the lower half of her leg and repair the massive trauma. Due to the severity of her injuries, she was kept in an induced coma for a number of days in the ICU.
Sarah spent the following days in the vascular unit under critical care and albeit in tremendous pain she remained optimistic that she would be able to keep her leg and one day walk again. As each day passed, it became increasingly evident to not only the doctors, but also to Sarah and her family, that her left leg would in fact, need to be amputated. On November 23, Sarah and Steven met with her surgical team to discuss her limited options - one of which included a complete amputation of her left leg above her knee. Sarah then waited through the Thanksgiving holiday and on November 27, 2015, Sarah underwent the necessary amputation.
The hours, days, and weeks that followed were filled with pain, fear, uncertainty, optimism and hope. Post surgery and once approved by Sarah's medical team, Sarah was moved to the rehabilition unit within ORMC in order to begin the process of preparing her for life without her leg. Her goal was to be home for Christmas with her family, and on December 11, Sarah was able to return home.
Against this backdrop, Sarah's loving spirit and determination throughout this ordeal has been truly inspirational. Despite the physical and psychological trauma she was facing, Sarah was ever the charasmatic and grateful soul to every one of her family members, friends, doctors, and nurses. We joked that Sarah quickly became the "favorite" among the staff at ORMC and the staff would comment to me how she was the most popular patient in their unit due to her many visitors, flowers, and gifts. Sarah has been overwhelmed with the love and support she has received from everyone who has come to know her story. She asks for nothing and continues to give of herself whether it be a smile, a hug, her love, or support.
Sarah is adjusting to life at home as best she can with a walker and a wheelchair. Anyone who knows Sarah can understand how challenging this is for someone with such a "get up and go" mentality. Sarah's doctor is monitoring her healing and anticipates that she can be fitted for a prosthetic in the next couple of months. Sarah longs for the day to be able to walk again and dreams of wearing all of her beautiful shoes once more.
We ask of you for any contribution that you can make to help Sarah pay for her new leg. A prosthetic can cost upwards of $100,000. The driver who hit Sarah has minimal insurance which hasn't even begun to help cover any of Sarah's medical expenses, let alone the cost of a prosthetic leg.
Please help to give Sarah back the life that she deserves, but more importantly, let's help someone that would do the same, and likely more, for any of us if we were faced with this life-changing set of events.
Thank you for reading Sarah's story.
Organizer and beneficiary
Meghan Mannella
Organizer
Windermere, FL
Sarah Wrigley
Beneficiary