On February 16th (Presidents’ Day), our beloved aunt Dawnmarie Martino was involved in a devastating car accident when the blue Chrysler Pacifica she was driving was T-boned by a white Jeep that ran a red light. Dawnmarie suffered severe, life-threatening injuries and has been in the ICU since the accident. Her injuries include multiple rib fractures that required a metal plate to be surgically inserted, a ruptured spleen and appendix that had to be removed, a collapsed lung that required a chest tube, both sides of her pelvis broken requiring surgery, a fractured left knee, and fractures to all of her lumbar vertebrae. She has already undergone multiple surgeries and faces a long and difficult recovery ahead, including time in a rehabilitation facility.

Dawnmarie is an HVAC professor at Suffolk County Community College and an HVAC technician at Brookhaven National Laboratory. She is also a devoted caregiver to her parents and someone who has always been willing to help and teach anyone in need. Tragically, her medical expenses have already exceeded her insurance coverage, and the driver responsible had very limited bodily injury coverage, which has already been exhausted. Dawnmarie even spent her birthday on February 22nd in the hospital, continuing to fight through recovery.

We are asking for support to help cover mounting medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and the financial burden during her long recovery. Any donation, big or small, will help relieve some of the stress on Dawnmarie and her family as she focuses on healing. Thank you for your kindness, prayers, and support during this incredibly difficult time.