On Friday, June 12th, Eleanor was struck as a pedestrian by a vehicle traveling at over 110 km/h on Highway 19. Though I wish hadn't, I, Matthew (her fiancé), witnessed the whole incident occur and was the first responder on scene. Unfortunately, I worry that the images and noises of seeing my loved one being struck and lying there will haunt me, forever.

For a moment, it felt like time stopped. Seconds felt like minutes, minutes like hours. Luckily, we were met by some amazing citizens on scene, including an off duty paramedic (Fiona ❤️), who assisted until an ambulance could arrive. Eleanor was rushed to North Island Hospital in the Comox Valley, where she was stabilized, assessed, and then quickly airlifted to Victoria General Hospital.

After receiving extensive emergency surgeries Friday night into the early morning of Saturday, her left arm was temporarily stabilized, her left femur was set with a permanent rod and screws, and a temporary external fixator was installed on her pelvis until further surgeries could be performed on the following Monday. After another tense, lengthy 6-hour surgery, the external fixator was removed, her pelvis was internally stabilized with plates and screws, her left arm and elbow were reconstructed to the best of the surgeons' ability, and her broken shoulder was repaired. The following day, after the surgeries were completed, it was discovered that she also had a fractured fibula.

By what can only be described as miraculous circumstances she somehow survived the impact, though her injuries are extremely extensive: a shattered pelvis, a broken femur, a fractured fibula, a shattered elbow, a broken humerus, and a broken shoulder, among many other issues that are surfacing as the days progress.

We are acutely aware that the road to recovery will be a long and arduous one. Doctors suggest it may exceed a year of rehabilitation before she can gain her independence back and work towards further recovery. Moreover, Eleanor has a great talent and love for playing the viola, most recently with the Strathcona Symphony Orchestra in the Comox Valley. The reality of not knowing how the injuries to her shoulder and her reconstructed arm will affect her playing is devastating and weighing on her mind as time progresses. It will require significant specialized physiotherapy to rehabilitate her left shoulder, arm, elbow, and hand in order to regain the level of ability she is used to playing with.

We are asking for your help in managing the financial burden of the vast medical expenses that will include physical and mental rehabilitation, physiotherapy, rehabilitation of her viola arm, transportation to appointments back and forth between Victoria and Courtenay, PTSD counseling services for both Matthew and Eleanor, as well as months of lost income and wages, as a result of Matthew becoming her primary caregiver, assissting her with even basic bodily functions.

Every donation, share, and message of support means more than we can possibly express, and will allow us to focus on both of our journeys to recovery. From friends, family, coworkers, hospital staff, and even complete strangers, Eleanor and I are profoundly grateful for everyone who has already reached out with their offers of support in any way possible.

Thank you from the bottom of my/our hearts for your kindness, support, love, and prayers during this incredibly difficult chapter of our lives.

Sincerely,

Matthew and Eleanor

"With gratitude, optimism is sustainable."

-Michael J. Fox