Holiday Turned Tragic

Elizabeth was simply on her way to spend her favorite holiday with her family. Thanksgiving has always been her favorite, even as a child, because it is all about being with the people she loves and the great food they share. But on Nov 26, 2025, Elizabeth never made it to her family’s celebration. A semi-truck crossed the median on the interstate, and she ended up underneath it, covered in auto glass and metal. In a split second, our daughter’s life changed forever.

Elizabeth currently does not remember that moment, but God was with her and brought angels to be with her until paramedics arrived. She was extricated and transported in critical condition to a nearby hospital, which knew they could not save her. She was then transported to Froedtert Hospital, where she spent the next 16 days, 10 of them fighting for her life, before she turned a corner. After 6 days on life support for her lungs and heart, both injured in the crash, and 4 additional days still intubated with hopes she would eventually breathe on her own, she was finally extubated and on an oxygen mask for an additional 1-2 days.

Once she was extubated and her lungs were stronger, a fuller assessment of her facial plate and spinal injuries was done.

Elizabeth’s injuries from this crash include the heart and lung impact, a spinal injury for which she will wear a brace for several months to allow healing, and a shattered facial plate, for which she has undergone surgery that placed 5 plates with screws in her facial bones that will be permanent. Her jaw had been wired shut to allow the facial plate to heal, and she will have several outpatient procedures and appointments during the next few months to help her continue recovery. In addition, Elizabeth sustained significant damage to her mouth and teeth that will need repair, but this work cannot begin until the facial plate is healed.

By God’s grace, Elizabeth came home on Dec 12, and in spite of needing much care, she is home and continues healing.

We are Elizabeth’s parents, Diana and Jon. We are watching our daughter struggle with the very painful and real physical and emotional impacts from this trauma. The physical trauma alone is difficult enough, but the added emotional trauma and recovery time are heartbreaking to watch.

With all of that, we are also painfully aware of the financial impact, and we want to help her through this moment in her life in any way we can. That is why we are starting this GoFundMe for Elizabeth. We would like to help her come through this chapter of her journey without crushing debt that will multiply the emotional and physical traumas she must already cope with.

We anticipate significant medical debt after insurance (approx $20,000-$25,000 expected), much financial hardship from loss of wages, and the need to help her fund a vehicle at some time in the future.

Elizabeth’s medical debt has already exceeded $38,000, and we have therefore, set a new goal for her of $50,000. Anything you are able to contribute will be gratefully appreciated, and we will be in your debt.

Any amount that exceeds our goal will be donated to first responders.

Thank you so much in advance, and we will post updates as we go.