Last Sunday night, Meghan was driving home from her mom’s house in Long Beach Island with her daughter Violet when she suffered a seizure. Her car crossed the median and crashed into a fence and trees, trapping both Meghan and Violet inside. Emergency responders had to cut the doors off the car to rescue them, and both were airlifted to Jersey Shore Trauma Center. Violet broke her femur and has already undergone surgery to place a rod in her leg. She is in significant pain and facing a long road of rehabilitation, doctor’s appointments, and physical therapy. Meghan was released from the trauma unit and has been at Violet’s side, bruised and banged up but otherwise physically okay. She will require continued medical care to determine the cause and treat her seizures, and will likely be unable to drive for some time. Her car is beyond repair, and there is uncertainty about when she will be able to return to work. Transportation and daily living will be challenging, and Violet will need months of support to recover and return to her activities.

Those who know Meghan and Violet understand that they have already faced more than their share of adversity. Meghan is a dedicated mother who has worked tirelessly to provide the best for her daughter, keeping her involved in activities and focused on school despite being a single mom. This accident has added unimaginable hardship, and Meghan is struggling with the pain of seeing her daughter suffer, even though it was beyond her control. With medical bills, transportation costs, rent, food, and the need for a new car, the financial burden is overwhelming, especially with Meghan unable to work.

Meghan and Violet have hearts of gold and have always fought hard, mostly on their own with some help from family and friends. But this situation calls for a larger community response. I hope we can wrap them up in love and support so they can see their way through these very difficult months. Any help you can offer will make a real difference in their lives. We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the first responders who attended to Meghan and Violet so quickly, and to the doctors who have been taking care of them. There is a deep awareness that things could have turned out very differently, and we are extremely grateful for their compassion and expertise.