Support Will's Road to Recovery

Hi - My name is Zosia Kolodziej and Will Smith is my stepdad who has been in my life for almost 20 years.

This holiday season looks a little bit different for my family. November 18th, 2024, began as a typical day, with family visiting from out of town and a fun-filled day at the beach. However, things took a sudden and tragic turn when Will was involved in a life-threatening accident at our local beach.

While in the ocean, a powerful wave struck him, knocking him unconscious and leaving him vulnerable in the water. Thanks to the quick actions of my stepsister, Courtney, who was in the water with him, along with my mom, a lifeguard and bystanders, Will was pulled from the water and rushed to the hospital. Without their help, he would have drowned or been permanently paralyzed.

It was discovered that he suffered from severe trauma to his spine, neck, multiple broken ribs and a bruised lung.

After undergoing an intense 7.5 hour surgery to reconstruct his spine by a neurosurgeon, which now includes two titanium rods and 20+ screws, he faces a long and challenging recovery. He spent almost a month total from in between the ICU, hospital and in-patient rehab. Without this surgery, he would have most likely become permanently paralyzed.

This life-altering event caught our family completely off guard. My mom, Renata, has been unwavering, putting everything aside to be with Will. She has been tirelessly handling all the necessary arrangements, tasks and decisions along the way, while I have come back to my parents home for the past month to help where help is needed, as well.

Will has always been an active and hard-working individual with a deep passion for working on cars, particularly converting gasoline vehicles to electric ones. He is the President of the local Electric Car Club and enjoys working at Kennedy Space Center, where his coworkers have become good friends. Will has also been dedicated to turning his house into his dream home and took great joy in tending to his fruit trees. Whether it was riding his bike or spending quality time with his family, Will has always embraced life to the fullest as a supportive husband to my mom, Renata, a caring father to Brittany and Courtney and a loving stepfather to me.

Due to the severity of his injuries, Will is unable to work for at least a few months. He requires around-the-clock care, with someone needing to be by his side at all times to assist him, along with physical therapy, nursing support, and home assistance for the months ahead.

Our family is raising funds to help cover his medical bills, rehabilitation expenses, necessary home modifications and the loss of income during his recovery. These funds will also help support the ongoing care he needs as he heals.

The road ahead is difficult, but Will remains determined to heal and regain his independence. Any contribution, no matter the size, would mean the world to our family and help us support Will as he rebuilds his life.

Thank you for listening to Will’s story and your support.