Jill’s Road to Recovery

May 1, 2022. It was an ordinary Sunday evening. After spending the day with her granddaughter, Jill had dropped her off and was heading home for the evening. Little did she know about the events that would unfold in the next few moments. Nor was she aware of the presence of an angel watching over her. As she passed through an intersection she was suddenly struck by another car. The impact completely crushed the driver’s side door and pushed her car off the road and into the grass. She heard the voice of an unknown good Samaritan told her to hold on and reassured her that help was on the way.

The rescue team worked diligently to free Jill from the wreckage and attend to her battered and broken body. While in the ambulance and fading in and out of consciousness, she heard the EMT tell her that “God must have a plan for you because we don’t see many make it out of what just happened.”

Jill was rushed to the University of Louisville Hospital’s Trauma Center and the medical team immediately went to work assessing her injuries. She had multiple fractures in her cervical and lumbar spine, left femur, hip, right foot and ankle, and pelvis. Her first surgery, an open reduction and internal fixation, was completed on Tuesday, May 3rd. Doctors were able to reposition and physically reconnect the bones using special pins, screws, and plates. They also repositioned the displaced pieces of her broken femur and placed a rod from her hip to her knee to stabilize the bone as it heals. Her second surgery was held off until Friday, May 6th, as the swelling needed to subside first. The surgeon went in, brought the pieces of her ankle and foot back into alignment, and secured them together with screws, wires and pins. Her spinal fractures are inoperable and will be stabilized with a cervical collar which she will wear for the next 8 to 10 weeks.

Jill has a long road to walk in her recovery, and is not going to be easy. She was in intense pain and had experienced some unusual side effects from the various pain medications she was given. She was not used to others caring for her every need, and was uncomfortable confined to a bed, staring at a blank ceiling. This has also been an emotional struggle, as she comes to terms with what happened, why it happened, and how her life has changed as a result. But if you know Jill, she is determined and strong willed. She wants nothing more than to get out of the hospital and go home.

She has asked daily to do PT in the hospital, and although it is difficult and painful, she struggles through it with her goal in mind. She has been able to sit up but is not yet able to bear any weight on her legs. She convinces the PT team to place her into a wheelchair and bring her outside for a bit. It was wonderful and a definite boost to her spirit. Her recovery thus far has truly been one of God’s many miracles!

Soon, she will be transferred to a rehabilitation center where she will undergo both physical and occupational therapy. She will have to relearn how to do some of the things most of us take for granted; walking, sitting, laying down, and caring for herself. It is a lot, and it is going to be expensive. We are concerned that the worries over the exorbitant amount of money that will be needed to pay for her care, will impede her recovery. Insurance only pays so much. And this is why we are asking for your financial support.

Jill is the type of person that looks out for others, and does not often ask for help; which is why we are doing it for her. She does not know about this letter or the Go Fund Me account. She knows that she is being cheered on by her family, friends, and the hospital staff and is extremely grateful. Words of encouragement go such a long way. But words alone will not be enough to help her fully recover. With going on three weeks in the hospital, and no concrete answer on how long she will be in rehabilitation, the expenses are adding up. And, because she is unable to work and make an income, her bills are currently being paid for by family members. For now...

From her daughter Ali; “Many of you who know my mom, know that she is generous, kind, and upbeat (but let’s not sweep her feistiness under the rug). She has a smile that is infectious and a friendly sass that is often accompanied by laughter. She is the most generous person I know even when she has little to be generous with. She’s always looking out for others and then often forgets to look out for herself and that is why we are asking for support. I would like to ask that if you are able to donate any funds to help with the medical expenses that have been and will be accumulated over the next several weeks to recovery, we (and she) would be forever appreciative. If you are not, we also thank you for your thoughts and prayers on a recovery that enables her to find her spark again.”

All the love,

 Kristi