Supporting Samantha Kunkel and Kids

SAMANTHA'S STORY On Saturday October 3rd, Samantha had just finished her swing shift working at Dunkin Donuts in Hobart and was heading home to her family in Lake Station when she became a victim of a head on collision.  Samantha was traveling Northbound on Route 51 when according to Hobart police reports and witness statements provided a male driver who was traveling in the southbound lane crossed into Samantha's lane resulting in a head on collision between the two vehicles. The driver of the Southbound car was  critically injured in the collision and  did not survive his injuries. Samantha was pinned inside her car, critically injured and unconscious as she waited for help to arrive. Hobart Police Officers arrived on scene and frantically and heroically broke the window of her car and drug her to safety as her car caught fire while everyone waited for the Fire Engines and Ambulance to arrive. Had the Hobart Police Officers not gotten Samantha out of her car when they did, she would have burned alive as she was unable to save herself.   The Hobart Fire Department Engines arrived on scene to extinguish the car fire and provide extrication efforts for the other driver. Hobart ambulance provided life saving measures and transported Samantha to St. Anthony for treatment for her critical injuries. She was immediately Life Flighted from St. Anthony's to the University of Chicago for emergency surgery to save her life. Samantha's injuries are extensive and life changing. She has a very long road ahead of her for recovery. She suffered broken arm, hand, wrist, broken legs and her pelvis was broken. She suffered massive internal injuries and her intestines were severed and her Aorta was torn. TIMELINE October 4: she had multiple surgeries to repair her internal organs.  October 5: she had heart surgery to repair her Aorta which was torn and causing blood loss.  October 6: 10 hours of surgery to repair her pelvis, ankle, wrist and hand fractures. Samantha is now off the ventilator and is conscious and speaking but she has a LONG road to recovery. She has multiple, extensive surgeries scheduled into the unknown future in an attempt to regain her ability to use her arms and legs. Her life is forever changed. HOW YOU CAN HELP Samantha and her family need YOUR help. Samantha is a working mother of 6 with 4 young children currently in the house ranging in age from 11 years old to 17 months old. Her family has lost her working income and were not prepared for the financial loss of Samantha not being able to work. Samantha has worked at Dunkin Donuts for 5 years to provide for her family. She is a wonderful person who has a bubbly, outgoing personality. She has lived with her boyfriend and father of her children, Chris for over 10 years. They have always struggled financially like many of us, but never let it get them down as a family.  Samantha's family has immediate financial needs, rent is due NOW and there is no money to pay it in full. Thankfully, the landlord has accepted a partial payment and has agreed to no late fees. But Samantha's family needs to make up for the lost income while she is in the hospital awaiting surgeries. Your donation will ensure the rent and utilities are paid and Samantha's children can stay in their home while they wait for their mother to get better and hopefully one day is able to work again. IMMEDIATE NEEDS The basic and most pressing bills that were covered with Samantha's wages are: Rent is 640 Nipsco 240 Water 35 Sewer 45 Every penny of all donations will first be directly paid to the landlord and the utility company from a designated account that has been set up at Chase Bank with Samantha and Chris as the beneficiary's of all donation s. Any additional funding will go towards the direct care of Samantha's children for expenses like baby diapers, warm winter clothing, basic household costs and transportation costs for the family to travel back and forth to the University of Chicago. You can help Samantha and her family by making even the smallest of donations. Every single penny YOU donate is appreciated. No donation is too small. In closing, THANK YOU for the outpouring of community support for Samantha and her family. THANK YOU to the Hobart Police Officers who saved Samantha from burning to death in her car that night. THANK YOU to the Hobart Firefighters for providing her top notch medical care. And THANK YOU for your donations.   With Love, The Kunkel and Majka Family