Support for Crystal Gibson and Family

Stade and Crystal Gibson were in Montana visiting their Brother Brandon McHenry.  Brandon treated them to a Skiing adventure.  Crystal had never skied before so she took a lesson.  After the lesson, she took the Green Slope.  At first, she was doing well but things quickly became serious.  She lost control and couldn’t stop.  She was near the bottom of the slope when she went over a ledge and then hit a large tree.

After hitting the tree, Crystal was transferred to the nearest hospital where we discovered she sustained traumatic injuries including 5 broken ribs, 4 broken lumbar vertebrae, a pneumothorax (collapsed lung), and a serious break to her left arm with subsequent nerve damage. Due to the acuity of her injuries, Crystal had to be Life Flighted to Missoula for escalation of care where she is now. 

We are thankful she did not sustain spinal cord damage, but her recovery will be challenging nonetheless.  Currently, she is having severe pain which limits her ability to sit upright for only a short period of time.  In addition, the majority of her injuries have been to the left side of her body which is her dominant side.  

Therapists and physicians have told us to prepare for 3-6 months of rehabilitation. We are hoping to transition her care close to home, but the first hurdle will be transportation given her limited tolerance of mobility. Once home, new challenges await. Their hometown is far from medical follow up and Stade and Crystal’s employment.  Additionally, Crystal and Stade have a 7-year-old child and a 23 month old very lovable but very busy baby who is not going to understand why Mommy can’t pick him up.  Not to mention that it is going to be hard for Mommy to resist.  It would be an understatement to say the least that these two are her life.  While Stade, her husband is at work, Chrystal will need child care to assist with everything from cooking meals to changing diapers.

We are appealing for financial aid for this young family,  who surely will undergo daunting and difficult challenges in the near future.  Crystals leave of absence from work will be unpaid.  Stade’s employer offers FMLA but it is unpaid as well. Therefore when Stade goes to work, she will need help with the kids.  Furthermore, the cost of life Flight alone will be between $10-15K. So with the loss of a dependable salary, pending and mounting medical bills, the need for additional childcare as well as other unknown factors lurking in the future we plead for the help from those with understanding and compassion for this family who by no fault of there own have fallen onto tough times. 

We would appreciate your prayers and any contribution you can make to help support medical expenses and needs while Crystal and Stade navigate these next few months.