Help Kathy D. rebuild after head-on collision

My name is Carmine DeStefano and I am the brother of Kathleen DeStefano of East Haven, CT. Kathy DeStefano, our loving sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin, significant other, and cherished friend was grievously injured as a victim in a horrendous head-on collision on

Thursday, January 12, 2023, on Route 17 in Durham, CT.

Those who have had the privilege of meeting, working with, or just associating with Kathy

already know what a sweet, kind, generous, loving, thoughtful and hardworking

person she is. You can, therefore, appreciate how deserving of our care and concern she is,

especially while dealing with this terrible, life-changing event.

I’ve created this GoFundMe page to provide a place for concerned people in her life to leave a message of love and support, as well as to ask you to consider making a monetary gift to this fund to help to alleviate some of the financial stress and worry that a tragic and long term event like this brings. This fund will help Kathy with personal expenses, including finding a replacement vehicle, as well as with the unexpected expenses resulting from both the short-

term and long-term impact of this traumatic and life-altering accident as she tries to put her life back in order.

WHAT HAPPENED:

Like any other normal day, Kathy was driving home on Route 17 after work at Liberty Bank in

Middletown, CT and was heading to her home in East Haven, CT. She was in Durham, CT when, according to police, for an unknown reason, a car in the oncoming lane crossed over the center median divider into her lane and struck her head-on which spun her car around. Her car was then struck for a second time by a large pickup truck that had been following behind her.

Responders had to cut off the roof and pry the doors open to get her out. After being extricated from her car, she was transported by ambulance to an area hospital where she still remains after two weeks. Her injuries are severe and her car is a total loss.

KATHY’S INJURIES AND WHAT’S NEXT:

Although the initial police report and early news reports indicated Kathy had a “suspected

minor injury”, her injuries are, in fact, very extensive and anything but minor. Kathy incurred potentially life-threatening injuries from the two collisions including lacerations needing a plastic surgeon to repair, internal bleeding, a fractured breastbone, and multiple broken ribs.

She also sustained multiple other fractures (including a compound fracture) and/or

broken bones in both upper legs, both kneecaps, both lower legs, both ankles, and both

feet. The ER doctors had initial concerns that they might not be able to save her right foot but, thanks to their and the surgeon’s skills, that is no longer a concern.

Kathy is still recovering from the four surgeries she has gone through in the first two weeks

after the accident. Additional surgeries may be needed in the future. Her surgeon recently told us that she will not be able to put her body weight on her legs, ankles, or feet for three months.

Kathy’s injuries have been very traumatic and very painful and will likely leave some permanent scarring. For example, one surgical incision took 36 staples to close. Her injuries will have lasting effects on her life. As an example, her surgeon has said that the injuries to her ankles will probably make it difficult for her to walk over uneven ground. Once she is discharged from the hospital, given the type of injuries, Kathy will require inpatient

and outpatient rehabilitation for an extended period. Kathy is very lucky and blessed to have survived.

MOVING AHEAD:

We thank God that Kathy has made such remarkable progress in the last two weeks since the

accident. We are so impressed by her strength of will and positive attitude to get better. She is anxious to keep moving ahead with her recovery and rehabilitation and to get her life back to a semblance of normal. This can only help in her recovery.

Kathy is very fortunate to have a strong support system filled with family, friends, loved ones,

co-workers and acquaintances to help her get through this difficult time. She often says that

she very much enjoys working for Liberty Bank in Middletown, CT and that when she is able,

she wants to return to her job there. Liberty Bank has expressed the bank’s support for her.

Kathy’s family and I ask that you please keep Kathy in your thoughts and

prayers for speedy and successful healing. We love Kathy very much.

We invite you to leave her a message of encouragement.  We also invite you join us in helping Kathy financially by making a monetary contribution to this Go Fund Me page. These funds are intended to help her with extra and/or unexpected living, medical, or other expenses and to try to help to ease her mind a bit and to let her focus on physical healing.

With warm regards and appreciation,

Carmine “Chick” DeStefano (Kathy’s brother)