Help Lydia recover from a boating accident

On August 13th, our dear friend Lydia Vorsteveld was struck by a boat while swimming in Lake Champlain.

Lydia was swimming from the dock in Arnold Bay when she looked up and saw the bow of a boat less than a foot away. There was no time to think and the next thing she knew, she was underwater and struggling to the surface.

Her nearby relatives saved her from drowning and stayed with her until the rescue crew arrived. She was stabilized and then life-flighted to UVMMC. The severity of the injuries nearly took her life.

She spent a long night in both the ER and OR, receiving countless blood transfusions and a life-saving surgery. Her injury list is lengthy: eight broken ribs, collapsed lungs, multiple spinal fractures, her left arm broken twice, a shattered left shoulder blade and several laceration across her left side and back from the boat’s propeller.

After surviving that first night due to the excellent trauma team and hospital staff, Lydia was transferred to ICU. A few days later she was transferred to the medical floor. Lydia spent 3 weeks in the hospital and several days in physical therapy rehab. Now she is back home, but has a long recovery ahead and is unable to return to work.

Lydia is a beloved nurse practitioner at Porter Rehabilitation & Nursing in Middlebury VT. She is missed dearly by co-workers and patients alike. She is an amazing mother of six, an aunt to over a dozen nieces and nephews and a dear friend of ours.

These funds will partially cover Lydia’s unpaid leave from work and medical bills. Please join us in donating to Lydia and her family during this difficult time.