Jessica's Road to Recovery

I never imagined that one day I would be writing a message like this… We always like to plan our lives and incorporate joyful moments into them, moments to share with family and friends, build memories to treasure, but you never know when something tragic will happen…

 

My dear Jessica and I had been planning a vacation to Portugal since last year. I wanted it to be special, since it would be to celebrate her 40th birthday. We were having an amazing vacation; went hiking, visited beautiful beaches, parks and if you know Jessica, went walking “EVERYWHERE” we could. On June 3rd around 3:30pm, while enjoying a nice day of relaxation and sightseeing, there was a crash. - I heard her first …then I saw her falling…She was getting trampled by the wheels of a bus. Jessica was being crushed by a tour Bus. I ran to her as fast as I could; she was seriously injured, her legs were severely broken, there was blood everywhere, I could see bones had torn through the skin, as she cried out to me. “Please don’t let me die” I called for help… again…and again.

 

Next thing I remember, there was someone holding her; helping her remain “calm” until the ambulance arrived. I felt such pain in my heart and soul, watching her lay helplessly in the middle of the road; not being able to do anything; just helpless… Only thing left for me to do was ask God for help. Yet my pain is nothing compared to what she was going through; I cannot imagine, the physical pain, fear and the agony of that slow wait for medical help to arrive, each second passing seemed like an eternity. And after waiting over an hour… the ambulance finally arrived.

 

I am incredibly amazed at her physical and mental strength, even as the outlook seemed to get bleaker. I can say with certainty that it’s a miracle she is alive…

 

Jessica sustained multiple injuries, including broken Tibia and Fibula on both legs, with her left having multiple fractures, including her ankle and shattered heel, torn ligaments, and extensive lacerations to her face, chest and legs. She went into surgery that night around 8pm and after 8+ hours of surgery, they were able to reattach muscles and severed nerves on her left leg, and put plates and screws on her right leg. She was then taken to the ICU where she remained for several days…

 

Today, weeks (27 days and counting) after the accident, she is still bedridden in the hospital and awaiting more surgeries, as the surgeons were not able to close her wound initially, due to the extensive damage to the muscles during the accident. She is currently on external fixators and bandages until she can have skin and muscle grafts, which will allow them to close the wound and be able to set the broken Fibula, and switch to internal plates on the major fractures. The next surgery is scheduled for July 1st.

 

 

Jessica will have a long road to recovery; from when the next surgeries are completed to a tough journey to regain her mobility. Anyone that knows Jessica knows she is a kind soul, a caring and loving daughter, and a wonderful friend. She has a passion for the outdoors, hiking and her routine of waking up for a morning run… Her family is incredibly supportive and generous, and now more than ever are in need of love and support. We cannot wait until the day we see her dancing around again, enjoying nature, hitting the trails, and stopping to smell the roses!

 

We are starting this GoFundMe page in hopes that it will help ease the financial burden that will be placed on Jessica and her family. Since the accident occurred out of the country, home insurance will not cover medical expenses, surgeries, therapy and full care that will be needed same way they normally would.  Once we are able to get home, she will also need intense follow-up medical care and she will not be able to work throughout this whole process.

 

We ask that you keep the Stein family in your heart during this very difficult time, and hope to be able to share positive updates as the weeks go by. If you are unable to make a monetary contribution, please keep Jessica in your thoughts and prayers.

With many thanks, appreciation and gratitude to all… ❤️