Recovery for Deb McNary

This fund was created to help our friends - the McNary family - who experienced a terrible tragedy this week.

Deb McNary was struck by a semi on highway 50 while driving home from parent-teacher conferences. When paramedics arrived, Deb’s car was severely impacted, and they used the jaws of life to reach her safely. Deb was airlifted to Sioux Falls because her injuries were life-threatening. The air-flight team wasn’t sure she would make it to Sioux Falls.

Deb had multiple blood transfusions to save her life. She had internal bleeding, a compound fracture in her arm, dislocated elbow and hip, a shattered pelvis, hip and patella, lacerated liver, five broken vertebrae, and a broken rib punctured her lung.

Deb is in the ICU, under critical care, and on a ventilator. As she undergoes major surgeries, the doctors find more injuries such as nerve damage, torn muscles, and shattered bones. Because of the extent of her injuries, she will spend months in the hospital. She will be no weight-bearing for a minimum of three months. Her level of injuries will make it difficult to transfer to a rehab facility. Learning how to rewalk won’t start until six to eight months. Her life will be forever changed due to these injuries.

Deb is surrounded by her family. Her daughter Teagan lives in Washington, D.C., and flew into Sioux Falls to be by her mother’s side. Her son Trent is traveling between Vermillion and Sioux Falls to be with Deb, and he will be taking care of Deb’s puppies. Teagan and Trent will incur significant expenses to become care providers for their mom.

Deb McNary is a selfless human being who has taught Special Education in Dakota Valley for over 15 years and has gone above and beyond to obtain additional endorsements to best support her students. In addition to her work as a special education teacher, Deb works as a pharmacy technician to further assist those in her community. If you know Deb, you know she is such a hard worker, and being out of work for an extended period of time will be difficult. Deb spends her life supporting the most vulnerable populations, and her selfless work has changed the lives of those around her. She deserves so much more than this.

We are blessed beyond measure to have Deb in our lives still, but the road to recovery will not be an easy one. The last thing this family should have to worry about is cost. Please donate to help cover medical bills, rehab costs, work wage loss, family travel, and other expenses from this tragedy. All proceeds will go directly to the McNary family.