Support Samantha in Her Journey to Recovery

***UPDATE 4/22/2025:

We cannot thank you enough for all the support you have shown our dear, sweet, Sammy! Her care and support team of family and friends continue to be encouraged by her growth and perseverance through so many obstacles, and we wanted to provide you all who have offered financial support, prayers and good vibes with a HUGE update and a BIG ask.

Sammy has been working extremely hard to regain the use of her legs, develop core strength, and navigate her new normal. She was released from Shirley Ryan early in December and moved in with her parents in Indiana to continue with her therapy. She travels 3 days a week to an outpatient Shirley Ryan in the southern suburbs of Chicago and Sammy has been making huge jumps in her mobility: working on walking with a walker, navigating the world with a cane and going up stairs safely. All of this has been steadily improving and we are overjoyed to see the progress, but figuring out safe mobility is still a struggle and comes with a lot of pain and exhaustion. Her goals are to be able walk with a cane and successfully use stairs, but still needs to gain the muscles to do so. She will graduate from outpatient Shirley Ryan in early May and we are trying to partner with her to making moving back to her lovely apartment in Chicago a reality when that happens!

This large ask comes with a bit of frustration but is the reality of our healthcare system. When Sammy was in her first rehab center she had to make a few visits to her doctor in the city. At the time of these necessary visits, she was unable to physically handle sitting upright which is necessary to ride in a car to get to these visits. The only way to get there safely and without unbearable pain was to take an ambulance to these visits, yet her insurance has denied these claims as necessary. Because of this, Sammy is looking at $20,000 in ambulance bills that are uncovered by insurance, and any help and support she gets to lessen that crazy financial burden is a huge help.

We know you’ve already helped and gave so much, so if you cannot support financially and want to send some words of encouragement, good vibes, or prayers her way that is amazing as well. Thanks for reading this far, journeying with Sammy and us, and considering helping our dear friend. Love you all!

********************************************************************

It feels right that we collectively reached this huge fundraising goal just as we have some huge news about Sammy’s journey.

After spending 25 days in the ICU/hospital and 95 days at a suburban rehab facility, Samantha was moved and welcomed into a state-of-the-art rehab facility in Chicago to start the weight bearing portion of her recovery (learning to stand, walk, etc). It has been a rollercoaster of excruciating pain and many unexpected complications arising over the last 5 months and there is still a very long, hard road ahead in her recovery, but this new location ensures she will get the absolute best care available and will give her a clearer idea of next steps.

She continues to show incredible strength, both mentally and physically, and is so determined to get moving and heal! She is so immensely grateful for all of your donations, kind words, and prayers since the accident. We all cannot thank you enough for how transformative your support has been and will continue to be for Sammy on this journey.

Let's continue to show our support and love to our dear Sammy!

***

Sammy has been officially discharged from the hospital and is in her first rehab center in a suburb of Chicago. She was transferred via ambulance as she is still re-learning how to sit. We are deeply grateful for your generous donations to help Samantha as she recovers from her traumatic accident. Your contributions are making a significant difference in covering her medical expenses. Samantha still has a long journey of rehabilitation ahead, and every bit of support counts. Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Additionally, we kindly ask you to share this fundraiser on your social media to help spread the word and reach more potential donors. Together, we can provide Samantha with the support she needs on her road to recovery.

THANK YOU!!!!!

My dear friend Samantha was biking to play volleyball with friends when a parked car opened its door without looking, knocking her into traffic. Thankfully she survived, but her pelvis was crushed when she was run over by a box truck. She has had to undergo two major reconstructive surgeries and faces a long road of PT, while remaining in a ton of pain. Along with mounting medical expenses, her mom plans to care for her in her home for several months after she is discharged which will require specialized equipment. Providing funds to help cover the costs of Samantha’s medical care and equipment is one crucial, tangible way we, her friends and family, can support her recovery. Whether or not you are able to donate, please keep her in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.