Donations pouring in for woman paralyzed in Pitts Memorial rollover
A young woman is being told she will never walk again, following a car accident on Pitts Memorial Drive on Monday morning.
Morgan Pardy, 21, is now paralyzed from the chest down, according to a family friend. She has some feeling in her arms, but none in her hands and legs.
She was a passenger in a Honda Civic that rolled over when the driver lost control in the westbound lane and ended up in the median.
The accident happened just outside St. John's.
The male driver, 21, was released from hospital.
Fundraising efforts have started, with a GoFundMe campaign climbing to $9,000 by late Thursday afternoon.
"It's going to be an outstanding amount of money they are going to need to help her," said Leah Mallory, a co-worker of Pardy's mother, who started the page.
"They have a big extended family — very strong. But of course, this is devastating news to everyone in the family."
Part of the Coffee Matters family
Scott Hillyer fought back tears as he spoke about Pardy and her mother, Sharon.
A longtime employee in baking and catering, Sharon would often bring her daughter along to help out.
"We were really, really close actually," he said of the family.
"From the day we started the company, (Sharon) was there with us … Morgan and her mom are like family to us for sure."
Next Wednesday, March 29, Coffee Matters will donate $1 from every large coffee sold at any of its nine locations. The company will match each dollar donated, up to $1,000.
"We're hoping lots of people will come out in support, buy a large coffee and help us to give back to a family in need."
Money to cover unexpected costs
The GoFundMe campaign has a target of $20,000, but Mallory added that amount could just be the beginning.
The family will eventually need things like a wheelchair, a new vehicle and renovations to their house.
"It's every parent's worst nightmare for sure," Mallory said. "Your whole life can change in a second."
Donations began rolling in immediately after the page went online, with friends and strangers giving what they can to the young woman and her family.
"Everybody has big giving hearts, but everybody had heard about this accident on the highway," Mallory said. "Hearing about a young girl whose life has changed forever, people definitely reach out and want to help."
