Silver linings exist even in the grimmest circumstances. Through hope and the human spirit, positive outcomes and the beauty of humanity can emerge from dire situations.
On May 11th, Cindy Kroft was in a horrible car accident involving a semi on Route 49 near the toll road. She sustained severe injuries and was airlifted from a local hospital to a trauma center in Illinois. After 2 delicate spinal surgeries and after nearly 2 weeks in the hospital, Cindy is regaining some mobility in her arms and legs.
For Cindy, it's her "work family" who has come together to support her and has pledged their unending support and love throughout her entire recovery session.
Cindy has been an ICU nurse at Porter Regional Hospital for 25 years. Throughout her time working as a nurse she has been known as being compassionate, empathetic, kind, knowledgeable and dedicated to nursing.
"She always has a gentle, optimistic take on life. This overflows in her work with her patients in the ICU," says friend Melissa Rich."When things get hairy, as they often can in the ICU, Cindy is right there saving a life in more ways than one."
When news of Cindy's accident reached her ICU family, a GoFundMe page was started to help the family offset some of the medical bills.
"One of the nurse's husbands volunteered his lawn care company, Alterra landscaping, to mow every week for them," says Rich. "There are also bracelets being made to sell to try to raise money, a cash collection on the unit, and even a spaghetti dinner in the works."
Rich claims that all of these efforts were considered without hesitation from her work family due to the close-knit nature of her co-workers and the unbreakable bond they have formed.
"We are all part of this awesome ICU family. Coworkers have visited and shown their love and support on Cindy's Facebook page, another close friend has kept us all updated on Cindy's progress on our ICU Facebook group," says Rich. "Never have I worked somewhere with the camaraderie and sense of family that we ICU nurses, aides, and secretaries have forged with one another. Through countless hours of overtime, on-call hours, and a just plain busy unit, the staff in this ICU are family."
It's through this support of her friends and co-workers that take this tragic story and turn it into one of hope, love and support.
"We all support Cindy in her recovery. As I have said, she has a long road ahead and we will be with her every step of the way," says Rich "She is a beautiful soul who has dedicated a quarter of a century to helping others in their time of need."
To view Cindy's Go Fund Me Page, please click here.
