WEST VALLEY — Former classmates and teachers at West Valley Central School have joined family and friends of Lindsey Thomas to support the 2009 West Valley graduate who is recovering from a mid-May car accident.
Thomas, a district manager at Vector Marketing, was T-boned on Broadway Road in Alden on May 18, according to her mother, Brenda Thomas. Her mother said Lindsey was unconscious at the scene and in a coma for two weeks.
The accident necessitated surgery to remove a clot from her brain. Lindsey also suffered a lacerated spleen and broken pelvis. She remains in the trauma intensive care unit at Erie County Medical Center and on Sunday a shunt was installed to relieve pressure on her brain.
“She is now opening her eyes but they are considering her very, very critical but stable,” Brenda said.
One of the images circulating on social media is Lindsey with makeup and a hairstyle to look like a warrior. It’s a fitting image for the fight she is up against now, her mother said.
“On Monday (of last week) her doctor told us she may never wake up again,” she noted. “The very next day, she opened her eyes. She’s a fighter.”
Further proof of that attitude was shared on Facebook on Monday, when Lindsey’s boyfriend, Ryan Williams, posted a photo of Lindsey’s hand reaching for Williams, who was by her bedside.
But with Lindsey still not completely responsive to those around her, the family seems to have more questions than answers about Lindsey’s future. She’ll need additional surgeries — including some on her skull and her stomach — and is expected to stay in the trauma ICU for another week at least.
Brenda added they expect to be at ECMC for at least five more weeks.
Miles away and in the world of social media, friends, family and community members have rallied to raise money, thoughts and prayers for Lindsey. Two fundraising efforts are online — one on Facebook and one via the fundraising website, GoFundMe.
“It’s been unbelieveable,” Brenda said of the support. “Everyone has been so kind I don’t know how to thank everybody. It’s so appreciated from the bottom of our hearts.”
Brenda said she is grateful for the support because the family and Lindsey are now entering a world of unknowns.
“Nobody really knows until she wakes up,” she said about Lindsey’s condition. “Right now there are no answers.”
Lindsey had recently opened her own office in Fredonia and was working on getting an apartment there. Her family, with whom she had recently resided, lives in Delevan.
In addition to the online fundraisers, a group of Lindsey’s classmates and family members are organizing a Chinese auction benefit. A date has not yet been established but those who would like to donate money, baskets or auction items are asked to email keepfightingLMT22@yahoo.com or call/text (716) 353-6278.
Those with a Facebook connection to Lindsey have likely seen the “Help for Lindsey” fundraiser appear on their news feeds. The effort was organized by Lindsey’s boyfriend’s father.
The general public is invited to donate to the GoFundMe account by visiting gofundme.com/support-for-lindsey-thomas.
(Contact managing editor Rich Place at rplacesp@gmail.com.)
