A heartbreaking auto accident story reveals the burdens a family faces when one of them is catastrophically injured in a crash. Megan Crawford was on a road trip with her best friend when their car was hit head on by a diver going the wrong way on I-75 near Richmond, Kentucky. Megan's friend and the driver of the other car were killed. Megan was catastrophically injured.

Many people would not have survived the massive injuries Megan sustained in the July 2011 crash: broken bones that included both legs, a kneecap, ankle, elbow, hips, pelvis, arm, jaw and neck vertebrae. Her lungs were badly bruised. She suffered a traumatic brain injury.

She has had 14 surgeries since the accident and will soon begin rehab in Chicago. Her family -- parents and five siblings and their in-laws -- have been in Kentucky for many days and weeks while Megan has begun her slow recovery. They will be holding benefits to help pay for her care and the secondary costs, such as their many trips from Illinois to Kentucky.

They have all lost time from work, have had to pay for meals and hotels, and are trying to modify their home to accommodate Mary's wheelchair. And the medical costs will be staggering. Mary is likely to lose her insurance coverage on her parents' health insurance policies when she turns 26. The financial future of the family is uncertain.

Source: Peroria Journal Star, "Metamora woman fights to regain her life after deadly Kentucky crash", by Jennifer Towery, Oct. 15, 2011.