On Friday, 28 March 2025, our world changed forever…
My niece, Carissa, was involved in a catastrophic vehicle accident.
Instead of celebrating her 22nd birthday, she was thrown from the back of a motorcycle into a concrete embankment when a car drove through a red light and veered across 3 lanes of traffic.
The driver was uninsured, without a license, and fled the scene with her 2 passengers. She was later apprehended and two days later released on $500 bail. The case has yet to be brought to trial.
Carissa sustained an open fracture to her leg, a broken arm, multiple facial fractures, and serious trauma to the right hemisphere of her brain. The prognosis was nothing but grim.
Almost a year later, she continues to defy all odds and progresses ever so slowly.
She remains in a wheelchair and is fed through a tube in her stomach.
Her mom and grandmother provide 24/7 care.
We were told within hours of her accident that if she survived, it would be years, if not decades, of recovery and rehabilitation.
Where there is tragedy, there is always the power of the human spirit to step in and bring light.
In my 23 years of designing and teaching, I have learned that what we do here is more than just memory-keeping.
The artistry, photos, and words have the power to heal, not just in our own lives but also in others.
And so this is where we come in as designers and memory-keepers…
Shortly after the accident, I set up a GoFundMe page to help with hospital expenses.
So many people have made generous donations, but I love to do more to assist in the ongoing care and support of my niece.
The expenses for my sister-in-law continue to mount. She is currently residing with her parents, who live in a 2-bed ranch home.
Patti is separated from her husband and is sleeping in a closet to care 24/7 for Carissa.
As designers, we may not speak often, but we’ve always come together to support each other when help is needed.
This is one of those times.
I’m hosting a charity digital art bundle to raise money for Carissa’s ongoing expenses.
I hope you’ll join me.
My goals are big. My dream would be to raise $10,000 for Carissa.
I believe we can do this by providing an amazing bundle for our customers.
Get all of the details and register on the Carissa Sign Up page.
If you can’t participate, please share this page with your fellow designers.
Thank you for visiting,
Anna