Letter to the Editor: Help Mya and her family through this tragic time

Dear Editor,

My family was born and raised in Botetourt County, and I’m proud to call it home. A lot has changed for us over the years. We’ve lost our grandparents, parents, a sibling, but nothing prepared us for the tragic loss we just experienced.

On May 19th 2020, my brother’s son and both of his granddaughter’s were in a horrific accident. My nephew 31, was killed instantly and both his daughter’s ages 8 and 6 were seriously injured when a woman crossed a double yellow line, striking them head on. She had been released from jail because of Covid-19. The driver has been charged on numerous counts and will appear in court in August.

Both girls were taken to the hospital and one remains hospitalized and will more than likely continue to remain there for months or maybe even years. The youngest will require several more surgeries throughout her life due to her injuries. The eldest was decapitated internally and has undergone 19 surgeries and she is unable to walk, talk, breath without a tracheotomy, or eat so she has a feeding tube.

My nephew was a single father who lived in Craig County with his daughters and he was their soul source of income. He loved his girls and cared for them like nothing I’d ever seen before. My nephews’ obituary described him and his love for his daughters perfectly. There hasn’t been any type of service for him due to Covid-19, and because our family wanted his eldest daughter to be able to attend. She still isn’t aware of his death. She thinks he can’t visit because of Covid-19. She is dealing with so much medically and doesn’t understand why her family isn’t coming to her. She wants to get up and doesn’t understand why she can’t and she wants to know how much longer it will be before she can. She spent her 9th birthday in the hospital.

The girls will live with their grandmother who hasn’t worked since that day and has been at the hospital with her eldest granddaughter daily. Because of Covid-19 only two people are allowed to visit my niece, and once two people are identified as such it cannot be changed, and so my brother hasn’t seen his eldest granddaughter since before the day of the accident. My nephew and the girls were traveling from New Castle to Moneta to visit their Dad and Grandfather that day. My brother is receiving total disability due to a back injury years ago and he is devastated.

We want to thank everyone for keeping our family in your thoughts and prayers as we go through this journey. Thank you for donating to their Go Fund Me page http://gf.me/u/x3iqi6 which hopefully will  provide enough money to buy them a wheelchair accessible vehicle so the eldest won’t be isolated at home, and so they have enough to sustain them throughout their lives. Your generosity and kindness are appreciated. We couldn’t do this without your encouragement and support. We wish you well!

Thank you,

Mitzi Huffman Tuck