Local residents are being called on to help support an Oxford woman who is in need following a near fatal car accident she was involved in back in March.
American Legion Post #108 in Oxford is hosting a dinner to benefit Franny Strokes, who sustained life-threatening injuries when she was the passenger in a vehicle that was struck March 19 while making a left turn into the Golden Nugget restaurant.
After colliding, the two cars came to rest in the parking lot of the Nugget.
‘They thought the third lane was clear and they got creamed,? said Marlene Stokes, the mother of Franny.
The dinner will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 16. The cost is $15 at the door. The benefit will help cover medical expenses and household bills because Franny does not have any health insurance and only cleaned a couple of houses for a living.
According to Marlene, Franny suffered a fractured pelvic bone, a bruised bladder, several broken ribs, an unknown neck injury and a broken tailbone.
She also suffered a torn aortic artery, which was found after she was taken to POH in Oxford immediately following the accident.
Upon discovery, paramedics rushed her to Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak to have a stint put in.
In addition to the injuries that she suffered, doctors at Beaumont had to put a rod through her knee in order to put weight on it and she was on a breathing machine for three days because of the broken ribs.
Marlene said that Franny was getting better, but the process was slow-going.
‘She’s slowly getting better, but she hasn’t been on her feet because of the stabilizer bar,? Marlene said. She added that Franny would have to go through numerous physical therapy sessions to relearn how to walk.
Franny is expected to stay at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Pontiac through June.
‘She goes back to Beaumont to have the bar taken out, but from there we are not sure if she is going back to St. Joe’s or if they might put her in Crittenton for the physical therapy part,? Marlene added.
In addition to the dinner, there will be a 50/50 raffle and silent auction to raise additional money.
Auction items include his and her mountain bikes, homemade jewelry, coupons for massages, manicures, a barbecue grill, gift certificates to restaurants around Oxford, a leather biking vest and some bath lotions.
‘We would like to thank everyone for all of their prayers and for pitching in and helping put it on and for the Legion having it and for all of the donations that have been going into their fund,? Marlene said.
Donations to the Franny Stokes Fund are also being accepted at Oxford Bank on 60 S. Washington St. in Oxford.