GoFundMe Created For Woman Hit By Drunk Driver On Christmas Day

FRANKFORT, IL — A GoFundMe campaign has been created for a Frankfort woman who is recovering from injuries after a drunk driver hit the car she was in on Christmas Day. Emily Buikema, 27, and her boyfriend, Greg, were hit by a drunk driver head-on after the driver swerved into their lane in New Lenox, according to the GoFundMe.

Buikema grew up in Frankfort, and was working at Berkot's Super Foods in Manhattan at the time of the accident.

The GoFundMe has a $50,000 goal and as of March 16, $5,615 had been raised.

According to the GoFundMe, Buikema is still in the hospital and has had six emergency life-saving surgeries for abdominal, leg, vascular and brain injuries. A portion of her skull also had to be removed due to brain swelling, and she had a stroke as a result of her injuries, and has weakness on her left side.

Buikema was in the intensive care unit for a month, according to the GoFundMe. She is now in a specialty hospital and will eventually be moved to a rehabilitation facility.

The GoFundMe is to give financial assistance to Buikema's parents, Howard and Sharon, for the payment of medical bills and Buikema's continued care, which could include a handicapped accessible van and handicapped accessible improvements to their home, according to the GoFundMe.

GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.