Point Teen Was To Walk In Graduation. Now She Just Wants To Walk.

All Kristen Petrolino was doing was pulling out of a parking lot. It was May 5, a Saturday, and the 18-year-old was looking forward to her senior ball, her graduation and the summer.

It was 7:45 a.m. when the Point Pleasant Boro teen, who was driving a silver 2004 Honda Civic, pulled out of the parking lot of the medical offices at 457 Jack Martin Boulevard in Brick.

She moved right into the path of a blue 2002 Ford F350 pickup truck driven by Brad Hagaman, 52, of Brick, police said. Petrolino was trying to turn left at the time, and Hagaman could not stop in time, police said.

Next thing you knew, Kristen had chest and internal injuries. She was at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

There would be no senior ball for her. There will be no graduation walk. Just a family desire for Petrolino to make it through, to walk again and to move on.

She just wanted to walk in graduation. Now she just wants to walk.

"She has a long recovery ahead," her sister, Nicole, said.

The senior ball was on May 24. Graduation will be on June 15. But Kristen and her family already have a long to-do list of things they need to deal with, and the first priority is simply this: Give Kristen what she needs to get back on her feet.

That's why they're asking for help, asking for people to donate through GoFundMe. Only $160 of the $25,000 goal was raised by Friday morning.

(UPDATE: After this story was published, the total raised rose to around $2,000).

Here is what they're looking at: Kristen broke a few of her bones. Her pelvis and knee were shattered. Her collarbones were broken and so were her hand and ribs. Her injuries have required three surgeries so far.

"She will need to go to rehab and learn to walk with her repaired pelvis and knee," he sister said.

Rehab is an hour away from home, Nicole said. Rehab will teach her how to walk again and get her strength back.

As of now, Kristen will not be able to walk for at least 2 months.

"In the rehab right now, she’s laying in bed or in her motorized wheelchair," Nicole said.

Nicole said she and her family miss having her around. Kristen is a very funny and outgoing person who can also be shy and quiet, she said.

Kristen also loves animals, and she's been working at Point Pleasant Animal Hospital for 2 years.

Unfortunately, she won’t be able to work for a long time because of her recovery.

The family has hope, because she’s a very hard worker and she always keeps herself busy. Kristen also loves spending time with her friends outside of school.

"This was supposed to be the best summer for her, and not only the best summer, but the best year," Nicole said.

At the same time, Nicole said, she's very lucky to still have her "one and only sister still alive."

"My family and I are very happy she’ll be able to walk again," she said. "No matter how long it takes her to do fun activities again, at least she’ll be able to do them.

"We are very thankful and blessed she’s going to be okay."

Photo courtesy of GoFundMe, a promotional partner of Patch