NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Weeks after a serious car crash landed her in the hospital, Destinee Roland is still fighting to survive.
In mid-November, she was in the passenger seat of a car, pulled over on I-24 because of a flat tire. That's when an 18-wheeler ran into them.
"That's my - that's my first niece. So I definitely have a soft spot in my heart for her," said her aunt, Erica Woodland.
She said Destinee is still in the ICU trauma unit at Vanderbilt, but that the 27-year-old is a fighter.
"We're survivors," she explained. "I say 'we' because I'm a leukemia survivor. So talking to her is like, you know, I've been here. I've been stuck in the hospital for months. I understand, it's painful. I understand that you don't even know what happened to you."
In the meantime, Destinee has mounting medical bills — not to mention rent and car payments — adding strain to an already stressful situation. But Erica thinks you could help.
"We know that people have good hearts. I feel that people have good hearts," she said, adding they have a GoFundMe where people can donate.
"I love her. I love you, Destinee; I will always love you," concluded Erica.
In addition to financial help, Erica said they could also use your prayers during this time.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at nikki.hauser@newschannel5.com.
This is a story I immediately went home and showed my boys - young athletes with big dreams. The Vanderbilt football team's success has stolen the spotlight - what I love about Steve Layman's story is he reveals the individual hardships it took to get there. As Clark Lea says, "we all have scuff marks." This team proves perseverance pays off!
- Carrie Sharp
