SALEM, VA – Kara Musil wasn’t sure Christmas would come for her family this year.
“Between being home with our daughter, being here at the hospital making sure he gets the care he needs. Trying to navigate the holidays is always difficult as a parent anyway,” Kara said.
Her husband Craig is the rock of their family - but that foundation came crumbling down during Hurricane Helene.
Craig was driving his route when all of a sudden a tree came crashing down onto the roof of his mail truck, severely injuring him. The accident left him paralyzed.
“We’ve had some ups and downs,” Kara said.
Craig is in rehab at LewisGale - working towards recovery.
But with Craig as the sole provider and Kara seven months pregnant, it’s put a strain on their family.
“It might not look the same as it has in years prior,” Kara said.
But as Christmas gets closer - the staff at LewisGale hasn’t just provided care - but the Christmas spirit this family needed.
Elise Manning is the program director for in-patient rehab. She tells 10 News the whole floor was touched by the Musil’s story.
“You can’t help but feel like you need to help them. The staff really came up with this idea of what if we provide Christmas for them,” Manning said.
Hospital rooms are typically sterile, and void of decorations due to health risks.
But the staff was able to get approval to put up a tree in Craig’s room.
“I wouldn’t have been able to get a tree, put it up, decorate it at home, and help him be a part of it,” Kara said.
Their daughter Karleigh decorated the entire tree herself, sharing a moment with her dad Kara didn’t think she’d get to have.
“At least she still has Christmas,” Kara said.
But it doesn’t end there.
The nurses and staff on the floor worked together to get gifts for every member of the family.
“We checked off every single item on that list,” Manning said.
Kara and the nurses wrapped all of the gifts together.
For their daughter Karleigh - Santa is visiting both home and the hospital - but the best gift? Having her dad be a part of it.
“She is very proud of her tree, and I think she did a fantastic job decorating our Christmas tree. She says ‘Daddy! Look at my Christmas tree!’ every day,” Kara said.
If you would like to donate to the Musil’s and Craig’s recovery, you can find their GoFundMe here.
