A fundraising effort is growing for a Virginia teenager critically injured in a car crash.
Christina Maenza of Prince William County was airlifted from a crash scene on Route 29 in Fauquier County earlier this month.
When an app told Bill Maenza his 16-year-old daughter’s car was at a standstill at a dangerous intersection, he drove to the scene to investigate.
“You walk up and see your own vehicle completely destroyed and your daughter is nowhere to be found,” he said.
Christina had been flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital, and Bill Maenza and his wife rushed to the hospital.
“She was in pretty bad shape,” he said. “She was in a coma at the time.”
She suffered broken bones and internal injuries. Her family’s biggest worry is her head injury.
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“It’s amazing that she survived the accident at all,” her father said.
Christina is one of five siblings, and her oldest brother set up a GoFundMe page to help with medical bills. The contributions and messages help raise the family’s spirits.
“It has really lifted us up,” Bill Maenza said. “Without everybody’s support and our faith, I don’t know if we would’ve have been able to endure all this.”
There are encouraging moments, like when her sister visited recently.
“Her older sister waved to her, and she was able to raise her hand and wave back, and it meant a lot,” her father said.
Christina’s friends from Brentsville District High School brought her a picture board when they visited.
“I just want her to get better,” friend Kendall McCann said. “And I don’t want her to worry about anything — school or anything else that’s been going on.”
Christina won’t have to worry about finishing the school year. Because she is such a strong student, the principal is giving her full credit and straight As.
“She’s got a lot of fight in her,” her father said. “She’s very strong willed and determined, and we’re confident she’s going to pull through.”