In October 2022, the Swiger family from Gulf Shores, Alabama, faced a life-altering moment when their daughter, Kristen, was involved in a serious car accident. The journey that followed was filled with both challenges and triumphs, ending with a major miracle.
On October 27, 2022, Kristen was involved in a car accident caused by an elderly driver going the wrong way on the interstate. The Swiger family received a call around 3 pm about the accident, not fully aware of the extent of Kristen's injuries. Kristen was initially taken to Baptist South in Montgomery and later transferred to UAB in Birmingham. The injuries were extensive, ranging from orthopedic issues to pneumonia, multiple broken bones in her face and body, extensive back injuries, a lacerated liver, a bruised kidney, and various complications. It was a miracle Kristen survived the accident.
Kristen spent three months in the ICU, facing challenges such as a spinal fluid leak, kidney failure, and two surgeries on her spine. During her second lumbar drain, she developed a clot in her lung, which was very scary. Kristen developed a rash that the doctors could not identify. They finally diagnosed her with DRESS, which was a severe drug reaction to the antibiotics she had been on for months. Once they treated the drug reaction, she finally started to improve.
The road to recovery was arduous but the Swiger family navigated the complexities with resilience and hope. Kristen lost a lot of weight from being in the ICU bed for so long, so when she started to get better, it took a lot to get her out of bed and back on her feet.
Amid the medical crisis, the Swiger family found themselves in need of housing near UAB. The financial strain of hotel expenses and uncertainty about the duration of their stay added to the family's stress. The Swigers are from a very large, tight-knit family, and everyone wanted to be in Birmingham to support Kristen, Angie, and David, which just doesn't work space-wise in a hotel.
"We had a hotel room right there next to the hospital, which wasn't cheap, and had to send our kids and family home. I knew everybody wanted to be here, but we couldn't have everybody in hotels. We needed to figure something else out, and we really didn't know what we were going to do."
The turning point came when a friend, Ben, and a family from Gulf Shores who had a relative stay with RMG, the Burkes, recommended Red Mountain Grace.
"We honestly assumed we were not going to qualify or that there were probably people who needed it more than we did or longer than we did. We didn't know how long we were going to be in Birmingham. Every time we thought we were getting out of the woods, something else would pop up that would keep us there longer."
Within 24 hours of reaching out to Red Mountain Grace, we connected with David. Soon after, the family found themselves with a comfortable and affordable apartment, providing them with a much-needed sanctuary during Kristen's hospitalization. The apartment became a haven where family members could gather, offering a sense of normalcy during a challenging time.
"We walked into that apartment, and we didn't know what to expect. We're just not used to being on the receiving end of that kind of charity. It was so nice and comfortable. To be able to leave the hospital at night and go there and have a place where we could just sit and have a cup of coffee and gather ourselves together for the next day, it was a godsend for us, it really was. I don't know what we would have done without it, I really don't."
The Swiger family expressed profound gratitude for the support they received from Red Mountain Grace. The organization's hospitality went beyond providing housing; it became a lifeline that allowed the family to focus on Kristen's recovery without the additional burden of accommodation concerns.
Christmas and Thanksgiving became meaningful celebrations as the family gathered in the apartment, creating cherished memories despite the challenging circ*mstances. The Swigers emphasized the importance of having a stable and supportive environment during Kristen's recovery, and Red Mountain Grace played a crucial role in making that possible.
"Our boys would come up to see her as often as they could. They finally had a place to stay when they came up, and we could all be there as a family at night. We would go to the hospital at nine o'clock in the morning and stay there until around ten o'clock at night, until she was stable and we felt comfortable leaving her for the night, and go back to our little apartment and sleep and get up and do it again the next day. We did that for 70 days. We had a little makeshift Christmas, just trying to give our family some level of normalcy in a very abnormal situation. It was beautiful."
Despite the numerous setbacks and complications, Kristen surprised everyone with her resilience and determination.
"When Kristen got out of the hospital, we had a few days with her in the apartment. We were able to follow up with her doctors. It was a lifesaver for us. Afterward, we told a thousand people about Red Mountain Grace about how we couldn't believe the generosity of what y'all do."
Our operations coordinator, Natalie, was able to meet Kristen before the Swigers headed back home, one of the most impactful memories of 2023 for Natalie.
"The Swigers came by the office. I had never been able to meet Kristen, but we had been majorly praying for her recovery. Her family would share with me when she wasn't doing well, how they didn't know what her outcome would be, but always told me how strong Kristen was. I met Angie at her car and didn't know Kristen was with her. Kristen opened the door and stood up with her crutches to give me a hug. There were tears and a sweet embrace with answered prayers."
Kristen not only recovered ahead of schedule but also resumed activities such as CrossFit, hiking, and biking. Celebrating her 34th birthday took on special significance, marking a milestone in her remarkable journey of healing. She's looking forward to traveling again.
The Swiger family's experience is a testament to the transformative impact of gracious hospitality. In the face of tragedy, the support provided by our community allowed the Swigers to be together and focus on what mattered most: Kristen's recovery. Their story serves as an inspiration and a reminder of the goodness that emerges even in the most challenging times, thanks to the compassion and generosity of our RMG community.
The Swigers are grateful to be spending this holiday season together at home. They recently chose to give back to Red Mountain Grace, providing our current guests with gracious hospitality. We are grateful for Kristen’s miracle and the famili’s generosity.
