Katherine Blaser

Family and friends of Katie Blaser are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with a catastrophic injury. Katie has chosen to fundraise with Help Hope Live in part because donations are tax deductible for contributors and will only be used to cover medical and related expenses.

Here’s Katie’s story-

On January 22, 2024, I was seriously injured in a multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 170. The other driver was traveling too fast for the road conditions at the time, and the collision was severe enough that I was transported by ambulance to Barnes Jewish Hospital.

The accident caused significant damage to several cervical discs in my neck, requiring months of treatment including physical therapy, pain management, and steroid injections. Ultimately my injuries were serious enough to require cervical disc replacement surgery, in which two to three discs were replaced with titanium implants. Following surgery I was required to wear a hard cervical brace day and night for several weeks. The physical and emotional toll of this experience has significantly affected my mental health, including my anxiety and ability to sleep.

Despite the severity of my injuries and the medical bills I have accumulated, the insurance claim was denied. I was offered a settlement that did not even cover my medical expenses, leaving me in an extremely difficult financial position.

I am the sole owner and operator of a small barber business. I have been unable to work for approximately seven weeks and my doctor has indicated I need an additional eight weeks of recovery — roughly 12 weeks. As the only person running my business, I have had no income during this time.

I am humbly requesting assistance to help cover my basic living expenses while I heal.