When Maria Wyatt, a migrant advocate at Bryan Elementary, found out that the family of one of her students was in serious trouble, she couldn’t just stand by without helping.
Migrant families have been arriving in Plant City throughout the past month for the strawberry growing season. The family had been in Michigan for the summer and was on its way to Plant City in mid-November, when tragedy struck.
“They got t-boned by another vehicle and the car flipped several times,” Wyatt said.
The car held a husband and wife, and their three sons. The middle son, who would be a freshman at Strawberry Crest High School this year, was thrown from the car, suffering a crushed pelvis and other injuries. He has had three surgeries to date.
For a few weeks, the rest of the family stayed at a hotel near the hospital while the middle son was going through treatments. But, they were in a race against time and limited funds.
“Because there’s no harvest up there, there’s nothing for them to do,” Wyatt said.
The family decided to split up. Because the mother does not speak fluent English, the oldest son, who has finished school, will stay with her in Michigan, to serve as a translator and interpreter. The father hopes to return to Plant City with the youngest son, Wyatt’s student at Bryan, so he can work and the boy can return to school.
After the hospital’s social worker talked to the family and discovered that the youngest son had known Wyatt for all five of his years at Bryan, she called Wyatt to ask how she might be able to help.
“I said, ‘The only thing I can do is think of how to raise some funds for the family,’” Wyatt said.
She also will be reaching out to local civic clubs to find out whether they can join the mission.
“Anything the community can do to help would be greatly appreciated,” Wyatt said.
Wyatt has set up an online fundraising page, with a goal of $2,000. One agency has donated $500 to help cover the family’s hotel costs, but the biggest expense they face at this point is that of a car, so that the father and youngest son can travel back to Plant City. Their old car was destroyed in the crash.
To donate, visit FundMe.com/en/projects/12707-Migrant-family—Child-in-hospital.
Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver.com.