April 29 at 5:30 p.m., Kim Gardner's life — and the lives of her family and friends — changed forever.

Kim, her son Josh and her mother Helen Hallford were driving on County Road 64 in Loxley in the rain. Suddenly, the car hit a bump in the road and swerved, hitting a tree.

The accident ended Helen's life and severely injured Kim, but Josh, who left the scene unscathed, proved to be a hero that day. He used his mother's cellphone to dial 911 and was able to tell officers about his mother and grandmother's condition.

“If it hadn't been for Josh thinking and doing what he did, we might not be where we're at,” said Kim's brother Chris Hallford, who is a police officer in Flomaton. “I've had so many people that were on that scene — firefighters, police officers and medics — tell me what a great job he did.”

Chris said he and the rest of the family will forever be grateful to the compassionate and skillful first responders who arrived at the scene, including several local volunteer fire departments, police officers, the MedStar crew, the life flight crew and the emergency room nurses and doctors.

Kim was life flighted to the University of South Alabama Medical Center in Mobile, where doctors performed two surgeries within 12 hours to save her life. She later had two two more surgeries, including one to place five plates and 23 pins in her face and to wire her jaw shut.

Miraculously, Kim, who was sitting in the passenger seat during the accident, had no spinal damage and was released from the hospital May 15.

Although her progress has been incredible, Kim has a long road of recovery ahead — her doctors estimate it will take more than 12 weeks for her to recover. She can't put any weight on her legs during the entire recovery.

Kim, who worked a full-time job as a paralegal for Joseph Allen Shaw in Loxley in addition to two part-time jobs before the accident, is worried about how she will pay all of her bills and provide for her children during her recovery.

A few days after the accident, Shaw set up a website, www.helpingkim.com, which allows people to donate any amount to help Kim and her family offset the cost of her medical and regular bills.

The goal is to raise $30,000, and so far, more than $4,000 has been donated. The money is deposited into a trust that will be protected from bill collectors and will not be affected if Kim has to end up applying for disability, said Shaw, who is the trustee.

Kim has always done everything in her power to help others, Shaw said.

“Kim is cared for by a lot of people,” he said. “When we deal with cases here, Kim's heart goes out to those people who are having problems. She is very empathetic with people. Kim goes beyond and does things a paralegal doesn't normally do, and that's because she cares about people.”

Kim said before her accident it was hard for her to accept help from others. She likes to be the one helping and giving.

“I've always had a problem with accepting help,” Kim said. “I've come to the realization that I can't let that be an issue now. I'm stuck, and yeah, we're gonna need help. Before, I was working a full-time job and two part-time jobs, and now I have nothing. When it takes three jobs to make ends meet, that's scary.”

The love and support the family has received so far has been overwhelming. Aside from financial donations, groups have offered to perform home repairs, bring meals, pray, build a wheelchair ramp and just come visit.

“I think that's what's gotten me this far,” Kim said through tears. “I honestly never dreamed I'd be in a situation like this. I don't know how long I'll be like this, and I don't know what to expect. I'm so grateful that there are people I don't even know that have stepped up to the plate and given prayers, thoughts, donations and everything else. ”

How to help Kim

There are three ways to donate financially to help Kim.

• Online at www.helpingkim.com

• At any Citizens' Bank location in Baldwin County (donate to the Kimberly E. Gardner Benefit Trust)

• Mail a check made payable to the Kimberly E. Gardner Benefit Trust to P.O. Box 650, Loxley, AL 36551.