Pop superstar Taylor Swift has made a substantial $50,000 donation to the GoFundMe campaign for Ashley Taunton, a mother of three from Rhode Island who sustained critical injuries in July. The contribution has brought Taunton's fundraising goal closer to completion.
Taunton, 42, was injured on July 18 after stopping to help teenagers who had crashed their vehicle on I-95 South during inclement weather. While attempting to assist the teens out of the rain, she was struck by another car that had hydroplaned.
Her injuries included bilateral internal carotid artery dissection, lacerations to her liver and spleen, multiple rib fractures, and a ruptured diaphragm. Taunton, a certified nursing assistant, is undergoing physical therapy, which she anticipates could take up to a year.
"It is so surreal to have someone of her status do something so kind and generous for a regular person," Taunton told People magazine. She noted that she and her husband work at a hotel on Misquamicut Beach and can see Swift's house from their workplace, adding that Swift's music is frequently played there.
"It has been an overwhelming blessing and we are so grateful," Taunton said.
With Swift's donation, Taunton's GoFundMe, established by her friend Laura Ortelt, has surpassed $91,000 toward its $110,000 target. The funds are intended to cover medical bills and other associated expenses, allowing Taunton to focus on her recovery.
Taunton described the initial moments after the accident as feeling like a "big explosion." She recounted being on the ground, unable to breathe, with her ankle visibly injured, as her daughter rushed to her side.
"These donations will help us manage bills and care for our animals and children so I can focus on healing," Taunton stated.
