Family’s lives change in an instant

It is a miracle Molly Riese is alive. On Feb. 6, Molly’s life changed forever after she was severely injured in a car crash. 
Despite all the broken bones, surgeries and hours of physical therapy she wants to make sure people know the positive part of her story rather than just the negative. 
“I sat there and saw all of my broken bones; I was freaking out. Someone sat in the front seat and just tried to keep me awake. I couldn’t see anything going on around me because I was so far down in the car,” Molly said. “I honestly sat in that car thinking I was going to die.” 
Molly, 23, graduated from K-M High School in 2009 and graduated from Winona State University in 2013 with a degree in nursing. She had been working as a nurse at the Mayo Clinic for a year and enjoyed everything outdoors such as hiking and biking, until everything she knew was swept away from underneath her in an instant. 
That evening she was driving to her parents’ house for dinner in Mantorville from her place in Rochester. As she was traveling on County Road 5 near Oxbow Park in Byron, she was hit head on by a vehicle that was attempting to pass another vehicle in a no-passing zone. 
“It is the most trauma a parent can go through besides the ultimate worst thing: death. To watch your daughter moan in pain day after day and not being able to do anything,” said Molly’s mother, Diane. “Your life changes the moment you get that phone call. It is the most horrific thing when the deputy says, ‘Come to the hospital; your daughter was in a serious car accident,’ you don’t hear anything after that.” 
Although Molly was unconscious for the actual point of impact, she was awake for the two hours it took rescue personnel to cut her out of her car. Molly was airlifted to the Mayo Clinic and underwent emergency surgery. 
Molly was extremely lucky to survive the crash, as there was only a 4 percent chance of her surviving. She suffered 20 broken bones, underwent six surgeries within her first ten days in the hospital and stayed in the hospital for a month. Surgeons and doctors referred to Molly as a “ragdoll,” “superstar” and a “miracle.” 
To make matters even worse, the driver of the other vehicle gave police false information, had no driver’s license or insurance and is still on the run from police, leaving Molly financially responsible for thousands of dollars of accumulating  in medical bills. 
“It has been a headache. I am angry about it but I have to let that go and focus on my recovery. I have to pay out of pocket for something I didn’t cause and never would’ve wanted for myself,” Molly said. “I need to put it in the past and forgive and that is what I have been trying really hard to work on. I want to make this horrible thing a positive thing.” 
Through it all, Molly has found an inner strength she never knew she had and been overwhelmed by the amount of support her and her family have received. 
“Throughout this whole thing, we’ve really not heard her complain because she is so thankful she is alive,” Diane said. “The love and support of everyone that has rallied with Molly has got us three (herself, Steve, Molly’s father and Molly) through the toughest time of our lives.” 
Molly averages two hours of physical rehab a day and might have to undergo yet another surgery to fix her still torn ACL. Doctors have told Molly she has made a 75 percent recovery of her physical abilities and estimate it will take her at least another two years to recover her full potential. This is the hardest part for Molly, not being able to do all the activities she once did, or ordinary things such as going up the stairs or getting out of bed. 
“I feel like I’ve plateaued; I don’t see the progress every day now. It is hard to keep going when I don’t see that but other people see it,” Molly said. 
Lately the challenge for Molly has been recovering mentally and emotionally rather than physically. She suffers with anger, sadness and has nightmares as well as flashbacks of the accident. 
“During the first few months pain was all consuming, I really didn’t think about a lot,” Molly said. “The emotional and mental part hit me months after the accident and it all set in that I am going to have to adjust to a new normal. You never think something like this could happen to you.” 
Molly says she has had many positive things happen as a result of this, including the support from others and a new outlook on life. “I have learned to take less stuff for granted, because I realize how fragile life is,” she said. 
Molly is doing well although she still gets frustrated that she is not recovering as fast as she would like. She hopes to return to work on a part-time basis in a desk-type position. 
The family offers the following advice to other families who may be going through similar situations or will in the future. 
“Lean on family and friends, ask for help. Let the law take care of (the other person) and concentrate on your loved one,” Diane said. “We are keeping our heart open to heal and not focusing on the individual who hit Molly; the law will take care of him, or karma.” 
Molly added, “Take it day-by-day.” 
Steve also added, “Be strong, thank God and keep your spirits up.” 
Molly’s Benefit
To help Molly with her accumulating cost of medical bills, there will be a benefit on Friday, Aug. 21 from 4:30 to 11 p.m. at the Zumbro Valley Golf Course in Mantorville. 
Allyssa Rehm, a co-worker of Molly’s, wanted to organize the benefit as a pay-it-forward. Rehm’s father was in a farm accident last fall and, after the accident, the family received an outpouring of support from people they knew and strangers alike. 
“It was so emotionally overwhelming to be there and witness everyone helping. There were people that we had no idea who they were but they just wanted to help,” Rehm said. “That feeling is what I wanted to bring Molly. It is a pay it forward for what my family received because if that was me I would hope that somebody would do that for me if I was in that position.” 
The benefit will feature a BBQ dinner, speeches by Molly and her family, raffle drawings, t-shirt sales, DJ, rock climbing wall, yard games and a bake sale along with a canned good sale. 
“I want it to be just a huge party to celebrate my life because I truly feel like it is a second chance,” Molly said. Not to mention, the benefit is two days after her 24th birthday. 
The benefit has 55 volunteers involved along with 15 golf course staff. Rehm says they are hoping for more than 800 to attend. All the proceeds, with the exception of minimal set up costs, will go directly to Molly. 
Molly and her family are incredibly thankful to Rehm and the other volunteers who have stepped up to help with the event. 
“It shows that we are surrounded by people in the community, friends, family, businesses,” Diane said. “Everybody has a sister, a niece, an aunt… it could have been any one of them in that car and everyone is reaching out big time.” 
Steve added, “In the goofy world we live in today, it shows me that there are a lot of great people in this world.”