By WENDY REUER
wreuer@owatonna.com
OWATONNA — Molly Schiller’s family and friends are her life. Now, they’re helping her fight for it.
Schiller, 24, was injured in a head-on car accident on Feb. 23 just outside Owatonna on Lemond Road.
Roads quickly became icy and dangerous that afternoon, and the cause of the crash has not yet been determined. The driver and passenger of a second car were also injured in the accident.
Schiller was unconscious when first responders arrived on scene. Due to the weather, air support could not arrive to the accident and Schiller was taken to the Owatonna Hospital by ground ambulance and later transported to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester.
A CT scan determined that Schiller sustained severe head injuries, though she had no broken bones or internal injuries. The same day as the accident, Schiller went into surgery to have a bone flap removed from the left side of her skull to help alleviate the pressure.
“She’s still in a coma. She is doing some breathing on her own, so that is a good thing. She’s making some small movements,” her mother, Vesta Schiller, said Tuesday. “It’s a waiting game, and it’s going to take lots of time.”
Schiller’s family has been at the Rochester hospital every day since the accident, including her father, Ken, and mother, Vesta, who works with Schiller at Truth Hardware.
“The community, friends family, they have been absolutely amazing. We can’t thank them enough for their prayers and their support,” Vesta Schiller said.
Vesta Schiller describes her daughter as someone who puts her whole heart into her life.
“Molly is fun-loving, a free spirit, strong willed,” Vesta said. “When she does something, she does it 100 percent.”
Between Schiller’s sister and brother, she has three nieces — girls who were a big part of her life.
She added Schiller loved being an aunt and spending time with her nieces. She also loved her job.
“She had talked about going back to better her education for her career at Truth. She loved her job,” Vesta Schiller said.
Schiller is a second shift E-Coat Supervisor at Truth Hardware.
“We were extremely saddened to hear about Molly’s accident. She is greatly missed and we wish her a complete and speedy recovery,” Jerry Urness, director of human resources at Truth Hardware.
Employees of Truth are rallying to show their support for the Schillers as well, setting up a fund for Molly through First National Bank in Hope.
“I got a phone call, and I was to call them back and HR told me what they were going to do. I was totally shocked and just amazed at what they are doing. Truth has been so good to both of us throughout this. It’s just a fabulous place to work,” Vesta said.
Although Vesta has not been back to work since the accident, she will be returning for half days this week. She admits, as friends and family want for Molly to wake up from the coma, all they can do is wait.
“It’s kind of a wait and see. Sadly, I realize that life goes on, and we do have to get some normalcy back. That is what Molly would want. It’s hard to do,” Schiller said.
The account set up to help the family with transportation, food and any additional expenses that they may incur.
To contribute, send donations to:
Benefit for Molly Schiller, c/o First National Bank, 9087 SW 37th Avenue, Hope, MN 56046.
A CaringBridge Web site has also been set up for Schiller which reports regular updates and allows for family or friends to send messages for Molly Schiller.
“That has been a fabulous Web site for us to get information out to friends and family,” Schiller said.
The Web site is www.caringbridge.org/visit/mollyschiller
Wendy Reuer can be reached at 444-1565.
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