Maisie Boland of Guerneville was just three days into her freshman year at Chico State University when a car accident left her paralyzed from the ribs down.

Now, family, friends and members of the Sonoma County community are rallying behind 18-year-old Boland and her family and raising money to support her recovery.

A GoFundMe the page started by family and friends brought in more than 2,000 donations totaling more than $217,000.

“Friends, relatives and perfect strangers donated,” said Maisie’s father, Shawn Boland. “These people do so many beautiful things. It is simply amazing. It really restored my faith in humanity.”

He said the family nicknamed Maisie ‘Bird’ when she was young and described her as his ‘Mini-Me’ who grew up to be ‘very independent’.

“Our little bird finally left the nest only to break its wings,” he said.

Boland was one of five people in a car that apparently took a turn too fast and crashed into a boulder. The car overturned on impact and Maisie was the only one with serious injuries, her father said. The 18-year-old driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI.

After the accident, Boland spent months in the hospital and in rehabilitation facilities, undergoing multiple surgeries to insert plates in his spine and a pacemaker in his heart.

In moments, her life changed dramatically, her father said.

In late October, Boland was cleared to go home and is staying with her grandparents in Walnut Creek as the family’s home in Guerneville is updated to be more accessible for her motorized wheelchair. They are also installing an elevator – a project estimated to cost tens of thousands of dollars.

“I don’t know how we would do it without people’s support,” Shawn Boland said. “I don’t know if we could have kept our house if we hadn’t had so much support.”

Shawn Boland said he learned how to listen to Maisie’s needs and allow her to experience her full range of emotions.

“Be strong enough to let them evacuate,” he said. “Be their safe place.”

Maisie’s recovery will be a long journey, but her parents and brother are with her “around the clock” to support her, the GoFundMe page said.

Saturday, November 9, the Rio Nido Roadhouse hosts the annual Chili Cook Off, and this year, the money raised in their auction will be donated to the Boland family to support her recovery. The family plans to attend.

“She’s extraordinary,” Boland said. “Her strength going through it is really impressive. She is better than me.”

Contact writer Anna Armstrong at 707-521-5255 or [email protected]. On X (Twitter) @annavarmstrongg.