SANFORD, Fla. – A Sanford family is leaning on their community after the local restaurant owner of Shantell’s Just Until Restaurant & Lounge, Shantell Williams, was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash during Bike Week in Daytona last week.
Her daughter says the night it happened left her and her siblings in tears, and now their mom faces a long and painful road to recovery.
It’s a night Sadiqa Muhammed says she and her 15 siblings will never forget. Their mother, Shantell Williams — the heart of their family — was seriously injured on March 4 after being hit while riding her motorcycle during Bike Week.
Muhammed remembers just how emotional that night was for the family. “Me and my sister, who is here — both our faces were swollen because we were crying all night,” she said.
[WATCH: Shantell Williams serves up some soul, talks to News 6]
Williams survived the crash, but her injuries are severe. Muhammed says doctors had to place plates and rods throughout her mother’s body.
“She has two plates in each shoulder, two rods in her right arm, and one rod in her left,” Muhammed said. “They couldn’t do anything about the shattered breastplate and pelvis.”
Despite the pain, Muhammed says her mother’s spirit hasn’t been broken. “She was even trying to make jokes through the pain,” she said. “She told the cop to take a picture.”
Doctors say the beloved Sanford Restaurant owner’s recovery will take time. “I think the doctor said about six weeks for each broken bone,” Muhammed explained. “And she can’t put any weight on her legs for about eight weeks.”
Now the family is turning to the community for help, launching a GoFundMe to help cover medical expenses during Williams’ recovery. Muhammed says the support they’ve already received has been overwhelming.
“I knew she was loved — but I didn’t know how much,” Muhammed said. “One night we had 60 bikers here.”
The family says they’re hopeful even more people will step up as Williams begins what will be a long road to recovery.
If you’d like to access her GoFundMe, please click HERE.