Calgary mother journeying to heal after losing daughter in Boxing Day crash

A Calgary woman is speaking out about the emotional and physical pain she continues to struggle with in the wake of a Boxing Day crash that left her without one of her daughters.

Less than two months ago, Amanda Desjardins and her daughters Madison and Victoria were on their way to an appointment when their car, as well as four others, was violently struck by another vehicle.

The driver, allegedly on the run after robbing a pharmacy in southeast Calgary, ran a red light at Macleod Trail and Southland Drive before plowing into the vehicles.

Four people were rushed to hospital in critical condition where 9-year-old Victoria later died.

“With the impact and everything like that, I was knocked unconscious, so Madison’s screams plays in my head quite often,” says Amanda, speaking to CityNews a block away from where Victoria attended elementary school.

Physically Amanda’s recovery is progressing — she’s moved on from a wheelchair to using a cane. Her one surviving daughter also recovering with her neck brace now removed.

“It means so much more that, for her to do something with me now, like it’s more meaningful now, you don’t realize how much you take for granted,” says Amanda.

She says more time needs to pass for her to recover emotionally, adding she is constantly reminded of Victoria by sights and sounds in their neighbourhood — including walking by the monkey bars where her daughter used to love to play.

“I mean she’d come home with blisters all over her hands,” she says. “And that’s all she’d do, before school, after school, during school, it was monkey bars.”

With strength from her husband, daughter, and family, Amanda says she is overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from Calgarians and people across the country for a family that two months ago was whole.

A GoFundMe that was set up for the Desjardins’ in the wake of the crash has surpassed its goal of $200,000.

The 30-year-old driver who police allege caused the crash is facing 11 charges, including robbery, theft of a motor vehicle, and dangerous driving causing bodily harm and death.