In the early morning of July 28, 2007, Christy Pickford, 21, walked down the railroad tracks, following them to her home on Mark Street in Winona, Minn, She was separated from her friends and decided to lie down by the tracks to wait for them. At 3:25 a.m. Pickford was struck by a train near the Sioux Street crossing.
Pickford was then rushed to the Winona Health Community Memorial Hospital, and soon after, was transferred to Gunderson Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wis. She remained in a coma for weeks. She later gained partial consciousness and showed signs of responsiveness.
After spending weeks in intensive care at Gunderson Lutheran, Pickford was transferred to a rehabilitation center in the Twin Cities and now is recovering in a facility in Red Wing, Minn.
A website from CaringBridge was set up by Pickford’s older sister, Kelly.
“I decided to set this up when a nurse here at the hospital referenced this site,” said Kelly. “I took one look and thought this would be a great way to send Christy our love...from all over.”
On the website, guests can read updated information on Christy’s status, sign the guest book with messages to Christy and her family, see photos, make tributes and make donations to the Pickford family to cover hospital expenses. As of Feb. 15, her website had been visited over 47,900 times.
Pickford grew up in Minnetonka, Minn. and attended Saint Mary’s University in Winona.
“Christy would have been a senior this year and was a graphic design major,” said Lindsay DeLaRosby, a graduate of Saint Mary’s University and friend to Pickford.
Since the accident, Pickford’s peers from Saint Mary’s University have hosted a variety of events such as a benefit auction in November 2007. Another benefit, The Christy Pickford benefit, will take place at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Big River Room.
“I am putting on this benefit to help Christy and her family with the medical bills,” said DeLaRosby. “I hope that we will have a great turn out for this event.”
The event will feature the Tim Sigler Band from St. Paul, Minn., with the opening act of The Wet Bandits. Tickets are $15 with a Saint Mary’s or Winona State student ID, $20 for a non-student and $25 at the door.
For tickets or more information concerning Pickford or The Christy Pickford Benefit contack DeLaRosby at ldelaros@gac.edu or at 218-340-0458, Kelly Pickford at kapick01@smumn.edu or http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/christypickford.

Questions of comments?
Contact Jessica at
JLLarsen0487@winona.edu