WATCH: A Duncan mother remains in critical condition in a coma after being struck in a Beverly Street crosswalk while walking home from work. Friends are now rallying to bring hope and support to Daisy Santiago’s family, while they keep vigil at her hospital bedside. Skye Ryan has more.
With her famous laugh that could warm a cold room, Daisy Santiago comes to life in home movies that capture her playing with her children.
“She’s a ray of sunshine,” said Santiago’s close friend Jayne Williams. “She’s so genuine and grounded and she just loves everybody.”
Yet, the Duncan mother is now clinging to life in a hospital bed.
“Just complete shock,” said Williams, about the moment she got the news. “Complete shock.”
The cheerful teller was walking home from her job at Duncan’s Thrifty Foods on Wednesday, April 11 when at about 2 p.m., she was hit by a car on Beverly Street, leaving her critically injured.
The mother of two was airlifted to Victoria where after two surgeries she remains in a coma with massive head injuries.
Her longtime partner Tom is keeping an around-the-clock vigil and her 20-year-old daughter gave up a new job to care for her 13-year-old grieving brother. Santiago’s family continues to pray that the woman who holds their family together to wake up from this nightmare.
“She’s a beacon of light,” said Williams, “I hope that Daisy makes a full recovery.”
To help, Williams started an online fundraiser on GoFundMe to support Daisy’s family through this and remarkably in just three days, more than $10,000 has been raised.
“Absolutely fantastic,” said Williams. “Thank-you everybody. Everybody loves Daisy.”
Many of the donations have come from people who don’t know Daisy Santiago but said they looked forward to her smile and laughter in the Thrifty Foods checkout line, even if her linepup was longer they would choose it. A kind lady now missing from their routines who may not really know how many lives she’s touched along the way.
Skye Ryan
