On August 15th, Shauna Tam and her 3 kids were in a car accident near their hometown in Shelley, Idaho. Shauna was preparing to turn and a truck struck them from behind. Shauna and all three children were transported via ambulance to the hospital. The kids were treated and released that night. They are so grateful for the kids being protected, as this wouldn't be expected from the impact and look of their Kia. However, Shauna’s injuries would forever change her life.
At the scene, Shauna had to be cut out of the car. At some point during the crash, she lost feeling and movement in her legs. She was worked up in the ER and after seeing her MRI results, she was prepped and airlifted to the University of Utah. Once at the U, she was admitted to the Surgical ICU and went into immediate surgery. Shauna had multiple spinal fractures, a tear in her spinal cord and a spinal fluid leak. They later found multiple broken ribs. Shauna is now paralyzed from the waist down and her back is fused with hardware from T6-T11.
Shauna spent over ten weeks in the hospital and an in-patient rehabilitation center. She now continues in outpatient rehabilitation as she learns to navigate her new way of life.
On Wednesday, October 12th, all net profit from Walli’s sales went to the Walli Gives Back Foundation, which donates money to families in need. The Tam family was supported by the foundation this month to help with the financial burden their family is now facing. The Tam’s have a long road ahead of them and we give them all of our love and support!
About the Walli Gives Back Program:
When Walli Cases was created, owners Nick and Jenna Emery were recently married and both emerging from what they would describe as the darkest times of their lives. They are both passionate about reaching out to others in need because of the huge outpouring of love and support they received during their trials, including Jenna becoming a widow with an 8-month-old son and more recently losing her mother to cancer, and Nick going through divorce. When they created Walli cases, they wanted to help others feel the same hope and encouragement, and the Walli Gives Back program was created. Each month, Walli chooses a family to support.
This quote by Natalie Norton sums up why they are both devoted to "giving back" to others in their time of need: "There is always a light. Find it. Follow it. And then turn around and shine it as brightly as you can for those still feeling their way through the darkness."
