By Staci DaSilva
sdasilva@kcautv.com
Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks to friends and family and one Siouxland family understands that better than most.
High school sweethearts and parents of 4, Brian and Jackie Krier moved to Soldier, Iowa from Omaha in 2000.
Life was good. Until January of 2005, when black ice changed everything.
Brian was just 2 miles from home when his truck slipped and threw him into an embankment.
"I tried moving but this arm was separated and this arm was dislocated," said Brian Krier.
He was stuck laying in the cold for 12 hours, counted 51 cars drive by. Meanwhile, his family feared the worst. The accident crushed his spine and left him paralyzed from the waist down.
And with a traumatic injury like that, Brian's been in and out of the hospital ever since.
The bills continuing to pile up.
Brian's wife Jackie Krier said, "People I think, sometimes, assume that when you have Medicare, that pays for everything. Well, it pays 80% and that's it. You are responsible for the rest."
The Kriers love their modest home in Soldier, but the family of 6 has worn the home thin. With narrow hallways and rickety ramps, the home is nowhere near handicapped accessible. Not to mention, there's no adequate wheelchair access to the basement in case of severe weather.
With so many other fixes needed, the couple figures what they really need is a new home.
But new home or not, Jackie and Brian says they'll make it through.
How you ask? Well, they have each other.
"I couldn't have done it without her. I know that," said Brian.
If you'd like to help the Krier family, just head to any Wells Fargo Bank and donate to the Brian Krier Fundraiser. And remember, for this family, every little bit counts.
