Lewistown-Trinity United Methodist Church is making preparations for its annual ice cream social coming up later this month, with 100 percent of donations to assist an inspiring young woman, Chloe Gross, who sustained a multitude of injuries in a November 2024 car accident.
The ice cream social takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 20, at the church, 8088 County Road 54, Lewistown.
The menu features homemade vanilla and orange pineapple ice cream, along with shredded chicken sandwiches, barbecue pork sandwiches, noddles, salads and desserts.
For those who are unable to attend the ice cream social, but would like to donate, checks can be made payable to: LTUMC, and write “Chloe Gross” in the memo line and mail to the church: P.O. Box 90, Russells Point, 43348 (Editor’s note: The mailing address has been corrected from a previous item that appeared online).
Chloe moved to Ohio from North Carolina in the summer of 2022. She attended Indian Lake High School, graduating in 2024. After graduation, Chloe had planned to pursue a career in hair styling and had started attending cosmetology.
However, these plans were interrupted by the crash, when an impaired driver going the wrong direction on U.S. Route 33 struck Chloe’s vehicle head-on near State Route 540.
Chloe was flown by CareFlight helicopter to Grant Medical Center, where her parents Dee Dee and Brad met her. They were devastated to find out that Chloe had sustained a number of serious injuries, including two broken femurs, two broken arms, a broken jaw, severed ear canal, a collapsed lung, seven broken ribs, neck broken in two places, damaged artery on her neck, a brain bleed and a Diffuse Axonal Injury level two Traumatic Brain Injury.
She underwent several surgeries to address her injuries and initially was transferred to DODD Hall at OSU before she was released to go home, still in a coma-like state. However, with her parents and dedicated family by her side, including her aunt and uncle Larry and Shelli, Chloe’s strength and determination has surprised her family and doctors. In less than a week home, she uttered her first word and her speech continues to improve each day.
Throughout her recovery, Dee Dee has been Chloe’s full-time caregiver. Chloe can now sit in a chair or on the couch, and also can stand and take a few steps with assistance.
“Each day brings new progress, and while her journey toward full recovery is still ongoing, her loved ones remain optimistic that she will continue to improve and reach her goals,” organizers noted.
Following her return home, the family had to acquire a handicap-accessible van, a wheelchair and a hospital bed, among other equipment to assist with her daily needs. They also invested in additional therapy tools to support her recovery.