A Utah mother of eight who was in Florida visiting her grandchildren is recovering from life-threatening injuries following a devastating head-on crash that resulted in the amputation of her leg.
The victim, identified by family as Tamra Kendrick, was allegedly driving the wrong way on Friday, Nov. 7, when she collided with a Ford F-350 pickup truck traveling southbound, according to a Florida Highway Patrol incident report. Authorities said Tamra was critically injured, while the other motorist sustained only minor injuries.
Tamra was in Florida to babysit her grandchildren while their parents were out of town. According to NBC affiliate KSL, none of the children were in her vehicle at the time of the crash.
Her son, Brandon Kendrick, shared updates in a GoFundMe campaign supporting her recovery. He explained that she underwent emergency surgery to amputate her left leg above the knee and has been “fighting for her life” in the ICU.
“Doctors removed her ruptured spleen, have given her 25+ units of blood, and performed several more emergency procedures to keep her alive,” he wrote.
Brandon listed additional injuries including a fractured left hip requiring a plate, a broken left hand, a fractured right leg, broken ribs, a collapsed lung, a brain bleed, liver lacerations, and numerous facial fractures, with “more injuries being reported.”
He described the crash as a “devastating loss” for his mother, who has always been active — enjoying dancing, hiking, and adventure-filled family activities.
On Monday, Nov. 10, he shared that Tamra underwent three surgeries lasting about six hours — an abdominal operation, hip repair, and the leg amputation. He said the family was relieved by the progress and praised the medical team caring for her.
By Wednesday, Nov. 12, Brandon reported that Tamra’s breathing tubes had been removed and she could begin drinking and eating again. She remained “loopy and exhausted,” but was managing the emotional impact of her injuries as best as possible.
“She knows the extent of her injuries now, including her amputation,” he wrote, adding that her memory and awareness were still affected.
Brandon also noted that the emotional burden had been heavy on his father, Corey, who feared breaking the news to Tamra. But the family said she reacted with strength and even shared some lighthearted moments with them.
Speaking with KSTU, Brandon credited multiple good Samaritans for saving his mother’s life immediately after the collision.
“A serviceman — an Airman — jumped in and took off his belt and put a tourniquet on my mom’s leg, which saved her life,” he said. “There were so many people that jumped in. That was the first miracle.”
Corey Kendrick told The Herald Journal that Tamra remains optimistic, saying he feels “peace” now that the initial uncertainty has passed.
The GoFundMe page explains that the family now faces significant medical and travel expenses, since the crash occurred far from home. Tamra is expected to remain in Florida for months during rehabilitation.
As of Wednesday, Nov. 12, the fundraiser had raised more than $64,000 to support her recovery.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office shared that their thoughts are with the family as Tamra focuses on healing.
