A tragic tour bus accident in Panama earlier this year has left St. Croix native and U.S. Coast Guard Lieutenant, Diana Isidore, fighting for her life, a press release issued late Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Isidore, a 2006 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (CGA) in New London, Connecticut, and the first woman from St. Croix to ever graduate from this federal service academy, was traveling as part of a tour group over the Martin Luther King holiday in January when the sight-seeing vehicle in which she and twelve others were riding lost its breaks and veered off a cliff. There were two fatalities. Isidore survived, was well cared for in two Panamanian hospitals and then was airlifted to the U.S. for continuous emergency treatment.<\/p>\n
Since then, the 31-year-old has defied doctor\u2019s odds by successfully fighting through several infections, pneumonia and multiple surgeries to repair bone fractures to start down the long road to recovery. This is a path she is forging with the help of family and friends. Now, Isidore needs the assistance of the Virgin Islands community too.<\/p>\n
Isidore\u2019s life thus far has focused around pushing herself to excel and in service to others. She attended John H. Woodson Junior High School on St. Croix and Central Gwinnett High School in Atlanta, Georgia, after her family moved to the mainland, graduating from both as Salutatorian. In addition to earning a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree from the Academy in Operations Research & Computer Analysis, Isidore holds a Masters in Science (M.S.) degree in Operations Research from George Mason University and a Masters of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from North Central University.<\/p>\n
Her first assignment upon graduation from the Academy was Coast Guard Sector New Orleans. Subsequent assignments include Intelligence Officer U.S. Coast Guard District Seven Command Center Miami covering port operations, search and rescue, law enforcement actions, response and to investigate marine casualties, pollution incidents and more. Isidore has received several high military awards and certificates during her Coast Guard assignments.<\/p>\n
Vacations to the USVI while in the Academy as well as during active duty saw Isidore giving freely of her time and experience to conduct recruiting outreach at the territory\u2019s private and public high schools. During one of these trips, and when asked about her career goals and assignments, Isidore responded, \u201cI have some great folks I am working with and the Coast Guard is a wonderful career opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Travel is one of Isidore\u2019s favorite off-duty activities. She has visited several countries on every continent except Antarctica.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we first saw her in Panama, it was a really hard blow,\u201d says Isidore\u2019s sister, Diann Love. \u201cWe didn\u2019t know what to think. We did know we had to keep praying. We knew the Lord had kept her alive and all was in his hands.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prayers are one way the Virgin Islands\u2019 community can aid Isidore in her recovery. Another way is through monetary donations. The generous assistance of the U.S. Coast Guard Leadership, the Coast Guard Family and the Coast Guard Foundation continues to be instrumental, however there are out of network medical expenses that her family is paying. This includes travel expenses so that Isidore\u2019s family can be by her side to provide a continual source of encouragement and support. Plus, the family has opted for a special organic nutritional formula that had already proven to help Isidore gain back the weight and strength she needs during this time of comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation.<\/p>\n
To send a donation, visit Isidore’s GoFundMe page here<\/a><\/span>,or send by mail to Diann Love, P.O. Box 306333, St. Thomas, USVI 00803.<\/p>\n