Alexis and Steven Prince are leaning on their faith, resilience, and the love from their community after a devastating car accident earlier this month left both of them seriously injured.
On Monday, August 4, the couple was driving on Railroad Canyon Road when their vehicle was T-boned on the passenger side. Emergency crews used the Jaws of Life to free Steven from the passenger side of the vehicle. Alexis had been knocked unconscious, while Steven drifted in and out of consciousness before both were transported to a local hospital.
Steven sustained four fractured vertebrae, bruised ribs, and a head injury. After three days in the hospital, Steven was transferred to an inpatient rehabilitation center, where he faced the challenge of relearning how to walk and perform basic daily tasks.
Four days after the accident, Alexis, who was in ICU, underwent pelvic surgery to repair four fractures. She currently has a nine-inch rod in her pelvis. She also suffered a brain bleed and fractured ribs.
After more than two weeks in medical facilities, the couple returned home on August 20. Despite constant pain and daily struggles, they remain grateful and hopeful. “Even something as simple as showering or doing normal tasks is painful,” Steven shared. “The pain medication takes some of the edge off, but it’s a daily struggle.”
The trauma of the accident has been eased by the outpouring of support from the Canyon Lake community. That support has come from both friends and complete strangers. Dozens of community members have sent cards, contributed meals through a meal train, and offered prayers and words of encouragement. Community members have also offered transportation, grocery shopping, and cleaning services.
Canyon Lake Community Church pastors, Pete and Dave, provided comfort to the couple. Pastor Pete visited the couple in the hospital on three occasions to sit, pray, and talk with them, while Pastor Dave sent uplifting and comforting messages.
“The community support has been overwhelming and has encouraged my parents to continue fighting and get stronger, said their daughter Danielle, who has been by their side since the day after the accident. “They still have a long healing journey ahead, but because of the community support, I feel confident that they will be taken care of when I have to return home to the Bay Area.”
The accident forced the couple to cancel four planned trips, including one to Hawaii, and their future travel plans are questionable. Travel has always been important to them — especially Steven, who is a stroke survivor, having endured five strokes in the past. “We travel as much as we can, because we never know what the future holds,” Alexis said.
The Princes have called Canyon Lake home since 2014, when they moved from Orange County. Both are active in the community. Alexis has served on the POA’s Architectural Control Committee since 2017 and is a member of the Woman’s Club, where she served as a two-term president, third vice president of ways and means, and first vice president of programs. Steven is a member of the Canyon Lake Association of Men and currently serves as membership and communications chair.
Between May 2014 and October 2015, Steven suffered five strokes. In March 2018, he formed the community’s Chronic Illness Support Group — the very meeting they were on their way to when the accident occurred.
For now, the Princes’ days are centered on healing, leaning on one another, and holding tight to the kindness of their community.
“The prayers, check-ins, meals, offers of support, and love from our community is nothing short of amazing,” Steven said. “People showed up for us, even people we’ve never met. Canyon Lake is the most wonderful place to live.”
