From Lauryn Siegel

Some of you might know this information, and other might be hearing of it for the first time, but I just wanted to send something out for all --

On Monday morning around 11:20 AM, Jillian was struck by a car while crossing the street near her sublet in Bed-Stuy (she had the right of way) to get to the train on her way to work. Fortunately, several good Samaritans were there to help, and the police came within moments. The driver who hit her remained on the scene. He was driving on a suspended license; he is now in custody and is facing charges.

Jillian was taken by ambulance to Bellevue hospital where she was rushed to the operating room. Here the doctors evacuated a lemon-sized epidermal hematoma from her brain and another blood clot from below her left eye. A CAT scan later Monday night found additional bleeding in her brain and she went back into surgery to have that removed. Since then she has been resting in a medically induced coma and is now in stable condition. The good news is that she is alive -- this easily could have been a fatal accident.

Her family arrived this morning. The doctors at Bellevue have been fantastic. They are also largely young and attractive -- I know that Jillian, as a big fan of Grey's Anatomy, will be pleased when she wakes up.

She is taking some visitors right now and will likely take many more when she gets out of a coma. Many people have expressed interest in sending flowers. She is currently in room 59 of the Neuro Intensive Care Unit at Bellevue (NICU), in Building H on the 10th floor. But depending on what happens with her condition, she could be moved, so please call or check in with me to double check in a few days.

Also, for those of you interested in doing something a little more personal, Jillian is a great lover of crystals large and small. East/West Books, a metaphysical shop on 5th Avenue between 13th and 14th in Manhattan, has a great selection.

And finally, like so many artists (and other people!), Jillian is uninsured in the United States. Her primary residence, London, is sensible enough to provide universal health care. Her friends and family are still assessing the financial burden, but we will get in touch at a future time to discuss ways we can all work together to get her through this in as safe, calm, and loving a way as possible. A few people have asked to send donations but I am asking that they hold off until we get a sense of what we are looking at.

Thanks to everyone I have spoken or texted with. And, to everyone else, I know you will keep Jillian in your prayers and thoughts. Whether you met her once for 10 minutes or know her well, she is a bright light in all our lives and I know I am not alone when I say that I'm eager to see her spark out in the world again soon!

Love,
Lauryn