A pregnant Nebraska woman’s unborn baby helped save her life after she got into a nearly-fatal car crash, according to her doctors.  

Kate Via, a 23-year-old outdoors influencer, was 20 weeks pregnant with her son Isaac when her car crashed with a tow truck on November 21, 2024. 

The young woman was critically injured and is still battling through a rigorous recovery process.

But her baby, who was born on Sunday, was miraculously unharmed and even helped her live through the traumatic incident.

‘They said the baby saved me a little bit,’ Via explained to KOAT, as her doctors said her elevated blood pressure from being pregnant combined with the baby’s stem cells contributed to her survival.    

On the night of the life-changing accident, Via was on her way to the grocery store to pick up the ingredients for an Orange Julius – one of her pregnancy cravings. 

After the crash, paramedics had to intubate Via at the scene. 

They rushed her to Bergan Mercy Hospital with four brain bleeds, damage to her carotid arteries and multiple bone fractures, KOAT reported.

‘I remember taking the neurosurgeon out in the hallway and asking, “Will our daughter survive?”‘ Via’s mother, Chryssi Zeleny, recalled. 

‘She said, “Your daughter’s brain is very ill.”‘ 

The nature-lover who has more than 130,000 followers on her ‘Fishing with Kate’ Tik Tok spent the next three weeks fighting for her life in the ICU, as her parents and husband stood by her side. 

Via was in a medically induced coma until February, when she made an incredible break through in her recovery. 

Doctors lowered her sedation levels in order to test her brain activity, according to KOAT. 

When Via began to regain consciousness, she was immediately concerned about her unborn baby’s health.

‘Her first word was “baby” after she came out, “baby” and then “mom,”‘ her husband, Josh – who she tied the knot with in April 2024 – told KOAT. 

As she worried about her child, doctors informed her that he was not only in great health, but had actually played a key role in her survival.

Waking up from her months-long coma was just the start of her grueling recovery. 

‘She made a comment early on that it would have been easier to die,’ Zeleny said, according to a Madonna Rehabilitation press release. 

‘But she said, “I’m fighting for my baby.”‘

Via was taken to Madonna Rehabilitation to re-learn how to walk, talk and accomplish everyday tasks.

‘I’d sit up and just fall,’ Via said, reflecting on the start of her journey to regain a sense of normalcy. 

Kailyn Wiseman, Via’s physical therapist, said her determination was clear from the very start.

‘It only took a few days to realize that Kate was responding extremely well to therapy,’ she said. 

‘Each day she was accomplishing something new and I think it was just a testament to her work ethic and really trusting the process and just embracing each day. It was clear she was fighting for much more than just herself.’

After spending some time at the rehab facility, Via was moved into outpatient therapy to continue her treatment. 

Her therapy included preparing her for having the baby, as well as tapping into her muscle memory by incorporating fishing into her exercises. 

The baby was originally due for March 25, but doctors suggested he be delivered early after a complication arose. 

Isaac was born two days early in stable condition, KOAT reported. 

Via has a complex surgery scheduled for next week to correct an abnormal connection between her arteries and veins within her cavernous sinus.

‘Although her “normal” still isn’t normal, it is something. It is a miracle and a blessing,’ a GoFundMe created to support Via and her family during these challenging times reads. 

‘She is in a marathon of recovery and it could be days, months or years before she reaches full independence again.’ 

So far, more than $9,550 in donations have been raised to help Via.