Kiera Pheiffer of Bethlehem was a high school senior and star soccer player at Freedom High school when she was a victim in a multi-vehicle car crash in October 2014. She was rushed to surgery for internal bleeding and underwent procedures to remove her spleen and repair her damaged aorta. She also suffered debilitating orthopedic injuries, facial fractures and a traumatic brain injury that necessitated months of rehabilitation. Despite the odds against her recovering, she surprised her graduating class at Freedom by walking on stage to get her diploma merely eight months later. Today she is at home, continuing outpatient rehabilitation and planning on a career in physical therapy.

Chelsea Sergeant of Bath was the victim of a multi-vehicle car crash in December 2014. Her son was flown to a Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia while she fought for her life into the New Year at St Luke’s University Hospital - Bethlehem. She underwent more than eight procedures in the first week of her hospital stay for a shattered liver, multiple orthopedic injuries and facial fractures. After almost three weeks, she began to recover and now has been re-united with her son, who also had a full recovery. Chelsea continues her plans to pursue a career in the health care industry.

Sergeant and Pheiffer, along with the more than100 caregivers who helped make their recoveries possible, were honored Sept. 19 at the 11th celebration of St. Luke’s Night of Heroes at ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks Campus, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem.

For the past 11 years, St. Luke’s has been honoring both patients and caregivers at A Night of Heroes. Each year two families tell their stories during a video presentation, and members of the trauma team who touched these patients’ lives are recognized and honored for their skill and dedication.

Special, surprise awards honored the following: Mary Metzger, ICU Unit Clerk, St. Luke’s University Hospital – Bethlehem, was recognized with the Martin Cohen Trauma Humanitarian Award; Jennifer Grell, MSN, RN with the Charles D. Saunders Dedication to Trauma Award; and Rebecca Pequeno, MD, Chairman of St. Luke’s University Health Network Emergency Services with the William “Billy” Guth Trauma EMS award.