University graduate Lauren Hoft was in a traffic incident Friday night that resulted in the left side of her body becoming paralyzed, and now her family is asking the University and the community for support.

Hoft, who earned a bachelor’s degree in biological engineering in May, hit the side of a vehicle whose driver lost control while merging onto Highway 411 around 7:50 p.m. Friday, according to her sister Ashley Hoft Autin.

Doctors at Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center determined that Hoft suffered a shattered right knee, two broken ankles and five broken ribs.

When doctors saw she couldn’t move her left hand, they discovered blood flow to the left side of her brain had been cut off, Autin said.

Doctors removed part of her skull Sunday to alleviate the brain swelling that began Saturday.

“It went from her going to be able to walk in three months to being on an hour-by-hour basis,” Autin said.

The Hoft family is encouraging students to donate blood to The Blood Donor Center, located at Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center. For each donation given “for Lauren Hoft,” she will receive credit to lessen her hospital bill.

Hoft’s blood type is A positive, but donors do not need to match her type, Autin said.

The family has also set up a website through giftcards.com for monetary donations.

Autin said her family is experiencing a “roller coaster of emotions,” but they are optimistic.

“She’s a fighter — a real LSU Tiger,” Autin said. “She doesn’t give up.”