After Claire and her mother, Carole, were in a car accident, Carole was thrown through the windshield on to the road, and suffered severe head trauma which sent her into a coma. Dr. Woodruff was the doctor who took care of her immediately following the accident. Dr. Woodruff stated that he did not have confidence that she would ever wake up, and that the only reason she was alive was because of the machines that were sustaining her. When Lindsey stated that they could not afford her medical treatment, Dr. Woodruff informed them that it was already taken care of, and that the individual who had done so, wished their identity to remain confidential. It was later revealed to Claire and Lindsey, that the man was Christian Shephard.