Be the belay for Emily Shaw
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About Emily
Emily is a 21- year -old college student studying BioChem in Maine. She is from Oregon - which is how I know her... she was my 1st grade student from very long ago! Long story short... her mom (Lori) and I became friends when Lori came to work as an educational assistant at Emily's grade school. I have watched Emily grow up to be an amazing lady, taking risks in her life journey - moving across the country, studying research that I can't comprehend, and finding herself as she begins on her life path as a young adult.
The Fall!
Tragically, on Oct. 7th, 2018, Emily was rock climbing in Acadia National Park, Maine. Emily was being lowered down the cliff when the belay device failed.....Emily fell 60 feet to a rock ledge below! Luckily, there were guides on the spot to help move her from the dangers of the incoming hide tide and to keep her stable until search and rescue arrived 2 hours later. Emily sustained serious damage to her back & right leg. (Burst fracture in lumbar spine, broken tibia, fibula as well as ankle/foot fractures.) Her doctors are amazed that there was not more damage done to her fractured body - truly a miracle!
(Emily fell at the red arrow, she hobbled over to the blue arrow to keep out of the incoming high tide waves and was hoisted up by search and rescue at the yellow line. )
Emily's Medical Miracle
Lori, Emily's mom, flew out immediately and has been with her throughout multiple surgeries and healing. On Tuesday, Emily underwent a 6 -hour surgery to her spine and we are glad to say the surgery was a success and she has feeling and movement in both legs! She was fitted for a brace and was able to sit up for a moment.
On Wednesday, she had another surgery for her broken tibia. A rod was put in the tibia with screws holding the ankle in place. Due to the trauma of the accident and surgery, Emily developed "compartment syndrome" which means the calf area is too inflamed so she had to have a fasciotomy . We are hoping that the pressure/swelling will be low enough on Friday that they complete the surgery. (Fasciotomy is where the Dr. had to cut 2 large incisions on either side of her calf and leave them open to help reduce the inflammation.) Yikes!! Hopefully the swelling will be down on Friday and they can close the incisions... if not, this will happen on Sunday. This girl is a trooper - smiling, keeping up her spirits and attitude and hoping to continue her studies this semester. You go girl!
The Costs
We (a team of peeps from the school where Lori works) are asking for any financial assistance you can give to this wonderful family. This fund is to help with the extensive medical costs the family will endure, travel costs (air fare, hotel, restaurants....etc) as well as lost wages for Lori and her husband.
Thank you!
Thank you for your support, prayers and healing thoughts for Emily and her family. We want to help them through this difficult time as much as we can from so very far away! It is a helpless feeling to be across the continent and not physically be able to be there to support Emily or Lori during this trying journey. Emily's dad, sister and grandparents are "stuck" out here (Oregon) while Emily is fighting through difficult surgeries and healing with only her mom by her side.
Please feel free to share this link to your Facebook Timeline to help support Emily and her family, thank you again!
Emily is a 21- year -old college student studying BioChem in Maine. She is from Oregon - which is how I know her... she was my 1st grade student from very long ago! Long story short... her mom (Lori) and I became friends when Lori came to work as an educational assistant at Emily's grade school. I have watched Emily grow up to be an amazing lady, taking risks in her life journey - moving across the country, studying research that I can't comprehend, and finding herself as she begins on her life path as a young adult.
The Fall!
Tragically, on Oct. 7th, 2018, Emily was rock climbing in Acadia National Park, Maine. Emily was being lowered down the cliff when the belay device failed.....Emily fell 60 feet to a rock ledge below! Luckily, there were guides on the spot to help move her from the dangers of the incoming hide tide and to keep her stable until search and rescue arrived 2 hours later. Emily sustained serious damage to her back & right leg. (Burst fracture in lumbar spine, broken tibia, fibula as well as ankle/foot fractures.) Her doctors are amazed that there was not more damage done to her fractured body - truly a miracle!
(Emily fell at the red arrow, she hobbled over to the blue arrow to keep out of the incoming high tide waves and was hoisted up by search and rescue at the yellow line. )Emily's Medical Miracle
Lori, Emily's mom, flew out immediately and has been with her throughout multiple surgeries and healing. On Tuesday, Emily underwent a 6 -hour surgery to her spine and we are glad to say the surgery was a success and she has feeling and movement in both legs! She was fitted for a brace and was able to sit up for a moment.
On Wednesday, she had another surgery for her broken tibia. A rod was put in the tibia with screws holding the ankle in place. Due to the trauma of the accident and surgery, Emily developed "compartment syndrome" which means the calf area is too inflamed so she had to have a fasciotomy . We are hoping that the pressure/swelling will be low enough on Friday that they complete the surgery. (Fasciotomy is where the Dr. had to cut 2 large incisions on either side of her calf and leave them open to help reduce the inflammation.) Yikes!! Hopefully the swelling will be down on Friday and they can close the incisions... if not, this will happen on Sunday. This girl is a trooper - smiling, keeping up her spirits and attitude and hoping to continue her studies this semester. You go girl!
The Costs
We (a team of peeps from the school where Lori works) are asking for any financial assistance you can give to this wonderful family. This fund is to help with the extensive medical costs the family will endure, travel costs (air fare, hotel, restaurants....etc) as well as lost wages for Lori and her husband.
Thank you!
Thank you for your support, prayers and healing thoughts for Emily and her family. We want to help them through this difficult time as much as we can from so very far away! It is a helpless feeling to be across the continent and not physically be able to be there to support Emily or Lori during this trying journey. Emily's dad, sister and grandparents are "stuck" out here (Oregon) while Emily is fighting through difficult surgeries and healing with only her mom by her side.
Please feel free to share this link to your Facebook Timeline to help support Emily and her family, thank you again!
Organizer and beneficiary
Lisa Tyrrell
Organizer
Corvallis, OR
Lori Shaw
Beneficiary
