Aid Geanna's Critical Care at NCSU

Geanna ‘Got A Second Chance’ Mayakis

In a cascade of medical challenges believed to have resulted from a suspected snake bite in mid November, our beloved Geanna is currently being treated by the incredible veterinarians, student veterinarians and support staff at the NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine. She underwent exploratory abdominal surgery Friday morning where it was determined that an extremely compromised right dorsal colon was causing her pain.

Team ‘Pony Mama’ - owners, the Mayakis family, and Oakwood trainer, Bonnie Walser, made the decision to give her absolutely every chance at recovery and continue on-going treatment at the vet school. The next seven to ten intensive care days are critical to her recovery. Following that will be months of closely monitored care at home and very costly treatment to return the bowel to healthy function and our pony to a happy and pain free life !!

We are reaching out to Geanna’s huge fan base for any financial help possible in covering her vet school expenses.

Geanna came to the Mayakis family as their very first pony as a United States Equine Rescue League adoptee. Geanna and the foal at her side, Oakwood’s Zoey, were previously seized in an extreme neglect case in Wilson County and put into foster care. Happy in her new home, Geanna dutifully and most lovingly nurtured Nicole, Michelle and Abby as they grew as both riders and young women. When they graduated to more challenging horse sports and then college and adult life, she spent most of her time at Oakwood Stables patiently teaching countless numbers of children to ride, enjoy hike and rides at Umstead Park and Sandy Pines and taking them safely around the show ring - for the first or one hundredth time. Geanna closed out the 2024 season and ultimately her show career as the Magic School Bus with our 10 and under costume class riders at the Cool Breeze Halloween show and carried two of our senior riders to division championships at the Cool Breeze Hunter Finals a few weeks later.

Geanna has also been a very important part of our community as a mental health ambassador for the Walk For Hope at the Angus Barn in Raleigh each fall. She and her daughter, Zoey, and Dominic the Donkey have given hundreds of children the chance to tour the excitement of the Walk For Hope festival by horse back.

There is absolutely no way to put a dollar figure value on what the love of this cherished pony has done for so many.

On behalf of the Mayakis family and with the greatest of appreciation to them for sharing this sweet Pony Mama with us for so many years and for what Geanna has meant to the Oakwood family, we thank you with all our heart for any help available.