Support Katalina's Journey to Recovery After Spinal Injury

APRIL 22 UPDATE

Today, on Katalina’s 23rd birthday, we’re reflecting on just how far she’s come—and how far she still has to go.

Katalina has completed almost six weeks of intensive rehabilitation at Spaulding, and we expect her to remain for at least three more. Her doctors and all of her therapists are impressed with her incredible progress, and we are actively advocating for additional time to help her build on the momentum she’s worked so hard to achieve.

If you’d like to read more about Katalina’s recovery, we encourage you to visit her CaringBridge page for detailed updates. Today’s post is focused on what comes next—Katalina’s life after rehab—and how we can all continue to support her.

Next Phase: Preparing for Home

Once Katalina is discharged from Spaulding, she’ll return to her parents’ home to continue her recovery journey. However, significant renovations are required to make their home safe, accessible, and supportive of her evolving needs. Her parents Bernie and Katharine are beginning a full renovation of their home’s lower level to create an accessible apartment for Katalina. This next chapter comes with a heavy financial burden—between the costs of construction and time away from work, the total expenses are expected to reach $75,000-$100,000.

Here’s what your donations would directly support:

How You Can Help

To mark Katalina’s birthday and launch this next phase of fundraising, we’re setting a new goal: $50,000 in the next two weeks, with the intention of increasing the target to $75,000 as momentum builds.

Every dollar raised will help ease the burden on Katalina’s family and give her the tools, space, and dignity she deserves as she continues her recovery.

Please consider sharing this campaign with your networks. Your support—whether financial, emotional, or simply spreading the word—means the world to Katalina and her family. You have already lifted her up during the hardest chapter of her life, and we are endlessly grateful.

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The Accident

On Friday, February 21, 22-year-old Katalina Echavarri suffered a horrific accident while skiing. She was transported via helicopter to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine.

After undergoing two intensive surgeries to repair her spine, we are heartbroken to learn that her spinal cord was damaged and she currently has no feeling below her waist. While she is still recovering on a ventilator at Eastern Maine Medical Center and the full extent of the damage to her spinal cord remains unknown, she is growing stronger every day. In a few days, we hope she will be breathing on her own and will then be transferred to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, where she will begin the long journey to recovery.

A few words about Katalina: She is a true ray of sunshine. Full of energy and life, she can always be counted on to brighten any room with her positive mindset, bubbly personality, wit, and charm. Always an animal lover, she had just adopted a kitten with her loving boyfriend Paul and was set to graduate from Bowdoin College this spring. She was weighing the pros and cons of pursuing a career in law or social work, and that alone tells you all you need to know - she strives to help those in need and make the world better.

While Katalina has a long road ahead, she is a true fighter. She's always been tenacious and determined, and we know that this life-altering event cannot dampen her passion for life and infallible spirit.

And we're ready to join in her this fight. All donated money will help offset both her medical bills and her rehabilitation at Spaulding, which will likely last at least six months. The daunting costs associated with the treatment and support needed for Katalina to make a full recovery are an otherwise insurmountable hurdle for her family to overcome. We appreciate you taking time to learn about Katalina's story and we thank you for whatever contribution you can make to help make our family healthy and whole. No contribution is too small - all donations are welcome and appreciated