Help support Katie's journey to recovery

Hello everyone,

 

Katie McFadden is one of the most kind, thoughtful, and selfless people I have ever met and on October 31st, 2021 she was in a traumatic motorcycle accident on her way to the coast here in Oregon. I am Kelsey O'Husky, her girlfriend. We met working together at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park in Big Sur, CA where we were assigned roommates and from the minute I met her I knew how special she was. In no time, she was my go to for all questions and was always willing to help anyone. Over the summer we were able to take a trip together around the Pacific North West and then down to Tennessee where I was able to meet her whole family in the process. It is no wonder Katie is the person she is because she is so loved. I can see it in every interaction she has with her mom, sisters and brother.

We recently moved to Oregon together where we live in Corvallis. Katie is just settling in; she got a job at the Target Distribution Center, she found a place to hike on her days off, and we are exploring all the new places Oregon has to offer together. Katie is extremely passionate about moving her body and getting out in nature because it helps her relax and stay connected to her surrounding environment. Katie has many goals including working with bees. I think we talk about bees every single day. The love and passion she has for beekeeping is contagious and beautiful. She was finishing up a class this semester and is considering her options to continue with school for a bachelor's degree to pursue a career with beekeeping.

 

This is a picture of Katie in Big Sur helping a friend with his bee colony. His colony is on the left and she was able to set up her own colony on the right. We used to go up there after work sometimes and I would just watch her get to work. She is always so sure of herself when she is with the bees and I love listening to her try to problem solve with the hives.

 

 

We found this amazing rope bridge on a hike at Mt. Rainier. We were exhausted after and our feet were killing us but it was the one of the most beautiful hikes I have ever been on!

 

Here is another picture from our hike at Mt. Rainier. She is most herself when she is out and exploring!

 

 

 

 

 

On Halloween Sunday, October 31st, 2021, Katie took her motorcycle out for a trip to the coastal town of Newport, OR to take a hike on her day off of work. Around milepost 21 on Highway 20 at about 2:17 PM, Katie unfortunately crashed her motorcycle. Several witnesses called 911 and reported the crash thankfully, where Lincoln County Sheriff responded as well as life flight. She was intubated in the field and quickly flown to Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis, OR. From Corvallis she was then life flighted to OHSU in Portland, OR where they were better equipped to deal with her injuries. She sustained severe injuries in the crash including: shattering the bones of her left foot, a compound fracture of the left tibia, several broken vertebrae spanning from her tailbone to her neck, a broken left scapula, a torn right carotid artery, and head trauma from impact. On November 1, 2021, around 1:00PM, Katie suffered a stroke on the right side of her brain caused by the torn right carotid artery where a flap closed, blocking the blood supply to her brain. She was rushed into surgery where a piece of her skull was removed to alleviate pressure on her brain. The surgery was very successful and her neurosurgeon was reassuring and expressed that the surgery went as well as they could have hoped for. Currently, Katie is in the Trauma ICU in a medically induced coma to help her brain and body rest and recover. She is receiving the best care from all of the staff at OHSU and we know she is in the best hands. Wearing her helmet most likely saved her life on Halloween this year.

 

Katie supports me everyday and now she needs us more than ever so anything you could contribute will be helpful in her road to recovery. Please donate if you can, and if you can't, please just share Katie's story. Anything helps and we are all grateful and thankful for anyone who can share at this difficult time.

 

Thank you so very much,

 

Kelsey O'Husky & the rest of Katie's family