Main fundraiser photo

Helping Chelsea after a skiing accident

Donation protected

For the last couple weeks of December, my daughter, Chelsea, and my granddaughter, Camryn, went to Italy to visit with my military son & his wife, Jason and Amanda. On Christmas Eve, Chelsea, Jason and two of his friends went to Piancavallo for a day of skiing. On the first slope they went down, Chelsea gained speed very quickly and lost control. She tumbled multiple times down the side of the slope before landing facedown in the snow. Jason was behind her and was able to get to her quickly, as well as an Italian military policeman. The policeman was able to radio for help immediately, as Chelsea was hurt badly and unable to move.
A helicopter arrived approximately an hour later with a doctor. In the meantime, Jason, his two friends, and the policeman had to roll her over onto a stretcher, and get her onto a trailer pulled by a snowmobile. Once the helicopter arrived, Chelsea was airlifted to a hospital in Udine, approximately an hour away. 
Upon arrival, it was determined that she broke 4 bones in her upper back;C6, C7, D1, and D2. She also has 4 cracked ribs, and an air pocket in her chest cavity. Chelsea spent two days in ICU, before being moved to the spinal unit of the hospital, where she’s been all this week. During this time, it was Jason and Amanda taking care of Camryn, Chelsea’s 5 yr. old daughter, as well as making daily drives to the hospital in Udine, which is an hour from where they live. By flying out there myself, I plan to be with Chelsea as well as help out with my granddaughter. My plan is to stay in Italy until Chelsea is able to fly home. 
Since no surgery can be done, she is basically left to heal on her own. Rest and pain management are the primary focuses. The doctors have told her that she should not work or drive for 3 months. They also said she needs to wait a minimum of six weeks to fly home.
At this point, we are unsure of what Chelsea’s hospital stay and helicopter ride will cost. Communication has been incredibly challenging at the hospital, to say the least. Outside of time needed for her to heal, there is the financial stress of keeping her bills paid while she cannot work. New plane tickets will have to be purchased to fly all 3 of us back home. And then we will see what medical bills will be sent. We are not ones to ask for help, but this unexpected accident has put us all under a great deal of stress. We appreciate all the prayers and support that we have received thus far from our family and friends. We will keep you all updated on her progress.
Illustration of helping hands

Give $50 to help get this fundraiser to its goal

Make a donation
Make a donation

Donations 

    Illustration of helping hands

    Give $50 to help get this fundraiser to its goal

    Make a donation
    Make a donation

    Organizer and beneficiary

    Andrea Ray
    Organizer
    Clayton, NC
    Chelsea Dunn
    Beneficiary

    Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help

    • Easy

      Donate quickly and easily

    • Powerful

      Send help right to the people and causes you care about

    • Trusted

      Your donation is protected by the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee