Support Makayla and her family!
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On May 22nd, 2022, 12-year-old Makayla and a friend were waiting for their ride outside Citadel Mall in Colorado Springs, CO. Suddenly, two teenage boys began to exchange gunfire in the parking lot. Makayla’s friend quickly dropped to the ground and was fortunately unharmed. Kayla ran. As she ran, she was hit by a bullet, which entered her shoulder on the left side, and exited near her collarbone on the right side. As it traveled through her body, it hit her T2 spine, fracturing it. The bullet also damaged the freeway of nerves in her neck and punctured her lung. A bystander called 911, and Kayla was transferred by ambulance to the hospital where she was intubated in order to help her breathe and placed in the pediatric ICU.
Now, over a month later, Kayla is still in the hospital as she recovers from this terrible attack. Her legs are paralyzed, and because of the nerve damage to her neck, she cannot use her right arm. She is in excruciating pain due to the nerve damage, and in an almost full-body brace. Any movement, such as when she has to be lifted, turned, or the brace adjusted, is painful.
Kayla’s mom, Margie, lives 100 miles away from the hospital and must travel every week to be with Makayla, leaving four other children at home.
Making this already enormously stressful situation time-sensitive, the house that Margie has been renting for the past 6 years for her family is now on the market. In a month’s time, Margie will have to find a new place to live for her children, one of whom will be in a wheelchair. The house she is living in now has an open concept and a big yard, and would be perfect for Kayla. Margie is hoping to purchase the house but doesn’t currently have the funds to do so. Needless to say, planning a move at this moment would be incredibly stressful for the whole family and feels very heartbreaking for Margie.
Police have made no arrests in this case. The only security camera at the mall that would have captured the attack was not working that day. While detectives are still investigating, it is very discouraging that nobody has answered for this senseless crime that injured an innocent bystander, and will change her life and that of her family forever.
Funds raised in this GoFundMe will go straight to Margie, toward the following expenses:
- Margie’s travel expenses to the hospital and back to her children, including future trips for Kayla’s physical therapy and the pain management clinic where her medications will have to be picked up.
- Wheelchair ramps for Margie’s van, for the house, and other medical equipment that will be needed when Kayla returns home in about one month.
- House or moving expenses.
Margie is worried for the future. She has not lived with a handicapped child before, and does not know what that looks like. The unknown costs – financial and emotional – of this new life are very scary.
Margie describes her daughter Kayla as a strong Leo, an athlete, always very active, with a ton of spirit and heart. She is still that kid, and even though the doctors tell Margie she isn’t likely to walk again, we all think there is a chance she can beat those odds. No child should have to spend their birthday in the hospital, and Kayla’s is coming up soon. Please help keep Kayla’s spirits up and take some of the burden off this sweet family!
Organizer and beneficiary
Kelsey Larson
Organizer
Colorado Springs, CO
Marjorie Bell
Beneficiary
