Yseult recover from traumatic motorcycle accident

Hi, we are a group of friends raising money for our dear friend Yseult

In August 2022, Yseult Louvel had a traumatic accident in which she was thrown from the back of a motorcycle while in Europe and suffered extensive damage to her pelvis, vertebrae and ankle. Following emergency reconstructive surgery in Sweden there has been further complications including nerve damage that have made recovery a slow and painful journey. It took months to build any strength and learn to walk again, and she still has chronic pain in every moment.

She has had zero support financially for her injuries and traumas.

Due to the complexities of international law, efforts to understand and establish the appropriate trajectory for appropriate due compensation have been drawn out and remain as yet unresolved, with no reassuring solution on the near horizon. This has been costly for Yseult on many fronts, not only demanding financially and on time and energy, but also emotionally.

After more than 12 months of uncertainty, recent bone scans have revealed that the pelvic surgery in Sweden resulted in a misaligned fixture of the bones. Due to the metal plates and pins in Yseult’s pelvis, MRIs have been unable to identify the location of the nerve impingement causing the diagnosed Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. A surgeon at St Vincent’s Hospital has recommended further surgery to remove the pins, possibly allowing for identifying of the trapped nerve with MRI scans, which may allow for plans to be made for neurosurgery to release the nerves, after which time she has a better chance of successful rehabilitation. The first surgery in this process will take place in the next 1-3 months, and during the recovery period Yseult will be unable to work at all. This recovery period is of unknown duration.

Yseult is a passionate and wonderful teacher, and has been working the maximum that her energy has allowed, three days per week, but this has been utterly exhausting. She has reached a point where she is physically unable to sustain this. She has secured one day’s work that she hopes to manage for now. She has exhausted her savings in the last 18 months having supported her own rehabilitation, trauma therapy and legal proceedings. It has now become apparent that this new surgery is also required, so she will need even further rehabilitation before she is able to earn again.

The stress of her situation is now exacerbated by the recent passing of her father, and is now at the mercy of probate for his (very small) estate, and has had further costs of tending to all the surrounding circumstances of his death. Her sister is unwell, and she has no other family there to help.

It has been incredible witnessing Yseult navigate her situation with all her independent and resourceful determination and resilience, alongside her immense vulnerability. Her inspiring depth of intelligence and wisdom has enabled her to find her way and grow immensely through the process, despite her case falling appallingly through the cracks of the system.

But it has taken a severe toll. And there is still a long way to go; she is in need of continual rehab, as well as the corrective surgery, and the international claim for injuries is still in progress. She is at her most vulnerable, navigating grief and exhaustion following all that the

death of a parent entails, coinciding with the loss of her income, after 18 months of hard work while in chronic pain and limited movement, and with the complexities of PTSD.

Experiencing trauma when there is no financial support exacerbates emotional and physical pain to another level of tolerance, and this is now at its peak for Yseult. While in this state, it is profoundly challenging for her to make any plans or projections about her future while that is so uncertain and at the mercy of complex and drawn out legal resolutions, alongside the compounded stress and impediment of new surgery.

Until she has strength enough to work again, she now needs our help to carry her through this challenging period so that she doesn’t lose her studio apartment, her home and only stability. We hope to support her through a period of a good 6 months, to help cover living costs and for her to be able to continue rehabilitation and do whatever is necessary to ensure her recovery. This campaign is her last resort to provide space to find the reserves for getting back on track with her life.

Any contribution, large or small, is of value and will go a long way in creating a buffer of support for Yseult by easing the immediate pressure and allowing her to resolve her situation for the long term. Please, please share the word so we can cast the net wide and cushion her with as much love and support as possible!

Our deepest gratitude, from Yseult and her loving friends.