KIN'S HOPE FOR BEATEN TEEN
250G donated for girl’s recovery
The parents of the 16-year-old Missouri girl who was viciously beaten and left convulsing on the pavement last week said they “remain hopeful” for a full recovery and thanked the public for the outpouring of support.
Kaylee Gain was in critical condition Thursday and possibly suffered brain damage after her head was smashed into concrete during the sickening, caught-on-camera brawl near Hazelwood East HS last Friday.
“We are so grateful for the amazing medical staff, who have been working tirelessly to give her the best possible chance at a full recovery,” the teen’s parents wrote in a statement appended to a GoFundMe, which was started by her cousin Hayden Gain.
“We know she has a very long road ahead of her, but we remain hopeful. We are so overwhelmed by all the support and love,” they added.
As of Thursday, the cousin’s fundraiser had raked in nearly $6,000 of its $10,000 goal.
A second GoFundMe started by a family friend had far surpassed its initial $40,000 goal and by Thursday evening had raised more than $240,000 and set a higher goal of $500,000.
Brain damage
The family friend, Sarah Hall, explained that they will not know the extent of Kaylee’s brain damage until she wakes up.
“The path to recovery will be extremely hard on the family,” she wrote.
The vicious fight broke out just blocks from the high school in the afternoon on March 8.
A disturbing clip shows Gain and another girl, who has not been identified, fighting before the girl shoved Gain to the ground and started pummeling her.
Gain was eventually left twitching on the pavement while the brawl continued around her.
The other girl, who is believed to be 15 years old, was later taken into custody.
Gain’s grandmother, Terry Nordstrom Thompson, called the attack “unforgivable” in an emotional Facebook post.
“We are beyond devastated for her. Senseless act of violence,” Thompson added in a reply to a comment on the post.
Just a few months ago, on Dec. 14, the grandmother had wished Gain a happy 16th birthday with a carousel of photos from happier times.
Gain has a brother and a stepsister, according to the grandmother.
Her injuries prompted some lawmakers to call for the other girl involved in the fight to be charged as an adult and face maximum penalties.
“The criminal should be charged and tried as an adult,” Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey wrote on X over the weekend. “If the victim dies, that offense should rise to a homicide.”
The other teen “must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe said Sunday in a statement.