Mikayla’s small steps after freak accident
Her passion was realised when Mikayla was sat on the back of a horse by her grandmother before the age of one and could not be taken out of the saddle without bursting into tears.
Since then, Mikayla and horses have been almost inseparable. At just 21, Mikayla, of Warragul, owns and operates a horse training business called ‘Mikayla Gaunt Show Horses’ and is involved in horse racing. She lives and breathes the equestrian world.
But, on Saturday, February 18 this year, Mikayla suffered a “freak accident” while at work.
Mikayla was at an equestrian centre in Tonimbuk, preparing a client’s Quarter Horse - an animal she had worked with before - when the horse was spooked. The experienced trainer was putting in a false tail when the horse suddenly double-barrelled her twice, causing her to fall to the ground with severe internal injuries.
Filled with adrenaline, she managed to crawl out of the way and was helped by people nearby.
Mikayla’s mother Kim received a call about her daughter’s accident and rushed to her side.
Mikayla had a broken collarbone, bruised lungs and was struggling to breathe. She was transported to Dandenong by ambulance with a stop along the way for a mobile intensive care ambulance (MICA) unit to assess her and then transferred to The Alfred Hospital where she was admitted to the intensive care unit.
Three days later, Mikayla was in theatre for “lifesaving surgery”.
She was experiencing internal haemorrhaging and needed to have her spleen removed and a third of her pancreas.
Mikayla has experienced a few setbacks - including temporary paralysis of her oesophagus and intestines which made eating difficult for some time.
Throughout her ordeal, Mikayla has lost 10kg but is now beginning to eat normally again.
“Mikayla was devastated when she found out her spleen was removed,” Kim said.
She will now need to be careful about developing infections and diabetes because of her missing spleen and damaged pancreas.
Despite the beginnings of her physical recovery it will be a while before Mikayla can return to work.
Another challenge Mikayla faced was the unprecedented medical bills after discovering the accident was not covered by insurance.
A close family friend Tracey Mallia has set up a Go Fund Me to reduce the financial stress on Mikayla and her family.
Almost $3000 has been donated and Kim said she and Mikayla were extremely grateful.
“We were surprised,” Kim said. “Thank you to everyone who has donated so generously.”
Many of the donations came from people they do not know personally, as well as family and friends. Some donations have even come from America, where Mikayla has equestrian connections.
Kim said she hoped others involved in the horse training world will take note of Mikayla’s experience and look into their insurance coverage through memberships and clubs.
Kim said she was “so proud” of her daughter and was almost 100 per cent certain she would remain involved with horses.
Mikayla recently celebrated her 21st birthday, and while she was not able to celebrate the way she initially planned, she got dressed up and was surrounded by friends, partner Gabriel, and family on her special day.
To find out more about Mikayla and her journey visit her Go Fund Me: https://gofund.me/bad74230