Mum’s plea for help to aid injured daughter
THE mum of a young Strandhill woman seriously injured in a car crash in the US has made a plea for people to back a fundraising campaign to help pay for costly hospital treatment.
Elaine O’Halloran (24) (pictured) is currently paralysed following the collision which killed two of her friends in Wellington, Florida.
Mum Jeanie Douglas told The Sligo Champion that horse loving Elaine, who had been working in the US for the past two years as a groom at Pine Hollow Stables, didn’t have insurance.
“She’s doing good and she is into the second week of rehabilitation now having undergone spinal reconstruction surgery. It’s too early to say what the outcome will be yet but we should have a better idea in the next four to six weeks,” said Jeanie.
She flew to the US to be at her daughter’s bedside when news broke of the terrible accident which resulted in Elaine, who has been in the US on and off for the past two years, breaking her spine in two places. Jeanie says Elaine has no other long lasting injuries and is able to talk and have visitors, getting into her wheelchair in the mornings and undergoing rehabilitation. Elaine’s sister, Jean, who has been living in South America, is also in Florida.
Jeanie added: “It’s just a matter of waiting. It’s a long call really but hopefully she will make progress. Myself and Jean are hoping to stay as long as we can here but all plans are up in the air. Elaine was part of a very close knit equestrian community and they have been brilliant in taking care of her, visiting regularly and ensuring she has everything she needs.” A massive fundraising campaign through Go Fund Me has been started with a target of $500,000, of which $144,500 has been raised so far.
“The treatment is expensive and we are grateful to everyone who has contributed so far. We need to raise as much as we can so that we can give Elaine the best treatment possible,” said Jeanie. The aim is to get Elaine home to Sligo as soon as they can.
Friends and family of a young Strandhill woman seriously injured in a car crash in the US have rallied together to help pay for her medical expenses.
On Saturday November 25 th, Elaine O’Halloran (24) was a passenger and sole survivor of a car crash in Wellington, Florida on Saturday, November 25 th last.
Elaine has been living and working in Wellington, Florida as a groom for the past couple of years at the 25 acre Pine Hollow Farm equestrian centre
After the crash, Elaine was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Trauma Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Since that night she has had reconstructive spinal surgery which was successful, but currently has paralysis from the waist down.
Only time will tell if this is a permanent condition says a post on a Go Fund Me page set up by her employer to try to cover the enormous medical bills which Elaine faces.
The page says Elaine will need to undergo extensive rehabilitation therapy for the foreseeable future.
Due to her diagnosis she will have to remain in the local area to receive this treatment. Elaine did not have medical insurance.
The fund has a target of $500,000 and in to date some $144,530 has been raised with friends donating from the US and Sligo..
“We are fundraising to help cover the cost of Elaine’s hospital stay and rehabilitation. Funds are needed immediately. All money raised will go solely to Elaine’s medical and rehabilitation expenses. This will help Elaine to focus solely on her recovery and access the treatment she so desperately needs,” said Mr Blake. Elaine had a great love of horses and loved her life in Florida. Her mother, Jeanie Douglas lives in Strandhill while she also has a sister, Jean. Killed in the crash on South Shore Boulevard were Christian Kennedy, 21, and Dana McWilliams,19, who both moved to Wellington in order to pursue their passion for working with horses, according to a report in the South Florida based Sun Sentinel. McWilliams moved to Wellington just five weeks ago and was also passionate about horses and dressage. She was at the wheel of her 2013 Chevrolet Camaro when she lost control and the car went onto the median and struck several trees in the 3600 block of South Shore Boulevard, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff ’s Office. The car was traveling “at a high rate of speed,” authorities said. Elaine, who was the only one wearing a safety belt, was a back seat passenger. Kennedy, who was raised in Iowa, was a rising talent who had hopes of competing as a rider in the Olympics.