Photo courtesy of Kailey’s support team.
The eventing community continues to support Kailey Giancola, the 25-year-old eventer who suffered a severe brain stem injury on Dec. 16, with our whole hearts. Kailey has been in rehabilitation since mid-January, and we are very thankful for the daily updates via her CaringBridge online journal here.
Yesterday her family issued this summary of her progress to EN:
“Kailey has been demonstrating her excellent work ethic in the Disorders of Consciousness Program at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia, an incredible rehabilitation hospital specialized in brain and spinal cord injuries. While Kailey remains in a minimally conscious state, she does now demonstrate a definite sleep-wake cycle and opens her eyes throughout the day. Kailey has repeatedly been able to turn her head left and right on command and has been able to localize towards sound. She participates in three hours of therapy a day including physical, speech, and occupational therapies under the supervision of a highly specialized team of therapists, doctors, and a neuropsychologist. Please continue to keep Kailey in your thoughts and prayers that she may emerge to higher and higher levels of consciousness on her journey towards recovery. We appreciate the equestrian community’s continued support of Kailey, and are humbled by every dollar that has been donated to help offset the massive expense the Giancola family has been faced with to provide Kailey medical care and the opportunity to recover.”
Keep kicking, Kailey! You are eventer-strong and an incredible fighter, and we are so very proud of you.
We are happy to share some new opportunities to support Kailey.
Photo courtesy of Kailey’s support team.
- #RideForKailey Saddle Pad (dressage or all purpose): $25 each + $10 shipping. Pick up is available at Kailey’s alma mater at the Otterbein Equine Center in Westerville, OH. Click here to order.
Allie Rubenstein (pictured) and Sarah Choate rode with Kailey on her college team at Otterbein and have done all the organization of t-shirts, belts and saddle pads. Photos courtesy of Kailey’s support team.
- #RideForKailey T-Shirts: $20+$4 for shipping. Click here to order.
- Photo courtesy of Kailey’s support team.
- #RideForKaily C4 Belt: $35+ $10 shipping. Click here to order.
A GoFundMe set up to assist the Giancola family with medical bills has reached over $50,000 — you can make a donation today here. You can also make a donation directly: Kailey’s Family at MN Bank and MN Band and Trust / C/O Ben Monnens /9800 Bren Road E. #200 / Minnetonka, MN 55343. If you would like to use an alternate form of payment, contact Ben Monnens at 612-237-8786.
There will be a fundraising event on April 23rd in Kailey’s hometown in Minnesota — more info on that to come.
Go Kailey! Go Eventing.
