Eric and Trayce. Photo courtesy of Renovatio Farm.
Eric Dierks is recovering from severe facial and ocular injuries sustained from being kicked in the face on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 3, while doing groundwork with a young mare at his Renovatio Farm in Tryon, North Carolina.
He was immediately transported to Spartanburg Regional Hospital in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he underwent surgery yesterday to repair numerous broken bones in his face.
“Surgery went mostly as expected, and he is following the pain and swelling factor the doctors predicted,” Trayce Doubek-Dierks, Eric’s wife, said.
Eric was wearing a helmet during the groundwork session with the mare, who was not wearing hind shoes.
“This legitimately was a freak accident,” Trayce said. “The mare had a blink-of-an-eye exuberant moment. We’ve all had thousands of those in our professional careers. I truly hope our calling is to just be a living example of safety first, everywhere, at all times.”
Eric will remain at Spartanburg Regional for several more days as he starts the recovery process following surgery. Trayce said they do not yet have an exact timeline for how long the laundry list of injuries will take to heal.
He is once again facing a long recovery period from another severe injury this calendar year. The eventing family rallied around Eric in February after he sustained second- and third-degree burns to his face and right hand when a water heater he was repairing exploded at the farm.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help offset the cost of Eric’s medical expenses. Click here to donate.
“Obviously the only way to get through this is by the fortress of love and prayer that has been blanketed over us,” Trayce said. “Thank God he was wearing his helmet and that the mare didn’t have hind shoes.”
Please join the EN team in sending well wishes for a speedy healing process. If you are able, please consider donating to help Eric and Trayce during this difficult time.
