FEBRUARY 2014 THE RIDER /41 Horse Community Supports “Lucky To Be Alive” Survivor
described her injuries. She suffered a lacerated liver which was repaired in surgery, multiple breaks on her legs and arms requiring hundreds of staples and three permanent rods. There was a smashed knee and damaged elbow which will require further surg- eries later, multiple rib
girl. Responding emergen- cy crews worked for more than half an hour to extract her from the wreckage before taking her to Hamil- ton General Hospital for emergency treatment. Sur- vival of something so catastrophic goes against all odds and some might call it a miracle. Under- standable, considering the firefighter who helped cut Elyse from the wreckage describes finding her in her vehicle with the truck’s bumper only a couple inch- es from her face. Yes, lucky is one word for it and her family and friends are thankful for that. Elyse’s Aunt Patty
to be alive. On January 27th at about 7am, the 22 year old was heading up Hwy 6 North on her way to her job in Guelph. That’s when her Ford Focus col- lided head-on with a trans- port truck. The violent col- lision on that snowy road destroyed her car while inflicting multiple life- threatening injuries on the young
Flamborough
By Kelly Bowers Elyse Leduc is lucky
improved enough that it has now been removed. Her kidneys are fine but Elyse is having problems maintaining her red blood cells. Doctors cannot find another source of bleeding and the most likely prob- lem is that our femur bones are a major source of red blood cell production. Since hers were so badly injured, they may not be producing enough red blood cells yet. With her needing blood transfusions almost every other day, Elyse is a good example of how donated blood can actually save somebody’s life.
ribly difficult week for Elyse’s loved ones too. Her
determined spirit is strong and she won’t go down without a fight. Recently she began sitting up for 45 min a day in a chair. Although she does not remember the accident she is slowly being told what happened. She is lucid more often and has even shown evidence of her usual sense of humour re- emerging. She is eating small amounts of food and has asked for Mcdonalds. All good signs. Yes, it has been a ter-
Elyse is making progress. That
Despite the odds, independent and
fractures and severely bruised lungs. Then on thursday, one of her dam- aged lungs collapsed and a chest tube was inserted. Thankfully
she has
another reason. She and her family are receiving overwhelming support from friends, neighbours and a huge community of complete strangers who love horses like she does. It all started with two of her friends, Alyssa Patche- son and Tiffany Stein who thought it would be nice to start a Facebook page as a kind of of online GET WELL card for Elyse. They called the page “Speedy Recovery For Elyse Leduc!”. Nearly 500 messages flooded in before they could print it off, but the posts kept com- ing. This lead Alyssa and Tiffany to their next thought that if they could gather some donated used tack from friends in the area, they could hold an auction on FB. The money could help pay for costs associated to Elyse’s hors- es, Peanut and Prada while Elyse recovers over the next year. Just board for the pair runs around $900
mom, Elizabeth is a nurse and has been by her side. Extended family, friends, and especially her fiance, Matthew Granby, whom she lives with in Water- down, are shaken to the core. The couple recently got engaged at Christmas and are looking forward to an exciting future together. Now, he looks forward to just bringing her home first and knows they’ll just have to take one day at a time. Elyse is lucky for
beginning of the “Auction For Elyse Leduc”. The thought was small to start but the word has spread followed by an outpouring of greetings and donations from across Canada and even from the U.S. Nearly a hundred items have been offered for auction in the first week, some with a value of nearly $1,000. The selection includes vari- ous services like equine massage, lessons, a dres- sage clinic for eight, equine artwork, a variety of photo shoots with local talent, riding apparel, summer camp, a variety of equine jewellery, saddles, new and used tack, breedings, train- ing/board, and non-horsey items like a fitness mem- bership and personal train- er. The list grows every day and is being uploaded to FB.
1) Join the “Auction For Elyse Leduc” Facebook group. 2) Donate items to auction off by emailing Tiffany personally at
binksisfast@hotmail.com to make sure it arrives and gets listed. If you just list it on FB, she can’t keep track of it. 3) Fill out the form you find on line for a bid- der number. 4) Bid on the items you’d like to have. 5) You can also donate cash at any CIBC bank. Branch 010, Transit num-
How can people help?
per month plus Elyse will have expenses for services not covered by OHIP. This was the humble
ber 01762, Account num- ber 1475037, In trust for Elyse Leduc. 6) Share this story so others can do the same.
Ann Davidson commented on the Facebook page: The one thing we hear about everyday is Peanut and Prada. Every day... several times a day! Her horses and her dog, Levi, are first and foremost on her mind. And to know that all of you are working to keep that dream alive for her is so awe- some! I know that she will get back on a horse some- day. (knowing Elyse, that will be sooner rather than later).
tion, Elyse and Matt have been offered a free trip to the Dominican (maybe a honeymoon?) once she is
Besides items for auc- Elyse’s aunt, Patty
able. As well, Blue Collar Snow Removal Services, The Granby family, and Jesse Fitzpatrick at Queen- ston Chevrolet are giving her a 2014 chevrolet of her choice. She has also been offered free veterinarian services and farrier services for the next year to help care for Peanut and Prada. Donors names can be found with the list of items on FB. Elyse is also getting
support from her place of employment. Her co- workers at Rens Pet Depot in Guelph are collecting money from the company employees and Rens head office has committed to matching the amount raised by their workers. In the meantime, the company has already been quietly helping out financially.
“thank every person who sent wishes on Facebook, signed the card, or is donat- ing and bidding at the auc- tion.
“flabbergasted”.
Tiffany and I had to help our friend turned into a extravaganza with over- whelming support from the supportive and loving com- munity of horse people and we
are
Your horse has given you a lifetime of love and it is hard to walk away when the time has come to say goodbye
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just The small idea
Emily, from the Guelph store says most of the Rens store employees are horse people and are friends with Elyse. She described Elyse saying “She’s a team lead- er, a great “go to” girl we all depend on, always help- ing out. It’s really hard to fill her shoes. We miss her and are looking forward to when she’s able to return.” Alyssa wants
to
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