From the "GO TEAM JACOBY" website:
"On Friday, November 16, 2012, at approximately 4:30pm, Jacoby Miles, a level 9 gymnast sustained a serious neck injury while performing a routine maneuver on the uneven bars. Jacoby was practicing her double back dismount off the high bar into the pit. She opened prematurely, stating she "got lost," before her 2nd flip was complete and landed on her neck on an 8 inch mat. The paramedics were called and she was taken to St. Josephs Hospital in Tacoma, where a CAT scan showed her C4 vertebrae had dislocated sitting slightly in front of her C5. She is paralyzed from the mid chest down. She was later taken to Harborview Medical Center, where she underwent surgery. They found that the spinal cord had been completed pinched off but NOT SEVERED! PRAISE GOD!!! Although the doctor said using her legs again would be in the "miracle category," we are praying for and believing she can make a full recovery - she is a STRONG girl!"
This is not an injury that occurs often in gymnastics. I believe there have only been 4 incidents of gymnasts being paralyzed from a bad fall and the difference between injury and no injury is nanoseconds. How heartbreaking. I have been following her story and progress since the accident and her blog brings me to tears every time. As a former gymnast myself my heart is broken for her. While our situations and medical scenarios are not the same I felt an instant connection.
Jacoby was able to be discharged from the hospital on Christmas Eve, which is incredible. Her friends and family, the local community, gymnastics clubs nationwide, professional athletes, the Fierce Five (5 US Olympic gymnasts that won gold in London), and past Olympic gymnasts (Nastia Liukin, Kerri Strug, Shannon Miller, Shawn Johnson, Carly Patterson, Elise Ray, etc.) have helped raise awareness and support. She has received gift baskets and memorabilia from famous Olympians and several of them even visited her in the hospital. A van was donated to the family and the community of more than 100 volunteers came together to do a home-remodel. The outpouring of support for Jacoby has been remarkable.
I made a card with sparkles that I plan to send with words of support and encouragement. In times of hardship it is always helpful to know that you have people who support you, care about you and want to see you make a full recovery.
If you pray, please send prayers to Jacoby Miles and her family as they struggle with their new life and the challenges they are facing. Pray for physical and mental health and strength to get them through. If you would like specific things to pray about her blog usually includes specific prayer requests and goals. Her blog can be found here...
If you don't pray, please consider sending positive healing thoughts to Jacoby and her family!
The power of positive thinking and energy is so important.
Information about donations and current fundraising is available on her website (click "GO TEAM JACBOY" above). Their goal is $500,000 and they are well on their way.
To follow her progress visit her blog- Get Well Jacoby
"To get up in the morning only to know that you have to face another obstacle takes strength. To smile when the only thing you can do is cry takes bravery. To act happy and laugh when you know that times are at their worst takes courage. To be joyous when the only good news is the best of the bad news takes support"
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