ChocoMare
Jul. 30, 2009, 12:44 PM
While I don't know her (came across this article during lunch), I thought that someone here might. Regardless, jingles/prayers to Victoria during her recovery. :sadsmile:
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http://www.mdjonline.com/content/index/showcontentitem/area/1/section/15/item/137314.html
Published: 07/29/2009
Victoria Middleton suffered a brain injury when a horse she was bathing was spooked and knocked her into a fence. She then fell and hit her head on concrete.
By Kim Isaza
kisaza@mdjonline.com
COBB COUNTY - Victoria Middleton, a well-known Acworth native and star equestrian at the University of South Carolina, is recovering from a brain injury after a horse stable accident last week.
Middleton, 20, a 2007 graduate of Kell High School, was in Bennington, Vt., on Friday, preparing for a horse competition when the horse she was bathing became suddenly spooked and broke the fencing to which it was tied. The fence rail hit Victoria in the face and knocked her down, where she hit her head on cement, according to her family's posting at CaringBridge.com, a Web site created to help families keep friends updated on a hospital patient's condition.
She was airlifted to Albany Medical Center in New York, where she is in critical condition with brain and facial injuries, a family relative says. Victoria's mother, Leslie, and her siblings Britany and William, all of Acworth, are with her, as is her father, Bill, a thoracic surgeon in Florida.
Leslie Middleton wrote on CaringBridge on Tuesday morning: "They removed the 'bolt' that measures intracranial pressure this morning because the pressure in her brain has remained normal. A celebration in itself. The next step is to get her awake more so they can slowly wean her off of the respirator."
Victoria's grandfather, Bob Sutton, was director of public works in Cobb and served as the county engineer in the 1970s and 80s.
Victoria's aunt, Marietta native Lynn Wigington, said, "We're very hopeful. Her parents are looking for every sign of encouragement. Yesterday she gave them a thumbs-up sign."
Wigington said Tuesday evening that Victoria's condition remained the same, although "she's keeping her eyes open more and more and following people around the room, which doctors say is a good sign." Wigington added that doctors "are waiting on a greater state of consciousness so they can remove the (respirator) tube."
Victoria is an equestrian champion on the Gameccks' Hunter Jumper team, and finished second in the flat event at the NCAA Championships in Texas in June. Flat riding is showing a horse in a competition that does not involve jumping.
Wigington said Victoria, a junior who is majoring in business and earned an equestrian scholarship, was spending the summer at a horse farm in Boston, showing horses and taking lessons.
When she was in high school, Victoria spent two or three hours a day riding at Falcon Ridge Stables in Woodstock, said Doug Prusso, who owns the stables with his wife. Victoria's horse, Mel - "the love of her life," her aunt said - was stabled there until recently, when the family was able to move him to their own land, Prusso said.
The family are members of First Baptist Church of Marietta.
Dackri Davis, who is in her second year as Kell's athletic director and has been at Kell since it opened, described Victoria as "an absolute, wonderful student."
"She's a sweetheart. The type of student you wish all of them could be. Their family is a big part of our community here, and our prayers and thoughts are with them."
Victoria's brother, William, graduated from Kell in May.
Wigington said the family is overwhelmed by the support they have received.
"There's a phenomenal network out there. We've got the barn family, the church family, the Gamecock Nation. It's just amazing," she said.
Victoria's CaringBridge.com Web site is:
www.caringbridge.org/visit/victoriamiddleton (http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/victoriamiddleton)
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http://www.mdjonline.com/content/index/showcontentitem/area/1/section/15/item/137314.html
Published: 07/29/2009
Victoria Middleton suffered a brain injury when a horse she was bathing was spooked and knocked her into a fence. She then fell and hit her head on concrete.
By Kim Isaza
kisaza@mdjonline.com
COBB COUNTY - Victoria Middleton, a well-known Acworth native and star equestrian at the University of South Carolina, is recovering from a brain injury after a horse stable accident last week.
Middleton, 20, a 2007 graduate of Kell High School, was in Bennington, Vt., on Friday, preparing for a horse competition when the horse she was bathing became suddenly spooked and broke the fencing to which it was tied. The fence rail hit Victoria in the face and knocked her down, where she hit her head on cement, according to her family's posting at CaringBridge.com, a Web site created to help families keep friends updated on a hospital patient's condition.
She was airlifted to Albany Medical Center in New York, where she is in critical condition with brain and facial injuries, a family relative says. Victoria's mother, Leslie, and her siblings Britany and William, all of Acworth, are with her, as is her father, Bill, a thoracic surgeon in Florida.
Leslie Middleton wrote on CaringBridge on Tuesday morning: "They removed the 'bolt' that measures intracranial pressure this morning because the pressure in her brain has remained normal. A celebration in itself. The next step is to get her awake more so they can slowly wean her off of the respirator."
Victoria's grandfather, Bob Sutton, was director of public works in Cobb and served as the county engineer in the 1970s and 80s.
Victoria's aunt, Marietta native Lynn Wigington, said, "We're very hopeful. Her parents are looking for every sign of encouragement. Yesterday she gave them a thumbs-up sign."
Wigington said Tuesday evening that Victoria's condition remained the same, although "she's keeping her eyes open more and more and following people around the room, which doctors say is a good sign." Wigington added that doctors "are waiting on a greater state of consciousness so they can remove the (respirator) tube."
Victoria is an equestrian champion on the Gameccks' Hunter Jumper team, and finished second in the flat event at the NCAA Championships in Texas in June. Flat riding is showing a horse in a competition that does not involve jumping.
Wigington said Victoria, a junior who is majoring in business and earned an equestrian scholarship, was spending the summer at a horse farm in Boston, showing horses and taking lessons.
When she was in high school, Victoria spent two or three hours a day riding at Falcon Ridge Stables in Woodstock, said Doug Prusso, who owns the stables with his wife. Victoria's horse, Mel - "the love of her life," her aunt said - was stabled there until recently, when the family was able to move him to their own land, Prusso said.
The family are members of First Baptist Church of Marietta.
Dackri Davis, who is in her second year as Kell's athletic director and has been at Kell since it opened, described Victoria as "an absolute, wonderful student."
"She's a sweetheart. The type of student you wish all of them could be. Their family is a big part of our community here, and our prayers and thoughts are with them."
Victoria's brother, William, graduated from Kell in May.
Wigington said the family is overwhelmed by the support they have received.
"There's a phenomenal network out there. We've got the barn family, the church family, the Gamecock Nation. It's just amazing," she said.
Victoria's CaringBridge.com Web site is:
www.caringbridge.org/visit/victoriamiddleton (http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/victoriamiddleton)