Danielle Ceminsky's Ski Accident Relief Fund
Donation protected
On Saturday, January 19, 2019 Danielle and her friend, Kristin, headed to Mount Kato for some skiing. The fresh powder hid the icy glazed snow beneath; Danielle took a fall and slid head-first into the cement base of a chair lift pole. We are all so thankful that Danielle was wearing a helmet!
Danielle was taken by ambulance to the Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital in Mankato where a CT scan revealed four fractured vertebrae. Perhaps most concerning, Danielle was unable to move or feel her right leg or the fingers on her right hand. Danielle was airlifted to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. She had an MRI to further assess her injuries. The treatment team there evaluated her and decided that surgery was the best course of action; with one surgery planned to address the front of her neck and another surgery planned to address the back of her neck and spine. The goal was to relieve pressure from her spinal cord and to fuse some of the broken vertebrae. Danielle went into her first surgery Saturday night. Upon completion of that surgery around 2:00 am, the doctor visited with Rob and let him know that they'd decided to go ahead with the second surgery right away. They began around 3:30 am and wrapped up shortly after 7:00 am Sunday morning. They installed plates and screws in the front and rods for stabilization in the back. They were successful in relieving some pressure from her spinal cord, and they fused a few of her vertebrae. When Danielle woke up, she had regained feeling in her right leg, all five toes on her right foot, and in her right hand fingers. Her medical team tells us that now we just need to wait for swelling to go down to know how much mobility she'll regain on her right side. We all remain hopeful.
Danielle is very uncomfortable, but that's to be expected. Dr. Rose, the rest of her treatment team, and the nurses in the ICU have been wonderful and we feel confident Danielle is getting the best possible care. Physical therapy has already begun. We've been prepared that recovery will be a marathon rather than a sprint; even if decreased swelling provides Danielle with movement of her leg within the next few days, it will likely be months or even years before it's back to "normal." Danielle is strong, healthy, and fiercely determined. And she has a large network of people who care about her. We all appreciate your thoughtful prayers, well-wishes, and donations.
Danielle was taken by ambulance to the Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital in Mankato where a CT scan revealed four fractured vertebrae. Perhaps most concerning, Danielle was unable to move or feel her right leg or the fingers on her right hand. Danielle was airlifted to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. She had an MRI to further assess her injuries. The treatment team there evaluated her and decided that surgery was the best course of action; with one surgery planned to address the front of her neck and another surgery planned to address the back of her neck and spine. The goal was to relieve pressure from her spinal cord and to fuse some of the broken vertebrae. Danielle went into her first surgery Saturday night. Upon completion of that surgery around 2:00 am, the doctor visited with Rob and let him know that they'd decided to go ahead with the second surgery right away. They began around 3:30 am and wrapped up shortly after 7:00 am Sunday morning. They installed plates and screws in the front and rods for stabilization in the back. They were successful in relieving some pressure from her spinal cord, and they fused a few of her vertebrae. When Danielle woke up, she had regained feeling in her right leg, all five toes on her right foot, and in her right hand fingers. Her medical team tells us that now we just need to wait for swelling to go down to know how much mobility she'll regain on her right side. We all remain hopeful.
Danielle is very uncomfortable, but that's to be expected. Dr. Rose, the rest of her treatment team, and the nurses in the ICU have been wonderful and we feel confident Danielle is getting the best possible care. Physical therapy has already begun. We've been prepared that recovery will be a marathon rather than a sprint; even if decreased swelling provides Danielle with movement of her leg within the next few days, it will likely be months or even years before it's back to "normal." Danielle is strong, healthy, and fiercely determined. And she has a large network of people who care about her. We all appreciate your thoughtful prayers, well-wishes, and donations.
Organizer and beneficiary
Mary Berg
Organizer
Mankato, MN
Danielle Ceminsky
Beneficiary