Help Rachel's Road to Recovery

Fundraiser by Kristy Reece - On behalf of the Andersen, Fleming & Reece families.

02/07/2021

Anyone who knows my sister Rachel, knows that she is a go-getter. Rachel has a zest for life, a passion to help others and is one of the most strong and determined people you will ever meet. Her life has always involved sport and fitness - many of our childhood family holidays were instigated by having to travel somewhere to some sports competition for Rachel. Rachel's love for sport, health, fitness & helping others led her to become an inspiring PE teacher and she is loved by her Our Lady of Lourdes school family. Rachel has been presented with many challenges throughout her life, including back surgery, but her determination and positive mindset allowed her to continue to do backflips on the beach - literally! She is a loving and selfless mother to her 3 beautiful teenage children, Fletcher, Jade & Elara, and rules the roost alongside her partner in crime, David. She is a sister to myself, Jasmine & Brock, always pushing us to step outside our comfort zone, always there to help us through our confronting times and always the "sh#t stirrer" of the family that keeps us laughing. A daughter that her parents Ken & Wendy are so proud of and a loyal friend to those that are part of her life.

On Monday, Rachel, being the get in and get it done person that she is, jumped on her ride-on mower to tidy up a section down the back of her bushland property. The mower slipped off the edge of the track and rolled with Rachel into a gully, catching her left hand under the mower as she fell. She sustained significant injury, but somehow managed to climb out of the gully, wrap her almost fully detached bloody hand in her shirt and walk far enough to find phone service to call 000. Rachel was rushed to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane after being assessed at Toowoomba Hospital Emergency. On arrival at the PA hospital, she was taken directly to theatre and underwent 10 hours of reconstructive surgery. The amazing surgeons managed to save her thumb and two fingers, which thankfully are showing signs of making recovery.

Rachel's hospital stay will be a long one, this is made worse by the COVID restrictions currently preventing her family from visiting. Going through trauma of this degree is hard enough, let alone without your loved ones around you. It is a heartbreaking and scary time for both Rachel and our family. Thankfully David is by her side, and we couldn't ask for a better family advocate. Rachel's daughters are currently living with Ken & Wendy and are receiving lots of love and support from all of our family and friends, but just want to be beside their Mum.

Towards the end of the month (July), Rachel will undergo further surgery to repair her wrist. Some bone replacement will be required and possibly screws and plates to try to gain some strength and mobility down the track. Rachel is so grateful for the love and support she has already received and for the genuine care she is receiving at the PA hospital. She is getting used to the idea that her hospital stay and recovery will be a long one.

My family and I have created this gofundme page to assist the long road of recovery ahead for Rachel. Injury of this degree will impact on so many factors of her life.

Rachel is now faced with loss of income, medical costs, travel costs, medication, physiotherapy, hand therapy, disability aids and alterations.

Any funds made will go directly to Rachel - even the smallest donation counts.

Whether it be thoughts, prayers, donations or just reading this... thank you so much for any contribution towards Rachel's recovery.