Support Amanda's Healing Journey Together

Hello everyone! My name is Aleah and I am one of the sisters of Amanda Mitzel. For the last year Amanda, Amanda's sisters, mother, grandmother, aunt, and myself have been saving for a long-awaited cruise. Well, the time finally arrived, and we made it to Miami on Saturday September 21 for the start of the family vacation. We sailed out on September 22 and we all were having so much fun soaking in the family time and exploring the ship. We were scheduled to stop at three ports, Amber cove, San Juan, and St. Thomas. At the first stop we swam with dolphins and continued to make many memories we will forever remember. The second stop at San Juan on September 25 Amanda and our sister Allison went on a horseback riding excursion through an old plantation in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The rest of us went to an all-inclusive beach.

While Amanda and Allison were on their excursion, Amanda's horse got spooked when another member of the group screamed causing Amanda's horse to take off full speed away from the group. When Amanda's horse took off Amanda had been bucked off the horse and fell to the ground very hard. Amanda was luckily wearing a helmet; however, the rest of her body was unprotected against the hard ground. Amanda laid there unable to move for nearly an hour, while her sister Allison and others in the group helped her onto the golf car that took her to the bus. Amanda somehow managed to sit on the bus for a 30-minute ride back to the ship where Allison got her into a wheelchair and to the medical center on the ship. Once on the ship, Allison informed the rest of the family of the situation. The medical center on the ship had conducted 5 different x-rays, which was very painful for Amanda. The x-rays on the ship showed that Amanda had broken her pelvis in 3 different spots. The medical team consulted with other doctors and had determined that Amanda was unable to remain on the ship and arranged for her to be transported to the St. Thomas hospital once the ship arrived at the port the following morning. My mother was able to travel as Amanda's companion thankfully. Amanda was transported via ambulance to the hospital in St. Thomas where they conducted their own set of scans. The medical team at St. Thomas then decided that Amanda could be better treated at a hospital in Miami and arranged an air ICU Jet to pick her up. Unfortunately, due to the hurricane Amanda had to wait extra time in St. Thomas before being transported. The St. Thomas medical team was able to help control Amanda's pain. Finally on September 27 Amanda was able to be flown via ICU jet to Jackson Memorial Hospital Trauma Unit in Miami Florida. The medical team at Jackson Memorial Hosptial conducted their own set of scans and results showed Amanda has two bad breaks in her pelvis and two breaks in her sacrum. The team decided that surgery would be the best way to fix the breaks and has scheduled surgery for October 1st. Amanda continues to struggle with pain and remains on bed rest at this time while she awaits surgery.

Amanda and her family are extremely grateful for God and protecting her as the results of this accident could have been much worse. This is an unfortunate situation that no one hopes for and this accident has caused unforeseen financial circumstances. Amanda and her family are asking for all the prayers and good vibes to be sent her way as she has an extremely long recovery road ahead of her. We are also praying that Amanda can return home to South Dakota shortly after her surgery, however that is unknown at this time.

I have created this fund for Amanda as she will have medical bills, and we all know how stressful finances can be. I am hoping that this fund will help Amanda feel a little less stressed about the bills and focus on healing so she can return to being the loving mother and awesome teacher for her young students again shortly. All donations will go to Amanda to help with medical bills, the ICU Jet, and airfare to return home. Any donation is greatly appreciated and if you are unable to donate at this time all I ask is that you share this with your friends and family and say a prayer for Amanda and her family. God bless you all.