A 22-year-old California woman has been left paralyzed after a massive tree branch crushed her during a powerful windstorm. Jasmine Mayer was sitting with her best friend near Steele Lane Elementary School in Santa Rosa, roughly one hour north of San Francisco, on May 17 when the branch suddenly plummeted onto them.
Unimaginable Incident
Her father, Andy Mayer, recounted the harrowing moment to the San Francisco Chronicle: 'She was knitting and talking to her friend, and the branch came right down on them.' He added, 'We've talked about it since. There's no anger. There's no drunk driver. It's just an unimaginable incident.'
According to a GoFundMe page established by her close friend Lauren Kelleher, Mayer sustained a severe spinal cord injury, fractured vertebrae, and broken and bruised ribs. She was rushed to the UC Davis Medical Center for emergency treatment.
Medical Condition and Recovery
Mayer's lower body is currently paralyzed, though she has begun to experience 'some pins-and-needles-type sensation' in her legs and feet. She underwent surgery at UC Davis Medical Center, where doctors discovered internal bleeding and treated a blood clot. Her father described her injuries as 'catastrophic.'
On Wednesday, Mayer underwent another surgery to address her wounds, with skin grafting expected from some affected areas. Additionally, doctors plan to fuse some of her disks. 'It's nothing unexpected with the severity of her injuries,' Andy Mayer explained. 'Her tissues and skin got pretty shredded.'
Despite the severity, her spinal cord was not completely severed, offering hope for recovery. 'She's going to work hard on her recovery,' her father stated.
Fundraising and Support
As of Friday, approximately $51,800 had been raised through GoFundMe toward a $100,000 goal to cover Mayer's care, rehabilitation, mobility aids, and new housing. Moving forward, she will require a larger, more accessible vehicle and adapted transportation for her new lifestyle.
'Our goal is to get her the best possible equipment,' Andy Mayer said. He praised his daughter's unwavering positivity: 'She's been kind to everyone through the pain. She's been a positive person, and that hasn't changed at all.'
Windstorm Conditions
The National Weather Service in the San Francisco Bay Area had forecast winds of up to 60 miles per hour on the weekend of Mayer's injury, according to USA TODAY. In Santa Rosa, 61-year-old Ralph Harrington also died after being struck by a fallen branch during the same storm.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Kelleher for further comment.
