SAVANNAH, Ga. — A family and community are coming together to support a Georgia teacher left paralyzed from her chest down after a “catastrophic” accident involving an inflatable waterslide.
Valerie Feske, who is a teacher in Richmond Hill, was at a small neighborhood event with her family and friends on Memorial Day weekend when she fell from the top of the slide.
Her husband told WTOC-TV in Savannah that it went from fun to terrifying in just moments.
Feske was rushed to a Savannah-area hospital with serious spinal injuries.
"We had a small neighborhood event with an inflatable water slide. The kids were playing and Val being Valerie, being the life of the party, decided that she was going to play with the kids and all of the adults were being boring. She was up there playing and what happen was one of the kids ended up colliding with her just in the absolute wrong way,” Brent Feske told WTOC-TV.
A GoFundMe set up for Feske says that she suffered an ASIA A C7 spinal cord injury. Her family says she is paralyzed from the chest down, but after some surgery, she’s regaining movement in her arms and even some feeling in her chest.
Brent Feske posted on his public Facebook page Wednesday night that his wife has been accepted at Atlanta’s Shepherd Center for rehabilitation. He even said that he believes it was the center’s co-founder, Elana Shepherd, who delivered the good news via a phone call.
Brent Feske said he knows there is a long way to go for his wife, but the support from their family, friends and community has been amazing.
“Yesterday evening our neighborhood organized a neighborhood support photo for Valerie. It had a remarkable turnout (see attached). When I showed her the photo it brought her to tears. She couldn’t believe how many people went out of their way to go and take that photo. Thanks to the best neighborhood ever!” Brent Feske posted on his public Facebook page.
Brent Feske says if there’s anything he’s learned from this horrible experience, it’s the amount of love the community has for his wife.
“I thought I knew how many people loved Valerie, but the amount of well wishes and support we received today is mind blowing. There is no doubt I am married to one of the most loved woman around. Thanks to everyone for their love and prayers,” Brent Feske posted.