Back on her feet (almost)

Elissa Antonio tentatively stands up as she recovers in Toronto from injuries during a trip to Trinidad.
Elissa Antonio tentatively stands up as she recovers in Toronto from injuries during a trip to Trinidad.

Elissa Antonio’s medical recovery fund has grown to $62, 668 and, more good news, she’s managed to stand beside her hospital bed.
The ongoing fundraising is important as it goes towards her medication and other expenses and to help her daughters Brianna and Moneque as she recovers. Recovery will take eight to 10 months.
What a difference a week has made as the Caribbean Diaspora and others joined together to help rescue Antonio via long-haul air ambulance after she was stuck in a Trinidad and Tobago hospital without the required medical treatment or skills to heal her after a 40-foot accidental fall while visiting Trinidad.
Now, after two major surgeries, Antonio is able to sit up in bed with a little help.
However, the journey is not over by a long shot but there is real progress. She is still in pain but optimistic for the future and her recovery.

Elissa 2
The Toronto mother had the accident while visiting her family in Trinidad. She fell 40 feet off when she missed her step at night.
Her extensive injuries include a pelvis bone broken in several places. Her right leg is fractured and right heel is broken. The most painful of the injuries is the broken pelvic sacrum that connects to the spine.
Though in constant pain, through it all she manages to smile.
Antonio did not have travel insurance and OHIP does not cover the cost of the air ambulance, but the fundraising drive brought her home for treatment.
Not to be left out, her employer, Blue Water Imaging and its employees joined that drive and made a donation of about $14,000.
Anyone wishing to donated may do so at www.gofundme.com/help ingelissa.