The family of a Kamloops woman who was seriously injured in a crash on Friday is grateful for how Kamloopsians have stepped up to help out.
Tara Bouvette, 25, was on her way to Edmonton from Kamloops on Friday when she hit a moose on the highway. She had to be airlifted to the University of Alberta Hospital in a critical condition.
“[Tara] was taken into surgery to have a piece of her skull removed to make room for swelling, and they cleaned up some bleeding on the outside of the brain as well as some inside,” said a GoFundMe post created by Samantha Bouvette. “After surgery she was stabilized and placed into ICU in critical condition.”
She says Tara has 41 staples in her skull, as well as stitches. She also suffered a fracture at the base of her skull and over fourteen fractures to the face, as well as a major cut by the corner of her right eye.
“She will need surgery to her face where they will place plates to fix the damage in the bone structure,” Samantha noted, saying Tara’s mother and brother were on the first flight out of Kamloops on Saturday, while other family members have also made the trip to Alberta.
The GoFundMe was hoping to raise $2,500 to help pay for flights for the family go head to Alberta, as well as to cover their time off work and other expenses. As of 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 27, it had raised $6,630.
“Yesterday, they took out her intubation, she is still in ICU but they are planning to move her to the neurology ward hopefully within the next day or two,” Samantha noted. “This morning she started to speak a little bit, she is still quite heavily medicated so she’s been doing a lot of sleeping. The fractures in her face haven’t shifted so they may not have to place the plates in her face as planned.”
Samantha says any money raised over the goal will still go to help cover any costs that Tara might need.
“It is still unknown how long she will need to be in Edmonton and every bit will help,” she said. “We have such a phenomenal community and cannot express our gratitude enough.”
(Photos contributed)
