A friend of CrossFit coach and gym owner Kerrie Olsen shared a shocking update after Olsen suffered life-threatening injuries in a golf cart accident last month.
Sicily Romano, who set up a GoFundMe in Olsen’s honor, posted a picture of the massive scar on Olsen’s head after she had a custom ceramic skull piece attached.
“She is making strides. Two big wins to share today,” the GoFundMe said on Tuesday, May 12. “Yesterday Kerrie had successful surgery to attach a ceramic skull piece. Everything went smoothly. That surgery was a major milestone in her recovery and the medical team is pleased with how it went.”
The page added, “And she stood up. With the help of two nurses, Kerrie stood. It was hard. It took everything she had. But she did it. This is what fighting looks like.”
Olsen suffered a traumatic brain injury after she fell off a golf cart while vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with her husband, Paul, and a group of friends.
After undergoing surgery in Mexico, she was transported back to her home state of Utah via medical evacuation on May 6, where she has undergone further surgeries and testing.
“There are moments of real progress and moments that are hard to watch — confusion, fear, the brain slowly finding its way back,” the GoFundMe explained. “Kerrie is working through all of it. She is not all the way back yet, and that is okay. She is a champion and she is doing this one hard step at a time.”
Olsen is expected to be in the hospital for “at least a month, possibly two.”
“After that comes a rehab center,” the GoFundMe said. “This is a long road, and the financial weight of it does not stop just because she made it home.”
The fundraiser has earned more than $102,00 at the time of publication.
“If you have not donated or shared the GoFundMe yet, please do,” the page urged. “Every dollar goes directly to Kerrie’s care — and there is still so much care ahead.”
Olsen’s sister, Wendi Gustavson, posted an update about her condition on Thursday, May 14, explaining Olsen is “working as hard as she can.”
“She was able to stand up with the help of two nurses for a few minutes before laying down again,” Gustavson wrote via Facebook. “She is basically just in her bed healing and fighting every single day. At this time she does not remember the accident at all. She is still a bit confused why she is in the hospital and touches her head often wondering what the heck.”
She added, “Kerrie is still fighting a massive infection, but everyday that gets better. She has so much to overcome, but as we all know she is a [fighter] and will continue to fight.”
