In case you haven't heard, Tere Parra, was paralyzed after she fell from a tree during a mock Hunger Games in Pravo Canyon in Utah when visiting her friend in June this year. Tere Parra was an experienced tree climber and even if she has lots of experience when it comes to this kind of thing, she was never excluded to accidents like this and so are we. We are very saddened on what had happened and we would like to remind everybody to be careful when doing cosplays or short films either related to the Hunger Games or not.
PROVO — The donations are coming in at a
steady pace for Tere Parra, the young Mexican woman paralyzed in early
June when she fell from a tree while playing a mock version of Hunger
Games.
So far, about $11,000 has
been raised to help with Parra's medical expenses, as she continues
treatment for her broken back and shattered face. Both injuries required
hours of surgery and weeks of hospitalization in a Provo hospital's
intensive care unit.
Parra was in Utah visiting her
sister, Eva Daniels, when the accident happened in Provo Canyon. With
such pain and loss of mobility, friends and family say they'd understand
if Parra, 25, was depressed, bitter or even angry at her situation.
Instead, the woman has been an inspiration to those around her and to strangers alike because of her strength, and her grace.
"There's some people who have
gone to visit her in the hospital, people who have the same condition
she has now," said her brother-in-law Spencer Daniels.
Earlier this week, she was
moved to another area of the hospital to begin physical therapy and
learn how to maneuver through life without the use of her legs.
Daniels said she has been in good spirits, and touched by people who want to help.
Cory Lovelace, a friend who is
spearheading fundraising efforts, said he continues to get about 10
calls a day from throughout the United States — California, Tennessee,
Indiana and Florida.
A woman from Brazil emailed, wanting to know how she could help.
In Glendale, Ariz., Judy
McKinstry wrote that when she heard of what had happened to the woman,
recently returned from an LDS mission in California, it touched her
heart.
"But when I read of her
positive attitude in the midst of what could be a great despair, it
touches me even more," McKinstry said. "She is a remarkable person and I
admire her courage."
Terre's story was picked up by
the Daily Mail in the United Kingdom and featured in its online
edition. Since then, Lovelace said the offerings of support have been
even more steady.
He said he had a hunch that the woman's story would capture hearts, so he is not overly surprised at the extent of the reaction.
"I always had high expectations."
McKinstry said she prays for the woman she's not met but honors from far away.
"Young people today go from low extremes to high ones," she said. "They are either really broken or valiant servants like Tere."
Fundraisers
Friends have organized a variety of fundraisers to help with Tere Parra's medical costs. She does not have insurance. A
5K race
will be held at 8 a.m. July 14 at Lakeridge Junior High School in Orem.
Cost is $20. A barbecue afterward is at 11 a.m. and is $10.
On July 13, a
dance at
The Center in Provo costs $5. It is from 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more
information, call Cory Lovelace, 801-874-7044 or email
btereslegs@gmail.com
A donation page has been set up to garner
support for the woman, with a goal of raising $200,000 to help offset medical costs. As of midday Tuesday, 38 donors had raised $2,215.
