American FEI rider Silva Martin has relocated to the Pinecrest Rehab Center in Florida and is undergoing four or five hours of rehab every day, inclding speech, occupational and physiotherapy.
A helmet wearing Martin sustained a severe head injury when she fell off her horse on 5 March 2014. She was air-lifted to the Delray Medical Centre, where she has been recovering ever since. Yesterday Martin's condition was stable enough to move her to the rehab center.
Martin's husband, U.S. eventing rider Boyd, reported that Silva will soon move to Pennsylvania, where she will continue her recovery at the Bryn Mawr rehab hospital in Malvern.
"Silva’s mum Christa is arriving tomorrow from Germany and she’s going to meet up with Silva in Palm Beach. We are waiting for Silva’s neurosurgeon to give her the okay to travel, and as soon as she gets the all clear she and her mum will head up to PA," Boyd explained. "From all reports that’s the number one place to get Silva back to 100%."
Boyd disclosed that Silva is "mentally sharp as a tack and her neurosurgeon assures me that as time goes on and the blood is reabsorbed into her body, her balance, sight and speech will improve. There’s no question it’s a pretty serious injury and will take time to heal, but if you give this kind of thing enough time things usually come back to 100%."
Boyd added, "obviously we’re in for a rough time but we’ll be able to get through it thanks to an awesome group of people around us."
Photo © Astrid Appels
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