A fitness lover has been left paralyzed from the neck down after suffering a spinal cord injury during an acroyoga session. Abby Weiss, 32, sustained the devastating injury in San Diego, California, on June 21 while executing a mid-air maneuver during her practice, which merges yoga and acrobatics.
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“She’s scared out of her wits. She said the other day it feels like she’s in a straitjacket. She can’t move,” her father, Rory Weiss admitted to local ABC outlet 10 News.
He mentioned that his daughter cherished being active outdoors, making her current condition all the more heartbreaking.
“She said you have to live life,” Rory Weiss explained. “She pushed the envelope a little too far, I think.”
“She’s aware of everything,” Abby’s father added. “Of course, she’s scared out of her wits. She said the other day it feels like she’s in a straitjacket. She can’t move. Everything has to be done for her.”
A GoFundMe Has Been Organized For the Paralyzed Woman Following Her Acroyoga Accident
According to a GoFundMe page detailing her recovery journey, Weiss spent several weeks in intensive care on a ventilator, unable to breathe or speak independently following the accident. Since then, she has undergone a series of spinal fusion surgeries.
Weiss has been transferred to a rehabilitation clinic in Chicago, located near her parents’ home.
The Weiss family remains hopeful that Abby will regain some movement as the inflammation subsides. However, doctors caution that there are no guarantees.
Abby’s father admits he didn’t realize just how dangerous acroyoga could be.
“Had I known the type of maneuvers she was doing, I would have told her not to do it, but I don’t think she would’ve listened,” he said.
Meanwhile, the GoFundMe has raised just over $159,000 of a $250,000 goal to date.
“The medical bills are astronomical,” Rory Weiss told 10 News. “We have insurance, but caregivers and therapy, there’s no end.”
However, the concerned father revealed that the kindness of strangers via the GoFundMe has touched him.
“People we don’t even know have contributed,” Rory explained. “It’s just amazing.”