Rebecca’s Story

Site created on July 11, 2021


Hi!  This Caring Bridge Journal is being started by some long-time friends of Becca and the Farewell Family, to provide a central spot for news and updates, as well as a communication hub to send messages to the family.  Thank you for visiting. 

Becca Farewell is an avid, experienced sky diver.  On July 7, 2021, she had a “hard landing” at around 4 pm. She was life-flighted to The University of Utah Medical Center after life-saving measures were taken in the landing area to stabilize her. Her injuries included a fractured C4 spinal vertebrae, and a shattered C3 vertebrae.  The damaged C3 was removed through surgery and replaced with a “spinal cage”. She had a pelvic fracture, though the surgeons were much more concerned with her spine and neck.  She had no feeling below the neck but was able to appropriately and correctly answer all questions, so there appeared to be no brain damage or bleeding. She was very coherent and aware of what had happened. After surgery, she was able to shrug her shoulders and nod her head as much as a neck brace would allow. She is on a ventilator and will be on one until the doctors determine when she can breathe on her own.  She is currently unable to feel below her neck, though some feeling has returned to her shoulder.

An outpouring of love has been provided through a GoFundMe website, organized by her roommate, Devrey LaRiccia.  Thankfully, Becca has health insurance, but her premium is fairly high and she has not met her deductible for the year.  Expenses related to injuries such as these are never fully covered by insurance, and through the donations of many very gracious people, the fund has raised over $52,000 as of this writing.  If you would like to share some love in a non-monetary form, gifts could include food and snacks for the family, if you are in the Salt Lake City area.  Other options will be provided as we are aware of the need and opportunity.  If Becca could see how many people are praying and caring for her, she would be sobbing at the overwhelming love she has received thus far.   If you would like to visit the GoFundMe site, here is a link, or you can visit the Ways to Help tab, above.

  https://gofund.me/c712e8c9

The hospital is not allowing visitors other than immediate family at this time, and flowers are also a no-go, unfortunately.  Brother Joe was in Utah at the time of the accident, and since then, most of the family has joined them.   


If you know the Farewell Family at all, you know they are a very close bunch of vibrant,  passionate, and loving people.  They are all so thankful for the love and support they are receiving, and the care provided by the doctors and nurses has been incredible.  Your prayers and words shared through this site will continue to support and uplift Becca, as well as the entire family.

Newest Update

June 7, 2022-- Video! Skydiving to a Broken Neck… A Day in the Life of Avibex (Becca Farewell)

Journal entry by Tina Farewell —

Tuesday, June 7, 2022--The 11-Month Anniversary of Becca's Accident

 Video! Skydiving to a Broken Neck… A Day in the Life of Avibex (Becca Farewell)

 Hi there!

 The video “Skydiving to a Broken Neck: A Day in the Life of Avibex (Becca)” hosted by brother, Joseph Farewell, will give you a great glimpse into our daily lives, with the added benefit of learning about high spinal cord injuries and life with a ventilator. Becca hopes to kick the vent soon by being admitted again as an inpatient--if insurance cooperates. Becca’s situation (quadriplegic and being home on a vent with her family) makes her quite an outlier in the medical community. Haha! Who could imagine that the Farewells would be outliers!? Here's the video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhgzVWJPToY

 I can hardly believe it’s been so long since I last updated through Caring Bridge. Well, yes, I can! Becca, Bob, and I have been living life together since she came home from Nielsen Rehabilitation Hospital last fall on October 5. We are blessed to be Becca’s around the clock caregivers at the same home near Salt Lake City that was offered us when we arrived from Florida after Becca’s accident eleven months ago. (Today is the 11-month anniversary and we are so grateful for LIFE!)

 Just so you know you are not the only one that I haven’t communicated with, I wrote the following to our extended family this week.

 “Surely do miss each of you. It is so hard to be in touch with anyone because of all that’s going on here. I miss being with you, hugging you, celebrating with you! We are doing well, but there are very few moments for communication outside the three of us except for medical and therapies.

 “Days and nights run together and I seldom know the dates, therefore miss birthdays, birthing days, and anniversaries, and other celebratory times. So, please take this as a blanket “I love you and am grateful for you” for the whole last year.

 “Thank you for your continued prayers. For right now, please especially pray about ventilator weaning, housing, general good health, and stamina. We can’t imagine how anyone walks through a journey like this without Jesus.

 “Love and hugs to each of you! Instagram and Facebook are nice, but are certainly nothing like a face to face conversation!!!”

 Becca (avibex) is getting better at updating her Instagram and Facebook accounts, so follow her story there!  

            https://www.instagram.com/avibex/

            https://www.facebook.com/becca.farewell.9

 Enjoy the video! Becca and Joseph’s personalities shine through as they laugh together—and have some serious talk about her accident, miracles, and the daily side of life.

We are being practical for today and have great hope for the future—as our loving God still holds us in His hands!

 Thanks for your continued prayers!

 In Him Who reigns over all,

Tina

 

 

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