Benefit planned for this weekend to help with medical expenses.
Frederick, Md. (NS) – A Frederick County mother, Fran Cornell, is living a parent’s worst nightmare. Her daughter Jami, a well-known local barrel racer, was seriously injured by a vehicle.
“About 8:30 on Wednesday night, July 13, I received a call from her ex-husband’s brother stating that Jami had been hit by a car and that she was being flown to Baltimore Shock Trauma,” said Fran.
She said her daughter had three major brain bleeds, fractures in her face, was covered in cuts and bruises, had tire marks across her chest, underwent emergency brain surgery, and had the right side of her skull removed.
“Since it’s the right side of the skull, her brain, the left side of her body does not work. We’re hoping that, when the swelling goes down, that she’ll start to get more momentum on the left side. She’s had no strokes, which is great. She’s had no seizures, which is wonderful, and she is starting to show signs of improvement every day,” Fran explained.
She said Jami had recently found a job that she loved with Edible Arrangements in Frederick, and has been a life-long equestrian.
“After she would get off work, she’d go and take care of her three horses. She had three quarter horses, two mares and one gelding. She shows from January to December, showing every weekend. She showed at J Bar Ranch for a very long time and she goes to shows everywhere throughout the United States,” said Fran.
According to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, Jami was run over intentionally by Chelsea Kendall, 38, of Union Bridge.
Fran said since this was not an accident, insurance will not cover any of the mounting medical bills.
“They say that whatever we get, we will have to sue her individually, and I’ve been told that she probably has no money. So, the horse community is putting together a benefit for her this coming Sunday,” she explained.
The local equestrian community is holding the Chasin’ Cans 4 Cornell Benefit Show on Sunday at 9 a.m. at the Blue Ridge Riding Club in Boonsboro to raise money for her medical expenses.
Kendall has been arrested and received 1st and 2nd degree assault charges.
