Press Release

Woman injured in skydiving accident needs help to get home
Louise Dickson, Times Colonist
Published: Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Family and friends of a 22-year-old Victoria woman seriously injured two-and-a-half weeks ago in a skydiving accident in California are reaching out for public support to bring her home. Michelle Schwab, a science student at Camosun College, was hurt on April 4 on a solo dive near Lodi, Calif. She had been in the U.S. training to become a skydiving instructor, and was one week away from completing the course."It's been beyond devastating," said family friend Terran Ambrosone. "There is something just so special about this girl. She has a love for life and love for adventure and travelling. And her life is changed now. "Schwab's sister Leannah, a master's student at the University of Toronto, dropped everything and flew to Sacramento to be at her hospital bedside.

Skydiving instructors told Leannah that a big gust of wind blew Michelle off course. "One person thinks he saw her parachute deflate," said Leannah, 27. "The doctor thinks she fell 30 or 40 feet." Schwab's jaw was pushed back into her head. She has 70 fractures to her face, a fractured femur, fractured humerus, fractures to her head and neck, ligament injuries to her spine and injured left foot."The first couple of weeks I cried all the time," said Leannah. "But it's OK now. I can see she's improving a little bit every day. I'm so relieved she's alive and doesn't have a brain or spinal cord injury."But the road ahead won't be easy. When her sister's condition stabilizes, Leannah wants to bring her back to Victoria, where she will require 24-hour care and extensive rehabilitation.

A huge obstacle is Schwab's medical bill -- her medical insurance expired at the end of March. "The financial officer handed me this form saying her room costs are $10,000 a day not including doctors' fees, surgery, X-rays, medication, MRIs," said Leannah. "Her trip home, which will cost about $20,000, is not covered by B.C. medical."

The two young women are basically on their own without support from their parents, said Leannah. She has contacted the Canadian Consulate and they promised to follow up if there's a way to bring Schwab home. Leannah has also set up a trust fund at TD Canada Trust and a support group called 'We all LOVE MICHELLE' has been created on Facebook.

Initially we were contacted by the victims sister to assist followed by a request from the Canadian Consulate in California. Global Angel Charitable Org. organized the medical evacuation from California to Victoria BC. This was accomplished following daily updates on Michelle’s Medication condition while a bed was being secured in BC. Global Angel contacted several reputable air ambulance services and after some negotiation managed to reduce the cost by more than 50 %.  The outstanding costs where then covered by local fundraising in Victoria. The entire case was handled in less than one week.