The wife of Montana State University's rodeo team coach has lost her hand in a freak accident after being dragged by a horse into a fence. Presley Whitaker, wife of Bobcats coach Kyle Whitaker, suffered severe injuries on Tuesday.
In a Facebook post, Kyle Whitaker, 49, described how his wife became tangled in a rope and was dragged by the horse until she slammed into a fence. '(Presley) broke her jaw and severed her hand,' the post stated. 'She was flown to Salt Lake City last night and they attempted to reattach her hand, but there was too much damage done already.'
The mother of five will remain hospitalized for surgery on her jaw and additional procedures related to the amputation. 'She will need prayers of support and strength as she adjusts to not having her right hand,' Whitaker said. 'Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement. It’s going to be a tough road but with all of you in our corner I know we can adjust and still have a good life.'
The rodeo coach added that he and Presley have not yet told their two youngest daughters, Oakley and Mesa, about the gruesome injury, asking for 'prayers of guidance for how to break this' to them.
Whitaker shared the news on the same day he was named Big Sky Coach of the Year, following a highly successful season with the Montana State Bobcats. He noted that he was not with Presley when the accident occurred but thanked his team for donating private jets to fly him and her mother to Salt Lake City to be with her. 'We have the most generous supporters and it truly is a big family here,' he wrote.
The Montana State Bobcats released a statement saying the Whitaker family is 'in need of prayers' after the accident. 'She is stable and in surgery but is looking at a long road to recovery. Our Bobcat family immediately jumped in to support and help the Whitaker family during this time but please keep them in their prayers,' the team said. 'We are reminded to be thankful for the immense support we have through Bobcat Nation, and to treasure every minute, once again.'
A GoFundMe set up by Presley's friend Allexa Schumacher has raised over $6,000 since the accident. Schumacher noted that beyond her broken jaw and severed hand, Presley's recovery is complicated by 'injuries still unknown due to swelling.' 'In the coming days/weeks she will undergo more surgeries to fix the damage done,' she wrote. 'Presley’s husband Kyle and her mom Sherry are in Utah with her now. Her dad will be joining soon. At this time it is unknown how long her family will be away from their home so the expenses will add up fast as everyone has to travel in.'
