Charlotte Footner, 2, on road to recovery after being kicked in the head by a spooked horse
A two-year-old Gisborne girl who was kicked in the head by a horse has returned home after a lengthy hospital stay and two major operations.
Ballarat
Don't miss out on the headlines from Ballarat. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A little girl who sustained a horrific injury after being kicked in the head by a horse has returned home after spending months in hospital.
After two operations and months in hospital, Gisborne two-year-old Charlotte Footner has finally returned home.
The young girl’s family recently thanked their community for “their support and generosity during a very difficult time”.
The two-year-old sustained serious head injuries when she and her mum had been visiting a horse on a Bullengarook property on the morning of August 24 this year.
Rachael Borys had wheeled her gleeful daughter into the paddock in a wheelbarrow before tending to the family-owned horse.
But when her back was turned the wheelbarrow toppled, spooking the horse and causing it to kick out and smash its hoof into the “bright and bubbly” girl’s skull.
Charlotte was flown to a Melbourne hospital and rushed into emergency surgery, before being placed into an induced coma for five days.
Her dad, Brett Footner, told the Herald Sun at the time about the family’s anxious wait and concerns about whether their “cheeky” little girl would wake up.
But the little girl fought and did wake up from the coma.
Though in a heartbreaking twist the bright little girl, who loved to swim and read, did not recognise her parents when she opened her eyes.
She also had no movement on her right side.
“She was with us but not with us,” Mr Footner hads aid. “To see her like that…it was heartbreaking. It was like torture.”
But since then little Charlotte has had a second major surgery and continued rehabilitation. She was recently able to return home to continue on the road to recovery.
Her family has publicly thanked the Bullengarook property owner for her “quick response” and “incredible care”, as well as the emergency services who rushed to the scene and ensured “Charlotte’s safe arrival at the Royal Children’s Hospital” in a public notice.
“Our families would also like to thank everyone for the amazing support we have received over the past three months - from businesses, community groups, families, individuals, people we know and people we have never met,” it said.
A fundraiser set up for her medical bills and ongoing rehabilitation raised more than $63,000.
Her family thanked the community for their generosity and for all the presents that had been sent for Charlotte during her two month stay in hospital and her two major operations.
“To all the people who feed us and our families, we thank you, and all the beautiful presents Charlotte received have been much appreciated.”
The notice went on to say Charlotte was enjoying all the attention she was receiving since returning home and that she was “taking her new journey in her stride, never complaining and just getting on with loving life.”
Charlotte is looking forward to “lots more new adventures” and to starting three-year-old kinder in 2023.
More Coverage
Child hit by car, flown to hospital from west Ballarat
Paramedics have rushed to Winter Valley after a child was reportedly hit by a car before being flown to hospital in Melbourne.
Thug bashes woman, steals five cars from Ballarat business
A Ballarat man falsely imprisoned a driver as he fled from the police after stealing five cars from an agriculture business during a wild crime spree.