Dianna Babington, the wife of injured show jumper Kevin Babington, is reaching out for more help sorely needed by her husband. He has been in rehab for a critical spinal injury he suffered when his horse fell in competition during a show at the end of August, but he will be leaving the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation soon and even more responsibility will fall on Dianna and the couple’s teenage daughters, Marielle and Gwyneth.
Kevin, who finished fourth in the Olympics for Ireland in 2004, is a lovely fellow who is based in Allentown, N.J., during the spring, summer and fall, and Florida during the winter.
Think what you would do if you found yourself in the Babingtons’ position, with a situation estimated to cost $5 million, the need for constant care and a health care plan that only allows for 30 visits a year from a nurse!
It is the time of year when people are considering donating to charities that offer a tax deduction, and Kevin’s cause is a good one.
Here’s Dianna filling in the details of the situation:
“The Kevin Babington Foundation, a 501 c3, was organized by our very good and generous friends who are also riders and trainers. Tax-deductible donations via check may be sent to the Kevin Babington Foundation, 2402 Players Court,Wellington FL 33414. (To obtain bank instructions for wiring money, send an email to Debbie Welles at the kevinbabingtonfoundation@gmail.com. All information will be shared through the email address in order to keep the wire information secure.)
“There has been a lot of fundraising,” said Dianna.
“It has come mostly from the heart of our amazing horse community and every dime of that money has been and will continue to be allocated carefully. However, the result of Kevin’s accident has been categorized as a $5 million problem and I’m starting to understand what lies ahead.
Note: Sissy Wickes has started a separate fund to buy a van for Kevin. Find details at https://bit.ly/35emLX9
Dianna continues: “We are going to need major funds raised to modify our house in Florida. Unfortunately, as it is now, most of it is completely impassable by a wheelchair. I am in the middle of an emergency bathroom renovation because our time at Kessler is coming to a close.
“Without the use of his arms. Kevin is going to need a care giver through most of the day. Overnight is actually more critical. Many don’t know this but he needs to be physically moved every two hours during the night every night. A bed sore can literally be life threatening. He needs to be weight-shifted all day to deal with blood pressure issues. He can not be alone, period. We have all taken shifts since the accident and he has never been alone yet.
“The girls and I are prepared to help but we can’t do it all. I need to go back to work at some point. Our insurance covers 30 visits from a nurse a year. Isn’t that terrible and he had a “good policy”.
“So I am reaching out on his behalf. The upfront costs are huge. He will need some physical therapy equipment. I have seen what the electric stimulation bike has done for his body mass. They are approximately $22,000. We need to get one. He will need to continue out-patient physical therapy, which is also not covered by insurance for long.
“Once major changes are made, then the needs will transition to long term healthcare and nursing. I have been asked, `What about people who don’t have these things? How do they manage?’
“The cruel truth is that the lack of support can affect life expectancy. Lack of mobility is a blood clot’s best friend. Someone not noticing a a few key issues can lead to a spike in blood pressure and a stroke. It’s not just the paralysis; it’s the lovely issues it creates. That is the reality. It’s my problem and nobody else’s, I understand that, but if you are looking to put money into a 501 c 3, please consider a donation to the foundation. And if not us please consider Danny and Ron’s Rescue. They, too, are overwhelmed and work tirelessly and we also don’t want to shift any money from them despite our own needs.
