Anchorage resident Danielle Shannon receives Empowerment Grant to aid in recovery from life-altering ski injury
The High Fives Foundation Empowerment program service disburses board-approved grants to mountain action sports athletes who are recovering from a life-altering injury. In March, the Foundation’s Board of Directors Grant Selection Committee approved a grant for Anchorage resident Danielle Shannon for $1,118 to cover her transportation from Alaska to Maine General Hospital in Augusta, Maine where she will begin her recovery process from a traumatic brain injury. At Maine General Danielle will be in closer proximity to where she was raised, North Conway, N.H.
On Friday, February 27, 2015 Danielle crashed extremely hard while skiing and smashed into a rock at Alyeska Resort outside Anchorage, Alaska. Though she was wearing a helmet, the rock struck between her cheek bones and forehead shattering her skull and causing clotting and swelling of the brain.
Ski patrol responded within 10 minutes and were able to rush Danielle to Providence Hospital in Anchorage where she underwent immediate brain surgery to relieve pressure and remove the blood clot. During the procedure Danielle lost nearly half of her blood volume, and needed facial reconstructive surgery to repair her damaged skull. The doctors said that she wouldn’t make it, but she has defied the odds and is on her way to a tremendous recovery.
