Alexander resident badly hurt in Bali bike accident; GoFundMe campaign launched

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This article was published 23/05/2017 (2529 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Tiffany Green was days away from returning to Canada from her travels in Bali when she broke her back in a biking accident.

Green, 32, had just completed Blissology’s yoga teacher training on the Indonesian island and extended her holiday to enjoy the tropical surroundings before returning to Brandon.

“She decided that she was just going to take the opportunity because she saved all her money and got herself all the way there, to really take in the environment,” said Tiffany’s older brother, Scott Green. “She had met a lot of wonderful people locally and wanted the opportunity to get to know them a little bit better and explore the local area there.”

On Sunday, she was biking back to her homestay after enjoying a meal at a café. Her brother said she was riding down a hill when she encountered a sharper turn than she was expecting.

“She basically went over the front of the handle bars and landed on her shoulder and the rest of her body bent back overtop of her,” Scott said.

She was thrown into a rice paddy field in a remote area. Realizing she would not be seen by passersby, she managed to drag herself to the road.

“She was in excruciating pain,” Scott said. Fortunately, once she got out of the ditch, it was only a few minutes before she was spotted, and assisted by locals. There was no ambulance in the area, so she had to take a 30-minute taxi ride to the nearest hospital.

Once there, it was determined she had a spinal injury, but funds had to be paid upfront in order to receive any medical attention. Scott said his sister does have some insurance coverage, but a lot of it would be reimbursed after the fact. A friend assisted Tiffany in getting things moving at the hospital.

“They had a specialist come in and discovered she had, on a minor scale, fractured her scapula, which left her shoulder unusable, and then they discovered that she had two fractured upper lumbar vertebrae,” Scott said.

A CT scan revealed Tiffany would not require surgery. She will, however, need a back brace to stabilize the spine. It is expected that she will have to wear the brace for four months.

Her twin sister, Tara Green, is heading to Bali to be with Tiffany during this difficult time. She will escort her home when Tiffany is able to travel. Scott hopes that will happen within the next two weeks.

Close friend Christopher Schneider set up a GoFundMe campaign on Monday. In 21 hours, the fund surpassed $8,000.

“I was feeling pretty helpless, this happened around the world,” said Schneider, who is an associate sociology professor at Brandon University. “I knew she’s well-liked of course, she’s very well connected, and thought I’d start this GoFundMe campaign and see what happens — and the response has been overwhelming.”

He has since increased to goal to $10,000, and as of Tuesday afternoon, it was sitting at nearly $9,200. Funds collected will go toward expenses related to the accident, such as travel and rehabilitation, as well as assistance during time off work.

“The GoFundMe campaign is all about Tiffany and the Green family in their time of need,” Schneider said. “It is so heartwarming to see the community rally around Tiffany in response to her terrible accident. The community response speaks volumes to how well-loved Tiffany is in Brandon and far beyond.”

To find the online support page, visit GoFundMe.com and search “Tiffany Green’s Medical Expenses.”

The Brandon Sun reached Tiffany on Tuesday via social media. From her hospital bed in Bali, she expressed her gratitude for “all the love and positive energy that’s coming in from all around the world.”

She said was she was at a loss for words, and is overwhelmed by the kindness and support. Donations are coming in from not only Manitoba, but around the globe.

Tiffany lives in Alexander and is a pet care attendant at The Paw Resort and Wellness Centre. She is known as a compassionate person and animal lover who is committed to a vegan lifestyle.

“She’s always been a very empathetic individual, she’s always been very compassionate,” Scott said. “It’s so heartwarming for her to feel that come back to her.”

Tiffany travelled to Bali in early April, where she was enrolled in 200-hour yoga teacher training. Located in the coastal Canggu region, the training spanned a five-week period. Her return flight was originally set for this Friday.

The local yoga community is also stepping up to help. The Zen Zone is holding “Tadasana for Tiffany,” a donation yoga class on Friday at Princess Park from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. In case of poor weather, it will be held at the studio at 346 10th St.

Inspire You Studio, at 435 Rosser Ave., is offering karma yoga classes the next two Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., with donations to also go to Tiffany’s expenses.

“She’s got a long way to go when she comes home,” said Gillian Cockburn, yoga instructor at Inspire You Studio. “I know that everybody in the yoga community in this town … we’re all sending so much love and best wishes to her. You can practically feel that energy being sent over there to her. I just know that’s what everybody’s feeling.”

» jaustin@brandonsun.com

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