Teen injured parasailing begins rehab

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WANE) One of the two teens injured in a parasailing accident in Florida has arrived in her home state of Indiana.

Alexis Fairchild, who suffered from brain and spinal injuries, left Florida on Thursday to drive to the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana (RHI) in Indianapolis where she will enter her next phase of recovery.

Click on the video in this story to see extended interviews from Friday's press conference.

She will be getting at least three hours of therapy five days a week. She was scheduled to undergo a brain injury assessment on Friday. It is not known how long she be in inpatient care. Once she is released, there will be significant outpatient therapy.

Fairchild's father, Michael Fairchild, and Doctor Lisa Lombard said Alexis, who is currently in a back brace, was in good spirits but did not get much sleep last night after a 12 hour drive from Florida.

Dr. Lombard said Alexis will be getting the most intense rehabilitation at the facility. Treatment will include physical therapy, occupational therapy , speech therapy and neuropsychology treatment.

I think she is very lucky given what has happened to her, Dr. Lombard said. That was a devastating injury, I saw the video myself online. To fly into a building and have the fall that she had, she is very lucky.

According to Michael Fairchild, Alexis back pain is currently an obstacle but doctors are doing the best they can to control the pain.

Doctors are optimistic that Alexis, an upcoming senior at Huntington North High School and a tennis player, will recover due to her being young and an athlete. The road to recovery, however, is still expected to be a long one.

Michael Fairchild expressed gratitude for all the well wishes and prayers from people all over the country. He said they even received messages from troops overseas. He asks that supporters keep the prayers coming while the girls recover.

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Teen injured parasailing begins rehab