Title : Nearly $150,000 raised for dancer, 22, who had both legs amputated after Bahamas boat explosion
link : Nearly $150,000 raised for dancer, 22, who had both legs amputated after Bahamas boat explosion
Nearly $150,000 raised for dancer, 22, who had both legs amputated after Bahamas boat explosion
Nearly $150,000 raised to cover medical expenses for dancer, 22, who had both legs amputated after Bahamas boat explosion
- Stefanie Schaffer, a 22-year-old from Rutland, Vermont, had both of her legs amputated following a June 30 boat explosion in the Bahamas
- Both she and her mother Stacey, who suffered several broken bones, were airlifted to St Petersburg, Florida, where they are now being treated
- Stefanie's sister Brooke and stepfather Paul escaped the blast w/ minor injuries
- A GoFundMe page has raised nearly $150,000 for the family's medical expenses
- One woman was killed and nine others were injured when the tour boat carrying ten Americans burst into flames off the Bahamian island of Exuma
Nearly $150,000 have been raised to help cover medical expenses for the 22-year-old dancer who had both of her legs amputated following the deadly tour boat explosion in the Bahamas just over one week ago.
Stefanie Schaffer and her mother Stacey were among those injured in the boat explosion off Exuma on June 30 that left another woman dead.
The 20-year-old was airlifted to Florida where she had both legs amputated under the knee and is now preparing to undergo another surgery this week, according to an update posted to her GoFundMe on Sunday.
The page originally aimed to raise $50,000 for the Rutland, Vermont, family's medical expenses but has now raised almost three times that.
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Stefanie Schaffer, 22,(left and right) had both legs amputated after a deadly tour boat explosion in the Bahamas on June 30. A GoFundMe has raised nearly $150K for her recovery
Stefanie and her mother Stacey, left, who also suffered several broken bones, were airlifted out of Nassau and are being treated in St Petersburg, Florida, according to updates from the family
The Schaffer family were among 10 American tourists on the boat when it burst into flames
Stefanie was on the boat with her mother, sister Brooke and stepfather Paul along with six other American tourists and two Bahamian tour guides when it suddenly burst into flames.
Brooke and Paul managed to escape the explosion with only minor injuries, while Stefanie suffered two broken arms, a broken wrist, a fractured spine, internal injuries to her kidneys, spleen and liver along with the irreversible damage to her legs.
Stacey suffered a fractured lower right leg, a shattered left ankle, fractured right wrist, at least two broken ribs and a contusion on her lungs.
Both Stacey and Stefanie were airlifted from the hospital in Nassau to St Petersburg, Florida, while the rest of their family flew back separately to be at the hospital.
A relative described Stefanie as a 'very outgoing' dancer who recently graduated from college.
'The scary thing is Stefanie doesn't know that she's lost her legs, and that's what really upsets me,' she told DailyMail.com.
'She's going to wake up from this coma and realize "I don't have any legs". It's breaking my heart.'
Stefanie has been described as a 'very outgoing' dancer who recently graduated from college
Schaffer, left, was onboard with her younger sister Brooke, center, mother Stacey, right, and stepfather Paul Bender
Stefanie, left, does ballet and played varsity soccer, according to her uncle Mike Schaffer
Stefanie's sister Brooke, left, and stepfather Paul, center, sustained minor injuries in the blast
Relatives have been posting daily updates to both Stefanie and Stacey's conditions, the most recent one coming in on Sunday afternoon.
'Stef had a good night last night, and if she continues with her progress she maybe able to continue with another surgery this week,' the post said.
As Stacey continues her road to recovery and her broken bones begin to heal, she will face future surgery to assist in her progress.
'Please keep your prayers and thoughts with the Schaffer - Bender clan. We ask you to continue to share this link with your friends and family.'
Stefanie's uncle Mike Schaffer told CBS6 that his beautiful niece had loved sport and had been a life long fan of dance.
'She used to be an avid ballet dancer, she played soccer throughout high school on varsity, she was an excellent player.'
Tributes for Stefanie and her family have been pouring in on her brother George's Facebook page.
Castleton University, in Vermont, posted on Facebook: 'We are shocked and saddened to hear the news that senior Stefanie Schaffer and her family were involved in such a tragic accident.
'Family right now is everything, so many friends are reaching out.'
The explosion occurred off the coast of the island of Exuma, about 130 miles south of Nassau
A tourist who was on the boat can be seen with blood running down his back after the blast
The explosion and subsequent fire reduced the small tour boat to an ashy, burnt-out shell
Maleka Grimes Jackson, 39, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was the one person killed in the explosion.
She was on vacation celebrating her anniversary with husband Tiran, who was hospitalized 'in bad shape'.
Among the others injured in the blast was teen Haiden Jones, his brother Kyle Ackerman, his mother Sheila Jones, and her boyfriend John Inman, Haiden's father said on Facebook.
Video taken by a witness on a nearby boat, shows thick black smoke billowing from the burning boat moments after the blast.
Two men are seen wading out to the boat to pull one of the victims from the burning vessel, while one man, who fled the blaze, was seen bleeding and yelling for a doctor to help.
The company that ran the trip, 4C's Adventures, declined to comment on the explosion to DailyMail.com because they are under investigation.
Tennessee resident Maleka Grimes Jackson, 39, pictured, was killed in the boat explosion
Jackson was on an anniversary trip with her husband Tiran, right, who has been hospitalized
Sheila Jones, left, and boyfriend John Inman, right, escaped the blast with minor injuries
Jones' sons Haiden Jones, left, and Kyle Ackerman, right, were also on the vessel and survived
Four of the injured Americans were airlifted to St Petersburg, Florida by the US Coastguard
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