UPDATE 2: Gymnaires Pray for Heather Boulais at Hospital
On Wednesday, January 14, Union College student and member of the Gymnaires acrobatic team, Heather Boulais, was critically injured when she fell over 20 feet during a practice session. See the previous update here. -Ed.
UPDATE [4:00 p.m. – Jan. 18]: Last night people around the world joined together in prayer for Heather Boulais at 11:00 p.m. In Lincoln, the Gymnaires gathered in the hospital lobby to pray while Union College paused a student association event in the gymnasium to hold a prayer service.
“We are so overwhelmed by the global outpouring of prayers and support,” said Terry and Cheryl Boulais, Heather’s parents. “We thank you all for your prayers last night at 11:00 p.m.”
Heather Boulais, a member of the Union College Gymnaires acrobatic gymnastic team, suffered a traumatic brain injury and skull fracture when she fell 23 feet while hanging her aerial silks on the gymnasium ceiling during practice on Jan. 14.
According to her parents, Boulais remains in a medically induced coma with a reduced body temperature. “She is still in extremely critical condition, but the events of last night have given us our first ray of hope,” they said. “The follow-up CT scans we received last night were the best we could hope for, and the medical staff has begun raising her body temperature back to normal—a process that will take a couple of days.”
The Boulais were quick to thank everyone involved in caring for their daughter. “We’ve seen many miracles, including the quick actions of Heather’s coach and teammates, the immediate transportation to the top trauma care unit in the tri-state area, and her surgeons’ excellent care,” they said. “We ask for your continued prayers over the next 48 hours. Our God is an awesome God!”
The family has requested no visitors, food or flowers at the hospital at this time. Cards or snack-type food items (nothing with nuts) can be dropped off at the Ortner Center on the Union College campus.
Cards can also be mailed to:
Union College
ATTN: Prayers for Heather
3800 S. 48th Street
Lincoln, NE 68506
Contributions toward the family’s expenses can be sent to:
Union College
Boulais Fund
3800 S. 48th Street
Lincoln, NE, 68506
Please make the checks out to Union College and mark them “Boulais Fund.
Ryan Teller is Director of Public Relations at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska.
