EXCLUSIVE: Woman (25) left paralysed from chest down after car falls off bridge

A young woman from Kildare had her world flipped upside down when a serious car crash left her paralysed from the chest down. 

Kaythlyn Smith (25) was a passenger in a car that fell off a bridge outside Hollywood and dropped 20 feet, leaving her hospitalised.

The young woman said: "two months ago, my life changed forever. I was the passenger in a car accident where we crashed off a bridge, falling around 20 feet. That night, I suffered a C5 spinal injury that left me paralysed from the chest down with no movement in my fingers".

Kaythlyn said that before the accident she was living an active and independent life and worked as a beautician, a career that she loved because it allowed her to make people feel good about themselves.

"My work even took me abroad — I spent years travelling the world while working on cruise ships in Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. I loved the freedom, the travel, and the ability to use my skills to connect with people from all walks of life".

She said that now her reality is very different.

"Overnight, I lost not just my independence, but also my career and the lifestyle I worked so hard to build. I can no longer do simple everyday tasks — things like getting out of bed, holding a glass of water, eating without help, or using my phone the way I used to.

"Losing the use of my hands has been especially devastating, because my hands were my livelihood as a beautician".

Now Kaythlyn is in a rehabilitation centre, where every single day is a struggle.

"My routine is filled with medications, injections, and extreme physiotherapy sessions that push my body to its limits. It’s exhausting and painful, but I know it’s necessary if I want to give myself the best chance of recovery.

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Kaythlyn said that on top of everything, her family is facing another devastating challenge.

"In May, my mum was diagnosed with stage three aggressive breast cancer. She’s going through treatment herself, and because I’m in rehab and she’s so unwell, we hardly get to see each other. It breaks my heart that I can’t be there to look after her or support her the way I want to.

The young woman said that the hardest part has been the loss of her independence and having to rely on others for even the smallest things, while also being separated from her mum during her own fight for life.

"But even through the pain and challenges, I refuse to give up. I believe in the possibility of recovery. Around the world, there are cutting-edge medical trials and rehabilitation programs that offer hope for people with spinal injuries like mine. These treatments could give me the best chance of regaining function — and maybe even walking again.

"Unfortunately, these opportunities are incredibly expensive and not available where I live. That’s why I’ve created this GoFundMe — to raise the funds I need to travel abroad and access the care and treatments that could change my future.

"Every donation, no matter the size, brings me closer to that goal. Your support will not only help me access life-changing treatment, but it will also give me hope and strength on this journey.

"With your support, I have a real chance to heal, regain my independence, and one day walk again — your kindness can help me turn hope into reality.

Kaythlyn's GoFundMe can be found here.