Tennessee woman hurt in unexpected incident during dolphin swim in Jamaica

A woman from Middle Tennessee is attempting to return home after an unexpected incident while swimming with dolphins during her spring break trip in Jamaica. Cierra Stockard, who initially looked forward to a dream vacation, found herself in a distressing situation. Stockard described the experience as feeling like she had endured a severe car accident, experiencing a sudden and intense impact. While swimming with the dolphins, she likened the sensation to a cheerleading stunt, where the dolphins would propel her through the water. However, Stockard fell off and landed on a dolphin's dorsal fin, resulting in a serious hematoma and necessitating emergency surgery in a hospital near Montego Bay. Dealing with immense pain and fear of not seeing her young daughters again, Stockard, who also battles sickle cell anemia, faced challenges in receiving adequate healthcare. Her family, concerned about her well-being, is present in Jamaica but struggles to afford a medical flight back to the U.S., particularly as her insurance does not cover it. Despite undergoing surgeries and experiencing pain, Stockard remains resilient. Those interested in supporting her journey back to the U.S. and her recovery can contribute to a GoFundMe campaign set up for this purpose.