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A Horse Trainer's Long Road to Recovery
With the help of Jersey Shore's expertise and support, a young
horse trainer avoided possibly being permanently disfigured, after
a kick from a horse shattered half her face.
Twenty years ago, Elaine Ferri,
51, was a young horse trainer
at Monmouth Park Racetrack in
Oceanport, N.J.
Elaine, who now lives in Texarkana,
Ark., trained at Monmouth for more than
a decade, working with horses that others
did not think were winners. During
her time there, she became friends with
Angelo Chinnici, M.D. Now a physician
on staff at Jersey Shore University Medical
Center, in the 1980s Dr. Chinnici was a
full-time doctor at Monmouth.
"Elaine trained some of the horses I
owned at the time," says Dr. Chinnici.
"She was amazing with these horses. She got everything she could out of them."
At the time, Elaine never could have
known how her close relationship with
Dr. Chinnici would change her life.
A Devast ating Accident
On July 8, 2007, Elaine was on her parents'
farm in Little Rock, Ark., training a
4-year-old filly named Forbidden Ali. The
horse became frightened and struck Elaine
with its hoof, shattering most of the bones
on the left side of her face. She even lost
her left eye.
For two weeks following the accident,
doctors in an Arkansas hospital performed
numerous surgeries, attempting to reconstruct
her face and save her left eye. Due
to her lack of insurance, the medical bills
piled up. She was ultimately released without
receiving the definitive medical care
she needed.
Elaine knew that she needed help.
"I was still in so much pain, and I looked
terrible," she says. "After a few days I
called Angelo. There is no one in the
medical field I trust more than him.
Knowing Angelo for so many years,
I knew that he would help me in any
way he could."
A Group Effort
"After hearing what Elaine had gone
through, no one would put down the telephone
without doing everything in his or
her power to help her," says Dr. Chinnici.
He reached out to Stephen Chidyllo,
M.D., a board certified plastic surgeon;
Barry Edison, D.O., a board certified
ophthalmologist; and Jersey Shore
University Medical Center as a whole to
garner their assistance. The team began
raising money for the materials that would
be needed for her surgery.
On Kentucky Derby Day, Dr. Chinnici
passed around a hat at Monmouth Park
Racetrack. People dropped in $20 bills,
$100 bills, and even personal checks,
wanting to do whatever they could to help
Elaine. The New York Jockey Club also sent
a check to help cover the cost. "The support
was amazing," Dr. Chinnici recalls.
A Miraculous Procedure
On April 21, 2008, Elaine visited
Dr. Chidyllo's office in West Long Branch for the first time. He explained
the extensive surgery he would
be performing. They would reinforce
the eye socket, rebuild the
cheek bone, restructure the side of
her face, and make sure the prosthesis
serving as her left eye matched the
right eye.
The surgery took five hours, and Elaine
remained in the hospital recovering for
six days. "Dr. Chidyllo is a wonderful
doctor," she says. "He has shown so
much compassion and talent throughout
the entire process.
"From the day of my accident until
the surgery you would not have seen
me without sunglasses on. I did not
want people to see me look like that.
Since the surgery, I do not want to hide
my face anymore."
Since her accident, Elaine has watched
Forbidden Ali race and win. "I know that
it will take time, but soon I will be back
doing what I love — training horses."
 – Rob Cavanaugh
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After a serious accident, a rehabilitation program may be the next step in your recovery.
It's important to participate in treatment decisions. Stay informed, and you'll
ensure you benefit from all available resources.
Here's how to get actively involved in your rehab:
- Ask questions: Learn about the programs, staffs, and philosophies.
- Talk with others: Ask several patients who have participated in a program about their experience.
- Explore your options: There are many programs and services to choose from, so find the one that best meets your needs.
- Take charge: Find a rehab program that encourages self-determination.
If you have questions about the outpatient rehabilitation services available through
Jersey Shore University Medical Center, call 732-776-4558. To learn about rehabilitation
offerings through other Meridian Health hospitals, please call 1-800-DOCTORS.
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