#FIGHT4KORRA: FUNDRAISER SET FOR PONCA CITY BABY WITH SEVERE HEAD TRAUMA

PONCA CITY, Okla. –

A fundraiser will take place for the family of an infant who police say suffered serious head trauma at the hands of her caregiver.

The fundraiser for the family of 2-month-old Korra Burdick will take place on Wednesday, July 26, at Enrique’s Mexican Restaurant at 2213 N. Waverly St. in Ponca City. It’s in the same building as Ponca City Regional Airport. The restaurant will donate 25% of proceeds to benefit baby Korra’s family.

Ponca City Police said the baby suffered head trauma while in the care of 26-year-old Holly Sheppard on the morning of Friday, July 14, and was rushed to Oklahoma Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City in “very serious condition.” Sheppard was arrested for child neglect, child abuse and obstruction of justice, police added.

Korra required immediate surgery, said her grandmother, Rebekah McCauley, who is a manager at Enrique’s Mexican Restaurant. The hospital called the family to get consent.

“They told us she had two skull fractures and possibly broken ribs,” said McCauley. “She had damage to the brain and she had bleeding. And they said it was important that we agree to (the surgery). If we didn’t, she wouldn’t make it.”

McCauley recalled seeing Korra intubated when she arrived at the hospital.

“I couldn’t breathe,” said McCauley. “I fix things. That’s my role. I’m a fixer. And I just cried out to God and said, ‘I can’t fix this. I need you to fix it for me.'”

Korra’s surgery was a success and her swelling was subsiding, said McCauley, adding that doctors did not anticipate the baby needing any more surgeries.

Furthermore, McCauley said Korra has been seizure free for several days, is responding to pain as she comes off sedation, and has hand movements.

“McKenzie (Korra’s mother) videochatted me and she had her finger in Korra’s hand and she said, ‘Look what we’re doing!’ And I could see her little tiny thumb moving,” said McCauley.

McCauley said Korra’s mother and father have been by their baby daughter’s bedside every day. Due to the travel time from Ponca City to Oklahoma City and lost wages, the community has been organizing several fundraisers to help.

“It is amazing the support that we have seen and experienced already in a short little time,” said McCauley.

Furthermore, anyone wishing to make donations online can visit the family’s GoFundMe page. Alternatively, people can make contributions via the family’s Cash App account, $McKenzi108.

Those wishing to help can also visit any Russell Cellular location to make a donation or purchase an RC Cares product. All proceeds from those sales this month will benefit baby Korra’s family.

McCauley said she looks forward to “just being able to hold (Korra) without wires attached.”