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OREM — A Utah County woman is recovering in the hospital after a life-altering tubing accident.
Mckyliee Young is bruised with several broken bones following an incident on Dec. 16 on a sledding hill at Rock Canyon Park in Provo.
"She was actually on a tube, and she lost control and she hit a pole going backwards, and then she must've spun and hit another pole," said friend Emily Porter.
Porter and Young are freshmen at Utah Valley University. They've been friends since high school.
Porter said someone reached out to her a few days after the accident and told her something had happened to Young. When Porter checked her friend's location earlier this month and saw she was in the hospital, she was in disbelief.
"You don't think that that kind of stuff happens in real life; it's the stuff you see on TV," Porter said. "Then all of the sudden, it's happening to your best friend."
The night of the accident is hazy.
"She doesn't remember anything that happened," Porter said.
Young's being treated for her injuries at Utah Valley Hospital in Provo.
Porter started a fundraiser* for her friend to help pay for the medical bills.
"I knew people loved her, but you don't realize how much until stuff like this happens," Porter said.
Young, 19, pays for her own college tuition.
"She has an incredible work ethic, so that's what's really hard that she can't work right now because each paycheck goes so fast every month with rent and schooling," Porter said.
To help out, she's also hosting a benefit concert for her friend. The two bonded over their shared love for musical theater.
"I've gathered a bunch of cast members from the shows we were in together in high school to come perform," Porter said.
The benefit concert will be held at Orem High School on Friday at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 and donations are welcome.
"Everyone wants to perform for Kyliee," Porter said. "They love her."
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
