The parents of the 16-year-old Missouri girl who was viciously beaten and left convulsing on the pavement last week said they “remain hopeful” for a full recovery and thanked the public for the outpouring of support.
Kaylee Gain is still in critical condition and possibly suffering brain damage after her head was smashed into concrete during the sickening, caught-on-camera brawl near Hazelwood East High School on Friday.
“We are so grateful for the amazing medical staff who have been working tirelessly to give her the best possible chance at a full recovery,” the girl’s parents wrote in a statement appended to a GoFundMe started by a relative.
“We know she has a very long road ahead of her but we remain hopeful. We are so overwhelmed by all the support and love,” they added.
As of Thursday morning, the fundraiser had raked in nearly $3,400 of its $10,000 goal.
A second GoFundMe started by a family friend had also raised over $100,000 after increasing its initial $40,000 goal.
Gain’s parents’ update comes after the family friend, Sarah Hall, explained that they will not know the extent of the teen’s brain damage until she wakes up.
“The path to recovery will be extremely hard on the family,” Hall added.
The vicious fight broke out just blocks from the high school on Friday afternoon.
The disturbing clip shows Gain and another girl, who has not been identified, hitting each other before the girl shoved Gain to the ground and started pummeling her.
The girl repeatedly called Gain a “bitch” before smashing her head into the ground several times.
Gain was eventually left twitching on the pavement while the brawl continued around her.
The other girl, who is believed to be 15 years old, was later taken into custody.
Gain’s grandmother, Terry Nordstrom Thompson, called the attack “unforgivable” in an emotional Facebook post.
“We are beyond devastated for her. Senseless act of violence,” Thompson added in a reply to a comment on the post.
Just a few months ago, on December 14, the grandmother had wished Gain a happy 16th birthday with a carousel of photos from happier times.
Gain has a brother and a stepsister, the concerned grandmother responded to a commenter.
Her injuries prompted some lawmakers to call for the other girl involved in the fight to be charged as an adult and face maximum penalties.
“The criminal should be charged and tried as an adult. If the victim dies, that offense should rise to a homicide,” Attorney General Andrew Bailey wrote on X.
The other teen “must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe added.
