A contestant from the first season of Canada's Drag Race recently survived a "near-fatal" car accident, prompting their family to create an online fundraiser to help cover living expenses during recovery.
Ilona Verley has several injuries, including a broken nose, dislocated jaw, concussion, a fractured spine and deep lacerations on their face. They have to be "a majority bed rest for the next month – 2 months," noted the GoFundMe.
"This past week I almost lost my life, I’m really scared and traumatized about what the future holds," Verley said in a post on Instagram.
Some of Verley's family members created an online fundraiser to help cover their living costs during the first few months of recovery.
Dimitri Nana-Cote described Verley on the GoFundMe as "a powerful Two-Spirit voice and a celebrated drag artist."
The majority of their income comes from public speaking and performances, which are very physical and require a lot of energy. "This accident not only threatens their health but their livelihood," Nana-Cote said.
Verley was fitted with a soft spinal brace, and doctors suspect there are further spinal issues, but they were not seen on initial imaging and won't be seen until the scar tissue develops.
"We are incredibly grateful that Ilona survived this horrific event, their recovery will be lengthy, physically, emotionally, and financially hard/draining. As all who know Ilona is resilient, and we are walking this path with them," reads the GoFundMe.
Verley is a two-spirit Indigenous person who grew up in Surrey and is now based in Vancouver.
