An Oklahoma woman, the primary caregiver and breadwinner for her family while her husband undergoes dialysis and awaits a kidney transplant, remains in critical condition after a vicious attack by an unidentified animal in rural Blanco.
Alicia Maxey, 38, and mother of four, was found unconscious and severely injured in a remote yard Sunday morning by a nearby homeowner who is also a certified EMT. She was airlifted to St. John’s Hospital in Tulsa, where she has undergone four extensive surgeries and continues to fight for her life.
“I’m in too much pain to say anything right now,” Maxey told Fox 23 Friday between surgeries.
A GoFundMe page set up by her sister-in-law, Kat Kelley, states Maxey was “mauled by a dog,” which remained at the scene when she was discovered. However, due to the unusual severity of her injuries, Oklahoma Wildlife Services is assisting authorities in identifying the animal responsible. Torn clothing and other material are being analyzed for DNA to determine whether the attacker was a dog, bear, mountain lion or another creature.
“In 38 years, I’ve never been involved in or seen anything like this in terms of injuries caused by a wild animal,” Pittsburg County Sheriff Frankie McClendon told Fox 23.
Kelley said Maxey reported hearing a “deep growl” just before the attack.
“Something just pounced on her and knocked her to the ground,” Kelley told Fox 23 Friday. “She described it as dog-like, but she didn’t say for certain that it was a dog.”
Maxey’s family is facing severe financial and logistical challenges after her attack. Her husband, Wallace, is on dialysis and awaiting a kidney transplant, while Alicia was the primary income earner for their household, including their two daughters, Kelley wrote on the GoFundMe campaign.
“Now, with Alicia unable to work, their family is struggling to keep up with daily expenses,” Kelley said. “Their only vehicle was towed after the incident and is accumulating fees every day, making it even harder for Wallace to get to his dialysis appointments, which are almost two hours away. On top of that, the family is facing mounting costs for food, housing, and travel, all while trying to support Alicia’s recovery.”
Wallace told Fox 23 about his wife’s condition, “When I first walked in and I saw her, I just broke down and started crying. I wasn’t expecting this. Alicia is a loving, caring person. It doesn’t matter who you are, she will sit there and help you the best that she can.”
The Independent has contacted Kelley, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office and Oklahoma Wildlife Services for comment.
