Event to Honor Culver City Residents Katherine and Jay Wolf for Inspiring
Story of Her Survival Following Traumatic Brain Injury
Proceeds to Benefit Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation
POMONA, Calif. – Casa Colina is welcoming U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords'
husband Captain Mark Kelly as a special guest presenter and honoring traumatic
brain injury (TBI) survivor Katherine Wolf, and her husband Jay Wolf at its
Tribute to Courage on Saturday, February 25th at Pacific Palms Hotel & Conference Center
in Industry Hills. Proceeds from the gala black tie event will benefit
Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation's programs and services including
its nationally renowned Brain Injury Program.
The reception begins at 5:30 p.m. and it is then followed by dinner, dancing
and live entertainment at 7 p.m. Major sponsors are invited to attend
a VIP reception immediately following the event to meet Captain Kelly
and the Wolfs. Captain Kelly will also be signing copies of the couple's memoir,
Gabby.
Katherine and Jay Wolf were college sweethearts. After marrying at the
age of 22, the young couple lived an idyllic life by the beach in Malibu.
He studied law at Pepperdine; she began modeling and acting. They had
a baby boy. On April 21, 2008, the unthinkable happened. While their son
napped peacefully in his crib, Katherine collapsed on the kitchen floor
as she was making lunch. Jay arrived home and found his young wife in
distress. He called 911. She was rushed to UCLA Medical Center where doctors
discovered she had massive bleeding in her brain caused by a congenital
brain defect – an arteriovenous malformation (AVM).
Her doctors performed 16 hours of intricate brain surgery to save her life.
They removed 60% of her cerebellum. Thankfully, Katherine's cognition
and mental faculties were still intact. Yet her motor control was severely
affected and the right side of her face was paralyzed. She spent 40 days
in intensive care at UCLA, then another three months in its neuro-acute
rehab unit before she was transferred to Casa Colina's Transitional
Living Center for its intensive rehabilitation program. Jay moved into
one of the Casa Colina homes adjacent to the campus with their son, so
he could be there to attend her therapy sessions and support her.
"We don't have any expectations. We hold onto things very lightly
and just go with the flow because we know how quickly things can change,"
explained Jay. "All the more reason to celebrate the time we have
together with our families, those milestones and happy, small moments."
The
Tribute to Courage event also hits extremely close to home for Captain Kelly, whose wife and
U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords suffered a TBI as the result of
an assassination attempt on January 8, 2011. They share similar challenges
as the Wolfs that are described in their best-selling memoir,
Gabby, in which the couple shares with the world their story of hope and resilience.
"I'm very pleased that I'll be able to be at Casa Colina's
Tribute to Courage on Saturday, February 25th. I'll be able to share with you some of
my experiences both as a pilot and astronaut, and as a husband and care-giver,"
said Captain Kelly. "As much of a challenge and honor that is was
to be the Commander of the Space Shuttle Endeavour on its final flight
to the Space Station, it is much more of a challenging and humbling experience
to see the resilience and determination of my wife, Gabrielle Giffords,
as she fights her way back to reclaim her life. I also look forward to
hearing the story of Katherine and Jay Wolf, and being with you all to
celebrate what rehabilitation can achieve to help people regain their
spirit and their lives."
Mark Kelly is an American astronaut, retired US Navy Captain, best-selling
author, and an experienced naval aviator who flew combat missions during
the Gulf War. The winner of many awards, including the Legion of Merit,
two Defense Superior Service Medals and two Distinguished Flying Crosses,
Kelly was selected as an astronaut in 1996. He flew his first of four
missions in 2001 aboard Space Shuttle
Endeavour, the same space shuttle that he commanded on its final flight in May 2011.
He has also commanded Space Shuttle
Discovery and is one of only two individuals who have visited the International
Space Station on four different occasions.
"We are truly inspired by the incredible courage, commitment and dedication
demonstrated by Katherine and Jay Wolf as well as Captain Mark Kelly,"
said Dr. Felice L. Loverso, President and CEO of Casa Colina. "It
is a privilege for Casa Colina to honor them at the
Tribute to Courage because they exemplify the courage it takes to confront and overcome the
tremendous obstacles that they were forced to face. By successfully engaging
in the rehabilitation process they have turned tragedy into opportunity
by increasing awareness about traumatic brain injury."
In addition to the
Tribute to Courage presentation, those in attendance will be treated to dinner, dancing, and
live entertainment. Major sponsors are invited to attend a VIP reception
immediately following the event to meet Captain Kelly and the Wolfs. Captain
Kelly will also be signing copies of the couple's memoir,
Gabby.
For more information on the event, to donate, or become a sponsor, please
contact Casa Colina Foundation at (909) 596-7733 Ext. 2223.