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August 8, 2012

Support continues for Blaine Little

By Brian Livingston / blivingston@themeridianstar.com The Meridian Star

MERIDIAN —     Barry Massey was talking to Blaine Little, who has been in a coma for more than a week after a fall during a race at the Neshoba County Fair in Philadelphia.

    Sitting at the bedside of the 21-year-old at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Massey was bringing the jockey up to speed on what has happened since the accident. It became clear to Massey after a short while that Little heard what he was saying.

    Massey later told the Little family, Niel and Wendy, that tears formed in their son's eyes as Massey comforted him. It was yet another indication to the Littles that their son was there, hearing their words of encouragement, and urging him to fight out of his coma.

    "The Massey's are like Blaine's second family," Niel Little said. "They took him in just like he was one of their own and they have been here almost every day Blaine has been in the hospital."

    Blaine Little fell from his horse shortly after the beginning of the Aug. 30 race, his head smashing into a fence post, causing severe head trauma. Procedures to relieve the pressure from swelling and blood accumulating on his brain have been somewhat successful but the recovery process has been slow.

    The Little family of Enterprise have attended and raced at the fair for the better part of three decades. Niel Little said his son has been riding horses since he was 10 years old and raced at the fair for the past three years. Niel Little said his son is an experienced rider.

    There has been no clear indication as to what caused Blaine Little to fall from the horse.

    Niel Little said doctors and nurses have said they haven't see any significant change in Blaine's condition. Niel Little believes they tell them that so they don't get their hopes up too high.

    But the Littles, and the friends and family that stop by, are convinced that although the changes are not profound, there are changes nonetheless.     "He knows we are around," Niel Little said. "He knows we are here for him."

    There are others who are gathering, rallying around the Little family and Blaine.

    Ashley Bailey of York, Ala., said Tuesday she and and Kandi Nance Holland are trying to organize a benefit horse show in Blaine's name to help raise money to defray medical costs. Bailey said at 3 p.m Monday she posted the idea for a fundraiser on her Facebook page. By 11 p.m. she said there had been almost 400 responses on how to help.

    "I don't know the Littles but Kandi does," Bailey said. "I just feel like it is something we can do to help the family and Blaine."

    Niel Little said his niece is handling a great many requests for benefit events to help the family. He said he has been amazed at the amount of support coming from people the family knows and especially from those whom he's never met.

    "The outpouring of support has been unbelievable," Niel Little said. "You just never know who is behind you until you get into a bind."

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