Retired international Dutch para dressage rider Demi Vermeulen has been hospitalized for more than a week after a scheduled operation did not go as planned.
Vermeulen underwent surgery to her foot because of a chronic bone infection, but her road to recovery has been marred by set backs.
"Two operations, six IVs, one PICC line, four blood transfusions, one ICU admission, more than 100 leeches on my foot, one nerve block, and and, unfortunately, quite a few pressure sores," Demi lamented.
Demi reported from the university clinic in Leiden that, "the surgery on my foot—due to a chronic bone infection that I’d been putting off my entire elite athletic career—finally had to happen. Unfortunately, almost everything that could go wrong did go wrong—really bad luck. I’m having another surgery next week; hopefully, I’ll finally get some better news then.
Vermeulen was a highly decorated para dressage rider. Aboard Chiara H (by Compliment x Arogno) she was third in the Kur at the 2011 European Para Championships. On Vaness (by Onze Fons x Caritas) she went to the 2013 Europeans and the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen, where she won silver and bronze. On Burberry (by Lord Loxley x Kelvin) she scored silver and bronze at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio. Vermeulen won the Dutch Para Championships twice, and twice got silver and once bronze.
In 2024 she announced her retirement from para sport.
Related Link
Demi Vermeulen Bids Para Sport Farewell
Rio Paralympic Horse Burberry Sold to Italy