WASHINGTON — There has been a setback in the recovery process for a Maryland woman who was attacked by a bear outside a Middletown home earlier this week.
“She’s not doing too good,” said Ron Osborne, the husband of Karen Osborne, 63, who was attacked by a black bear on Wednesday night.
Initially, doctors said that Karen Osborne had suffered a broken arm, and had cuts and punctures on her face and arms. But when she was unable to stand on Friday morning, doctors took more X-rays — and made a troubling discovery, Ron Osborne said.
“She had a fracture on her pelvic bone,” her husband said.
Ron Osborne said doctors had initially expected Karen Osborne to be well enough to leave the hospital over the weekend, but now she’ll need extensive rehabilitation and might have to remain hospitalized for several more weeks.
“I’m there with her,” he said. “We’ll get through it.”
On Wednesday night, a 200-pound black bear mauled Karen Osborne outside her Frederick County home. She had gone out to walk the family dog but unknowingly stepped between the bear and its three cubs. The attack only stopped once she fell into the fetal position and called 911.
Ron Osborne said the couple had seen a bear in the area once since moving to the home five months ago.
“He bothered a few trash cans, but, from what I heard, he had never bothered anybody,” Ron Osborne said. “So we didn’t have any fear about it.”
Ron Osborne described his wife as a strong woman and said she was keeping her spirits up, despite the situation. “She’s a tough babe,” he said.
He said he had no doubt that his wife would make a full recovery.
“I love her to death, and I think she loves me,” he said with a chuckle.
