Injured Acrobat Plans Comeback Performance!

4ed991ffdbe66_preview-300, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. From Don Covington A fundraiser for injured circus performer Hannah Crist will take place Jan. 28 at the Al. Ringling Theatre in Baraboo. Contributed photo A circus performer who broke her back in September when she fell from a trapeze is slated to make a triumphant return next month. Hannah Crist will perform with her brother, illusionist Tristan Crist, during a Jan. 28 fundraiser to help her pay extensive medical bills and afford ongoing physical therapy. Crist's spinal chord was damaged during a surgery to stabilize her lower back that followed her 12-foot fall. She lost mobility and feeling in her legs. "She has hopes for a complete recovery," Tristan Crist said. "But because it's a spinal chord injury, they don't know for sure." After undergoing physical therapy, her left leg is nearly 100 percent healed and her left leg is still healing. A battle with her insurance company has left her with hundreds of thousands of dollars in hospital bills, her brother said. The variety show fundraiser will take place at the Al. Ringling Theatre, featuring comedy, music, juggling and magic. Tickets cost $10, and a limited number of box seats will be available. Performers will include clown duo Greg and Karen DeSanto, juggler and unicyclist T.J. Howell and Chicago magician Steve Chezaday. If you go • What: Variety show fundraiser for Hannah Crist • When: 6:30 p.m. Jan. 28 • Where: Al. Ringling Theatre, 146 Fourth Avenue, Baraboo • Tickets: Available at Circus World (608) 356-8341 or the Al. Ringling Theatre (608) 356-8864. How to help • Donations in Hannah Crist's name can be sent to Circus World Museum at 550 Water St. Baraboo, WI 53913.