(MyFoxBoston.com) -- Red Sox fan Tonya Carpenter is still fighting back from horrific injuries after being hit by a broken bat at Fenway Park, but now she's facing a new battle -- one fought in court.
Friends fear her ex-husband is trying to capitalize on her ordeal. Court documents FOX25 obtained ask a judge for both custody and child support from Tonya Carpenter, but the still-recovering woman and her friends say, especially after all that she's been through, it's way off base.
Tonya Carpenter stared death in the face when she was struck in the head by a flying bat at Fenway, in early June.
"I really think it's a ploy on his behalf to try to get some of that money that was donated to Tonya," one friend said. "I know Tonya's very hurt by this, very much."
Just days after the Paxton woman was released from rehab, Tonya's ex-husband, George Carpenter, is requesting primary custody of their 7-year-old son, and financial support from Tonya.
The filling says Tonya "suffered a traumatic brain injury, is actively rehabilitating, is on numerous medications, is not able to drive due to her condition and requires 24/7 supervision."
FOX25 went to George Carpenter's home in Rutland home for comment, but he didn't come to the door.
Tonya's family friend Dave Shablin says Tonya is fully capable of taking care of her son.
"She's on soft foods but none of that's going to affect her ability to take care of [her son]," he said.
Still, Shablin says Tonya is unable to work.
He says George is going after money raised by generous people on a GoFundMe meant to help with Tonya's medical bills.
Tonya's friends are also concerned George may be trying to get a share of any possible settlement Tonya might receive from the Red Sox. The bottom line, they say, is Tonya's son has been keeping her going throughout her fight to live, and they say to take her son away now is simply cruel.
"The doctors at the hospital said she should've been dead, and I think the reason why she didn't die was because of [him]," Shablin said.
Tonya Carpenter wrote about the custody battle on Facebook on Monday, writing in part, "I have spent the entire week in Worcester Court and finding strength somewhere some how fighting for life, strength and the power of him to never ever take away what I live and breathe for. Can sadness ever go away?"
According to the court documents, her son is now in counseling because of the trauma he's endured from witnessing the accident. The case will go before a judge next week.