Road to recovery: 3-year-old P.E.I. girl back home after being struck by car in October

BORDEN-CARLETON, P.E.I. — After being struck by a automobile and spending greater than 5 weeks in hospital, a Borden-Carleton lady is again dwelling and on the highway to restoration – a “bittersweet” feeling for her mom, Megan Aylward.

“When you get dwelling you understand that issues aren’t going again to the best way they have been prior instantly, which is a battle,” Aylward mentioned in an electronic mail to SaltWire Community. “However all of us missed the opposite three youngsters so it’s good to be dwelling.”

On Oct. 10, Blakely White, 3, and her siblings have been taking part in within the driveway of their Borden-Carleton dwelling, Blakely’s older brother taking pictures hockey pucks on the internet.

Blakely and her older sister, Braelyn, went throughout the road to retrieve a number of that had strayed from the yard. Whereas crossing the road to return again dwelling, simply earlier than stepping over the white line onto the strolling path, Blakely was struck by an oncoming automobile.

“I didn’t truly see it occur, however I heard my son screaming ‘Blakely acquired hit’ time and again,” mentioned Aylward. “It’s one thing that performs in my head time and again.”

Borden-Carleton firefighters attended the scene and Blakely was rushed to the Prince County Hospital in Summerside. There, a CT scan confirmed that she had sustained a neck damage in addition to a extreme traumatic mind damage.

“We have been devastated,” mentioned Aylward. “Extreme mind trauma will not be one thing that has a definitive final result, it might probably go wherever from full restoration with points exhibiting later in life, to demise.”

Blakely’s prognosis, Aylward added, was unsure, as she had a number of small mind bleeds; medical doctors have been unsure what areas if any, can be completely broken.

Regardless of the extent of her daughter’s accidents, Aylward felt lucky that, even after being tossed from the highway, Blakely had not broken any organs or damaged any bones.

Blakely was airlifted to the I.W.Okay. Well being Centre in Halifax and admitted to the hospital’s Pediatric Intensive Care United. There, she was intubated for a number of days to assist her breathe.

On Oct. 16, for the primary time for the reason that accident, Blakely was extubated and her mother and father have been in a position to maintain her of their arms.

Just a few days later, medical doctors moved Blakely to the medical ground after discovering swelling in her airway.

Not lengthy after, Aylward started noticing her daughter was starting to make a restoration. She was nonetheless unable to talk, transfer the appropriate facet of her physique and had restricted mobility on the left facet, however Aylward might inform that Blakely was at the very least conscious her mother and father have been close to her.

Other than a number of journeys Blakely’s father, Jonathan White, made again to P.E.I., her mother and father remained together with her for her complete keep within the I.W.Okay.

“The primary few weeks have been essentially the most tough,” mentioned Aylward. “Transferring to the medical ground and seeing her struggling to breathe was terrifying. Every single day appeared to mix into the following.”

Neighborhood help

The weeks spent on the Halifax hospital, mentioned Aylward, have been made simpler with help from hospital workers, household and mates.

Not lengthy after the accident, Ardour Elite Cheerleading in Charlottetown – a cheerleading staff two of Blakely’s sisters are concerned with – and Amherst Cove Consolidated College organized fundraisers.

Kathy Aylward-Cormier, Aylward’s aunt, additionally arrange a GoFundMe web page to assist ease the household’s monetary burdens. She, in Ontario, was unable to help them in individual, however wished to assist in no matter approach she might from a distance.

As of Nov. 21, the GoFundMe had raised greater than $9,000.

“It’s superior. I used to be actually excited after I noticed that,” mentioned Aylward-Cormier. “It’s actually thrilling to see that, that it made such a distinction. Each little bit helps.”

Aylward is grateful for the help however will not be shocked to see the Island neighborhood step up when her daughter was in want.

“We aren’t precisely a small household with 4 children so we depend on a number of household help to get our children in varied instructions with sports activities,” mentioned Aylward. “The outpouring of affection from strangers and folks in our neighborhood wasn’t precisely sudden, both. P.E.I. is a reasonably particular place to stay with an abundance of affection and help.”

Highway to restoration

After greater than 5 weeks spent on the hospital, by Nov. 16, Blakely had recovered sufficient to return dwelling.

“(Her siblings) Bentley, Braelyn and Brielle are dealing with it in addition to any children witnessing their sibling being hit by a automobile will be,” mentioned Aylward. “They’re tremendous useful together with her and made certain to video chat together with her each day proper from the start.”

“On the finish of the day, we as a household are simply so glad that she remains to be with us, and the remaining we’ll determine alongside the best way.” – Megan Aylward

Within the aftermath of the accident, Aylward mentioned she needs to remind drivers to decelerate and comply with the principles of the highway. Whereas her daughter survived, she is aware of not everyone seems to be as lucky.

“Careless driving might price somebody their life,” she mentioned, “and is attending to the place you’re going 5 minutes sooner actually definitely worth the psychological load of being the rationale somebody loses a liked one?”

As of mid-November, Blakely had regained management of the appropriate facet of her physique. Whereas her vocal cords are nonetheless swollen, she has began speaking once more.

For the foreseeable future, Blakely will want a wheelchair and a walker to get round. Aylward provides, although, that she is “strong-willed” and therapeutic sooner than they anticipated.

Her mother and father haven’t any expectations for her long-term restoration. In the meanwhile, they’re specializing in play-based remedy to assist Blakely regain her core power.

“On the finish of the day, we as a household are simply so glad that she remains to be with us,” mentioned Aylward, “and the remaining we’ll determine alongside the best way.”

Kristin Gardiner is a reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. She will be reached by electronic mail at [email protected] and adopted on Twitter @KristinGardiner.