KAYLA Rhymer

On May 16th 2009 I got the call all parents fear. I received a call to tell me my 15 year old daughter Kayla was in an ATV accident and I needed to get to the hospital. Once I got there (less than 7 min of the call) I was not told anything for over an hour and a half. Finally a doctor came out to see me and I pleaded to see Kayla. He informed me it was not good and I needed to prepare myself. I went back into a tiny room where there were about 30 people working on her limp body. She was dead at the scene and died again in the ER before they let me in. They were making plans on taking her to MUSC but were not sure how, she would not survive the flight.

Kayla had broke C2-C3 and she dislocated C1-C2. She had a dissected corrated artery and two collapsed lungs. Not to mention a fractured jaw. The doctor at Summerville medical center said in all his years in the ER Kayla’s was the worst accident he had ever seen. She made it to MUSC by ambulance going about 15 mph. When we got there Kayla's father, stepmother, my mother and my boyfriend were taken to a room and told she wouldn't make it thru the night. All I could say was you do not have the final word, he does (GOD).

She got a room in the PICU and once settled I was able to visit her. The ramp to the Pediatric ER was full of family and about 50-60 high school kids wanting to show support. We were told we had about 3 hours to let people in to see her to say their goodbyes.  We never told anyone this, we just wanted them to go and see her. Kayla was not responsive to anyone.

After a long few hours and then another day and another day, she had made.  Here we are 8 months later and a few rehabilitation facilities later and we still have Kayla. Even after suffering many mini strokes from her injury she is still a bright and bubbly teenager. Kayla is a C2-C3 vent dependant quad but we are so thankful that she is alive.

The woman who caused the accident was 32 and did not let me know Kayla was riding on the ATV. She was high on prescription drugs and marijuana. Since the accident her husband and kids left her and she took her own life in October. Two families have now been tore apart due to this accident.  Don't think this can't happen to you. Please don't let your child on an ATV.

Courage for Kayla 

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