This was a business page that is no longer in use and was modified to keep everyone updated on her condition and progression of the case. This is a letter that I wrote the judge for the bond hearing. This will provide some detail to the terrifying night of November 23, 2024. On Saturday, November 23, 2024, I said goodbye to my 17-year-old daughter as I left for work at Greenville Memorial Hospital
as an ER nurse. She was doing her nails and planning to go to a friend’s house to watch Christmas movies and drink hot chocolate. I received a call at 2335 from her friend who was clearly shaken on the phone. She said Ariel was hit by a drunk driver, her dad was with her, and EMS was on the way. Mattie is a classmate and close friend of Ariel’s who summoned up a great amount of strength to keep me updated on Ariel’s state of consciousness and when she left the scene. I clocked out and waited by the ER bay until my heart was brought in on a stretcher as a trauma from a selfish act on S.J. Words cannot explain what it was like watching your child be worked up as a trauma. I will list her injuries so you can get an idea of the severity of her injuries which is why I am unable to be there today. Injuries include;
Her right and left femurs are broken
Left hip broken
Right and left arms broken
5 broken ribs
A pneumothorax which is where the lung collapses which later became a hemothorax because it started to collect blood. This ended up needing a chest tube. A liver laceration which required her to go to the operating room to evaluate the extent of the injury, for which she still has a JP drain placed for the collection of fluid and blood. In total, she has had 5 surgeries, multiple invasive procedures, and countless radiology scans. Ariel will still need more during her ICU course. On top of everything else, Ariel was diagnosed with diffuse axonal injury which is a severe traumatic brain injury that causes shearing or tearing of the brain’s nerve fibers, as well as a fat embolism in her brain that is caused by the multiple breaks to her body. Unfortunately, we won’t know her long term prognosis for up to two years from now. My daughter’s broken bones will heal, however her brain may not. She is unresponsive and on a ventilator to keep her breathing due to the severity of her injuries. Today, she is going back to the OR for a tracheostomy and a feeding tube placement. I plead with you not to allow this woman to be released and potentially end another child’s life. She has three children of her own and still made the decision to get behind the wheel not knowing who’s life she would endanger. My daughter is a senior and is dual enrolled in a mechatronics program. She is one of the smartest and kind people that I know. Her infectious laugh and bubbly personality may never return. Her bright future was ripped from her in a split second. My worst nightmare happened that night and that may have been the last time I ever heard her tell me she loved me. Thank you,
Tabitha
After Ariel had her PEG tube and tracheostomy placed, her PEG became displaced, and her abdomen was full of tube feeds and medications. She was rushed to emergency surgery where they had to do an open abdominal surgery and wash her out. She became septic and it was another terrifying event to this nightmare. She continued to have fevers and several infections. It felt like she kept meeting hurdles to her healing. As of 01/03/25, which is the date I am adding this information she is healing. She is truly a MIRACLE and GIFT from God. Over the past week in a half, she has progressed in an amazing and awing way. Our God is AWESOME and He is ABLE to heal! We are on track to go to rehab at Craig Hospital in Colorado on Jan. 6th provided we do not have any additional setbacks.
