LUBBOCK, Texas — The road to recovery continues for 23-year-old Texas Tech University graduate Camryn Hereage after a fatal hit-and-run crash that killed one friend and injured five others in Dallas earlier this year.
Kamryn's uncle, Tim Herriege, said her injuries could not have been more serious.
“At one point, her head wasn't attached to her body, it was just resting on her spine,” Tim said.
The need to reattach her skull to her vertebrae wasn't the only injury Kamryn had to treat. According to her uncle, she had suffered at least seven strokes.
“A torn ligament in her neck, a carotid artery injury on both sides of her neck, a brain injury, a stroke…I mean, even if you add it all up, there's no way to know what the chances are that she would be in the condition she is in today. But Mathematically speaking, it has to be less than 10%,” Tim said.
Tim said Camryn's recovery had its ups and downs.
“She had to undergo a craniotomy to remove part of her skull. And then in the first week of March, we ended up having to have more removed and that was the low point of this journey. It was a dot,” Tim said. “That was the same week they recommended we finish her treatment before she could do the surgery.”
Tim says Camryn has been defying expectations lately. She is breathing on her own, can move her limbs, and recognizes her incoming friends.
“From what we understand, she is able to breathe on her own, indicating that her brainstem is intact. She is able to control many body functions and , which is a good sign that recovery is progressing,” Tim said.
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(Image provided by the Herriage family) -
(Image provided by the Herriage family) -
(Image provided by the Herriage family) -
(Image provided by the Herriage family)
Thousands of people have been following Kamryn's story through social media and sending prayers for her healing each week.
“This is amazing evidence of the power of prayer and the impact it has on people, whether positive or negative,” Tim said. “It was a blessing for the family because my mother and sister haven't really been able to leave the hospital. You're sitting in a room with someone who can't speak or move and is a shadow of the person you knew. I’ll miss you.”
Kamryn still has a long road to go, but Tim said things are looking up for her recovery.
“Everything is moving in the right direction. I think we were hopeful a month ago, but I hope we're optimistic as we sit here today,” Tim said. “Our little miracle girl will continue to amaze us.”
Tim said Camryn's next steps will be physical therapy and speech therapy, where she will learn to move and speak again. The tube will also be removed from her throat soon.
