In December 2005, sisters Bethany and Hannah left a movie with their church youth group and headed to a bonfire at a friend’s home.  The roads were slippery and Bethany, who was driving, lost control on a curve, spinning into the path of an oncoming pickup truck, which slammed into the right side of the car.

A Parent’s Worst Fear
“We were at dinner,” recalls Sharon, the girls’ mother.  “We tried calling Bethany’s cell phone and were concerned when she didn’t pick up.  We headed home and got the phone call that every parent fears, telling us that our girls had been in an extremely severe car accident and that both were in critical condition.”

At the hospital, Hannah died as a result of her injuries.  Bethany suffered severe head and facial trauma.  “Bethany’s neurosurgeon later told us that the face is the air bag of the brain,” says Sharon.  “Indeed, her face protected her brain, but her skull was so crushed and her face and jaw so broken that emergency personnel had to work extremely hard to keep her alive.”

Hope Amidst Tragedy
Bethany was transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare.  The next day, she underwent a 15-hour, multispecialty surgery with a Gillette team.  “They skillfully and miraculously put her back together,” Sharon says. Bethany spent two and a half months undergoing intensive physical, occupational and speech therapy at Gillette before returning home in February 2006.  In August, she had additional craniofacial surgery.

Today Bethany is vibrantly alive and recovering steadily. She finds new purpose now as a spokesperson for the Children’s Miracle Network and shares her story readily with schools, youth groups, driver’s education programs, and at charitable events and medical conferences.  A lifelong horseback rider, Bethany participates in equestrian competitions and rides recreationally.

A ‘Crowning’ Achievement
When Bethany learned that Minnesota would be holding the state’s first-ever Minnesota You Can Do It pageant, she knew immediately that she wanted to compete. Begun nationally five years ago by Abbey Curran, the first woman with a disability to compete in the Miss America pageant, Minnesota You Can Do It recognizes women of all ages who have overcome medical challenges to accomplish great things. Bethany competed in — and won — the pageant, and was named the 2009 Ms. You Can Do It Minnesota Queen. In July, she’ll travel to Illinois for the national pageant.   

Before her accident, Bethany planned to become an equine veterinarian. Now, she hopes to become a therapist and, one day, use horses to help children heal from traumatic injuries. “Making a difference in children’s lives is now my life goal. I hope to not just make a difference for today, but to change their lives forever by giving them hope.”

Says Sharon, “Our daughter’s life and livelihood were preserved by the excellent care we received at Gillette.  We look at her today and are amazed by how far she has come,” says Sharon.  “She is continuing to progress on her long road to recovery.  Her life truly is a gift to us!”

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