Teenage gymnast paralyzed during practice
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SEATTLE -- A teenage gymnast is in the fight of her life at Harborview Medical Center, paralyzed from the chest down after landing on her neck during practice.
"I think this is one of the worst nightmares for a parent," said Gretchen Miles.
Her daughter, Jacoby Miles, is in a hospital bed surrounded by friends and family.
"She cant move and she is having to deal with this at the age of 15," Gretchen said.
Jacoby was warming up on Friday at Roach Gymnastics in Sumner and practicing a dismount she's landed countless times.
In a post on Facebook, Jacoby's coach said "she got lost during the second rotation of her double back and opened up early and then landed on her neck."
Her spinal cord wasn't severed, but Jacoby "lost all feeling from her chest down instantly," said her father, Jason Miles.
"It's very frightening to not be able to move," he said.
The most painful part may be coming to terms with her new reality.
"We've had to talk with her about what's going on and it's harder to see her try to deal with it," Jason said.
And for her parents it's tough not knowing what kind of life their daughter will be able to lead.
"Being able to go and work and have a family," Gretchen said.
But Jacoby is a competitor and a fighter at heart.
"I personally think thats what is going to help her beat this, is that same drive," Jason said.
Jacoby is able to move her shoulders and has some feeling in her arms. While doctors believe there's a chance she could regain movement in her wrists, they say it's unlikely Jacoby will walk again.
But she and her family are hoping for a full recovery.
"We have to prepare mentally for the worst and pray for the best," Jason said. "I know God has big plans for her."
"I think this is one of the worst nightmares for a parent," said Gretchen Miles.
Her daughter, Jacoby Miles, is in a hospital bed surrounded by friends and family.
"She cant move and she is having to deal with this at the age of 15," Gretchen said.
Jacoby was warming up on Friday at Roach Gymnastics in Sumner and practicing a dismount she's landed countless times.
In a post on Facebook, Jacoby's coach said "she got lost during the second rotation of her double back and opened up early and then landed on her neck."
Her spinal cord wasn't severed, but Jacoby "lost all feeling from her chest down instantly," said her father, Jason Miles.
"It's very frightening to not be able to move," he said.
The most painful part may be coming to terms with her new reality.
"We've had to talk with her about what's going on and it's harder to see her try to deal with it," Jason said.
And for her parents it's tough not knowing what kind of life their daughter will be able to lead.
"Being able to go and work and have a family," Gretchen said.
But Jacoby is a competitor and a fighter at heart.
"I personally think thats what is going to help her beat this, is that same drive," Jason said.
Jacoby is able to move her shoulders and has some feeling in her arms. While doctors believe there's a chance she could regain movement in her wrists, they say it's unlikely Jacoby will walk again.
But she and her family are hoping for a full recovery.
"We have to prepare mentally for the worst and pray for the best," Jason said. "I know God has big plans for her."
My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family!
Lord, have mercy and touch her with your healing hand.
May God bless her with some sort of miracle!
Keep fighting, kiddo! You never know how far you can progress! As a mom of former gymnasts, we know how randomly these accidents can happen. Wishing you the best recovery possible and lots of love and support!Â
She will be on SSI and or SSA for a great deal of her life if she is not able to fully function by then, and then there will be the cold and heartless people like pdxtvguy, Keith,Karla Readsalot ,oodathunked, will be calling htis person a few things other then a person.
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She won't be a leech, she had an accident, it can happen to any one of us.
I just hope and pray for a miracle.
My prayers are with you beautiful!!
Bless her...
"We have to prepare mentally for the worst and pray for the best," Jason said. "I know God has big plans for her."
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Indeed He must, Mr Miles. It seems that this year, your family has something more to be thankful for. My families thoughts and prayers are with you & Jacoby.
Do not ever give up! My son-in-law is a rare case, but from the very beginning, he looked at his future wife from the ICU bed with a c2 fracuture (tip broke, 45 degree fracture through the middle, AND the smiley face in the base with fragmented edges all the way into the holes where the arteries come through), paralyzed from the neck down on impact, and said, "I'm walking out of here." He had full faith, and never once doubted, though none of the rest of us did. He walked in 4 days with a walker. Was released from rehab within 14 days after that. Has lost all sensation of pain on the left side of his body, but exactly 1 year after, is rock climbing. Never lose faith, there is always a possibilty. My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.
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 @HarryJuku All I can do is shake my head at this comment. You could say that about every sport. Perhaps we should just abolish sports entirely. Would that make you happy?
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 @Sweet D It's sad that you can support comments like his. With any sport there is an inherent risk of injury but does that mean we should ban all sports and instead lead the kids to join gangs and other negative activities because they have nothing else to do?
Poor baby girl! We can all hope and pray she recovers.
I sure hope they treat her with lots of antiinflamatories and she's able to walk again soon. This happened to a friend of mine as well and she healed until she just can't feel the bottom of her feet, so there is hope. Â My best wishes & prayers to her and her family.
It is very rare to severe the spinal cord. Most common way the cord is severed is via bullet wound. Seattle has some excellent stem cell research aimed at repairing the spinal cord. I pray those researchers achieve their goal and this poor girl will be healed. Walking will be the least of her worries. Injury at that level is going to effect her bowel, bladder and lower intestine.  Harborview is an excellent facility, but there are a couple of world class rehab facilities in the country her family should consider. Her post inpatient rehab, can make dramatic differences.
Hope she recovers. Kids can do amazing things when they put their minds to recovering from injuries.
This happened to my step sister in cheer leading. It was very frightening but after a few years she recovered. it's so sad when our passion turns on us. But I have hope this girl will recover
Words really can't express what this whole family is going through right now. Let's just hope and pray that she gets through it and that a miracle happens. It sounds like she has that fighting spirit that drives people to be able to walk again and do things beyond what anyone expects. My thoughts and prayers are with the family,
Truly every parent's nightmare. Â Fight like a wildcat, Jacoby, our thoughts are with you and your family.
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Hoping for a good and full recovery for that little girl!!! Both my girls did gymnastics and it was always a worry. Especially on the beam where we saw more then one injury including a broken arm.
I am not religious but I will pray for this girl.
My prayers to Jacoby and her family to keep strong. Love and support for each other will get you through this.Â
Recovery happens all the time, even when they say it's unlikely. I hope she's one of those patience that ends up baffling her doctors.
"spinal cord wasn't severed", hopefully it is just badly bruised and she will recover in time. Very scary time.
Thoughts and prayers to her and her family.
So, so sad. I hope she is able to recover some - if not all- feeling. However, her life is changed forever. I hope she is a fighter and has a positive outlook, this will help her tremendously. She will learn that she can still lead a full life.
Oh that is very, very sad..! Â Â VERY best hopes and wishes go to Jacoby Miles for her recovery... Â Keep fighting, young lady... people have done some things in situations like this that everyone else, including the medical experts, said could not be done...Â