Brooklyn Bender's Memorial

Visitation for Brooklyn will be Tuesday (January 8th) from 5 to 7 p.m. (with scriptures at 7) at St. Benedict's Catholic Church in Yankton.
Funeral will be Wednesday (January 9th) at 10:30 a.m. at St. Benedict's Catholic Church

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Update: 

As many of you know, Brooklyn fought a hard battle and passed the afternoon of January 3rd. 
However, Brooklyn didn’t do anything without a bang and her passing wouldn’t be any different. She brought life as she passed by saving four others by organ donation. Brooklyn donated her kidneys, heart and to somebody very special she donated her liver. 

Our family is genuinely thankful for the outpouring of love, support, prayers, messages, and donations during this time. As always no donation is too small. These funds will be put toward the extensive medical bills to come and her memorial. 

Visitation for Brooklyn will be Tuesday (January 8th) from 5 to 7 p.m. (with scriptures at 7) at St. Benedict's Catholic Church in Yankton.
Funeral will be Wednesday (January 9th) at 10:30 a.m. at St. Benedict's Catholic Church.

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On Christmas Eve morning, Brooklyn, was involved in a motor vehicle accident. She is in critical condition and has been put into an induced coma to give her body the time it needs to heal her severe injuries. Among other things, she has several skull fractures, cranial hemorrhaging, vertebrae fractures, and a broken eye socket.



On Christmas day, she had to have emergency surgery to remove 1/3 or her skull to allow her brain to swell and save her life. Her brain swelling is the most critical issue right now. Scans have verified some brain damage, though we will not know the extent of it for some time.

The swelling of her brain has continued, though this was expected and doctors are confident that the swelling will recede with time. In addition to the surgery she had on her skull there is additional spinal surgery anticipated. She will have to have a procedure to fuse several of her vertebrae (the c3, c4 and t12).

Brooklyn's prognosis is positive and we are anticipating a full return of motor skills post-op. At this point, we are expecting that she will remain in a medically induced coma for the next several weeks, once the swelling has subsided it will be determined if it is advisable to wake her up.

For the long term - recovery time is expected to be 2 years, and it will be years full of hard work and determination. Brooklyn is a vibrant, loving, outgoing and compassionate 22 year old woman, and it is going to be hard to watch her travel down this road.

Our family is requesting any help that you may be able to provide, no donation is too small! All funds will go to help Brooklyn and her parents pay for her extensive medical bills, lodging and loss of wages as they remain by her bedside. Every penny will be of great assistance at the beginning of this long road to recovery.

Lastly, and most importantly, please include Brooklyn and our family in your prayers as much as possible.

With Genuine Thanks,
Brooklyn's Family