LORETTA WOODWARD TBI JOURNEY

Loretta Woodward suffered Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Sept. 17 in an Athens County car accident that left her on the brink of death. Loretta was comatose when she was removed from her crumpled car by EMT on the scene and transported by LifeFlight helicopter to the Ohio State University Wexner Center's IntensiveTrauma Critical Care Unit. She was treated for TBI, a cracked pelvis and fractured vertebrae. Loretta remained mute, on a breathing machine and stomach tube feed, barely moving with a blank stare ... Then came the medical miracle as Loretta "awakened," rehabiliation at the OSU Dod Center and on to more therapy at Heather Hill nursing home near Chardon, Ohio.
Flash forward to 12/22/15 as Loretta walking, talking, and smiling continues her journy at Mentis, a 10-bed rehabiliation center iin Stow for TBI patients that is among the best in the United States! Many thanks to all who have contributed to funding Loretta's needs up until now. Your donations bought her much joy and needed clothing, some meals out at restaurants, a couple movies, including the appropriate Star Wars: THE FORCE AWAKENS, much needed toiletries and other items from the drugstore. With insurance approving her Mentis stay, we have reduced  GoFundMe from an original goal of $33,000, which included the the cost of Mentis, to $7,000.
The remaining goal of $7,000 in donations will provide funds to purchase Loretta a computer or tablet as she gets back in the learning mode. There will be expenses to attend cultural events, museums, concerts and other outings. When her Mentis experience is complete in a couple months, there will be housing needs, travel needs and other unanticipated expenses. Doctors say Loretta will need 24/7 attention for at least 3 years, and that may include paying for assistance. Expenses aside, know that the TBI journey has also been a journey of awakening for Daddy Dwight! Many thanks for all who have helped Loretta and me in our journey!