Zoey’s Road to Recovery

Hi. My name is Chelsea and I’m writing this on behalf of the Warner/Thibeault family. They are a wonderful family that I am lucky to enough to be married in to. Zoey is our niece and for as long as I’ve known her, she has been such a bubbly, fun-loving person who can put a smile on anyone’s face no matter what she is going through.

On the evening of June 22nd, Zoey and her boyfriend were enjoying some time outside with friends in their side by side. This is something they did often and love doing. In an unexpected turn of events, their side by side flipped and rolled about a half of a dozen times. Being that this was something they did all of the time, they were wearing their seatbelts but not helmets. As a result of the incident, Zoey lost consciousness, due to multiple head injuries. Her boyfriend, Zane, was luckily unharmed so he was able to get Zoey out of the side by side and begin performing CRP on her until the paramedics arrived. Unfortunately, when paramedics arrived, Zoey was unresponsive and was having trouble breathing. The paramedics continued life saving procedures on her, including intubating her on scene. She was brought to Bonnyville Hospital where she was then airlifted by STARS to the University of Alberta hospital. She was admitted to the Neurology Intensive Care Unit where she remains now. She was placed in a medically induced coma as she sustained a brain bleed as well as 3 small skull fractures. Her doctors have been tapering her off of her sedation in hopes that she wakes up soon. They are hopeful she will wake up in the next few days as she has been trying to take her breathing tube out in her sedated state. As of June 25th, she has been responding to pain tests done by her doctors but still has not woken up.

Zoey’s family has been by her side at the hospital since the accident. Her mom Dawn, her father Chad, her twin brother Zander, her older brother Zack and her boyfriend Zane rushed to the hospital from Bonnyville, and were joined by multiple other family members later. Due to the uncertainty of this situation, Zoey’s family has no idea of how long they will be in Edmonton for. Those who travelled and want to stay close to the hospital have been staying in the outpatient residence of the hospital. While they stay in the city, they will need to pay for their place to sleep, hospital parking, food, as well as any other necessities they may need while away from home. While she is in the hospital, any money raised through donations will go to immediate family and their needs while in the city as they stay by Zoey’s side. Since recovery, once she wakes up, is uncertain, it’s hard to say when Zoey will be back on her feet. So all money left over will go directly to Zane and Zoey to help them with bills while she remains off of work. Any amount donated is greatly appreciated. Please keep her in your thoughts. She has been through so much in her life, and she is the strongest girl we know. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!