The world can often be a chaotic, unfair place. Those feelings becomes ever more pertinent when you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Just as the Hovenga family of Iowa, USA, were recently.
Kassy Hovenga had taken her newborn daughter McKenna to a softball game. The pair were there to cheer on Kassy’s husband – and McKenna’s dad – Lee, who was playing in a game later that evening.
Then tragedy struck. Kassy was getting McKenna ready to be breastfed, when the baby was struck on the head by a rogue ball, as per the New York Post.
The ball hit McKenna on her head, and she suffered skull fractures, two brain bleeds and several seizures as a result. She was quickly rushed to the Waverly Health Center, before being taken via helicopter to St. Mary’s Hospital at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
It was there that doctors discovered the brain bleeds.
QUICK EVENING UPDATE 05/20/18: McKenna had a great day! No more seizures since last night. We did get confirmation that…
Posted by Healing for McKenna on Sunday, May 20, 2018
Initially doctors struggled to control the seizures. McKenna was placed in a coma to protect her brain during the ensuing treatment.
Obviously, her prognosis was bleak. And yet, soon strange things began to happen. First, a Facebook group was started in McKenna’s name – one that quickly garnered over 100,000 followers, all of whom sent love and positivity to McKenna and her family.
Then – as sudden as lightning breaking from a clear sky – her seizures stopped. Doctors were able to wake her from the coma.
But that wasn’t all.
Suddenly, the people in her room began to realise that McKenna was looking around – and seemed to be fully aware that her parents were by her side.
I was going to post these on Facebook to share with family and friends Wednesday before the game but didn’t have time….
Posted by Healing for McKenna on Friday, May 4, 2018
She can now be awake for periods at a time and recognises the sound of her mother’s voice. At the same time, the family know they’re not out of the woods just yet.
Her mom’s most recent post reads: “McKenna is stable. She is going to have a bronchoscopy. Bronchoscopy is a procedure that looks inside the lung airways. It involves inserting a bronchoscope tube, with its light and small camera, through your nose or mouth, down your throat into your trachea, or windpipe, and to the bronchi and bronchioles of your lungs.”
The family is right by her side every step of the way.
“This is a crazy rollercoaster.”
Kassy and Lee are grateful for all of the support they’ve had from people thus far, including those who have raised money for her continued care. So far, over $70,000 has been collected through a fundraising campaign.
“We hear about these accidents on the news every day, and never mind how many people other than myself pray for the victims affected by these tragic accidents,” Lee wrote on Facebook.
“It’s heartbreaking to know there are so many selfless people in the world who hope and pray for others.”
We hope beyond hope that things will turn out OK. We’re sending lots of love to the whole family for this little fighter.
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