and hope for the future Even though a tragic accident in August 2003 left 15-year-old Erika Daugherty without the ability to speak and to walk, this accident did not deprive her of her spirit and strength to survive. Spencerport resident Erika Daugherty was struck by a moving vehicle while riding her bike on Union Street near Pineway Ponds Parks in Spencerport. She suffered severe trauma to her brain as a result of this accident and was in a coma for one month after the accident. Her current prognosis is unknown. Her father, Dan Daugherty, describes Erika as "minimally aware." He said, "We believe that God has a plan. We will wait and see and keep praying. We tell and show Erika that she is loved and we give her the best quality of life." A health scare in August and September of 2005 sent Erika to the hospital where she spent time in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Strong Hospital. "Erika would spike these high fevers, at one time she had a temperature of 108 degrees," Dan said. "She would also sweat uncontrollably and hyperventilate," he said. This health scare happened during a time when Erika was taking some new medicine and after she had undergone surgery on her feet. "The doctors never found out what caused her to be sick, if she reacted to anesthesia from her surgery or to changes in her new medicine," Erika's mother, Enza said. "She was tested for all types of infectious diseases and even had a spinal tap." Since her accident, Erika undergoes a rigorous round of therapy at school and at other programs after school and on the weekends. She attends school for a full day every day at Spencerport High School in a special education classroom. She is also mainstreamed (mainstreamed is when a special education student is placed in a regular education with teachers and classroom aides available to support both the regular and special education students) into a regular education classroom for two classes, Teen Living and Chorus. Most of her school day is spent at therapy. Enza Daugherty expressed how important it is for her daughter to maintain contact with her friends at school. "We are trying to make sure to encourage Erika to see her friends at school when she is at lunch or in the hallways. There are four girls, Michelle Saucke, Kara Farnsworth, Sarah Phillips and Alex Townsend, who Erika is really close with and we would like to thank them for hanging in there and making the effort to see her," said Enza. Erika's friend and neighbor, Michelle Saucke, said, "It's important that I see Erika. If she was still functioning perfectly we would still be friends, so that's why I still see her even though she can't speak. I think that she is going to get better and she needs people with her now and when she gets better." Enza and Dan Daugherty are grateful for the help and concern so many people have shown to them. Dan described this outpouring as, "an amazing support of people." The Daughertys share many stories of how people have helped their family, simple acts of kindness, such as a neighbor snow blowing their driveway, to old and new friends calling and offering their prayers. Many different community organizations have come to the aid of the Daughertys in an effort to help the family financially and emotionally. Soon after her accident, the Spencerport Lions Club began a "Wheels for Erika Project." Spencerport resident and Lions Club member Sue Marino is chairperson of this project, the goal of which is to purchase a new van for the family and have a handicapped lift installed. "Funds are still welcome," Marino said. "We are still struggling to meet the family's needs with the funds we've raised to date," she added. Enza explained, "There is not enough money in this fund to buy a new van. The Lions Club has raised roughly half the money needed but the insurance will only pay to install the handicapped lift in a van that is less than two years old." Marino encourages anyone from the car industry and the community at-large to help because, "any discount they could give would be tax deductible." Charles Hare, secretary of the Spencerport Lions Club, said, "The Lions Club is working out the details of this van purchase and we hope to work with a local car dealer to make this purchase." Other fundraisers by Expressions of Dance by Lisa, (where Erika took dance lessons), the McDonald's Restaurant in Spencerport as well as countless fundraisers by students and staff at the Taylor, Cosgrove and Spencerport High schools have helped to build an addition to the Daugherty home for Erika. Enza explains how the Daughertys insurance only pays for modifications to their home and so, "We had to pay, with the help of these fundraisers, for the cost of the new bathroom." A bathroom with a seven-foot handicapped accessible shower was built onto the Daugherty home for Erika and their dining room was converted into her bedroom. The Daughertys are also grateful to their church community, St. John's of Spencerport, and their pediatrician, Dr. Catherine Goodfellow. "When Erika was in the hospital a group of people from St. John's sent meals and cards to our home, visited us in the hospital, offered prayers and even sent toys and gifts at Christmas for all of our children," said Enza. Dr. Goodfellow has played an important role in Erika's recovery. She and Spencerport Central School district physician, Dr. Cindy Devore, developed the plan for Erika's course of therapy. "When Erika was sick in the fall, Dr. Goodfellow came to the hospital every morning to see Erika," said Enza. Enza and Dan Daugherty have two younger children, David, age 12 and Jonathan, age two. Dan describes both boys as, "doing very good." David said, "I know Erika is going to get better." Erika's injuries and recovery have resulted in all of her family having to make many adjustments. Enza describes their home as, "always having traffic in the house. We've all had to adjust to people coming and going." While Erika's accident has created many changes for their family, the Daughertys remain filled with hope. Recently, Erika started to smile. Enza and Dan see this new development as a sign, "A beginning of her recovery," said Enza. Dan said, "We have seen so much good come out of this tragedy and we have been touched by so many lives," said Dan. For information about or to contribute to the Wheels for Erika project, contact Lions Club members Charles and Kathy Hare at 544-2316 or Sue Marino at 352-8360. Contributions also may be sent to P.O. Box 354, Spencerport, NY 14559 and checks should be made out to the Spencerport Lions Club-Erika. January 22, 2006 |
